WEBVTT

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Thank you , Senator rounds now . Let me

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recognize Senator King .

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Thank you . Mr Chairman . Uh Mr

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Secretary . Uh , I want to

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discuss just for a moment , one of

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those hard choices . The top Navy

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unfunded priority is a destroyer that

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was eliminated from the budget that was

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already committed to under the multi

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year procurement . Uh , that has

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several problems . One national

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security . These flight three D . D . G .

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Destroyers are the workhorse of the

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navy eyes and ears around the world .

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Very important uh , part of our assets ,

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but it also sent a shudder through the

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industrial base . Uh it's unprecedented

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in my experience that a multi year has

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been breached , which would actually

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cost the government money and in

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penalties . I hope Mr Mr Secretary that

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you and Admiral Gilda can work with us

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uh to restore that that ship because I

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think it has importance beyond just the ,

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you know , one ship . But the symbolism

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of breaking a multi year and also

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pulling back on our commitment to him

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increasing the capacity of the Navy uh

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is I think uh a very important priority .

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So uh that's not really a question .

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It's a it's a uh entreaty to you , to

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work with us uh to try to find the

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funds to restore that ship uh and

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restore the Navy's number one unfunded

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priority . We commitment to commit to

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working with us on that . Mhm .

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Absolutely , Senator . We will do

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everything we can to make sure that we

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have , we maintain a good working

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relationship with Congress . Uh And I

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appreciate you appreciate your your

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tremendous support throughout . And

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especially now we want to make sure

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that we maintain and already capable

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and sustainable force . We also want to

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make sure that , you know , the the

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industrial base has the ability to

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two to produce what we've asked them to

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produce . Um and current plans are to

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to to buy that D . D . G . uh in 23 .

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Thank you the importance of the

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industrial basis . I live within eight

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mi of the industrial base in Maine .

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And the industrial base is not

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something you can just turn off and on .

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Uh it's got to be something that's

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sustained and and maintained over time .

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Uh Let me turn to a different topic . I

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believe one of the most serious risk

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this country faces today is accidental

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conflict with china . Uh some kind of

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conflict in the south china sea , the

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strait of Taiwan and the danger of

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escalation from that accidental uh

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conflict of some kind . It's concerning

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to me that we don't seem to have an

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effective hotline direct line whatever

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you wanna call it with china officials

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at your level and also at the

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presidential level . Uh I understand

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the chinese are reluctant about this

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but I believe this is a is a national

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should be a national security priority .

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And I looked up yesterday and I find

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that Amazon has 11 copies of the guns

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of August in Chinese and I think what I

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might do is buy those and send them to

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the Polit Bureau in Beijing because of

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this , this is a very clear and

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distinct danger . Do you agree with me

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that a better deconfliction link

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between Mil to Mil and also government

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to government with china would be an

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important mitigation of this risk . I

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absolutely agree with you . You know ,

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as we look at some of the aggressive

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behavior that we've witnessed from

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china in the indo pacific uh , you know ,

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I'm concerned about about something

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that could it could happen that could

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could spark a crisis . And I think uh

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you know , we need the ability to be

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able to talk with both our allies and

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partners , but also our adversaries ,

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or potential adversaries . And so I

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think there needs to be a direct line

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of communication between the military

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and also between government officials

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as well . So I share your concern and I

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absolutely agree with you that this is

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critical . Thank you . Uh one other

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area that's come to my attention . In

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fact , we had a hearing yesterday on

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missile defense and General Van Herck

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said uh he had to pry the data out of

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another agency . We have Goldwater

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Nichols , which has enabled joint

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operations . We don't necessarily have

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a joint capability acquisition ,

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particularly in the area of software .

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And I hope that we might work with you

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in General Milley and others on how to

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uh uh rationalize if you will uh

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the joint uh acquisition

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of things like software so that we

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don't have uh silos within the military

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that are analogous to the silos that we

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had pre Goldwater Nichols . Is that

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something that you will be willing to

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work with us on ? Absolutely . I think

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it's it's critical and you have my

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commitment to do so . General Milley .

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I'm sorry , I didn't get my questions

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to you , but perhaps we'll have a

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second round . Thank you very much .

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Okay with that , Senator . Thanks very

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much . Thank you . Senator . King .

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Senator Arch please . Thank you .

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Chairman and gentlemen , thank you very

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much for being here today and for your

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continuing service to our great United

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States of America . Um Superior Weapons ,

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personnel and Technology ensure that we

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won the 20th century . But of course ,

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now our adversaries have adapted their

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technologies , they've improved their

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operating concepts and they've expanded

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their challenges into the new domains

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of cyber and space . And in fact ,

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President biden has stated , uh , the

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world is at an inflection point with

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shifting global dynamics and emerging

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crises that demand attention . We of

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course know that we face Embolden

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adversaries such as Vladimir Putin in

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Russia and President Xi Jinping in

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china . Both are actively seeking to

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uh to disrupt a stable and prosperous

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global order . And then of course we

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have other actors like Iran and North

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Korea presenting their own significant

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threats . And as we are withdrawing

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from Afghanistan , we don't see the

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removal of a terrorist threat . Instead ,

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we see as the President has stated ,

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the threat has become more dispersed

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metastasizing around the globe . Um

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so of course we want to make sure that

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we are funding and resourcing our

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troops appropriately . Um but going

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along with taking care of our own

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troops , is working with others allied

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nations and Secretary Austin in a March

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editorial in the Washington post , you

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wrote about the importance of joint

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partnerships with other nations and

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called them force multipliers . I do

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agree with you , secretary . You wrote

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it would be a huge strategic error to

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neglect these relationships . And it's

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a wise use of our time and resources to

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adapt and renew them to ensure there is

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strong and effective as they can be .

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Yet the President's defense budget guts

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our partner nation joint exercise

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budget compared to the pre covid levels

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by over 50% . Um , so how do you

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square your advocacy for improving our

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interoperability with our NATO allies

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and theater partners around the world

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with those proposed cuts ?

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Well , certainly with respect to NATO ,

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were encouraging uh , the members of

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NATO to uh to to do more to invest in

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their defense and also to do more to uh

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to contribute to to NATO overall . Uh ,

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what we've been focused on is making

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sure that , you know , you've heard me

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say that china is our pacing challenge .

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And so we really waited our main effort

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there to to the end of pacific region .

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And uh you note that uh my first trip

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up , my first trip overseas was out to

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the region along with Secretary Blinken .

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Uh and we visited uh South Korea . We

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visited Japan and also made a visit to

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India as well . Again , we truly

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value the importance of uh strong

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relationships with our allies and

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partners . I think there's great

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capacity that can be uh can be

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leveraged there . And uh and so uh in

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some areas those partnerships uh while

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still strong or not as strong as they

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could possibly be so will remain

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focused on that . But I do hope so ,

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Secretary , I think this is a really

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really important area to focus on

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making sure that we are able to

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leverage them and continue to use our

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allies as this force multipliers and Mr

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Secretary also , I want to just to make

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a brief statement to I do appreciate

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that you've stated your commitment to

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making changes to how the military

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handles and prevents sexual assault .

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And I'm concerned concerned about the

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continued delay that we continue to

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face though . Um certainly if any of

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our adversaries were attacking members

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of our military , as we have seen

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within our own ranks , members

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attacking other members within our own

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ranks . If it had been an adversary ,

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we would have responded immediately .

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We must respond immediately as well .

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So I am encouraging um both you and the

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chairman to continue to push on this

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issue to make sure we bring resolution

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and justice for our members of the

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military , those very important

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survivors . Um , just a brief statement .

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I'm sorry General Milley . I didn't get

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to my questions for you either . And uh

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Secretary McCord , I'll follow up with

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you later um on the audit . Um but I do

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want to echo concerns that were raised

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by Senator Fisher about the

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Navy's intent , whether it was an inter

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office memo , whatever it was . I do

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also want to stress my concern that the

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Navy intends to cancel development of

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the sea launch nuclear cruise missile .

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Um I think this is very , very

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concerning , especially coming from an

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an acting secretary that has yet to be

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confirmed . And I hope that that is

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truly not reflective of the overall

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attitude of the Department of Defense .

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Thank you Mr . Chair . It is not

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senator . And we will as we said , we

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will be true to our posture review and

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and make sure that uh that drives the

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process . Thank you senator . It's now

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let me recognize via Webex . Senator

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Warren , uh thank you Mr Chairman .

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Uh thank you all for being here today .

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Secretary Austin . During your

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confirmation process , you disclosed

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that you were on the board of Raytheon

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Technologies , one of the nation's

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largest defense contractors . And that

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caused me to ask you for some

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commitments about ethics issues that

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you would face . Existing . Ethics laws

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already require some commitments , but

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they don't go nearly far enough . And

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this matters a lot because the Pentagon

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spends $360 billion dollars

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every year on goods and services

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provided by contractors . And those

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contractors have a revolving door with

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the D . O . D . So that's why I've

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introduced legislation to strengthen

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ethics rules for all public officials .

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But it's also why I asked you during

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your hearing to extend your recusal

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from matters involving Raytheon for the

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duration of your government service , I

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asked you to pledge not to receive or

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not to seek a waiver of that recusal

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and to refrain from seeking

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compensation from a giant defense

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contractor within four years of leaving

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government service and you agree to

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make those commitments . And I want you

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to know I appreciate that . I think the

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american people appreciate that too .

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Secretary Austin , as I recall , you

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explained that you voluntarily made

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these commitments because you think

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it's important that the american people

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have concrete assurances so that they

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never doubt that you are working for

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them and not for giant defense

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contractors . Right .

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Yes , that's true . Good . And I just

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want to say I also asked several trump

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nominees to make the same commitments

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and they refused you , by contrast ,

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demonstrated considerable leadership in

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making those commitments . Now , since

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your confirmation , the Senate has

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confirmed five additional nominees to

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go to work at the pentagon , not a

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single one of them was on the board of

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the major defense contractor . None of

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them reported that the bulk of their

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income came from our most powerful

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contractors and I appreciated that and

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I supported all of their nominations .

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But this committee is now being asked

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to consider nominees who don't meet

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that test , and in these cases , when

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nominees report the vast majority of

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their income from major defense

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contractors , either through direct

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employment or consulting or when

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they're on those companiesboards , I

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plan to ask nominees to make the same

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voluntary ethics commitments that you

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did during your confirmation . So let

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me ask you , Secretary Austin , do you

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agree that the people working for you

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who have similar or even more extensive

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ties to industry should be living up to

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the same ethics commitments that you

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made . Do you think it's important that

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the american people have confidence ,

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as you put it ? That these pentagon

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officials are working for the american

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people and not for their former

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employers in the defense industry ?

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Well , senator , you've heard me say on

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a number of occasions that uh , sound

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ethical behavior is important to us ,

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important to me and important to the

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department . Uh I have every

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reason to believe that those who

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are who have been nominated to serve

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will conduct themselves properly and uh ,

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exercise uh , sound ethical

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behavior . And I truly support your our

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I'm truly appreciative of your your

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support , uh , uh , getting our

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nominees confirmed as quickly as

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possible . We we absolutely need them

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on the team . Well ,

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let's say though , I recognized the

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importance of filling these important

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Defense Department positions , but I'm

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asking for commitments that

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they are going to avoid conflicts of

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interest . And I've laid out what they

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are and you've agreed to them . So the

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question I'm asking is whether you

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think that the people who are going to

15:50.131 --> 15:52.131
be working for you , who have these

15:52.131 --> 15:54.020
ties should make the same kind of

15:54.020 --> 15:56.050
commitments that you may

15:58.240 --> 16:00.540
senator . I again , I believe that they

16:00.540 --> 16:02.762
will conduct themselves appropriately .

16:02.762 --> 16:04.818
I have no concerns about their their

16:04.818 --> 16:06.873
ethical behavior . I think that they

16:06.873 --> 16:09.207
are committed to doing the right things .

16:09.207 --> 16:11.660
Well , I appreciate that you don't want

16:11.660 --> 16:13.716
to step into this , but this is what

16:13.716 --> 16:16.410
leadership is about . Um I'm still in

16:16.410 --> 16:18.688
conversation with the current nominees ,

16:18.688 --> 16:20.710
where I think these commitments are

16:20.710 --> 16:22.821
warranted and I hope that we can come

16:22.821 --> 16:24.432
to an understanding is their

16:24.432 --> 16:27.060
nominations progress . And if we can I

16:27.060 --> 16:29.490
will support their nominations . But in

16:29.490 --> 16:31.550
these cases in going forward , if

16:31.550 --> 16:33.980
nominees with significant ties to the

16:33.980 --> 16:36.100
defense industry refused to make the

16:36.100 --> 16:38.900
commitments you made , then I will vote

16:38.900 --> 16:40.840
no in this committee on their

16:40.840 --> 16:43.410
nominations and I will ask for a roll

16:43.410 --> 16:45.830
call vote on the floor where I will

16:45.830 --> 16:49.650
vote no again . So let me be clear

16:49.660 --> 16:51.970
I'm asking for these commitments , not

16:51.970 --> 16:53.850
because I'm challenging anyone's

16:53.860 --> 16:56.350
integrity , but because I think it is

16:56.350 --> 16:59.010
critical that the american people have

16:59.020 --> 17:01.410
total confidence that our public

17:01.410 --> 17:03.466
officials are truly working for them

17:03.466 --> 17:05.577
and not for the defense industry that

17:05.577 --> 17:08.510
has paid them so well . Thank you . Mr

17:08.510 --> 17:12.290
Chairman . Thank you . Thank you .

17:12.290 --> 17:14.530
Senator Warren . Uh let me recognize

17:14.530 --> 17:17.130
Senator Tillis please . Thank you . Mr

17:17.130 --> 17:19.186
Chairman . Thank you . Gentlemen for

17:19.186 --> 17:21.297
being here . I want to go back to the

17:21.297 --> 17:23.408
discussion of the U . C . M . J . And

17:23.408 --> 17:25.241
you know what's described as the

17:25.540 --> 17:27.707
military sexual assault . It's an area

17:27.707 --> 17:29.873
I'm frustrated with . I've spent a lot

17:29.873 --> 17:32.540
of time with Senator Gillibrand , but I

17:32.540 --> 17:35.490
am Secretary Austin , I am

17:35.490 --> 17:38.080
concerned that even when we have the

17:38.080 --> 17:40.136
discussion here , people think we're

17:40.136 --> 17:42.080
just talking about military sexual

17:42.080 --> 17:44.191
assault , but we're talking about any

17:44.440 --> 17:46.730
uh alleged crime that would have a

17:46.730 --> 17:49.460
sentence of over one year . Uh So

17:49.460 --> 17:52.320
that's a sweeping change to the U . C M

17:52.320 --> 17:54.542
J . I'm also concerned with some of the

17:54.542 --> 17:56.542
technical aspects that haven't been

17:56.542 --> 18:00.190
spelled out in the bill . Uh It's more

18:00.190 --> 18:02.680
of a a framework we haven't seen the

18:02.680 --> 18:04.736
details , but one of the things that

18:04.736 --> 18:06.847
are most troubled by is the six month

18:06.847 --> 18:08.847
implementation timeframe . And your

18:08.847 --> 18:10.847
judgment , to the extent that , you

18:10.847 --> 18:12.736
know , the the details of Senator

18:12.736 --> 18:14.791
Gillibrand's proposal , is that even

18:14.791 --> 18:16.402
possible to be implemented ?

18:18.640 --> 18:20.930
I don't know all of the specific

18:20.930 --> 18:23.152
details of her proposed timeline . What

18:23.152 --> 18:25.319
I would tell you is , and I would echo

18:25.319 --> 18:27.600
what I said to uh the chairman a couple

18:27.600 --> 18:30.840
of minutes ago is that I would uh any

18:30.840 --> 18:33.062
change that we make ? Senator ? I would

18:33.062 --> 18:35.050
hope that we would be provided the

18:35.060 --> 18:38.030
ample time to make sure that we we

18:38.030 --> 18:41.680
properly and appropriately implement

18:41.680 --> 18:43.847
these changes . Because change the U .

18:43.847 --> 18:47.370
C M . J is a very significant

18:47.370 --> 18:50.630
issue uh in the military and we want to

18:50.630 --> 18:52.852
make sure we get this right and we will

18:52.852 --> 18:55.186
get it right if if a change is required ,

18:55.740 --> 18:58.420
General Milley , do you think uh maybe

18:58.420 --> 19:00.476
taking crimes that could be barracks

19:00.476 --> 19:02.642
larceny out of the chain of command is

19:02.642 --> 19:06.460
a good idea And would uh I would

19:07.040 --> 19:09.440
put us in a position where good or good

19:09.440 --> 19:11.662
order and discipline on the part of the

19:11.662 --> 19:14.410
command would be undermined . As I

19:14.420 --> 19:16.642
mentioned , a Senator Gillibrand before

19:16.642 --> 19:19.050
and some others earlier . I think the

19:19.050 --> 19:21.161
commander is essential to maintaining

19:21.161 --> 19:22.994
good order and discipline in the

19:22.994 --> 19:25.106
military . Were military that's built

19:25.106 --> 19:27.217
to fight the U . C . M . J . Is there

19:27.217 --> 19:29.217
to support combat power at the same

19:29.217 --> 19:31.383
time ? Cohesion is critical . Uh And I

19:31.383 --> 19:33.606
am very very open to significant change

19:33.606 --> 19:35.772
in the area of sexual assault , sexual

19:35.772 --> 19:37.939
harassment . When we get beyond that .

19:37.939 --> 19:40.106
At this point my position is I need to

19:40.106 --> 19:42.217
study it more . I'm open minded but I

19:42.217 --> 19:44.328
think we would be really , it needs a

19:44.328 --> 19:46.460
lot of due diligence before we bundle

19:46.470 --> 19:48.692
all the one year felonies and take them

19:48.692 --> 19:50.748
away from the commander . So I think

19:50.748 --> 19:52.637
well that's the right to study it

19:52.637 --> 19:54.581
further . General Austin , I think

19:54.581 --> 19:56.748
you've heard from some of us about the

19:56.748 --> 19:59.980
need for a timely uh report back on the

19:59.980 --> 20:02.202
commission findings and the D . O . D .

20:02.202 --> 20:04.424
Recommendations with the mark up coming

20:04.424 --> 20:06.600
up next month . I think it's very

20:06.600 --> 20:09.000
important that we get that feedback if

20:09.000 --> 20:12.250
it's to be uh if it's to have any

20:12.250 --> 20:14.610
impact on what may likely be in the NBA

20:14.610 --> 20:18.600
Mark . Uh you're right senator

20:18.600 --> 20:21.260
I uh and I understand your sense of

20:21.260 --> 20:23.482
urgency . I share that sense of urgency

20:23.482 --> 20:26.930
as you know . Um uh The Independent

20:26.930 --> 20:30.340
Review Commission is still evaluating

20:30.350 --> 20:33.750
the other three lines of effort that

20:33.750 --> 20:37.420
includes uh prevention , victim care

20:37.430 --> 20:41.370
and also climate . I'll get those back

20:41.380 --> 20:44.730
in in a shortly .

20:44.740 --> 20:46.980
Uh And when I do I'll make my

20:46.980 --> 20:50.570
recommendations uh to the president and

20:50.570 --> 20:52.570
those recommendations will be based

20:52.570 --> 20:54.626
upon what I get from the I . R . C .

20:54.626 --> 20:56.348
Plus my consultations with the

20:56.348 --> 20:58.730
leadership of the services . Uh Thank

20:58.730 --> 21:01.960
you jumping to uh budget matters .

21:02.040 --> 21:04.900
The immediate response for us . I know

21:04.900 --> 21:07.122
you know you've spent some quality time

21:07.122 --> 21:09.067
you in general Milley down at fort

21:09.067 --> 21:12.180
Bragg . Um It was deployed back in 2000

21:12.180 --> 21:14.250
and 19 after the Iranian backed

21:14.250 --> 21:17.370
Hezbollah attacked our embassy in Iraq .

