WASHINGTON, DC  – House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO),  Ranking Member John McHugh (R-NY), Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ), and Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX) praised the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of H.R. 2101, the Weapons Acquisition System reform Through Enhancing Technical Knowledge and Oversight (WASTE TKO) Act. 

The WASTE TKO Act was approved in the House today by a vote of 428 to 0.  A section-by-section analysis of the legislation is located here.

 “The WASTE TKO Act is an important first step to rein in out of control cost growth in the development of major weapons programs, and I’m proud that our bipartisan bill gained the overwhelming support of the House.  I look forward to working with our Senate colleagues in conference so we can send a bill to the President as soon as possible,” Chairman Skelton said.

 “The passage of this legislation is an important step toward reforming the process for how the Department of Defense acquires major weapons systems.  We look forward to working with our colleagues in the Senate to quickly conference and move the final legislation to the President,” said Ranking Member McHugh.  “I appreciate Chairman Skelton for collaborating so closely with me on this effort and the hard work of our Defense Acquisition Reform Panel.  I have absolute confidence that these members, which are ably led by Mike Conaway and Rob Andrews, will continue in their endeavors and provide the Armed Services Committee with a number of additional recommendations in the coming months.”

 “I applaud Chairman Skelton, Ranking Member McHugh and Rep. Conaway for their leadership on the WASTE TKO Act. This bill will help stop the Department of Defense from wasting taxpayer dollars through endless cost growth in weapons programs. The WASTE TKO Act will also ensure that we get the weapons capabilities we need to keep America safe at reasonable cost. Passage of this legislation is an essential step at a time when the federal budget, including defense spending, must be brought under control. I look forward to continuing our work on the Defense Acquisition Reform Panel and finding solutions for the other 80 percent of the defense acquisition process that will continue saving precious taxpayer dollars,” said Representative Andrews.

 “I am pleased that this bipartisan legislation has passed the House, and am proud of what this important bill will do for the Department of Defense and our men and women in uniform. This bill provides necessary oversight early in product development to proactively avoid costly mistakes and sub-par performance, allowing more informed decisions to be made and greater ability to review alternative program solutions throughout the process without adding unnecessary layers of bureaucracy. I want to thank Chairman Skelton, Ranking Member McHugh and Chairman Andrews for their leadership and dedication to this bill,” Representative Conaway said.

###