1 00:00:00,870 --> 00:00:04,099 Uh Thank you , Judge Carter . Uh Thank 2 00:00:04,110 --> 00:00:06,550 you , Mr Chairman and uh welcome to all 3 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:09,420 of you uh been great working with you 4 00:00:10,220 --> 00:00:12,331 um General Milley . You're welcome in 5 00:00:12,331 --> 00:00:15,640 Texas when you get ready to retire . Uh 6 00:00:16,629 --> 00:00:20,139 If that be your choice , I just 7 00:00:20,149 --> 00:00:22,049 finished the uh the travel 8 00:00:24,450 --> 00:00:26,799 where there was the importance of uh 9 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:29,222 power projection for the region , which 10 00:00:29,222 --> 00:00:32,360 seemed to be very , very important . We 11 00:00:32,369 --> 00:00:34,480 need to modernize weapon systems . We 12 00:00:34,480 --> 00:00:36,619 also need a place to forward operate 13 00:00:36,630 --> 00:00:40,209 from what are we doing to get more 14 00:00:40,220 --> 00:00:43,459 infrastructure for power projection in 15 00:00:43,470 --> 00:00:46,669 the pay ? And are we doing enough ? 16 00:00:48,659 --> 00:00:52,380 Thank you , sir . Um Yeah , answer to 17 00:00:52,389 --> 00:00:54,500 the second question first . I , you , 18 00:00:54,750 --> 00:00:56,694 I'll probably never say we've done 19 00:00:56,694 --> 00:00:58,917 enough . Uh We will continue to work at 20 00:00:58,917 --> 00:01:00,972 this . Uh I think you , you may have 21 00:01:00,972 --> 00:01:03,430 heard me say earlier that um we're 22 00:01:03,439 --> 00:01:06,839 investing $9.1 billion in uh this year 23 00:01:06,849 --> 00:01:09,650 in the Pacific deterrence initiative uh 24 00:01:09,660 --> 00:01:12,059 that allows us to uh to invest in 25 00:01:12,069 --> 00:01:14,739 infrastructure uh that gives us greater 26 00:01:14,750 --> 00:01:18,309 uh access uh and , and uh and also 27 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:20,599 improve some of the , the uh defensive 28 00:01:20,889 --> 00:01:23,040 uh our defensive postures in places 29 00:01:23,050 --> 00:01:24,994 like uh Guam and also do things to 30 00:01:24,994 --> 00:01:28,160 protect Hawaii as well . Um We , we 31 00:01:28,169 --> 00:01:30,489 have uh we have done a lot of work to 32 00:01:30,779 --> 00:01:34,339 uh engage uh the uh our partners and 33 00:01:34,349 --> 00:01:36,293 our allies in the Philippines . Uh 34 00:01:36,293 --> 00:01:39,199 We're working with Australia uh to uh 35 00:01:39,209 --> 00:01:41,519 to increase our access there and we've 36 00:01:41,529 --> 00:01:43,473 developed a great partnership . Uh 37 00:01:43,473 --> 00:01:47,010 We're , our , our rotational units are , 38 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:49,247 are going in and out of Australia at a 39 00:01:49,247 --> 00:01:51,469 greater frequency . So , so we continue 40 00:01:51,469 --> 00:01:53,524 to work this , but we , we to answer 41 00:01:53,524 --> 00:01:55,802 your question , we , we're doing a lot . 42 00:01:55,802 --> 00:01:57,913 Uh It will probably never be enough . 43 00:01:57,913 --> 00:01:59,919 Uh Well , we continue to see an 44 00:01:59,930 --> 00:02:02,379 increased budget for infrastructure and 45 00:02:02,389 --> 00:02:05,849 acquisition and development in that 46 00:02:05,860 --> 00:02:09,160 area , in your opinion , as we go down 47 00:02:09,169 --> 00:02:12,029 the road because I just came from 48 00:02:12,509 --> 00:02:16,179 uh and yes , we're building a 49 00:02:16,190 --> 00:02:19,059 barracks there , but they've got some 50 00:02:19,070 --> 00:02:21,729 buildings there that or really need 51 00:02:21,740 --> 00:02:25,320 work . You , you will continue to see a 52 00:02:25,330 --> 00:02:28,210 significant investment in those types 53 00:02:28,220 --> 00:02:30,498 of things going forward . I think it's , 54 00:02:30,498 --> 00:02:32,553 it's important that that we have the 55 00:02:32,553 --> 00:02:34,610 ability to uh to be able to forward 56 00:02:34,619 --> 00:02:37,820 station our position , our troops so 57 00:02:37,830 --> 00:02:40,580 that they can be relevant in any kind 58 00:02:40,589 --> 00:02:43,380 of uh upcoming contest . Thank you . 59 00:02:43,529 --> 00:02:46,800 Thank you , Mr Chairman . Thank you , 60 00:02:46,809 --> 00:02:49,850 Mr Carter Mr Case . Thank you , Mr 61 00:02:49,860 --> 00:02:52,880 Chair uh Mr Secretary . I have to ask 62 00:02:52,889 --> 00:02:55,539 you about Redhill bulk fuel storage 63 00:02:55,550 --> 00:02:57,729 facility in my district in Honolulu . 64 00:02:58,000 --> 00:02:59,833 Uh First of all , I just want to 65 00:02:59,833 --> 00:03:02,000 commend the uh um the job that uh Vice 66 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:04,167 Admiral Wade and the Pearl Harbor , uh 67 00:03:04,167 --> 00:03:06,278 joint task force are doing to address 68 00:03:06,278 --> 00:03:08,490 this crisis in a transparent and 69 00:03:08,500 --> 00:03:10,667 deliberate manner . So they're doing a 70 00:03:10,667 --> 00:03:12,722 good job . Uh but they need a lot of 71 00:03:12,722 --> 00:03:14,667 help obviously from uh back in the 72 00:03:14,667 --> 00:03:16,833 Pentagon . And so I would commend that 73 00:03:16,833 --> 00:03:19,000 to you , but I have to ask you just uh 74 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:21,056 for a clarification confirmation , I 75 00:03:21,056 --> 00:03:23,167 hope , does the Department of Defense 76 00:03:23,167 --> 00:03:25,289 remain fully committed uh to the 77 00:03:25,300 --> 00:03:28,690 expeditious and safe Deuel and closure 78 00:03:28,699 --> 00:03:31,919 of the Red Hill facility ? The 79 00:03:31,929 --> 00:03:33,929 Department of Defense remains fully 80 00:03:33,929 --> 00:03:36,270 committed . Uh And I personally remain 81 00:03:36,279 --> 00:03:38,501 fully committed . As a matter of fact , 82 00:03:38,501 --> 00:03:40,720 I just met with the team uh out in uh 83 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:43,850 in Hawaii on this very topic here and 84 00:03:43,860 --> 00:03:47,369 we routinely get updates . Um And I , I 85 00:03:47,380 --> 00:03:49,720 would agree with you that uh the 86 00:03:49,729 --> 00:03:52,429 admiral is doing a tremendous job . Uh 87 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:54,551 and most important , he's doing a lot 88 00:03:54,551 --> 00:03:56,662 of , a lot of good things to keep the 89 00:03:56,662 --> 00:03:58,996 community informed and , and , you know , 90 00:03:58,996 --> 00:04:01,107 the delegation informed of what we're 91 00:04:01,107 --> 00:04:03,107 doing and , and what his , what his 92 00:04:03,107 --> 00:04:02,600 needs are , what our , what our 93 00:04:02,610 --> 00:04:04,800 requirements are . Thank you so much 94 00:04:04,809 --> 00:04:08,139 for that . Um Are you aware of any 95 00:04:08,149 --> 00:04:11,029 budgetary limitations on the defense 96 00:04:11,039 --> 00:04:14,250 department ? Achieving the um safe and 97 00:04:14,259 --> 00:04:16,370 expeditious uh refueling enclosure of 98 00:04:16,370 --> 00:04:18,592 Red Hill ? I've looked high and low for 99 00:04:18,592 --> 00:04:20,592 it . I don't believe so . I believe 100 00:04:20,592 --> 00:04:22,703 that you have the adequate funding to 101 00:04:22,703 --> 00:04:25,940 um achieve that um goal . Uh But I 102 00:04:25,950 --> 00:04:28,200 don't want this uh budget to go , go 103 00:04:28,209 --> 00:04:31,049 past us if there are any limitations um 104 00:04:31,059 --> 00:04:34,429 whatsoever uh in the in , in that 105 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:36,607 mission , as well as the , the broader 106 00:04:36,607 --> 00:04:38,440 mission , which is um you know , 107 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:40,440 remediation , uh some health , some 108 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:42,718 health risks as well . Well , uh again , 109 00:04:42,718 --> 00:04:44,773 thanks for your continued support in 110 00:04:44,773 --> 00:04:46,940 this uh uh in in this area as well . I 111 00:04:46,940 --> 00:04:49,420 am currently not aware of any uh any 112 00:04:49,429 --> 00:04:51,779 obstacles that would prevent us from uh 113 00:04:51,790 --> 00:04:54,029 achieving our objective . This is uh 114 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:56,207 this is , this is gonna take some time 115 00:04:56,207 --> 00:04:58,262 and things can change and if they do 116 00:04:58,262 --> 00:05:00,429 change and we do need requirement , uh 117 00:05:00,429 --> 00:05:02,318 do do have requirements , uh I'll 118 00:05:02,318 --> 00:05:04,373 certainly uh come back and ask for , 119 00:05:04,373 --> 00:05:06,596 for more help , sir . Ok . Thank you so 120 00:05:06,596 --> 00:05:06,540 much . Let me shift gears on you 121 00:05:06,549 --> 00:05:08,540 because I was um also on the uh 122 00:05:08,549 --> 00:05:10,771 congressional delegation that the chair 123 00:05:10,771 --> 00:05:13,200 led uh to the Indo Pacific . Uh We were 124 00:05:13,209 --> 00:05:15,098 not only in Taiwan but in Japan , 125 00:05:15,098 --> 00:05:17,320 Okinawa and the Republic of Korea . And 126 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:19,890 first of all , it was amazing uh to 127 00:05:19,899 --> 00:05:22,940 spend time with our um service members 128 00:05:22,950 --> 00:05:25,006 there , top to bottom high quality , 129 00:05:25,006 --> 00:05:27,228 committed to the job . So I just wanted 130 00:05:27,228 --> 00:05:29,339 to pass that along to you . One of my 131 00:05:29,339 --> 00:05:32,260 huge takeaways uh uh was um along the 132 00:05:32,269 --> 00:05:34,325 lines of Mr Womack's questions which 133 00:05:34,325 --> 00:05:36,700 have to do with um the sufficiency of 134 00:05:36,750 --> 00:05:40,070 our munitions and other armaments that 135 00:05:40,079 --> 00:05:42,246 are provided to our friends and allies 136 00:05:42,246 --> 00:05:44,468 around the world and it just strikes me 137 00:05:44,468 --> 00:05:46,523 that with the burn raid in Ukraine , 138 00:05:46,523 --> 00:05:48,523 which is not gonna go away any time 139 00:05:48,523 --> 00:05:50,357 soon . And with the needs of our 140 00:05:50,357 --> 00:05:52,523 friends and allies relying on us uh to 141 00:05:52,523 --> 00:05:54,635 provide uh them uh because they don't 142 00:05:54,635 --> 00:05:56,801 have that capability for the most part 143 00:05:56,801 --> 00:05:58,468 themselves . And with our own 144 00:05:58,468 --> 00:06:00,523 intentions uh to as part of our Indo 145 00:06:00,523 --> 00:06:02,880 Pacific strategy to preposition uh 146 00:06:02,890 --> 00:06:04,612 equipment and other facilities 147 00:06:04,612 --> 00:06:06,612 including munitions out in the Indo 148 00:06:06,612 --> 00:06:08,820 Pacific um that our defense industrial 149 00:06:08,829 --> 00:06:11,190 base just really needs to be ramped up . 150 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:13,256 Now . It's , I don't think this is a 151 00:06:13,256 --> 00:06:15,200 matter only of uh you know , multi 152 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:16,922 fiscal year uh programming and 153 00:06:16,922 --> 00:06:19,033 procurement . It's , it's a matter of 154 00:06:19,033 --> 00:06:21,089 the basic funding to do that because 155 00:06:21,089 --> 00:06:23,200 you can , you can , you can set it up 156 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:22,859 for multi year procurement . But if the 157 00:06:22,869 --> 00:06:24,869 money's not there to do it to start 158 00:06:24,869 --> 00:06:27,036 with or if the defense industrial base 159 00:06:27,036 --> 00:06:29,036 is not capable of that Production , 160 00:06:29,036 --> 00:06:31,258 then we've got a problem you referenced 161 00:06:31,258 --> 00:06:33,313 in your opening remarks , 10 billion 162 00:06:33,313 --> 00:06:35,425 invested in our industrial base . And 163 00:06:35,425 --> 00:06:37,647 so what I'd like to explore with you is 164 00:06:37,647 --> 00:06:39,813 how do we not get ourselves behind the 165 00:06:39,813 --> 00:06:41,980 eight ball in terms of the basic needs 166 00:06:41,980 --> 00:06:44,202 uh that we have uh in , in both Ukraine 167 00:06:44,202 --> 00:06:46,434 and the Indo Pacific and conflicts that 168 00:06:46,445 --> 00:06:49,359 we may not know about today . Well , 169 00:06:49,369 --> 00:06:51,480 well , thanks . Uh We , we're doing a 170 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:54,480 lot . Uh We uh and let me say up front 171 00:06:54,489 --> 00:06:57,609 that our industrial base is uh really a 172 00:06:57,619 --> 00:07:01,420 core element that's uh uh enable our 173 00:07:01,429 --> 00:07:03,596 strategic advantage . And then we will 174 00:07:03,596 --> 00:07:05,762 continue to work with uh with industry 175 00:07:05,762 --> 00:07:07,429 to make sure that we're doing 176 00:07:07,429 --> 00:07:10,070 everything possible to uh signal to 177 00:07:10,079 --> 00:07:12,301 them , the , the , you know , the right 178 00:07:12,301 --> 00:07:14,890 things in terms of our requirements and 179 00:07:14,899 --> 00:07:16,899 to help wherever possible to expand 180 00:07:16,899 --> 00:07:20,179 capacity and capability . Um So , you 181 00:07:20,190 --> 00:07:23,350 know , we have 100 and $70 billion 182 00:07:23,359 --> 00:07:26,029 request for for procurement . Uh We've 183 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,480 asked you for a multiyear uh 184 00:07:28,709 --> 00:07:30,931 contracting contracting authority and I 185 00:07:30,931 --> 00:07:33,279 think those send powerful signals . Um 186 00:07:33,290 --> 00:07:36,170 but not only are we buying uh the , the 187 00:07:36,179 --> 00:07:38,339 uh numbers of munitions that industry 188 00:07:38,350 --> 00:07:42,130 can produce . Um We're also helping , 189 00:07:42,140 --> 00:07:44,084 we're also investing in additional 190 00:07:44,084 --> 00:07:46,790 capacity so that uh so they can begin 191 00:07:46,799 --> 00:07:49,910 to expand and uh and rapidly uh get us 192 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:52,109 up to uh to where we need to be and 193 00:07:52,119 --> 00:07:55,119 help us replenish the stocks of uh of 194 00:07:55,130 --> 00:07:57,130 some of our allies and partners who 195 00:07:57,130 --> 00:07:59,230 have uh who have donated uh to uh to 196 00:07:59,239 --> 00:08:02,269 the Ukraine effort . Um So , uh we , 197 00:08:02,279 --> 00:08:04,501 we've asked for additional authority in 198 00:08:04,501 --> 00:08:06,779 terms of uh the Defense Production Act , 199 00:08:06,779 --> 00:08:09,299 uh a a authorities and the president 200 00:08:09,309 --> 00:08:11,420 has supported us on that . And uh and 201 00:08:11,420 --> 00:08:14,459 so , uh my , my team is working uh uh 202 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:16,640 day and night , working with the 203 00:08:16,649 --> 00:08:18,871 industry to make sure that , you know , 204 00:08:18,871 --> 00:08:21,250 we are getting as much productivity out 205 00:08:21,260 --> 00:08:23,640 of uh uh the key , key places in 206 00:08:23,649 --> 00:08:25,927 industry as possible . And uh you know , 207 00:08:25,927 --> 00:08:29,619 I've engaged uh uh uh CEO S , my 208 00:08:29,630 --> 00:08:32,260 deputies engage CEO S and uh but , but 209 00:08:32,270 --> 00:08:34,719 to your point , uh we need to do more . 