WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:02.850 And welcome to the first personnel 00:02.850 --> 00:05.260 subcommittee hearing of the 118th 00:05.260 --> 00:07.950 Congress . I am pleased to welcome all 00:07.950 --> 00:10.190 of you here to this hearing to receive 00:10.190 --> 00:13.370 testimony on the military and civilian 00:13.370 --> 00:15.592 personnel programs at the Department of 00:15.592 --> 00:18.440 Defense and the Military Services . In 00:18.440 --> 00:20.650 review of the administration's defense 00:20.650 --> 00:23.980 authorization request for physical 2020 00:23.980 --> 00:27.210 for all three of my brothers served in 00:27.210 --> 00:29.360 the military . So supporting the 00:29.360 --> 00:31.820 military and military families means a 00:31.820 --> 00:35.070 lot to me and I am particularly pleased 00:35.070 --> 00:37.870 to be chairing my first hearing as an 00:37.880 --> 00:40.530 armed services subcommittee , chair , 00:40.540 --> 00:42.730 I'm honored to chair the subcommittee 00:42.730 --> 00:44.786 and I look forward to continuing its 00:44.786 --> 00:47.730 long history of bipartisanship and 00:47.730 --> 00:50.160 working as a partner with ranking 00:50.160 --> 00:52.600 member , Scott and with all of our 00:52.600 --> 00:55.020 members on both sides of the aisle to 00:55.020 --> 00:56.853 improve the lives of our service 00:56.853 --> 01:00.440 members of retirees , military families , 01:00.450 --> 01:03.810 a civilian workforce . Our annual 01:03.810 --> 01:06.240 posture hearing provides the department 01:06.240 --> 01:08.680 the opportunity to discuss their 01:08.680 --> 01:10.870 personnel policy priorities for the 01:10.870 --> 01:13.950 coming year . This year marks the 50th 01:13.960 --> 01:17.220 anniversary of the all volunteer force 01:17.230 --> 01:19.286 in today's hearing . I would like to 01:19.286 --> 01:22.020 focus on how we welcome young people 01:22.030 --> 01:24.460 into the military , how we support 01:24.460 --> 01:27.080 families who continue to serve and how 01:27.080 --> 01:29.010 the military contributes to our 01:29.010 --> 01:31.570 communities . The administration's 01:31.570 --> 01:33.680 national defense strategy gets it 01:33.680 --> 01:37.530 exactly right . In prioritizing service 01:37.530 --> 01:40.460 members , we must do this to address 01:40.460 --> 01:42.270 one of the military's greatest 01:42.270 --> 01:45.050 challenges . The ongoing struggle to 01:45.050 --> 01:48.910 meet its recruiting goals today , only 01:48.910 --> 01:50.854 the Marine Corps and the Sky Space 01:50.854 --> 01:52.799 Force are meeting their recruiting 01:52.799 --> 01:55.980 targets . Meanwhile , the army is set 01:55.980 --> 01:59.700 to miss its target by tens of thousands 01:59.850 --> 02:02.790 of soldiers and the Navy has recently 02:03.000 --> 02:05.430 lowered its requirements and standards 02:05.430 --> 02:08.250 for many ratings in order to address 02:08.260 --> 02:11.310 anticipated shortfalls . The most 02:11.310 --> 02:14.010 direct way to address this shortfall is 02:14.010 --> 02:16.177 by making sure that we are taking care 02:16.177 --> 02:18.220 of military personnel and their 02:18.220 --> 02:21.230 families . This is just as much a 02:21.230 --> 02:24.510 readiness issue as our supply of tanks 02:24.510 --> 02:27.700 and missiles and material to fight on 02:27.700 --> 02:31.340 land and at sea . So where to 02:31.340 --> 02:33.720 start . Well , I have a lot of work 02:33.730 --> 02:35.508 that I want to propose for this 02:35.508 --> 02:37.790 subcommittee including protecting and 02:37.790 --> 02:40.260 enhancing healthcare . Continuing to 02:40.260 --> 02:42.140 build on Senator Gillibrand's 02:42.140 --> 02:44.710 leadership in addressing sexual assault 02:44.930 --> 02:48.250 and combating the corrosive impact of 02:48.250 --> 02:50.830 the revolving door between senior 02:50.830 --> 02:52.630 Pentagon officials and defense 02:52.630 --> 02:55.900 contractors and foreign governments . I 02:55.900 --> 02:58.011 also look forward to working with the 02:58.011 --> 03:00.270 readiness subcommittee to be certain 03:00.270 --> 03:03.250 that us military families are not 03:03.250 --> 03:07.030 living in unsafe and unsanitary housing 03:07.030 --> 03:09.430 conditions . I've done extensive 03:09.440 --> 03:11.920 investigative work here and I have 03:11.920 --> 03:14.087 worked with other committee members on 03:14.087 --> 03:17.380 bipartisan legislation for today's 03:17.380 --> 03:19.680 hearing . I have picked three items to 03:19.680 --> 03:23.030 begin with access to childcare , 03:23.040 --> 03:25.790 medical debt and the Junior Reserve 03:25.800 --> 03:29.070 Officers Training Corps or J R O T C . 03:29.350 --> 03:32.470 First child care accessing childcare 03:32.470 --> 03:34.710 remains a problem for all families , 03:34.720 --> 03:37.380 military and civilian . We must 03:37.380 --> 03:39.750 modernize and improve the way that D O 03:39.750 --> 03:42.140 D ensures that service members and 03:42.140 --> 03:45.180 their families have access to childcare . 03:45.190 --> 03:47.940 And I am happy to work with any member 03:47.950 --> 03:50.410 of the committee Democrat or Republican 03:50.420 --> 03:53.470 who has good smart creative ideas on 03:53.470 --> 03:56.240 how to do that . Second , I want to 03:56.240 --> 03:58.940 take a good hard look at medical debt 03:58.950 --> 04:01.150 and how it affects both members of the 04:01.150 --> 04:04.300 military and civilians . I want to ask 04:04.300 --> 04:07.010 specifically about implementation of my 04:07.010 --> 04:09.990 amendments along with Joaquin Castro 04:10.000 --> 04:13.840 2021 National Defense Authorization Act 04:13.850 --> 04:16.530 to provide DOD the authority to waive 04:16.530 --> 04:19.320 civilian deaths from military hospitals . 04:19.950 --> 04:22.960 A bill that was intended to keep our 04:22.960 --> 04:26.370 doctors sharp without sticking patients 04:26.380 --> 04:29.220 with big private bills . I won't get to 04:29.220 --> 04:30.942 cover it today , but I am also 04:30.942 --> 04:32.942 concerned about service members who 04:32.942 --> 04:35.930 have Tricare but who still get stuck 04:35.940 --> 04:38.051 with medical bills . They're expected 04:38.051 --> 04:40.650 to pay on their own . And finally , I 04:40.650 --> 04:43.030 have questions about the Junior Reserve 04:43.040 --> 04:46.230 officers training corps or J R O T C , 04:46.450 --> 04:49.310 particularly about reports of sexual 04:49.310 --> 04:52.690 assault of our Children . We 04:52.690 --> 04:55.480 have much to do to better support 04:55.490 --> 04:57.601 military families . I look forward to 04:57.601 --> 04:59.601 getting to work on these issues and 04:59.601 --> 05:01.830 many more and I will now turn to 05:01.830 --> 05:03.941 ranking member Scott for his comments 05:03.941 --> 05:05.886 to open this hearing . Thank you , 05:05.886 --> 05:09.300 ranking member Scott . Um Is this is 05:09.300 --> 05:11.189 the first meeting of the personal 05:11.189 --> 05:13.300 subcommittee . This , this congress , 05:13.300 --> 05:15.356 let me begin by saying that I'm very 05:15.356 --> 05:14.610 much looking forward to working with 05:14.610 --> 05:17.020 secretary , our Senator Warren . Uh as 05:17.020 --> 05:19.242 we continue the bipartisan tradition of 05:19.242 --> 05:21.076 the armed Services committee and 05:21.076 --> 05:22.853 developing the National Defense 05:22.853 --> 05:24.631 Authorization Act . I'm on four 05:24.631 --> 05:26.970 committees and this is my first 05:26.970 --> 05:29.192 subcommittee to be the ranking member . 05:29.192 --> 05:31.026 And I want to say that the Armed 05:31.026 --> 05:33.248 Services Committee is the one committee 05:33.248 --> 05:35.470 that actually works well together . And 05:35.470 --> 05:37.526 I think we're gonna continue to do a 05:37.526 --> 05:39.526 great job with the National Defense 05:39.526 --> 05:39.230 Authorization Act . Again this year , 05:39.850 --> 05:41.517 every member here is united , 05:41.517 --> 05:43.739 supporting our men and women in uniform 05:43.739 --> 05:45.850 and their families . The subcommittee 05:45.850 --> 05:48.017 has a long history of prioritizing the 05:48.017 --> 05:47.360 well being the morale of our service 05:47.360 --> 05:49.680 members . I'm eager to be continued 05:49.680 --> 05:51.680 that work as the new ranking member 05:51.680 --> 05:53.736 today , the military faces as we all 05:53.736 --> 05:55.847 know a recruiting crisis . If current 05:55.847 --> 05:58.069 trends continue , the Army Navy and Air 05:58.069 --> 05:59.791 Force will fail to achieve the 05:59.791 --> 06:01.902 recruiting missions . This year , The 06:01.902 --> 06:01.670 Army Navy look like they'll miss the 06:01.670 --> 06:03.670 mark by over 10,000 recruits each . 06:03.670 --> 06:05.892 Well , this would be the only the third 06:05.892 --> 06:07.837 time in history that the horse has 06:07.837 --> 06:10.059 failed to meet its recruiting mission . 06:10.059 --> 06:12.226 This situation is unprecedented in the 06:12.226 --> 06:14.170 50 year history . They are the all 06:14.170 --> 06:16.281 volunteer force and this subcommittee 06:16.281 --> 06:15.920 must make it our priority top , ready 06:15.920 --> 06:18.590 to do whatever we can to fix it . I'm 06:18.590 --> 06:20.312 concerned in the midst of this 06:20.312 --> 06:22.368 challenging recruiting environment . 06:22.368 --> 06:24.034 The navy has decided to lower 06:24.034 --> 06:26.201 enlistment standards . We've seen this 06:26.201 --> 06:28.257 approach try before . Had disastrous 06:28.257 --> 06:30.479 results . I'm a navy veteran myself . I 06:30.479 --> 06:32.534 joined at the age of 18 , I probably 06:32.534 --> 06:34.757 did more swabbing the decks and cleanly 06:34.757 --> 06:36.979 routines that I did being a radar man . 06:36.979 --> 06:38.923 I'm also the son of a World War II 06:38.923 --> 06:41.060 veteran who fought , who has won 3000 06:41.060 --> 06:43.880 people that um that did all four combat 06:43.880 --> 06:46.190 jumps with a second airborne also 06:46.190 --> 06:48.301 fought in the Battle of the Bulge . I 06:48.301 --> 06:50.301 know that no job in the military is 06:50.301 --> 06:52.357 easy or unimportant when ships catch 06:52.357 --> 06:54.523 fire or in collision . As has happened 06:54.523 --> 06:56.634 repeatedly in the recent past , every 06:56.634 --> 06:58.857 sailor must know how to respond to save 06:58.857 --> 07:00.690 lives . When Elizabeth standards 07:00.690 --> 07:02.857 dropped below certain levels , we have 07:02.857 --> 07:04.912 seen increased morale and discipline 07:04.912 --> 07:07.134 problems which are accompanied by lower 07:07.134 --> 07:08.857 unit readiness . These are not 07:08.857 --> 07:11.023 acceptable outcomes . Hope to use this 07:11.023 --> 07:10.970 hearing to learn more about what the 07:10.970 --> 07:13.137 Navy is doing to avoid the mistakes of 07:13.137 --> 07:15.248 the past in this area . The good news 07:15.248 --> 07:17.359 is as difficult as well as recruiting 07:17.359 --> 07:19.359 is right now . Retention levels are 07:19.359 --> 07:21.359 really quite high . That means once 07:21.359 --> 07:23.581 people join the military , they tend to 07:23.581 --> 07:25.470 like it and want to stay military 07:25.470 --> 07:27.526 families in particular , have higher 07:27.526 --> 07:29.526 retention rates than single service 07:29.526 --> 07:31.581 members . This is supported by D O D 07:31.581 --> 07:33.581 surveys that report married service 07:33.581 --> 07:35.414 members with Children . Have the 07:35.414 --> 07:37.637 highest levels of satisfaction with the 07:37.637 --> 07:39.692 military way of life . So we need to 07:39.692 --> 07:39.660 ask ourselves , why is there such a 07:39.670 --> 07:42.170 disconnect between recruiting struggles 07:42.180 --> 07:44.600 and retention , successes and what can 07:44.600 --> 07:47.290 we do to bridge that gap as we continue 07:47.290 --> 07:49.401 working to ensure service members and 07:49.401 --> 07:51.457 their families enjoy high quality of 07:51.457 --> 07:53.457 life . The military , we need to do 07:53.457 --> 07:55.568 more to share their inspiring stories 07:55.568 --> 07:54.970 with the rest of the country . 07:55.260 --> 07:56.982 Effective use of marketing and 07:56.982 --> 07:59.038 advertising must be a priority right 07:59.038 --> 08:00.927 priority right now and we need to 08:00.927 --> 08:02.593 resource it accordingly . The 08:02.593 --> 08:04.816 Department of Defense should also be an 08:04.816 --> 08:06.816 advocate for the many benefits that 08:06.816 --> 08:08.649 come with military service . For 08:08.649 --> 08:08.150 example , we know that veterans have 08:08.150 --> 08:10.150 lower unemployment rates and higher 08:10.150 --> 08:12.150 rates of homeownership , marriage , 08:12.150 --> 08:14.094 educational achievement , military 08:14.094 --> 08:16.317 service sets young men and women on the 08:16.317 --> 08:18.317 path to a great life . We need more 08:18.317 --> 08:20.483 people to know that . So we have major 08:20.483 --> 08:22.483 issues facing our military and this 08:22.483 --> 08:22.250 subcommittee stands ready to tackle 08:22.250 --> 08:24.472 them . That's why I was excited to take 08:24.472 --> 08:26.639 the position as ranking member because 08:26.639 --> 08:28.694 there are real issues like housing , 08:28.694 --> 08:30.861 childcare , recruitment and healthcare 08:30.861 --> 08:32.750 that demand our attention . These 08:32.750 --> 08:34.917 aren't Republican or Democrat issues . 08:34.917 --> 08:33.950 There are things that this committee 08:33.950 --> 08:35.894 has and must continue to work on a 08:35.894 --> 08:38.220 bipartisan basis to fix some military 08:38.220 --> 08:40.276 members and their families are taken 08:40.276 --> 08:42.442 care of . This committee did this last 08:42.442 --> 08:44.609 congress to better protect against and 08:44.609 --> 08:46.442 prevent sexual assault , working 08:46.442 --> 08:48.498 together on these issues , important 08:48.498 --> 08:48.390 issues that allows us to best serve 08:48.390 --> 08:50.668 those who serve and protect our nation . 08:50.668 --> 08:52.250 That's why I was incredibly 08:52.250 --> 08:54.306 disappointed when I finally received 08:54.306 --> 08:56.660 secretary prepared statements , several 08:56.670 --> 08:58.837 of , of several witnesses last night , 08:58.837 --> 09:01.170 10 PM and found the major focus of the 09:01.170 --> 09:03.170 Pentagon . I'm sure probably at the 09:03.170 --> 09:04.837 urging of the White House was 09:04.837 --> 09:07.260 prioritizing d ei basic virtually 09:07.270 --> 09:09.430 cultural war issues . I've run big 09:09.430 --> 09:11.640 companies . I know the importance of 09:11.640 --> 09:13.640 ensuring that we have a workplace , 09:13.640 --> 09:15.696 whether in the military or elsewhere 09:15.696 --> 09:17.696 where people can come to their jobs 09:17.696 --> 09:19.251 without the threat of being 09:19.251 --> 09:21.418 disrespected or discriminate against . 09:21.418 --> 09:23.640 But when it comes to our armed forces , 09:23.640 --> 09:25.751 the top question should be , is every 09:25.751 --> 09:27.918 person wants to join solely focused on 09:27.918 --> 09:29.973 the mission of intimidating the hell 09:29.973 --> 09:32.084 out of our enemies and defeating them 09:32.084 --> 09:34.196 if necessary . It's not about hitting 09:34.196 --> 09:36.251 diversity quotas that being the most 09:36.251 --> 09:38.418 lethal military were fighting force on 09:38.418 --> 09:40.529 the planet because the folks who wear 09:40.529 --> 09:42.196 the uniform , our warfighters 09:42.196 --> 09:44.362 unapologetically devoted to protecting 09:44.362 --> 09:46.418 American values , putting that above 09:46.418 --> 09:48.640 all else . Our commanders know this and 09:48.640 --> 09:50.418 I'm greatly concerned that this 09:50.418 --> 09:52.584 administration is forcing them to move 09:52.584 --> 09:54.307 away from that to achieve some 09:54.307 --> 09:56.362 diversity metric that isn't based on 09:56.362 --> 09:55.990 enhancing the lethal fighting 09:55.990 --> 09:58.212 capabilities of the American military . 09:58.212 --> 10:00.434 But in creating nice talking points for 10:00.434 --> 10:02.434 the administration to tout race and 10:02.434 --> 10:04.768 gender , to fighting power and strength . 10:04.768 --> 10:06.879 Do I believe that our military should 10:06.879 --> 10:08.768 reflect America and be made up of 10:08.768 --> 10:10.934 fighters as deserves diverse is places 10:10.934 --> 10:10.510 like my home state of Florida , you 10:10.510 --> 10:12.677 better believe it . But to assert that 10:12.677 --> 10:14.788 diversity quotas and pronoun training 10:14.788 --> 10:17.010 are more important than the basic needs 10:17.010 --> 10:19.232 of recruitment and retention are caring 10:19.232 --> 10:21.343 for the needs of our current force by 10:21.343 --> 10:23.454 ensuring proper access to childcare . 10:23.454 --> 10:25.677 Good housing healthcare is outrageous . 10:25.677 --> 10:27.621 And I think everybody in this room 10:27.621 --> 10:29.954 knows that . So look forward to getting , 10:29.954 --> 10:29.700 getting to the real issues , solving 10:29.700 --> 10:31.811 problems , taking care of our members 10:31.811 --> 10:33.867 and their families . That will be my 10:33.867 --> 10:35.589 focus is ranking member of the 10:35.589 --> 10:37.644 subcommittee . Thank you for each of 10:37.644 --> 10:37.620 the witnesses for appearing before 10:37.630 --> 10:39.797 before the subcommittee today and look 10:39.797 --> 10:43.300 forward to your testimony . I 10:43.300 --> 10:45.633 understand you wish to make a statement . 10:45.633 --> 10:47.633 Yes , ma'am . I do and I appreciate 10:47.633 --> 10:51.390 that . Um I had intended to 10:51.400 --> 10:54.210 attend the subcommittee hearing to , to 10:54.210 --> 10:58.210 talk solely about Junior ROTC , but 10:58.220 --> 11:01.790 I do have to address 11:01.800 --> 11:04.060 the matter that the distinguished 11:04.060 --> 11:06.410 ranking member of the subcommittee just 11:06.420 --> 11:09.480 raised . Um And that is the 11:09.480 --> 11:12.240 submitted statement by the 11:12.240 --> 11:14.462 undersecretary of defense for personnel 11:14.462 --> 11:16.810 and readiness . Uh I do hope that this 11:16.810 --> 11:18.866 statement is not a reflection of the 11:18.866 --> 11:20.977 department's priorities because if it 11:20.977 --> 11:23.470 is , I'm very concerned we have a 11:23.470 --> 11:26.250 military recruiting problem . As the 11:26.250 --> 11:29.490 chair mentioned as the ranking member 11:29.500 --> 11:31.820 mentioned , it should be at the top of 11:31.830 --> 11:35.700 our list and yet this statement Of 11:35.700 --> 11:39.690 some 26 pages . Uh let me 11:39.690 --> 11:41.801 make sure I've got it right . Some 26 11:41.801 --> 11:45.270 pages um does not get to 11:45.270 --> 11:48.190 recruiting until page 20 of the 11:48.190 --> 11:51.590 statement . Um instead , 11:51.600 --> 11:55.280 um topics like abortion and 11:55.280 --> 11:58.430 diversity , equity and inclusion are 11:58.440 --> 12:01.050 addressed in those 1st 20 pages . I 12:01.050 --> 12:03.050 don't understand why the department 12:03.050 --> 12:05.890 feels that is necessary to change the 12:05.890 --> 12:08.660 culture of the military by quote 12:08.670 --> 12:11.130 inculcating diversity , equity , 12:11.140 --> 12:14.270 inclusion and accessibility D I A 12:14.280 --> 12:16.330 principles across the department 12:16.340 --> 12:20.110 efforts . As a veteran , as 12:20.110 --> 12:24.010 a ROTC commissioned officer , as a , 12:24.020 --> 12:27.900 as a former member of the 12:27.910 --> 12:30.960 Air Force Reserve , I can tell you the 12:30.960 --> 12:34.010 United States military has been decades 12:34.010 --> 12:36.480 ahead of the rest of our society and 12:36.480 --> 12:40.340 inclusion . And uh and I've said uh 12:40.350 --> 12:42.980 publicly many times , the United States 12:42.980 --> 12:45.091 military is the greatest civil rights 12:45.091 --> 12:47.202 program in the history of the world . 12:47.202 --> 12:49.313 And I'm proud that they've been ahead 12:49.313 --> 12:52.770 of our society on that . Um When some 12:52.770 --> 12:54.990 of my colleagues criticize the 12:54.990 --> 12:57.101 department for misplaced priorities , 12:57.110 --> 13:00.500 Mr Secretary , I think that's what 13:00.510 --> 13:03.160 this concern that I have and the 13:03.160 --> 13:05.710 ranking member has are what they're 13:05.710 --> 13:09.180 talking about now , with regard to uh 13:09.190 --> 13:12.510 Junior ROTC in my home state of 13:12.510 --> 13:14.621 Mississippi , the program is a pillar 13:14.621 --> 13:16.788 in the development of future leaders . 13:17.260 --> 13:19.038 Um Over the years , I've passed 13:19.038 --> 13:21.840 legislation to expand the number of J R 13:21.840 --> 13:25.670 O T C units as a part of the N D 13:25.670 --> 13:27.781 A , increased funding for the program 13:27.781 --> 13:30.003 and grow the population of veterans who 13:30.003 --> 13:32.650 are eligible to be junior ROTC 13:32.660 --> 13:35.230 instructors . Junior R T C helps our 13:35.230 --> 13:38.610 nation's high schoolers reach more of 13:38.610 --> 13:40.410 their full potential to become 13:40.410 --> 13:43.720 successful citizens . A RAND 13:43.730 --> 13:46.530 report , a RAND corporation report 13:46.540 --> 13:50.340 found and I quote , there is consensus 13:50.340 --> 13:54.000 that J ROTC participation has both 13:54.010 --> 13:56.680 academic and non academic benefits for 13:56.680 --> 13:59.430 students unquote . According to this 13:59.440 --> 14:01.980 very comprehensive and scholarly report , 14:01.990 --> 14:03.860 most of these benefits go to 14:03.870 --> 14:07.390 economically disadvantaged schools 14:07.710 --> 14:09.877 and the students of those schools . In 14:09.877 --> 14:12.099 addition to these benefits , the report 14:12.099 --> 14:14.420 noted that J R O T C provides quote , 14:14.430 --> 14:17.030 volunteer opportunities that allow 14:17.030 --> 14:19.040 students to benefit the larger 14:19.050 --> 14:22.750 community unquote in my conversations 14:22.750 --> 14:26.200 with superintendents , principals and 14:26.200 --> 14:29.580 parents . When I ask if you would like 14:29.580 --> 14:32.570 to have Junior ROTC in your 14:32.570 --> 14:35.720 school , I've never run into 14:35.730 --> 14:39.650 uh a superintendent or principal that 14:39.660 --> 14:42.230 that said other than yes , I'm very 14:42.230 --> 14:45.820 much , I'm glad we have Junior ROTC or 14:45.820 --> 14:48.150 I would like to have a Junior R O T C 14:48.150 --> 14:50.750 program . Um This moment presents us 14:50.750 --> 14:53.060 with an opportunity to address a claim 14:53.060 --> 14:55.790 in recent news articles about J R O T C . 14:56.620 --> 14:59.790 This reporting suggests that J R O T 14:59.790 --> 15:02.670 C instructors commit sexual misconduct 15:02.680 --> 15:04.624 at much higher rates than civilian 15:04.624 --> 15:07.210 teachers . I very much doubt that 15:07.220 --> 15:09.820 assertion , there's simply no data 15:09.830 --> 15:13.250 available to support that sexual 15:13.260 --> 15:15.690 misconduct towards students is never 15:15.700 --> 15:19.320 acceptable . And the J R O T C program 15:19.320 --> 15:21.487 understands this and every instance of 15:21.487 --> 15:24.580 misconduct involving J R O T C , the 15:24.580 --> 15:26.524 military immediately suspended the 15:26.524 --> 15:29.620 instructor , the instructor . But I 15:29.620 --> 15:32.890 will also say this to my fellow 15:32.890 --> 15:35.720 senators . Junior ROTC makes an easy 15:35.720 --> 15:38.790 target in this area because the 15:38.790 --> 15:41.000 Department of Defense is a central 15:41.010 --> 15:43.550 repository of information and is 15:43.550 --> 15:46.830 subject to strict oversight . So 15:46.830 --> 15:48.997 there's a lot of information about J R 15:48.997 --> 15:51.690 O T s . On the other hand , the 15:51.690 --> 15:55.630 information in public school systems is 15:55.630 --> 15:58.210 diffuse since the systems are large , 15:58.210 --> 16:01.210 sprawling and decentralized , we know 16:01.210 --> 16:04.340 school districts often do not publicly 16:04.350 --> 16:07.790 disclose cases of teacher sexual 16:07.800 --> 16:11.140 misconduct . It's just a fact , It is 16:11.140 --> 16:13.029 such a problem that last year the 16:13.029 --> 16:14.973 Department of Education released a 16:14.973 --> 16:17.140 report on the issue and found only 20 16:17.140 --> 16:19.640 states have laws on the books that 16:19.650 --> 16:21.483 prohibit suppressing information 16:21.490 --> 16:23.650 regarding school employee sexual 16:23.660 --> 16:26.560 misconduct . Um and , and so we don't 16:26.560 --> 16:28.616 get all the facts , but no one would 16:28.616 --> 16:30.616 suggest that we do away with public 16:30.616 --> 16:34.030 schools simply because there is some 16:34.040 --> 16:37.300 misconduct on the part of a very few um 16:37.310 --> 16:40.110 members of the faculty . If anything , 16:40.110 --> 16:43.410 there is every reason to believe that 16:43.410 --> 16:46.300 Junior R T C is a safer environment 16:46.310 --> 16:49.400 than others . Uh For our future leaders , 16:49.410 --> 16:52.170 Junior ROTC instructors receive twice 16:52.180 --> 16:54.340 the screening , twice the screening 16:54.350 --> 16:56.860 screening of a normal teacher before 16:56.860 --> 16:58.916 they enter the classroom , both from 16:58.916 --> 17:01.082 the military and the school district . 17:01.082 --> 17:03.260 Given this extra scrutiny , I'm highly 17:03.260 --> 17:07.120 skeptical of the idea that J 17:07.120 --> 17:09.287 R O T C and structures are more likely 17:09.287 --> 17:12.280 to commit misconduct . Congress should 17:12.280 --> 17:16.050 be mindful of the highly 17:16.060 --> 17:19.890 positive , highly positive impact of 17:19.890 --> 17:21.910 Junior ROTC . In fact , it is 17:21.910 --> 17:24.021 celebrated on both sides of the aisle 17:24.021 --> 17:26.132 on this committee . My colleague from 17:26.132 --> 17:28.900 Massachusetts , Senator Warren , um , 17:28.910 --> 17:31.900 is to be thanked for raising this issue 17:31.900 --> 17:34.010 and has taken a substantive and and 17:34.010 --> 17:37.020 helpful interest in J R O T C . And so 17:37.020 --> 17:39.187 as she reenters the room , I thank her 17:39.187 --> 17:41.930 for that . I will carry our shared work 17:41.930 --> 17:44.270 forward by introducing additional 17:44.270 --> 17:46.103 legislation this year that would 17:46.103 --> 17:49.460 further expand junior R T C to the hunt . 