WEBVTT

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this morning on our national security

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challenges in U . S . Military activity

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in north and south America . Uh We have

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the commanders of both North and South .

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Com uh with us today . I must first

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since this again is a hybrid hearing .

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Read the statement that explains how

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the hybrid hearing will be conducted .

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Members who are joining remotely must

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be visible on screen for the purposes

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of identity verification , establishing

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and maintaining a quorum participating

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in the proceeding and voting . Those

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members must continue to use the

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software platforms video function while

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in attendance unless they experience

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connectivity issues or other technical

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problems that render them unable to

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participate on camera . If a member

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experiences technical difficulties they

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should contact the committee staff for

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assistance . Video of members

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participation will be broadcasting room

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and via the television slash internet

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feeds . Members participating remotely

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must seek recognition verbally and they

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are asked to mute their microphones

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when they are not speaking . Members

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who are participating remotely are

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reminded to keep the software platforms

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video function on the entire time they

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attend the proceeding , members may

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leave and rejoin the proceeding . If

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members depart for a short while , for

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reasons other than joining a different

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proceeding , they should leave . The

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video function on its members will be

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absent for a significant period or

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depart to join a different proceeding .

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They should exit the software platform

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entirely and then we join it . If they

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return , members may use the software

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platforms , chat feature to communicate

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with staff regarding technical or

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logistical support issues . Only .

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Finally , I have designated the

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committee staff member to if necessary ,

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unrecognized members microphones to

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cancel any inadvertent background noise

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that may disrupt the proceedings .

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Thank you . Um As I was saying at the

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start , uh committee hearing is on

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national security challenges US

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military activity in north and south

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America . We have with us today , uh mr

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robert Saleh says , performing the

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duties of Assistant Secretary of

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Defense for Homeland Defense and Global

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Security . We have Admiral Craig Faller ,

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us Navy Commander , U . S . Southern

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Command and General Glenn van Herck , U .

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S . Air Force Commander , U . S .

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Northern Command and North American

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Aerospace Defense Command . And I thank

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you all for being here . We look

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forward to the discussion . Obviously

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there are a lot of challenges going on

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in the world right now . Um and you

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know , the one that dominates is Covid

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its impacts how it's impacting your

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commands , how it's impacting stability

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in your areas of responsibility . We

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are very interested to hear how it is

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going in terms of making sure that we

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protect our service members , maintain

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our ability to train um and meet our

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readiness requirements and at the same

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time how Covid may be impacting your

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areas of responsibility . Obviously

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there's a great deal of instability in

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particular um in South America , uh two

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hurricanes continued economic

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challenges . We have the honour

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building crisis in Venezuela and we've

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seen the impact in terms of the flow of

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folks coming to the border , there are

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a lot of challenges in that region um

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would be anxious to hear , are anxious

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to hear from Admiral Fallon um about

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the details of that and how best we

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should respond and work with partners

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in the region to meet those challenges

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as the impact that region . And

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certainly as they impact us once you

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come further north . Um also curious to

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hear from both of you um about your

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your thoughts on the border , um what

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role you can play in helping us deal

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with that challenge and what the best

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policy is going forward as we try to

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deal with . What is undeniably a very

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challenging situation , a set driven by

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the incredible instability um in uh

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well in Mexico as well as more and more

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so in central America . So we we need

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to figure out how to how to address

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that issue . And one thing I'm curious ,

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we we as as I mentioned yesterday , we

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don't yet have a budget which is

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problematic and challenging . I do

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understand the transition to a new

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administration um but it is mid april ,

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so the sooner we get that , the better

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we'll be able to meet our

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responsibilities in terms of passing

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the National National Defense

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Authorising Act this year . And of

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course the appropriators would also

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like to see the budget , but I'm

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curious about what your initial

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insights are and how that budget might

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impact you . I think one of the great

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challenges , particularly in South com

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over the course of the last 20 years is

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there's been so much going on in the

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rest of the world . Uh South com tends

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to be pretty far down the priority list

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when you look at what has been going on

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going on in centcom , the pivot Asia ,

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even a number of the challenges that

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have cropped up in africa . How do we

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meet all of those responsibilities and

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still do enough ? Um in South com and

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similarly how this impacts North calms

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budget . And I know General Van Herk ,

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you have been particularly focused on

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the arctic um and that is something

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that speaking for myself and for others ,

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we don't understand that issue as well

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as we should . Um And I think in part

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because of all those other challenges

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that we've had , adding , adding what

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seems like a new one um is a challenge ,

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but we we've got to understand what's

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going on up there . Obviously Russia

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has been very active in that area and I

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guess lastly based on our conversation

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before the hearing , I'm very curious

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to get your take on how you perceive

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the threats to the homeland . The rise

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of both Russia and china in terms of

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the global capability , North Korea as

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well has introduced a level of threat

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to the homeland that we haven't seen

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before . How do we need to respond to

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that ? What is the most intelligent

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spending we can do in the Department of

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Defense Budget to meet those challenges ?

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And then what what's the whole of

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government response as well ? Because

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obviously this is not just none of the

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challenges that I just talked about are

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just the military . How do we work with

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the entire different pieces of our

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government to meet those challenges ? I

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look forward to the testimony uh and to

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the questions and answers and with that

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I will yield to the ranking member

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Rogers for his opening statement .

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Thank you . Mr Chairman . I appreciate

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you holding us here today . The defense

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of the homeland and our security

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efforts in the Western Hemisphere are

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becoming increasingly more complex as

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china and Russia and other adversaries

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expand their reach and improve their

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capabilities to strike us North um is

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charged with defending our homeland

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against those threats , operating our

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missile defense systems , countering

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increased Russian and chinese activity

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in the arctic and supporting civilian

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response to emergencies are just a few

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of North . Um many mission priorities

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supporting these missions shouldn't

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continue to be a priority for this

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committee . In recent years , china and

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Russia have established an extensive

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military and economic presence in South

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and central America . Their presence

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destabilizes the region and threatens

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our national security . South commons

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responsible for countering those

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threats . South com relies on security

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cooperation programmes , humanitarian

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and disaster response assistance and

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counter narcotic capability building to

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promote security and counteract the

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influence of china and Russia . It's

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important for the committee to continue

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our bipartisan support for these

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programs . I have no doubt that men and

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women of North and South . Com can

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successfully carry out their critical

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missions , but they do only uh they

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will only be able to do so if we

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provide them the resources they need .

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That's why I greatly it was

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disappointed with the president's top

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line budget number of 7 15 $715 billion

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request to produce D . O . D . Uh which

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constitutes a nearly $5 billion cut in

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real dollars . It's also completely

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disregarded the recommendation of the

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bipartisan National Defense Strategy

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Commission to counter the group from

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china . Deputy Secretary Hicks and the

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rest of the commissioners urged

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Congressman year about 3 - 5% . This

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budget doesn't even keep pace with

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inflation . My biggest concern is that

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this request fails to ensure our

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military can deter the growing threat

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from china and Russia . General Van

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Hurt and Admiral Faller are dealing

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with these threats . Every day . I look

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forward to their best military advice

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on the impact of the their operations

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from a budget that fails to keep pace

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with inflation and with that I think

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the witnesses for their service to our

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country from being here and I yield

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back . Mr Chairman . Thank you very

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much . Mr Saleh says I believe you are

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first Chairman smith ranking

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Rogers . Distinguished members of the

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committee . Thank you for the

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opportunity to testify before you today

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on the national security challenges

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faced by the United States and the U .

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S . Military activity in North and

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south America . I'm honored to be here

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in the company of Admiral Fowler and

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General Van Herck . Today , I'd like to

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emphasize three key points . First ,

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today's global security environment is

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more complex than ever before . Our

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adversaries are developing capabilities

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to challenge us in every domain and

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increasingly to hold the homeland at

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risk . Second , consistent with the

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president's strategic guidance and

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Secretary Austin's priorities , D . O .

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D . Is strengthening the multi domain

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defense of the nation to maintain our

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competitive advantage and third

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domestic emergencies and disasters are

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increasing in severity , causing D . O .

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D . S . Federal state and local

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partners to rely more and more on the

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Department of Defense . The increasing

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complex and dynamic global security

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environment is driven by the

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accelerating strategic competition with

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Russia and china where both are engaged

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in aggressive military modernization

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programs designed to target what they

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perceive as D . O . D . Strategic

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vulnerabilities . China has become more

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capable in every domain and constitutes

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a significant long term security threat

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to the US . China is our top priority .

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While Russia presents a near term

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threat within the western hemisphere to

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the north , Russia is expanding its

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arctic posture and china has classified

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itself as a near arctic nation .

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Raising concerns with both nations

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intentions to the south and central and

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south America , a key strategic region .

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China and Russia are attempting to

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increase their influence within the

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region . As D . O . D . Confronts this

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competition with Russia and china and

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every domain , it must also ensure its

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ability to deter today's range of

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threats including those posed by Iran

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and north Korea while countering

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terrorism and violent extremists both

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abroad and here at home , Diode is

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committed to strengthening its decisive

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advantage and defending the US homeland

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by reinforcing our defenses in the

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approaches to North America and by

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building stronger partnerships to

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advance freedom , prosperity and

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security throughout the Western

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Hemisphere . D . O . D . As the

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region's partner of choice , is working

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closely with our hemispheric neighbours

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to address the region , shared

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challenges through security cooperation

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programmes . D O . D . Also continues

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its support of interagency efforts to

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disrupt transnational criminal

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organizations and the counter

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trafficking of illicit narcotics in the

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region . COVID-19 significantly

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challenged our hemispheric partners

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with congressional support duty

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provided and will continue to provide

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medical assistance to our partners in

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defense of the homeland . D . O . D .

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Must be ready for future conflicts that

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will likely include multidimensional

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targeting of critical infrastructure .

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The United States and Canada are

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jointly working to increase

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capabilities to provide enhanced

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indications and warning to detect

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aerospace threats and Q . Are air and

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missile defense systems against them .

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D . O . D . Is strengthening its

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homeland missile defenses through the

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development of next generation

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interceptors and a new generation of

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ground and space based sensors and

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defending the U . S . Maritime

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approaches . D . O . D . Has taken

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steps to enhance its awareness of

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activities on and under the sea ,

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provided early warning of approaching

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maritime threats . D . O . D . Is

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successfully competing with adversaries

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in cyberspace by defending forward to

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disrupt and degrade malicious cyber

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activity close to its origin and

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improving response options . As A D . O .

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D . Mission , D . O . D . Regularly

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provides defense supported civil

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authorities . The federal state and

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local partners . The COVID-19 pandemic

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has posed an unprecedented challenge on

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our nation . Since the start the O . D .

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Has protected its people and supported

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the nation's response by providing

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unparalleled support to include medical

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assistance , supply and acquisition

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support and the development ,

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distribution and administration of

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vaccines . Recent hurricanes and

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wildfire seasons have challenged

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response efforts and driven increased

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requests for D . O . D . Capabilities .

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Hemispheric challenges and events in

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the homeland have also led to increased

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requests for D . O . D . Support at the

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Southern border Duty continues to

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support DHS border Security mission and

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HHS mission to shelter unaccompanied

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Children . D . O . D . Also continues

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to support to the U . S . Capitol . In

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conclusion , diode is strengthening its

12:57.649 --> 12:59.593
defense of the homeland , building

12:59.593 --> 13:01.649
stronger partnerships in the Western

13:01.649 --> 13:03.871
Hemisphere and assisting more than ever

13:03.871 --> 13:06.149
our federal , state and local partners .

13:06.149 --> 13:08.260
It is an honor to serve alongside our

13:08.260 --> 13:10.427
nation's military and civilian members

13:10.427 --> 13:12.593
of the Defense Department as they work

13:12.593 --> 13:14.704
every day to keep our nation safe and

13:14.704 --> 13:16.871
secure . Chairman smith ranking member

13:16.871 --> 13:18.982
Rogers . Distinguished members of the

13:18.982 --> 13:20.649
committee . Thank you for the

13:20.649 --> 13:22.816
opportunity to testify today . I would

13:22.816 --> 13:24.871
also like to express my appreciation

13:24.871 --> 13:26.871
for the support of the Congress and

13:26.871 --> 13:29.093
thank you for your continued commitment

13:29.093 --> 13:29.010
and support of the men and women of the

13:29.010 --> 13:31.460
Defense Department . Thank you .

13:31.460 --> 13:32.460
Admiral Faller ,

13:35.740 --> 13:38.150
Chairman smith ranking member Rogers

13:38.160 --> 13:39.993
and distinguished members of the

13:39.993 --> 13:41.660
committee . Thank you for the

13:41.660 --> 13:43.993
opportunity to testify before you today .

13:43.993 --> 13:45.716
I'm honored to be here with my

13:45.716 --> 13:47.827
shipmates . General Glenn van Herck ,

13:47.827 --> 13:50.160
assistant secretary , bob palaces . Now ,

13:50.160 --> 13:52.382
more than ever , I feel a deep sense of

13:52.382 --> 13:54.382
urgency about the global threats we

13:54.382 --> 13:57.190
face , including in this region . The

13:57.190 --> 13:59.301
Western Hemisphere is our home . It's

13:59.301 --> 14:01.246
our shared neighborhood and it's a

14:01.246 --> 14:03.301
hemisphere which is a vital national

14:03.301 --> 14:05.468
interest to the United States . Two of

14:05.468 --> 14:07.820
the most significant threats are china

14:08.040 --> 14:09.540
and transnational criminal

14:09.540 --> 14:11.700
organizations . As the indo pak . Um

14:11.700 --> 14:14.370
Commander Admiral Davidson stated china

14:14.370 --> 14:16.630
is the number one strategic threat of

14:16.630 --> 14:19.230
the 21st century . I'd like to take a

14:19.230 --> 14:21.380
few minutes to do some myth busting

14:21.390 --> 14:24.660
about these threats myth . One china's

14:24.660 --> 14:26.827
interest in the Western hemisphere are

14:26.827 --> 14:29.660
purely economic . The chinese Communist

14:29.660 --> 14:31.827
Party , with its insidious , corrosive

14:31.827 --> 14:33.882
and corrupt influence , seeks global

14:33.882 --> 14:35.993
dominance . Our strategic approach to

14:35.993 --> 14:38.360
china must also be global . China is

14:38.360 --> 14:40.471
quickly growing its influence here in

14:40.471 --> 14:42.582
the hemisphere , working on more than

14:42.582 --> 14:44.804
40 port deals , dishing out significant

14:44.804 --> 14:46.638
loans for political and economic

14:46.638 --> 14:48.360
leverage , pushing its I . T .

14:48.360 --> 14:50.082
Infrastructure and engaging in

14:50.082 --> 14:52.193
predatory practices such as illegal ,

14:52.193 --> 14:54.249
unregulated and unreported fishing ,

14:54.740 --> 14:56.629
all with little concern for human

14:56.629 --> 14:58.851
rights , the environment or the rule of

14:58.851 --> 15:01.340
law myth . Two transnational criminal

15:01.340 --> 15:03.562
organizations are just drug trafficking

15:03.562 --> 15:05.440
organizations and only a law

15:05.440 --> 15:07.990
enforcement problem . To be clear ,

15:08.000 --> 15:10.167
transnational criminal organizations ,

15:10.167 --> 15:12.550
or todos pose a direct threat to our

15:12.550 --> 15:14.820
national security . They traffic in

15:14.820 --> 15:17.380
arms , humans drugs and claim tens of

15:17.380 --> 15:19.491
thousands of lives here in the United

15:19.491 --> 15:21.640
States each year . Their murders

15:21.640 --> 15:24.070
tactics have resulted in 43 of the 50

15:24.070 --> 15:26.590
most violent cities in the world in

15:26.590 --> 15:28.646
this hemisphere . They drive illegal

15:28.646 --> 15:30.646
migration and they allow bad actors

15:30.646 --> 15:33.260
like China to gain influence . MS .

15:33.260 --> 15:35.460
Three , the military has no role to

15:35.460 --> 15:38.460
play in this region . Our professional

15:38.470 --> 15:40.414
US military , men and women in the

15:40.414 --> 15:43.200
region serve as an example every day as

15:43.200 --> 15:45.256
we collaborate through education and

15:45.256 --> 15:47.730
training exercises and humanitarian

15:47.730 --> 15:49.480
assistance . D . O . D . Has

15:49.480 --> 15:51.536
established programs to help partner

15:51.536 --> 15:53.647
nations develop diverse and inclusive

15:53.647 --> 15:55.869
militaries that respect the rule of law

15:55.869 --> 15:58.036
and human rights . Are programs helped

15:58.036 --> 15:59.980
develop the professional forces to

15:59.980 --> 16:02.091
secure and stabilize our hemisphere .

16:02.340 --> 16:04.560
Our security cooperation programmes

16:04.570 --> 16:06.990
include institutional capacity building

16:07.000 --> 16:08.778
that make partner nation forces

16:08.778 --> 16:11.040
resilient to corruption and external

16:11.040 --> 16:13.390
influences are exercise program

16:13.390 --> 16:16.100
develops readiness , interoperability

16:16.110 --> 16:18.221
and the ability to respond regionally

16:18.221 --> 16:20.510
to threats . We provide not only

16:20.510 --> 16:22.454
positive role models but tools and

16:22.454 --> 16:24.566
strategies for our partner nations to

16:24.566 --> 16:26.900
implement that enhance their capacity

16:26.910 --> 16:29.188
and they make us all stronger together .

16:29.840 --> 16:31.896
Underpinning those national security

16:31.896 --> 16:34.007
threats is growing for agility in the

16:34.007 --> 16:36.140
region . COVID-19 has hit the

16:36.140 --> 16:39.180
hemisphere hard According to the IMF .

16:39.200 --> 16:41.367
The economies of Latin America and the

16:41.367 --> 16:43.860
Caribbean shrank by 7.4% . In 2020 .

16:44.420 --> 16:46.587
The impacts of the pandemic walter the

16:46.587 --> 16:49.300
hemisphere for years to come . In the

16:49.300 --> 16:51.300
midst of this pandemic back to back

16:51.300 --> 16:53.300
major hurricanes devastated central

16:53.300 --> 16:55.078
America , creating even greater

16:55.078 --> 16:57.200
instability . The pandemic and these

16:57.210 --> 16:59.900
unprecedented storms struck on top of

16:59.900 --> 17:02.011
the already vicious circle of threats

17:02.011 --> 17:03.789
that I previously highlighted ,

17:03.789 --> 17:05.900
creating strong , strong push factors

17:05.950 --> 17:08.006
for the people of the region to head

17:08.006 --> 17:10.006
north in search of safety and basic

17:10.006 --> 17:12.440
needs . Despite an economy in a

17:12.440 --> 17:14.440
tailspin and more than five million

17:14.440 --> 17:16.384
refugees fleeing the country , the

17:16.384 --> 17:18.607
illegitimate Maduro regime continues to

17:18.607 --> 17:20.551
cling to power in Venezuela . With

17:20.551 --> 17:23.670
support from cuba , Russia , Iran and

17:23.670 --> 17:26.140
china . We cannot face such daunting

17:26.140 --> 17:28.362
challenges on our own . The only way to

17:28.362 --> 17:30.529
counter these threats is to strengthen

17:30.529 --> 17:32.584
our partnerships in order to win the

17:32.584 --> 17:34.696
strategic competition . No one nation

17:34.696 --> 17:36.584
is as strong as all of us working

17:36.584 --> 17:38.751
together And I'm very impressed by the

17:38.751 --> 17:40.973
nations who have worked with a shoulder

17:40.973 --> 17:43.029
to shoulder to counter the threats .

