McCollum Leads Classified Hearing on U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Budget Request

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04), Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense (HAC-D), today led a classified hearing with Admiral John C. Aquilino, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), and General Paul J. LaCamera, Commander of U.S. Forces Korea, United Nations Command, and Combined Forces Command.

USINDOPACOM is one of six geographic combatant commands, and is supported by multiple component and sub-unified commands including: U.S. Forces Korea, US Forces Japan, U.S. Special Operations Command Pacific, U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. Marine Forces Pacific, U.S. Pacific Air Forces and U.S. Army Pacific. The 36 nations comprising the Asia-Pacific region are home to more than 50% of the world's population. With allies and partners, USINDOPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

Chair McCollum released the following statement:

"The importance of a strong posture for INDOPACOM cannot be overstated," Chair McCollum said. "As the Defense Subcommittee directs resources within the FY 2023 Defense Appropriations bill, today's testimony from Adm. Aquilino and Gen. LaCamera provided important insight about how their budget needs fit within the broader goal of deterring China, as well as how the U.S. and our allies are countering the nuclear and conventional threats posed by North Korea. We discussed how the Biden administration has worked to regain confidence with our allies in the region, and emphasized the critical importance of a whole-of-government approach in the Indo-Pacific – now and into the future."

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