17:49.470 --> 17:52.100 Hundreds of schools currently on the 17:52.100 --> 17:54.267 waiting list for a program . I hope to 17:54.267 --> 17:56.489 have many partners in this effort and I 17:56.489 --> 17:58.544 look forward to working with Senator 17:58.544 --> 18:00.767 Warren and the ranking member , Senator 18:00.767 --> 18:03.290 Scott as we approach this year's N D A . 18:03.300 --> 18:07.100 Thank you madam chair . Okay . 18:09.690 --> 18:13.090 So to our witnesses , 18:14.060 --> 18:17.200 thank you for appearing . We have two 18:17.200 --> 18:19.930 panels today . The first panel consists 18:19.930 --> 18:21.930 of officials from the office of the 18:21.930 --> 18:24.152 Secretary of Defense who will cover the 18:24.152 --> 18:26.940 full range of military and civilian 18:26.940 --> 18:29.820 personnel programs , the honorable 18:29.820 --> 18:31.880 guild system , undersecretary of 18:31.880 --> 18:34.170 defense for personnel and readiness . 18:34.180 --> 18:37.170 Uh Dr Lester Martinez Lopez , 18:37.180 --> 18:40.070 Assistant Secretary of Defense for 18:40.070 --> 18:43.890 Health Affairs , uh Miss Shawn Skelly , 18:43.900 --> 18:46.040 Assistant Secretary of Defense for 18:46.040 --> 18:49.930 Readiness , Mr Tom Constable , acting 18:49.940 --> 18:51.884 Assistant Secretary of Defense for 18:51.884 --> 18:54.390 Manpower and Reserve Affairs and Miss 18:54.390 --> 18:56.830 Elizabeth Foster , Executive Director , 18:56.840 --> 19:00.040 Office of Force Resiliency . Welcome to 19:00.050 --> 19:02.600 all of you . Appreciate your being here . 19:02.610 --> 19:04.670 The second panel will consist of the 19:04.670 --> 19:07.020 assistant secretaries of the military 19:07.020 --> 19:09.810 Departments for Manpower and Reserve 19:09.820 --> 19:12.150 Affairs . We'll have Miss Agnes 19:12.150 --> 19:14.410 Schaefer , Assistant Secretary of the 19:14.410 --> 19:16.960 Army , Mr Franklin Parker , assistant 19:16.960 --> 19:19.390 Secretary of the Navy and Mr Alex 19:19.390 --> 19:21.830 Wagner , Assistant Secretary of the Air 19:21.830 --> 19:23.950 Force again . Thank you all for 19:23.950 --> 19:26.910 appearing here under Secretary Cisneros . 19:26.920 --> 19:28.809 I understand that you're going to 19:28.809 --> 19:31.720 deliver an opening statement on behalf 19:31.730 --> 19:33.860 of the first panel . Is that right ? 19:34.670 --> 19:36.503 Then you are recognized for five 19:36.503 --> 19:39.800 minutes . Thank you , chairwoman Warren , 19:39.810 --> 19:41.977 ranking member , Scott , distinguished 19:41.977 --> 19:44.199 members of the subcommittee . Thank you 19:44.199 --> 19:46.143 for the opportunity to discuss the 19:46.143 --> 19:46.120 Department of Defense's greatest 19:46.120 --> 19:48.950 strength are people on behalf of the 19:48.950 --> 19:51.172 entire team . I thank the committee for 19:51.172 --> 19:53.339 your support of the 2.3 million active 19:53.339 --> 19:55.450 and reserve component service members 19:55.450 --> 19:57.561 and over 900,000 civilians who defend 19:57.561 --> 19:59.672 our nation and the families who serve 19:59.672 --> 20:01.600 alongside them . This year is an 20:01.600 --> 20:03.433 especially momentous year as the 20:03.433 --> 20:05.156 department celebrates the 75th 20:05.156 --> 20:07.156 anniversary e of President Truman's 20:07.156 --> 20:09.322 order to integrate the armed forces as 20:09.322 --> 20:11.544 well as the 50th anniversary of the All 20:11.544 --> 20:14.150 Volunteer Force . Both of these events 20:14.150 --> 20:16.261 are responsible for creating the most 20:16.261 --> 20:18.372 unrivaled fighting force in history . 20:19.250 --> 20:21.194 Near the beginning of his tenure , 20:21.194 --> 20:22.972 Secretary Austin laid out three 20:22.972 --> 20:25.028 priorities to ensure our military is 20:25.028 --> 20:26.972 capable of meeting any current and 20:26.972 --> 20:29.194 future threats , defending the nation , 20:29.194 --> 20:31.306 taking care of our people and succeed 20:31.306 --> 20:33.417 through teamwork . I have established 20:33.417 --> 20:35.472 four overarching priorities that are 20:35.472 --> 20:37.880 foundational to all the pr efforts , 20:37.890 --> 20:40.130 change the culture , promote the health 20:40.140 --> 20:42.307 well being and safety of the force and 20:42.307 --> 20:44.580 families , cultivate talent management 20:45.370 --> 20:48.310 and advance strategic readiness and 20:48.310 --> 20:50.421 changing the culture . The department 20:50.421 --> 20:52.421 understands the trust is key to the 20:52.421 --> 20:54.643 preserving our all volunteer force . We 20:54.643 --> 20:56.532 thank Congress for its support to 20:56.532 --> 20:58.366 providing the full amount of the 20:58.366 --> 21:00.477 department's fy 23 budget request and 21:00.477 --> 21:02.588 support of the recommendations of the 21:02.588 --> 21:04.810 Independent Review Commission on sexual 21:04.810 --> 21:07.032 assault in the military . We are making 21:07.032 --> 21:08.699 progress towards implementing 21:08.699 --> 21:10.754 implementation of all approved I R C 21:10.754 --> 21:12.977 recommendations and your support for fy 21:12.977 --> 21:14.866 24 budget request would ensure we 21:14.866 --> 21:16.754 complete this historic reforms to 21:16.754 --> 21:18.866 military justice filled a specialized 21:18.866 --> 21:20.754 prevention , workforce training , 21:20.754 --> 21:22.977 equipped response personnel and empower 21:22.977 --> 21:25.350 survivors to recovery . We're also 21:25.350 --> 21:27.461 ensuring diversity , equity inclusion 21:27.461 --> 21:29.294 and accessibility principles are 21:29.294 --> 21:31.628 applied across the department's efforts . 21:31.628 --> 21:33.850 We want to leverage the strength of all 21:33.850 --> 21:35.961 of our people , advance opportunity , 21:35.961 --> 21:37.961 remove barriers and ensure everyone 21:37.961 --> 21:39.961 within the department of defense is 21:39.961 --> 21:42.072 treated with dignity and respect with 21:42.072 --> 21:44.072 regard to promoting the health well 21:44.072 --> 21:45.961 being and safety of the force and 21:45.961 --> 21:48.128 families . We know the global pandemic 21:48.128 --> 21:50.183 economic pressures such as inflation 21:50.183 --> 21:52.183 and operational temple make it more 21:52.183 --> 21:53.961 important than ever to focus on 21:53.961 --> 21:56.239 training and taking care of our people . 21:56.239 --> 21:58.128 Thanks to Congress to support our 21:58.128 --> 22:00.294 service members and civilians received 22:00.294 --> 22:02.461 a 4.6 basic pay raise at the beginning 22:02.461 --> 22:04.890 of this year and the fy 23 presidents 22:04.890 --> 22:07.740 budget includes a 5.2% pay raise for 22:07.740 --> 22:11.080 2024 . These pay raises are critical to 22:11.080 --> 22:12.913 recruiting and retaining the all 22:12.913 --> 22:15.420 volunteer force . Secretary Austin 22:15.420 --> 22:17.476 directed the creation of the suicide 22:17.476 --> 22:19.476 prevention and response independent 22:19.476 --> 22:21.142 review committee to conduct a 22:21.142 --> 22:23.364 comprehensive review . This committee's 22:23.364 --> 22:25.476 report was published in late February 22:25.476 --> 22:27.253 and the department is carefully 22:27.253 --> 22:29.364 reviewing the recommendations . Every 22:29.364 --> 22:31.253 death by suicide is a tragedy and 22:31.253 --> 22:32.976 weighs heavily on the military 22:32.976 --> 22:35.198 community . We're tackling these issues 22:35.198 --> 22:37.309 with focused attention and dedication 22:37.309 --> 22:39.198 with regard to cultivating talent 22:39.198 --> 22:41.420 management , recruiting challenges will 22:41.420 --> 22:43.531 persist . But we are looking for ways 22:43.531 --> 22:45.753 to galvanize our future service members 22:45.753 --> 22:47.976 on the values of military service . The 22:47.976 --> 22:49.587 department is implementing a 22:49.587 --> 22:51.642 comprehensive outreach strategy that 22:51.642 --> 22:53.476 includes partnerships with other 22:53.476 --> 22:55.198 agencies such as Peace Corps , 22:55.198 --> 22:57.309 AmeriCorps and Selective Service that 22:57.309 --> 22:59.531 touts the benefits of public service to 22:59.531 --> 23:01.698 our nation and our communities . We're 23:01.698 --> 23:03.587 also working on efforts to dispel 23:03.587 --> 23:05.809 inaccuracies and educate both our youth 23:05.809 --> 23:07.587 and their influencers through a 23:07.587 --> 23:09.864 national military advertising campaign . 23:09.864 --> 23:11.920 We ask for your support in the fy 24 23:11.920 --> 23:13.809 presidential budget request which 23:13.809 --> 23:15.587 includes 40 million for a joint 23:15.587 --> 23:17.860 marketing campaign with Pienaar's 23:17.860 --> 23:19.971 fourth priority , advancing strategic 23:19.971 --> 23:21.916 readiness . We are ensuring we can 23:21.916 --> 23:23.527 build , maintain and balance 23:23.527 --> 23:25.138 warfighting capabilities and 23:25.138 --> 23:26.971 competitive advantage to achieve 23:26.971 --> 23:29.138 strategic objectives across threat and 23:29.138 --> 23:31.720 time horizons . This includes updating 23:31.720 --> 23:33.942 our professional military and education 23:33.942 --> 23:36.109 to make it more effective and relevant 23:36.109 --> 23:38.570 to the national defense strategy . As 23:38.570 --> 23:40.792 we look to the future . It's imperative 23:40.792 --> 23:42.959 that we do not take for granted . What 23:42.959 --> 23:45.181 makes our U S military unparalleled and 23:45.181 --> 23:47.140 unmatched ? It is our people , the 23:47.140 --> 23:49.150 Active Reserve National Guard D O D 23:49.150 --> 23:51.372 civilians and all of their families who 23:51.372 --> 23:53.372 are willing to serve this country . 23:53.372 --> 23:55.428 They are the bedrock of our national 23:55.428 --> 23:57.261 security . So thank you for your 23:57.261 --> 23:59.094 continued support of our service 23:59.094 --> 24:01.150 members , their families and we look 24:01.150 --> 24:03.261 forward to your questions . Thank you 24:03.261 --> 24:05.483 very much . I appreciate it . Secretary 24:05.483 --> 24:07.317 Cisneros . I'd like to start . I 24:07.317 --> 24:09.483 recognize myself for opening questions 24:09.483 --> 24:12.550 all across this country . Families need 24:12.550 --> 24:15.180 high quality , affordable childcare in 24:15.180 --> 24:17.402 order to show up at their jobs or go to 24:17.402 --> 24:19.380 school . Military families are no 24:19.380 --> 24:22.350 exception on this . In fact , because 24:22.350 --> 24:24.490 of non standard work hours , sudden 24:24.490 --> 24:26.810 changes , significant deployments , the 24:26.810 --> 24:29.570 need for childcare among our military 24:29.570 --> 24:32.350 families can be even greater . And 24:32.350 --> 24:34.520 that's why our military has long 24:34.520 --> 24:37.020 recognized that child care is essential 24:37.020 --> 24:40.000 to supporting service members ability 24:40.000 --> 24:43.400 to protect our country . D O D runs the 24:43.400 --> 24:46.520 largest employer sponsored childcare 24:46.520 --> 24:49.880 program in the United States . Military 24:49.880 --> 24:52.290 and non military families should all 24:52.290 --> 24:55.120 have access to high quality , reliable 24:55.120 --> 24:58.140 care , which is why I based my bill for 24:58.150 --> 25:01.130 a universal child care system on the D 25:01.140 --> 25:04.860 O D model . But the D O D child care 25:04.860 --> 25:08.100 system still faces its own challenges . 25:08.110 --> 25:10.800 A top one being finding enough workers 25:10.800 --> 25:13.250 to care for eligible Children . 25:13.260 --> 25:15.960 Secretary Cisneros , workforce 25:15.960 --> 25:18.620 shortages have been a major problem in 25:18.620 --> 25:21.620 the child care industry for years now . 25:21.630 --> 25:23.630 And of course , it's been made even 25:23.630 --> 25:26.570 worse since the pandemic . Our military 25:26.570 --> 25:28.681 child development centers facing this 25:28.681 --> 25:31.630 issue as well . Thank you for that 25:31.640 --> 25:33.862 question , Senator and really thank you 25:33.862 --> 25:35.918 for your support on the child care . 25:35.918 --> 25:38.084 Efforts , not only in the military but 25:38.084 --> 25:40.084 throughout the nation . And you are 25:40.084 --> 25:42.160 correct in stating that there is a 25:42.160 --> 25:44.382 national childcare provider shortage in 25:44.382 --> 25:48.140 the country and we are feeling that as 25:48.140 --> 25:50.280 well . Um , since the pandemic , we 25:50.280 --> 25:53.420 have had trouble , um , difficulties 25:53.420 --> 25:55.850 trying to hire more childcare workers 25:55.850 --> 25:58.183 to working on child development centers . 25:58.183 --> 26:00.294 Last year , we were able to raise the 26:00.294 --> 26:02.517 salary , the minimum wage . We're going 26:02.517 --> 26:04.406 to talk about the money in just a 26:04.406 --> 26:06.461 minute , but you do have a problem . 26:06.461 --> 26:08.628 Let's start there . And I just want to 26:08.628 --> 26:10.850 make sure I get this on the record what 26:10.850 --> 26:12.850 it means for military families when 26:12.850 --> 26:14.850 they don't have access to the child 26:14.850 --> 26:17.017 care that they need . Can you just say 26:17.017 --> 26:19.128 a word about that ? Well , ma'am , it 26:19.128 --> 26:21.430 does create difficulties . Uh You know , 26:21.440 --> 26:24.890 we , as you stated , see uh childcare 26:24.890 --> 26:27.740 as part of a readiness . Uh We want our 26:27.740 --> 26:30.020 service members to be able not to , to 26:30.020 --> 26:32.131 really have to kind of think or worry 26:32.131 --> 26:34.298 to be able to have the ability to drop 26:34.298 --> 26:36.464 their child off at uh for childcare at 26:36.464 --> 26:38.687 a child development center or using one 26:38.687 --> 26:40.576 of the other options that we have 26:40.576 --> 26:42.687 available to them . Um really kind of 26:42.687 --> 26:44.742 relieve some stress from them and it 26:44.742 --> 26:46.853 allows them to focus on their mission 26:46.853 --> 26:49.020 and performing their tasks . So that's 26:49.020 --> 26:51.242 a part of performing your mission and , 26:51.242 --> 26:53.409 and , and being able to concentrate on 26:53.409 --> 26:55.464 your tasks . Now , it takes a lot to 26:55.464 --> 26:58.060 recruit and retain staff for anything 26:58.070 --> 27:00.400 but one significant issue is pay , 27:00.410 --> 27:02.632 which is where you started , Domenico , 27:02.632 --> 27:04.854 when was the last time you updated your 27:04.854 --> 27:07.170 pay scale for childcare workers last 27:07.180 --> 27:09.402 last year ? Man , we were able to raise 27:09.402 --> 27:11.736 that . I'm not asking that . I'm saying , 27:11.736 --> 27:13.902 when did you last update the pay scale 27:13.902 --> 27:17.050 for child care workers ? Well , raising 27:17.050 --> 27:19.090 the salaries of our , of our child 27:19.090 --> 27:21.201 development workers last year when we 27:21.201 --> 27:23.201 raised the minimum wage was when we 27:23.201 --> 27:25.312 were able to do . You got the minimum 27:25.312 --> 27:27.368 up . But I'm talking about the scale 27:27.368 --> 27:26.860 overall . Not everybody's down at 27:26.860 --> 27:29.310 minimum . I understand that the last 27:29.310 --> 27:31.532 time was 30 years ago . Does that sound 27:31.532 --> 27:33.830 about right ? It's probably been a 27:33.830 --> 27:35.997 while since we looked at it . And what 27:35.997 --> 27:38.219 is the highest level of pay a childcare 27:38.219 --> 27:40.700 worker in the military system can 27:40.700 --> 27:43.290 receive under your 30 year old scale ? 27:44.820 --> 27:47.370 Um From what I've been told , ma'am , 27:47.370 --> 27:50.410 it's um allow Mr Constable to answer 27:50.410 --> 27:52.521 this question . Constable , you wanna 27:52.521 --> 27:54.466 answer that one ? I think that was 27:54.466 --> 27:56.799 known as a lateral pass . Share a woman . 27:56.799 --> 27:58.910 Thank you very much at the top of the 27:58.910 --> 28:01.021 skills . Approximately $55,000 55,000 28:01.021 --> 28:03.188 dollars . That's it . That's the top . 28:03.188 --> 28:05.188 So D O D runs the school system for 28:05.188 --> 28:09.000 military families called D O D E A or 28:09.000 --> 28:12.600 do dia right ? How does the pay scale 28:12.610 --> 28:16.590 for Dodea teacher compare with 28:16.590 --> 28:20.570 D O D childcare pay scales 28:20.580 --> 28:23.090 for people with similar credentials . 28:23.100 --> 28:25.860 Secretary Cisneros unless you want to 28:25.870 --> 28:29.610 call on Mr Constable , ma'am , they , 28:29.620 --> 28:31.342 they don't really have similar 28:31.342 --> 28:33.220 credentials . Well , that's the 28:33.220 --> 28:35.387 question I'm asking is when you've got 28:35.387 --> 28:37.609 people with similar credentials , maybe 28:37.609 --> 28:39.776 I should ask it this way . What is the 28:39.776 --> 28:43.650 top pay for Dodea workers ? Hello , 28:43.650 --> 28:46.250 Mr Mr Constable . The top pays 28:46.260 --> 28:48.420 approximately 110,000 per year , 28:48.430 --> 28:50.800 approximately 100 and 10,000 . I think 28:50.800 --> 28:52.800 we understand the difference here . 28:52.800 --> 28:56.080 55,000 , 210,000 for the very top . So 28:56.090 --> 28:58.670 if , if we had two workers with the 28:58.670 --> 29:01.170 same credentials , same education , 29:01.170 --> 29:04.540 same experience and one was teaching 29:04.540 --> 29:07.580 four year olds at a D O D Child 29:07.580 --> 29:10.210 Development center , they would earn 29:10.220 --> 29:13.590 only about half as much as one teaching 29:13.590 --> 29:16.870 six year olds at a Dodea center . 29:17.520 --> 29:20.080 So I just have to ask , do you think 29:20.080 --> 29:22.480 that makes any sense ? And are you 29:22.480 --> 29:24.369 surprised to find out that you're 29:24.369 --> 29:26.424 having trouble filling these spots ? 29:26.640 --> 29:29.920 Man ? We knew that um as you stated , 29:29.920 --> 29:32.142 right ? We're having difficulty finding 29:32.142 --> 29:34.253 the spots . It's a national problem . 29:34.253 --> 29:36.460 Uh And I think being able to pay a 29:36.460 --> 29:38.990 competitive salary is part of that , 29:38.990 --> 29:40.934 that has to be there to get in the 29:40.934 --> 29:43.530 solution to resolving this problem . 29:44.390 --> 29:46.790 So that's why we're here today to talk 29:46.790 --> 29:48.623 about this . Look , childcare is 29:48.623 --> 29:50.623 infrastructure . We need roads , we 29:50.623 --> 29:52.679 need bridges to get to work . In the 29:52.679 --> 29:54.734 case of our military . Sometimes you 29:54.734 --> 29:57.068 need an aircraft carrier or a cargo jet , 29:57.068 --> 29:59.179 but you also need a functioning child 29:59.179 --> 30:01.050 care center . And if the federal 30:01.050 --> 30:03.460 government is serious about military 30:03.460 --> 30:05.990 readiness and national security , if it 30:05.990 --> 30:08.500 is serious about retaining families , 30:08.510 --> 30:10.780 then we need to invest more in child 30:10.780 --> 30:13.400 care workers . And that means within D 30:13.400 --> 30:15.930 O D , it's put money into the These 30:15.930 --> 30:18.190 workers and we need to start by 30:18.200 --> 30:20.750 updating these pay scales and doing it . 30:20.750 --> 30:24.010 Now , 30 years is too long to go 30:24.010 --> 30:26.232 between . And it is a statement that we 30:26.232 --> 30:28.343 don't care about those people . If we 30:28.343 --> 30:30.454 care about this system , we'll update 30:30.454 --> 30:33.550 those pay scales . Thank you . And I 30:33.550 --> 30:36.140 now call on Senator Scott . Thank you , 30:36.140 --> 30:38.670 chairwoman . Alright . Secretary six 30:38.680 --> 30:40.847 says narrows , you know that we talked 30:40.847 --> 30:43.780 about recruiting , not hidden numbers . 30:43.790 --> 30:45.512 Tell me what you think of your 30:45.512 --> 30:47.512 marketing plan and your advertising 30:47.512 --> 30:49.734 program . And is it effect , is it very 30:49.734 --> 30:51.457 effective ? What should you do 30:51.457 --> 30:53.790 differently ? And is it properly funded ? 30:54.370 --> 30:56.592 Thank you for that question , Senator . 30:56.592 --> 30:58.840 Um I will admit we need to do a better 30:58.840 --> 31:01.290 job of telling our story the benefits 31:01.290 --> 31:03.234 of military service where it could 31:03.234 --> 31:06.760 provide . Um You know , I was 31:06.760 --> 31:09.440 at Just last month I went out to go 31:09.440 --> 31:11.607 talk to a group of college students as 31:11.607 --> 31:13.829 well as a group of high school students 31:13.829 --> 31:15.718 about the benefits of service and 31:15.718 --> 31:17.940 really how it changed my life . Um like 31:17.940 --> 31:20.162 yourself sir , I joined the military 18 31:20.162 --> 31:22.384 years old . Um it put me on a different 31:22.384 --> 31:25.010 trajectory that I couldn't even imagine 31:25.020 --> 31:27.076 that I never would have imagined for 31:27.076 --> 31:29.131 myself that I'd be sitting here . So 31:29.131 --> 31:31.076 there are benefits of that . And I 31:31.076 --> 31:33.242 think as our senior enlisted were over 31:33.242 --> 31:35.520 here on the hill a couple of weeks ago , 31:35.520 --> 31:37.520 testifying is that we do , we agree 31:37.520 --> 31:39.464 that we need to do a better job of 31:39.464 --> 31:41.242 telling our story and marketing 31:41.242 --> 31:43.187 ourselves . We're working with our 31:43.187 --> 31:45.242 public affairs department to , to do 31:45.242 --> 31:47.409 that . Um Right now , but , you know , 31:47.409 --> 31:49.800 as I said , in my opening statement for 31:49.810 --> 31:51.921 O S D and the services have their own 31:51.921 --> 31:53.977 budget and , and you know , they can 31:53.977 --> 31:56.199 talk about that in the next panel . But 31:56.199 --> 31:58.570 for OSD , we uh we are requesting $40 31:58.570 --> 32:00.737 million that's in the budget to really 32:00.737 --> 32:02.959 help us with a joint marketing campaign 32:02.959 --> 32:05.181 that will allow us to go out and do the 32:05.181 --> 32:07.292 research with Jammers that we have as 32:07.292 --> 32:09.292 well as to kind of go out and , and 32:09.292 --> 32:11.459 market to the influencers , whether it 32:11.459 --> 32:13.681 be teachers , grandparents , parents uh 32:13.681 --> 32:15.848 to let them know about the benefits of 32:15.848 --> 32:17.940 military service . So I'm a business 32:17.940 --> 32:19.884 guy , I've spent a lot of money on 32:19.884 --> 32:21.829 marketing my companies . And so we 32:21.829 --> 32:23.996 tested everything . We test all of our 32:23.996 --> 32:26.107 marketing plans , we , we tested what 32:26.107 --> 32:28.218 worked , what didn't work . And so we 32:28.218 --> 32:30.384 talked about how you , how you do that 32:30.384 --> 32:32.607 with regard to your advertising and how 32:32.607 --> 32:34.773 you market the military . Well , we do 32:34.773 --> 32:36.884 have a firm , we do have Jammers that 32:36.884 --> 32:38.940 we , as we call it . Um that we work 32:38.940 --> 32:42.530 with to , to go and to help us prepare 32:42.540 --> 32:44.630 the marketing campaign that does the 32:44.630 --> 32:46.797 research for it with , with that I can 32:46.797 --> 32:49.019 turn over to Mr Constable , can go into 32:49.019 --> 32:51.074 more depth about jammers and what it 32:51.074 --> 32:52.908 does for us . Thanks very much , 32:52.908 --> 32:54.963 Senator . Thanks for your question , 32:54.963 --> 32:56.741 Jammers , the joint advertising 32:56.741 --> 32:58.963 marketing research group that that does 32:58.963 --> 33:01.074 our work is , is very similar to what 33:01.074 --> 33:02.908 you'd find in industry and works 33:02.908 --> 33:04.963 closely in fact with industry and as 33:04.963 --> 33:06.797 you probably are aware of highly 33:06.797 --> 33:06.630 fragmented marketplace , so really 33:06.630 --> 33:09.070 testing and piloting is key just as 33:09.070 --> 33:11.014 you've said . So to that end , the 33:11.014 --> 33:12.903 additional funds requested in the 33:12.903 --> 33:14.959 president's budget request for Fy 24 33:14.959 --> 33:17.130 will not be focused on closing deals 33:17.130 --> 33:19.241 with service members . The contact to 33:19.241 --> 33:21.186 contract as the services can speak 33:21.186 --> 33:23.241 about what it's really focused on is 33:23.241 --> 33:25.220 building the brand , making sure 33:25.220 --> 33:28.220 there's more public awareness um and 33:28.220 --> 33:31.000 making sure that when the time for 33:31.000 --> 33:33.740 decision comes um for a young person to 33:33.740 --> 33:35.796 join or not join , they are at least 33:35.796 --> 33:37.930 aware that military service or public 33:37.930 --> 33:40.260 service even is an option to them . And 33:40.260 --> 33:42.149 then the services can speak about 33:42.149 --> 33:44.260 what's in their budget separately for 33:44.260 --> 33:46.316 then going in and building on that , 33:46.316 --> 33:48.260 that baseline that we will provide 33:48.260 --> 33:50.371 through Jammers to actually close the 33:50.371 --> 33:52.538 sales with , with each of the contract 33:52.538 --> 33:54.930 ease . So first of all , if you can 33:54.930 --> 33:57.680 send us a copy of your research , I'd 33:57.680 --> 34:00.070 like , I'd like to see it . Second , if 34:00.070 --> 34:02.181 it , if it's not successful using the 34:02.181 --> 34:04.348 same people , do you change ? Have you 34:04.348 --> 34:06.570 changed firms ? Have you , have you are 34:06.570 --> 34:08.737 using the same people that , um , that 34:08.737 --> 34:10.626 got you where you're , you're way 34:10.626 --> 34:13.310 behind . So I'd have to get you along 34:13.310 --> 34:15.199 with the other information of the 34:15.199 --> 34:17.088 background on who with whom we've 34:17.088 --> 34:18.754 worked over there . Different 34:18.754 --> 34:20.866 iterations of this effort . So have , 34:20.866 --> 34:23.100 but has , has anything changed 34:23.620 --> 34:26.450 significantly . So , uh again , what 34:26.450 --> 34:28.710 you're gonna see in the 24 request is 34:28.710 --> 34:31.350 one of the biggest increases that we've 34:31.350 --> 34:34.060 put into this because we have uh our 34:34.060 --> 34:37.090 investment in that um that baseline 34:37.090 --> 34:39.470 awareness that the marketing targeted 34:39.470 --> 34:42.610 towards those influencers um has waned 34:42.610 --> 34:44.777 over the years . So we saw the need to 34:44.777 --> 34:46.721 again , um Not leave it all to the 34:46.721 --> 34:48.943 service ads or the service online spots 34:48.943 --> 34:51.740 or whatever medium they choose um to , 34:51.740 --> 34:53.962 to do the whole job again , what you're 34:53.962 --> 34:56.018 you're seeing now um is based on the 34:56.018 --> 34:58.184 data and understanding that rebuilding 34:58.184 --> 35:00.390 the brand and getting awareness to all 35:00.390 --> 35:03.430 of our target populations um is where 35:03.430 --> 35:05.541 we're going . And so if you're asking 35:05.541 --> 35:07.652 for 40 million , I mean , do you have 35:07.652 --> 35:09.874 research to suggest if you , if you got 35:09.874 --> 35:12.097 there ? And if , and if you , you start 35:12.097 --> 35:12.070 trying something and it doesn't work , 35:12.070 --> 35:15.640 are you gonna stop ? Uh I think we will 35:15.640 --> 35:17.862 have to , you know , see how the market 35:17.862 --> 35:19.751 responds to the investment , like 35:19.751 --> 35:21.918 everything else . Um But the intent is 35:21.918 --> 35:24.710 to um sustain over time , that baseline 35:24.710 --> 35:26.932 marketing to keep the brand out there , 35:26.932 --> 35:29.266 to keep the awareness of public service , 35:29.266 --> 35:31.488 military service out there . And then I 35:31.488 --> 35:33.488 suspect that as the service numbers 35:33.488 --> 35:35.599 have been flow over years and years , 35:35.599 --> 35:38.380 um they will make larger , smaller 35:38.380 --> 35:40.420 investments um as they need to , to 35:40.420 --> 35:42.710 keep their ranks at the right and 35:42.710 --> 35:44.180 strength . Thank you , 35:46.330 --> 35:49.250 Senator Corona . No , 35:52.340 --> 35:54.790 Secretary Cisneros . I'm probably from 35:54.790 --> 35:57.680 Mr Constable to my office has heard 35:57.680 --> 35:59.902 from our service members in Hawaii that 35:59.902 --> 36:02.150 they are deeply concerned about 36:02.150 --> 36:04.261 imminent cuts to their cost of living 36:04.261 --> 36:07.040 allowance by around 50% . 