20250429: FULL Committee Hearing: Markup of Committee Print Reconciliation Fiscal Year 2025

Committee on Armed Services

2025-04-29

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Source: Congress.gov

Summary

The House Armed Services Committee is marking up the committee print for reconciliation pursuant to H. Conres 14, the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2025, which includes $150 billion in mandatory funding for defense modernization. The hearing features a bipartisan discussion on the necessity of this investment amid growing threats from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Key witnesses and members argue that the funding is critical to modernize the military, revitalize the defense industrial base, and improve service member quality of life. However, the hearing also raises significant concerns about the Pentagon's leadership under Secretary Pete Hegseth, including classified information leaks and the dismissal of experienced military officers. Multiple amendments are considered to address issues of accountability, transparency, and the use of taxpayer dollars, including proposals to protect child care workers, ensure military health care access, and conduct independent audits. The final vote on the committee print, which includes a substitute amendment, is approved by a majority, with a recorded vote of 35 in favor and 21 against, despite significant debate on oversight and the Pentagon's management.

Participants

Transcript

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The committee will come to order.  I ask unanimous consent that the chair be authorized to declare recess at any time.   without objection or so ordered.  Without objection, members have five legislative days within which to submit written statements to be made part of the record on the measure under consideration today, so ordered.  Pursuant to Committee Rule 17, recorded votes on any measure or matter before the committee today may be conducted by electronic device.  The overhead monitors will show the votes of members as they are cast.  At the conclusion of the vote, the clerk shall secure the record.   the votes cast and report them to the committee.  The chair observes the right to request a roll call vote by the clerk in lieu of electronic voting at his discretion.  Pursuant to Committee Rule 17 and in consultation with the ranking member, we will postpone recorded votes on amendments until a later time.   It is the chair's intention to operate under the five-minute rule.  Today, the committee will mark up the committee print, providing for reconciliation pursuant to H. Conres 14, the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2025.   Today we mark up our recommendations for reconciliation pursuant to the concurrent resolution on the FY25 budget.  This is a historic day.  Never before has Hask had the opportunity to use reconciliation to make a generational investment in our national security.  But we do today.   The bill before us provides $150 billion in mandatory funding to modernize our military, revitalize the defense industrial base, and improve quality of life for our service members.  The time for this level of investment is long overdue.  It is clear we are no longer deterring our adversaries.   The threats we face today from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea and others are much more serious and challenging than we have ever faced before.
China is outpacing us in the development and deployment of critical capabilities needed to succeed on future battlefields.  We've led our defense industrial base atrophy to the point where I fear we could no longer sustain a prolonged conflict.   And it all stems from chronic underinvestment in our national security.  Defense spending is not keeping up with inflation.

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