17:43.029 --> 17:44.973
For example , last year , Colombia

17:44.973 --> 17:47.029
brought together more than two dozen

17:47.029 --> 17:49.084
nations to conduct operation or Ryan

17:49.084 --> 17:50.918
six , a transnational countering

17:50.918 --> 17:53.029
transnational criminal organization ,

17:53.029 --> 17:55.196
operation . And earlier . Earlier this

17:55.196 --> 17:57.251
year , brazil became the first latin

17:57.251 --> 17:59.418
american country to send forces to our

17:59.418 --> 18:01.584
high end U . S . Army training at fort

18:01.584 --> 18:03.780
Polk Louisiana . Good neighbors are

18:03.780 --> 18:05.836
there to help when you need them the

18:05.836 --> 18:08.002
most , especially during a crisis . We

18:08.002 --> 18:10.169
provide humanitarian assistance to our

18:10.169 --> 18:12.391
partners when Covid struck . And we did

18:12.391 --> 18:14.613
it at the speed of relevance delivering

18:14.613 --> 18:16.960
field hospitals in critical PP . To

18:16.960 --> 18:19.760
date , we have executed 498 projects in

18:19.760 --> 18:22.270
28 countries with a total investment of

18:22.270 --> 18:24.490
$72 million . This is making a

18:24.490 --> 18:26.850
difference . South . Com works every

18:26.850 --> 18:28.350
day to build readiness and

18:28.350 --> 18:30.572
professionalism of our trusted military

18:30.572 --> 18:32.294
and security partners , modest

18:32.294 --> 18:34.550
investments and intelligence , security

18:34.550 --> 18:37.090
cooperation and presents go a long way

18:37.090 --> 18:39.390
in this hemisphere and will help us and

18:39.390 --> 18:41.279
our partners counter these global

18:41.279 --> 18:43.960
threats . Finally , our success would

18:43.960 --> 18:45.793
not be possible without our most

18:45.793 --> 18:48.610
important resource , our people Rcom

18:48.610 --> 18:50.666
team and their families . And we are

18:50.666 --> 18:53.210
taking proactive steps to support them

18:53.220 --> 18:54.887
and to protect our force from

18:54.887 --> 18:57.170
unacceptable behaviors like sexual

18:57.170 --> 18:59.170
assault , harassment , racism , and

18:59.170 --> 19:01.059
extremism . We take these threats

19:01.059 --> 19:03.600
seriously because it's key to readiness

19:03.730 --> 19:05.870
and it's the right thing to do . Mr

19:05.870 --> 19:07.759
Chairman ranking member Rogers on

19:07.759 --> 19:09.814
behalf of the coton team . Thank you

19:09.814 --> 19:12.037
for the trust you place in US and thank

19:12.037 --> 19:14.092
you for the opportunity to testify .

19:14.092 --> 19:13.770
And I look forward to the questions .

19:14.440 --> 19:16.662
Thank you . Admiral General Van Herck .

19:17.540 --> 19:21.010
Yeah . Chairman smith . Ranking member

19:21.020 --> 19:23.131
Rogers . Distinguished members of the

19:23.131 --> 19:25.187
committee . It's a privilege to test

19:25.187 --> 19:27.390
fire before you today . I'm honored to

19:27.390 --> 19:29.446
serve as the commander of the United

19:29.446 --> 19:31.334
States Northern Command and North

19:31.334 --> 19:33.501
american Aerospace Defense Command and

19:33.501 --> 19:35.501
I'm grateful to appear alongside MR

19:35.501 --> 19:37.612
solicitous and Admiral Fowler as they

19:37.612 --> 19:39.446
are crucial partners in Homeland

19:39.446 --> 19:41.446
Defense , US North Common NORAD are

19:41.446 --> 19:43.279
separate commands charged with a

19:43.279 --> 19:45.279
critical mission of defending north

19:45.279 --> 19:47.500
America . Us North com is the U . S .

19:47.500 --> 19:49.111
Geographic Combatant Command

19:49.111 --> 19:51.333
responsible for defense of the homeland

19:51.333 --> 19:53.500
defense , support of civil authorities

19:53.500 --> 19:55.611
and theater security cooperation with

19:55.611 --> 19:58.700
Canada Mexico and the Bahamas NORAD is

19:58.700 --> 20:00.756
the Binational Command that provides

20:00.756 --> 20:03.020
aerospace warning , aerospace control ,

20:03.280 --> 20:05.447
maritime warning for the United States

20:05.447 --> 20:08.170
and Canada . Over the last year , NORAD

20:08.170 --> 20:10.650
fighters , tankers and airborne early

20:10.650 --> 20:12.817
warning aircraft responded to numerous

20:12.817 --> 20:14.594
incursions into our air defense

20:14.594 --> 20:16.870
identification zones , multiple ships

20:16.870 --> 20:18.926
sorted under US north um operational

20:18.926 --> 20:20.648
control to defend our maritime

20:20.648 --> 20:22.500
approaches and US north com

20:22.510 --> 20:24.343
synchronized . The Department of

20:24.343 --> 20:26.288
Defense is support to lead federal

20:26.288 --> 20:27.954
agencies in the fight against

20:27.954 --> 20:30.260
coronavirus , multiple hurricanes and

20:30.260 --> 20:32.870
wildfires . No matter the threat , We

20:32.870 --> 20:35.092
are always ready to defend the lives of

20:35.092 --> 20:37.910
our citizens and our homelands as

20:37.910 --> 20:39.966
thousands of service members provide

20:39.966 --> 20:41.743
life saving vaccinations to our

20:41.743 --> 20:43.854
citizens . The threats we face in the

20:43.854 --> 20:45.910
pace of change in the geo strategic

20:45.910 --> 20:48.720
environment continue to advance . We

20:48.720 --> 20:50.831
have entered an era of renewed global

20:50.831 --> 20:53.180
competition and this time we're facing

20:53.180 --> 20:55.850
two nuclear armed peer competitors .

20:56.040 --> 20:57.762
Our competitors are focused on

20:57.762 --> 20:59.680
circumventing our defenses , both

20:59.680 --> 21:02.050
kinetically and non kinetically from

21:02.050 --> 21:04.770
all directions and in all domains and

21:04.770 --> 21:07.280
exploiting a perceived gap between our

21:07.280 --> 21:09.280
foundational homeland defense , our

21:09.280 --> 21:11.270
nuclear deterrent and also our

21:11.270 --> 21:13.492
conventional homeland defense deterrent

21:13.492 --> 21:15.603
capabilities concurrently the rise of

21:15.603 --> 21:17.659
transnational criminal organizations

21:17.659 --> 21:19.740
and the subsequent instability they

21:19.740 --> 21:21.907
create has generated opportunities for

21:21.907 --> 21:24.300
our competitors to exploit . We must

21:24.300 --> 21:26.411
adapt to the challenges posed by this

21:26.411 --> 21:28.180
reality . We must outpace our

21:28.180 --> 21:30.347
competitors by accelerating efforts to

21:30.347 --> 21:32.402
transform into a culture that thinks

21:32.402 --> 21:35.130
and operates globally and invest early

21:35.130 --> 21:37.430
and often in relationships with our

21:37.430 --> 21:40.000
allies , partners and other like minded

21:40.000 --> 21:42.890
nations . Our culture must also adapt

21:42.900 --> 21:45.050
and cultivate talent within the ranks

21:45.100 --> 21:47.267
and counter extremists and destructive

21:47.267 --> 21:49.690
behaviors that oppose our values . In

21:49.690 --> 21:51.801
addition , we must factor in Homeland

21:51.801 --> 21:54.680
defense into every strategy plan ,

21:54.690 --> 21:57.160
force management , force , design ,

21:57.170 --> 21:59.660
acquisition and budgetary decision so

21:59.660 --> 22:02.290
we can deter in competition de

22:02.290 --> 22:05.120
escalating crisis and if we must defeat

22:05.120 --> 22:07.450
in conflict to do this , US north

22:07.450 --> 22:10.260
campus building capability to deter and

22:10.260 --> 22:12.482
if needed , defend against increasingly

22:12.482 --> 22:14.704
advanced global all domain threats . In

22:14.704 --> 22:16.750
concert with the other 10 combatant

22:16.750 --> 22:18.361
commands . The recent global

22:18.361 --> 22:20.194
information dominance experiment

22:20.194 --> 22:22.028
highlighted the effectiveness of

22:22.028 --> 22:24.670
operating without Geographic seems to

22:24.670 --> 22:28.430
execute coordinated actions across

22:28.440 --> 22:30.910
all combatant commands in coordination

22:30.910 --> 22:32.799
with the Missile Defense Agency .

22:32.799 --> 22:34.688
United States Strategic Command .

22:34.688 --> 22:36.966
United States Space Command , US North .

22:36.966 --> 22:39.077
Com is maintaining and improving upon

22:39.077 --> 22:41.243
our nation's ballistic missile defense

22:41.243 --> 22:43.077
capability and together with the

22:43.077 --> 22:45.299
Canadian armed forces , NORAD is in the

22:45.299 --> 22:47.132
early stages of modernization in

22:47.132 --> 22:48.743
building additional military

22:48.743 --> 22:50.910
capabilities in the arctic in order to

22:50.910 --> 22:52.966
balance our readiness for crisis and

22:52.966 --> 22:55.132
conflict . Were also staying in global

22:55.132 --> 22:56.743
competition . We are placing

22:56.743 --> 22:58.910
significant emphasis on left of launch

22:58.910 --> 23:00.800
framework This framework grants

23:00.800 --> 23:02.910
decision makers increased decision

23:02.910 --> 23:04.870
space and more deterrence and

23:04.880 --> 23:07.890
escalation options . Vice endgame

23:07.890 --> 23:10.220
kinetic defeat . Our priority effort is

23:10.220 --> 23:12.510
all domain awareness that uses a

23:12.510 --> 23:15.200
layered open sensor data architecture ,

23:15.220 --> 23:17.050
machine learning that enables

23:17.050 --> 23:19.150
information dominance and decision

23:19.150 --> 23:21.261
superiority . This framework provides

23:21.261 --> 23:24.490
flexible response options to deter deny

23:24.490 --> 23:26.712
or if required defeat . Every threat to

23:26.712 --> 23:28.823
the United States and Canada us North

23:28.823 --> 23:30.768
common NORAD . Service members and

23:30.768 --> 23:32.490
civilians take solemn pride in

23:32.490 --> 23:34.601
executing the Secretary of Defense is

23:34.601 --> 23:37.040
top priority by Standing watch defense

23:37.050 --> 23:38.883
to defend our nation against all

23:38.883 --> 23:41.110
threats whether posed by competitors ,

23:41.490 --> 23:44.570
natural disasters . A pandemic . I am

23:44.570 --> 23:46.070
grateful for the trust and

23:46.070 --> 23:48.070
responsibility that you place in US

23:48.070 --> 23:50.237
north calm and NORAD and thank you for

23:50.237 --> 23:52.403
the opportunity and support and time .

23:52.403 --> 23:54.237
I look forward to answering your

23:54.237 --> 23:56.670
questions . Thank you . Thank you very

23:56.670 --> 23:59.050
much . We will this first hearing this

23:59.050 --> 24:00.994
year where we are going in reverse

24:00.994 --> 24:03.170
order just to keep things uh ,

24:03.180 --> 24:05.402
interesting I guess . So we're starting

24:05.402 --> 24:07.624
at the bottom working our way up . Um I

24:07.624 --> 24:09.513
will ask just one question before

24:09.513 --> 24:11.347
yielding mr Rogers . And that is

24:11.347 --> 24:13.513
General Van Herck . We talked a little

24:13.513 --> 24:15.680
bit about about the arctic um you know

24:15.680 --> 24:15.550
what is going on up there ? Can you

24:15.550 --> 24:18.430
give us just what should we do ? Um I

24:18.430 --> 24:20.486
know we're waiting to see the budget

24:20.486 --> 24:22.486
what our investment is , but as the

24:22.486 --> 24:24.541
commander in this area , if you have

24:24.541 --> 24:24.390
like your three priorities for how we

24:24.390 --> 24:26.168
need to be responding to what's

24:26.168 --> 24:28.223
happening in the arctic , what would

24:28.223 --> 24:30.960
they be ? Thanks chairman . First too ,

24:31.640 --> 24:33.830
to compete in the arctic , you have to

24:33.830 --> 24:36.190
be on the on the field and uh currently

24:36.200 --> 24:38.422
our capability , so I would assess that

24:38.422 --> 24:40.700
were in the game plan development were

24:40.700 --> 24:42.922
not able to have the persistence that I

24:42.922 --> 24:44.811
need to compete day to day in the

24:44.811 --> 24:47.230
arctic . Uh , my priorities start with

24:47.230 --> 24:49.550
domain awareness . It starts with the

24:49.840 --> 24:52.180
ability to communicate and provide data

24:52.180 --> 24:54.520
and information So that we can operate

24:54.520 --> 24:56.576
and have persistence in the Arctic .

24:56.576 --> 24:58.187
I'm grateful for $46 million

24:58.187 --> 25:01.480
10 satellites

25:01.490 --> 25:04.360
currently on orbit with approximately

25:04.420 --> 25:07.680
100 more that will be in the future and

25:07.680 --> 25:09.736
we'll take that additional money and

25:09.736 --> 25:12.140
have to companies providing satellite

25:12.140 --> 25:14.362
capability . But to be persistent , you

25:14.362 --> 25:16.418
also have to be on the playing field

25:16.418 --> 25:18.750
and that requires fuel so that coast

25:18.750 --> 25:20.750
guard cutters , navy destroyers and

25:20.750 --> 25:22.861
cruisers can remain persistent in the

25:22.861 --> 25:25.028
arctic . And I have a requirement that

25:25.028 --> 25:27.194
stated and validated for fuel north of

25:27.194 --> 25:29.250
Dutch Harbor Alaska . And that would

25:29.250 --> 25:31.472
give us the persistence as well as also

25:31.472 --> 25:33.700
additional infrastructure for our is

25:33.700 --> 25:35.367
our platforms and our fighter

25:35.367 --> 25:37.533
capability so that we can compete on a

25:37.533 --> 25:39.422
day to day basis and be close and

25:39.422 --> 25:41.533
present with the Russian activities .

25:41.533 --> 25:43.533
They've dramatically modernized and

25:43.533 --> 25:45.478
increase their capabilities in the

25:45.478 --> 25:47.200
arctic . I'm encouraged by the

25:47.200 --> 25:49.311
President and also the Prime Minister

25:49.311 --> 25:51.478
for discussing NORAD modernization . I

25:51.478 --> 25:53.644
look forward to the department putting

25:53.644 --> 25:55.811
a framework together with the ministry

25:55.811 --> 25:57.533
in Canada to move forward with

25:57.533 --> 25:59.533
continued modernization . Thank you

25:59.533 --> 26:01.910
very much . Mr Rogers and I share the

26:01.910 --> 26:04.080
chairman's concerned about the arctic

26:04.080 --> 26:06.247
and we I'm glad to know that you're on

26:06.247 --> 26:08.413
top of it and we want to make sure you

26:08.413 --> 26:10.636
have uh what you need to stay on top of

26:10.636 --> 26:13.320
that . Uh to that end I would ask this

26:13.320 --> 26:15.750
of both uh Admiral Faller and General

26:15.750 --> 26:18.370
Van Herck . If you're funding does not

26:18.380 --> 26:20.602
at a minimum keep pace with inflation ,

26:20.602 --> 26:22.824
how does it impact your ability to meet

26:22.824 --> 26:24.991
these challenges from china and Russia

26:24.991 --> 26:27.047
that you described in your various A

26:27.047 --> 26:29.158
ours Admiral father . I'll start with

26:29.158 --> 26:31.158
you . I know you and I talked a lot

26:31.158 --> 26:30.850
about what china is doing in south

26:30.850 --> 26:31.850
America .

26:34.140 --> 26:36.196
Certainly prioritization is going to

26:36.196 --> 26:38.418
have to happen . Always needs to happen

26:38.418 --> 26:40.473
versus all the various needs . We'll

26:40.473 --> 26:43.000
make our strong case for why winning

26:43.000 --> 26:44.611
the day to day competition ,

26:44.611 --> 26:46.556
particularly in our neighborhood .

26:46.556 --> 26:48.667
Given the proximity that we share And

26:48.667 --> 26:50.833
proximity matters to threats and given

26:50.833 --> 26:53.500
the people that we the people ties ,

26:53.510 --> 26:55.710
why that matters will lay that out .

26:55.720 --> 26:57.800
It's a modest investment in this

26:57.800 --> 26:59.911
hemisphere . We have about one of the

26:59.911 --> 27:03.050
intelligence assets assigned a United

27:03.050 --> 27:05.106
States Southern Command intelligence

27:05.106 --> 27:07.460
drives everything and then add security

27:07.460 --> 27:10.050
cooperation where we have a had

27:10.060 --> 27:12.116
received great support from Congress

27:12.116 --> 27:14.282
last year . I think there's additional

27:14.282 --> 27:16.504
investments that could be made there to

27:16.504 --> 27:18.782
help partner capacity and then finally ,

27:18.782 --> 27:21.060
assets being on the field is important .

27:21.060 --> 27:23.171
We must be heard and seen in order to

27:23.171 --> 27:25.171
win the competition and winning the

27:25.171 --> 27:27.338
competition is so critical globally so

27:27.338 --> 27:29.004
that we don't have to go into

27:29.004 --> 27:31.450
confrontation and have a war . Okay .

27:33.540 --> 27:36.090
I would say that , uh , a couple things

27:36.090 --> 27:38.146
first , I look forward to seeing the

27:38.146 --> 27:39.979
FY22 budget when it comes out to

27:39.979 --> 27:42.090
actually get a understanding where we

27:42.090 --> 27:44.257
are with regards to future funding and

27:44.257 --> 27:46.368
the near term , we understand the top

27:46.368 --> 27:48.646
line of 715 billion will be able to uh ,

27:48.646 --> 27:50.890
to exist and work just fine in the near

27:50.890 --> 27:52.800
term . A long term . I would be

27:52.800 --> 27:54.967
concerned if we don't keep up with the

27:54.967 --> 27:57.022
pace of inflation , of the potential

27:57.022 --> 28:00.260
for uh , us not to keep pace with our

28:00.270 --> 28:02.492
peer competitors throughout the globe .

