The oversight responsibilities of the Committee on Armed Services will be conducted primarily within the context of the committee's consideration of the annual defense authorization bill.  This legislation covers the breadth of the operations of the Department of Defense as well as a significant portion of the annual operating budget of the Department of Energy.  The annual national defense function budget of approximately $393 billion involves millions of military and civilian personnel, thousands of facilities, and hundreds of agencies, departments, and commands located throughout the world.  The committee will continue to perform general oversight of the structure and management of the Department of Defense and related topics.

The jurisdiction of the committee is as follows:

(1) Ammunition depots; forts; arsenals; Army, Navy, and Air Force reservations and establishments.

(2) Common defense generally.

(3) Conservation, development, and use of naval petroleum and oil shale reserves.

(4) The Department of Defense generally, including the Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force generally.

(5) Interoceanic canals generally, including measures relating to the maintenance, operation, and administration of interoceanic canals.

(6) Merchant Marine Academy, and State Merchant Marine Academies.

(7) Military applications of nuclear energy.

(8) Tactical intelligence and intelligence related activities (TIARA) of the Department of Defense.

(9) National Security aspects of merchant marine, including financial assistance for the construction and operation of vessels, the maintenance of the U.S. shipbuilding and ship repair industrial base, cabotage, cargo preference and merchant marine officers and seamen as these matters relate to national security.

(10) Pay, promotion, retirement, and other benefits and privileges of members of the armed services.

(11) Scientific research and development in support of the armed services.

(12) Selective service.

(13) Size and composition of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force.

(14) Soldiers' and sailors' homes.

(15) Strategic and critical materials necessary for the common defense.

CURRENT LEGISLATION TOPICS:

National Military Strategy and Other Defense Policy Issues

Particular attention will be given, but not limited, to the following: the adequacy of active and reserve component force structure and end strength to carry out the national military strategy of the United States; Department of Defense efforts to convert lower priority military personnel spaces to higher priority requirements; an examination of initiatives to enhance guard and reserve forces and the integration of active and reserve components; a continuing assessment of the role of contingency operations in the execution of the national military strategy and the force structure required to sustain such operations; oversight of the realignment of major combatant commands, including the merger of Strategic and Space Commands, and the establishment of the Northern Command to complement the missions of the Department of Homeland Security.

Intelligence

The committee will continue to coordinate with the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on tactical intelligence matters and intelligence-related activities of the Department of Defense, and intelligence and counterintelligence activities of the Department of Energy in the course of its annual oversight of the intelligence community and the authorization of appropriations for intelligence activities shared by the two committees.  In addition, the committee will assess whether the creation of the new Under Secretary for Intelligence position within the Department of Defense, as authorized by the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003, has resulted in greater integration and coordination within the DOD intelligence community.

Missile Defense Programs

The committee will continue to review the Department of Defense’s plans to accelerate fielding of initial capability of several missile defense programs.  This acceleration, which signals a level of confidence in the growing body of missile defense program flight test results, will likely entail increases in missile defense funding and the combination of both accelerated flight testing and simultaneous fielding of emerging capabilities of elements of the missile defense system-of-system architecture.

Organization and Management of the Department of Defense

The committee will continue its review of the Department of Defense infrastructure and organization.  In particular, the committee will evaluate expected defense reform proposals recommended by the administration.  In addition, the committee will assess the success of the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 and evaluate appropriate modifications to that legislation, including associated requirements for professional military education.

Threats Posed by Unconventional Warfare

The committee will continue its oversight of unconventional threats to national security and U.S. military forces.  Particular attention will be given, but not limited, to the response of the Department of Defense to the events of September 11, 2001, the establishment and initial operations of the Northern Command, an assessment of the adequacy of force protection measures, including the adequacy of intelligence, operational, and tactical doctrine; the equipment modernization necessary to conduct the global war on terrorism; progress in establishing a national collaborative environment for intelligence information; related organizational matters; and the design of installations and facilities to address threats posed by terrorism utilizing either conventional weapons or weapons of mass destruction.  Due to its increased role and involvement in the war on terrorism, the Special Operations Command is likely to see a significant increase in its procurement budget for fiscal year 2004.  In the conduct of its oversight, the committee will coordinate with the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on tactical intelligence matters and intelligence-related activities of the Department of Defense. 

Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Threat Reduction

The committee will continue its oversight of the Cooperative Threat Reduction program and nuclear non-proliferation issues.  In particular, the committee will focus on ensuring increased transparency and high standards of conduct from participating parties and ensuring complete access and accountability for these programs.  The committee will also assess the appropriate conditions to be placed on non-proliferation assistance given to the states of the former Soviet Union. 

Technology Transfers and Export Controls

The committee will continue to conduct a careful examination of the current U.S. export control regime and its effectiveness in preventing the transfer of sensitive military-related technologies to potential adversaries.  In particular, the committee will focus on the implementation of legislative requirements related to the export of high performance computers (so-called “supercomputers”); assessing the effect of globalization, including industrial mergers and acquisitions, on the ability of the United States to prevent the flow of militarily sophisticated dual-use technologies to potential adversaries; and evaluating various proposals to modify existing domestic and multilateral export control regimes.  In these and other export control-related areas, the committee will continue to coordinate with the Committee on International Relations, especially in the consideration of the likely reauthorization of the Export Administration Act.

Transformation

The Secretary of Defense has made transformation of U.S. military forces to meet the challenges of the 21st Century one of his highest priorities.  The 2001 Quadrennial Defense Review outlined six transformational goals for the Department of Defense and the military services.  The committee expects that funding for transformational programs and initiatives will be an important aspect of the FY 2004 budget submission.  The committee will hold oversight hearings on a number of aspects regarding transformation including funding for the Department’s transformation investment accounts, and on various transformation initiatives such as anti-access capabilities, enhanced space operations, leveraging information technology and information operations.

Fiscal Management and Oversight of Weapons Programs

Several programs have experienced cost overruns within the past year or in the previous two years.  The committee will assess the need for legislative action by examining potential causes for these overruns including, but not limited to, optimistic previous cost estimates, labor and material increases, production and development schedule slips, performance problems, requirements creep, and increased industrial overhead costs. 

Force Readiness

A continuing principal focus of the committee during the 108th Congress will be to assess the readiness of the armed services and the adequacy of planned expenditures for national defense to support sustained readiness of U.S. military forces.  Particular attention will also be given, but not limited, to the following: an examination of the impact of the high pace of deployments and the level of compensation during deployment on service personnel and their families; reevaluation of current policy supporting officer and enlisted recruiting, accessions, training, promotions, separations, and retirements; assessment of pay, compensation, and other benefits of military service, including the implementation by the Department of Defense of assignment incentive pay as adopted in the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 and health and disability benefits for people participating in pre-accession education and training programs; and a continuing assessment of recruitment and retention policies and programs of the military services.

Deployment Health and Force Health Protection

The committee’s efforts to advance force health surveillance and protection will include consideration of the findings of an ongoing General Accounting Office review — itself a follow-up to a 1997 GAO report — of the Department of Defense’s Deployment Health Surveillance policy implementation.  The current review is also examining compliance with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 that required specific deployment health surveillance activities.  Further, the committee will assess the execution of the new smallpox vaccination program to ensure that lessons learned in implementing the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program contribute to better management of vaccine administration, immunization record keeping, education of service members and their families, and monitoring/reporting adverse reactions.

Military Absentee Voting Procedures 

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 and the Help America Vote Act of 2002 both included new initiatives to assist military members to vote by absentee ballot and to improve the effectiveness of the Federal Voting Assistance Program operated by the Secretary of Defense and the process within the Department of Defense for moving voting materials by mail.  In addition to closely monitoring the effectiveness of defense voting programs, the committee will also be interested in giving oversight to the Department of Defense effort to prepare for and execute a broad demonstration of electronic absentee voting during the 2004 Federal election. 

