REP. ANDREWS APPOINTED TO HOUSE ARMED SERVICE COMMITTEE; WORKS TO IMPROVE RECRUITMENT

I am pleased to be appointed to serve on the House Armed Services Committee for the 109th Session of Congress. The primary function of the House Armed Services Committee is to work with the President to ensure that our nation's Armed Forces have the necessary means to defend our country's freedom. Previously, I had the privilege of serving on this distinguished committee during the 107th Congress and took a sabbatical during the last Congress to serve of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security.

As a member of the Personnel and Terrorism Subcommittees, my responsibilities will include hearing testimony on the status of our current armed forces, recommending improvements affecting our national security, and insuring that our nation's defense budget includes the necessary funding to support our military in every mission they are requested to undertake.

On February 2, 2005, the Committee conducted a hearing with members of the Military Personnel subcommittee to listen to testimony from the Department of the Army and the National Guard on the adequacy of our Army Forces. During this hearing, Lieutenant General Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, testified that the U.S. Army National Guard, which supplies about 40 percent of the troops in Iraq, missed its first- quarter recruiting goal by about 20 percent. During this hearing, I told the General of my deep concern that our active duty, reserves and National Guard are spread too thin.

As a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, It is important to remain committed to our nation's goals of building a strong United States Military. In order to strengthen our military, I will continue to advocate to our President that providing our military with the latest training, technology and equipment is the best way to safeguard our nation from terrorism. Additionally, I will work with fellow members of the Committee and our military leaders to improve incentives to continue to attract the best and brightest men and women to join our Nation's Armed Services.

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