1 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:05,260 Call the subcomittee to order , I ask 2 00:00:05,269 --> 00:00:07,269 unanimous consent that the chair be 3 00:00:07,269 --> 00:00:09,380 authorized to declare a recess at any 4 00:00:09,380 --> 00:00:12,029 time without objection . So ordered , I 5 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:14,539 also ask unanimous consent that non 6 00:00:14,550 --> 00:00:17,180 subcomittee members uh If any , I 7 00:00:17,190 --> 00:00:20,340 believe we may have one be allowed to 8 00:00:20,350 --> 00:00:22,850 participate in today's hearing . After 9 00:00:22,860 --> 00:00:25,027 all other subcomittee members have had 10 00:00:25,027 --> 00:00:27,249 an opportunity to ask questions without 11 00:00:27,249 --> 00:00:30,620 objection . So ordered , ladies and 12 00:00:30,629 --> 00:00:32,629 gentlemen , good to see many of you 13 00:00:32,629 --> 00:00:35,880 again . Uh Welcome to this hearing and 14 00:00:35,889 --> 00:00:38,000 the readiness sub-committee on the fy 15 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:40,779 25 budget request for Department of 16 00:00:40,790 --> 00:00:42,979 Defense Energy Installations and 17 00:00:42,990 --> 00:00:44,659 Environment programs . 18 00:00:46,319 --> 00:00:49,580 OK . Uh I will start with an opening 19 00:00:49,590 --> 00:00:52,500 statement uh and then hand off to my 20 00:00:52,509 --> 00:00:55,180 friend and colleague uh Mr Garamendi . 21 00:00:55,189 --> 00:00:57,979 So I just want to thank our witnesses 22 00:00:57,990 --> 00:01:01,180 for coming in again . Uh I wanna thank 23 00:01:01,189 --> 00:01:03,470 you for your time and participation in 24 00:01:03,479 --> 00:01:06,480 today's hearing . Uh We'll continue uh 25 00:01:06,489 --> 00:01:09,080 what I think have been constructive 26 00:01:09,089 --> 00:01:12,300 discussions on military construction , 27 00:01:12,309 --> 00:01:14,142 on housing , on infrastructure , 28 00:01:14,142 --> 00:01:16,365 environmental energy programs , as well 29 00:01:16,365 --> 00:01:18,870 as base and facility accounts . It is a 30 00:01:18,879 --> 00:01:21,949 broad topic obviously . Uh But these 31 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:24,290 issues are critical to our war fighters 32 00:01:24,300 --> 00:01:26,467 uh and getting it right is critical to 33 00:01:26,467 --> 00:01:29,400 our overall readiness . Uh So this fy 34 00:01:29,410 --> 00:01:33,199 25 budget request included 17.5 billion 35 00:01:33,569 --> 00:01:36,559 uh and authorizations for more than 100 36 00:01:36,569 --> 00:01:38,625 and 20 new construction projects . I 37 00:01:38,625 --> 00:01:40,680 look forward to discussing how these 38 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:43,279 efforts help meet our Force Posture 39 00:01:43,290 --> 00:01:45,330 goals and support our operational 40 00:01:45,339 --> 00:01:47,680 efforts . And however , uh building the 41 00:01:47,690 --> 00:01:50,349 new facilities uh as we've discussed in 42 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:52,319 the past is only half the battle 43 00:01:52,330 --> 00:01:54,108 modernizing and maintaining our 44 00:01:54,108 --> 00:01:56,480 existing facilities to meet future 45 00:01:56,489 --> 00:01:59,349 requirements must also be prioritized . 46 00:01:59,580 --> 00:02:02,760 Uh I remain concerned about funding for 47 00:02:02,769 --> 00:02:04,825 facilities sustainment , restoration 48 00:02:04,825 --> 00:02:07,470 and modernization . Uh Fsrm uh 49 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:10,429 maintenance of existing facilities is 50 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:12,770 chronically neglected to pay for other 51 00:02:12,779 --> 00:02:15,020 priorities . Disrepair of military 52 00:02:15,029 --> 00:02:18,119 facilities has had significant impacts 53 00:02:18,130 --> 00:02:20,241 on everything from quality of life of 54 00:02:20,241 --> 00:02:22,408 our service members to sustainment and 55 00:02:22,408 --> 00:02:24,574 innovation . We've talked about in our 56 00:02:24,574 --> 00:02:27,339 last hearing , uh sustaining labs uh in 57 00:02:27,350 --> 00:02:29,572 particular . So I'm not gonna rehash uh 58 00:02:29,572 --> 00:02:31,520 those previous comments about the 59 00:02:32,190 --> 00:02:34,460 unacceptable state of our barracks . Uh 60 00:02:34,470 --> 00:02:36,899 We're not gonna flash up what or 61 00:02:36,910 --> 00:02:40,860 despicable frankly , photos of uh 62 00:02:40,910 --> 00:02:44,000 mold and feces in our service members , 63 00:02:44,009 --> 00:02:46,350 living quarters . Uh Assistant 64 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:49,619 Secretary Owens , I appreciate your 65 00:02:49,630 --> 00:02:51,910 discussion of dealing with that GAO 66 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:54,240 report and its recommendations in your 67 00:02:54,460 --> 00:02:57,139 uh in your statement . Uh But I do look 68 00:02:57,149 --> 00:02:59,539 forward to further discussion during 69 00:02:59,550 --> 00:03:02,339 questions uh about how this budget 70 00:03:02,350 --> 00:03:06,029 request . I hope really starts taking a , 71 00:03:06,039 --> 00:03:08,570 a serious bite out of out of this issue . 72 00:03:08,580 --> 00:03:10,524 Uh I'm interested in the , in your 73 00:03:10,524 --> 00:03:13,289 perspectives also as we've discussed on 74 00:03:13,300 --> 00:03:16,389 privatization , uh and learning lessons 75 00:03:16,399 --> 00:03:18,399 from housing and how we're going to 76 00:03:18,399 --> 00:03:20,621 apply that to barracks and whether it's 77 00:03:20,621 --> 00:03:23,089 a uh a key piece of the solution here 78 00:03:23,100 --> 00:03:25,289 on the operational side . Uh The 79 00:03:25,300 --> 00:03:27,189 department is not far along as we 80 00:03:27,189 --> 00:03:29,729 should be uh given the threats on the 81 00:03:29,740 --> 00:03:32,089 environment . Uh And we need to posture 82 00:03:32,100 --> 00:03:34,550 accordingly . And finally , uh we have 83 00:03:34,559 --> 00:03:37,169 to ensure that our installations , I 84 00:03:37,179 --> 00:03:39,290 just , I really can't believe we have 85 00:03:39,290 --> 00:03:41,346 to continue to discuss this , but we 86 00:03:41,346 --> 00:03:43,401 have to ensure our installations are 87 00:03:43,401 --> 00:03:45,512 not reliant on energy supplied by our 88 00:03:45,512 --> 00:03:47,990 enemies . Uh Recent uh defense bills 89 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:50,600 have highlighted the threat posed by 90 00:03:50,610 --> 00:03:52,443 our reliance on Russian energy , 91 00:03:52,443 --> 00:03:54,721 particularly at our Ucom installations . 92 00:03:54,721 --> 00:03:56,729 Yet frankly , the department has 93 00:03:56,740 --> 00:03:58,949 dragged its feet on adhering to 94 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:00,919 congressional mandates and I am 95 00:04:00,940 --> 00:04:02,773 particularly concerned with this 96 00:04:02,773 --> 00:04:04,839 administration's focus on climate 97 00:04:04,850 --> 00:04:07,017 change is a national security priority 98 00:04:07,070 --> 00:04:08,929 uh And how that could impact our 99 00:04:08,940 --> 00:04:11,990 operational priorities . Uh I support 100 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,000 efforts to increase resiliency , of 101 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:16,350 course . Uh but climate change policies 102 00:04:16,359 --> 00:04:18,470 can't be an end in and of itself that 103 00:04:18,470 --> 00:04:20,850 ignore operational realities . We have 104 00:04:20,859 --> 00:04:23,829 to renew , remove China in particular 105 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:26,549 from the supply chain of our energy 106 00:04:26,559 --> 00:04:29,029 resilience efforts . So thanks again uh 107 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:31,262 to all our witnesses for being here . I 108 00:04:31,262 --> 00:04:33,484 look forward to your testimony and over 109 00:04:33,484 --> 00:04:35,651 to you , Mr Garamendi for your opening 110 00:04:35,651 --> 00:04:37,762 remarks . I thank you , Mr Chairman . 