U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, made opening remarks this morning at a SASC hearing on the proposal to establish a U.S. Space Force.

Witnesses included: Secretary Patrick Shanahan, Acting Secretary of Defense; Secretary Heather Wilson, Secretary of the Air Force; General Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and General John Hyten, Commander, U.S. Strategic Command.

As prepared for delivery:

 Good morning. The committee meets today to receive testimony on the proposal to establish a United States Space Force. I’d like to welcome our witnesses: Secretary Patrick Shanahan, Acting Secretary of Defense; Secretary Heather Wilson, Secretary of the Air Force; General Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and General John Hyten, Commander, U.S. Strategic Command.

Before we begin today’s hearing, I would like to provide special recognition of Secretary Wilson.  Today is likely her last appearance before the Committee as she transitions to her new position as the President at the University of Texas at El Paso.  Her service to our country is commendable, first serving in the United States Air Force from 1982 to 1989, as a Congresswoman from 1998 to 2009, and culminating as the 24^th Secretary of the Air Force.  We appreciate your continued service to our nation—and want to wish you well in your new endeavors!

I must applaud and thank both President Trump and Vice President Pence for their renewed focus and cohesive approach to America’s resurgence in the space domain—and the support to our National Defense Strategy.  The reestablishment of the National Space Council (chaired by the Vice President) has provided multiple Space Policy Directives, including the establishment of a Unified Combatant Command, U.S. Space Command, and well as standing up the Space Development Agency, and providing us with the United States Space Force proposal we are discussing today.

Space is a warfighting domain, and future conflicts with Russia or China will involve attacks from, in and through space.  This would profoundly disrupt our society, which is heavily dependent on satellite communications, positioning, navigation and timing, and other vital space-based technology.  We must restore our margin of dominance in space over our adversaries.  The President’s leadership and continued attention to the space domain protects the freedom of action these great power competitors would like to disturb—and the unwavering Presidential support we have received ensures our warfighters will have the technology and ability to bring America back to greatness in space.

Today’s hearing will provide us an opportunity to continue to gather the facts and fully explore the proposal as presented to us just four weeks ago, just after the budget was submitted.   Talking with the members of the committee and their Military Legislative Assistants (MLAs) and staff, we are all open-minded on the plan but are wrestling with how to build the Space Force so it is set up for success over the next 50 years.

When I first heard about this proposal, I asked three simple questions:  What will this organization fix, how much will it cost—and is the cost worth it?  I have yet to get satisfactory answers to those questions and am hoping today’s hearing may provide further information for the members of the committee and me.  I look forward to talking about other options for consideration—such as making the National Reconnaissance Office (the NRO) the Space Force.  I consider it a viable alternative for us in our ongoing analysis.

Since this is such an important topic to our nation and our national defense, I am allowing for six-minute rounds for questions from the members of the committee.

I look forward to your testimony, lady and gentlemen. Senator Reed. 

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