Inside Defense
Aug. 6, 2009 -- Pentagon officials are open to a House proposal that would create a National Defense Panel to critique the Quadrennial Defense Review, according to a key official overseeing the ongoing drill.
“We're very much open” to the idea, Kathleen Hicks, the deputy under secretary of defense for strategy, plans and forces, told InsideDefense.com in an interview today.
“We have had many outside lookers -- we're very open to having an independent panel,” she said. “There's always value from folks on the outside seeing what we're doing and helping us to frame up the issues, helping the Congress understand what the big defense issues are and providing their own voice.”
Hicks' comments come as lawmakers prepare to decide what approach to take in mandating an independent assessment of the QDR's recommendations, which are due to Congress next February.
Current law requires that Congress get an assessment from an “independent” -- but defense secretary-convened -- group three months after receiving the QDR report. Pentagon officials must establish the panel six months before the scheduled delivery of the report, which means it should be created this month.
Indeed, Defense Department officials are “moving forward” with establishing the group, Hicks said.
But the House proposal, advanced by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) through the chamber's version of the fiscal year 2010 defense authorization bill, calls for the creation of a National Defense Panel with a broader mandate.
The NDP would consist of 12 "recognized experts" in national security matters. The House and Senate Armed Services committee chairmen would each appoint three members; the committees' ranking members would each get to pick two. The defense secretary also would appoint two members, but the panel could begin its work without them if they are not picked in time.
An initial NDP report with findings is due to Congress and the defense secretary by April 15, 2010, according to the pending House legislation. A final report -- with findings and recommendations -- is due by Jan. 15, 2011.
Senators, in their version of the FY-10 defense authorization legislation, made no mention of an outside review panel akin to the NDP.
“The issue wasn’t discussed during mark-up so we can’t speak as to why the committee didn’t include it,” a Senate Armed Services Committee spokeswoman told InsideDefense.com in late June, noting the existing requirement for a QDR review panel.
“We are moving forward on the independent panel legislation that's actually in statute, and we'll just see what the fall brings in terms of any changes to that based on the NDP legislation,” Hicks said today.
House and Senate lawmakers are expected to iron out differences between their respective defense authorization bills after the August recess. -- Sebastian Sprenger
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