111 00:04:37,762 --> 00:04:41,140 Um looking at our witnesses . Uh we've 112 00:04:41,149 --> 00:04:43,149 been here before , haven't we ? But 113 00:04:43,149 --> 00:04:45,290 there's much more to discuss . I will 114 00:04:45,299 --> 00:04:47,640 continue our conversation as we work 115 00:04:47,649 --> 00:04:50,019 through the myriad of issues facing our 116 00:04:50,029 --> 00:04:53,000 portfolio . We ask ourselves whether we 117 00:04:53,010 --> 00:04:54,954 have the right balance between the 118 00:04:54,954 --> 00:04:57,359 Cocom requirements and service 119 00:04:57,369 --> 00:04:59,799 priorities as a subcomittee with the 120 00:04:59,809 --> 00:05:01,640 oversight over both military 121 00:05:01,649 --> 00:05:03,940 construction and the majority of 122 00:05:03,950 --> 00:05:06,399 operation and maintenance budgets , we 123 00:05:06,410 --> 00:05:09,250 must ensure that service requirements 124 00:05:09,260 --> 00:05:11,410 such as barracks , innovate , 125 00:05:11,420 --> 00:05:13,476 renovating , unaccompanied housing , 126 00:05:13,476 --> 00:05:15,480 modernizing our nation's research 127 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:17,584 programs , development , testing , 128 00:05:17,589 --> 00:05:20,559 evaluation , infrastructure on and on 129 00:05:21,010 --> 00:05:23,750 that . We do not continue to sacrifice 130 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:26,230 those for the so called higher 131 00:05:26,239 --> 00:05:28,429 priorities . Our investments in the 132 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:30,989 Pacific will be worthless if we cannot 133 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,510 recruit and retain talent . How can we 134 00:05:33,519 --> 00:05:35,989 expect to do that when we continually 135 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:38,222 send the message that our most precious 136 00:05:38,222 --> 00:05:41,179 resource , our people are our last 137 00:05:41,190 --> 00:05:43,670 priority . I'll go back to the 138 00:05:43,679 --> 00:05:45,846 statement chairman made about barracks 139 00:05:45,846 --> 00:05:47,901 a moment ago . Resiliency is another 140 00:05:47,901 --> 00:05:50,012 area in which this committee has been 141 00:05:50,012 --> 00:05:51,846 focused for years , whether it's 142 00:05:51,846 --> 00:05:53,568 ensuring our installations are 143 00:05:53,568 --> 00:05:55,880 resilient to hurricanes , wildfires , 144 00:05:55,890 --> 00:05:58,809 ice storms , earthquakes , or building 145 00:05:58,820 --> 00:06:01,769 resiliency into our installations . 146 00:06:01,779 --> 00:06:03,910 Power sources to guarantee that the 147 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:06,209 basis from which we execute critical 148 00:06:06,220 --> 00:06:09,170 missions and project power can perform 149 00:06:09,179 --> 00:06:11,890 those missions in the event of power 150 00:06:11,899 --> 00:06:14,290 interruptions , whether natural or man 151 00:06:14,299 --> 00:06:16,466 made to date . These efforts have been 152 00:06:16,466 --> 00:06:19,529 overwhelmingly bipartisan . Another 153 00:06:19,540 --> 00:06:21,540 area of bipartisanship has been the 154 00:06:21,540 --> 00:06:23,559 department's operational energy 155 00:06:23,570 --> 00:06:25,950 programs . These programs seek to 156 00:06:25,959 --> 00:06:28,750 increase the range and on station time 157 00:06:28,970 --> 00:06:31,989 by lowering the fuel consumption and 158 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:34,100 providing more survivable weapon 159 00:06:34,109 --> 00:06:37,339 systems . Less dependent on contested 160 00:06:37,399 --> 00:06:40,230 logistical lines we learned that lesson 161 00:06:40,239 --> 00:06:42,406 in Iraq , Afghanistan . We're watching 162 00:06:42,406 --> 00:06:44,183 it play out in Ukraine and will 163 00:06:44,183 --> 00:06:46,480 absolutely be a factor in the Pacific . 164 00:06:46,989 --> 00:06:49,100 That's why I was a bit disappointed . 165 00:06:49,100 --> 00:06:52,369 No , really disappointed that the fy 24 166 00:06:52,380 --> 00:06:54,570 defense appropriation contained a 167 00:06:54,579 --> 00:06:57,390 significant mark against what it 168 00:06:57,399 --> 00:06:59,950 characterized as wasteful climate 169 00:06:59,959 --> 00:07:03,779 change projects . I just 170 00:07:03,790 --> 00:07:05,679 crossed out three lines here , Mr 171 00:07:05,679 --> 00:07:09,140 Chairman , so to avoid conflict . 172 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:12,470 Um so I just go on because the co 173 00:07:12,559 --> 00:07:15,160 because the cost avoidance and increase 174 00:07:15,170 --> 00:07:17,337 of on station time for our operational 175 00:07:17,339 --> 00:07:20,320 energy programs also has the ancillary 176 00:07:20,329 --> 00:07:22,739 benefit of lowering greenhouse gas 177 00:07:22,750 --> 00:07:25,459 emissions . Those programs were 178 00:07:25,470 --> 00:07:29,179 targeted for these cuts that micro grid 179 00:07:29,190 --> 00:07:31,510 was going to allow our installations to 180 00:07:31,519 --> 00:07:34,670 island for perhaps 10 days or more . 181 00:07:34,679 --> 00:07:36,790 Continuing the installations critical 182 00:07:36,790 --> 00:07:40,470 missions unerupted it too might be cut 183 00:07:40,769 --> 00:07:44,589 if it happened in some way to update 184 00:07:44,799 --> 00:07:47,839 an old inefficient diesel generator 185 00:07:48,290 --> 00:07:50,401 over the years , this subcomittee has 186 00:07:50,401 --> 00:07:52,568 endeavored to dismantle the faults and 187 00:07:52,568 --> 00:07:54,829 ultimately dangerous idea that programs 188 00:07:54,839 --> 00:07:58,059 can be either good for readiness or 189 00:07:58,070 --> 00:08:00,769 good for the climate . Actually , it 190 00:08:00,779 --> 00:08:02,890 can be good for both . And I think we 191 00:08:02,890 --> 00:08:05,001 proved that in many , many ways and I 192 00:08:05,001 --> 00:08:07,223 would hope that we would continue to do 193 00:08:07,223 --> 00:08:09,279 so . Finally , I to be miss if I did 194 00:08:09,279 --> 00:08:11,279 not note the significant continuing 195 00:08:11,279 --> 00:08:13,429 investments in my favorite subject , 196 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:16,230 the sentinel ground based strategic 197 00:08:16,239 --> 00:08:18,406 deterrent system that are contained in 198 00:08:18,406 --> 00:08:21,149 the president's budget request despite 199 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:24,769 the ongoing none mccurdy process , it's 200 00:08:24,779 --> 00:08:27,029 no secret where I've been on this 201 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:29,070 program skeptical to say the least 202 00:08:29,299 --> 00:08:32,710 since it is a major mil con issue . 203 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:36,150 It is before this committee , I find it 204 00:08:36,159 --> 00:08:37,900 particularly galling that the 205 00:08:37,909 --> 00:08:40,340 president's budget request continues to 206 00:08:40,349 --> 00:08:43,969 invest billions including 700 million 207 00:08:43,979 --> 00:08:46,090 in military construction funds . When 208 00:08:46,090 --> 00:08:48,979 we're only midway through the mandatory 209 00:08:48,989 --> 00:08:52,260 statutory mandate to review the 210 00:08:52,270 --> 00:08:55,739 Sentinel program in whole and then make 211 00:08:55,750 --> 00:08:59,210 a decision about how we continue . I 212 00:08:59,219 --> 00:09:01,330 guess maybe I just disagreed with the 213 00:09:01,330 --> 00:09:03,497 president . Does that make you happy , 214 00:09:03,497 --> 00:09:03,229 Mr Chairman ? 215 00:09:07,239 --> 00:09:09,830 Thank you . Uh with that , I yield back . 216 00:09:11,979 --> 00:09:14,510 Uh Thank uh thank you , Mr Garamendi . 