Hearing of the House Defense Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee - Fiscal Year 2016 Defense Appropriations bill

Hearing

Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member, and Members of the Subcommittee, I want to
extend my appreciation for the work that you do. As the proud mother of a son serving in the
United States Army, and representing thousands of constituents that wear the uniform, I know
firsthand the importance of this Subcommittee's work for our national security.

The past two years I've become very familiar with the Navy's tactical aviation
capabilities. Last year, this Subcommittee responded to the Navy's requirement for more
electronic attack capabilities by providing 15 EA-18G Growlers in the Fiscal Year 2015
budget. Those aircraft will provide a warfighting capability that no adversary can match.
Growlers will keep our Navy equipped to overcome enemies today and in the future in all
threat environments. For that, I would like to say thank you.

Today I am here to support adding F/A-18 aircraft to the Fiscal Year 2016 budget. As you
know, the Navy submitted an "Unfunded Requirement" for 12 F/A-18 "F model" aircraft. In
testimony, the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Admiral Jonathan Greenert, stated that the
Navy has a "Super Hornet shortfall" of at least two or three squadrons -- the equivalent of 24-36
aircraft. An aging fleet of legacy aircraft, the delayed operational deployment of the F-35
program, and the higher than anticipated utilization of Super Hornets in combat are
contributing to this shortfall. To this last point, the Super Hornet is truly the workhorse of naval
combat operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). By some estimates,
the Super Hornets today are flying four times the anticipated rate. It is an absolutely critical, indemand
weapon against our enemies. To exacerbate the shortfall challenge, the Navy has lost
15 Super Hornets and Hornets over the past 5 years to battle or training losses -- aircraft that
have not been replaced by the Navy or Congress.

The strike fighter shortfall identified in the Unfunded Requirement request is not a new
issue to the Navy, and it is one identified by this Subcommittee repeatedly. The HACD has been
on the leading edge of telling the Navy to address its inventory challenges. We all wish that the
President's Budget request included additional F/A-18 Super Hornets, and we all expect the
Navy to address the total extent of the shortfall in subsequent budgets. However, without
aircraft in Fiscal Year 2016, the F/A-18 program faces a line closure decision. The F/A-18
manufacturing line is the only aircraft production with the ability to build operational strike
fighters for the Navy today and AEA aircraft for the entire Department of Defense. Without it,
the Navy couldn't address its shortfall, nor could it add Growlers in the future. Recall that there
is likely a larger, joint requirement for more EA-18G Growlers that is pending further analysis. I
would not be in front of you today if funding additional aircraft were not so vital to our
warfighting capabilities. Adding aircraft and keeping the F/A-18 line alive is the right thing to do
to keep our military personnel safe and to keep our country and allies safe.

I have provided a copy of a House letter signed by myself and my colleagues requesting
additional aircraft. These are Members who have stood by the Subcommittee to support
defense appropriations in years past. I have also added a copy of the "Unfunded Requirement"
highlighting the Navy's request for 12 aircraft. I ask that both of these documents be submitted
as part of my written testimony.

In closing, I urge you add 12 F/A-18 aircraft to ensure the Navy can protect our nation
now and decades to come. I look forward to working with this subcommittee and supporting
the Appropriations process as it moves through the House of Representatives. I stand at your
service and thank you for yours.

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