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um selection is recognized for five 

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minutes . Thank you gentlemen for being 

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here . Um , I know it's a long hearing . 

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Um , I just , you know , I want to 

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address this constant conversation 

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we've been having about the top line 

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because it feels like very 2000 and 

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five to me all the hearings that we've 

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had in front of in the last two years 

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I've been here have talked about not 

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just the amount of dollars were 

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spending but how we're spending them . 

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And I think we need to be 

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intellectually honest as members of 

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Congress that we are a part of the 

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problem . We make you budget on one 

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year cycles instead of the whole fit it . 

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Every year you come to us with about $2 

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billion worth of legacy programs you'd 

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like to cut and we up here . Don't let 

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you cut them . And then let's be frank 

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if we're talking about budgets , the 10 , 

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nearly $10 billion that was taken out 

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of D . O . D . And put towards the 

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border wall should be factored in for 

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anyone who is concerned about the top 

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line . So uh that's what we have 

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responsibility for . But I am worried 

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because there is bipartisan agreement 

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that china is gaining on us . Um I'm 

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also worried that our big lumbering 

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bureaucratic system is an inhibitor to 

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us being competitive with china , 

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particularly on acquisition and getting 

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the best american technology into the 

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pentagon . Mr . Secretary Austin , can 

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you talk about what we're going to do 

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to acquire faster and better technology ? 

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Well that's a that's a focus for us . 

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Um You know , we uh we 

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are far from being as agile as we need 

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to be in order to uh capture 

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or take advantage of the emerging 

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technologies . Uh and so you've given 

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us some authorities in the past that 

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we've not fully uh used or employed and 

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and and and we need to push to uh 

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number one , take advantage of what 

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you've already given us . But number to 

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encourage are forced to be uh to be 

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more agile . And we need to take 

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advantage of emerging technologies that 

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that may be available in smaller 

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companies that have capability that 

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they can't get across the valley of 

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death to uh , you know , to provide 

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uh capability at scale . So the deputy 

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secretary and I are absolutely focused 

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on this and she's launched some 

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initiatives uh to be able to address 

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this . Thank you . Your personal 

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attention to that I think is going to 

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be really important for the future . 

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Fight switching gears to the 

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authorization of military force last 

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week in a bipartisan way , we called 

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for the repeal here in the House of the 

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2000 and two A U . M . F . Um , it's 

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now being discussed and debated over in 

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the Senate , but there seemed to be 

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some confusion um here in the House and 

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maybe in the Senate as well on whether 

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the pentagon is currently relying on 

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the 2000 and two A . U . M . F . For 

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any operations ? Can you confirm where 

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you stand on the 2000 and two A . U . M . 

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F . Uh Well , just right now on the 

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2000 and two a.m. F . Uh that is under 

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you and it looks like it's going to go 

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away . The 2001 1 is the one that gives 

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us all the authorities . That's the one 

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we need to hang on to . Is that the 

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first one that gives us the authority 

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to conduct operations ? So if we repeal 

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the 2002 , will that affect current 

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operations in any way ? My assessment ? 

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My military assessment is uh no , it 

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won't won't have any negative effect on 

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current operations . Is the 2000 and 

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one a.m. F . That's the critical on for 

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us to continue operations . Thanks 

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thanks for clarifying that . Um and you 

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know , one of the things that myself 

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and representative Gallagher are doing , 

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we run a bipartisan task force on 

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supply chains and the Deputy secretary 

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was really gracious with their time and 

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came last week . Um I have become 

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possessed with this issue because of 

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covid and having to negotiate with 

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chinese middlemen in the middle of the 

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night for a 78 cent mask . And I stood 

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yesterday in front of my second GM 

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plant in my area that has to go to a 

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temporary shutdown because we can't get 

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a 14 cent microchip . Can you tell me 

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just your commitment that you will take 

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this issue seriously ? It was stunning 

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for some of us the amount of 

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vulnerabilities that we have , even at 

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the pentagon for things like ammunition , 

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propellant and for pharmaceuticals on 

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other countries , particularly sole 

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source from other countries . Can you 

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just commit that ? You'll help with 

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some transparency on our supply chains ? 

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You have our commitment , you heard me 

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mentioned earlier $341 million 

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investment to to help boost 

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our support of american uh 

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industry and uh some of that includes 

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micro electronics and that sort of 

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business . So uh but we are absolutely 

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focused on this . We think that supply 

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chain vulnerability is a is a national 

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security issue and that was kind of 

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laid bare for us to your point over the 

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last year . Thank you . And I yield 

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back MS spices recognized for five 

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minutes . Thank you . Mr Chairman 

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ranking member Rogers . Uh Secretary 

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Austin , generally thank you for 

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joining us today . I first want to 

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maybe echo my colleague , 

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Representative Slotkin on Supply chain 

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Task Force . I was honoured to be put 

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on that as well . And it has 

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illuminated a lot of the challenges 

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that we see because of Covid or even 

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just supply chain in general . So I 

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appreciate your commitment to making 

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sure that we continue to look at how we 

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can shore up the supply chain 

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challenges . Um I'd like to start by 

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focusing on an issue that has been of 

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concern in my state of Oklahoma and on 

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military bases across the nation , 

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improving the quality of privatized 

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base housing on military installations . 

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Since being sworn into office , I've 

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engaged military housing stakeholders 

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in my district and across the state of 

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Oklahoma , including at Tinker Air 

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Force Base and Fort Sill . While I'm 

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cautiously optimistic that things are 

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moving in the right direction , there 

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is still work to do Ensuring safe and 

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high quality housing for our nation's 

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service members is one of my priorities . 

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Despite the recent reforms , evidence 

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from earlier this year suggests 

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military families are being charged 

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thousands of dollars of out of pocket 

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expenses by private military housing 

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contractors for reasonable and needed 

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88 upgrades to their on base housing 

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units . In response , I've introduced 

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legislation with representatives Sarah 

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Jacobs to clarify the military families 

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cannot be charged amounts in addition 

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to rent for needed 88 upgrades . 

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Secretary Austin , can you tell me what 

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actions D . O . D . Is taking to ensure 

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that service members do not face 

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financial hardships and obtaining on 

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base accommodations for a disabled 

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member of their family . Thank you for 

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your work that you're doing in this 

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area . It is absolutely critical . 

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There's nothing more important than , 

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you know , the welfare of our military 

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families . Uh , and as we've seen in 

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the past , this has not uh , this has 

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not gone the way that it should have 

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gone in terms of , uh , contracted 

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housing , privatized housing . You've 

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seen us increase the supervision in 

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this area . And we're working with the 

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services to really ensure that we have 

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the requisite oversight uh , and 

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emphasis the whole uh , contractors 

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accountable for , you know , uh , 

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providing quality service to our , to 

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our family members . And this will 

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remain a priority for us going forward . 

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It directly affects the morale 

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of not only our family members but the 

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services altogether . So you have my 

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commitment that we will remain cited on 

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this . Thank you . Secretary , 

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appreciate that . Um , it's clear to me 

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that in my short time here in Congress 

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that one of the biggest threats is the 

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current space race threat . China has 

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become incredibly competitive landing a 

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river on mars putting up geosynchronous 

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satellites . Do you believe this budget 

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provides the dedicated resources in 

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research technology exploration , that 

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we need to ensure that we are not 

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outpaced . 

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Right again . $112 billion for R . D . 

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T . And E . That's uh that's a pretty 

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hefty investment . But I would go one 

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step further and say that uh we've 

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invested , we plan to invest 20.6 

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billion or so dollars uh for for two 

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resource our our efforts in space . 

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Thank you . I yelled back 

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brief announcement before I call him 

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Cheryl . So votes are supposed to be 

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called at 1 30 . It is my intent to 

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keep going through them . Um If , well , 

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it's a little bit complicated , votes 

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are like 25 minutes to a half hour . 

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But if there are members who wish to 

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ask questions , if you could go invoked 

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like right at 1:30 and then come back 

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so we can sort of cycle through that 

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way . Um I don't want to waste waste 

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any time um and take advantage of all 

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the time that we have . Um you sort of 

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process that . So if you're if you're 

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coming up and you want to go vote and 

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come back , I'll give you an 

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opportunity to ask a question mr Rogers 

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and I'll figure out our own deal one 

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way or the other . Um Cheryl's 

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recognized for five minutes . Thank you . 

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Thank you so much . General Milley . I 

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want to talk about the long range 

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precision fires um as you know , 

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picatinny arsenal . My district's aqui 

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center of innovation for this 

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modernization priority . I know that 

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General McConville is committed to the 

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value that long range precision fires 

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bring to force employment for the Joint 

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Joint Force . So can you speak to the 

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value of the multiple dilemmas that 

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ground based precision fires can 

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provide for deterrence and force 

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employment ? Sure . The uh first of all 

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all the services have capabilities and 

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are developing capabilities for long 

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range precision fires . And it's 

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important when you're facing any 

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adversary to present them with multiple 

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dilemma simultaneously so that it's 

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very difficult for them to solve land 

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based long range position fires will 

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give us a significant advantage 

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relative to the facing threat of china 

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uh So that they can be operated off of 

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basically unsinkable aircraft carriers . 

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So our allies and partners , if we work 

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out through the diplomatic arrangements 

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uh to have units stationed there with 

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long range missile fire capabilities we 

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can do significant damage . Were 

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experiment damage against the uh 

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People's Liberation Army Navy . So 

273
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we're experimenting that with the Army 

274
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force and Marine forces in the pacific 

275
00:10:31,597 --> 00:10:33,708
right now in the south china seas for 

276
00:10:33,708 --> 00:10:35,708
example through exercises and other 

277
00:10:35,708 --> 00:10:37,652
things . In addition to that we're 

278
00:10:37,652 --> 00:10:39,708
doing some long range precision fire 

279
00:10:39,708 --> 00:10:41,874
developmental testing um that is being 

280
00:10:41,874 --> 00:10:43,930
done at the various ranges and these 

281
00:10:43,930 --> 00:10:45,930
are quite extended ranges that will 

282
00:10:45,930 --> 00:10:47,874
cover the south china sea . So the 

283
00:10:47,874 --> 00:10:50,041
conceptual idea would be that we could 

284
00:10:50,041 --> 00:10:52,500
handle the chinese surface fleet with 

285
00:10:52,500 --> 00:10:54,667
land based long range pacific fires in 

286
00:10:54,667 --> 00:10:56,833
combination with air and naval fires . 

287
00:10:57,740 --> 00:11:00,070
Thank you general appreciate that . Um 

288
00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:02,630
Moving on and sort of talking again 

289
00:11:02,630 --> 00:11:05,110
about the supply chain , we've all 

290
00:11:05,110 --> 00:11:08,220
become critically concerned . Um you 

291
00:11:08,220 --> 00:11:11,150
know , as we talk about single source 

292
00:11:11,740 --> 00:11:14,000
materials as we talk about rare earth 

293
00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:16,360
materials , I encourage you General 

294
00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:18,480
Austin to continue to look into how 

295
00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:21,380
that impacts some of our smaller 

296
00:11:21,380 --> 00:11:23,830
defense manufacturers from entering 

297
00:11:23,830 --> 00:11:26,360
into competition when they have to 

298
00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:28,193
trace the supply chain . That is 

299
00:11:28,193 --> 00:11:30,249
something they have a lot of trouble 

300
00:11:30,249 --> 00:11:32,630
doing and haven't done well at . I also 

301
00:11:32,630 --> 00:11:35,560
encourage a discussion about rare earth 

302
00:11:35,560 --> 00:11:38,230
materials and if there are alternatives , 

303
00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:39,851
if you know the research and 

304
00:11:39,851 --> 00:11:41,684
development , we might make into 

305
00:11:41,684 --> 00:11:43,740
alternatives . That that's something 

306
00:11:43,740 --> 00:11:43,080
that's been brought up . But I don't 

307
00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:46,420
think we have a good understanding of 

308
00:11:46,430 --> 00:11:49,570
how what we could do with respect to 

309
00:11:49,570 --> 00:11:51,737
alternatives to rare earth materials , 

310
00:11:51,737 --> 00:11:53,737
especially single source rare earth 

311
00:11:53,737 --> 00:11:55,920
materials from our adversaries . I'd 

312
00:11:55,930 --> 00:11:58,180
also just like to bring up that in 

313
00:11:58,180 --> 00:12:00,013
conversations with former senior 

314
00:12:00,013 --> 00:12:02,124
defense officials , currently serving 

315
00:12:02,124 --> 00:12:04,291
service members and leaders in defense 

316
00:12:04,291 --> 00:12:06,458
innovation . I've heard time and again 

317
00:12:06,458 --> 00:12:08,680
that the military just isn't innovating 

318
00:12:08,680 --> 00:12:11,360
the way we need to . Um , so to to make 

319
00:12:11,370 --> 00:12:14,160
better use of private sector innovation 

320
00:12:14,170 --> 00:12:16,590
by a more nimble acquisition system and 

321
00:12:16,590 --> 00:12:19,360
to improve access to talent through 

322
00:12:19,370 --> 00:12:22,330
better stem recruiting and to ensure 

323
00:12:22,330 --> 00:12:24,530
that the research and development 

324
00:12:24,540 --> 00:12:26,670
within the D . O . D . Is better 

325
00:12:26,670 --> 00:12:29,620
supported and risk taking too . As many 

326
00:12:29,620 --> 00:12:31,842
of our military members say , fail fast 

327
00:12:31,842 --> 00:12:34,240
and then learn . Um what is the best 

328
00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:36,850
way forward to make these changes and 

329
00:12:36,850 --> 00:12:38,870
how can Congress best support those 

330
00:12:38,870 --> 00:12:42,680
changes ? Yeah . Well I 

331
00:12:42,680 --> 00:12:45,970
think you have to establish programs 

332
00:12:45,970 --> 00:12:49,050
that uh and mechanisms that encourage 

333
00:12:49,060 --> 00:12:52,500
innovation and while you want to reward 

334
00:12:52,500 --> 00:12:56,250
success and support a small 

335
00:12:56,840 --> 00:12:58,920
companies and their efforts to get 

336
00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:01,890
their products innovative products , uh 

337
00:13:01,900 --> 00:13:05,720
you know , on board , you also , I want 

338
00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:07,664
a condition of force to be able to 

339
00:13:07,664 --> 00:13:10,510
accept a and an element or a measure of 

340
00:13:10,510 --> 00:13:12,870
risk and we're not really good at that . 