217 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:17,469 Appreciate the candor . Uh and over to 218 00:09:17,479 --> 00:09:19,590 our witnesses , we have the honorable 219 00:09:19,590 --> 00:09:21,757 Brendan Owens , Assistant Secretary of 220 00:09:21,757 --> 00:09:23,812 Defense for Energy Installations and 221 00:09:23,812 --> 00:09:25,812 Environment . Uh the honorable Rach 222 00:09:25,812 --> 00:09:27,923 Rachel Jacobson , Assistant Secretary 223 00:09:27,923 --> 00:09:30,090 of the Army for Installations , Energy 224 00:09:30,090 --> 00:09:32,146 and Environment . Honorable MEREDITH 225 00:09:32,146 --> 00:09:31,919 Burger , Assistant Secretary of the 226 00:09:31,929 --> 00:09:33,596 Navy for Energy Installations 227 00:09:33,596 --> 00:09:35,690 Environment , and the honorable Ravi 228 00:09:35,830 --> 00:09:38,900 Chaudhry . Uh Chad Harri . Excuse me , 229 00:09:38,909 --> 00:09:40,909 I got it wrong . I thought I got it 230 00:09:40,909 --> 00:09:42,631 right last time . Uh Assistant 231 00:09:42,631 --> 00:09:44,520 Secretary of the Air Force Energy 232 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:46,687 Installation Environment . And over to 233 00:09:46,687 --> 00:09:48,520 you uh Mr Owens for your opening 234 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:51,169 remarks . Uh Thank you , Chairman and I 235 00:09:51,179 --> 00:09:53,401 agree with your statement earlier about 236 00:09:53,401 --> 00:09:55,457 the fact that these discussions have 237 00:09:55,457 --> 00:09:57,760 been both constructive uh and critical 238 00:09:57,770 --> 00:09:59,770 for the war fighters . Uh Chairman 239 00:09:59,780 --> 00:10:01,947 Waltz , ranking man Ver Garamendi , uh 240 00:10:01,947 --> 00:10:03,558 distinguished members of the 241 00:10:03,558 --> 00:10:05,447 sub-committee . Thank you for the 242 00:10:05,447 --> 00:10:07,613 opportunity to discuss the president's 243 00:10:07,613 --> 00:10:09,780 fiscal year 2025 budget request uh for 244 00:10:09,780 --> 00:10:11,613 the Department of Defense Energy 245 00:10:11,613 --> 00:10:13,836 Installation and Environment Programs . 246 00:10:13,836 --> 00:10:15,724 We appreciate this opportunity to 247 00:10:15,724 --> 00:10:17,613 engage on how this budget request 248 00:10:17,613 --> 00:10:19,613 supports our efforts to address the 249 00:10:19,613 --> 00:10:21,891 issues . We discussed a few months ago , 250 00:10:21,891 --> 00:10:24,113 particularly quality of life issues for 251 00:10:24,113 --> 00:10:24,000 our service members as well as other 252 00:10:24,010 --> 00:10:25,732 critical priorities within the 253 00:10:25,732 --> 00:10:27,954 portfolio . When we spoke in February , 254 00:10:27,954 --> 00:10:30,010 I discussed how we were working with 255 00:10:30,010 --> 00:10:32,232 the military departments on three lines 256 00:10:32,232 --> 00:10:34,343 of effort to guide our infrastructure 257 00:10:34,343 --> 00:10:36,454 investments , adopting human centered 258 00:10:36,454 --> 00:10:38,677 requirements , optimizing our footprint 259 00:10:38,677 --> 00:10:40,399 and transforming our portfolio 260 00:10:40,399 --> 00:10:42,177 management . The department has 261 00:10:42,177 --> 00:10:41,960 codified these priorities into the 262 00:10:41,969 --> 00:10:44,191 resilient and healthy defense community 263 00:10:44,191 --> 00:10:46,191 strategy which will ensure that our 264 00:10:46,191 --> 00:10:48,469 spaces are healthy , safe , functional , 265 00:10:48,469 --> 00:10:50,525 resilient and enhance the quality of 266 00:10:50,525 --> 00:10:52,413 life and readiness of our service 267 00:10:52,413 --> 00:10:54,247 members , their families and the 268 00:10:54,247 --> 00:10:56,469 civilian workforce . The Rh DC lays out 269 00:10:56,469 --> 00:10:58,525 key strategic enablers that underpin 270 00:10:58,525 --> 00:11:00,580 these efforts and we look forward to 271 00:11:00,580 --> 00:11:02,802 sharing with this committee and working 272 00:11:02,802 --> 00:11:04,747 in partnership to deliver on these 273 00:11:04,747 --> 00:11:06,858 quality of life improvements together 274 00:11:06,858 --> 00:11:08,969 our efforts will drive changes across 275 00:11:08,969 --> 00:11:11,080 the defense infrastructure enterprise 276 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:11,020 and ensure that it is managed as a 277 00:11:11,030 --> 00:11:13,030 strategic asset to promote the well 278 00:11:13,039 --> 00:11:15,440 being of our total force . To that end , 279 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:18,090 we are requesting $15.6 billion for 280 00:11:18,099 --> 00:11:19,932 military construction across the 281 00:11:19,932 --> 00:11:22,359 department . This includes $1.8 billion 282 00:11:22,369 --> 00:11:24,425 for facilities that will enhance and 283 00:11:24,425 --> 00:11:26,425 support quality of life , including 284 00:11:26,425 --> 00:11:27,980 child development centers , 285 00:11:27,980 --> 00:11:30,202 unaccompanied housing , health care and 286 00:11:30,202 --> 00:11:32,036 dining facilities and schools to 287 00:11:32,036 --> 00:11:33,813 provide ongoing support for our 288 00:11:33,813 --> 00:11:36,036 existing facilities . The department is 289 00:11:36,036 --> 00:11:38,091 requesting $13.6 billion in facility 290 00:11:38,091 --> 00:11:40,580 sustainment funding and $6.3 billion in 291 00:11:40,590 --> 00:11:43,169 restoration and monetization funding to 292 00:11:43,179 --> 00:11:45,346 ensure these investments are optimized 293 00:11:45,346 --> 00:11:47,346 for readiness and quality of life . 294 00:11:47,346 --> 00:11:49,457 We're working with the dod components 295 00:11:49,457 --> 00:11:51,623 to transform our military construction 296 00:11:51,623 --> 00:11:51,619 processes and adopting a sustainment 297 00:11:51,630 --> 00:11:53,352 management strategy to support 298 00:11:53,359 --> 00:11:55,415 consistent and sustained delivery of 299 00:11:55,415 --> 00:11:57,900 high performing assets for housing . 300 00:11:57,909 --> 00:12:00,010 Specifically , we're requesting $2 301 00:12:00,020 --> 00:12:01,631 billion for family housing , 302 00:12:01,631 --> 00:12:03,853 construction operations and maintenance 303 00:12:03,853 --> 00:12:05,353 and nearly 1.1 billion for 304 00:12:05,353 --> 00:12:07,520 unaccompanied housing projects . These 305 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:09,409 investments synchronized with the 306 00:12:09,409 --> 00:12:11,020 efforts of the tiger team we 307 00:12:11,020 --> 00:12:13,076 established in February will support 308 00:12:13,076 --> 00:12:15,298 our efforts to enhance our oversight of 309 00:12:15,298 --> 00:12:17,409 the portfolio . We have a lot of work 310 00:12:17,409 --> 00:12:19,576 ahead of us but we're all committed to 311 00:12:19,576 --> 00:12:21,798 getting after it , reliable , adaptable 312 00:12:21,798 --> 00:12:23,964 and resilient energy remains essential 313 00:12:23,964 --> 00:12:26,131 to military capability and readiness . 314 00:12:26,131 --> 00:12:28,298 And we are requesting $3.8 billion for 315 00:12:28,298 --> 00:12:31,159 installation energy and $3.5 billion 316 00:12:31,190 --> 00:12:33,179 for operational energy to enhance 317 00:12:33,190 --> 00:12:35,412 resilience and ensure the department is 318 00:12:35,412 --> 00:12:37,599 postured to fight and win in contested 319 00:12:37,609 --> 00:12:40,719 environments . But a resilient mission 320 00:12:40,729 --> 00:12:42,785 ready installation is much more than 321 00:12:42,789 --> 00:12:44,789 just what's inside the fence line . 322 00:12:44,789 --> 00:12:46,900 Partnership with the defense with the 323 00:12:46,900 --> 00:12:48,511 communities that support our 324 00:12:48,511 --> 00:12:50,233 installation is critical as is 325 00:12:50,233 --> 00:12:51,956 responsible stewardship of the 326 00:12:51,956 --> 00:12:54,122 environment . I'm pleased to note that 327 00:12:54,122 --> 00:12:56,122 we have begun our transition from a 328 00:12:56,122 --> 00:12:58,345 triple F firefighting foam to PFAS free 329 00:12:58,345 --> 00:13:00,011 alternatives and the military 330 00:13:00,011 --> 00:13:01,789 departments are executing plans 331 00:13:01,789 --> 00:13:03,845 ensuring a safe transition that does 332 00:13:03,845 --> 00:13:05,567 not degrade readiness . We are 333 00:13:05,567 --> 00:13:07,345 requesting $1.6 billion for our 334 00:13:07,345 --> 00:13:09,289 environmental clean up programs to 335 00:13:09,289 --> 00:13:11,511 support our efforts to address risks to 336 00:13:11,511 --> 00:13:13,733 human health and the environment . From 337 00:13:13,733 --> 00:13:15,789 past dod activities including nearly 338 00:13:15,789 --> 00:13:18,820 $300 million for PFAS clean up while we 339 00:13:18,830 --> 00:13:20,799 are making progress . Ep A's new 340 00:13:20,809 --> 00:13:22,976 drinking water rule will significantly 341 00:13:22,976 --> 00:13:25,031 