On the recordMay 17, 2016
I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Chairman Thornberry, Ranking Member Smith, and my fellow colleagues on the committee this year for many important issues within the committee's jurisdiction which we found in this bill, on which I have been proud to work with my colleagues. As ranking member of the Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee, I especially want to thank my subcommittee colleagues, particularly my colleague Joe Wilson, the chairman of the subcommittee. It has been a pleasure to work with him. I also want to take this opportunity to recognize members of the staff who worked so hard on this bill, without whom we wouldn't be able to move legislation of this magnitude forward. The legislation, Mr. Chairman, before us today continues to address critical priorities and programs at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels when it comes to emerging threats and capabilities. In particular, I am pleased with many provisions relating to game- changing technologies, such as language addressing how to properly operationalize directed energy technologies, electromagnetic rail gun mount funding, electronic warfare capabilities, strategy requirements, and a point person within DOD for directed energy systems. This legislation goes on also to prioritize the readiness of the Cyber Mission Force and fully supports U.S. Cyber Command while elevating this critical entity to its own combatant command.…