210 00:08:34,729 --> 00:08:37,090 We are doing more and , and we will do 211 00:08:37,099 --> 00:08:39,629 more in the future . Thank , thank you , 212 00:08:39,799 --> 00:08:42,090 gentlemen , Mr Garcia . 213 00:08:44,119 --> 00:08:46,286 Thank you , Mr Chairman . Uh Thank you 214 00:08:46,286 --> 00:08:48,508 gentlemen for the testimony uh and your 215 00:08:48,508 --> 00:08:50,508 service uh Mr Secretary , I want to 216 00:08:50,508 --> 00:08:52,730 thank you for mentioning the spousal uh 217 00:08:52,730 --> 00:08:54,952 uh working uh conditions improving . Uh 218 00:08:54,952 --> 00:08:57,063 I'm very proud that my , my spouse uh 219 00:08:57,063 --> 00:08:59,119 licensing Relief Act was signed into 220 00:08:59,119 --> 00:09:01,230 law by the president in January under 221 00:09:01,230 --> 00:09:03,729 the VA bill . Uh As I visited multiple 222 00:09:03,739 --> 00:09:05,961 commands from Coco down to , you know , 223 00:09:05,961 --> 00:09:08,280 platoon commander . I'm not sure that 224 00:09:08,289 --> 00:09:11,169 the troops yet fully uh understand that 225 00:09:11,179 --> 00:09:14,940 this uh spouse licensing reciprocity is 226 00:09:14,950 --> 00:09:17,172 available to them and it is the current 227 00:09:17,172 --> 00:09:19,394 law of the land . So I recommend we get 228 00:09:19,394 --> 00:09:21,283 a dod wide uh way to message that 229 00:09:21,283 --> 00:09:23,039 spouses can cross deck their 230 00:09:23,049 --> 00:09:25,030 professional licenses , doctors , 231 00:09:25,039 --> 00:09:27,380 lawyers , real estate agents across 232 00:09:27,390 --> 00:09:29,446 state lines when they're active duty 233 00:09:29,446 --> 00:09:31,668 and on orders , I don't , I don't think 234 00:09:31,668 --> 00:09:33,834 it's being fully uh absorbed and , and 235 00:09:33,834 --> 00:09:35,834 utilized yet uh on the , on the pay 236 00:09:35,834 --> 00:09:37,779 raise . Uh I , I personally do not 237 00:09:37,779 --> 00:09:40,001 believe that 5.2% pay raise is enough , 238 00:09:40,001 --> 00:09:42,289 especially for our , our , our junior 239 00:09:42,299 --> 00:09:44,909 enlisted troops uh to put things in 240 00:09:44,919 --> 00:09:47,359 context , the average E one E two are 241 00:09:47,369 --> 00:09:50,030 making roughly $22,000 a year . And in 242 00:09:50,039 --> 00:09:53,630 fact , it's not until you're an E 4/5 243 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:56,010 years that you're making the equivalent 244 00:09:56,020 --> 00:09:58,940 of what would be a $15 per hour uh 245 00:09:58,950 --> 00:10:01,840 wage if it was normalized for a 40 hour 246 00:10:01,849 --> 00:10:04,071 work week , which , which means that uh 247 00:10:04,071 --> 00:10:06,071 effectively the bottom third of our 248 00:10:06,071 --> 00:10:08,127 ranks are making less than fast food 249 00:10:08,127 --> 00:10:10,293 workers are in many of our states . Uh 250 00:10:10,293 --> 00:10:12,349 And some of our states are very high 251 00:10:12,349 --> 00:10:14,405 cost of living given the recruitment 252 00:10:14,405 --> 00:10:16,627 and retention challenges that we have . 253 00:10:16,627 --> 00:10:18,849 I , I think we have a collective action 254 00:10:18,849 --> 00:10:20,905 here between this committee uh Armed 255 00:10:20,905 --> 00:10:20,429 Services Committee as well as in the 256 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:23,150 Senate and dod to look at how we can uh 257 00:10:23,169 --> 00:10:26,000 maybe not take a one size fits all uh 258 00:10:26,010 --> 00:10:29,510 pay adjustment of 5.2% And get our 259 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:31,853 junior enlisted specifically above that , 260 00:10:31,853 --> 00:10:34,929 that $32,000 a year number , which is 261 00:10:34,940 --> 00:10:37,599 the equivalent of $15 per hour . I , I 262 00:10:37,609 --> 00:10:39,720 think there's ways to do that without 263 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:41,887 impacting the , the top line budgets , 264 00:10:41,887 --> 00:10:43,998 whether it's , it's , it's harvesting 265 00:10:43,998 --> 00:10:46,220 from the , the , the , the flag officer 266 00:10:46,220 --> 00:10:48,442 ranks that uh that , you know , 1% goes 267 00:10:48,442 --> 00:10:50,665 a lot further for a flag officer than , 268 00:10:50,665 --> 00:10:52,942 than our junior enlisted . Uh and so I , 269 00:10:52,942 --> 00:10:55,165 I look forward to those conversations , 270 00:10:55,165 --> 00:10:55,109 but I think that's a critical element 271 00:10:55,119 --> 00:10:57,119 to the quality of life , especially 272 00:10:57,119 --> 00:10:59,175 from a recruitment perspective . The 273 00:10:59,175 --> 00:11:00,786 gap between dod and civilian 274 00:11:00,786 --> 00:11:02,786 counterparts is at an historic high 275 00:11:02,786 --> 00:11:04,897 when it comes to salaries right now , 276 00:11:04,897 --> 00:11:07,130 especially for the junior enlisted . Um 277 00:11:07,140 --> 00:11:09,440 Mr secretary , are you aware of the uh 278 00:11:09,450 --> 00:11:11,506 the strike fighter shortfall that we 279 00:11:11,506 --> 00:11:13,728 have dod wide , but specifically within 280 00:11:13,728 --> 00:11:15,894 the Navy . Um , the challenges that we 281 00:11:15,894 --> 00:11:17,950 have from a number of aircraft per , 282 00:11:17,950 --> 00:11:20,172 per air wing and per aircraft carrier . 283 00:11:21,710 --> 00:11:23,766 Uh What , what I , what I do know is 284 00:11:23,766 --> 00:11:27,549 that uh uh C N O and uh and the 285 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:29,503 Chief of the Air Force continue to 286 00:11:29,503 --> 00:11:32,500 invest in uh in uh fighter capability . 287 00:11:32,510 --> 00:11:34,510 And again , it's gonna take uh uh a 288 00:11:34,510 --> 00:11:37,179 couple of uh Y or several years before 289 00:11:37,190 --> 00:11:39,820 we get up to what they believe is . Uh 290 00:11:39,830 --> 00:11:41,997 Yeah , that's right , meets their full 291 00:11:41,997 --> 00:11:44,163 capacity and I understand there's some 292 00:11:44,163 --> 00:11:45,941 projections where we're , we're 293 00:11:45,941 --> 00:11:48,108 literally two air wings short relative 294 00:11:48,108 --> 00:11:47,429 to the number of aircraft carriers 295 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:49,607 within the , within the navy side . Uh 296 00:11:49,607 --> 00:11:51,940 If and , and I'm sure you're aware this , 297 00:11:51,940 --> 00:11:53,607 this committee as well as our 298 00:11:53,607 --> 00:11:56,369 counterparts in the Senate uh in F Y 22 299 00:11:56,380 --> 00:11:59,690 added 12 Super Hornets uh to the budget 300 00:11:59,700 --> 00:12:02,049 and then an F Y 23 added eight Super 301 00:12:02,059 --> 00:12:04,170 Hornets to the budget . I wasn't sure 302 00:12:04,170 --> 00:12:06,170 if you're aware but those , those , 303 00:12:06,170 --> 00:12:08,115 those jets have yet to be actually 304 00:12:08,115 --> 00:12:10,115 awarded to the prime contractor and 305 00:12:10,115 --> 00:12:12,115 they are actively shutting down not 306 00:12:12,115 --> 00:12:14,170 just their production line but their 307 00:12:14,170 --> 00:12:16,115 entire supply chain . Uh I'm a big 308 00:12:16,115 --> 00:12:18,281 proponent of F-35 , a large portion of 309 00:12:18,281 --> 00:12:20,448 that aircraft is made in my district . 310 00:12:20,448 --> 00:12:22,520 Uh I believe we need capacity uh as 311 00:12:22,530 --> 00:12:24,586 well as the capability . And I think 312 00:12:24,586 --> 00:12:26,808 right , now we are losing as a nation , 313 00:12:26,808 --> 00:12:28,863 one of the critical tools to closing 314 00:12:28,863 --> 00:12:31,030 that strike fighter gap in the form of 315 00:12:31,030 --> 00:12:33,141 the Super Hornet uh production line . 316 00:12:33,141 --> 00:12:35,086 Uh The lawyers are battling it out 317 00:12:35,086 --> 00:12:37,086 right now . Um This is one of those 318 00:12:37,086 --> 00:12:38,863 things that watching it from my 319 00:12:38,863 --> 00:12:40,863 perspective , I'm calling balls and 320 00:12:40,863 --> 00:12:42,863 strikes . I think the government is 321 00:12:42,863 --> 00:12:42,599 overreaching . They're asking for 322 00:12:42,609 --> 00:12:44,559 intellectual property from the 323 00:12:44,570 --> 00:12:46,859 contractor that is different from tech 324 00:12:46,869 --> 00:12:49,719 data packages designed for basic 325 00:12:49,729 --> 00:12:51,951 sustainment and repair . I think we are 326 00:12:51,951 --> 00:12:54,007 overreaching . Uh And this is one of 327 00:12:54,007 --> 00:12:56,007 the things that I think is going to 328 00:12:56,007 --> 00:12:57,951 impact the customer , the customer 329 00:12:57,951 --> 00:13:00,118 being the war fighter and the taxpayer 330 00:13:00,118 --> 00:13:02,340 Uh in the form of 20 jets not being put 331 00:13:02,340 --> 00:13:04,507 on contract . And , and so I would , I 332 00:13:04,507 --> 00:13:06,618 would encourage you to look into that 333 00:13:06,618 --> 00:13:06,580 the , the Navy is actively working this 334 00:13:06,590 --> 00:13:08,701 with the prime contractor right now . 335 00:13:08,820 --> 00:13:10,876 But I think we need some supervision 336 00:13:10,876 --> 00:13:12,931 here and just get the lawyers in the 337 00:13:12,931 --> 00:13:15,098 room to put a , put a kibosh on this , 338 00:13:15,098 --> 00:13:17,264 get a negotiated settlement and figure 339 00:13:17,264 --> 00:13:19,264 out some other means to get that uh 340 00:13:19,264 --> 00:13:21,542 intellectual property . Um And so I'll , 341 00:13:21,542 --> 00:13:23,653 I'll end with the , the question , uh 342 00:13:23,653 --> 00:13:25,820 General Milley , uh you worked in both 343 00:13:25,820 --> 00:13:27,598 administrations , you were very 344 00:13:27,598 --> 00:13:29,431 familiar with the conditional uh 345 00:13:29,431 --> 00:13:31,042 withdrawal , elements of the 346 00:13:31,042 --> 00:13:32,876 Afghanistan um uh con you know , 347 00:13:32,876 --> 00:13:35,119 situation under both administrations . 348 00:13:35,130 --> 00:13:37,559 Um Do you agree with the assertion that 349 00:13:37,570 --> 00:13:40,219 was made earlier in this room that um 350 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:42,631 that the that the debacle , the state 351 00:13:42,631 --> 00:13:44,298 department led debacle out of 352 00:13:44,298 --> 00:13:46,409 Afghanistan and the , the travesty of 353 00:13:46,409 --> 00:13:48,576 Abby Gate , the devastation , uh , the 354 00:13:48,576 --> 00:13:50,576 loss of 13 personnel , uh , was the 355 00:13:50,576 --> 00:13:52,742 fault of the previous administration . 356 00:13:54,820 --> 00:13:56,487 Uh , I , I'm not gonna , uh , 357 00:13:56,487 --> 00:13:58,431 characterize , uh , fault or point 358 00:13:58,431 --> 00:14:00,542 fingers . Uh , I think as we all know 359 00:14:00,542 --> 00:14:03,130 that the , uh , end state was a , uh , 360 00:14:03,140 --> 00:14:05,390 um , you know , a strategic withdrawal 361 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:07,511 and , and when the enemy occupies the 362 00:14:07,511 --> 00:14:09,233 capital of the nation that you 363 00:14:09,233 --> 00:14:11,511 supported , that's a strategic failure . 364 00:14:11,511 --> 00:14:11,510 And there's a lot of lessons to be 365 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:13,687 learned . All of us are learning those 366 00:14:13,687 --> 00:14:15,909 lessons . Uh Both Secretary Ausin and I 367 00:14:15,909 --> 00:14:18,131 have served many years in Afghanistan . 368 00:14:18,131 --> 00:14:20,298 I'm deeply personally invested in it , 369 00:14:20,298 --> 00:14:22,409 uh and psychologically invested in it 370 00:14:22,409 --> 00:14:24,409 and , and I can think of no greater 371 00:14:24,409 --> 00:14:24,289 tragedy than what happened at a gate . 372 00:14:24,599 --> 00:14:28,330 Uh And uh and I have yet uh to , to 373 00:14:28,340 --> 00:14:30,950 fully reconcile myself to that entire 374 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:34,599 affair . Uh So I don't wanna uh point 375 00:14:34,609 --> 00:14:36,831 fingers or anything . Uh The , the what 376 00:14:36,831 --> 00:14:38,998 happened in Afghanistan did not happen 377 00:14:38,998 --> 00:14:41,220 in the last 19 days or even the last 19 378 00:14:41,220 --> 00:14:43,442 months . That was a 20 year war . There 379 00:14:43,442 --> 00:14:45,665 were decisions made all along the way , 380 00:14:45,665 --> 00:14:47,887 uh which culminated in what the outcome 381 00:14:47,887 --> 00:14:49,998 was . And there's many , many lessons 382 00:14:49,998 --> 00:14:52,053 to be learned . Uh And I think we're 383 00:14:52,053 --> 00:14:51,479 just at the beginning of that lessons 384 00:14:51,489 --> 00:14:53,822 learned process , not at the end . Well , 385 00:14:53,822 --> 00:14:55,989 said , thank you for your service . If 386 00:14:55,989 --> 00:14:58,267 I could , I'd like to thank you though , 387 00:14:58,267 --> 00:14:57,510 personally , on behalf of my wife , 388 00:14:57,520 --> 00:14:59,960 really , she's pushed uh , that , uh , 389 00:14:59,969 --> 00:15:02,469 license her , license her uh , um 390 00:15:02,650 --> 00:15:05,559 amendment uh uh significantly for years . 391 00:15:05,570 --> 00:15:07,737 She and many others . Uh , and you and 392 00:15:07,737 --> 00:15:09,848 the president and members of Congress 393 00:15:09,848 --> 00:15:11,959 brought that home . So thank you very 394 00:15:11,959 --> 00:15:10,890 much for that . Thank you , General . I 395 00:15:10,900 --> 00:15:13,159 appreciate it . Thank you . Thank you . 