increase the amount of PFAS impacted 342 00:13:25,031 --> 00:13:27,198 drinking water that dod treats both as 343 00:13:27,198 --> 00:13:29,420 a water purveyor and under its clean up 344 00:13:29,420 --> 00:13:31,559 program . These efforts , in addition 345 00:13:31,570 --> 00:13:34,640 to PFAS related cost increases to other 346 00:13:34,650 --> 00:13:36,669 programs will require significant 347 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:38,790 resources over the coming years . And 348 00:13:38,790 --> 00:13:40,846 we will rely on our partnership with 349 00:13:40,846 --> 00:13:42,512 Congress to address these new 350 00:13:42,512 --> 00:13:44,623 requirements as we continue to ensure 351 00:13:44,623 --> 00:13:46,512 our installations are healthy and 352 00:13:46,512 --> 00:13:48,735 resilient places that support our ready 353 00:13:48,735 --> 00:13:50,901 support , readiness of our current and 354 00:13:50,901 --> 00:13:50,809 prospective service members . We 355 00:13:50,820 --> 00:13:52,709 greatly appreciate your sustained 356 00:13:52,709 --> 00:13:54,653 attention to and support for these 357 00:13:54,653 --> 00:13:56,876 critical priorities . We stand ready to 358 00:13:56,876 --> 00:13:58,931 work with this committee to continue 359 00:13:58,931 --> 00:14:01,098 aligning our policies and resources to 360 00:14:01,098 --> 00:14:03,209 support the National defense strategy 361 00:14:03,209 --> 00:14:05,320 and the readiness and quality of life 362 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:07,376 of our soldiers , sailors , airmen , 363 00:14:07,376 --> 00:14:09,679 marines , guardians and their family . 364 00:14:10,010 --> 00:14:12,066 Thank you and I look forward to your 365 00:14:12,066 --> 00:14:11,830 questions . 366 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:18,469 Thank you , Mr Owens , Miss Jacobson 367 00:14:18,479 --> 00:14:21,799 for your uh opening statement . Thank 368 00:14:21,809 --> 00:14:24,031 you , Chairman Waltz , ranking member , 369 00:14:24,031 --> 00:14:26,198 Garamendi and distinguished members of 370 00:14:26,198 --> 00:14:28,253 the sub-committee for inviting me to 371 00:14:28,253 --> 00:14:30,253 present the army's fiscal year 2025 372 00:14:30,253 --> 00:14:32,365 budget for installations , energy and 373 00:14:32,365 --> 00:14:34,789 environmental programs . The readiness 374 00:14:34,799 --> 00:14:37,021 and resilience of our force starts with 375 00:14:37,021 --> 00:14:39,119 providing our soldiers and families 376 00:14:39,130 --> 00:14:41,400 with high quality places to work and 377 00:14:41,409 --> 00:14:43,729 live . We must also ensure our 378 00:14:43,739 --> 00:14:45,729 installations support reliable and 379 00:14:45,739 --> 00:14:48,650 modern infrastructure systems working 380 00:14:48,659 --> 00:14:50,849 with Congress . We will continuously 381 00:14:50,859 --> 00:14:53,510 refine our planning and programming to 382 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:55,631 make sure we have adequate funding to 383 00:14:55,631 --> 00:14:58,049 tackle these issues . From nine new 384 00:14:58,059 --> 00:15:00,409 barracks buildings to four child and 385 00:15:00,419 --> 00:15:02,586 youth centers . The armies fiscal year 386 00:15:02,586 --> 00:15:04,969 2025 budget request will improve our 387 00:15:04,979 --> 00:15:07,599 soldiers and families quality of life . 388 00:15:07,609 --> 00:15:09,640 Our budget request also includes 389 00:15:09,650 --> 00:15:11,770 important investments in operational 390 00:15:11,780 --> 00:15:14,150 facilities including in the organic 391 00:15:14,159 --> 00:15:17,030 industrial base that are critical to 392 00:15:17,039 --> 00:15:19,109 ensuring our soldiers are trained , 393 00:15:19,119 --> 00:15:22,130 equipped and ready to defend our nation . 394 00:15:22,940 --> 00:15:25,650 Our 2025 budget request will allow the 395 00:15:25,659 --> 00:15:28,130 army to continue to address significant 396 00:15:28,140 --> 00:15:30,239 risks to our energy and water 397 00:15:30,250 --> 00:15:32,940 infrastructure through conservation , 398 00:15:32,950 --> 00:15:35,669 innovation and collaboration with third 399 00:15:35,679 --> 00:15:37,840 parties . The army is upgrading our 400 00:15:37,849 --> 00:15:39,349 installation , utilities , 401 00:15:39,349 --> 00:15:41,460 infrastructure but much more needs to 402 00:15:41,460 --> 00:15:44,099 be done . The army recognizes that we 403 00:15:44,109 --> 00:15:46,349 have a sizable backlog of deferred 404 00:15:46,359 --> 00:15:48,630 maintenance needs for hundreds of 405 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:51,390 thousands of buildings . This deferred 406 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:53,344 maintenance which emerged over the 407 00:15:53,344 --> 00:15:55,809 course of many years has serious 408 00:15:55,820 --> 00:15:58,380 repercussions as we have seen with 409 00:15:58,390 --> 00:16:00,989 barracks . We welcome the congressional 410 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:03,789 focus on these issues as evidenced in 411 00:16:03,799 --> 00:16:07,500 both the 2024 NDA A and the 412 00:16:07,510 --> 00:16:10,510 recent quality of life report simply 413 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:14,020 put any increase in our inventory of 414 00:16:14,030 --> 00:16:16,169 poor and failing barracks for any 415 00:16:16,179 --> 00:16:18,729 reason is unacceptable and must be 416 00:16:18,739 --> 00:16:20,909 reversed . And barracks that are in 417 00:16:20,919 --> 00:16:23,729 good condition must stay that way that 418 00:16:23,739 --> 00:16:26,510 is why the army is requesting 100% of 419 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:28,599 the funding required for barracks 420 00:16:28,609 --> 00:16:30,799 sustainment . We are also taking a 421 00:16:30,809 --> 00:16:32,976 number of steps to improve the soldier 422 00:16:32,976 --> 00:16:34,770 experience in new and renovated 423 00:16:34,780 --> 00:16:37,119 barracks , both in living spaces and 424 00:16:37,130 --> 00:16:39,710 communal areas to build ready 425 00:16:39,719 --> 00:16:41,719 installations of tomorrow . We must 426 00:16:41,719 --> 00:16:43,919 consider resiliency today by 427 00:16:43,929 --> 00:16:45,762 modernizing how we construct and 428 00:16:45,762 --> 00:16:48,530 operate our buildings . It is important 429 00:16:48,539 --> 00:16:51,020 to think critically during the design 430 00:16:51,030 --> 00:16:52,919 phase of a building , how it will 431 00:16:52,919 --> 00:16:55,289 function efficiently and perform under 432 00:16:55,299 --> 00:16:57,466 adverse conditions throughout its life 433 00:16:57,466 --> 00:17:00,080 cycle . For example , early 434 00:17:00,090 --> 00:17:02,270 consideration of a building's location 435 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:04,729 can mitigate environmental risks such 436 00:17:04,739 --> 00:17:06,930 as flooding , constructing with more 437 00:17:06,939 --> 00:17:08,717 durable materials will help the 438 00:17:08,717 --> 00:17:10,949 building last longer and reduce repairs 439 00:17:10,959 --> 00:17:13,280 and maintenance costs . So these 440 00:17:13,290 --> 00:17:15,430 upfront considerations will make our 441 00:17:15,439 --> 00:17:18,170 buildings more resilient and ready to 442 00:17:18,180 --> 00:17:20,650 support the army of the future . The 443 00:17:20,660 --> 00:17:23,010 army's 2025 budget request also 444 00:17:23,020 --> 00:17:25,489 reflects operational energy and 445 00:17:25,500 --> 00:17:28,030 research development initiatives that 446 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:30,050 will give our army a competitive 447 00:17:30,060 --> 00:17:33,089 advantage over our adversaries from 448 00:17:33,099 --> 00:17:35,043 exploring options to hybridize our 449 00:17:35,043 --> 00:17:37,729 fleet to building mobile and modular 450 00:17:37,739 --> 00:17:39,729 expeditionary energy systems . 