The House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee, chaired by Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL), will hold two hearings the week of March 16th. The first hearing will take place Tuesday, March 17th at 3:30 p.m. in 2118 Rayburn House Office Building regarding national security space launch. The second hearing will take place Thursday, March 19th at 9:00 a.m. in 2118 Rayburn House Office Building regarding the fiscal year 2016 budget for ballistic missile defense activities.

The March 17th hearing will focus on ensuring the United States has the necessary national security space launch capabilities to maintain its advantage in space. The subcommittee will examine the current state and future strategy for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program.

Chairman Rogers said: “Our national security space capabilities provide tremendous advantage to our warfighters. Without an effective space launch program, and assured access to space, we lose this advantage. We must be smart in partnering with our domestic industry; but, we cannot just rely on them in hopes that they will take care of the national security needs. This is too important. This hearing will examine how the Department of Defense is assuring assured access to space. The hearing will also seek the perspectives of two leading firms in this field.”

WHAT: HASC Strategic Forces Subcommittee Hearing: “Assuring Assured Access to Space”

WHEN: Tuesday, March 17th at 3:30 p.m.

WHERE: 2118 Rayburn House Office Building

The purpose of the missile defense budget hearing is to evaluate the ballistic missile threat to the United States, its allies and deployed forces and to consider the ballistic missile defense posture we have and what we need going forward so that we are never playing “catch-up” to the threat.

Chairman Rogers said: “North Korea’s recent ballistic missile tests, Iran’s successful space launch test – which is really just a cover for their ICBM program – and Russia and China’s increasingly belligerent behavior are all reminders of why we need a robust missile defense capability.

“Unfortunately, since the beginning of this Administration, our missile defenses have at best been neglected, and at worst, given away like a pawn in President Obama’s strategy of appeasing Russia and China.

“The only reason the U.S. has a ballistic missile defense system is that a Republican House and Senate forced it on a weak and vacillating President at the end of his term almost 20 years ago. If this President won’t work with us on missile defense, he won’t be allowed to stop us from doing what is needed to defend our nation, our allies and our deployed forces.”

WHAT: HASC Strategic Forces Subcommittee Hearing: “Fiscal Year 2016 Missile Defense Hearing”

WHEN: Thursday, March 19th at 9:00 a.m.

WHERE: 2118 Rayburn House Office Building

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