WASHINGTON — A reorganization of the subcommittees of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee will shift oversight of certain weapons programs, including Navy and Marine Corps tactical jets, according to committee staff.
The shifts will be made as part of a new rules package to be proposed by the new committee chairman, Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-Calif.), at a meeting that could be as early as this week, said the committee’s Republican spokesman, Josh Holly.
The Democrats are expected to announce their committee assignments at the same meeting.
“The reorganization of the armed services subcommittee structure eliminates jurisdictional ‘stovepipes’ and better aligns the seven subcommittees with current operations and future threats,” Holly said.
The air and land forces subcommittee, headed by Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.), would be renamed the tactical air and land forces subcommittee.
It would oversee Army, Air Force and Marine acquisition programs — with the exception of Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicle programs, strategic missiles, space, airlift, special ops, science and technology, and information technology, McKeon’s office said.
The subcommittee also would oversee Navy and Marine Corps aviation, as well as modernization and ammunition for the National Guard and Army, Air Force and Marine Corps Reserve.
The seapower and expeditionary forces subcommittee, led by Rep. W. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), would become the subcommittee on seapower and projection forces. It would oversee Navy acquisition, Naval Reserve equipment, Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicles, and deep-strike bombers and airlift.
The subcommittee on strategic forces, headed by Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio), would oversee strategic weapons, except deep-strike bombers and related systems; space programs; ballistic missile defense; national intelligence programs; and Energy Department national security programs, except nonproliferation.
The subcommittee on military personnel, led by Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), would oversee personnel policy, reserve component integration and employment, military health care, military education and POW/MIA issues. The panel also would oversee morale, welfare and recreation issues and programs.
The subcommittee on readiness, led by Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.), would manage military readiness; training and logistics; and deployment preparation and processes. It also would oversee military construction; depot policy; civilian personnel policy; environmental policy; installations and family housing, including the base-closure process; energy policy; and Department of Defense (DoD) programs.
The subcommittee on emerging threats and capabilities, led by Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), would have oversight of DoD-wide and joint enabling activities and programs, including special ops forces; counterproliferation and counterterrorism programs and initiatives; science and technology policy and programs; information technology programs; homeland defense and DoD-related consequence management programs; related intelligence support; cyber operations; strategic communications; and information operations.
Finally, the subcommittee on oversight and investigations, led by Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.), would oversee any matter within the jurisdiction of the committee.
