Members of the House Armed Services Committee’s (HASC) Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities (ETC) recently passed their subcommittee mark for the FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes provisions for cybersecurity, counterterrorism initiatives, and defense innovation.
According to the subcommittee, its proposal is a vital part of the NDAA through which HSAC can conduct oversight of counterterrorism programs, special operations forces, defense-wide science and technology, cyber operations, strategic communications, intelligence programs, weapons of mass destruction (WMD) nonproliferation, and homeland defense.
Specifically, the subcommittee mark includes provisions such as prioritizing the readiness of U.S. Cyber Command and cyber mission forces, including initiatives to strengthen the cyber workforce; enhances the resiliency of Department of Defense networks and weapons systems; and strengthens congressional oversight of sensitive cyber military operations.
With regards to counterterrorism, the mark includes provisions that authorizes U.S. Special Operations Command programs and activities for ongoing efforts in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, and Eastern Europe; and grants permanent authority for family support programs within Special Operations Command.
To support defense innovation and emerging technologies, the mark includes provisions for advancing hypersonic weapons research and development, recommending the chairman fully fund the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the Chemical and Biological Defense Program, and the Cooperative Threat Reduction; and addresses military service unfunded requirements for operations within a WMD environment.
“We have taken a hard look at some very important issues within the subcommittee’s jurisdiction, and we have done so in a truly collaborative and bipartisan manner,” Subcommittee Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) said. “For their hard work, I thank each of my colleagues on the subcommittee… I am especially proud of what this subcommittee has been able to achieve this year in the areas of cyber warfare and cyber operations.”