1
00:00:00,159 --> 00:00:02,270
I like to call the hearing to order . 

2
00:00:02,270 --> 00:00:04,579
And since we have a quorum , I would 

3
00:00:04,590 --> 00:00:07,230
ask the committee to consider two 

4
00:00:07,239 --> 00:00:09,760
civilian nominations and a list of 27 

5
00:00:09,770 --> 00:00:12,130
pending military military nominations . 

6
00:00:12,270 --> 00:00:14,103
First , I asked the committee to 

7
00:00:14,103 --> 00:00:15,881
consider the following civilian 

8
00:00:15,881 --> 00:00:18,120
nominations . Mr Ronald Cohan to be 

9
00:00:18,129 --> 00:00:20,073
Assistant Secretary of Defense for 

10
00:00:20,073 --> 00:00:22,159
Manpower Affairs and the honorable 

11
00:00:22,170 --> 00:00:24,260
Nicholas H Gin to be the Assistant 

12
00:00:24,270 --> 00:00:26,214
Secretary of the Navy for research 

13
00:00:26,214 --> 00:00:28,270
development and acquisition . Is the 

14
00:00:28,270 --> 00:00:30,600
motion to favor report these two moved . 

15
00:00:30,610 --> 00:00:32,979
Is there a second ? All in favor . Say 

16
00:00:33,439 --> 00:00:35,419
finally , I asked the committee to 

17
00:00:35,430 --> 00:00:37,720
consider a list of 27 pending military 

18
00:00:37,729 --> 00:00:39,896
nominations . All of these nominations 

19
00:00:39,896 --> 00:00:41,951
have been before the committee . The 

20
00:00:41,951 --> 00:00:44,062
required length of time is the motion 

21
00:00:44,062 --> 00:00:46,007
to favor to report this list of 27 

22
00:00:46,007 --> 00:00:48,229
pending military nominations . Is there 

23
00:00:48,229 --> 00:00:50,700
a second ? Thank you all in favor . Say 

24
00:00:50,729 --> 00:00:54,419
I I have it . Uh Thank you very much . 

25
00:00:54,430 --> 00:00:56,439
Uh welcome uh Secretary Austin , uh 

26
00:00:56,450 --> 00:00:58,919
General Milley and Secretary mccord . 

27
00:00:59,270 --> 00:01:01,830
Uh Before I get into my statement , I 

28
00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:04,099
uh want to take a moment to recognize 

29
00:01:04,110 --> 00:01:05,970
the tragic disasters that struck 

30
00:01:05,980 --> 00:01:08,147
Mississippi and Alabama this weekend , 

31
00:01:08,529 --> 00:01:10,418
our hearts are certainly with the 

32
00:01:10,418 --> 00:01:12,640
people of Mississippi and Alabama after 

33
00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:14,807
tornadoes caused terrible loss of life 

34
00:01:14,807 --> 00:01:17,089
and intense damage . And I know senator 

35
00:01:17,099 --> 00:01:18,989
workers , Senator Ville are doing 

36
00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:20,949
everything they can to help their 

37
00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:23,070
states . And we're thinking about the 

38
00:01:23,070 --> 00:01:24,903
families and loved ones who were 

39
00:01:24,903 --> 00:01:27,669
suffering . Thank you very much . Good 

40
00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:29,624
morning . Uh , the committee meets 

41
00:01:29,624 --> 00:01:31,513
today to receive testimony on the 

42
00:01:31,513 --> 00:01:33,458
president's budget request for the 

43
00:01:33,458 --> 00:01:35,569
Department of Defense for fiscal year 

44
00:01:35,569 --> 00:01:37,736
2024 . Uh , witnesses this morning are 

45
00:01:37,736 --> 00:01:39,736
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin , 

46
00:01:39,736 --> 00:01:41,680
under Secretary of Defense Michael 

47
00:01:41,690 --> 00:01:43,634
mccord , and chairman of the Joint 

48
00:01:43,634 --> 00:01:45,857
Chiefs of Staff , General Mark Milley . 

49
00:01:45,857 --> 00:01:48,079
Thank you for appearing before us today 

50
00:01:48,079 --> 00:01:49,968
and please extend the committee's 

51
00:01:49,968 --> 00:01:51,857
thanks to the service members and 

52
00:01:51,857 --> 00:01:53,968
defense civilians in the department . 

53
00:01:53,968 --> 00:01:56,134
I'd like to take a moment to recognize 

54
00:01:56,134 --> 00:01:58,357
that this will be General Milly's final 

55
00:01:58,357 --> 00:02:00,579
posture hearing before his retirement . 

56
00:02:00,579 --> 00:02:02,634
Later this year , General , you have 

57
00:02:02,634 --> 00:02:04,690
served this nation for 43 years with 

58
00:02:04,690 --> 00:02:07,690
honor , skill and steadfast leadership 

59
00:02:07,699 --> 00:02:09,929
and we are deeply grateful . We thank 

60
00:02:09,940 --> 00:02:11,607
your family for their support 

61
00:02:11,607 --> 00:02:13,389
throughout your service and we 

62
00:02:13,399 --> 00:02:15,177
congratulate you on a very well 

63
00:02:15,177 --> 00:02:17,399
deserved retirement . Thank you , sir . 

64
00:02:17,619 --> 00:02:19,710
Earlier this month , President Biden 

65
00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,199
released his fiscal year 2024 budget 

66
00:02:22,210 --> 00:02:24,321
request for the Department of Defense 

67
00:02:24,321 --> 00:02:27,869
with a top line of $842 billion as the 

68
00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:30,660
president's budget recognizes and as 

69
00:02:30,669 --> 00:02:32,710
his national defense strategy makes 

70
00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:35,800
clear , China is our primary competitor . 

71
00:02:36,029 --> 00:02:38,440
The PR C is the only nation with both 

72
00:02:38,449 --> 00:02:40,550
the intent and the capability to 

73
00:02:40,559 --> 00:02:42,559
challenge the security and economic 

74
00:02:42,559 --> 00:02:44,726
interests of the United States and our 

75
00:02:44,726 --> 00:02:47,089
allies and partners . At the same time , 

76
00:02:47,229 --> 00:02:50,009
Russia remains a violent destabilizing 

77
00:02:50,020 --> 00:02:52,830
force . Putin's assault on Ukraine is 

78
00:02:52,839 --> 00:02:55,050
inflicting horrific suffering on 

79
00:02:55,059 --> 00:02:57,039
innocent civilians , threatening 

80
00:02:57,050 --> 00:02:59,240
European stability and harming the 

81
00:02:59,250 --> 00:03:02,039
global economy . However , if Putin 

82
00:03:02,050 --> 00:03:04,050
thought his war would drive a wedge 

83
00:03:04,050 --> 00:03:05,990
between NATO members and the 

84
00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:08,167
international community , he was badly 

85
00:03:08,167 --> 00:03:10,449
mistaken . The international community 

86
00:03:10,460 --> 00:03:13,100
has united in a way not seen in decades . 

87
00:03:13,339 --> 00:03:15,395
And our potential adversaries around 

88
00:03:15,395 --> 00:03:17,506
the world are taking note , the Biden 

89
00:03:17,506 --> 00:03:19,728
administration and the witnesses before 

90
00:03:19,728 --> 00:03:21,617
us today deserve great credit for 

91
00:03:21,617 --> 00:03:23,672
leading this effort . In addition to 

92
00:03:23,672 --> 00:03:25,783
the threats posed by Russia and China 

93
00:03:25,783 --> 00:03:27,672
nations like Iran and North Korea 

94
00:03:27,672 --> 00:03:29,617
continue to push the boundaries of 

95
00:03:29,617 --> 00:03:31,783
military brinksmanship and issues like 

96
00:03:31,783 --> 00:03:33,783
terrorism and climate change remain 

97
00:03:33,783 --> 00:03:35,770
persistent . Prevailing in this 

98
00:03:35,779 --> 00:03:37,779
environment will require thoughtful 

99
00:03:37,779 --> 00:03:39,557
strategies and a budget that is 

100
00:03:39,557 --> 00:03:41,612
structured to meet the challenges we 

101
00:03:41,612 --> 00:03:43,835
face . During today's hearing , I would 

102
00:03:43,835 --> 00:03:45,946
ask our witnesses to update us on the 

103
00:03:45,946 --> 00:03:48,112
strategic planning documents published 

104
00:03:48,112 --> 00:03:49,946
over the past year including the 

105
00:03:49,946 --> 00:03:52,001
National defense strategy , National 

106
00:03:52,001 --> 00:03:54,001
military strategy , Nuclear Posture 

107
00:03:54,001 --> 00:03:56,223
Review and missile defense review . And 

108
00:03:56,223 --> 00:03:59,080
how the 2024 budget will execute these 

109
00:03:59,089 --> 00:04:01,500
strategies . An essential element for 

110
00:04:01,509 --> 00:04:03,731
the United States . Long term strategic 

111
00:04:03,731 --> 00:04:05,676
competition will be our ability to 

112
00:04:05,676 --> 00:04:07,676
build the joint capabilities of our 

113
00:04:07,676 --> 00:04:09,453
armed forces across all domains 

114
00:04:09,453 --> 00:04:12,199
including space , cyber and information 

115
00:04:12,210 --> 00:04:14,169
operations . As the defense 

116
00:04:14,179 --> 00:04:16,235
department's recently released joint 

117
00:04:16,235 --> 00:04:19,059
concept for competing , makes clear the 

118
00:04:19,070 --> 00:04:21,489
object of our nation's adversaries is 

119
00:04:21,500 --> 00:04:24,350
to win without fighting . The concept 

120
00:04:24,359 --> 00:04:26,415
warns that if we do not adapt to the 

121
00:04:26,415 --> 00:04:28,470
realities of long term competition , 

122
00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:31,202
the United States risks ceding 

123
00:04:31,202 --> 00:04:33,230
strategic influence , advantage and 

124
00:04:33,239 --> 00:04:35,461
leverage while preparing for war . That 

125
00:04:35,461 --> 00:04:37,750
never comes . I'm interested to hear 

126
00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:39,704
from our witnesses how this budget 

127
00:04:39,704 --> 00:04:41,816
supports joint capabilities to ensure 

128
00:04:41,816 --> 00:04:43,649
our military remains the world's 

129
00:04:43,649 --> 00:04:46,279
premier fighting force . To that end , 

130
00:04:46,290 --> 00:04:48,068
I am encouraged that the budget 

131
00:04:48,068 --> 00:04:50,179
includes the largest ever request for 

132
00:04:50,179 --> 00:04:52,123
research development , testing and 

133
00:04:52,123 --> 00:04:54,959
evaluation . A total of $145 billion . 

134
00:04:55,410 --> 00:04:57,466
The budget would provide significant 

135
00:04:57,466 --> 00:04:59,688
funding for modernization areas such as 

136
00:04:59,688 --> 00:05:01,410
micro electronics , artificial 

137
00:05:01,410 --> 00:05:03,980
intelligence , hypersonic , and five G 

138
00:05:04,350 --> 00:05:06,517
technologies that will be critical for 

139
00:05:06,517 --> 00:05:08,959
our national defense . Our strategy 

140
00:05:08,970 --> 00:05:11,137
towards China and Russia should not be 

141
00:05:11,137 --> 00:05:14,290
solely defined in dollars by how much 

142
00:05:14,420 --> 00:05:16,929
but rather where and why we are 

143
00:05:16,940 --> 00:05:18,829
investing to achieve the greatest 

144
00:05:18,829 --> 00:05:21,570
comparative advantage , competition 

145
00:05:21,579 --> 00:05:23,635
with China , front and center . This 

146
00:05:23,635 --> 00:05:26,160
budget request includes $9.1 billion 

147
00:05:26,170 --> 00:05:28,281
for priorities covered by the Pacific 

148
00:05:28,281 --> 00:05:31,440
deterrence initiative or P I am 

149
00:05:31,450 --> 00:05:33,672
encouraged by the progress we have made 

150
00:05:33,672 --> 00:05:35,561
through P D I thus far . And this 

151
00:05:35,561 --> 00:05:37,783
committee will continue working to help 

152
00:05:37,783 --> 00:05:39,894
improve the design and posture of the 

153
00:05:39,894 --> 00:05:42,172
joint force in the Indo Pacific region . 

154
00:05:42,172 --> 00:05:44,061
This should include strengthening 

155
00:05:44,061 --> 00:05:46,339
logistics , modernizing infrastructure , 

156
00:05:46,339 --> 00:05:48,450
conducting exercises and training and 

157
00:05:48,450 --> 00:05:50,672
building the capabilities of our allies 

158
00:05:50,672 --> 00:05:52,783
and partners . Indeed our approach to 

159
00:05:52,783 --> 00:05:54,950
the Indo Pacific should be informed in 

160
00:05:54,950 --> 00:05:57,172
part by lessons drawn from the European 

161
00:05:57,172 --> 00:05:59,459
Defense and deterrence initiative or E 

162
00:05:59,470 --> 00:06:02,609
D I , which has played a decisive role 

163
00:06:02,619 --> 00:06:04,730
in strengthening Ukraine for the last 

164
00:06:04,730 --> 00:06:07,730
nine years . The department's 2,024 

165
00:06:07,739 --> 00:06:10,679
budget request wisely includes 

166
00:06:10,690 --> 00:06:14,130
$3.4 billion for ED-related 

167
00:06:14,140 --> 00:06:16,630
investments and $300 million for the 

168
00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:19,500
Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative . 

169
00:06:19,859 --> 00:06:21,748
I'm also pleased to see that this 

170
00:06:21,748 --> 00:06:23,915
budget request prioritizes taking care 

171
00:06:23,915 --> 00:06:26,137
of our men and women in uniform and the 

172
00:06:26,137 --> 00:06:28,429
civilians who serve alongside them by 

173
00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:30,662
providing an across the board pay raise 

174
00:06:30,662 --> 00:06:33,570
of 5.2% . This pay increase sends an 

175
00:06:33,579 --> 00:06:35,801
important message to the workforce at a 

176
00:06:35,801 --> 00:06:37,857
time when recruiting is particularly 

177
00:06:37,857 --> 00:06:39,968
challenging . The budget request also 

178
00:06:39,968 --> 00:06:42,480
includes $16.7 billion for military 

179
00:06:42,489 --> 00:06:44,309
construction projects . And I'm 

180
00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:46,431
particularly pleased to see increases 

181
00:06:46,431 --> 00:06:48,279
in barrack sustainment . The 

182
00:06:48,290 --> 00:06:50,568
improvements to our field , civilities , 

183
00:06:50,568 --> 00:06:52,790
repair and modernization will go a long 

184
00:06:52,790 --> 00:06:54,901
way toward the joint forces readiness 

185
00:06:54,901 --> 00:06:56,901
and quality of life of our military 

186
00:06:56,901 --> 00:06:59,200
personnel with regard to our nuclear 

187
00:06:59,209 --> 00:07:01,431
strategy . I understand that the budget 

188
00:07:01,431 --> 00:07:03,487
request supports important steps for 

189
00:07:03,487 --> 00:07:05,950
the modernization of our nuclear triad . 

190
00:07:06,209 --> 00:07:08,730
Given the reckless behavior of Putin 

191
00:07:08,869 --> 00:07:10,869
over the past year , our allies and 

192
00:07:10,869 --> 00:07:12,647
partners depend on our extended 

193
00:07:12,647 --> 00:07:14,910
deterrence . Now , more than ever , we 

194
00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:17,049
must also be acutely aware of China's 

195
00:07:17,059 --> 00:07:19,869
rapidly growing modernization of our 

196
00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:22,089
strategic forces is needed to reassure 

197
00:07:22,100 --> 00:07:24,769
not only our allies but deter any 

198
00:07:24,779 --> 00:07:26,959
attack on our homeland by any of our 

199
00:07:26,970 --> 00:07:29,839
nuclear armed competitors . Even as we 

200
00:07:29,850 --> 00:07:31,794
modernize , we should seek ways to 

201
00:07:31,794 --> 00:07:34,089
promote strategic stability , reduce 

202
00:07:34,100 --> 00:07:36,079
the risk of miscalculation and if 

203
00:07:36,089 --> 00:07:38,890
possible reduce nuclear stockpiles when 

204
00:07:38,899 --> 00:07:41,730
verifiable for all parties , given 

205
00:07:41,739 --> 00:07:43,739
these strategic threats to proposed 

206
00:07:43,739 --> 00:07:45,461
investments and tried and true 

207
00:07:45,461 --> 00:07:47,461
platforms like the Columbia and the 

208
00:07:47,461 --> 00:07:49,628
Virginia class submarines is a prudent 

209
00:07:49,628 --> 00:07:51,572
decision . Similarly , this budget 

210
00:07:51,572 --> 00:07:53,572
supports the further development of 

211
00:07:53,572 --> 00:07:53,410
long range stealth . Farmers 

212
00:07:53,510 --> 00:07:55,510
strengthening the fighter fleet and 

213
00:07:55,510 --> 00:07:57,732
building up the defense industrial base 

214
00:07:57,732 --> 00:07:59,954
including upgrades to the Navy's public 

215
00:07:59,954 --> 00:08:01,954
and private shipyards . At the same 

216
00:08:01,954 --> 00:08:04,177
time , taxpayers should not have to pay 

217
00:08:04,177 --> 00:08:06,066
for programs and systems that are 

218
00:08:06,066 --> 00:08:08,121
wasteful or ineffective and Congress 

219
00:08:08,121 --> 00:08:10,489
must not shirk its responsibility to 

220
00:08:10,500 --> 00:08:12,890
divest outdated platforms in favor of 

221
00:08:12,899 --> 00:08:15,809
more effective new technologies . 

222
00:08:16,700 --> 00:08:20,489
We are engaged in a struggle between 

223
00:08:20,500 --> 00:08:23,619
autocracy and democracy and we cannot 

224
00:08:23,630 --> 00:08:26,130
fail in succeeding in that struggle 

225
00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:28,822
again . I'd like to thank the witnesses 

226
00:08:28,822 --> 00:08:30,822
for their participation . Today , I 

227
00:08:30,822 --> 00:08:32,878
look forward to testimony and let me 

228
00:08:32,878 --> 00:08:35,044
now recognize ranking member , Senator 

229
00:08:35,044 --> 00:08:37,100
Walker . Thank you Mr Chairman and I 

230
00:08:37,100 --> 00:08:39,100
too want to thank our distinguished 

231
00:08:39,100 --> 00:08:41,679
witnesses for being here for the third 

232
00:08:41,689 --> 00:08:43,908
year in a row . President Biden has 

233
00:08:43,919 --> 00:08:46,086
sent to Congress a budget request that 

234
00:08:46,086 --> 00:08:48,559
cuts military spending amid a more 

235
00:08:48,568 --> 00:08:50,718
dangerous and complex threat 

236
00:08:50,729 --> 00:08:53,309
environment . We are in the most 

237
00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:55,542
crucial years of our efforts to prevent 

238
00:08:55,542 --> 00:08:57,709
aggression by our peer adversary , the 

239
00:08:57,709 --> 00:09:00,010
Chinese Communist Party . The cost of 

240
00:09:00,020 --> 00:09:03,630
failure in this effort would be nearly 

241
00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:06,840
unthinkable . Despite international 

242
00:09:06,849 --> 00:09:09,016
efforts . To the contrary , Russia was 

243
00:09:09,016 --> 00:09:11,409
not deterred from invading Ukraine . 

244
00:09:12,070 --> 00:09:14,237
And that invasion has already cost the 

245
00:09:14,237 --> 00:09:17,039
global economy well over $1 trillion . 