28:02.492 --> 28:04.270
So I think it's crucial that we

28:04.270 --> 28:06.650
maintain a funding pace within the the

28:06.660 --> 28:08.827
inflation roll , we're gonna certainly

28:08.827 --> 28:10.938
be able to continue our modernization

28:10.938 --> 28:12.938
efforts will focus on sustainment .

28:12.938 --> 28:14.493
We'll also need to focus on

28:14.493 --> 28:16.660
efficiencies and what capabilities and

28:16.660 --> 28:18.882
legacy capabilities that we may need to

28:18.882 --> 28:21.049
divest to enable us to go forward with

28:21.049 --> 28:23.271
the the approach that I discussed in my

28:23.271 --> 28:25.216
opening statement and that's in my

28:25.216 --> 28:27.104
posture statement . The would you

28:27.104 --> 28:29.420
describe the threat or the activity

28:29.420 --> 28:33.360
pace of china in particular as growing

28:33.370 --> 28:34.860
in your aesthetic ,

28:37.040 --> 28:39.950
Admiral china's increasing their

28:39.950 --> 28:42.490
influence across all elements of their

28:42.490 --> 28:46.230
power from its cyber information uh

28:46.240 --> 28:48.240
particularly in the military . It's

28:48.240 --> 28:50.351
it's below its insidious , it's right

28:50.351 --> 28:52.462
below the threshold of what you would

28:52.462 --> 28:54.407
observe . But the gifts in tens of

28:54.407 --> 28:56.240
millions of dollars that they're

28:56.240 --> 28:58.462
offering their expansion of the P . M .

28:58.462 --> 29:00.573
E . Program , mirroring what we do at

29:00.573 --> 29:02.573
Leavenworth and and and are all our

29:02.573 --> 29:04.740
great schools and then opening up even

29:04.740 --> 29:06.684
further offering cyber engineering

29:06.684 --> 29:08.462
scholarships with full mandarin

29:08.462 --> 29:10.407
immersion to second lieutenants at

29:10.407 --> 29:12.629
various forces . It's a , it's a picked

29:12.629 --> 29:14.629
up at an alarming pace . So it's an

29:14.629 --> 29:16.573
aggressively growing threat . It's

29:16.573 --> 29:19.110
aggressive . Okay , general , I share

29:19.110 --> 29:21.166
the same sentiment as Admiral Fowler

29:21.940 --> 29:24.720
congressman , uh , china is absolutely

29:24.730 --> 29:26.910
uh , taking aggressive steps in the

29:26.910 --> 29:28.910
western hemisphere and in the north

29:28.910 --> 29:31.243
comma . You are through covid diplomacy ,

29:31.243 --> 29:35.010
uh , additional actions with buying up

29:35.020 --> 29:36.964
businesses capability , especially

29:36.964 --> 29:38.853
tourism industry in the Bahamas ,

29:38.853 --> 29:41.810
trying to gain additional access five G .

29:41.820 --> 29:43.987
Trying to stand up there five G in the

29:43.987 --> 29:47.400
western hemisphere . So it am I hearing

29:47.400 --> 29:49.344
you correct ? Then if the , if the

29:49.344 --> 29:51.289
activity by the chinese and not to

29:51.289 --> 29:53.400
mention the Russians and the others ,

29:53.400 --> 29:53.310
you got to worry about , uh , is

29:53.310 --> 29:55.890
aggressively growing . If your funding

29:55.890 --> 29:58.220
is static are less than what you

29:58.220 --> 30:00.331
received last year , are you going to

30:00.331 --> 30:02.220
be able to effectively meet those

30:02.220 --> 30:04.710
challenges ? Admiral . I believe the

30:04.710 --> 30:06.932
front line of competition is right here

30:06.932 --> 30:08.988
in this neighborhood . Chairman will

30:08.988 --> 30:11.210
have to come forward and determine what

30:11.210 --> 30:13.154
that means and ask ourselves tough

30:13.154 --> 30:15.488
questions about where prioritization is .

30:15.488 --> 30:17.488
And I think we've modest investment

30:17.488 --> 30:19.543
here goes a long way to assuring the

30:19.543 --> 30:21.543
security , the United States uh huh

30:23.040 --> 30:24.984
congressman , I believe we have to

30:24.984 --> 30:27.830
balance and balance , uh , back into

30:27.830 --> 30:29.774
the Western hemisphere to focus on

30:29.774 --> 30:31.663
things going on right here in our

30:31.663 --> 30:33.441
neighborhood . We have a unique

30:33.441 --> 30:35.497
opportunity to do that right now . I

30:35.497 --> 30:37.441
look forward to seeing what the 22

30:37.441 --> 30:39.608
budget does and where the department's

30:39.608 --> 30:41.830
going in the Western hemisphere . But I

30:41.830 --> 30:43.663
do believe that we need to apply

30:43.663 --> 30:45.886
additional resources and funding here .

30:45.886 --> 30:47.997
Yeah . And I do too . And that that's

30:47.997 --> 30:47.310
the thing . I'm trying to point , I'm

30:47.310 --> 30:49.143
trying to make is this not brain

30:49.143 --> 30:51.370
surgery If the Chinese are increasing

30:51.370 --> 30:53.970
as they stated their funding by 7% .

30:53.980 --> 30:56.060
And I think that's uh not true . I

30:56.060 --> 30:58.171
think it's more than that But they're

30:58.171 --> 31:00.227
declared increase in defense funding

31:00.227 --> 31:04.190
spending is 7% . If we do not fund

31:04.190 --> 31:06.490
you at least at the rate of inflation

31:06.490 --> 31:09.890
and hopefully in uh aligned with the

31:09.890 --> 31:12.057
National Defense Strategy Commission's

31:12.057 --> 31:14.168
recommendation of 3-5 increase . Then

31:14.168 --> 31:16.390
we are doing you in our country a great

31:16.390 --> 31:18.557
disservice . And with that Mr Chairman

31:18.557 --> 31:20.612
I go back thank you . Miss Murphy is

31:20.612 --> 31:23.500
recognized for five months . Thank you

31:23.500 --> 31:25.611
Mr Chairman and thank you for keeping

31:25.611 --> 31:27.500
it interesting by starting at the

31:27.500 --> 31:29.500
bottom of the virtual diets today .

31:29.500 --> 31:31.500
Thank you to the witnesses for your

31:31.500 --> 31:33.389
testimony and your service to our

31:33.389 --> 31:36.150
country . Um I find the conversation

31:36.150 --> 31:38.620
about the aggressive actions of china

31:38.630 --> 31:41.950
in our shared neighborhood to be very

31:41.960 --> 31:45.710
disconcerting and um I share .

31:45.720 --> 31:48.650
Uh Admiral Fowler . You you put quite a

31:48.650 --> 31:51.360
bit of information both in your written

31:51.360 --> 31:53.582
and oral testimony today about the ways

31:53.582 --> 31:56.270
in which china is seeking to um

31:56.940 --> 32:00.460
increase its influence in our shared

32:00.460 --> 32:02.870
neighborhood . And I want you to know

32:02.870 --> 32:04.759
that as somebody who represents a

32:04.759 --> 32:06.770
district in florida , um I'm a near

32:06.770 --> 32:08.890
neighbor . And so it's something that

32:08.890 --> 32:11.112
I'm very concerned about and determined

32:11.112 --> 32:13.334
to do something about . And yesterday I

32:13.334 --> 32:15.501
introduced a bill to require the State

32:15.501 --> 32:17.668
Department , the Department of Defense

32:17.668 --> 32:17.520
in the Intelligence community and the

32:17.520 --> 32:19.610
National Security Council to jointly

32:19.610 --> 32:21.499
prepare a holistic assessment for

32:21.499 --> 32:23.610
Congress containing both unclassified

32:23.610 --> 32:25.520
and classified section on china's

32:25.530 --> 32:27.474
efforts to expand its influence in

32:27.474 --> 32:29.474
South America Central America , the

32:29.474 --> 32:31.419
caribbean and Mexico and how these

32:31.419 --> 32:33.840
efforts compromise us interests . You

32:33.840 --> 32:36.950
know , I think it goes to what we need

32:36.950 --> 32:39.240
this assessment so that we can answer

32:39.240 --> 32:41.462
the question that the ranking member is

32:41.462 --> 32:44.250
posing about precisely what military ,

32:44.250 --> 32:46.710
diplomatic and economic activities um

32:46.710 --> 32:48.821
China is conducting in the region and

32:48.821 --> 32:52.710
then how we prioritize our response .

32:52.720 --> 32:54.900
Um for my part , I'm particularly

32:54.900 --> 32:57.230
concerned about the CCPS relationship

32:57.230 --> 32:59.450
with the authoritarian regimes in

32:59.460 --> 33:02.900
Venezuela and CUBA . And the

33:02.910 --> 33:04.830
security implications of these

33:04.830 --> 33:06.830
investments in the deep water ports

33:06.830 --> 33:08.997
that were mentioned already as well as

33:08.997 --> 33:11.870
um their export of technology to

33:11.870 --> 33:14.050
governments that could use it to

33:14.050 --> 33:16.106
monitor and repress their citizens ,

33:16.106 --> 33:19.230
their exportation of their autocratic

33:19.240 --> 33:22.940
dystopian technology . But you know ,

33:22.950 --> 33:25.600
budget aside , what are three specific

33:25.600 --> 33:27.489
things that you think the U . S .

33:27.489 --> 33:29.378
Should be doing , which we're not

33:29.378 --> 33:31.267
currently doing to combat china's

33:31.267 --> 33:34.750
malign activities . Admiral , thank you

33:34.750 --> 33:37.370
for your the question importantly ,

33:37.370 --> 33:39.480
thanks for visiting with so calm and

33:39.490 --> 33:41.601
special Operations Command South this

33:41.601 --> 33:44.160
week . To hear upfront uh , their

33:44.160 --> 33:45.716
concerns and challenges and

33:45.716 --> 33:47.827
opportunities . A whole of government

33:47.827 --> 33:49.993
solutions hold nation solutions are so

33:49.993 --> 33:53.060
important here and there is more to do ,

33:53.240 --> 33:55.630
working together both in prioritization

33:55.630 --> 33:57.852
and coming up with actionable steps and

33:57.852 --> 34:00.074
you highlighted the importance of whole

34:00.074 --> 34:02.352
government steps Within the department .

34:02.352 --> 34:06.290
I cite the one intelligence . We

34:06.290 --> 34:09.580
have to leverage data , big data ,

34:09.650 --> 34:11.761
machine learning and ai an innovative

34:11.761 --> 34:13.960
way that recognizes that the threats

34:13.960 --> 34:16.420
are stealing that . And as a nation of

34:16.420 --> 34:18.900
laws , we rightly have to buy it and

34:18.900 --> 34:21.122
protect it , but we need to leverage it

34:21.122 --> 34:23.011
in a way that represents the 21st

34:23.011 --> 34:25.233
century within the department . It goes

34:25.233 --> 34:27.178
along with my shipmate , Glenn Van

34:27.178 --> 34:28.900
hurts comment about all domain

34:28.900 --> 34:30.789
awareness and how we tie this all

34:30.789 --> 34:32.844
together holistically so we can make

34:32.844 --> 34:34.956
decisions based on what the threat is

34:34.956 --> 34:37.067
doing , not what the threat did years

34:37.067 --> 34:39.460
and years ago and then finally back to

34:39.460 --> 34:42.200
being on the field to compete the right

34:42.200 --> 34:44.170
level of presence . Recent trip to

34:44.170 --> 34:48.100
Guyana , Massive untapped oil reserves .

34:48.110 --> 34:50.166
Exxonmobil's in there in a big way .

34:50.166 --> 34:52.220
It's a complicated partnership with

34:52.220 --> 34:55.130
China . China is leveraging a country

34:55.130 --> 34:58.530
with a 50 disputed border Florida is

34:58.530 --> 35:00.610
the main Florida . National Guard .

35:00.610 --> 35:02.777
State partner is the main muscle mover

35:02.777 --> 35:04.999
for things that we're doing in Guyana .

35:04.999 --> 35:07.166
And so how do we best leverage all are

35:07.166 --> 35:09.221
elements in the diode with the right

35:09.221 --> 35:11.443
authorities ? I think there's more that

35:11.443 --> 35:13.666
we could offer our guard and reserve in

35:13.666 --> 35:15.888
that regard to help us get in there and

35:15.888 --> 35:19.420
compete day in and day out . Thank you .

35:19.420 --> 35:21.420
And speaking of whole of government

35:21.420 --> 35:23.840
approach is with regards to a rise in

35:23.840 --> 35:26.007
transnational criminal organizations .

35:26.007 --> 35:28.118
Are there lessons that can be learned

35:28.118 --> 35:30.770
from our decades in C . V . E . And

35:30.770 --> 35:32.548
then do you believe that we are

35:32.548 --> 35:34.714
approaching the transnational criminal

35:34.714 --> 35:38.550
organizations um in the right way with

35:38.560 --> 35:42.020
law enforcement in the lead . Um Are

35:42.020 --> 35:44.440
there other ways in which D . O . D .

35:44.440 --> 35:47.660
Could play a more um robust role ?

35:48.640 --> 35:50.696
Transnational criminal organizations

35:50.696 --> 35:52.696
are national security imperatives .

35:52.696 --> 35:55.310
They're driving the insecurity across

35:55.310 --> 35:57.380
the hemisphere , particularly in the

35:57.390 --> 35:59.446
Northern triangle of Central America

35:59.446 --> 36:01.501
region . There is a crisis and it is

36:01.501 --> 36:03.723
the crisis of insecurity that's driving

36:03.723 --> 36:06.770
people to find safety elsewhere . And

36:06.770 --> 36:08.800
our approach has been one of

36:08.810 --> 36:11.130
interdiction at the source and in

36:11.130 --> 36:13.250
transit , we're never gonna interdict

36:13.250 --> 36:15.194
our way out of this . We've got to

36:15.194 --> 36:17.610
adopt and adapt some of the lessons

36:17.610 --> 36:20.010
that we've learned the hard way over a

36:20.010 --> 36:22.010
generation and the counterterrorism

36:22.010 --> 36:24.580
fight to model the networks and then

36:24.580 --> 36:27.130
take a network approach to get after

36:27.130 --> 36:30.130
the center of gravity's and the society

36:30.140 --> 36:32.920
element generally time has expired and

36:32.920 --> 36:35.142
I should warn the witnesses once we get

36:35.142 --> 36:37.198
to the end of time , I don't want to

36:37.198 --> 36:39.364
cut you off . But if you could wrap up

36:39.364 --> 36:39.230
as quickly as possible once we hit zero ,

36:39.230 --> 36:41.286
that would be great . Mr moore . You

36:41.286 --> 36:43.508
are recognized for five minutes . Thank

36:43.508 --> 36:45.174
you . Mr Chairman and I share

36:45.174 --> 36:47.230
Representative Murray's appreciation

36:47.230 --> 36:49.508
for the switched up in the order today .

36:49.508 --> 36:49.120
Uh , none of my questions have been

36:49.120 --> 36:51.120
asked yet . I don't know what to do

36:51.120 --> 36:54.090
with all this power . Um , uh , I want

36:54.090 --> 36:56.090
to thank the witnesses as well . In

36:56.090 --> 36:58.430
particular your message about myth

36:58.430 --> 37:02.060
busting . Um , the are ongoing presence

37:02.060 --> 37:05.260
in the Middle East and the increased

37:05.270 --> 37:07.470
awareness of , of emphasis on the indo

37:07.470 --> 37:09.359
pacific can overshadow you know ,

37:09.360 --> 37:11.138
making sure that we protect our

37:11.138 --> 37:13.360
neighborhood and in the north and south

37:13.360 --> 37:15.082
America . So I appreciate this

37:15.082 --> 37:17.304
conversation today and with that . Um ,

37:17.304 --> 37:19.360
with the challenges that do exist in

37:19.360 --> 37:21.471
the Western Hemisphere . Um , I think

37:21.471 --> 37:23.582
it's important to highlight the winds

37:23.582 --> 37:25.804
that we've had and with and and and and

37:25.804 --> 37:27.971
learn from those . As you just started

37:27.971 --> 37:29.804
to comment as NATO's only global

37:29.804 --> 37:31.638
partner in the region . Colombia

37:31.638 --> 37:33.860
continues to be a regional model on how

37:33.860 --> 37:35.804
to progress beyond the drug fueled

37:35.804 --> 37:38.027
internal conflicts . Could you continue

37:38.027 --> 37:40.193
to expand on lessons learned from that

37:40.193 --> 37:40.090
relationship and what we can do ? Maybe

37:40.090 --> 37:42.090
apply that to the Northern Triangle

37:43.330 --> 37:45.540
Plant ? Thank you . Congressman Plan .

37:45.540 --> 37:48.950
Colombia was a 10 year about a billion

37:48.950 --> 37:51.117
dollar a year investment by the United

37:51.117 --> 37:53.172
States and the Colombians matched at

37:53.172 --> 37:55.510
With their their talent and their money

37:55.520 --> 37:57.860
to , to one . We stuck with it for 10

37:57.860 --> 38:00.710
years . So it was consistency over time

38:00.720 --> 38:03.570
and addressing every element of the

38:03.570 --> 38:05.350
whole of government truly hold

38:05.350 --> 38:07.183
government in Colombia . We also

38:07.183 --> 38:08.850
brought in other nations that

38:08.850 --> 38:11.017
contributed . And Colombia has a close

38:11.017 --> 38:13.239
relation because of their experience in

38:13.239 --> 38:15.461
the korean war with South Korea . Other

38:15.461 --> 38:17.683
nations contributed this in a million ,

38:17.683 --> 38:19.406
a million different ways . And

38:19.406 --> 38:21.340
importantly , and that has left a

38:21.340 --> 38:24.170
legacy of professionalism . Not perfect ,

38:24.180 --> 38:26.347
we're not perfect . But the Colombians

38:26.347 --> 38:28.680
do the right thing for the right reason .

38:28.680 --> 38:30.291
I'm proud to serve alongside

38:30.291 --> 38:32.458
professionalism , particularly they've

38:32.458 --> 38:34.513
adopted some of our own human rights

38:34.513 --> 38:36.513
programs within their military that

38:36.513 --> 38:38.569
have paid off when their forces have

38:38.569 --> 38:40.458
been confronted with really tough

38:40.458 --> 38:42.347
situations . Uh , I think there's

38:42.347 --> 38:44.236
things to be learned from that to

38:44.236 --> 38:46.460
develop a long view approach to central

38:46.460 --> 38:49.600
America and not cyclic start stop six

38:49.600 --> 38:52.180
months , one year that we see and have

38:52.180 --> 38:54.347
seen as we've studied best practices .