396 00:15:13,489 --> 00:15:16,380 Um Next , uh Mr Kilmer , thank you , 397 00:15:16,390 --> 00:15:18,549 Chairman and uh , thank you both for 398 00:15:18,559 --> 00:15:21,320 being with us today . I'm hoping to get 399 00:15:21,330 --> 00:15:23,979 to two topics . Uh first , um as you 400 00:15:23,989 --> 00:15:25,989 both know , changes to the military 401 00:15:25,989 --> 00:15:27,711 health system have resulted in 402 00:15:27,799 --> 00:15:29,780 downsizing at several military 403 00:15:29,789 --> 00:15:31,956 treatment facilities , including naval 404 00:15:31,956 --> 00:15:34,122 hospital , Bremerton in my neck of the 405 00:15:34,122 --> 00:15:36,178 woods , um which recently closed its 406 00:15:36,178 --> 00:15:38,233 emergency and its labor and delivery 407 00:15:38,233 --> 00:15:40,039 departments . Uh Prior to that 408 00:15:40,049 --> 00:15:42,539 downsizing our area already had uh 409 00:15:42,549 --> 00:15:44,969 challenges , accessing care had been 410 00:15:45,010 --> 00:15:47,177 identified by the Department of Health 411 00:15:47,177 --> 00:15:49,343 and Human Services as a high risk area 412 00:15:49,343 --> 00:15:51,880 and a health shortage area . We raised 413 00:15:51,890 --> 00:15:53,723 concerns about this prior to the 414 00:15:53,723 --> 00:15:55,580 downsizing because of that . And 415 00:15:55,590 --> 00:15:58,049 unfortunately , the um closures have 416 00:15:58,059 --> 00:16:00,969 had a real impact on our region and on 417 00:16:00,979 --> 00:16:04,530 service members . Um I really think 418 00:16:04,539 --> 00:16:06,750 that the uh that the network analysis 419 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:09,340 that was done was really off . Uh the 420 00:16:09,349 --> 00:16:12,400 hiring goals were really off and 421 00:16:13,799 --> 00:16:15,632 this isn't sort of a theoretical 422 00:16:15,632 --> 00:16:17,632 conversation . We did a round table 423 00:16:17,632 --> 00:16:19,743 with submariners in our area who have 424 00:16:19,743 --> 00:16:21,466 been unable to receive routine 425 00:16:21,466 --> 00:16:23,410 screenings uh or medical care that 426 00:16:23,410 --> 00:16:25,880 impacts fleet readiness I met with a 427 00:16:25,890 --> 00:16:28,340 pregnant sailor who due to downsizing 428 00:16:28,349 --> 00:16:30,460 at the naval hospital , was forced to 429 00:16:30,460 --> 00:16:32,739 go to a local hospital . Um waited 430 00:16:32,750 --> 00:16:35,030 eight hours uh in the emergency room , 431 00:16:35,039 --> 00:16:37,539 uh sorry in the waiting room and uh 432 00:16:37,549 --> 00:16:39,909 ultimately miscarried in their waiting 433 00:16:39,919 --> 00:16:42,369 room and these aren't isolated in 434 00:16:42,380 --> 00:16:44,213 influence . I bring this to your 435 00:16:44,213 --> 00:16:46,436 attention because after several letters 436 00:16:46,436 --> 00:16:48,269 and questioning and hearings and 437 00:16:48,269 --> 00:16:50,324 meetings with the head of DH A where 438 00:16:50,324 --> 00:16:52,436 we've emphasized the inability of the 439 00:16:52,436 --> 00:16:54,491 network to handle the burdens of the 440 00:16:54,491 --> 00:16:56,547 clo closures at the Naval Hospital , 441 00:16:56,547 --> 00:16:58,436 the concerns of my community just 442 00:16:58,436 --> 00:16:58,270 aren't being heard . And so I wanna 443 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:01,229 raise this again and ask you if dod can 444 00:17:01,239 --> 00:17:03,469 direct DH A to review some of that 445 00:17:03,479 --> 00:17:05,729 downsizing in underserved areas like 446 00:17:05,739 --> 00:17:08,649 Kitsap County . I wanna ask you what 447 00:17:08,659 --> 00:17:11,029 tools are in place to reassign military 448 00:17:11,038 --> 00:17:13,239 and civilian providers to areas where 449 00:17:13,249 --> 00:17:14,860 there has been a significant 450 00:17:14,860 --> 00:17:17,149 degradation in care that is impacting 451 00:17:17,159 --> 00:17:19,548 folks in uniform . And I wanna know if 452 00:17:19,558 --> 00:17:21,725 there's any plan to reassign providers 453 00:17:21,725 --> 00:17:23,780 to areas like Kitsap County where we 454 00:17:23,780 --> 00:17:25,780 have seen a significant and frankly 455 00:17:25,780 --> 00:17:27,614 dangerous decline in health care 456 00:17:27,614 --> 00:17:30,750 quality for service members . Well , 457 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:32,760 well , thank you , sir . I , I just 458 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:34,871 like to start by saying , um , uh the 459 00:17:35,020 --> 00:17:36,964 health and welfare of the force is 460 00:17:36,964 --> 00:17:39,131 extremely important to me and I really 461 00:17:39,131 --> 00:17:41,131 appreciate all your support and the 462 00:17:41,131 --> 00:17:44,459 support of Congress um over the years . 463 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:48,260 Um We continue to 464 00:17:48,270 --> 00:17:51,189 follow uh congressional intent uh to , 465 00:17:51,229 --> 00:17:54,660 as you know , we uh we were mandated to 466 00:17:54,670 --> 00:17:56,920 uh consolidate military health care 467 00:17:56,930 --> 00:17:59,097 under DH A . And of course , there are 468 00:17:59,097 --> 00:18:01,263 decisions that have to be made there . 469 00:18:01,263 --> 00:18:03,541 And since that decision was , was made , 470 00:18:03,541 --> 00:18:05,319 uh you know , we faced a global 471 00:18:05,319 --> 00:18:07,486 pandemic that put uh that put pressure 472 00:18:07,486 --> 00:18:10,599 on uh on , on the workforce across 473 00:18:10,609 --> 00:18:12,776 America , the medical workforce across 474 00:18:12,776 --> 00:18:14,831 America . And so it made it uh a bit 475 00:18:14,831 --> 00:18:17,109 more difficult to uh to do some things . 476 00:18:17,260 --> 00:18:19,316 And so we're facing some of the same 477 00:18:19,316 --> 00:18:21,579 challenges that uh that the medical 478 00:18:21,589 --> 00:18:23,645 community community across the , the 479 00:18:23,645 --> 00:18:26,729 country are facing . Um But what we're 480 00:18:26,739 --> 00:18:28,739 doing about it is we're trying to 481 00:18:28,750 --> 00:18:30,619 utilize a variety of tools and 482 00:18:30,630 --> 00:18:34,300 including uh direct hiring authorities . 483 00:18:34,310 --> 00:18:37,859 Uh We're uh exploring bonuses 484 00:18:37,869 --> 00:18:40,859 and uh and incentives uh to hire to , 485 00:18:40,869 --> 00:18:43,619 to , to get the right talent in uh to , 486 00:18:43,630 --> 00:18:45,741 to fill the vacancies that , that you 487 00:18:45,741 --> 00:18:48,180 mentioned . And I will , I will ask uh 488 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:51,020 uh our new DH a leader to come in and , 489 00:18:51,030 --> 00:18:53,141 and sit down with you and , and , and 490 00:18:53,141 --> 00:18:55,500 brief you specifically on Bremerton and 491 00:18:55,510 --> 00:18:57,732 uh and what the cha what our challenges 492 00:18:57,732 --> 00:19:00,010 are and what we're doing about it . So , 493 00:19:00,010 --> 00:19:02,010 secretary , if I could make a quick 494 00:19:02,010 --> 00:19:04,288 comment , let go ahead on that . Um In , 495 00:19:04,288 --> 00:19:06,566 in , in my travels around the military . 496 00:19:06,566 --> 00:19:08,621 Uh The , the number one topic that I 497 00:19:08,621 --> 00:19:10,843 get in terms of life is the health care 498 00:19:10,843 --> 00:19:12,899 system . I was chief of staff of the 499 00:19:12,899 --> 00:19:15,121 army , uh uh you know , 3.5 years ago . 500 00:19:15,121 --> 00:19:17,343 Uh in my first year , this was an issue 501 00:19:17,343 --> 00:19:19,343 and we were asked as Chiefs at that 502 00:19:19,343 --> 00:19:21,343 time , um to write an assessment of 503 00:19:21,343 --> 00:19:23,510 what we thought of the congressionally 504 00:19:23,510 --> 00:19:25,454 mandated consolidation at the DH A 505 00:19:25,454 --> 00:19:27,621 every one of the Chiefs at that time . 506 00:19:27,621 --> 00:19:29,621 As I recall , we wrote that this is 507 00:19:29,621 --> 00:19:31,843 gonna result in significant risk . What 508 00:19:31,843 --> 00:19:31,400 we're seeing today , seven years later , 509 00:19:31,410 --> 00:19:33,632 eight years later , uh is the fraying , 510 00:19:33,632 --> 00:19:35,799 it's not broken , but we're seeing the 511 00:19:35,799 --> 00:19:37,743 fraying of the defense health care 512 00:19:37,743 --> 00:19:39,799 system , which is one of the biggest 513 00:19:39,799 --> 00:19:39,439 health care systems in America . And , 514 00:19:39,449 --> 00:19:41,282 and that's really caused for the 515 00:19:41,282 --> 00:19:43,393 concern and it's the number one issue 516 00:19:43,393 --> 00:19:45,282 that's on a lot of solder sales , 517 00:19:45,282 --> 00:19:47,227 airmen , marines , mines and their 518 00:19:47,227 --> 00:19:46,780 families . It's a big deal . I , I , I 519 00:19:46,790 --> 00:19:49,250 think acknowledging that we are seeing 520 00:19:49,260 --> 00:19:51,770 that we are seeing that in our area and 521 00:19:51,780 --> 00:19:54,040 I , I just , I , I , I plea with you to 522 00:19:54,050 --> 00:19:56,217 take a look at what's happening in our 523 00:19:56,217 --> 00:19:58,400 region to look at the impact on 524 00:19:58,410 --> 00:20:00,920 readiness um on sailors and on their 525 00:20:00,930 --> 00:20:03,859 families . Uh because I , I , I don't , 526 00:20:03,869 --> 00:20:06,459 you know , sitting sitting across from 527 00:20:06,469 --> 00:20:08,580 a sailor who miscarried after waiting 528 00:20:08,580 --> 00:20:10,691 for eight hours to get care like this 529 00:20:10,691 --> 00:20:12,913 is just not acceptable and we've got to 530 00:20:12,913 --> 00:20:14,802 do better for these folks who are 531 00:20:14,802 --> 00:20:16,969 stepping up for our country . So thank 532 00:20:16,969 --> 00:20:19,136 you chairman , I go back . Right . I , 533 00:20:19,136 --> 00:20:21,191 and I agree with the gentleman we uh 534 00:20:21,191 --> 00:20:23,302 need to do a deep , deep dive on that 535 00:20:23,302 --> 00:20:25,302 and see what's uh what we can do to 536 00:20:25,302 --> 00:20:27,413 improve this immediately . Uh Next uh 537 00:20:27,413 --> 00:20:30,050 Mr Diaz Balart , thank you very much uh 538 00:20:30,060 --> 00:20:32,630 Mr Chairman . I , before my question , 539 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:34,862 Mr Secretary , you mentioned South um a 540 00:20:34,862 --> 00:20:37,530 little while ago and uh one of the 541 00:20:37,540 --> 00:20:39,890 things that is crucial to them uh is 542 00:20:39,900 --> 00:20:41,956 the Security Cooperation Agreement , 543 00:20:41,956 --> 00:20:43,622 something that I've been very 544 00:20:43,622 --> 00:20:45,844 supportive , there's $200 million there 545 00:20:45,844 --> 00:20:47,844 and , and uh I just wanna make sure 546 00:20:47,844 --> 00:20:50,011 that , that it's on your radar because 547 00:20:50,011 --> 00:20:52,289 it's $200 million for South and Africa . 548 00:20:52,289 --> 00:20:54,511 And I just wanna make sure that uh in a 549 00:20:54,511 --> 00:20:56,622 region that is , you know , not , not 550 00:20:56,622 --> 00:20:55,770 many good things are happening in this 551 00:20:55,780 --> 00:20:57,780 region right now in this hemisphere 552 00:20:57,780 --> 00:20:59,650 that south comm has uh has the 553 00:20:59,660 --> 00:21:02,170 resources it needs . Uh And , and as 554 00:21:02,180 --> 00:21:04,180 you well know , South comm not only 555 00:21:04,180 --> 00:21:06,124 does , you know , kind of like the 556 00:21:06,124 --> 00:21:07,902 regular mission , but they also 557 00:21:07,902 --> 00:21:09,902 literally are saving American lives 558 00:21:09,902 --> 00:21:09,739 through their in interdiction uh 559 00:21:09,750 --> 00:21:11,972 program . So I just just wanted to flag 560 00:21:11,972 --> 00:21:14,139 that uh for you and , and if you could 561 00:21:14,139 --> 00:21:16,306 take a look at it to make sure that it 562 00:21:16,306 --> 00:21:15,900 doesn't fall through the cracks and 563 00:21:15,910 --> 00:21:18,250 that South comm is not kind of uh 564 00:21:18,260 --> 00:21:20,593 ignored there , I would appreciate that . 565 00:21:20,593 --> 00:21:23,599 Uh is , you know , there's been a lot 566 00:21:23,609 --> 00:21:25,331 of conversation about this leg 567 00:21:25,331 --> 00:21:27,387 potential legislation to auction off 568 00:21:27,387 --> 00:21:29,498 the lower three uh gigahertz spectrum 569 00:21:29,498 --> 00:21:32,880 band , which obviously the dod uses for 570 00:21:32,890 --> 00:21:34,890 you know , important missions . And 571 00:21:34,890 --> 00:21:36,946 Secretary Austin and the uh Commerce 572 00:21:36,946 --> 00:21:39,112 Secretary sent a letter endorsing this 573 00:21:39,112 --> 00:21:41,168 agreement while the director of , of 574 00:21:41,168 --> 00:21:43,670 joint staff signed a formal non concur 575 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:46,609 memo . So Mr Chairman , what in your 576 00:21:46,619 --> 00:21:50,500 view , uh what is 577 00:21:50,510 --> 00:21:52,566 your view about potentially vacating 578 00:21:52,566 --> 00:21:54,788 the spectrum and what risks potentially 579 00:21:54,788 --> 00:21:56,930 could it pose to national security if 580 00:21:56,939 --> 00:22:00,739 any ? So I 581 00:22:00,750 --> 00:22:03,050 just uh just wanna make sure uh 582 00:22:04,310 --> 00:22:07,800 that uh you know , where , where we are 583 00:22:07,810 --> 00:22:11,619 with this is , is uh understood it . 584 00:22:12,380 --> 00:22:15,069 I , I , I convey where we are uh in , 585 00:22:15,079 --> 00:22:19,010 in terms of what we've done . Uh First 586 00:22:19,020 --> 00:22:21,680 of all , I support sharing the spectrum 587 00:22:21,689 --> 00:22:23,467 of pieces of the spectrum where 588 00:22:23,467 --> 00:22:26,819 appropriate . Uh I do not support , I 589 00:22:26,829 --> 00:22:29,229 do not support putting our , our uh 590 00:22:29,239 --> 00:22:31,461 national security at risk . And to your 591 00:22:31,461 --> 00:22:33,770 point , uh there are , there are 592 00:22:33,780 --> 00:22:36,130 platforms and capabilities that we use 593 00:22:36,140 --> 00:22:39,400 and we need that employ uh uh uh 594 00:22:39,819 --> 00:22:42,689 pieces of that spectrum . And , and so 595 00:22:42,699 --> 00:22:44,643 what we're doing now is that we're 596 00:22:44,643 --> 00:22:46,866 conducting a study to make sure that we 597 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:48,976 account for everything and once that 598 00:22:48,976 --> 00:22:50,864 study is done , then we'll make a 599 00:22:50,864 --> 00:22:53,520 recommendation to the president . But 600 00:22:53,530 --> 00:22:56,060 uh but just to be clear , I , I have 601 00:22:56,069 --> 00:22:59,459 not agreed to uh auction off that piece 602 00:22:59,469 --> 00:23:01,770 of the spectrum that we need to uh uh 603 00:23:01,780 --> 00:23:04,890 to , to be uh to effectively protect 604 00:23:04,900 --> 00:23:07,067 the homeland or conduct our operations 605 00:23:07,067 --> 00:23:09,520 all together . I , I don't know if uh 606 00:23:09,530 --> 00:23:11,863 Mr Chairman , you wanna , you wanna the , 607 00:23:11,863 --> 00:23:13,919 the potential risk if there is any . 608 00:23:13,919 --> 00:23:16,141 But yeah , there is risk . The um first 609 00:23:16,141 --> 00:23:18,363 of all , I I , I'm waiting of the , the 610 00:23:18,363 --> 00:23:20,586 uh memorandums that you , you mentioned 611 00:23:20,586 --> 00:23:24,569 uh I concur that we need to wait 612 00:23:24,579 --> 00:23:26,746 until there's a study complete , which 613 00:23:26,746 --> 00:23:28,968 is due end in September . And therefore 614 00:23:28,968 --> 00:23:31,023 you make a fully informed decision , 615 00:23:31,050 --> 00:23:33,272 making a decision , right ? This second 616 00:23:33,272 --> 00:23:35,680 is probably not a good idea . Um And I 617 00:23:35,689 --> 00:23:37,689 concur that it needs to be shared . 