246
00:09:17,159 --> 00:09:19,349
In addition to untold suffering and 

247
00:09:19,359 --> 00:09:21,239
loss of life , these costs will 

248
00:09:21,250 --> 00:09:23,306
continue to mount unless we give the 

249
00:09:23,306 --> 00:09:25,950
Ukrainians every single tool they need 

250
00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:28,760
to win as soon as possible . Our 

251
00:09:28,770 --> 00:09:30,659
intelligence community tells us a 

252
00:09:30,659 --> 00:09:33,909
deterrent failure over Taiwan would 

253
00:09:33,919 --> 00:09:37,549
make the economic effect of Ukraine 

254
00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:40,700
conflict look vanishingly small . This 

255
00:09:40,710 --> 00:09:42,654
year's budget is the last one that 

256
00:09:42,654 --> 00:09:44,766
funds capabilities that are likely to 

257
00:09:44,766 --> 00:09:48,390
be fielded before 2027 . That's the 

258
00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:51,679
year by which Xi Jinping says he wants 

259
00:09:51,710 --> 00:09:53,739
the People's Liberation Army to be 

260
00:09:53,750 --> 00:09:56,030
ready to take Taiwan that makes our 

261
00:09:56,039 --> 00:09:59,700
work here very urgent . I'm heartened 

262
00:09:59,710 --> 00:10:01,432
to see that the budget request 

263
00:10:01,580 --> 00:10:04,080
prioritizes some programs of critical 

264
00:10:04,090 --> 00:10:06,239
importance to near term deterrents in 

265
00:10:06,250 --> 00:10:08,460
war fighting including the Strategic 

266
00:10:08,469 --> 00:10:11,780
Capabilities Office , but led assault 

267
00:10:11,789 --> 00:10:15,309
breaker , two electronic 

268
00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:17,849
warfare and cyber programs and the 

269
00:10:17,859 --> 00:10:19,915
emerging efforts to deliver real war 

270
00:10:19,915 --> 00:10:22,299
fighting capability out of the C two 

271
00:10:22,309 --> 00:10:24,590
program , these near term high return 

272
00:10:24,599 --> 00:10:26,880
investments are crucial even so I 

273
00:10:26,890 --> 00:10:29,112
remain concerned that we are not moving 

274
00:10:29,112 --> 00:10:31,909
fast enough on some of these efforts at 

275
00:10:31,919 --> 00:10:34,190
the same time . While the national 

276
00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:36,419
defense strategy emphasizes the 

277
00:10:36,429 --> 00:10:38,619
importance of our posture in the 

278
00:10:38,630 --> 00:10:40,686
Western Pacific . I note this budget 

279
00:10:40,686 --> 00:10:43,219
actually cuts the level of spending on 

280
00:10:43,229 --> 00:10:45,289
key planning and design activities . 

281
00:10:46,030 --> 00:10:48,252
This is despite the clear congressional 

282
00:10:48,252 --> 00:10:51,979
signal sent by Senators Reid and 

283
00:10:52,909 --> 00:10:55,131
Inhofe in the statute when they created 

284
00:10:55,131 --> 00:10:57,789
the Pacific deterrence initiative 

285
00:10:57,799 --> 00:10:59,466
several years ago , we cannot 

286
00:10:59,466 --> 00:11:02,340
successfully deter Xii with a brittle 

287
00:11:02,349 --> 00:11:04,849
basing and logistics infrastructure . 

288
00:11:05,179 --> 00:11:07,123
Further , we must work together to 

289
00:11:07,123 --> 00:11:09,290
think bigger and more creatively about 

290
00:11:09,290 --> 00:11:11,179
the scale of investment and focus 

291
00:11:11,179 --> 00:11:13,290
needed to compete with Beijing in the 

292
00:11:13,290 --> 00:11:16,070
decades to come . Our current nuclear 

293
00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:18,136
modernization efforts are moving too 

294
00:11:18,136 --> 00:11:20,280
slowly and will produce a force ill 

295
00:11:20,289 --> 00:11:22,760
equipped to deter multiple nuclear 

296
00:11:22,770 --> 00:11:25,219
armed adversaries . The current 

297
00:11:25,229 --> 00:11:27,729
approach to rebuilding our shipbuilding 

298
00:11:27,739 --> 00:11:30,429
industrial base is also woefully 

299
00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:32,273
insufficient . The Department of 

300
00:11:32,273 --> 00:11:34,440
Defense has failed our shipbuilders by 

301
00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:36,960
promising stability and then pulling 

302
00:11:36,969 --> 00:11:39,219
the rug out from under them . This has 

303
00:11:39,229 --> 00:11:40,785
hit amphibious shipbuilders 

304
00:11:40,785 --> 00:11:42,840
particularly hard . This budget also 

305
00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:46,030
fails by actually shrinking the US 

306
00:11:46,270 --> 00:11:48,869
Navy this year and in future years , 

307
00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:50,824
instead of growing the fleet as is 

308
00:11:50,824 --> 00:11:54,349
required by law , Congress again , will 

309
00:11:54,359 --> 00:11:57,169
need to rectify these failures . 

310
00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:00,169
Yet , even where Congress and the 

311
00:12:00,169 --> 00:12:02,224
Department of Defense have agreed on 

312
00:12:02,224 --> 00:12:04,558
our approach such as with the submarine , 

313
00:12:04,558 --> 00:12:06,780
industrial base , progress has been too 

314
00:12:06,780 --> 00:12:08,947
slow or non existent . We need to make 

315
00:12:08,947 --> 00:12:10,947
generational investments across our 

316
00:12:10,947 --> 00:12:12,669
basic defense infrastructure , 

317
00:12:12,669 --> 00:12:14,669
including shipyards , munitions and 

318
00:12:14,669 --> 00:12:16,558
ammunition plants , advanced test 

319
00:12:16,558 --> 00:12:18,391
ranges and even barracks for our 

320
00:12:18,391 --> 00:12:20,502
service members . And I do appreciate 

321
00:12:20,502 --> 00:12:22,391
the chair emphasizing that in his 

322
00:12:22,391 --> 00:12:24,440
statement . Similarly , we cannot 

323
00:12:24,450 --> 00:12:27,130
effectively compete with and deter our 

324
00:12:27,140 --> 00:12:29,099
adversaries with the recruiting 

325
00:12:29,109 --> 00:12:32,460
deficiencies we've heard about . For 

326
00:12:32,469 --> 00:12:34,525
example , at last week's hearing , I 

327
00:12:34,525 --> 00:12:36,580
hope our witnesses will address this 

328
00:12:36,580 --> 00:12:38,580
issue and state whether this budget 

329
00:12:38,580 --> 00:12:40,302
contains every single possible 

330
00:12:40,302 --> 00:12:42,302
investment that could alleviate the 

331
00:12:42,302 --> 00:12:45,000
recruiting crisis . Lastly , I want to 

332
00:12:45,010 --> 00:12:48,729
discuss the department's relationship 

333
00:12:48,909 --> 00:12:51,500
with Congress . I think we have some 

334
00:12:51,510 --> 00:12:55,460
work to do on this front . And 

335
00:12:55,469 --> 00:12:58,940
let me mention two instances . 

336
00:13:00,010 --> 00:13:04,010
First on February eight , I sent the 

337
00:13:04,020 --> 00:13:06,520
Secretary of Defense a letter asking 

338
00:13:06,530 --> 00:13:09,280
some simple questions about the facts 

339
00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:11,640
and decision making surrounding the 

340
00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:15,500
Chinese Babylon . This was 

341
00:13:15,510 --> 00:13:18,840
um signed by the Senator Rubio , the 

342
00:13:18,849 --> 00:13:21,799
co-chair of the Senate Intelligence 

343
00:13:21,809 --> 00:13:24,849
Committee . Three weeks later , a 

344
00:13:24,859 --> 00:13:28,489
deputy wrote back with a non answers 

345
00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:32,729
which I can only describe as dismissive . 

346
00:13:34,179 --> 00:13:36,429
So I sent another letter reiterating my 

347
00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:39,770
request yesterday afternoon . 

348
00:13:40,630 --> 00:13:42,852
The day before this hearing , I finally 

349
00:13:42,852 --> 00:13:45,479
received a response to my letter from 

350
00:13:45,489 --> 00:13:48,119
the secretary . I have significant 

351
00:13:48,130 --> 00:13:50,880
questions about that response and I 

352
00:13:50,890 --> 00:13:53,929
will address that in questions for the 

353
00:13:53,940 --> 00:13:57,010
record . So that's one thing . 

354
00:13:57,950 --> 00:14:00,840
Um also early last Thursday morning , 

355
00:14:02,119 --> 00:14:04,619
an Iranian backed attack killed one 

356
00:14:04,630 --> 00:14:07,690
American contractor and injured several 

357
00:14:07,700 --> 00:14:11,609
us service members in Syria . These 

358
00:14:11,619 --> 00:14:14,549
troops are there to ensure that ISIS 

359
00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:16,615
does not pose a threat to the United 

360
00:14:16,615 --> 00:14:20,520
States . That very day , 

361
00:14:21,140 --> 00:14:23,270
the Senate was considering several 

362
00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:27,150
significant votes relating to the 

363
00:14:27,159 --> 00:14:29,349
use of force against Iran 

364
00:14:31,119 --> 00:14:34,669
and yet no member of the Senate . To my 

365
00:14:34,679 --> 00:14:38,479
knowledge was told that day about an 

366
00:14:38,489 --> 00:14:41,840
attack by this very adversary while we 

367
00:14:41,849 --> 00:14:45,219
were voting on issues involving them , 

368
00:14:46,270 --> 00:14:48,840
given the number of legislative affairs 

369
00:14:48,849 --> 00:14:52,390
personnel that the 

370
00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:54,622
office of the secretary has . I find it 

371
00:14:54,622 --> 00:14:56,567
hard to believe that no one in the 

372
00:14:56,567 --> 00:14:58,789
executive branch was tracking the votes 

373
00:14:58,789 --> 00:15:02,270
on the Senate floor or thought 

374
00:15:02,979 --> 00:15:05,630
of the , of the nexus between our 

375
00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:09,599
decisions and the very acts that were 

376
00:15:09,609 --> 00:15:12,010
going on on the other side of the globe . 

377
00:15:12,020 --> 00:15:15,070
It is unacceptable that no one informed 

378
00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:17,890
the Senate of this attack in 

379
00:15:19,140 --> 00:15:23,119
a timely manner . Um Mr 

380
00:15:23,130 --> 00:15:26,179
Secretary and Mr Chairman , we're all 

381
00:15:26,190 --> 00:15:29,400
in this together , we're all on the 

382
00:15:29,409 --> 00:15:32,190
same side here . I would strongly 

383
00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:34,256
prefer that the Biden administration 

384
00:15:34,256 --> 00:15:36,422
treat the Congress as a partner moving 

385
00:15:36,422 --> 00:15:39,000
forward and I thank the witnesses for 

386
00:15:39,010 --> 00:15:41,130
appearing today again . I thank them 

387
00:15:41,140 --> 00:15:43,362
for their service and I look forward to 

388
00:15:43,362 --> 00:15:45,196
their testimony . Thank you , Mr 

389
00:15:45,196 --> 00:15:47,029
Chairman . Thank you very much , 

390
00:15:47,029 --> 00:15:49,140
Senator Worker . And let me recognize 

391
00:15:49,140 --> 00:15:51,418
Secretary Austin Mr Secretary , please . 

392
00:15:51,809 --> 00:15:54,299
Uh Chairman Reed uh ranking member 

393
00:15:54,309 --> 00:15:56,531
wicker and distinguished members of the 

394
00:15:56,531 --> 00:15:59,380
committee at the outset . Let me echo 

395
00:15:59,390 --> 00:16:02,679
your comments chairman regarding 

396
00:16:03,070 --> 00:16:06,210
the tragedies that we've just witnessed 

397
00:16:06,219 --> 00:16:08,609
in Mississippi and in Alabama and our 

398
00:16:08,659 --> 00:16:12,640
condolences go out to all . I'm glad 

399
00:16:12,650 --> 00:16:14,872
to be here with you today to testify in 

400
00:16:14,872 --> 00:16:16,761
support of the president's budget 

401
00:16:16,761 --> 00:16:19,510
request for fiscal year 2024 . I'm 

402
00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:21,979
joined as always by General Milley and 

403
00:16:21,989 --> 00:16:24,156
I remain grateful for his leadership . 

404
00:16:24,900 --> 00:16:26,789
I'm also glad to be joined by the 

405
00:16:26,789 --> 00:16:29,109
Department's Comptroller and CFO Mike 

406
00:16:29,119 --> 00:16:32,349
mccord . This is a strategy driven 

407
00:16:32,359 --> 00:16:34,530
budget and one driven by the 

408
00:16:34,539 --> 00:16:36,150
seriousness of our strategic 

409
00:16:36,150 --> 00:16:39,059
competition with the People's Republic 

410
00:16:39,070 --> 00:16:39,760
of China 

411
00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:44,010
At $842 billion . It is a 

412
00:16:44,020 --> 00:16:47,770
3.2% increase over fiscal year 23 

413
00:16:47,780 --> 00:16:51,349
enacted and it is 13.4% 

414
00:16:51,359 --> 00:16:54,840
higher than fiscal year 22 enacted . 

415
00:16:55,869 --> 00:16:57,980
And this budget will help us continue 

416
00:16:57,980 --> 00:16:59,869
to implement our national defense 

417
00:16:59,869 --> 00:17:02,049
strategy in the President's national 

418
00:17:02,059 --> 00:17:05,569
security strategy . Now , I have three 

419
00:17:05,579 --> 00:17:09,520
key priorities to defend our nation 

420
00:17:10,479 --> 00:17:12,780
to take care of our outstanding people 

421
00:17:13,630 --> 00:17:16,920
and to succeed through teamwork . The 

422
00:17:16,930 --> 00:17:19,449
PR C is our pacing challenge and we're 

423
00:17:19,459 --> 00:17:21,818
driving hard to meet it . Our budget 

424
00:17:21,828 --> 00:17:23,884
bills on our previous investments to 

425
00:17:23,884 --> 00:17:26,640
deter aggression . We're investing in a 

426
00:17:26,650 --> 00:17:28,650
more resilient force posture in the 

427
00:17:28,650 --> 00:17:31,920
Indo Pacific and increasing the scale 

428
00:17:31,930 --> 00:17:34,250
and the scope of our exercises with our 

429
00:17:34,260 --> 00:17:37,180
partners . And this budget includes a 

430
00:17:37,189 --> 00:17:40,989
40% increase over last year's 

431
00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:43,660
budget for the Pacific deterrence 

432
00:17:43,670 --> 00:17:46,680
initiative . It's an all time high of 

433
00:17:46,689 --> 00:17:50,400
$9.1 billion and that will fund a 

434
00:17:50,410 --> 00:17:52,299
stronger force posture and better 

435
00:17:52,299 --> 00:17:55,130
defenses for Hawaii and Guam and deeper 

436
00:17:55,140 --> 00:17:56,918
cooperation with our allies and 

437
00:17:56,918 --> 00:17:59,660
partners . This budget also makes the 

438
00:17:59,670 --> 00:18:01,781
department's largest ever investments 

439
00:18:01,781 --> 00:18:05,109
in both R and D and procurement . We're 

440
00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:07,699
investing , we're requesting more than 

441
00:18:07,709 --> 00:18:10,739
$61 billion to sustain air dominance . 

442
00:18:11,430 --> 00:18:13,597
That includes funding for our fighters 

443
00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:16,859
and the extraordinary B-21 strategic 

444
00:18:16,869 --> 00:18:18,900
bomber that I helped unveil last 

445
00:18:18,910 --> 00:18:21,869
December . We're also seeking more than 

446
00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:25,160
$48 billion for sea power including new 

447
00:18:25,170 --> 00:18:27,520
construction of nine battle force ships 

448
00:18:28,719 --> 00:18:30,441
and we're boosting capacity in 

449
00:18:30,441 --> 00:18:32,608
America's shipyards to build the ships 

450
00:18:32,608 --> 00:18:34,497
that our strategy demands . We're 

451
00:18:34,497 --> 00:18:37,130
investing a total of $1.2 billion in 

452
00:18:37,140 --> 00:18:39,890
the submarine industrial base and we're 

453
00:18:39,900 --> 00:18:41,733
buying two Virginia class attack 

454
00:18:41,733 --> 00:18:44,500
submarines and one Columbia class 

455
00:18:44,660 --> 00:18:47,569
missile submarine on land . We're 

456
00:18:47,579 --> 00:18:49,650
investing in air and missile defense 

457
00:18:50,069 --> 00:18:52,689
and in defenses to counter unmanned 

458
00:18:52,699 --> 00:18:55,560
aerial vehicles . We're also requesting 

459
00:18:55,569 --> 00:18:58,479
$11 billion to deliver the right mix of 

460
00:18:58,489 --> 00:19:00,920
long range fires including major 

461
00:19:00,930 --> 00:19:04,060
investments in hypersonic , will also 

462
00:19:04,069 --> 00:19:06,291
continue to modernize all three legs of 

463
00:19:06,291 --> 00:19:08,709
our nuclear triad and bolster our 

464
00:19:08,719 --> 00:19:11,160
strategic deterrence . And we put 

465
00:19:11,170 --> 00:19:14,050
forward the largest budget , largest 

466
00:19:14,060 --> 00:19:16,050
space budget in Pentagon history . 

467
00:19:16,530 --> 00:19:19,290
We've requested $33.3 billion to 

468
00:19:19,300 --> 00:19:21,133
improve our capabilities and our 

469
00:19:21,133 --> 00:19:24,000
resilience in space . Let me again 

470
00:19:24,010 --> 00:19:25,843
thank Congress for providing the 

471
00:19:25,843 --> 00:19:28,329
department with multi year procurement 

472
00:19:28,339 --> 00:19:30,283
authorities and appropriations for 

473
00:19:30,283 --> 00:19:32,969
critical munitions . In this budget . 

474
00:19:32,979 --> 00:19:34,979
We are requesting more multi year 

475
00:19:34,989 --> 00:19:36,979
procurement authorities and we're 

476
00:19:36,989 --> 00:19:39,609
asking for more than $30 billion to 

477
00:19:39,619 --> 00:19:42,369
further invest in the industrial base 

478
00:19:43,030 --> 00:19:44,863
and to buy the maximum number of 

479
00:19:44,863 --> 00:19:46,919
munitions that American industry can 

480
00:19:46,919 --> 00:19:49,670
produce . This budget also moves us 

481
00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:51,660
away from aging capabilities that 

482
00:19:51,670 --> 00:19:53,781
aren't relevant to future conflicts . 

483
00:19:54,219 --> 00:19:56,275
So we can focus on the advances that 

484
00:19:56,275 --> 00:19:58,709
our war fighters will need . Now , our 

485
00:19:58,719 --> 00:20:00,719
national defense strategy calls out 

486
00:20:00,719 --> 00:20:03,880
Putin's highly aggressive Russia as an 

487
00:20:03,890 --> 00:20:06,209
acute threat . And under President 

488
00:20:06,219 --> 00:20:08,386
Biden's leadership , the United States 

489
00:20:08,386 --> 00:20:10,510
has rallied the world to help Ukraine 

490
00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:13,630
fight Russia's indefensible invasion . 

491
00:20:14,569 --> 00:20:17,530
We've reinforced nato's defense and 

492
00:20:17,540 --> 00:20:20,160
deterrence on its eastern flank , our 

493
00:20:20,170 --> 00:20:22,060
allies and partners have provided 

494
00:20:22,069 --> 00:20:25,030
crucial security assistance coordinated 

495
00:20:25,329 --> 00:20:27,560
to the Ukraine defense contact group 

496
00:20:27,569 --> 00:20:30,130
that I lead and we will support 

497
00:20:30,140 --> 00:20:32,140
Ukraine's defense for as long as it 

498
00:20:32,140 --> 00:20:34,420
takes . Meanwhile , the department 

499
00:20:34,430 --> 00:20:37,300
remains vigilant against other 

500
00:20:37,390 --> 00:20:39,790
persistent persistent threats including 

501
00:20:40,079 --> 00:20:42,849
North Korea and Iran . And we will take 

502
00:20:42,859 --> 00:20:44,915
all necessary measures to defend our 

503
00:20:44,915 --> 00:20:47,479
troops and our interest overseas as 

504
00:20:47,489 --> 00:20:49,739
seen in our recent air strikes against 

505
00:20:49,829 --> 00:20:53,239
facilities linked to Iran's Islamic 

506
00:20:53,250 --> 00:20:56,709
Revolutionary Guard Corps . And we are 

507
00:20:56,719 --> 00:20:58,775
also investing in over the horizon , 

508
00:20:58,775 --> 00:21:01,069
counterterrorism capabilities . Mr 

509
00:21:01,079 --> 00:21:03,301
Chairman , our joint force stands ready 

510
00:21:03,301 --> 00:21:05,920
to meet any challenge . You could see 

511
00:21:05,930 --> 00:21:07,930
the forces readiness after Russia's 

512
00:21:07,930 --> 00:21:10,097
unprovoked invasion of Ukraine when we 

513
00:21:10,097 --> 00:21:12,420
swiftly deployed elements of the third 

514
00:21:12,430 --> 00:21:14,900
infantry division to Poland to shore up 

515
00:21:14,910 --> 00:21:17,579
nato's eastern flank and we closely 

516
00:21:17,589 --> 00:21:20,760
monitor readiness at the unit level and 

517
00:21:20,770 --> 00:21:23,869
maintain response forces at our highest 

518
00:21:23,900 --> 00:21:26,369
states of readiness . While the rest of 

519
00:21:26,380 --> 00:21:29,160
the force by design is preparing for 

520
00:21:29,170 --> 00:21:31,750
future contingencies . So this budget 

521
00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:33,760
will help us maintain our readiness 

522
00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:36,160
with $146 billion in funding for 

523
00:21:36,170 --> 00:21:38,640
operations , training and maintenance . 