451 00:17:39,770 --> 00:17:42,489 Investing now in operational research 452 00:17:42,500 --> 00:17:45,170 and development will promote readiness 453 00:17:45,180 --> 00:17:47,760 tomorrow . Tactical vehicles of the 454 00:17:47,770 --> 00:17:50,569 future will go further operate longer , 455 00:17:50,579 --> 00:17:52,709 be less detectable in the contested 456 00:17:52,719 --> 00:17:55,500 global environment and they will reduce 457 00:17:55,510 --> 00:17:57,709 our logistical tail by avoiding the 458 00:17:57,719 --> 00:18:00,650 need to haul fuel convoys across the 459 00:18:00,660 --> 00:18:03,410 battlefield . We must also ensure that 460 00:18:03,420 --> 00:18:05,709 contamination emanating from our 461 00:18:05,719 --> 00:18:08,000 installations does not pose health 462 00:18:08,010 --> 00:18:11,890 risks both on or off base . The 463 00:18:11,900 --> 00:18:14,540 army welcomes the regulatory certainty 464 00:18:14,619 --> 00:18:16,786 in the newly promulgated Safe Drinking 465 00:18:16,786 --> 00:18:18,841 Water Act standard for PFAS . And we 466 00:18:18,841 --> 00:18:21,579 stand ready to comply through the 467 00:18:21,589 --> 00:18:24,349 investments reflected in our fy 25 468 00:18:24,359 --> 00:18:26,699 budget request . The army seeks to 469 00:18:26,709 --> 00:18:29,300 improve soldiers , quality of life and 470 00:18:29,310 --> 00:18:31,930 operational effectiveness . We look 471 00:18:31,939 --> 00:18:33,939 forward to working with Congress to 472 00:18:33,939 --> 00:18:36,540 build and maintain the installations of 473 00:18:36,550 --> 00:18:38,459 the future . Thank you and I look 474 00:18:38,469 --> 00:18:41,949 forward to your questions . I thank you 475 00:18:41,959 --> 00:18:43,848 for your opening statement , Miss 476 00:18:43,848 --> 00:18:46,070 Jacobs and Miss Berger for your opening 477 00:18:46,070 --> 00:18:48,560 statement , Chairman Waltz , ranking 478 00:18:48,569 --> 00:18:50,513 member Garamendi and distinguished 479 00:18:50,513 --> 00:18:52,729 members of the panel . Thank you for 480 00:18:52,739 --> 00:18:54,850 inviting me to come talk to you today 481 00:18:54,850 --> 00:18:57,760 about our fy 25 budget request . We're 482 00:18:57,770 --> 00:18:59,650 grateful for the focus of this 483 00:18:59,660 --> 00:19:01,716 subcomittee and the House Quality of 484 00:19:01,716 --> 00:19:03,771 Life Council's report which reflects 485 00:19:03,771 --> 00:19:06,099 actions that uphold a sacred trust to 486 00:19:06,219 --> 00:19:08,386 take care of our marines and sailors . 487 00:19:08,386 --> 00:19:10,989 The way that they take care of us to 488 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:13,000 fight and win the Department of the 489 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:14,944 Navy requires ready , reliable and 490 00:19:14,944 --> 00:19:16,778 resilient installations and that 491 00:19:16,778 --> 00:19:18,670 includes the building systems , 492 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:20,829 environment and assets that comprise 493 00:19:20,839 --> 00:19:23,150 them . The majority of our 494 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:25,160 infrastructure , whether barracks , 495 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:28,060 utilities or our public shipyards is 496 00:19:28,069 --> 00:19:30,680 not in the shape . It should be as an 497 00:19:30,689 --> 00:19:32,689 institution . We have allowed these 498 00:19:32,689 --> 00:19:34,800 assets to degrade over time . We have 499 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:36,856 accumulated and deferred significant 500 00:19:36,856 --> 00:19:39,349 risk and allowed the risk to accumulate 501 00:19:39,359 --> 00:19:42,510 and compound . And the adversary always 502 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:45,189 has a say whether we're talking about 503 00:19:45,199 --> 00:19:48,030 kinetics and components or water and 504 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:50,849 weather , we've seen increased external 505 00:19:50,859 --> 00:19:53,709 impacts that reduce our ability to be 506 00:19:53,719 --> 00:19:56,589 resilient and respond with the emergent 507 00:19:56,599 --> 00:19:59,170 urgent , frequently overtaking the 508 00:19:59,180 --> 00:20:01,390 enduring important in a constrained 509 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:04,300 funding environment , no matter what 510 00:20:04,310 --> 00:20:06,510 the cost , excuse me , no matter what 511 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:09,229 the cost , the cost is readiness and 512 00:20:09,239 --> 00:20:11,295 our sailors and marines shoulder the 513 00:20:11,295 --> 00:20:14,280 consequences . As I talk about the Eine 514 00:20:14,290 --> 00:20:16,180 portfolio , I often talk about 515 00:20:16,189 --> 00:20:18,300 communities , critical infrastructure 516 00:20:18,300 --> 00:20:20,469 and climate action . What I'm talking 517 00:20:20,479 --> 00:20:22,819 about are people our power projection 518 00:20:22,829 --> 00:20:25,329 platforms and making sure that both are 519 00:20:25,339 --> 00:20:28,859 ready , resilient and survivable . This 520 00:20:28,869 --> 00:20:31,630 is mission critical , a sailor or 521 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:34,390 marine recruited and retained that is 522 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:36,880 healthy , safe and trained with a 523 00:20:36,890 --> 00:20:38,800 physical space that supports the 524 00:20:38,810 --> 00:20:41,339 mission will return infinitely more 525 00:20:41,349 --> 00:20:43,800 value to our wire fighting force than 526 00:20:43,810 --> 00:20:47,180 the dollars that it will cost lockstep 527 00:20:47,189 --> 00:20:49,522 with my Navy and Marine Corps teammates . 528 00:20:49,522 --> 00:20:51,411 We are prioritizing projects that 529 00:20:51,411 --> 00:20:53,245 assure mission with the funds we 530 00:20:53,245 --> 00:20:55,356 receive the Navy and Marine Corps are 531 00:20:55,356 --> 00:20:57,599 taking steps to improve how we resource 532 00:20:57,609 --> 00:20:59,890 these critical requirements through the 533 00:20:59,900 --> 00:21:01,956 installation investment plan and the 534 00:21:01,956 --> 00:21:03,678 facilities investment strategy 535 00:21:03,678 --> 00:21:06,739 respectively . These efforts inform the 536 00:21:06,750 --> 00:21:08,806 development of the Department of the 537 00:21:08,806 --> 00:21:10,750 Navy's 30 year infrastructure plan 538 00:21:11,189 --> 00:21:13,449 which looks at the interdependencies 539 00:21:13,459 --> 00:21:15,181 among projects through mission 540 00:21:15,181 --> 00:21:17,739 assurance in order to prioritize and 541 00:21:17,750 --> 00:21:20,060 sequence necessary investments in the 542 00:21:20,069 --> 00:21:22,699 infrastructure , both natural and built 543 00:21:23,089 --> 00:21:25,229 that keep our people safe and project 544 00:21:25,239 --> 00:21:28,969 power around the globe . A budget and 545 00:21:28,979 --> 00:21:31,035 Mr Chairman , you you make this note 546 00:21:31,035 --> 00:21:33,257 often is an investment in institutional 547 00:21:33,257 --> 00:21:35,423 values that happens over the course of 548 00:21:35,423 --> 00:21:38,010 years . A fiscal year budget request 549 00:21:38,020 --> 00:21:40,989 puts executable priorities in place to 550 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:43,300 build on the past and anticipate the 551 00:21:43,310 --> 00:21:45,770 future and keep on task in the time in 552 00:21:45,780 --> 00:21:48,510 between . While we do not include milk 553 00:21:48,579 --> 00:21:50,579 con for barracks or CDC S . In this 554 00:21:50,579 --> 00:21:53,020 year's request , we gratefully moved 555 00:21:53,030 --> 00:21:55,199 faster on the barracks and CDC S 556 00:21:55,209 --> 00:21:57,739 Congress pulled forward last year and 557 00:21:57,750 --> 00:22:00,540 we anticipate eagerly . The 13 CDC S 558 00:22:00,550 --> 00:22:02,661 and 10 barracks that will come across 559 00:22:02,661 --> 00:22:05,260 the pit fit up in between . We use our 560 00:22:05,270 --> 00:22:08,420 FSRM to its highest and best use . 