618 00:23:37,689 --> 00:23:39,856 Sure , no problem sharing the issue is 619 00:23:39,856 --> 00:23:41,967 how to do that . Uh And we need to do 620 00:23:41,967 --> 00:23:44,180 that in a way that doesn't jeopardize 621 00:23:44,189 --> 00:23:46,300 national security . And , and what we 622 00:23:46,300 --> 00:23:48,949 can't do is vacate the spectrum sharing 623 00:23:48,959 --> 00:23:51,070 it fair enough if we can figure out a 624 00:23:51,070 --> 00:23:52,903 way to do that correctly without 625 00:23:52,903 --> 00:23:55,070 placing national security at risk . Uh 626 00:23:55,070 --> 00:23:57,292 If we were to vacate it , if we were to 627 00:23:57,292 --> 00:23:57,069 give up that piece of the spectrum , it 628 00:23:57,079 --> 00:23:59,489 would have a significant huge impact on 629 00:23:59,500 --> 00:24:01,667 our ability to protect North America , 630 00:24:01,667 --> 00:24:03,889 our ability to protect the Pacific or , 631 00:24:03,889 --> 00:24:06,056 or Europe or anywhere else . Uh That's 632 00:24:06,056 --> 00:24:08,111 the , that is the uh uh the , the uh 633 00:24:08,111 --> 00:24:10,167 part of the spectrum that we use for 634 00:24:10,167 --> 00:24:12,389 radars and communications and our ships 635 00:24:12,389 --> 00:24:14,611 and navigation and so on and so forth . 636 00:24:14,611 --> 00:24:16,722 So , um it , it , it wouldn't be good 637 00:24:16,722 --> 00:24:18,722 if we didn't have access to that uh 638 00:24:18,722 --> 00:24:20,722 part of the spectrum . So there's a 639 00:24:20,722 --> 00:24:22,778 study ongoing . That study is due in 640 00:24:22,778 --> 00:24:24,889 September . I would caution everybody 641 00:24:24,889 --> 00:24:26,944 just wait until the study's done and 642 00:24:26,944 --> 00:24:29,000 then move out . Second point is when 643 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:31,167 that study is complete . I or whomever 644 00:24:31,167 --> 00:24:33,278 is the chairman at the time are , are 645 00:24:33,278 --> 00:24:35,000 required to render or , or our 646 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:37,222 recommendation was to the secretary and 647 00:24:37,222 --> 00:24:39,167 he , he agrees with it is that the 648 00:24:39,167 --> 00:24:40,833 secretary and I rec uh make a 649 00:24:40,833 --> 00:24:42,944 independent recommendation in writing 650 00:24:42,944 --> 00:24:44,889 to the president so he can make an 651 00:24:44,889 --> 00:24:47,056 informed decision . And I think that's 652 00:24:47,056 --> 00:24:49,222 the proper way to head . Good . No , I 653 00:24:49,222 --> 00:24:49,180 appreciate that and I don't have a lot 654 00:24:49,189 --> 00:24:51,356 of time . So I don't know if I'm gonna 655 00:24:51,356 --> 00:24:53,578 get an answer on this . But , but , you 656 00:24:53,578 --> 00:24:52,930 know , obviously , I think it's 657 00:24:52,939 --> 00:24:54,939 important to defeat Putin uh in the 658 00:24:54,939 --> 00:24:58,150 Ukraine . Um but as the chairman said , 659 00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:00,382 you know , the days of blank checks are 660 00:25:00,382 --> 00:25:02,604 over . And so I think one of the things 661 00:25:02,604 --> 00:25:04,604 that would be helpful is if we knew 662 00:25:04,604 --> 00:25:06,680 what the strategic end state is in 663 00:25:06,689 --> 00:25:09,280 Ukraine and , and if you , you know , 664 00:25:09,290 --> 00:25:11,290 not a lot of time , but it would be 665 00:25:11,290 --> 00:25:14,310 helpful . The , the president was very 666 00:25:14,319 --> 00:25:16,520 clear actually , uh with the strategic 667 00:25:16,530 --> 00:25:18,752 end state at the very beginning of this 668 00:25:18,752 --> 00:25:20,586 thing , he said it to myself and 669 00:25:20,586 --> 00:25:20,329 secretary also to many others . He's 670 00:25:20,339 --> 00:25:22,829 also said it many , many times uh in 671 00:25:22,839 --> 00:25:25,061 public forums in his speeches . Uh It's 672 00:25:25,061 --> 00:25:27,172 very clear the strategic end state is 673 00:25:27,172 --> 00:25:29,228 the global rules based international 674 00:25:29,228 --> 00:25:31,395 order that was put in place in 1945 is 675 00:25:31,395 --> 00:25:33,450 upheld . How do you do that ? How do 676 00:25:33,450 --> 00:25:32,880 you know , you've achieved that end 677 00:25:32,890 --> 00:25:35,112 state , you achieve that end state when 678 00:25:35,112 --> 00:25:36,946 Ukraine remains a free sovereign 679 00:25:36,946 --> 00:25:39,001 independent country with a territory 680 00:25:39,001 --> 00:25:41,168 intact . Uh And , and , and then , you 681 00:25:41,168 --> 00:25:43,168 know , the rules base was upheld if 682 00:25:43,168 --> 00:25:45,223 that rules based order , which is in 683 00:25:45,223 --> 00:25:47,279 its 80th year . If that goes out the 684 00:25:47,279 --> 00:25:49,390 window and be very careful , we'll be 685 00:25:49,390 --> 00:25:51,446 doubling our defense budgets at that 686 00:25:51,446 --> 00:25:53,612 point . Uh because that will introduce 687 00:25:53,612 --> 00:25:55,723 not an era of great power competition 688 00:25:55,723 --> 00:25:57,834 that will begin an era of great power 689 00:25:57,834 --> 00:26:00,057 conflict and that'll be extraordinarily 690 00:26:00,057 --> 00:26:02,279 dangerous for the whole world . Ukraine 691 00:26:02,279 --> 00:26:04,223 is , is a fight for Ukraine that's 692 00:26:04,223 --> 00:26:04,050 existential for Ukraine . But for the 693 00:26:04,060 --> 00:26:06,060 rest of us , it's a much bigger and 694 00:26:06,060 --> 00:26:08,004 important national interest that's 695 00:26:08,004 --> 00:26:10,260 fundamental to the United States , to 696 00:26:10,270 --> 00:26:12,560 Europe and global security . Thank you , 697 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:15,829 Chairman . Thank you , Mr Joyce . I 698 00:26:15,839 --> 00:26:19,040 told her , Mr Mr Joyce . 699 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:24,060 It uh thank you uh uh 700 00:26:24,250 --> 00:26:27,069 Mr Chairman . Appreciate it , gentlemen . 701 00:26:27,079 --> 00:26:28,968 Thank you for your service to our 702 00:26:28,968 --> 00:26:31,135 country and for being here today , the 703 00:26:31,135 --> 00:26:33,079 United States has a vested natural 704 00:26:33,079 --> 00:26:35,190 national security interests in taking 705 00:26:35,190 --> 00:26:36,857 decisive action to reduce our 706 00:26:36,857 --> 00:26:39,079 dependence upon China , particularly as 707 00:26:39,079 --> 00:26:41,135 it relates to military readiness . I 708 00:26:41,135 --> 00:26:43,079 have concerns that our military is 709 00:26:43,079 --> 00:26:45,246 dangerously relying upon China when it 710 00:26:45,246 --> 00:26:47,357 comes to procuring raw materials like 711 00:26:47,357 --> 00:26:49,357 plastic and rubber that our defense 712 00:26:49,357 --> 00:26:49,050 industrial base needs to produce 713 00:26:49,060 --> 00:26:51,282 defense articles . We must have a whole 714 00:26:51,282 --> 00:26:53,640 of government strategy in place to free 715 00:26:53,650 --> 00:26:56,040 our military from relying upon goods 716 00:26:56,050 --> 00:26:58,161 coming from communist China . As soon 717 00:26:58,161 --> 00:27:00,130 as physically possible in F Y 23 718 00:27:00,140 --> 00:27:02,307 defense appropriation bill . I work to 719 00:27:02,307 --> 00:27:04,140 include language , directing the 720 00:27:04,140 --> 00:27:06,362 Department of Defense to issue a report 721 00:27:06,362 --> 00:27:08,529 outlining the department's increase of 722 00:27:08,529 --> 00:27:10,362 domestic sourcing of plastic and 723 00:27:10,362 --> 00:27:12,696 plastic alternatives . Secretary Austin , 724 00:27:12,696 --> 00:27:14,862 do you have an update on the status of 725 00:27:14,862 --> 00:27:16,973 this report and expectation when this 726 00:27:16,973 --> 00:27:16,319 report will be made available to 727 00:27:16,329 --> 00:27:17,329 Congress ? 728 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:23,382 I'm sorry , sir . I missed uh missed an 729 00:27:23,382 --> 00:27:26,469 increase from uh the production of 730 00:27:26,479 --> 00:27:28,489 plastic , uh domestic sourcing of 731 00:27:28,500 --> 00:27:31,290 plastic or plastic uh alternatives for 732 00:27:31,300 --> 00:27:34,069 the defense industry . I'll take that 733 00:27:34,079 --> 00:27:36,190 question for the record , sir and get 734 00:27:36,190 --> 00:27:38,357 back to you . But I would like to tell 735 00:27:38,357 --> 00:27:38,000 you some of the things that we are 736 00:27:38,010 --> 00:27:40,810 doing uh along along the lines of uh 737 00:27:40,819 --> 00:27:43,630 strengthening our supply chains and 738 00:27:43,640 --> 00:27:46,310 making sure that we onshore capability 739 00:27:46,319 --> 00:27:48,541 because I absolutely agree with you and 740 00:27:48,541 --> 00:27:50,708 this needs to be a whole of government 741 00:27:50,708 --> 00:27:52,875 effort . I want to thank you and , and 742 00:27:52,875 --> 00:27:54,930 the rest of Congress for what you've 743 00:27:54,930 --> 00:27:57,152 done for the chips uh in support of the 744 00:27:57,152 --> 00:27:58,986 Chips Act . Uh I think that'll , 745 00:27:58,986 --> 00:28:00,652 that'll make a , a really big 746 00:28:00,652 --> 00:28:02,819 difference . Uh in this budget , we're 747 00:28:02,819 --> 00:28:04,930 asking you for $2.6 billion to invest 748 00:28:04,930 --> 00:28:07,300 in micro , micro electronics . Uh We're 749 00:28:07,310 --> 00:28:09,439 investing 100 and $25 million in 750 00:28:09,449 --> 00:28:11,505 batteries and electronics . Uh We're 751 00:28:11,505 --> 00:28:13,819 going after critical minerals and , and 752 00:28:13,839 --> 00:28:16,060 uh you know , I've asked for $253 753 00:28:16,069 --> 00:28:18,650 million to be focused on that as well . 754 00:28:18,890 --> 00:28:21,619 Uh so , and things like casting and 755 00:28:21,630 --> 00:28:24,560 forging uh $177 million dollars for , 756 00:28:24,569 --> 00:28:26,869 for that . So , I , I absolutely agree 757 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:28,991 with you , sir , that we have to do a 758 00:28:28,991 --> 00:28:32,339 lot to make sure that we can , uh we 759 00:28:32,349 --> 00:28:34,627 have independence , we , you know , we , 760 00:28:34,627 --> 00:28:37,060 we can trust our supply chains and uh 761 00:28:37,069 --> 00:28:39,069 and so we're gonna continue to work 762 00:28:39,069 --> 00:28:41,125 with the industry to do that . Thank 763 00:28:41,125 --> 00:28:43,013 you very much , secretary . I was 764 00:28:43,013 --> 00:28:42,439 pleased to read that the Biden 765 00:28:42,449 --> 00:28:44,560 administration is working to expedite 766 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:47,560 the delivery of 31 Abrams tanks to our 767 00:28:47,569 --> 00:28:49,800 allies in Ukraine , the rival which 768 00:28:49,810 --> 00:28:52,032 will undoubtedly provide the Ukrainians 769 00:28:52,032 --> 00:28:54,032 with a technological advantage over 770 00:28:54,032 --> 00:28:55,977 their Russian counterparts . I was 771 00:28:55,977 --> 00:28:57,921 disappointed however , to find the 772 00:28:57,921 --> 00:28:57,819 president's budget including funding 773 00:28:57,829 --> 00:29:00,770 for 34 Abraham tanks , uh just three 774 00:29:00,780 --> 00:29:02,502 more than we're sending to the 775 00:29:02,502 --> 00:29:04,669 Ukrainians . This reduction in funding 776 00:29:04,669 --> 00:29:06,891 is a concerning departure from previous 777 00:29:06,891 --> 00:29:09,002 years in which Congress has indicated 778 00:29:09,002 --> 00:29:11,169 continued support , funding for a full 779 00:29:11,169 --> 00:29:13,169 battalion of tanks . Uh This is for 780 00:29:13,169 --> 00:29:15,391 either of you gentlemen . Uh You know , 781 00:29:15,391 --> 00:29:17,558 if considering a commitment we made to 782 00:29:17,558 --> 00:29:19,669 Ukraine in regards to transfer of the 783 00:29:19,669 --> 00:29:21,891 Abrams Tanks , can you offer insight uh 784 00:29:21,891 --> 00:29:23,891 to explain the justification behind 785 00:29:23,891 --> 00:29:27,109 this reduction in funding ? We , we're 786 00:29:27,119 --> 00:29:29,660 actually funding a , a bat a Ukrainian 787 00:29:29,670 --> 00:29:31,837 battalion of tanks , uh which is why , 788 00:29:31,837 --> 00:29:33,900 which is reflects the number that , 789 00:29:33,910 --> 00:29:36,849 that you've seen . Uh Sir , we've heard 790 00:29:36,859 --> 00:29:39,081 at length about the need to bolster the 791 00:29:39,081 --> 00:29:41,420 military industrial supply base . Could 792 00:29:41,430 --> 00:29:43,486 a reduction in funding for the tanks 793 00:29:43,486 --> 00:29:45,819 program , not make it more difficult to , 794 00:29:45,819 --> 00:29:48,041 to make sure we have the supply base uh 795 00:29:48,041 --> 00:29:50,208 to effectively scale up production for 796 00:29:50,208 --> 00:29:52,152 this and future needs . Uh So what 797 00:29:52,152 --> 00:29:54,152 we'll do for these tanks that we're 798 00:29:54,152 --> 00:29:56,208 providing to Ukraine , if that's the 799 00:29:56,208 --> 00:29:58,374 question is that we're , we'll , we're 800 00:29:58,374 --> 00:30:00,486 taking tanks , tanks out of our stock 801 00:30:00,486 --> 00:30:02,486 and re rebuilding those tanks uh so 802 00:30:02,486 --> 00:30:05,209 that they are exportable and uh and so 803 00:30:05,430 --> 00:30:07,652 that actually will come out of drawdown 804 00:30:07,652 --> 00:30:10,959 versus uh new purchase . But I , I 805 00:30:10,969 --> 00:30:13,025 understand and appreciate that . But 806 00:30:13,025 --> 00:30:15,080 are we not securing new tanks in the 807 00:30:15,080 --> 00:30:18,510 process from the supply chain uh here 808 00:30:18,520 --> 00:30:21,770 in America because it was a reduction 809 00:30:21,780 --> 00:30:23,947 from the amount that were authorized , 810 00:30:23,947 --> 00:30:26,224 there are just not at the rates . Uh I , 811 00:30:26,224 --> 00:30:28,224 I'll have to go back and check with 812 00:30:28,224 --> 00:30:30,391 General mcconnell and the army staff . 813 00:30:30,391 --> 00:30:32,447 But uh the uh the , the tank plan at 814 00:30:32,447 --> 00:30:34,447 Ohio is continuing its operations . 