21:17.380 --> 21:20.370
Uh The reports that I've got on the

21:20.370 --> 21:23.210
ground there is the folks from the 82nd

21:23.210 --> 21:25.266
airborne that would be a part of the

21:25.266 --> 21:27.321
response , spent pretty much the day

21:27.321 --> 21:29.543
going over . What you all know is a big

21:29.543 --> 21:31.654
complex getting ready to do it at the

21:31.654 --> 21:33.266
expense of briefings and and

21:33.266 --> 21:36.960
preparation . They want to meet .

21:37.440 --> 21:41.010
The strategic deployment complex uh is

21:41.010 --> 21:44.030
not yet even on the unfunded priorities

21:44.030 --> 21:45.270
list . Why is that ?

21:53.440 --> 21:56.520
I uh I'll look into that senator . I

21:56.520 --> 21:59.140
don't know why the the army hasn't put

21:59.140 --> 22:02.080
that on your unfunded requirements list ,

22:02.090 --> 22:05.780
but I'm sure that uh uh the army's

22:05.790 --> 22:07.846
choices based upon the input they've

22:07.846 --> 22:09.957
gotten from uh from the 18th Airborne

22:09.957 --> 22:12.012
Corps Commander and others . But but

22:12.012 --> 22:13.957
I'll engage the army will submit a

22:13.957 --> 22:16.450
question for the record because I am uh

22:16.460 --> 22:19.940
I'm concerned that an increasingly in

22:19.940 --> 22:22.060
an instance where we may have to uh

22:22.340 --> 22:24.550
once again send out an immediate

22:24.550 --> 22:27.250
response deployment request that

22:27.260 --> 22:29.482
they're not the best prepared that they

22:29.482 --> 22:31.649
could be for it . I'd like to get that

22:31.649 --> 22:31.290
reported back and I'll submit other

22:31.290 --> 22:33.457
questions for the record . Thank you .

22:33.457 --> 22:35.568
Mr Chair . Thank you . Senator Tillis

22:35.568 --> 22:38.940
Centre Toronto , please . Thank you .

22:38.940 --> 22:42.170
Mr Chairman . I have had a number of

22:42.170 --> 22:45.190
opportunities . Secretary Austin to

22:45.200 --> 22:47.320
raise my concerns about the fact that

22:47.320 --> 22:50.880
that HDR H Hawaii , the missile

22:50.880 --> 22:53.750
defense radar for Hawaii has been

22:53.750 --> 22:56.260
zeroed out over the last two fiscal

22:56.260 --> 22:59.740
year requests . And so

22:59.750 --> 23:01.990
uh in response to some of my concerns

23:01.990 --> 23:04.157
raised about the fact that there is no

23:04.157 --> 23:06.323
funding requested for this radar which

23:06.323 --> 23:08.323
was told to us that was going to be

23:08.323 --> 23:10.546
very important as part of our system to

23:10.546 --> 23:13.550
protect Hawaii . And I'm told that

23:14.140 --> 23:16.760
under the current situation currently

23:16.760 --> 23:20.360
protected against today's threats up

23:20.940 --> 23:22.884
that is the response I've gotten ,

23:22.884 --> 23:24.940
secretary asked him . But what we're

23:24.940 --> 23:26.773
looking at is we need to protect

23:26.773 --> 23:29.820
against future threats i e 2025 threats .

23:29.820 --> 23:32.570
So I'm going to want to have further

23:32.570 --> 23:36.470
discussions with you and your team as

23:36.470 --> 23:39.500
to what they projected Dangers are

23:39.510 --> 23:43.390
going to 2025 . I recognize

23:43.390 --> 23:46.350
that Hawaii is protected under today's

23:47.140 --> 23:50.010
Threat , but not necessarily 2025 . And

23:50.010 --> 23:52.960
that was the time frame in which the

23:52.970 --> 23:54.748
this radio was determined to be

23:54.748 --> 23:56.970
necessary for our national security .

23:56.980 --> 23:59.420
So I don't want to get into further

23:59.430 --> 24:02.560
discussion with you on they

24:04.140 --> 24:07.980
the explanation as to why was

24:07.980 --> 24:11.090
zeroed out . Let me move on to uh

24:11.100 --> 24:13.044
support for the pacific deterrence

24:13.044 --> 24:16.940
initiative . The PD was enacted last

24:16.940 --> 24:19.210
year to ensure that diode prioritizes

24:19.210 --> 24:22.340
invests and often overlooked but

24:22.340 --> 24:24.618
critical components of joint readiness .

24:25.340 --> 24:28.930
And in fact with regard to the pD , the

24:28.930 --> 24:30.900
previous commander of NdP . Com ,

24:30.900 --> 24:33.600
Admiral Davidson identified five areas

24:33.610 --> 24:37.340
of focus in the P . D . I . Won the

24:37.340 --> 24:40.590
Joint force mythology to force design

24:40.590 --> 24:43.250
and posture . Three strengthen allies

24:43.250 --> 24:45.330
and partners . Four exercises

24:45.330 --> 24:48.120
experimentation and implementation and

24:48.120 --> 24:51.670
five logistics and security enablers .

24:52.040 --> 24:54.600
So looking at your budget request . So

24:54.610 --> 24:58.600
I do not see uh requested items in the

24:58.610 --> 25:00.990
five areas that Admiral Davidson had

25:01.000 --> 25:03.890
identified as being supportive of the P .

25:03.890 --> 25:07.300
D . I . And in fact , uh your request

25:07.300 --> 25:09.430
identifies platforms like a navy

25:09.430 --> 25:12.570
destroyer , the oiler and items related

25:12.570 --> 25:16.290
to the F 35 aircraft um as P . D . I .

25:16.290 --> 25:19.080
Investment . So I'd like to know why is

25:19.080 --> 25:21.302
the vast majority of funding identified

25:21.302 --> 25:24.000
to support P . D . I . Unrelated to the

25:24.000 --> 25:26.240
lines of effort outlined in the end up

25:26.240 --> 25:29.060
a calm section 1 1251 report .

25:30.440 --> 25:34.350
Yeah . Senator . Let me say at the

25:34.360 --> 25:38.360
top that our intent was to align our

25:39.040 --> 25:40.960
P . D . I . Investment with

25:40.960 --> 25:44.900
congressional intent . And uh so my

25:44.900 --> 25:46.900
staff is currently working with the

25:46.900 --> 25:50.720
committee to clarify and adjust any any

25:50.720 --> 25:52.920
perceived misalignments and in fact

25:52.920 --> 25:56.700
make sure that that we answer

25:56.700 --> 25:58.810
any and all questions . And so we'll

25:58.810 --> 26:00.921
continue to work that . As you know ,

26:00.921 --> 26:04.310
we've dedicated some $5.1 billion p . d .

26:04.310 --> 26:08.200
I . Uh And uh and again , our intent

26:08.210 --> 26:10.820
was to align our investments with

26:10.830 --> 26:13.040
congressional intent . I would go

26:13.040 --> 26:15.262
further to say that a great deal of the

26:15.262 --> 26:18.550
department's budget uh is invested

26:18.560 --> 26:22.270
in in capabilities and activities

26:22.270 --> 26:25.190
that concentrate on deterrent china .

26:25.200 --> 26:28.300
Uh and uh and I would further say that ,

26:28.310 --> 26:30.310
you know , I'm committed to working

26:30.310 --> 26:32.421
with the with the committee to making

26:32.421 --> 26:34.880
sure that we we get it right and answer

26:34.880 --> 26:37.390
the needs of the commander out and uh

26:37.440 --> 26:40.130
PICO Mr . Secretary . I I appreciate

26:40.130 --> 26:42.280
that commitment towards aligning the

26:42.280 --> 26:45.350
congressional intent with what the uh

26:45.940 --> 26:48.090
combatant commanders are requesting .

26:48.090 --> 26:50.400
And I think that alignment needs to be

26:50.410 --> 26:53.030
much better . And for example , the D O .

26:53.030 --> 26:55.070
D . Is only partially funding . NDP

26:55.070 --> 26:57.420
comes top three priorities that are

26:57.420 --> 26:59.910
important to deterring china . Since

26:59.920 --> 27:03.460
you mentioned that just now moving on

27:03.470 --> 27:06.670
to the importance of military

27:06.670 --> 27:09.160
construction and funding , of course is

27:09.540 --> 27:12.770
very critical to what we need to be

27:12.770 --> 27:14.990
doing . And and I've had conversations

27:14.990 --> 27:18.320
with your team regarding the need for a

27:18.330 --> 27:20.940
shipyard modernization and

27:20.950 --> 27:23.270
infrastructure support for that ,

27:23.280 --> 27:26.670
including a new dry dock for Hawaii .

27:27.040 --> 27:29.780
Now I know that there is request for

27:29.990 --> 27:33.520
dry docks in Portsmouth and there's

27:33.520 --> 27:36.770
money also for salt water purification

27:36.770 --> 27:40.100
system in Norfolk . This is in front of

27:40.110 --> 27:43.900
requested funding to move the dry dock

27:43.910 --> 27:46.790
for Hawaii along . And so I would

27:46.790 --> 27:49.170
request that you take a look at that .

27:49.170 --> 27:52.540
And and it is very clear that the dry

27:52.540 --> 27:55.460
dock in Hawaii is very necessary for uh

27:55.470 --> 27:57.692
Hawaii Pearl Harbor Shipyard to be able

27:57.692 --> 28:00.870
to take care of the Virginia class

28:00.870 --> 28:03.037
submarines that are there . We have no

28:03.037 --> 28:05.203
capacity uh to do that right now . And

28:05.203 --> 28:07.537
so that dry dog needs to be moved along .

28:07.537 --> 28:10.530
So I request that you uh look at the

28:10.530 --> 28:12.800
funding request and to see whether you

28:12.800 --> 28:16.250
can move the appropriation request for

28:16.250 --> 28:19.060
the dry dock in Hawaii along .

28:20.240 --> 28:23.170
My time is up . But I hope that he will

28:23.840 --> 28:26.830
continue to discuss with that , discuss

28:26.840 --> 28:30.050
that particular concern with us . Mhm .

28:30.640 --> 28:33.360
I understand we're committed to making

28:33.360 --> 28:36.750
sure that we maintain the ability to uh

28:36.760 --> 28:39.510
to maintain and sustain our force and

28:39.510 --> 28:41.590
so we'll take a look at that . Thank

28:41.590 --> 28:45.460
you . Thank you . Mr . Chairman . Thank

28:45.460 --> 28:47.127
you . Senator Runner Levy now

28:47.127 --> 28:49.200
recognized Senator Crimea and also

28:49.210 --> 28:51.432
alert all of my colleagues that will be

28:51.740 --> 28:54.730
Two votes beginning at 11:30 . and also

28:54.730 --> 28:57.740
I believe the panel uh sought a break

28:57.750 --> 29:01.000
around that time . So talking with the

29:01.000 --> 29:04.490
ranking member will uh figure out a

29:04.500 --> 29:06.278
strategy , accomplish all those

29:06.278 --> 29:08.389
objectives . Senator Grammar , please

29:08.389 --> 29:10.611
thank you . Mr Chairman , thanks to all

29:10.611 --> 29:12.722
of you for your service and for being

29:12.722 --> 29:14.444
here . Good to see you start ,

29:14.444 --> 29:16.556
Secretary Austin , um by following up

29:16.556 --> 29:18.611
with from an answer that you gave to

29:18.611 --> 29:20.722
Senator Shaheen earlier about further

29:20.722 --> 29:23.790
support for the Afghan forces . And you

29:23.790 --> 29:25.734
specifically mentioned I . S . R .

29:25.734 --> 29:27.640
Support from the GCC . And I'm

29:27.640 --> 29:29.362
wondering if you could tell me

29:29.362 --> 29:31.473
specifically what kind of I . S . R .

29:31.473 --> 29:34.170
Support ? Um that is what system

29:37.340 --> 29:39.451
I'm well , certainly we're flying are

29:39.451 --> 29:41.800
MQ nine from their and

29:41.810 --> 29:45.790
essentially the vast majority of uh

29:45.800 --> 29:48.090
of I . S . R . Is is being provided

29:48.090 --> 29:49.701
from other places outside of

29:49.701 --> 29:52.530
Afghanistan . We've we've had to , you

29:52.530 --> 29:54.697
know , as we've retrograde , we've had

29:54.697 --> 29:56.950
to make sure we protect our key uh

29:57.240 --> 29:59.170
platforms and systems . Sir , Our

29:59.170 --> 30:01.060
Global Block 30 is part of that .

30:02.440 --> 30:04.662
That's correct . You know , you realize

30:04.662 --> 30:06.340
that black 30s are slated for

30:06.350 --> 30:08.800
retirement in this budget and you and I

30:08.800 --> 30:10.911
have had this discussion before . I'm

30:10.911 --> 30:12.967
concerned about the lack of a bridge

30:12.967 --> 30:15.022
between where we are today and where

30:15.022 --> 30:17.133
we're going to get to eventually with

30:17.133 --> 30:19.300
new systems and you have tough choices

30:19.300 --> 30:21.300
and we've heard all about the , you

30:21.300 --> 30:20.910
know , the difficult priorities you

30:20.910 --> 30:22.966
have to set . But I remain concerned

30:22.966 --> 30:24.854
about the retirement of block 30s

30:24.854 --> 30:26.743
prematurely . Um , the benefit of

30:26.743 --> 30:28.966
combatant commanders everywhere , But I

30:28.966 --> 30:31.080
think Afghanistan presents a rather

30:31.080 --> 30:34.710
unique example of the threat . Um with

30:34.710 --> 30:37.540
that General Milley , could I ask you

30:37.550 --> 30:39.439
um , are the combatant commanders

30:39.439 --> 30:41.606
getting all of the I . S . R . Support

30:41.606 --> 30:44.320
that they need in every theater ? I

30:44.320 --> 30:46.376
would tell you that as Chief Staff ,

30:46.376 --> 30:48.431
the army for four years and chairman

30:48.431 --> 30:50.653
for almost two , no combatant commander

30:50.653 --> 30:52.876
has ever gotten all the IRC they want .

30:52.876 --> 30:55.042
It is one of those commodities that is

30:55.042 --> 30:57.209
in high demand all the time and no one

30:57.209 --> 30:59.264
is completely ever satisfied . Every

30:59.264 --> 31:01.376
commander wants perfect knowledge and

31:01.376 --> 31:03.431
that's what I . S . R . Does is feed

31:03.431 --> 31:05.653
you with knowledge . We are never going

31:05.653 --> 31:07.820
to get enough . Is our to fill all the

31:07.820 --> 31:09.876
demand . Having said that it's all a

31:09.876 --> 31:12.042
function of risk . It's all a function

31:12.042 --> 31:11.370
of where you take risk . What's your

31:11.370 --> 31:13.592
priority is uh are you going to support

31:13.592 --> 31:15.814
the main effort and what you do for the

31:15.814 --> 31:18.092
supporting effort and so on , so forth ?

31:18.092 --> 31:20.314
Uh And in this budget , I think that we

31:20.314 --> 31:22.426
are adequate these funding uh I S . R

31:22.426 --> 31:24.481
as we go forward for the main effort

31:24.481 --> 31:26.640
relative to china And with respect to

31:26.640 --> 31:29.560
the block 30s , uh and the MQ nine .

31:29.570 --> 31:31.792
Again , it has to do with relevance and

31:31.792 --> 31:33.848
pivoting to the future . This budget

31:33.848 --> 31:36.050
biases future operating environment ,

31:36.060 --> 31:37.949
changing the character of war and

31:37.949 --> 31:40.004
against the pacing threat of china .

31:40.004 --> 31:42.004
That is not to say we're gonna stop

31:42.004 --> 31:44.227
everything with respect to a tens or MQ

31:44.227 --> 31:46.338
nine or some of these systems . We've

31:46.338 --> 31:48.393
got to make that turn . So since you

31:48.393 --> 31:50.616
were on the topic , well , if you could

31:50.616 --> 31:52.838
list the top three threats to America's

31:52.838 --> 31:54.782
national security and order , what

31:54.782 --> 31:56.449
would they be from a military

31:56.449 --> 31:58.171
standpoint , strictly military

31:58.171 --> 32:00.060
standpoint ? I think china is the

32:00.060 --> 32:02.060
number one military threat as we go

32:02.060 --> 32:04.171
forward . But I also acknowledge that

32:04.171 --> 32:06.227
Russia is a considerable great power

32:06.227 --> 32:08.770
competitor and and and those two in the

32:08.770 --> 32:10.750
N . D . S . And in the current

32:10.750 --> 32:12.972
strategic environment , from a military

32:12.972 --> 32:14.861
perspective there are many , many

32:14.861 --> 32:16.528
threats . But from a military

32:16.528 --> 32:18.806
perspective , I put those two up there .

32:18.806 --> 32:20.917
I understand one of the things I want

32:20.917 --> 32:20.440
to get out because just it was just

32:20.440 --> 32:22.900
yesterday President biden announced

32:22.900 --> 32:24.900
when he announced America's back in

32:24.900 --> 32:27.840
europe to two military men and women

32:27.850 --> 32:31.260
air force in uh in the U . K . That the

32:31.260 --> 32:33.930
number according to the military

32:33.930 --> 32:35.986
leaders . That the number one threat

32:35.986 --> 32:38.097
facing America's national security is

32:38.097 --> 32:40.263
climate change . Six weeks ago today ,

32:40.263 --> 32:42.041
the european Union parliament ,

32:42.041 --> 32:44.780
speaking of NATO and allies which are a

32:44.790 --> 32:46.790
prominent part of your testimony in

32:46.790 --> 32:49.012
this budget . Um EU parliament passed a

32:49.012 --> 32:52.960
resolution 569 to 67 urging

32:52.960 --> 32:55.570
the EU institutions and member states

32:55.580 --> 32:57.910
to to do everything they can to stop

32:57.920 --> 33:00.031
the completion of the nord stream two

33:00.031 --> 33:02.760
pipeline . Three weeks ago today ,

33:02.770 --> 33:05.360
President Biden lifted the sanctions on

33:05.360 --> 33:08.160
completing the Nord Stream two pipeline

33:08.640 --> 33:11.930
and and I'm just kind of wondering and

33:11.930 --> 33:14.097
that that flies in the face both of of

33:14.097 --> 33:16.208
America's back . It flies in the face

33:16.208 --> 33:18.420
of building NATO alliances rebuilding

33:18.420 --> 33:20.531
as as as the budget document states .

33:20.531 --> 33:22.980
I'm not sure which ones we lost , but I

33:22.980 --> 33:24.924
know that there are at least eight

33:24.924 --> 33:26.813
european union allies , including

33:26.813 --> 33:29.230
Ukraine who strongly oppose North

33:29.230 --> 33:31.090
Stream Two for national security

33:31.090 --> 33:33.280
reasons . And certainly from climate

33:33.280 --> 33:35.447
change standpoint of climate change is

33:35.447 --> 33:37.613
the number one threat facing America's

33:37.613 --> 33:39.558
national security , allowing North

33:39.558 --> 33:41.724
Stream two to be built is not good for

33:41.724 --> 33:43.947
the climate . So , um I have some great

33:43.947 --> 33:47.370
concerns and uh I think we ought to get

33:47.370 --> 33:49.537
him , we ought to get him straightened

33:49.537 --> 33:51.703
out . And I don't know for the life of

33:51.703 --> 33:53.870
me how how completely North Stream two

33:53.870 --> 33:55.926
helps our alliance with the European

33:55.926 --> 33:57.926
Union other than maybe with current

33:57.926 --> 33:59.981
chancellor of Germany senator , if I

33:59.981 --> 34:02.380
could just make on these on your piece

34:02.380 --> 34:05.970
about threats , um climate change is a

34:05.970 --> 34:08.620
threat . Climate change has significant

34:08.630 --> 34:10.940
impact on military operations . Uh and

34:10.940 --> 34:13.162
we have to take it into consideration .

34:13.162 --> 34:15.051
Climate change is going to impact

34:15.051 --> 34:17.218
natural resources , for example , it's

34:17.218 --> 34:19.329
gonna impact increased instability in

34:19.329 --> 34:18.590
various parts of the world , is going

34:18.590 --> 34:21.610
to impact migrations and so on . And in

34:21.610 --> 34:23.110
addition to that , we have

34:23.110 --> 34:25.388
infrastructure challenges here at home ,

34:25.388 --> 34:25.220
witnessed some of our hurricanes and

34:25.220 --> 34:27.442
stuff . So climate change does impact .

