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Overview

The Committee on Armed Services (sometimes abbreviated SASC for Senate Armed Services Committee) is a committee of the United States Senate empowered with legislative oversight of the nation’s military, including the Department of Defense, military research and development, nuclear energy (as pertaining to national security), benefits for members of the military, the Selective Service System and other matters related to defense policy. The Armed Services Committee was created as a result of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 following U.S. victory in the Second World War. The bill merged the responsibilities of the Committee on Naval Affairs (established in 1816) and the Committee on Military Affairs (also established in 1816).

Considered one of the most powerful Senate committees, its broad mandate allowed it to report some of the most extensive and revolutionary legislation during the Cold War years, including the National Security Act of 1947. The committee tends to take a more bipartisan approach than other committees, as many of its members formerly served in the military or have major defense interests located in the states they come from. The Committee’s regular legislative product is the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which has been passed by Congress and signed into law each year since 1962.

Source: Wikipedia

Jurisdiction

According to the Standing Rules of the United States Senate, all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the following subjects are referred to the Armed Services Committee:

1. Aeronautical and space activities pertaining to or primarily associated with the development of weapons systems or military operations.
2. Common defense.
3. Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, and the Department of the Air Force, generally.
4. Maintenance and operation of the Panama Canal, including administration, sanitation, and government of the Canal Zone.
5. Military research and development.
6. National security aspects of nuclear energy.
7. Naval petroleum reserves, except those in Alaska.
8. Pay, promotion, retirement, and other benefits and privileges of members of the Armed Forces, including overseas education of civilian and military dependents.
9. Selective service system.
10. Strategic and critical materials necessary for the common defense.

Rules

1.  Regular Meeting Day–The Committee shall meet at least once a month when Congress is in session. The regular meeting days of the Committee shall be Tuesday and Thursday, unless the Chairman, after consultation with the Ranking Minority Member, directs otherwise.

2. Additional Meetings–The Chairman, after consultation with the Ranking Minority Member, may call such additional meetings as he deems necessary.

3. Special Meetings–Special meetings of the Committee may be called by a majority of the members of the Committee in accordance with paragraph 3 of Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

4. Open Meetings–Each meeting of the Committee, or any subcommittee thereof, including meetings to conduct hearings, shall be open to the public, except that a meeting or series of meetings by the Committee or a subcommittee thereof on the same subject for a period of no more than fourteen (14) calendar days may be closed to the public on a motion made and seconded to go into closed session to discuss only whether the matters enumerated below in clauses (a) through (f) would require the meeting to be closed, followed immediately by a record vote in open session by a majority of the members of the Committee or subcommittee when it is determined that the matters to be discussed or the testimony to be taken at such meeting or meetings_

(a) will disclose matters necessary to be kept secret in the interests of national defense or the confidential conduct of the foreign relations of the United States;

(b) will relate solely to matters of Committee staff personnel or internal staff management or procedure;

(c) will tend to charge an individual with a crime or misconduct, to disgrace or injure the professional standing of an individual, or otherwise to expose an individual to public contempt or obloquy or will represent a clearly unwarranted invasion of the privacy of an individual;

(d) will disclose the identity of any informer or law enforcement agent or will disclose any information relating to the investigation or prosecution of a criminal offense that is required to be kept secret in the interests of effective law enforcement;

(e) will disclose information relating to the trade secrets or financial or commercial information pertaining specifically to a given person if–

(1) an Act of Congress requires the information to be kept confidential by Government officers and employees; or

(2) the information has been obtained by the Government on a confidential basis, other than through an application by such person for a specific Government financial or other benefit, and is required to be kept secret in order to prevent undue injury to the competitive position of such person; or

(f) may divulge matters required to be kept confidential under other provisions of law or Government regulations.

5. Presiding Officer–The Chairman shall preside at all meetings and hearings of the Committee except that in his absence the Ranking Majority Member present at the meeting or hearing shall preside unless by majority vote the Committee provides otherwise.

6. Quorum–(a) A majority of the members of the Committee are required to be actually present to report a matter or measure from the Committee.  (See Standing Rules of the Senate 26.7(a)(1)).

(b) Except as provided in subsections (a) and (c), and other than for the conduct of hearings, nine members of the Committee, including one member of the minority party; or a majority of the members of the Committee, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of such business as may be considered by the Committee.

(c) Three members of the Committee, one of whom shall be a member of the minority party, shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of taking sworn testimony, unless otherwise ordered by a majority of the full Committee.

