New House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry used the first major speech of his tenure to strengthen his committee’s role in determining the “shape, size and soul” of the military.

Over the last few years, the Pentagon has defined its budget under sequestration as largely a debate between weapons systems and readiness. With many of the cuts, Congress has countered and restored funding in its annual defense bill, such as last year’s restoration of the A-10 Thunderbolt and the refueling of the nuclear aircraft carrier USS George Washington.