34:28.440 --> 34:30.662
But the president is looking at it at a

34:30.662 --> 34:32.607
much broader angle than I am . I'm

34:32.607 --> 34:34.773
looking at it from a strictly military

34:34.773 --> 34:36.996
standpoint and from a strictly military

34:36.996 --> 34:39.107
standpoint , I'm putting china Russia

34:39.107 --> 34:41.107
up there . That is not however , in

34:41.107 --> 34:43.273
conflict with the acknowledgement that

34:43.273 --> 34:45.273
climate change or infrastructure or

34:45.273 --> 34:47.384
education systems , national security

34:47.384 --> 34:49.496
has a broad angle to it . I'm looking

34:49.496 --> 34:51.218
at it from a strictly military

34:51.218 --> 34:53.440
standpoint . I just think it's peculiar

34:53.440 --> 34:55.607
that the president would go to another

34:55.607 --> 34:55.340
continent and tell our service members

34:55.340 --> 34:57.580
there that the number one threat is

34:57.590 --> 35:00.510
climate change , albeit a threat . Um

35:00.520 --> 35:02.631
with that my time has expired . Thank

35:02.631 --> 35:05.490
you . Yeah , thank you very much .

35:05.490 --> 35:08.390
Senator crime in collaboration with the

35:08.390 --> 35:11.700
ranking member . Uh and at the request

35:11.710 --> 35:14.520
of the panel to take a short break . At

35:14.520 --> 35:18.460
this time , I would uh move to recess

35:18.470 --> 35:21.500
for 10 minutes . Uh it also would allow

35:21.500 --> 35:23.722
people to go to the vote which has just

35:23.722 --> 35:26.840
been called . Uh and so with that I

35:26.840 --> 35:30.550
would ask for a 10 minute recess . Mhm .

35:32.540 --> 35:33.540
Mhm .

35:41.940 --> 35:44.260
Let me call the hearing back to order

35:44.270 --> 35:47.430
after the short recess and recognizing

35:47.430 --> 35:49.470
the Blumenthal for his questions .

35:52.040 --> 35:55.930
Thanks Mr Chairman , thank you . Mr

35:55.930 --> 35:59.260
Secretary uh Chairman Millie for your

36:00.330 --> 36:02.552
extraordinary service and thank you for

36:02.552 --> 36:06.460
being here today . Um , I have

36:06.460 --> 36:08.950
been very concerned

36:09.830 --> 36:11.750
about the

36:13.030 --> 36:16.540
ship that apparently has been sent from

36:17.330 --> 36:20.550
Iran to Venezuela .

36:21.830 --> 36:24.800
Uh , Apparently to Iranian vessels are

36:24.800 --> 36:26.911
believed to be carrying arms intended

36:28.130 --> 36:31.840
to transfer uh huh to

36:31.840 --> 36:34.820
Venezuela . As you know , these chefs

36:34.830 --> 36:37.100
ships are thought to be carrying

36:37.100 --> 36:39.267
weapons that would fulfill a deal that

36:39.267 --> 36:42.660
Iran and Venezuela made a year ago .

36:43.430 --> 36:46.280
We don't know the types of weapons , at

36:46.280 --> 36:48.224
least as far as I know , there are

36:48.224 --> 36:50.391
reports that Venezuela was considering

36:50.391 --> 36:54.240
purchasing missiles from Iran including

36:54.240 --> 36:57.850
long range 1's a commercial satellite

36:57.850 --> 37:01.160
imagery of one of the ships shows fast

37:01.170 --> 37:05.150
attack boats loaded on the deck .

37:05.630 --> 37:07.686
But it's still unclear whether those

37:07.686 --> 37:11.170
boats were aboard when the ships began

37:11.180 --> 37:14.580
their journey . I was pleased to see

37:14.580 --> 37:16.691
that a senior administration official

37:16.930 --> 37:19.490
stated that delivery of these weapons

37:19.490 --> 37:22.460
would be a quote , provocative act and

37:22.460 --> 37:25.380
understood as a threat who are partners

37:25.380 --> 37:27.491
in the Western Hemisphere and quote ,

37:27.830 --> 37:29.663
and that the United States would

37:29.663 --> 37:31.774
reserve the right to take appropriate

37:31.774 --> 37:34.080
measures in coordination with our

37:34.080 --> 37:37.140
partners to deter the transit or

37:37.140 --> 37:40.770
delivery of such weapons . Secretary

37:40.770 --> 37:44.060
Austin , allowing this ship to dock

37:44.060 --> 37:47.650
seems significant to me on many

37:47.650 --> 37:49.930
different levels . It would be the

37:49.930 --> 37:52.550
first time that Iranian vessels have

37:52.550 --> 37:54.772
made such a transit . And the president

37:54.772 --> 37:57.970
of allowing Iran to provide weapons to

37:57.970 --> 38:01.430
the region causes me grave concern . Do

38:01.430 --> 38:04.240
you share that concern ? And

38:05.220 --> 38:07.810
how would such a delivery effect the

38:07.810 --> 38:09.650
region in europe ? You ?

38:12.720 --> 38:14.498
Well , senator , thanks for the

38:14.498 --> 38:16.780
question . And I , uh , I am absolutely

38:16.780 --> 38:20.040
concerned about the proliferation of uh ,

38:20.620 --> 38:24.560
of weapons , uh , any type of weapons ,

38:24.570 --> 38:27.490
uh , in uh , in our neighborhood . And

38:27.490 --> 38:31.040
so I sure you're concerned .

38:34.420 --> 38:37.250
Can you tell me whether the

38:37.250 --> 38:41.200
administration knows exactly what is on

38:41.200 --> 38:42.533
those Iranian vessels ?

38:44.920 --> 38:48.780
I would I would like to take that

38:48.790 --> 38:51.160
conversation either either that

38:51.160 --> 38:53.630
question to uh , for the record or I

38:53.640 --> 38:55.973
could take that conversation in another ,

38:55.973 --> 38:58.320
another forum . I'd be glad to do it in

38:58.320 --> 39:00.650
another forum . In another setting .

39:01.320 --> 39:04.880
Are you , uh , have you had any

39:04.880 --> 39:08.370
communication with your colleagues

39:08.380 --> 39:11.950
in other nations in this hemisphere ?

39:13.420 --> 39:15.940
I've not had any discussions with ,

39:16.320 --> 39:19.220
with any other nations in our

39:19.220 --> 39:22.640
hemisphere on this issue . Let me ask

39:22.640 --> 39:26.230
you on the topic of white supremacy and

39:26.230 --> 39:28.230
violent extremism , which you and I

39:28.230 --> 39:30.640
have discussed both in your

39:30.640 --> 39:34.280
confirmation hearings and privately , I

39:34.290 --> 39:38.270
understand that there will be

39:38.280 --> 39:42.160
a task force report . Can you tell us

39:42.620 --> 39:44.620
when that report will be released ?

39:48.720 --> 39:52.260
Uh , I'm sorry senator , I didn't quite

39:52.260 --> 39:55.690
hear the question . Uh , can you

39:55.690 --> 39:58.300
provide an update as to the status of

39:58.300 --> 40:02.290
the extremism task force that you

40:02.290 --> 40:06.020
announced read it recently

40:06.020 --> 40:09.680
and when uh this committee can

40:09.690 --> 40:12.330
expect to be briefed done the result

40:16.210 --> 40:19.390
as you recall senator early on in my

40:19.390 --> 40:23.120
tenure ? I ask the forced

40:23.120 --> 40:26.630
to uh , conduct a brief , uh , stand

40:26.630 --> 40:29.550
down to discuss the issue of of extreme

40:29.560 --> 40:33.360
extremism in our ranks . And and uh ,

40:33.370 --> 40:35.426
let me preface what I'm gonna say by

40:35.426 --> 40:37.703
saying that , you know , I'm convinced ,

40:37.703 --> 40:40.750
totally convinced That 99% of our

40:40.760 --> 40:43.670
troops are focused on the right things

40:43.670 --> 40:45.614
and and doing the right things and

40:45.614 --> 40:47.837
embrace the right values each and every

40:47.837 --> 40:50.430
day . But as I may have mentioned to

40:50.430 --> 40:52.374
you earlier , I believe that small

40:52.374 --> 40:54.486
numbers can have an outside of effect

40:54.486 --> 40:58.020
outside the fact regarding this issue .

40:58.510 --> 41:02.270
Uh So we did gain some insights from

41:02.280 --> 41:04.502
from the stand down . And it was it was

41:04.502 --> 41:06.724
a great opportunity for leaders to have

41:06.724 --> 41:08.669
discussions with other leaders and

41:08.669 --> 41:10.502
leaders to have discussions with

41:10.502 --> 41:12.800
subordinates uh and talk about those

41:12.800 --> 41:14.689
behaviors . And we are focused on

41:14.689 --> 41:17.890
behaviors , those behaviors that that

41:17.890 --> 41:20.250
are not supportive of the values that

41:20.260 --> 41:23.210
we embrace . Uh In addition to that we

41:23.210 --> 41:25.430
stood up a counter extremism working

41:25.430 --> 41:28.250
group which uh you know , routinely

41:28.250 --> 41:31.080
monitors uh you know , our efforts

41:31.080 --> 41:33.191
across the department in terms of you

41:33.191 --> 41:35.330
know what we're doing to uh to make

41:35.330 --> 41:37.770
sure that we counter extremism or

41:37.770 --> 41:41.270
extremist behaviors . Uh they will uh

41:41.280 --> 41:44.890
they're refining our policies uh huh

41:44.900 --> 41:47.800
and also gaining a better understanding

41:47.800 --> 41:50.560
of uh you know , what the complete

41:50.560 --> 41:53.310
challenge uh and certainly you know , I

41:53.310 --> 41:55.930
can have the leadership of that uh that

41:55.930 --> 41:58.460
working group come to come to brief you

41:58.470 --> 42:01.660
upon request or anytime you want . I

42:01.660 --> 42:03.882
would I would very much appreciate that

42:04.030 --> 42:06.880
Mr Secretary and I applaud the efforts

42:06.880 --> 42:09.310
that you are making against that

42:09.800 --> 42:13.380
probably less than 1% as you said , 99% .

42:13.390 --> 42:15.610
But I think it's and even more

42:15.620 --> 42:17.842
overwhelming majority who adhere to the

42:17.842 --> 42:21.120
basic values and our dedicated patriots

42:21.600 --> 42:25.110
And the focus on that , less than 1% is

42:25.120 --> 42:27.540
well warranted because they may have an

42:27.540 --> 42:31.100
outsize a fact . And so I would welcome

42:31.100 --> 42:33.267
an opportunity to learn more from your

42:33.267 --> 42:36.220
from the task force Whenever it is

42:36.230 --> 42:38.230
appropriate to do so and I'll be in

42:38.230 --> 42:40.452
touch with your office if that's okay .

42:40.452 --> 42:42.563
And I would absolutely agree with you

42:42.563 --> 42:44.730
senator . That is , it is less than 1%

42:44.730 --> 42:48.130
uh uh will gain better insights and and

42:48.130 --> 42:51.960
also equip our our force with

42:51.960 --> 42:54.220
better policies and and definitions .

42:54.800 --> 42:57.290
Thank you . Thank You . Senator

42:57.290 --> 42:59.620
Blumenthal Senator Black one Place .

43:00.000 --> 43:02.240
Thank you . Mr Chairman and I

43:02.240 --> 43:04.930
appreciate that you all are here today .

43:04.940 --> 43:06.996
Secretary Austin , I want to come to

43:06.996 --> 43:10.930
you on the issue of nuclear deterrence .

43:10.940 --> 43:12.880
And when you went through your

43:12.880 --> 43:14.658
confirmation hearing , we had a

43:14.658 --> 43:18.400
discussion about this and in your

43:18.400 --> 43:20.450
advanced policy questions , you had

43:20.450 --> 43:22.506
made a statement and I'm quoting you

43:22.506 --> 43:24.283
the tipping point where we must

43:24.283 --> 43:27.160
simultaneously overhaul these forces is

43:27.160 --> 43:31.150
now here . And that was your comment in

43:31.160 --> 43:34.420
reference to nuclear deterrence . And

43:34.430 --> 43:37.680
while we're looking at this budget ,

43:37.690 --> 43:41.250
that's before us , we see that

43:41.260 --> 43:44.620
modernization is fully funded .

43:45.200 --> 43:48.120
But then when you look at deferred

43:48.120 --> 43:51.870
maintenance , um you see that

43:51.880 --> 43:54.760
it cuts hundreds of millions of dollars

43:54.770 --> 43:57.870
from the enacted level . Uh the and

43:57.870 --> 44:00.410
then essays deferred maintenance budget .

44:00.990 --> 44:04.700
So we know that more than half of the N .

44:04.700 --> 44:07.290
N . S . A . Facilities are over 40

44:07.290 --> 44:09.770
years old . 30% date back to the

44:09.770 --> 44:13.350
forties . So to me this sounds like

44:13.350 --> 44:15.510
we're at a tipping point when we

44:15.510 --> 44:19.230
discuss these facilities . So um was

44:19.240 --> 44:21.890
that deferred maintenance cut

44:21.900 --> 44:25.120
coordinated with D . O . D . And

44:25.130 --> 44:28.600
realistically what effect will it have

44:28.600 --> 44:31.380
on the ability of the in an essay to

44:31.380 --> 44:33.380
meet the D . O . D . Requirements ?

44:36.090 --> 44:38.300
Uh to my knowledge it was not

44:38.300 --> 44:41.510
coordinated with uh with the O . D . Uh

44:42.090 --> 44:43.979
And what I would say to you those

44:43.979 --> 44:47.300
senator is that it's very important to

44:47.300 --> 44:49.790
me and to our department to make sure

44:49.790 --> 44:51.901
that we worked with the Department of

44:51.901 --> 44:53.990
Energy to ensure that uh that we

44:53.990 --> 44:56.640
achieve our common goal of maintaining

44:56.650 --> 45:00.420
uh you know a robust nuclear deterrent .

45:00.890 --> 45:03.112
And you have my commitment to make sure

45:03.112 --> 45:05.740
that I remain engaged with E to make

45:05.740 --> 45:07.462
sure that the right things are

45:07.462 --> 45:09.629
happening in this regard . Okay , then

45:09.629 --> 45:11.796
let me ask it like this , what are the

45:11.796 --> 45:15.120
consequences that happen if we do not

45:15.120 --> 45:18.670
modernize and uh bring this

45:18.680 --> 45:20.402
infrastructure , maintain this

45:20.402 --> 45:24.120
infrastructure ? Well , you've heard me

45:24.130 --> 45:26.740
say before senator that , you know ,

45:26.740 --> 45:28.518
I'm absolutely committed to the

45:28.518 --> 45:30.851
modernization of the triad and you know ,

45:30.851 --> 45:34.000
that We've dedicated $28 billion 22

45:34.000 --> 45:37.140
budget to that effort , maintenance is

45:37.140 --> 45:40.490
also important . And and again with

45:40.490 --> 45:44.180
respect to N . S . A . Uh we will

45:44.180 --> 45:46.460
remain engaged with uh with the O . E .

45:46.460 --> 45:48.627
To make sure that the right things are

45:48.627 --> 45:50.182
happening and gain a better

45:50.182 --> 45:52.071
understanding of what D . O . S .

45:52.071 --> 45:54.750
Objectives are ? Well , you all

45:54.750 --> 45:57.360
frequently will say that infrastructure

45:57.360 --> 46:00.530
is a part of what you need to retain

46:00.530 --> 46:04.200
talent And I would

46:04.200 --> 46:07.330
expect that the enterprise is

46:07.330 --> 46:10.600
invaluable work force as they are . As

46:10.600 --> 46:14.030
we look at 21st century warfare um that

46:14.040 --> 46:16.330
it is difficult for them to continue to

46:16.330 --> 46:18.710
work and dilapidated and sometimes

46:18.710 --> 46:21.950
unsafe conditions . And I would assume

46:21.960 --> 46:24.500
that that is a concern to you also .

46:26.280 --> 46:28.500
It absolutely is a concern both for

46:28.500 --> 46:32.030
what the issues that D . O . D . Uh

46:32.040 --> 46:35.140
controls and also you know I'm sure

46:35.140 --> 46:37.307
it's a concern for all the things that

46:37.307 --> 46:39.584
D . O . E . Is responsible for as well .

46:40.080 --> 46:42.990
Um Let's go . And Senator Fisher

46:42.990 --> 46:46.760
brought up to you uh

46:46.770 --> 46:49.680
the action of the acting secretary of

46:49.680 --> 46:52.010
the Navy canceling the nuclear sea

46:52.010 --> 46:55.920
launch cruise missile . So why was this

46:55.930 --> 46:58.800
decision made before completion of the

46:58.800 --> 47:00.590
nuclear posture review ?

47:02.580 --> 47:05.640
Again , Senator I've not seen the memo

47:05.650 --> 47:08.060
and but what I like the chairman , I

47:08.060 --> 47:10.060
will see it very shortly after this

47:10.060 --> 47:13.270
hearing . Uh uh you know as I

47:13.270 --> 47:15.492
understand the purpose of that memo was

47:15.492 --> 47:18.030
to was to issue some guidance for

47:18.030 --> 47:21.740
planning and evaluation too to the

47:21.740 --> 47:25.500
navy . But again I am committed to

47:25.510 --> 47:27.850
conducting a nuclear posture review

47:27.850 --> 47:29.961
that I've we talked about earlier and

47:29.961 --> 47:32.017
that will be conducted and that will

47:32.017 --> 47:34.072
drive our activities going forward .

47:34.072 --> 47:36.760
Well , I think that memo sent a message

47:36.760 --> 47:39.130
we did not want to send to Russia and

47:39.130 --> 47:41.700
china when it comes to great power

47:41.710 --> 47:45.130
competition . Um I did

47:45.130 --> 47:48.870
appreciate the department being on

47:48.880 --> 47:52.520
on pace to fully fund the

47:52.530 --> 47:55.960
P . D . I . And I

47:55.970 --> 47:59.960
um the concern

47:59.970 --> 48:03.430
is the number one P . D . I ask

48:03.430 --> 48:06.280
was the Guam defense system to be fully

48:06.280 --> 48:09.090
funded . It's the $350 million .

48:09.470 --> 48:12.260
But when you look through this , the

48:12.260 --> 48:15.260
funding totals for the defense of Guam

48:15.260 --> 48:17.260
procurement and the Guam Defense

48:17.260 --> 48:20.360
Development Line items in

48:20.370 --> 48:22.940
the budget was

48:22.950 --> 48:26.770
$118.3 million dollars and that's

48:26.770 --> 48:29.860
less than half of the money that is

48:29.860 --> 48:33.560
required . And uh for this ,

48:33.570 --> 48:35.790
which is the number one unfunded

48:35.790 --> 48:39.710
priority if you will . So I'd like to

48:39.710 --> 48:43.490
hear you speak to that . Um

48:43.500 --> 48:46.560
You know , we know that these fusion

48:46.560 --> 48:48.840
centers are vitally important . I've

48:48.840 --> 48:50.800
done a good bit of work on these

48:50.800 --> 48:53.110
multilateral fusion centers and they

48:53.110 --> 48:56.810
serve a critical function of really

48:56.820 --> 48:59.210
enhancing our intelligence , our

48:59.210 --> 49:01.480
information , our logistical

49:01.480 --> 49:05.060
coordination and um future

49:05.060 --> 49:07.850
fusion centers are the commanders in

49:07.850 --> 49:10.440
number 11 . Unfunded priority . These

49:10.440 --> 49:13.840
fusion centers also support investments

49:13.840 --> 49:16.690
in mission partner environments . The

49:16.690 --> 49:20.160
number two unfunded priority . So it

49:20.160 --> 49:24.160
seems like we've got a pattern that is

49:24.160 --> 49:26.320
going here and I'd love for you to

49:26.330 --> 49:28.274
address that . I know I'm over and

49:28.274 --> 49:30.441
there are others waiting for questions

49:30.470 --> 49:32.359
and I would be happy to take that

49:32.359 --> 49:33.700
response in writing .