36:08.190 --> 36:10.580 That's a big potential cut . Certainly , 36:10.580 --> 36:12.802 I share their concerns . Hawaii has the 36:12.802 --> 36:14.858 most expensive cost of living of any 36:14.858 --> 36:17.020 state in the country today . The cost 36:17.020 --> 36:19.720 of a gallon of gas in Hawaii is $4.85 36:20.050 --> 36:22.360 more than a dollar above the national 36:22.360 --> 36:25.990 average of $3.46 . A gallon of milk in 36:25.990 --> 36:29.700 Hawaii is about $7.25 compared to the 36:29.700 --> 36:32.600 national average of $4 . 41 cents . The 36:32.600 --> 36:34.600 cost of housing in Hawaii is higher 36:34.600 --> 36:37.650 than any other state . I could go on as 36:37.650 --> 36:39.761 we continue to combat inflation . The 36:39.761 --> 36:41.928 thought of slashing the cost of living 36:41.928 --> 36:44.150 allowance for service members in Hawaii 36:44.150 --> 36:46.790 is absurd . Secretary Cisneros , does 36:46.790 --> 36:48.512 the Department of Defense have 36:48.512 --> 36:50.470 information suggesting the cost of 36:50.470 --> 36:53.980 living has fallen by 50% in Hawaii ? If 36:53.980 --> 36:56.040 not ? How does D O D justify cutting 36:56.040 --> 36:58.160 the cost of living allowance for our 36:58.160 --> 37:00.710 soldiers , sailors , airmen , guardians , 37:00.720 --> 37:04.690 guardians and marines in Hawaii . And 37:04.700 --> 37:08.680 uh really how do you justify this 37:08.680 --> 37:11.510 kind of potential cuts ? Ma'am ? The 37:11.520 --> 37:13.576 cost of living allowance that you're 37:13.576 --> 37:15.830 referring to is the over in Hawaii , 37:15.830 --> 37:17.608 they get what we call local and 37:17.608 --> 37:20.060 overseas cost of living allowance . And 37:20.060 --> 37:23.180 it really is about trying to bring it 37:23.180 --> 37:25.950 in line with , with the uh to make sure 37:25.950 --> 37:28.117 that their dollars goes just as far as 37:28.117 --> 37:30.228 it does here in the United States and 37:30.228 --> 37:32.283 the continental United States . They 37:32.283 --> 37:32.110 should say , I'm glad you know the 37:32.110 --> 37:35.640 continental U S . But the 37:35.650 --> 37:38.790 what we're seeing here , right is that 37:38.800 --> 37:41.440 the struggles have really kind of with 37:41.440 --> 37:43.607 inflation and inflation doesn't really 37:43.607 --> 37:46.120 play into the cola analysis and , and 37:46.120 --> 37:49.240 how we come up with that . But in order 37:49.240 --> 37:51.351 to kind of make it well , in order to 37:51.351 --> 37:53.407 what happened as it's evening things 37:53.407 --> 37:55.770 here in the United States have grown as 37:55.770 --> 37:57.881 well and have gotten more expensive , 37:57.881 --> 37:59.992 but I'll turn it over to Mr Constable 37:59.992 --> 38:02.214 again to kind of go into detail how the 38:02.214 --> 38:05.090 formula is figured out there . Thank 38:05.090 --> 38:07.368 you , sir . Thank you , Senator . Well , 38:07.368 --> 38:09.257 first of all , let me just get to 38:09.257 --> 38:11.312 because I'm running out of time . So 38:11.312 --> 38:13.700 you believe this kind of a huge cut for 38:13.700 --> 38:16.070 service members in Hawaii is justified . 38:16.080 --> 38:18.090 And if so , could you send me the 38:18.090 --> 38:20.150 justification or send this committee 38:20.150 --> 38:22.580 the justification ? We could provide 38:22.580 --> 38:24.691 you with the information you consider 38:24.691 --> 38:26.747 this kind of cut to be justified . I 38:26.747 --> 38:28.969 think the way that Cola has figured out 38:28.969 --> 38:31.191 in the system that it is and the way it 38:31.191 --> 38:33.524 is and it's not just , I will say ma'am , 38:33.524 --> 38:36.090 it's not just Hawaii . Um but it's all 38:36.090 --> 38:39.140 Alaska . Uh well , wherever 38:39.650 --> 38:42.180 Germany , Japan , all these areas are 38:42.180 --> 38:45.450 facing the same cut because again , the 38:45.450 --> 38:47.910 Cola is meant to bring the pay scale or 38:47.910 --> 38:50.360 pay in alignment with , with what it 38:50.360 --> 38:52.360 would be here to make sure that the 38:52.360 --> 38:54.249 dollar , if they were here in the 38:54.249 --> 38:54.050 states , that the dollar would stretch 38:54.050 --> 38:57.020 just as far as they are overseas . But 38:57.680 --> 38:59.620 as we struggle here , people are 38:59.620 --> 39:01.564 struggling here in the continental 39:01.564 --> 39:03.676 United States , it's kind of even the 39:03.676 --> 39:06.140 playing field out . So , but we can 39:06.140 --> 39:08.251 provide you with that information and 39:08.251 --> 39:10.251 I'll turn it over to Mr Constable . 39:10.280 --> 39:13.120 Well , clearly , I don't think that 39:13.120 --> 39:15.231 these kinds of cuts are justified for 39:15.231 --> 39:17.231 service members in Hawaii . They're 39:17.231 --> 39:19.920 already having um a pretty hard time . 39:20.710 --> 39:22.650 I was glad to see the president's 39:22.650 --> 39:24.872 budget included multiple investments in 39:24.872 --> 39:27.800 our service members like 90 million to 39:27.800 --> 39:31.370 expand full , full day pre K 209 39:31.370 --> 39:33.780 million for suicide prevention efforts 39:33.790 --> 39:36.690 and 637 million for continued 39:36.690 --> 39:38.460 investment and sexual assault 39:38.460 --> 39:41.010 prevention and response . And although 39:41.010 --> 39:43.121 we've made some changes over time and 39:43.121 --> 39:45.600 how the military would deal with sexual 39:45.610 --> 39:48.910 assault cases , it's still an issue . 39:48.910 --> 39:51.132 It still continues to be a scourge . So 39:51.132 --> 39:53.740 I'm glad that this kind of investment 39:53.740 --> 39:55.960 is being made to continue to fight the 39:55.960 --> 39:57.682 scourge . And I appreciate the 39:57.682 --> 40:00.030 Department of Defense's commitment to 40:00.030 --> 40:02.252 taking care of its people . But I think 40:02.252 --> 40:04.308 there is more to do , especially for 40:04.308 --> 40:06.490 service members , considering their 40:06.490 --> 40:09.910 family planning options . Mr Secretary 40:09.910 --> 40:12.132 Systems , what is the importance of the 40:12.132 --> 40:14.354 Department of Defense's new policies to 40:14.354 --> 40:16.140 ensure access to reproductive 40:16.140 --> 40:18.196 healthcare for our service members ? 40:18.196 --> 40:20.940 And also Cryer preserve education is a 40:20.940 --> 40:23.940 fertility tool that service members , 40:23.950 --> 40:26.450 men and women could use if they wish to 40:26.450 --> 40:28.561 have Children in the future . This is 40:28.561 --> 40:30.394 something that the British Armed 40:30.394 --> 40:33.740 Services provides . So could you give 40:33.740 --> 40:37.130 me your views on what the cost of choir 40:37.140 --> 40:40.410 preservation under Tricare would be ? 40:40.690 --> 40:43.470 And could this not be an important 40:43.480 --> 40:45.960 recruiting and retention tool for the 40:45.960 --> 40:47.904 military ? All of the services are 40:47.904 --> 40:50.780 facing those issues ? You know , as you 40:50.780 --> 40:52.836 stated , Senator , I believe flaming 40:52.836 --> 40:54.891 planning is very important and we've 40:54.891 --> 40:56.947 done a lot I believe to kind of help 40:56.947 --> 40:59.169 the service members with that . We have 40:59.169 --> 41:01.336 walking hours for contraceptives for , 41:01.336 --> 41:03.391 for our service members that are MTs 41:03.391 --> 41:05.391 now that they can go and , and make 41:05.391 --> 41:07.613 sure that they are on a plan there . Um 41:07.613 --> 41:10.790 We initiated the policy is there to 41:10.790 --> 41:13.360 help support reproductive healthcare um 41:13.370 --> 41:15.750 for our service members as well um 41:15.760 --> 41:17.927 where they're denied access to certain 41:17.927 --> 41:20.038 type of health care in certain states 41:20.038 --> 41:22.260 or we'll be able to ensure that they'll 41:22.260 --> 41:25.570 be able to be travel in order to get 41:25.570 --> 41:29.430 that healthcare . Um As far as um 41:29.440 --> 41:31.570 what you're asking for , I can turn 41:31.570 --> 41:35.500 over preservation . Um I 41:35.500 --> 41:37.722 can turn over to Dr Martinez who can go 41:37.722 --> 41:39.778 into depth of that . Senator . Thank 41:39.778 --> 41:42.220 you for the question . The we do 41:42.220 --> 41:44.960 provide the services to service members 41:44.960 --> 41:47.650 that may have had trauma or are facing 41:47.650 --> 41:49.780 cancer . So it's a very limited and 41:49.780 --> 41:52.440 only for service members . We are not 41:52.440 --> 41:54.162 providing the care for all the 41:54.162 --> 41:57.520 beneficiaries uh in the in the 41:57.520 --> 42:00.090 Tricare system . So , and I don't know 42:00.090 --> 42:02.670 why . So you're saying that you provide 42:02.670 --> 42:05.250 choir preservation options . We , we 42:05.250 --> 42:08.050 may provide that in the case of trauma 42:08.060 --> 42:11.490 or in the case of uh that that's a very 42:11.490 --> 42:14.180 limited kind of set of senses . So I 42:14.180 --> 42:16.180 would ask that you look at what the 42:16.180 --> 42:19.550 British Armed Forces is doing in this 42:19.550 --> 42:23.510 area and let us know if this is 42:23.520 --> 42:26.000 something that we should contemplate . 42:26.010 --> 42:28.010 Obviously , I support going forward 42:28.010 --> 42:30.177 with it . Thank you , MS madam chair . 42:30.177 --> 42:32.800 Thank you , Senator Bud . Thank you 42:32.800 --> 42:34.856 madam chair . It's an honor to be on 42:34.856 --> 42:36.856 the subcommittee with you . Um It's 42:36.856 --> 42:38.744 gonna be with the member , former 42:38.744 --> 42:40.633 member of the U S House and uh we 42:40.633 --> 42:42.633 served together for a few years , a 42:42.633 --> 42:44.856 couple of questions . Um I want to draw 42:44.856 --> 42:47.022 your attention . Uh and this is on the 42:47.022 --> 42:49.189 heels of the recruiting conversation . 42:49.189 --> 42:48.450 I want to draw your attention to an 42:48.450 --> 42:50.394 incredible organization called our 42:50.394 --> 42:52.940 community salutes . Um It recognizes 42:52.940 --> 42:55.162 and honors high school seniors who plan 42:55.162 --> 42:57.310 to enlist in the military following 42:57.310 --> 42:59.930 their graduation . They also recognize 42:59.940 --> 43:02.162 the group also recognizes their parents 43:02.162 --> 43:04.496 and other members of their family . Now , 43:04.496 --> 43:06.662 this is an incredible way to build and 43:06.662 --> 43:08.551 maintain support for our military 43:08.551 --> 43:10.551 within communities across America . 43:10.910 --> 43:12.799 Despite senior military leaders , 43:12.799 --> 43:15.400 speaking at these events , I'm told 43:15.400 --> 43:17.640 that military lawyers have taken issue 43:17.650 --> 43:19.817 with official communications to inform 43:19.817 --> 43:21.650 recruiters and senior leaders of 43:21.650 --> 43:24.410 opportunities to engage or support our 43:24.410 --> 43:26.990 community salutes . So , um Mr 43:26.990 --> 43:28.990 Secretary , will you commit to look 43:28.990 --> 43:31.212 into this and find ways to partner with 43:31.212 --> 43:33.530 O C S , our community salutes and other 43:33.530 --> 43:36.000 organizations like it ? Um The bottom 43:36.000 --> 43:38.167 line is we need all the support we can 43:38.167 --> 43:40.500 get to get close to our recruiting gaps . 43:40.500 --> 43:42.444 So will you look into this ? Yes , 43:42.444 --> 43:44.500 Senator , we could take that for the 43:44.500 --> 43:46.500 record and kind of I'm not familiar 43:46.500 --> 43:46.440 with the organization or as to why 43:46.450 --> 43:48.561 certain members , senior members have 43:48.561 --> 43:51.010 been told possibly not to participate , 43:51.020 --> 43:53.187 but that's something we could take for 43:53.187 --> 43:55.076 the record and supply you with an 43:55.076 --> 43:57.187 answer . Glad to submit that and look 43:57.187 --> 43:59.353 forward to your response . Speaking of 43:59.353 --> 44:01.520 responses , thank you for getting back 44:01.520 --> 44:01.470 on my letter . I recently submitted , I 44:01.470 --> 44:04.780 received this uh yesterday . Um This is 44:04.780 --> 44:06.669 a letter my colleagues and I sent 44:06.669 --> 44:08.891 regarding the administration's decision 44:08.891 --> 44:12.160 to permit taxpayer funding for and 44:12.160 --> 44:14.850 authorization of travel to acquire 44:14.850 --> 44:17.080 abortions . Uh The bottom line is I 44:17.080 --> 44:19.247 just don't think this is an acceptable 44:19.247 --> 44:21.080 response . Um , once again , the 44:21.080 --> 44:22.858 department failed to answer the 44:22.858 --> 44:24.747 committee's repeated requests for 44:24.747 --> 44:26.747 information and instead we got what 44:26.747 --> 44:28.969 amounts to a form letter just repeating 44:28.969 --> 44:31.302 the new policies and we knew the policy . 44:31.302 --> 44:33.524 That's why I asked the questions . So , 44:33.524 --> 44:35.691 here's a few of the questions I'd like 44:35.691 --> 44:37.913 for you to answer for the record . Um , 44:37.913 --> 44:39.858 first , how many women or military 44:39.858 --> 44:41.969 families have refused to be stationed 44:41.969 --> 44:44.080 in Germany , South Korea or any other 44:44.080 --> 44:46.024 country because of those nations , 44:46.024 --> 44:48.620 abortion laws ? Um , I don't have that 44:48.620 --> 44:50.930 information for you , Senator . Well , 44:50.970 --> 44:54.110 if it's zero , if it's non zero , would 44:54.110 --> 44:56.332 you , would you please send information 44:56.332 --> 44:58.443 on that ? Would you commit to sending 44:58.443 --> 45:00.610 information on that ? I'll commit to , 45:00.610 --> 45:02.666 to looking into that and seeing what 45:02.666 --> 45:04.943 the information is if that's available . 45:04.943 --> 45:07.166 But that's not . Typically , please let 45:07.166 --> 45:07.070 us know if there's zero information or 45:07.070 --> 45:09.181 if there is information . Let us know 45:09.181 --> 45:11.280 what that , what that is . Um , does 45:11.280 --> 45:13.391 the department have any data on women 45:13.391 --> 45:15.336 who felt deterred from joining the 45:15.336 --> 45:17.558 military for fear of being stationed at 45:17.558 --> 45:19.669 an installation or base in a state or 45:19.669 --> 45:22.200 nation that has restricted a 45:22.200 --> 45:25.600 restrictive abortion laws ? We've had 45:25.600 --> 45:27.660 discussions listening sessions with 45:27.660 --> 45:30.130 service members who let their , 45:32.660 --> 45:34.970 and we also have a rand report that 45:34.970 --> 45:37.170 they published and that effects that 45:37.170 --> 45:39.380 they believed would happen from . Um , 45:39.390 --> 45:41.446 well , the effects that the decision 45:41.446 --> 45:43.612 would have on recruiting and retention 45:43.710 --> 45:45.766 if you would send that to us because 45:45.766 --> 45:47.932 we've repeatedly requested . It seemed 45:47.932 --> 45:49.932 like that would be a good report to 45:49.932 --> 45:51.654 have . Thank you very much . I 45:51.654 --> 45:53.821 appreciate that . Um , what actions if 45:53.821 --> 45:56.100 any would the D O D take against a 45:56.100 --> 45:58.660 commander that refused to facilitate 45:58.670 --> 46:00.910 the abortion of an unborn child in 46:00.910 --> 46:02.799 keeping with their sincerely held 46:02.799 --> 46:06.540 religious beliefs ? Well , Senator , 46:06.540 --> 46:08.707 the , the , uh , the commander doesn't 46:08.707 --> 46:11.180 really know when , when the service 46:11.180 --> 46:13.124 members making a request , they're 46:13.124 --> 46:15.236 asking for reproductive health care , 46:15.236 --> 46:17.458 reproductive health care and that could 46:17.458 --> 46:19.291 come in different forms . Uh The 46:19.291 --> 46:21.347 commander should not be digging into 46:21.347 --> 46:23.569 what the specific reason is why they're 46:23.569 --> 46:25.680 seeking reproductive health care . Uh 46:25.680 --> 46:27.847 The assumption was that it was that it 46:27.847 --> 46:29.791 was known and it was against their 46:29.791 --> 46:29.560 sincerely held religious beliefs . 46:29.560 --> 46:31.630 Would the D O D take action against 46:31.640 --> 46:35.330 such a commander ? Well , again , the 46:35.330 --> 46:37.052 commander should not know they 46:37.052 --> 46:39.108 shouldn't be digging into that . But 46:39.108 --> 46:41.590 the , it's , I will say if the 46:41.590 --> 46:43.812 commander feels uncomfortable with kind 46:43.812 --> 46:45.868 of approving such a request , he can 46:45.868 --> 46:47.979 move it up the chain of command , but 46:47.979 --> 46:49.979 it is not the responsibility of the 46:49.979 --> 46:49.660 commander to put their religious 46:49.660 --> 46:52.000 beliefs onto service members . Yeah , 46:52.000 --> 46:54.278 that , that really wasn't the question . 46:54.278 --> 46:56.333 But you know , millions of Americans 46:56.333 --> 46:58.500 myself included are rightfully against 46:58.500 --> 47:00.722 the use of taxpayer funds to facilitate 47:00.722 --> 47:02.833 abortions . So we'll submit some more 47:02.833 --> 47:04.944 questions for the records . But uh in 47:04.944 --> 47:07.000 my final uh time here , what's being 47:07.000 --> 47:09.450 done to ensure that those kicked out of 47:09.450 --> 47:11.672 the military due to the vaccine mandate 47:11.672 --> 47:13.783 are able to rejoin . Should they want 47:13.783 --> 47:15.339 to continue their service ? 47:17.090 --> 47:19.730 Senator there ? Um That would be a 47:19.730 --> 47:21.897 question that could be better answered 47:21.897 --> 47:23.952 by the services . There are the ones 47:23.952 --> 47:26.300 carrying out those tasks . But uh the 47:26.300 --> 47:28.022 secretary made it clear in his 47:28.022 --> 47:31.410 memorandum that um service members that 47:31.420 --> 47:34.270 had put in a request for accommodation , 47:34.270 --> 47:35.992 whether it be administrative , 47:35.992 --> 47:38.570 religious or , or medical reasons that 47:38.580 --> 47:40.691 those of the decision had been made , 47:40.691 --> 47:42.636 those requests would be , would be 47:42.636 --> 47:44.858 pulled if it was specifically for COVID 47:44.858 --> 47:47.160 19 . Uh And that if other members uh 47:47.170 --> 47:49.370 that were separated request , there is 47:49.370 --> 47:51.810 a process for them to apply to the 47:51.810 --> 47:54.790 board . Uh Well , to apply for one of 47:54.790 --> 47:57.000 the boards that the services have to 47:57.000 --> 47:59.167 ask to , to come back into the service 47:59.167 --> 48:02.170 or to have their , their DD 2 14 48:02.170 --> 48:05.310 adjusted their uh whether it be um 48:05.320 --> 48:07.431 their status adjusted as far as their 48:07.431 --> 48:09.650 discharge status . Okay , I thank you 48:09.650 --> 48:11.872 for being here and thank the panel . Uh 48:14.830 --> 48:18.590 uh Actually you can't , I'm sorry , I'm 48:18.590 --> 48:20.757 sorry . We're in the middle , we're in 48:20.757 --> 48:22.840 the middle of a hearing here . Uh 48:22.850 --> 48:25.980 Senator Duckworth's , thank you madam 48:25.980 --> 48:27.924 chairman and good afternoon to our 48:27.924 --> 48:30.147 witnesses . Two years ago . Gentlemen , 48:30.147 --> 48:32.258 I introduced legislation that ensured 48:32.258 --> 48:34.424 Guard and reserve members received the 48:34.424 --> 48:36.147 same monthly incentive pay for 48:36.147 --> 48:38.202 maintaining the same critical skills 48:38.202 --> 48:40.424 and taking on the same hazardous duties 48:40.424 --> 48:42.424 as their counterparts in the active 48:42.424 --> 48:44.536 component . Reservist who qualify for 48:44.536 --> 48:46.424 these incentive pays work hard to 48:46.424 --> 48:48.480 maintain the same skills to the same 48:48.480 --> 48:50.091 standards as the active duty 48:50.091 --> 48:52.258 counterparts . Often on time when they 48:52.258 --> 48:54.480 are not technically drilling yet , they 48:54.480 --> 48:56.480 are only currently paid 1/30 of the 48:56.480 --> 48:58.647 incentive pay that they're active duty 48:58.647 --> 49:00.869 counterparts receive . So the situation 49:00.869 --> 49:00.400 is , for example , jump pay , you have 49:00.400 --> 49:02.122 to do three jumps a month as a 49:02.122 --> 49:04.650 paratrooper , uh reservist goes out . 49:04.650 --> 49:06.872 He does his three jumps in one day , An 49:06.872 --> 49:09.094 active duty troop goes out and does his 49:09.094 --> 49:11.094 three jumps in one day . The active 49:11.094 --> 49:13.206 duty troops gets $150 . The reservist 49:13.206 --> 49:15.780 gets $5 for the same three jumps . 49:17.170 --> 49:19.226 This is an equity issue and one that 49:19.226 --> 49:21.226 I'm glad that my colleagues in this 49:21.226 --> 49:23.281 committee voted in an overwhelmingly 49:23.281 --> 49:25.448 bipartisan way to address by including 49:25.448 --> 49:28.710 my bill in the fy 2022 ND A before 49:28.710 --> 49:30.877 implementing this section of the NBA . 49:30.877 --> 49:33.043 Though D O D must submit to Congress a 49:33.043 --> 49:35.210 report on its plan for providing equal 49:35.210 --> 49:36.877 incentive pays along with the 49:36.877 --> 49:38.599 certification that it will not 49:38.599 --> 49:40.766 negatively impact for structure . This 49:40.766 --> 49:43.070 report was due six months ago in 49:43.070 --> 49:45.230 September 30 of last year . Yet 49:45.230 --> 49:47.174 Congress is still waiting for this 49:47.174 --> 49:49.410 report last October after the deadline 49:49.410 --> 49:51.550 passed , I led a bipartisan and 49:51.550 --> 49:54.010 bicameral letter to Secretary Austin 49:54.020 --> 49:56.187 urging the department to expeditiously 49:56.187 --> 49:58.298 issue its report and certification to 49:58.298 --> 50:01.260 Congress as required by law . We are 50:01.260 --> 50:03.980 still waiting to hear from D O D on 50:03.980 --> 50:06.180 this . We're still waiting to pay a 50:06.180 --> 50:08.236 reservist equitably for the critical 50:08.236 --> 50:10.180 skills and risks that they take to 50:10.180 --> 50:12.124 contribute to our military . Under 50:12.124 --> 50:14.236 Secretary Cisneros , how close is the 50:14.236 --> 50:16.347 department to completing the report ? 50:16.347 --> 50:18.513 And more importantly , how much longer 50:18.513 --> 50:20.513 would you like our nation's reserve 50:20.513 --> 50:22.736 component to wait before it is afforded 50:22.736 --> 50:24.736 the incentive pay parity with their 50:24.736 --> 50:26.958 counterparts on active duty . Senator . 50:26.958 --> 50:29.124 Thank you for the question there and I 50:29.124 --> 50:31.580 know I was a former Tar Officer or 50:31.590 --> 50:33.812 later they change the name to full time 50:33.812 --> 50:35.923 support in the United States Navy and 50:35.923 --> 50:37.979 working with our reservists . I know 50:37.979 --> 50:39.812 how , how hard they work and how 50:39.812 --> 50:41.812 dedicated they are to defending the 50:41.812 --> 50:43.923 nation . Um You know , for that , but 50:43.923 --> 50:45.979 for that , I'm gonna turn over to Mr 50:45.979 --> 50:48.090 Constable . Who can . Wonderful . Why 50:48.090 --> 50:50.090 are you six months late , Senator ? 50:50.090 --> 50:52.312 This is a conversation that has started 50:52.312 --> 50:54.479 many , many working groups really . So 50:54.479 --> 50:56.090 we're very much aware of the 50:56.090 --> 50:58.257 requirement and apologies for the late 50:58.257 --> 51:00.423 report . We do anticipate meeting with 51:00.423 --> 51:02.590 the staff soon to talk through some of 51:02.590 --> 51:02.290 the impasse is that we've reached based 51:02.300 --> 51:04.970 primarily on the realization in all 51:04.970 --> 51:07.910 camps that um not all uh special skills , 51:07.910 --> 51:09.743 not all special pays are created 51:09.743 --> 51:11.966 equally or should be treated the same . 