WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today participated in a full committee hearing examining the nomination of Gen. Eric M. Smith to be the next Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps.

In his remarks, Wicker observed that the United States is entering a window of maximum danger in the Western Pacific as the Chinese Communist Party grows more aggressive. The Mississippi senator expressed his position that the Marine Corps is a key element of deterring the Chinese military.

“The window in which Congress can affect real change in our force posture – and hopefully correct some of the troubling trends I see in the Western Pacific – is closing. This is a decisive decade for the 21st century,” Wicker said. “In my view, the Marine Corps has met that challenge with vigor and urgency, even if change at scale is always hard and imperfect.”

Wicker also maintained his focus on LPD-33, a San Antonio-class amphibious warship that would bring the fleet to the 31 amphibious warship requirement. In his opening statement, Wicker slammed President Biden’s defense budget for cutting funding for LPD-33 and discussed the capabilities the ship would bring to the Marine Corps.

“As Commandant Berger testified repeatedly before this committee, the leading edge of our deterrence is the ability to transport Marines and materiel across vast distances in a maritime environment. Congress reflected this operational demand in the Marine Corps’ 31 amphibious ship force requirement,” Wicker said. “I am frustrated by President Biden’s woefully inadequate defense budget proposal, which would slash funding for LPD-33, a critical platform in fulfilling a range of the Marine Corps’ missions, including disaster response and alliance assurance.”

General Eric M. Smith, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, appeared before the committee for his nomination.

Read Senator Wicker’s comments as delivered below, or watch them here.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman for a very fine opening statement. And General Smith, I thank you for your service and offer my congratulations to you on your nomination. I will join my distinguished Chairman in welcoming your family – they ought to be awfully proud of your unwavering and devoted service to your country. I think you are exceptionally qualified to serve as Commandant of the Marine Corps.

The Marine Corps modernization plan, Force Design 2030, is geared toward strengthening deterrence against China. I would like to hear today your honest assessment of where Force Design 2030 has succeeded and where work remains to be accomplished.

The United States is entering a window of maximum danger for conflict with the Chinese Communist Party. Xi Jinping intends to have a force capable of invading Taiwan by 2027. He’s told us this. Even in the past month, China has shown it is serious about undermining our military and diplomatic power. It has harassed a U.S. reconnaissance plane and a U.S. Navy warship, disturbed World War II wrecks, engaged in espionage at an Alaskan military installation, and threatened cyber activity in Guam. The threats from Russia, North Korea, and Iran are not getting any better, either.

The window in which Congress can affect real change in our force posture – and hopefully correct some of the troubling trends we see in the Western Pacific – is closing. This is the decisive decade for the 21^st century in the Indo-Pacific.

In my view, the Marine Corps has met that challenge with vigor and urgency, even if change at scale is always hard and imperfect.

Throughout our nation’s history, the Marine Corps has distinguished itself as flexible, fast, and adaptable – hence its motto, “first to fight.” The ability for amphibious forces to search, target, and sink potential enemy naval and air combatants while maintaining a low signature is hard work. It requires new capabilities, concepts, and formations. General Smith, I would like you to explain to the committee how you intend to continue that work, including unfinished business regarding amphibious lift capabilities.

As Commandant Berger testified repeatedly before this committee, the leading edge of our deterrence is the ability to transport Marines and materiel across vast distances in a maritime environment. Congress reflected this operational demand in the Marine Corps’ 31 amphibious ship force requirement. I am frustrated by President Biden’s woefully-inadequate defense budget proposal, which would slash funding for LPD-33, a critical platform in fulfilling a range of the Marine Corps’ missions, including disaster response and alliance assurance. I would appreciate your views, General, regarding the amphibious ship requirement and LPD-33.

If confirmed, you would be at the tip of the American spear in observing the Chinese military and ensuring the Marine Corps remains trained, equipped, and organized to deter conflict in the Western Pacific. I look forward to the testimony. And thank you, Mr. Chairman.