561 00:22:09,199 --> 00:22:11,310 The Department of the Navy is focused 562 00:22:11,310 --> 00:22:13,088 on the essential war fighting , 563 00:22:13,088 --> 00:22:15,199 readiness and quality of life support 564 00:22:15,199 --> 00:22:18,099 that naval facilities provide from the 565 00:22:18,109 --> 00:22:20,869 Marine Corps barracks 2030 their wall 566 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:23,339 to wall inspection just completed the 567 00:22:23,349 --> 00:22:25,238 Navy's decisive investment in the 568 00:22:25,238 --> 00:22:27,293 shipyard infrastructure optimization 569 00:22:27,293 --> 00:22:30,069 program to strengthening relationships 570 00:22:30,079 --> 00:22:31,890 with communities , tribal and 571 00:22:31,900 --> 00:22:34,449 indigenous partners and enhancing 572 00:22:34,459 --> 00:22:36,403 quality of life and resilience via 573 00:22:36,403 --> 00:22:38,739 improvements to energy , water and 574 00:22:38,750 --> 00:22:41,900 wireless . We are using authorities and 575 00:22:41,910 --> 00:22:44,510 policy to make our appropriations go 576 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:48,459 farther above all . We strive to ensure 577 00:22:48,469 --> 00:22:50,413 that we are good stewards of every 578 00:22:50,413 --> 00:22:52,670 appropriated dollar . The Marines 579 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:55,020 recently completed a third party audit 580 00:22:55,030 --> 00:22:57,500 that lasted two years which qualified 581 00:22:57,510 --> 00:22:59,500 them as the first service that has 582 00:22:59,510 --> 00:23:02,099 received an unmodified audit opinion in 583 00:23:02,109 --> 00:23:04,680 the Department of Defense . The Marines 584 00:23:04,689 --> 00:23:06,856 are leading from the front . The audit 585 00:23:06,856 --> 00:23:08,967 shows that we are accountable for the 586 00:23:08,967 --> 00:23:11,420 dollars spent . Our Navy and Marine 587 00:23:11,430 --> 00:23:13,920 Corps respond when the nation calls 588 00:23:13,930 --> 00:23:16,041 around the globe around the clock our 589 00:23:16,041 --> 00:23:18,319 naval forces are where they need to be , 590 00:23:18,319 --> 00:23:20,510 when they need to be there because of 591 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:22,687 the critical readiness enablers across 592 00:23:22,687 --> 00:23:25,810 the Eine portfolio . I'm grateful to 593 00:23:25,819 --> 00:23:28,199 the sailors , marines , civilians and 594 00:23:28,209 --> 00:23:30,599 their families who answer the call and 595 00:23:30,609 --> 00:23:32,699 to you for supporting them . They're 596 00:23:32,709 --> 00:23:35,260 trusting us to get it right . Thank you 597 00:23:35,270 --> 00:23:37,381 for the chance to work with you to do 598 00:23:37,381 --> 00:23:41,209 just that . Thank you , 599 00:23:41,219 --> 00:23:43,330 Miss Berger . Appreciate your opening 600 00:23:43,330 --> 00:23:47,270 statement , Mr Chaudhury , over to you , 601 00:23:48,459 --> 00:23:50,237 Chairman Waltz , ranking member 602 00:23:50,237 --> 00:23:52,403 Garamendi and members of the readiness 603 00:23:52,403 --> 00:23:54,181 subcomittee . Thank you for the 604 00:23:54,181 --> 00:23:56,292 opportunity to discuss the Department 605 00:23:56,292 --> 00:23:58,515 of the Air Force's Energy Installations 606 00:23:58,515 --> 00:24:00,570 and Environment Programs for fy 25 . 607 00:24:00,570 --> 00:24:02,737 The department recognizes that we're , 608 00:24:02,737 --> 00:24:04,903 we are in a decade of consequence , an 609 00:24:04,903 --> 00:24:07,126 era of great power competition in which 610 00:24:07,126 --> 00:24:09,126 the impact of our installations has 611 00:24:09,126 --> 00:24:10,959 become crucial to our ability to 612 00:24:10,959 --> 00:24:13,126 project combat power . Our adversaries 613 00:24:13,126 --> 00:24:15,181 have committed to using both kinetic 614 00:24:15,181 --> 00:24:17,015 and non kinetic means to cripple 615 00:24:17,015 --> 00:24:19,219 infrastructure nodes . As Secretary 616 00:24:19,229 --> 00:24:21,579 Kendall recently stated , we are out of 617 00:24:21,589 --> 00:24:24,000 time whether in the cones or abroad . 618 00:24:24,010 --> 00:24:26,177 We must ensure vital infrastructure at 619 00:24:26,177 --> 00:24:28,010 our installations is resilient , 620 00:24:28,010 --> 00:24:29,843 survivable and ready to meet the 621 00:24:29,843 --> 00:24:31,954 demands of more sophisticated threats 622 00:24:31,954 --> 00:24:34,589 posed by China or even Russia who have 623 00:24:34,599 --> 00:24:36,710 demonstrated their ability and intent 624 00:24:36,710 --> 00:24:38,877 to weaponize energy resources in their 625 00:24:38,877 --> 00:24:41,500 aggression against Ukraine . First , 626 00:24:41,530 --> 00:24:43,586 I'd like to thank the members of the 627 00:24:43,586 --> 00:24:45,419 readiness sub-committee for your 628 00:24:45,419 --> 00:24:47,474 support in meeting this imperative . 629 00:24:47,474 --> 00:24:49,697 Our fy 25 budget fo focuses on ensuring 630 00:24:49,697 --> 00:24:51,808 we can equip our airmen and guardians 631 00:24:51,808 --> 00:24:54,030 with the tools they need to effectively 632 00:24:54,030 --> 00:24:55,641 execute their mission . More 633 00:24:55,641 --> 00:24:57,697 importantly , we owe them modernized 634 00:24:57,697 --> 00:24:59,863 facilities and quality housing that is 635 00:24:59,863 --> 00:25:01,752 befitting of their service . Last 636 00:25:01,752 --> 00:25:03,974 year's initiatives marked the beginning 637 00:25:03,974 --> 00:25:03,819 of a transformative strategic effort at 638 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:05,991 the department designed to ruggedized 639 00:25:05,991 --> 00:25:07,824 our installations for integrated 640 00:25:07,824 --> 00:25:10,047 deterrent and resilience in the face of 641 00:25:10,047 --> 00:25:12,790 great power competition to maintain our 642 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:15,459 cadence of modernization programs . We 643 00:25:15,469 --> 00:25:17,489 are requesting a total daf mil con 644 00:25:17,500 --> 00:25:20,380 investment of 3.45 billion through the 645 00:25:20,390 --> 00:25:23,969 fy 25 president's budget . This is 371 646 00:25:23,979 --> 00:25:26,189 million more than the fy 24 requested 647 00:25:26,199 --> 00:25:28,089 amount pending passage of an 648 00:25:28,099 --> 00:25:30,099 appropriation . These mil con funds 649 00:25:30,099 --> 00:25:32,155 will support combatant commanders in 650 00:25:32,155 --> 00:25:34,155 their most critical requirements to 651 00:25:34,155 --> 00:25:36,377 include bed down of new weapons systems 652 00:25:36,377 --> 00:25:40,089 like B 21 F-35 C 130 J and T seven 653 00:25:40,099 --> 00:25:42,310 aircraft . This effort also includes 654 00:25:42,319 --> 00:25:44,770 large scale investments in Indo Pacific 655 00:25:44,780 --> 00:25:47,319 like Tinian where we will be applying 656 00:25:47,329 --> 00:25:49,551 agile combat employment techniques that 657 00:25:49,551 --> 00:25:51,718 complicate the targeting for potential 658 00:25:51,718 --> 00:25:53,895 adversaries . We are also securing 659 00:25:53,905 --> 00:25:56,127 critical investments at our space force 660 00:25:56,127 --> 00:25:58,461 installations . We are uh mission ready . 661 00:25:58,461 --> 00:26:00,516 Resilient facilities are integral to 662 00:26:00,516 --> 00:26:02,238 the space forces readiness and 663 00:26:02,238 --> 00:26:04,349 effectiveness . Our space port of the 664 00:26:04,349 --> 00:26:06,405 future program which optimizes range 665 00:26:06,405 --> 00:26:08,238 costs and launch throughput will 666 00:26:08,238 --> 00:26:10,461 receive 77 million in milk on primarily 667 00:26:10,461 --> 00:26:13,005 for planning and design and 84 million 668 00:26:13,015 --> 00:26:16,209 in operations and maintenance . Upon my 669 00:26:16,219 --> 00:26:18,275 confirmation in March , I made it my 670 00:26:18,275 --> 00:26:20,386 personal mission to ensure our airmen 671 00:26:20,386 --> 00:26:22,275 guardians and their families have 672 00:26:22,275 --> 00:26:24,441 housing befitting of their service . I 673 00:26:24,441 --> 00:26:26,330 visit over 30 bases and conducted 674 00:26:26,330 --> 00:26:28,552 detail . Focus groups with our youngest 675 00:26:28,552 --> 00:26:30,663 airmen guardians and their f families 676 00:26:30,663 --> 00:26:32,830 to garner their feedback . As a former 677 00:26:32,830 --> 00:26:34,775 air force officer and pilot , I've 678 00:26:34,775 --> 00:26:36,830 lived in military housing to include 679 00:26:36,830 --> 00:26:38,997 raising a family during the transition 680 00:26:38,997 --> 00:26:41,052 to privatization . Um My service has 681 00:26:41,052 --> 00:26:43,052 given me firsthand knowledge of how 682 