49:36.270 --> 49:38.437
We will most certainly get it to you ,

49:38.437 --> 49:40.548
senator . Thank you very much . Thank

49:40.548 --> 49:42.659
you . Thank you . Senator Blackburn .

49:42.659 --> 49:44.937
Let me recognize Senator Peters please .

49:45.870 --> 49:48.092
Thank you Mr Chairman . And each of our

49:48.470 --> 49:50.692
what is this here today . Thank you for

49:50.692 --> 49:52.914
your for your service and thank you for

49:52.914 --> 49:55.081
being here today . But I want to start

49:55.081 --> 49:57.248
first by saying how disappointed . And

49:57.248 --> 50:00.080
I also say actually quite angry at a

50:00.090 --> 50:02.560
recent decision made by the Air Force

50:02.560 --> 50:04.720
to not award Selfridge Air National

50:04.720 --> 50:08.050
Guard Base , the F 35 International

50:08.060 --> 50:11.330
Training Mission . And my feelings are

50:11.330 --> 50:14.880
based on the data and the criteria

50:15.460 --> 50:17.630
that was presented both by each of the

50:17.630 --> 50:19.797
installations that competed as well as

50:19.797 --> 50:22.560
what the Air Force put forward . It's

50:22.560 --> 50:24.782
clear from my review of that and others

50:24.782 --> 50:27.880
that Selfridge was clearly the superior

50:27.890 --> 50:31.790
choice in the matter . Uh And this is

50:31.790 --> 50:34.440
clearly a problem that has we have seen

50:34.440 --> 50:36.662
before with the Air Force as all of you

50:36.662 --> 50:38.329
know , the G . A . O . Is now

50:38.329 --> 50:40.890
investigating strategic basing

50:40.890 --> 50:43.020
decisions being made by the Air Force

50:43.020 --> 50:45.430
over the last few years . And without

50:45.430 --> 50:47.541
question this , this committee , this

50:47.541 --> 50:50.230
body needs to retain confidence . But

50:50.230 --> 50:52.341
the choice is made by the U . S . Air

50:52.341 --> 50:55.060
Force are based on data and based on

50:55.100 --> 50:58.990
criteria and not at a whim or whatever

50:58.990 --> 51:02.130
may be behind it . So my question for

51:02.130 --> 51:04.740
you , Secretary Austin Is do I have

51:04.740 --> 51:07.150
your commitment that you will review

51:07.170 --> 51:09.670
the Air Force's F- 35 international

51:09.680 --> 51:11.860
training mission decision and we'll

51:11.860 --> 51:14.190
have an opportunity to talk about that .

51:20.260 --> 51:23.750
You do have my commitment that that I

51:23.750 --> 51:26.660
will review it as I do all all of those

51:26.660 --> 51:29.340
types of decisions over time . And I

51:29.340 --> 51:31.507
would also offer to have the Air Force

51:31.507 --> 51:33.840
come in and brief you on their decision .

51:33.840 --> 51:35.970
Air Force typically uses a very

51:35.970 --> 51:38.192
detailed process to make those kinds of

51:38.192 --> 51:40.520
decisions . And I would offer that

51:40.530 --> 51:44.260
politics has no uh no place in this

51:44.270 --> 51:46.270
this decision making process , this

51:46.270 --> 51:48.381
type of decision making process . And

51:48.381 --> 51:52.020
so uh you know , if you desire for the

51:52.020 --> 51:54.242
Air Force to come and do a lay down for

51:54.242 --> 51:56.076
you , I'm sure that they will be

51:56.076 --> 51:58.242
willing to do that . Well I appreciate

51:58.242 --> 52:00.464
that I've had some of those discussions

52:00.464 --> 52:02.353
already but to make sure that the

52:02.353 --> 52:04.631
process is indeed an objective process ,

52:04.631 --> 52:04.500
it's critically important . There's

52:04.500 --> 52:06.580
full transparency so that we can see

52:06.580 --> 52:09.440
not only how Selfridge ranked based on

52:09.440 --> 52:11.607
those that data and the criteria , but

52:11.607 --> 52:14.440
also how the one that was selected also

52:14.440 --> 52:16.329
ranked . So there could be a true

52:16.329 --> 52:18.551
objective comparison of that criteria .

52:18.551 --> 52:20.607
We tend to just get one side and not

52:20.607 --> 52:22.662
hear the other side . I want to make

52:22.662 --> 52:24.607
sure that all of our questions are

52:24.607 --> 52:26.718
asked . That's something I assume you

52:26.718 --> 52:28.718
would . I would certainly support .

52:28.718 --> 52:30.551
Thanks senator . My guidance and

52:30.551 --> 52:32.773
requirement is that we always try to be

52:32.773 --> 52:34.496
as transparent as possible . I

52:34.496 --> 52:36.218
appreciate that now . Well , I

52:36.218 --> 52:39.440
understand the Fy 22 budget contains

52:39.450 --> 52:42.050
continues to fund p fast remediation .

52:42.050 --> 52:44.460
The reality is that the funding

52:44.460 --> 52:46.860
requested is not anywhere close to

52:46.860 --> 52:48.638
being sufficient to address the

52:48.638 --> 52:50.804
contamination that we continue to find

52:50.804 --> 52:52.582
in michigan and unfortunately ,

52:52.582 --> 52:54.749
hundreds of other sites all across the

52:54.749 --> 52:56.916
country and the price tag to address .

52:56.916 --> 52:58.971
P fast contamination comes on top of

52:58.971 --> 53:01.840
what is already a staggering backlog of

53:02.090 --> 53:04.760
n viral environmental remediation needs

53:04.770 --> 53:07.480
facing the department . Uh This is why

53:07.480 --> 53:09.640
I've joined my fellow Armed Services

53:09.640 --> 53:11.750
Committee members in introducing

53:11.750 --> 53:13.972
legislation to expedite cleanup of some

53:13.972 --> 53:15.917
of the most contaminated sites and

53:15.950 --> 53:17.950
while continue to work to implement

53:17.950 --> 53:19.970
clear and enforceable standards to

53:19.970 --> 53:22.420
guide those . So to Secretary Austin ,

53:22.430 --> 53:24.440
how does the department's budget

53:24.450 --> 53:26.380
address the management challenge

53:26.380 --> 53:28.690
presented by these literally forever

53:28.690 --> 53:30.920
chemicals . And I know this isn't a

53:30.930 --> 53:32.930
problem that we're gonna be able to

53:32.930 --> 53:35.041
solve in a year or quite frankly even

53:35.041 --> 53:37.208
in the next decade . But the longer we

53:37.208 --> 53:38.763
wait to address these toxic

53:38.763 --> 53:40.930
contaminations the higher the eventual

53:40.930 --> 53:43.041
cost is to our service members to our

53:43.041 --> 53:45.319
communities and quite frankly to the U .

53:45.319 --> 53:48.090
S . Taxpayers . Yeah as you know there

53:48.090 --> 53:50.580
is provision in this budget uh to

53:50.580 --> 53:53.450
address remediation for for

53:53.450 --> 53:57.290
contaminated sites . I would and this

53:57.290 --> 54:00.510
is you know this will extend obviously

54:00.510 --> 54:02.566
well beyond this budget . And so you

54:02.566 --> 54:04.732
have my commitment to continue to work

54:04.732 --> 54:06.788
this going forward . I just recently

54:06.788 --> 54:08.954
met with the E . P . A . Administrator

54:08.954 --> 54:12.260
a couple of weeks ago uh to focus on

54:12.260 --> 54:15.260
this and a couple of other issues . Uh

54:15.270 --> 54:17.730
It was a very good meeting we committed

54:17.730 --> 54:21.280
to working together and and uh and

54:21.280 --> 54:24.260
making sure that uh you know , we

54:25.040 --> 54:27.850
we met the standards of remediation and

54:27.850 --> 54:30.380
we and we had good procedures for

54:30.390 --> 54:34.150
remediation . Um This is a significant

54:34.150 --> 54:36.039
challenge to our country , as you

54:36.039 --> 54:38.261
pointed out . You know , D . O . D . Is

54:38.261 --> 54:41.470
an element of a larger challenge . Uh

54:41.940 --> 54:44.107
Obviously we're not the only source of

54:44.107 --> 54:46.162
uh of this contaminant , but I would

54:46.162 --> 54:48.329
tell you that D . O . D . Is committed

54:48.329 --> 54:50.860
to doing its part uh to remediating

54:50.870 --> 54:54.560
uh whatever damage has been done

54:54.570 --> 54:56.737
uh in every part of this country where

54:56.737 --> 54:58.920
we have where we have contributed to

54:58.920 --> 55:01.450
this . Well , thank you , Secretary

55:01.450 --> 55:03.672
Austin , I appreciate your attention to

55:03.672 --> 55:05.783
both of the matters that I raised and

55:05.783 --> 55:07.728
look forward to working with you .

55:07.728 --> 55:09.728
Thank you . Senator Peter . Senator

55:09.728 --> 55:11.783
Sullivan , Thank you . Mr . Chairman

55:11.783 --> 55:11.750
and gentlemen , thank you for your

55:11.750 --> 55:15.620
service . Thank Miss Secretary General

55:15.620 --> 55:17.676
Milley . You know how much respect I

55:17.676 --> 55:19.842
have for both of you . You have a hard

55:19.842 --> 55:22.009
job especially coming here to defend a

55:22.009 --> 55:23.898
budget you probably don't like or

55:23.898 --> 55:26.120
didn't support internally , but you got

55:26.120 --> 55:28.398
to do it . No , and that's a tough job .

55:28.398 --> 55:30.398
But let me just mention budgets are

55:30.398 --> 55:32.398
reflection of it . Administration's

55:32.398 --> 55:34.676
priorities . Take a look at this chart .

55:34.676 --> 55:36.953
I handed this chart out to you as well .

55:36.953 --> 55:39.200
This chart here the by demonstration in

55:39.200 --> 55:42.920
its $6 trillion budget blowout

55:42.930 --> 55:45.700
clearly prioritizes defense and

55:45.700 --> 55:48.610
homeland security dead last , dead last .

55:48.610 --> 55:51.850
If you look at in terms of inflation

55:51.850 --> 55:55.060
adjusted , it's actually a cut .

55:55.440 --> 55:57.770
Now I think a lot of us here democrats

55:57.770 --> 55:59.992
and republicans think national security

55:59.992 --> 56:03.160
should be prioritized first . Not last .

56:03.530 --> 56:06.140
I think you gentlemen probably believe

56:06.140 --> 56:08.510
that . But importantly , how can we

56:08.510 --> 56:11.700
tell the troops that you're leading

56:11.700 --> 56:14.000
that we are prioritizing their mission

56:14.000 --> 56:16.790
which is defending America when it's

56:16.790 --> 56:19.650
clear that the biden administrations

56:19.650 --> 56:23.530
prioritization of their mission is last .

56:23.530 --> 56:26.760
A declining defense budget when almost

56:26.760 --> 56:28.649
every other agency in the federal

56:28.649 --> 56:30.816
government is getting a massive double

56:30.816 --> 56:32.980
digit increase , MS . Secretary , you

56:32.980 --> 56:35.258
want to try and take that one on first .

56:40.030 --> 56:43.490
Thanks Senator . What I uh , will tell

56:43.500 --> 56:46.500
our troops and what I have told them

56:46.500 --> 56:48.667
and will continue to tell them is that

56:48.730 --> 56:50.950
I truly believe that the president's

56:50.960 --> 56:53.610
budget gives us the flexibility to go

56:53.610 --> 56:55.990
after the right mix of capabilities to

56:56.000 --> 56:58.910
defend the nation and to deter

56:58.910 --> 57:01.132
aggression ? No , I I mean I understand

57:01.132 --> 57:03.354
that I've been watching the hearing . I

57:03.354 --> 57:05.577
get it . I'm just talking about the and

57:05.577 --> 57:07.688
again , it's a tough question for you

57:07.688 --> 57:07.530
because you're not in charge of these

57:07.530 --> 57:09.586
other agencies like oh and be in the

57:09.586 --> 57:11.752
White house is but they're clearly not

57:11.752 --> 57:14.130
prioritizing the military , national

57:14.130 --> 57:17.080
defense relative to any other agency at

57:17.080 --> 57:19.300
all . I mean look at this but look at

57:19.300 --> 57:22.250
this chart . They are putting the

57:22.250 --> 57:24.760
national security mission dead last in

57:24.760 --> 57:27.400
terms of the prioritization of budgets .

57:28.230 --> 57:30.540
How do we tell our troops that hey ,

57:30.690 --> 57:34.620
we're putting you first . Our

57:34.620 --> 57:36.860
troops are always first their first .

57:36.860 --> 57:38.860
Now they will always be first going

57:38.860 --> 57:42.610
forward . And uh and again I do

57:42.620 --> 57:45.550
believe that we have what we need to

57:46.030 --> 57:49.940
uh two . Uh huh go after the right

57:49.940 --> 57:53.700
capabilities . So okay , let me let me

57:53.700 --> 57:55.811
talk . There's been a lot of focus as

57:55.811 --> 57:58.089
Senator Cramer talked about this issue .

57:58.089 --> 58:00.144
Climate change . Clearly our country

58:00.144 --> 58:02.311
needs to address decisions . Big issue

58:02.311 --> 58:04.422
in Alaska . I'm always puzzled though

58:04.422 --> 58:07.710
how our military is task organized to

58:07.710 --> 58:11.510
do this . You know I had the honor of

58:11.510 --> 58:13.510
serving with you at centcom General

58:13.510 --> 58:16.210
Milley . We overlap overlap briefly in

58:16.220 --> 58:19.020
Afghanistan . I don't think in any of

58:19.020 --> 58:21.131
my military service . I heard climate

58:21.131 --> 58:23.242
change as a phrase mentioned once . I

58:23.242 --> 58:26.990
heard the taliban Iraq , Iran

58:27.000 --> 58:30.700
IEDs Nevertheless , Miss Secretary in

58:30.700 --> 58:32.867
your opening statement , you mentioned

58:32.867 --> 58:34.922
climate change 15 times in lethal it

58:34.922 --> 58:37.210
twice , which I think is a bit of a

58:37.210 --> 58:39.970
mismatch . I was just in south korean

58:39.970 --> 58:42.470
Taiwan . You guys also mentioned

58:42.470 --> 58:44.740
china's are pacing threat . Let me let

58:44.740 --> 58:47.230
me ask a simple question that relates

58:47.230 --> 58:49.230
to these two priorities . What is a

58:49.230 --> 58:51.341
more immediate threat to our national

58:51.341 --> 58:53.563
security interests that D . O . D . Has

58:53.563 --> 58:55.440
the capability of responding to

58:55.920 --> 58:57.976
particularly in the Asia pacific , a

58:57.976 --> 59:01.250
chinese communist invasion of Taiwan or

59:01.820 --> 59:03.820
the challenge of climate change . I

59:03.820 --> 59:06.042
think it's a pretty simple question . I

59:06.042 --> 59:07.931
think it's actually really simple

59:07.931 --> 59:09.987
answer . Secretary . Uh well first I

59:09.987 --> 59:12.153
don't recall mentioning climate change

59:12.153 --> 59:14.431
15 times . I'll go back and do my word .

59:14.431 --> 59:16.153
I think it was in your written

59:16.153 --> 59:19.090
statement . Okay . Um and let me also

59:19.090 --> 59:22.530
be clear senator that uh

59:22.540 --> 59:25.130
lethal , lethal Itty is important .

59:25.140 --> 59:27.380
This is the most lethal force that are

59:27.390 --> 59:29.870
that that's ever taken has ever

59:29.880 --> 59:32.770
occupied the planet and it will remain

59:32.770 --> 59:34.780
so going forward and that's what we

59:34.780 --> 59:36.947
remain focused on in the Department of

59:36.947 --> 59:39.169
Defense defending this nation and we'll

59:39.169 --> 59:41.224
go after the capabilities required .

59:41.224 --> 59:43.970
Can I do that ? So Taiwan invasion of

59:43.980 --> 59:46.770
china of by the chinese Communist Party

59:46.770 --> 59:49.320
or Climate Change ? I think it's very

59:49.320 --> 59:51.860
simple . What's the most immediate

59:51.860 --> 59:53.971
threat D . O . D . Can respond to the

59:53.971 --> 59:56.082
most significant military threat that

59:56.082 --> 59:58.249
we're focused on . And you've heard me

59:58.249 --> 01:00:00.416
say this probably 100 times senator is

01:00:00.416 --> 01:00:02.890
is china . It's our pacing challenge

01:00:02.900 --> 01:00:05.490
and that's what we've asked you a

01:00:05.490 --> 01:00:08.900
number of times to help us resource our

01:00:08.900 --> 01:00:10.678
efforts on that challenge and I

01:00:10.678 --> 01:00:12.733
appreciate what you've done thus far

01:00:12.733 --> 01:00:14.789
and I know that you will continue to

01:00:14.789 --> 01:00:16.900
help us going to let me ask one final

01:00:16.900 --> 01:00:19.122
question . Sorry Mr Chairman is related

01:00:19.122 --> 01:00:21.233
to that . I have another chart here .

01:00:21.233 --> 01:00:24.210
It shows that our budget increases or

01:00:24.210 --> 01:00:26.890
decreases relative to the chinese . The

01:00:26.890 --> 01:00:28.557
chinese have dramatically and

01:00:28.557 --> 01:00:30.612
consistently increased their defense

01:00:30.612 --> 01:00:32.820
budget annually By at least 6% .

01:00:32.820 --> 01:00:35.950
Sometimes as much as 13% . We've

01:00:35.950 --> 01:00:37.920
increased ours during the trump

01:00:37.920 --> 01:00:39.920
administration when the republicans

01:00:39.920 --> 01:00:42.390
control the senate . You see during the

01:00:42.390 --> 01:00:44.557
biden administration , Obama biden was

01:00:44.557 --> 01:00:46.779
dramatically cut . Now we're looking at

01:00:46.779 --> 01:00:48.779
cuts again . What message does this

01:00:48.779 --> 01:00:52.470
chart send to china and our

01:00:52.470 --> 01:00:54.760
allies in the region ? And can we

01:00:54.760 --> 01:00:57.320
sustain our declining compared

01:00:57.320 --> 01:01:00.190
advantage over china militarily ? If

01:01:00.190 --> 01:01:03.720
these trends continue ? And that's both

01:01:03.720 --> 01:01:05.887
for the secretary and general Milley .

01:01:08.410 --> 01:01:10.630
Well , the message that that that I'm

01:01:10.630 --> 01:01:13.320
concerned about is the message that uh

01:01:13.330 --> 01:01:16.280
that we send to the world and that is

01:01:16.290 --> 01:01:18.234
that we're going to continue to go

01:01:18.234 --> 01:01:20.346
after the capabilities uh and develop

01:01:20.346 --> 01:01:23.070
the operational concepts to be able to

01:01:23.070 --> 01:01:26.040
defer anyone who would deter , excuse

01:01:26.040 --> 01:01:27.929
me ? Anyone who would , who would

01:01:27.929 --> 01:01:30.151
venture to take on the United States of

01:01:30.151 --> 01:01:31.818
America . So we will have the

01:01:31.818 --> 01:01:33.929
capabilities necessary to defend this

01:01:33.929 --> 01:01:37.810
nation . General Yeah .

01:01:38.810 --> 01:01:41.140
So Senator , a couple of things . I

01:01:41.150 --> 01:01:43.330
want to go back to make two points on

01:01:43.330 --> 01:01:45.441
the budget piece explaining it to the

01:01:45.441 --> 01:01:47.663
soldiers , sailors , airmen , marines ,

01:01:47.663 --> 01:01:49.663
guardians up there . Um , we'll get

01:01:49.663 --> 01:01:49.460
$715 billion

01:01:49.460 --> 01:01:53.760
50%

01:01:53.760 --> 01:01:55.704
of the entire president's budget .