51:11.966 --> 51:14.630 We just have to find the right mix of 51:14.640 --> 51:17.360 places where and we seek equal dollars 51:17.360 --> 51:19.380 versus equal consideration . And of 51:19.380 --> 51:21.690 course , all cognizant of creating 51:21.690 --> 51:23.730 incentives to draw people from one 51:23.730 --> 51:25.841 force to the other as , as one report 51:25.841 --> 51:28.020 has , has warned , but we do owe you a 51:28.020 --> 51:30.187 report and we do believe we're nearing 51:30.187 --> 51:32.353 a solution to propose . Could you tell 51:32.353 --> 51:34.187 that an ordinary people speak as 51:34.187 --> 51:36.298 opposed to D O D speak ? How , what's 51:36.298 --> 51:39.790 nearing ? Six more months a year ? I 51:39.790 --> 51:42.012 think you guys are slow rolling because 51:42.012 --> 51:44.179 you don't want to implement it . Not , 51:44.179 --> 51:46.457 not , not years , not months . Senator , 51:46.457 --> 51:48.179 I think the answer is weeks um 51:48.179 --> 51:50.234 obviously faster when I go back than 51:50.234 --> 51:52.600 before I left the less than two months 51:53.320 --> 51:56.250 I want to return back . Alright . Yes , 51:56.250 --> 51:58.361 Senator call me back within a week to 51:58.361 --> 52:00.472 tell me when the report will come . I 52:00.472 --> 52:02.639 think it's ready for staff and I don't 52:02.639 --> 52:04.694 believe Senator it's ready for , for 52:04.694 --> 52:06.917 the members quite yet . When will it be 52:06.917 --> 52:05.990 ready for the members ? When can you 52:05.990 --> 52:07.990 commit to ? I can commit to meeting 52:07.990 --> 52:10.440 with the staffs in weeks or less ? 52:12.940 --> 52:15.840 I'll give you four weeks , Senator , 52:16.430 --> 52:19.440 You need to do this and , and this this 52:19.440 --> 52:21.890 idea that you can slow roll this and 52:21.890 --> 52:24.001 that you're gonna that an active duty 52:24.001 --> 52:26.223 troop is gonna leave the active duty to 52:26.223 --> 52:28.279 go through the reserves because he's 52:28.279 --> 52:30.446 gonna get $150 extra a month for three 52:30.446 --> 52:32.612 jobs is an insult to the troops are on 52:32.612 --> 52:34.834 active duty and it's still an insult to 52:34.834 --> 52:36.779 the troops who do those same three 52:36.779 --> 52:38.834 jumps every single month in order to 52:38.834 --> 52:40.860 make to meet those standards . I'm 52:40.860 --> 52:43.027 gonna move on to my next question . Um 52:43.027 --> 52:45.138 The military services face challenges 52:45.138 --> 52:47.304 in meeting their recruiting goals . In 52:47.304 --> 52:49.416 part due to a historically small pool 52:49.416 --> 52:51.582 of eligible recruits . This year , I'm 52:51.582 --> 52:53.471 introducing the Enlist Act . This 52:53.471 --> 52:55.582 legislation enables the Department of 52:55.582 --> 52:55.440 Defense to expand its recruiting pool 52:55.440 --> 52:57.273 to include individuals like DACA 52:57.273 --> 52:59.496 recipients and other longtime residents 52:59.496 --> 53:01.551 of this country who can pass a D O D 53:01.551 --> 53:03.773 background check and meet the service's 53:03.773 --> 53:05.773 high standards for enlistment while 53:05.773 --> 53:07.773 maintaining the department security 53:07.773 --> 53:09.829 standards . They enlist Act will aid 53:09.829 --> 53:11.829 the services recruitment efforts by 53:11.829 --> 53:13.884 allowing highly skilled and motivate 53:13.884 --> 53:16.051 individuals to succeed in the military 53:16.051 --> 53:18.051 undersecretary . Mr Constable , I'd 53:18.051 --> 53:20.162 like to hear from each of you whether 53:20.162 --> 53:22.273 you think the enlist acts , expansion 53:22.273 --> 53:21.760 of the pool of possible recruits would 53:21.770 --> 53:24.070 benefit military recruitment efforts . 53:24.080 --> 53:26.247 And as a follow up for either of you , 53:26.247 --> 53:28.358 what other actions has the department 53:28.358 --> 53:30.191 undertaken to bolster efforts to 53:30.191 --> 53:32.358 recruit diverse talent from across the 53:32.358 --> 53:36.030 nation ? Ma'am ? Senator , we've tried 53:36.030 --> 53:38.197 this before to , to try . So we are in 53:38.197 --> 53:40.860 support of trying to diversify our 53:40.870 --> 53:43.092 enlistment pool in order , I know there 53:43.092 --> 53:45.910 are a number of kids , young students 53:45.910 --> 53:48.021 that have grown up here in the United 53:48.021 --> 53:49.799 States that consider themselves 53:49.799 --> 53:52.080 American citizens that um you have 53:52.080 --> 53:54.191 really done nothing wrong , have good 53:54.191 --> 53:56.469 lives and , and have you want to serve . 53:56.469 --> 53:58.820 Um So , you know , this is something 53:58.820 --> 54:00.931 that we've looked at in the past that 54:00.931 --> 54:02.987 we tried to move through in the past 54:02.987 --> 54:05.153 and we were continued to try and do it 54:05.153 --> 54:07.240 again . Um You didn't answer my 54:07.240 --> 54:09.160 question . How about Mr Constable 54:11.250 --> 54:13.160 Senator ? Uh The department would 54:13.160 --> 54:14.993 support any effort to expand the 54:14.993 --> 54:17.216 recruiting pool . So we look forward to 54:17.216 --> 54:19.382 reading the details within your bill . 54:19.382 --> 54:21.604 Uh And the $40 million that we spoke of 54:21.604 --> 54:23.382 earlier that's contained in the 54:23.382 --> 54:25.660 President's budget request for Jammers . 54:25.660 --> 54:27.882 Um In one part is really geared towards 54:27.882 --> 54:29.880 getting at um some more diverse 54:29.880 --> 54:32.047 populations . Um We don't like leaving 54:32.047 --> 54:33.713 any money on the table or any 54:33.713 --> 54:35.880 population unchecked , especially with 54:35.880 --> 54:37.936 all the skills that they bring us or 54:37.936 --> 54:37.620 the opportunity to better reflect the 54:37.620 --> 54:39.898 American public . So to that end , you , 54:39.898 --> 54:42.064 you should expect to see and demand to 54:42.064 --> 54:44.260 see more marketing , more advertising 54:44.260 --> 54:47.320 geared towards a broader population and 54:47.320 --> 54:48.764 we look forward to uh the 54:48.764 --> 54:50.764 constitutional . Thank you . Okay . 54:50.764 --> 54:53.098 Thank you . I'm over time . That's fine . 54:53.098 --> 54:55.320 Thank you , Senator Sullivan . Thank 54:55.320 --> 54:57.431 you , madam , chair to the Beyond the 54:57.431 --> 55:01.300 Committee . Um I want to thank the 55:01.300 --> 55:03.540 witnesses . I'm gonna follow up on 55:03.540 --> 55:07.120 Senator Ducos line of questioning for 55:08.240 --> 55:11.280 uh Mr Cisneros , Miss Scaly and Mr 55:11.280 --> 55:13.750 Constable . And , and if this has 55:13.750 --> 55:15.972 already been talked about , I apologize 55:15.972 --> 55:18.500 for getting in here late . But um , we 55:18.500 --> 55:21.240 have this recruiting problem right now 55:21.250 --> 55:24.480 and I don't have to tell you , but 55:25.450 --> 55:28.900 The Army's 2022 recruiting goal was 55:28.900 --> 55:32.670 missed by 25% . Um so 55:32.670 --> 55:34.781 far this year , the Army Navy and Air 55:34.781 --> 55:36.980 Force are projected to miss their 20 , 55:37.270 --> 55:40.950 targets and I'm really interested in 55:40.950 --> 55:44.610 what you think is going on . Um , 55:44.650 --> 55:47.140 there's different theories , its 55:47.140 --> 55:49.710 economy , there's , you know , I think 55:49.710 --> 55:51.766 there's cultural issues . Right . If 55:51.766 --> 55:53.820 you tell everybody every day in the 55:53.820 --> 55:55.764 Washington Post's and the New York 55:55.764 --> 55:57.709 Times that the military is full of 55:57.709 --> 55:59.876 extremists . Which , oh , by the way , 55:59.876 --> 56:01.987 it isn't okay . It isn't . Let's just 56:01.987 --> 56:03.931 get that one . Right . Um , you're 56:03.931 --> 56:05.987 gonna have people go . oh , jeez , I 56:05.987 --> 56:05.620 don't want to send my young son and 56:05.620 --> 56:09.000 daughter there . Right . Um , so 56:09.780 --> 56:11.447 the army deserves some credit 56:11.447 --> 56:13.760 developing its soldier prep course , 56:13.760 --> 56:16.830 which I think has been successful . The 56:16.830 --> 56:18.830 navy seems to be taking a different 56:18.830 --> 56:20.663 approach , which is dropping its 56:20.663 --> 56:22.719 standards to as low as they can go . 56:22.719 --> 56:26.190 Not really wise in my view . Uh , the 56:26.200 --> 56:27.922 Marine Corps hasn't missed its 56:27.922 --> 56:29.978 recruiting goals , but I don't think 56:29.978 --> 56:31.978 they're out of the woods yet . So , 56:31.978 --> 56:34.033 what do you think is happening ? And 56:34.033 --> 56:36.370 how do we need to get on it ? And I do 56:36.370 --> 56:40.100 think that the average man and woman , 56:40.100 --> 56:42.044 young man and woman in America who 56:42.044 --> 56:44.211 wants to serve , they want to deploy , 56:44.211 --> 56:47.130 they wanna defend their country , they 56:47.130 --> 56:49.600 wanna fight , right . So , I think we 56:49.600 --> 56:51.860 can't lose that aspect of trying to 56:51.860 --> 56:54.420 recruit For the men and women who want 56:54.420 --> 56:57.880 to do it . We don't have to go too far 56:57.890 --> 57:00.410 a field to say , Oh , we're gonna do 57:00.410 --> 57:02.410 all these other appeals . We should 57:02.410 --> 57:05.060 appeal to the patriotism and desire 57:05.070 --> 57:07.070 that's been in this country for 200 57:07.070 --> 57:10.100 plus years to deploy and fight for 57:10.100 --> 57:12.267 their country . I think that's how you 57:12.267 --> 57:14.433 get good recruiting numbers . But what 57:14.433 --> 57:16.670 do you guys think ? Senator ? Thanks 57:16.670 --> 57:18.837 for the question . And again , for the 57:18.837 --> 57:20.726 opportunity to kind of talk about 57:20.726 --> 57:22.726 recruiting . We know that there are 57:22.726 --> 57:24.837 some challenges out there right now . 57:24.837 --> 57:26.837 Um And one of the things that we're 57:26.837 --> 57:26.820 seeing in the research that we have is 57:26.820 --> 57:29.100 that there is definitely a military 57:29.100 --> 57:32.910 civilian divide . Um , you know , 57:32.920 --> 57:35.031 as Senator Duckworth's said , right , 57:35.031 --> 57:37.253 the recruiting pool is getting less and 57:37.253 --> 57:39.364 less smaller and smaller of those who 57:39.364 --> 57:41.087 are qualified . So they're not 57:41.087 --> 57:43.253 qualified because they're overweight . 57:43.253 --> 57:42.530 They have , they have a low as VAP 57:42.530 --> 57:45.560 score . What is it that ? Well , those 57:45.560 --> 57:47.727 are two things right there , sir right 57:47.727 --> 57:49.560 there . That's the , they're not 57:49.560 --> 57:51.393 meeting the academic standards , 57:51.393 --> 57:50.880 they're not amazing the physical 57:50.880 --> 57:54.400 fitness standards . But then We're also 57:54.400 --> 57:56.670 seeing that , um , you know , 30 years 57:56.670 --> 57:59.600 ago , 40% of people between the ages of 57:59.600 --> 58:02.470 16-24 knew somebody who served in the 58:02.470 --> 58:05.760 military . Uh , that's only 15% right 58:05.760 --> 58:07.982 now . They don't know what the military 58:07.982 --> 58:10.038 is , they don't understand what it's 58:10.038 --> 58:12.149 about . Um , and that was why earlier 58:12.149 --> 58:14.316 we talked about , you know , we've got 58:14.316 --> 58:16.316 to do a better job of going out and 58:16.316 --> 58:18.427 telling our story and the benefits of 58:18.427 --> 58:21.660 military service . Great story . It 58:21.660 --> 58:23.560 changed my life . It put me on a 58:23.560 --> 58:25.782 different trajectory . I know it's done 58:25.782 --> 58:28.380 that for , for thousands of people . So 58:28.380 --> 58:30.880 are you viewing the soldier prep course 58:30.880 --> 58:32.936 as an answer that other services can 58:32.936 --> 58:36.930 maybe emulate ? I think the 58:36.940 --> 58:38.773 uh well , the army would , could 58:38.773 --> 58:40.884 probably better talk about that later 58:40.884 --> 58:43.107 on . But that is one of the things that 58:43.107 --> 58:45.329 they saw , they saw there was a need to 58:45.329 --> 58:47.551 help students academically to help them 58:47.551 --> 58:49.607 get in better shape and , or so they 58:49.607 --> 58:51.829 can meet those standards . I understand 58:51.829 --> 58:51.560 from what I understand is the Navy is , 58:51.570 --> 58:54.900 is talking about emulating that program 58:54.900 --> 58:58.790 as well . So any other thoughts , Mr 58:58.790 --> 59:02.760 Constable Miss Kelly Senator , 59:02.760 --> 59:04.620 I want to point out one specific 59:04.630 --> 59:06.686 initiative we've had and that is the 59:06.686 --> 59:09.150 medical sessions review pilot and this 59:09.150 --> 59:11.317 is where we're questioning conventions 59:11.317 --> 59:13.539 that have constrained us over the years 59:13.539 --> 59:13.460 just simply because we know more than 59:13.460 --> 59:15.682 we used to , especially with electronic 59:15.682 --> 59:17.793 health records . And that is where we 59:17.793 --> 59:19.904 used to say if you have had asthma at 59:19.904 --> 59:22.016 any point , you are not eligible . So 59:22.016 --> 59:24.238 we , we questioned all of those working 59:24.238 --> 59:26.404 closely , of course , with the medical 59:26.404 --> 59:28.460 team to define where we can assume a 59:28.460 --> 59:30.404 little less looking at the data to 59:30.404 --> 59:32.460 where these people would qualify and 59:32.460 --> 59:32.150 that's brought thousands more in . Good . 59:32.150 --> 59:34.372 What about this is a topic I've been on 59:34.372 --> 59:38.000 that topic on mental health . Right . 59:38.010 --> 59:40.290 Right now , I know for a fact that 59:40.290 --> 59:42.401 certain services and I've been asking 59:42.401 --> 59:44.179 this question through the Armed 59:44.179 --> 59:46.346 Services Committee , but we disqualify 59:46.346 --> 59:48.512 young men and women , some services if 59:48.512 --> 59:50.970 they've seen a psychiatrist or if 59:50.970 --> 59:52.970 they've been on medicine for mental 59:52.970 --> 59:56.660 health and yet we want them to 59:57.280 --> 59:59.336 try to improve their mental health . 59:59.336 --> 01:00:03.230 Right ? How are we thinking about that 01:00:03.990 --> 01:00:06.212 in a way that would not just say , oh , 01:00:06.630 --> 01:00:08.930 you were on medicine for six months ? 01:00:08.940 --> 01:00:11.210 You saw a psychiatrist , young high 01:00:11.210 --> 01:00:13.380 school kid , you're disqualified 01:00:13.470 --> 01:00:16.740 because then that's just the wrong 01:00:16.740 --> 01:00:19.390 message . They're either gonna lie or 01:00:19.390 --> 01:00:22.240 they're gonna not seek help . There's 01:00:22.240 --> 01:00:24.407 as Mr Constable said , there are a lot 01:00:24.407 --> 01:00:26.240 of things that we have looked to 01:00:26.240 --> 01:00:28.296 reevaluate that we're trying to work 01:00:28.296 --> 01:00:30.518 with the services to expand that , that 01:00:30.518 --> 01:00:33.580 one , I believe it is one . Um you know , 01:00:33.580 --> 01:00:35.802 one of the things that we are trying to 01:00:35.802 --> 01:00:38.024 do within the military is de stigmatize 01:00:38.024 --> 01:00:40.247 mental health . As the secretary says , 01:00:40.247 --> 01:00:42.524 all the time , mental health is health . 01:00:42.524 --> 01:00:44.524 We want people to come forward when 01:00:44.524 --> 01:00:46.691 they need to feel the need , they need 01:00:46.691 --> 01:00:46.290 to talk to somebody or they need to see 01:00:46.290 --> 01:00:48.680 a professional . Um You know , we don't 01:00:48.680 --> 01:00:50.690 want them to , you know , used to 01:00:50.690 --> 01:00:53.023 almost be if you said you had a problem , 01:00:53.023 --> 01:00:55.246 they would just automatically take your 01:00:55.246 --> 01:00:57.357 security clearance away or ground you 01:00:57.357 --> 01:00:59.523 from flying the aircraft . Uh We don't 01:00:59.523 --> 01:01:01.468 want that to be the case anymore . 01:01:01.468 --> 01:01:03.634 We've been working hard to change that 01:01:03.634 --> 01:01:03.520 and to make it , you know , so that 01:01:03.520 --> 01:01:05.687 people will come forward and deal with 01:01:05.687 --> 01:01:07.600 their health issues . Thank you , 01:01:07.610 --> 01:01:09.721 Senator Blumenthal . Yeah , thank you 01:01:09.721 --> 01:01:12.850 very much madam chair . Um I want to 01:01:12.850 --> 01:01:15.940 follow up on exactly that question . 01:01:16.480 --> 01:01:19.470 Uh Because frankly I can , 01:01:19.480 --> 01:01:22.600 well , envision you'd rather have 01:01:22.600 --> 01:01:25.820 someone who sought help and someone 01:01:25.820 --> 01:01:28.970 who denied the need for it said I'm 01:01:28.980 --> 01:01:32.450 fine , but I want to shoot up a 01:01:32.450 --> 01:01:36.380 classroom or whatever and it's not 01:01:36.380 --> 01:01:38.602 going to talk about that when they come 01:01:38.602 --> 01:01:40.547 to a recruiter . So you say you're 01:01:40.547 --> 01:01:44.500 working hard , what are you doing ? And 01:01:44.500 --> 01:01:46.444 what's your timetable for specific 01:01:46.444 --> 01:01:49.930 steps ? And I'm not here to sort of 01:01:50.650 --> 01:01:54.360 um , put you on the 01:01:54.360 --> 01:01:56.860 spot . But I would like a written 01:01:56.860 --> 01:02:00.750 response with specifics as 01:02:00.750 --> 01:02:04.000 to what you were doing to change those 01:02:04.000 --> 01:02:07.730 qualifications and on what basis um 01:02:07.740 --> 01:02:09.962 for mental health , because I think the 01:02:09.962 --> 01:02:12.129 question raised by Senator Sullivan is 01:02:12.129 --> 01:02:14.610 absolutely critical . Yes , sir , we 01:02:14.610 --> 01:02:16.721 can provide you with that . But , you 01:02:16.721 --> 01:02:18.943 know , there are some great programs in 01:02:18.943 --> 01:02:20.999 the , and that the services had that 01:02:20.999 --> 01:02:23.221 they implemented . One I always like to 01:02:23.221 --> 01:02:25.388 talk about is the Air Force has . True 01:02:25.388 --> 01:02:27.332 North where they put in counselors 01:02:27.332 --> 01:02:29.221 within uh their squadrons , uh to 01:02:29.221 --> 01:02:31.332 provide them , you know , individuals 01:02:31.332 --> 01:02:33.554 to talk to when they need counseling or 01:02:33.554 --> 01:02:35.554 just to talk about different active 01:02:35.554 --> 01:02:39.140 duty members . Yes . But what about the 01:02:39.150 --> 01:02:42.230 recruit who will come to see the Marine 01:02:42.230 --> 01:02:44.286 Corps recruiting officer of the Navy 01:02:44.286 --> 01:02:46.397 recruiting officer and say , yeah , I 01:02:46.397 --> 01:02:49.970 had , I went for help . 01:02:51.440 --> 01:02:53.496 What happens to that person ? Well , 01:02:53.496 --> 01:02:55.440 Senator , like I said , I , we can 01:02:55.440 --> 01:02:57.718 provide you with that written response . 01:02:57.718 --> 01:02:59.940 I can turn it over to Dr Martinez Lopez 01:02:59.940 --> 01:03:02.107 who might be able to comment on that . 01:03:02.107 --> 01:03:04.510 But um we are working with the services , 01:03:04.510 --> 01:03:06.510 we are working with them to try and 01:03:06.510 --> 01:03:09.250 expand . Uh We were able to , to come 01:03:09.250 --> 01:03:11.250 to agreement on 38 different issues 01:03:11.250 --> 01:03:13.472 whether it be asthma or whether it be A 01:03:13.472 --> 01:03:16.630 D H D . Um I don't have time to , 01:03:17.570 --> 01:03:20.090 to hear about all of that . I want to 01:03:20.090 --> 01:03:22.800 focus on mental health because mental 01:03:22.800 --> 01:03:25.750 health , as the secretary has said , is 01:03:25.750 --> 01:03:27.972 should be regarded the same as physical 01:03:27.972 --> 01:03:30.280 health . So if somebody broke a leg and 01:03:30.280 --> 01:03:32.558 they said , you , yeah , I broke a leg . 01:03:32.558 --> 01:03:34.613 I played football , you know , I was 01:03:34.613 --> 01:03:37.710 out for six months . I'm fine now you 01:03:37.710 --> 01:03:40.200 would take them if someone says , yeah , 01:03:40.200 --> 01:03:42.930 I had a problem . I went to see , I 01:03:42.930 --> 01:03:46.010 went to see a shrink and it really 01:03:46.010 --> 01:03:49.080 helped . That's the kind of story that 01:03:50.040 --> 01:03:52.096 should be regarded in the same way . 01:03:52.096 --> 01:03:54.950 But I , I want to relate this issue to 01:03:54.960 --> 01:03:57.071 a very specific one . And that is the 01:03:57.071 --> 01:03:59.570 suicides of sailors on 01:04:00.210 --> 01:04:03.630 the uh us George Washington . 01:04:05.010 --> 01:04:08.620 three sailors died by suicide while 01:04:08.630 --> 01:04:11.430 that ship was undergoing maintenance 01:04:11.430 --> 01:04:13.550 from repairs . One of them was Xavier 01:04:13.550 --> 01:04:17.550 Sander from Connecticut . His 01:04:17.550 --> 01:04:21.110 dad has been humbling the Department of 01:04:21.110 --> 01:04:23.960 defense for information about what is 01:04:23.960 --> 01:04:27.380 being done to better the conditions of 01:04:27.390 --> 01:04:30.860 sailors when their ship is 01:04:31.400 --> 01:04:33.511 not at sea when it's being repaired . 01:04:33.511 --> 01:04:36.530 He was forced to live on the ship while 01:04:36.530 --> 01:04:39.520 it was being repaired . Like living in 01:04:39.520 --> 01:04:42.040 an apartment that's being renovated . 01:04:42.680 --> 01:04:46.580 He couldn't sleep . He was in bad 01:04:46.580 --> 01:04:49.940 shape and he didn't get help . The 01:04:49.950 --> 01:04:53.590 Department of Defense , uh , is doing 01:04:53.590 --> 01:04:56.060 an investigation or an inquiry . 01:04:57.660 --> 01:04:59.104 Do you have the results ? 01:05:01.740 --> 01:05:03.907 Senator , we don't have the results to 01:05:03.907 --> 01:05:06.018 the inquiry or the investigation that 01:05:06.018 --> 01:05:07.962 the Navy is doing . Um , I believe 01:05:07.962 --> 01:05:10.073 that's still ongoing . I believe that 01:05:10.073 --> 01:05:12.296 would be a better question for the Navy 01:05:12.296 --> 01:05:14.518 and the second panel as to what they're 01:05:14.518 --> 01:05:13.880 doing and the improvements that they're 01:05:13.880 --> 01:05:16.400 trying to make for those living 01:05:16.400 --> 01:05:19.240 conditions has been finished and that 01:05:19.240 --> 01:05:22.310 it's under review . Can you 01:05:24.060 --> 01:05:26.070 tell me why it hasn't been made 01:05:26.070 --> 01:05:28.880 available to the father of the young 01:05:28.880 --> 01:05:32.720 man who lost his life ? Senator ? 01:05:32.720 --> 01:05:35.053 I , I can't do that right now . I don't , 01:05:35.053 --> 01:05:37.109 haven't seen the report myself . Can 01:05:37.109 --> 01:05:40.490 you look into it ? Um We can , we can 01:05:40.490 --> 01:05:42.601 see what we can do , we can take that 01:05:42.601 --> 01:05:44.934 for the record . Um But I believe again , 01:05:44.934 --> 01:05:47.157 that would be a better question for the 01:05:47.157 --> 01:05:46.750 Navy as to where they are with that 01:05:46.750 --> 01:05:49.480 report and what are they looking into ? 01:05:49.500 --> 01:05:51.667 And they say it's under review . We're 01:05:51.667 --> 01:05:53.778 coming up on the one year anniversary 01:05:53.778 --> 01:05:57.680 of his death , April 15th . And for 01:05:57.680 --> 01:06:00.110 all you've said about your paying 01:06:00.110 --> 01:06:02.040 attention to this issue of mental 01:06:02.040 --> 01:06:05.290 health , by the way , these three 01:06:05.290 --> 01:06:07.290 sailors are not the only ones there 01:06:07.290 --> 01:06:09.512 have been other suicides on other ships 01:06:09.520 --> 01:06:13.380 similarly situated in home ports 01:06:13.380 --> 01:06:16.970 for repair or maintenance . This is a 01:06:16.970 --> 01:06:20.030 specific kind of circumstance where 01:06:20.040 --> 01:06:23.940 you're losing life in real time . So to 01:06:23.940 --> 01:06:27.410 wait a year for a report makes no sense 01:06:28.210 --> 01:06:28.870 to me , 01:06:32.140 --> 01:06:34.650 Senator , I , I look , we know any , 01:06:34.660 --> 01:06:36.900 any loss of life through suicide or any 01:06:36.910 --> 01:06:40.280 through any means is a terrible tragedy 01:06:40.280 --> 01:06:42.447 and it does weigh heavily on our , our 01:06:42.447 --> 01:06:46.230 military family um in , but 01:06:46.240 --> 01:06:48.490 I'm sorry that I don't have the answer 01:06:48.490 --> 01:06:50.580 for you . Why that report is still 01:06:50.580 --> 01:06:52.870 under review ? Um Again , we can take 01:06:52.870 --> 01:06:55.092 that for the record and try and get you 01:06:55.092 --> 01:06:57.314 a better answer . Well , I'm my time is 01:06:57.314 --> 01:06:59.450 over and I just want to ask you to 01:06:59.450 --> 01:07:02.000 commit that you will provide someone to 01:07:02.000 --> 01:07:05.460 meet with John Sander who lost his son 01:07:05.470 --> 01:07:08.430 to suicide on the USS Washington when 01:07:08.430 --> 01:07:10.374 he comes down because I'm going to 01:07:10.374 --> 01:07:12.430 invite him down and I want him to be 01:07:12.430 --> 01:07:14.097 able to meet someone from the 01:07:14.097 --> 01:07:16.208 Department of Defense . Will you make 01:07:16.208 --> 01:07:18.430 someone available ? Senator ? We'll try 01:07:18.430 --> 01:07:20.152 and see what we can do to make 01:07:20.152 --> 01:07:21.930 something available to meet the 01:07:21.930 --> 01:07:25.080 individual . Okay . Thank you , 01:07:25.760 --> 01:07:29.750 Senator Kelly . Thank you madam 01:07:29.750 --> 01:07:33.540 chair um Secretary 01:07:33.540 --> 01:07:35.960 Cisneros . Good to see you . Thank you 01:07:35.960 --> 01:07:38.110 for being here . Um Last year we 01:07:38.110 --> 01:07:41.650 discussed the implementation of section 01:07:41.650 --> 01:07:45.460 704 of the N D A . We 01:07:45.460 --> 01:07:48.320 passed in 2021 otherwise known as the 01:07:48.320 --> 01:07:50.990 Brandon Act , which improves the 01:07:50.990 --> 01:07:53.101 ability of service members to quick , 01:07:53.101 --> 01:07:55.710 quickly obtain medical mental health 01:07:55.710 --> 01:07:58.840 care . It also reduces stigma and 01:07:58.840 --> 01:08:01.370 provides needed training . The Brandon 01:08:01.370 --> 01:08:04.330 Act is named for Fallen United States 01:08:04.340 --> 01:08:06.520 Navy Petty Officer , third class 01:08:06.520 --> 01:08:10.330 Brandon Caserta , a Peoria Arizona . He 01:08:10.330 --> 01:08:13.520 was a dedicated young sailor . He did 01:08:13.520 --> 01:08:15.860 all the right things as he was trying 01:08:15.860 --> 01:08:18.050 to deal with his mental health issues 01:08:19.460 --> 01:08:22.160 and he suffered some significant uh 01:08:22.170 --> 01:08:24.850 mental health problems . Uh He was 01:08:24.850 --> 01:08:27.820 discouraged and ridiculed and then 01:08:27.820 --> 01:08:31.450 tragically took his own life . I've 01:08:31.450 --> 01:08:33.450 been working closely with Brandon's 01:08:33.450 --> 01:08:35.450 parents , Terry and Patrick on this 01:08:35.450 --> 01:08:37.617 issue . Uh They were in my office just 01:08:37.617 --> 01:08:39.728 about a week ago and we share serious 01:08:39.728 --> 01:08:42.500 concerns about the suicide epidemic . 