524
00:21:39,050 --> 00:21:41,161
This budget also invests in improving 

525
00:21:41,161 --> 00:21:43,161
our readiness and resilience in the 

526
00:21:43,161 --> 00:21:45,272
face of climate change and other 21st 

527
00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:47,839
century threats . Mr Chairman , we're 

528
00:21:47,849 --> 00:21:50,016
going to remain the strongest military 

529
00:21:50,016 --> 00:21:52,510
in the world and as we mark the 50th 

530
00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:54,920
anniversary of our all volunteer force , 

531
00:21:54,930 --> 00:21:57,097
I am enormously proud of the brave men 

532
00:21:57,097 --> 00:21:59,263
and women who choose to wear the cloth 

533
00:21:59,263 --> 00:22:01,374
of our nation . We owe it to them and 

534
00:22:01,374 --> 00:22:03,380
to their families to take the best 

535
00:22:03,390 --> 00:22:05,446
possible care of all of our people . 

536
00:22:06,060 --> 00:22:08,300
And over the past two years , we've 

537
00:22:08,310 --> 00:22:10,680
made moves easier . We've cut 

538
00:22:10,689 --> 00:22:12,859
commissary prices and we've made 

539
00:22:12,869 --> 00:22:15,469
childcare more affordable . And this 

540
00:22:15,479 --> 00:22:17,257
budget funds other key steps to 

541
00:22:17,257 --> 00:22:19,257
increase the quality of life of our 

542
00:22:19,257 --> 00:22:21,146
teammates , including the largest 

543
00:22:21,146 --> 00:22:23,146
military and civilian pay raises in 

544
00:22:23,146 --> 00:22:25,969
decades . Now , we're also pushing hard 

545
00:22:25,979 --> 00:22:28,510
to help eliminate suicide in our ranks , 

546
00:22:28,709 --> 00:22:31,199
including immediate steps to hire more 

547
00:22:31,209 --> 00:22:33,469
mental health professionals and improve 

548
00:22:33,479 --> 00:22:35,650
access to mental health care . And 

549
00:22:35,660 --> 00:22:37,604
meanwhile , we're working toward a 

550
00:22:37,604 --> 00:22:39,882
military that's free of sexual assault . 

551
00:22:39,882 --> 00:22:41,938
We work with Congress to improve the 

552
00:22:41,938 --> 00:22:44,104
response of sexual assault and related 

553
00:22:44,104 --> 00:22:45,938
crimes under the uniform code of 

554
00:22:45,938 --> 00:22:48,219
military justice . And those reforms 

555
00:22:48,229 --> 00:22:50,451
will be fully implemented by the end of 

556
00:22:50,451 --> 00:22:52,699
this year . And the department is also 

557
00:22:52,709 --> 00:22:55,630
investing in the specialized workforce 

558
00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:57,862
to combat sexual assault , harassment , 

559
00:22:57,862 --> 00:23:00,199
suicide and more now , the department's 

560
00:23:00,209 --> 00:23:02,265
third priority is succeeding through 

561
00:23:02,265 --> 00:23:04,719
teamwork and our rival network of 

562
00:23:04,729 --> 00:23:07,959
allies and partners magnifies our power 

563
00:23:07,969 --> 00:23:10,319
and expands our security . And in 

564
00:23:10,329 --> 00:23:12,551
recent months , our friends in the Indo 

565
00:23:12,551 --> 00:23:14,829
Pacific have taken major steps forward . 

566
00:23:15,430 --> 00:23:17,689
The Philippines has agreed to nearly 

567
00:23:17,699 --> 00:23:19,699
double the number of sites where we 

568
00:23:19,699 --> 00:23:22,420
cooperate together . Japan is committed 

569
00:23:22,430 --> 00:23:24,849
to double its defense spending . And 

570
00:23:24,859 --> 00:23:27,026
through the historic aus partnership , 

571
00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:29,189
we will work with Australian and 

572
00:23:29,199 --> 00:23:31,310
British allies to build game changing 

573
00:23:31,310 --> 00:23:33,319
defense advantages that will deter 

574
00:23:33,329 --> 00:23:35,760
aggression and boost our defense 

575
00:23:35,770 --> 00:23:38,719
industrial capacity . In some Mr 

576
00:23:38,729 --> 00:23:40,951
chairman , this is the budget that will 

577
00:23:40,951 --> 00:23:43,062
meet this moment . And I respectfully 

578
00:23:43,062 --> 00:23:45,329
ask for your support in the single most 

579
00:23:45,339 --> 00:23:47,450
effective way that this committee can 

580
00:23:47,450 --> 00:23:49,172
support the department and our 

581
00:23:49,172 --> 00:23:51,650
outstanding troops is with an on time 

582
00:23:51,660 --> 00:23:53,910
full year appropriation . So I look 

583
00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:56,031
forward to working with all of you so 

584
00:23:56,031 --> 00:23:57,976
that we can continue to defend our 

585
00:23:57,976 --> 00:23:59,976
democracy and support the forces of 

586
00:23:59,976 --> 00:24:01,976
freedom in this hour of challenge . 

587
00:24:01,976 --> 00:24:03,976
Thank you , Mr Chairman . Thank you 

588
00:24:03,976 --> 00:24:06,309
very much , Mr Secretary General Milley . 

589
00:24:06,309 --> 00:24:08,531
Do you have a statement ? I do chairman 

590
00:24:08,531 --> 00:24:10,642
and Chairman Reid , uh ranking member 

591
00:24:10,642 --> 00:24:12,864
Wicker and distinguished members of the 

592
00:24:12,864 --> 00:24:12,609
committee . Thank you for the 

593
00:24:12,619 --> 00:24:14,952
opportunity to testify before you today . 

594
00:24:14,952 --> 00:24:17,063
And I want to echo the condolences of 

595
00:24:17,063 --> 00:24:19,230
both the secretary and the chairman uh 

596
00:24:19,230 --> 00:24:21,452
for the great people of Mississippi and 

597
00:24:21,452 --> 00:24:23,675
Alabama . Uh tragic losses . Our hearts 

598
00:24:23,675 --> 00:24:25,897
go out to them and , and many , many uh 

599
00:24:25,897 --> 00:24:27,841
uh soldiers and sailors , airmen , 

600
00:24:27,841 --> 00:24:29,952
marines in uniform come from your two 

601
00:24:29,952 --> 00:24:32,119
great states . So uh our hearts go out 

602
00:24:32,119 --> 00:24:34,230
to you . I've been privileged to , to 

603
00:24:34,230 --> 00:24:36,397
defend this country for 43 consecutive 

604
00:24:36,397 --> 00:24:38,230
years in uniform . Uh And as the 

605
00:24:38,230 --> 00:24:40,397
chairman said , this is likely my last 

606
00:24:40,397 --> 00:24:42,619
set of posture hearings , but I do want 

607
00:24:42,619 --> 00:24:44,341
to thank the Congress for your 

608
00:24:44,341 --> 00:24:46,508
continued support to our military . Uh 

609
00:24:46,508 --> 00:24:48,508
not only on this budget but for the 

610
00:24:48,508 --> 00:24:50,675
last four decades , and I ask that you 

611
00:24:50,675 --> 00:24:52,786
support this year's request for an on 

612
00:24:52,786 --> 00:24:54,897
time budget approval . I'm honored to 

613
00:24:54,897 --> 00:24:57,008
represent here today . The soldiers , 

614
00:24:57,008 --> 00:24:59,286
sailors , airmen , marines , guardians , 

615
00:24:59,286 --> 00:25:01,508
and families of the United States joint 

616
00:25:01,508 --> 00:25:03,619
force along with Secretary Austin and 

617
00:25:03,619 --> 00:25:03,550
Mike mccord . And I want to publicly 

618
00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:05,727
thank them both for their leadership . 

619
00:25:06,119 --> 00:25:08,341
Our joint force , as the secretary said 

620
00:25:08,341 --> 00:25:10,563
is the most lethal and capable military 

621
00:25:10,563 --> 00:25:12,841
in the world . Because of your support , 

622
00:25:12,841 --> 00:25:15,008
our purpose , the military's purpose , 

623
00:25:15,008 --> 00:25:17,230
the uniformed military is simple . It's 

624
00:25:17,230 --> 00:25:19,341
to defend the United States . And our 

625
00:25:19,341 --> 00:25:21,341
task is to fight and win in all the 

626
00:25:21,341 --> 00:25:23,670
domains of combat to secure America and 

627
00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:27,469
prevent great power , war readiness for 

628
00:25:27,479 --> 00:25:29,680
us in uniform and readiness now and 

629
00:25:29,689 --> 00:25:31,467
readiness in the future through 

630
00:25:31,467 --> 00:25:33,280
modernization is our number one 

631
00:25:33,290 --> 00:25:35,449
priority and there is no other number 

632
00:25:35,459 --> 00:25:38,050
one other than the readiness for combat . 

633
00:25:39,010 --> 00:25:41,121
The joint forces will accomplish this 

634
00:25:41,121 --> 00:25:43,510
at the fiscal year 24 budget request of 

635
00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:47,500
$842 billion right now . As pointed 

636
00:25:47,510 --> 00:25:49,290
out by Senator Wicker , the 

637
00:25:49,300 --> 00:25:51,356
international system is under stress 

638
00:25:51,589 --> 00:25:53,756
for the first time , the United States 

639
00:25:53,756 --> 00:25:55,700
is facing two major nuclear powers 

640
00:25:55,700 --> 00:25:57,922
whose vital national security interests 

641
00:25:57,922 --> 00:25:59,867
are in competition with the United 

642
00:25:59,867 --> 00:26:02,033
States . Both the People's Republic of 

643
00:26:02,033 --> 00:26:04,819
China and Russia have the means to 

644
00:26:04,829 --> 00:26:06,940
threaten our interests and our way of 

645
00:26:06,940 --> 00:26:10,359
life . But war with either one is 

646
00:26:10,369 --> 00:26:13,869
neither inevitable nor imminent . Great 

647
00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:16,047
power war has not happened in the last 

648
00:26:16,047 --> 00:26:18,349
80 years in large part because of the 

649
00:26:18,359 --> 00:26:20,526
rules put in place at the end of World 

650
00:26:20,526 --> 00:26:22,689
War Two and the capabilities of the 

651
00:26:22,699 --> 00:26:24,810
United States military along with our 

652
00:26:24,810 --> 00:26:27,109
allies and partners , we must remain 

653
00:26:27,239 --> 00:26:29,770
the most powerful nation and the great 

654
00:26:29,780 --> 00:26:32,300
power of peace then will be prevailing . 

655
00:26:33,979 --> 00:26:36,339
The People's Republic of China remains 

656
00:26:36,349 --> 00:26:39,109
our number one long term geostrategic 

657
00:26:39,119 --> 00:26:42,069
security challenge . The PR C intends 

658
00:26:42,260 --> 00:26:44,204
to be the regional hegemon in Asia 

659
00:26:44,229 --> 00:26:46,930
within the next 10 years and to exceed 

660
00:26:46,939 --> 00:26:48,883
the United States overall military 

661
00:26:48,883 --> 00:26:50,969
capability by mid century . And they 

662
00:26:50,979 --> 00:26:54,510
have publicly stated 2049 the Pr CS 

663
00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:56,839
actions are moving it down the path to 

664
00:26:56,849 --> 00:26:59,000
its potential confrontation with its 

665
00:26:59,010 --> 00:27:01,359
neighbors and the United States . But 

666
00:27:01,369 --> 00:27:03,770
again , war with China is neither 

667
00:27:03,780 --> 00:27:07,510
inevitable nor imminent . Additionally , 

668
00:27:07,900 --> 00:27:10,099
Russia is an acute threat and remains 

669
00:27:10,109 --> 00:27:12,449
quite dangerous . Over a year ago , 

670
00:27:12,459 --> 00:27:14,969
Russia undertook an illegal and 

671
00:27:14,979 --> 00:27:17,180
unprovoked war against Ukraine , 

672
00:27:17,189 --> 00:27:19,300
threatening the peace on the European 

673
00:27:19,300 --> 00:27:21,522
continent and global stability . We are 

674
00:27:21,522 --> 00:27:23,411
supporting Ukraine to protect its 

675
00:27:23,411 --> 00:27:25,467
sovereignty and supporting NATO with 

676
00:27:25,467 --> 00:27:27,467
the United States Force presence in 

677
00:27:27,467 --> 00:27:29,578
every single nation on nato's eastern 

678
00:27:29,578 --> 00:27:31,729
flank . This fight is not just in 

679
00:27:31,739 --> 00:27:33,628
Ukraine's interest , it is in the 

680
00:27:33,628 --> 00:27:35,739
United States interest to protect the 

681
00:27:35,739 --> 00:27:37,961
system that has prevented great power . 

682
00:27:37,961 --> 00:27:41,589
War in Iran . Iran threatens to push 

683
00:27:41,599 --> 00:27:43,266
the Middle East into regional 

684
00:27:43,266 --> 00:27:45,400
instability by supporting terrorists 

685
00:27:45,410 --> 00:27:47,521
and proxy forces . As we recently saw 

686
00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:51,290
just last week , Iranian aligned groups 

687
00:27:51,300 --> 00:27:53,630
killed one American and injured seven 

688
00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:56,390
in attacks on coalition bases in Syria . 

689
00:27:56,739 --> 00:27:58,683
We acted immediately to defend our 

690
00:27:58,683 --> 00:28:00,850
troops and we will continue to counter 

691
00:28:00,850 --> 00:28:02,850
terrorist threats in the region and 

692
00:28:02,850 --> 00:28:05,050
anywhere else . We find them and Iran 

693
00:28:05,060 --> 00:28:07,171
has taken actions also to improve its 

694
00:28:07,171 --> 00:28:09,060
capabilities to produce a nuclear 

695
00:28:09,060 --> 00:28:11,116
weapon . From the time of an Iranian 

696
00:28:11,116 --> 00:28:13,171
decision , Iran could produce enough 

697
00:28:13,171 --> 00:28:15,282
fissile material for a nuclear weapon 

698
00:28:15,282 --> 00:28:17,282
in less than two weeks and it would 

699
00:28:17,282 --> 00:28:19,449
only take several months thereafter to 

700
00:28:19,449 --> 00:28:21,616
produce an actual nuclear weapon . The 

701
00:28:21,616 --> 00:28:23,671
United States remains committed as a 

702
00:28:23,671 --> 00:28:26,229
matter of policy that Iran will not 

703
00:28:26,239 --> 00:28:29,270
have a nuclear weapon . The United 

704
00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:31,447
States military has developed multiple 

705
00:28:31,447 --> 00:28:33,613
options for our national leadership to 

706
00:28:33,613 --> 00:28:36,099
consider if or when Iran decides to 

707
00:28:36,109 --> 00:28:38,989
develop a nuclear weapon , North 

708
00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:41,000
Korea's continued ballistic missile 

709
00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:43,222
testing and nuclear weapons development 

710
00:28:43,222 --> 00:28:45,278
pose threats to our homeland and our 

711
00:28:45,278 --> 00:28:47,222
allies and partners . But we stand 

712
00:28:47,222 --> 00:28:49,389
together shoulder to shoulder with the 

713
00:28:49,389 --> 00:28:51,611
Republic of Korea to deter North Korean 

714
00:28:51,611 --> 00:28:53,500
aggression . As we have for seven 

715
00:28:53,500 --> 00:28:55,333
decades , terrorists continue to 

716
00:28:55,333 --> 00:28:57,500
operate around the globe , threatening 

717
00:28:57,500 --> 00:28:59,667
fear destruction , destabilization and 

718
00:28:59,667 --> 00:29:01,611
this budget supports our continued 

719
00:29:01,611 --> 00:29:03,667
counterterrorism effort . In short , 

720
00:29:03,667 --> 00:29:05,889
the United States military stands ready 

721
00:29:05,889 --> 00:29:08,000
to protect our nation's interests and 

722
00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:10,167
the American people . We are currently 

723
00:29:10,167 --> 00:29:09,920
standing watch on freedom frontier with 

724
00:29:09,930 --> 00:29:13,540
nearly a quarter of a,250,000 troops 

725
00:29:13,829 --> 00:29:15,996
in Europe , Asia , Africa , the Middle 

726
00:29:15,996 --> 00:29:18,430
East and South America . The United 

727
00:29:18,439 --> 00:29:20,989
States never fights alone . A key 

728
00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:23,056
source of our strength and our large 

729
00:29:23,056 --> 00:29:24,833
global network of alliances and 

730
00:29:24,833 --> 00:29:26,833
partnerships . Just this month , we 

731
00:29:26,839 --> 00:29:29,750
conducted 63 operations and joint and 

732
00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:31,816
combined exercises globally with our 

733
00:29:31,816 --> 00:29:33,982
allies and partners . And lastly , our 

734
00:29:33,982 --> 00:29:36,149
operational readiness rates are higher 

735
00:29:36,149 --> 00:29:38,260
now than they've been in many years . 

736
00:29:38,260 --> 00:29:40,459
Currently , 60% of our active force is 

737
00:29:40,469 --> 00:29:42,580
at the highest state of readiness and 

738
00:29:42,580 --> 00:29:44,747
could deploy to combat in less than 30 

739
00:29:44,747 --> 00:29:46,580
days while exceeding our minimum 

740
00:29:46,580 --> 00:29:49,199
standard of 1/3 of the force . 10% in 

741
00:29:49,209 --> 00:29:51,209
fact , could deploy in less than 96 

742
00:29:51,209 --> 00:29:53,229
hours . This military , the United 

743
00:29:53,239 --> 00:29:56,520
States military is ready . The joint 

744
00:29:56,530 --> 00:29:58,900
force is at an inflection point and we 

745
00:29:58,910 --> 00:30:01,132
must balance operations , readiness and 

746
00:30:01,132 --> 00:30:03,021
modernization . We must not allow 

747
00:30:03,021 --> 00:30:05,243
ourselves to create the false trap that 

748
00:30:05,243 --> 00:30:07,410
we can either modernize our forces for 

749
00:30:07,410 --> 00:30:09,650
the future or focus only on today . We 

750
00:30:09,660 --> 00:30:12,119
must do both . We must integrate 

751
00:30:12,130 --> 00:30:13,963
advancing technologies including 

752
00:30:13,963 --> 00:30:15,686
precision , long range fires , 

753
00:30:15,686 --> 00:30:17,963
hypersonic weapons , quantum computing , 

754
00:30:17,963 --> 00:30:20,130
artificial intelligence , robotics and 

755
00:30:20,130 --> 00:30:22,900
all domain sensors . The time is now we 

756
00:30:22,910 --> 00:30:25,750
have very little margin to wait and the 

757
00:30:25,760 --> 00:30:27,816
common thread critical to accomplish 

758
00:30:27,816 --> 00:30:29,816
all of this is our people . We must 

759
00:30:29,816 --> 00:30:31,538
continue investing in training 

760
00:30:31,538 --> 00:30:33,649
education and talent management to be 

761
00:30:33,649 --> 00:30:35,538
prepared for the future operating 

762
00:30:35,538 --> 00:30:37,371
environment . I urge Congress to 

763
00:30:37,371 --> 00:30:39,593
support this budget's significant pay , 

764
00:30:39,593 --> 00:30:41,816
raise health care housing and childcare 

765
00:30:41,816 --> 00:30:43,982
initiatives . This budget sustains our 

766
00:30:43,982 --> 00:30:46,630
readiness and adapts the joint force to 

767
00:30:46,640 --> 00:30:48,807
the future war fighting requirements . 