01:01:55.910 --> 01:01:58.120
That's one out of every $2 in the

01:01:58.120 --> 01:02:00.231
discretionary spending of the federal

01:02:00.231 --> 01:02:02.453
government . That is not a small amount

01:02:02.453 --> 01:02:04.564
of change . Uh The increases that you

01:02:04.564 --> 01:02:03.970
show in your chart , those are

01:02:03.970 --> 01:02:06.081
factually correct but relative to the

01:02:06.081 --> 01:02:08.248
whole and in context , we're getting a

01:02:08.248 --> 01:02:10.359
lot of money . Uh So that's the first

01:02:10.359 --> 01:02:12.581
thing . The second thing Is relative to

01:02:12.581 --> 01:02:14.803
climate change . Paragraph one , a very

01:02:14.803 --> 01:02:16.970
operations order I've ever seen for 41

01:02:16.970 --> 01:02:19.137
consecutive years says enemy situation

01:02:19.137 --> 01:02:21.137
to include weather and terrain . We

01:02:21.137 --> 01:02:23.137
always consider weather and climate

01:02:23.137 --> 01:02:25.081
changes . Whether at the strategic

01:02:25.081 --> 01:02:27.137
level it has military impact . We're

01:02:27.137 --> 01:02:29.303
not going to change . Climate change .

01:02:29.303 --> 01:02:29.020
The department is not gonna change

01:02:29.020 --> 01:02:31.290
climate change , but we must consider

01:02:31.290 --> 01:02:33.900
it in our in our strategic calculations

01:02:33.910 --> 01:02:35.854
all the time because it's going to

01:02:35.854 --> 01:02:38.021
increase instability overseas . It has

01:02:38.021 --> 01:02:40.132
impacted our infrastructure here . So

01:02:40.132 --> 01:02:41.910
climate change is real . Uh The

01:02:41.910 --> 01:02:43.790
military threat is china is the

01:02:43.790 --> 01:02:45.957
secretary just said is pacing threat .

01:02:45.957 --> 01:02:47.750
We are calculating all of our

01:02:47.760 --> 01:02:49.704
calculations relative to that is a

01:02:49.704 --> 01:02:51.970
pacing threat and others are second uh

01:02:51.980 --> 01:02:54.260
in nature . Uh and the third piece

01:02:54.270 --> 01:02:57.170
relative to the china versus us

01:02:57.170 --> 01:02:59.590
spending . Uh This is a disturbing

01:02:59.590 --> 01:03:01.757
trend . There's no question about it .

01:03:01.757 --> 01:03:03.868
With respect to china , they are they

01:03:03.868 --> 01:03:05.979
have made a major economic investment

01:03:05.979 --> 01:03:07.979
in developing their military . It's

01:03:07.979 --> 01:03:10.146
been going on for 20 or 30 years . The

01:03:10.146 --> 01:03:12.312
gaps that used to exist say 2030 years

01:03:12.312 --> 01:03:14.534
ago like this today there like that and

01:03:14.534 --> 01:03:16.680
the chinese have a deliberate plan to

01:03:16.680 --> 01:03:18.736
be a global challenger to the United

01:03:18.736 --> 01:03:20.847
States of America militarily . By mid

01:03:20.847 --> 01:03:23.150
century we have got to continue strong

01:03:23.150 --> 01:03:25.372
investments in our military And I think

01:03:25.372 --> 01:03:27.150
this budget for this year is an

01:03:27.150 --> 01:03:29.372
adequate investment right now , we have

01:03:29.372 --> 01:03:31.483
to set the conditions out of pivot to

01:03:31.483 --> 01:03:33.539
the future character of war with the

01:03:33.539 --> 01:03:35.594
pacing threat of china . Thank you .

01:03:35.600 --> 01:03:37.711
Thank you . Senator Sullivan , let me

01:03:37.711 --> 01:03:39.989
now recognize via webex center dot org .

01:03:40.200 --> 01:03:42.860
Thank you . Mr . Chairman . Good

01:03:42.860 --> 01:03:44.971
morning gentlemen . Thank you so much

01:03:44.971 --> 01:03:47.027
for being here today . Thank you for

01:03:47.027 --> 01:03:48.916
your service to our country while

01:03:48.916 --> 01:03:51.090
responding to the COVID-19 pandemic

01:03:51.090 --> 01:03:53.201
natural disasters and civil unrest or

01:03:53.201 --> 01:03:55.423
seeming seamlessly integrating with the

01:03:55.423 --> 01:03:57.534
joint force and overseas operations .

01:03:57.800 --> 01:03:59.760
The National Guard and Reserve

01:03:59.760 --> 01:04:02.470
Component continues to answer the call .

01:04:02.480 --> 01:04:04.369
Over the past 20 years , the high

01:04:04.369 --> 01:04:06.591
demand for reserve component forces has

01:04:06.591 --> 01:04:09.230
necessitated a shift from a Strategic

01:04:09.230 --> 01:04:11.670
Reserve to an operational force . In

01:04:11.670 --> 01:04:14.560
fact , last june over 120,000 National

01:04:14.560 --> 01:04:16.671
Guard troops were mobilized more than

01:04:16.671 --> 01:04:19.870
at any time since World War Two ensure

01:04:19.880 --> 01:04:21.713
our nation relies on our reserve

01:04:21.713 --> 01:04:23.936
component forces , the Reserves and the

01:04:23.936 --> 01:04:25.936
National Guard to defend the United

01:04:25.936 --> 01:04:27.824
States and fulfill the deal these

01:04:27.824 --> 01:04:29.880
national Security responsibilities .

01:04:29.880 --> 01:04:31.824
However , even though the National

01:04:31.824 --> 01:04:33.991
Guard Reserves are serving in critical

01:04:33.991 --> 01:04:33.950
capacities and endanger student

01:04:33.960 --> 01:04:36.220
assignments , they are not receiving

01:04:36.220 --> 01:04:38.770
the same pay and benefits as the active

01:04:38.770 --> 01:04:41.080
duty counterparts . The complexity of

01:04:41.080 --> 01:04:43.080
the current slate of duty status is

01:04:43.080 --> 01:04:45.200
adds unnecessary confusion to

01:04:45.200 --> 01:04:47.311
activating Reserve Component forces .

01:04:47.320 --> 01:04:49.240
The disparity in pay and benefits

01:04:49.240 --> 01:04:51.680
between different duty statuses can

01:04:51.680 --> 01:04:53.880
also incentivize manipulation of

01:04:53.890 --> 01:04:56.140
manipulating orders to minimize the

01:04:56.140 --> 01:04:58.600
service members access to benefits . I

01:04:58.600 --> 01:05:01.000
believe duty status reform is necessary

01:05:01.000 --> 01:05:03.050
to ensure the National Guard and

01:05:03.050 --> 01:05:05.190
Reserve Forces receive equal pay and

01:05:05.200 --> 01:05:06.867
access to the health care and

01:05:06.867 --> 01:05:08.978
educational benefits they deserve for

01:05:08.978 --> 01:05:10.978
the work that they do . Bottom line

01:05:10.978 --> 01:05:13.089
service members doing the same job in

01:05:13.089 --> 01:05:14.811
the same place should not earn

01:05:14.811 --> 01:05:16.811
different pay and benefits based on

01:05:16.811 --> 01:05:19.033
their duty status . Is General Milley .

01:05:19.033 --> 01:05:21.144
Could you please update me on the day

01:05:21.144 --> 01:05:23.033
of these plans to address Reserve

01:05:23.033 --> 01:05:25.256
component duty status reform ? And when

01:05:25.256 --> 01:05:27.089
do you anticipate releasing your

01:05:27.089 --> 01:05:30.630
findings ? Thanks ,

01:05:30.630 --> 01:05:34.360
Senator . Um , you know , as part of

01:05:34.360 --> 01:05:38.300
the Joint Force Active Duty Reserve ,

01:05:38.310 --> 01:05:41.160
a National Guard , it's a Total force .

01:05:41.170 --> 01:05:44.730
Uh and and and we have a commitment to

01:05:44.730 --> 01:05:47.180
ensure that we have appropriate and

01:05:47.180 --> 01:05:50.040
fair pay and benefits given to our

01:05:50.040 --> 01:05:52.690
National Guard soldiers and our our our

01:05:52.690 --> 01:05:55.420
troops , uh and our reservists that

01:05:55.420 --> 01:05:57.540
reform effort is underway . We're

01:05:57.540 --> 01:05:59.651
reviewing that . I can't give you the

01:05:59.651 --> 01:06:01.762
exact date of when we'll have that to

01:06:01.762 --> 01:06:03.707
you . But we are working and we're

01:06:03.707 --> 01:06:03.690
working very hard and we're working

01:06:03.690 --> 01:06:06.170
with both the National Guard Bureau and

01:06:06.170 --> 01:06:08.410
each of the services . But we do

01:06:08.410 --> 01:06:10.577
recognize the need to ensure that it's

01:06:10.577 --> 01:06:12.466
evenly applied in terms of paying

01:06:12.466 --> 01:06:14.688
benefits to the soldiers in the reserve

01:06:14.688 --> 01:06:16.521
component for the troops and the

01:06:16.521 --> 01:06:19.390
reserve component . Well , we also , we

01:06:19.390 --> 01:06:22.290
also uh , committed to making sure that

01:06:22.290 --> 01:06:25.310
whenever the reform proposal is that it

01:06:25.310 --> 01:06:27.700
is appropriately shaped , eliminate

01:06:27.710 --> 01:06:30.130
orders , manipulation and current pay

01:06:30.140 --> 01:06:31.973
and benefit disparities . Sure ,

01:06:31.973 --> 01:06:34.050
absolutely . Our commitment is to

01:06:34.050 --> 01:06:35.994
ensure that everyone who wears the

01:06:35.994 --> 01:06:38.150
cloth of our nation , whether they're

01:06:38.150 --> 01:06:40.400
Active Guard Reserve , uh , no matter

01:06:40.400 --> 01:06:43.090
where they are treated equally in all

01:06:43.090 --> 01:06:45.146
respects to include pay and benefits

01:06:45.146 --> 01:06:47.368
and I'll commit to that to you and I'll

01:06:47.368 --> 01:06:49.534
get to the answer on the exact date of

01:06:49.534 --> 01:06:51.646
when the reform proposals are doing .

01:06:51.646 --> 01:06:55.350
Thank you compartment . Seven service

01:06:55.350 --> 01:06:57.406
members are required to maintain the

01:06:57.406 --> 01:06:59.470
same proficiency in certain critical

01:06:59.470 --> 01:07:01.650
skill sets as the active component

01:07:01.650 --> 01:07:03.761
counterparts , even though they don't

01:07:03.761 --> 01:07:05.817
necessarily put on the uniform every

01:07:05.817 --> 01:07:07.706
day . This is especially true for

01:07:07.706 --> 01:07:10.240
pilots , for example , yet they only

01:07:10.240 --> 01:07:12.560
receive the incentive pay at a fraction

01:07:12.560 --> 01:07:14.893
of the amount of active service members .

01:07:14.893 --> 01:07:16.727
I believe every service member ,

01:07:16.727 --> 01:07:18.730
whether active or reserve duty ,

01:07:18.740 --> 01:07:21.020
deserves to be fairly compensated for

01:07:21.020 --> 01:07:23.390
maintaining mission essential skills .

01:07:23.400 --> 01:07:25.622
And the rand corporation has shown that

01:07:25.622 --> 01:07:27.344
incentive pay can help improve

01:07:27.344 --> 01:07:29.067
retention and is far more cost

01:07:29.067 --> 01:07:31.067
effective that training new service

01:07:31.067 --> 01:07:33.178
members to replace those who separate

01:07:33.178 --> 01:07:35.011
as we continue to strengthen our

01:07:35.011 --> 01:07:37.178
National Guard and Reserve forces , we

01:07:37.178 --> 01:07:39.011
must retain our talented service

01:07:39.011 --> 01:07:41.122
members . That's why I introduced the

01:07:41.122 --> 01:07:43.233
bipartisan National Guard and Reserve

01:07:43.233 --> 01:07:45.456
incentive pay parity Act to help ensure

01:07:45.456 --> 01:07:47.622
that reserve component service members

01:07:47.622 --> 01:07:49.789
in high skill roles are compensated at

01:07:49.789 --> 01:07:51.789
the same rates at their active duty

01:07:51.789 --> 01:07:53.956
counterparts , Secretary Austin , will

01:07:53.956 --> 01:07:56.178
you commit to exploring options such as

01:07:56.178 --> 01:07:58.233
the incentive pay parity Act to help

01:07:58.233 --> 01:08:00.456
improve retention , Especially of those

01:08:00.456 --> 01:08:02.622
service members with critical skills .

01:08:03.670 --> 01:08:05.503
I will Senator . And for all the

01:08:05.503 --> 01:08:07.726
reasons that General Milley mentioned ,

01:08:07.726 --> 01:08:09.726
uh you know , our Guard and Reserve

01:08:09.726 --> 01:08:12.850
have done amazing work . The skill sets

01:08:12.850 --> 01:08:15.072
that you're talking about in many cases

01:08:15.072 --> 01:08:17.790
are our warfighting or combat related

01:08:17.790 --> 01:08:19.568
skills . And so it's absolutely

01:08:19.568 --> 01:08:21.734
important that they are proficient and

01:08:21.734 --> 01:08:23.850
uh and they should receive the same

01:08:23.860 --> 01:08:27.060
proficiency pain . Thank you .

01:08:27.070 --> 01:08:30.620
I question I will submit for the record

01:08:30.630 --> 01:08:32.680
but it has to do with modernization

01:08:32.680 --> 01:08:34.736
efforts to continue across the joint

01:08:34.736 --> 01:08:37.350
force and um wanting to know whether D .

01:08:37.350 --> 01:08:39.406
O . D . And the military services of

01:08:39.406 --> 01:08:41.517
factoring in program performance into

01:08:41.517 --> 01:08:43.406
decisions about how to prioritize

01:08:43.406 --> 01:08:45.572
budget requests to adequately resource

01:08:45.572 --> 01:08:47.517
successful programs such as future

01:08:47.517 --> 01:08:49.683
vertical lift . But I will submit that

01:08:49.683 --> 01:08:48.740
for the record . Thank you . Mr .

01:08:48.740 --> 01:08:50.907
Chairman . Thank you . Senator decor .

01:08:50.907 --> 01:08:54.890
Let me recognize Senator scott . Thank

01:08:54.890 --> 01:08:57.010
you . Chairman . First time I think I

01:08:57.010 --> 01:08:58.843
want to thank you should be very

01:08:58.843 --> 01:09:00.621
wellness to serve you have very

01:09:00.621 --> 01:09:02.843
significant roles for for our country .

01:09:02.843 --> 01:09:04.899
Probably the most important thing we

01:09:04.899 --> 01:09:07.010
can be doing is making sure we defend

01:09:07.010 --> 01:09:09.066
our freedoms . Would would interview

01:09:09.066 --> 01:09:10.899
disagree that we're dealing with

01:09:10.899 --> 01:09:10.830
someone . You're thinking about

01:09:10.830 --> 01:09:13.052
communist china , you're thinking about

01:09:13.052 --> 01:09:15.320
a uh a party that either wants world

01:09:15.320 --> 01:09:17.870
domination or the worst case wants to

01:09:17.870 --> 01:09:20.037
absolutely controlled in the pacific .

01:09:22.270 --> 01:09:25.970
I do believe that there are there our

01:09:25.980 --> 01:09:29.170
goal is to control the indo pacific and

01:09:29.170 --> 01:09:32.310
I also believe that they they desire to

01:09:32.310 --> 01:09:36.150
be uh the dominant or preeminent

01:09:36.160 --> 01:09:38.990
country in in in the world . And so I

01:09:38.990 --> 01:09:41.310
think uh they're working towards that

01:09:41.310 --> 01:09:44.180
end . So would you all disagree that

01:09:44.190 --> 01:09:47.990
their goal is to eventually take back

01:09:47.990 --> 01:09:51.660
Taiwan a great american ally every day ?

01:09:51.660 --> 01:09:53.660
Anybody wouldn't disagree with that

01:09:53.660 --> 01:09:57.550
right ? I would not disagree

01:09:57.550 --> 01:09:59.606
with the point that they they have a

01:09:59.606 --> 01:10:03.490
goal of eventually uh uniting uh

01:10:03.500 --> 01:10:07.480
Taiwan with uh with china . And

01:10:07.480 --> 01:10:09.313
that would be whether they do it

01:10:09.313 --> 01:10:11.369
through voluntarily or involuntarily

01:10:11.369 --> 01:10:13.536
through through the military . You all

01:10:13.536 --> 01:10:15.758
believe that we're going to continue to

01:10:15.758 --> 01:10:18.050
see more surveillance by the Communist

01:10:18.050 --> 01:10:20.650
Party of china of american citizens and

01:10:20.650 --> 01:10:22.920
our allies around the world . We're

01:10:22.920 --> 01:10:25.142
seeing more surveillance all the time .

01:10:25.142 --> 01:10:26.809
You agree with that , right ?

01:10:31.460 --> 01:10:33.404
Uh there's , I mean , it stands to

01:10:33.404 --> 01:10:35.860
reason that uh whatever level of

01:10:35.860 --> 01:10:38.060
surveillance that's ongoing now will

01:10:38.060 --> 01:10:41.880
continue uh and quite possibly increase

01:10:41.890 --> 01:10:44.670
going forward . So if you if you look

01:10:44.670 --> 01:10:46.892
at this , you saw what Senator Sullivan

01:10:46.892 --> 01:10:48.948
brought up , You saw the fact that ,

01:10:48.948 --> 01:10:51.003
you know , year after year , they're

01:10:51.003 --> 01:10:53.170
investing more in the military . Their

01:10:53.170 --> 01:10:52.500
goal is to have an economy bigger than

01:10:52.500 --> 01:10:56.340
ours . And you seem to agree that

01:10:56.350 --> 01:10:58.350
if they have an economy bigger than

01:10:58.350 --> 01:11:00.517
ours , they're going to increase their

01:11:00.517 --> 01:11:03.350
defense spending . And as uh , General

01:11:03.350 --> 01:11:05.461
Milley says , it's getting closer and

01:11:05.461 --> 01:11:07.572
closer . So , and if china is able to

01:11:07.572 --> 01:11:11.200
pull this off , then our

01:11:11.210 --> 01:11:13.043
opportunities all over the world

01:11:13.043 --> 01:11:15.099
opportunity american citizens in our

01:11:15.099 --> 01:11:17.990
way of life is gonna change right . If

01:11:17.990 --> 01:11:20.450
they , if they can do fulfill their

01:11:20.450 --> 01:11:22.617
goals , then our opportunities will be

01:11:22.617 --> 01:11:24.894
diminished . Would you agree with that ?

01:11:28.260 --> 01:11:32.190
Yeah . You know , I would describe our

01:11:32.660 --> 01:11:35.350
relationship with china and currently

01:11:35.350 --> 01:11:37.670
is one of competition . I think again ,

01:11:37.670 --> 01:11:39.892
you've mentioned that they desire to be

01:11:39.892 --> 01:11:42.230
the preeminent country in the , uh , on

01:11:42.230 --> 01:11:44.590
the planet . And , uh , and that is in

01:11:44.590 --> 01:11:46.646
fact the case their mid to long term

01:11:46.646 --> 01:11:49.300
goal is to do that . Uh , they look to

01:11:49.300 --> 01:11:51.411
compete with us not only militarily ,

01:11:51.411 --> 01:11:53.900
but across the spectrum of activity .

01:11:53.910 --> 01:11:56.620
And , uh , and what what you see us

01:11:56.620 --> 01:11:59.470
doing , uh , the military and , and ,

01:11:59.480 --> 01:12:01.840
and uh , in other sectors , in our in

01:12:01.840 --> 01:12:04.600
our in our government is making sure

01:12:04.600 --> 01:12:07.550
that we remain competitive , uh you

01:12:07.550 --> 01:12:10.310
know , economically making sure that

01:12:10.310 --> 01:12:13.890
we're developing the best uh the best

01:12:13.900 --> 01:12:15.678
we continue to develop the best

01:12:15.678 --> 01:12:17.789
scientists in the world and and we do

01:12:17.789 --> 01:12:20.011
the , you know , the most comprehensive

01:12:20.011 --> 01:12:21.960
research . So it is a competition

01:12:21.960 --> 01:12:24.071
across a broad spectrum of activity .