01:08:42.510 --> 01:08:45.340 Um As does you know , Senator 01:08:45.340 --> 01:08:48.050 Blumenthal and Senator Sullivan and I'm 01:08:48.050 --> 01:08:51.750 sure everybody on this committee , um 01:08:53.120 --> 01:08:56.020 you know , we need to use every tool 01:08:56.020 --> 01:08:58.187 that we have to fight this challenge . 01:08:58.187 --> 01:09:00.298 And one of those tools is the Brandon 01:09:00.298 --> 01:09:02.409 Act that was in the defense bill last 01:09:02.409 --> 01:09:06.300 year . So now I know we've spoken about 01:09:06.300 --> 01:09:08.450 this before , but I'm concerned there 01:09:08.450 --> 01:09:11.240 haven't been visible signs of progress 01:09:11.250 --> 01:09:14.600 on implementing the Brandon Act and 01:09:14.600 --> 01:09:16.711 I've raised this with you and service 01:09:16.711 --> 01:09:18.933 secretaries in the past and last year , 01:09:18.933 --> 01:09:20.600 I added to the defense bill a 01:09:20.600 --> 01:09:23.410 requirement for a formal progress 01:09:23.410 --> 01:09:26.610 report on D O D s implementation 01:09:26.620 --> 01:09:28.880 efforts . Um 01:09:29.870 --> 01:09:32.550 That was due on March one , I think 01:09:32.550 --> 01:09:35.680 today's the 15th . So Secretary 01:09:35.680 --> 01:09:38.510 Cisneros , why has the committee not 01:09:38.510 --> 01:09:41.400 yet received your implementation report 01:09:41.400 --> 01:09:43.890 as required by the defense bill . And 01:09:43.900 --> 01:09:45.844 are there any updates that you can 01:09:45.844 --> 01:09:49.000 provide to me today about what actions 01:09:49.000 --> 01:09:52.560 the department is taking to implement 01:09:52.570 --> 01:09:54.600 the requirements of the Brandon Act 01:09:55.220 --> 01:09:57.580 Senator ? Thank you for that question . 01:09:57.580 --> 01:09:59.691 And as you know , we stayed earlier , 01:09:59.691 --> 01:10:01.358 any , any death by suicide is 01:10:01.358 --> 01:10:03.247 definitely a tragedy and , and it 01:10:03.247 --> 01:10:05.080 really does weigh heavily on our 01:10:05.080 --> 01:10:07.136 military family and we are trying to 01:10:07.136 --> 01:10:09.080 make improvements . Um Congress is 01:10:09.080 --> 01:10:11.830 really kind of given the stability with 01:10:11.830 --> 01:10:13.880 the suicide prevention Independent 01:10:13.880 --> 01:10:16.047 Review Commission that we were able to 01:10:16.047 --> 01:10:18.269 complete at the end of last year . Um , 01:10:18.269 --> 01:10:20.324 we can have Miss Foster kind of talk 01:10:20.324 --> 01:10:22.436 about that a little bit if you like , 01:10:22.436 --> 01:10:24.324 but we are making progress on the 01:10:24.324 --> 01:10:26.547 Brandon Act and , and to do that and to 01:10:26.547 --> 01:10:28.602 talk about it , I'll turn over to Dr 01:10:28.602 --> 01:10:30.824 Martinez Lopez who can kind of give you 01:10:30.824 --> 01:10:32.991 an update on answer . Okay , Senator , 01:10:32.991 --> 01:10:35.213 thank you for the question that we need 01:10:35.213 --> 01:10:37.324 to honor Brandon Caserta . There's no 01:10:37.324 --> 01:10:39.547 question about that and the best way to 01:10:39.547 --> 01:10:41.436 honor is through you putting into 01:10:41.436 --> 01:10:43.547 effect the law . I'm new at the job , 01:10:43.547 --> 01:10:45.713 been there for three weeks , but I can 01:10:45.713 --> 01:10:48.430 tell you that the long pole in the tent 01:10:48.440 --> 01:10:51.020 was the issue of the law brought 01:10:51.020 --> 01:10:53.020 everybody including the individual 01:10:53.020 --> 01:10:55.430 ready reserve that had no command and 01:10:55.430 --> 01:10:57.541 control . So we were trying to figure 01:10:57.541 --> 01:10:59.263 out how to implement the law , 01:10:59.263 --> 01:11:02.550 including all the service members , 01:11:03.330 --> 01:11:05.810 what I recommend it . And I think we're 01:11:05.810 --> 01:11:07.977 moving forward or we're gonna do first 01:11:07.977 --> 01:11:09.921 is gonna break the active duty and 01:11:09.921 --> 01:11:12.143 let's go , we can do moving that access 01:11:12.143 --> 01:11:14.270 right away . And then as we come out 01:11:14.270 --> 01:11:16.492 with the solution set for the reserve , 01:11:16.492 --> 01:11:18.548 the rest of the reserve components , 01:11:18.548 --> 01:11:20.548 those that have command , command , 01:11:20.548 --> 01:11:22.770 command structure next . And then the I 01:11:22.770 --> 01:11:25.650 R R uh because there's issues of care 01:11:25.650 --> 01:11:28.520 and there's a lot of so we're moving 01:11:28.530 --> 01:11:30.419 and I guess Mr Secretary , you're 01:11:30.419 --> 01:11:34.050 talking about how the Brandon Act will 01:11:34.050 --> 01:11:36.570 be implemented . But my first question 01:11:36.570 --> 01:11:38.930 was we were supposed to get a progress 01:11:38.930 --> 01:11:41.820 report on the implementation . 01:11:42.530 --> 01:11:44.752 Uh and that certainly could be what you 01:11:44.752 --> 01:11:46.586 said here could have been in the 01:11:46.586 --> 01:11:48.697 progress report . We were supposed to 01:11:48.697 --> 01:11:50.808 receive that on March one . We're now 01:11:50.808 --> 01:11:52.974 two weeks past that we've not received 01:11:52.974 --> 01:11:55.550 it . So when could we expect the report 01:11:55.560 --> 01:11:57.910 on the progress of the implementation ? 01:11:58.780 --> 01:12:02.240 Senator ? Uh we talked , we started 01:12:02.240 --> 01:12:04.920 talking to the staff hopefully very 01:12:04.920 --> 01:12:07.390 soon in the next next month or so . 01:12:07.390 --> 01:12:09.501 You're gonna see the report coming to 01:12:09.501 --> 01:12:12.620 you of how we hopefully before that , 01:12:12.630 --> 01:12:15.280 how we implementing the Act . But I 01:12:15.280 --> 01:12:17.447 just gave you the kind of the scope of 01:12:17.447 --> 01:12:19.670 how we're approaching it . So in a 01:12:19.670 --> 01:12:22.390 month or two , we could expect the 01:12:22.400 --> 01:12:24.630 progress report on the implementation . 01:12:24.670 --> 01:12:26.892 Alright , you talked a little bit about 01:12:26.892 --> 01:12:30.740 the implementation . Um So I'm 01:12:30.740 --> 01:12:33.000 interested in seeing that and in detail 01:12:33.010 --> 01:12:35.160 about what are we doing to make sure 01:12:35.170 --> 01:12:37.650 that the what we passed in legislation , 01:12:37.660 --> 01:12:41.200 how it's gonna be implemented . Um 01:12:41.210 --> 01:12:43.377 Anything else you might need from us , 01:12:43.377 --> 01:12:45.990 you could add that as well and because 01:12:45.990 --> 01:12:49.340 this is such a serious issue , uh I 01:12:49.340 --> 01:12:51.396 mean , it's not only in the Navy , I 01:12:51.396 --> 01:12:54.730 mean , in D O D , this is a major 01:12:54.730 --> 01:12:57.770 problem , it's affecting readiness . Um 01:12:58.330 --> 01:13:00.497 but that's not the reason to do it . I 01:13:00.497 --> 01:13:02.497 mean , the reason to , to implement 01:13:02.497 --> 01:13:04.663 this is it's the right thing to do and 01:13:04.663 --> 01:13:06.830 it will save people's lives . So thank 01:13:06.830 --> 01:13:10.080 you . Thank you , Senator Kaine . 01:13:11.150 --> 01:13:13.317 Thank you madam chair , ranking member 01:13:13.317 --> 01:13:15.650 Scott into the Witnesses for being here . 01:13:15.650 --> 01:13:17.539 I just want to pick up on Senator 01:13:17.539 --> 01:13:19.872 Kelly's on the Brandon Act because this , 01:13:19.872 --> 01:13:21.983 this occurred in Virginia . I've also 01:13:21.983 --> 01:13:24.317 met with the Surdas and just , you know , 01:13:24.317 --> 01:13:26.372 to put a really fine point on this , 01:13:28.050 --> 01:13:30.750 they've lost their child under 01:13:30.760 --> 01:13:33.680 unimaginably horrific circumstances . 01:13:33.690 --> 01:13:37.310 They are turning that grief into an 01:13:37.310 --> 01:13:39.421 effort to try to do something to help 01:13:39.421 --> 01:13:42.790 others if we pass a law but do not 01:13:42.800 --> 01:13:44.967 implement it . It's a re victimization 01:13:44.967 --> 01:13:47.133 of a family that doesn't deserve to be 01:13:47.133 --> 01:13:49.244 re victimized . They , they will view 01:13:49.244 --> 01:13:52.950 that as yet another , yet another um 01:13:53.560 --> 01:13:55.560 pain that they are suffering at the 01:13:55.560 --> 01:13:57.720 hands of United States military . So 01:13:57.730 --> 01:14:00.500 this is , this needs to be done because 01:14:00.500 --> 01:14:02.722 we have a significant challenge and I'm 01:14:02.722 --> 01:14:04.722 gonna get into another dimension of 01:14:04.722 --> 01:14:06.889 this , but it also needs to be done so 01:14:06.889 --> 01:14:09.111 that a family that has already suffered 01:14:09.111 --> 01:14:11.333 and suffered more . So I just echo what 01:14:11.333 --> 01:14:13.333 Senator Kelly said . We need to see 01:14:13.333 --> 01:14:15.444 that report about implementation . We 01:14:15.444 --> 01:14:17.278 need to see it soon . We need to 01:14:17.278 --> 01:14:19.500 understand that this is not some , some 01:14:19.500 --> 01:14:19.410 box checking thing that people are 01:14:19.410 --> 01:14:22.030 doing just to appease us , but you're 01:14:22.030 --> 01:14:24.830 doing it to meet a need . That is a 01:14:24.830 --> 01:14:26.774 very significant one . I've , I've 01:14:26.774 --> 01:14:29.970 recently had to string strings of 01:14:29.980 --> 01:14:32.160 really difficult suicides within the 01:14:32.160 --> 01:14:34.271 Navy in Hampton Roads , Virginia . So 01:14:34.271 --> 01:14:36.860 just in one communities , sailors 01:14:36.860 --> 01:14:39.080 aboard the George Washington who 01:14:39.080 --> 01:14:41.191 trained for an M O s and thought they 01:14:41.191 --> 01:14:43.358 would be doing something . But instead 01:14:43.358 --> 01:14:45.524 because the George Washington has been 01:14:45.524 --> 01:14:47.858 in this limited duty status for so long , 01:14:47.858 --> 01:14:49.913 many of them are there and will have 01:14:49.913 --> 01:14:51.913 their whole career while the ship's 01:14:51.913 --> 01:14:53.858 getting refurb not doing what they 01:14:53.858 --> 01:14:55.691 thought they might do a sense of 01:14:55.691 --> 01:14:57.747 purpose , purposeless nous can , can 01:14:57.747 --> 01:14:59.580 grow , that can exacerbate other 01:14:59.580 --> 01:15:01.747 challenges . The living situations for 01:15:01.747 --> 01:15:04.024 folks when their ships are in dry dock , 01:15:04.024 --> 01:15:06.247 getting refurbed aren't necessarily the 01:15:06.247 --> 01:15:08.469 best . Then we had four suicides within 01:15:08.469 --> 01:15:10.940 a space of five months with 55 weeks 01:15:10.950 --> 01:15:13.440 within the space of five weeks with 01:15:13.450 --> 01:15:15.506 sailors who had been assigned to the 01:15:15.506 --> 01:15:17.394 Mid Atlantic Regional Maintenance 01:15:17.394 --> 01:15:19.450 Center in Norfolk . This is a center 01:15:19.450 --> 01:15:19.240 one of seven or eight in the United 01:15:19.240 --> 01:15:21.073 States that they're kind of like 01:15:21.073 --> 01:15:22.962 macgyver is , it's a really great 01:15:22.962 --> 01:15:24.907 mission where they take things off 01:15:24.907 --> 01:15:27.073 ships and subs that are busted instead 01:15:27.073 --> 01:15:29.351 of paying millions to do something new . 01:15:29.351 --> 01:15:31.573 They can figure out a way to fix it and 01:15:31.573 --> 01:15:30.860 get it back on . It's an important 01:15:30.860 --> 01:15:33.770 mission . But it's very unusual in the 01:15:33.770 --> 01:15:36.060 way it's been composed of the 2500 01:15:36.060 --> 01:15:38.116 people who work at Marmot . Half for 01:15:38.116 --> 01:15:40.830 civilians who were under contract , 01:15:40.830 --> 01:15:42.830 they know how long they're gonna be 01:15:42.830 --> 01:15:45.163 there . Half for sailors of the sailors , 01:15:45.163 --> 01:15:47.441 half have been assigned to the mission , 01:15:47.441 --> 01:15:49.497 but half were assigned there under a 01:15:49.497 --> 01:15:51.608 limited duty status , maybe they were 01:15:51.608 --> 01:15:53.663 pregnant , maybe they broke a bone , 01:15:53.663 --> 01:15:55.774 maybe they had a disciplinary issue . 01:15:55.774 --> 01:15:55.130 And so they were pulled out of the 01:15:55.130 --> 01:15:57.297 fleet and assigned there . And most of 01:15:57.297 --> 01:15:59.519 that , nearly 600 people in the limited 01:15:59.519 --> 01:16:01.574 duty status at Marmot , they have no 01:16:01.574 --> 01:16:03.574 idea when they're going back to the 01:16:03.574 --> 01:16:05.686 fleet . Uh they may be in a med board 01:16:05.686 --> 01:16:08.830 process that is completely opaque and 01:16:08.830 --> 01:16:11.052 they don't have a sense of when it will 01:16:11.052 --> 01:16:14.470 be over . Um And that then builds up 01:16:14.470 --> 01:16:17.110 some sense of purposeless nous when you 01:16:17.110 --> 01:16:19.290 don't know what your next step is and 01:16:19.290 --> 01:16:21.512 you don't know when you'll know you not 01:16:21.512 --> 01:16:23.568 only don't know , but you don't know 01:16:23.568 --> 01:16:25.568 when you'll know then that can also 01:16:25.568 --> 01:16:27.790 contribute to significant mental health 01:16:27.790 --> 01:16:30.120 challenges . And that's why No surprise 01:16:30.120 --> 01:16:32.120 those , those four suicides in this 01:16:32.120 --> 01:16:34.342 work force of 2500 , it was , it wasn't 01:16:34.342 --> 01:16:36.509 civilians . It wasn't the sailors that 01:16:36.509 --> 01:16:38.620 were assigned there for a traditional 01:16:38.620 --> 01:16:40.676 tour . It was all people within this 01:16:40.676 --> 01:16:43.310 limited duty population who were living 01:16:43.310 --> 01:16:46.460 in a , in a world of kind of a big 01:16:46.460 --> 01:16:48.571 question mark about what would happen 01:16:48.571 --> 01:16:50.627 to them . So I guess I'd like to ask 01:16:50.627 --> 01:16:52.627 particularly to be in with the navy 01:16:52.627 --> 01:16:54.516 when we have members of the armed 01:16:54.516 --> 01:16:56.738 services who were assigned into limited 01:16:56.738 --> 01:16:59.240 duty status . You know , what , what 01:16:59.240 --> 01:17:02.710 can we do to make sure that they um 01:17:02.720 --> 01:17:04.609 they have support they need while 01:17:04.609 --> 01:17:06.776 they're in that status because there , 01:17:06.776 --> 01:17:09.090 there was no embedded mental health 01:17:09.100 --> 01:17:12.080 professions , Professionals in this 01:17:12.080 --> 01:17:14.620 work force of 2500 , even though 600 of 01:17:14.620 --> 01:17:16.787 them were on the limited duty status . 01:17:16.787 --> 01:17:19.009 Each one different from the next , each 01:17:19.009 --> 01:17:21.231 one with a lot of questions about their 01:17:21.231 --> 01:17:20.640 future . What can we do with our 01:17:20.640 --> 01:17:22.890 limited duty to provide them the 01:17:22.890 --> 01:17:26.210 services they need ? Senator . Thank 01:17:26.210 --> 01:17:28.680 you for that . And you know , again , 01:17:28.690 --> 01:17:31.000 uh the secretary says all the time 01:17:31.000 --> 01:17:33.530 mental health is , is health and , and 01:17:33.530 --> 01:17:35.530 we want to ensure that we're taking 01:17:35.530 --> 01:17:37.641 care of our service members that have 01:17:37.641 --> 01:17:40.240 needs . Um I'll turn it over to Dr 01:17:40.240 --> 01:17:43.720 Martinez Lopez here . But you know , 01:17:43.730 --> 01:17:46.180 any service member that , that needs to 01:17:46.180 --> 01:17:49.920 see a physician . Um You can always 01:17:49.920 --> 01:17:52.640 go and talk and it's not just , you 01:17:52.640 --> 01:17:54.700 know , whether it's the people that 01:17:54.700 --> 01:17:56.922 need to seek mental health , right ? We 01:17:56.922 --> 01:17:59.033 have counselors for people are having 01:17:59.033 --> 01:18:01.089 financial problems if they're having 01:18:01.089 --> 01:18:03.300 relationship problems . Um the 01:18:03.310 --> 01:18:05.366 individuals are there for them to go 01:18:05.366 --> 01:18:07.532 and to talk to , but I'll turn it over 01:18:07.532 --> 01:18:09.588 to Dr Martinez Lopez specifically to 01:18:09.588 --> 01:18:11.810 talk about the mental health and what , 01:18:11.810 --> 01:18:14.143 what individuals need to do in order to , 01:18:14.143 --> 01:18:16.143 to seek help . And it's a very good 01:18:16.143 --> 01:18:18.143 question . I think we're taking the 01:18:18.143 --> 01:18:20.310 approach of public health approach and 01:18:20.310 --> 01:18:22.421 you right on target , which is , it's 01:18:22.421 --> 01:18:24.421 not a medical issue , it's a public 01:18:24.421 --> 01:18:26.366 health . We all play the Commander 01:18:26.366 --> 01:18:28.970 Place . Uh the there's financial issues , 01:18:28.970 --> 01:18:31.480 social issues , there's medical issues 01:18:31.490 --> 01:18:33.601 and we need to address all of those . 01:18:33.601 --> 01:18:36.090 Think about it like a rucksack that has 01:18:36.090 --> 01:18:38.090 a lot of stuff that is heavy and we 01:18:38.090 --> 01:18:40.257 need to figure out how to live in that 01:18:40.257 --> 01:18:42.340 rucksack . So if there's a financial 01:18:42.340 --> 01:18:44.520 thing that we can do to help that 01:18:44.530 --> 01:18:46.780 sailor , that's one thing . If there is 01:18:46.780 --> 01:18:48.920 a social , you know , family issues 01:18:48.920 --> 01:18:51.390 that we can help them with , let's go 01:18:51.390 --> 01:18:53.380 and relieve that . If it's a legal 01:18:53.380 --> 01:18:55.602 issue that they're dealing with , let's 01:18:55.602 --> 01:18:57.900 go and try to and , and by doing that , 01:18:57.900 --> 01:19:00.700 we decrease the risk , you know , of 01:19:00.710 --> 01:19:03.620 that sailor , soldier , sailor , sailor 01:19:03.620 --> 01:19:05.820 memory or guardian , you know , from 01:19:05.830 --> 01:19:08.770 that's part of the equation to this 01:19:08.780 --> 01:19:11.850 conundrum . So I think we're on the 01:19:11.850 --> 01:19:14.017 right track in that respect . A lot of 01:19:14.017 --> 01:19:16.550 work to be done . A lot of education is 01:19:16.550 --> 01:19:19.740 a never ending process , but I'm 01:19:19.740 --> 01:19:21.851 confident that , that we need to keep 01:19:21.851 --> 01:19:24.073 sailing in that direction and trying to 01:19:24.073 --> 01:19:27.170 make headways . Thank you . I think our 01:19:27.170 --> 01:19:29.440 ranking member has a comment . Well , 01:19:29.450 --> 01:19:31.940 first off , I want , I want Senator 01:19:32.660 --> 01:19:34.920 Senator . But I think Senator Kelly , I 01:19:34.930 --> 01:19:36.930 mean , they all ask things that one 01:19:36.930 --> 01:19:39.152 would like to be , be more responsive . 01:19:39.152 --> 01:19:41.319 So , I hope you guys will do your best 01:19:41.319 --> 01:19:43.541 to be more responsive . The other thing 01:19:43.541 --> 01:19:45.652 is we go through the National Defense 01:19:45.652 --> 01:19:45.070 Authorization Act and we're just trying 01:19:45.070 --> 01:19:47.126 to get stuff in there every year and 01:19:47.126 --> 01:19:49.237 some of our reports and if you're not 01:19:49.237 --> 01:19:51.459 gonna get a report on time , I mean , I 01:19:51.459 --> 01:19:51.010 think the first thing you probably 01:19:51.010 --> 01:19:54.130 ought to do is tell us and tell us why 01:19:54.140 --> 01:19:56.251 because we're not doing it because we 01:19:56.251 --> 01:19:58.418 don't care , we're doing it because we 01:19:58.418 --> 01:20:00.418 care . Um , so I think , I think if 01:20:00.418 --> 01:20:02.584 you're not gonna get a report , like , 01:20:02.584 --> 01:20:04.696 I mean , I think all of us would like 01:20:04.696 --> 01:20:04.370 to know it and I think this committee's 01:20:04.370 --> 01:20:06.426 gonna actually work to try to figure 01:20:06.426 --> 01:20:08.537 out how we have , um , people want to 01:20:08.537 --> 01:20:12.320 serve . Um , so I went through what was 01:20:12.320 --> 01:20:14.376 talking about in dry dock . I was in 01:20:14.376 --> 01:20:16.653 dry dock . My ship was in dry dock and , 01:20:16.653 --> 01:20:18.709 you know , it's boring . It's really 01:20:18.709 --> 01:20:21.180 boring . Um , and it seems like there 01:20:21.180 --> 01:20:23.180 ought to be a way to send people to 01:20:23.180 --> 01:20:25.402 training and do things like that rather 01:20:25.402 --> 01:20:27.569 than just , and we just sat around and 01:20:27.569 --> 01:20:29.736 did nothing . So , and it was like the 01:20:29.736 --> 01:20:31.902 ship was at risk . I mean , we're in a 01:20:31.902 --> 01:20:34.069 dry dock area . Nobody can get there . 01:20:34.069 --> 01:20:36.180 So they didn't need us to show up and 01:20:36.180 --> 01:20:36.010 hold a gun every so often . So , but 01:20:36.010 --> 01:20:39.800 thanks everybody for so I agree . 01:20:39.810 --> 01:20:42.010 I really want to associate myself with 01:20:42.010 --> 01:20:44.066 the remarks . It is very frustrating 01:20:44.066 --> 01:20:46.232 when we get things into N D A . That's 01:20:46.232 --> 01:20:48.343 something we've all worked on to make 01:20:48.343 --> 01:20:50.677 it happen and then we don't get answers . 01:20:50.677 --> 01:20:52.788 That's a real problem for all of us . 01:20:52.788 --> 01:20:54.899 So , the commitment specifically that 01:20:54.899 --> 01:20:57.010 Senator Duckworth's has extracted and 01:20:57.010 --> 01:20:58.899 that others have asked for , um , 01:20:58.899 --> 01:21:00.843 regard that as something the whole 01:21:00.843 --> 01:21:02.954 committee is behind and we expect her 01:21:02.954 --> 01:21:05.350 to get her answers in a timely fashion . 01:21:05.760 --> 01:21:07.871 Um We're gonna do a second round with 01:21:07.871 --> 01:21:10.038 this panel for those of us who want to 01:21:10.038 --> 01:21:12.149 do second round of questions . I want 01:21:12.149 --> 01:21:14.260 to do a second round . Are you good ? 01:21:14.260 --> 01:21:16.550 You're good . You're good . And I think 01:21:16.550 --> 01:21:18.606 Senator Duckworth's would . So we've 01:21:18.606 --> 01:21:20.717 got two more rounds and then we'll go 01:21:20.717 --> 01:21:23.050 to the second panel that we've got here . 01:21:23.050 --> 01:21:25.460 So the U S military should have the 01:21:25.460 --> 01:21:28.480 best doctors in the entire world in a 01:21:28.480 --> 01:21:30.530 crisis . These are the medical 01:21:30.530 --> 01:21:32.474 professionals who are on the front 01:21:32.474 --> 01:21:35.430 lines . But unlike doctors who are at a 01:21:35.440 --> 01:21:39.160 really busy place like mass general or 01:21:39.160 --> 01:21:42.210 Boston Medical Center , military 01:21:42.210 --> 01:21:44.870 doctors don't have a constant stream of 01:21:44.870 --> 01:21:47.240 service members with serious injuries 01:21:47.240 --> 01:21:49.690 coming in the front door . Uh Now it's 01:21:49.690 --> 01:21:52.400 a good thing that fewer service members 01:21:52.410 --> 01:21:54.910 are suffering serious injury , but it 01:21:54.910 --> 01:21:57.020 is also a problem for the doctors 01:21:57.020 --> 01:21:59.242 because it means they get less practice 01:21:59.242 --> 01:22:01.410 stitching people up or setting broken 01:22:01.410 --> 01:22:03.900 bones or doing emergency surgery to 01:22:03.900 --> 01:22:06.810 repair gunshot wounds . One of the key 01:22:06.810 --> 01:22:09.880 ways that military doctors and surgeons 01:22:09.880 --> 01:22:12.580 maintain their skills is by treating 01:22:12.580 --> 01:22:15.350 civilians at military treatment 01:22:15.350 --> 01:22:18.430 facilities or M T F s . Now , Dr 01:22:18.430 --> 01:22:22.160 Martinez Lopez , how does D O D benefit 01:22:22.170 --> 01:22:25.310 from treating civilian patients ? 01:22:26.460 --> 01:22:28.627 Thank you very much , Senator . That's 01:22:28.627 --> 01:22:31.280 it . That's extremely important to us 01:22:31.280 --> 01:22:33.800 away from the standpoint of readiness . 01:22:33.810 --> 01:22:36.600 Need to keep all the docs and all the 01:22:36.610 --> 01:22:39.100 nurses . It's not just the docs , it's 01:22:39.100 --> 01:22:42.480 the whole team that has to be sharp uh 01:22:42.830 --> 01:22:45.052 by taking care of civilians . We do two 01:22:45.052 --> 01:22:47.274 things . One is a readiness piece , but 01:22:47.274 --> 01:22:49.497 also the good neighbor peace . I mean , 01:22:49.497 --> 01:22:51.552 like in San Antonio , if there is an 01:22:51.552 --> 01:22:53.441 emergency and they show up in our 01:22:53.441 --> 01:22:55.552 doorsteps , we have the good neighbor 01:22:55.552 --> 01:22:57.719 responsibility to provide good care to 01:22:57.719 --> 01:23:00.660 them too . But so we need to , as you 01:23:00.660 --> 01:23:03.160 said , we need to bring about more 01:23:03.160 --> 01:23:05.420 patients , especially trauma patients . 