Ronny Jackson: Big Beautiful Bill And National Defense Bill Is 'Just The Beginning' To Counter China

Forbes Breaking News

During a House Armed Services Committee markup meeting before the Congressional recess, Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) spoke about measures to counter foreign influences like those from China.

Transcript

00:00Now, as the chair of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Texas, Dr. Jackson, for any comments he would like to make.

00:06Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to begin by thanking Ranking Member Crowe for his support and contribution,

00:11as well as the members of the subcommittee for their efforts as we develop this bipartisan subcommittee print.

00:17The ISO print, in conjunction with approximately $2.2 billion in reconciliation funding,

00:22continues to focus on providing support for our Special Operations Forces,

00:26the Defense Intelligence Enterprise and the Security Cooperation Enterprise,

00:31with the tools required to ensure their capabilities, can support the Department's efforts in strategic competition

00:36and encountering malign Chinese actions.

00:39This main effort to counter China must be accomplished in every geographical combatant command

00:44because China's attempt to influence through malign activities is worldwide.

00:48The subcommittee print provides the U.S. Special Operations Command the ability to accelerate research, development,

00:54testing, and procurement at speeds and scale to affect outcomes against adversaries

00:59through the Urgent Innovation Technologies and Capabilities Pilot Program.

01:04This authority will allow SOCOM to continue to be our strategic hedge against an increasingly contested

01:10and denied battle space by peer adversary capabilities and malign influence.

01:14The subcommittee print supports the President's budget request for the Defense Intelligence Enterprise,

01:20continued efforts to develop capabilities needed to ensure we maintain the strategic edge against our competitors.

01:27These resources and capabilities will ensure our intelligence professionals can enable leaders to make informed decisions

01:34in an increasingly complex world, enhancing the U.S. military lethality.

01:38The subcommittee print supports the President's budget request for the Defense Security Cooperation Agency

01:44to ensure our security cooperation activities support our strategic objectives.

01:48Finally, this subcommittee print, coupled with the reconciliation, is just the beginning of increased resourcing needed

01:55to ensure our Special Operations Forces, the Defense Intelligence Enterprise,

01:59and the Security Cooperation Enterprise can support the Department's efforts in strategic competition

02:04in countering malign influences, especially as mentioned by China.

02:08It is our Article I responsibility to ensure that we provide the men and women who volunteer to serve in these roles

02:15with the capabilities and tools to protect our Special Operations, Intelligence Professionals,

02:20and Security Cooperation Professionals, and keep them in the fight.

02:24I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our tremendous professional staff,

02:27Craig Green, Alex Iglehart, Mark Morehouse, Will Johnson, Katie Quinn, Austin Richards,

02:35and my personal office staff, Evan Hansen and Asher Thompson.

02:38Without this team, this mark would not be possible.

02:41With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.

02:43Thank you very much.

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