01:12:24.650 --> 01:12:26.928
So if you follow through the reasoning ,

01:12:26.928 --> 01:12:28.983
if if china wants to be , you know ,

01:12:29.050 --> 01:12:31.328
either in the pacific or will dominant ,

01:12:31.650 --> 01:12:33.928
if they build economy bigger than ours ,

01:12:33.928 --> 01:12:36.039
they continue to out investors in the

01:12:36.039 --> 01:12:38.261
military , which they are , our leagues

01:12:38.261 --> 01:12:40.428
growing faster than we are . Then what

01:12:40.428 --> 01:12:43.150
are you all doing to one Inform

01:12:43.150 --> 01:12:45.510
American citizens of the risk ? Because ,

01:12:45.520 --> 01:12:47.880
you know , we all do a budget based on

01:12:47.890 --> 01:12:49.890
what American citizens believes the

01:12:49.890 --> 01:12:52.001
priority is . That's how we elect our

01:12:52.001 --> 01:12:54.223
elected , they are elected leaders . So

01:12:54.223 --> 01:12:56.279
what are you all doing to one inform

01:12:56.279 --> 01:12:58.279
the public of the risk of communist

01:12:58.279 --> 01:13:00.279
China and ensuring that we have the

01:13:00.279 --> 01:13:02.390
budget . We need to make sure that in

01:13:02.390 --> 01:13:04.223
five or 10 or 15 years we're not

01:13:04.223 --> 01:13:06.390
sitting here . We're saying we wish we

01:13:06.390 --> 01:13:08.557
would have done more . We all saw this

01:13:08.557 --> 01:13:08.080
threat , but we didn't do enough about

01:13:08.080 --> 01:13:09.080
it .

01:13:11.950 --> 01:13:14.061
Yeah , just about every time you hear

01:13:14.061 --> 01:13:17.010
me , you hear me speak senator . I know

01:13:17.010 --> 01:13:19.260
you probably grow tired of me talking

01:13:19.260 --> 01:13:21.800
about the competition with china . But

01:13:21.800 --> 01:13:24.590
that is my , that is my focus . Uh , my

01:13:24.590 --> 01:13:26.534
number one focus is to defend this

01:13:26.534 --> 01:13:28.701
nation and protect our interests . Are

01:13:28.701 --> 01:13:30.812
pacing challenge is and will continue

01:13:30.812 --> 01:13:33.240
to be china . And again , we're going

01:13:33.240 --> 01:13:36.910
after the capabilities that can , that

01:13:36.910 --> 01:13:40.800
can match the operational concepts that

01:13:40.800 --> 01:13:43.460
we're putting into play and allow us to

01:13:43.460 --> 01:13:45.870
be not only competitive but actually

01:13:45.880 --> 01:13:49.070
dominant in this competition .

01:13:49.450 --> 01:13:51.283
So that's what the Department of

01:13:51.283 --> 01:13:53.450
Defense is doing . And I think you see

01:13:53.450 --> 01:13:55.400
activity across the , the entire

01:13:55.400 --> 01:13:57.470
government that's focused on making

01:13:57.470 --> 01:14:00.610
sure that we uh not only can compete

01:14:00.610 --> 01:14:03.190
with china but maintain our edge with

01:14:03.190 --> 01:14:05.079
respect to china . You think it's

01:14:05.079 --> 01:14:07.820
important that that in your role that

01:14:07.820 --> 01:14:09.987
you inform the american public and the

01:14:09.987 --> 01:14:13.280
risk of comments china . So everybody

01:14:13.280 --> 01:14:15.700
will be more focused on making sure we

01:14:15.700 --> 01:14:18.810
have the military budget we need . We

01:14:18.820 --> 01:14:21.180
we do so routinely and we will continue

01:14:21.180 --> 01:14:24.050
to do that . Senator scott . Thank you .

01:14:24.060 --> 01:14:26.171
Thank you . Chairman . Thank you very

01:14:26.171 --> 01:14:28.393
much . Senator scott . Let me recognize

01:14:28.393 --> 01:14:32.360
center Rosen please . There it is .

01:14:32.370 --> 01:14:35.020
Uh , thank you . Chairman read ranking

01:14:35.020 --> 01:14:37.298
member Inhofe for holding this hearing .

01:14:37.298 --> 01:14:39.298
I'd like to thank the witnesses for

01:14:39.298 --> 01:14:41.242
your service to our great nation .

01:14:41.242 --> 01:14:43.353
Thank you for being here today . Um ,

01:14:43.353 --> 01:14:45.353
you know , right before the break ,

01:14:45.353 --> 01:14:47.576
Senator Cramer was talking to you about

01:14:47.576 --> 01:14:49.631
R . I . S . R . Requirements and his

01:14:49.631 --> 01:14:51.720
concerns and I am concerned As well

01:14:51.720 --> 01:14:54.600
about the MQ nine . So , Secretary

01:14:54.600 --> 01:14:56.711
Austin , the MQ nine reaper , I don't

01:14:56.711 --> 01:14:58.711
have to tell you . It's critical to

01:14:58.711 --> 01:15:00.822
supporting our current intelligence ,

01:15:00.822 --> 01:15:02.711
surveillance and reconnaissance ,

01:15:02.711 --> 01:15:04.933
cognizance requirements . A key part of

01:15:04.933 --> 01:15:07.156
the MQ nine architecture is the mission

01:15:07.156 --> 01:15:09.630
at Nevada's Creech Air Force Base last

01:15:09.630 --> 01:15:11.463
year . Centcom Commander General

01:15:11.463 --> 01:15:13.740
Mackenzie included additional MQ nine

01:15:13.740 --> 01:15:15.790
funding at the top of his unfunded

01:15:15.790 --> 01:15:18.100
priorities and in april he told this

01:15:18.100 --> 01:15:20.650
committee of the MQ nines importance

01:15:20.660 --> 01:15:22.890
and his need for more of them , not

01:15:22.900 --> 01:15:25.790
fewer . The Air Force today still lacks

01:15:25.790 --> 01:15:27.623
the I . S . Our capacity to meet

01:15:27.623 --> 01:15:29.512
combatant commanders requirements

01:15:29.512 --> 01:15:32.280
contained in the 2018 national Defense

01:15:32.280 --> 01:15:34.200
Strategy . Despite this , the

01:15:34.200 --> 01:15:36.144
department has previously proposed

01:15:36.340 --> 01:15:38.396
cutting this platform . They're most

01:15:38.396 --> 01:15:40.660
cost effective without a program of

01:15:40.660 --> 01:15:42.940
record to replace it , which would

01:15:42.940 --> 01:15:45.220
further risk widening the I . S . R .

01:15:45.220 --> 01:15:47.560
Capability gap . The General Milley

01:15:47.560 --> 01:15:49.720
talked about . So Secretary Austin ,

01:15:49.730 --> 01:15:51.841
what is the department's plan for the

01:15:51.841 --> 01:15:54.400
MQ nine and given its importance cost

01:15:54.400 --> 01:15:56.900
effectiveness and the requirement for

01:15:56.900 --> 01:15:59.011
combatant commanders for more I . S .

01:15:59.011 --> 01:16:01.750
Are assets . Why is the Air Force cut

01:16:01.760 --> 01:16:03.760
funding for this program without a

01:16:03.760 --> 01:16:05.649
program of record to replace it ?

01:16:07.630 --> 01:16:10.350
Thank you , Senator . I think you heard

01:16:10.350 --> 01:16:12.620
General Mellie talked earlier about the

01:16:12.620 --> 01:16:15.370
way combat commanders view I . S . Are

01:16:15.380 --> 01:16:17.547
having been a combatant commander in a

01:16:17.547 --> 01:16:19.491
former life . I can tell you . I I

01:16:19.491 --> 01:16:21.713
agree with them . There is never enough

01:16:21.713 --> 01:16:23.950
S . R . I will always want more . And

01:16:24.730 --> 01:16:27.680
the the Air Force has uh has committed

01:16:27.680 --> 01:16:31.480
to taking off a number of lines of I .

01:16:31.480 --> 01:16:33.690
S . Are but they're not reducing the

01:16:33.690 --> 01:16:37.620
tales uh the aircraft that go with

01:16:37.620 --> 01:16:39.850
those lines , what they're doing is is

01:16:39.860 --> 01:16:42.560
uh making sure that they upgrade and

01:16:42.560 --> 01:16:46.270
modernize uh their their aircraft were

01:16:46.270 --> 01:16:49.100
possible and so that they can they can

01:16:49.100 --> 01:16:52.370
network the aircraft better . So the

01:16:52.370 --> 01:16:54.537
number of tales is not being reduced .

01:16:54.537 --> 01:16:56.790
The number of lines is being reduced

01:16:56.800 --> 01:17:00.690
slightly . And so there's going can you

01:17:00.690 --> 01:17:02.970
get to us some information about that ?

01:17:02.980 --> 01:17:05.250
So we know what the program of record

01:17:05.260 --> 01:17:07.410
will be going forward and how it can

01:17:07.420 --> 01:17:09.790
impact us ? Absolutely . Thank you . I

01:17:09.790 --> 01:17:11.901
appreciate that . I'd like to move on

01:17:11.901 --> 01:17:13.901
to talking about a little bit about

01:17:13.901 --> 01:17:16.234
Iranian aggression , how we combat that .

01:17:16.430 --> 01:17:18.374
Because Iranian backed militias of

01:17:18.374 --> 01:17:20.708
course are increasingly targeting U . S .

01:17:20.708 --> 01:17:22.763
Installations are service members in

01:17:22.763 --> 01:17:24.930
Iraq , the Iraq it and drone attacks .

01:17:24.930 --> 01:17:26.930
Uh Iran continues to be the world's

01:17:26.930 --> 01:17:28.874
leading state sponsor of terrorism

01:17:28.874 --> 01:17:31.041
threat to the U . S . Allied interests

01:17:31.041 --> 01:17:33.370
all across the world via its ballistic

01:17:33.370 --> 01:17:35.259
missile program . Its support for

01:17:35.259 --> 01:17:37.203
terrorist proxies like Hezbollah ,

01:17:37.203 --> 01:17:40.150
Hamas , K . H . A . H . And many others .

01:17:40.330 --> 01:17:43.410
And so according to a recently released

01:17:43.410 --> 01:17:45.632
annual threat assessment of the U . S .

01:17:45.632 --> 01:17:47.632
Intelligence Committee Intelligence

01:17:47.632 --> 01:17:49.799
Committee and I quote , Iran supported

01:17:49.799 --> 01:17:52.350
Iraqi Shia militias will continue to

01:17:52.350 --> 01:17:54.350
post the primary threat to U . S .

01:17:54.350 --> 01:17:56.790
Personnel in Iraq . So to Secretary

01:17:56.790 --> 01:17:59.120
Austin and General Milley uh with the

01:17:59.120 --> 01:18:01.064
constant threat to the U . S . And

01:18:01.064 --> 01:18:03.287
coalition forces in the Mideast post by

01:18:03.287 --> 01:18:05.640
Iran and Iran backed militia groups .

01:18:05.920 --> 01:18:08.310
What are we doing to counter them ? And

01:18:08.310 --> 01:18:11.950
how are we proactively protecting our

01:18:11.950 --> 01:18:14.310
forces and personnel ? Do we have what

01:18:14.310 --> 01:18:17.650
we need to do that and prevent them

01:18:18.120 --> 01:18:20.231
prevent these militias and terrorists

01:18:20.231 --> 01:18:22.287
from targeting our U . S . Troops in

01:18:22.287 --> 01:18:25.130
the region ? Yeah ,

01:18:26.220 --> 01:18:28.140
we certainly um

01:18:29.320 --> 01:18:33.070
continue to demand that Iran cease its

01:18:33.080 --> 01:18:36.670
uh militias behavior in the region . In

01:18:36.670 --> 01:18:39.150
terms of its support of the Iranian

01:18:39.150 --> 01:18:41.950
backed Shia Shia militia groups . And

01:18:41.950 --> 01:18:45.750
we demand that they cease providing

01:18:45.750 --> 01:18:49.470
them uh you know , uh modernized

01:18:49.470 --> 01:18:51.414
equipment so that they can conduct

01:18:51.414 --> 01:18:53.920
these kinds of attacks . Uh We're doing

01:18:53.920 --> 01:18:56.210
everything within our within our power ,

01:18:56.210 --> 01:18:58.540
within our capability to make sure that

01:18:58.540 --> 01:19:00.318
our our troops that are forward

01:19:00.318 --> 01:19:03.730
deployed have adequate protection . Uh

01:19:03.740 --> 01:19:05.830
we're engaging the Iraqi the Iraqi

01:19:05.840 --> 01:19:08.350
leadership to make sure that the Iraqi

01:19:08.350 --> 01:19:11.390
leadership does what's necessary to

01:19:11.390 --> 01:19:14.350
protect , help protect our citizens who

01:19:14.350 --> 01:19:16.820
are there to help the Iraqi Iraqi

01:19:16.820 --> 01:19:20.290
government . So I would say uh in

01:19:20.290 --> 01:19:22.346
addition to everything the secretary

01:19:22.346 --> 01:19:25.840
said is uh think offense , defense . So

01:19:25.840 --> 01:19:27.618
in terms of defense , the force

01:19:27.618 --> 01:19:29.284
protection of the force , the

01:19:29.284 --> 01:19:31.618
disposition of exactly where they're at ,

01:19:31.618 --> 01:19:33.840
how many there at what the hardening of

01:19:33.840 --> 01:19:35.840
those sites were doing all of those

01:19:35.840 --> 01:19:37.840
measures . In addition to that , we

01:19:37.840 --> 01:19:39.951
have uh missile , not missile defense

01:19:39.951 --> 01:19:42.173
but air defense capabilities . See rams

01:19:42.173 --> 01:19:44.284
kind of rocket and mortar and counter

01:19:44.284 --> 01:19:46.284
US systems that were put in place .

01:19:46.284 --> 01:19:48.451
Those have been proven quite effective

01:19:48.451 --> 01:19:48.050
actually against some of the Shia

01:19:48.050 --> 01:19:49.994
militia group capabilities . We're

01:19:49.994 --> 01:19:52.106
going to continue to reinforce all of

01:19:52.106 --> 01:19:54.370
that on the offense side . Uh , I won't

01:19:54.370 --> 01:19:56.537
discuss it here , but I can discuss in

01:19:56.537 --> 01:19:58.703
some detail in a classified session as

01:19:58.703 --> 01:20:00.814
to what we can do well prepared to do

01:20:00.814 --> 01:20:02.990
and what we have already done all of

01:20:02.990 --> 01:20:05.560
that in combination we think is

01:20:05.570 --> 01:20:07.514
mitigating the risk . It certainly

01:20:07.514 --> 01:20:09.459
doesn't reduce it to zero . It's a

01:20:09.459 --> 01:20:11.181
dangerous environment . We all

01:20:11.181 --> 01:20:13.403
recognize that we've got to continue to

01:20:13.403 --> 01:20:13.050
work by with and through the Iraqi

01:20:13.050 --> 01:20:15.161
government because they are the first

01:20:15.161 --> 01:20:17.272
line of defense for the protection of

01:20:17.272 --> 01:20:19.606
our forces in their country . Thank you .

01:20:19.606 --> 01:20:21.606
I just want to be sure that we have

01:20:21.606 --> 01:20:23.828
assets on the ground to defend american

01:20:23.828 --> 01:20:25.994
installations in Iraq and Syria and we

01:20:25.994 --> 01:20:28.328
do this in the Middle East . Absolutely ,

01:20:28.328 --> 01:20:27.690
thank you . Thank you . Senator Rosen

01:20:27.690 --> 01:20:31.080
Centre Holy , please thank you . Mr

01:20:31.080 --> 01:20:33.247
Chairman , thanks to the witnesses for

01:20:33.247 --> 01:20:35.469
being here . Thank you for your service

01:20:35.469 --> 01:20:35.130
as always . MR Secretary . If I got to

01:20:35.130 --> 01:20:37.186
start with you , I asked you earlier

01:20:37.186 --> 01:20:39.019
this year if you agreed with the

01:20:39.019 --> 01:20:41.074
National Defense Strategy assessment

01:20:41.074 --> 01:20:43.186
that the U . S . Military needs to be

01:20:43.186 --> 01:20:45.352
postured and here's the quote to deter

01:20:45.352 --> 01:20:47.574
and prevent a fait accompli by an agile

01:20:47.574 --> 01:20:49.797
opportunistic adversary . You responded

01:20:49.797 --> 01:20:51.908
to me in writing , which I appreciate

01:20:51.908 --> 01:20:51.730
it and I appreciated the response you

01:20:51.730 --> 01:20:53.730
gave . Which was you said . And I'm

01:20:53.730 --> 01:20:55.786
quoting you now . Yes , I agree with

01:20:55.786 --> 01:20:57.674
the commission's finding a combat

01:20:57.674 --> 01:20:59.786
credible forward deterrent posture is

01:20:59.786 --> 01:21:01.841
instrumental to our ability to deter

01:21:01.841 --> 01:21:03.619
and if necessary deny a fate of

01:21:03.619 --> 01:21:06.020
complete scenario . I assume you still

01:21:06.020 --> 01:21:09.740
agree with that . I do some very good .

01:21:09.750 --> 01:21:12.083
And does it , would you also agree then ?

01:21:12.083 --> 01:21:14.194
I assume that this would apply to our

01:21:14.194 --> 01:21:16.417
ability to maintain and defeat maintain

01:21:16.417 --> 01:21:18.472
the ability to defeat a chinese fate

01:21:18.472 --> 01:21:20.640
accompli against Taiwan . Is that

01:21:20.640 --> 01:21:24.000
accurate ? Uh that that is accurate .

01:21:24.000 --> 01:21:26.910
Senator . I I think uh nobody wants to

01:21:26.910 --> 01:21:30.490
see a unilateral change of uh of the

01:21:30.490 --> 01:21:33.120
status quo with respect to Taiwan .

01:21:33.610 --> 01:21:36.950
You've heard us uh say that we are

01:21:36.960 --> 01:21:40.650
committed to helping Taiwan defend

01:21:40.650 --> 01:21:43.760
itself in accordance with the Taiwan

01:21:43.760 --> 01:21:46.770
Relations Act . The three communicates

01:21:46.770 --> 01:21:49.920
and six assurances . And so our

01:21:49.920 --> 01:21:52.198
position hasn't changed in that regard .

01:21:52.198 --> 01:21:55.720
And uh and you know will continue to

01:21:55.730 --> 01:21:57.940
help them develop the capability of

01:21:59.110 --> 01:22:01.190
General Milley . If I could just get

01:22:01.190 --> 01:22:03.301
you on this as well , would you agree

01:22:03.301 --> 01:22:05.357
that the U . S . Should maintain its

01:22:05.357 --> 01:22:07.190
ability to defeat a chinese fada

01:22:07.190 --> 01:22:09.412
company against Taiwan if necessary ? I

01:22:09.412 --> 01:22:11.579
absolutely would . But senator frankly

01:22:11.579 --> 01:22:13.690
I'm not sure what the chinese fate of

01:22:13.690 --> 01:22:15.912
complete in Taiwan is . Um uh if you're

01:22:15.912 --> 01:22:17.968
talking about a military invasion of

01:22:17.968 --> 01:22:19.912
Taiwan uh crossing the straits the

01:22:19.912 --> 01:22:22.079
Taiwan straits with a sizable military

01:22:22.079 --> 01:22:24.134
force to seize an island the size of

01:22:24.134 --> 01:22:23.540
Taiwan against the military that they

01:22:23.540 --> 01:22:25.873
have with the population that they have .