38:54.820 --> 38:56.931
I think it's a great point to make is

38:56.931 --> 38:59.340
our nation , you know , finds tries to

38:59.340 --> 39:01.507
find the right balance for immigration

39:01.507 --> 39:03.618
policy . And if we can implement that

39:03.618 --> 39:05.562
in the Northern Triangle , I think

39:05.562 --> 39:07.784
there's lots to learn there . So thanks

39:07.784 --> 39:07.580
for that . And it's a great opportunity

39:07.580 --> 39:09.413
for us to show where our defense

39:09.413 --> 39:11.636
related world can interact with some of

39:11.636 --> 39:13.670
our um domestic policies . I'll

39:13.670 --> 39:15.559
continue on adam a follower , but

39:15.559 --> 39:17.670
welcome comments from other witnesses

39:17.670 --> 39:20.170
just With , you know , we're going to

39:20.180 --> 39:22.330
that region . The um , the Latin

39:22.330 --> 39:24.441
American region may recover last from

39:24.441 --> 39:26.719
COVID-19 as you said in your testimony ,

39:26.719 --> 39:29.240
are we doing enough to combat China's

39:29.240 --> 39:31.351
presence ? And is there anything else

39:31.351 --> 39:34.620
we can do to make sure to to get out

39:34.620 --> 39:38.350
ahead of that ? Covid was like a

39:38.350 --> 39:40.461
perfect storm on the hemisphere . The

39:40.461 --> 39:42.430
fragility that existed from the

39:42.430 --> 39:44.486
transnational criminal organizations

39:44.486 --> 39:46.486
and their day in day out violence ,

39:46.486 --> 39:48.870
young institutions , young democracies

39:48.870 --> 39:51.170
that are plagued with corruption has

39:51.170 --> 39:53.226
just fueled this . The conditions in

39:53.226 --> 39:55.170
central America are they rival the

39:55.170 --> 39:57.170
Great Depression here in the United

39:57.170 --> 39:59.226
States in terms of how hard it's hit

39:59.226 --> 40:01.448
and uh more needs to be done . This has

40:01.448 --> 40:03.670
opened a door for china and Russia . To

40:03.670 --> 40:05.726
a lesser extent . We see it in their

40:05.726 --> 40:07.448
vaccine , heavy handed vaccine

40:07.448 --> 40:09.337
diplomacy . New york times ran an

40:09.337 --> 40:11.448
excellent article that cited a couple

40:11.448 --> 40:13.503
of countries where they're using the

40:13.503 --> 40:15.448
vaccines to to leverage a shift to

40:15.448 --> 40:17.670
Taiwan . They're using the vaccines for

40:17.670 --> 40:19.892
better deals and this is china using it

40:19.892 --> 40:22.230
for better deals for five G . And

40:22.230 --> 40:24.360
Huawei for example . And so we've got

40:24.360 --> 40:27.650
to come forward with positive proactive

40:27.660 --> 40:29.990
results for these countries to help

40:29.990 --> 40:32.046
them . Things like our developmental

40:32.046 --> 40:34.212
finance core or the right idea through

40:34.212 --> 40:36.546
the build act at the right time . D . O .

40:36.546 --> 40:38.434
D . Has a role as we stay engaged

40:38.434 --> 40:41.730
professionally . Mhm . Welcome

40:41.730 --> 40:43.897
additional comments . Okay , to pass ,

40:43.897 --> 40:47.200
if not right , I would agree . I

40:47.200 --> 40:50.560
think there's an opportunity uh for

40:50.560 --> 40:53.100
whole nation uh education and a

40:53.110 --> 40:55.510
solution to this . Uh I'm encouraged

40:55.520 --> 40:57.687
the president stood up a task force to

40:57.687 --> 40:59.909
look at china . Uh the department has a

40:59.909 --> 41:02.131
task force to look at the china problem

41:02.131 --> 41:04.242
set . This will require us to go back

41:04.242 --> 41:06.409
to a competition focus , but this time

41:06.409 --> 41:08.576
it's a global competition focus and it

41:08.576 --> 41:10.464
will come with the requirement to

41:10.464 --> 41:12.576
balance resources on a global basis .

41:12.576 --> 41:14.409
So that will determine how we do

41:14.409 --> 41:16.409
prioritization of those resources .

41:16.409 --> 41:18.520
It's an opportunity for us to look at

41:18.520 --> 41:21.690
it . The only thing I'd say is there's

41:21.690 --> 41:23.634
a lot of good things going on down

41:23.634 --> 41:25.468
there right now from the Defense

41:25.468 --> 41:27.246
Department to with our security

41:27.246 --> 41:29.468
cooperation of foreign military sales ,

41:29.468 --> 41:31.523
the education things that we do . So

41:31.523 --> 41:33.301
there may be certainly a lot of

41:33.301 --> 41:32.880
competition , but we're in the

41:32.880 --> 41:35.047
competition . I think that's important

41:35.047 --> 41:37.324
to recognize and we need to stay in it .

41:37.324 --> 41:39.380
As Admiral follow pointed out to the

41:39.380 --> 41:41.547
vaccine is an important part of that .

41:41.547 --> 41:43.658
And as the administration has pledged

41:43.658 --> 41:45.602
all $4 billion Kovacs Initiative ,

41:45.602 --> 41:47.547
that's going to be very helpful in

41:47.547 --> 41:49.769
helping out central and South America .

41:49.769 --> 41:51.713
Also , Thank you for your time has

41:51.713 --> 41:53.769
expired . Mr . Panetta is recognized

41:53.769 --> 41:55.547
for five minutes . Thank you Mr

41:55.547 --> 41:57.769
Chairman . Uh , and thank you gentlemen

41:57.769 --> 41:59.991
for being here and appreciate obviously

41:59.991 --> 42:02.102
your service . Um , sunday I just got

42:02.102 --> 42:04.710
back from Mcallen texas . Did a border

42:04.710 --> 42:08.630
visit . Obviously got a limited view of

42:08.630 --> 42:10.980
the many challenges that just that one

42:10.990 --> 42:14.720
area faces when it comes to um ,

42:15.100 --> 42:17.350
the migration that we're seeing right

42:17.350 --> 42:19.930
now , as well as the

42:20.600 --> 42:23.030
influx of narcotics that were saying

42:23.030 --> 42:25.960
hit our borders as well . Um ,

42:25.970 --> 42:29.170
obviously that was one of five times

42:29.170 --> 42:31.392
I've been to the border area . I'm from

42:31.392 --> 42:33.559
California , uh , central California .

42:33.559 --> 42:35.670
So I'm going to the borders obviously

42:35.670 --> 42:37.837
eye opening to me . Um , but I've come

42:37.837 --> 42:40.059
away with each the same impression each

42:40.059 --> 42:42.059
time I've been there and that there

42:42.059 --> 42:44.226
needs to be more resources , obviously

42:44.226 --> 42:43.370
short term and dealing with the

42:43.370 --> 42:45.426
reporter , but also long term beyond

42:45.426 --> 42:47.537
looking beyond the border . And yes ,

42:47.537 --> 42:49.537
looking at the Northern Triangle in

42:49.537 --> 42:51.426
central american countries , um ,

42:51.600 --> 42:53.822
obviously providing resources . Admiral

42:53.822 --> 42:55.600
Fallon Faller , as you , as you

42:55.600 --> 42:57.711
mentioned . Um , but unfortunately in

42:57.711 --> 43:01.220
april of 2019 , what we saw as a freeze ,

43:01.230 --> 43:04.600
$450 million of resources , similar to

43:04.600 --> 43:06.711
ones that you just spoke about , uh ,

43:06.711 --> 43:08.822
in regards to programs that deal with

43:08.822 --> 43:10.933
violence , prevention , poverty , and

43:10.933 --> 43:13.100
improving the justice systems . And so

43:13.100 --> 43:15.100
my question to you is based on your

43:15.100 --> 43:17.100
last statement , um has that set us

43:17.100 --> 43:19.610
back the fact that we froze those

43:19.610 --> 43:22.440
programs ? Has that set us back in our

43:22.450 --> 43:25.430
efforts to help down there and work

43:25.430 --> 43:27.597
with the Northern Triangle countries ?

43:29.600 --> 43:32.220
I think uh congressman consistent

43:32.220 --> 43:34.600
programs with the right policy and

43:34.600 --> 43:36.840
oversight hooks provide us more

43:36.840 --> 43:39.230
leverage over the long term . And uh

43:39.800 --> 43:43.640
when we in the Foreign Ops bill last

43:43.640 --> 43:46.790
year , zero doubt FMF foreign military

43:46.790 --> 43:49.380
financing for the northern Triangle , I

43:49.390 --> 43:51.612
think we lost leverage rather than gain

43:51.612 --> 43:53.668
leverage in terms of how we can help

43:53.668 --> 43:55.890
professionalized behavior . And some of

43:55.890 --> 43:58.112
the programs that are important that we

43:58.112 --> 44:00.334
rely on our our humanitarian assistance

44:00.334 --> 44:02.557
program . That's a win . And we've done

44:02.557 --> 44:04.334
well with that , we rely on our

44:04.334 --> 44:06.557
security cooperation programme where we

44:06.557 --> 44:09.510
install institutional capacity building

44:09.510 --> 44:11.790
advisors . It's a fancy name for

44:11.800 --> 44:13.689
advisors . And minute Minister of

44:13.689 --> 44:16.810
Defense is that can look after

44:17.190 --> 44:19.246
corruption free programs . In fact ,

44:19.390 --> 44:21.750
Monterrey is the source of that naval

44:21.750 --> 44:23.690
postgraduate school . But being

44:23.690 --> 44:25.857
consistent with these programs year to

44:25.857 --> 44:28.023
year builds trust and it takes time to

44:28.023 --> 44:29.840
build professional , trusted

44:29.850 --> 44:32.580
institution in a partner . Great . And

44:32.590 --> 44:35.290
obviously , um , uh when you say

44:35.290 --> 44:37.200
partner , it's very important in

44:37.200 --> 44:39.200
regards to the work that we do with

44:39.200 --> 44:41.360
these uh these nations in that area .

44:41.370 --> 44:43.890
Um is there anything else we can be

44:43.890 --> 44:46.057
doing at this point in dealing and try

44:46.057 --> 44:47.723
and continuing to build those

44:47.723 --> 44:50.440
partnerships state consistent with the

44:50.440 --> 44:52.551
exercise program ? We're appreciative

44:52.551 --> 44:54.718
of the Department of Defense supported

44:54.718 --> 44:56.773
our program requests for last year .

44:56.773 --> 44:59.540
Very appreciative that we we uh We've

44:59.540 --> 45:02.160
got a plus up on our security

45:02.160 --> 45:04.630
cooperation budget . We had had 32

45:04.630 --> 45:07.000
reduction over the previous two years .

45:07.000 --> 45:08.889
The department and the support of

45:08.889 --> 45:10.950
Congress arrested that slide . And

45:10.950 --> 45:13.510
those are key investments going forward

45:13.510 --> 45:15.732
to build the capacity of our partners .

45:16.090 --> 45:18.980
The reality is that partner nation

45:18.990 --> 45:22.850
militaries are involved in in the

45:22.860 --> 45:24.910
internal problems that they have .

45:24.920 --> 45:26.809
That's just the reality and their

45:26.809 --> 45:28.698
professional and they're the most

45:28.698 --> 45:30.253
trusted of all the security

45:30.253 --> 45:32.364
institutions in these countries . And

45:32.364 --> 45:34.364
we've got to stay with them because

45:34.364 --> 45:36.309
they want to emulate and model our

45:36.309 --> 45:38.476
professionalism . They learn it in our

45:38.476 --> 45:40.753
schools and they learn it . By example ,

45:40.753 --> 45:43.020
if you could Admiral going to briefly

45:43.030 --> 45:45.380
the Joint Interagency Task Force South

45:45.390 --> 45:47.940
and what work we're doing to continue .

45:47.940 --> 45:50.162
Like you said , you can't interdict our

45:50.162 --> 45:52.218
way out of it . Although we saw what

45:52.218 --> 45:54.329
the border patrol is doing there when

45:54.329 --> 45:56.551
they come to the ports of entry and the

45:56.551 --> 45:58.884
efforts that they are are are not doing .

45:58.884 --> 46:00.773
Um what else can we do beyond our

46:00.773 --> 46:02.940
borders when it comes to stopping that

46:02.940 --> 46:04.996
flow of narcotics joining our agency

46:04.996 --> 46:07.218
task Force South and Key West is a team

46:07.218 --> 46:09.551
of teams . We have every partner nation ,

46:09.551 --> 46:11.718
including Mexico Canada and our allies

46:11.718 --> 46:14.570
in europe represented there despite

46:14.570 --> 46:16.848
Covid , they stepped up when the U . S .

46:16.848 --> 46:18.903
State on the field , they stepped up

46:18.903 --> 46:20.903
and increase their interdictions to

46:20.903 --> 46:23.060
from 50 to 60% participation rate .

46:23.060 --> 46:25.227
That's key . So we have to incentivize

46:25.227 --> 46:27.338
them to do that , recognize when they

46:27.338 --> 46:29.116
do . And Colombia is one of the

46:29.116 --> 46:31.227
countries that made a big impact . In

46:31.227 --> 46:33.310
fact , uh , Costa rica , Panama ,

46:33.310 --> 46:36.070
Honduras , Guatemala all made impacts

46:36.070 --> 46:38.820
last year professionally in that space .

46:38.830 --> 46:40.990
So continuing to invest in that

46:40.990 --> 46:43.070
capability is a is a good deal and a

46:43.070 --> 46:45.237
good return on investment for the US .

46:45.237 --> 46:47.237
Thank you . Thank you gentlemen . I

46:47.237 --> 46:49.403
yield back Mr . Chairman . Thank you .

46:49.403 --> 46:51.737
Mr Carles , recognized for five minutes .

46:52.580 --> 46:55.050
Yeah . Turn your microphone on sir ,

46:55.180 --> 46:57.500
sir . That always helps , doesn't it ,

46:57.500 --> 47:00.600
sir ? Thank you so much . Mr Chairman

47:00.600 --> 47:02.600
smith ranking member Rogers . And I

47:02.600 --> 47:04.656
thank the witnesses for being here .

47:04.656 --> 47:06.600
And I certainly thank you for your

47:06.600 --> 47:08.600
service to this country , Admiral .

47:08.680 --> 47:11.500
Over recent years . Um , over the

47:11.500 --> 47:13.667
recent years we've heard an increasing

47:13.667 --> 47:16.020
role of china and played throughout the

47:16.020 --> 47:18.270
central and south . America . China has

47:18.270 --> 47:20.214
continued to invest in projects to

47:20.214 --> 47:22.326
improve their relationship with these

47:22.326 --> 47:24.381
countries . Which that's that's what

47:24.381 --> 47:26.603
you've been highlighting here and now .

47:26.603 --> 47:28.659
Your written testimony describes the

47:28.659 --> 47:30.910
increase Increasing actions of China

47:30.920 --> 47:33.300
has taken through the diplomacy because

47:33.300 --> 47:36.590
the COVID-19 pandemic . Can you explain

47:37.880 --> 47:40.560
on what china has been doing and how

47:40.570 --> 47:43.380
the navy ships , hospital ships can be

47:43.380 --> 47:45.820
used to combat these while continuing

47:45.820 --> 47:47.764
to advance our relationship in the

47:47.764 --> 47:51.630
region . The National Defense strategy

47:51.630 --> 47:54.090
and the secretary defenses priorities

47:54.480 --> 47:56.950
rightly call out china is a pacing

47:56.950 --> 47:59.061
threatened a competition that we have

47:59.061 --> 48:02.330
to win and we have to recognize that

48:02.340 --> 48:04.507
they're the number one trading partner

48:04.507 --> 48:06.562
of the United States . And there are

48:06.562 --> 48:08.784
partners , number one trading partner .

48:08.784 --> 48:08.580
So I don't ask them to choose . But I

48:08.580 --> 48:11.010
point out to our partners whose gear

48:11.010 --> 48:13.232
would you rather work with ? The United

48:13.232 --> 48:15.288
States ? Built in America , The best

48:15.288 --> 48:17.399
gear out there , the best equipment ,

48:17.399 --> 48:19.454
best ships whose value system better

48:19.454 --> 48:21.621
matches your value system . And that's

48:21.621 --> 48:23.510
our competitive advantage and our

48:23.510 --> 48:25.232
workers and our country is our

48:25.232 --> 48:27.454
competitive advantage . And so I go and

48:27.454 --> 48:30.530
I represent the best of the US , our

48:30.530 --> 48:32.252
servicemen and women and their

48:32.252 --> 48:34.308
equipment . And so we talk about the

48:34.308 --> 48:36.308
navy and the importance of our navy

48:36.308 --> 48:38.474
participated in exercises and our navy

48:38.474 --> 48:40.697
with the support of sector have stepped

48:40.697 --> 48:43.180
up last year and supply ships , ships

48:43.180 --> 48:45.124
built in Alabama and all over this

48:45.124 --> 48:47.260
great nation to work with our partner

48:47.260 --> 48:49.482
nations and they did really well in the

48:49.482 --> 48:51.593
exercises and the training programs .

48:51.593 --> 48:53.704
It works on interoperability , domain

48:53.704 --> 48:55.704
awareness , things that General Van

48:55.704 --> 48:57.649
Herck is cited as are important to

48:57.649 --> 48:59.760
defending our nation and important to

48:59.760 --> 49:01.593
building our strong alliance and

49:01.593 --> 49:04.460
partnerships globally . Thank you sir .

49:04.710 --> 49:07.480
2nd question . Given the up keeping

49:07.480 --> 49:10.420
requirements of our Navy hospital ships

49:10.420 --> 49:12.880
right now , we have to correct . We

49:12.880 --> 49:15.047
have one in dry dock right now and one

49:15.047 --> 49:17.102
is on the east Coast , correct ? You

49:17.102 --> 49:19.330
got that right in the comfort , given

49:19.330 --> 49:21.552
the the upkeep requirements for both of

49:21.552 --> 49:24.170
those and these asian ships , how could

49:24.170 --> 49:26.420
increase in the number of Navy medical

49:26.420 --> 49:29.800
ships help in the response to china's

49:29.800 --> 49:32.190
activity in the O . R .

49:33.670 --> 49:36.450
Our partnerships . One of the strongest

49:36.450 --> 49:38.561
aspects of them has been our outreach

49:38.561 --> 49:40.783
and humanitarian assistance and medical

49:40.783 --> 49:43.300
assistance . And I've seen firsthand

49:43.300 --> 49:45.460
the power of to comfort deployments

49:45.460 --> 49:49.180
during our my tour where you send an

49:49.180 --> 49:52.050
outstretched hand , you help a mother

49:52.060 --> 49:54.500
with her son or daughter that's never

49:54.500 --> 49:56.667
been to a doctor . They're eight years

49:56.667 --> 49:58.833
old , nine years old . And you see the

49:58.833 --> 50:01.056
value of that to win hearts and minds .