815 00:30:34,447 --> 00:30:36,558 It's not being shut down and , and if 816 00:30:36,558 --> 00:30:38,891 you have information is being shut down , 817 00:30:38,891 --> 00:30:40,947 that would be new news to me . The , 818 00:30:40,947 --> 00:30:40,670 the tank production line is gonna be 819 00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:42,847 kept open . It is necessary to keep it 820 00:30:42,847 --> 00:30:44,902 open . Uh It's a unique thing . It's 821 00:30:44,902 --> 00:30:47,124 not , aren't produced in the commercial 822 00:30:47,124 --> 00:30:49,291 world . So we've got to keep that line 823 00:30:49,291 --> 00:30:51,402 open because tanks , although there's 824 00:30:51,402 --> 00:30:53,736 gonna be a future operating environment , 825 00:30:53,736 --> 00:30:55,958 uh you're gonna have uh introduction of 826 00:30:55,958 --> 00:30:55,064 robotics , you're gonna have all kinds 827 00:30:55,074 --> 00:30:57,018 of other things in the future with 828 00:30:57,018 --> 00:30:59,130 artificial intelligence and so on and 829 00:30:59,130 --> 00:31:01,130 so forth . But tanks have value and 830 00:31:01,130 --> 00:31:00,785 they have value today and you're seeing 831 00:31:00,795 --> 00:31:02,962 it right , play out in the Ukraine and 832 00:31:02,962 --> 00:31:04,962 they're gonna have value for many , 833 00:31:04,962 --> 00:31:07,017 many years to come . Uh , so I don't 834 00:31:07,017 --> 00:31:09,073 know of any intent to shut down that 835 00:31:09,073 --> 00:31:11,295 liar Ohio Tank production line . Well , 836 00:31:11,295 --> 00:31:13,462 uh , I didn't mean to bring it up as a 837 00:31:13,462 --> 00:31:15,628 Buckeye thing but the , the , the fact 838 00:31:15,628 --> 00:31:17,739 that , uh , we're actually slowing it 839 00:31:17,739 --> 00:31:19,851 down as you know , uh the , the , the 840 00:31:19,851 --> 00:31:22,017 problem with that is that you have the 841 00:31:22,017 --> 00:31:21,810 pieces and parts and mom and pop people 842 00:31:21,819 --> 00:31:24,089 who produce on that supply line . And 843 00:31:24,099 --> 00:31:26,380 if there's slowing down or being shut 844 00:31:26,390 --> 00:31:28,560 down because we're not doing that , 845 00:31:28,780 --> 00:31:31,058 that slows down our ability to ramp up . 846 00:31:31,058 --> 00:31:33,699 God forbid the need be uh thank you for 847 00:31:33,709 --> 00:31:35,709 your uh answers . I look forward to 848 00:31:35,709 --> 00:31:37,765 getting a copy of that report soon . 849 00:31:37,765 --> 00:31:40,410 Secretary and uh you'll back . Thank 850 00:31:40,420 --> 00:31:43,930 you , gentlemen , Mr Aguilar . Thank 851 00:31:43,939 --> 00:31:46,239 you , Mr Chairman General Milley . I 852 00:31:46,250 --> 00:31:49,400 wanted to , to start where some of my 853 00:31:49,410 --> 00:31:51,500 colleagues have in , in thanking you 854 00:31:51,510 --> 00:31:53,890 for your service , but specifically , 855 00:31:54,640 --> 00:31:56,810 uh for your testimony and honesty . 856 00:31:56,819 --> 00:31:58,708 When you sat with the January 6th 857 00:31:58,709 --> 00:32:01,060 Committee , your commitment to the 858 00:32:01,069 --> 00:32:03,479 truth , your , your honesty and 859 00:32:03,489 --> 00:32:07,089 availability uh is only matched by your 860 00:32:07,099 --> 00:32:09,266 commitment to protecting our democracy 861 00:32:09,266 --> 00:32:11,488 and protecting this country . So I just 862 00:32:11,488 --> 00:32:14,780 wanted to thank you for that . Um I 863 00:32:14,810 --> 00:32:17,910 wanted to also echo the concerns that 864 00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:20,087 ranking member Delo and Representative 865 00:32:20,229 --> 00:32:23,500 Ruger said about some of the cuts in 866 00:32:23,510 --> 00:32:25,510 defense spending and how they would 867 00:32:25,510 --> 00:32:27,732 negatively impact our national security 868 00:32:27,732 --> 00:32:29,677 general . How could a reduction in 869 00:32:29,677 --> 00:32:31,899 military funding impact the joint force 870 00:32:31,899 --> 00:32:33,899 and our ability to provide credible 871 00:32:33,899 --> 00:32:35,630 deterrent specifically to pr C 872 00:32:35,640 --> 00:32:39,520 activities in the Indo Pacific ? Um It , 873 00:32:39,530 --> 00:32:41,808 it would impact several different ways . 874 00:32:41,808 --> 00:32:43,863 Uh If you think of the domains uh of 875 00:32:43,863 --> 00:32:46,030 space , cyber , land , sea and air and 876 00:32:46,030 --> 00:32:48,086 under sea . Uh Right now , we've got 877 00:32:48,086 --> 00:32:50,030 roughly speaking about 100 120,000 878 00:32:50,030 --> 00:32:52,030 troops uh west of the International 879 00:32:52,030 --> 00:32:54,197 Date Line of all branches of service . 880 00:32:54,197 --> 00:32:56,363 Uh And we , we have at sea at a moment 881 00:32:56,369 --> 00:32:59,839 in time by 2030 surface combatant ships . 882 00:32:59,849 --> 00:33:02,071 We've got subsurface ships , submarines 883 00:33:02,071 --> 00:33:04,238 out there as well . You've got marines 884 00:33:04,238 --> 00:33:06,182 conducting exercise in Okinawa and 885 00:33:06,182 --> 00:33:08,238 beyond . Uh you got army forces with 886 00:33:08,238 --> 00:33:10,405 the long range uh task forces . You've 887 00:33:10,405 --> 00:33:12,349 got the marine regiments , all the 888 00:33:12,349 --> 00:33:14,405 training is conducted . This , there 889 00:33:14,405 --> 00:33:16,460 was 24,000 live fires conducted last 890 00:33:16,460 --> 00:33:18,516 year by just the Army and the Marine 891 00:33:18,516 --> 00:33:20,627 Corps , not just in the Pacific , but 892 00:33:20,627 --> 00:33:22,405 worldwide . So uh that level of 893 00:33:22,405 --> 00:33:24,571 training would be reduced , that level 894 00:33:24,571 --> 00:33:26,793 of operational tempo would be reduced . 895 00:33:26,793 --> 00:33:29,016 And that level of what , what Secretary 896 00:33:29,016 --> 00:33:28,640 Austin has in the National defense 897 00:33:28,650 --> 00:33:30,761 strategy of day to day campaigning if 898 00:33:30,761 --> 00:33:32,761 you will , uh which acts as a great 899 00:33:32,761 --> 00:33:34,817 deterrent . So I think if you reduce 900 00:33:34,817 --> 00:33:37,030 all that , you're gonna uh force us to 901 00:33:37,040 --> 00:33:39,373 reduce our up tempo force us to do less . 902 00:33:39,373 --> 00:33:41,560 Taiwan straits transits , uh less 903 00:33:41,569 --> 00:33:43,739 freedom of navigation , uh less 904 00:33:43,750 --> 00:33:46,060 patrolling in the air , less I S R , 905 00:33:46,270 --> 00:33:48,214 everything will be less which will 906 00:33:48,214 --> 00:33:50,214 increase risk , increase danger and 907 00:33:50,214 --> 00:33:52,048 send the wrong message . And the 908 00:33:52,048 --> 00:33:54,060 probable result will be uh an 909 00:33:54,069 --> 00:33:57,229 acceleration of what could be some sort 910 00:33:57,239 --> 00:33:59,295 of aggressive moves in the future by 911 00:33:59,295 --> 00:34:02,810 China or other countries . Secretary 912 00:34:02,819 --> 00:34:05,041 Austin . I wanted to thank both you and 913 00:34:05,041 --> 00:34:07,263 the general for your work in addressing 914 00:34:07,263 --> 00:34:09,430 domestic violent extremism . Uh in the 915 00:34:09,430 --> 00:34:12,669 department in December 22 The inspector 916 00:34:12,679 --> 00:34:14,735 general released a report that among 917 00:34:14,735 --> 00:34:16,568 other things uh talked about the 918 00:34:16,568 --> 00:34:18,790 effectiveness of policy and programs to 919 00:34:18,790 --> 00:34:20,957 prevent and respond to supremacist and 920 00:34:20,957 --> 00:34:23,012 extremist activity in the military . 921 00:34:23,012 --> 00:34:25,012 The report found 200 allegations of 922 00:34:25,012 --> 00:34:27,123 prohibited activity including 100 and 923 00:34:27,123 --> 00:34:29,250 46 allegations of supremacists and 924 00:34:29,260 --> 00:34:31,989 extremist activities on its face . This 925 00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:34,056 is a concerning number , but the I G 926 00:34:34,056 --> 00:34:36,222 report also stated that the department 927 00:34:36,222 --> 00:34:38,570 had decentralized and non-standardized 928 00:34:38,580 --> 00:34:40,858 systems to collect and track this data . 929 00:34:41,290 --> 00:34:43,457 For example , one of the quotes in the 930 00:34:43,457 --> 00:34:45,320 report was that the army's total 931 00:34:45,330 --> 00:34:47,530 allegation data does not reflect its 932 00:34:47,540 --> 00:34:49,707 total number of allegations , just the 933 00:34:49,707 --> 00:34:51,651 total number of allegations with a 934 00:34:51,651 --> 00:34:53,762 follow on status . What steps has the 935 00:34:53,770 --> 00:34:55,719 department taken , Mr Secretary to 936 00:34:55,729 --> 00:34:57,469 standardize the collection of 937 00:34:57,479 --> 00:35:00,050 allegations of extremism by service 938 00:35:00,060 --> 00:35:01,949 members since the release of that 939 00:35:01,949 --> 00:35:05,169 report ? Oh , we , we continue 940 00:35:05,179 --> 00:35:07,590 to uh to make sure that our , our 941 00:35:07,600 --> 00:35:10,040 leadership uh is doing the right thing 942 00:35:10,050 --> 00:35:13,830 to , uh , uh , to , first of all 943 00:35:14,510 --> 00:35:16,510 our troops understand , uh , how to 944 00:35:16,510 --> 00:35:18,399 recognize , uh , certain types of 945 00:35:18,399 --> 00:35:20,288 behavior . What's , what's , uh , 946 00:35:20,288 --> 00:35:21,659 what's , uh , 947 00:35:23,620 --> 00:35:25,719 acceptable , what's not acceptable , 948 00:35:25,729 --> 00:35:27,507 what we , what , what the , the 949 00:35:27,507 --> 00:35:29,618 military won't tolerate . And I think 950 00:35:29,618 --> 00:35:31,673 that's a , that's a first , uh , the 951 00:35:31,673 --> 00:35:33,785 first step in making sure that , uh , 952 00:35:33,785 --> 00:35:36,062 that we're doing the right things . Uh , 953 00:35:36,062 --> 00:35:38,340 but , uh , we , but we are emphasizing , 954 00:35:38,340 --> 00:35:40,340 uh , that we do have , uh the right 955 00:35:40,340 --> 00:35:42,451 means in place , the right methods in 956 00:35:42,451 --> 00:35:45,590 place to accurately reflect or collect 957 00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:47,711 uh you know , reports that are , that 958 00:35:47,711 --> 00:35:49,711 are being rendered . Um And I would 959 00:35:49,719 --> 00:35:51,941 also say that , you know , you've heard 960 00:35:51,941 --> 00:35:54,909 me say this before 99.9% of our troops 961 00:35:55,070 --> 00:35:57,219 are doing the right thing . Each and 962 00:35:57,229 --> 00:35:58,850 every day they're focused on 963 00:35:58,919 --> 00:36:00,975 accomplishing their mission . They , 964 00:36:00,975 --> 00:36:03,030 our , our , our leaders are , are uh 965 00:36:03,030 --> 00:36:05,580 are focused on uh their , their task at 966 00:36:05,590 --> 00:36:08,050 hand , their missions . Uh And uh you 967 00:36:08,060 --> 00:36:10,060 don't get to be a ready force , the 968 00:36:10,060 --> 00:36:11,893 ready force that we are that the 969 00:36:11,893 --> 00:36:13,782 chairman described uh unless your 970 00:36:13,782 --> 00:36:16,004 leaders are focused on the right things 971 00:36:16,004 --> 00:36:18,760 and , and while um you know , making 972 00:36:18,770 --> 00:36:20,826 sure that we don't have an extremist 973 00:36:20,826 --> 00:36:22,714 behavior in our , in our ranks is 974 00:36:22,714 --> 00:36:24,937 important . Uh It is not , it , it , it 975 00:36:24,937 --> 00:36:27,103 hasn't consumed the force . Uh a focus 976 00:36:27,103 --> 00:36:29,270 on this , it just enables us to do the 977 00:36:29,270 --> 00:36:31,492 things that we're supposed to do and it 978 00:36:31,492 --> 00:36:33,548 makes us better . So it allows us to 979 00:36:33,548 --> 00:36:35,739 look at tools to , to help make the 980 00:36:35,750 --> 00:36:37,583 force better . Correct . Right . 981 00:36:37,583 --> 00:36:40,419 General , any other thoughts ? Yeah . 982 00:36:40,429 --> 00:36:42,540 The , in , in the year you're talking 983 00:36:42,540 --> 00:36:45,750 about 183 , uh out of 2.1 million uh 984 00:36:45,760 --> 00:36:47,949 were referred for extremist behavior . 985 00:36:47,959 --> 00:36:50,090 And we have means and mechanisms that 986 00:36:50,100 --> 00:36:52,211 can discipline the force that are not 987 00:36:52,211 --> 00:36:54,489 necessarily available in civil society . 988 00:36:54,489 --> 00:36:56,711 We're very disciplined force . We don't 989 00:36:56,711 --> 00:36:58,711 tolerate extremism of any kind left 990 00:36:58,711 --> 00:36:58,409 right in between . It doesn't matter , 991 00:36:58,520 --> 00:37:00,631 no extremists in the ranks . Period . 992 00:37:00,631 --> 00:37:02,798 We're not a political military , we're 993 00:37:02,798 --> 00:37:04,964 an alit military and we intend to stay 994 00:37:04,964 --> 00:37:06,909 that way . So there's no extremism 995 00:37:06,909 --> 00:37:09,242 tolerated . We find it , we discover it , 996 00:37:09,242 --> 00:37:11,242 we refer it and we take appropriate 997 00:37:11,242 --> 00:37:13,076 disciplinary action . And as the 998 00:37:13,076 --> 00:37:14,687 secretary said , out of that 999 00:37:14,687 --> 00:37:17,530 2.1,099.9.9.9 are in there every single 1000 00:37:17,540 --> 00:37:19,596 day trying to do the right thing for 1001 00:37:19,596 --> 00:37:21,484 the right reasons to protect this 1002 00:37:21,484 --> 00:37:23,762 country and they wake up every morning , 1003 00:37:23,762 --> 00:37:23,409 try to better themselves , better the 1004 00:37:23,419 --> 00:37:25,475 unit and better this country . I , I 1005 00:37:25,475 --> 00:37:27,530 completely agree with that , but the 1006 00:37:27,530 --> 00:37:29,800 report also mentioned 183 , which is 1007 00:37:29,810 --> 00:37:31,921 the accurate number , but there might 1008 00:37:31,921 --> 00:37:33,810 be more that just had not had the 1009 00:37:33,810 --> 00:37:35,921 follow on status there , there may be 1010 00:37:35,921 --> 00:37:37,588 but , but I would say it's uh 1011 00:37:37,588 --> 00:37:39,643 relatively small numbers . I've been 1012 00:37:39,643 --> 00:37:41,810 doing this for a long time . Um When I 1013 00:37:41,810 --> 00:37:41,449 was a lieutenant and captain , we had 1014 00:37:41,459 --> 00:37:43,659 extremists then too . Um Secretary 1015 00:37:43,669 --> 00:37:46,002 Austin when he was a young officer , uh , 1016 00:37:46,002 --> 00:37:48,113 he had some experiences at Fort Bragg 1017 00:37:48,113 --> 00:37:49,891 with extremists . So this isn't 1018 00:37:49,891 --> 00:37:52,225 something new . We discipline the force . 1019 00:37:52,225 --> 00:37:54,391 We don't tolerate it , we find it , we 1020 00:37:54,391 --> 00:37:54,169 punish it , we get it out , but that 1021 00:37:54,179 --> 00:37:56,401 shouldn't smear the entire force . This 1022 00:37:56,401 --> 00:37:58,235 force is a disciplined dedicated 1023 00:37:58,235 --> 00:38:00,401 patriotic force that loves America and 1024 00:38:00,401 --> 00:38:02,512 will fight and die for it . I agree . 1025 00:38:02,699 --> 00:38:06,179 Thank you , Mr Chairman . Thank you , 1026 00:38:06,189 --> 00:38:08,411 Mr Chairman and congratulations on your 1027 00:38:08,411 --> 00:38:11,090 accession to your position . Um 1028 00:38:12,090 --> 00:38:15,129 Welcome uh to our subcommittee , uh 1029 00:38:15,139 --> 00:38:17,879 Secretary Austin and uh General Milley , 1030 00:38:17,889 --> 00:38:19,889 General Milley . Thank you for your 1031 00:38:19,889 --> 00:38:22,111 service to our country . Both of you uh 1032 00:38:22,111 --> 00:38:24,222 have distinguished yourselves in your 1033 00:38:24,222 --> 00:38:26,278 service . I'm very proud of both you 1034 00:38:26,278 --> 00:38:28,500 and I know my constituents are too . Um 1035 00:38:28,500 --> 00:38:30,445 I wanted to say my top priority is 1036 00:38:30,445 --> 00:38:32,667 Ukraine right now and Mr Chairman , I'm 1037 00:38:32,667 --> 00:38:34,833 sure you'll have a closed door session 1038 00:38:34,833 --> 00:38:37,056 on that um before we move into markup . 