00:26:43,052 --> 00:26:45,219 housing can impact quality of life for 683 00:26:45,219 --> 00:26:47,163 our personnel . And as a concerned 684 00:26:47,163 --> 00:26:48,886 parent of an Air Force officer 685 00:26:48,886 --> 00:26:50,997 candidate , I can tell you that there 686 00:26:50,997 --> 00:26:53,163 is no issue that is more personal than 687 00:26:53,163 --> 00:26:55,108 this one . That's why I'm proud to 688 00:26:55,108 --> 00:26:57,540 share that in fy 25 the D requested 1.1 689 00:26:57,550 --> 00:26:59,969 billion for housing dormitories and 690 00:26:59,979 --> 00:27:02,180 child development centers to include 691 00:27:02,189 --> 00:27:03,967 all new dorms at joint bases in 692 00:27:03,967 --> 00:27:06,469 Virginia and Texas . This is part of a 693 00:27:06,479 --> 00:27:10,060 $1 billion FSRM investment from Fy 22 694 00:27:10,069 --> 00:27:12,660 to fy 26 to improve the condition of 695 00:27:12,670 --> 00:27:14,892 our dormitories . It nearly triples the 696 00:27:14,892 --> 00:27:17,114 investment over the previous five years 697 00:27:17,114 --> 00:27:19,226 and is the largest dorm investment in 698 00:27:19,226 --> 00:27:21,680 over a decade . Additionally , as the 699 00:27:21,689 --> 00:27:23,745 Department of Defense's largest fuel 700 00:27:23,745 --> 00:27:25,300 consumer , the Air Force is 701 00:27:25,300 --> 00:27:27,467 implementing groundbreaking approaches 702 00:27:27,467 --> 00:27:29,133 to improve operational energy 703 00:27:29,133 --> 00:27:31,245 efficiency . One of these initiatives 704 00:27:31,245 --> 00:27:33,356 is our blended wing body aircraft , a 705 00:27:33,356 --> 00:27:35,522 novel new aircraft design projected to 706 00:27:35,522 --> 00:27:38,640 lower fuel consumption by 30% . We are 707 00:27:38,650 --> 00:27:40,900 also investing in advanced winglets , 708 00:27:40,910 --> 00:27:43,199 engine blade coatings and 3d printed 709 00:27:43,209 --> 00:27:45,469 micro veins that will reduce fuel used 710 00:27:45,479 --> 00:27:47,930 by millions of gallons . Once these and 711 00:27:47,939 --> 00:27:50,106 other projects are fully implemented , 712 00:27:51,189 --> 00:27:53,810 we project annual fuel savings of 75 713 00:27:53,819 --> 00:27:56,729 million gallons gallons , roughly $300 714 00:27:56,739 --> 00:27:59,119 million in savings . Increasing our 715 00:27:59,130 --> 00:28:01,297 range in endurance will have a crucial 716 00:28:01,297 --> 00:28:03,130 impact in operations in the Indo 717 00:28:03,130 --> 00:28:05,241 Pacific where the tyranny of distance 718 00:28:05,241 --> 00:28:07,130 can have a dramatic impact on our 719 00:28:07,130 --> 00:28:09,241 geostrategic position in the region . 720 00:28:09,241 --> 00:28:11,463 Finally , we recognize that in the high 721 00:28:11,463 --> 00:28:13,408 end fight our installations can no 722 00:28:13,408 --> 00:28:15,519 longer be considered a sanctuary as a 723 00:28:15,519 --> 00:28:17,352 result . We are transforming our 724 00:28:17,352 --> 00:28:19,463 installations with all new resiliency 725 00:28:19,463 --> 00:28:21,186 initiatives designed to reduce 726 00:28:21,186 --> 00:28:23,352 electrical grid stress , bolster cyber 727 00:28:23,352 --> 00:28:25,352 resiliency with micro grids and new 728 00:28:25,352 --> 00:28:27,352 energy storage capabilities . We're 729 00:28:27,352 --> 00:28:29,519 also pursuing pursuing redundant power 730 00:28:29,519 --> 00:28:32,469 sources like geothermal small modular 731 00:28:32,479 --> 00:28:35,030 reactors and wind . These capabilities 732 00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:37,040 are designed to harden installation 733 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:39,262 infrastructure and enable commanders to 734 00:28:39,262 --> 00:28:41,373 fight the base for extended periods . 735 00:28:41,373 --> 00:28:43,596 As an example , Kadena Airbase recently 736 00:28:43,596 --> 00:28:45,818 installed a micro grid funded by energy 737 00:28:45,819 --> 00:28:48,329 efficiency savings . This capability 738 00:28:48,339 --> 00:28:50,506 ensured full power on the installation 739 00:28:50,506 --> 00:28:52,617 during a typhoon . A testament to the 740 00:28:52,617 --> 00:28:54,839 resiliency that can be achieved when we 741 00:28:54,839 --> 00:28:56,839 invest in innovative technologies . 742 00:28:56,839 --> 00:28:58,895 I'll close with a quote from General 743 00:28:58,895 --> 00:29:01,145 Henry Happ Arnold who declared in 1941 744 00:29:01,155 --> 00:29:03,574 that air bases are a determining factor 745 00:29:03,584 --> 00:29:06,165 in the success of air operations . I 746 00:29:06,175 --> 00:29:08,505 agree and add that investments in our 747 00:29:08,515 --> 00:29:10,626 installations today could prove to be 748 00:29:10,626 --> 00:29:12,682 the margin of victory in great power 749 00:29:12,682 --> 00:29:14,904 competition . A competition in which we 750 00:29:14,904 --> 00:29:17,130 dare not come in second place once 751 00:29:17,140 --> 00:29:19,251 again . Thank you for your support of 752 00:29:19,251 --> 00:29:21,251 our airmen and guardians and I look 753 00:29:21,251 --> 00:29:25,050 forward to your questions . Thank you , 754 00:29:25,060 --> 00:29:27,900 Mr Chaudhry . Uh And I'll go ahead and , 755 00:29:27,910 --> 00:29:30,170 and kick off the questions and uh for 756 00:29:30,180 --> 00:29:32,180 the interest of time and members uh 757 00:29:32,180 --> 00:29:34,739 stick to the , the five minute for , 758 00:29:34,750 --> 00:29:36,861 for both of us . That's ok with you , 759 00:29:36,861 --> 00:29:39,670 Mr Gamini . So let's talk about ucom 760 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:43,390 and our bases that are still running on 761 00:29:43,400 --> 00:29:47,229 Russian gas , uh which I just 762 00:29:47,239 --> 00:29:50,140 find mind blowing that we have to talk 763 00:29:50,150 --> 00:29:51,983 about this and that frankly that 764 00:29:51,983 --> 00:29:53,706 Congress is having to push the 765 00:29:53,706 --> 00:29:55,989 department on this one would think that 766 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:58,167 this would be something the department 767 00:29:58,167 --> 00:30:00,000 would be pushing itself on , but 768 00:30:00,150 --> 00:30:02,660 nothing like a good visual . Uh that 769 00:30:02,670 --> 00:30:06,099 shows the supply chain and our bases 770 00:30:06,420 --> 00:30:09,550 uh in bomb holder in Heidelberg in 771 00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:12,489 Hohenfels . Uh This is a joint issue in 772 00:30:12,520 --> 00:30:16,500 Stuttgart , Aviano , Vicenza Ramstein . 773 00:30:16,579 --> 00:30:19,219 Uh I mean , even our bases that house 774 00:30:19,280 --> 00:30:22,670 the NATO uh are running on Russian gas 775 00:30:22,680 --> 00:30:25,199 and I know there's been some efforts . 776 00:30:25,689 --> 00:30:27,911 But what is really amazing ? Actually , 777 00:30:27,911 --> 00:30:30,078 the Washington Post just had some good 778 00:30:30,078 --> 00:30:32,022 investigative reporting . It's now 779 00:30:32,022 --> 00:30:34,189 being exported through the Black Sea , 780 00:30:34,189 --> 00:30:36,189 going into refineries in Turkey and 781 00:30:36,189 --> 00:30:38,400 Greece and then Voila , it's now no 782 00:30:38,410 --> 00:30:41,359 longer Russian provided oil and gas . 783 00:30:41,369 --> 00:30:44,290 It's now NATO gas . But at the end of 784 00:30:44,300 --> 00:30:46,522 the day , the dollars are going to fuel 785 00:30:46,579 --> 00:30:48,920 Putin's war machine . So this is a much 786 00:30:48,930 --> 00:30:52,130 more complicated issue than just giving 787 00:30:52,140 --> 00:30:54,319 Ukraine the munitions it needs . Uh 788 00:30:54,329 --> 00:30:56,819 We're fueling Russia , uh taxpayer 789 00:30:56,829 --> 00:30:58,662 dollars are fueling Russia's war 790 00:30:58,662 --> 00:31:02,020 machine and we have a pretty 791 00:31:02,030 --> 00:31:05,130 amazing vulnerability . So , uh since 792 00:31:05,140 --> 00:31:07,569 this is truly a joint issue , Mr Owens , 793 00:31:07,699 --> 00:31:11,089 we had language in fy 23 NDA A all we 794 00:31:11,099 --> 00:31:14,800 asked for was a plan to get us off 795 00:31:14,810 --> 00:31:17,680 Russian gas in the next five years and 796 00:31:17,689 --> 00:31:20,290 we still don't have the plan . So 797 00:31:21,040 --> 00:31:23,540 what's the status Mr Owens if you could 798 00:31:23,550 --> 00:31:26,520 speak more broadly , why do we have ? I 799 00:31:26,530 --> 00:31:28,752 know we're relying on local grids , but 800 00:31:28,752 --> 00:31:30,863 we're doing a lot of a lot of kind of 801 00:31:30,863 --> 00:31:33,750 back padding here on base resiliency 802 00:31:33,790 --> 00:31:36,449 and to my friend , Mr Garamendi's point . 