01:22:25.900 --> 01:22:28.340
That's an extraordinarily complex and

01:22:28.340 --> 01:22:31.140
difficult operation . Even if against

01:22:31.140 --> 01:22:33.362
an unopposed force . That's a very hard

01:22:33.362 --> 01:22:35.584
thing to do . But I can assure you that

01:22:35.584 --> 01:22:37.640
we have the capabilities uh if there

01:22:37.640 --> 01:22:39.473
were political decisions made in

01:22:39.473 --> 01:22:41.529
accordance with the Taiwan Relations

01:22:41.529 --> 01:22:43.418
Act and so on . Uh But we do have

01:22:43.418 --> 01:22:45.640
military capabilities to to defeat such

01:22:45.640 --> 01:22:47.807
an attempted invasion . Is what you're

01:22:47.807 --> 01:22:49.807
saying ? General really got it . Um

01:22:49.807 --> 01:22:51.918
Good . Would you agree Mr Secretary I

01:22:51.918 --> 01:22:51.470
just come back to you . Would you agree

01:22:51.470 --> 01:22:53.637
that we need to be when we think about

01:22:53.637 --> 01:22:55.859
deterring china , that we need to be as

01:22:55.859 --> 01:22:58.026
focused on deterring china in the next

01:22:58.026 --> 01:23:00.192
3 to 57 years as we are 10 to 15 years

01:23:00.192 --> 01:23:02.359
from now . I'm asking this the context

01:23:02.359 --> 01:23:04.414
for this is we've heard now from the

01:23:04.414 --> 01:23:06.526
outgoing Pay com commander , from the

01:23:06.526 --> 01:23:08.581
incoming Pay com commander . We just

01:23:08.581 --> 01:23:10.803
heard earlier this week from the former

01:23:10.803 --> 01:23:12.914
deputy national security adviser that

01:23:12.914 --> 01:23:14.970
china is increasingly aggressive and

01:23:14.970 --> 01:23:16.637
that the window to deter that

01:23:16.637 --> 01:23:18.748
aggression may be shorter than we had

01:23:18.748 --> 01:23:20.748
thought . So thus , my question , I

01:23:20.748 --> 01:23:22.914
mean , would you agree that we need to

01:23:22.914 --> 01:23:22.900
be focused on deterring them in the

01:23:22.900 --> 01:23:25.120
short to medium term 357 years

01:23:25.130 --> 01:23:26.820
including the longer term ?

01:23:28.600 --> 01:23:31.370
Uh We do and I would say that those two

01:23:31.370 --> 01:23:33.580
issues are not mutually exclusive

01:23:33.580 --> 01:23:35.490
senator as you know , they they

01:23:35.500 --> 01:23:37.500
complement each other . While we're

01:23:37.500 --> 01:23:39.500
developing a future capability , we

01:23:39.500 --> 01:23:41.333
certainly have to bridge to that

01:23:41.333 --> 01:23:43.556
capability . And that is absolutely our

01:23:43.556 --> 01:23:46.470
focus . Great . Great . Yeah . Say

01:23:46.470 --> 01:23:49.250
that's what the key here is deterrence .

01:23:49.260 --> 01:23:51.490
We are in a condition of strategic ,

01:23:51.500 --> 01:23:53.722
great power . Competition . It needs to

01:23:53.722 --> 01:23:56.110
stay at competition . And deterrence is

01:23:56.110 --> 01:23:57.999
key to prevent it from going from

01:23:57.999 --> 01:24:00.166
competition to incident or competition

01:24:00.166 --> 01:24:02.221
to war . Yeah , very good . I'm glad

01:24:02.221 --> 01:24:04.166
you mentioned that . And if I just

01:24:04.166 --> 01:24:06.166
follow up on that general , the the

01:24:06.166 --> 01:24:08.277
adversary , a competitor in this case

01:24:08.277 --> 01:24:10.443
china knowing that we have the ability

01:24:10.443 --> 01:24:12.610
to deter them , we have the ability to

01:24:12.610 --> 01:24:14.721
do what you said a minute ago . Which

01:24:14.721 --> 01:24:14.470
is if they should choose military

01:24:14.470 --> 01:24:16.692
aggression , we have the ability should

01:24:16.692 --> 01:24:18.692
we choose to deny that aggression ?

01:24:18.692 --> 01:24:21.026
That's that is important for deterrence .

01:24:21.026 --> 01:24:23.192
Is it not them knowing we have seen in

01:24:23.192 --> 01:24:25.303
simple terms . I mean , deterrence is

01:24:25.303 --> 01:24:27.359
actually very complex thing , but in

01:24:27.359 --> 01:24:29.248
simple terms you have to have the

01:24:29.248 --> 01:24:31.303
capability your opponent has to know

01:24:31.303 --> 01:24:30.960
you have the capability , you've got to

01:24:30.960 --> 01:24:33.740
communicate that uh capability to your

01:24:33.740 --> 01:24:35.907
opponent . You just know it . You have

01:24:35.907 --> 01:24:38.018
to communicate your will to use it if

01:24:38.018 --> 01:24:40.184
necessary . And both actors have to be

01:24:40.184 --> 01:24:42.296
rational . If all of those components

01:24:42.296 --> 01:24:44.407
are there in simple terms , uh you'll

01:24:44.407 --> 01:24:43.720
be able to achieve a state of

01:24:43.720 --> 01:24:46.870
deterrence thus far it's achieved very

01:24:46.870 --> 01:24:48.592
good . Thank you for that . Mr

01:24:48.592 --> 01:24:50.814
Secretary . Let me just ask you in this

01:24:50.814 --> 01:24:52.926
context then , about the Department's

01:24:52.926 --> 01:24:52.360
request for the pacific deterrence

01:24:52.360 --> 01:24:54.980
initiative . In your request to include ,

01:24:54.990 --> 01:24:56.879
if I understand it correctly , 23

01:24:56.879 --> 01:24:59.070
million dollars for force design and

01:24:59.070 --> 01:25:01.390
posture improvements . Out of the 2.2

01:25:01.400 --> 01:25:04.530
billion that's required . I'm trying to

01:25:04.530 --> 01:25:06.800
understand how providing Our forces in

01:25:06.800 --> 01:25:09.022
the Pacific with just 1% of the funding

01:25:09.022 --> 01:25:11.133
they need for posture improvements to

01:25:11.133 --> 01:25:13.370
support those combat credible for a

01:25:13.380 --> 01:25:15.436
forward deterrent posture that we're

01:25:15.436 --> 01:25:18.020
talking about how that is . How can we

01:25:18.030 --> 01:25:20.030
do that and say that we're going to

01:25:20.030 --> 01:25:22.086
maintain the ability to deter deny a

01:25:22.086 --> 01:25:26.050
fait accompli . Yeah .

01:25:26.060 --> 01:25:28.227
So Senator I would flag for you just a

01:25:28.227 --> 01:25:30.171
couple of issues first . The first

01:25:30.171 --> 01:25:32.282
issue is that , as I've said , I said

01:25:32.282 --> 01:25:35.520
earlier that our intent is to make sure

01:25:35.520 --> 01:25:39.080
that uh that with with respect to the P .

01:25:39.080 --> 01:25:42.730
D . I . Uh investment that we meet the

01:25:42.730 --> 01:25:44.960
congressional intent and we believe

01:25:44.960 --> 01:25:47.016
that we have invested in a number of

01:25:47.016 --> 01:25:49.238
things that meets that intent and we've

01:25:49.238 --> 01:25:51.640
offered and we will come to meet with

01:25:51.640 --> 01:25:54.410
your staff and explain uh where the

01:25:54.410 --> 01:25:56.521
investments are to make sure that the

01:25:56.521 --> 01:25:59.100
language isn't confusing . The second

01:25:59.100 --> 01:26:02.400
thing is we've invested $5.1 billion

01:26:03.290 --> 01:26:05.690
in the P . D . I . Uh The third thing I

01:26:05.690 --> 01:26:07.968
would flag for you is that uh you know ,

01:26:07.968 --> 01:26:09.912
much of what we're investing in in

01:26:09.912 --> 01:26:13.780
terms of uh capability uh

01:26:13.790 --> 01:26:17.700
uh is really focused on our efforts to

01:26:17.710 --> 01:26:21.480
uh to counter uh the

01:26:21.490 --> 01:26:24.080
challenge presented by china . And I

01:26:24.080 --> 01:26:26.191
would also say that when you speak we

01:26:26.191 --> 01:26:28.358
speak of the turns , we're not talking

01:26:28.358 --> 01:26:30.469
about this air , land and sea . We're

01:26:30.469 --> 01:26:32.524
talking about using every capability

01:26:32.524 --> 01:26:35.930
across all domains uh to include cyber

01:26:35.930 --> 01:26:38.152
and space . We're talking about talking

01:26:38.152 --> 01:26:40.300
about integrating the capabilities of

01:26:40.300 --> 01:26:42.720
our allies , which is wood . I believe

01:26:42.720 --> 01:26:44.776
it's very very important . And we're

01:26:44.776 --> 01:26:46.831
talking about using every level that

01:26:46.831 --> 01:26:48.664
the United States Government has

01:26:48.664 --> 01:26:50.720
available to it to in fact uh effect

01:26:50.720 --> 01:26:52.831
that that determines . Thank you very

01:26:52.831 --> 01:26:55.053
much . I've got some more questions for

01:26:55.053 --> 01:26:57.053
you on this . MR . Secretary , I'll

01:26:57.053 --> 01:26:59.164
follow up with you in writing , but I

01:26:59.164 --> 01:26:59.160
appreciate the opportunity to engage

01:26:59.160 --> 01:27:01.327
with the honor . Thank you . General .

01:27:01.327 --> 01:27:03.216
Thank you . Senator holly Senator

01:27:03.216 --> 01:27:07.160
Tuberville , please . Uh , put your

01:27:07.160 --> 01:27:08.438
microphone on please .

01:27:11.380 --> 01:27:14.190
Hello ? Hello . That worked . Good .

01:27:14.200 --> 01:27:16.470
Thank you . I thought mine was worn out

01:27:16.470 --> 01:27:19.260
after this long day . The Secretary , I

01:27:19.260 --> 01:27:21.371
want to take a little different angle

01:27:21.371 --> 01:27:23.593
here . Uh , I've been a team builder on

01:27:23.593 --> 01:27:25.850
my life and uh I'm on the Veterans

01:27:25.850 --> 01:27:28.180
Committee affairs Committee and I've

01:27:28.190 --> 01:27:30.301
been talking my first six months here

01:27:30.301 --> 01:27:32.357
with recruiters out in the field for

01:27:32.357 --> 01:27:34.301
the military . I'm a huge military

01:27:34.301 --> 01:27:36.468
person , military brat . Uh grew up in

01:27:36.468 --> 01:27:39.610
military family , we talk about

01:27:39.610 --> 01:27:42.190
missiles and bombs and ships and you've

01:27:42.190 --> 01:27:44.412
got to have all those . But if we don't

01:27:44.412 --> 01:27:47.070
have the people , the best people we

01:27:47.070 --> 01:27:49.126
can possibly get , we're gonna be in

01:27:49.126 --> 01:27:51.348
trouble . Uh it's like winning football

01:27:51.348 --> 01:27:53.720
game , best players win games , there's

01:27:53.720 --> 01:27:55.553
no doubt the same thing with the

01:27:55.553 --> 01:27:57.442
military . And we've always had a

01:27:57.442 --> 01:28:01.360
strong military . Uh uh I

01:28:01.360 --> 01:28:04.060
hear a lot of comments about , you know ,

01:28:04.060 --> 01:28:06.282
why should I get in the military ? They

01:28:06.282 --> 01:28:08.449
didn't look out for the people in Iraq

01:28:08.449 --> 01:28:10.393
and Afghanistan on the burn pits .

01:28:11.670 --> 01:28:13.837
Gentlemen , we we got a huge problem .

01:28:13.837 --> 01:28:15.948
We're getting ready to spend hundreds

01:28:15.948 --> 01:28:18.059
and hundreds and hundreds of billions

01:28:18.059 --> 01:28:17.990
of dollars for veterans that have gone

01:28:17.990 --> 01:28:21.320
over and breathe that smoke and

01:28:21.330 --> 01:28:23.552
chemicals and all those things . We got

01:28:23.552 --> 01:28:25.719
to make better decisions that all that

01:28:25.719 --> 01:28:27.886
money we're gonna get ready to spend .

01:28:27.886 --> 01:28:30.108
You know , we could have gone to to you

01:28:30.108 --> 01:28:32.420
guys , the defense , but uh it's come

01:28:32.420 --> 01:28:34.420
to me it's gonna be hard to recruit

01:28:34.420 --> 01:28:37.350
good people , the best people . Uh and

01:28:37.350 --> 01:28:40.150
I hear all this uh , extremism stuff .

01:28:40.160 --> 01:28:42.670
And again , I've dealt with people all

01:28:42.670 --> 01:28:44.890
my life , you know , you don't have to

01:28:44.890 --> 01:28:47.710
like each other to be on the team . I

01:28:47.710 --> 01:28:49.766
mean , a lot of my players could not

01:28:49.766 --> 01:28:52.099
stand other guys on the team . You know ,

01:28:52.099 --> 01:28:54.210
they just had personality conflicts ,

01:28:54.210 --> 01:28:56.377
but the end of the day , you've got to

01:28:56.377 --> 01:28:58.710
earn respect . You gotta earn the trust ,

01:28:58.710 --> 01:29:00.877
dedication and all that from from your

01:29:00.877 --> 01:29:02.821
teammates . I mean , you've got to

01:29:02.821 --> 01:29:04.988
learn that . And so I just hate for us

01:29:04.988 --> 01:29:08.600
to get off on this this tangent of of

01:29:09.370 --> 01:29:11.259
of the people that we have in the

01:29:11.259 --> 01:29:13.426
military . Now , if and football , for

01:29:13.426 --> 01:29:15.537
instance , it's your coaches that has

01:29:15.537 --> 01:29:17.703
when you bring players in , you've got

01:29:17.703 --> 01:29:16.920
to build a team , you gotta bring them

01:29:16.920 --> 01:29:19.142
together . Same thing in the military .

01:29:19.142 --> 01:29:21.309
You got lieutenants , captains , drill

01:29:21.309 --> 01:29:23.198
sergeants , corporals , all those

01:29:23.198 --> 01:29:25.364
everybody's responsibility is to bring

01:29:25.364 --> 01:29:27.580
that team together . And I just the

01:29:27.580 --> 01:29:29.691
things that I'm hearing and seeing in

01:29:29.691 --> 01:29:31.913
the military bases . I've been going to

01:29:31.913 --> 01:29:33.858
the last six months and talking to

01:29:33.858 --> 01:29:35.969
recruiters . We're gonna have a tough

01:29:35.969 --> 01:29:38.024
time and then we gotta we gotta face

01:29:38.024 --> 01:29:40.136
the people and and big tech of taking

01:29:40.136 --> 01:29:42.358
the best and brightest because cyber is

01:29:42.358 --> 01:29:44.580
one of the things that we really got to

01:29:44.580 --> 01:29:44.330
get into in the military and continue

01:29:44.330 --> 01:29:46.274
to grow in the bill and all of our

01:29:46.274 --> 01:29:48.608
technology . You know , that being said ,

01:29:48.608 --> 01:29:50.441
I just want to make sure that we

01:29:50.441 --> 01:29:52.663
understand , you know , that we we talk

01:29:52.663 --> 01:29:54.886
about all this equipment and the budget

01:29:54.886 --> 01:29:56.997
and all that . I understand we've got

01:29:56.997 --> 01:29:56.680
to have that . But if we don't have the

01:29:56.690 --> 01:29:58.746
people that make any difference , we

01:29:58.746 --> 01:30:00.801
had the selective service here a few

01:30:00.801 --> 01:30:02.857
months ago . They sit right here and

01:30:02.857 --> 01:30:04.910
they told us That if we had a draft

01:30:04.910 --> 01:30:07.077
today , we have 35 million people that

01:30:07.077 --> 01:30:09.200
we could draft from 35 million . Only

01:30:09.200 --> 01:30:12.680
450,000 of those 35 million

01:30:13.260 --> 01:30:15.427
Are eligible to be in the military for

01:30:15.427 --> 01:30:18.930
one form . That's not enough . That is

01:30:18.930 --> 01:30:21.760
not enough . We can't build a killing

01:30:21.760 --> 01:30:24.300
machine , which is what our military is .

01:30:24.300 --> 01:30:26.522
You can say anything else . We gotta be

01:30:26.522 --> 01:30:28.800
able to kill the enemy when they come

01:30:28.800 --> 01:30:31.480
at us . And so that's just something

01:30:31.480 --> 01:30:33.660
that I've watched and listened to .

01:30:33.670 --> 01:30:35.670
I've been on the road talking and I

01:30:35.670 --> 01:30:37.726
want us to have the best military in

01:30:37.726 --> 01:30:39.948
the world . And we probably do , uh , I

01:30:39.948 --> 01:30:42.170
want us to fund the best military . But

01:30:42.170 --> 01:30:44.114
we've got a funder , Young men and

01:30:44.114 --> 01:30:46.337
women , they're gonna get in the middle

01:30:46.337 --> 01:30:45.680
and they got to want to come in .

01:30:46.160 --> 01:30:48.049
They've got to want to be there .

01:30:48.049 --> 01:30:50.271
They've got to want to be there for the

01:30:50.271 --> 01:30:52.493
simple fact that they want to fight for

01:30:52.493 --> 01:30:52.090
the best country on the face of the

01:30:52.090 --> 01:30:55.650
earth . Uh , Just one question I got

01:30:55.650 --> 01:30:57.817
for you , Secretary Austin . Yes . And

01:30:57.817 --> 01:31:01.190
uh wrote your letter uh me and Senator

01:31:01.190 --> 01:31:04.510
Wicker and Cramer and our concern was

01:31:04.520 --> 01:31:06.910
disturbing about training materials

01:31:06.920 --> 01:31:10.780
coming from our military . Uh let me be

01:31:10.780 --> 01:31:14.280
clear like you , we want to see good

01:31:14.280 --> 01:31:17.100
order and discipline in the ranks uh

01:31:17.110 --> 01:31:19.340
for military to remain the non partisan

01:31:19.350 --> 01:31:22.530
institution that americans trust more

01:31:22.530 --> 01:31:25.100
than any other . But what emerged from

01:31:25.100 --> 01:31:26.933
some of the services revealed is

01:31:26.933 --> 01:31:28.822
disappointing partisan slant in a

01:31:28.822 --> 01:31:30.960
poorly defined First Amendment rights

01:31:30.960 --> 01:31:33.890
for military members . This year ,

01:31:33.900 --> 01:31:35.900
we've seen multiple senior military

01:31:35.900 --> 01:31:38.610
leaders in uniform from official D . O .

01:31:38.610 --> 01:31:41.100
D . Channels , criticize individual

01:31:41.110 --> 01:31:43.150
members of the press that ain't got

01:31:43.150 --> 01:31:45.570
nothing to do with the military . To me ,

01:31:45.570 --> 01:31:47.848
you just got to go about your business .

01:31:47.848 --> 01:31:50.014
We've seen the National Guard march on

01:31:50.014 --> 01:31:52.237
elected officials here , just down from

01:31:52.237 --> 01:31:56.020
this building . Uh , mm . We

01:31:56.020 --> 01:31:58.242
asked senator , we asked you to provide

01:31:58.242 --> 01:32:00.464
a report on what steps your office will

01:32:00.464 --> 01:32:02.187
take to reprimand officers who

01:32:02.187 --> 01:32:04.131
inappropriately engage in partisan

01:32:04.131 --> 01:32:06.353
behaviour to ensure that the stand down

01:32:06.353 --> 01:32:08.298
training materials comply with the

01:32:08.298 --> 01:32:10.570
guidance issued by your office . Uh ,

01:32:10.580 --> 01:32:12.747
we asked for that report no later than

01:32:12.747 --> 01:32:14.802
May the seventh and we still haven't

01:32:14.802 --> 01:32:16.858
gotten that . And I know you've been

01:32:16.858 --> 01:32:18.969
busy , but we just like to know , you

01:32:18.969 --> 01:32:21.136
know , the steps that we're gonna take

01:32:21.136 --> 01:32:23.080
to clamp down on people that don't

01:32:23.080 --> 01:32:25.358
deserve to be in our military . And uh ,

01:32:25.358 --> 01:32:27.580
I didn't want to get up here and rant .