341
00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:15,170
Uh And and I think in order to be agile 

342
00:13:15,170 --> 00:13:17,310
we've got to become better . And so 

343
00:13:17,310 --> 00:13:20,010
you'll see . Uh the deputy secretary 

344
00:13:20,010 --> 00:13:22,360
began to uh employ a couple of 

345
00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:25,040
initiatives that encourage that that 

346
00:13:25,050 --> 00:13:28,580
innovation and that would help us 

347
00:13:28,590 --> 00:13:30,701
begin to pull some things forward and 

348
00:13:30,701 --> 00:13:32,868
support something's going forward that 

349
00:13:32,868 --> 00:13:35,146
we haven't been able to do in the past . 

350
00:13:35,146 --> 00:13:37,312
And again , we'll keep pushing on this 

351
00:13:37,312 --> 00:13:39,257
and pulling on this until until we 

352
00:13:39,257 --> 00:13:41,423
become more agile . I do think we need 

353
00:13:41,423 --> 00:13:43,423
to do better and taken advantage of 

354
00:13:43,423 --> 00:13:45,646
what you've already given us to help us 

355
00:13:45,646 --> 00:13:46,757
with that agility . 

356
00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:51,980
Thank you and I echo Miss Slatkin in 

357
00:13:51,990 --> 00:13:54,210
our gratitude and having you involved 

358
00:13:54,210 --> 00:13:56,266
in this process . I think it is very 

359
00:13:56,266 --> 00:13:58,377
important . And then finally , before 

360
00:13:58,377 --> 00:14:00,960
my time is up , I simply want to say to 

361
00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:03,127
you , General Milley that I deeply and 

362
00:14:03,127 --> 00:14:05,238
sincerely appreciate your comments to 

363
00:14:05,238 --> 00:14:07,860
Miss Holahan . Thank you . You're back . 

364
00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:11,462
Chair recognizes Representative Jackson 

365
00:14:11,462 --> 00:14:14,850
for five minutes . Oh thank you , Mr 

366
00:14:14,850 --> 00:14:16,850
Chairman and ranking member Roger's 

367
00:14:16,850 --> 00:14:18,961
fault in hearing today . Also want to 

368
00:14:18,961 --> 00:14:20,906
thank Secretary Austin and General 

369
00:14:20,906 --> 00:14:20,740
Milley for being here today . Thank you 

370
00:14:20,740 --> 00:14:22,962
both . Mr Secretary . The first time we 

371
00:14:22,962 --> 00:14:25,330
met and the first event I ever attended 

372
00:14:25,330 --> 00:14:27,441
in the House Armed Services Committee 

373
00:14:27,441 --> 00:14:29,980
here was a discussion we held when when 

374
00:14:29,980 --> 00:14:31,813
you came before the committee in 

375
00:14:31,813 --> 00:14:33,924
january . Uh as you know , I voted in 

376
00:14:33,924 --> 00:14:35,980
favour of the waiver required uh for 

377
00:14:35,980 --> 00:14:38,202
your appointment and I did so because I 

378
00:14:38,202 --> 00:14:40,424
thought we should take advantage of the 

379
00:14:40,424 --> 00:14:42,647
opportunity to have somebody in there , 

380
00:14:42,647 --> 00:14:42,470
that that really understood the impact 

381
00:14:42,470 --> 00:14:44,637
that policymakers have on the troops . 

382
00:14:44,637 --> 00:14:46,637
So thank you . And it's good to see 

383
00:14:46,637 --> 00:14:48,859
here again today , sir . Um Generally I 

384
00:14:48,859 --> 00:14:51,026
really appreciated your leadership and 

385
00:14:51,026 --> 00:14:52,970
the continuity that you're able to 

386
00:14:52,970 --> 00:14:55,192
bring to the department during the most 

387
00:14:55,192 --> 00:14:57,303
recent transition administrations . I 

388
00:14:57,303 --> 00:14:57,160
know both of you very clearly 

389
00:14:57,160 --> 00:14:59,271
understand the urgent threats that we 

390
00:14:59,271 --> 00:15:01,382
face . Imagine you both must share my 

391
00:15:01,382 --> 00:15:03,438
frustration with the budget cut that 

392
00:15:03,438 --> 00:15:05,660
President are with the budget cut . The 

393
00:15:05,660 --> 00:15:07,882
President biden has sent over . I agree 

394
00:15:07,882 --> 00:15:10,049
that we need to be more efficient with 

395
00:15:10,049 --> 00:15:09,630
how we spend our money if possible , 

396
00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:11,584
but now is not the time to cut our 

397
00:15:11,584 --> 00:15:13,807
defense spending . Like President biden 

398
00:15:13,807 --> 00:15:15,862
has proposed my first question . The 

399
00:15:15,862 --> 00:15:18,084
national Defense strategy clearly calls 

400
00:15:18,084 --> 00:15:20,029
for 3 to 5% real growth in defense 

401
00:15:20,029 --> 00:15:22,251
spending each year . President biden as 

402
00:15:22,251 --> 00:15:24,307
somewhat ignored the NDS and has put 

403
00:15:24,307 --> 00:15:26,307
you both in a very tough spot in my 

404
00:15:26,307 --> 00:15:28,418
mind by proposing that we cut defense 

405
00:15:28,418 --> 00:15:30,418
spending this year with the request 

406
00:15:30,418 --> 00:15:32,696
that does not keep pace with inflation . 

407
00:15:32,696 --> 00:15:34,362
I've heard alternate proposal 

408
00:15:34,362 --> 00:15:36,473
circulated around Congress That might 

409
00:15:36,473 --> 00:15:38,584
come before this committee of the top 

410
00:15:38,584 --> 00:15:40,751
line . 10% cut for defense spending if 

411
00:15:40,751 --> 00:15:43,029
the 3 to 5% number is based on the NDS , 

412
00:15:43,029 --> 00:15:45,196
I'm not really sure where the proposed 

413
00:15:45,196 --> 00:15:47,418
10% number comes from for both of you . 

414
00:15:47,418 --> 00:15:49,696
If the 10% cut is just a random number . 

415
00:15:49,696 --> 00:15:51,807
Should we really be comparing that as 

416
00:15:51,807 --> 00:15:54,029
an alternative policy recommendation to 

417
00:15:54,029 --> 00:15:56,029
what is called for in the NDS ? And 

418
00:15:56,029 --> 00:15:58,196
would either of you consider A 10% cut 

419
00:15:58,196 --> 00:16:00,418
to be a serious policy recommendation ? 

420
00:16:00,418 --> 00:16:02,810
This might be a short answer when it 

421
00:16:02,810 --> 00:16:05,700
comes to structuring the budget 

422
00:16:05,710 --> 00:16:07,930
congressman . And and by the way , 

423
00:16:07,930 --> 00:16:11,540
thank you for your service . Um I think 

424
00:16:11,550 --> 00:16:15,410
randomness is never a good idea . And 

425
00:16:15,410 --> 00:16:17,521
so we we endeavour as you well know , 

426
00:16:17,521 --> 00:16:20,610
to link our resources to our strategy , 

427
00:16:20,610 --> 00:16:23,080
strategy to policy policy to the , to 

428
00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:25,750
the will of the american people . This 

429
00:16:25,750 --> 00:16:29,510
particular budget was based upon the 

430
00:16:29,510 --> 00:16:33,210
interim strategic guidance given to us 

431
00:16:33,210 --> 00:16:36,230
by by the president early on and my 

432
00:16:36,230 --> 00:16:38,860
guidance to the force . And so those 

433
00:16:38,860 --> 00:16:41,190
were the things that provided us . Uh 

434
00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:43,400
you know , the really the structure to 

435
00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:45,567
be able to to build the budget on . Uh 

436
00:16:45,567 --> 00:16:47,733
But to answer your question , I do not 

437
00:16:47,733 --> 00:16:50,090
think randomness is a good idea when it 

438
00:16:50,090 --> 00:16:53,500
comes to budget and uh Echoes 

439
00:16:53,510 --> 00:16:55,290
comments and I'm not aware of a 

440
00:16:55,300 --> 00:16:58,070
proposal of a 10% cut per se . Uh 

441
00:16:58,080 --> 00:17:00,302
that's not what this budget does . This 

442
00:17:00,302 --> 00:17:02,302
budget essentially is flat . I mean 

443
00:17:02,302 --> 00:17:01,570
depending on how you do the 

444
00:17:01,570 --> 00:17:03,737
calculations , some will tell you it's 

445
00:17:03,737 --> 00:17:05,848
11 billion more than 21 enacted . All 

446
00:17:05,848 --> 00:17:07,959
this will tell you a few billion less 

447
00:17:07,959 --> 00:17:09,903
if you measure it against constant 

448
00:17:09,903 --> 00:17:09,560
dollars . And then of course you've got 

449
00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:11,820
the factor of inflation . Uh the bottom 

450
00:17:11,820 --> 00:17:14,250
line is it's all relative to a threat 

451
00:17:14,260 --> 00:17:16,760
and I think this budget at $715 billion . 

452
00:17:16,940 --> 00:17:19,620
It's a lot of taxpayer dollars And I 

453
00:17:19,620 --> 00:17:21,787
think it adequately defends the United 

454
00:17:21,787 --> 00:17:24,260
States for fiscal year 22 and I would 

455
00:17:24,260 --> 00:17:26,710
urge a rapid passing of it and in a 

456
00:17:26,710 --> 00:17:28,932
rapid enactment of it . Yes sir , thank 

457
00:17:28,932 --> 00:17:31,043
you . Are brought up to 10% because I 

458
00:17:31,043 --> 00:17:33,099
think that's being circulated around 

459
00:17:33,099 --> 00:17:32,620
here and I assume that's going to come 

460
00:17:32,620 --> 00:17:34,842
later on in the form of an amendment or 

461
00:17:34,842 --> 00:17:37,009
something . Um thank you for that . Um 

462
00:17:37,009 --> 00:17:39,009
I'm concerned that this is only the 

463
00:17:39,009 --> 00:17:41,064
beginning of the defense budget cuts 

464
00:17:41,064 --> 00:17:43,287
over the next few years for the reasons 

465
00:17:43,287 --> 00:17:45,509
I just described , Given that President 

466
00:17:45,509 --> 00:17:47,453
Biden relies on your expertise , I 

467
00:17:47,453 --> 00:17:47,330
would urge you both to advise him on 

468
00:17:47,340 --> 00:17:49,640
how disastrous that would be the 10% 

469
00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:51,862
cut for our national security . If that 

470
00:17:51,862 --> 00:17:53,973
comes up last week , we discussed how 

471
00:17:53,973 --> 00:17:55,862
we can implement the goals of the 

472
00:17:55,862 --> 00:17:57,862
national defense strategy despite a 

473
00:17:57,862 --> 00:17:57,540
budget cut . Something that General 

474
00:17:57,540 --> 00:17:59,762
Berger said before this committee stuck 

475
00:17:59,762 --> 00:18:01,900
out to me , he said we have a perfect 

476
00:18:01,900 --> 00:18:03,789
record of guessing where the next 

477
00:18:03,789 --> 00:18:05,956
conflict is going to happen and we got 

478
00:18:05,956 --> 00:18:08,122
it wrong every time we know there will 

479
00:18:08,122 --> 00:18:10,400
be another threat . That's just a fact . 