(d) Proxy votes may not be considered for the purpose of establishing a quorum.

7. Proxy Voting–Proxy voting shall be allowed on all measures and matters before the Committee. The vote by proxy of any member of the Committee may be counted for the purpose of reporting any measure or matter to the Senate if the absent member casting such vote has been informed of the matter on which the member is being recorded and has affirmatively requested that he or she be so recorded.  Proxy must be given in writing.

8. Announcement of Votes–The results of all roll call votes taken in any meeting of the Committee on any measure, or amendment thereto, shall be announced in the Committee report, unless previously announced by the Committee. The announcement shall include a tabulation of the votes cast in favor and votes cast in opposition to each such measure and amendment by each member of the Committee who was present at such meeting. The Chairman, after consultation with the Ranking Minority Member, may hold open a roll call vote on any measure or matter which is before the Committee until no later than midnight of the day on which the Committee votes on such measure or matter.

9. Subpoenas–Subpoenas for attendance of witnesses and for the production of memoranda, documents, records, and the like may be issued, after consultation with the Ranking Minority Member, by the Chairman or any other member designated by the Chairman, but only when authorized by a majority of the members of the Committee. The subpoena shall briefly state the matter to which the witness is expected to testify or the documents to be produced.

10. Hearings–(a) Public notice shall be given of the date, place and subject matter of any hearing to be held by the Committee, or any subcommittee thereof, at least 1 week in advance of such hearing, unless the Committee or subcommittee determines that good cause exists for beginning such hearings at an earlier time.

(b) Hearings may be initiated only by the specified authorization of the Committee or subcommittee.

(c) Hearings shall be held only in the District of Columbia unless specifically authorized to be held elsewhere by a majority vote of the Committee or subcommittee conducting such hearings.

(d) The Chairman of the Committee or subcommittee shall consult with the Ranking Minority Member thereof before naming witnesses for a hearing.

(e) Witnesses appearing before the Committee shall file with the clerk of the Committee a written statement of their proposed testimony prior to the hearing at which they are to appear unless the Chairman and the Ranking Minority Member determine that there is good cause not to file such a statement.  Witnesses testifying on behalf of the Administration shall furnish an additional 50 copies of their statement to the Committee.  All statements must be received by the Committee at least 48 hours (not including weekends or holidays) before the hearing.

(f) Confidential testimony taken or confidential material presented in a closed hearing of the Committee or subcommittee or any report of the proceedings of such hearing shall not be made public in whole or in part or by way of summary unless authorized by a majority vote of the Committee or subcommittee.

(g) Any witness summoned to give testimony or evidence at a public or closed hearing of the Committee or subcommittee may be accompanied by counsel of his own choosing who shall be permitted at all times during such hearing to advise such witness of his legal rights.

(h) Witnesses providing unsworn testimony to the Committee may be given a transcript of such testimony for the purpose of making minor grammatical corrections. Such witnesses will not, however, be permitted to alter the substance of their testimony. Any question involving such corrections shall be decided by the Chairman.

11. Nominations–Unless otherwise ordered by the Committee, nominations referred to the Committee shall be held for at least seven (7) days before being voted on by the Committee. Each member of the Committee shall be furnished a copy of all nominations referred to the Committee.

12. Real Property Transactions–Each member of the Committee shall be furnished with a copy of the proposals of the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, submitted pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2662 and with a copy of the proposals of the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, submitted pursuant to 50 U.S.C. App. 2285, regarding the proposed acquisition or disposition of property of an estimated price or rental of more than $50,000. Any member of the Committee objecting to or requesting information on a proposed acquisition or disposal shall communicate his objection or request to the Chairman of the Committee within thirty (30) days from the date of submission.

13. Legislative Calendar–(a) The clerk of the Committee shall keep a printed calendar for the information of each Committee member showing the bills introduced and referred to the Committee and the status of such bills. Such calendar shall be revised from time to time to show pertinent changes in such bills, the current status thereof, and new bills introduced and referred to the Committee. A copy of each new revision shall be furnished to each member of the Committee.

(b) Unless otherwise ordered, measures referred to the Committee shall be referred by the clerk of the Committee to the appropriate department or agency of the Government for reports thereon.

14. Except as otherwise specified herein, the Standing Rules of the Senate shall govern the actions of the Committee. Each subcommittee of the Committee is part of the Committee, and is therefore subject to the Committee’s rules so far as applicable.

