For title page, table of

contents and index, see set 1.

CARD DIVISION

355

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FEB 2

[No. 1]

ORGANIZATION OF THE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE

US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES,

Washington, D. C., Tuesday, January 25, 1955.

The committee met at 10 a. m., Hon. Carl Vinson (chairman of the committee) presiding.

The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order.

Members of the committee, I congratulate each of you upon your election, both to the Congress and to this committee. Since the committee was organized in January of 1947, it has continued to grow in size, importance, and responsibility. Our membership for the 84th Congress has been increased to 37, exclusive of the Delegates from Hawaii and Alaska, and the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico. We now have 20 members representing the majority, and 17 representing the minority, and I think it appropriate at this time that the 32 members who have been reelected to the committee have an opportunity to meet the 5 new members who have been elected to the committee for the first time.

The new members elected to the majority are Hon. Lester Holtzman, of new York.

Is Mr. Holtzman here? We welcome you on the committee.
The Honorable Robert H. Mollohan, of West Virginia. [Applause.]
The Honorable Richard E. Lankford, of Maryland. [Applause.]
The Honorable George Huddleston, Jr., of Alabama. [Applause.]
One new member has been elected to the minority, the Honorable
Frank C. Osmers, Jr., of New Jersey. [Applause.]

Members of the committee, I am sure I need not stress the importance of the responsibilities which rest on this committee. In fiscal 1956, 65 cents out of every tax dollar will be devoted, directly or indirectly, to military expenditures. While all of the expenditures within that program will not result from authorizations emanating from this committee, a very large portion will be the subject of active committee consideration in the months ahead.

The international situation which confronts this Nation today, and the very nature of this committee's jurisdiction, places a very heavy and serious responsibility on every member of the committee. There must be no hesitancy on the part of the members of this committee in meeting that responsibility.

On this committee there is no room for narrow or partisan considerations. Our sole objective is the maintenance of the highest possible level of national defense, consistent with national solvency and, for my part, I will not knowingly slight the clear requirements of our defense, just for the sake of economy.

The committee has ahead of it a very heavy legislative program. The Selective Service Act and the Dependents Assistance Act both expire on June 30, 1955. I propose that the full committee consider, (1)

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