480
00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:12,511
So I don't see why President biden is 

481
00:18:12,511 --> 00:18:14,567
forcing us into a budget cut when we 

482
00:18:14,567 --> 00:18:16,733
are actually losing to china right now 

483
00:18:16,733 --> 00:18:16,660
and have other rising threats around 

484
00:18:16,660 --> 00:18:18,827
the globe around the globe . Secretary 

485
00:18:18,827 --> 00:18:20,938
Austin assuming we're able to keep up 

486
00:18:20,938 --> 00:18:22,993
with the counter uh , and the threat 

487
00:18:22,993 --> 00:18:25,160
from china . Where do you see the next 

488
00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:27,382
threat coming from ? Also ? How harmful 

489
00:18:27,382 --> 00:18:29,382
are the proposed budget cuts as you 

490
00:18:29,382 --> 00:18:31,271
prepare the military for whatever 

491
00:18:31,271 --> 00:18:33,930
future conflict we might have . Yeah . 

492
00:18:33,940 --> 00:18:36,120
Thank you . Congressman again , China 

493
00:18:36,120 --> 00:18:39,360
is the most challenging uh , 

494
00:18:39,940 --> 00:18:43,140
yeah , competitor that will face . And 

495
00:18:43,140 --> 00:18:45,084
so we have to prepare for the most 

496
00:18:45,084 --> 00:18:48,520
challenging um , competitor . 

497
00:18:48,530 --> 00:18:52,130
Uh , as we do that , uh , would it also 

498
00:18:52,130 --> 00:18:54,130
prepares us well for other things . 

499
00:18:54,130 --> 00:18:57,230
We'll see threats from Russia , Iran 

500
00:18:57,230 --> 00:18:59,452
north Korea and we'll continue to see a 

501
00:18:59,452 --> 00:19:01,600
threat from transnational terrorism . 

502
00:19:01,610 --> 00:19:04,170
Uh , and I agree with general burger 

503
00:19:04,170 --> 00:19:06,281
that there's always something that we 

504
00:19:06,281 --> 00:19:08,559
we weren't really cited on necessarily , 

505
00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:10,862
but we were prepared to address because 

506
00:19:10,862 --> 00:19:12,918
we prepared for the most challenging 

507
00:19:12,918 --> 00:19:14,973
threat . Thank you both . My time is 

508
00:19:14,973 --> 00:19:16,973
that you're back . Chair recognizes 

509
00:19:16,973 --> 00:19:19,084
represented golden for five minutes . 

510
00:19:19,340 --> 00:19:21,229
Thank you . Secretary Austin . In 

511
00:19:21,229 --> 00:19:23,284
recent testimony you provided before 

512
00:19:23,284 --> 00:19:25,396
the Senate , both Senator Collins and 

513
00:19:25,396 --> 00:19:27,396
Senator King asked if you've worked 

514
00:19:27,396 --> 00:19:29,451
with them in Congress to restore the 

515
00:19:29,451 --> 00:19:31,673
proposed cut to the DDG 51 flight three 

516
00:19:31,673 --> 00:19:33,840
program . And in both cases , you said 

517
00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:35,951
the plan was to resource that ship in 

518
00:19:35,951 --> 00:19:38,580
2023 . General Milley . I believe you 

519
00:19:38,580 --> 00:19:41,020
testified something similar earlier 

520
00:19:41,020 --> 00:19:43,150
today . I'd like to understand that 

521
00:19:43,150 --> 00:19:45,710
more clearly the most recent figures 

522
00:19:45,710 --> 00:19:47,932
the Navy has provided . Congress was in 

523
00:19:47,932 --> 00:19:50,154
December and anticipate the procurement 

524
00:19:50,154 --> 00:19:52,210
of two flight three shifts in fiscal 

525
00:19:52,210 --> 00:19:55,100
year 22 and two and fiscal year 23 for 

526
00:19:55,100 --> 00:19:57,460
a total of four ships . In light of 

527
00:19:57,460 --> 00:19:59,238
this . MR . Secretary , am I to 

528
00:19:59,238 --> 00:20:01,293
understand that you're committing to 

529
00:20:01,293 --> 00:20:03,404
procure three DDG flight three shifts 

530
00:20:03,404 --> 00:20:07,340
in fiscal year 2023 ? Well , 

531
00:20:07,340 --> 00:20:10,130
certainly work out the balance of uh , 

532
00:20:10,140 --> 00:20:13,060
of our uh , 

533
00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:16,280
investments uh , in the next budget . 

534
00:20:16,290 --> 00:20:19,140
And I don't wanna predict whether it's 

535
00:20:19,140 --> 00:20:21,307
going to land . But yeah , we're gonna 

536
00:20:21,307 --> 00:20:23,890
go after that . That DDG that uh , that 

537
00:20:23,890 --> 00:20:26,330
we didn't resource in this budget uh , 

538
00:20:26,340 --> 00:20:28,770
in the next fiscal year . Thank you . 

539
00:20:28,780 --> 00:20:30,891
You know , if you just look at all of 

540
00:20:30,891 --> 00:20:32,960
last year , the Navy was saying that 

541
00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:34,849
they needed the flight three from 

542
00:20:34,849 --> 00:20:36,849
capabilities perspective , but also 

543
00:20:36,849 --> 00:20:38,682
they were projecting two ships , 

544
00:20:38,682 --> 00:20:40,460
whether that was last winter in 

545
00:20:40,460 --> 00:20:43,840
february again , uh putting out some 

546
00:20:43,850 --> 00:20:45,680
figures in the fall and then in 

547
00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:47,680
december , it was always two shifts 

548
00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:50,070
each time . And then suddenly We 

549
00:20:50,070 --> 00:20:52,070
received this budget requests to go 

550
00:20:52,070 --> 00:20:54,126
down to one . But you know , if it's 

551
00:20:54,126 --> 00:20:56,348
not a commitment to actually go back up 

552
00:20:56,348 --> 00:20:58,910
to three , then I think , you know , 

553
00:20:58,910 --> 00:21:01,132
it's it's not re sourcing the ship that 

554
00:21:01,132 --> 00:21:03,243
the two senators , Senators and I are 

555
00:21:03,243 --> 00:21:05,299
asking about and it wouldn't in fact 

556
00:21:05,299 --> 00:21:07,410
represent a broken contract . You did 

557
00:21:07,410 --> 00:21:09,610
talk to Senator Collins about wanting 

558
00:21:09,610 --> 00:21:11,721
to have the right mix of capabilities 

559
00:21:11,721 --> 00:21:15,030
in place and I agree with what Senator 

560
00:21:15,030 --> 00:21:17,197
Collins said about quantity having the 

561
00:21:17,197 --> 00:21:19,252
quality of its own . But I'd like to 

562
00:21:19,252 --> 00:21:21,363
focus on the capabilities piece . The 

563
00:21:21,363 --> 00:21:23,530
Navy says that the flight three is key 

564
00:21:23,530 --> 00:21:25,697
to see denial and C control missions . 

565
00:21:25,697 --> 00:21:27,641
It's also expressed urgency to the 

566
00:21:27,641 --> 00:21:29,863
committee about getting the AMG our Spy 

567
00:21:29,863 --> 00:21:31,974
six radar and those capabilities that 

568
00:21:31,974 --> 00:21:34,030
will be brought to the Navy into the 

569
00:21:34,030 --> 00:21:35,752
fleet . The Navy is looking to 

570
00:21:35,752 --> 00:21:37,970
decommission cruisers as well . 

571
00:21:37,980 --> 00:21:40,190
Therefore , the Flight three is slated 

572
00:21:40,190 --> 00:21:42,246
to house and perform the role of air 

573
00:21:42,246 --> 00:21:44,468
defense for our carrier strike groups . 

574
00:21:44,468 --> 00:21:46,412
But this was going to take several 

575
00:21:46,412 --> 00:21:48,746
years to fully feel that new capability . 

576
00:21:48,746 --> 00:21:50,690
Last week , the committee received 

577
00:21:50,690 --> 00:21:52,801
testimony that the benefits of an AMG 

578
00:21:52,801 --> 00:21:55,023
are undeniable and it was stressed that 

579
00:21:55,023 --> 00:21:57,140
the Navy has to have that radar . Uh 

580
00:21:57,140 --> 00:21:59,990
huh . I'm curious in light of the kind 

581
00:21:59,990 --> 00:22:02,046
of change from two ships to ships to 

582
00:22:02,046 --> 00:22:04,268
ships all through 2022 . Just one now . 

583
00:22:04,268 --> 00:22:06,268
And given this testimony that we've 

584
00:22:06,268 --> 00:22:08,101
received from the Navy about the 

585
00:22:08,101 --> 00:22:10,690
importance of the capability . What's 

586
00:22:10,690 --> 00:22:12,968
the driving force behind the reduction ? 

587
00:22:13,540 --> 00:22:15,830
You have to make tough choices in any 

588
00:22:15,830 --> 00:22:19,320
budget . And uh , again , in this 

589
00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:22,170
budget , we're investing in a D . D . G . 

590
00:22:22,940 --> 00:22:26,010
two submarines and a frigate , which I 

591
00:22:26,010 --> 00:22:28,110
think is a pretty substantial 

592
00:22:28,110 --> 00:22:30,970
investment . Again , you know , we said 

593
00:22:30,980 --> 00:22:34,580
before that , You know , the 355 ship , 

594
00:22:34,590 --> 00:22:37,290
uh , Navy is a is a good goal to shoot 

595
00:22:37,290 --> 00:22:39,401
at . You have to look at the progress 

596
00:22:39,401 --> 00:22:41,623
over time . You also have to consider , 

597
00:22:41,623 --> 00:22:43,679
you know , the numbers of holes that 

598
00:22:43,679 --> 00:22:45,846
we're putting in the water between now 

599
00:22:45,846 --> 00:22:47,901
and the end of fiscal year 22 . Uh , 

600
00:22:47,901 --> 00:22:49,901
and when you do that , you'll get a 

601
00:22:49,901 --> 00:22:52,234
better picture of the full capabilities . 

602
00:22:52,234 --> 00:22:55,250
But we I I agree that it is important 

603
00:22:55,250 --> 00:22:58,350
to make sure that that , you know , we 

604
00:22:58,840 --> 00:23:01,410
we invest in that DDG going forward . 

605
00:23:01,420 --> 00:23:03,642
But again , in any budget , you have to 

606
00:23:03,642 --> 00:23:05,753
make some tough choices . And we also 

607
00:23:05,753 --> 00:23:07,920
need to make sure we have the capacity 

608
00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:11,770
uh , to uh , to build the ship that we 

609
00:23:11,770 --> 00:23:14,780
invest in . So , could I just add that 

610
00:23:14,780 --> 00:23:17,610
important , uh , in terms of capability , 

611
00:23:17,610 --> 00:23:19,666
the destroyers of the workers of the 

612
00:23:19,666 --> 00:23:21,943
navy for sure on the surface lead . Uh , 

613
00:23:21,943 --> 00:23:23,999
but the most important investment in 

614
00:23:23,999 --> 00:23:26,221
naval capabilities of submarines and so 

615
00:23:26,221 --> 00:23:26,010
the priority went to the submarines . 

616
00:23:26,020 --> 00:23:27,909
Certainly , it sounds like you're 

617
00:23:27,909 --> 00:23:30,131
talking about trade offs , hard trade . 

618
00:23:30,131 --> 00:23:32,298
So this is , this is a top line budget 

619
00:23:32,298 --> 00:23:34,131
challenge discussion rather than 

620
00:23:34,131 --> 00:23:33,900
delivering what the combatant 

621
00:23:33,900 --> 00:23:35,956
commanders are saying that they need 

622
00:23:35,956 --> 00:23:38,289
out in the fleet in the next five years . 

623
00:23:38,289 --> 00:23:40,511
I know that they're excited to get that 

624
00:23:40,511 --> 00:23:42,622
flight throughout their someone could 

625
00:23:42,622 --> 00:23:42,130
argue that the , you know , the aid 

626
00:23:42,130 --> 00:23:44,186
ships requested , maybe the three of 

627
00:23:44,186 --> 00:23:46,370
them might not be as critical as the 

628
00:23:46,370 --> 00:23:48,481
destroyer , but we don't have to talk 

629
00:23:48,481 --> 00:23:50,703
about that right now . I would just say 

630
00:23:50,703 --> 00:23:52,648
it is also concerning in some ways 

631
00:23:52,648 --> 00:23:54,814
breaking a multi year procurement like 

632
00:23:54,814 --> 00:23:56,703
this is unprecedented and it does 

633
00:23:56,703 --> 00:23:58,814
undermine trust , you know , that the 

634
00:23:58,814 --> 00:23:58,590
navy is going to be able to follow 

635
00:23:58,590 --> 00:24:00,423
through on future commitments or 

636
00:24:00,423 --> 00:24:03,260
contracts concerning to the industrial 

637
00:24:03,260 --> 00:24:05,390
base and and that capability in in in 

638
00:24:05,390 --> 00:24:07,640
my opinion , but I do see that the Navy 

639
00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:10,200
is expressing interest in a future 

640
00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:12,420
multi year procurement for Fy is 23 

641
00:24:12,420 --> 00:24:14,642
through 2027 for the flight three . And 

642
00:24:14,642 --> 00:24:16,753
uh , look forward to working with you 

643
00:24:16,753 --> 00:24:18,864
that I know we're out of time . So if 

644
00:24:18,864 --> 00:24:18,540
you have any comment , we'll take it 

645
00:24:18,540 --> 00:24:20,818
for the record . Thank you , gentlemen . 