768
00:30:49,430 --> 00:30:52,030
There is nothing more expensive than 

769
00:30:52,040 --> 00:30:55,530
fighting a war preparing for war is 

770
00:30:55,540 --> 00:30:57,689
very expensive but nothing more 

771
00:30:57,699 --> 00:30:59,421
expensive than fighting it and 

772
00:30:59,421 --> 00:31:02,239
preparing a war preparing for war will 

773
00:31:02,250 --> 00:31:05,119
deter war . And that is our goal . We 

774
00:31:05,130 --> 00:31:07,599
must act with clear eyed urgency . In 

775
00:31:07,609 --> 00:31:10,560
order to deter great power war by doing 

776
00:31:10,569 --> 00:31:12,369
so , no adversary should ever 

777
00:31:12,380 --> 00:31:14,602
underestimate the resolve of our nation 

778
00:31:14,602 --> 00:31:16,547
and the strength of our military . 

779
00:31:16,547 --> 00:31:18,713
Thank you . And I look forward to your 

780
00:31:18,713 --> 00:31:20,769
questions . Thank you very much . Uh 

781
00:31:20,769 --> 00:31:22,880
General Milley , uh Secretary mccoy . 

782
00:31:22,880 --> 00:31:26,270
Do you have a statement ? No , Mr 

783
00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:28,391
Chairman , other than to uh wish your 

784
00:31:28,391 --> 00:31:30,336
staff director a speedy recovery . 

785
00:31:30,336 --> 00:31:32,410
Thank you very much . Uh 

786
00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:35,889
Secretary and General Milley , uh 

787
00:31:35,889 --> 00:31:38,060
logistics is not the most exciting 

788
00:31:38,069 --> 00:31:41,699
topic . Um But in many cases , it's one 

789
00:31:41,709 --> 00:31:43,931
of the most crucial topics particularly 

790
00:31:43,931 --> 00:31:45,931
in the Pacific where distance is as 

791
00:31:45,931 --> 00:31:49,650
much an enemy as uh our opposing forces . 

792
00:31:49,660 --> 00:31:51,882
Uh First Minister Secretary and then uh 

793
00:31:51,882 --> 00:31:53,993
General Milley , can you comment upon 

794
00:31:53,993 --> 00:31:56,119
the investments we're making in our 

795
00:31:56,180 --> 00:31:58,709
modernizing our logistics particularly 

796
00:31:58,719 --> 00:32:02,339
in the area , uh command and control 

797
00:32:02,349 --> 00:32:05,369
activities that would uh help uh 

798
00:32:05,380 --> 00:32:08,260
deliver uh these uh 

799
00:32:08,270 --> 00:32:10,489
resources to our troops . 

800
00:32:12,619 --> 00:32:16,069
Thanks , Chairman , as I stated 

801
00:32:16,079 --> 00:32:18,329
earlier in this budget , we're asking 

802
00:32:18,339 --> 00:32:21,459
to invest some $9.1 billion in the 

803
00:32:21,469 --> 00:32:23,949
Pacific deterrence initiative that will 

804
00:32:23,959 --> 00:32:27,550
enable us to strengthen for 

805
00:32:27,560 --> 00:32:29,890
infrastructure so we can continue to 

806
00:32:31,569 --> 00:32:35,280
deploy troops so that will enable us to 

807
00:32:35,449 --> 00:32:38,319
deter further forward in theater . In 

808
00:32:38,329 --> 00:32:41,680
addition to that , we've pushed 

809
00:32:42,380 --> 00:32:46,099
a number of our sustainment elements 

810
00:32:46,109 --> 00:32:49,390
like fuel further further into the 

811
00:32:49,400 --> 00:32:52,270
theater and we continue to make sure 

812
00:32:52,280 --> 00:32:55,359
that we have a diverse and agile 

813
00:32:55,369 --> 00:32:58,300
footprint so that we can we can rapidly 

814
00:32:58,310 --> 00:33:01,329
respond to any challenge . But I think 

815
00:33:01,339 --> 00:33:03,228
that we're investing in the right 

816
00:33:03,228 --> 00:33:05,395
things and , and going after the right 

817
00:33:05,395 --> 00:33:07,506
capabilities to make sure that we can 

818
00:33:07,506 --> 00:33:09,617
operate further forward . Thank you , 

819
00:33:09,617 --> 00:33:12,219
Joe Me , please . Yes , Senator , thank 

820
00:33:12,229 --> 00:33:14,396
you . Uh You know , key here is uh one 

821
00:33:14,396 --> 00:33:16,507
of the keys here is ammunition . Uh , 

822
00:33:16,507 --> 00:33:18,507
and that the secretary has directed 

823
00:33:18,507 --> 00:33:20,173
that uh we analyze all of our 

824
00:33:20,173 --> 00:33:22,229
ammunition stocks in light of what's 

825
00:33:22,229 --> 00:33:24,451
going on in Ukraine . That's a key area 

826
00:33:24,451 --> 00:33:26,229
that we need to increase our uh 

827
00:33:26,229 --> 00:33:25,979
capabilities here in the , in the 

828
00:33:25,989 --> 00:33:28,030
coming years is ammunition . Uh The 

829
00:33:28,040 --> 00:33:31,020
second uh piece there is lift uh in the 

830
00:33:31,030 --> 00:33:32,863
area of lift , both sea lift and 

831
00:33:32,863 --> 00:33:35,030
airlift . There's a lot of investments 

832
00:33:35,030 --> 00:33:35,030
in this budget and previous budgets 

833
00:33:35,229 --> 00:33:37,173
that will be an area that requires 

834
00:33:37,173 --> 00:33:39,396
continued sustained levels of effort is 

835
00:33:39,396 --> 00:33:41,507
in order to move the force projecting 

836
00:33:41,507 --> 00:33:43,451
power is a key attribute of the US 

837
00:33:43,451 --> 00:33:45,340
military . And we do that through 

838
00:33:45,340 --> 00:33:47,285
sealift and air lift . So that's , 

839
00:33:47,285 --> 00:33:47,099
that's the second key point . And the 

840
00:33:47,109 --> 00:33:49,220
last one I would say is the Posture . 

841
00:33:49,220 --> 00:33:51,442
Uh the secretary has initiated a series 

842
00:33:51,442 --> 00:33:53,776
with the , the uh Indo paycom commander , 

843
00:33:53,776 --> 00:33:55,942
a series of Posture adjustments in the 

844
00:33:55,942 --> 00:33:58,109
Pacific , which should better position 

845
00:33:58,109 --> 00:33:57,969
us for uh sustainment , logistical 

846
00:33:57,979 --> 00:33:59,812
sustainment if any conflict ever 

847
00:33:59,812 --> 00:34:02,060
happens . Thank you very much . Uh Mr 

848
00:34:02,069 --> 00:34:05,130
Secretary . Uh We are in a moment where 

849
00:34:05,140 --> 00:34:07,630
we're having a , a challenge getting 

850
00:34:07,859 --> 00:34:10,030
general officers uh off the floor of 

851
00:34:10,040 --> 00:34:12,060
the Senate and to their assigned 

852
00:34:12,070 --> 00:34:14,669
stations uh after they've been 

853
00:34:14,679 --> 00:34:17,560
recommended by uh the Department of 

854
00:34:17,570 --> 00:34:20,350
Defense and , and cleared in terms of 

855
00:34:20,360 --> 00:34:21,916
their performance and their 

856
00:34:21,916 --> 00:34:24,770
capabilities . Can you tell us what the 

857
00:34:24,929 --> 00:34:28,750
cumulative effects of this would 

858
00:34:28,760 --> 00:34:32,639
be in terms of denying uh promotions to 

859
00:34:32,649 --> 00:34:36,198
people who are gonna take key jobs ? Uh 

860
00:34:36,279 --> 00:34:38,289
Thanks chairman , the , the uh the 

861
00:34:38,299 --> 00:34:40,428
effects are , are , are 

862
00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:45,419
absolutely critical in terms of the 

863
00:34:45,429 --> 00:34:48,610
impact on the force . This is one of 

864
00:34:48,620 --> 00:34:50,676
the busiest times or one of the most 

865
00:34:50,676 --> 00:34:52,842
complex times that we've seen lately . 

866
00:34:52,842 --> 00:34:56,489
We see a war , the largest conflict in 

867
00:34:56,500 --> 00:34:58,850
Europe since world war II , we see an 

868
00:34:58,860 --> 00:35:01,500
aggressive China operating in the Indo 

869
00:35:01,510 --> 00:35:04,169
Pacific . We see Iranian backed 

870
00:35:04,179 --> 00:35:07,760
elements going after our troops 

871
00:35:07,770 --> 00:35:09,639
and there are a number of things 

872
00:35:09,649 --> 00:35:11,760
happening globally that indicate that 

873
00:35:11,760 --> 00:35:14,209
we could be in a contest on any one 

874
00:35:14,219 --> 00:35:18,080
given day , not approving 

875
00:35:18,090 --> 00:35:21,080
the recommendation for promotions 

876
00:35:21,310 --> 00:35:23,919
actually creates a ripple effect 

877
00:35:23,929 --> 00:35:25,929
through the force that makes us far 

878
00:35:25,929 --> 00:35:28,909
less ready than we need to be . If you 

879
00:35:28,919 --> 00:35:31,252
look at what we have coming up , I mean , 

880
00:35:31,252 --> 00:35:34,340
there are three I think , well , 53 

881
00:35:34,350 --> 00:35:38,219
star uh promotions that are near term . 

882
00:35:38,229 --> 00:35:40,350
And one of those is uh is a commander 

883
00:35:40,360 --> 00:35:43,510
of our , our fleet out in the out in 

884
00:35:43,520 --> 00:35:45,353
the Gulf . And that's a critical 

885
00:35:45,353 --> 00:35:47,464
position then that starts to multiply 

886
00:35:47,464 --> 00:35:50,459
70 more positions , three and four star 

887
00:35:50,469 --> 00:35:52,358
positions over time . They , they 

888
00:35:52,358 --> 00:35:55,570
include the Chiefs of the Army , the 

889
00:35:56,379 --> 00:35:59,229
Marine Corps , the Navy , uh and also 

890
00:35:59,239 --> 00:36:01,183
the chairman's replacement at some 

891
00:36:01,183 --> 00:36:03,295
point in time , although nobody wants 

892
00:36:03,295 --> 00:36:05,461
to see that happen . So , um the , the 

893
00:36:05,461 --> 00:36:07,572
effects are cumulative and , and they 

894
00:36:07,572 --> 00:36:09,795
will affect , it will affect families , 

895
00:36:09,795 --> 00:36:11,850
it will affect kids going to schools 

896
00:36:11,850 --> 00:36:14,110
because they , uh they won't be able to 

897
00:36:14,340 --> 00:36:17,919
uh uh to , to change our duty station . 

898
00:36:18,199 --> 00:36:21,870
And so it's a , it's a powerful effect 

899
00:36:21,879 --> 00:36:24,157
and , and will impact on our readiness . 

900
00:36:24,729 --> 00:36:28,699
Uh As I look forward , 

901
00:36:28,709 --> 00:36:31,449
I have never in my almost three decades 

902
00:36:31,459 --> 00:36:34,399
here seen so many key military 

903
00:36:34,409 --> 00:36:37,219
positions coming up for 

904
00:36:37,429 --> 00:36:39,651
replacement . We have to comment on the 

905
00:36:39,651 --> 00:36:41,760
Marine Corps , the Chief of Staff of 

906
00:36:41,770 --> 00:36:44,489
the Army , the C N O of the Navy . And 

907
00:36:44,500 --> 00:36:46,667
as you mentioned , the chairman of the 

908
00:36:46,667 --> 00:36:48,667
Joint Chiefs of Staff by law has to 

909
00:36:48,667 --> 00:36:50,778
leave in September . And if we cannot 

910
00:36:50,778 --> 00:36:54,649
resolve this situation , we will be in 

911
00:36:54,659 --> 00:36:57,500
many respects leaderless and at a time 

912
00:36:57,510 --> 00:36:59,860
of great conflict . So I would hope we , 

913
00:36:59,870 --> 00:37:03,209
we would uh expedite uh and move 

914
00:37:03,219 --> 00:37:05,275
quickly on this front . Uh Thank you 

915
00:37:05,275 --> 00:37:07,850
for that . Let me recognize uh Senator 

916
00:37:07,860 --> 00:37:10,027
Walker . Thank you , Mr Chairman . Let 

917
00:37:10,027 --> 00:37:13,209
me just start with a couple of short uh 

918
00:37:14,129 --> 00:37:17,419
an answers . I , I hope these will be 

919
00:37:17,429 --> 00:37:20,330
um Secretary Austin 1st . Would you 

920
00:37:20,340 --> 00:37:23,750
agree that this is the most complex and 

921
00:37:23,760 --> 00:37:25,704
dangerous threat environment since 

922
00:37:25,704 --> 00:37:26,704
World war two ? 

923
00:37:30,110 --> 00:37:32,332
Yes , Senator , I , I would say that it 

924
00:37:32,332 --> 00:37:34,166
is one of the most complex uh uh 

925
00:37:34,166 --> 00:37:36,221
periods that we've seen . Um General 

926
00:37:36,221 --> 00:37:38,560
Milley . Yes , I know for sure . Ok . 

927
00:37:38,899 --> 00:37:42,550
Um over the past two years , 

928
00:37:43,449 --> 00:37:47,199
um Congress has added um nearly 

929
00:37:47,209 --> 00:37:49,679
30 billion to the president's request 

930
00:37:49,689 --> 00:37:53,340
in F Y 22 $45 billion to the 

931
00:37:53,350 --> 00:37:57,129
president's request . In F Y 23 $75 

932
00:37:57,139 --> 00:38:00,550
billion added over the um request of 

933
00:38:00,560 --> 00:38:03,280
the president . Have these additional 

934
00:38:03,290 --> 00:38:07,239
resources , increased our national 

935
00:38:07,250 --> 00:38:10,979
security and decreased military risk . 

936
00:38:11,030 --> 00:38:14,879
Mr Secretary , they have 

937
00:38:14,889 --> 00:38:17,056
Senator . It always helps when you get 

938
00:38:17,056 --> 00:38:19,167
additional resources , but if you get 

939
00:38:19,167 --> 00:38:21,222
additional resources with additional 

940
00:38:21,222 --> 00:38:24,639
requirements , it doesn't help as much . 

941
00:38:24,889 --> 00:38:27,949
And also if we can stop doing some of 

942
00:38:27,959 --> 00:38:30,820
the things that create a drag on our 

943
00:38:30,830 --> 00:38:33,729
force in terms of causing us to spend 

944
00:38:33,739 --> 00:38:35,959
money on things that are not relevant 

945
00:38:35,969 --> 00:38:38,580
in a future fight . That that also 

946
00:38:38,590 --> 00:38:40,423
helps as well . So we appreciate 

947
00:38:40,423 --> 00:38:42,870
Congress's support in the past for 

948
00:38:42,879 --> 00:38:44,990
allowing us to get rid of things that 

949
00:38:44,990 --> 00:38:46,990
are no longer relevant . And you're 

950
00:38:46,990 --> 00:38:50,340
welcome on that General Milley . Same 

951
00:38:50,350 --> 00:38:53,389
question . Has this $75 billion added 

952
00:38:53,399 --> 00:38:57,189
to our national defense expenditures ? 

953
00:38:57,199 --> 00:39:00,530
Have those funds increased our national 

954
00:39:00,540 --> 00:39:02,596
security ? Yes , I believe they have 

955
00:39:02,596 --> 00:39:06,159
and decreased military risk , correct ? 

956
00:39:06,169 --> 00:39:08,479
Uh OK . Thank you very much . Um 

957
00:39:09,600 --> 00:39:11,969
Secretary Austen , um 

958
00:39:13,959 --> 00:39:17,290
the Biden administration has authority 

959
00:39:17,300 --> 00:39:20,889
to send $1 billion worth of us weaponry 

960
00:39:21,040 --> 00:39:24,790
to Taiwan . Uh that is similar to the 

961
00:39:24,800 --> 00:39:28,780
policy . Um And the authority uh we 

962
00:39:28,790 --> 00:39:32,149
authorize with regard to Ukraine . 

963
00:39:32,800 --> 00:39:36,550
Um will the Biden administration 

964
00:39:36,560 --> 00:39:39,929
exercise this $1 billion and draw down 

965
00:39:39,939 --> 00:39:43,810
authority that Congress provided last 

966
00:39:43,820 --> 00:39:47,350
year , we will , Senator and my team is , 

967
00:39:47,360 --> 00:39:50,179
uh , is working diligently to make sure 

968
00:39:50,189 --> 00:39:52,189
that we have the , the right , uh , 

969
00:39:52,189 --> 00:39:54,729
capabilities , uh , uh , in that , in 

970
00:39:54,739 --> 00:39:56,929
that particular drawdown , of course , 

971
00:39:56,939 --> 00:39:59,161
uh , we have the authority . Uh , we'll 

972
00:39:59,161 --> 00:40:01,328
need the appropriations as well . So , 

973
00:40:01,328 --> 00:40:03,379
um , ok , you'll , you'll need an 

974
00:40:03,389 --> 00:40:06,689
appropriation to replenish that . Is 

975
00:40:06,699 --> 00:40:08,879
that correct ? That's correct . And , 

976
00:40:08,889 --> 00:40:12,290
and the administration , um , will be 

977
00:40:12,300 --> 00:40:15,520
requesting a replenishment funding for 

978
00:40:15,530 --> 00:40:17,899
the transferred defense articles . Is 

979
00:40:17,909 --> 00:40:21,159
that correct ? That's correct . Ok . Um , 

980
00:40:21,899 --> 00:40:24,689
let me , uh , let me then talk about 

981
00:40:25,100 --> 00:40:28,570
your assessment with regard to Ukraine . 

982
00:40:28,580 --> 00:40:31,449
I , I believe you told me , Secretary 

983
00:40:31,459 --> 00:40:33,681
Austin that you believe Ukraine now has 

984
00:40:33,681 --> 00:40:35,570
the upper hand in the war against 

985
00:40:35,570 --> 00:40:38,060
Russia . Is that correct ? That's 

986
00:40:38,070 --> 00:40:40,389
correct . This is a highly contested uh 

987
00:40:40,399 --> 00:40:42,621
uh fight Center as you know , and we've 

988
00:40:42,621 --> 00:40:45,629
seen uh the tide uh move back and forth . 

989
00:40:45,639 --> 00:40:48,040
We re most recently we've seen some 

990
00:40:48,050 --> 00:40:50,909
pretty significant uh fighting in the 

991
00:40:51,030 --> 00:40:53,197
mood area and , you know , but , but , 

992
00:40:53,197 --> 00:40:56,540
but just , um , with regard to your 

993
00:40:56,550 --> 00:40:59,159
optimism about Ukraine having the upper 

994
00:40:59,169 --> 00:41:01,929
hand , that is what you told me . It is 

995
00:41:01,939 --> 00:41:04,429
what I was about to say , Senator is 

996
00:41:04,439 --> 00:41:06,383
that the Ukrainians have inflicted 

997
00:41:06,383 --> 00:41:09,949
significant casualties on the Russians 

998
00:41:09,959 --> 00:41:12,629
and they have depleted their inventory 

999
00:41:12,639 --> 00:41:14,989
of armored vehicles in a way that no 

1000
00:41:15,000 --> 00:41:17,111
one would have ever imagined . And so 

1001
00:41:17,111 --> 00:41:19,820
now we see Russia reaching for T 54 S 

1002
00:41:19,830 --> 00:41:23,020
and T 55 tanks because of the level of 

1003
00:41:23,030 --> 00:41:24,808
damage that the Ukrainians have 

1004
00:41:24,808 --> 00:41:26,974
inflicted on them . And we have in the 

1005
00:41:26,974 --> 00:41:29,260
meantime reaching for those tanks 

1006
00:41:29,270 --> 00:41:32,320
demonstrates what to use , sir . It 

1007
00:41:32,330 --> 00:41:34,830
demonstrates that their capability is 

1008
00:41:34,840 --> 00:41:38,270
waning and we've 

1009
00:41:38,280 --> 00:41:41,540
continued to witness them be challenged 

1010
00:41:42,500 --> 00:41:45,899
with artillery munitions and other 

1011
00:41:45,909 --> 00:41:47,909
things and they are reaching out to 

1012
00:41:47,909 --> 00:41:50,076
Iran and reaching out to North Korea . 

1013
00:41:50,076 --> 00:41:53,310
Uh So I , I think , you know , we'll 

1014
00:41:53,320 --> 00:41:56,090
see an increase in the fighting in the 

1015
00:41:56,100 --> 00:41:58,211
spring as the conditions for maneuver 

1016
00:41:58,211 --> 00:42:01,139
improve and based upon the things that 

1017
00:42:01,149 --> 00:42:04,199
we've done and continue to do , I think 

1018
00:42:04,260 --> 00:42:06,427
Ukraine will have a real good chance . 

1019
00:42:07,370 --> 00:42:10,050
We're not pushed for time , sir . Do 

1020
00:42:10,060 --> 00:42:12,060
you , do you believe there's a real 

1021
00:42:12,060 --> 00:42:14,419
chance for significant Ukrainian 

1022
00:42:14,429 --> 00:42:18,320
advancements between now and uh and 

1023
00:42:18,330 --> 00:42:20,459
the beginning of winter ? I believe 

1024
00:42:20,469 --> 00:42:22,302
there's a chance and we're doing 

1025
00:42:22,302 --> 00:42:24,479
everything that we can do to ensure 

1026
00:42:24,489 --> 00:42:26,600
that they have their best opportunity 

1027
00:42:26,600 --> 00:42:28,878
to be successful . Senator . Thank you . 

1028
00:42:28,878 --> 00:42:31,100
And if , if the chair will indulge me , 

1029
00:42:31,100 --> 00:42:34,719
Mr Secretary , you've got a pretty big 

1030
00:42:34,729 --> 00:42:38,370
congressional um relations office um in 

1031
00:42:38,379 --> 00:42:42,300
your shop . Do you not ? I do , do you 

1032
00:42:42,310 --> 00:42:44,899
agree that it should have occurred to 

1033
00:42:44,909 --> 00:42:48,439
someone in that office to 

1034
00:42:48,449 --> 00:42:51,500
inform senators who were debating about 

1035
00:42:51,510 --> 00:42:54,629
Iran last Thursday about what had 

1036
00:42:54,639 --> 00:42:57,110
occurred with regard to attacks in 

1037
00:42:57,120 --> 00:43:00,090
Syria . Senator ? I 

1038
00:43:00,669 --> 00:43:03,320
think , you know that we , we take the 

1039
00:43:03,330 --> 00:43:05,386
War Powers Act very , very seriously 

1040
00:43:05,386 --> 00:43:08,110
and , you know , after every operation , 

1041
00:43:08,360 --> 00:43:12,310
we are required to brief Congress and 

1042
00:43:12,439 --> 00:43:15,419
we lean forward and try to ensure that 

1043
00:43:15,429 --> 00:43:17,659
Congress is briefed before we conduct 

1044
00:43:17,669 --> 00:43:20,469
an operation . And we also , in this 

1045
00:43:20,479 --> 00:43:24,250
case , we had an attack and a 

1046
00:43:24,879 --> 00:43:28,090
uh and we launched an attack on the , 

1047
00:43:28,100 --> 00:43:30,419
on the adversaries in the same time 

1048
00:43:30,429 --> 00:43:32,709
period , same uh short period of time . 

1049
00:43:32,860 --> 00:43:35,320
And so because of that compressed time , 

1050
00:43:35,560 --> 00:43:37,560
uh we did both notifications at the 

1051
00:43:37,560 --> 00:43:39,782
same time , we should have notified you 

1052
00:43:39,782 --> 00:43:42,004
earlier . Uh and we will endeavor to do 

1053
00:43:42,004 --> 00:43:43,949
so well . As a matter of fact , Mr 

1054
00:43:43,949 --> 00:43:46,409
Chairman , if I might , um , the , the , 

1055
00:43:46,419 --> 00:43:49,580
um , attack occurred and counter attack 

1056
00:43:49,590 --> 00:43:51,949
occurred , um , in , in the wee hours 

1057
00:43:51,959 --> 00:43:53,979
of the morning and members of the 

1058
00:43:53,989 --> 00:43:57,479
Senate were not notified until 

1059
00:43:57,489 --> 00:44:00,489
very late , uh , in the afternoon or 

1060
00:44:00,500 --> 00:44:02,667
early evening . That that is the , the 

1061
00:44:02,667 --> 00:44:06,179
fact is it not ? Um , no , sir , the , 

1062
00:44:06,189 --> 00:44:08,739
the attack occurred , uh , in , in the 

1063
00:44:08,750 --> 00:44:12,340
morning , uh , and the counter attack 

1064
00:44:12,350 --> 00:44:14,899
occurred , uh , evening our time 

1065
00:44:14,909 --> 00:44:17,639
eastern time . Ok . And so the after 

1066
00:44:17,649 --> 00:44:20,209
the attack occurred , it did not dawn 

1067
00:44:20,219 --> 00:44:22,386
on anybody in congressional affairs to 

1068
00:44:22,386 --> 00:44:24,497
notify members who were debating this 

1069
00:44:24,497 --> 00:44:26,441
very issue on the Senate floor . I 

1070
00:44:26,441 --> 00:44:28,889
think that is correct . So our goal is 

1071
00:44:28,899 --> 00:44:31,010
to , is to make sure that , uh , that 

1072
00:44:31,010 --> 00:44:33,489
we keep you informed and we will do 

1073
00:44:33,500 --> 00:44:35,500
everything within our power to make 

1074
00:44:35,500 --> 00:44:37,667
sure that we improve our performance . 

1075
00:44:40,699 --> 00:44:42,643
Uh , thank you very much , Senator 

1076
00:44:42,643 --> 00:44:44,699
Workers , Senator Shaheen , please . 

1077
00:44:44,699 --> 00:44:46,588
Thank you , um , Secretary Austin 

1078
00:44:46,588 --> 00:44:48,643
General Milling . Thank you both for 

1079
00:44:48,643 --> 00:44:50,699
being here this morning and for your 

1080
00:44:50,699 --> 00:44:53,032
service and General Milling . Thank you , 

1081
00:44:53,032 --> 00:44:55,088
especially for all of the years that 

1082
00:44:55,088 --> 00:44:57,199
you have given to this country and to 

1083
00:44:57,199 --> 00:44:59,199
all of us . And um we will miss you 

1084
00:44:59,199 --> 00:45:01,366
even if you may not miss these posture 

1085
00:45:01,366 --> 00:45:05,169
hearings . Um General Secretary 

1086
00:45:05,179 --> 00:45:07,300
Austin , I understand that the 

1087
00:45:07,310 --> 00:45:09,421
department may be in the final stages 

1088
00:45:09,421 --> 00:45:12,719
of the review of information operations 

1089
00:45:12,729 --> 00:45:16,010
that was required by the 2020 N D A A . 

1090
00:45:16,020 --> 00:45:18,187
Can you give us any insights into what 

1091
00:45:18,187 --> 00:45:20,949
that may show and how important you 

1092
00:45:20,959 --> 00:45:23,659
think information operations are as we 

1093
00:45:23,669 --> 00:45:27,350
look at the modern defense and 

1094
00:45:27,360 --> 00:45:29,360
whether there's money in the budget 

1095
00:45:29,520 --> 00:45:32,550
requested to address expanded 

1096
00:45:32,560 --> 00:45:36,399
information operations ? Thanks , 

1097
00:45:36,409 --> 00:45:38,465
Senator , I think what we'll find is 

1098
00:45:38,465 --> 00:45:40,979
that that work will show that 

1099
00:45:41,439 --> 00:45:44,070
information operations is increasingly 

1100
00:45:44,169 --> 00:45:47,550
relevant and increasingly valuable in 

1101
00:45:47,560 --> 00:45:51,120
terms of enabling our operations and 

1102
00:45:51,129 --> 00:45:53,629
also understanding and countering what 

1103
00:45:53,639 --> 00:45:57,600
our adversaries are doing . And so we 

1104
00:45:57,610 --> 00:45:59,610
will continue to work to refine our 

1105
00:45:59,610 --> 00:46:03,500
policies and procedures and develop 

1106
00:46:03,510 --> 00:46:05,780
talent in this area as well . But this 

1107
00:46:05,790 --> 00:46:08,399
is this is a key area and we see it 

1108
00:46:08,409 --> 00:46:11,429
every day as we , as we watch the 

1109
00:46:11,439 --> 00:46:14,510
Ukraine Russia 

1110
00:46:14,520 --> 00:46:17,699
fight and the relevance of those 

1111
00:46:17,709 --> 00:46:21,310
operations in that fight . Well , one 

1112
00:46:21,320 --> 00:46:23,360
of the areas where information 

1113
00:46:23,370 --> 00:46:25,426
operations have been important is in 

1114
00:46:25,426 --> 00:46:27,537
the Black Sea region and certainly we 

1115
00:46:27,537 --> 00:46:29,703
saw with the downing of the drone just 

1116
00:46:29,703 --> 00:46:31,703
how important that region is to our 

1117
00:46:31,703 --> 00:46:33,870
national security . Can you talk about 

1118
00:46:33,870 --> 00:46:36,092
what the most pressing threats are that 

1119
00:46:36,092 --> 00:46:38,259
Russia poses in the Black Sea and what 

1120
00:46:38,259 --> 00:46:40,481
we're thinking about going forward as a 

1121
00:46:40,481 --> 00:46:42,537
strategy to respond to that . Well , 

1122
00:46:42,537 --> 00:46:44,648
certainly Senator Russia would aim to 

1123
00:46:44,648 --> 00:46:47,209
completely control the Black Sea and 

1124
00:46:47,219 --> 00:46:49,699
deny our allies and partners the 

1125
00:46:49,709 --> 00:46:53,379
ability to have continuous access 

1126
00:46:53,389 --> 00:46:57,189
to the sea . You know , I was in 

1127
00:46:57,199 --> 00:47:00,179
the in the region before this fight 

1128
00:47:00,189 --> 00:47:02,810
started and had engaged with our allies 

1129
00:47:02,820 --> 00:47:05,459
and partners and talked to them about , 

1130
00:47:05,709 --> 00:47:07,820
about the importance of the access to 

1131
00:47:07,820 --> 00:47:09,820
the Black Sea and encourage them to 

1132
00:47:09,820 --> 00:47:12,840
work together . And also wanted to make 

1133
00:47:12,850 --> 00:47:14,794
sure that we were doing everything 

1134
00:47:14,794 --> 00:47:16,461
within our power to help them 

1135
00:47:16,461 --> 00:47:18,639
strengthen their capability and 

1136
00:47:18,649 --> 00:47:20,816
strengthen their interoperability . So 

1137
00:47:20,816 --> 00:47:22,982
this is , this is critical and this is 

1138
00:47:22,982 --> 00:47:24,871
something that I think we need to 

1139
00:47:24,871 --> 00:47:26,927
continue to put energy into . Well , 

1140
00:47:26,927 --> 00:47:28,871
thank you . I was in the region in 

1141
00:47:28,871 --> 00:47:30,816
February and I can tell you in the 

1142
00:47:30,816 --> 00:47:32,649
countries that I visited Georgia 

1143
00:47:32,649 --> 00:47:34,760
Romania , that there was a great deal 

1144
00:47:34,760 --> 00:47:36,871
of interest in the fact that we might 

1145
00:47:36,871 --> 00:47:38,982
have a more comprehensive approach to 

1146
00:47:38,982 --> 00:47:40,982
the region that deals not just with 

1147
00:47:40,982 --> 00:47:42,871
national security , but also with 

1148
00:47:42,871 --> 00:47:44,871
economic and democratic initiatives 

1149
00:47:44,989 --> 00:47:48,320
there . Um Over the past several 

1150
00:47:48,330 --> 00:47:51,050
years alone , Congress has appropriated 

1151
00:47:51,060 --> 00:47:53,282
over a billion dollars in funding for P 

1152
00:47:53,282 --> 00:47:55,989
A related activities . Um testing 

1153
00:47:56,000 --> 00:47:59,310
remediation . Um My , the most recent 

1154
00:47:59,320 --> 00:48:01,320
information I've seen suggests that 

1155
00:48:01,320 --> 00:48:03,376
there are more than 700 contaminated 

1156
00:48:03,376 --> 00:48:05,320
military sites across the country 

1157
00:48:05,330 --> 00:48:07,169
including the former 

1158
00:48:10,489 --> 00:48:13,510
air base . Congress has shown a 

1159
00:48:13,520 --> 00:48:15,989
willingness to accelerate testing and 

1160
00:48:16,000 --> 00:48:19,080
clean up by increasing funding and yet 

1161
00:48:19,179 --> 00:48:21,346
the department claims that it's unable 

1162
00:48:21,346 --> 00:48:23,290
to execute those increased funding 

1163
00:48:23,290 --> 00:48:26,320
levels . We appropriated 517 million or 

1164
00:48:26,330 --> 00:48:29,340
authorized it in fiscal year 2020 . 

1165
00:48:29,949 --> 00:48:32,290
Can you speak to what needs to happen 

1166
00:48:32,300 --> 00:48:34,300
in order for the department to make 

1167
00:48:34,300 --> 00:48:36,411
better use of the funds that Congress 

1168
00:48:36,411 --> 00:48:38,840
appropriated to appropriates to address 

1169
00:48:38,870 --> 00:48:42,290
P A ? We will continue 

1170
00:48:42,300 --> 00:48:46,290
to make every effort to make best use 

1171
00:48:46,300 --> 00:48:48,850
of those funds . Um I think you see in 

1172
00:48:48,860 --> 00:48:50,971
this budget , we've asked for another 

1173
00:48:50,971 --> 00:48:54,709
$400 million and to your 

1174
00:48:54,719 --> 00:48:56,663
point , Senator , if funds are not 

1175
00:48:56,663 --> 00:48:58,663
executed in one particular year , I 

1176
00:48:58,663 --> 00:49:01,090
think they roll over to the next year . 

1177
00:49:01,100 --> 00:49:03,100
So we have the benefit of using the 

1178
00:49:03,100 --> 00:49:05,322
funds that were not completely executed 

1179
00:49:05,322 --> 00:49:07,378
last year plus the 400 million we're 

1180
00:49:07,378 --> 00:49:09,378
asking for this year and we'll make 

1181
00:49:09,378 --> 00:49:11,433
every effort to make sure that we're 

1182
00:49:11,433 --> 00:49:13,500
doing everything within our , that's 

1183
00:49:13,510 --> 00:49:17,479
possible to utilize the funds and where 

1184
00:49:17,489 --> 00:49:19,656
we need more . We'll come back and ask 

1185
00:49:19,656 --> 00:49:21,656
you for more . Well , thank you . I 

1186
00:49:21,656 --> 00:49:23,822
appreciate that . I hope you will also 

1187
00:49:23,822 --> 00:49:26,045
take a look at um our willingness to be 

1188
00:49:26,045 --> 00:49:28,270
transparent with the public where sites 

1189
00:49:28,280 --> 00:49:30,502
have been contaminated because there is 

1190
00:49:30,502 --> 00:49:33,689
a great deal of distrust . I think 

1191
00:49:33,699 --> 00:49:35,959
about information sharing from the 

1192
00:49:35,969 --> 00:49:38,439
Department of Defense and least we've 

1193
00:49:38,449 --> 00:49:41,510
seen that in the site in New Hampshire . 

1194
00:49:41,520 --> 00:49:45,250
And I think that undermines our 

1195
00:49:45,260 --> 00:49:47,429
ability to address what needs to be 

1196
00:49:47,439 --> 00:49:49,439
done in those sites to clean up the 

1197
00:49:49,439 --> 00:49:51,540
contamination and to encourage the 

1198
00:49:51,550 --> 00:49:54,739
communities to do what they need to do 

1199
00:49:54,750 --> 00:49:57,610
to address the problem . Thank you , Mr 

1200
00:49:57,620 --> 00:49:59,842
Chairman . Thank you , Senator Fisher , 

1201
00:49:59,842 --> 00:50:02,620
please . Thank you Mr Chairman . For 

1202
00:50:02,629 --> 00:50:05,169
years . We have under invested in our 

1203
00:50:05,179 --> 00:50:07,229
munitions production and we are 

1204
00:50:07,239 --> 00:50:10,260
starting to reverse that trend but more 

1205
00:50:10,270 --> 00:50:12,669
needs to be done to increase production . 

1206
00:50:12,679 --> 00:50:14,790
Secretary Austin , what is the 

1207
00:50:14,800 --> 00:50:17,090
department currently doing to increase 

1208
00:50:17,100 --> 00:50:19,300
munitions production capacity ? And 

1209
00:50:19,310 --> 00:50:23,070
what more does it seek to do in F Y 24 ? 

1210
00:50:24,929 --> 00:50:27,040
Well , thank you , Senator , let me , 

1211
00:50:27,040 --> 00:50:30,860
let me thank uh um Congress for what 

1212
00:50:30,870 --> 00:50:34,479
you've done to uh authorized uh 

1213
00:50:34,489 --> 00:50:36,939
multi year procurement uh um 

1214
00:50:38,270 --> 00:50:42,250
capability that sends a strong signal 

1215
00:50:42,889 --> 00:50:45,729
to the industrial base . Also the 

1216
00:50:45,739 --> 00:50:48,139
numbers that you see reflected in our 

1217
00:50:48,149 --> 00:50:51,600
budget request for procurement sends a 

1218
00:50:51,610 --> 00:50:53,639
strong signal as well in this 

1219
00:50:53,649 --> 00:50:55,705
particular budget . We're asking for 

1220
00:50:55,705 --> 00:50:59,034
$30 billion to invest in and 

1221
00:50:59,044 --> 00:51:02,885
munitions and that helps us go 

1222
00:51:02,895 --> 00:51:05,117
after the right kinds of munitions that 

1223
00:51:05,117 --> 00:51:07,173
we think we need to replenish stocks 

1224
00:51:07,173 --> 00:51:09,284
and to make sure that we get ahead as 

1225
00:51:09,284 --> 00:51:11,645
well . And also it allows us to invest 

1226
00:51:11,655 --> 00:51:14,054
a bit in the industrial base . Now 

1227
00:51:14,064 --> 00:51:18,020
we're engaging the our partners in 

1228
00:51:18,030 --> 00:51:20,629
the industry and trying to do 

1229
00:51:20,639 --> 00:51:24,439
everything we can to work with them to 

1230
00:51:24,570 --> 00:51:26,479
expand their capacity and their 

1231
00:51:26,489 --> 00:51:28,760
capability . But to your point , 

1232
00:51:28,770 --> 00:51:30,881
there's a lot more work that needs to 

1233
00:51:30,881 --> 00:51:32,992
be done . The committee has worked to 

1234
00:51:32,992 --> 00:51:35,709
modify or remove older and necessary 

1235
00:51:35,719 --> 00:51:38,550
contracting requirements . So we can 

1236
00:51:38,560 --> 00:51:41,439
get contracting officers to move faster 

1237
00:51:41,449 --> 00:51:45,040
on replacing munitions in Ukraine . 

