July 30, 2024

Manchin Questions Chair, Vice Chair Of The Commission On The National Defense Strategy

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (I-WV), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), questioned former Congresswoman Jane Harman, Chair of the Commission on the National Defense Strategy (NDS), and Ambassador Eric Edelman, Vice Chair of the Commission, on the Commission’s recently published report on the Biden Administration’s 2022 NDS. Specifically, Senator Manchin questioned the witnesses on the importance of addressing the national debt, the force size of the U.S. military, West Virginia’s Allegany Ballistics Laboratory (ABL) and Russia’s vulnerabilities in their war against Ukraine.

The Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act directed the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to appoint an eight-person bipartisan Commission to review the Biden Administration’s 2022 NDS. The Commission is charged with publishing a report that analyzes the strategy, reviews the global threat environment and offers recommendations. The final report was first released publicly yesterday and the SASC questioned the Chairs on its findings today.

On the importance of addressing the national debt to maintain a strong military:

“When I first got to the Senate in 2010, we had the Joint Chiefs of Staff testifying to this Committee. We asked then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, to identify the greatest threat the United States was facing. I thought I was going to hear about China or Russia but, without hesitating, he said the debt of our nation is the greatest threat we face as Americans. Since we just hit $35 trillion of debt yesterday, is that what you all believe is the greatest threat we face?” Senator Manchin questioned in part.

On the currently inadequate force size of the U.S. military:

“In your report, you talked about the current force structure that we have and you identified that the Marines are the only branch meeting adequate force requirements. What you failed to identify is why you have not included women in the selective service. Women make up 74% of the healthcare and education industry, 52% of the financial industry – they are a tremendously strong force,” Senator Manchin continued. “Does the Commission support women registering for selective service?

On the federal government’s lack of appreciation for West Virginia’s ABL:

“The report has no mention of solid rocket motors. We have a problem. We continue to pour money into Aerojet Rocketdyne and they continue to fall short on producing the quality of rockets we need, but the federal government still supports it. We own the ABL in Rocket City, West Virginia, and they have been producing them unbelievingly successfully, but no one is talking about it. Why are you shoving money into a private entity when you already own a facility?” Senator Manchin continued.

On Russia’s vulnerabilities in their continued war against Ukraine:

“My next question concerns Russia. What have we learned about Russia throughout the Ukraine war? Do you think it has shown Russia’s vulnerabilities? What are your concerns?” Senator Manchin questioned.

A video of Senator Manchin’s questioning can be found here.