Mike Rogers - Chairman of the Armed Services Committee | Official U.S. House headshot
Mike Rogers - Chairman of the Armed Services Committee | Official U.S. House headshot
U.S. Representative Jack Bergman (R-MI), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations, delivered an opening statement at the full committee markup for H.R. 8070, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement Act and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25).
Rep. Bergman’s remarks as prepared for delivery included expressions of gratitude to Ranking Member Gallego and subcommittee members for their contributions to developing a bipartisan subcommittee print.
"The ISO print continues to focus on providing our Special Operations Forces and the Defense Intelligence Enterprise the tools required to ensure they can support the Department’s efforts in strategic competition and in countering malign Chinese actions," Bergman stated. "This effort must be accomplished in every geographical Combatant Command."
Bergman highlighted that the subcommittee print supports the Defense Intelligence Enterprise’s ongoing efforts by extending critical authorities for using commercial practices that bolster security and intelligence activities. The print also mandates information on how Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning will be utilized to enhance intelligence gathering, tradecraft, and analysis.
The subcommittee print aims to improve the Army’s capacity to counter espionage threats from adversaries by authorizing special agents of the Army’s Counterintelligence Command to execute warrants and make arrests during counterintelligence investigations. This authority aligns with those granted to three other federal agencies responsible for national security investigations.
Additionally, the print extends performance periods for State Partnership programs, enhancing DoD's ability to effectively execute these programs in support of Geographic Combatant Commands against China.
Bergman also emphasized that the subcommittee print advocates research, development, testing, and procurement of essential Special Operations systems such as specialty watercraft, deep submergence propulsion, and blast monitoring equipment.
In closing his statement, Bergman expressed appreciation for his professional staff: "I also want to take this opportunity to thank our tremendous professional staff of Craig Greene, Max Huntley, Mark Morehouse, Will Johnson, Katy Quinn, Owen McGeary, and my personal office; without this team, the mark would not be possible."
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