A Day Without Seapower and Projection Forces

Mr. FORBES. Good morning. We would like to call this joint hearing to order. Mr. Akin, we understand, is on his way, and he will take over the gavel as soon as he gets here. But I want to thank Chairman Akin for co-chairing this hearing and thank all of our members and the distinguished panel of experts and welcome them to today’s hearing focused on what the future of seapower and projection capabilities may portend in an era of austere budgets. I am sure that Chairman Akin will note his appreciation for all of our witnesses being here, and I want to just say how much we appreciate your service to our country and your taking time today to bring your expertise and experience to all the members of this subcommittee. I believe it is vital that you are all here today to continue to inform the members of these subcommittees and the public in advance of the ‘‘super committee’’ [Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction] delivering its ultimate recommendations to the Congress. I am going to keep my remarks short in order that we proceed to the heart of the discussion. The Readiness Subcommittee has convened numerous times in the past few months to hear from each of the services, and most recently the vice chiefs, regarding the current state of the force, the increased risk and the uncertainty of the future and potential impacts to military readiness if sequestration were enacted. While there seems to be a prevailing consensus that sequestration, under the Budget Control Act, would be devastating to the military, I remain severely concerned that we have already gone too far.