01:23:05.420 --> 01:23:08.110 And we San Antonio is a perfect place 01:23:08.110 --> 01:23:11.000 where we do world class burn care and 01:23:11.000 --> 01:23:14.120 also trauma care . And hopefully we'll 01:23:14.120 --> 01:23:17.760 never have to use those abroad . But if 01:23:17.760 --> 01:23:20.460 we do , our team will be ready to 01:23:20.460 --> 01:23:23.500 deploy and do that , right . So , so we 01:23:23.500 --> 01:23:25.590 want you to be sharp and we want to 01:23:25.590 --> 01:23:27.701 have the chance to train as a team on 01:23:27.701 --> 01:23:29.860 an ongoing basis . Uh want you to be 01:23:29.860 --> 01:23:32.082 able to be designated as trauma centers 01:23:32.082 --> 01:23:34.580 because your level is that high in 01:23:34.580 --> 01:23:37.160 terms of your practice . In other words , 01:23:37.160 --> 01:23:39.327 treating civilians for the military to 01:23:39.327 --> 01:23:41.549 treat civilians is supposed to be a win 01:23:41.549 --> 01:23:44.350 win . The civilian patient gets world 01:23:44.350 --> 01:23:47.560 class care . Uh and military doctors 01:23:47.570 --> 01:23:49.850 stay up to date on their skills . It is 01:23:49.850 --> 01:23:52.580 not working out so well for patients , 01:23:52.600 --> 01:23:55.590 most of them are dropped off at the M T 01:23:55.590 --> 01:23:57.590 F in an ambulance because they need 01:23:57.590 --> 01:24:00.240 emergency treatment . And the M T F is 01:24:00.240 --> 01:24:03.550 the best closest option . Two thirds of 01:24:03.550 --> 01:24:06.550 civilians who end up at an M T F care 01:24:06.560 --> 01:24:09.000 do not have any insurance . The 01:24:09.000 --> 01:24:11.390 military treatment facility sticks 01:24:11.390 --> 01:24:15.210 these patients with massive bills and 01:24:15.220 --> 01:24:18.120 if the cost isn't waived , federal law 01:24:18.130 --> 01:24:20.950 requires aggressive debt collection 01:24:21.090 --> 01:24:24.580 Including garnishing patients wages or 01:24:24.580 --> 01:24:27.800 seizing tax refunds or even taking 01:24:27.800 --> 01:24:31.190 15% of their social security checks 01:24:31.200 --> 01:24:33.650 before it even reaches their pockets . 01:24:33.660 --> 01:24:37.020 Now , the good news is the DOD now has 01:24:37.030 --> 01:24:40.010 authority to waive these debts . Dr 01:24:40.010 --> 01:24:42.740 Martinez Lopez over the last five years , 01:24:42.750 --> 01:24:45.450 military treatment facilities treated 01:24:45.460 --> 01:24:48.760 almost 30,000 civilian emergency 01:24:48.760 --> 01:24:52.630 patients for how many of those 30,000 01:24:52.630 --> 01:24:56.120 patients did D O D exercise its 01:24:56.120 --> 01:24:58.670 authority to waive civilian medical 01:24:58.670 --> 01:25:00.726 debt ? Keeping in mind two thirds of 01:25:00.726 --> 01:25:03.810 these folks do not have insurance . I'm 01:25:03.810 --> 01:25:07.010 a very small number , I think . 57 57 . 01:25:07.020 --> 01:25:10.970 That's exactly right . 57 times . D O D 01:25:10.980 --> 01:25:14.720 waved medical debt out of 30,000 01:25:14.720 --> 01:25:17.410 people who came in and incurred these 01:25:17.410 --> 01:25:20.740 debts , you know , so D O 01:25:20.740 --> 01:25:23.670 D is actually waving debt . I tried to 01:25:23.670 --> 01:25:27.110 work this out in about 0.2% of the 01:25:27.110 --> 01:25:30.400 cases . Now , D O D claimed that there 01:25:30.400 --> 01:25:32.178 were numbers low because waiver 01:25:32.178 --> 01:25:34.580 authority was too narrow , that the 01:25:34.580 --> 01:25:36.747 debt could only be waived if there was 01:25:36.747 --> 01:25:38.930 quote direct and compelling 01:25:38.930 --> 01:25:41.990 relationship to a priority D O D 01:25:42.000 --> 01:25:44.610 objective . Not just that someone can't 01:25:44.620 --> 01:25:47.590 pay so to address this problem . 01:25:47.600 --> 01:25:49.710 Representative Castro and I got an 01:25:49.710 --> 01:25:52.900 amendment into the 2021 N D A . Some of 01:25:52.900 --> 01:25:55.990 you remember this to expand D O D s 01:25:55.990 --> 01:25:58.790 authority to waive medical bills are 01:25:58.790 --> 01:26:00.720 changes clarified that if medical 01:26:00.720 --> 01:26:02.940 treatment for civilians will enhance 01:26:02.950 --> 01:26:06.850 military medical readiness overall and 01:26:06.860 --> 01:26:10.100 if the patient is unable to pay D O D 01:26:10.100 --> 01:26:12.322 has legal authority just to tear up the 01:26:12.322 --> 01:26:15.340 bill . Dr Martinez Lopez , how often 01:26:15.340 --> 01:26:18.770 has D O D exercised this expanded 01:26:18.780 --> 01:26:21.740 authority to waive costs for civilians 01:26:21.740 --> 01:26:23.518 when the treatment will enhance 01:26:23.518 --> 01:26:25.684 readiness and the patient is unable to 01:26:25.684 --> 01:26:29.640 pay mama . I don't know for sure , but 01:26:29.640 --> 01:26:31.807 I don't think we've done many , many . 01:26:31.807 --> 01:26:33.973 Yeah , so it kind of looking like zero 01:26:33.973 --> 01:26:37.550 right now . Look , D O D is 01:26:37.550 --> 01:26:40.810 dragging its feet on while these 01:26:40.810 --> 01:26:43.870 patients are toppling into financial 01:26:43.870 --> 01:26:47.760 ruin . The G A O also found that D O D 01:26:47.770 --> 01:26:51.440 wasn't telling patients that they had 01:26:51.440 --> 01:26:54.830 an option for relief as required by D O 01:26:54.830 --> 01:26:58.070 D s own regulations and they weren't 01:26:58.070 --> 01:27:01.510 properly tracking people when they had 01:27:01.520 --> 01:27:04.940 or had not paid their bills . So Dr 01:27:04.940 --> 01:27:07.710 Martinez Lopez on this new notion that 01:27:07.710 --> 01:27:09.932 we're really gonna start holding people 01:27:09.932 --> 01:27:12.043 accountable in this committee . Can I 01:27:12.043 --> 01:27:14.210 have your commitment that you're gonna 01:27:14.210 --> 01:27:16.043 clean this up ? Start wiping out 01:27:16.043 --> 01:27:17.821 medical debts for civilians who 01:27:17.821 --> 01:27:19.766 shouldn't have been hit with those 01:27:19.766 --> 01:27:21.877 devastating bills to begin with . And 01:27:21.877 --> 01:27:24.050 you're gonna get back to me on this . 01:27:25.920 --> 01:27:28.250 I don't want to put more burden and my 01:27:28.250 --> 01:27:30.520 colleagues are in the same boat on 01:27:30.520 --> 01:27:32.298 patients that already have been 01:27:32.298 --> 01:27:35.070 traumatized . That's not what we're in . 01:27:35.070 --> 01:27:37.430 I mean , this is where they cannot even 01:27:37.430 --> 01:27:39.970 pay . So why do we want to keep adding 01:27:39.970 --> 01:27:43.190 insult to many of those ? So we thank 01:27:43.190 --> 01:27:46.110 you for this waiver . As I understand 01:27:46.110 --> 01:27:47.943 right now , we're talking to the 01:27:47.943 --> 01:27:50.054 rulemaking . I've tried to figure out 01:27:50.054 --> 01:27:54.030 how can I expedite that rulemaking to 01:27:54.040 --> 01:27:56.640 give the solution set that you want and 01:27:56.640 --> 01:28:00.400 we want . So I commit that . I work 01:28:00.400 --> 01:28:04.180 hard to , to get through the 01:28:04.190 --> 01:28:07.490 process in the body and start , you 01:28:07.490 --> 01:28:09.500 know , affecting in a nice way the 01:28:09.500 --> 01:28:11.840 patients that we care for . I , I 01:28:11.840 --> 01:28:13.951 understand your heart is in the right 01:28:13.951 --> 01:28:16.007 place . I'm not quarreling with your 01:28:16.007 --> 01:28:18.062 heart . I gotta have your actions in 01:28:18.062 --> 01:28:17.960 the right place . So I'm gonna ask for 01:28:17.960 --> 01:28:20.182 the same thing that Senator Duckworth's 01:28:20.182 --> 01:28:22.293 asked for . Can you get back to me in 01:28:22.293 --> 01:28:24.349 four weeks and at least lay out what 01:28:24.349 --> 01:28:26.182 the plan is to make certain that 01:28:26.182 --> 01:28:28.710 patients are fully informed About the 01:28:28.720 --> 01:28:30.850 opportunity to have their debts wiped 01:28:30.850 --> 01:28:33.750 out and what Dods plan is to implement 01:28:33.760 --> 01:28:36.430 what we all work to put into the law in 01:28:36.430 --> 01:28:40.060 2021 . I will get back to you mom 01:28:41.920 --> 01:28:44.087 just to tell me what the plan is . I'm 01:28:44.087 --> 01:28:46.253 not even asking for the final report . 01:28:46.253 --> 01:28:48.253 I'm just tell me what the plan is . 01:28:48.253 --> 01:28:50.420 I'll be glad to talk to your staff for 01:28:50.420 --> 01:28:52.642 yourself for weeks . Okay . We got it . 01:28:52.642 --> 01:28:51.920 Secretary . 01:28:56.960 --> 01:28:59.430 Oh , job , assistant secretary via O 01:28:59.430 --> 01:29:03.160 job . Um Thank you madam chair service 01:29:03.160 --> 01:29:05.271 member , commit their lives to defend 01:29:05.271 --> 01:29:07.049 our country and they should not 01:29:07.049 --> 01:29:09.160 struggle to feed their families yet . 01:29:09.160 --> 01:29:11.216 In July of 2022 the D O D release an 01:29:11.216 --> 01:29:13.960 updated report that found that 24% of 01:29:13.970 --> 01:29:15.790 all active duty service members 01:29:15.800 --> 01:29:17.522 experienced some level of food 01:29:17.522 --> 01:29:21.060 insecurity in 2020 and 2021 without 01:29:21.060 --> 01:29:23.393 junior enlisted facing the highest risk . 01:29:23.393 --> 01:29:25.600 That's why I introduced a bipartisan 01:29:25.600 --> 01:29:27.780 military family nutrition access act . 01:29:27.790 --> 01:29:30.760 Last month . This bill eliminates basic 01:29:30.760 --> 01:29:32.649 allowance for housing from income 01:29:32.649 --> 01:29:35.480 calculations under the snap program . 01:29:35.490 --> 01:29:39.040 So right now if you apply for snap , uh 01:29:39.050 --> 01:29:42.610 they count your B H as income even 01:29:42.610 --> 01:29:44.940 though other programs like Medicaid . 01:29:44.940 --> 01:29:48.640 And uh the I R S doesn't consider your 01:29:48.640 --> 01:29:51.390 B H two B income by using an already 01:29:51.390 --> 01:29:53.223 established nutrition assistance 01:29:53.223 --> 01:29:55.001 program and simply updating the 01:29:55.001 --> 01:29:57.001 treatment of B H . So it is in line 01:29:57.001 --> 01:29:59.168 with other federal assistance programs 01:29:59.168 --> 01:30:01.223 will expand nutrition access to more 01:30:01.223 --> 01:30:03.057 military family so that they can 01:30:03.057 --> 01:30:04.834 qualify for snap benefits under 01:30:04.834 --> 01:30:07.112 Secretary , Assistant Secretary Skelly , 01:30:07.112 --> 01:30:09.223 do you consider food insecurity and a 01:30:09.223 --> 01:30:11.223 lack of access to nutrition among a 01:30:11.223 --> 01:30:13.168 significant percentage of military 01:30:13.168 --> 01:30:15.112 families to be a readiness issue ? 01:30:15.112 --> 01:30:17.057 Remember your own reports that 24% 01:30:18.050 --> 01:30:20.550 secretary , I think food insecurity is 01:30:20.550 --> 01:30:23.070 definitely an issue and it's something 01:30:23.070 --> 01:30:26.950 that we are working hard to uh 01:30:26.960 --> 01:30:30.580 to help resolve them . You know , the 01:30:30.590 --> 01:30:32.812 secretary has put out a series of memos 01:30:32.812 --> 01:30:34.812 kind of addressing different things 01:30:34.812 --> 01:30:36.923 about taking care of our people . One 01:30:36.923 --> 01:30:39.090 of them was around food insecurity and 01:30:39.090 --> 01:30:41.201 it was about kind of really trying to 01:30:41.201 --> 01:30:43.257 provide , um , you know , well , the 01:30:43.257 --> 01:30:45.257 research that we have kind of shows 01:30:45.257 --> 01:30:47.312 that where a lot of those happens is 01:30:47.312 --> 01:30:49.479 when PCS happens , service members are 01:30:49.479 --> 01:30:51.646 their families that have to move , the 01:30:51.646 --> 01:30:53.646 spouse usually has to give up a job 01:30:53.646 --> 01:30:55.812 that puts a burden or puts a financial 01:30:55.812 --> 01:30:57.757 strain on the families and kind of 01:30:57.757 --> 01:30:59.868 makes the food insecurity where maybe 01:30:59.868 --> 01:31:01.720 they're not getting good quality 01:31:01.720 --> 01:31:03.720 healthy food all the time . They're 01:31:03.720 --> 01:31:06.270 until they're able to , to get new , um 01:31:06.280 --> 01:31:10.060 a new employment . But uh this is 01:31:10.060 --> 01:31:12.330 something that we are working on . We 01:31:12.330 --> 01:31:14.740 are working to try and ensure that 01:31:14.740 --> 01:31:17.560 spouses have access to employment . Uh 01:31:17.570 --> 01:31:19.790 whether it be through just being able 01:31:19.790 --> 01:31:22.012 to transfer if they have a job within D 01:31:22.012 --> 01:31:23.790 O D or other federal government 01:31:23.790 --> 01:31:25.957 agencies and being able to remote work 01:31:25.957 --> 01:31:28.680 or Telework or partnering with over 600 01:31:28.680 --> 01:31:32.160 companies that um that have made a 01:31:32.160 --> 01:31:34.510 commitment to hiring spouses as well to , 01:31:34.520 --> 01:31:36.631 to relieve some of the strain . But , 01:31:36.631 --> 01:31:40.240 you know , we definitely see it as an 01:31:40.240 --> 01:31:43.240 impact , uh and as a arenas issue , you 01:31:43.240 --> 01:31:45.351 know , when families do have struggle 01:31:45.351 --> 01:31:47.920 um to help provide their families with 01:31:47.920 --> 01:31:51.100 healthy , healthy meals , would you 01:31:51.100 --> 01:31:53.830 support increasing um greater access to 01:31:53.830 --> 01:31:56.400 snap benefits for military families as 01:31:56.400 --> 01:31:58.678 would be granted by my act . Basically , 01:31:58.678 --> 01:32:01.020 this says for when you apply for snap 01:32:01.020 --> 01:32:03.280 snap should not consider BHS income 01:32:03.280 --> 01:32:05.113 because no other part of federal 01:32:05.113 --> 01:32:08.190 government does either . Ma'am . I I 01:32:08.200 --> 01:32:10.710 it sounds very interesting , but I 01:32:10.710 --> 01:32:12.488 would have to look at the , the 01:32:12.488 --> 01:32:14.710 legislation and your proposal before we 01:32:14.710 --> 01:32:16.766 make any commitment to that . Okay . 01:32:16.766 --> 01:32:18.877 Well , well , we will get you to that 01:32:18.877 --> 01:32:21.900 in less than six months . Uh My next 01:32:21.900 --> 01:32:23.810 question , um Assistant Secretary 01:32:23.810 --> 01:32:25.810 Martinez Lopez , I know that you've 01:32:25.810 --> 01:32:28.143 only been in your seat for a short time . 01:32:28.143 --> 01:32:30.366 Welcome . I letter Cordell to Japan and 01:32:30.366 --> 01:32:32.660 Indonesia last month to discuss a wide 01:32:32.660 --> 01:32:34.493 range of issues without partners 01:32:34.493 --> 01:32:36.549 including energy security , economic 01:32:36.549 --> 01:32:38.438 engagement and people to people , 01:32:38.438 --> 01:32:40.604 academic exchanges . However , while I 01:32:40.604 --> 01:32:42.493 was in Japan , I heard from D O D 01:32:42.493 --> 01:32:44.716 civilians about the struggles that they 01:32:44.716 --> 01:32:46.882 are now facing accessing health care . 01:32:46.980 --> 01:32:49.202 Um due to a rules change at their local 01:32:49.202 --> 01:32:51.424 military treatment facilities , what is 01:32:51.424 --> 01:32:53.480 being done by your office to resolve 01:32:53.480 --> 01:32:57.300 these issues in Japan Senator ? Thank 01:32:57.300 --> 01:32:59.522 you very much . I think the health care 01:32:59.522 --> 01:33:01.522 of not only the service members and 01:33:01.522 --> 01:33:03.689 their families is important . Also the 01:33:03.689 --> 01:33:06.060 civilians that help us as a team . I 01:33:06.060 --> 01:33:08.171 think we have grown that piece of the 01:33:08.171 --> 01:33:10.980 team , larger and larger , not overseas , 01:33:10.980 --> 01:33:13.930 but given more opportunity to civilian 01:33:13.930 --> 01:33:15.860 to help us . And so we haven't 01:33:15.860 --> 01:33:19.060 compensated along the N T s are , are 01:33:19.060 --> 01:33:22.350 just uh the force structure is just to 01:33:22.350 --> 01:33:24.630 take care of the active duty and the 01:33:24.630 --> 01:33:27.110 family members . So what we do is we 01:33:27.110 --> 01:33:29.370 increase efficiencies of those clinics 01:33:29.380 --> 01:33:32.640 to see , create space available to then 01:33:32.640 --> 01:33:35.740 see the civilians . And I we haven't 01:33:35.740 --> 01:33:37.962 changed . The policy is the same policy 01:33:37.962 --> 01:33:40.073 that's been standing for many years . 01:33:40.073 --> 01:33:43.530 So what I we have done is we 01:33:43.530 --> 01:33:45.400 increase , we're working hard to 01:33:45.400 --> 01:33:47.860 increase efficiency of those clinics . 01:33:47.860 --> 01:33:50.840 So more space available will be for the 01:33:50.840 --> 01:33:53.062 civilian , but that's just a band aid . 01:33:53.062 --> 01:33:55.118 Well , but what I heard from them is 01:33:55.118 --> 01:33:57.173 actually the opposite that they have 01:33:57.173 --> 01:33:59.284 recently that they were being seen at 01:33:59.284 --> 01:34:01.451 the facilities and the facilities that 01:34:01.451 --> 01:34:03.618 actually turned around and said , no , 01:34:03.618 --> 01:34:05.729 we're not gonna see you anymore . You 01:34:05.729 --> 01:34:07.951 go out on into Japan , into the economy 01:34:07.951 --> 01:34:07.710 in Tokyo and find your own doctors and 01:34:07.710 --> 01:34:09.821 not that they're not great doctors in 01:34:09.821 --> 01:34:11.710 Tokyo , but frankly with language 01:34:11.710 --> 01:34:14.560 capacities there , they are now no 01:34:14.560 --> 01:34:17.560 longer be able to access health care , 01:34:17.570 --> 01:34:20.800 ma'am Senator if I may . Um I went to 01:34:20.800 --> 01:34:23.180 Japan recently , I did five town halls 01:34:23.190 --> 01:34:27.050 heard uh both in mainland Japan 01:34:27.050 --> 01:34:30.000 and Okinawa talking about this issue um , 01:34:31.750 --> 01:34:34.028 his Doctor Martinez has stated , right , 01:34:34.028 --> 01:34:36.720 our policy hasn't changed . The 01:34:36.730 --> 01:34:39.440 civilians and the contractors have 01:34:39.440 --> 01:34:41.770 always been seen on a space available 01:34:41.770 --> 01:34:45.630 basis . Um , what we had done 01:34:45.630 --> 01:34:47.920 was we had kind of sent out a message 01:34:47.920 --> 01:34:49.976 through A D H A . The defense health 01:34:49.976 --> 01:34:52.810 agency is because we were hearing that , 01:34:52.820 --> 01:34:55.690 um , from our , our service members and 01:34:55.690 --> 01:34:58.750 from , um , and from their , their 01:34:58.750 --> 01:35:01.080 families is that , uh , they were 01:35:01.080 --> 01:35:03.302 having trouble getting appointments and 01:35:03.302 --> 01:35:05.790 they are our top priority there . Um 01:35:05.800 --> 01:35:07.967 But what we've done is Dr Martinez has 01:35:07.967 --> 01:35:10.380 stated is we've asked the MTs there in 01:35:10.380 --> 01:35:12.800 Japan to , to maximize their 01:35:12.800 --> 01:35:16.180 efficiencies to open up um you know , 01:35:16.180 --> 01:35:18.450 more , make more appointments available 01:35:18.460 --> 01:35:21.080 so that those , you know , those that 01:35:21.080 --> 01:35:23.191 are seen on a space available , we'll 01:35:23.191 --> 01:35:25.780 have more of a chance to , to go and to 01:35:25.780 --> 01:35:27.947 get that access and to get that health 01:35:27.947 --> 01:35:30.058 care as well . Will you be doing this 01:35:30.058 --> 01:35:31.836 around the world for all of our 01:35:31.836 --> 01:35:34.113 civilian D O D civilians ? It's , it's , 01:35:34.113 --> 01:35:36.336 it's , we're looking at , I think Japan 01:35:36.336 --> 01:35:38.502 is what we learned is very unique . Um 01:35:38.502 --> 01:35:41.770 The cultural differences there is the 01:35:41.780 --> 01:35:44.002 way they provide health care as to what 01:35:44.002 --> 01:35:46.113 were useful is definitely different . 01:35:46.113 --> 01:35:48.169 Uh the language barrier , you know , 01:35:48.169 --> 01:35:50.530 creates a big , um 01:35:50.540 --> 01:35:54.220 it's a big challenge there . And 01:35:54.220 --> 01:35:56.276 so , but it is something that we are 01:35:56.276 --> 01:35:58.160 looking at , my deputy was just 01:35:58.160 --> 01:36:00.271 recently in Germany , kind of looking 01:36:00.271 --> 01:36:02.327 at some of the same issues , but you 01:36:02.327 --> 01:36:05.240 know , the space a available is 01:36:05.240 --> 01:36:07.407 everywhere throughout the , you know , 01:36:07.407 --> 01:36:09.240 that's everywhere throughout the 01:36:09.240 --> 01:36:11.240 Department of Defense . Um It's not 01:36:11.240 --> 01:36:13.610 just specific to Japan , but , but we 01:36:13.610 --> 01:36:15.721 are working to go and increase and to 01:36:15.721 --> 01:36:18.550 see what we can do uh to provide other 01:36:18.550 --> 01:36:20.717 opportunities , whether it's providing 01:36:20.717 --> 01:36:22.939 like a clinic , uh you know , through , 01:36:22.939 --> 01:36:25.161 through a phase that could see patients 01:36:25.161 --> 01:36:27.780 or are partnering with an organization 01:36:27.780 --> 01:36:31.000 like we do with our defense , with our 01:36:31.000 --> 01:36:34.990 our service members um make a an 01:36:34.990 --> 01:36:37.101 organization available that will help 01:36:37.101 --> 01:36:39.101 them seek the health care that they 01:36:39.101 --> 01:36:41.157 need out in the community like we do 01:36:41.157 --> 01:36:43.268 for our service members when we don't 01:36:43.268 --> 01:36:45.490 have access to that type of health care 01:36:45.490 --> 01:36:47.657 and they need a certain type of health 01:36:47.657 --> 01:36:49.712 care and we just can't provide it at 01:36:49.712 --> 01:36:49.340 that location . Could you have your 01:36:49.340 --> 01:36:53.210 point ? We need to wrap this up . Okay . 01:36:53.220 --> 01:36:55.620 Thank you . Thank you . I appreciate 01:36:55.630 --> 01:36:57.519 all of you being here , MS Foster 01:36:57.519 --> 01:36:59.519 Secretary , Kelly , appreciate your 01:36:59.519 --> 01:37:01.686 being here . Even though any questions 01:37:01.686 --> 01:37:03.908 didn't come to you . The first panel is 01:37:03.908 --> 01:37:06.019 excused and we'd like to bring up the 01:37:06.019 --> 01:37:05.740 second panel , please . 01:37:13.020 --> 01:37:15.480 It's you . Okay . 01:37:19.350 --> 01:37:22.210 She does , she does her homework . I'm 01:37:22.210 --> 01:37:24.470 on that letter with her about Japan . 01:37:26.440 --> 01:37:28.551 We're gonna make people better . What 01:37:28.551 --> 01:37:30.690 are you doing ? They didn't do their 01:37:30.690 --> 01:37:31.230 jobs . 01:38:16.150 --> 01:38:19.320 Sure . All three . Okay . So 01:38:23.090 --> 01:38:25.810 everybody ready . Good . Thank you all 01:38:25.810 --> 01:38:28.120 for being here . So our second panel 01:38:28.130 --> 01:38:30.520 consists of assistant secretaries of 01:38:30.530 --> 01:38:32.752 the military departments for manpower . 01:38:32.752 --> 01:38:35.540 And Reserve Affairs and each of our 01:38:35.540 --> 01:38:37.373 witnesses is going to do a brief 01:38:37.373 --> 01:38:39.930 opening statement , I believe . Can I 01:38:39.930 --> 01:38:41.850 start with you , MS Schaeffer , 01:38:41.860 --> 01:38:43.971 Assistant Secretary of the Army . Are 01:38:43.971 --> 01:38:46.300 you ready ? I am good 01:38:46.970 --> 01:38:49.630 chairwoman Warren , ranking member 01:38:49.630 --> 01:38:51.741 Scott , distinguished members of this 01:38:51.741 --> 01:38:53.574 subcommittee . Thank you for the 01:38:53.574 --> 01:38:55.574 opportunity to appear before you on 01:38:55.574 --> 01:38:57.519 behalf of the men and women of the 01:38:57.519 --> 01:38:59.560 United States Army . At the end of 01:38:59.560 --> 01:39:02.460 December 2022 , the Senate confirmed me 01:39:02.460 --> 01:39:04.516 to be the Assistant Secretary of the 01:39:04.516 --> 01:39:06.738 Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs . 01:39:06.738 --> 01:39:08.904 And I joined an amazing army team that 01:39:08.904 --> 01:39:11.730 works tirelessly every day to improve 01:39:11.730 --> 01:39:14.820 the lives of our soldiers , civilians 01:39:14.830 --> 01:39:17.860 and families . I bring both deep and 01:39:17.860 --> 01:39:20.100 broad expertise to my current position 01:39:20.710 --> 01:39:22.543 as well as a renewed emphasis on 01:39:22.543 --> 01:39:25.280 leveraging data and analysis to assess 01:39:25.280 --> 01:39:27.391 the effectiveness of our policies and 01:39:27.391 --> 01:39:29.950 programs to better target our resources 01:39:29.950 --> 01:39:32.200 in alignment with the Secretary of the 01:39:32.200 --> 01:39:35.890 Army's main six objectives Between my 01:39:35.890 --> 01:39:38.590 previous position as a senior adviser 01:39:38.600 --> 01:39:40.544 to the current Secretary of Deputy 01:39:40.544 --> 01:39:43.320 Secretary of Defense and my 16 years at 01:39:43.320 --> 01:39:45.400 ran supporting the Department of 01:39:45.400 --> 01:39:47.622 Defense through research and analysis . 01:39:47.622 --> 01:39:49.733 My focus every day for years has been 01:39:49.733 --> 01:39:52.090 on improving our army's readiness to 01:39:52.090 --> 01:39:54.090 meet the objectives of our national 01:39:54.090 --> 01:39:56.146 security strategy and to improve the 01:39:56.146 --> 01:39:57.923 lives of our active and reserve 01:39:57.923 --> 01:40:00.090 component members and their families . 01:40:00.090 --> 01:40:02.330 In my current role is continue to be my 01:40:02.330 --> 01:40:04.720 focus in the service of our soldiers , 01:40:04.720 --> 01:40:07.500 civilians and their families . My three 01:40:07.500 --> 01:40:10.420 priorities are readiness , including 01:40:10.420 --> 01:40:12.309 quality of life and prevention of 01:40:12.309 --> 01:40:14.780 harmful behaviors . Manning the Army of 01:40:14.780 --> 01:40:18.060 2030 and the strategic modernization of 01:40:18.060 --> 01:40:20.227 our personnel policies , processes and 01:40:20.227 --> 01:40:22.338 systems across the entire spectrum of 01:40:22.338 --> 01:40:25.400 our army people . Strategy , Readiness 01:40:25.410 --> 01:40:27.354 readiness ensures that we have the 01:40:27.354 --> 01:40:29.160 ability to protect combat power 01:40:29.160 --> 01:40:31.940 whenever wherever it is required . 01:40:31.950 --> 01:40:34.470 Manning the army of 2030 requires not 01:40:34.470 --> 01:40:36.303 only the new weapons systems and 01:40:36.303 --> 01:40:39.190 doctrine , doctrines to succeed in the 01:40:39.190 --> 01:40:41.412 future of warfare , but also the people 01:40:41.412 --> 01:40:43.412 who have the appropriate skills and 01:40:43.412 --> 01:40:45.990 competencies for tomorrow . Not just 01:40:45.990 --> 01:40:48.560 today . Strategic modernization 01:40:48.560 --> 01:40:51.450 includes how we recruit and hire , how 01:40:51.450 --> 01:40:54.420 we grow , employ and manage talent and 01:40:54.420 --> 01:40:56.587 how we create a workplace culture that 01:40:56.587 --> 01:40:58.642 enables people to thrive and want to 01:40:58.642 --> 01:41:01.420 expand their careers in the army . The 01:41:01.420 --> 01:41:04.300 army's mission remains unchanged to 01:41:04.300 --> 01:41:07.140 fight and win our nation's wars . We 01:41:07.140 --> 01:41:09.420 are building the army of 2030 and in 01:41:09.420 --> 01:41:11.740 doing so , taking care of our people 01:41:11.750 --> 01:41:13.917 because they are the foundation of our 01:41:13.917 --> 01:41:16.970 great army and our number one priority . 