Defense
H-405 The Capitol
(202) 225-2847
Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
| Subcommittee Member data coming soon. |
FY25 Member Day Hearing Instructions
Recent Activity
Washington, D.C. – Continuing their work to ensure peace through strength, Defense Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert (R-CA) and Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) reiterated the growing dangers posed by Communist China’s rapid military expansion and stressed the urgent need to strengthen the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. As Beijing builds the world’s largest navy, seeking to outpace the United States in ships, submarines, and advanced fighter aircraft, American force dominance is under threat.
Thank you, Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member McCollum.
Welcome to the three of you. Mr. Secretary, congratulations on your appointment. Admiral Kilby, General Smith—it’s an honor to have you before us today. I want to extend my gratitude to you for your commendable and continuing service to our country, and to the men and women in uniform.
Mr. Secretary, congratulations on your appointment. We’ve already had several productive engagements, and I look forward to continuing to work with you. Admiral Kilby, General Smith, thank you for joining us today. We greatly appreciate your service. Today, we meet at a time of increasing global instability. The Navy and Marine Corps are under extraordinary operational demand, responding to threats across every domain.
Washington, D.C. – This week, the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee held hearings with leadership from the U.S. Air Force, Space Force, and Army to discuss military readiness, priorities, and the strategic posture forward. With evolving threats and emerging domains, lawmakers emphasized the importance of a unified defense approach that aligns capabilities across land, air, and space to deter aggression, respond rapidly, and maintain lethality.
Thank you, Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member McCollum. This hearing comes at a pivotal moment for our national security, as we face an increasingly complex and volatile global landscape. Among the challenges before us, none looms larger than the rising threat posed by China. With its rapid military modernization, expanding global influence, and assertive posture in the Indo-Pacific, China presents a strategic challenge that demands our full attention and a robust response.
Today, the Subcommittee will receive testimony on the posture of the United States Army. First, I would like to welcome our two witnesses, Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll, and General Randy George, the Chief of Staff of the Army. Mr. Secretary, congratulations on your appointment. I look forward to working with you. General George, thank you for joining us once again.
Thank you, Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member McCollum. I want to thank the witnesses for being here with us today to discuss the current lay of the land for the Department of the Air Force.
Acting Secretary Ashworth, welcome to the Defense Subcommittee. Generals, nice to see you this afternoon. You are sitting before us as the Air Force and Space Force face a critical path ahead. The world continues to be a volatile place, with malign actors challenging American interests near and far. Time is not on our side as our adversaries have been outpacing and outproducing us.
Good afternoon. The Defense Subcommittee will come to order.
