WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congressmen August Pfluger (TX-11), Pat Harrigan (NC-10), and Matt Van Epps (TN-07), three Veterans and graduates of United States Service Academies, participated in a panel at the Heritage Foundation's Launch of the 2026 Index of U.S. Military Strength. This is the Heritage Foundation's comprehensive assessment of how the U.S. military is postured to handle security threats our nation faces.
During the panel, Rep. Pfluger emphasized the need to invest in Airpower, produce weapons systems and technology faster, and inspire younger generations at U.S. Service Academies.
Watch clips by clicking and read highlights from Rep. Pfluger below.
Rep. Pfluger on Investing in Airpower:
"I will beadvocating for air power. Again, we're paying for eight years of an Obama administration that were appeasers-in-chief. We're paying for four years of a Biden administration that was completely detrimental to our service in all aspects. In air power, we're the oldest and the smallest that we've ever been, yet the demand signal is the highest it's been, certainly since Desert Storm. These weapons systems are being called upon in Venezuela for the initial nuclear strikes and now, once again, for the Iranian issues to achieve strategic objectives. And that's going to continue."
Watch the full clip here or by clicking the image below:
Rep. Pfluger on Producing Weapon Systems/Technology Faster:
"We know we have to move faster. I think back to World War II and the production of all of our weapons systems happening thousands per month. It takes years to complete the build-out. The primes need to go faster. We need to rely on the innovative startups. The technology is there... There is a role for Congress here, but I would also say there's a role, more importantly, for the defense industry at large to make these changes and to move at the speed of our need. This engagement in Iran, I think, is going to deplete some of our stockpile of munitions, our WRM, and we're going to have to replace that in order to continue to deter our enemies around the world. So this is one of the most important things. Yes, there's a legislative role, but there's also a role that Secretary Hegseth is doing. He is making this move and asking, requiring, and demanding that the industrial base move faster."
Watch the full clip here or by clicking the image below:
Rep. Pfluger on His Role as Chairman of the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors:
"You have three [U.S. Service Academy] grads up here, and as Chairman of the Air Force Academy Board of Visitors, there are a couple of things...
"Number one, every graduate of every service academy in this country needs to be taught why our form of governance is the best in the world. They need to be taught why they love this flag, why we love the Constitution, and why we stand up to protect and defend it. That needs to be the fundamental thing if you're going to be willing to die for your country. If you're willing to die for your country, you need to know why it matters to you. That will change the course of your leadership and how you serve...
"Number two, our Cadets and Midshipmen need to be taught how to think, how to adapt, and how to quickly solve problems. This is a complex world. The problems that they're going to solve fifteen to twenty years from now, we may not have even thought about yet. They need to be taught how to adapt and how to do those problem-solving exercises, because they're going to be faced with protecting our way of life and our freedoms....
"And lastly, at the Air Force Academy in particular, we've gone from 4,400 in strength to 4,000 graduates. We cannot do that anymore. We now have the Space Force and the Air Force that we are servicing, and we've got to get back to 4,400. They need to teach kids how to think, how to solve problems, and how to win when asked to do that."
Watch the full cliphere or by clicking the image below:
You can also watch the full panel discussion HEREor by clicking the image below:
