e-News 3/4/16

• Oversight Hearings: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines
• Celebrating Women: Women’s History Month
• Picatinny Invites Girls to an Engineering Career
• Reading Across America Today
• Salute: Navy SEAL Medal of Honor Winner
• Salute: Astronaut Scott Kelly of West Orange

 

Oversight Hearings: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines

Congressional oversight, military posture and rising international threats were the themes of three open, public hearings I conducted with each branch of our Armed Services this week.

On Tuesday, my Defense Subcommittee convened and heard testimony from Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, Chief of Naval Operations ADM John Richardson and Marine Corps Commandant GEN Robert Neller.

On Wednesday, we explored the posture and budget request for the Air Force with Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and Chief of Staff GEN Mark Welsh.

Yesterday, the Committee heard from Acting Army Secretary Patrick Murphy and Chief of Staff GEN Mark Milley.  We talked at length about soldier readiness, the need for additional Army helicopters and the number of soldiers needed to accomplish the Army’s assigned mission.

These hearings were conducted against the backdrop of rising threats to the security of the United States. Every day brings more reports about challenges to U.S. leadership:

• China continues to assert itself in the western Pacific.  They are building ships, submarines, underwater submarine pens, naval militia forces and cutting edge weapons at an alarming rate.  At the same time they construct runways, air defense radar systems and missile batteries on disputed islands in the South China Sea;
• Russia’s hostile behavior in Europe and aggressive military weapons development programs threaten our partners and our interests;
• North Korea’s rogue regime just put their nuclear forces on alert menacing South Korea where 28,000 U.S. troops stand-by to defend against an attack;
• ISIS continues to run rampant in the Middle East and now holds 165 miles of Libyan coastline along the Mediterranean Sea on Europe’s southern flank;
• At the same time, al Qaeda and other Islamist terror groups continue to plot and plan attacks on the west, including America;

Our adversaries measure our strength based on our military capabilityAND our national will.  Unfortunately, our adversaries and our allies currently question both.

You can view additional information about each of the hearings here.

You can watch the entire Army Oversight hearing here.

You can watch the Air Force Oversight hearing here.

You can watch the Navy-Marine Corps Oversight Hearing here.

Celebrating Women: Women’s History Month

This week marked the beginning of Women's History Month, as we take the opportunity to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of women throughout history, and to recognize those who inspired generations of stronger, more empowered women.

Women’s History Month in the United States grew out of a weeklong celebration of women’s contributions to culture, history and society organized by a school district in California in 1978. Presentations were given at dozens of schools, hundreds of students participated in a 'Real Woman' essay contest and a parade.

Today’s celebration is presents a tremendous opportunity to focus on the priorities women care about — and put together an agenda that trusts women — the mothers and daughters; the elected leaders, community volunteers, businesswomen, first responders, and females serving in the Army, Marines, Air Force and navy.

Nancy Reagan once famously said, “Feminism is the ability to choose what you want to do.”

Mrs. Reagan's words remind me just how much young women need role models. They need to look up to courageous women in every field who inspire them to dream. 

Here in Congress, I am proud to serve alongside a record 104 female members of the Senate and House, including my colleague Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey.  And I truly believe that many of my female colleagues do serve as those vitally important role models and most have worked harder to be respected than most men.

My experience is that the women I meet every day are concerned about achieving a better life for their children and families.  They want to see action on national security, jobs, health care.

Women make the majority of their families' financial and health care decisions, start two out of every three new businesses and comprise the majority of health care providers.  Congress has a responsibility to get the government off their backs and out of their way!

What I believe as a policymaker is what I believe as a father of two daughters and the grandfather of a granddaughter — no one should be defined by where we come from, but empowered by what they can become.

This Women's History Month, we have an opportunity to focus on a bright future where every American, especially women, prosper.

Access Library of Congress resources on “Women’s History Month” here.

Picatinny Invites Girls to an Engineering Career

As part of their ongoing efforts to encourage young women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), officials from Picatinny Arsenal recently conducted their annual “Introduce a Girl to Engineering” event.  Nearly 90 female high school students representing 25 northern New Jersey schools attended.  

During the event, Picatinny engineers showcased the products that they work on, including sound energy, aerospace, and more. By participating in hands-on demonstrations and experiments, attendees were given a first-hand appreciation for the engineering work done at Picatinny every day and its value to our national security.

Read Michael Izzo’s story in the Daily Record here.

Reading Across America Today

I was back in area schools today, participating in the annual “Read Across America” program.  I read at three area elementary schools –Hazel Avenue Elementary School in West Orange, Lakeview Middle School in Denville and Woodmont Elementary School in Montville.

Now in its 19th year, “Read Across America” is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on or near March 2, the birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss. Across the country, thousands of schools, libraries, and community centers participate by bringing together children, teens, and books.  The program also provides teachers, parents, caregivers, and children the resources and activities they need to keep reading on the calendar 365 days a year, to motivate children to read and generate new enthusiasm for reading.

Salute: Navy Senior Chief Edward Byers who was awarded the nation's highest combat honor this week for his role in a hostage rescue mission. Byers is believed to be first service member to ever earn the Medal of Honor while assigned to SEAL Team 6.  Not surprisingly, Chief Byers wants to return to combat. If he does return, Byers would become the first Medal of Honor recipient since the Vietnam War to return to the battlefield.

Salute: Astronaut Scott Kelly of West Orange on his safe return from his record-breaking stay in space aboard the International Space Station: 340 days!  I was honored to have Commander Kelly accompany me to several 11^th District Schools back in 2006 as part of my annual “Bring an Astronaut to School” program!