Good afternoon. I appreciate you all being here. 

Today’s hearing is on the Navy and Marine Corps fiscal year 2024 budget request for military construction and family housing.

It is a great pleasure to be here today with the Honorable Meredith Berger, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment; Vice Admiral Ricky Williamson, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Fleet Readiness and Logistics; and Lieutenant General Edward Banta, Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics for the U. S. Marine Corps.

Military construction and family housing makes up only about 2 percent of the Defense budget. Yet, it has a tremendous impact on our Sailors, Marines, and their families, who feel the impact of infrastructure investments daily. 

Infrastructure is a form of deterrence.  It is clear we must increase our investment in infrastructure to strengthen our ability to deter aggression everywhere it occurs.

With this in mind, I look forward to discussing the challenges and opportunities for the Navy and Marine Corps.

Investing in facilities and infrastructure is critical to supporting our Sailors and Marines. Their readiness is of utmost importance, and we owe it to them to invest in their ability to fight and support their families.

Original source can be found here