646
00:24:20,818 --> 00:24:23,096
Thank you . Before recognizing MR Carl , 

647
00:24:23,096 --> 00:24:25,040
votes have been called and again , 

648
00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:27,300
votes are going roughly a half hour . 

649
00:24:27,310 --> 00:24:29,532
Um , so if someone wants to go over and 

650
00:24:29,532 --> 00:24:31,754
vote now and come back , we're going to 

651
00:24:31,754 --> 00:24:34,800
go till two here and we'll do that . So 

652
00:24:34,810 --> 00:24:37,088
Mr Carl is recognized for five minutes . 

653
00:24:37,088 --> 00:24:39,088
Thank you . Mr . Chairman ranking . 

654
00:24:39,088 --> 00:24:41,460
Remember Rogers . Uh , gentlemen , 

655
00:24:41,460 --> 00:24:43,404
thank you all so much for coming , 

656
00:24:43,404 --> 00:24:45,460
spending time . Secretary Austin . I 

657
00:24:45,460 --> 00:24:47,460
want to point out something that to 

658
00:24:47,460 --> 00:24:49,627
Alabama colleagues here wearing orange 

659
00:24:49,627 --> 00:24:51,571
and blue in support of your auburn 

660
00:24:51,571 --> 00:24:53,738
tigers . And that's tough coming being 

661
00:24:53,738 --> 00:24:55,960
big Alabama fan . I'm just going to let 

662
00:24:55,960 --> 00:24:59,490
you know real quick Real quick . The 

663
00:24:59,500 --> 00:25:01,690
physical year 22 shipbuilding budget 

664
00:25:01,700 --> 00:25:04,050
has been a hot topic today , obviously , 

665
00:25:04,060 --> 00:25:05,838
and here in recent hearings and 

666
00:25:05,838 --> 00:25:08,060
committees that we've been , we've held 

667
00:25:08,060 --> 00:25:11,100
here . The report the navy submitted to 

668
00:25:11,100 --> 00:25:13,540
Congress last week on a long range 

669
00:25:13,550 --> 00:25:16,080
shipbuilding highlights the importance 

670
00:25:16,090 --> 00:25:18,710
of steady acquisitions profiles to 

671
00:25:18,710 --> 00:25:22,150
maintain our industrial base . However , 

672
00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:25,510
just a few pages later in the report , 

673
00:25:25,520 --> 00:25:29,270
it , uh , the report has 3 98 to 23 

674
00:25:29,540 --> 00:25:33,000
2512 ships in the Navy long range 

675
00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:36,260
plan . And the difference is 114 ships . 

676
00:25:36,740 --> 00:25:40,180
Do you do you ? I think there might be 

677
00:25:40,180 --> 00:25:42,730
a little question there . How we won or 

678
00:25:42,730 --> 00:25:45,130
lost 114 ships . That's not my question 

679
00:25:45,130 --> 00:25:47,940
there . But but secretary also the 

680
00:25:47,940 --> 00:25:50,790
shipyard That I've spent the last 10 

681
00:25:50,790 --> 00:25:54,150
years recruiting young people to work 

682
00:25:54,150 --> 00:25:56,520
in is being threatened to be shut down 

683
00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:59,620
now because of this budget . So , we 

684
00:25:59,620 --> 00:26:01,620
with that said , uh , the shipyards 

685
00:26:01,620 --> 00:26:04,340
will be facing layoffs workforce in the 

686
00:26:04,340 --> 00:26:06,890
coming year because of this uh , fy 

687
00:26:06,890 --> 00:26:10,620
2020 22 budget . It's uncertainty . Why 

688
00:26:10,620 --> 00:26:13,350
did this administration Not follow the 

689
00:26:13,350 --> 00:26:15,270
law and submit a true 30 years 

690
00:26:15,270 --> 00:26:16,460
shipbuilding plan ? 

691
00:26:19,840 --> 00:26:22,470
Again , the shipbuilding plan uh will 

692
00:26:22,470 --> 00:26:26,300
come with the Fy 23 submission , but 

693
00:26:26,300 --> 00:26:28,860
that's on the horizon there . So , um , 

694
00:26:29,940 --> 00:26:32,270
we presented a one year budget this 

695
00:26:32,270 --> 00:26:35,730
year and the next year will present the 

696
00:26:35,740 --> 00:26:37,907
budget for the fight up or the outlook 

697
00:26:37,907 --> 00:26:39,962
for the fight up . Okay . And if you 

698
00:26:39,962 --> 00:26:41,962
recall congressman , there was a uh 

699
00:26:41,962 --> 00:26:43,462
submission by the previous 

700
00:26:43,462 --> 00:26:45,351
administration very late . Uh The 

701
00:26:45,351 --> 00:26:47,407
current administration hasn't had an 

702
00:26:47,407 --> 00:26:49,518
opportunity to fully review that . Uh 

703
00:26:49,518 --> 00:26:51,684
that's in the works . So there will be 

704
00:26:51,684 --> 00:26:53,518
a 30 year shipbuilding plan here 

705
00:26:53,518 --> 00:26:55,629
shortly shift gears . Hero , Quick KC 

706
00:26:55,629 --> 00:26:58,910
46 Air Force is accepted delivery of 

707
00:26:58,910 --> 00:27:01,610
the KC 46 aircraft that is not fully 

708
00:27:01,610 --> 00:27:04,510
operational and still has uh still 

709
00:27:04,510 --> 00:27:07,350
haven't quite having some difficulties 

710
00:27:07,350 --> 00:27:10,190
even being used 1st . The first 

711
00:27:10,190 --> 00:27:12,357
operation is not the first operational 

712
00:27:12,357 --> 00:27:15,730
one is not expected to 20 24 

713
00:27:15,950 --> 00:27:18,880
7 years after the original date . Do 

714
00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:21,250
you think any of this makes sense ? The 

715
00:27:21,250 --> 00:27:23,417
taxpayers are paying for aircraft that 

716
00:27:23,417 --> 00:27:25,583
are not that are not fully operational 

717
00:27:25,583 --> 00:27:27,806
and the first is currently projected to 

718
00:27:27,806 --> 00:27:30,060
be fully operational seven years after 

719
00:27:30,060 --> 00:27:32,670
the contract to date . So secretary 

720
00:27:32,670 --> 00:27:36,100
also along With all the issues that KC 

721
00:27:36,100 --> 00:27:39,140
46 a is facing now , it cannot even 

722
00:27:39,150 --> 00:27:42,970
uh even correctly whole fuel . Is it 

723
00:27:42,970 --> 00:27:46,480
time to recommit and look 

724
00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:49,560
at um contracting these aircraft out to 

725
00:27:49,560 --> 00:27:53,510
other companies ? Well , I'll we'll 

726
00:27:53,510 --> 00:27:57,220
work with the Air Force to uh to ensure 

727
00:27:57,220 --> 00:28:00,500
that we're providing uh the right 

728
00:28:00,500 --> 00:28:03,160
amount of oversight and and drill down 

729
00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:06,960
into choices going forward . Uh and an 

730
00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:10,270
assessment suggesting that uh that we 

731
00:28:10,740 --> 00:28:12,796
that we moved to an alternative plan 

732
00:28:12,796 --> 00:28:14,962
has not yet been presented to me . But 

733
00:28:14,962 --> 00:28:17,184
this is something that we we absolutely 

734
00:28:17,184 --> 00:28:19,184
have to remain focused on . We have 

735
00:28:19,184 --> 00:28:21,407
Airbus planes that are flying in europe 

736
00:28:21,407 --> 00:28:23,629
that were refueling behind . So we know 

737
00:28:23,629 --> 00:28:25,462
we can we've we've got we've got 

738
00:28:25,462 --> 00:28:27,518
capabilities of other aircraft other 

739
00:28:27,518 --> 00:28:29,351
than just what's being built and 

740
00:28:29,351 --> 00:28:31,462
delivered . General one quick one for 

741
00:28:31,462 --> 00:28:33,407
you sir . Every time they say that 

742
00:28:33,407 --> 00:28:37,120
china or Russia is a better uh military 

743
00:28:37,120 --> 00:28:39,176
force . I see you go up a little bit 

744
00:28:39,176 --> 00:28:41,287
and I love it . Thank you . Thank you 

745
00:28:41,287 --> 00:28:43,342
for your service , your patriotism . 

746
00:28:43,342 --> 00:28:45,470
Thank you . And and and just to be 

747
00:28:45,470 --> 00:28:47,414
clear and I reiterate it . Neither 

748
00:28:47,414 --> 00:28:50,050
china nor Russia Militarily or any 

749
00:28:50,050 --> 00:28:52,217
other country on the face of the Earth 

750
00:28:52,217 --> 00:28:54,161
is a better military in the United 

751
00:28:54,161 --> 00:28:56,328
States military on the KC- 46 I had an 

752
00:28:56,328 --> 00:28:58,383
opportunity to go out and see them . 

753
00:28:58,383 --> 00:28:58,260
There's some glitches in the software . 

754
00:28:58,270 --> 00:29:00,381
They are operational and we're flying 

755
00:29:00,381 --> 00:29:02,214
them we're flying them and doing 

756
00:29:02,214 --> 00:29:03,937
banking operations in training 

757
00:29:03,937 --> 00:29:05,992
exercises around the world . When we 

758
00:29:05,992 --> 00:29:07,937
say we're not we're not using them 

759
00:29:07,937 --> 00:29:10,103
operationally in combat zones . That's 

760
00:29:10,103 --> 00:29:10,070
where we're not using them . But they 

761
00:29:10,070 --> 00:29:12,237
are being used in training . There are 

762
00:29:12,237 --> 00:29:14,348
some software things yet to be worked 

763
00:29:14,348 --> 00:29:16,514
out and I have confidence in the KC 46 

764
00:29:16,514 --> 00:29:18,570
as a program . Thank you sir . Thank 

765
00:29:18,570 --> 00:29:20,792
you . Now you have my time back . Thank 

766
00:29:20,792 --> 00:29:22,903
you . Mr Loria is recognized for five 

767
00:29:22,903 --> 00:29:25,126
minutes . Well , uh thank you . And and 

768
00:29:25,126 --> 00:29:27,430
General Milley over the last year I've 

769
00:29:27,440 --> 00:29:29,496
been reviewing the Goldwater Nichols 

770
00:29:29,496 --> 00:29:31,662
Act um to look at things both positive 

771
00:29:31,662 --> 00:29:33,218
and negative on the current 

772
00:29:33,218 --> 00:29:35,384
organization within our service . Um , 

773
00:29:35,384 --> 00:29:38,360
A couple of questions I had um uh 10 U . 

774
00:29:38,360 --> 00:29:41,740
S . Code 1 63 states that the president 

775
00:29:41,740 --> 00:29:43,907
may direct that communications between 

776
00:29:43,907 --> 00:29:46,018
the President or secretary of defense 

777
00:29:46,018 --> 00:29:48,129
and the commanders of the unified and 

778
00:29:48,129 --> 00:29:49,907
specified combatant commands be 

779
00:29:49,907 --> 00:29:52,129
transmitted through the Chairman of the 

780
00:29:52,129 --> 00:29:54,351
Joint Chiefs of Staff has the President 

781
00:29:54,351 --> 00:29:54,140
or Secretary of Defense given direction 

782
00:29:54,140 --> 00:29:56,307
to you that communications through the 

783
00:29:56,307 --> 00:29:58,473
combatant commanders should go through 

784
00:29:58,473 --> 00:30:01,350
you . It's a uh routine , the word is 

785
00:30:01,350 --> 00:30:03,517
routine communications and it's in the 

786
00:30:03,517 --> 00:30:05,683
U . C . P . And yes it is currently in 

787
00:30:05,683 --> 00:30:08,430
effect . Um So routine communications , 

788
00:30:08,430 --> 00:30:10,319
normal communication the chain of 

789
00:30:10,319 --> 00:30:12,652
command though is clear and unambiguous . 

790
00:30:12,652 --> 00:30:14,874
The chain of command is the President , 

791
00:30:14,874 --> 00:30:14,470
the Secretary , Defense and the 

792
00:30:14,470 --> 00:30:16,359
Combatant commanders and then the 

793
00:30:16,359 --> 00:30:18,470
President the Secretary , Defense and 

794
00:30:18,470 --> 00:30:20,248
the service secretaries for the 

795
00:30:20,248 --> 00:30:22,248
departments . I am an advisor and I 

796
00:30:22,248 --> 00:30:23,748
advise on the advantages , 

797
00:30:23,748 --> 00:30:25,859
disadvantages and puts and takes cost 

798
00:30:25,859 --> 00:30:27,914
and risk and benefits etcetera . But 

799
00:30:27,914 --> 00:30:29,803
the chain of command is clear but 

800
00:30:29,803 --> 00:30:31,859
routine communication typically goes 

801
00:30:31,859 --> 00:30:34,081
through me in order for me to do my job 

802
00:30:34,081 --> 00:30:36,450
as an adviser . Okay well thank you . 