1238
00:51:45,459 --> 00:51:47,850
Would it be useful to be able to remove 

1239
00:51:47,860 --> 00:51:49,540
or modify these unnecessary 

1240
00:51:49,550 --> 00:51:51,850
requirements for weapons related to 

1241
00:51:51,860 --> 00:51:55,129
most really our most pressing 

1242
00:51:55,139 --> 00:51:57,909
challenges in the Western Pacific and 

1243
00:51:57,919 --> 00:52:01,090
in Taiwan as well . Absolutely . As an 

1244
00:52:01,199 --> 00:52:04,379
area , it would thank you , General 

1245
00:52:04,389 --> 00:52:07,280
Milley . The current US nuclear 

1246
00:52:07,290 --> 00:52:09,310
modernization plan was originally 

1247
00:52:09,320 --> 00:52:11,770
designed in 2010 when nuclear threats 

1248
00:52:11,780 --> 00:52:14,370
were much less severe than they are 

1249
00:52:14,379 --> 00:52:16,870
today . However , since then , every 

1250
00:52:16,879 --> 00:52:20,100
dod modernization program , along with 

1251
00:52:20,185 --> 00:52:22,094
every Department of Energy 

1252
00:52:22,104 --> 00:52:24,604
Infrastructure project and warhead 

1253
00:52:24,614 --> 00:52:27,875
program has been delayed or it's been 

1254
00:52:27,885 --> 00:52:30,685
reduced in its scope . Can you tell me 

1255
00:52:30,695 --> 00:52:32,695
how we're going to meet the rapidly 

1256
00:52:32,695 --> 00:52:34,875
growing threats from China and Russia 

1257
00:52:34,885 --> 00:52:37,745
with a force that's smaller and with a 

1258
00:52:37,754 --> 00:52:40,935
force that delivers later than we 

1259
00:52:40,945 --> 00:52:44,324
planned for more than a decade ago . 

1260
00:52:44,445 --> 00:52:46,667
Basically , I'm asking you , how are we 

1261
00:52:46,667 --> 00:52:48,723
going to recognize the challenges we 

1262
00:52:48,723 --> 00:52:50,669
have today and meet them ? Thanks 

1263
00:52:50,679 --> 00:52:52,679
Senator . As you know , the nuclear 

1264
00:52:52,679 --> 00:52:54,790
capability of China is growing and we 

1265
00:52:54,790 --> 00:52:56,735
can cover that in some detail in a 

1266
00:52:56,735 --> 00:52:59,050
classified session if you so desire the 

1267
00:52:59,060 --> 00:53:01,171
recapitalization of the nuclear triad 

1268
00:53:01,171 --> 00:53:03,227
is the secretary and the president . 

1269
00:53:03,227 --> 00:53:05,393
The number one defense priority . That 

1270
00:53:05,393 --> 00:53:07,227
is what has been one of the most 

1271
00:53:07,227 --> 00:53:09,449
significant contributors to great power 

1272
00:53:09,449 --> 00:53:11,671
of peace in the last eight decades . So 

1273
00:53:11,671 --> 00:53:13,560
it's imperative for us the United 

1274
00:53:13,560 --> 00:53:15,504
States to recapitalize that entire 

1275
00:53:15,504 --> 00:53:17,671
system with the , with the silos , the 

1276
00:53:17,671 --> 00:53:19,838
bombers as well as the subs , but also 

1277
00:53:19,838 --> 00:53:21,782
the N C three system that's really 

1278
00:53:21,782 --> 00:53:23,893
critical . And it does bother me that 

1279
00:53:23,893 --> 00:53:26,004
some of these programs are behind and 

1280
00:53:26,004 --> 00:53:28,116
they're coming in at over cost , over 

1281
00:53:28,116 --> 00:53:30,227
budget , but we're going to get there 

1282
00:53:30,227 --> 00:53:32,060
and it will be a safe , secure , 

1283
00:53:32,060 --> 00:53:34,282
reliable system , guaranteed bet and we 

1284
00:53:34,282 --> 00:53:36,393
will maintain the strategic deterrent 

1285
00:53:36,393 --> 00:53:38,671
that we've kept for 80 years last year . 

1286
00:53:38,671 --> 00:53:40,560
You along with nearly every other 

1287
00:53:40,560 --> 00:53:42,616
senior us military officer testified 

1288
00:53:42,620 --> 00:53:44,919
that we need to provide presidents with 

1289
00:53:44,929 --> 00:53:47,439
more nuclear options than we have today . 

1290
00:53:47,560 --> 00:53:49,838
Do you still agree with that sentiment ? 

1291
00:53:50,070 --> 00:53:52,699
I do . I believe that . Thank you . Yes , 

1292
00:53:52,709 --> 00:53:55,419
it's fine . As a member of this 

1293
00:53:55,429 --> 00:53:58,750
committee and also as a member of the 

1294
00:53:58,760 --> 00:54:00,982
Senate Commerce Committee , I've worked 

1295
00:54:00,982 --> 00:54:03,204
for years to promote efficient spectrum 

1296
00:54:03,204 --> 00:54:05,260
management by the federal government 

1297
00:54:05,330 --> 00:54:07,729
without endangering the mission 

1298
00:54:07,739 --> 00:54:10,060
critical operations of the Department 

1299
00:54:10,070 --> 00:54:13,030
of Defense . Coordination among the 

1300
00:54:13,040 --> 00:54:15,850
agencies can be difficult and it can be 

1301
00:54:15,860 --> 00:54:19,090
slow , proactive communication among 

1302
00:54:19,100 --> 00:54:23,000
all stakeholders , I believe is key for 

1303
00:54:23,010 --> 00:54:25,239
that better coordination . And that's 

1304
00:54:25,250 --> 00:54:27,417
why as ranking member of the Strategic 

1305
00:54:27,417 --> 00:54:29,639
Force subcommittee , I sent a letter to 

1306
00:54:29,639 --> 00:54:32,090
the subcommittee , chairman with the 

1307
00:54:32,100 --> 00:54:34,322
subcommittee , Chairman , Angus King to 

1308
00:54:34,322 --> 00:54:36,879
the Department of Defense last year 

1309
00:54:37,100 --> 00:54:39,211
that asked for more details about the 

1310
00:54:39,211 --> 00:54:41,211
department's concerns with proposed 

1311
00:54:41,211 --> 00:54:43,979
spectrum reallocation in the lower 

1312
00:54:43,989 --> 00:54:47,550
three G D DS 

1313
00:54:47,560 --> 00:54:51,350
response pointed to the 2020 id a 

1314
00:54:51,360 --> 00:54:53,471
report . But there are still far more 

1315
00:54:53,471 --> 00:54:56,169
details that we need to learn about 

1316
00:54:57,399 --> 00:55:00,110
what may or may not work for 

1317
00:55:00,120 --> 00:55:03,429
reallocation in this band . Fortunately , 

1318
00:55:03,439 --> 00:55:05,270
there is an ongoing study and I 

1319
00:55:05,280 --> 00:55:07,870
appreciate that the path study that 

1320
00:55:07,879 --> 00:55:10,199
should provide those details . Uh 

1321
00:55:10,209 --> 00:55:12,629
General Milley , my time is almost up 

1322
00:55:12,639 --> 00:55:14,570
and I expect my friend from South 

1323
00:55:14,580 --> 00:55:17,139
Dakota will have a conversation with 

1324
00:55:17,149 --> 00:55:19,659
you about this as well , but for the 

1325
00:55:19,669 --> 00:55:22,879
record and please answer yes or no . Is 

1326
00:55:22,889 --> 00:55:25,169
it your best military advice that the 

1327
00:55:25,179 --> 00:55:28,050
ongoing path study as currently 

1328
00:55:28,060 --> 00:55:31,389
authorized as currently authorized 

1329
00:55:31,580 --> 00:55:34,290
should be completed in order to inform 

1330
00:55:34,300 --> 00:55:37,530
the ongoing spectrum negotiations ? Yes , 

1331
00:55:37,629 --> 00:55:39,740
thank you . Thank you , Mr Chairman . 

1332
00:55:39,740 --> 00:55:41,851
Thank you , Senator Fisher . Before I 

1333
00:55:41,851 --> 00:55:43,907
recognize Senator Jean , let me just 

1334
00:55:43,907 --> 00:55:45,907
remind all of my colleagues . There 

1335
00:55:45,907 --> 00:55:49,340
will be a classified hearing in the S C 

1336
00:55:49,350 --> 00:55:52,239
F S C C 217 at the conclusion of this 

1337
00:55:52,250 --> 00:55:54,620
open hearing , Senator . Thank you , Mr 

1338
00:55:54,629 --> 00:55:57,439
Chairman Mr mccord . I was disappointed 

1339
00:55:57,449 --> 00:55:59,671
that for the second year in a row , the 

1340
00:55:59,671 --> 00:56:01,893
all domain anomaly resolution office or 

1341
00:56:01,893 --> 00:56:03,671
A O was not fully funded in the 

1342
00:56:03,671 --> 00:56:05,338
department's budget request , 

1343
00:56:05,338 --> 00:56:07,449
understanding that we cannot get into 

1344
00:56:07,449 --> 00:56:09,616
specific budget figures in this form . 

1345
00:56:09,616 --> 00:56:11,838
Can you discuss why arrow was not fully 

1346
00:56:11,838 --> 00:56:14,570
funded ? Senator ? I don't have any 

1347
00:56:14,580 --> 00:56:16,580
information from my colleague under 

1348
00:56:16,580 --> 00:56:18,469
Secretary Moultrie that he needed 

1349
00:56:18,469 --> 00:56:20,636
additional funding in this area . It's 

1350
00:56:20,636 --> 00:56:22,469
a relatively new uh office we're 

1351
00:56:22,469 --> 00:56:24,413
standing up . So I I was under the 

1352
00:56:24,413 --> 00:56:24,260
impression I am under the impression 

1353
00:56:24,270 --> 00:56:26,381
that we have adequate funding for the 

1354
00:56:26,381 --> 00:56:28,437
relatively new state of this . But I 

1355
00:56:28,437 --> 00:56:30,548
will , I will double back with him if 

1356
00:56:30,548 --> 00:56:32,603
there's a , if there's a concern , I 

1357
00:56:32,603 --> 00:56:34,492
need you to send a letter to this 

1358
00:56:34,492 --> 00:56:36,381
committee in writing about why it 

1359
00:56:36,381 --> 00:56:38,548
wasn't fully funded . Several senators 

1360
00:56:38,548 --> 00:56:40,860
signed a letter to Secretary Hicks 

1361
00:56:41,139 --> 00:56:43,306
asking that it be fully funded in this 

1362
00:56:43,306 --> 00:56:45,649
budget and we specified in a classified 

1363
00:56:45,659 --> 00:56:47,989
annex exactly what funding wasn't being 

1364
00:56:48,000 --> 00:56:50,459
met and it's operational funding , it's 

1365
00:56:50,469 --> 00:56:52,413
basic operational funding . So I'm 

1366
00:56:52,413 --> 00:56:54,525
highly concerned about this Secretary 

1367
00:56:54,525 --> 00:56:56,358
Austin , the incident last month 

1368
00:56:56,358 --> 00:56:58,358
involving the Chinese high out snow 

1369
00:56:58,358 --> 00:57:00,469
balloon and the three unknown objects 

1370
00:57:00,469 --> 00:57:02,691
highlighted the need for us to continue 

1371
00:57:02,691 --> 00:57:04,858
to improve our understanding of U over 

1372
00:57:04,858 --> 00:57:07,030
us airspace . Do you intend to ensure 

1373
00:57:07,040 --> 00:57:08,929
aero receives full funding in the 

1374
00:57:08,929 --> 00:57:12,689
future ? Uh I will senator and , and uh 

1375
00:57:12,699 --> 00:57:14,840
this in this budget , we've asked for 

1376
00:57:14,850 --> 00:57:17,072
$11 million in support of the office of 

1377
00:57:17,072 --> 00:57:19,479
that uh of that initiative . That is 

1378
00:57:19,489 --> 00:57:22,939
not the budget request . Um 

1379
00:57:23,879 --> 00:57:25,879
Will you investigate why the budget 

1380
00:57:25,879 --> 00:57:28,046
request isn't being met and be part of 

1381
00:57:28,046 --> 00:57:30,046
the response to the I ? Will I will 

1382
00:57:30,046 --> 00:57:32,590
thank you , Secretary Austin on March 

1383
00:57:32,600 --> 00:57:34,929
7th Qing Gang . The Chinese Foreign 

1384
00:57:34,939 --> 00:57:37,161
Minister said that the US and China are 

1385
00:57:37,161 --> 00:57:39,050
heading toward inevitable quote , 

1386
00:57:39,050 --> 00:57:41,050
confrontation and conflict . End of 

1387
00:57:41,050 --> 00:57:43,000
quote . This comes as the stratcom 

1388
00:57:43,010 --> 00:57:45,939
commander testified that the PR C needs 

1389
00:57:45,949 --> 00:57:48,290
to seeks to match or in some areas 

1390
00:57:48,300 --> 00:57:50,610
surpass quantitative and qualitative 

1391
00:57:50,620 --> 00:57:52,787
parity with the United States in terms 

1392
00:57:52,787 --> 00:57:54,787
of nuclear weapons . And during the 

1393
00:57:54,787 --> 00:57:56,953
Cold War , the US and the Soviet Union 

1394
00:57:56,953 --> 00:57:58,953
developed lines of communication to 

1395
00:57:58,953 --> 00:58:00,676
prevent escalation or outright 

1396
00:58:00,676 --> 00:58:02,842
hostilities during heightened tensions 

1397
00:58:02,842 --> 00:58:04,953
and developed norms and mechanisms to 

1398
00:58:04,953 --> 00:58:07,064
avoid miscalculations . How would you 

1399
00:58:07,064 --> 00:58:09,064
characterize your relationship with 

1400
00:58:09,064 --> 00:58:11,231
your pr C counterpart ? And what steps 

1401
00:58:11,231 --> 00:58:13,287
are you taking to reduce the risk of 

1402
00:58:13,287 --> 00:58:15,231
miscalculations during a period of 

1403
00:58:15,231 --> 00:58:15,219
heightened competition between our 

1404
00:58:15,229 --> 00:58:17,489
countries ? Thanks , Senator , I think 

1405
00:58:17,500 --> 00:58:20,899
you heard me say two things . The first 

1406
00:58:20,909 --> 00:58:22,798
thing is that chairman , what the 

1407
00:58:22,798 --> 00:58:25,280
chairman said earlier that I don't see 

1408
00:58:25,290 --> 00:58:27,860
conflict as being imminent or 

1409
00:58:27,870 --> 00:58:29,703
inevitable . But I do think it's 

1410
00:58:29,703 --> 00:58:32,419
important that that leaders and great 

1411
00:58:32,429 --> 00:58:34,651
powers have the ability to talk to each 

1412
00:58:34,651 --> 00:58:37,370
other to manage escalation to manage 

1413
00:58:37,379 --> 00:58:40,949
crisis . You've seen me reach out to my 

1414
00:58:40,959 --> 00:58:43,070
former counterpart , Minister of 

1415
00:58:43,080 --> 00:58:46,610
Defense . We who has now moved on and 

1416
00:58:46,620 --> 00:58:49,899
encourage him to keep the lines of 

1417
00:58:49,909 --> 00:58:52,439
communication open . He has now been 

1418
00:58:52,449 --> 00:58:54,671
replaced by a new minister and I've yet 

1419
00:58:54,671 --> 00:58:57,310
to have the have the ability to engage 

1420
00:58:57,320 --> 00:58:59,487
him , but I will continue to make sure 

1421
00:58:59,487 --> 00:59:01,639
that we reach out . I do think that's 

1422
00:59:01,649 --> 00:59:04,540
critical secretary Austin . We have 

1423
00:59:04,550 --> 00:59:06,439
international legal structures to 

1424
00:59:06,439 --> 00:59:08,494
address the conduct of our forces in 

1425
00:59:08,494 --> 00:59:10,272
war while we have international 

1426
00:59:10,272 --> 00:59:12,494
treaties that govern the use of space . 

1427
00:59:12,494 --> 00:59:14,550
There's ongoing debate about whether 

1428
00:59:14,550 --> 00:59:16,606
these treaties would apply during an 

1429
00:59:16,606 --> 00:59:18,439
armed conflict and what types of 

1430
00:59:18,439 --> 00:59:20,661
counter space weapons are permissible . 

1431
00:59:20,661 --> 00:59:22,828
What steps is the department taking in 

1432
00:59:22,828 --> 00:59:24,828
coordination with the Department of 

1433
00:59:24,828 --> 00:59:26,994
state to reinforce international norms 

1434
00:59:26,994 --> 00:59:29,106
and whether we can safely rely on our 

1435
00:59:29,106 --> 00:59:31,161
use of space assets both legally and 

1436
00:59:31,161 --> 00:59:33,161
lethally during a conflict . Well , 

1437
00:59:33,161 --> 00:59:36,030
this is an issue that the interagency 

1438
00:59:36,040 --> 00:59:39,729
of our administration we continue to 

1439
00:59:41,110 --> 00:59:43,689
engage on and Secretary Blinken as you 

1440
00:59:43,699 --> 00:59:46,810
know , also has engaged our allies and 

1441
00:59:46,820 --> 00:59:50,429
partners on this issue at the UN 

1442
00:59:50,439 --> 00:59:53,800
and other fora we think it's 

1443
00:59:53,810 --> 00:59:55,921
important , the administration thinks 

1444
00:59:55,921 --> 00:59:57,977
it's important and this is something 

1445
00:59:57,977 --> 01:00:00,143
that we'll continue to work on . Thank 

1446
01:00:00,143 --> 01:00:02,310
you . Um I appreciate the policies you 

1447
01:00:02,310 --> 01:00:04,310
issued on March 22 , supporting our 

1448
01:00:04,310 --> 01:00:06,879
military families and it's critical to 

1449
01:00:06,889 --> 01:00:09,056
their well being and ability to retain 

1450
01:00:09,056 --> 01:00:10,945
strong military force . Dod s own 

1451
01:00:10,945 --> 01:00:13,229
surveys show that 24% of our service 

1452
01:00:13,239 --> 01:00:15,790
members experience food insecurity . 

1453
01:00:16,090 --> 01:00:17,868
Last year , I met with military 

1454
01:00:17,868 --> 01:00:19,889
families on Staten Island who spoke 

1455
01:00:19,899 --> 01:00:21,788
about the challenges they face in 

1456
01:00:21,788 --> 01:00:23,955
basically putting food on the table to 

1457
01:00:23,955 --> 01:00:26,010
feed their kids . However , very few 

1458
01:00:26,010 --> 01:00:28,232
service members are considered eligible 

1459
01:00:28,232 --> 01:00:30,399
for basic needs allowance or the B N A 

1460
01:00:30,399 --> 01:00:32,770
under existing B N A program since B A 

1461
01:00:32,780 --> 01:00:35,179
H is included in family income 

1462
01:00:35,189 --> 01:00:37,449
calculations . Can you tell me how you 

1463
01:00:37,459 --> 01:00:39,570
intend to ensure that food insecurity 

1464
01:00:39,570 --> 01:00:41,792
in military families have access to the 

1465
01:00:41,792 --> 01:00:45,620
B N A or other measures ? Well , we 

1466
01:00:45,629 --> 01:00:47,800
have the uh we'll have the authority 

1467
01:00:47,810 --> 01:00:50,590
next year to move to a higher number , 

1468
01:00:50,600 --> 01:00:52,790
a higher percentage , 150% . We'll 

1469
01:00:52,800 --> 01:00:55,080
actually move before we're required to 

1470
01:00:55,090 --> 01:00:57,870
move . We plan to move in July . That 

1471
01:00:57,879 --> 01:01:00,699
will , that will allow us to 

1472
01:01:02,340 --> 01:01:05,909
help more families . But you've seen us 

1473
01:01:05,919 --> 01:01:07,975
with your support , Senator , you've 

1474
01:01:07,975 --> 01:01:10,086
seen us ask for a pay raise last year 

1475
01:01:10,086 --> 01:01:12,810
of 4.6% . You've seen us raise a H 

1476
01:01:13,209 --> 01:01:16,639
amounts and you've seen us work to get 

1477
01:01:16,649 --> 01:01:19,030
child care costs down . So we're trying 

1478
01:01:19,040 --> 01:01:21,510
to increase the resources and reduce 

1479
01:01:21,520 --> 01:01:23,576
the strain on families and hopefully 

1480
01:01:23,576 --> 01:01:25,853
that , that total equation will , will , 

1481
01:01:25,853 --> 01:01:27,853
will , will create benefits for our 

1482
01:01:27,853 --> 01:01:30,020
families and our troops . But will you 

1483
01:01:30,020 --> 01:01:31,742
consider removing B H from the 

1484
01:01:31,742 --> 01:01:35,679
calculation for B N A ? We , we 

1485
01:01:35,830 --> 01:01:38,810
will do what's ever , what's ever 

1486
01:01:38,820 --> 01:01:41,098
feasible ? What we're allowed to do by , 

1487
01:01:41,098 --> 01:01:43,042
by law ? Thank you , Mr Chairman . 

