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FEDERALhearing transcript
High Impact

House Subcommittee Hearing on 2017 Air Force Aviation Programs

Original title: [H.A.S.C. No. 114-103]HEARING ON NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017 AND OVERSIGHT OF PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED PROGRAMS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION

January 1, 2016

National Defense Authorization ActAir ForceAviationMilitary BudgetDefense Procurement

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The Frame

What this does

This hearing sets the stage for the 2017 defense budget, which determines funding levels for major military aircraft programs and impacts the operational readiness of the U.S. Air Force's and bomber capabilities.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

U.S. Air Force

The Air Force is responsible for executing the acquisition programs and managing the fleet reductions discussed in the budget.

Defense Contractors

Companies involved in the production and maintenance of the B-21, KC-46A, and C-130 programs are impacted by the funding levels and procurement schedules set in the budget.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2016.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The House Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces held a hearing to review the Air Force's 2017 budget request for bomber, tanker, and airlift programs. Lawmakers and military officials discussed the status of key modernization projects, including the B-21 bomber and KC-46A tanker, alongside concerns regarding the aging C-130H airlift fleet.

Key Facts

  • The hearing focused on the fiscal year 2017 budget request for Air Force bomber, tanker, and airlift acquisition programs.
  • The Air Force officially designated the Long Range Strike Bomber as the B-21.
  • Chairman Forbes stated that the 2017 budget request reduces investment in force structure and modernization by approximately $18 billion.
  • The budget proposes a reduction of 27 C-130 aircraft from the current fleet.
  • The Air Force characterized its current fleet as one of the smallest, busiest, oldest, and least ready in its history.
  • The subcommittee reviewed the status of the KC-46A tanker program.
  • The hearing was held on March 1, 2016, in the Rayburn House Office Building.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the B-21?
The B-21 is the new designation for the Air Force's Long Range Strike Bomber program, intended for power projection over long distances.
Why are lawmakers concerned about the C-130H fleet?
Lawmakers are concerned that the proposed budget reduces the number of C-130 aircraft by 27 and delays the replacement of the aging fleet, which they argue creates a smaller, older, and less capable force.

Why It Matters

This hearing sets the stage for the 2017 defense budget, which determines funding levels for major military aircraft programs and impacts the operational readiness of the U.S. Air Force's and bomber capabilities.

News Coverage

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Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

B-21 Designation

The document confirms the official naming of the Long Range Strike Bomber as the B-21 occurred just one week prior to the hearing.

B-21

Connected Entities

personJoe Courtney“Ranking Member of the Subcommittee”Map →
personJ. Randy Forbes“Chairman of the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces”Map →
otherB-21“Long Range Strike Bomber program”Map →
otherKC-46A“Air refueling tanker program”Map →
personJames M. Holmes“Lieutenant General, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Requirements”Map →
personArnold W. Bunch Jr.“Lieutenant General, Military Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Ai”Map →
otherC-130H“Tactical airlift fleet”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy40
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

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