ADAM SMITH. WASHINGTON, CHAIRMAN SUSAN A. DAVIS, CALIFORNIA JAMES R. LANGEVIN. RHODE ISLAND RICK JIM COOPER, TENNESSEE JOE COURTNEY, CONNECTICUT JOHN GARAMENDI. CALIFORNIA JACKIE SPEIER, CALIFORNIA TULSI GABBARD. HAWAII DONALD NORCROSS. NEW JERSEY RUBEN GALLEGO, ARIZONA SETH MOULTON. MASSACHUSETTS SALUD O. CARBAJAL, CALIFORNIA ANTHONY G. BROWN. MARYLAND. VICE CHAIR RO KHANNA. CALIFORNIA WILLIAM R. KEATING. FILEMON ANDY KIM, NEW JERSEY KENDRA S. HORN, OKLAHOMA GILBERT RAY CISNEROS, JR., CALIFORNIA CHRISSY HOULAHAN. JASON CROW, COLORADO XOCHITL TORRES SMALL. NEW MEXICO ELISSA SLOTKIN. MICHIGAN MIKIE SHERRILL. NEW JERSEY KATIE HILL. CALIFORNIA VERONICA ESCOEAR. TEXAS DEBRA A. HAALAND, NEW MEXICO JARED GOLDEN. MAINE LORI TRAHAN, MASSACHUSETTS ELAINE G. LURIA.VIRGINIA COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES EELS. 1130MB at Representatihea Washington, ENE 20515?6035 ONE HUNDRED SIXTEENTH CONGRESS February 25, 2019 The Honorable Patrick M. Shanahan Acting Secretary of Defense US. Department of Defense 1000 Defense, Pentagon Washington, DC. 20301?1000 Dear Secretary Shanahan: WILLIAM M. THORNBERRY. TEXAS. RANKING MEMBER . .JOE WILSON. SOUTH CAROLINA ROB BISHOP. UTAH MICHAEL R. TURNER. OHIO MIKE ROGERS. ALABAMA K. MICHAEL CONAWAY. TEXAS DOUG LAMEORN, COLORADO ROBERT J. VIRGINIA VICKY MISSOURI AUSTIN SCOTT, GEORGIA MO BROOKS, ALABAMA PAUL COOK. CALIFORNIA BRADLEY BYRNE. ALABAMA SAM GRAVES. MISSOURI ELISE M. STEFANIK. NEW YORK SCOTT TENNESSEE RALPH LEE ABRAHAM. LOUISIANA TRENT KELLY. MISSISSIPPI MIKE GALLAGHER. WISCONSIN MATT GAETZ. FLORIDA DON BACON, NEBRASKA JIM BANKS. INDIANA LIZ CHENEY. WYOMING PAUL MITCHELL, MICHIGAN JACK BERGMAN, MICHIGAN MICHAEL WALTZ. FLORIDA PAUI. ARCANGELI, STAFF DIRECTOR We write to express our concern about President Trump?s intent to use Department of Defense funds to construct a wall along the southern border. As the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Readiness Subcommittee, we fear that reprograming ?Jnding intended for military construction projects and counterdrug activities will come at the expense of troop readiness and Department~wide efforts to address the military?s aging infrastructure. In 2018, Defense of?cials testi?ed before Congress that the Department had a $116 billion facility maintenance backlog and that 23% of the department?s facilities were in poor condition, with 9% in failing condition. As you know, there is approximately $23 billion of unobligated appropriations currently in the military construction account. These funds were requested by the Department of Defense, authorized and appropriated with bipartisan support by Congress, and signed into law by the President for speci?c military construction projects. These investments should go to supporting new weapon systems, replacing aging facilities, and improving the readiness and quality of life of our troops and their families as originally intended. Further, with roughly $1 billion appropriated to the Department?s drug interdiction and counter-drug activities account for FY19, the Department will need to reprogram funds from other accounts and priorities to reach the $2.5 billion sought by the President. It remains unclear where these remaining funds will come from, and we have serious concerns about the impact any reprogramming may have on readiness. We respectfully request you provide the following information by Friday, March 15?: . When will Congress receive the 2808 notification specifying the military construction projects that will be deferred, and how will this impact these projects? proposed construction timelines? The Honorable Patrick M. Shanahan Acting Secretary of Defense Page 2 - Given that the authority provided in 10 U.S.C. 2808 is predicated on being used for projects that are ?necessary to support such use of the armed forces,? please provide the justification for using these funds for the wall, explaining in detail how fencing or a border wall is necessary to support our armed forces. . Given that the authority provided in 10 U.S.C. 284 is predicated on fences to ?block drug smuggling corridors,? please provide the justi?cation for using these funds for the wall, explaining in detail how the location is a drug smuggling corridor and fencing is necessary. . When will Congress receive the 284 noti?cation, specifying the sources of funds (up to that will be reallocated in support of counterdrug activities under 10 U.S.C. 284?? Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, John aramendi Ch rman Ranking Member on Readiness Subcommittee on Readiness