803
00:30:36,460 --> 00:30:38,860
Um And another portion 10 U . S . Code 

804
00:30:38,940 --> 00:30:41,860
16 says that subject to the authority 

805
00:30:41,860 --> 00:30:43,971
direction control of the Secretary of 

806
00:30:43,971 --> 00:30:45,971
Defense , the chairman of the Joint 

807
00:30:45,971 --> 00:30:48,193
Chiefs of Staff serves as the spokesman 

808
00:30:48,193 --> 00:30:50,193
for the commanders of the combatant 

809
00:30:50,193 --> 00:30:52,249
commands . Especially on operational 

810
00:30:52,249 --> 00:30:54,416
requirements of their commands . Um Do 

811
00:30:54,416 --> 00:30:56,360
you serve as the spokesman for the 

812
00:30:56,360 --> 00:30:56,010
combatant commanders on the operational 

813
00:30:56,010 --> 00:30:58,340
requirements for their commands ? I do . 

814
00:30:58,350 --> 00:31:01,730
And I um uh when I say I the Joint 

815
00:31:01,730 --> 00:31:03,619
Staff who helps me for I was just 

816
00:31:03,619 --> 00:31:06,220
looking , I'm sorry . Yes . No answers . 

817
00:31:06,220 --> 00:31:08,276
Yes . Okay , well thank you . And so 

818
00:31:08,276 --> 00:31:10,387
you recently said that there is a low 

819
00:31:10,387 --> 00:31:12,553
probability that China would take over 

820
00:31:12,553 --> 00:31:14,609
Taiwan militarily in the near term . 

821
00:31:14,609 --> 00:31:16,831
And this seems to be in direct conflict 

822
00:31:16,831 --> 00:31:18,831
to the statements made earlier this 

823
00:31:18,831 --> 00:31:18,250
year by Admiral Davidson , Admiral 

824
00:31:18,260 --> 00:31:20,371
Aquilino last week by the CNN and the 

825
00:31:20,371 --> 00:31:22,371
commandant of the Marine Corps that 

826
00:31:22,371 --> 00:31:24,260
they believe that china could act 

827
00:31:24,260 --> 00:31:26,371
militarily against Taiwan in the next 

828
00:31:26,371 --> 00:31:28,649
six years if their window is six years . 

829
00:31:28,649 --> 00:31:30,704
But you disagree with that . What is 

830
00:31:30,704 --> 00:31:32,910
your window ? I didn't say I disagreed 

831
00:31:32,920 --> 00:31:35,198
with them . Their assessment six years . 

832
00:31:35,198 --> 00:31:37,420
Their assessments based off a speech by 

833
00:31:37,420 --> 00:31:39,364
President XI , that challenged the 

834
00:31:39,364 --> 00:31:41,531
People's Liberation Army to accelerate 

835
00:31:41,531 --> 00:31:43,642
the modernization programs for the to 

836
00:31:43,642 --> 00:31:45,698
develop capabilities to seize Taiwan 

837
00:31:45,698 --> 00:31:47,809
and move it from 2035 to 2027 and six 

838
00:31:47,809 --> 00:31:50,031
years . It's a capability . It's not an 

839
00:31:50,031 --> 00:31:49,800
intent to attack or sees . My 

840
00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:52,133
assessment is an operational assessment . 

841
00:31:52,133 --> 00:31:54,189
Do they have the intent to attack or 

842
00:31:54,189 --> 00:31:56,244
sees in the near term to find is the 

843
00:31:56,244 --> 00:31:56,000
next year or two ? My assessment is 

844
00:31:56,000 --> 00:31:58,333
based on what I've seen right now is no , 

845
00:31:58,333 --> 00:32:00,167
that can always change intent to 

846
00:32:00,167 --> 00:32:02,389
something that can change quickly . But 

847
00:32:02,389 --> 00:32:04,611
um , you know , from the statements and 

848
00:32:04,611 --> 00:32:06,444
how many members of Congress has 

849
00:32:06,444 --> 00:32:06,420
interpret that over this series of 

850
00:32:06,420 --> 00:32:08,531
hearings . You know , we heard animal 

851
00:32:08,531 --> 00:32:10,587
Davidson Aquilina clearly state that 

852
00:32:10,587 --> 00:32:12,531
they thought there was an intent , 

853
00:32:12,531 --> 00:32:14,420
you're saying there's a cable . I 

854
00:32:14,420 --> 00:32:16,587
looked at the difference , I looked at 

855
00:32:16,587 --> 00:32:18,642
their testimony , the words and very 

856
00:32:18,642 --> 00:32:20,753
explicitly and I can go back and look 

857
00:32:20,753 --> 00:32:22,809
at it again . If if Admiral Aquilino 

858
00:32:23,140 --> 00:32:26,160
and Admiral Davidson said that china 

859
00:32:26,160 --> 00:32:28,860
had an intent has made a decision and 

860
00:32:28,860 --> 00:32:31,190
they intend to invade and seize Taiwan , 

861
00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:33,311
then I do disagree with that . I have 

862
00:32:33,311 --> 00:32:35,478
seen no evidence of that actual intent 

863
00:32:35,478 --> 00:32:37,589
or decision making . What I'm talking 

864
00:32:37,589 --> 00:32:39,811
about is capability . Uh What they were 

865
00:32:39,811 --> 00:32:41,867
talking about is capability . Uh And 

866
00:32:41,867 --> 00:32:44,320
the chinese leadership , President XI 

867
00:32:44,330 --> 00:32:46,330
challenged them to accelerate their 

868
00:32:46,330 --> 00:32:48,570
capability development , which is two 

869
00:32:48,570 --> 00:32:50,626
different things . I understand that 

870
00:32:50,626 --> 00:32:52,848
you're making a nuance there . I'll say 

871
00:32:52,848 --> 00:32:54,848
that members of the House , I think 

872
00:32:54,848 --> 00:32:56,737
interpreted the Admiral's earlier 

873
00:32:56,737 --> 00:32:58,903
testimony differently , but just , You 

874
00:32:58,903 --> 00:33:01,014
know , kind of taking that capability 

875
00:33:01,014 --> 00:33:03,237
is capability as well . So whether they 

876
00:33:03,237 --> 00:33:02,950
have intent right now or they may in 

877
00:33:02,950 --> 00:33:05,117
the future between now and 2027 , when 

878
00:33:05,117 --> 00:33:06,783
you think they will have that 

879
00:33:06,783 --> 00:33:09,061
capability just looking at this budget , 

880
00:33:09,061 --> 00:33:11,040
which really is a divest to invest 

881
00:33:11,050 --> 00:33:13,520
strategy . And I would say that , you 

882
00:33:13,520 --> 00:33:17,340
know , with the uh without the 

883
00:33:17,340 --> 00:33:19,284
sense of urgency , that that could 

884
00:33:19,284 --> 00:33:21,618
happen in the next six years , you know , 

885
00:33:21,618 --> 00:33:23,784
it's not really palpable to think that 

886
00:33:23,784 --> 00:33:26,062
we could divest invest uh for instance , 

887
00:33:26,062 --> 00:33:28,062
decommissioned more ships before we 

888
00:33:28,062 --> 00:33:30,118
have the replacement , thus reducing 

889
00:33:30,118 --> 00:33:32,284
the fleet size , retiring bombers at a 

890
00:33:32,284 --> 00:33:34,396
faster rate than more replacing their 

891
00:33:34,396 --> 00:33:36,562
inventory . And the Air Force has just 

892
00:33:36,562 --> 00:33:36,110
said recently in a hearing that the 

893
00:33:36,110 --> 00:33:38,940
bare minimum of maintaining 45 . Um and 

894
00:33:38,940 --> 00:33:41,290
last week we had several hearings um 

895
00:33:41,290 --> 00:33:43,560
that expressed us about the Navy's 

896
00:33:43,570 --> 00:33:46,640
budget , it's divest invest strategy mr 

897
00:33:46,640 --> 00:33:48,584
Gallagher , you know , referred to 

898
00:33:48,584 --> 00:33:50,640
Daniel Davidson's comments as the um 

899
00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:53,540
Davidson window . So , you know , I 

900
00:33:53,540 --> 00:33:55,707
just wanted to and we have very little 

901
00:33:55,707 --> 00:33:57,818
time left . Um get after the question 

902
00:33:57,818 --> 00:33:59,929
of between the combatant commanders , 

903
00:33:59,929 --> 00:34:02,096
um and yourself acting as a role as an 

904
00:34:02,096 --> 00:34:04,373
adviser to the president , um you know , 

905
00:34:04,373 --> 00:34:06,429
who should we be listening to ? Um I 

906
00:34:06,429 --> 00:34:08,484
feel like the combatant commanders , 

907
00:34:08,484 --> 00:34:10,540
their message is very different than 

908
00:34:10,540 --> 00:34:12,762
what we're getting in a message in this 

909
00:34:12,762 --> 00:34:12,040
budget because the budget does not 

910
00:34:12,040 --> 00:34:14,151
convey a sense of urgency when we see 

911
00:34:14,151 --> 00:34:16,340
it as a shrinking fleet rather than a 

912
00:34:16,340 --> 00:34:18,562
growing fleet to china , the to counter 

913
00:34:18,562 --> 00:34:20,673
the threats that we see from china in 

914
00:34:20,673 --> 00:34:22,729
the pacific . And I have very little 

915
00:34:22,729 --> 00:34:24,951
time left . One second left . I'll give 

916
00:34:24,951 --> 00:34:27,173
you an answer on the record . Thank you 

917
00:34:27,173 --> 00:34:29,396
for the record . Misogyny is recognized 

918
00:34:29,396 --> 00:34:31,673
for five minutes . Thank you very much . 

919
00:34:31,673 --> 00:34:33,562
Mr Chairman and thank you General 

920
00:34:33,562 --> 00:34:33,270
Million Secretary Oscar for being here . 

921
00:34:33,280 --> 00:34:35,590
Uh Secretary Austin , I wanted to ask 

922
00:34:35,590 --> 00:34:38,540
you about G . B . S . D . Uh we've had 

923
00:34:38,540 --> 00:34:40,596
consistent testimony as I'm sure you 

924
00:34:40,596 --> 00:34:42,762
know , in front of this committee this 

925
00:34:42,762 --> 00:34:44,984
year and in prior years , At the extent 

926
00:34:44,984 --> 00:34:47,040
to which GBSD will save the taxpayer 

927
00:34:47,040 --> 00:34:49,040
money moving forward with it as $38 

928
00:34:49,040 --> 00:34:51,151
billion dollars and cost savings over 

929
00:34:51,151 --> 00:34:53,318
life extension of the minuteman . Um , 

930
00:34:53,318 --> 00:34:56,740
and obviously it also has significantly 

931
00:34:56,750 --> 00:34:58,528
increased capabilities over the 

932
00:34:58,528 --> 00:35:00,639
minuteman . Uh , I've listened to you 

933
00:35:00,639 --> 00:35:02,639
today . It sounds like there may be 

934
00:35:02,639 --> 00:35:04,806
some question about whether or not you 

935
00:35:04,806 --> 00:35:07,028
agree with those assessments or whether 

936
00:35:07,028 --> 00:35:09,139
or not a change will be made . As you 

937
00:35:09,139 --> 00:35:11,306
look at the posture of you could could 

938
00:35:11,306 --> 00:35:13,417
you elaborate what factors might lead 

939
00:35:13,417 --> 00:35:15,639
you down the path of not going with the 

940
00:35:15,640 --> 00:35:17,862
the less expensive , more effective and 

941
00:35:17,862 --> 00:35:21,150
capable G BSD system ? If I conveyed 

942
00:35:21,150 --> 00:35:23,050
that I already made some sort of 

943
00:35:23,050 --> 00:35:25,217
decision , uh , congresswoman , That's 

944
00:35:25,217 --> 00:35:27,328
absolutely not the case . I think the 

945
00:35:27,328 --> 00:35:29,328
right thing to do if we're going to 

946
00:35:29,328 --> 00:35:31,328
conduct a nuclear posture review of 

947
00:35:31,328 --> 00:35:33,530
which we are going to do that is to 

948
00:35:33,530 --> 00:35:36,280
make sure that we have the right pieces 

949
00:35:36,280 --> 00:35:39,150
in place , the right balance and uh and 

950
00:35:39,160 --> 00:35:40,993
to make sure that we continue to 

951
00:35:40,993 --> 00:35:43,280
evaluate the G . B . S . D . In the 

952
00:35:43,280 --> 00:35:45,558
context of that nuclear posture review . 