1039 00:38:37,056 --> 00:38:39,278 But I just wanted to request that uh if 1040 00:38:39,278 --> 00:38:41,333 possible . Uh General Milley uh as a 1041 00:38:41,333 --> 00:38:43,000 follow up to the Liberty Road 1042 00:38:43,000 --> 00:38:45,222 initiative , I would greatly appreciate 1043 00:38:45,222 --> 00:38:47,222 an individual we could work with on 1044 00:38:47,222 --> 00:38:49,111 your staff somewhere in the uh uh 1045 00:38:50,419 --> 00:38:52,860 rather large staffing at the Department 1046 00:38:52,870 --> 00:38:55,139 of Defense . Uh We've been unable to do 1047 00:38:55,149 --> 00:38:58,100 that effectively . Um uh Then I wanted 1048 00:38:58,110 --> 00:39:00,221 to follow up on something congressman 1049 00:39:00,221 --> 00:39:02,479 talked about the severe uh illicit 1050 00:39:02,489 --> 00:39:04,489 narcotics activity . That is this , 1051 00:39:04,489 --> 00:39:06,489 that is really destabilizing in his 1052 00:39:06,489 --> 00:39:08,489 region and frankly having an impact 1053 00:39:08,489 --> 00:39:10,656 across our country . And I just wanted 1054 00:39:10,656 --> 00:39:12,822 to put on the record for those who are 1055 00:39:12,822 --> 00:39:12,340 listening . There's a great book called 1056 00:39:12,350 --> 00:39:16,020 Dreamland by Sam Canon and uh who 1057 00:39:16,030 --> 00:39:18,989 tracks the economics of what's going on 1058 00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:22,000 following the passage of NAFTA in 1993 . 1059 00:39:22,300 --> 00:39:24,244 Uh and the wipe out of the Mexican 1060 00:39:24,244 --> 00:39:26,570 white corn market and the springing up 1061 00:39:26,580 --> 00:39:29,020 in all the those places , Tama et 1062 00:39:29,030 --> 00:39:32,750 cetera of uh the uh planning of heroin 1063 00:39:32,760 --> 00:39:35,679 and moving into other um into other 1064 00:39:35,689 --> 00:39:37,911 drugs . It's quite sobering to read and 1065 00:39:37,911 --> 00:39:39,967 I just placed that on the record for 1066 00:39:39,967 --> 00:39:42,133 those who really care about this until 1067 00:39:42,133 --> 00:39:44,133 we solve that uh the abject poverty 1068 00:39:44,133 --> 00:39:46,356 that resulted from that we're not gonna 1069 00:39:46,356 --> 00:39:45,389 solve the problem . And I don't know if 1070 00:39:45,399 --> 00:39:47,566 the government of Mexico is capable of 1071 00:39:47,566 --> 00:39:49,621 solving it . Um Secretary Austin , I 1072 00:39:49,621 --> 00:39:51,788 wanted to ask if you might help us set 1073 00:39:51,788 --> 00:39:53,788 up a meeting with the folks who are 1074 00:39:53,788 --> 00:39:56,219 handling the ramp up of additional work 1075 00:39:56,229 --> 00:39:58,451 and defense industrial based activities 1076 00:39:58,451 --> 00:40:00,285 in your department . I come from 1077 00:40:00,285 --> 00:40:02,340 manufacturing America . We help save 1078 00:40:02,340 --> 00:40:04,562 the M one , the Abraham tank plant . We 1079 00:40:04,562 --> 00:40:06,451 were told , oh , we'll never have 1080 00:40:06,451 --> 00:40:05,959 another land war . What do I need ? 1081 00:40:05,969 --> 00:40:08,025 What do we need that for ? We had to 1082 00:40:08,025 --> 00:40:10,025 save the uh tank capability of this 1083 00:40:10,025 --> 00:40:11,858 country . We have to save the uh 1084 00:40:11,858 --> 00:40:13,858 strategic petroleum reserve of this 1085 00:40:13,858 --> 00:40:15,969 country because there were people who 1086 00:40:15,969 --> 00:40:18,136 were willing to wipe it out . Those of 1087 00:40:18,136 --> 00:40:17,784 us who come from manufacturing America 1088 00:40:17,794 --> 00:40:19,905 understand what it takes . I would be 1089 00:40:19,905 --> 00:40:21,961 very grateful so we could learn more 1090 00:40:21,961 --> 00:40:24,183 about , uh , the funding , the staffing 1091 00:40:24,183 --> 00:40:26,183 and the current authorities if they 1092 00:40:26,183 --> 00:40:28,238 need to be expanded . Uh , thank you 1093 00:40:28,238 --> 00:40:28,054 for listening to that . And finally , 1094 00:40:28,094 --> 00:40:30,324 um , for , for either gentleman today , 1095 00:40:30,574 --> 00:40:32,949 um , in terms of hybrid warfare , I'm 1096 00:40:32,959 --> 00:40:35,129 very interested in more detail on the 1097 00:40:35,139 --> 00:40:36,969 impact of the internet on 1098 00:40:36,979 --> 00:40:39,035 communications and how us forces are 1099 00:40:39,035 --> 00:40:40,923 working to overcome communication 1100 00:40:40,923 --> 00:40:42,868 problems with host nations and the 1101 00:40:42,868 --> 00:40:44,979 impact that the internet is having on 1102 00:40:44,979 --> 00:40:48,760 creating , um , disruptive activities , 1103 00:40:48,770 --> 00:40:51,669 uh , false information and so forth 1104 00:40:51,679 --> 00:40:53,568 that , uh , I'd like to know more 1105 00:40:53,568 --> 00:40:55,790 detail about that as we move forward in 1106 00:40:55,790 --> 00:40:57,846 terms of meeting um , threats to our 1107 00:40:57,846 --> 00:41:01,530 security globally . Uh Well , thank you 1108 00:41:01,540 --> 00:41:03,651 and , and thanks for all your support 1109 00:41:03,651 --> 00:41:06,340 and certainly , uh , we'll make , I'll 1110 00:41:06,350 --> 00:41:08,790 make sure my staff reaches out to yours . 1111 00:41:08,800 --> 00:41:12,520 Uh , and we give , we , uh , provide 1112 00:41:12,530 --> 00:41:14,363 you access to the people who are 1113 00:41:14,363 --> 00:41:16,586 working on these , uh , issues with the 1114 00:41:16,586 --> 00:41:18,697 industrial base . For , uh , for us , 1115 00:41:18,697 --> 00:41:20,919 we have a manufacturing , uh task force 1116 00:41:20,919 --> 00:41:20,389 here , sir . On the house side , we're 1117 00:41:20,399 --> 00:41:24,090 very interested . Thank you with 1118 00:41:24,100 --> 00:41:27,310 respect to , uh , you know , the , the 1119 00:41:27,320 --> 00:41:29,149 internet and information , how 1120 00:41:29,159 --> 00:41:32,070 information impacts uh , operations . 1121 00:41:32,459 --> 00:41:34,570 Uh , we've seen over the years that , 1122 00:41:34,570 --> 00:41:36,681 that , uh , in terms of transnational 1123 00:41:36,681 --> 00:41:38,879 terrorist activity , uh , people that 1124 00:41:38,889 --> 00:41:42,239 have been , uh , um , have been 1125 00:41:42,250 --> 00:41:45,060 recruited , uh , and , uh , and , and 1126 00:41:45,070 --> 00:41:48,030 actually , uh , encouraged to take 1127 00:41:48,040 --> 00:41:49,820 action over the internet and 1128 00:41:49,830 --> 00:41:52,370 radicalized over the internet , uh that 1129 00:41:52,379 --> 00:41:54,780 kind of thing continues to uh we 1130 00:41:54,790 --> 00:41:57,409 continue to see that . But in on the , 1131 00:41:57,419 --> 00:41:59,919 uh even in a , in a kind of a 1132 00:41:59,929 --> 00:42:02,530 conventional fight , uh there's still a 1133 00:42:02,540 --> 00:42:05,060 lot of activity that the adversaries 1134 00:42:05,070 --> 00:42:07,860 will put on uh on the , on the internet 1135 00:42:07,870 --> 00:42:11,560 to uh creates a number of different 1136 00:42:11,570 --> 00:42:14,090 types of effects . And we see this as , 1137 00:42:14,100 --> 00:42:16,500 you know , uh with the uh with the 1138 00:42:16,510 --> 00:42:20,370 Ukraine Russia conflict . 1139 00:42:20,379 --> 00:42:24,310 And we have to be our , you know , 1140 00:42:24,699 --> 00:42:26,921 we , we have to be active in that space 1141 00:42:26,921 --> 00:42:28,810 and we also have to enable uh our 1142 00:42:28,820 --> 00:42:31,149 partners uh to be active in that space . 1143 00:42:31,260 --> 00:42:33,427 So this is , it is really important to 1144 00:42:33,427 --> 00:42:35,316 us and it's , it will continue to 1145 00:42:35,316 --> 00:42:37,038 evolve and , and uh so there's 1146 00:42:37,038 --> 00:42:39,419 significant significant activity uh in 1147 00:42:39,429 --> 00:42:41,318 those spaces and they do directly 1148 00:42:41,318 --> 00:42:43,820 affect uh the fight and let me see if 1149 00:42:43,830 --> 00:42:47,469 Mark wants to add anything . Yeah . Uh 1150 00:42:47,479 --> 00:42:49,590 Congresswoman uh first on the Liberty 1151 00:42:49,590 --> 00:42:51,701 Pro road thing , I , I'll circle back 1152 00:42:51,701 --> 00:42:53,757 with you and make sure that uh we're 1153 00:42:53,757 --> 00:42:55,590 closing loops on , on that whole 1154 00:42:55,590 --> 00:42:57,812 project . Um And I was very proud to be 1155 00:42:57,812 --> 00:42:57,629 there with you . And as part of that 1156 00:42:57,639 --> 00:43:00,239 over in Poland um on , on this , on , 1157 00:43:00,250 --> 00:43:02,449 on the uh communications piece uh 1158 00:43:02,459 --> 00:43:04,750 communications is fundamental obviously 1159 00:43:04,760 --> 00:43:06,982 to the conduct of military operations . 1160 00:43:06,982 --> 00:43:09,038 That is one of the key pieces of our 1161 00:43:09,038 --> 00:43:10,982 joint war fighting concept , which 1162 00:43:10,982 --> 00:43:13,204 would be doctrine here uh this summer . 1163 00:43:13,204 --> 00:43:15,371 Uh The T C two piece is part of that . 1164 00:43:15,371 --> 00:43:17,149 So our , for , from a defensive 1165 00:43:17,149 --> 00:43:19,316 standpoint , our communication systems 1166 00:43:19,316 --> 00:43:18,770 have got to become more resilient uh 1167 00:43:18,780 --> 00:43:21,189 And , and less susceptible to either 1168 00:43:21,199 --> 00:43:23,659 jamming or spoofing or any other kind 1169 00:43:23,669 --> 00:43:25,780 of interference or intercepting and , 1170 00:43:25,780 --> 00:43:27,947 and , and collecting off of our signal 1171 00:43:27,947 --> 00:43:30,225 systems . Uh I think we're pretty good , 1172 00:43:30,225 --> 00:43:32,336 but we need to get better Uh in terms 1173 00:43:32,336 --> 00:43:34,558 of uh broader implications , the social 1174 00:43:34,558 --> 00:43:36,891 media and in the advent of social media , 1175 00:43:36,891 --> 00:43:39,113 if you think about it , the iPhone just 1176 00:43:39,113 --> 00:43:41,280 came out in 2008 . Uh so we are really 1177 00:43:41,280 --> 00:43:43,558 at the beginning of a proliferation of , 1178 00:43:43,558 --> 00:43:45,725 of , of all kinds of information , all 1179 00:43:45,725 --> 00:43:47,836 kinds of platforms out there that can 1180 00:43:47,836 --> 00:43:49,836 spew all kinds of accurate data and 1181 00:43:49,836 --> 00:43:51,613 inaccurate data . Uh and that's 1182 00:43:51,613 --> 00:43:53,725 something that we all have to come to 1183 00:43:53,725 --> 00:43:55,725 grips with because there's a lot of 1184 00:43:55,725 --> 00:43:55,290 stuff out there in the Internet and 1185 00:43:55,300 --> 00:43:57,669 social media that is false . And we 1186 00:43:57,679 --> 00:43:59,623 have to be wary of that because of 1187 00:43:59,623 --> 00:44:01,512 misinformation , disinformation , 1188 00:44:01,512 --> 00:44:03,679 propaganda . We know factually that uh 1189 00:44:03,679 --> 00:44:05,989 adversary states using bots uh on a 1190 00:44:06,000 --> 00:44:08,222 very frequent basis to try to influence 1191 00:44:08,222 --> 00:44:10,389 our elections , influence elections in 1192 00:44:10,389 --> 00:44:12,500 Europe , influence elections in other 1193 00:44:12,500 --> 00:44:14,278 countries . Uh undermine create 1194 00:44:14,278 --> 00:44:16,222 divisiveness where there's already 1195 00:44:16,222 --> 00:44:17,944 divisiveness in a society . Uh 1196 00:44:17,944 --> 00:44:20,111 Adversary states may try to pour on uh 1197 00:44:20,111 --> 00:44:22,278 with the social media and make it even 1198 00:44:22,278 --> 00:44:24,389 though it's just a single person in a 1199 00:44:24,389 --> 00:44:26,500 foreign city who's doing this through 1200 00:44:26,500 --> 00:44:28,556 some means and mechanisms . But they 1201 00:44:28,556 --> 00:44:30,722 can uh they can take a single uh issue 1202 00:44:30,722 --> 00:44:32,778 and blow it up and make it much more 1203 00:44:32,778 --> 00:44:32,629 divisive than it would have been 1204 00:44:32,639 --> 00:44:34,806 otherwise . So there's a lot of issues 1205 00:44:34,806 --> 00:44:37,229 with social media and how it's being 1206 00:44:37,239 --> 00:44:39,406 used for information transmission , uh 1207 00:44:39,406 --> 00:44:41,406 disinformation transmission . And I 1208 00:44:41,406 --> 00:44:43,517 think there's a lot of things that we 1209 00:44:43,517 --> 00:44:43,050 have to come to grips with from a 1210 00:44:43,060 --> 00:44:45,419 military standpoint though . Uh for us , 1211 00:44:45,429 --> 00:44:47,651 it's really just a communication system 1212 00:44:47,651 --> 00:44:49,429 that we need to build , make it 1213 00:44:49,429 --> 00:44:51,485 resilient so that we can effectively 1214 00:44:51,485 --> 00:44:53,373 command control and coordinate uh 1215 00:44:53,373 --> 00:44:55,540 during combat operations . Thank you , 1216 00:44:55,540 --> 00:44:57,818 John . It's time to describe Mr Rogers . 1217 00:44:59,290 --> 00:45:02,300 Thank you , Mr Chairman , gentlemen . 1218 00:45:02,310 --> 00:45:04,739 Uh Thank you for your service to the 1219 00:45:04,750 --> 00:45:07,979 country , a lifetime of service and we , 1220 00:45:07,989 --> 00:45:11,290 we thank you very much . Let me uh 1221 00:45:11,300 --> 00:45:14,050 bring up a topic that's the elephant in 1222 00:45:14,060 --> 00:45:16,649 the room and there's a competition with 1223 00:45:16,659 --> 00:45:20,570 China . Uh How do you assess 1224 00:45:20,580 --> 00:45:23,939 the Chinese president's visit to 1225 00:45:23,949 --> 00:45:27,360 Moscow recently ? And how does that 1226 00:45:27,370 --> 00:45:30,120 play in the larger world stage on our 1227 00:45:30,169 --> 00:45:32,729 competition with , with China ? 1228 00:45:34,689 --> 00:45:37,659 The uh I'll be through it and , and uh 1229 00:45:37,669 --> 00:45:39,836 certainly offer the chairman with your 1230 00:45:39,836 --> 00:45:41,836 permission , uh chance to comment . 