01:32:27.580 --> 01:32:29.691
But I've been a recruiter all my life

01:32:29.691 --> 01:32:31.802
and we've got to be able to recruit ,

01:32:31.802 --> 01:32:33.913
you know , people to spend this money

01:32:33.913 --> 01:32:35.969
that that we're going to appropriate

01:32:35.969 --> 01:32:38.191
you and in the in the right way because

01:32:38.191 --> 01:32:40.302
we're in dire straits . And uh second

01:32:40.302 --> 01:32:42.413
officer , can I get that commitment ?

01:32:43.150 --> 01:32:45.206
You certainly have that commitment .

01:32:45.206 --> 01:32:47.210
And I would also like to offer a

01:32:47.210 --> 01:32:49.100
thought on on what you just said

01:32:49.100 --> 01:32:51.520
senator and thanks for your continued

01:32:51.520 --> 01:32:54.200
support of our great military . And

01:32:54.200 --> 01:32:56.144
again , you've heard me say this a

01:32:56.144 --> 01:32:58.311
couple of times today and I don't want

01:32:58.311 --> 01:33:00.200
our force or anybody else in this

01:33:00.200 --> 01:33:02.422
country to be confused . It is the most

01:33:02.422 --> 01:33:04.589
lethal organization on the face of the

01:33:04.589 --> 01:33:06.700
planet . And it will remain so and it

01:33:06.700 --> 01:33:08.367
will remain the most cohesive

01:33:08.367 --> 01:33:10.644
organization on the face of the planet .

01:33:10.644 --> 01:33:13.520
You know , when I when I became in as

01:33:13.530 --> 01:33:16.070
uh as the Secretary of Defense , I

01:33:16.070 --> 01:33:18.237
issued guidance to the forest and that

01:33:18.237 --> 01:33:20.390
guidance included three things . My

01:33:20.390 --> 01:33:23.480
focus is on defending this nation and

01:33:23.480 --> 01:33:25.591
taking and protecting our interests .

01:33:25.591 --> 01:33:27.758
The second thing is taking care of our

01:33:27.758 --> 01:33:29.536
people . And the third thing is

01:33:29.536 --> 01:33:31.730
teamwork and like you , I put a couple

01:33:31.730 --> 01:33:33.786
of teams together to , and I've I've

01:33:33.786 --> 01:33:35.952
employed those teams in the combat and

01:33:35.952 --> 01:33:37.786
I've watched these youngsters do

01:33:37.786 --> 01:33:39.730
amazing things in support of their

01:33:39.730 --> 01:33:41.897
country and in support of each other .

01:33:41.897 --> 01:33:45.320
It's unbelievable . And so , you know ,

01:33:45.330 --> 01:33:47.800
I have a pretty good field in terms of

01:33:47.800 --> 01:33:49.856
what it takes to create that kind of

01:33:49.856 --> 01:33:52.630
cohesion . And cohesion is what is most

01:33:52.630 --> 01:33:54.686
important to me , just like it is to

01:33:54.686 --> 01:33:56.970
you , senator . I I know you absolutely

01:33:56.970 --> 01:33:59.060
under understand that , and you've

01:33:59.070 --> 01:34:01.292
you've demonstrated that you understand

01:34:01.292 --> 01:34:03.181
that with uh with some tremendous

01:34:03.181 --> 01:34:05.292
success over the years , uh regarding

01:34:05.292 --> 01:34:07.860
the burn pits . Uh , you know , the

01:34:07.870 --> 01:34:11.160
welfare of our veterans is uh , is

01:34:11.160 --> 01:34:13.160
foremost in my mind . I mean , it's

01:34:13.160 --> 01:34:15.271
it's that's something that me and the

01:34:15.271 --> 01:34:17.620
chairman both really care about . And I

01:34:17.620 --> 01:34:19.676
would tell you that the secretary of

01:34:19.676 --> 01:34:21.830
the via Secretary McDonough , shares

01:34:21.830 --> 01:34:25.310
that concern and and and he and I

01:34:25.320 --> 01:34:27.950
uh work together closely on a number of

01:34:27.950 --> 01:34:30.061
issues and we have vowed to make sure

01:34:30.061 --> 01:34:32.910
that we don't lose our veterans as a as

01:34:32.910 --> 01:34:36.220
a transition from active duty to uh to

01:34:36.230 --> 01:34:39.470
uh to retirement or get out of the

01:34:39.470 --> 01:34:41.470
military and go do something else .

01:34:41.740 --> 01:34:44.018
I've inhale those fumes from burn pits .

01:34:44.018 --> 01:34:46.240
The chairman is inhale those fumes from

01:34:46.240 --> 01:34:48.407
burnt . It's we know it's important to

01:34:48.407 --> 01:34:50.462
take care of our troops and you have

01:34:50.462 --> 01:34:52.462
our commitment to remain focused on

01:34:52.462 --> 01:34:54.573
that . But I would also say that this

01:34:54.573 --> 01:34:56.684
is not just the army's problem , it's

01:34:56.684 --> 01:34:58.907
not just the military problem . This is

01:34:58.907 --> 01:35:00.851
the issue for the United States of

01:35:00.851 --> 01:35:02.796
America , these are our troops and

01:35:02.796 --> 01:35:04.962
we're going to do everything we can to

01:35:04.962 --> 01:35:07.129
take care of . And I know that all the

01:35:07.129 --> 01:35:09.351
great resources and authorizes that are

01:35:09.351 --> 01:35:11.573
in this room share that same commitment

01:35:11.573 --> 01:35:13.462
and we felt that commitment going

01:35:13.462 --> 01:35:15.573
forward and I know that it's the it's

01:35:15.573 --> 01:35:17.907
the reason that you asked that question .

01:35:17.907 --> 01:35:19.907
But the question you have is are we

01:35:19.907 --> 01:35:21.851
committed to it and Senator , I am

01:35:21.851 --> 01:35:23.851
absolutely committed to making sure

01:35:23.851 --> 01:35:25.962
that we do what we can to ensure that

01:35:25.962 --> 01:35:28.018
this issue is addressed . And I know

01:35:28.018 --> 01:35:30.018
that Secretary McDonough is working

01:35:30.018 --> 01:35:32.073
this issue very hard as well . Thank

01:35:32.073 --> 01:35:31.880
you . Thank you for your service .

01:35:31.880 --> 01:35:35.370
Thank you very much . Thank you very

01:35:35.370 --> 01:35:38.060
much . Uh Senator Tuberville . Uh this

01:35:38.060 --> 01:35:40.360
is the second round . I will recognize

01:35:40.360 --> 01:35:42.840
Senator King who will ask one question

01:35:42.850 --> 01:35:45.680
and he will also preside and conclude

01:35:45.680 --> 01:35:47.402
the hearing . And then he will

01:35:47.402 --> 01:35:49.569
recognize Senator for Sullivan for one

01:35:49.569 --> 01:35:52.060
question . I'd ask both the questions

01:35:52.060 --> 01:35:55.780
and the responses . Be as concise and

01:35:55.780 --> 01:35:57.947
eloquent as they've been all morning .

01:35:57.947 --> 01:36:00.120
Thank you very much . Thank you . Mr

01:36:00.120 --> 01:36:03.740
Chairman . Uh First . Uh just a very

01:36:03.740 --> 01:36:05.907
brief observation , There's been a lot

01:36:05.907 --> 01:36:08.018
of talk about budgets and comparisons

01:36:08.018 --> 01:36:10.184
of budgets and budgets with china . Uh

01:36:10.184 --> 01:36:12.100
I yield to no one in terms of my

01:36:12.100 --> 01:36:14.460
determination to successfully compete

01:36:14.830 --> 01:36:18.190
uh with china on all fronts . I would

01:36:18.190 --> 01:36:20.190
point out though , even though they

01:36:20.190 --> 01:36:22.412
have had significant increases lately ,

01:36:22.412 --> 01:36:24.468
their budget this year is still less

01:36:24.468 --> 01:36:26.690
than one third of ours . I think that's

01:36:26.690 --> 01:36:28.523
important just to have that that

01:36:28.523 --> 01:36:30.746
context because that we've been talking

01:36:30.746 --> 01:36:32.801
about growth , but they were showing

01:36:32.801 --> 01:36:34.857
significant growth from a much lower

01:36:34.857 --> 01:36:36.357
base . Uh General Milley ,

01:36:38.930 --> 01:36:42.820
I am gravely concerned about the men

01:36:42.820 --> 01:36:45.220
and women in Afghanistan who supported

01:36:45.220 --> 01:36:48.410
and aided our troops and that we're not

01:36:48.410 --> 01:36:50.720
moving fast enough to be sure that they

01:36:50.720 --> 01:36:54.450
are brought to safety . I think this is

01:36:54.450 --> 01:36:57.460
an essential moral commitment of this

01:36:57.460 --> 01:37:00.400
country and also a practical one . If

01:37:00.400 --> 01:37:03.310
we leave these people to the tender

01:37:03.310 --> 01:37:05.590
mercies of the taliban , I don't know

01:37:05.590 --> 01:37:07.812
who is ever going to cooperate and help

01:37:07.812 --> 01:37:11.710
us again in another setting . So I

01:37:11.720 --> 01:37:14.330
hope that both the pentagon , the White

01:37:14.330 --> 01:37:16.663
House and all the agencies of the U . S .

01:37:16.663 --> 01:37:18.830
Government are committed to this as an

01:37:18.830 --> 01:37:22.160
urgent priority and urgent priority and

01:37:22.160 --> 01:37:24.290
that if we can't repatriate all of

01:37:24.290 --> 01:37:26.457
these people to this country , that we

01:37:26.457 --> 01:37:28.623
at least make arrangements to get them

01:37:28.623 --> 01:37:30.623
safely out of Afghanistan . Can you

01:37:30.623 --> 01:37:32.734
give me your thoughts on that place ,

01:37:32.734 --> 01:37:36.400
Senator ? Uh First , uh I think the

01:37:36.410 --> 01:37:39.750
President sec def uh Secretary of State ,

01:37:40.230 --> 01:37:42.720
uh myself , others have all commented

01:37:42.730 --> 01:37:44.841
on the importance of making sure that

01:37:44.841 --> 01:37:46.830
we keep faith with those that have

01:37:46.830 --> 01:37:48.997
supported us over the last two decades

01:37:48.997 --> 01:37:51.052
in Afghanistan . And that clearly is

01:37:51.052 --> 01:37:53.386
that our intent and and we will do that .

01:37:53.386 --> 01:37:55.910
Uh in terms of specific actions ,

01:37:55.910 --> 01:37:59.380
Department of State has the lead on the

01:37:59.380 --> 01:38:01.602
Special immigrant Visa program and some

01:38:01.602 --> 01:38:04.150
other programs with respect to those

01:38:04.150 --> 01:38:06.150
afghans that have supported us . Uh

01:38:06.150 --> 01:38:08.880
that planning is uh working through the

01:38:08.880 --> 01:38:12.110
system right now . Uh But I can commit

01:38:12.110 --> 01:38:14.210
to you that it's my belief that the

01:38:14.210 --> 01:38:17.190
United States Government uh we'll do

01:38:17.190 --> 01:38:19.246
what is necessary in order to ensure

01:38:19.246 --> 01:38:21.468
the safety and protection of those that

01:38:21.468 --> 01:38:21.210
have been working with us for two

01:38:21.210 --> 01:38:24.640
decades . Thank you . The the term

01:38:24.640 --> 01:38:26.584
working through the system is what

01:38:26.584 --> 01:38:30.290
gives me some concern . Uh this this is

01:38:30.300 --> 01:38:33.020
this is an absolutely urgent priority

01:38:33.020 --> 01:38:35.270
over the next 6-8 weeks , I would say

01:38:35.270 --> 01:38:37.250
is our troops draw down . So I

01:38:37.250 --> 01:38:39.472
appreciate your commitment on that . Mr

01:38:39.472 --> 01:38:41.583
Secretary . I assume you you make the

01:38:41.583 --> 01:38:45.270
absolutely the same commitment . You're

01:38:45.280 --> 01:38:48.250
you're correct senator . We uh this is

01:38:48.250 --> 01:38:51.310
very important to us and we're pushing

01:38:51.310 --> 01:38:54.660
as hard as we can on our end to move as

01:38:54.660 --> 01:38:56.900
fast as we can . I know Secretary

01:38:56.900 --> 01:38:59.190
Blinken has asked for an increase in uh

01:38:59.200 --> 01:39:01.311
in authorizations in terms of numbers

01:39:01.311 --> 01:39:03.850
to move into the S . I . B . Process .

01:39:03.850 --> 01:39:06.710
And I would ask your support in uh in

01:39:06.710 --> 01:39:09.240
providing that authorization and again ,

01:39:10.020 --> 01:39:12.680
uh anything that you can do to expand

01:39:12.680 --> 01:39:15.190
our our current capabilities uh in

01:39:15.190 --> 01:39:17.301
terms of authorizations would be very

01:39:17.301 --> 01:39:19.357
very much appreciated . I'm sure the

01:39:19.357 --> 01:39:21.523
members of this committee will work to

01:39:21.523 --> 01:39:23.579
that end and look forward to working

01:39:23.579 --> 01:39:25.746
with you . Uh Senator Sullivan , thank

01:39:25.746 --> 01:39:27.690
you . Mr Chairman and I share your

01:39:27.690 --> 01:39:29.912
views and I know most of the members of

01:39:29.912 --> 01:39:32.079
the committee do on keeping faith with

01:39:32.079 --> 01:39:34.190
those who support us in Afghanistan .

01:39:34.190 --> 01:39:34.020
And gentlemen , I appreciate you

01:39:34.020 --> 01:39:36.020
running the Gotland today . It's an

01:39:36.020 --> 01:39:38.242
important element of our constitutional

01:39:38.242 --> 01:39:40.464
oversight responsibilities . I have one

01:39:40.464 --> 01:39:43.160
final question . Um a growing and

01:39:43.160 --> 01:39:44.882
critical area of great power .

01:39:44.882 --> 01:39:47.370
Competition with Russia certainly , but

01:39:47.370 --> 01:39:49.830
also with china is our strategic

01:39:49.830 --> 01:39:52.610
interests in the arctic and Mr

01:39:52.610 --> 01:39:56.260
Secretary uh as you know in general .

01:39:56.270 --> 01:39:59.180
Uh each of the military services in

01:39:59.180 --> 01:40:01.236
some ways prompted by this committee

01:40:01.236 --> 01:40:03.630
have now published in arctic Strategy .

01:40:04.010 --> 01:40:06.380
Think all of us view this as a as a

01:40:06.380 --> 01:40:09.900
positive development . And both of you

01:40:09.910 --> 01:40:12.350
during your confirmation hearings had

01:40:12.350 --> 01:40:16.270
committed uh to focus on this area

01:40:16.280 --> 01:40:18.680
of our national security , to fully

01:40:18.680 --> 01:40:21.110
resource each of the service arctic

01:40:21.110 --> 01:40:23.160
strategies . Deputy Secretary Hicks

01:40:23.610 --> 01:40:25.777
through her confirmation process , did

01:40:25.777 --> 01:40:28.550
the same in a strategic forces

01:40:28.550 --> 01:40:30.717
subcommittee hearing yesterday , I had

01:40:30.717 --> 01:40:33.260
the chance to ask General Van Herck ,

01:40:33.260 --> 01:40:35.430
who's the north com commander in his

01:40:35.430 --> 01:40:38.130
role as the designated advocate for

01:40:38.130 --> 01:40:40.241
arctic capabilities . How he saw each

01:40:40.241 --> 01:40:42.186
of the services implementing their

01:40:42.186 --> 01:40:43.797
respective strategies in the

01:40:43.797 --> 01:40:47.520
president's new budget submission . And

01:40:47.520 --> 01:40:49.687
he told me that D . O . D . Resourcing

01:40:49.687 --> 01:40:51.409
for the various service arctic

01:40:51.409 --> 01:40:53.630
strategies was quote inching along .

01:40:54.110 --> 01:40:56.730
But that diode quote didn't move the

01:40:56.740 --> 01:40:59.920
ball very far down the field with the

01:40:59.920 --> 01:41:03.650
FY 22 budget . So I want to ask both of

01:41:03.650 --> 01:41:05.706
you , do you share this view and how

01:41:05.706 --> 01:41:08.620
can we work to fully resource

01:41:09.610 --> 01:41:11.910
the service strategies that have been

01:41:11.910 --> 01:41:14.132
put out the D . O . D . Strategies that

01:41:14.132 --> 01:41:16.780
have been put out in this important

01:41:16.790 --> 01:41:19.230
area of great power competition ?

01:41:22.610 --> 01:41:25.320
Thank you senator . You know , when we

01:41:25.320 --> 01:41:28.250
talked before , uh you know , I

01:41:28.250 --> 01:41:30.320
indicated to you that the arctic and

01:41:30.330 --> 01:41:32.980
arctic strategy was important to to me

01:41:32.990 --> 01:41:35.540
and that hasn't changed . It remains so

01:41:36.010 --> 01:41:38.070
as you know , we're working on

01:41:38.070 --> 01:41:39.848
developing our National Defense

01:41:39.848 --> 01:41:41.737
strategy overall and also working

01:41:41.737 --> 01:41:44.650
through uh to refine our force posture

01:41:44.650 --> 01:41:48.040
globally . As we as we develop that

01:41:48.040 --> 01:41:50.930
national Defense strategy certainly uh

01:41:50.940 --> 01:41:53.380
the arctic will be uh in an area that

01:41:53.380 --> 01:41:55.602
we will we will take into consideration

01:41:55.602 --> 01:41:57.602
and make sure that that we have the

01:41:57.602 --> 01:41:59.713
right emphasis , the right focus . Uh

01:41:59.713 --> 01:42:02.430
and that that that strategy will drive

01:42:02.430 --> 01:42:05.140
our resources . Great . Thank you .

01:42:05.150 --> 01:42:07.530
General Milley . Absolutely . We're

01:42:07.530 --> 01:42:09.697
committed to the arctic strategy . And

01:42:09.697 --> 01:42:11.641
you know , this whole issue at the

01:42:11.641 --> 01:42:13.586
arctic is a classic example of the

01:42:13.586 --> 01:42:15.641
strategic military impact of climate

01:42:15.641 --> 01:42:18.320
change . As uh as the snow caps melt ,

01:42:18.330 --> 01:42:20.860
the ice packs melt . Uh it's exposing

01:42:20.860 --> 01:42:22.916
for the resources . The Russians and

01:42:22.916 --> 01:42:24.971
chinese are realizing that . So they

01:42:24.971 --> 01:42:27.510
are clearly trying to exploit some of

01:42:27.510 --> 01:42:29.232
that . And we are going to see

01:42:29.232 --> 01:42:31.343
increased , not decreased great power

01:42:31.343 --> 01:42:33.454
competition in the arctic over time .

01:42:33.454 --> 01:42:35.530
Uh and we do need to resource fully

01:42:35.530 --> 01:42:37.630
resource the arctic strategy . Thank

01:42:37.630 --> 01:42:39.852
you . Thank you . Mr . Chairman . Thank

01:42:39.852 --> 01:42:42.074
you . I'd like to associate myself with

01:42:42.074 --> 01:42:44.074
Senator Sullivan's questions on the

01:42:44.074 --> 01:42:46.186
arctic . It's an incredibly important

01:42:46.186 --> 01:42:48.408
strategic area . I appreciate your your

01:42:48.408 --> 01:42:50.630
commitments with no further questions .

01:42:50.630 --> 01:42:52.797
And I understand the decision has been

01:42:52.797 --> 01:42:54.686
made not to go to a an additional

01:42:54.686 --> 01:42:56.908
closed session . So I want to thank our

01:42:56.908 --> 01:42:59.130
witnesses for their testimony today for

01:42:59.130 --> 01:42:58.860
your forthrightness , for the

01:42:58.860 --> 01:43:01.082
information that you've shared and most

01:43:01.082 --> 01:43:03.249
of all for your service to our country

01:43:03.400 --> 01:43:05.511
With that this hearing is adjourned .

01:43:05.600 --> 01:43:06.900
Yeah . Yeah .