953
00:35:45,558 --> 00:35:48,130
But again , my intent was not to convey 

954
00:35:48,140 --> 00:35:51,390
a preference or or a decision . You 

955
00:35:51,390 --> 00:35:54,110
know , that's not where I am . Well , 

956
00:35:54,110 --> 00:35:56,110
thank you . I appreciate that . And 

957
00:35:56,110 --> 00:35:58,221
again , just looking at the cost that 

958
00:35:58,221 --> 00:36:00,443
we've seen the consistent testimony and 

959
00:36:00,443 --> 00:36:02,499
the effectiveness . It would be some 

960
00:36:02,499 --> 00:36:04,499
concern , obviously , if if we move 

961
00:36:04,499 --> 00:36:06,610
towards trying to do a life extension 

962
00:36:06,610 --> 00:36:08,721
at this point . Um Generally I wanted 

963
00:36:08,721 --> 00:36:10,832
to ask you about Afghanistan . Uh you 

964
00:36:10,832 --> 00:36:13,054
know , it does seem that we've now seen 

965
00:36:13,054 --> 00:36:15,150
the taliban taking 50 to 60 more 

966
00:36:15,150 --> 00:36:17,372
districts . I know the government moves 

967
00:36:17,372 --> 00:36:19,428
its district centers at some point , 

968
00:36:19,428 --> 00:36:21,594
but it does seem that were withdrawing 

969
00:36:21,594 --> 00:36:23,483
from the battlefield is our enemy 

970
00:36:23,483 --> 00:36:25,817
advances . So could you talk about both ? 

971
00:36:25,817 --> 00:36:28,039
What what the actual specifics are ? We 

972
00:36:28,039 --> 00:36:30,206
haven't really heard anything in terms 

973
00:36:30,206 --> 00:36:32,039
of over the horizon basing . And 

974
00:36:32,039 --> 00:36:31,530
whether or not you think this is good 

975
00:36:31,530 --> 00:36:33,363
policy to withdraws our enemy is 

976
00:36:33,363 --> 00:36:36,530
advancing . Um Congresswoman that uh in 

977
00:36:36,530 --> 00:36:38,586
terms of the district centers in the 

978
00:36:38,586 --> 00:36:40,752
provinces and it was mentioned earlier 

979
00:36:40,752 --> 00:36:42,974
this 419 district centres 81 of them or 

980
00:36:42,974 --> 00:36:45,030
so are in the hands of the taliban . 

981
00:36:45,030 --> 00:36:47,197
About 50 were done previously in about 

982
00:36:47,197 --> 00:36:49,530
30 or 40 in the last x amount of months . 

983
00:36:49,530 --> 00:36:51,641
Um In addition to that , no provinces 

984
00:36:51,641 --> 00:36:53,474
have fallen to the Taliban . Yet 

985
00:36:53,474 --> 00:36:55,697
There's a 300,000 plus a minus security 

986
00:36:55,697 --> 00:36:57,752
force consisting of the army and the 

987
00:36:57,752 --> 00:37:00,330
police forces uh for the Afghans . Uh 

988
00:37:00,340 --> 00:37:02,562
we have not done train advise assist in 

989
00:37:02,562 --> 00:37:04,730
quite some time down at the tactical 

990
00:37:04,730 --> 00:37:06,897
level . Uh so they have been out there 

991
00:37:06,900 --> 00:37:09,300
uh shouldering the burden of that fight 

992
00:37:09,310 --> 00:37:12,330
for well over a year . Uh and and in 

993
00:37:12,330 --> 00:37:14,660
terms of what we are doing , what we 

994
00:37:14,660 --> 00:37:16,882
are doing is a deliberate , responsible 

995
00:37:16,882 --> 00:37:19,160
drawdown retrograde to bring out U . S . 

996
00:37:19,160 --> 00:37:21,216
Military forces . And we're going to 

997
00:37:21,216 --> 00:37:23,382
keep a small number of forces there to 

998
00:37:23,382 --> 00:37:25,438
maintain the embassy open and and to 

999
00:37:25,438 --> 00:37:25,390
keep kick billy's there and keep the 

1000
00:37:25,390 --> 00:37:27,612
money going for the N . S . F . And the 

1001
00:37:27,612 --> 00:37:29,834
government . Um Now what happens in the 

1002
00:37:29,834 --> 00:37:31,779
future ? There's a wide variety of 

1003
00:37:31,779 --> 00:37:34,030
possibilities . Uh worst case civil war 

1004
00:37:34,030 --> 00:37:36,141
breakdown , fracturing the government 

1005
00:37:36,141 --> 00:37:38,197
fracturing of the army . That's very 

1006
00:37:38,197 --> 00:37:40,308
possible and that would be a very bad 

1007
00:37:40,308 --> 00:37:42,530
outcome . Uh There's also a possibility 

1008
00:37:42,530 --> 00:37:44,697
not high on the probability list , but 

1009
00:37:44,697 --> 00:37:46,697
a negotiated settlement between the 

1010
00:37:46,697 --> 00:37:48,697
government and the Taliban . That's 

1011
00:37:48,697 --> 00:37:50,863
possible . And then the alternative is 

1012
00:37:50,863 --> 00:37:50,740
an outright takeover of the taliban , 

1013
00:37:50,740 --> 00:37:52,910
which I also think that is unlikely , 

1014
00:37:52,910 --> 00:37:55,260
but possible . Uh so there's a variety 

1015
00:37:55,260 --> 00:37:57,960
of outcomes here that could happen . We 

1016
00:37:57,960 --> 00:37:59,904
are executing the orders that were 

1017
00:37:59,904 --> 00:38:02,071
given in a very professional way , and 

1018
00:38:02,071 --> 00:38:04,860
thus far , uh things are relatively 

1019
00:38:04,860 --> 00:38:07,710
stable on our end . Thank you . General 

1020
00:38:07,710 --> 00:38:09,710
kelly , I think it's obviously just 

1021
00:38:09,710 --> 00:38:11,766
significant concern , as we do watch 

1022
00:38:11,766 --> 00:38:13,877
the Taliban advance and we know we've 

1023
00:38:13,877 --> 00:38:16,043
got a counterterrorism mission we have 

1024
00:38:16,043 --> 00:38:17,988
to conduct , and we don't have any 

1025
00:38:17,988 --> 00:38:20,099
basing agreement secured for for over 

1026
00:38:20,099 --> 00:38:22,321
the horizon . Um but but I want to just 

1027
00:38:22,321 --> 00:38:24,670
end with the continuation of this topic 

1028
00:38:24,670 --> 00:38:26,837
that's been discussed . A couple of my 

1029
00:38:26,837 --> 00:38:29,059
colleagues suggested that uh that there 

1030
00:38:29,059 --> 00:38:31,059
were service members who were being 

1031
00:38:31,220 --> 00:38:34,190
somehow uh persecuted because of their 

1032
00:38:34,200 --> 00:38:36,367
political beliefs or their ideological 

1033
00:38:36,367 --> 00:38:38,780
beliefs . And I want to , first of all 

1034
00:38:38,780 --> 00:38:41,002
thank you for noting that the attack on 

1035
00:38:41,002 --> 00:38:42,891
the capital on January six was an 

1036
00:38:42,891 --> 00:38:45,002
attack on the constitution . Uh we do 

1037
00:38:45,002 --> 00:38:47,113
need to understand what happened . It 

1038
00:38:47,113 --> 00:38:49,336
was an attack provoked by the commander 

1039
00:38:49,336 --> 00:38:51,391
in chief . He could have immediately 

1040
00:38:51,391 --> 00:38:53,558
intervened to stop it and he didn't uh 

1041
00:38:53,558 --> 00:38:55,669
I think it's very important for us to 

1042
00:38:55,669 --> 00:38:57,891
recognize and understand who was in the 

1043
00:38:57,891 --> 00:39:00,058
capital that day and why . And we have 

1044
00:39:00,058 --> 00:39:02,169
to protect the First Amendment rights 

1045
00:39:02,169 --> 00:39:04,336
of our service people , no doubt . But 

1046
00:39:04,336 --> 00:39:06,502
it's also critically important that we 

1047
00:39:06,502 --> 00:39:08,780
remind everybody uh that the U . C . M . 

1048
00:39:08,780 --> 00:39:10,669
J . Makes it a crime to engage in 

1049
00:39:10,669 --> 00:39:12,558
sedition or mutiny or to seek the 

1050
00:39:12,558 --> 00:39:14,724
violent overthrow of the United States 

1051
00:39:14,724 --> 00:39:16,836
government . So I would urge , as you 

1052
00:39:16,836 --> 00:39:19,058
are focused on getting to the bottom of 

1053
00:39:19,058 --> 00:39:21,224
what happened . We need to do the same 

1054
00:39:21,224 --> 00:39:23,336
here . But we really need to focus on 

1055
00:39:23,336 --> 00:39:25,558
on that piece of this uh as well . With 

1056
00:39:25,558 --> 00:39:28,740
that , I yield back . Thank you 

1057
00:39:28,750 --> 00:39:30,940
recognize Representative Jacobs . 

1058
00:39:32,720 --> 00:39:35,900
Well , thank you so much for joining us . 

1059
00:39:35,910 --> 00:39:38,240
I wanted to follow on a question from 

1060
00:39:38,250 --> 00:39:40,417
my colleague MS . Cheney about the G . 

1061
00:39:40,417 --> 00:39:42,417
B . S . D . I know you said a final 

1062
00:39:42,417 --> 00:39:44,306
decision will only come after the 

1063
00:39:44,306 --> 00:39:46,250
nuclear posture review . Um but it 

1064
00:39:46,250 --> 00:39:48,028
seems from the budget that this 

1065
00:39:48,028 --> 00:39:50,250
decision has already been made with the 

1066
00:39:50,250 --> 00:39:52,139
claim that The price to build and 

1067
00:39:52,139 --> 00:39:54,361
operate the new GBSD would be less than 

1068
00:39:54,361 --> 00:39:56,194
the cost to maintain the current 

1069
00:39:56,194 --> 00:39:58,361
minimum to minimum three . So it seems 

1070
00:39:58,361 --> 00:40:00,472
this conclusion is based by comparing 

1071
00:40:00,472 --> 00:40:02,528
the total life cycle cost of the two 

1072
00:40:02,528 --> 00:40:04,472
options through 2075 at a deployed 

1073
00:40:04,472 --> 00:40:07,390
level of 400 ICBM . S . Is that true ? 

1074
00:40:07,390 --> 00:40:10,170
If so , where did those numbers ? 420 

1075
00:40:10,170 --> 00:40:12,570
75 come as the baseline requirement . 

1076
00:40:12,580 --> 00:40:14,780
Who made that decision ? And is that 

1077
00:40:14,780 --> 00:40:16,836
still going to be revisited down the 

1078
00:40:16,836 --> 00:40:20,430
road as you said ? Well , 

1079
00:40:20,440 --> 00:40:23,580
certainly as I indicated a couple of 

1080
00:40:23,580 --> 00:40:25,747
minutes ago , you know , I've not made 

1081
00:40:25,747 --> 00:40:29,530
any decisions on uh , on on this . Uh , 

1082
00:40:30,110 --> 00:40:32,830
I think it deserves uh , you know , the 

1083
00:40:32,830 --> 00:40:35,190
right amount of effort and attention 

1084
00:40:35,200 --> 00:40:37,550
and we'll make the best choices . But 

1085
00:40:37,560 --> 00:40:40,840
these choices need to be informed by 

1086
00:40:40,840 --> 00:40:42,951
the by the posture review and to make 

1087
00:40:42,951 --> 00:40:45,007
sure we have the right right balance 

1088
00:40:45,007 --> 00:40:47,940
here . Uh , well thank you . Um , you 

1089
00:40:47,940 --> 00:40:50,140
know , I think it's important that we 

1090
00:40:50,150 --> 00:40:53,330
uh we do the at the 

1091
00:40:53,710 --> 00:40:56,060
process necessary and not invest in a 

1092
00:40:56,060 --> 00:40:59,010
very expensive nuclear platform . As 

1093
00:40:59,020 --> 00:41:00,964
for instance , our president is an 

1094
00:41:00,964 --> 00:41:02,964
active negotiations to decrease our 

1095
00:41:02,964 --> 00:41:04,964
reliance on nuclear weapons . Um my 

1096
00:41:04,964 --> 00:41:07,080
next question uh is , you know , I 

1097
00:41:07,080 --> 00:41:09,820
represent SAN Diego and almost all of 

1098
00:41:09,820 --> 00:41:11,764
the people in uniform I speak to , 

1099
00:41:11,764 --> 00:41:13,931
they're struggling to find childcare . 