1488
01:01:43,042 --> 01:01:45,098
Thank you , Senator Senator Cotton . 

1489
01:01:45,098 --> 01:01:47,209
Please . Secretary , I want to return 

1490
01:01:47,209 --> 01:01:49,264
to the issue of the strikes in Syria 

1491
01:01:49,264 --> 01:01:51,376
last week . And Senator Wicker's line 

1492
01:01:51,376 --> 01:01:53,153
of question about the timing of 

1493
01:01:53,153 --> 01:01:55,153
notification to Congress . You said 

1494
01:01:55,153 --> 01:01:57,320
that you should have notified Congress 

1495
01:01:57,320 --> 01:01:59,153
earlier , these attacks happened 

1496
01:01:59,153 --> 01:02:00,987
against our troops , killing one 

1497
01:02:00,987 --> 01:02:03,209
contractor early in the morning eastern 

1498
01:02:03,209 --> 01:02:05,098
time . Um Do you believe that you 

1499
01:02:05,098 --> 01:02:07,153
should have notified us that morning 

1500
01:02:07,153 --> 01:02:06,949
while we were voting on amendments 

1501
01:02:06,959 --> 01:02:09,292
directly related to this kind of attack ? 

1502
01:02:10,739 --> 01:02:13,750
Again , there is no 

1503
01:02:13,760 --> 01:02:16,729
connection between when we notified you , 

1504
01:02:16,739 --> 01:02:19,679
Senator and , and , and your vote . The 

1505
01:02:20,100 --> 01:02:23,310
chairman and I were testifying that 

1506
01:02:23,320 --> 01:02:25,790
morning as well . So as soon as we came 

1507
01:02:25,800 --> 01:02:28,449
out of testimony , we began work on , 

1508
01:02:28,899 --> 01:02:31,060
on crafting response options . 

1509
01:02:31,070 --> 01:02:33,348
Secretary Austin , I don't believe you , 

1510
01:02:33,540 --> 01:02:36,320
I believe that your office specifically 

1511
01:02:36,330 --> 01:02:38,629
withheld notification of this deadly 

1512
01:02:38,639 --> 01:02:40,806
striking against Americans because the 

1513
01:02:40,806 --> 01:02:42,695
Rubio amendment on which we voted 

1514
01:02:42,695 --> 01:02:45,699
midday directly touched on exactly this 

1515
01:02:45,709 --> 01:02:48,040
scenario , not repealing these use of 

1516
01:02:48,050 --> 01:02:50,106
force resolutions . If the president 

1517
01:02:50,106 --> 01:02:51,994
couldn't certify that Iran was no 

1518
01:02:51,994 --> 01:02:54,217
longer attacking us in Iran and Syria , 

1519
01:02:54,550 --> 01:02:56,772
that's what I believe . Nothing you can 

1520
01:02:56,772 --> 01:02:58,772
say is gonna change my belief about 

1521
01:02:58,772 --> 01:02:58,199
that . And I gotta say , I think I 

1522
01:02:58,209 --> 01:03:00,153
speak for about , I just wanna say 

1523
01:03:00,153 --> 01:03:02,153
Senator that that is absolutely not 

1524
01:03:02,153 --> 01:03:04,265
true . Maybe you didn't personally do 

1525
01:03:04,265 --> 01:03:06,542
it . Maybe you didn't personally do it , 

1526
01:03:06,542 --> 01:03:08,653
but I believe entirely that people in 

1527
01:03:08,653 --> 01:03:11,070
your office did that . You have a vast 

1528
01:03:11,080 --> 01:03:13,024
legislative operation . As Senator 

1529
01:03:13,024 --> 01:03:14,969
Wicker pointed out , do you really 

1530
01:03:14,969 --> 01:03:17,080
expect us to believe that they didn't 

1531
01:03:17,080 --> 01:03:19,080
know that we were voting on a Rubio 

1532
01:03:19,080 --> 01:03:21,024
amendment that directly , directly 

1533
01:03:21,024 --> 01:03:23,358
covered exactly this kind of attack ? I , 

1534
01:03:23,358 --> 01:03:25,524
I don't believe that I don't , I don't 

1535
01:03:25,524 --> 01:03:25,320
believe it . I may , I believe there's 

1536
01:03:25,330 --> 01:03:28,020
a conscious decision made not to inform 

1537
01:03:28,030 --> 01:03:30,252
Congress because you fear that it might 

1538
01:03:30,252 --> 01:03:32,086
lead to the passage of the Rubio 

1539
01:03:32,086 --> 01:03:34,197
amendment which would kill the entire 

1540
01:03:34,197 --> 01:03:36,363
bill . But I want to move on to a more 

1541
01:03:36,363 --> 01:03:38,586
important part , which is these attacks 

1542
01:03:38,586 --> 01:03:38,389
in the first place . How many attacks 

1543
01:03:38,570 --> 01:03:40,403
has Iran or its proxies launched 

1544
01:03:40,403 --> 01:03:42,570
against American positions in Iran and 

1545
01:03:42,570 --> 01:03:44,570
Syria since Joe Biden took office ? 

1546
01:03:46,239 --> 01:03:49,780
It's been uh about 83 attacks , I think 

1547
01:03:49,790 --> 01:03:51,846
uh since in the last several years . 

1548
01:03:51,846 --> 01:03:53,790
That's a lot of attacks . Over two 

1549
01:03:53,790 --> 01:03:55,512
years . How many times have we 

1550
01:03:55,512 --> 01:03:57,790
retaliated against Iran or its proxies ? 

1551
01:03:57,790 --> 01:04:00,068
We , we've launched four major strikes , 

1552
01:04:00,068 --> 01:04:02,234
Senator , but an attack can consist of 

1553
01:04:02,234 --> 01:04:04,512
a number of things . It can consist of , 

1554
01:04:04,512 --> 01:04:06,623
um , you know , a rocket that's fired 

1555
01:04:06,623 --> 01:04:08,790
in the direction of one of our bases . 

1556
01:04:08,790 --> 01:04:10,846
Not effective . Mr Second , I'm well 

1557
01:04:10,846 --> 01:04:12,957
aware of what an attack could , could 

1558
01:04:12,957 --> 01:04:14,957
entail . So we're so 79 4 is Iran's 

1559
01:04:14,957 --> 01:04:17,068
record right now . And , and our four 

1560
01:04:17,068 --> 01:04:19,123
attacks have not been against Iran , 

1561
01:04:19,123 --> 01:04:21,123
right ? They've been against Iran's 

1562
01:04:21,123 --> 01:04:23,346
proxies in Iraq or Syria or elsewhere . 

1563
01:04:23,840 --> 01:04:26,570
Last attack was against uh I RGC goods 

1564
01:04:26,580 --> 01:04:30,419
force , uh infrastructure and uh ok . 

1565
01:04:30,429 --> 01:04:34,129
Um And after we retaliated , Iran 

1566
01:04:34,139 --> 01:04:36,195
attacked us again , injuring another 

1567
01:04:36,195 --> 01:04:39,189
American , didn't it ? They do and have 

1568
01:04:39,199 --> 01:04:41,532
we retaliated for that attack on Friday ? 

1569
01:04:41,679 --> 01:04:44,219
We have not yet , Senator . So what 

1570
01:04:44,229 --> 01:04:46,340
kind of signal do we think this sends 

1571
01:04:46,340 --> 01:04:48,285
to Iran when they can attack us 83 

1572
01:04:48,285 --> 01:04:50,118
times since Joe Biden has become 

1573
01:04:50,118 --> 01:04:52,062
president , we only respond four . 

1574
01:04:52,062 --> 01:04:54,285
Maybe it's because they know that until 

1575
01:04:54,285 --> 01:04:56,396
that we will not retaliate until they 

1576
01:04:56,396 --> 01:04:58,618
kill an American , which emboldens them 

1577
01:04:58,618 --> 01:05:00,729
to keep launching these attacks which 

1578
01:05:00,729 --> 01:05:02,840
kill Americans . Um What is our rules 

1579
01:05:02,840 --> 01:05:04,618
of engagement for on the ground 

1580
01:05:04,618 --> 01:05:06,785
commanders throughout the region ? Are 

1581
01:05:06,785 --> 01:05:08,896
they allowed to engage immediately if 

1582
01:05:08,896 --> 01:05:11,118
their position has been attacked ? They 

1583
01:05:11,118 --> 01:05:13,173
can and , and they do . Uh and there 

1584
01:05:13,173 --> 01:05:15,173
have been several instances of that 

1585
01:05:15,173 --> 01:05:17,229
Senator I've got to say , I've heard 

1586
01:05:17,229 --> 01:05:19,451
from company and field grade commanders 

1587
01:05:19,451 --> 01:05:19,270
who've been in the region very recently 

1588
01:05:19,280 --> 01:05:21,502
and they say there's a lot of confusion 

1589
01:05:21,502 --> 01:05:23,558
over that . Let me move to a related 

1590
01:05:23,558 --> 01:05:25,669
topic and , and that's our operations 

1591
01:05:25,669 --> 01:05:27,891
of unmanned aircraft in the Black Sea . 

1592
01:05:27,891 --> 01:05:29,669
Russia downed one of our Reaper 

1593
01:05:29,669 --> 01:05:31,780
aircraft a couple of weeks ago . Have 

1594
01:05:31,780 --> 01:05:34,002
we flown those aircrafts into the exact 

1595
01:05:34,002 --> 01:05:36,002
same space since it was downed ? We 

1596
01:05:36,002 --> 01:05:38,370
have flown on the path that we want to 

1597
01:05:38,379 --> 01:05:40,879
fly in the Black Sea to collect 

1598
01:05:40,889 --> 01:05:43,510
intelligence information . So that is a 

1599
01:05:43,520 --> 01:05:46,360
far , that's far from a yes answer . I 

1600
01:05:46,370 --> 01:05:48,203
said , have we flown in the same 

1601
01:05:48,203 --> 01:05:50,314
airspace ? You've said we've flown in 

1602
01:05:50,314 --> 01:05:50,169
the paths where we want to fly to 

1603
01:05:50,179 --> 01:05:52,469
collect intelligence . So we adjusted 

1604
01:05:52,479 --> 01:05:54,479
our flight patterns . Have we moved 

1605
01:05:54,479 --> 01:05:56,790
down to that airspace ? We will fly the 

1606
01:05:56,800 --> 01:05:59,659
paths that we feel necessary to collect 

1607
01:05:59,669 --> 01:06:02,209
intelligence information . So according 

1608
01:06:02,219 --> 01:06:04,270
to administration official from an 

1609
01:06:04,280 --> 01:06:07,189
article in CNN on March 21 , we're not 

1610
01:06:07,199 --> 01:06:09,820
flying in that airspace to quote , to 

1611
01:06:09,830 --> 01:06:12,500
avoid being too provocative . So , are 

1612
01:06:12,510 --> 01:06:14,732
are we removing our aircraft out of the 

1613
01:06:14,732 --> 01:06:17,010
space from that which that Reaper flew ? 

1614
01:06:17,010 --> 01:06:18,788
Because we don't want to be too 

1615
01:06:18,788 --> 01:06:18,620
provocative towards Russia Senator ? 

1616
01:06:18,629 --> 01:06:20,240
You may have heard me say uh 

1617
01:06:20,240 --> 01:06:23,169
immediately after this incident uh to 

1618
01:06:23,639 --> 01:06:26,300
uh that I , I told my counterpart that 

1619
01:06:26,310 --> 01:06:28,088
we're gonna fly the skies , the 

1620
01:06:28,090 --> 01:06:30,570
international skies and sail the seas 

1621
01:06:30,580 --> 01:06:34,139
uh as , as we wish . And so we continue 

1622
01:06:34,149 --> 01:06:36,540
to fly in that , in that airspace in 

1623
01:06:36,550 --> 01:06:38,494
the exact same airspace where that 

1624
01:06:38,494 --> 01:06:41,370
Reaper was down again . You haven't 

1625
01:06:41,379 --> 01:06:43,760
pulled back from Crimea or from the 

1626
01:06:43,770 --> 01:06:45,659
Ukrainian or the Russian coasts . 

1627
01:06:47,649 --> 01:06:50,810
I recommend we take , we take this to a 

1628
01:06:50,820 --> 01:06:53,439
close , a close can I think it answers 

1629
01:06:53,449 --> 01:06:55,505
the question though ? And it gets to 

1630
01:06:55,505 --> 01:06:57,671
the point I'm trying to make here , we 

1631
01:06:57,671 --> 01:06:59,893
continue to deter ourselves against our 

1632
01:06:59,893 --> 01:07:01,893
adversaries . We let Iran launch 83 

1633
01:07:01,893 --> 01:07:01,770
attacks against us . We only respond 

1634
01:07:01,780 --> 01:07:03,790
four times . Russia downturn of our 

1635
01:07:03,800 --> 01:07:05,800
aircraft and we pull back from that 

1636
01:07:05,800 --> 01:07:08,179
airspace just like we've been delaying 

1637
01:07:08,409 --> 01:07:10,689
ballistic missile tests over the last 

1638
01:07:11,129 --> 01:07:13,260
two year or over the last year , just 

1639
01:07:13,270 --> 01:07:15,492
like we let a Chinese spy balloon float 

1640
01:07:15,492 --> 01:07:17,603
across the country when we could have 

1641
01:07:17,603 --> 01:07:19,770
down it across the illusions . Now , I 

1642
01:07:19,770 --> 01:07:19,489
don't necessarily think these are 

1643
01:07:19,500 --> 01:07:21,556
secretary of Defense calls . I think 

1644
01:07:21,556 --> 01:07:23,611
these are commander in chief calls , 

1645
01:07:23,611 --> 01:07:25,778
but we shouldn't be surprised when our 

1646
01:07:25,778 --> 01:07:27,778
adversaries get emboldened and more 

1647
01:07:27,778 --> 01:07:29,889
aggressive in all these theaters when 

1648
01:07:29,889 --> 01:07:31,722
we continue to deter ourselves . 

1649
01:07:35,370 --> 01:07:37,790
Have you finished them ? Thank you , 

1650
01:07:37,800 --> 01:07:39,856
Senator Cardin . Uh Let me recognize 

1651
01:07:39,856 --> 01:07:42,189
Senator Blumenthal . Thanks Mr Chairman . 

1652
01:07:42,189 --> 01:07:44,411
Uh Thank you all for being here . Thank 

1653
01:07:44,411 --> 01:07:48,280
you for your service , not only over 

1654
01:07:48,290 --> 01:07:50,290
many decades , but in this role and 

1655
01:07:50,290 --> 01:07:52,512
particularly at a time when the threats 

1656
01:07:53,020 --> 01:07:56,639
are as great as any time that most of 

1657
01:07:56,649 --> 01:07:58,709
us can remember . Uh I've been to 

1658
01:07:58,719 --> 01:08:00,840
Ukraine three times over roughly the 

1659
01:08:00,850 --> 01:08:02,961
last year visiting Kiev and President 

1660
01:08:03,129 --> 01:08:05,407
Sky . And , uh , recently followed you , 

1661
01:08:05,407 --> 01:08:07,500
Mr Secretary to visit our base in 

1662
01:08:07,510 --> 01:08:10,919
Bavaria where we are training Ukrainian 

1663
01:08:10,929 --> 01:08:14,899
fighters in the use of Bradley armored 

1664
01:08:14,909 --> 01:08:18,089
vehicles and combined arms . And , uh , 

1665
01:08:18,419 --> 01:08:21,390
the bond between our soldiers and their 

1666
01:08:21,399 --> 01:08:23,455
fighters is extraordinary because of 

1667
01:08:23,455 --> 01:08:26,930
our respect for their will to fight . 

1668
01:08:26,939 --> 01:08:28,879
And that's what I've seen in the 

1669
01:08:28,890 --> 01:08:31,112
Ukrainian people . They will fight with 

1670
01:08:31,112 --> 01:08:33,334
pitchforks if necessary , but they need 

1671
01:08:33,334 --> 01:08:35,501
a lot more and I want to thank you and 

1672
01:08:35,501 --> 01:08:37,446
the president for committing to do 

1673
01:08:37,446 --> 01:08:39,890
whatever it takes . I think I'm almost 

1674
01:08:39,899 --> 01:08:42,870
quoting . Exactly . And in my view , 

1675
01:08:42,879 --> 01:08:46,560
whatever it takes includes airplanes , 

1676
01:08:46,569 --> 01:08:50,470
aircraft . Uh , would you agree that as 

1677
01:08:50,479 --> 01:08:52,646
a strictly military matter ? And , you 

1678
01:08:52,646 --> 01:08:54,812
know , a lot more about this than most 

1679
01:08:54,812 --> 01:08:56,979
of us at this side of the table that , 

1680
01:08:57,069 --> 01:08:59,049
that kind of air support . 

1681
01:09:10,240 --> 01:09:12,750
First of all , it's phenomenal what 

1682
01:09:12,759 --> 01:09:15,870
we've been able to do in , in , in what 

1683
01:09:15,879 --> 01:09:18,319
we've helped Ukraine , uh , be , be the , 

1684
01:09:18,629 --> 01:09:20,796
the kinds of effects they've been able 

1685
01:09:20,796 --> 01:09:23,180
to , uh , to achieve based upon our 

1686
01:09:23,189 --> 01:09:25,356
support . And as you know , the United 

1687
01:09:25,356 --> 01:09:27,689
States of America leads the way on that . 

1688
01:09:27,689 --> 01:09:29,856
Uh , we talk to our counterparts every 

1689
01:09:29,856 --> 01:09:31,967
week , uh , sometimes , uh , multiple 

1690
01:09:31,967 --> 01:09:34,022
times a week , you know , and I meet 

1691
01:09:34,022 --> 01:09:36,189
with them in person , uh , every month 

1692
01:09:36,189 --> 01:09:38,830
and what they need right now , more 

1693
01:09:38,839 --> 01:09:42,029
than anything else is air defense and 

1694
01:09:42,040 --> 01:09:44,169
that is the critical need on the 

1695
01:09:44,180 --> 01:09:46,899
battlefield . And they also need long 

1696
01:09:46,910 --> 01:09:50,299
range fires and armored capability 

1697
01:09:51,000 --> 01:09:53,529
and we are providing them a real 

1698
01:09:53,540 --> 01:09:55,890
substantial package of capability in 

1699
01:09:55,899 --> 01:09:58,240
terms of platforms , but not just that 

1700
01:09:58,250 --> 01:10:00,472
we're also providing training and we're 

1701
01:10:00,472 --> 01:10:02,419
providing sustainment . And so you 

1702
01:10:02,430 --> 01:10:04,597
witnessed some of that coming together 

1703
01:10:04,597 --> 01:10:06,720
when you were in graph and , and I 

1704
01:10:06,729 --> 01:10:08,840
really appreciate you going out there 

1705
01:10:08,840 --> 01:10:11,859
and visiting our troops , but I think 

1706
01:10:11,870 --> 01:10:13,703
those capabilities will make the 

1707
01:10:13,703 --> 01:10:16,790
biggest difference in the near term and 

1708
01:10:16,799 --> 01:10:20,040
they must be successful going forward . 

