News Release

For Immediate Release
March 22, 2001

 Working Group calls for EW hearings

Washington—Members of the Electronic Warfare Working Group wrote to House Armed Services Committee Chairman Bob Stump today, asking for hearings on the state of America’s electronic warfare (EW) capabilities.

The Members wrote, “As America leads the world into the information age, it is becoming clear that control of the electromagnetic spectrum may be as important to military success as air superiority, space dominance and control of the seas.  Without unfettered access to the full range of frequencies, U.S. military forces cannot reliably leverage the benefits of information technology in wartime.  Further, without the ability to deny such access to potential adversaries, U.S. forces cannot avoid becoming the victims of information technology in future conflicts.

“Thus, electronic warfare – the various methods for assuring dominance of the electromagnetic spectrum in wartime – is becoming even more important than it was in the past.  Unfortunately, EW is not receiving sufficient attention from the armed forces. The evidence of Operation Allied Force in Spring 1999, suggests that America’s airborne EW assets have become over committed and under funded as they are called on to do more and more in the post-Cold War era.  This is unacceptable and we must work to change this alarming trend.

“Before genuine change can be realized, however, Congress needs to better understand the evolving role of electronic warfare in the new security environment.  For this reason, we request that hearings be convened on the current status of EW plans and programs, with an emphasis on challenges that may weaken America’s current dominance of the electromagnetic spectrum in wartime.

Signing the letter were Reps. Mark Kirk (R, IL-10), John M. Spratt (D, SC-5), Joe Pitts (R, PA-16), Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R, CA-51), Rick Larsen (D-WA-2), Jack Quinn (R, NY-30), James T. Walsh (R, NY-25), Wayne Gilchrest (R, MD-1), Robert Cramer (D, AL-5), John Hostettler (R, IN-8), Tom Sawyer (D, OH-14), Carolyn McCarthy (D, NY-4), Sue Kelly (R, NY-19), John Thune (R, SD), Peter King (R, NY-3), Walter Jones (R, NC-3), Jim Saxton (R, NJ-3), Jim Gibbons (R, AZ-2), Phil Crane (R, IL-8), and Darrel Issa (R, CA-48).

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Electronic Warfare Working Group

Congressman Joe Pitts, Founder and Chairman

420 Cannon House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

202 225-2411 phone    202 225-2013 fax