1100
00:41:13,931 --> 00:41:16,042
I'm happy to see that the President's 

1101
00:41:16,042 --> 00:41:17,987
budget increases base pay , but it 

1102
00:41:17,987 --> 00:41:20,209
seems like there's just so much more we 

1103
00:41:20,209 --> 00:41:21,987
need to do . And I was a little 

1104
00:41:21,987 --> 00:41:24,209
surprised that in this budget request , 

1105
00:41:24,209 --> 00:41:26,330
it only requests funding of a single 

1106
00:41:26,340 --> 00:41:28,118
construction of a new childcare 

1107
00:41:28,118 --> 00:41:30,540
development center , 1 200 space center 

1108
00:41:30,550 --> 00:41:33,100
at Sheppard Air Force Base in texas . I 

1109
00:41:33,100 --> 00:41:35,350
know you said to my colleague earlier 

1110
00:41:35,350 --> 00:41:37,572
that you were working on investments in 

1111
00:41:37,572 --> 00:41:39,572
home care support and others . So I 

1112
00:41:39,572 --> 00:41:41,794
just wanted to know , what more are you 

1113
00:41:41,794 --> 00:41:44,017
planning on doing to address child care 

1114
00:41:44,017 --> 00:41:47,110
beyond this single uh one space that is 

1115
00:41:47,110 --> 00:41:50,700
being uh constructed ? Well , thanks 

1116
00:41:50,700 --> 00:41:52,478
for the question . And for your 

1117
00:41:52,478 --> 00:41:54,644
continued focus on what I believe is a 

1118
00:41:54,644 --> 00:41:57,420
very important issue . Um , we'll 

1119
00:41:57,420 --> 00:42:00,140
continue to work with the services , uh , 

1120
00:42:00,150 --> 00:42:02,206
as they work with their installation 

1121
00:42:02,206 --> 00:42:04,428
commanders and they identify what their 

1122
00:42:04,428 --> 00:42:06,760
needs are , and make sure that those 

1123
00:42:06,760 --> 00:42:08,538
needs are reflected in military 

1124
00:42:08,538 --> 00:42:10,740
construction plans going forward . But 

1125
00:42:10,740 --> 00:42:12,790
I I personally believe that , and I 

1126
00:42:12,790 --> 00:42:15,300
know all the secretaries and chiefs 

1127
00:42:15,300 --> 00:42:17,510
believe that this is a this is an 

1128
00:42:17,510 --> 00:42:19,510
important issue in one . We need to 

1129
00:42:19,510 --> 00:42:21,690
continue to invest in . So more , more 

1130
00:42:21,690 --> 00:42:23,912
work needs to be done to the point that 

1131
00:42:23,912 --> 00:42:26,079
you're making . Uh , thank you . Yes , 

1132
00:42:26,079 --> 00:42:28,079
I really want to emphasize that . I 

1133
00:42:28,079 --> 00:42:29,968
think what's in the budget is not 

1134
00:42:29,968 --> 00:42:32,134
sufficient . And I can tell you for my 

1135
00:42:32,134 --> 00:42:34,190
constituents in SAn Diego , uh , you 

1136
00:42:34,190 --> 00:42:36,079
know of our subsidized child care 

1137
00:42:36,079 --> 00:42:38,246
waiting lists , spots , more than half 

1138
00:42:38,246 --> 00:42:40,412
of them are military families . And so 

1139
00:42:40,412 --> 00:42:42,412
it's a really critical need . And I 

1140
00:42:42,412 --> 00:42:44,357
hope that you would uh continue to 

1141
00:42:44,357 --> 00:42:46,301
emphasize it and I appreciate your 

1142
00:42:46,301 --> 00:42:48,468
comments there . Um If Miss escobar is 

1143
00:42:48,468 --> 00:42:50,634
here , I'm happy to give the remainder 

1144
00:42:50,634 --> 00:42:51,912
of my time uh to her . 

1145
00:42:55,400 --> 00:42:58,930
Mhm . Mhm . All right . Well then 

1146
00:42:58,940 --> 00:43:00,720
uh MR carroll , you'll beck . 

1147
00:43:04,000 --> 00:43:06,430
Chair recognizes Representative McClain . 

1148
00:43:06,900 --> 00:43:09,710
Mhm . Thank you . Mr Chairman Mr 

1149
00:43:09,710 --> 00:43:11,710
Secretary , I want to thank you for 

1150
00:43:11,710 --> 00:43:13,432
being here um in front of this 

1151
00:43:13,432 --> 00:43:15,599
committee today and it's a pleasure to 

1152
00:43:15,599 --> 00:43:17,821
meet you in person . Um I want to speak 

1153
00:43:17,821 --> 00:43:19,988
today of what in regards to what a lot 

1154
00:43:19,988 --> 00:43:22,099
of my college colleagues have already 

1155
00:43:22,099 --> 00:43:24,860
spoken on , which is china and I think 

1156
00:43:24,860 --> 00:43:27,350
we all agree is china seems to be our 

1157
00:43:27,350 --> 00:43:30,970
most challenging um uh 

1158
00:43:30,980 --> 00:43:33,760
adversary or national threat . We're 

1159
00:43:33,760 --> 00:43:35,871
fortunate enough to have thousands of 

1160
00:43:35,871 --> 00:43:38,093
businesses across our country that have 

1161
00:43:38,093 --> 00:43:40,230
contracts with your department . My 

1162
00:43:40,230 --> 00:43:42,341
question is , do you believe it would 

1163
00:43:42,341 --> 00:43:44,563
be in the best interest of our national 

1164
00:43:44,563 --> 00:43:46,619
security to ensure that the CCP does 

1165
00:43:46,619 --> 00:43:48,397
not have access to our military 

1166
00:43:48,397 --> 00:43:50,520
military intellectual property ? 

1167
00:43:52,400 --> 00:43:54,770
I absolutely believe that . And I think 

1168
00:43:54,770 --> 00:43:58,350
we need , it's uh important to me to 

1169
00:43:58,350 --> 00:44:00,730
make sure that number one , the D O D 

1170
00:44:00,730 --> 00:44:03,420
networks are properly um 

1171
00:44:03,890 --> 00:44:07,420
protected , but we need to advocate are 

1172
00:44:07,890 --> 00:44:10,180
ensure that all those people , all 

1173
00:44:10,180 --> 00:44:12,350
those companies that are supporting us 

1174
00:44:12,350 --> 00:44:14,610
and supply chains are doing the right 

1175
00:44:14,620 --> 00:44:17,430
things to meet the standards to reduce 

1176
00:44:17,430 --> 00:44:19,430
vulnerabilities in the supply chain 

1177
00:44:19,430 --> 00:44:21,860
extremely critical . Um Finally , do 

1178
00:44:21,860 --> 00:44:23,916
you fear that when the United States 

1179
00:44:23,916 --> 00:44:26,082
conducts a foreign military sales to a 

1180
00:44:26,082 --> 00:44:28,830
nation that also has accepted belt and 

1181
00:44:28,830 --> 00:44:31,110
road and road funding that our military 

1182
00:44:31,110 --> 00:44:33,277
equipment might fall into the hands of 

1183
00:44:33,277 --> 00:44:36,210
the CCP ? If not , can you explain , 

1184
00:44:36,220 --> 00:44:39,020
how do we ensure that this doesn't 

1185
00:44:39,020 --> 00:44:42,450
happen ? And and what do we do to make 

1186
00:44:42,450 --> 00:44:46,390
this better and to protect America and 

1187
00:44:46,390 --> 00:44:48,557
to protect our intellectual property ? 

1188
00:44:48,690 --> 00:44:52,440
What action steps can we take ? Well 

1189
00:44:52,450 --> 00:44:55,760
before we enter into the agreement 

1190
00:44:55,760 --> 00:44:57,980
there , we certainly do assessments to 

1191
00:44:57,980 --> 00:45:00,420
make sure that uh people that were 

1192
00:45:00,420 --> 00:45:03,490
selling the gear to do have the uh the 

1193
00:45:03,500 --> 00:45:06,160
capability to protect our property , 

1194
00:45:06,160 --> 00:45:08,350
our intellectual property and and they 

1195
00:45:08,350 --> 00:45:11,100
agreed to do what's necessary to do 

1196
00:45:11,100 --> 00:45:13,650
that . So to make sure I understand I 

1197
00:45:13,660 --> 00:45:15,660
didn't mean to interrupt is when we 

1198
00:45:15,660 --> 00:45:19,020
engage in a sail , we put 

1199
00:45:19,020 --> 00:45:22,840
mechanisms in place to make sure that 

1200
00:45:22,850 --> 00:45:25,720
our intellectual property is protected 

1201
00:45:26,490 --> 00:45:29,770
and secure to the best of our abilities . 

1202
00:45:29,770 --> 00:45:32,950
Yes , we we we we take appropriate uh 

1203
00:45:32,960 --> 00:45:35,182
and responsible actions . And of course 

1204
00:45:35,182 --> 00:45:37,349
the State Department is involved in in 

1205
00:45:37,349 --> 00:45:40,010
uh deciding whether or not these cells 

1206
00:45:40,010 --> 00:45:42,100
will be will be Consummated . I mean 

1207
00:45:42,100 --> 00:45:45,220
they get approved that what do you 

1208
00:45:45,220 --> 00:45:48,880
think we can , what measures if any can 

1209
00:45:48,880 --> 00:45:51,110
we take to make sure that we ensure 

1210
00:45:51,110 --> 00:45:55,030
this process is even uh safer 

1211
00:45:55,030 --> 00:45:57,380
to a greater to a greater ability . I 

1212
00:45:57,380 --> 00:45:59,460
mean , you hear at least I hear the 

1213
00:45:59,460 --> 00:46:01,571
american public here is on a constant 

1214
00:46:01,571 --> 00:46:03,860
basis . China is stealing our 

1215
00:46:03,860 --> 00:46:06,090
intellectual property and it's coming 

1216
00:46:06,090 --> 00:46:09,370
from a lot of our business 

1217
00:46:09,370 --> 00:46:13,190
dealings . You know , 

1218
00:46:13,190 --> 00:46:15,850
I think we can we need to continue to 

1219
00:46:15,850 --> 00:46:18,017
engage our partners and allies and and 

1220
00:46:18,017 --> 00:46:20,183
and emphasize the importance of this . 

1221
00:46:20,183 --> 00:46:23,580
We need to make sure that that as we as 

1222
00:46:23,580 --> 00:46:27,570
we convey equipment that 

1223
00:46:27,570 --> 00:46:30,770
we are confident that the people that 

1224
00:46:30,770 --> 00:46:33,810
were conveying it to can can protect 

1225
00:46:33,810 --> 00:46:36,390
the intellectual property . Thank you 

1226
00:46:36,390 --> 00:46:39,670
sir , I yield back . Thank you . We are 

1227
00:46:39,670 --> 00:46:41,448
at that magic hour . I know the 

1228
00:46:41,448 --> 00:46:43,281
secretary has a hard stop at two 

1229
00:46:43,281 --> 00:46:46,300
o'clock so Mr cahill . I'm sorry , I 

1230
00:46:46,310 --> 00:46:48,588
never I never pronounce that correctly . 

1231
00:46:48,588 --> 00:46:50,754
I'll learn by the end of the session , 

1232
00:46:50,754 --> 00:46:52,921
I promise . But you are recognized for 

1233
00:46:52,921 --> 00:46:52,900
five minutes and that he will be the 

1234
00:46:52,900 --> 00:46:54,956
last question that we have before we 

1235
00:46:54,956 --> 00:46:57,070
close it too . Mahalo Mr Chair and a 

1236
00:46:57,070 --> 00:46:59,292
law Secretary Austin . General Milley , 

1237
00:46:59,292 --> 00:47:01,570
Mr McCord . Thank you for your service . 

1238
00:47:01,570 --> 00:47:03,792
All of your testimony today . I want to 

1239
00:47:03,792 --> 00:47:05,681
focus my questions on the pacific 

1240
00:47:05,681 --> 00:47:07,403
deterrence initiative . Uh the 

1241
00:47:07,403 --> 00:47:08,959
importance of those U . S . 

1242
00:47:08,959 --> 00:47:10,848
Relationships with our allies and 

1243
00:47:10,848 --> 00:47:13,014
partisan in the pacific region and the 

1244
00:47:13,014 --> 00:47:15,348
changing nature of the future conflicts . 

1245
00:47:15,348 --> 00:47:17,403
Secretary Austin , I applaud you for 

1246
00:47:17,403 --> 00:47:19,570
showcasing America's commitment to the 

1247
00:47:19,570 --> 00:47:21,626
end of pacific region by making your 

1248
00:47:21,626 --> 00:47:23,792
first overseas visit with your trip to 

1249
00:47:23,792 --> 00:47:26,014
Japan and South Korea and India . And a 

1250
00:47:26,014 --> 00:47:28,070
brief stop in the Hawaiian islands . 