01:41:16.980 --> 01:41:19.910 The future of multi domain operations 01:41:19.920 --> 01:41:23.020 requires highly trained agile and 01:41:23.020 --> 01:41:25.500 resilient personnel across the total 01:41:25.500 --> 01:41:28.540 force . Active Guard Reserve and 01:41:28.540 --> 01:41:31.590 civilians . People perform the best 01:41:31.590 --> 01:41:33.830 when they are part of cohesive teams 01:41:33.840 --> 01:41:35.729 founded on treating everyone with 01:41:35.729 --> 01:41:38.630 dignity and respect . All of the army's 01:41:38.630 --> 01:41:41.060 personnel programs and initiatives are 01:41:41.060 --> 01:41:43.116 focused on this because we lead with 01:41:43.116 --> 01:41:45.350 our values and in doing so , is 01:41:45.350 --> 01:41:47.580 essential to the readiness required to 01:41:47.580 --> 01:41:50.780 accomplish our mission . Chairwoman , 01:41:50.790 --> 01:41:52.679 ranking member and members of the 01:41:52.679 --> 01:41:54.568 subcommittee . Thank you for your 01:41:54.568 --> 01:41:57.120 unwavering bipartisan support of our 01:41:57.120 --> 01:41:59.176 outstanding soldiers , civilians and 01:41:59.176 --> 01:42:01.342 their families . I look forward to our 01:42:01.342 --> 01:42:03.398 discussion on our questions today as 01:42:03.398 --> 01:42:05.620 well as continuing this conversation in 01:42:05.620 --> 01:42:08.010 the future . Thank you very much , 01:42:08.020 --> 01:42:10.640 Secretary Parker representing the Navy . 01:42:12.690 --> 01:42:16.090 Stop that I just wanna point out my 01:42:16.090 --> 01:42:19.050 brother's Air Force Army . So 01:42:24.770 --> 01:42:27.360 thank you , Chairwoman Mormon , um 01:42:27.370 --> 01:42:28.870 ranking member , Scott and 01:42:28.870 --> 01:42:30.481 distinguished members of the 01:42:30.481 --> 01:42:32.592 subcommittee . Thank you for allowing 01:42:32.592 --> 01:42:34.426 me to join you here today . I am 01:42:34.426 --> 01:42:36.537 honored by this opportunity to appear 01:42:36.537 --> 01:42:38.759 before you to talk about our Department 01:42:38.759 --> 01:42:40.648 of the Navy , sailors , marines , 01:42:40.648 --> 01:42:42.759 civilians and their families . As the 01:42:42.759 --> 01:42:44.870 2022 National Security Strategy makes 01:42:44.870 --> 01:42:47.092 clear we face unpredictable threats and 01:42:47.092 --> 01:42:49.259 global challenges . Our nation needs a 01:42:49.259 --> 01:42:51.840 strong well trained , well equipped 01:42:51.840 --> 01:42:53.896 Navy and Marine Corps to address the 01:42:53.896 --> 01:42:56.062 wide array of challenges and threats . 01:42:56.062 --> 01:42:58.200 And we must leverage our talent to 01:42:58.200 --> 01:43:00.740 retain both our competitive edge and 01:43:00.740 --> 01:43:03.110 our multi domain dominance . The 01:43:03.110 --> 01:43:05.410 changing strategic landscape demands we 01:43:05.410 --> 01:43:07.466 maintain and strengthen our nation's 01:43:07.466 --> 01:43:09.521 maritime dominance so our forces can 01:43:09.521 --> 01:43:12.580 deter fight and win against potential 01:43:12.580 --> 01:43:15.340 adversaries as an integrated team , 01:43:15.340 --> 01:43:18.090 demonstrating talent capabilities and 01:43:18.090 --> 01:43:20.620 dedication . Second to none together , 01:43:20.620 --> 01:43:22.842 our sailors , marines and civilians can 01:43:22.842 --> 01:43:25.750 overcome any challenges they face our 01:43:25.750 --> 01:43:27.950 people , our greatest strength and 01:43:27.950 --> 01:43:30.800 corridor success , both as a military 01:43:30.800 --> 01:43:33.330 and as a nation . I'm incredibly proud 01:43:33.330 --> 01:43:35.640 of their performance , commitment and 01:43:35.640 --> 01:43:37.807 unparalleled resilience in the face of 01:43:37.807 --> 01:43:40.029 the dynamic global challenges that have 01:43:40.029 --> 01:43:41.640 become our present operating 01:43:41.640 --> 01:43:44.660 environment . Our nation needs a strong , 01:43:44.670 --> 01:43:46.781 well trained , well equipped Navy and 01:43:46.781 --> 01:43:48.948 Marine Corps to address the wide array 01:43:48.948 --> 01:43:51.003 of challenges and threats facing our 01:43:51.003 --> 01:43:53.400 nation to be a combat ready force . We 01:43:53.400 --> 01:43:55.567 must leverage the strengths of all our 01:43:55.567 --> 01:43:58.050 people further because we have an all 01:43:58.050 --> 01:44:00.161 volunteer force . We must ensure that 01:44:00.161 --> 01:44:02.217 also gives our society see value and 01:44:02.217 --> 01:44:04.383 serving and are treated with respect . 01:44:04.383 --> 01:44:06.590 When doing so in our constantly 01:44:06.590 --> 01:44:08.812 evolving environment , we must continue 01:44:08.812 --> 01:44:11.034 to invest in mechanisms that ensure the 01:44:11.034 --> 01:44:13.146 services are positioned to meet their 01:44:13.146 --> 01:44:15.146 recruitment goals . However , we do 01:44:15.146 --> 01:44:16.979 have some challenges . A general 01:44:16.979 --> 01:44:18.923 decrease in propensity to serve in 01:44:18.923 --> 01:44:21.201 several years of the COVID-19 pandemic , 01:44:21.201 --> 01:44:23.201 limited both student attendance and 01:44:23.201 --> 01:44:25.312 recruiter access to schools making it 01:44:25.312 --> 01:44:25.200 difficult for our recruiters to make 01:44:25.200 --> 01:44:27.200 and maintain contact with potential 01:44:27.200 --> 01:44:29.422 recruits . The Secretary of the Navy is 01:44:29.422 --> 01:44:31.644 personally involved in addressing these 01:44:31.644 --> 01:44:33.910 challenges . As part of these efforts , 01:44:33.920 --> 01:44:35.976 we have engaged with leadership from 01:44:35.976 --> 01:44:38.198 the Department of Education for support 01:44:38.198 --> 01:44:40.364 with school access . We also contacted 01:44:40.364 --> 01:44:42.420 principals have restricted recruiter 01:44:42.420 --> 01:44:44.531 access to their schools through these 01:44:44.531 --> 01:44:46.642 and other efforts . We seek to ensure 01:44:46.642 --> 01:44:48.642 our services have what they need to 01:44:48.642 --> 01:44:50.540 meet their recruiting goals . In 01:44:50.540 --> 01:44:52.540 addition to recruiting the Navy and 01:44:52.540 --> 01:44:54.707 Marine Corps team remains committed to 01:44:54.707 --> 01:44:56.429 retaining the right talent and 01:44:56.429 --> 01:44:58.540 experience which also complements our 01:44:58.540 --> 01:45:00.596 recruiting efforts . We will explore 01:45:00.596 --> 01:45:02.596 every level within our authority to 01:45:02.596 --> 01:45:04.707 maximize retention and we are already 01:45:04.707 --> 01:45:06.762 seeing positive trends and retention 01:45:06.762 --> 01:45:09.270 rates across both services . Over the 01:45:09.270 --> 01:45:10.937 course of the last year , the 01:45:10.937 --> 01:45:12.714 Department of the Navy has made 01:45:12.714 --> 01:45:14.603 significant strides to assess how 01:45:14.603 --> 01:45:16.826 education is delivered to the force and 01:45:16.826 --> 01:45:18.992 modernize our educational objectives . 01:45:18.992 --> 01:45:21.103 Today's Navy and Marine Corps team is 01:45:21.103 --> 01:45:21.000 one of the most technologically 01:45:21.000 --> 01:45:23.140 advanced , ever conceived , able to 01:45:23.140 --> 01:45:25.640 dominate in the air sea and undersea . 01:45:26.320 --> 01:45:28.209 As we become more technologically 01:45:28.209 --> 01:45:30.264 advanced force , education will be a 01:45:30.264 --> 01:45:32.960 crucial warfighting enabler through our 01:45:32.960 --> 01:45:34.793 naval University system . We are 01:45:34.793 --> 01:45:36.904 creating a continuum of learning that 01:45:36.904 --> 01:45:38.849 develops leaders to serve at every 01:45:38.849 --> 01:45:40.904 level and equips them with skills to 01:45:40.904 --> 01:45:42.793 maintain and operate increasingly 01:45:42.793 --> 01:45:44.793 complex systems in an ever changing 01:45:44.793 --> 01:45:46.970 warfighting environment . We are well 01:45:46.970 --> 01:45:49.081 aware of the fundamental link between 01:45:49.081 --> 01:45:50.914 mental health resiliency and the 01:45:50.914 --> 01:45:53.081 readiness of our force . To that end , 01:45:53.081 --> 01:45:55.026 we are committed to supporting and 01:45:55.026 --> 01:45:54.520 ensuring the mental health safety and 01:45:54.520 --> 01:45:56.742 well being of all sailors , marines and 01:45:56.742 --> 01:45:59.200 Department of Navy civilians . Suicide 01:45:59.200 --> 01:46:01.033 is a national issue to which the 01:46:01.033 --> 01:46:02.978 military services are not immune . 01:46:02.978 --> 01:46:05.256 Given the complexity of this challenge . 01:46:05.256 --> 01:46:07.200 Our Office of Force Resiliency has 01:46:07.200 --> 01:46:09.089 taken a comprehensive approach to 01:46:09.089 --> 01:46:11.311 holistic data driven suicide prevention 01:46:11.311 --> 01:46:13.533 efforts that harmonies with the defense 01:46:13.533 --> 01:46:15.589 strategy for suicide prevention . We 01:46:15.589 --> 01:46:17.644 have also taken note of the recently 01:46:17.644 --> 01:46:19.478 released report from the suicide 01:46:19.478 --> 01:46:21.478 prevention and Response Independent 01:46:21.478 --> 01:46:21.430 Review Committee and we'll work within 01:46:21.430 --> 01:46:23.319 the ODS coordination framework to 01:46:23.319 --> 01:46:25.430 implement key recommendations . The 01:46:25.430 --> 01:46:27.597 Department of the Navy is committed to 01:46:27.597 --> 01:46:29.708 eliminating sexual assault within the 01:46:29.708 --> 01:46:31.874 Navy and Marine Corps at every level . 01:46:31.874 --> 01:46:31.400 In addition , to the toll road and 01:46:31.400 --> 01:46:33.400 individual victims . Sexual assault 01:46:33.400 --> 01:46:35.400 directly impacts our cohesion , our 01:46:35.400 --> 01:46:37.567 unit cohesion and ultimately undercuts 01:46:37.567 --> 01:46:39.567 our readiness . Sexual assault is a 01:46:39.567 --> 01:46:41.622 persistent challenge that requires a 01:46:41.622 --> 01:46:43.844 multi pronged approach that leverages a 01:46:43.844 --> 01:46:45.956 wide range of initiatives not only to 01:46:45.956 --> 01:46:47.900 address sexual assault but also to 01:46:47.900 --> 01:46:50.720 prevent it before it occurs . Secretary 01:46:50.720 --> 01:46:52.887 Del Toro directed the establishment of 01:46:52.887 --> 01:46:54.998 an implementation advisory panel last 01:46:54.998 --> 01:46:57.053 spring , bringing the leaders of all 01:46:57.053 --> 01:46:59.276 Department of Navy principal offices to 01:46:59.276 --> 01:46:59.160 the table to implement the 01:46:59.160 --> 01:47:01.160 recommendations of the Secretary of 01:47:01.160 --> 01:47:03.382 Defense's Independent Review Commission 01:47:03.382 --> 01:47:05.660 on sexual result . Through this effort , 01:47:05.660 --> 01:47:07.660 the Department of the Navy has made 01:47:07.660 --> 01:47:07.510 significant strides , implement the I R 01:47:07.510 --> 01:47:09.510 C recommendations that we fully 01:47:09.510 --> 01:47:11.410 recognize additional work remains 01:47:11.790 --> 01:47:13.840 further to those efforts . We are 01:47:13.840 --> 01:47:16.062 investing significant resources to fuel 01:47:16.062 --> 01:47:18.229 the necessary changes and we have made 01:47:18.229 --> 01:47:20.396 substantial progress and standing up a 01:47:20.396 --> 01:47:22.562 dedicated workforce to prevent harmful 01:47:22.562 --> 01:47:24.673 behaviors , professionalized response 01:47:24.673 --> 01:47:26.729 to sexual assault and best support , 01:47:26.729 --> 01:47:30.630 survivor recovery , quality of 01:47:30.630 --> 01:47:32.852 life issues are critical to our service 01:47:32.852 --> 01:47:34.686 members and their families . The 01:47:34.686 --> 01:47:36.741 stresses on our spouses and Children 01:47:36.741 --> 01:47:38.630 weigh on the minds of our service 01:47:38.630 --> 01:47:40.574 members , especially when they are 01:47:40.574 --> 01:47:42.686 deployed by caring for our families . 01:47:42.686 --> 01:47:42.280 We enable our service members to 01:47:42.280 --> 01:47:44.058 continue their focus on the war 01:47:44.058 --> 01:47:46.058 fighting mission . To this end . We 01:47:46.058 --> 01:47:47.780 have taken action to implement 01:47:47.780 --> 01:47:49.891 increases in parental leave support , 01:47:49.891 --> 01:47:51.502 spousal licensing and career 01:47:51.502 --> 01:47:53.613 advancement and expand dependent care 01:47:53.613 --> 01:47:55.613 support in early childhood access . 01:47:55.613 --> 01:47:57.669 Additionally , we are pushing to end 01:47:57.669 --> 01:47:59.780 food insecurity among our most junior 01:47:59.780 --> 01:48:01.891 sailors and marines through access to 01:48:01.891 --> 01:48:03.836 financial literacy tools and other 01:48:03.836 --> 01:48:05.891 forms of support . Regardless of the 01:48:05.891 --> 01:48:08.058 challenge , the Department of the Navy 01:48:08.058 --> 01:48:09.836 sailors , marines and civilians 01:48:09.836 --> 01:48:11.836 consistently answer the call . They 01:48:11.836 --> 01:48:13.891 step forward and perform superbly in 01:48:13.891 --> 01:48:15.947 our country's times of greatest need 01:48:15.947 --> 01:48:17.891 Time . And again , our Navy Marine 01:48:17.891 --> 01:48:20.113 Corps team has invariably risen to meet 01:48:20.113 --> 01:48:22.169 all challenges and defend our nation 01:48:22.169 --> 01:48:24.336 bonded together by almost 250 years of 01:48:24.336 --> 01:48:26.558 tradition and an unwavering deep seated 01:48:26.558 --> 01:48:28.669 sense of duty to our country . I look 01:48:28.669 --> 01:48:30.780 forward to working with you to ensure 01:48:30.780 --> 01:48:32.391 our efforts meaningfully and 01:48:32.391 --> 01:48:34.502 effectively support the well being of 01:48:34.502 --> 01:48:36.940 our sailors , marines , civilians and 01:48:36.940 --> 01:48:39.107 their families and that we always best 01:48:39.107 --> 01:48:41.162 position them to fulfill their vital 01:48:41.162 --> 01:48:43.218 roles for our nation . Thank you for 01:48:43.218 --> 01:48:45.384 the opportunity to be here today and I 01:48:45.384 --> 01:48:47.551 stand ready to answer your questions . 01:48:47.551 --> 01:48:47.480 Thank you . Thank you , Secretary 01:48:47.480 --> 01:48:49.647 Parker , Secretary Wagner representing 01:48:49.647 --> 01:48:52.660 the Air Force Chairman Warren , ranking 01:48:52.660 --> 01:48:54.827 member , Scott , distinguished members 01:48:54.827 --> 01:48:56.882 of the committee . Thank you for the 01:48:56.882 --> 01:48:59.049 opportunity to appear before you today 01:48:59.049 --> 01:49:00.882 and thank you for your continued 01:49:00.882 --> 01:49:02.938 support for our airmen are guardians 01:49:02.938 --> 01:49:04.771 and their families . I'm looking 01:49:04.771 --> 01:49:06.993 forward to working with both of you and 01:49:06.993 --> 01:49:08.993 continue to work with your terrific 01:49:08.993 --> 01:49:10.882 staff . I'm proud not only of the 01:49:10.882 --> 01:49:12.993 adaptability but also the tenacity of 01:49:12.993 --> 01:49:15.160 our force as current world events such 01:49:15.160 --> 01:49:17.216 as pandemic recovery , inflation and 01:49:17.216 --> 01:49:19.216 return to great power competition , 01:49:19.216 --> 01:49:21.327 post ever evolving challenges for our 01:49:21.327 --> 01:49:23.560 nation in order to recruit and retain a 01:49:23.560 --> 01:49:26.500 lethal expert and resilient force . The 01:49:26.500 --> 01:49:28.667 daft needs our partners on the hill to 01:49:28.667 --> 01:49:30.833 help us tell our story to the American 01:49:30.833 --> 01:49:32.833 people and showcase both the unique 01:49:32.833 --> 01:49:35.540 missions of military service but also 01:49:35.550 --> 01:49:38.900 the unique value of military life where 01:49:38.920 --> 01:49:40.642 implementing the vision of the 01:49:40.642 --> 01:49:42.698 Secretary of Defense outlined in his 01:49:42.698 --> 01:49:44.864 taking care of people initiative , but 01:49:44.864 --> 01:49:46.864 have also gone further in important 01:49:46.864 --> 01:49:48.642 areas like childcare and spouse 01:49:48.642 --> 01:49:50.864 unemployment . Our members need to know 01:49:50.864 --> 01:49:52.976 that we're doing everything we can to 01:49:52.976 --> 01:49:55.290 take care of and support their loved 01:49:55.290 --> 01:49:57.460 ones . That also means providing a 01:49:57.460 --> 01:49:59.404 competitive compensation package , 01:49:59.404 --> 01:50:01.860 housing and education benefits and 01:50:01.860 --> 01:50:03.971 quality health care . I believe we've 01:50:03.971 --> 01:50:05.970 made progress in this respect as 01:50:05.970 --> 01:50:09.000 validated by our 90% retention rate . 01:50:09.920 --> 01:50:11.976 But I acknowledge we must do more to 01:50:11.976 --> 01:50:14.200 promote resilience and prevent those 01:50:14.200 --> 01:50:16.311 harmful behaviors that are counter to 01:50:16.311 --> 01:50:18.610 our values , undermine our team and 01:50:18.610 --> 01:50:21.840 diminish our readiness in particular , 01:50:21.850 --> 01:50:24.260 sexual violence will not be tolerated , 01:50:24.270 --> 01:50:27.240 Condoned or ignored within our ranks 01:50:27.250 --> 01:50:30.500 and those that breach that trust will 01:50:30.500 --> 01:50:33.630 be held accountable . Finally , I want 01:50:33.630 --> 01:50:35.797 to talk about the recruiting challenge 01:50:35.797 --> 01:50:37.852 that the Daph and the other services 01:50:37.852 --> 01:50:40.070 have been facing . The Air Force is 01:50:40.070 --> 01:50:41.848 currently projected to miss its 01:50:41.848 --> 01:50:43.903 enlisted active component recruiting 01:50:43.903 --> 01:50:47.340 goals for the first time since 1999 . 01:50:47.350 --> 01:50:49.406 There are multiple factors that have 01:50:49.406 --> 01:50:51.628 made recruiting challenging , including 01:50:51.628 --> 01:50:53.794 historically low unemployment , strong 01:50:53.794 --> 01:50:55.906 private sector wage growth and a lack 01:50:55.906 --> 01:50:58.128 of access to high school is exacerbated 01:50:58.128 --> 01:51:00.183 by the COVID-19 pandemic . However , 01:51:00.183 --> 01:51:02.630 the most important factor propensity to 01:51:02.630 --> 01:51:05.160 serve is the lowest we've seen in 01:51:05.160 --> 01:51:07.160 decades . But what does that really 01:51:07.160 --> 01:51:09.600 mean ? It starts with a lack of 01:51:09.600 --> 01:51:12.420 familiarity . Secretary Cisneros said 01:51:12.420 --> 01:51:15.960 in an earlier panel in 1995 , of 01:51:15.960 --> 01:51:18.840 Americans had a parent who served . But 01:51:18.840 --> 01:51:21.470 today , that number is less than 13% 01:51:21.480 --> 01:51:23.850 after 9-11 , military installations 01:51:23.860 --> 01:51:26.360 became more hardened and more secure . 01:51:26.370 --> 01:51:28.592 But it also further separated those who 01:51:28.592 --> 01:51:32.370 serve from those whom they protect . 01:51:32.380 --> 01:51:34.570 That lack of familiarity has been 01:51:34.570 --> 01:51:37.170 filled in by a public narrative that 01:51:37.180 --> 01:51:40.410 emphasizes the risks of service while 01:51:40.410 --> 01:51:43.010 missing the benefits . The data is 01:51:43.010 --> 01:51:45.180 taking steps to address this issue by 01:51:45.180 --> 01:51:46.840 opening up opportunities for 01:51:46.840 --> 01:51:48.950 communities to visit our bases , 01:51:48.960 --> 01:51:51.610 sharing , inspiring and authentic 01:51:51.610 --> 01:51:53.810 stories of service members and 01:51:53.810 --> 01:51:55.980 highlighting the stakes of our high 01:51:55.980 --> 01:51:58.730 tech mission to deter near peer 01:51:58.730 --> 01:52:01.390 competitors . But the department can't 01:52:01.390 --> 01:52:03.770 do this alone and we need your help . 01:52:04.030 --> 01:52:05.930 Congress has a critical oversight 01:52:05.930 --> 01:52:08.097 function of the military , but we also 01:52:08.097 --> 01:52:10.190 need to enhance our partnership to 01:52:10.200 --> 01:52:13.310 increase propensity to serve . You are 01:52:13.310 --> 01:52:15.680 an important voice to your constituents , 01:52:15.690 --> 01:52:17.746 to the young people , to the parents 01:52:17.746 --> 01:52:19.900 and to the influencers that can help 01:52:19.900 --> 01:52:22.800 shape the next generation of service by 01:52:22.810 --> 01:52:25.120 elevating opportunities and 01:52:25.120 --> 01:52:28.070 highlighting the benefits of our values 01:52:28.080 --> 01:52:31.810 and our team . Now 50 years into an all 01:52:31.810 --> 01:52:33.866 volunteer force , we must be able to 01:52:33.866 --> 01:52:36.280 reach all communities of America , 01:52:36.290 --> 01:52:39.500 geographic and demographic to ensure we 01:52:39.500 --> 01:52:41.940 recruit the brightest and the best you 01:52:41.940 --> 01:52:45.360 can't be it if you can't see it . Every 01:52:45.360 --> 01:52:47.570 person in America's Air and Space 01:52:47.570 --> 01:52:50.180 Forces play a critical role in ensuring 01:52:50.180 --> 01:52:52.291 that this organization is prepared to 01:52:52.291 --> 01:52:54.124 meet the challenges of today and 01:52:54.124 --> 01:52:56.069 tomorrow . And in particular , our 01:52:56.069 --> 01:52:58.440 pacing challenge , we're excited to 01:52:58.440 --> 01:53:00.496 partner with you and to rebuild this 01:53:00.496 --> 01:53:03.080 relationship with the American people 01:53:03.090 --> 01:53:05.500 together . And with that , I look 01:53:05.500 --> 01:53:07.750 forward to your questions . Thank you . 01:53:08.590 --> 01:53:12.110 So I'm gonna ask the first uh round of 01:53:12.110 --> 01:53:15.210 questions here . The Junior Reserve 01:53:15.220 --> 01:53:18.970 Officer Training Corps or the J R O T C 01:53:18.980 --> 01:53:21.900 is a D O D funded program for middle 01:53:21.900 --> 01:53:24.122 school and high school students that is 01:53:24.122 --> 01:53:26.530 designed to teach students the value of 01:53:26.530 --> 01:53:29.580 citizenship and public service schools 01:53:29.580 --> 01:53:32.040 higher and oversee the instructors and 01:53:32.040 --> 01:53:35.270 then the military services vet train 01:53:35.270 --> 01:53:37.400 and pay part of the salaries for the 01:53:37.400 --> 01:53:40.100 instructors who are all retired service 01:53:40.100 --> 01:53:42.211 members , D O D and the Department of 01:53:42.211 --> 01:53:44.480 Education share oversight for the 01:53:44.480 --> 01:53:46.369 program . But there's some pretty 01:53:46.369 --> 01:53:49.250 serious gaps in that oversight . A 01:53:49.250 --> 01:53:51.250 recent New York Times investigation 01:53:51.250 --> 01:53:55.170 found that at least 33 J ROTC 01:53:55.170 --> 01:53:57.003 instructors have been criminally 01:53:57.003 --> 01:53:59.920 charged with sexual misconduct . I 01:53:59.920 --> 01:54:01.809 started my own investigation with 01:54:01.809 --> 01:54:03.753 Senators Blumenthal Gillibrand and 01:54:03.753 --> 01:54:05.960 Hirono in response to this alarming 01:54:05.960 --> 01:54:08.230 situation and found that there were at 01:54:08.230 --> 01:54:11.470 least 100 and 14 allegations of abuse 01:54:11.480 --> 01:54:14.160 over the past decade . Now , when the 01:54:14.160 --> 01:54:17.310 services learned about these 114 cases , 01:54:17.320 --> 01:54:19.970 they did the right thing and suspended 01:54:19.970 --> 01:54:22.460 or fired the instructor . But I am 01:54:22.460 --> 01:54:25.320 worried that we are seeing only the tip 01:54:25.330 --> 01:54:28.170 of the iceberg . Secretary Shaeffer , 01:54:28.180 --> 01:54:30.940 the army has the largest J R O T C 01:54:30.940 --> 01:54:33.240 program of all the military services . 01:54:33.240 --> 01:54:36.210 So let me start by asking you one of 01:54:36.210 --> 01:54:38.340 the main ways that we track whether 01:54:38.340 --> 01:54:40.680 we're making progress on military 01:54:40.680 --> 01:54:44.550 sexual assault is an annual report . Is 01:54:44.550 --> 01:54:46.810 there any kind of formal annual 01:54:46.810 --> 01:54:49.320 reporting on instances of sexual 01:54:49.320 --> 01:54:52.080 assault and harassment in the J R O T C 01:54:52.080 --> 01:54:54.990 program ? Senator Warren ? Thank you 01:54:54.990 --> 01:54:57.046 for your question . This is an issue 01:54:57.046 --> 01:54:59.510 that deeply concerns me as well . Um 01:54:59.520 --> 01:55:01.750 There is an annual , my understanding 01:55:01.750 --> 01:55:04.170 is there's an annual report um but it 01:55:04.170 --> 01:55:06.980 has not had that tracking in it . Um 01:55:06.990 --> 01:55:10.380 Yet there's no the annual report I'm 01:55:10.380 --> 01:55:12.269 asking about is is there a report 01:55:12.270 --> 01:55:14.600 tracking the incidences of sexual 01:55:14.600 --> 01:55:16.990 assault ? So yeah , there there is a 01:55:17.000 --> 01:55:19.170 report there . It has not tracked 01:55:19.170 --> 01:55:21.170 sexual assault , the answer at this 01:55:21.170 --> 01:55:23.320 point yet my office has directed it 01:55:23.320 --> 01:55:26.090 before I came in uh in December . My 01:55:26.090 --> 01:55:29.050 office directed that we include that in 01:55:29.060 --> 01:55:30.949 the report that already right now 01:55:30.949 --> 01:55:33.116 there's not , but you're now trying to 01:55:33.116 --> 01:55:35.060 put this in . Okay . That's good . 01:55:35.060 --> 01:55:37.004 That's a good thing . Another tool 01:55:37.004 --> 01:55:39.116 recommended by experts for tracking . 01:55:39.116 --> 01:55:41.227 This type of problem is a survey that 01:55:41.227 --> 01:55:43.116 allows individuals to anonymously 01:55:43.116 --> 01:55:45.227 report instances of sexual harassment 01:55:45.227 --> 01:55:47.449 or abuse . Does the army have that kind 01:55:47.449 --> 01:55:49.750 of survey for J R O T C ? I'm not aware 01:55:49.750 --> 01:55:52.380 of it , but I can look into it . I 01:55:52.390 --> 01:55:54.501 agree that that might be a good think 01:55:54.501 --> 01:55:56.668 you'll find the answer is no on that . 01:55:56.668 --> 01:56:00.460 So let me ask the other services annual 01:56:00.460 --> 01:56:02.390 report . Secretary Parker , 01:56:04.270 --> 01:56:06.437 chairwoman Mormon . Um No , there's no 01:56:06.437 --> 01:56:08.381 annual report . No annual report . 