Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee told Fox News Sunday that he and committee chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) share “the huge priority” to increase the United States’ weapons production, because military readiness has become a “huge problem,” as The Hill reported.

“We need to increase that ability to surge when we need it, which means we desperately need to increase our manufacturing base for key weapons systems,” Smith said.

Smith also said he hopes people will tone down rhetoric that the U.S. is on the brink of war with China.

“War is not inevitable,” he said. “That’s a very dangerous situation that we need to be prepared for, but I’m fully confident that we can avoid that conflict if we take the right approach.”

The Hill photo by Greg Nash