1251
00:47:28,070 --> 00:47:30,126
I'm sorry , I missed you . But as we 

1252
00:47:30,126 --> 00:47:32,348
are now discussing therefore 22 defense 

1253
00:47:32,348 --> 00:47:34,014
budget which I appreciate the 

1254
00:47:34,014 --> 00:47:36,126
president's budget and the investment 

1255
00:47:36,126 --> 00:47:38,014
in the pd . I also think as china 

1256
00:47:38,014 --> 00:47:40,237
becomes more aggressive in the region , 

1257
00:47:40,237 --> 00:47:42,181
the United States needs to be more 

1258
00:47:42,181 --> 00:47:44,070
aggressive regarding our critical 

1259
00:47:44,070 --> 00:47:46,014
investments in the P . D . I . And 

1260
00:47:46,014 --> 00:47:48,126
there are things that are not in that 

1261
00:47:48,126 --> 00:47:50,292
budget in the unfunded , like the Guam 

1262
00:47:50,292 --> 00:47:52,292
defense system , the homeland radar 

1263
00:47:52,292 --> 00:47:54,300
Havarti attack more in palau that I 

1264
00:47:54,300 --> 00:47:56,590
think we need to take a look at and so 

1265
00:47:56,590 --> 00:47:58,930
that we can fully fund that P . I . And 

1266
00:47:58,940 --> 00:48:01,760
and and fully meet the objectives that 

1267
00:48:01,760 --> 00:48:03,816
we discussed today , which is one of 

1268
00:48:03,816 --> 00:48:05,927
those national instruments of power , 

1269
00:48:05,927 --> 00:48:07,982
which is our military deterrence and 

1270
00:48:07,982 --> 00:48:10,149
the strength of that deterrence in the 

1271
00:48:10,149 --> 00:48:12,371
indo pacific region . So as a member of 

1272
00:48:12,371 --> 00:48:14,538
the pacific Islands Caucus , I want to 

1273
00:48:14,538 --> 00:48:16,649
continue to call attention to oceanic 

1274
00:48:16,649 --> 00:48:18,760
in the pacific Islands region , China 

1275
00:48:18,760 --> 00:48:20,982
regularly provides military training in 

1276
00:48:20,982 --> 00:48:23,149
the pacific islands region . They have 

1277
00:48:23,149 --> 00:48:25,316
been broadening their reach throughout 

1278
00:48:25,316 --> 00:48:27,482
the pacific um They actively cultivate 

1279
00:48:27,482 --> 00:48:29,704
those relationships with senior defense 

1280
00:48:29,704 --> 00:48:31,871
officials . Um You know , we know what 

1281
00:48:31,871 --> 00:48:33,871
their investments that they've been 

1282
00:48:33,871 --> 00:48:36,093
doing in Guam for a number of or excuse 

1283
00:48:36,093 --> 00:48:38,093
me in Western Samoa for a number of 

1284
00:48:38,093 --> 00:48:40,204
decades . And as those defense region 

1285
00:48:40,204 --> 00:48:42,093
officials from china um go to the 

1286
00:48:42,093 --> 00:48:44,316
different pacific island regions , they 

1287
00:48:44,316 --> 00:48:46,316
get full military honors such as in 

1288
00:48:46,316 --> 00:48:48,204
Papua new guinea . Um Under their 

1289
00:48:48,204 --> 00:48:50,427
Defence force Chief of Defence visit in 

1290
00:48:50,427 --> 00:48:52,649
2016 . Under President G . SR . P . L . 

1291
00:48:52,649 --> 00:48:54,538
A . Officials have held bilateral 

1292
00:48:54,538 --> 00:48:56,593
meetings with their counterparts and 

1293
00:48:56,593 --> 00:48:58,704
Papua New guinea and Tonga and Fiji . 

1294
00:48:58,704 --> 00:48:58,320
And so my first question to you sir , 

1295
00:48:58,320 --> 00:49:00,670
is given the increasing military to 

1296
00:49:00,670 --> 00:49:02,670
military engagements in the pacific 

1297
00:49:02,670 --> 00:49:04,892
islands region , especially Papua , New 

1298
00:49:04,892 --> 00:49:07,114
guinea , Fiji and Tonga . Many of those 

1299
00:49:07,114 --> 00:49:09,281
small islands listed on the unfunded . 

1300
00:49:09,281 --> 00:49:12,160
Um um Section 12 51 will the D . O . D . 

1301
00:49:12,160 --> 00:49:14,760
Plan similar high level engagements to 

1302
00:49:14,760 --> 00:49:17,290
strengthen those relationship with with 

1303
00:49:17,290 --> 00:49:19,457
our counterparts in those small island 

1304
00:49:19,457 --> 00:49:21,490
nations in Oceania . To deter china 

1305
00:49:21,670 --> 00:49:23,781
from extending their reach throughout 

1306
00:49:23,781 --> 00:49:25,614
the Western pacific and into the 

1307
00:49:25,614 --> 00:49:28,600
eastern pacific . As you pointed out , 

1308
00:49:28,610 --> 00:49:30,890
congressman . Uh The end of pacific is 

1309
00:49:30,890 --> 00:49:34,190
important to us and my very first trip 

1310
00:49:34,570 --> 00:49:37,270
was out to the region and I would just 

1311
00:49:37,270 --> 00:49:40,380
say that china is engaging a number of 

1312
00:49:40,390 --> 00:49:43,080
different uh countries and 

1313
00:49:43,090 --> 00:49:46,510
uh with economic 

1314
00:49:46,520 --> 00:49:49,890
uh carrots . Yeah . 

1315
00:49:50,370 --> 00:49:53,250
Um Well we have something that china 

1316
00:49:53,250 --> 00:49:55,306
doesn't have , we have allies and we 

1317
00:49:55,306 --> 00:49:57,472
have partners . Uh and if you consider 

1318
00:49:57,472 --> 00:49:59,770
the Australia's of Japan's uh you know 

1319
00:49:59,770 --> 00:50:02,920
the koreas of the world uh you know 

1320
00:50:02,930 --> 00:50:05,900
there is tremendous tremendous capacity 

1321
00:50:05,910 --> 00:50:08,850
in our allies and partners . Uh I think 

1322
00:50:08,850 --> 00:50:11,790
the pacific islands are absolutely 

1323
00:50:11,790 --> 00:50:14,660
important and you'll see us continue to 

1324
00:50:14,670 --> 00:50:17,880
uh engage various countries in the 

1325
00:50:17,880 --> 00:50:20,047
region there and and to make sure that 

1326
00:50:20,260 --> 00:50:22,220
where we can we're increasing our 

1327
00:50:22,220 --> 00:50:26,070
capacity uh and access accessibility 

1328
00:50:26,080 --> 00:50:28,640
uh and and strengthening the 

1329
00:50:28,650 --> 00:50:32,640
relationships . But uh but we far and 

1330
00:50:32,640 --> 00:50:35,530
away exceed any capability that china 

1331
00:50:35,530 --> 00:50:38,290
would have in terms of uh partner or 

1332
00:50:38,290 --> 00:50:40,457
allied capability . And we're going to 

1333
00:50:40,457 --> 00:50:42,568
continue to strengthen what we have . 

1334
00:50:42,568 --> 00:50:44,290
What are your thoughts then on 

1335
00:50:44,290 --> 00:50:46,401
expanding those relationships that we 

1336
00:50:46,401 --> 00:50:48,568
currently have or previously had ? For 

1337
00:50:48,568 --> 00:50:50,790
an example , in the Philippines . Um we 

1338
00:50:50,790 --> 00:50:53,012
had robust basis at clark , of course , 

1339
00:50:53,012 --> 00:50:54,734
we have a presence in Subic in 

1340
00:50:54,734 --> 00:50:57,012
Singapore . We have chinese , you know , 

1341
00:50:57,012 --> 00:50:59,179
we have , you know Powell and um in in 

1342
00:50:59,179 --> 00:51:01,234
Thailand , what are your thoughts on 

1343
00:51:01,234 --> 00:51:03,012
expanding those relationships ? 

1344
00:51:03,012 --> 00:51:04,901
Specifically the Philippines ? Uh 

1345
00:51:04,901 --> 00:51:07,068
absolutely the right thing to do . And 

1346
00:51:07,068 --> 00:51:08,846
uh you know , I talked with the 

1347
00:51:08,846 --> 00:51:10,512
Minister of Defense uh in the 

1348
00:51:10,512 --> 00:51:12,650
Philippines a couple of times , uh we 

1349
00:51:12,660 --> 00:51:15,140
certainly we would look to expand our 

1350
00:51:15,140 --> 00:51:17,210
footprint uh and strengthen our 

1351
00:51:17,210 --> 00:51:19,266
relationship as we go forward . I'll 

1352
00:51:19,266 --> 00:51:21,488
continue to work on that personally . I 

1353
00:51:21,488 --> 00:51:23,543
think it's really really important . 

1354
00:51:23,543 --> 00:51:25,488
Okay thank you Mr Chair and I will 

1355
00:51:25,488 --> 00:51:27,488
yield back to minimum time mahalo . 

1356
00:51:27,488 --> 00:51:29,543
Well thank you very much . I want to 

1357
00:51:29,543 --> 00:51:31,766
thank both of you , all three of you Mr 

1358
00:51:31,766 --> 00:51:33,877
cord lasted . Not good question . I'm 

1359
00:51:33,877 --> 00:51:36,043
sure you are profoundly disappointed . 

1360
00:51:36,043 --> 00:51:38,270
Um But I do want to thank the secretary 

1361
00:51:38,460 --> 00:51:40,349
and the chairman and I think it's 

1362
00:51:40,349 --> 00:51:42,349
really important as we've had these 

1363
00:51:42,349 --> 00:51:44,571
discussions . You know , we we focussed 

1364
00:51:44,571 --> 00:51:46,571
on some areas of disagreement , but 

1365
00:51:46,571 --> 00:51:48,793
there is overwhelming agreement on this 

1366
00:51:48,793 --> 00:51:51,016
committee in a bipartisan way about the 

1367
00:51:51,016 --> 00:51:50,820
priorities and needs within our 

1368
00:51:50,820 --> 00:51:52,931
Department of Defense and how to meet 

1369
00:51:52,931 --> 00:51:55,042
those . And I hope we'll stay focused 

1370
00:51:55,042 --> 00:51:56,820
on those um and not not get too 

1371
00:51:56,820 --> 00:51:58,653
obsessed with the areas where we 

1372
00:51:58,653 --> 00:52:00,820
disagree because there's a lot of good 

1373
00:52:00,820 --> 00:52:02,987
in what you're doing at the pentagon . 

1374
00:52:02,987 --> 00:52:05,153
A lot of work to be done , obviously . 

1375
00:52:05,153 --> 00:52:04,410
And I think this committee and this 

1376
00:52:04,410 --> 00:52:06,640
Congress will contribute to that with 

1377
00:52:06,640 --> 00:52:08,862
useful and productive and helpful ideas 

1378
00:52:08,862 --> 00:52:10,862
over the course of the next several 

1379
00:52:10,862 --> 00:52:10,700
months as we work through the defense 

1380
00:52:10,700 --> 00:52:13,650
bill uh in the appropriations bill . Um 

1381
00:52:13,660 --> 00:52:15,370
but I , you know , I want to 

1382
00:52:15,380 --> 00:52:17,850
congratulate Secretary Austin's 1st 1st 

1383
00:52:17,850 --> 00:52:20,017
appearance before this committee , but 

1384
00:52:20,017 --> 00:52:22,017
first appearance , I believe as the 

1385
00:52:22,017 --> 00:52:23,906
secretary , um , and we very much 

1386
00:52:23,906 --> 00:52:26,072
appreciate your leadership and I think 

1387
00:52:26,072 --> 00:52:28,294
you are absolutely the right person for 

1388
00:52:28,294 --> 00:52:27,780
the job at this moment . Glad you're 

1389
00:52:27,780 --> 00:52:29,891
there . Look forward to continuing to 

1390
00:52:29,891 --> 00:52:32,113
work with you . Um , Mr Rogers , do you 

1391
00:52:32,113 --> 00:52:34,447
have anything for the good of the order ? 

1392
00:52:34,447 --> 00:52:36,780
Just to say , I envy Mr McCord . I mean , 

1393
00:52:36,780 --> 00:52:38,947
this is this is my kind of hearing for 

1394
00:52:38,947 --> 00:52:41,002
you , buddy , and I have the highest 

1395
00:52:41,002 --> 00:52:42,836
respect for the secretary of the 

1396
00:52:42,836 --> 00:52:45,002
general and thank you for your service 

1397
00:52:45,002 --> 00:52:47,169
and being here . And uh , and I concur 

1398
00:52:47,169 --> 00:52:49,280
with the chairman's observation about 

1399
00:52:49,280 --> 00:52:51,447
this committee's focus on what we need 

1400
00:52:51,447 --> 00:52:53,280
and uh , we will continue in our 

1401
00:52:53,280 --> 00:52:55,447
bipartisan fashion . So thank you very 

1402
00:52:55,447 --> 00:52:55,150
much . Now , you're back . Thank you 

1403
00:52:55,150 --> 00:52:57,060
with that . We're adjourned . Yeah .