| Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) |
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee's Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee, made the following statement at the opening of the subcommittee's hearing on the Department of Defense's Science and Technology Enterprise.
"Thank you, Madam Chair. I join you in welcoming our witnesses and thank them for being here today. I look forward to hearing their testimony and about the important role they play in supporting our warfighters.
"I appreciate the innovative structures our military employs to conduct cutting-edge research. In my state of Nebraska, the University of Nebraska has partnered with U.S. Strategic Command to advance its mission to protect the United States from an attack by weapons of mass destruction, and General Kehler has noted the clear value of this partnership.
"As we prioritize our scarce defense resources, it is critical that we continue to invest in advanced research and potentially game-changing technologies. The American military is the most advanced and effective fighting force in the world. We must sustain our investment in the next-generation of technologies to maintain our technological superiority and stay ahead of developing threats.
"Of course, these investments must be made wisely. I am eager to hear from our witnesses on the steps they are taking to scrutinize their investments and, in particular, improve coordination and eliminate duplicative research.
"The current fiscal environment also demands that defense funds be devoted toward warfighting missions and capabilities. Past years may have permitted the support of research that had only tangential benefit to the Department of Defense, but I believe it is critical that the Department’s science and technology funding have a strong and clear benefit to its core mission: fighting and winning wars. The Department of Defense simply cannot afford to foot the bill for projects that are more relevant to other departments and agencies.
"This subcommittee has its work cut out for it. Shedding non-warfighting research while protecting investments that could unlock the next-generation of battlefield technology will be a complex and difficult task. We will need the help of our witnesses to thread this needle.
"I thank the chair and look forward to hearing from our witnesses."
"I appreciate the innovative structures our military employs to conduct cutting-edge research. In my state of Nebraska, the University of Nebraska has partnered with U.S. Strategic Command to advance its mission to protect the United States from an attack by weapons of mass destruction, and General Kehler has noted the clear value of this partnership.
"As we prioritize our scarce defense resources, it is critical that we continue to invest in advanced research and potentially game-changing technologies. The American military is the most advanced and effective fighting force in the world. We must sustain our investment in the next-generation of technologies to maintain our technological superiority and stay ahead of developing threats.
"Of course, these investments must be made wisely. I am eager to hear from our witnesses on the steps they are taking to scrutinize their investments and, in particular, improve coordination and eliminate duplicative research.
"The current fiscal environment also demands that defense funds be devoted toward warfighting missions and capabilities. Past years may have permitted the support of research that had only tangential benefit to the Department of Defense, but I believe it is critical that the Department’s science and technology funding have a strong and clear benefit to its core mission: fighting and winning wars. The Department of Defense simply cannot afford to foot the bill for projects that are more relevant to other departments and agencies.
"This subcommittee has its work cut out for it. Shedding non-warfighting research while protecting investments that could unlock the next-generation of battlefield technology will be a complex and difficult task. We will need the help of our witnesses to thread this needle.
"I thank the chair and look forward to hearing from our witnesses."
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