01:56:08.381 --> 01:56:11.220 Secretary Wagner chairwoman , there is 01:56:11.220 --> 01:56:13.164 an annual report . It's called the 01:56:13.164 --> 01:56:15.820 Detox for military folks and for D O D 01:56:15.820 --> 01:56:18.600 civilians . Uh These are employees of 01:56:18.600 --> 01:56:22.450 schools , uh J R J R T C instructors 01:56:22.460 --> 01:56:26.120 are school employees . The students are 01:56:26.130 --> 01:56:28.430 obviously students . And so the mill 01:56:28.430 --> 01:56:30.980 the optic of the military asking a 01:56:30.980 --> 01:56:33.202 survey , I'm not asking that . What I'm 01:56:33.202 --> 01:56:35.091 asking is , do you have an annual 01:56:35.091 --> 01:56:38.730 report that records how many people 01:56:38.740 --> 01:56:42.130 reported sexual assault against your 01:56:42.140 --> 01:56:44.550 folks who were in the J R O T C program ? 01:56:44.550 --> 01:56:47.940 The Air Force J R O T C program office 01:56:47.940 --> 01:56:50.520 tracks this extremely closely . So you , 01:56:50.530 --> 01:56:52.690 so if I request that annual report , 01:56:52.690 --> 01:56:54.690 you'll get a copy of it and it will 01:56:54.690 --> 01:56:56.523 show me how many people reported 01:56:56.523 --> 01:56:58.900 incidences of sexual harassment or 01:56:59.210 --> 01:57:01.380 assault . I can't say it's a formal 01:57:01.380 --> 01:57:03.491 report . What I can say is I have not 01:57:03.491 --> 01:57:05.547 seen a list of every single incident 01:57:05.547 --> 01:57:07.713 and the disposition over the last five 01:57:07.713 --> 01:57:11.170 years . So the answer to my question 01:57:11.170 --> 01:57:13.226 about is there an annual report ? Is 01:57:13.226 --> 01:57:16.100 that a yes or no ? We as far as I'm 01:57:16.100 --> 01:57:18.267 aware , we don't have an actual annual 01:57:18.267 --> 01:57:20.340 report . Alright . And do you do a 01:57:20.340 --> 01:57:24.230 survey Secretary Parker ? No , 01:57:24.230 --> 01:57:26.341 we do not do a survey . And Secretary 01:57:26.341 --> 01:57:29.960 Wagner Senator , we don't do a 01:57:29.960 --> 01:57:33.240 survey . Um but we do provide a number 01:57:33.240 --> 01:57:36.320 of mechanisms for either parents or 01:57:36.320 --> 01:57:38.740 students to report accidents if you're 01:57:38.740 --> 01:57:41.470 serious about sexual assault and sexual 01:57:41.470 --> 01:57:43.780 harassment . These are two best tools 01:57:43.790 --> 01:57:46.680 that we know we have available . And 01:57:46.690 --> 01:57:48.579 I'm asking the question , are the 01:57:48.579 --> 01:57:50.412 military services doing it ? I'm 01:57:50.412 --> 01:57:52.468 hearing from Secretary Shaeffer that 01:57:52.468 --> 01:57:55.310 she's starting with the Army . I'm not 01:57:55.310 --> 01:57:57.254 hearing it from the Navy . I'm not 01:57:57.254 --> 01:57:59.477 hearing it from the Air Force . And I'm 01:57:59.477 --> 01:58:01.366 asking all three of you using the 01:58:01.366 --> 01:58:03.477 second tool and that its surveys that 01:58:03.477 --> 01:58:03.350 I'm hearing the answer is no , no and 01:58:03.350 --> 01:58:06.850 no . So look , no annual reporting or 01:58:06.850 --> 01:58:08.961 just starting some annual reporting , 01:58:08.961 --> 01:58:11.072 no surveys . In other words , there's 01:58:11.072 --> 01:58:14.100 no real way for the D O D or the 01:58:14.100 --> 01:58:15.910 services to have the kind of 01:58:15.920 --> 01:58:19.170 information they need to exercise basic 01:58:19.180 --> 01:58:21.291 oversight . You got a star start with 01:58:21.291 --> 01:58:23.513 knowing what's going on and we know the 01:58:23.513 --> 01:58:25.624 problems with these surveys . We know 01:58:25.624 --> 01:58:27.847 that people under report , we know they 01:58:27.847 --> 01:58:29.902 under report formally , we know they 01:58:29.902 --> 01:58:32.124 under reported surveys , but you got to 01:58:32.124 --> 01:58:34.236 at least start there . You know , one 01:58:34.236 --> 01:58:36.347 of the biggest problems that has come 01:58:36.347 --> 01:58:38.347 to light in these investigations is 01:58:38.347 --> 01:58:40.458 also that some of the instructors who 01:58:40.458 --> 01:58:42.347 abused these students had done it 01:58:42.347 --> 01:58:44.660 before for at least seven of the 01:58:44.660 --> 01:58:47.970 instructors that we know about who were 01:58:47.970 --> 01:58:50.510 eventually criminally charged . It 01:58:50.510 --> 01:58:53.120 turns out that students had already 01:58:53.120 --> 01:58:56.380 raised concerns with the school before 01:58:56.380 --> 01:58:59.290 the incident that got these instructors 01:58:59.300 --> 01:59:01.690 arrested . So let me start there . 01:59:01.690 --> 01:59:04.610 Secretary Shaeffer , if colleges failed 01:59:04.610 --> 01:59:06.980 to report public safety issues like 01:59:06.980 --> 01:59:09.440 sexual assault , the Department of 01:59:09.440 --> 01:59:12.400 Education can find them under the 01:59:12.400 --> 01:59:15.800 Cleary act or even stripped them of all 01:59:15.800 --> 01:59:17.800 federal funding . There are serious 01:59:17.800 --> 01:59:21.240 consequences for failure to report . So 01:59:21.240 --> 01:59:24.810 let's ask about D O D accountability if 01:59:24.810 --> 01:59:27.950 schools fail to report or stop this 01:59:27.950 --> 01:59:31.730 behavior in J R O T C programs . Does 01:59:31.730 --> 01:59:34.780 D O D have any mechanism for saying you 01:59:34.780 --> 01:59:37.470 no longer get to operate a J R O T C 01:59:37.470 --> 01:59:41.180 program ? My 01:59:41.180 --> 01:59:44.750 understanding is that it's the 01:59:44.760 --> 01:59:47.630 responsibility of the schools to report 01:59:47.640 --> 01:59:50.220 any of these . And I'm asking when 01:59:50.220 --> 01:59:51.664 school falls down on that 01:59:51.664 --> 01:59:53.553 responsibility . If this were the 01:59:53.553 --> 01:59:55.780 Department of Education , the 01:59:55.780 --> 01:59:58.500 Department of Education actually has 01:59:58.510 --> 02:00:01.510 tools to use to say you're going to pay 02:00:01.510 --> 02:00:03.820 consequences if you fail to report 02:00:03.830 --> 02:00:05.774 because we all understand , nobody 02:00:05.774 --> 02:00:07.760 wants to report this stuff and the 02:00:07.760 --> 02:00:09.927 schools that are responsible certainly 02:00:09.927 --> 02:00:11.871 don't want to report this . So I'm 02:00:11.871 --> 02:00:14.038 asking , is there anything in the Army 02:00:14.038 --> 02:00:17.540 J R O T C program that that will tell a 02:00:17.540 --> 02:00:19.596 school if you fail to report , there 02:00:19.596 --> 02:00:21.651 will be consequences again . I'm not 02:00:21.651 --> 02:00:23.707 aware of that but I can look into it 02:00:23.707 --> 02:00:25.984 for okay . I'm gonna take that as a no , 02:00:25.984 --> 02:00:28.262 unless you tell me something different . 02:00:28.262 --> 02:00:30.484 Secretary Parker , how about the Navy ? 02:00:30.940 --> 02:00:33.107 I am not aware that there's a specific 02:00:33.107 --> 02:00:36.720 trigger for Secretary Wagner , Senator 02:00:36.720 --> 02:00:39.140 Warren , the memorandum of agreement 02:00:39.150 --> 02:00:42.800 between Air Force ROTC and each school 02:00:42.800 --> 02:00:45.690 has specific requirements . I'm not 02:00:45.690 --> 02:00:47.690 asking about the requirements . I'm 02:00:47.690 --> 02:00:49.412 asking about whether there are 02:00:49.412 --> 02:00:51.579 consequence . If the school just keeps 02:00:51.579 --> 02:00:53.801 its mouth shut , if the school violates 02:00:53.801 --> 02:00:55.801 and consistently violates the , the 02:00:55.801 --> 02:00:57.746 memorandum of agreement , then the 02:00:57.746 --> 02:00:59.857 school will be decertified . As would 02:00:59.857 --> 02:01:01.912 any of you ever decertified school ? 02:01:01.912 --> 02:01:03.968 I'll have to look into that . Okay . 02:01:03.968 --> 02:01:03.900 All right . But you say you actually 02:01:03.900 --> 02:01:06.210 have a mechanism . We , we have a 02:01:06.210 --> 02:01:09.400 mechanism . Alright . So we've got this 02:01:09.400 --> 02:01:11.430 on sexual assault . Very disturbing 02:01:11.430 --> 02:01:13.740 findings and sexual harassment . 02:01:13.750 --> 02:01:15.972 There's one other thing I want to cover 02:01:15.972 --> 02:01:17.750 very quickly and that is recent 02:01:17.750 --> 02:01:20.100 investigations have also found at 02:01:20.110 --> 02:01:23.020 dozens of schools have four students to 02:01:23.020 --> 02:01:25.540 participate in the J R O T C program 02:01:25.550 --> 02:01:28.560 against their will parents have to sign 02:01:28.560 --> 02:01:31.410 a permission slip for a kid to go to 02:01:31.410 --> 02:01:34.610 the museum on a field trip . The notion 02:01:34.610 --> 02:01:37.220 that thousands of students are forced 02:01:37.220 --> 02:01:40.660 to participate in J R O T C programs is 02:01:40.660 --> 02:01:42.660 just out of line with the program's 02:01:42.660 --> 02:01:45.110 values . Secretary Shaeffer with the 02:01:45.120 --> 02:01:47.720 army support requiring J R O T C 02:01:47.720 --> 02:01:49.800 programs to certify that their units 02:01:49.810 --> 02:01:52.890 are made up only of students who have 02:01:52.890 --> 02:01:54.910 provided informed consent to 02:01:54.910 --> 02:01:58.000 participate . Well , we certainly don't 02:01:58.010 --> 02:02:01.360 condone forced enforcement um of this . 02:02:01.370 --> 02:02:03.537 Um And that may be an option you would 02:02:03.537 --> 02:02:05.426 like to see . So perhaps a way to 02:02:05.426 --> 02:02:08.180 certify that , that is the Secretary 02:02:08.180 --> 02:02:10.236 Parker how would the Navy feel about 02:02:10.236 --> 02:02:13.440 that ? Um , Senator Warren , I believe 02:02:13.440 --> 02:02:15.329 that's something that we would be 02:02:15.329 --> 02:02:17.329 willing to consider . And Secretary 02:02:17.329 --> 02:02:19.496 Wagner . Absolutely . Okay . Look , we 02:02:19.496 --> 02:02:21.950 have an all volunteer force . We should 02:02:21.950 --> 02:02:24.380 have an all volunteer J R O T C . I 02:02:24.380 --> 02:02:26.602 think we should all be able to agree on 02:02:26.602 --> 02:02:28.491 that . You know , if the military 02:02:28.491 --> 02:02:30.970 doesn't step up and prevent these kinds 02:02:30.970 --> 02:02:34.880 of abuses , then you endanger our 02:02:34.880 --> 02:02:38.540 ability to continue programs that build 02:02:38.550 --> 02:02:41.630 our force for the future . This is your 02:02:41.630 --> 02:02:43.750 reputation on the line here . And I 02:02:43.750 --> 02:02:47.270 hope you will work with me to get some 02:02:47.270 --> 02:02:49.450 procedures in place to make this 02:02:49.450 --> 02:02:52.190 program a safe program for all of our 02:02:52.190 --> 02:02:53.760 kids . Thank you , 02:02:56.020 --> 02:02:58.270 Senator Scott , ranking member Scott . 02:02:58.920 --> 02:03:01.060 So thank you , Secretary Wagner First 02:03:01.060 --> 02:03:03.393 off . Thanks for being here . One thing . 02:03:03.393 --> 02:03:05.338 You guys watch the earlier panel , 02:03:05.338 --> 02:03:07.630 anything that's required under the N D 02:03:07.630 --> 02:03:10.410 A , if you , if you'll just make sure 02:03:10.410 --> 02:03:12.577 you let us know if you , where you are 02:03:12.577 --> 02:03:14.720 in the process because it can't be a 02:03:14.720 --> 02:03:16.664 lot of fun to be appear . And then 02:03:16.664 --> 02:03:18.998 somebody asked you why you didn't do it . 02:03:18.998 --> 02:03:20.998 So , so if you could , if you could 02:03:20.998 --> 02:03:23.220 make sure you let us know where you are 02:03:23.220 --> 02:03:22.540 and anything that you think that's 02:03:22.540 --> 02:03:24.870 required under under the N D A . So 02:03:24.870 --> 02:03:26.926 that'd be helpful . Secretary Wagner 02:03:26.926 --> 02:03:28.814 Space Force just celebrates third 02:03:28.814 --> 02:03:30.981 birthday last December . I think a lot 02:03:30.981 --> 02:03:33.203 of us are concerned that many Americans 02:03:33.203 --> 02:03:35.259 don't really understand why um don't 02:03:35.259 --> 02:03:37.037 Space force or why are national 02:03:37.037 --> 02:03:39.270 security matters in space ? What are 02:03:39.270 --> 02:03:41.326 you doing to raise the profile ? The 02:03:41.326 --> 02:03:43.214 Space Force introduced the unique 02:03:43.214 --> 02:03:45.381 missions of guardians to the America's 02:03:45.381 --> 02:03:47.492 youth and compete for talent with the 02:03:47.492 --> 02:03:47.030 booming private sector , commercial 02:03:47.030 --> 02:03:49.086 space industry , especially my great 02:03:49.086 --> 02:03:52.250 state of Florida . Remember Scott , I'm 02:03:52.250 --> 02:03:54.390 excited to talk about the U S Space 02:03:54.390 --> 02:03:57.050 Force . Three years in the emission is 02:03:57.050 --> 02:03:59.780 incredibly important . It helps every 02:03:59.780 --> 02:04:02.720 day protect not only our modern way of 02:04:02.720 --> 02:04:04.942 war , but more importantly , our modern 02:04:04.942 --> 02:04:06.940 way of life . Um We're excited to 02:04:06.940 --> 02:04:08.970 continue to work with Congress to 02:04:08.970 --> 02:04:11.650 develop a proposal to manage talent in 02:04:11.650 --> 02:04:13.761 the space force very differently than 02:04:13.761 --> 02:04:16.320 we have in in the rest of the military 02:04:16.320 --> 02:04:18.770 department . And you'll be seeing a 02:04:18.770 --> 02:04:22.020 legislative proposal on that topic in 02:04:22.020 --> 02:04:24.900 order to allow us to access a different 02:04:24.900 --> 02:04:28.650 type of talent and to have a a 02:04:28.650 --> 02:04:31.400 talent process where we're able to have 02:04:31.420 --> 02:04:34.350 a better permeability between full time 02:04:34.350 --> 02:04:36.572 and part time guardians . And we can do 02:04:36.572 --> 02:04:38.683 that for two reasons . One because of 02:04:38.683 --> 02:04:40.906 the small size of the space force , but 02:04:40.906 --> 02:04:43.300 also because of the , because of the 02:04:43.300 --> 02:04:46.520 ability to attract high tech tech stem 02:04:46.520 --> 02:04:49.460 talent , we're focused on building 02:04:49.470 --> 02:04:51.526 brand identity because frankly , the 02:04:51.526 --> 02:04:53.748 American people really don't understand 02:04:53.748 --> 02:04:55.970 what the space forces or what they do . 02:04:55.970 --> 02:04:58.026 And so we're committing this year to 02:04:58.026 --> 02:04:59.970 spend $12 million on building that 02:04:59.970 --> 02:05:01.859 brand identity , principally with 02:05:01.859 --> 02:05:03.803 influencers , you know , the Space 02:05:03.803 --> 02:05:05.914 Force today is meeting its recruiting 02:05:05.914 --> 02:05:08.137 mission , but we're concerned about the 02:05:08.137 --> 02:05:09.970 future . Finally , in the era of 02:05:09.970 --> 02:05:12.026 declining propensity , um we need to 02:05:12.026 --> 02:05:14.760 access a greater variety of talent and 02:05:14.760 --> 02:05:16.920 as I said , manage them differently . 02:05:16.930 --> 02:05:19.210 And in order to access that specialized 02:05:19.220 --> 02:05:21.960 stem talent , we need to take on new 02:05:21.960 --> 02:05:24.127 approaches and try some new things . I 02:05:24.127 --> 02:05:26.293 think the space forces leading the way 02:05:26.293 --> 02:05:28.571 and I think to go get to your question , 02:05:28.571 --> 02:05:31.080 um folks who have the ability to look 02:05:31.090 --> 02:05:33.640 at the option of military service today 02:05:33.640 --> 02:05:35.751 differently than maybe one would have 02:05:35.751 --> 02:05:37.807 looked in the past where it's a full 02:05:37.807 --> 02:05:40.610 career today , being able to talent 02:05:40.610 --> 02:05:42.940 manager and say I'm gonna go take a 02:05:42.940 --> 02:05:46.040 couple of years off to focus on making 02:05:46.040 --> 02:05:48.151 sure my kids get into college or , or 02:05:48.151 --> 02:05:50.318 raising them at a certain time to take 02:05:50.318 --> 02:05:52.484 care of a sick parent . Those are some 02:05:52.484 --> 02:05:54.651 of the things that we're looking at in 02:05:54.651 --> 02:05:56.651 order to allow people to plan their 02:05:56.651 --> 02:05:58.707 careers differently , see themselves 02:05:58.707 --> 02:05:58.620 and see themselves serving in a 02:05:58.620 --> 02:06:00.731 different way that we could have done 02:06:00.731 --> 02:06:03.090 before . Thank you , Secretary Shaeffer , 02:06:03.100 --> 02:06:05.030 the army's as you know , has had 02:06:05.040 --> 02:06:06.984 trouble with recruiting . And so I 02:06:06.984 --> 02:06:08.929 think you guys have relied more on 02:06:08.929 --> 02:06:10.984 retaining . How does that impact the 02:06:10.984 --> 02:06:14.420 readiness of the army ? Thank you for 02:06:14.420 --> 02:06:17.770 your question . Uh So 02:06:18.370 --> 02:06:20.410 I think that this really is a end 02:06:20.410 --> 02:06:22.354 strength as sort of a three legged 02:06:22.354 --> 02:06:25.150 stool as we think about it . Um So we 02:06:25.150 --> 02:06:29.150 have a sessions attrition and um 02:06:29.160 --> 02:06:32.280 uh retention and our retention is 02:06:32.280 --> 02:06:34.720 historically high right now . Um which 02:06:34.720 --> 02:06:36.776 is wonderful and I think that , that 02:06:36.776 --> 02:06:38.831 somebody mentioned it in the earlier 02:06:38.831 --> 02:06:41.053 panel that once we get them through the 02:06:41.053 --> 02:06:44.010 door , they want to stay . Um , so we 02:06:44.010 --> 02:06:46.320 are , you know , really focused on 02:06:46.810 --> 02:06:50.760 addressing the civilian military divide 02:06:50.760 --> 02:06:52.816 that we talked about . You know , my 02:06:52.816 --> 02:06:54.927 sense is that keeps getting wider and 02:06:54.927 --> 02:06:57.093 deeper . I think there's in the army , 02:06:57.093 --> 02:06:58.982 in particular , there's a sort of 02:06:58.982 --> 02:07:01.350 historical um piece to this as well . 02:07:01.350 --> 02:07:03.700 We bragged a lot of our installations 02:07:03.700 --> 02:07:05.811 in the northern part of the country . 02:07:05.811 --> 02:07:08.730 So our biggest recruiting tool 02:07:08.740 --> 02:07:11.990 is somebody walking down the street in 02:07:11.990 --> 02:07:14.470 uniform and talking to people about 02:07:14.470 --> 02:07:17.340 their experiences and they just don't 02:07:17.350 --> 02:07:19.406 see that in the northern part of the 02:07:19.406 --> 02:07:21.820 country or know somebody who is has in 02:07:21.820 --> 02:07:24.100 the military in general . Um And I 02:07:24.100 --> 02:07:26.640 think that creates a huge knowledge as 02:07:26.640 --> 02:07:29.580 well as cultural gap that we need to 02:07:29.580 --> 02:07:33.280 fill . Um So , you know , along with 02:07:33.280 --> 02:07:36.920 what um uh Secretary Wagner mentioned , 02:07:36.920 --> 02:07:40.240 we too are um looking at this , I'm 02:07:40.240 --> 02:07:43.590 bringing my , my rand lens to this and 02:07:43.590 --> 02:07:46.900 thinking about all of the complaints 02:07:46.900 --> 02:07:49.011 that I have heard over the years from 02:07:49.011 --> 02:07:51.790 service members and a lot of it is this , 02:07:51.800 --> 02:07:53.880 it's too hard to serve in many 02:07:53.880 --> 02:07:55.991 instances . That's what I keep , keep 02:07:55.991 --> 02:07:59.410 hearing . Um And uh it's modernizing 02:07:59.410 --> 02:08:01.688 these systems , right ? We have a post , 02:08:01.688 --> 02:08:05.640 well , post industrial personal uh 02:08:05.650 --> 02:08:08.600 system and it's those , those annoying 02:08:08.600 --> 02:08:10.780 things , right ? Um That people are 02:08:10.780 --> 02:08:12.891 sort of working through and I want to 02:08:12.891 --> 02:08:14.891 make sure that we don't lose people 02:08:14.891 --> 02:08:17.002 because of those annoying things . Um 02:08:17.002 --> 02:08:19.380 so that we can bolster and keep that 02:08:19.390 --> 02:08:22.710 retention piece high as we try to 02:08:22.710 --> 02:08:25.700 bridge this gap across the civil 02:08:25.700 --> 02:08:29.040 military divide on the recruiting side . 02:08:29.620 --> 02:08:32.650 Thank you . Thank you . Thank you , 02:08:32.660 --> 02:08:35.310 Secretary Senator Blumenthal . I'm 02:08:35.310 --> 02:08:38.340 promoting everybody today . Senator 02:08:38.340 --> 02:08:41.080 Blumenthal . Thank you . Uh 02:08:42.920 --> 02:08:45.080 Secretary Parker , I had a dialogue 02:08:45.080 --> 02:08:47.247 with Secretary Cisneros . I don't know 02:08:47.247 --> 02:08:49.247 whether you were in the room at the 02:08:49.247 --> 02:08:52.090 time . So you know that I asked about 02:08:52.100 --> 02:08:55.280 the sailors on the USS Washington , 02:08:56.370 --> 02:09:00.270 in particular Xavier Sander . Uh 02:09:00.280 --> 02:09:03.180 It's a Connecticut family , the others 02:09:03.180 --> 02:09:05.513 are from elsewhere in the United States . 02:09:05.513 --> 02:09:07.736 In addition , there are others who have 02:09:07.736 --> 02:09:10.810 committed suicide . Um Is there a 02:09:10.810 --> 02:09:13.120 report ? And when will it be released ? 02:09:15.340 --> 02:09:17.340 Senator Blumenthal ? Thank you very 02:09:17.340 --> 02:09:19.451 much and I was present for your prior 02:09:19.451 --> 02:09:21.618 comments and I appreciate your concern 02:09:21.618 --> 02:09:23.673 and advocacy on this point . Um I am 02:09:23.673 --> 02:09:25.784 familiar with the report . So that is 02:09:25.784 --> 02:09:27.673 the phase two report from the G W 02:09:27.673 --> 02:09:29.729 investigation . This one pertains to 02:09:29.729 --> 02:09:31.673 quality of service . I believe , I 02:09:31.673 --> 02:09:33.840 believe this is the report that you're 02:09:33.840 --> 02:09:36.062 referring to . And so this looks really 02:09:36.062 --> 02:09:35.820 kind of at the quality of service , 02:09:35.820 --> 02:09:38.290 quality of life factors influencing the 02:09:38.300 --> 02:09:40.620 sailors who died by suicide during that 02:09:40.630 --> 02:09:43.100 period . Understand that report will be 02:09:43.100 --> 02:09:46.030 released this spring . Um And I commit 02:09:46.030 --> 02:09:49.320 to you that I will um , go back and 02:09:49.320 --> 02:09:51.770 really push for the speediest issuance 02:09:51.780 --> 02:09:54.002 of that report . Well , I'd like to see 02:09:54.002 --> 02:09:57.830 the report now , meaning 02:09:57.840 --> 02:10:01.410 now , why is that not possible ? 02:10:02.590 --> 02:10:04.620 Senator , I , I have not seen the 02:10:04.620 --> 02:10:06.900 report personally myself either , but 02:10:06.900 --> 02:10:09.067 that is something I will take back and 02:10:09.067 --> 02:10:12.940 see how after Xavier 02:10:12.940 --> 02:10:16.560 Sander took his own life , I think the 02:10:16.560 --> 02:10:18.782 family has a right to see that report . 02:10:20.770 --> 02:10:23.440 Why , what would you say to the family ? 02:10:25.800 --> 02:10:28.470 What would you say to John Sander ? His 02:10:28.470 --> 02:10:30.680 son committed suicide almost 11 months 02:10:30.680 --> 02:10:33.500 to the day ago . And the navy still has 02:10:33.500 --> 02:10:36.870 not given him the facts . 02:10:38.490 --> 02:10:40.046 What would you say to him ? 02:10:44.450 --> 02:10:47.800 Senator ? I I have no response that 02:10:47.800 --> 02:10:49.856 that that I could give to him , that 02:10:49.856 --> 02:10:51.911 that would be sufficient . Well , my 02:10:51.911 --> 02:10:54.120 response would be I will show him the 02:10:54.120 --> 02:10:57.180 report , ask him to come down and I am 02:10:57.180 --> 02:10:59.540 going to invite him to come down next 02:10:59.540 --> 02:11:02.040 week and I would like you to come to a 02:11:02.040 --> 02:11:05.000 meeting with me in my office . And John 02:11:05.000 --> 02:11:07.190 Sander , will you do that ? I will 02:11:07.190 --> 02:11:09.301 senator . Alright . And I hope you'll 02:11:09.301 --> 02:11:12.390 bring the report . I will , I will go 02:11:12.390 --> 02:11:14.850 back and , and I commit to you . I will , 02:11:14.850 --> 02:11:17.017 I will do my very best senator , but I 02:11:17.017 --> 02:11:19.017 will be in that meeting next week . 02:11:19.017 --> 02:11:21.183 Well , you know , with all due respect 02:11:21.183 --> 02:11:23.470 and I know this is not your decision 02:11:23.470 --> 02:11:26.770 alone . So I'm not blaming you 02:11:26.810 --> 02:11:29.070 personally , but 02:11:31.050 --> 02:11:33.217 I'm a dad , two of my sons have served 02:11:33.217 --> 02:11:37.080 one as a Marine Corps infantry 02:11:37.080 --> 02:11:39.302 officer in Afghanistan . The other is a 02:11:39.302 --> 02:11:42.810 navy seal . And if it were my son , I 02:11:42.810 --> 02:11:46.800 would be , I'd be pretty 02:11:46.800 --> 02:11:50.660 angry . So I hope you 02:11:51.840 --> 02:11:54.380 can be there with the report . 02:11:56.660 --> 02:11:58.660 Senator . I look forward to working 02:11:58.660 --> 02:12:00.771 with you on this issue . I will do my 02:12:00.771 --> 02:12:00.760 very best but I will , I will be in 02:12:00.760 --> 02:12:02.982 that meeting if , if you desire . Thank 02:12:02.982 --> 02:12:05.570 you . Thank you , Senator Blumenthal . 02:12:05.580 --> 02:12:08.110 So I want to thank our witnesses for 02:12:08.110 --> 02:12:10.332 their service . I want to thank you for 02:12:10.332 --> 02:12:12.554 testifying today . I also want to thank 02:12:12.554 --> 02:12:15.320 John Clark , Gary Lee Ling , Andy Scott 02:12:15.320 --> 02:12:18.410 Sophia Comolli Sean o'keefe , Katie 02:12:18.410 --> 02:12:20.690 Magnus and Brendan Gavin for their work 02:12:20.690 --> 02:12:22.857 and putting together today's hearing . 02:12:22.857 --> 02:12:24.990 I value your contributions and I look 02:12:24.990 --> 02:12:27.350 forward to working with all of you . 02:12:27.360 --> 02:12:29.830 Today's hearing , makes it clear that 02:12:29.830 --> 02:12:32.040 we still have a lot of work to do to 02:12:32.050 --> 02:12:34.780 offer our service members are extended 02:12:34.780 --> 02:12:37.002 military families and even our civilian 02:12:37.002 --> 02:12:39.670 employees uh and the civilians who 02:12:39.670 --> 02:12:41.720 interact with our military the very 02:12:41.720 --> 02:12:44.280 best . I look forward to working with 02:12:44.280 --> 02:12:47.250 ranking member Scott as we go forward 02:12:47.260 --> 02:12:49.620 on a bipartisan basis to do the very 02:12:49.620 --> 02:12:52.300 best for our people . Thank you . All 02:12:52.390 --> 02:12:54.770 this hearing is closed .