50:01.056 --> 50:03.167
And the value of that is it shows the

50:03.167 --> 50:05.950
best of America . So that capacity in

50:06.180 --> 50:08.347
winning the day to day competition and

50:08.347 --> 50:11.690
being able to respond in a competitor

50:11.690 --> 50:14.600
fight a global war is important . So to

50:14.600 --> 50:17.820
me it's how the services , the navy

50:17.820 --> 50:19.820
working with Secretary Defense best

50:19.820 --> 50:21.542
resources that but it's really

50:21.542 --> 50:23.431
important that we never lose that

50:23.431 --> 50:25.730
capability to be able to supply the

50:25.730 --> 50:28.210
combatant commanders in peace so that

50:28.210 --> 50:31.540
we never have to fight . Thank you .

50:31.550 --> 50:33.772
Thank you . Mr . Chairman , you back my

50:33.772 --> 50:35.606
time . Thank you . Mr V . C . Is

50:35.606 --> 50:38.140
recognized for five months . Thank you .

50:38.140 --> 50:41.080
Mr Chairman General . Uh eric , I

50:41.080 --> 50:44.880
wanted to ask you about the weather

50:44.880 --> 50:46.880
event that we had in texas . I know

50:46.880 --> 50:48.991
that North um works very closely with

50:48.991 --> 50:51.450
fema uh , and D . O . D . When it comes

50:51.450 --> 50:53.610
to natural disasters and I was hoping

50:53.610 --> 50:55.832
that you'd be able to talk a little bit

50:55.832 --> 50:58.840
about what the response was to the

50:58.840 --> 51:01.410
power outage in in texas and and and

51:01.410 --> 51:03.577
how D . O . D responded to the event .

51:05.460 --> 51:07.738
Sure , thank you for the question . So ,

51:07.738 --> 51:09.960
defense support of civil authorities is

51:09.960 --> 51:11.904
obviously a crucial mission at the

51:11.904 --> 51:14.016
United States Northern North Common ,

51:14.016 --> 51:16.071
something we do as a no fail mission

51:16.071 --> 51:17.960
are direct support to that was in

51:17.960 --> 51:20.127
support of lead federal agency in this

51:20.127 --> 51:22.016
case fema , to provide generators

51:22.016 --> 51:24.127
support to support to where there was

51:24.127 --> 51:25.850
no electrical power to sustain

51:25.860 --> 51:28.390
hospitals and those kinds of things in

51:28.390 --> 51:30.660
the result of this is to take a look at

51:30.660 --> 51:33.010
our overarching resiliency as a nation .

51:33.010 --> 51:35.280
Something that we do routinely uh to

51:35.280 --> 51:37.169
ensure that from a defense of the

51:37.169 --> 51:39.280
homeland uh that that's factored into

51:39.280 --> 51:41.680
any potential , not only disaster but

51:41.680 --> 51:43.902
attack on our homeland . And so working

51:43.902 --> 51:46.650
with uh the inter agency , we continue

51:46.650 --> 51:49.050
to analyze the resiliency overall from

51:49.050 --> 51:51.217
that event you're referring to . Mhm .

51:52.060 --> 51:54.560
Is there anything that you learn from

51:54.560 --> 51:56.504
that event that can help us better

51:56.504 --> 51:58.393
prepare in the future ? Obvious .

51:58.393 --> 52:00.282
Obviously , there's still a great

52:00.282 --> 52:01.949
amount of concern . The state

52:01.949 --> 52:04.060
Legislature right now is looking at ,

52:04.060 --> 52:06.282
you know , what sort of safeguards they

52:06.282 --> 52:08.282
can possibly put in place to try to

52:08.282 --> 52:10.393
prevent something like that from ever

52:10.393 --> 52:12.560
happening again ? Or are there with it

52:12.560 --> 52:14.727
being , you know , so many people that

52:14.727 --> 52:16.893
were affected by that storm . Is there

52:16.893 --> 52:19.116
is there something that you think needs

52:19.116 --> 52:21.171
to happen or that you're going to be

52:21.171 --> 52:23.338
looking at where we can better respond

52:23.338 --> 52:25.560
in the future ? So I would say that the

52:25.560 --> 52:27.616
largest lesson out of that should be

52:27.616 --> 52:29.782
applied to the fact that although this

52:29.782 --> 52:31.838
was a natural disaster that somebody

52:31.838 --> 52:34.060
with nefarious activity could take some

52:34.060 --> 52:36.171
kind of action that would put us in a

52:36.171 --> 52:38.282
precarious situation just like that .

52:38.282 --> 52:40.060
They'll learn , they'll see the

52:40.060 --> 52:42.171
potential vulnerabilities and they'll

52:42.171 --> 52:44.171
take action . So us as not only the

52:44.171 --> 52:43.710
Department of Defense within their

52:43.710 --> 52:46.020
inner agency should exercise this . We

52:46.020 --> 52:48.020
should work through the command and

52:48.020 --> 52:50.076
control of the future to ensure that

52:50.076 --> 52:52.500
we're in a properly positioned place to

52:52.510 --> 52:54.510
command and control and look at our

52:54.510 --> 52:57.440
resiliency . Thank you very much .

52:57.450 --> 52:59.672
Admiral Fowler . You asked the question

52:59.672 --> 53:02.850
earlier about Colombia and some of the

53:02.850 --> 53:05.017
successes that they've had their posts

53:05.017 --> 53:07.540
marine , uh , and , and , and Cali

53:07.550 --> 53:10.540
cartels when that country was a

53:10.550 --> 53:13.690
complete rate . I'd like to hear it . I

53:13.700 --> 53:16.870
think that's more questions . I think

53:16.870 --> 53:20.520
they're right here . Thank you . Thank

53:20.520 --> 53:23.540
you very much . I appreciate that . Um ,

53:23.540 --> 53:26.980
and I wanted to ask you specifically

53:27.350 --> 53:31.320
about what sort of , um ,

53:31.330 --> 53:33.740
if you , if , if today you could

53:33.740 --> 53:36.380
implement something to try to stabilize

53:36.750 --> 53:38.917
the countries will receive most of the

53:38.917 --> 53:41.640
migration heading north to our southern

53:41.640 --> 53:44.720
border . Uh , what what would be the

53:44.720 --> 53:46.776
first thing that you would implement

53:46.776 --> 53:49.750
and what sort of requirements or , and

53:49.760 --> 53:52.038
maybe requirement is not the best word ,

53:52.038 --> 53:53.649
but , but what should be the

53:53.649 --> 53:55.871
expectation from , you know , a country

53:55.871 --> 53:58.940
like Honduras where there's just , uh ,

53:58.950 --> 54:02.490
you know , such a , a long history of ,

54:02.500 --> 54:04.990
of , of , of corruption to be quite

54:04.990 --> 54:07.760
frank . Like what , what should , um ,

54:07.770 --> 54:09.992
you know , ships should be , you know ,

54:09.992 --> 54:12.920
ask of them in order to make anything

54:12.920 --> 54:15.253
that you would implement , be a success .

54:17.740 --> 54:19.407
Thank you for recognizing the

54:19.407 --> 54:21.518
professionalism and the excellence of

54:21.518 --> 54:23.573
the Colombian security forces . They

54:23.573 --> 54:25.518
work hard every day at that and uh

54:25.518 --> 54:27.684
emulate our values in that respect . I

54:27.684 --> 54:29.796
would ask a support for a legislative

54:29.796 --> 54:31.740
proposal that we have submitted to

54:31.740 --> 54:33.629
Congress for the U . S . Colombia

54:33.629 --> 54:35.684
action plan . It's a plan that is an

54:35.684 --> 54:37.740
offshoot of plan Colombia that helps

54:37.740 --> 54:40.260
use security cooperation to fund a

54:40.260 --> 54:42.410
regional approach . Colombia is now a

54:42.410 --> 54:44.760
net exporter of professional security

54:45.140 --> 54:47.540
and has trained thousands of central

54:47.540 --> 54:49.596
american Northern Triangle nations .

54:49.596 --> 54:52.460
Security forces and the cultural fit is

54:52.460 --> 54:54.460
a very good one and they've trained

54:54.460 --> 54:56.627
them to do professional work . They're

54:56.627 --> 54:58.404
willing to contribute with some

54:58.404 --> 55:00.571
additional funding here . I would also

55:00.571 --> 55:02.516
have support for our institutional

55:02.516 --> 55:04.682
capacity building efforts where we put

55:04.682 --> 55:06.849
these advisors that are trained at the

55:06.849 --> 55:09.016
institute in Monterey in host nation .

55:09.016 --> 55:11.182
We could we could , for example , with

55:11.182 --> 55:13.920
additional funding and support embed

55:13.920 --> 55:15.864
one in the Minister of Defense for

55:15.864 --> 55:17.976
Honduras . Uh we know who the trusted

55:17.976 --> 55:20.340
partners are and the ministry Minister

55:20.340 --> 55:22.451
of Defense and his team are trying to

55:22.451 --> 55:24.618
do the right thing in Honduras . Uh we

55:24.618 --> 55:26.729
know working with other agencies that

55:26.729 --> 55:28.562
they're they're trusted . And by

55:28.562 --> 55:30.396
putting an advisor in , we could

55:30.396 --> 55:33.050
provide the right system and overall

55:33.050 --> 55:35.180
view to add transparency so we can

55:35.180 --> 55:38.160
account correctly to Congress , your

55:38.160 --> 55:40.300
oversight role , that the dollars are

55:40.300 --> 55:42.133
being spent in the right way and

55:42.133 --> 55:44.300
invested . That's going to be a return

55:44.300 --> 55:46.620
on investment for the U . S . Thank you

55:46.630 --> 55:49.560
so much time has expired . Mr Jackson

55:49.560 --> 55:52.050
is recognized for five minutes . Thank

55:52.050 --> 55:53.994
you . Mr Chairman , ranking member

55:53.994 --> 55:56.106
Rogers and to our witnesses for being

55:56.106 --> 55:58.272
here today . Um while we spend much of

55:58.272 --> 56:00.217
our time talking about the threats

56:00.217 --> 56:02.439
posed by china and Russia , people need

56:02.439 --> 56:02.170
to understand , I think that those

56:02.170 --> 56:04.290
threats are not limited to geographic

56:04.290 --> 56:06.012
locations . The threatened the

56:06.012 --> 56:08.123
influence imposed by china and Russia

56:08.123 --> 56:10.068
impacts both north Korea and south

56:10.068 --> 56:12.000
Korea Kors . The National Defense

56:12.000 --> 56:14.100
strategy correctly prioritizes

56:14.100 --> 56:16.322
competition with china and Russia . And

56:16.322 --> 56:18.489
the department has seen great progress

56:18.489 --> 56:20.711
over the last four years in confronting

56:20.711 --> 56:22.933
that challenge with looming budget cuts

56:22.933 --> 56:25.100
in the pipeline . Any advantage we may

56:25.100 --> 56:27.044
have , we may have that could have

56:27.044 --> 56:29.100
wiped out . It could be wiped out by

56:29.100 --> 56:31.267
malign espionage efforts influenced by

56:31.267 --> 56:33.489
china Russia , Iran north Korea through

56:33.489 --> 56:35.267
their proximity to our military

56:35.267 --> 56:37.650
installations . While we're while while

56:37.650 --> 56:39.650
there are conflicting views on this

56:39.650 --> 56:41.872
committee , about many topics , I would

56:41.872 --> 56:44.094
hope that one view we all share is that

56:44.094 --> 56:43.920
our adversaries should not be the

56:43.920 --> 56:45.976
owners and operators of any facility

56:46.080 --> 56:48.136
that is anywhere close to the United

56:48.136 --> 56:50.136
States military installation . With

56:50.136 --> 56:52.024
that said , I'm worried about the

56:52.024 --> 56:54.191
potential espionage efforts related to

56:54.191 --> 56:56.524
this particular issue . Mr . Solicitous .

56:56.524 --> 56:58.747
Uh , could you speak to the threat that

56:58.747 --> 57:00.802
would be posed by china or any other

57:00.802 --> 57:03.030
adversary and their ability to purchase

57:03.030 --> 57:05.252
real estate near an installation in the

57:05.252 --> 57:07.419
intelligence threat that could pose to

57:07.419 --> 57:09.586
our country , Congressman . Thanks for

57:09.586 --> 57:11.697
the question . Obviously , that would

57:11.697 --> 57:13.808
be a very significant challenge . And

57:13.808 --> 57:16.030
we need to I know that that has come up

57:16.030 --> 57:15.580
around the country a couple of times

57:15.590 --> 57:17.820
and uh , we worked very closely with

57:17.820 --> 57:19.653
the Justice Department and other

57:19.653 --> 57:21.876
organizations that would be involved in

57:21.876 --> 57:23.931
those kinds of activities and how we

57:23.931 --> 57:25.987
can limit uh , that kind of activity

57:25.987 --> 57:28.209
here in the country . Thank you , sir .

57:28.209 --> 57:30.209
I have one more question . Um , the

57:30.209 --> 57:32.320
threat that the threat posed by china

57:32.320 --> 57:34.542
and our adversaries is of grave concern

57:34.542 --> 57:36.709
worldwide . However , there are things

57:36.709 --> 57:36.100
that threaten our military's ability to

57:36.100 --> 57:38.433
train here in the United States as well .

57:38.433 --> 57:40.600
While we as a country began to look at

57:40.600 --> 57:42.600
renewable sources of energy such as

57:42.600 --> 57:44.656
wind , one thing that has not always

57:44.656 --> 57:46.600
been considered is the impact that

57:46.600 --> 57:48.822
construction of these projects can have

57:48.822 --> 57:51.044
on our readiness levels . It's critical

57:51.044 --> 57:50.390
that the young men and women training

57:50.390 --> 57:52.557
in the United States are able to do so

57:52.557 --> 57:54.779
in order to prepare in order to prepare

57:54.779 --> 57:57.001
for the threats that they may face when

57:57.001 --> 57:59.112
they are deployed General , could you

57:59.112 --> 58:01.112
speak about the detrimental effects

58:01.112 --> 58:02.890
that wind farms can have on our

58:02.890 --> 58:05.001
military training routes ? What steps

58:05.001 --> 58:07.223
are being taken to mitigate that impact

58:07.223 --> 58:09.334
and the overall readiness impact that

58:09.334 --> 58:11.557
occurs when we are forced to reduce the

58:11.557 --> 58:13.723
number of low level empty ours flowing

58:13.723 --> 58:13.540
out of pilot training basis , such as

58:13.540 --> 58:15.540
the one in my district Sheppard Air

58:15.540 --> 58:18.750
Force Base congressman . That's

58:18.750 --> 58:20.972
probably best answered by the service .

58:20.972 --> 58:23.720
But I would tell you that there is a

58:23.720 --> 58:26.060
detrimental effect that could limit our

58:26.070 --> 58:28.070
ability to train here in the United

58:28.070 --> 58:30.292
States would have a potential readiness

58:30.292 --> 58:32.500
impacts . What's crucial is that we

58:32.500 --> 58:34.722
have a partnership , local partnerships

58:34.722 --> 58:36.889
with local commanders , with the local

58:36.889 --> 58:39.167
civic leaders , the mayor's , etcetera .

58:39.167 --> 58:41.060
That more broadly also includes a

58:41.060 --> 58:42.838
broader discussion , a national

58:42.838 --> 58:45.060
security discussion so that we can come

58:45.060 --> 58:47.171
to a solution for business folks that

58:47.171 --> 58:49.171
want to have to make that money for

58:49.171 --> 58:51.338
renewable energy as you pointed out to

58:51.338 --> 58:53.227
make us resilient as well and the

58:53.227 --> 58:55.504
potential impacts on national security .

58:55.504 --> 58:57.616
And that discussion has to happen any

58:57.616 --> 58:59.838
time . There is a potential building of

58:59.838 --> 59:02.060
some kind of facility that could impact

59:02.060 --> 59:04.171
training . Yes , I agree with you . I

59:04.171 --> 59:06.282
think that I think it will be our job

59:06.282 --> 59:08.449
as legislatures to make sure that that

59:08.449 --> 59:10.560
happens before this stuff is put into

59:10.560 --> 59:09.710
place because that's what I've seen at

59:09.710 --> 59:11.821
Sheppard Air Force Base . And it goes

59:11.821 --> 59:13.988
back to my first question as well . If

59:13.988 --> 59:16.043
we don't think about those things up

59:16.043 --> 59:15.950
front , then that stuff's gonna happen

59:15.950 --> 59:17.783
before we before , you know , we

59:17.783 --> 59:20.006
realize it and then we're gonna be in a

59:20.006 --> 59:22.006
position . We can't go back and and

59:22.006 --> 59:21.760
undermine that . I thank you all for

59:21.760 --> 59:23.927
your thoughtful responses that we face

59:23.927 --> 59:25.649
threats across the globe . And

59:25.649 --> 59:27.816
unfortunately even some here at home ,

59:27.816 --> 59:27.720
I look forward to working with each of

59:27.720 --> 59:29.887
you and with all of my colleagues here

59:29.887 --> 59:31.664
on the committee to provide our

59:31.664 --> 59:33.664
military with the resources and the

59:33.664 --> 59:35.887
authorities that we need to protect our

59:35.887 --> 59:35.390
country . Thank you . Mr Chairman , I

59:35.390 --> 59:37.501
yield back my time . Thank you . Miss

59:37.501 --> 59:39.390
Strickland is recognized for five

59:39.390 --> 59:41.950
minutes . Thank you . Chairman smith

59:41.950 --> 59:43.894
and ranking member Rogers into our

59:43.894 --> 59:45.894
witnesses . I have the privilege of

59:45.894 --> 59:48.150
representing the western area defense

59:48.150 --> 59:50.360
sector wads which is one of the two

59:50.360 --> 59:52.750
sectors responsible for peacetime , Air

59:52.750 --> 59:55.090
sovereignty , strategic air defense and

59:55.100 --> 59:57.322
airborne counter drug operations in the

59:57.322 --> 01:00:00.330
Continental US under NORAD . As we

01:00:00.330 --> 01:00:02.274
continue to implement the national

01:00:02.274 --> 01:00:04.510
security strategy , we must continue to

01:00:04.510 --> 01:00:07.050
ensure that our homeland assets are a

01:00:07.050 --> 01:00:09.180
deterrent to our adversaries . I

01:00:09.180 --> 01:00:11.250
strongly support ensuring that wants

01:00:11.250 --> 01:00:13.750
has the resources it needs to continue

01:00:13.750 --> 01:00:15.860
to defend our homeland . General Van

01:00:15.860 --> 01:00:18.027
Herck . I'd like to start with you and

01:00:18.027 --> 01:00:20.249
I have a few questions , one about wads

01:00:20.249 --> 01:00:22.138
and then another about hypersonic

01:00:22.138 --> 01:00:24.304
detection . If we can get there one of

01:00:24.304 --> 01:00:24.290
the innovations that NORAD is working

01:00:24.290 --> 01:00:26.430
on , his pathfinder which previously

01:00:26.430 --> 01:00:28.670
took separate data systems and combine

01:00:28.670 --> 01:00:30.940
them so NORAD can see a more complete

01:00:30.940 --> 01:00:33.010
picture . I know that a contract was

01:00:33.010 --> 01:00:35.066
recently awarded . So can you please

01:00:35.066 --> 01:00:37.560
tell me how the integration is going if

01:00:37.560 --> 01:00:39.504
there any difficulties and why you

01:00:39.504 --> 01:00:41.727
think Pathfinder is so important to the

01:00:41.727 --> 01:00:43.782
concept of an all domain awareness ?

