Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee's Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee, made the following statement at the opening of the subcommittee's hearing on Department of Defense programs and policies relating to emerging counterterrorism threats:

“Thank you, Madam Chairman. I join you in welcoming our witnesses today and thank them for their many years of service. Their testimony will play an important role in informing our efforts to craft the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014.

“Over the last month, the full committee has heard from many of our most respected civilian and military leaders regarding the threats within their respective areas of responsibilities. What was made abundantly clear from their testimony is that the United States and our partners are facing a global security environment that is as complex and daunting as any time in recent history. Terrorist and other illicit networks are increasingly interconnected and are no longer confined to geographic boundaries. As you have stated previously Admiral McRaven, (quote) ‘there is no such thing as a local problem.’

“While the security environment is becoming increasingly dynamic, I worry that our strategy to confront these threats is struggling to keep pace. What I hope to gain from our hearing today is a better understanding of what threats cause our witnesses the greatest concern and whether current strategy, resourcing and legal authorities are sufficient to meet these threats.

“More simply, how do we most effectively address the growing threats to the United States and our interests around the world, particularly in a time of growing budgetary uncertainty?

“Thank you, Madam Chairman.”