1231 00:45:42,320 --> 00:45:46,120 Certainly , this is , it's troubling to 1232 00:45:46,129 --> 00:45:48,810 see that Putin 1233 00:45:50,909 --> 00:45:52,560 attacked his neighbor in an 1234 00:45:52,570 --> 00:45:56,489 unprecedented way and uh and seeks to 1235 00:45:56,919 --> 00:46:00,169 uh uh to change the border and uh 1236 00:46:00,620 --> 00:46:04,310 and access his neighbor's property or , 1237 00:46:04,320 --> 00:46:07,399 or sovereign territory . Um So 1238 00:46:08,090 --> 00:46:11,540 Xi's visit to Putin , uh it's and , and 1239 00:46:11,550 --> 00:46:13,717 remaining there for a couple of days , 1240 00:46:13,717 --> 00:46:15,994 I think sends a very troubling message , 1241 00:46:16,280 --> 00:46:19,709 a message of support . Uh We don't see 1242 00:46:19,719 --> 00:46:23,070 them providing any material support to , 1243 00:46:23,080 --> 00:46:25,439 to Russia right now . Uh But we're 1244 00:46:25,449 --> 00:46:27,727 watching this very , very closely . Uh , 1245 00:46:27,727 --> 00:46:29,838 if they were to go down that path , I 1246 00:46:29,838 --> 00:46:32,005 think it would be very troubling for , 1247 00:46:32,005 --> 00:46:34,116 for the international community , but 1248 00:46:34,116 --> 00:46:36,227 certainly just showing support by his 1249 00:46:36,227 --> 00:46:38,338 presence there , I think is , uh , is 1250 00:46:38,338 --> 00:46:42,100 very troubling . Um I think that , uh , 1251 00:46:43,300 --> 00:46:45,540 you know , this is uh this is , it's 1252 00:46:45,550 --> 00:46:47,328 been described as a marriage of 1253 00:46:47,328 --> 00:46:49,409 convenience . Uh you know , Putin 1254 00:46:49,419 --> 00:46:51,330 doesn't have any , any allies or 1255 00:46:51,340 --> 00:46:53,340 partners that he can turn to in the 1256 00:46:53,340 --> 00:46:55,770 international community . Uh And , and 1257 00:46:55,780 --> 00:46:58,870 so China has uh is , is , 1258 00:46:59,790 --> 00:47:01,957 is willing to continue to develop that 1259 00:47:01,957 --> 00:47:04,068 relationship . That's , that's very , 1260 00:47:04,068 --> 00:47:05,790 very interesting . Uh But it's 1261 00:47:05,790 --> 00:47:08,012 troubling that uh you know , what we've 1262 00:47:08,012 --> 00:47:10,179 seen , uh again , it will be even more 1263 00:47:10,179 --> 00:47:12,899 troubling if she decides to provide 1264 00:47:12,909 --> 00:47:15,560 material support to uh to , to Russia , 1265 00:47:15,639 --> 00:47:17,889 it would prolong the conflict and uh 1266 00:47:18,219 --> 00:47:20,449 and , and certainly broaden the 1267 00:47:20,459 --> 00:47:23,000 conflict potentially uh not only in the 1268 00:47:23,010 --> 00:47:26,790 region but globally . So 1269 00:47:27,100 --> 00:47:29,649 m uh thanks for the question . I , you 1270 00:47:29,659 --> 00:47:32,360 know , look at China is a serious , 1271 00:47:32,370 --> 00:47:35,060 probably the most serious geostrategic 1272 00:47:35,070 --> 00:47:37,181 adversary the United States is facing 1273 00:47:37,181 --> 00:47:39,292 today and we'll be facing through mid 1274 00:47:39,292 --> 00:47:41,570 century and perhaps the entire century . 1275 00:47:41,570 --> 00:47:43,903 And if you were a historian in the year , 1276 00:47:43,903 --> 00:47:46,014 uh you know , a century from now , uh 1277 00:47:46,014 --> 00:47:48,070 the story of this century uh uh will 1278 00:47:48,070 --> 00:47:50,070 likely be the geostrategic story is 1279 00:47:50,070 --> 00:47:50,040 gonna likely be the , what was the 1280 00:47:50,050 --> 00:47:52,217 relationship between the United States 1281 00:47:52,217 --> 00:47:54,383 and China did end up in a war or not ? 1282 00:47:54,383 --> 00:47:56,272 Uh And I think that we need to be 1283 00:47:56,272 --> 00:47:58,494 really careful as we go forward to make 1284 00:47:58,494 --> 00:48:00,217 sure that our military and our 1285 00:48:00,217 --> 00:48:02,161 capabilities are way stronger than 1286 00:48:02,161 --> 00:48:04,050 anything China can field . That's 1287 00:48:04,050 --> 00:48:06,106 fundamental to deterrence . We don't 1288 00:48:06,106 --> 00:48:08,272 want a great power war with China . Uh 1289 00:48:08,272 --> 00:48:07,889 We want to prevent that and the way to 1290 00:48:07,899 --> 00:48:09,788 prevent it is a strong , powerful 1291 00:48:09,788 --> 00:48:12,010 military uh demonstrated will to use it 1292 00:48:12,010 --> 00:48:14,177 if necessary and that they clearly and 1293 00:48:14,177 --> 00:48:16,288 unambiguously understand it . What we 1294 00:48:16,288 --> 00:48:18,343 see in China , what we see in a , in 1295 00:48:18,343 --> 00:48:20,455 terms of a nation state over the last 1296 00:48:20,455 --> 00:48:22,621 40 plus years . Uh since Deng Xiaoping 1297 00:48:22,621 --> 00:48:24,677 introduced his reforms in 1979 is an 1298 00:48:24,677 --> 00:48:26,979 enormous growth in wealth . Uh The 1299 00:48:26,989 --> 00:48:28,822 greatest growth in wealth of any 1300 00:48:28,822 --> 00:48:31,004 country uh to include all the the 1301 00:48:31,014 --> 00:48:33,236 United States back in the 18 hundreds . 1302 00:48:33,236 --> 00:48:35,292 This is an enormous growth in wealth 1303 00:48:35,292 --> 00:48:37,181 and enormous shift in uh in power 1304 00:48:37,181 --> 00:48:39,125 globally . And in the wake of that 1305 00:48:39,125 --> 00:48:41,070 wealth is coming . This military , 1306 00:48:41,070 --> 00:48:43,014 their military has advanced from a 1307 00:48:43,014 --> 00:48:45,604 peasant based infantry army in 1979 to 1308 00:48:45,614 --> 00:48:48,155 a world class military that is a near 1309 00:48:48,165 --> 00:48:50,221 peer of the United States . They are 1310 00:48:50,221 --> 00:48:52,276 not better than we are , they have a 1311 00:48:52,276 --> 00:48:54,387 long way to go for that . Uh But they 1312 00:48:54,387 --> 00:48:56,721 are closing the gap very , very quickly . 1313 00:48:56,721 --> 00:48:58,887 It is incumbent upon us . To make sure 1314 00:48:58,887 --> 00:49:01,165 that we remain number one at all times , 1315 00:49:01,165 --> 00:49:03,165 that will help keep the peace if we 1316 00:49:03,165 --> 00:49:05,332 somehow fall behind , that will become 1317 00:49:05,332 --> 00:49:07,498 very dangerous in my opinion . So , so 1318 00:49:07,498 --> 00:49:09,665 the goal is to deter China from making 1319 00:49:09,665 --> 00:49:12,649 an ill advised decision going forward . 1320 00:49:13,060 --> 00:49:15,227 Uh And you've heard me say a number of 1321 00:49:15,227 --> 00:49:18,290 times that I don't think uh uh a 1322 00:49:18,300 --> 00:49:20,939 military action against Taiwan is 1323 00:49:20,949 --> 00:49:24,300 either imminent or uh or , 1324 00:49:25,030 --> 00:49:27,750 you know , unavoidable . I think that 1325 00:49:27,760 --> 00:49:30,750 uh that the way that we keep things uh 1326 00:49:30,760 --> 00:49:32,982 in the right place is to make sure that 1327 00:49:32,982 --> 00:49:35,093 we're able to talk to each other . Uh 1328 00:49:35,093 --> 00:49:37,093 You've , you've seen me reach out a 1329 00:49:37,093 --> 00:49:39,093 number of times to my counterpart . 1330 00:49:39,093 --> 00:49:41,038 I'll continue to do that . I think 1331 00:49:41,038 --> 00:49:43,149 military leaders uh should be able to 1332 00:49:43,149 --> 00:49:45,093 uh to talk to each other to manage 1333 00:49:45,093 --> 00:49:46,982 escalation and , and to determine 1334 00:49:46,982 --> 00:49:49,093 intent and a number of other things . 1335 00:49:49,093 --> 00:49:50,982 But I think this communication is 1336 00:49:50,982 --> 00:49:52,982 really , really important . So , uh 1337 00:49:52,982 --> 00:49:56,830 again , um I do not think that uh that 1338 00:49:56,959 --> 00:50:00,570 military action is imminent . Uh But , 1339 00:50:00,580 --> 00:50:02,636 you know , certainly as the chairman 1340 00:50:02,636 --> 00:50:04,858 pointed out , we have to make sure that 1341 00:50:04,858 --> 00:50:07,360 we remain a combat credible force and 1342 00:50:07,370 --> 00:50:09,592 we'll do everything within our power to 1343 00:50:09,592 --> 00:50:13,330 make sure we do that well , in um the 1344 00:50:13,340 --> 00:50:15,396 question of competition with China , 1345 00:50:15,959 --> 00:50:19,689 undoubtedly we are at a crucial moment 1346 00:50:19,699 --> 00:50:23,389 here , we are beginning to lose our 1347 00:50:23,399 --> 00:50:26,500 critical competitive edge in multiple 1348 00:50:26,510 --> 00:50:29,979 domains . Um I'm interested to 1349 00:50:29,989 --> 00:50:32,860 know in your budget request . 1350 00:50:34,020 --> 00:50:37,820 Um what is 1351 00:50:37,830 --> 00:50:41,270 needed to reverse this trend that we're 1352 00:50:41,280 --> 00:50:44,929 on . Well , you see 1353 00:50:44,939 --> 00:50:48,110 us uh number one investing uh in our 1354 00:50:48,120 --> 00:50:51,879 posture . Uh And , and so , uh the 1355 00:50:51,889 --> 00:50:55,050 Pacific uh deterrence initiative , uh 1356 00:50:55,060 --> 00:50:57,360 we've allocated or requested for , for 1357 00:50:57,370 --> 00:51:00,860 that initiative , uh some $9.1 billion 1358 00:51:00,870 --> 00:51:03,260 this year , that's a 40% increase over 1359 00:51:03,270 --> 00:51:05,500 what we asked for last year that will 1360 00:51:05,510 --> 00:51:07,729 help us uh you know , improve 1361 00:51:07,739 --> 00:51:10,889 infrastructure that uh provides us uh 1362 00:51:12,290 --> 00:51:15,100 the ability to , to position our troops 1363 00:51:15,110 --> 00:51:18,370 forward in theater so that we can deter 1364 00:51:18,419 --> 00:51:20,959 much further forward . You've seen us 1365 00:51:20,969 --> 00:51:24,540 ask for $61 billion 1366 00:51:24,550 --> 00:51:27,860 to support and maintain our dominance 1367 00:51:27,870 --> 00:51:31,050 in the air domain . Uh $48 billion in , 1368 00:51:31,449 --> 00:51:33,649 In combat effective naval forces and 1369 00:51:33,659 --> 00:51:37,479 some $13 plus billion dollars for 1370 00:51:37,489 --> 00:51:40,209 our effective ground forces . And we're 1371 00:51:40,219 --> 00:51:42,489 investing in the capabilities that 1372 00:51:42,500 --> 00:51:45,830 support our war fighting 1373 00:51:45,840 --> 00:51:47,699 concepts that , that support our 1374 00:51:47,709 --> 00:51:49,729 strategy . So there's a lot in this 1375 00:51:49,739 --> 00:51:51,939 budget that's focused on uh on this 1376 00:51:51,949 --> 00:51:54,739 particular challenge . And uh and again , 1377 00:51:54,790 --> 00:51:57,012 we will continue to invest in the years 1378 00:51:57,012 --> 00:51:59,179 going forward to build upon the things 1379 00:51:59,179 --> 00:52:01,290 that we're we're asking for today and 1380 00:52:01,290 --> 00:52:04,370 doing today in theater . Thank you , Mr 1381 00:52:04,389 --> 00:52:06,389 Chairman . Thank you , Mr Stewart , 1382 00:52:07,820 --> 00:52:09,987 gentlemen . Thank you for being here . 1383 00:52:09,987 --> 00:52:12,439 Uh I have three things I want to talk 1384 00:52:12,449 --> 00:52:14,616 about briefly but I'm gonna have to go 1385 00:52:14,616 --> 00:52:16,782 fairly quickly through them if I could 1386 00:52:16,782 --> 00:52:19,060 in the time allowed uh chairman Milley , 1387 00:52:19,060 --> 00:52:21,227 I want to follow up with something you 1388 00:52:21,227 --> 00:52:23,338 said and just try to add some clarity 1389 00:52:23,338 --> 00:52:25,560 to it when we talk about and I want you 1390 00:52:25,560 --> 00:52:27,727 to know in fairness . I'm , I'm one of 1391 00:52:27,727 --> 00:52:29,782 the members who is becoming more and 1392 00:52:29,782 --> 00:52:31,782 more concerned about our efforts in 1393 00:52:31,782 --> 00:52:34,005 Ukraine . And what , where , where that 1394 00:52:34,005 --> 00:52:36,227 actually leads us ? And have we applied 1395 00:52:36,227 --> 00:52:38,560 any of the lessons of the last 20 years ? 1396 00:52:38,560 --> 00:52:40,782 And can we apply those to Ukraine ? And 1397 00:52:40,782 --> 00:52:40,229 so when you talk about our goals , 1398 00:52:40,239 --> 00:52:42,560 there are international , I'm 1399 00:52:42,570 --> 00:52:44,570 paraphrasing international rule are 1400 00:52:44,570 --> 00:52:46,540 preserved . Ukraine , a free and 1401 00:52:46,550 --> 00:52:48,760 independent nation with its territory 1402 00:52:48,770 --> 00:52:51,810 preserved . Does that include Crimea ? 1403 00:52:53,290 --> 00:52:55,457 Yeah , the what the president has said 1404 00:52:55,457 --> 00:52:57,568 and the guidance he's given out uh is 1405 00:52:57,568 --> 00:52:59,649 publicly as well as , as well as 1406 00:52:59,659 --> 00:53:02,020 Secretary Blinken , Mr Sullivan . 1407 00:53:02,080 --> 00:53:04,239 Others uh is that that is for a 1408 00:53:04,250 --> 00:53:07,340 decision for Ukraine to decide our task 1409 00:53:07,350 --> 00:53:09,540 is to help Ukraine defend itself . Uh 1410 00:53:09,550 --> 00:53:11,606 The United States is not at war with 1411 00:53:11,606 --> 00:53:13,550 Russia even though Russia tries to 1412 00:53:13,550 --> 00:53:15,661 portray that we are helping a country 1413 00:53:15,661 --> 00:53:17,828 defend itself , defend its territorial 1414 00:53:17,828 --> 00:53:20,050 integrity and its people . Well , and I 1415 00:53:20,050 --> 00:53:22,217 think that's where this becomes a very 1416 00:53:22,217 --> 00:53:24,161 different situation for us . And I 1417 00:53:24,161 --> 00:53:24,050 would say a very much more dangerous 1418 00:53:24,060 --> 00:53:26,282 situation if we stay our say , our goal 1419 00:53:26,282 --> 00:53:28,370 is to reclaim all of the Eastern 1420 00:53:28,379 --> 00:53:30,729 Donetsk region and then including U uh 1421 00:53:30,739 --> 00:53:33,530 Crimea and including the land bridge . 1422 00:53:33,540 --> 00:53:35,669 Uh I I just the , the , the evidence 1423 00:53:35,679 --> 00:53:37,846 and the intelligence and experience is 1424 00:53:37,846 --> 00:53:40,090 really clear that that is a very , very 1425 00:53:40,100 --> 00:53:42,322 different thing than what we're talking 1426 00:53:42,322 --> 00:53:44,489 about if I said that publicly , that , 1427 00:53:44,489 --> 00:53:46,711 that , that goal , uh which is really a 1428 00:53:46,711 --> 00:53:48,544 maximalist goal set by President 1429 00:53:48,544 --> 00:53:50,267 Zalinsky publicly , that is an 1430 00:53:50,267 --> 00:53:52,156 extraordinarily difficult goal to 1431 00:53:52,156 --> 00:53:53,989 achieve militarily . And , and I 1432 00:53:53,989 --> 00:53:55,989 appreciate that and we'll have more 1433 00:53:55,989 --> 00:53:58,044 time to talk about that . You know , 1434 00:53:58,044 --> 00:53:57,209 the interesting thing about these 1435 00:53:57,219 --> 00:53:59,386 hearings is we often come with kind of 1436 00:53:59,386 --> 00:54:01,552 esoteric issues , things that are kind 1437 00:54:01,552 --> 00:54:03,775 of personal to our district maybe or to 1438 00:54:03,775 --> 00:54:05,997 our state . And this , this is a little 1439 00:54:05,997 --> 00:54:08,163 bit like that , but not , not really . 1440 00:54:08,163 --> 00:54:10,441 It's actually very broad and strategic . 1441 00:54:10,441 --> 00:54:12,608 And I think also in meeting with our , 1442 00:54:12,608 --> 00:54:12,429 our conversations with your staff , it 1443 00:54:12,439 --> 00:54:14,661 appears that both of you are supportive 1444 00:54:14,661 --> 00:54:16,495 of this and that's the Office of 1445 00:54:16,495 --> 00:54:18,709 Strategic Capital , the $115 million 1446 00:54:18,719 --> 00:54:20,886 that was allocated . And I have talked 1447 00:54:20,886 --> 00:54:22,997 with dozens and dozens and I know you 1448 00:54:22,997 --> 00:54:25,163 have two , dozens of small companies , 1449 00:54:25,163 --> 00:54:27,386 but , you know , some other larger ones 1450 00:54:27,386 --> 00:54:29,275 as well who want to work with the 1451 00:54:29,275 --> 00:54:31,330 department , but they just can't get 1452 00:54:31,330 --> 00:54:33,899 through the contracting process . Uh Mr 1453 00:54:33,909 --> 00:54:36,131 undersecretary , you have the worst job 1454 00:54:36,131 --> 00:54:38,242 in the world as a comp controller and 1455 00:54:38,242 --> 00:54:40,298 the , and the person who's got a , I 1456 00:54:40,298 --> 00:54:40,179 mean , I think God looks at the 1457 00:54:40,189 --> 00:54:42,356 acquisition process , he says it's too 1458 00:54:42,356 --> 00:54:44,578 hard , I can't do it . Uh , it's a very 1459 00:54:44,578 --> 00:54:46,522 difficult thing but this Office of 1460 00:54:46,522 --> 00:54:48,522 Strategic Capital , I believe would 1461 00:54:48,522 --> 00:54:50,411 bring billions of dollars of , of 1462 00:54:50,411 --> 00:54:53,129 market money , private money uh , to 1463 00:54:53,139 --> 00:54:55,361 the Department of Defense in a way that 1464 00:54:55,361 --> 00:54:57,528 just , we can't do now because they're 1465 00:54:57,528 --> 00:54:59,583 so , is so difficult and they get so 1466 00:54:59,583 --> 00:55:01,583 frustrated and , uh , either of you 1467 00:55:01,583 --> 00:55:01,340 would like to respond to that . I'd 1468 00:55:01,350 --> 00:55:03,683 appreciate it if you have views on that . 