01:00:43.782 --> 01:00:46.330
Thank you . Thank you for the

01:00:46.330 --> 01:00:47.997
opportunity man to talk about

01:00:47.997 --> 01:00:49.663
Pathfinder . Pathfinder is an

01:00:49.663 --> 01:00:51.497
innovative capability that we've

01:00:51.497 --> 01:00:53.663
designed to do exactly what you talked

01:00:53.663 --> 01:00:55.830
about . Uh working in a partnership to

01:00:55.830 --> 01:00:57.886
take data and information , which by

01:00:57.886 --> 01:01:00.052
the way I think is a strategic value .

01:01:00.052 --> 01:01:02.052
Something that we need to utilize .

01:01:02.052 --> 01:01:04.163
Pathfinder ingests data from multiple

01:01:04.163 --> 01:01:06.219
sources and fuses that data and uses

01:01:06.219 --> 01:01:08.108
machine learning and intelligence

01:01:08.108 --> 01:01:10.500
capabilities to uh process and share in

01:01:10.500 --> 01:01:13.420
near real time . But previously to

01:01:13.430 --> 01:01:16.790
Pathfinder uh we had 12 manual systems ,

01:01:16.800 --> 01:01:18.800
phone calls , those kinds of things

01:01:18.800 --> 01:01:21.410
that would take longer minutes if not

01:01:21.410 --> 01:01:23.577
longer . Uh , Today , when you utilize

01:01:23.577 --> 01:01:25.730
Pathfinder gives us a picture in

01:01:25.730 --> 01:01:28.900
seconds or less and a much more broadly

01:01:28.910 --> 01:01:31.210
a picture to help our air defence

01:01:31.210 --> 01:01:33.099
sectors accomplish our mission of

01:01:33.099 --> 01:01:35.321
defending our homeland . The Pathfinder

01:01:35.321 --> 01:01:37.321
is going great . The Canadians just

01:01:37.321 --> 01:01:39.266
gave us some additional funding to

01:01:39.266 --> 01:01:41.099
continue the program and we look

01:01:41.099 --> 01:01:43.210
forward to moving that forward . I'll

01:01:43.210 --> 01:01:45.266
give you an example real quick and I

01:01:45.266 --> 01:01:44.710
don't want to steal too much of your

01:01:44.710 --> 01:01:46.910
time . But Pathfinder was utilized if

01:01:46.910 --> 01:01:49.010
you remember in 2000 and 15 , the

01:01:49.010 --> 01:01:51.260
gyrocopter that flew down from north in

01:01:51.260 --> 01:01:53.316
the national capital region here and

01:01:53.316 --> 01:01:55.480
landed on of the capitol lawn . When

01:01:55.480 --> 01:01:57.258
you take all the sensors in the

01:01:57.258 --> 01:01:59.480
national capital region and you look at

01:01:59.480 --> 01:02:01.591
them separately . None of the sensors

01:02:01.591 --> 01:02:03.591
detected that gyrocopter . When you

01:02:03.591 --> 01:02:05.647
take all those sensors , we took the

01:02:05.647 --> 01:02:07.702
real data and you take those sensors

01:02:07.702 --> 01:02:09.758
and you fuse it into Pathfinder in a

01:02:09.758 --> 01:02:11.980
single system that aggregates that data

01:02:11.980 --> 01:02:14.091
and assesses it Sure enough . We were

01:02:14.091 --> 01:02:16.258
able to see that gyrocopter that's the

01:02:16.258 --> 01:02:15.910
value of information and data .

01:02:15.920 --> 01:02:17.920
Previously the data was left on the

01:02:17.920 --> 01:02:20.031
cutting room floor and not analyzed .

01:02:20.031 --> 01:02:22.198
Pathfinder analyzes it . So thanks for

01:02:22.198 --> 01:02:24.253
the opportunity to talk about that .

01:02:24.253 --> 01:02:26.309
Great thank you . And it just really

01:02:26.309 --> 01:02:28.309
underscores how we talk a lot about

01:02:28.309 --> 01:02:30.531
data but it actually helps us make good

01:02:30.531 --> 01:02:30.250
decisions . So I want to switch over to

01:02:30.250 --> 01:02:32.194
hypersonic detection and stay with

01:02:32.194 --> 01:02:34.380
general than her as a commander of

01:02:34.380 --> 01:02:36.810
North Common NORAD . What do you see as

01:02:36.810 --> 01:02:39.010
the most critical gap that must be

01:02:39.010 --> 01:02:41.350
filled in regard to censor coverage of

01:02:41.350 --> 01:02:43.740
the U . S . For advancing Russian and

01:02:43.740 --> 01:02:45.907
chinese threats of advanced cruise and

01:02:45.907 --> 01:02:47.962
hypersonic missiles . And as the Air

01:02:47.962 --> 01:02:49.851
force completes their analysis of

01:02:49.851 --> 01:02:51.851
alternatives of northern approaches

01:02:51.851 --> 01:02:54.073
have north common nor grad priority has

01:02:54.073 --> 01:02:55.907
been accounted for in that final

01:02:55.907 --> 01:02:57.907
product that we get . Well , I look

01:02:57.907 --> 01:02:59.962
forward to seeing the product as the

01:02:59.962 --> 01:03:02.073
Air Force completes it . I do believe

01:03:02.073 --> 01:03:04.296
that our equities will be accounted for

01:03:04.296 --> 01:03:06.518
in the product , but I haven't seen the

01:03:06.518 --> 01:03:08.518
final product is still with the Air

01:03:08.518 --> 01:03:10.740
Force . Uh specific domain awareness is

01:03:10.740 --> 01:03:12.796
what we need for NORAD in the United

01:03:12.796 --> 01:03:14.907
States Northern comment command . And

01:03:14.907 --> 01:03:17.129
that's in my priorities that you'll see

01:03:17.129 --> 01:03:19.184
in my statement and my priority list

01:03:19.184 --> 01:03:18.730
that I submitted to the department

01:03:18.900 --> 01:03:21.800
domain awareness to get further out

01:03:21.810 --> 01:03:24.800
today . Uh , competitors have increased

01:03:24.800 --> 01:03:26.578
capabilities . The Russians can

01:03:26.578 --> 01:03:28.633
actually shoot from over the Russian

01:03:28.633 --> 01:03:30.633
homeland and strike the continental

01:03:30.633 --> 01:03:32.856
United States . And so we need over the

01:03:32.856 --> 01:03:34.744
horizon radars and those kinds of

01:03:34.744 --> 01:03:36.744
capabilities with specifically with

01:03:36.744 --> 01:03:38.911
regards to hypersonic capabilities . I

01:03:38.911 --> 01:03:38.840
remain concerned we're focused on

01:03:38.840 --> 01:03:40.960
offensive hypersonic capabilities and

01:03:40.960 --> 01:03:42.849
that's crucial to our overarching

01:03:42.849 --> 01:03:44.904
deterrent . But just as important as

01:03:44.904 --> 01:03:47.016
our ability to detect having a threat

01:03:47.016 --> 01:03:49.182
assessment , threat warning and attack

01:03:49.182 --> 01:03:51.293
assessment for hypersonic coming in .

01:03:51.293 --> 01:03:53.349
And that's part of our deterrence by

01:03:53.349 --> 01:03:55.516
denial . And any solution that we come

01:03:55.516 --> 01:03:57.571
up with for hypersonic should not be

01:03:57.571 --> 01:03:59.516
just a sensor that tells us what's

01:03:59.516 --> 01:03:59.240
inbound . But it ought to be able to

01:03:59.240 --> 01:04:01.540
deliver weapons quality information so

01:04:01.540 --> 01:04:03.500
that we could actually negate that

01:04:03.500 --> 01:04:05.611
threat from a hypersonic vehicle that

01:04:05.611 --> 01:04:07.833
may be inbound . And by the way , hyper

01:04:07.833 --> 01:04:09.889
sonics are here today . The Russians

01:04:09.889 --> 01:04:09.820
have fielded them . That's not

01:04:09.820 --> 01:04:11.598
something in the future . There

01:04:11.598 --> 01:04:13.542
absolutely a threat right here and

01:04:13.542 --> 01:04:16.180
right now . Right . And very quickly do

01:04:16.180 --> 01:04:18.291
you think Canada is doing its part to

01:04:18.291 --> 01:04:20.069
equity , contribute , equitably

01:04:20.069 --> 01:04:22.780
contribute to hyper sonics ? Uh ,

01:04:22.790 --> 01:04:25.590
Canada has is a wonderful ally and does

01:04:25.590 --> 01:04:27.740
a great thing specific with the North

01:04:27.740 --> 01:04:29.962
Warning system and our legacy systems .

01:04:29.962 --> 01:04:32.140
They've funded about 60% of that over

01:04:32.140 --> 01:04:34.140
time going forward . What we really

01:04:34.140 --> 01:04:36.480
need to do uh Ma'am is create the

01:04:36.480 --> 01:04:38.702
framework for NORAD modernization . I'm

01:04:38.702 --> 01:04:40.813
encouraged by the President and Prime

01:04:40.813 --> 01:04:43.036
Minister talking about it , but there's

01:04:43.036 --> 01:04:44.924
much more work to do on what that

01:04:44.924 --> 01:04:47.202
framework will look like in the future .

01:04:47.202 --> 01:04:49.424
Thank you . Thank you very much . Thank

01:04:49.424 --> 01:04:51.424
you . Mr Chair . uh mr MS Maclean .

01:04:51.424 --> 01:04:53.258
Sorry , it's recognized for five

01:04:53.258 --> 01:04:56.190
minutes . Thank you . Mr Chairman . Um

01:04:56.200 --> 01:04:58.367
Thank you gentlemen for being here and

01:04:58.367 --> 01:05:00.200
thank you for your service as it

01:05:00.200 --> 01:05:02.256
pertains to national security . I've

01:05:02.256 --> 01:05:04.311
heard a lot of words today , Rule of

01:05:04.311 --> 01:05:06.600
law , human rights , deterrence and

01:05:06.600 --> 01:05:09.020
really consistencies with our programs

01:05:09.020 --> 01:05:12.030
and our policies . With that said

01:05:12.040 --> 01:05:14.780
General Herrick , as we know the

01:05:14.780 --> 01:05:16.840
disastrous situation at our southern

01:05:16.840 --> 01:05:18.840
border is not only a humanitarian

01:05:18.840 --> 01:05:21.760
crisis but a national security crisis

01:05:21.760 --> 01:05:23.840
where former president trump had the

01:05:23.840 --> 01:05:26.220
border secured . My question is simple

01:05:26.790 --> 01:05:29.830
has President biden's actions to reopen

01:05:29.830 --> 01:05:32.100
the southern border and encourage

01:05:32.100 --> 01:05:34.720
migrants to illegally cross our border ?

01:05:34.870 --> 01:05:38.230
Made the United States safer or less

01:05:38.230 --> 01:05:41.070
safe and to President biden's border

01:05:41.070 --> 01:05:44.410
policies threaten the security and

01:05:44.410 --> 01:05:46.460
stability in Mexico in the Northern

01:05:46.460 --> 01:05:47.460
Triangle .

01:05:50.590 --> 01:05:52.534
Thanks for the opportunity to talk

01:05:52.534 --> 01:05:55.470
about national security . Um I'm not

01:05:55.470 --> 01:05:57.692
going to comment about the specifics on

01:05:57.692 --> 01:05:59.748
policies . I would ask the President

01:05:59.748 --> 01:06:01.914
defer to him about those , but I would

01:06:01.914 --> 01:06:03.748
tell you that we have a national

01:06:03.748 --> 01:06:05.803
security imperative right now on our

01:06:05.803 --> 01:06:07.859
southern border that we need to deal

01:06:07.859 --> 01:06:10.020
with ? Um A faller made it very clear

01:06:10.030 --> 01:06:12.760
in his comments about the confluence of

01:06:12.760 --> 01:06:14.593
things that have come together .

01:06:14.593 --> 01:06:16.649
Transnational criminal organizations

01:06:16.649 --> 01:06:18.871
created an environment not conducive to

01:06:18.871 --> 01:06:20.871
successful , rare enough families ,

01:06:20.871 --> 01:06:22.760
employment economics , etcetera ,

01:06:22.760 --> 01:06:24.871
combine that with covid and two major

01:06:24.871 --> 01:06:26.816
natural disasters . And you have a

01:06:26.816 --> 01:06:28.982
confluence of things ongoing , I would

01:06:28.982 --> 01:06:31.204
say there's a perception that uh , that

01:06:31.204 --> 01:06:33.850
folks can come here uh , and bring your

01:06:33.850 --> 01:06:36.072
family with you . What we need to do is

01:06:36.072 --> 01:06:38.239
approach this from a national security

01:06:38.239 --> 01:06:40.461
imperatives and come up with a whole of

01:06:40.461 --> 01:06:42.683
government problem that will secure our

01:06:42.683 --> 01:06:44.794
borders . I'm concerned , can concern

01:06:44.794 --> 01:06:47.017
from a homeland defense perspective . I

01:06:47.017 --> 01:06:49.183
believe the symptoms that we're seeing

01:06:49.183 --> 01:06:51.406
today are exactly that their symptoms ,

01:06:51.406 --> 01:06:53.461
migration , counternarcotics , human

01:06:53.461 --> 01:06:55.294
trafficking . The problem in the

01:06:55.294 --> 01:06:55.230
challenge is creating an environment

01:06:55.230 --> 01:06:57.452
where these folks can succeed . So they

01:06:57.452 --> 01:06:59.508
don't have to feel like they migrate

01:06:59.508 --> 01:07:01.341
and that takes a whole of nation

01:07:01.341 --> 01:07:03.341
approach to get after transnational

01:07:03.341 --> 01:07:05.341
criminal organizations . We figured

01:07:05.341 --> 01:07:07.452
this out with Al Qaeda and ISIS , you

01:07:07.452 --> 01:07:09.619
can cut off their funding , you can do

01:07:09.619 --> 01:07:11.397
additional things as a whole of

01:07:11.397 --> 01:07:11.030
government working with allies and

01:07:11.030 --> 01:07:13.086
partners to get after this problem .

01:07:13.086 --> 01:07:15.197
And so I look forward , I believe the

01:07:15.197 --> 01:07:17.530
administration is on a good track there .

01:07:17.530 --> 01:07:19.808
I look forward to seeing where it goes .

01:07:19.808 --> 01:07:21.974
Thank you . As we know , perceptions ,

01:07:21.974 --> 01:07:23.974
90 of reality . I'm going to switch

01:07:23.974 --> 01:07:23.740
gears for a moment . My next question

01:07:23.740 --> 01:07:25.962
is for all the witnesses . As we know ,

01:07:25.962 --> 01:07:28.073
china has become an ever increasingly

01:07:28.073 --> 01:07:30.129
threat not only the pacific region ,

01:07:30.129 --> 01:07:32.351
but globally . In addition to the build

01:07:32.351 --> 01:07:34.573
up in their arms service in their armed

01:07:34.573 --> 01:07:36.796
forces , they've been developing five G

01:07:36.796 --> 01:07:38.907
technology as we've discussed earlier

01:07:38.907 --> 01:07:41.018
and the United States , it appears is

01:07:41.018 --> 01:07:43.240
falling further behind in this regard .

01:07:43.240 --> 01:07:45.296
My question is this to each of you ,

01:07:45.296 --> 01:07:47.407
Would a 5G secured network accessible

01:07:47.407 --> 01:07:49.462
anywhere in the world to our forward

01:07:49.462 --> 01:07:51.296
operating basis or other command

01:07:51.296 --> 01:07:53.520
centers for transmission of data be a

01:07:53.520 --> 01:07:57.440
priority for us North

01:07:57.440 --> 01:07:58.460
and South camps ,

01:08:00.770 --> 01:08:03.210
congresswoman , um , any secure network

01:08:03.210 --> 01:08:05.543
would be very helpful . The question is ,

01:08:05.543 --> 01:08:07.599
you know , what are the what are the

01:08:07.599 --> 01:08:09.488
other things that we're balancing

01:08:09.488 --> 01:08:11.432
against that ? So I agree that any

01:08:11.432 --> 01:08:13.543
secure network would be helpful , but

01:08:13.543 --> 01:08:15.543
we'll have to uh look at what other

01:08:15.543 --> 01:08:17.877
challenges we have associated with that .

01:08:17.877 --> 01:08:20.120
When I sit down with our partners ,

01:08:20.130 --> 01:08:23.330
their cybersecurity is in the top three

01:08:23.330 --> 01:08:25.450
of all their security challenges and

01:08:25.450 --> 01:08:27.672
that's at every level in that partner .

01:08:27.672 --> 01:08:29.839
And it's in our top three as well . So

01:08:29.839 --> 01:08:31.950
it's important that we get this right

01:08:31.950 --> 01:08:34.117
and we know there is no civil military

01:08:34.117 --> 01:08:37.040
divide by law and the people's Republic

01:08:37.040 --> 01:08:39.540
of china . And so any investment

01:08:39.550 --> 01:08:41.800
involved way and Zte and their five G .

01:08:41.800 --> 01:08:44.022
Is a direct pipeline to the P . L . A .

01:08:44.022 --> 01:08:46.244
And their intelligence services . And I

01:08:46.244 --> 01:08:48.411
point this out to our partners at each

01:08:48.411 --> 01:08:50.467
and every visit and every time and a

01:08:50.467 --> 01:08:52.689
professional level they get it and they

01:08:52.689 --> 01:08:55.022
don't want to invest in that technology .

01:08:55.022 --> 01:08:56.689
They want to invest in secure

01:08:56.689 --> 01:08:58.911
technology , clean technology , U . S .

01:08:58.911 --> 01:09:01.022
Or other trusted partner technology .

01:09:01.022 --> 01:09:03.022
And it's important that initiatives

01:09:03.022 --> 01:09:05.189
come forward that allow them an option

01:09:05.189 --> 01:09:08.940
to do that to

01:09:08.950 --> 01:09:10.894
directly answer your question . It

01:09:10.894 --> 01:09:12.950
would be incredibly valuable to have

01:09:12.950 --> 01:09:15.006
five G . Secure technology and we've

01:09:15.006 --> 01:09:17.283
moved out on that at the United States .