Chemical-Biological Defense Program

The preparedness of U.S. armed forces to fight effectively under the threat of the use of chemical or biological weapons by an adversary has been an area of continuing interest and oversight by the committee since before the 1990 Persian Gulf War against Iraq.  Significant advances have been made in chemical-biological defense capabilities of U.S. forces since the end of that conflict as a result of increased funding and emphasis within the Department of Defense and among U.S. military commanders. However, shortages of the newest protective equipment in some units and uncertainties with respect to the biological threat raise concerns about the current readiness of U.S. forces to fight in a chemical-biological warfare environment.  A major reorganization of chemical-biological defense program management within the Department of Defense is being considered that should result in a program that is more responsive to the needs of the forces in the field (and to homeland defense requirements).  The committee will review the current state of preparedness among U.S. armed forces and assess the effectiveness of the new program management and the adequacy of program funding during hearings on the fiscal year 2004 budget request.

Chemical Demilitarization Program

Under the Chemical Warfare Convention Treaty the United States is required to complete the destruction of its stockpile of lethal chemical warfare agents and munitions by September 2007.  Although approximately 25 percent of the U.S. chemical weapons stockpile has been destroyed, technical issues and political and environmental controversies involving the preferred method of destruction chosen by the Army have resulted in significant program delays, which put at risk the ability of the United States to fulfill its obligations under the treaty, and significantly increased program costs (to approximately $24 billion by program completion). The Department of Defense is reorganizing program management for the second time within the past year to address many of these concerns.  The committee will address the current state of the program and measures that might be taken to accelerate the destruction of the stockpile during hearings on the fiscal year 2004 budget request.

Environmental Programs

Particular attention will be given, but not limited, to the following: assessment of current federal, state, and local environmental compliance, remediation, and restoration requirements imposed on the Department of Defense, the military services, and the Department of Energy; examination of current and planned funding requirements for environmental programs of the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy, including an assessment of the cost effectiveness of such programs; and examination of  encroachment and the diversion of military training and operations and maintenance funds to meet environmental requirements and the impact such diversion may have on training and military readiness.  Identified for special emphasis is the effectiveness of the Department of Energy’s Environmental Management Clean-Up Reform Program, in refocusing environment remediation efforts at Cold War legacy nuclear sites from risk management to real risk reduction.  Finally, an examination of the environmental cleanup of unexploded ordnance at current and former military bases will be conducted.

MEMBERS:

Duncan Hunter, California, Chairman 

Ike Skelton, Missouri, Ranking Member

Curt Weldon, Pennsylvania

John Spratt, South Carolina

Joel Hefley, Colorado

Solomon P. Ortiz, Texas 

Jim Saxton, New Jersey

Lane Evans, Illinois

John M. McHugh, New York

Gene Taylor, Mississippi

Terry Everett, Alabama 

Neil Abercrombie, Hawaii 

Roscoe G. Bartlett, Maryland

Marty Meehan, Massachusetts 

Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, California

Silvestre Reyes, Texas

Mac Thornberry, Texas 

Vic Snyder, Arkansas

John N. Hostettler, Indiana 

Jim Turner, Texas

Walter B. Jones, North Carolina 

Adam Smith, Washington 

Jim Ryun, Kansas 

Loretta Sanchez, California 

Jim Gibbons, Nevada 

Mike McIntyre, North Carolina 

Robin Hayes, North Carolina 

Ciro D. Rodriguez, Texas

Heather Wilson, New Mexico

Ellen O. Tauscher, California

Ken Calvert, California

Robert A. Brady, Pennsylvania

Rob Simmons, Connecticut

Baron P. Hill, Indiana

Jo Ann Davis, Virginia

John B. Larson, Connecticut

Ed Schrock, Virginia

Susan A. Davis, California

W. Todd Akin, Missouri

James R. Langevin, Rhode Island

J. Randy Forbes, Virginia

Steve Israel, New York

Jeff Miller, Florida

Rick Larsen, Washington

Joe Wilson, South Carolina

Jim Cooper, Tennessee

Frank A. LoBiondo, New Jersey

Jim Marshall, Georgia

Tom Cole, Oklahoma

Kendrick B. Meek, Florida

Jeb Bradley, New Hampshire

Madeleine Z. Bordallo, Guam

Rob Bishop, Utah Rodney

Alexander, Louisiana

Michael Turner, Ohio

Tim Ryan, Ohio

John Kline, Minnesota  

Candice S. Miller, Michigan  

Phil Gingrey, Georgia 

Mike Rogers, Alabama  

Trent Franks, Arizona