1469 00:55:03,683 --> 00:55:05,794 But if not , we'd like to continue to 1470 00:55:05,794 --> 00:55:07,906 work with the offices . We try to try 1471 00:55:07,906 --> 00:55:10,017 to make this actual reality . This is 1472 00:55:10,017 --> 00:55:12,017 really important to us . And , uh , 1473 00:55:12,017 --> 00:55:14,017 thanks for your support . I want to 1474 00:55:14,017 --> 00:55:13,580 thank the chairman for his support as 1475 00:55:13,590 --> 00:55:15,368 well . Uh We've had a couple of 1476 00:55:15,368 --> 00:55:17,530 conversations on this initiative . I 1477 00:55:17,540 --> 00:55:19,770 wanna applaud Heidi's efforts uh in 1478 00:55:19,780 --> 00:55:23,340 this area . Uh She and I and a couple 1479 00:55:23,350 --> 00:55:26,979 of others sat down uh you know , many 1480 00:55:26,989 --> 00:55:29,800 months ago and really uh focused on the 1481 00:55:29,810 --> 00:55:32,399 problem of trying to get uh small 1482 00:55:32,409 --> 00:55:34,989 companies uh into this , uh you know , 1483 00:55:35,000 --> 00:55:37,229 in , in , into the business here and , 1484 00:55:37,239 --> 00:55:39,350 and how do we break down barriers and 1485 00:55:39,350 --> 00:55:41,183 how do we make it ? Uh how do we 1486 00:55:41,183 --> 00:55:43,760 incentivize uh investment ? And , and 1487 00:55:43,770 --> 00:55:46,540 so , uh that's what this is about . Uh 1488 00:55:46,550 --> 00:55:49,080 We really are interested in making sure 1489 00:55:49,090 --> 00:55:51,189 that it , it begins to move in the 1490 00:55:51,199 --> 00:55:53,088 right in the right direction . We 1491 00:55:53,088 --> 00:55:54,977 partnered with the small Business 1492 00:55:54,977 --> 00:55:58,219 Bureau and , and uh and so , uh again , 1493 00:55:58,229 --> 00:56:00,285 we're optimistic about it and thanks 1494 00:56:00,285 --> 00:56:02,618 for your support . Well , and secretary , 1495 00:56:02,618 --> 00:56:04,562 thank you because I think it could 1496 00:56:04,562 --> 00:56:06,618 really make a difference and some of 1497 00:56:06,618 --> 00:56:05,909 the technology they would make 1498 00:56:05,919 --> 00:56:07,919 available to our war fighters would 1499 00:56:07,919 --> 00:56:10,086 make a difference to them . Uh They've 1500 00:56:10,086 --> 00:56:12,086 got things that we need , we find , 1501 00:56:12,086 --> 00:56:14,197 need to find a way to get it , to get 1502 00:56:14,197 --> 00:56:16,475 us access to it . And the last comment , 1503 00:56:16,475 --> 00:56:18,586 if I could very quickly , uh , I come 1504 00:56:18,586 --> 00:56:20,586 from a family of military . I'm the 1505 00:56:20,586 --> 00:56:22,752 third , three generations now . All of 1506 00:56:22,752 --> 00:56:24,863 my brothers , my father , et cetera . 1507 00:56:24,863 --> 00:56:26,808 Um , and one of the reasons that I 1508 00:56:26,808 --> 00:56:28,919 joined the military is because my dad 1509 00:56:28,919 --> 00:56:31,030 did . And if he had ever indicated to 1510 00:56:31,030 --> 00:56:33,141 me , you know , I don't know if you'd 1511 00:56:33,141 --> 00:56:33,010 like it or I'm not sure it's a good 1512 00:56:33,020 --> 00:56:35,242 thing anymore . I would never have done 1513 00:56:35,242 --> 00:56:37,409 it . And there's a culture here that I 1514 00:56:37,409 --> 00:56:39,631 think we've , we've , I don't wanna say 1515 00:56:39,631 --> 00:56:41,520 broken , but we've strained it in 1516 00:56:41,520 --> 00:56:43,631 general . Or chairman milly . I think 1517 00:56:43,631 --> 00:56:45,853 you've seen it in the army in the sense 1518 00:56:45,853 --> 00:56:45,169 of our recruitment goals . I mean , 1519 00:56:45,179 --> 00:56:48,290 15,000 soldiers short , 25% short of 1520 00:56:48,300 --> 00:56:50,739 our , uh short of our goal . And we can 1521 00:56:50,750 --> 00:56:52,806 talk about salaries and compensation 1522 00:56:52,806 --> 00:56:54,917 and that's part of it . But I'm , but 1523 00:56:54,917 --> 00:56:56,806 you both know that that's not the 1524 00:56:56,806 --> 00:56:56,459 primary reason someone joins the 1525 00:56:56,469 --> 00:56:58,413 military . They do because of that 1526 00:56:58,413 --> 00:57:00,580 culture and that uh wanting to serve . 1527 00:57:00,580 --> 00:57:02,691 And we've broken that somehow between 1528 00:57:02,691 --> 00:57:04,580 fathers and sons and , and I just 1529 00:57:04,580 --> 00:57:06,747 wondered , and my time is up and maybe 1530 00:57:06,747 --> 00:57:09,030 we can talk about it again . But what , 1531 00:57:09,040 --> 00:57:12,520 what has changed culturally to make it ? 1532 00:57:12,530 --> 00:57:14,530 So we're not meeting our recruiting 1533 00:57:14,530 --> 00:57:16,586 goals . And how do we address that ? 1534 00:57:17,770 --> 00:57:20,280 Thanks for the question . The um , well , 1535 00:57:20,290 --> 00:57:22,290 1st , 1st the services army and the 1536 00:57:22,290 --> 00:57:24,512 recruiting goes , with the exception of 1537 00:57:24,512 --> 00:57:26,679 the army , the army ran into some real 1538 00:57:26,679 --> 00:57:26,149 headwinds there and , uh , they're 1539 00:57:26,159 --> 00:57:28,270 trying to dig their way out of that . 1540 00:57:28,270 --> 00:57:30,326 Uh Secondly , we're , we are at a 50 1541 00:57:30,326 --> 00:57:32,270 year high actually , since the all 1542 00:57:32,270 --> 00:57:34,326 volunteer military began right after 1543 00:57:34,326 --> 00:57:36,459 Vietnam , 50 year high on retention . 1544 00:57:36,790 --> 00:57:38,901 Uh So that should tell us something . 1545 00:57:38,901 --> 00:57:41,123 What , what that tells us is that those 1546 00:57:41,123 --> 00:57:43,290 that are in uniform are very satisfied 1547 00:57:43,290 --> 00:57:45,512 with , with what they're doing on a day 1548 00:57:45,512 --> 00:57:45,389 to day basis . And , and , and they 1549 00:57:45,399 --> 00:57:47,455 have , they feel fulfilled that this 1550 00:57:47,455 --> 00:57:49,455 are gonna cause better themselves . 1551 00:57:49,455 --> 00:57:51,621 They're better in their own lives , et 1552 00:57:51,621 --> 00:57:53,677 cetera . Uh So those are on , on the 1553 00:57:53,677 --> 00:57:55,788 plus side uh for the recruiting piece 1554 00:57:55,788 --> 00:57:55,409 though we are in a difficult uh 1555 00:57:55,419 --> 00:57:57,641 recruiting period . There's no question 1556 00:57:57,641 --> 00:57:59,752 about it , I think , uh for sure , uh 1557 00:57:59,752 --> 00:58:01,975 COVID plays a role in that . Um We know 1558 00:58:01,975 --> 00:58:03,863 that uh only , uh in terms of the 1559 00:58:03,863 --> 00:58:05,808 demographics of our society , only 1560 00:58:05,808 --> 00:58:08,030 about 23% of America's youth between 17 1561 00:58:08,030 --> 00:58:10,060 and 25 even qualify to get into the 1562 00:58:10,070 --> 00:58:12,870 military and of them only 9% uh show 1563 00:58:12,879 --> 00:58:14,990 propensity to serve . Uh We know that 1564 00:58:14,990 --> 00:58:17,139 about 78% of those of us in uniform 1565 00:58:17,149 --> 00:58:19,371 have military family members in uniform 1566 00:58:19,371 --> 00:58:21,316 like yourself . Both my mother and 1567 00:58:21,316 --> 00:58:23,649 father served in World War Two . Uh and , 1568 00:58:23,649 --> 00:58:25,927 and and , and grandparents before them , 1569 00:58:25,927 --> 00:58:25,850 uncles , brothers , sisters and cousins , 1570 00:58:25,860 --> 00:58:27,749 all of them served at one time or 1571 00:58:27,749 --> 00:58:29,804 another . And that's true with you . 1572 00:58:29,804 --> 00:58:31,804 That's true . Us , and it's true of 1573 00:58:31,804 --> 00:58:34,082 many of us uh , in this , in this room . 1574 00:58:34,082 --> 00:58:35,804 Uh , so 78% of those that have 1575 00:58:35,804 --> 00:58:37,916 familiarity with the military tend to 1576 00:58:37,916 --> 00:58:40,193 join the military . Uh so contact time , 1577 00:58:40,193 --> 00:58:42,416 uh , familiarity with the military , uh 1578 00:58:42,416 --> 00:58:44,471 meeting troops , et cetera . We also 1579 00:58:44,471 --> 00:58:44,350 know that the army did a study and I , 1580 00:58:44,360 --> 00:58:46,360 I think , I don't know if it's been 1581 00:58:46,360 --> 00:58:48,582 made available or not . Uh , but , uh , 1582 00:58:48,582 --> 00:58:50,638 I was briefed on it and , and one of 1583 00:58:50,638 --> 00:58:52,804 the things in the study that comes out 1584 00:58:52,804 --> 00:58:52,540 is in terms of a barrier to join for 1585 00:58:52,550 --> 00:58:54,550 kids coming out of high school , et 1586 00:58:54,550 --> 00:58:56,772 cetera . Uh , is , is the fear of being 1587 00:58:56,772 --> 00:58:59,209 injured or the fear of getting hurt 1588 00:58:59,219 --> 00:59:01,840 PTSD . Uh , uh , there's , there's a 1589 00:59:01,850 --> 00:59:04,128 lot of stuff out there about , uh , uh , 1590 00:59:04,128 --> 00:59:05,850 rape , sexual assault , sexual 1591 00:59:05,850 --> 00:59:08,017 harassment . Those sorts of things are 1592 00:59:08,017 --> 00:59:10,072 out there that have mischaracterized 1593 00:59:10,072 --> 00:59:09,989 actually the military in many , many 1594 00:59:10,000 --> 00:59:11,889 ways . And so it creates a little 1595 00:59:11,889 --> 00:59:14,167 barrier for those that , uh , are , uh , 1596 00:59:14,167 --> 00:59:16,389 uh , considering joining in addition to 1597 00:59:16,389 --> 00:59:18,611 that . Uh , there's , there's , there's 1598 00:59:18,611 --> 00:59:20,778 probably about 20 or 30 factors . Uh , 1599 00:59:20,778 --> 00:59:22,778 but I think one of the biggest ones 1600 00:59:22,778 --> 00:59:24,778 actually is the lack of , uh , kids 1601 00:59:24,778 --> 00:59:24,570 going to school in the last couple of 1602 00:59:24,580 --> 00:59:26,939 years , uh , has , uh , prevented our 1603 00:59:26,949 --> 00:59:28,838 recruiters from getting into high 1604 00:59:28,838 --> 00:59:31,005 schools and having contact time . Uh , 1605 00:59:31,005 --> 00:59:33,060 and we know , uh , right off the bat 1606 00:59:33,060 --> 00:59:35,393 that , that drops recruiting rates . Uh , 1607 00:59:35,393 --> 00:59:35,270 if you don't have contact time with 1608 00:59:35,280 --> 00:59:37,391 recruits , there's a lot of reasons , 1609 00:59:37,391 --> 00:59:39,689 uh , uh , I , I wouldn't , uh , you 1610 00:59:39,699 --> 00:59:41,866 know , say that there's one particular 1611 00:59:41,866 --> 00:59:43,866 reason there's a lot of reasons why 1612 00:59:43,866 --> 00:59:43,760 it's challenging right now , but those 1613 00:59:43,770 --> 00:59:45,937 that are coming into service are doing 1614 00:59:45,937 --> 00:59:48,103 it for the same reasons that you did , 1615 00:59:48,103 --> 00:59:50,270 which is to serve your country , serve 1616 00:59:50,270 --> 00:59:49,629 a cause greater than yourself . Try to 1617 00:59:49,639 --> 00:59:51,528 better yourself , develop certain 1618 00:59:51,528 --> 00:59:53,417 skills . Uh They're coming in for 1619 00:59:53,417 --> 00:59:55,583 certain pays and benefits to be sure . 1620 00:59:55,583 --> 00:59:57,695 But no one comes in the military just 1621 00:59:57,695 --> 00:59:57,010 for the money . And that's not why you 1622 00:59:57,020 --> 00:59:59,020 come in , you come in to serve your 1623 00:59:59,020 --> 01:00:01,187 country , protect the constitution and 1624 01:00:01,187 --> 01:00:03,353 hand it off to the next generation and 1625 01:00:03,353 --> 01:00:05,409 thanks for your service . Thanks and 1626 01:00:05,409 --> 01:00:08,179 gentlemen , um thank you , Member of 1627 01:00:08,189 --> 01:00:10,300 mccollum . Do you have any uh closing 1628 01:00:10,300 --> 01:00:12,467 statement ? Thank you , Mr Chair . I'm 1629 01:00:12,467 --> 01:00:14,522 gonna submit a few questions for the 1630 01:00:14,522 --> 01:00:16,745 record on climate change and resilience 1631 01:00:16,745 --> 01:00:18,745 and uh Arctic resources . Thank you 1632 01:00:18,745 --> 01:00:20,911 both for your testimony and I think it 1633 01:00:20,911 --> 01:00:23,989 was well said by uh uh Congressman 1634 01:00:24,000 --> 01:00:26,278 Stewart to talk about family and , and , 1635 01:00:26,278 --> 01:00:28,709 and service . Uh My family goes back on 1636 01:00:28,719 --> 01:00:30,830 both sides of the revolutionary war , 1637 01:00:31,189 --> 01:00:32,967 but now we've had a gap in this 1638 01:00:32,967 --> 01:00:36,070 generation . Um So there , there is 1639 01:00:36,080 --> 01:00:38,560 something that we need to do uh to make 1640 01:00:38,570 --> 01:00:40,403 sure people embrace them , being 1641 01:00:40,403 --> 01:00:42,626 welcome . So , thank you very much , Mr 1642 01:00:42,626 --> 01:00:45,050 Chair for your courtesy and for um the 1643 01:00:45,060 --> 01:00:47,227 way everybody got their questions in . 1644 01:00:50,360 --> 01:00:52,810 Yeah , also want to uh to thank both of 1645 01:00:52,820 --> 01:00:54,876 you for your service uh general . Uh 1646 01:00:54,876 --> 01:00:56,987 We've known each other for many years 1647 01:00:56,987 --> 01:00:59,098 and , and each other over the years , 1648 01:00:59,098 --> 01:01:01,310 I'm sure we'll continue to know each 1649 01:01:01,320 --> 01:01:03,989 other . I respect your service and uh 1650 01:01:04,000 --> 01:01:06,120 uh I'm sure we'll be working closely 1651 01:01:06,129 --> 01:01:08,351 together until you run through the tape 1652 01:01:08,351 --> 01:01:10,462 in September . So thank you again for 1653 01:01:10,462 --> 01:01:12,240 your service . Uh Obviously I'm 1654 01:01:12,240 --> 01:01:14,520 concerned uh about the , this budget . 1655 01:01:14,530 --> 01:01:16,889 Um I made that clear , I think we're 1656 01:01:16,899 --> 01:01:18,899 gonna work together to plus this up 1657 01:01:18,899 --> 01:01:21,239 somewhat , um , to make sure we meet 1658 01:01:21,250 --> 01:01:23,417 the requirements . Uh We'll be working 1659 01:01:23,417 --> 01:01:25,472 with our colleagues both here on the 1660 01:01:25,472 --> 01:01:27,417 other side of the aisle and in the 1661 01:01:27,417 --> 01:01:29,694 Senate to see if we can come up with a , 1662 01:01:29,694 --> 01:01:32,028 a number that uh will meet the needs of , 1663 01:01:32,028 --> 01:01:34,194 uh , to protect this country and , and 1664 01:01:34,194 --> 01:01:36,310 uh lead it into the future that thank 1665 01:01:36,320 --> 01:01:38,350 you . And we are adjourned .