01:09:17.283 --> 01:09:19.339
Northern Command . R . J six is very

01:09:19.339 --> 01:09:21.450
innovative . J six is does our uh you

01:09:21.450 --> 01:09:23.506
know , command and control and those

01:09:23.506 --> 01:09:25.172
kinds of things that gives us

01:09:25.172 --> 01:09:27.506
resiliency as a nation . Candidly today ,

01:09:27.506 --> 01:09:29.672
I'm able to take a single device to do

01:09:29.672 --> 01:09:31.894
unclassified and classified information

01:09:31.894 --> 01:09:33.561
from any location uh and have

01:09:33.561 --> 01:09:35.450
resiliency not reaching back to a

01:09:35.450 --> 01:09:37.561
single building or a single server if

01:09:37.561 --> 01:09:39.394
you will but can access multiple

01:09:39.394 --> 01:09:41.450
servers . That's incredibly valuable

01:09:41.450 --> 01:09:43.450
going forward in a crisis . Whether

01:09:43.450 --> 01:09:45.283
that be crisis uh from a natural

01:09:45.283 --> 01:09:47.394
disaster or a potential attack on the

01:09:47.394 --> 01:09:49.900
homeland . Thank you .

01:09:52.170 --> 01:09:54.650
Thank you . Julia yields back . Miss

01:09:54.650 --> 01:09:56.872
Jacobs is recognized for five minutes .

01:09:56.872 --> 01:09:59.094
Well , thank you Mr chair and thank you

01:09:59.094 --> 01:10:01.317
so much to our witnesses for being here

01:10:01.317 --> 01:10:03.150
first . I just like to say to my

01:10:03.150 --> 01:10:05.261
colleagues who are expressing concern

01:10:05.261 --> 01:10:06.983
about the southern border As a

01:10:06.983 --> 01:10:09.094
representative of SAn Diego , we feel

01:10:09.094 --> 01:10:11.261
very safe and I think we know that the

01:10:11.261 --> 01:10:13.150
root causes are really the key to

01:10:13.150 --> 01:10:15.094
making sure that this situation of

01:10:15.094 --> 01:10:17.206
baits and and on the question of root

01:10:17.206 --> 01:10:19.317
causes . Admiral Fowler . I'd like to

01:10:19.317 --> 01:10:21.206
ask you as you referenced in your

01:10:21.206 --> 01:10:23.870
testimony . Latin America militaries

01:10:23.870 --> 01:10:25.930
and militia groups have a history of

01:10:25.930 --> 01:10:28.580
violating human rights and these

01:10:28.580 --> 01:10:30.747
violations have sometimes been ignored

01:10:30.747 --> 01:10:33.080
or even encouraged by the United States .

01:10:33.080 --> 01:10:35.500
Throughout the civil wars of the 1990s .

01:10:35.500 --> 01:10:37.833
We saw special forces trained by the US .

01:10:37.833 --> 01:10:39.990
were used to commit these abuses . So

01:10:39.990 --> 01:10:42.212
given that reality , I was wondering if

01:10:42.212 --> 01:10:44.379
you could talk a bit about our current

01:10:44.379 --> 01:10:46.379
train and equip missions that South

01:10:46.379 --> 01:10:48.323
Korea is conducting and how you're

01:10:48.323 --> 01:10:50.212
working to prevent these types of

01:10:50.212 --> 01:10:52.434
violations from occurring . Thank you .

01:10:52.434 --> 01:10:54.268
It's an important question we've

01:10:54.268 --> 01:10:56.490
learned from that history . South Korea

01:10:56.490 --> 01:10:58.601
has a human rights program , the only

01:10:58.601 --> 01:11:00.657
combatant command to have one . It's

01:11:00.657 --> 01:11:02.657
now in its 20th plus year and we've

01:11:02.657 --> 01:11:04.768
invested our own money and increasing

01:11:04.768 --> 01:11:06.970
the capacity of that program . We use

01:11:06.970 --> 01:11:09.930
that program with our partners . We

01:11:09.930 --> 01:11:11.819
have helped our partners Honduras

01:11:11.890 --> 01:11:14.160
Guatemala . El Salvador install human

01:11:14.160 --> 01:11:17.590
rights observers and advisors in their

01:11:17.590 --> 01:11:19.590
ministries and with their Chiefs of

01:11:19.590 --> 01:11:21.520
Defence . We hold seminars and I

01:11:21.520 --> 01:11:23.680
routinely through that program meet

01:11:23.680 --> 01:11:26.200
with the Human Rights Ngos in the

01:11:26.200 --> 01:11:28.470
United States and in partner nations ,

01:11:28.860 --> 01:11:31.082
for example , in Guatemala to listen to

01:11:31.082 --> 01:11:33.550
their concerns . These important NGO

01:11:33.550 --> 01:11:35.940
partners , they know their stuff and

01:11:35.940 --> 01:11:38.162
they have on the ground insights and we

01:11:38.162 --> 01:11:40.860
take it very , very seriously . And

01:11:40.860 --> 01:11:42.800
then we apply that into our Lady

01:11:42.800 --> 01:11:44.744
vetting process , which is another

01:11:44.744 --> 01:11:47.020
extremely important program that we

01:11:47.020 --> 01:11:49.650
should look to enhance frankly , uh and

01:11:49.650 --> 01:11:52.350
and really embed in a systematic way

01:11:52.350 --> 01:11:54.406
within the department , make it very

01:11:54.406 --> 01:11:56.628
consistent . These programs have helped

01:11:56.628 --> 01:11:58.850
change behavior over time and while not

01:11:58.850 --> 01:12:01.070
perfect . We've made progress and

01:12:01.080 --> 01:12:03.191
particularly last year when there was

01:12:03.191 --> 01:12:05.136
every reason for partner nations ,

01:12:05.136 --> 01:12:07.191
their militaries , that's what I can

01:12:07.191 --> 01:12:09.930
speak to to turn inward . They didn't

01:12:09.940 --> 01:12:12.051
and they acted professionally . There

01:12:12.051 --> 01:12:14.162
was some reports here and there , but

01:12:14.162 --> 01:12:16.440
by and large they acted professionally .

01:12:16.440 --> 01:12:18.384
You can't assume that that will be

01:12:18.384 --> 01:12:20.218
future performance . But the the

01:12:20.218 --> 01:12:22.840
building blocks are in place to have a

01:12:22.840 --> 01:12:24.951
better professional performance going

01:12:24.951 --> 01:12:26.896
forward . And I assure you , we're

01:12:26.896 --> 01:12:29.007
committed to that at our headquarters

01:12:29.007 --> 01:12:31.062
in our training education programs .

01:12:31.550 --> 01:12:34.990
Thank you . And still to you , Admiral

01:12:34.990 --> 01:12:38.420
Faller , I think , you know , as we

01:12:38.420 --> 01:12:40.420
have talked about the region and we

01:12:40.420 --> 01:12:42.587
often emphasize our willing partners ,

01:12:42.587 --> 01:12:44.809
especially for instance , the Colombian

01:12:44.809 --> 01:12:46.864
government . I was wondering how you

01:12:46.864 --> 01:12:49.031
believe this partners partnership will

01:12:49.031 --> 01:12:51.142
serve the U . S . Goals in the region

01:12:51.142 --> 01:12:53.198
as it relates to any peace deal with

01:12:53.198 --> 01:12:55.309
Farc or any potential peace deal with

01:12:55.309 --> 01:12:57.890
the L . N . Well , certainly we we

01:12:57.890 --> 01:13:00.050
support our our partners in in

01:13:00.060 --> 01:13:02.171
information sharing that's really key

01:13:02.171 --> 01:13:04.950
to understanding uh what promises are

01:13:04.950 --> 01:13:07.172
made , what promises are being broken .

01:13:07.172 --> 01:13:09.230
Uh It's unfortunate that Venezuelan

01:13:09.240 --> 01:13:13.050
crisis has just made all that

01:13:13.050 --> 01:13:15.510
worse . Venezuela's essentially a

01:13:15.510 --> 01:13:17.690
paradise for Narco traffickers and

01:13:17.700 --> 01:13:19.867
Maduro and his illegitimate government

01:13:19.867 --> 01:13:21.867
and the military are profiting from

01:13:21.867 --> 01:13:23.922
that and by creating that safe haven

01:13:23.922 --> 01:13:26.033
and encouraging them , them being the

01:13:26.033 --> 01:13:28.200
farc distance . And the L . N . It has

01:13:28.200 --> 01:13:31.430
is compounded the situation . The five

01:13:31.430 --> 01:13:33.597
million migrants that have been pushed

01:13:33.597 --> 01:13:35.830
out by the human rights abuses of the

01:13:35.830 --> 01:13:38.460
Maduro regime have also compounded it .

01:13:38.470 --> 01:13:41.670
Colombia has has really overall

01:13:42.250 --> 01:13:44.028
just behaved and performed with

01:13:44.028 --> 01:13:46.194
humanity is accepting these migrants .

01:13:46.430 --> 01:13:48.541
And so we were with them , we talk to

01:13:48.541 --> 01:13:51.140
them every day uh and share information

01:13:51.150 --> 01:13:53.372
and it's it's largely in their ministry

01:13:53.372 --> 01:13:55.261
and government levels . So I just

01:13:55.261 --> 01:13:57.261
provide a share information with my

01:13:57.261 --> 01:13:59.428
counterpart , General Navarro , who is

01:13:59.428 --> 01:14:01.261
just a wonderful professional uh

01:14:01.261 --> 01:14:04.120
interlocutor . Thank you and thank you

01:14:04.120 --> 01:14:06.350
for your long service to our country

01:14:06.350 --> 01:14:08.540
and Mr . Chair ideal . Bec thank you

01:14:08.550 --> 01:14:10.430
Miss bice is recognized for five

01:14:10.430 --> 01:14:12.580
minutes . Thank you . Mr . Chairman ,

01:14:12.580 --> 01:14:14.636
ranking member and thank you for the

01:14:14.636 --> 01:14:16.524
witnesses being here and for your

01:14:16.524 --> 01:14:18.636
service to each of you in the hearing

01:14:18.636 --> 01:14:20.913
memo . It listed in the last two years ,

01:14:20.913 --> 01:14:23.136
a quarter of a billion dollars has been

01:14:23.136 --> 01:14:25.247
spent . Diode dollars have been spent

01:14:25.247 --> 01:14:28.800
for DHS border support . Um Will you be

01:14:28.800 --> 01:14:31.600
reimbursed for those dollars and if not

01:14:31.610 --> 01:14:34.010
what programs are going to be impacted

01:14:34.020 --> 01:14:36.020
by the quarter of a billion dollars

01:14:36.020 --> 01:14:38.480
that you've lost in funding . So

01:14:38.480 --> 01:14:40.702
congressman , I'll take that question .

01:14:40.702 --> 01:14:42.758
We have not been reimbursed , it was

01:14:42.758 --> 01:14:44.813
done on a non reimbursable basis and

01:14:44.813 --> 01:14:46.869
that funding came out of the defense

01:14:46.869 --> 01:14:48.990
budget in other places . Uh probably

01:14:49.000 --> 01:14:51.450
impacted depending on where the money

01:14:51.450 --> 01:14:54.270
was taken , depending uh what it

01:14:54.270 --> 01:14:56.437
impacted . It's probably training some

01:14:56.437 --> 01:14:58.381
personnel costs and those types of

01:14:58.381 --> 01:15:01.000
things where the services had available

01:15:01.000 --> 01:15:04.820
money to use in that case . So when

01:15:04.820 --> 01:15:06.876
we're talking about funding , you're

01:15:06.876 --> 01:15:08.987
asking for additional funding to make

01:15:08.987 --> 01:15:11.320
sure that you have the resources needed .

01:15:11.320 --> 01:15:13.264
But in fact you're actually having

01:15:13.264 --> 01:15:13.040
dollars pulled away from you in other

01:15:13.040 --> 01:15:15.470
ways , including two to support DHS

01:15:15.470 --> 01:15:18.750
border support , um , that do impact

01:15:18.760 --> 01:15:21.320
the readiness and availability of the

01:15:21.330 --> 01:15:23.441
forces . It seems , is that correct ?

01:15:23.441 --> 01:15:25.663
That is correct . Thank you . My second

01:15:25.663 --> 01:15:27.886
question is in the last six years , the

01:15:27.886 --> 01:15:30.530
United States has spent over $3.5

01:15:30.530 --> 01:15:33.070
billion in strategy and engagement for

01:15:33.070 --> 01:15:36.050
central America . Uh , do you believe

01:15:36.050 --> 01:15:37.994
that we're getting a return on our

01:15:37.994 --> 01:15:39.950
investment given that we've seen a

01:15:39.950 --> 01:15:42.540
tremendous amount of influx of migrants

01:15:42.540 --> 01:15:44.990
from the Northern Triangle area , which

01:15:44.990 --> 01:15:47.212
is where the bulk of these dollars have

01:15:47.212 --> 01:15:49.630
been going . And I opened that for any

01:15:49.630 --> 01:15:50.686
of the witnesses ,

01:15:54.040 --> 01:15:56.680
consistency in our programs is as

01:15:56.680 --> 01:15:59.670
important as the dollar amount . And

01:15:59.680 --> 01:16:01.540
we've been in extremely good

01:16:01.540 --> 01:16:03.707
discussions . Uh , the chairman of the

01:16:03.707 --> 01:16:05.762
Joint Chiefs and selective have have

01:16:05.762 --> 01:16:07.740
been excellent and asking for our

01:16:07.740 --> 01:16:09.740
advice and what might work and will

01:16:09.740 --> 01:16:11.962
work as part of the administration's uh

01:16:11.962 --> 01:16:14.073
A $4 billion dollar multi year plan .

01:16:14.073 --> 01:16:16.296
And were encouraged by the long look of

01:16:16.296 --> 01:16:18.550
this program . It takes time for

01:16:18.560 --> 01:16:21.030
partners security forces . I can speak

01:16:21.030 --> 01:16:24.000
to military uh to implement programs

01:16:24.010 --> 01:16:25.677
that they can responsibly and

01:16:25.677 --> 01:16:28.160
professionally enact . That will make a

01:16:28.160 --> 01:16:30.493
difference in tamping down the violence .

01:16:30.493 --> 01:16:32.493
And I know State Department we work

01:16:32.493 --> 01:16:34.604
hand in hand with State Department on

01:16:34.604 --> 01:16:36.827
this is committed through their I . N .

01:16:36.827 --> 01:16:38.993
L . To the same professionalization of

01:16:38.993 --> 01:16:41.049
the police forces . Uh The issue has

01:16:41.049 --> 01:16:42.827
been , we have not applied this

01:16:42.827 --> 01:16:44.882
consistently . It's been started and

01:16:44.882 --> 01:16:46.993
stopped . And so while there may have

01:16:46.993 --> 01:16:49.049
been a high dollar value , it's it's

01:16:49.049 --> 01:16:51.160
hard to make the argument that it was

01:16:51.160 --> 01:16:53.104
consistently applied over the time

01:16:53.104 --> 01:16:55.327
period . That would be required to make

01:16:55.327 --> 01:16:58.550
a difference . Mhm . Thank you for that

01:16:58.650 --> 01:17:01.850
last question . Mr Silas is have you

01:17:01.850 --> 01:17:05.380
been Requested to provide additional

01:17:05.380 --> 01:17:08.240
border supporter security um for fiscal

01:17:08.240 --> 01:17:10.184
year 22 ? And if so , what are the

01:17:10.184 --> 01:17:12.330
conversation surrounding that ? Uh we

01:17:12.330 --> 01:17:14.552
have not been requested , but obviously

01:17:14.552 --> 01:17:16.719
we're talking to DHS because as you're

01:17:16.719 --> 01:17:18.886
aware , congressman , we have military

01:17:18.886 --> 01:17:20.886
members on the border right now and

01:17:20.886 --> 01:17:22.886
have consistently provided military

01:17:22.886 --> 01:17:25.108
members over the last several years and

01:17:25.108 --> 01:17:27.580
supported DHS's mission . Um currently

01:17:27.580 --> 01:17:30.190
there is no request for 22 , but that

01:17:30.190 --> 01:17:32.134
doesn't mean that we may not get a

01:17:32.134 --> 01:17:34.301
request for 20 years . And the request

01:17:34.301 --> 01:17:36.357
that you have received over the last

01:17:36.357 --> 01:17:38.357
let's save several months , is that

01:17:38.357 --> 01:17:40.412
impacting reserves or national guard

01:17:40.412 --> 01:17:42.523
readiness ? They're being pulled away

01:17:42.523 --> 01:17:45.010
to help support um what's happening on

01:17:45.010 --> 01:17:47.121
the southern border , I don't believe

01:17:47.121 --> 01:17:49.700
so , Congresswoman , the force that is

01:17:49.700 --> 01:17:51.589
down there now , even though it's

01:17:51.589 --> 01:17:53.811
national guard members , was brought on

01:17:53.811 --> 01:17:55.811
his title 10 because it was part of

01:17:55.811 --> 01:17:57.978
their , uh , time to come on duty full

01:17:57.978 --> 01:18:00.200
time duty . And so that we were able to

01:18:00.200 --> 01:18:02.422
make use of that by having them come on

01:18:02.422 --> 01:18:04.589
duty during this period . Okay . Thank

01:18:04.589 --> 01:18:06.589
you . Mr . Chairman . A laid back .

01:18:07.520 --> 01:18:09.630
Thank you . Mr Morelli is recognized

01:18:09.630 --> 01:18:13.410
for five minutes . Good morning . Thank

01:18:13.410 --> 01:18:16.620
you . Mr . Chairman for this uh , very ,

01:18:16.620 --> 01:18:18.787
very important hearing . And I want to

01:18:18.787 --> 01:18:20.731
thank the witnesses for being here

01:18:20.731 --> 01:18:22.898
today to share your expertise and also

01:18:22.898 --> 01:18:25.064
your dedication to our nation's safety

01:18:25.064 --> 01:18:27.287
and security . I am I'm a new member of

01:18:27.287 --> 01:18:29.453
this committee . And so , uh , some of

01:18:29.453 --> 01:18:31.564
my questions will seem pretty basic .

01:18:31.564 --> 01:18:33.620
I'm just trying to get a level set ,

01:18:33.620 --> 01:18:35.842
but I'd like to hear general , a little

01:18:35.842 --> 01:18:35.740
more about north transmission

01:18:35.740 --> 01:18:37.462
associated with the arctic and

01:18:37.462 --> 01:18:39.296
appreciate the questions that my

01:18:39.296 --> 01:18:41.462
colleagues have asked up to this point

01:18:41.462 --> 01:18:44.500
about it . But um general if I were to

01:18:44.500 --> 01:18:47.150
go back home and talk to constituents

01:18:47.620 --> 01:18:49.676
and talk about the importance of the

01:18:49.676 --> 01:18:51.770
arctic to the United States , uh and

01:18:51.770 --> 01:18:53.937
the challenges associated , what would

01:18:53.937 --> 01:18:56.159
I say ? Why would I , why would I , how

01:18:56.159 --> 01:18:58.381
would I describe them the importance of

01:18:58.381 --> 01:19:00.960
the arctic as a region and then also

01:19:00.960 --> 01:19:03.650
the challenges specifically associated

01:19:03.650 --> 01:19:05.430
with the arctic .