15. Powers and Duties of Subcommittees–Each subcommittee is authorized to meet, hold hearings, receive evidence, and report to the full Committee on all matters referred to it. Subcommittee chairmen, after consultation with Ranking Minority Members of the subcommittees, shall set dates for hearings and meetings of their respective subcommittees after consultation with the Chairman and other subcommittee chairmen with a view toward avoiding simultaneous scheduling of full Committee and subcommittee meetings or hearings whenever possible.

Source: Committee website

History

The Senate Committees on Military Affairs; on the Militia; and Naval Affairs were established on December 10, 1816.  The Committee on the Militia was merged with the Committee on Military Affairs in 1858 to form the Military Affairs and Militia Committee.  However, in 1872 the Committee dropped “Militia” from its name.  The Military Affairs and Naval Affairs Committees existed until 1947 when they were combined by the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 into a new standing committee, the current Committee on Armed Services.

Source: Committee website

Web Links

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Subcommittees

Source: Committee website

Airland Subcommittee

• Responsibilities: Army planning and operations policy and programs (less space, cyber, and special operations); Air Force planning and operations policy and programs (less nuclear weapons, space, cyber, and special operations).
• Special additional area: National Guard and Reserve planning and operations policy and equipment.
• Oversight of budget accounts: Army and Air Force research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) and procurement (less technology base, space, cyber, nuclear weapons, special operations, and ammunition).

Democratic Members:
Tammy Duckworth, Illinois, Chair
Angus King, Maine
Gary Peters, Michigan
Joe Manchin, West Virginia
Mark Kelly, Arizona
Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut

Republican Members:
Tom Cotton, Arkansas, Ranking Member
Deb Fischer, Nebraska
Joni Ernst, Iowa
Rick Scott, Florida
Markwayne Mullin, Oklahoma

Subcommittee on Cybersecurity

• Responsibilities: Policies and programs related to cyber forces and capabilities.
  
• Oversight of budget accounts: Information Technology base RDT&E; cyber-related operational test and evaluation; RDT&E and procurement supporting cyber capabilities; combating cyber threats and attacks; cyber-related train and equip programs.
  
• Oversight of DOD offices: Principal Advisor on Military Cyber Force Matters; Principal Cyber Advisors of military departments; Department of Defense Chief Information Officers; and Chief Information Officers of the military departments.
• Oversight of DOD commands and agencies: U.S. Cyber Command; the cyber capabilities of the DOD components, commands, and agencies.

Majority members:
Joe Manchin, West Virginia, Chair
Kirsten Gillibrand, New York
Gary Peters, Michigan
Tammy Duckworth, Illinois
Jacky Rosen, Nevada

Minority members:
Mike Rounds, South Dakota, Ranking Member
Joni Ernst, Iowa
Ted Budd, North Carolina
Eric Schmitt, Missouri

Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities

• Responsibilities: Policies and programs related to cyber forces and capabilities.
  
• Oversight of budget accounts: Information Technology base RDT&E; cyber-related operational test and evaluation; RDT&E and procurement supporting cyber capabilities; combating cyber threats and attacks; cyber-related train and equip programs.
  
• Oversight of DOD offices: Principal Advisor on Military Cyber Force Matters; Principal Cyber Advisors of military departments; Department of Defense Chief Information Officers; and Chief Information Officers of the military departments.
• Oversight of DOD commands and agencies: U.S. Cyber Command; the cyber capabilities of the DOD components, commands, and agencies.

Majority members:
Kirsten Gillibrand, New York, Chair
Mark Kelly, Arizona
Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire
Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts
Gary Peters, Michigan

Minority members:
Joni Ernst, Iowa, Ranking Member
Tom Cotton, Arkansas
Markwayne Mullin, Oklahoma
Ted Budd, North Carolina
Eric Schmitt, Missouri

Subcommittee on Personnel

• Responsibilities: Military and DOD civilian personnel policies; end strengths for military personnel; military personnel compensation and benefits; military health care; and military nominations.
• Special additional areas: Professional Military Education; DOD schools; DOD child care and family assistance; civil-military programs; POW/MIA issues; Armed Forces Retirement Home; Morale, Welfare and Recreation; military commissaries and exchanges; and financial literacy and DOD implementation of the Military Lending Act.
• Oversight of budget accounts: Military personnel; military retirement; Defense Health Program; DOD Medicare-Eligible Retiree Health Care Fund; and operation and maintenance for certain education and civil-military programs.
• Oversight of DOD offices: Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel & Readiness); Assistant Secretary of Defense (Manpower & Reserve Affairs); Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs); Assistant Secretary of Defense (Readiness).
• Oversight of DOD agencies: Defense Health Agency; Defense Commissary Agency; and Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency.

