VIDEO: Hirono Chairs Armed Services Subcommittee Hearing on Current Readiness of the Joint Forces, Presses DOD Leaders on Indo-Pacific Readiness

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, convened a Readiness Subcommittee hearing on the current readiness of the U.S. joint forces. During the hearing, Senator Hirono questioned the vice chiefs of all five military services about what they are doing to ensure the readiness of their forces and address challenges that impact our military's readiness, including multiple conflicts around the globe.

"Over the past few years, the global security landscape has evolved rapidly, presenting new and complex challenges to military readiness," said Senator Hirono during her opening remarks. "From ongoing conflicts in various regions to emerging threats and resource challenges, our armed forces must remain agile, adaptive, and prepared to address the full spectrum of operations."

Senator Hirono also highlighted a few different issues of importance to Hawaii, including how the Army intends to balance necessary training requirements while respectfully engaging with the Native Hawaiian community as they negotiate upcoming land lease renewals. She also reiterated her concerns with the Navy regarding the significant cost increases that have already been incurred for the replacement of Dry Dock 3 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and other challenges in the Indo-Pacific.

"My concerns with the Navy continue, ranging from the backlog of ship maintenance, lack of accountability for senior leaders in the wake of Red Hill, to allowing mission critical portions of the runway and facilities at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to deteriorate," continued Senator Hirono. "Just within the Indo-Pacific theater alone, there are no shortage of readiness issues that require timely solutions."

Video of Senator Hirono's opening remarks is available for download here. A transcript of her opening remarks is below.

Good afternoon and welcome to today's hearing of the Readiness Subcommittee. This afternoon we are joined by the Vice Chiefs of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. I thank each of you for your meaningful military service and experience. Thank you all for being here. We are also joined by Diana Maurer of the GAO. Ms. Maurer, the work of the GAO has been invaluable to this committee over the years, and I thank you for taking time away from your many ongoing GAO reviews to be here with us.

This hearing is an important opportunity for us to engage in a wide-ranging dialogue regarding the readiness of our armed forces, a topic of paramount importance for the security and well-being of our nation. Over the past few years, the global security landscape has evolved rapidly, presenting new and complex challenges to military readiness. From ongoing conflicts in various regions to emerging threats and resource challenges, our armed forces must remain agile, adaptive, and prepared to address the full spectrum of operations. In this context, there are a number of areas I would like to highlight in particular.

Continued access to training ranges across all domains remains critical. I know the Army is focused on the upcoming land lease renewals in Hawaii. During questions today, I would like to hear more specifics regarding how the Army intends to weigh necessary training requirements while respectfully engaging with the Native Hawaiian community. Separately, the Navy has begun one of the most complex military construction projects in recent history to replace Dry Dock 3 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. I have serious concerns about the significant cost increases this important project has already incurred and whether Navy leadership is taking the necessary steps to avoid future increases. My concerns with the Navy continue, ranging from the backlog of ship maintenance, lack of accountability for senior leaders in the wake of Red Hill, to allowing mission critical portions of the runway and facilities at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to deteriorate. As you can see, just within the Indo-Pacific theater alone, there are no shortage of readiness issues that require timely solutions.

More broadly, in the area of quality of life issues, I would like to hear more from the witnesses on two topics. The first relates to how senior leaders are implementing the oversight and management reforms related to unaccompanied housing that were included in the FY24 NDAA. Taking care of our people by giving them a safe, clean place to live not only helps retention, but also our recruiting efforts, which are challenged recently. The second topic relates to a troubling report the GAO released earlier this year that found fatigue and sleep deprivation among servicemembers continues to be a significant challenge. Chronic fatigue is directly related to the readiness of our forces, and it can lead to accidents, injuries, death, and monetary costs.

Today, I encourage all witnesses to provide candid assessments, share best practices, and offer constructive recommendations. Together, we can ensure that our armed forces remain the world's preeminent fighting force, capable of defending our nation's interests with unparalleled skill and resilience. I would once again like to thank each of you for coming forward today, for your leadership and insights, and I look forward to your testimony and a productive discussion.

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