1709
01:10:20,049 --> 01:10:22,569
We know the spring uh spring fighting 

1710
01:10:22,580 --> 01:10:24,839
seasons uh in front of us here and , 

1711
01:10:24,850 --> 01:10:27,072
and we want to make sure that they have 

1712
01:10:27,072 --> 01:10:29,183
what they need to be successful and , 

1713
01:10:29,183 --> 01:10:31,183
and I apologize for interrupting Mr 

1714
01:10:31,183 --> 01:10:33,350
Secretary , but I want to come back to 

1715
01:10:33,350 --> 01:10:35,072
the aircraft because as you've 

1716
01:10:35,072 --> 01:10:37,350
identified it very clearly and I agree , 

1717
01:10:37,350 --> 01:10:40,759
totally air defense is critical . We 

1718
01:10:40,770 --> 01:10:44,009
have a narrow window of time and in 

1719
01:10:44,020 --> 01:10:47,500
fact , this spring will be crucial 

1720
01:10:47,890 --> 01:10:50,910
and some of our allies are providing 

1721
01:10:50,919 --> 01:10:54,470
planes , but we have the resources and 

1722
01:10:54,479 --> 01:10:56,479
only we really have the resource to 

1723
01:10:56,479 --> 01:10:58,799
provide the aircraft necessary for 

1724
01:10:58,859 --> 01:11:02,040
fully robust air defense . 

1725
01:11:03,229 --> 01:11:06,680
So , so um if you're talking to F-16s , 

1726
01:11:06,899 --> 01:11:08,788
whenever , whenever you make that 

1727
01:11:08,788 --> 01:11:12,290
decision in order to uh put together 

1728
01:11:12,299 --> 01:11:14,132
what needs to be put together to 

1729
01:11:14,132 --> 01:11:16,299
provide that capability is gonna be 18 

1730
01:11:16,299 --> 01:11:18,299
months or so in the making and that 

1731
01:11:18,299 --> 01:11:20,355
won't , that won't help in , in this 

1732
01:11:20,355 --> 01:11:22,459
current fight . And will they have a 

1733
01:11:22,470 --> 01:11:25,029
capability at some point down the road ? 

1734
01:11:25,250 --> 01:11:27,479
We all believe that they will and what 

1735
01:11:27,490 --> 01:11:29,546
that looks like , it could look like 

1736
01:11:29,546 --> 01:11:31,657
F-16s , it could look like some other 

1737
01:11:31,657 --> 01:11:34,540
fourth generation aircraft , but we 

1738
01:11:34,549 --> 01:11:36,660
will continue to work with our allies 

1739
01:11:36,660 --> 01:11:38,827
and partners to make sure that Ukraine 

1740
01:11:38,827 --> 01:11:40,938
has what it needs . Thank you . Thank 

1741
01:11:40,938 --> 01:11:43,160
you , Mr Secretary . And again , I want 

1742
01:11:43,160 --> 01:11:42,270
to thank you and the president for your 

1743
01:11:42,279 --> 01:11:44,660
commitment , which I think is deeply 

1744
01:11:44,669 --> 01:11:46,891
appreciated by the people of Ukraine as 

1745
01:11:46,891 --> 01:11:50,060
well . Um I want to focus on a very 

1746
01:11:50,069 --> 01:11:52,540
narrow issue relating to procurement , 

1747
01:11:52,549 --> 01:11:56,540
which is the helicopter acquisition 

1748
01:11:56,549 --> 01:12:00,390
and development for the contract . Uh 

1749
01:12:02,160 --> 01:12:04,479
A number of my colleagues and myself 

1750
01:12:04,490 --> 01:12:06,850
had asked the army for an explanation 

1751
01:12:07,129 --> 01:12:09,407
for the award of that contract to Bell . 

1752
01:12:09,407 --> 01:12:11,518
It's under challenge right now . Will 

1753
01:12:11,518 --> 01:12:13,399
you commit to provide us with an 

1754
01:12:13,410 --> 01:12:16,140
adequate explanation ? So far , the 

1755
01:12:16,149 --> 01:12:18,390
army has been totally unforthcoming . 

1756
01:12:19,470 --> 01:12:21,979
Uh I will commit uh Senator once uh the 

1757
01:12:21,990 --> 01:12:25,459
protest is resolved . Uh We , we will , 

1758
01:12:25,470 --> 01:12:27,526
we will make sure you get a thorough 

1759
01:12:27,526 --> 01:12:29,526
briefing on uh on , on this issue , 

1760
01:12:29,526 --> 01:12:31,748
shouldn't we have it now rather than at 

1761
01:12:31,748 --> 01:12:33,990
some indefinite point in the future ? 

1762
01:12:34,549 --> 01:12:36,493
Well , sir , you know that uh it's 

1763
01:12:36,493 --> 01:12:38,879
inappropriate to uh once while this is 

1764
01:12:38,890 --> 01:12:41,839
under protest to uh to , to do that . 

1765
01:12:41,850 --> 01:12:45,390
So I commit to you as soon as we can 

1766
01:12:45,560 --> 01:12:47,838
and we'll provide you that information . 

1767
01:12:47,838 --> 01:12:49,671
Thank you . I wanna ask one last 

1768
01:12:49,671 --> 01:12:53,450
question . Suicide among our service 

1769
01:12:53,459 --> 01:12:56,919
members continues to be a 

1770
01:12:57,049 --> 01:13:00,120
desperately important problem . I will 

1771
01:13:00,129 --> 01:13:03,200
be meeting later today or this week 

1772
01:13:03,209 --> 01:13:05,379
with the family of master of armed 

1773
01:13:05,390 --> 01:13:08,180
seamen recruit Xavier Mitchell Sandor 

1774
01:13:08,759 --> 01:13:11,319
who took his own life while he was 

1775
01:13:11,330 --> 01:13:13,819
stationed on the US S George Washington . 

1776
01:13:13,830 --> 01:13:16,379
He was among three who committed 

1777
01:13:16,390 --> 01:13:20,200
suicide while that ship was under 

1778
01:13:20,209 --> 01:13:23,560
maintenance and repair . Similar 

1779
01:13:23,569 --> 01:13:27,540
kinds of suicides have happened 

1780
01:13:29,339 --> 01:13:31,299
on other ships under similar 

1781
01:13:31,310 --> 01:13:34,299
circumstances . The report is still 

1782
01:13:34,310 --> 01:13:36,143
outstanding . There have been no 

1783
01:13:36,143 --> 01:13:38,370
completion of the investigation a year 

1784
01:13:38,379 --> 01:13:41,549
after that event . Um 

1785
01:13:43,089 --> 01:13:45,256
I know you're very concerned about the 

1786
01:13:45,256 --> 01:13:48,180
troops . Nobody cares more than you do 

1787
01:13:48,569 --> 01:13:51,330
about the well being and I include the 

1788
01:13:51,339 --> 01:13:54,629
chairman in that sentiment . Can you 

1789
01:13:54,640 --> 01:13:57,549
tell us that additional measures will 

1790
01:13:57,560 --> 01:13:59,449
be taken and that there will be a 

1791
01:13:59,449 --> 01:14:02,009
report forthcoming about Xavier Sandor ? 

1792
01:14:03,029 --> 01:14:06,299
I will , I will make sure that uh 

1793
01:14:06,310 --> 01:14:09,200
Secretary Del Toro uh 

1794
01:14:09,439 --> 01:14:12,600
ensures that uh this this 

1795
01:14:12,609 --> 01:14:15,520
investigation moves , moves out in a 

1796
01:14:15,529 --> 01:14:18,089
timely fashion and in a very thorough 

1797
01:14:18,100 --> 01:14:20,439
fashion . I would also tell you that 

1798
01:14:20,450 --> 01:14:22,561
I've asked Secretary Del Toro to make 

1799
01:14:22,561 --> 01:14:24,839
sure that that he is personally focused 

1800
01:14:24,850 --> 01:14:28,629
on this issue specifically related to 

1801
01:14:28,640 --> 01:14:32,089
ships that are in maintenance and the 

1802
01:14:32,100 --> 01:14:34,270
berthing associated with those ships . 

1803
01:14:34,560 --> 01:14:37,220
He has in this budget , Senator asked 

1804
01:14:37,229 --> 01:14:40,479
for some $258 billion to address that 

1805
01:14:40,490 --> 01:14:42,823
issue . And I think that's a good start , 

1806
01:14:43,000 --> 01:14:45,222
but I think we need to continue to make 

1807
01:14:45,222 --> 01:14:47,389
sure our leadership is doing the right 

1808
01:14:47,389 --> 01:14:49,790
thing that we have adequate , you know , 

1809
01:14:49,799 --> 01:14:52,021
housing for our young men . And women . 

1810
01:14:52,021 --> 01:14:55,270
This , they are our national assets and 

1811
01:14:55,279 --> 01:14:57,168
uh I I truly believe that he will 

1812
01:14:57,168 --> 01:14:59,279
remain focused on this , but I I will 

1813
01:14:59,279 --> 01:15:02,979
as well . So thank you , uh Senator 

1814
01:15:02,990 --> 01:15:05,790
round , please . Thank you , Mr 

1815
01:15:05,799 --> 01:15:09,379
Chairman . Let me begin by thanking all 

1816
01:15:09,390 --> 01:15:11,668
of you for your service to our country . 

1817
01:15:11,799 --> 01:15:14,700
Recognizing Secretary Austin , not just 

1818
01:15:14,709 --> 01:15:16,765
for your time and uniform , but your 

1819
01:15:16,765 --> 01:15:18,765
time as secretary as well . General 

1820
01:15:18,765 --> 01:15:21,180
Milley , recognizing your time as 

1821
01:15:21,189 --> 01:15:23,390
chairman of the Joint Chiefs , but not 

1822
01:15:23,399 --> 01:15:25,621
only that , but the amount of time that 

1823
01:15:25,621 --> 01:15:27,621
you and your family have served our 

1824
01:15:27,621 --> 01:15:30,100
country , we sometimes gloss over that 

1825
01:15:30,109 --> 01:15:32,331
and I recognize that I don't have a lot 

1826
01:15:32,331 --> 01:15:34,498
of time , but I just want to make this 

1827
01:15:34,498 --> 01:15:36,720
clear . It's not just the time that you 

1828
01:15:36,720 --> 01:15:38,831
spend in the Pentagon , it's the time 

1829
01:15:38,831 --> 01:15:41,053
that you've spent boots on the ground . 

1830
01:15:41,053 --> 01:15:42,998
You've had operational deployments 

1831
01:15:42,998 --> 01:15:45,109
including the Multinational Force and 

1832
01:15:45,109 --> 01:15:47,109
observers , Sinai Egypt operation . 

1833
01:15:47,109 --> 01:15:49,220
Just cause in Panama operation uphold 

1834
01:15:49,220 --> 01:15:51,276
democracy in Haiti operation , joint 

1835
01:15:51,276 --> 01:15:53,330
endeavor , Bosnia operation , Iraqi 

1836
01:15:53,339 --> 01:15:55,629
freedom in Iraq and three tours during 

1837
01:15:55,640 --> 01:15:57,418
operation and during freedom in 

1838
01:15:57,418 --> 01:15:59,529
Afghanistan . You've also deployed to 

1839
01:15:59,529 --> 01:16:02,299
Somalia and Colombia . We thank you for 

1840
01:16:02,310 --> 01:16:04,477
your service to the , to our country , 

1841
01:16:04,477 --> 01:16:07,330
sir and your family as well because 

1842
01:16:07,339 --> 01:16:09,450
when you deploy , they're deployed as 

1843
01:16:09,450 --> 01:16:13,029
well . Thank you , gentlemen , both for 

1844
01:16:13,040 --> 01:16:15,279
Secretary Austin and Chairman Milley 

1845
01:16:15,509 --> 01:16:18,729
last week . You both clarified that you 

1846
01:16:18,740 --> 01:16:21,459
support waiting until the conclusion of 

1847
01:16:21,470 --> 01:16:24,330
the ongoing study before any decision 

1848
01:16:24,470 --> 01:16:28,149
should be made on auctioning . Uh parts 

1849
01:16:28,160 --> 01:16:31,770
of or any of the 3.1 - 3.45 GHz 

1850
01:16:31,779 --> 01:16:35,100
spectrum band . My question is , 

1851
01:16:35,109 --> 01:16:38,629
should an auction occur before the 

1852
01:16:38,640 --> 01:16:41,390
study is complete ? What are the real 

1853
01:16:41,450 --> 01:16:43,569
world impacts on national security ? 

1854
01:16:43,580 --> 01:16:45,270
From a defense and budgetary 

1855
01:16:45,279 --> 01:16:48,459
perspective ? They , they would be 

1856
01:16:48,470 --> 01:16:50,803
devastating senator and they would take , 

1857
01:16:50,803 --> 01:16:53,549
it would take us uh somewhere north of 

1858
01:16:53,560 --> 01:16:56,580
20 years to try to recover from uh from 

1859
01:16:56,589 --> 01:16:59,259
the loss of that , that spectrum . Uh 

1860
01:16:59,529 --> 01:17:01,751
parts of that spectrum are vital to our 

1861
01:17:01,751 --> 01:17:03,918
national defense and the protection of 

1862
01:17:03,918 --> 01:17:06,085
the homeland . And , and you know , in 

1863
01:17:06,085 --> 01:17:08,740
order to describe exactly , well , you 

1864
01:17:08,750 --> 01:17:11,040
know what the , what the specific plan 

1865
01:17:11,049 --> 01:17:13,459
platforms are . But uh we would have to 

1866
01:17:13,470 --> 01:17:16,109
go to a classified session to speak in 

1867
01:17:16,120 --> 01:17:18,176
detail about this . But I would tell 

1868
01:17:18,176 --> 01:17:20,342
you that this is not something you can 

1869
01:17:20,342 --> 01:17:22,509
fix overnight . Once you break it , it 

1870
01:17:22,509 --> 01:17:24,731
will take 20 years plus to recover from 

1871
01:17:24,731 --> 01:17:27,000
that . Thank you , General Milley . Uh 

1872
01:17:27,009 --> 01:17:28,953
Same thing , Senator . Uh I firmly 

1873
01:17:28,953 --> 01:17:31,009
believe that we should wait till the 

1874
01:17:31,009 --> 01:17:33,231
study is , this is a uh a measure twice 

1875
01:17:33,231 --> 01:17:35,342
cut . One sort of thing that we don't 

1876
01:17:35,342 --> 01:17:35,310
want to vacate it because of the severe 

1877
01:17:35,319 --> 01:17:37,541
uh uh national security implications to 

1878
01:17:37,541 --> 01:17:39,652
that . Uh Sharing is obviously a goal 

1879
01:17:39,652 --> 01:17:41,819
for everybody , but it's how you share 

1880
01:17:41,819 --> 01:17:44,152
and the technical capability to do that . 

1881
01:17:44,152 --> 01:17:43,459
And that's what the study should tell 

1882
01:17:43,470 --> 01:17:45,581
us . We want to make a fully informed 

1883
01:17:45,581 --> 01:17:47,803
decision . And the secretary and I will 

1884
01:17:47,803 --> 01:17:47,770
be making those recommendations in 

1885
01:17:47,779 --> 01:17:49,946
writing to the president when the time 

1886
01:17:49,946 --> 01:17:52,168
comes . Thank you , sir . Uh Once again 

1887
01:17:52,168 --> 01:17:54,223
for Chairman Milley as the principal 

1888
01:17:54,223 --> 01:17:56,223
military advisor to the president , 

1889
01:17:56,330 --> 01:17:58,441
would you say that it's essential for 

1890
01:17:58,441 --> 01:18:00,052
you to be able to provide an 

1891
01:18:00,060 --> 01:18:01,893
independent recommendation about 

1892
01:18:01,893 --> 01:18:04,890
spectrum sharing and its impact on 

1893
01:18:04,899 --> 01:18:06,955
national security to the president ? 

1894
01:18:08,060 --> 01:18:10,640
Yes , I do . I would also say though 

1895
01:18:10,649 --> 01:18:12,871
that every recommendation I make to the 

1896
01:18:12,871 --> 01:18:15,038
president is an independent military , 

1897
01:18:15,038 --> 01:18:17,038
best military advice . Uh No matter 

1898
01:18:17,038 --> 01:18:19,205
what the topic , the secretary is very 

1899
01:18:19,205 --> 01:18:21,371
good about that . Uh And , and , and I 

1900
01:18:21,371 --> 01:18:23,482
will always inform the secretary if I 

1901
01:18:23,482 --> 01:18:22,729
disagree with the secretary ahead of 

1902
01:18:22,740 --> 01:18:25,479
time . Uh but uh he and I always are in 

1903
01:18:25,490 --> 01:18:27,712
there together with the president and , 

1904
01:18:27,712 --> 01:18:29,823
and I will always make an independent 

1905
01:18:29,823 --> 01:18:31,934
best military advice recommendation . 

1906
01:18:31,934 --> 01:18:33,990
That's what I signed . Uh When I was 

1907
01:18:33,990 --> 01:18:36,212
confirmed that I would do that with the 

1908
01:18:36,212 --> 01:18:36,040
Senate as part of this committee as 

1909
01:18:36,049 --> 01:18:38,105
part of becoming uh the confirmation 

1910
01:18:38,105 --> 01:18:40,271
process . So I will always do that and 

1911
01:18:40,271 --> 01:18:42,438
every chairman should always do that . 

1912
01:18:42,438 --> 01:18:44,549
Thank you , sir . Secretary Austin in 

1913
01:18:44,549 --> 01:18:46,589
paycom has listed an unfunded 

1914
01:18:46,600 --> 01:18:50,299
requirement of $147 million for the 

1915
01:18:50,310 --> 01:18:52,532
development of a missile defense system 

1916
01:18:52,532 --> 01:18:54,549
for Guam . Can you discuss how that 

1917
01:18:54,560 --> 01:18:57,000
decision by the department not to fund 

1918
01:18:57,009 --> 01:18:59,370
this indo paycom requirement ? Comports 

1919
01:18:59,379 --> 01:19:01,268
with the department's priority to 

1920
01:19:01,268 --> 01:19:05,109
defend Guam . I think Senator 

1921
01:19:05,120 --> 01:19:07,430
as you know , we have , we have and we 

1922
01:19:07,439 --> 01:19:09,899
continue to invest heavily in the 

1923
01:19:09,910 --> 01:19:13,459
defense of Guam . And uh and that 

1924
01:19:13,470 --> 01:19:15,910
work is ongoing . Again , there's 

1925
01:19:15,919 --> 01:19:18,086
always , there are always choices that 

1926
01:19:18,086 --> 01:19:21,009
we have to make in a specific time 

1927
01:19:21,020 --> 01:19:24,334
horizon . In this case , that 

1928
01:19:24,345 --> 01:19:27,935
is a capability that I think we can and 

1929
01:19:27,944 --> 01:19:30,665
will consider going forward . I think 

1930
01:19:30,674 --> 01:19:32,854
part of the reason for the question is 

1931
01:19:32,865 --> 01:19:34,976
because there has been some criticism 

1932
01:19:34,976 --> 01:19:37,944
on the department providing a list of 

1933
01:19:37,955 --> 01:19:41,634
unfunded requests . Would you 

1934
01:19:41,645 --> 01:19:43,589
agree that this one should be very 

1935
01:19:43,589 --> 01:19:47,379
seriously considered by Congress as you 

1936
01:19:47,390 --> 01:19:49,680
know , Senator , we , we are required 

1937
01:19:49,689 --> 01:19:52,399
or the service chiefs . Uh And uh and 

1938
01:19:52,410 --> 01:19:55,930
commanders are required by law to 

1939
01:19:55,939 --> 01:19:59,509
submit those unfunded requests . And uh 

1940
01:19:59,520 --> 01:20:03,100
and I , I do believe that uh that all 

1941
01:20:03,109 --> 01:20:05,165
of our commanders and chiefs believe 

1942
01:20:05,165 --> 01:20:07,498
that what's on there is important . Now , 

1943
01:20:07,498 --> 01:20:09,387
I've asked our commanders and our 

1944
01:20:09,387 --> 01:20:12,839
chiefs to make sure that they build 

1945
01:20:13,140 --> 01:20:16,459
their requirements for readiness and 

1946
01:20:16,470 --> 01:20:18,870
also combat capability into their base 

1947
01:20:18,879 --> 01:20:21,470
budget . And so we try to do that at 

1948
01:20:21,479 --> 01:20:23,859
every turn , but at some point in time , 

1949
01:20:23,870 --> 01:20:26,203
there are choices that you have to make . 

1950
01:20:26,203 --> 01:20:27,981
So , thank you . Thank you , Mr 

1951
01:20:27,981 --> 01:20:27,640
Chairman .