Majority members:
Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts, Chair
Mazie Hirono, Hawaii
Tim Kaine, Virginia
Tammy Duckworth, Illinois
Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut

Minority members:
Rick Scott, Florida, Ranking Member
Mike Rounds, South Dakota
Dan Sullivan, Alaska
Ted Budd, North Carolina

Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support

• Responsibilities: Military readiness including training, logistics, and maintenance; military construction; housing construction and privatization; contracting and acquisition policy; business and financial management; base realignment and closure; and defense energy and environmental programs.
• Special additional areas: Conventional ammunition procurement; RDT&E infrastructure; National Defense Stockpile; defense industrial and technology base policies; facility and housing maintenance and repair; land and property management; information technology management policy (excluding cyber); and industrial operations, including depots, shipyards, arsenals, and ammunition plants.
• Oversight of budget accounts: Operation and maintenance; RDT&E support programs; conventional ammunition procurement; military construction and family housing; base realignment and closure; working capital funds; the National Defense Stockpile Transaction Fund.
• Oversight of DoD offices: Undersecretary of Defense (Acquisition and Sustainment); Assistant Secretary of Defense (Sustainment); Assistant Secretary of Defense (Energy, Installations, and Environment); Department of Defense Chief Management Officer; and the Chief Management Officers of the military departments.
• Oversight of DOD agencies and commands: U.S. Transportation Command; Defense Logistics Agency; Defense Finance and Accounting Service; Defense Investigative Service; Defense Contract Audit Agency; DOD Inspector General.

Majority members:
Mazie Hirono, Hawaii, Chair
Tim Kaine, Virginia
Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire
Tammy Duckworth, Illinois
Mark Kelly, Arizona

Minority members:
Dan Sullivan, Alaska, Ranking Member
Deb Fischer, Nebraska
Kevin Cramer, North Dakota
Tommy Tuberville, Alabama
Markwayne Mullin, Oklahoma

Subcommittee on Seapower

• Responsibilities: Navy planning and operations policy and programs (less nuclear weapons, space, cyber, and special operations); and Marine Corps planning and operations policy and programs (less space, cyber, and special operations).
• Special additional areas: Maritime issues.
• Oversight of budget accounts: Navy and Marine Corps procurement and RDT&E; National Sea-Based Deterrence Fund; and National Defense Sealift Fund (less technology base, space, cyber, nuclear weapons, special operations, and ammunition).

Majority members:
Tim Kaine, Virginia, Chair
Mazie Hirono, Hawaii,
Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire
Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut
Angus King, Maine
Gary Peters, Michigan

Minority members:
Kevin Cramer, North Dakota, Ranking Member
Rick Scott, Florida
Dan Sullivan, Alaska
Tommy Tuberville, Alabama
Eric Schmitt, Missouri

Subcommittee on Strategic Forces

• Responsibilities: Nuclear and strategic forces; arms control and non-proliferation programs; space programs; Department of Energy defense nuclear, and defense environmental management programs; and ballistic missile defense.
• Oversight of budget accounts: Procurement and RDT&E for DOD nuclear and strategic forces, missile defense, space systems, Department of Energy defense and non-proliferation programs.
• Oversight of DOD and DOE officials Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Chemical and Biological Defense Programs; National Nuclear Security Administration; and Assistant Secretary of Energy (Environmental Management).
• Oversight of agencies, commands, and activities: U.S. Strategic Command; U.S. Space Command, U.S. Space Force as well as other components of the military departments; Space Development Agency; Missile Defense Agency; National Nuclear Security Administration; Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board; and Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

Majority members:
Angus King, Maine, Chair
Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts
Joe Manchin, West Virginia
Jacky Rosen, Nevada
Mark Kelly, Arizona

Minority members:
Deb Fischer, Nebraska, Ranking Member
Tom Cotton, Arkansas
Mike Rounds, South Dakota
Kevin Cramer, North Dakota
Tommy Tuberville, Alabama

Legislation

Bills

Source: Committee website

Hearings

Source: Committee website

More Information

Oversight Authority

Department of Defense

Armed Forces

Nominations

Source: Committee webpages

Library

Source: Committee website

Campaign Finance

Source: Open Secrets webpages