01:19:07.520 --> 01:19:09.980
Thanks congressman . The arctic is very

01:19:09.980 --> 01:19:12.147
important in the environmental changes

01:19:12.147 --> 01:19:14.258
that have been ongoing , have allowed

01:19:14.258 --> 01:19:16.313
increased access to the arctic . The

01:19:16.313 --> 01:19:18.202
arctic has tremendous resources ,

01:19:18.202 --> 01:19:20.369
natural resources and it's also a line

01:19:20.369 --> 01:19:22.036
of communication now with the

01:19:22.036 --> 01:19:24.780
environmental changes that have a flow

01:19:24.780 --> 01:19:27.230
from Asia to the european A . R . And

01:19:27.230 --> 01:19:29.452
back and forth . And having that flow ,

01:19:29.452 --> 01:19:31.230
the economic flow is crucial to

01:19:31.230 --> 01:19:33.860
maintain for prosperity of not only our

01:19:33.860 --> 01:19:35.971
nation , but other nations around the

01:19:35.971 --> 01:19:38.870
globe . Uh , Russia gets 25% of their

01:19:38.870 --> 01:19:40.981
GDP from resources in the arctic . So

01:19:40.981 --> 01:19:43.148
they absolutely have a vested interest

01:19:43.148 --> 01:19:45.259
in the arctic . And they also want to

01:19:45.259 --> 01:19:47.470
ensure that it's secure for their

01:19:47.480 --> 01:19:49.480
efforts . If you will , uh , what I

01:19:49.480 --> 01:19:51.702
would tell you is both Russia and china

01:19:51.702 --> 01:19:53.869
would like to change the international

01:19:53.869 --> 01:19:55.536
rules based norms and the the

01:19:55.536 --> 01:19:57.702
consistency that we've had this served

01:19:57.702 --> 01:19:59.813
the globe well since the end of World

01:19:59.813 --> 01:20:01.980
War Two . So it's incumbent upon us to

01:20:01.980 --> 01:20:04.202
be persistent , working with allies and

01:20:04.202 --> 01:20:06.202
partners and like minded nations to

01:20:06.202 --> 01:20:09.250
ensure that we maintain the consistency

01:20:09.250 --> 01:20:11.417
of the international rules based norms

01:20:11.417 --> 01:20:13.760
and uh laws that have been served as

01:20:13.760 --> 01:20:14.940
well for overtime .

01:20:17.210 --> 01:20:20.390
So , uh , just so I might say it in ,

01:20:20.400 --> 01:20:22.178
just so that I understand it is

01:20:22.178 --> 01:20:24.233
essentially the changes in climate ,

01:20:24.233 --> 01:20:26.011
then I think that's what you're

01:20:26.011 --> 01:20:28.122
referring to in terms of vinyl , make

01:20:28.122 --> 01:20:29.956
it more navigable , make it more

01:20:29.956 --> 01:20:32.067
accessible . And at the same time are

01:20:32.067 --> 01:20:34.130
two adversaries want to change the

01:20:34.130 --> 01:20:36.352
rules that govern the region and how we

01:20:36.352 --> 01:20:39.170
have historically approach the region .

01:20:39.180 --> 01:20:42.170
Is that right ? Did I get that ? Yes .

01:20:42.170 --> 01:20:45.170
So environmental change has created uh

01:20:45.180 --> 01:20:48.140
more access and opportunity . And both

01:20:48.140 --> 01:20:50.760
Russia and china uh are interested in

01:20:50.760 --> 01:20:54.460
in assuring that uh the activities

01:20:54.460 --> 01:20:56.571
conducted in the arctic are favorable

01:20:56.571 --> 01:20:58.738
to them individually , not necessarily

01:20:58.738 --> 01:21:02.120
the international community . So , talk

01:21:02.120 --> 01:21:04.342
to me a little bit about that . So what

01:21:04.342 --> 01:21:06.398
type of investments and capabilities

01:21:06.398 --> 01:21:08.398
are they types of investments we're

01:21:08.398 --> 01:21:10.820
making in capabilities ? Um , that

01:21:10.830 --> 01:21:12.941
increase that concern . Could , could

01:21:12.941 --> 01:21:15.163
you give me a little specificity around

01:21:15.163 --> 01:21:17.052
that ? Those investments ? Sure .

01:21:17.052 --> 01:21:19.274
Russia has taken a dozen or so military

01:21:19.274 --> 01:21:21.386
installations that after the Cold War

01:21:21.386 --> 01:21:23.386
set dormant and they've revitalized

01:21:23.386 --> 01:21:25.497
those . Uh , they have uh worked hard

01:21:25.497 --> 01:21:27.386
on their nuclear capabilities and

01:21:27.386 --> 01:21:29.441
revitalized those as well to include

01:21:29.441 --> 01:21:31.608
their bombers and infrastructure . Not

01:21:31.608 --> 01:21:33.386
only are they placing defensive

01:21:33.386 --> 01:21:35.497
capabilities uh , that they state are

01:21:35.497 --> 01:21:37.441
obviously for defensive purposes ,

01:21:37.441 --> 01:21:39.608
they're putting offensive capabilities

01:21:39.608 --> 01:21:41.774
into the arctic capabilities which are

01:21:41.774 --> 01:21:43.997
capable of not only striking Canada and

01:21:43.997 --> 01:21:45.886
North America , but obviously our

01:21:45.886 --> 01:21:47.997
homeland , China calls himself a near

01:21:47.997 --> 01:21:49.663
arctic nation and wants to be

01:21:49.663 --> 01:21:51.774
influential in the arctic as well . I

01:21:51.774 --> 01:21:51.680
have to remind the committee that the

01:21:51.680 --> 01:21:53.902
next month in May Russia takes over the

01:21:53.902 --> 01:21:55.958
arctic council . It's very important

01:21:55.958 --> 01:21:57.847
for us to ensure that like minded

01:21:57.847 --> 01:22:00.013
nations , allies and partners are well

01:22:00.013 --> 01:22:01.958
aligned as we go into this because

01:22:01.958 --> 01:22:04.180
Russia and china , we'll try to exploit

01:22:04.180 --> 01:22:06.550
any gaps or seems . Thank you If I

01:22:06.550 --> 01:22:08.772
could just stay on the subject just for

01:22:08.772 --> 01:22:10.883
a moment more as I use the balance of

01:22:10.883 --> 01:22:14.340
my time here as we assess a capability

01:22:14.340 --> 01:22:16.450
in the arctic . Um talk a little bit

01:22:16.450 --> 01:22:18.750
about the challenge you find with the

01:22:18.750 --> 01:22:21.910
extreme cold ice , high altitude on our

01:22:21.910 --> 01:22:23.799
military equipment . And is there

01:22:23.799 --> 01:22:26.021
anything we should be doing in terms of

01:22:26.021 --> 01:22:28.132
working with industry and innovations

01:22:28.132 --> 01:22:30.299
that help address uh those needs ? And

01:22:30.299 --> 01:22:32.120
have you began pursuing those

01:22:32.120 --> 01:22:34.287
partnerships ? Are are we engaged with

01:22:34.287 --> 01:22:36.398
partnerships already in that regard ?

01:22:36.398 --> 01:22:38.564
Uh Thanks congressman . I think that's

01:22:38.564 --> 01:22:40.620
a great question . And so I do think

01:22:40.620 --> 01:22:40.470
there's more we can be doing . And

01:22:40.480 --> 01:22:42.870
units uh that are organized . Training

01:22:42.870 --> 01:22:44.759
equipment ready to operate in the

01:22:44.759 --> 01:22:47.660
arctic is crucial . I believe that we

01:22:47.660 --> 01:22:49.827
need to do a better job of identifying

01:22:49.827 --> 01:22:52.049
those units , enabling them through day

01:22:52.049 --> 01:22:54.104
to day competition to practice their

01:22:54.104 --> 01:22:56.104
operations and working closely with

01:22:56.104 --> 01:22:58.216
industry . As you point out to ensure

01:22:58.216 --> 01:22:58.190
that the capabilities that we do

01:22:58.190 --> 01:23:01.550
develop are conducive for successful

01:23:01.550 --> 01:23:04.150
operations in the arctic that goes from

01:23:04.160 --> 01:23:06.920
the human asset all the way to specific

01:23:06.930 --> 01:23:09.620
uh , platforms and capabilities overall .

01:23:11.500 --> 01:23:13.667
Thank you gentlemen . And thank you Mr

01:23:13.667 --> 01:23:15.722
Chairman , I'll yield back my time .

01:23:15.722 --> 01:23:17.889
Thank you . Mr Waltz is recognized for

01:23:17.889 --> 01:23:20.410
five minutes . Thank you . Mr Chairman .

01:23:20.900 --> 01:23:23.470
Uh , Emma Fowler . I'm just , I'm

01:23:23.470 --> 01:23:26.020
struck and I encourage my colleagues to

01:23:26.800 --> 01:23:28.744
Look at your chart here of Chinese

01:23:28.744 --> 01:23:31.380
activity in in South Central America .

01:23:31.390 --> 01:23:33.612
Just some of the key things hopping out

01:23:33.612 --> 01:23:35.880
and meet 25 out of the 33 countries

01:23:35.890 --> 01:23:38.280
hosting Chinese infrastructure projects ,

01:23:38.280 --> 01:23:42.170
60 ports , 70 increase in Chinese .

01:23:42.170 --> 01:23:45.520
Navy port calls nearly a billion in

01:23:45.520 --> 01:23:48.530
weapons sales . And most importantly ,

01:23:49.000 --> 01:23:51.222
or at least most disturbingly , I think

01:23:51.222 --> 01:23:54.350
both sides of the Panama Canal with now

01:23:54.360 --> 01:23:57.060
owned in some way , shape or fashion by

01:23:57.060 --> 01:24:00.090
the chinese in controlling that

01:24:00.100 --> 01:24:03.120
strategic chokepoint . So ,

01:24:03.790 --> 01:24:06.150
uh leads me to wonder is the Monroe

01:24:06.150 --> 01:24:08.860
doctrine dead or at least on life

01:24:08.860 --> 01:24:11.340
support . Uh , and if you could you

01:24:11.340 --> 01:24:13.340
could elaborate a bit more on what

01:24:13.340 --> 01:24:15.229
you're doing with the interagency

01:24:15.229 --> 01:24:17.284
because we're talking military tools

01:24:17.284 --> 01:24:19.507
here which are critical and I certainly

01:24:19.507 --> 01:24:21.760
support security assistance and

01:24:21.760 --> 01:24:23.760
increasing your security assistance

01:24:23.760 --> 01:24:27.140
efforts . But these are non military

01:24:27.140 --> 01:24:29.620
tools and what tools do you need and

01:24:29.620 --> 01:24:32.360
what tools do the interagency need um

01:24:32.370 --> 01:24:36.020
uh to to to combat this and to compete .

01:24:37.090 --> 01:24:40.130
Certainly the statistics you cite fuel

01:24:40.140 --> 01:24:42.220
sense of urgency with respect to

01:24:42.220 --> 01:24:43.887
strengthen our partnerships ,

01:24:43.887 --> 01:24:46.109
partnerships are key . We like to think

01:24:46.109 --> 01:24:48.276
of as a good neighbour doctrine . Uh ,

01:24:48.276 --> 01:24:50.387
it resonates good neighbors have like

01:24:50.387 --> 01:24:52.498
values and values are our strength in

01:24:52.498 --> 01:24:54.609
this hemisphere . We recently visited

01:24:54.609 --> 01:24:56.720
Argentina . They want to do more with

01:24:56.720 --> 01:24:58.887
us . They want to partner with us at a

01:24:58.887 --> 01:25:00.998
middle to middle level . We've got to

01:25:00.998 --> 01:25:00.840
do everything we can , which by the way

01:25:00.840 --> 01:25:03.250
now Argentina has a chinese space

01:25:03.250 --> 01:25:05.306
tracking station which lines up with

01:25:05.306 --> 01:25:07.400
our polar launches out of we just

01:25:07.400 --> 01:25:09.400
Vandenberg Air Force , we discussed

01:25:09.400 --> 01:25:11.511
those important issues . Uh we've got

01:25:11.511 --> 01:25:13.733
to look to the antarctic as well as the

01:25:13.733 --> 01:25:15.733
arctic china has a growing interest

01:25:15.733 --> 01:25:17.844
there . We visit you swallow which is

01:25:17.844 --> 01:25:20.020
the furthest port in this hemisphere

01:25:20.030 --> 01:25:22.141
the continental hemisphere . And it's

01:25:22.141 --> 01:25:23.974
important . I asked access , you

01:25:23.974 --> 01:25:26.260
mentioned the Panama canal Panama in

01:25:26.270 --> 01:25:28.450
under the current leadership their

01:25:28.460 --> 01:25:31.070
their president Cortisone has has

01:25:31.070 --> 01:25:33.820
opened uh with renewed commitment to a

01:25:33.820 --> 01:25:35.931
relationship with the United States .

01:25:35.931 --> 01:25:38.330
We're working on that with with with

01:25:38.340 --> 01:25:40.173
our Department of State . That's

01:25:40.173 --> 01:25:42.340
important . Panama is a very strategic

01:25:42.340 --> 01:25:44.562
partner with very professional security

01:25:44.562 --> 01:25:46.729
forces . And those are the investments

01:25:46.729 --> 01:25:48.784
we need to make a small investment ,

01:25:48.784 --> 01:25:50.840
security cooperation a little goes a

01:25:50.840 --> 01:25:52.951
long way business person you'd invest

01:25:52.951 --> 01:25:55.810
in . It's a high p stock . No , thank

01:25:55.810 --> 01:25:58.032
you , Admiral . And I would also note ,

01:25:58.032 --> 01:26:00.254
you know , we're on the verge of having

01:26:00.254 --> 01:26:04.240
Barbados Haiti Honduras potentially

01:26:04.240 --> 01:26:07.360
switch their recognition of Taiwan port

01:26:07.370 --> 01:26:10.810
projects in Honduras cuba and uh in

01:26:10.810 --> 01:26:13.032
general . And also under your purview ,

01:26:13.032 --> 01:26:15.970
the Bahamas uh as well . In addition to

01:26:15.980 --> 01:26:19.710
potential fishing rights going to the

01:26:19.720 --> 01:26:22.670
chinese next to our underwater testing

01:26:22.680 --> 01:26:25.200
facilities . Is that is that correct ?

01:26:26.780 --> 01:26:29.200
China is very aggressive in the Bahamas

01:26:29.200 --> 01:26:31.200
right now with the new ambassador .

01:26:31.200 --> 01:26:33.256
That's a very aggressive . They have

01:26:33.256 --> 01:26:35.200
the largest embassy in the Bahamas

01:26:35.200 --> 01:26:37.980
right now and they continue to buy up

01:26:37.990 --> 01:26:39.990
tourism industry to have access and

01:26:39.990 --> 01:26:42.212
influence and you're exactly right . Uh

01:26:42.212 --> 01:26:44.690
they do have access right now to uh an

01:26:44.690 --> 01:26:46.690
Overwatch if you will , of our Navy

01:26:46.690 --> 01:26:48.912
test and training facilities , which is

01:26:48.912 --> 01:26:50.912
very , very concerning . Uh , we're

01:26:50.912 --> 01:26:52.801
partnering closely with the Royal

01:26:52.801 --> 01:26:54.523
Bahamian Defense Force , their

01:26:54.523 --> 01:26:56.746
fantastic partners for Domain awareness

01:26:56.746 --> 01:26:58.801
putting capabilities on in the south

01:26:58.801 --> 01:27:00.968
right now for domain awareness such as

01:27:00.968 --> 01:27:03.134
a radar . This year we'll put one into

01:27:03.134 --> 01:27:05.357
Nassau as well uh to give us additional

01:27:05.357 --> 01:27:07.468
capabilities , but a little will go a

01:27:07.468 --> 01:27:09.610
long ways uh for investment with

01:27:09.610 --> 01:27:12.750
regards to Bahamas and Mexico . Thank

01:27:12.750 --> 01:27:15.390
you . Just switching to the other , the

01:27:15.400 --> 01:27:17.289
the other from the Bahamas to the

01:27:17.289 --> 01:27:19.310
arctic . And adding to some of my

01:27:19.310 --> 01:27:21.840
colleagues , My understanding the Coast

01:27:21.840 --> 01:27:24.250
Guard has one operational icebreaker

01:27:24.250 --> 01:27:27.230
that's about 60 years old . Uh one

01:27:27.230 --> 01:27:29.760
under construction Russians have dozens .

01:27:29.770 --> 01:27:32.150
Northwest passage is now open for

01:27:32.150 --> 01:27:34.540
shipping along with shipping from uh

01:27:34.550 --> 01:27:36.910
across the north side of Russia from

01:27:36.920 --> 01:27:40.700
from Asia to Europe . Do we need more

01:27:40.700 --> 01:27:44.560
icebreakers , congressman

01:27:44.560 --> 01:27:46.727
and uh for persistence . I support the

01:27:46.727 --> 01:27:48.949
current plan for additional icebreakers

01:27:48.949 --> 01:27:51.171
for the Coast Guard . Your your numbers

01:27:51.171 --> 01:27:53.227
are correct . They have to sign they

01:27:53.227 --> 01:27:55.393
had a fire on one . Uh , they're about

01:27:55.393 --> 01:27:57.393
to resurrect that which will end up

01:27:57.393 --> 01:27:59.449
with two . But for persistence we do

01:27:59.449 --> 01:28:01.560
need extra ice breakers . Great . And

01:28:01.560 --> 01:28:03.782
just with my remaining time , thank you

01:28:03.782 --> 01:28:03.620
for that . General Admiral Flower . If

01:28:03.620 --> 01:28:05.620
you could send to my office for the

01:28:05.620 --> 01:28:08.180
record , your legislative proposal on

01:28:08.190 --> 01:28:10.357
adding to play in Colombia and I would

01:28:10.357 --> 01:28:12.590
just mentioned in my colleagues , we've

01:28:12.590 --> 01:28:14.830
had special forces in Colombia with an

01:28:14.830 --> 01:28:16.830
all of government effort now for 30

01:28:16.830 --> 01:28:18.719
years . So a lot of discussion in

01:28:18.719 --> 01:28:20.941
Washington these days of endless wars ,

01:28:20.941 --> 01:28:23.220
but that persistent engagement can be

01:28:23.220 --> 01:28:25.553
incredibly effective policing that over .

01:28:25.553 --> 01:28:27.776
Thank you . Thank you . Jim . This time

01:28:27.776 --> 01:28:28.210
is expired .