Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Inhofe
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today delivered opening remarks at a nomination hearing for five top Department of Defense officials.
Witnesses include: Caroline Krass, nominated to be General Counsel of the Department of Defense; Gina Ortiz Jones, nominated to be Under Secretary of the Air Force; Dr. Ely Ratner, nominated to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs; Shawn Skelly, nominated to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness; and Meredith Berger, nominated to be Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment.
As Prepared for Delivery:
Thank you, Chairman Reed. I echo your comments and thank our nominees for being with us and for their willingness to serve the nation.
Our nation’s top military and intelligence leaders have told this committee in recent months that the world is more dangerous and complex than at any point in our lifetimes. I agree with them.
This is why I continue to highlight the National Defense Strategy as the roadmap to deal with these challenges. But we need the right resourcing to make the 2018 NDS a reality.
I remain deeply concerned that President Biden’s defense budget falls short of the 3-5 percent the bipartisan NDS commission said is needed to implement the NDS.
Our competitors aren’t letting up. Just last week General Milley told us that combined, Russian and Chinese budgets far exceed our defense budget.
If confirmed, you will be called on to address these and many other challenges.
Dr. Ratner, Secretary Austin praised your efforts leading the China Task Force. I would like to understand how you view the balance of military power in the Indo-Pacific and how you think we should improve it.
Ms. Berger, you are charged with overseeing Navy housing, military construction, multiple energy sectors, and the environment. I would like to hear how you will apply your private sector experience to prioritize both our families and national security.
Ms. Krass, I would like to hear how you will advise and support the Secretary of Defense in addressing legal issues related to DOD’s number one pacing challenge, China, as well as persistent threats from Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
Ms. Ortiz Jones, you will need to balance readiness and modernization in the Air Force, while also evolving the Space Force—with inadequate resources to do one, let alone all of these essential missions.
Under the Administration’s budget for next fiscal year, the Department is facing growing deficits, at a time where readiness is paramount. Ms. Skelly, I am interested to learn how you will grapple with this dilemma.
I look forward to hearing how each of you will address these challenges, if confirmed.
Thanks again for being with us today.