803 00:31:36,859 --> 00:31:38,949 Here's a perfect example of where a 804 00:31:38,959 --> 00:31:40,848 climate agenda and an operational 805 00:31:40,848 --> 00:31:43,250 agenda . You get two for one , you're 806 00:31:43,260 --> 00:31:45,859 off of gas , you're off of oil and you 807 00:31:45,869 --> 00:31:48,819 get an operational resiliency and G you 808 00:31:48,829 --> 00:31:51,329 start impacting Putin's war machine for 809 00:31:51,339 --> 00:31:53,760 which we're asking the American people 810 00:31:53,770 --> 00:31:55,992 to keep digging , digger and deeper and 811 00:31:55,992 --> 00:31:58,439 deeper into their pockets uh to , to 812 00:31:58,449 --> 00:32:02,219 combat against over to you . Well , I 813 00:32:02,229 --> 00:32:04,780 certainly appreciate your focus on this 814 00:32:04,790 --> 00:32:08,420 issue . Last week . We did a swing 815 00:32:08,430 --> 00:32:11,400 through ucom Africom . Uh We met with 816 00:32:11,410 --> 00:32:13,550 leaders in Wiesbaden Stuttgart and at 817 00:32:13,560 --> 00:32:17,020 Ramstein and this was a significant 818 00:32:17,030 --> 00:32:19,780 point of conversation everywhere we 819 00:32:19,790 --> 00:32:22,670 went because of , of the , of the types 820 00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:24,791 of graphics that you're showing right 821 00:32:24,791 --> 00:32:26,680 there . Uh One of the things I am 822 00:32:26,680 --> 00:32:28,719 encouraged by is that this is not 823 00:32:28,729 --> 00:32:31,000 something that when this is not at this 824 00:32:31,010 --> 00:32:33,232 point , something that OS D is bringing 825 00:32:33,232 --> 00:32:35,400 up and ca and catching our uh 826 00:32:35,410 --> 00:32:38,000 installation uh commanders and , and 827 00:32:38,010 --> 00:32:40,819 their energy folks off guard , they are 828 00:32:40,829 --> 00:32:43,280 leaning in and they are sighted on this 829 00:32:43,290 --> 00:32:46,140 issue . Uh It is a challenge as they 830 00:32:46,150 --> 00:32:49,540 look at how they engage in the 831 00:32:49,550 --> 00:32:51,780 operations of their buildings in the 832 00:32:51,790 --> 00:32:53,420 resilience of the , of the 833 00:32:53,430 --> 00:32:55,729 installations themselves and in the , 834 00:32:55,739 --> 00:32:57,628 in the way that they're posturing 835 00:32:57,628 --> 00:32:59,979 themselves to bring the energy 836 00:32:59,989 --> 00:33:02,949 resources that they need increasingly 837 00:33:02,959 --> 00:33:04,792 closer to the fence line . I was 838 00:33:04,792 --> 00:33:06,403 encouraged by one particular 839 00:33:06,410 --> 00:33:08,609 conversation I had with uh the energy 840 00:33:08,619 --> 00:33:11,040 team at Ramstein , uh that was looking 841 00:33:11,050 --> 00:33:13,239 outside the fence line and looking to 842 00:33:13,250 --> 00:33:15,028 really partner with the utility 843 00:33:15,028 --> 00:33:17,194 providers for Owens . Uh just in the , 844 00:33:17,194 --> 00:33:19,489 in the time I have , I appreciate that 845 00:33:19,500 --> 00:33:22,000 you're having conversations and , and 846 00:33:22,010 --> 00:33:24,829 looking at it , the law asked for a 847 00:33:24,839 --> 00:33:28,750 plan to change this not next 848 00:33:28,760 --> 00:33:32,439 month . I mean , five years to change 849 00:33:32,449 --> 00:33:35,410 this dynamic . What is the status of 850 00:33:35,420 --> 00:33:38,239 this committee receiving this plan 851 00:33:38,250 --> 00:33:40,306 particularly as we continue to spend 852 00:33:40,609 --> 00:33:43,510 billions of our constituents dollars ? 853 00:33:43,530 --> 00:33:45,641 Can you imagine if I took this to one 854 00:33:45,641 --> 00:33:47,641 of my town halls right now as we're 855 00:33:47,641 --> 00:33:50,030 talking about uh billions and billions 856 00:33:50,040 --> 00:33:52,096 going more to Ukraine and that their 857 00:33:52,096 --> 00:33:54,151 money is basically fueling the other 858 00:33:54,151 --> 00:33:56,262 side of the war through our bases and 859 00:33:56,262 --> 00:33:58,318 oh , by the way , making our service 860 00:33:58,318 --> 00:34:00,262 members vulnerable . So what's the 861 00:34:00,262 --> 00:34:02,429 status of the plan ? I need to move on 862 00:34:02,429 --> 00:34:04,373 to another topic , the , the plans 863 00:34:04,373 --> 00:34:04,109 under development . I'll come back to 864 00:34:04,119 --> 00:34:07,969 you with a specific . So what's the be 865 00:34:07,979 --> 00:34:10,035 happy to come back to you at a later 866 00:34:10,035 --> 00:34:12,146 date ? With a , with a timeline ? I'd 867 00:34:12,146 --> 00:34:14,146 appreciate an answer this week . At 868 00:34:14,146 --> 00:34:16,368 least with a timeline , at least with a 869 00:34:16,368 --> 00:34:18,479 goal . Uh Thank you . And , and I had 870 00:34:18,479 --> 00:34:20,810 an amendment in the last uh the 24 NDA 871 00:34:20,820 --> 00:34:23,042 A again , I can't believe that Congress 872 00:34:23,042 --> 00:34:26,209 needs to push this uh weaning our clean 873 00:34:26,219 --> 00:34:29,389 energy programs off of Chinese 874 00:34:29,399 --> 00:34:32,100 Communist Party production . So can you 875 00:34:32,209 --> 00:34:35,120 speak to uh what the department's 876 00:34:35,129 --> 00:34:36,959 proactively doing to encourage 877 00:34:36,969 --> 00:34:39,520 investment in domestic and , or allied 878 00:34:39,570 --> 00:34:41,399 for that matter , uh energy 879 00:34:41,409 --> 00:34:43,520 capabilities and production sources . 880 00:34:43,908 --> 00:34:46,075 I'll stick with you , Mr Owens . These 881 00:34:46,075 --> 00:34:47,741 are really , these are really 882 00:34:47,741 --> 00:34:49,964 department wide issues agreed and thank 883 00:34:49,964 --> 00:34:52,019 you for again for , for raising this 884 00:34:52,019 --> 00:34:54,130 point and giving us an opportunity to 885 00:34:54,130 --> 00:34:56,186 engage around uh this . We have been 886 00:34:56,186 --> 00:34:58,186 working through the inter agency uh 887 00:34:58,186 --> 00:35:00,130 through the Federal Consortium for 888 00:35:00,130 --> 00:35:02,186 Advanced Batteries in our , with our 889 00:35:02,186 --> 00:35:04,352 partners uh in industrial based policy 890 00:35:04,352 --> 00:35:06,575 to onshore and friend show the critical 891 00:35:06,575 --> 00:35:08,797 production of the energy resources that 892 00:35:08,797 --> 00:35:11,019 we are gonna be reliant on . One of the 893 00:35:11,019 --> 00:35:13,186 thing that I'll highlight is that in a 894 00:35:13,186 --> 00:35:15,297 recent uh CFE procurement that uh Dod 895 00:35:15,297 --> 00:35:17,630 and the military departments engaged in , 896 00:35:17,630 --> 00:35:20,189 uh we did have , we did hold the , the , 897 00:35:20,199 --> 00:35:23,159 the developer accountable on made in 898 00:35:23,169 --> 00:35:25,739 the in the USA solar panels . So we are 899 00:35:25,750 --> 00:35:28,500 leaning forward and really focused on 900 00:35:28,510 --> 00:35:30,177 making sure that we are doing 901 00:35:30,177 --> 00:35:32,288 everything we can to send the correct 902 00:35:32,288 --> 00:35:34,343 market signals so that these , these 903 00:35:34,343 --> 00:35:36,288 companies that are leaning forward 904 00:35:36,288 --> 00:35:38,343 domestically are gonna be rewarded . 905 00:35:38,343 --> 00:35:40,621 Great . That's uh that's positive news . 906 00:35:40,621 --> 00:35:42,343 Final question . And I know Mr 907 00:35:42,343 --> 00:35:44,343 Garamendi , I went over my own rule 908 00:35:44,343 --> 00:35:46,566 here but uh uh this is critical because 909 00:35:46,566 --> 00:35:48,969 of the years and years of backlog and 910 00:35:48,989 --> 00:35:51,560 uh and and deferred maintenance . So 911 00:35:51,770 --> 00:35:53,939 now that we have the fy 25 request , 912 00:35:53,949 --> 00:35:57,370 can you confirm that FSRM 913 00:35:57,379 --> 00:36:00,810 lines were requested to meet 100% 914 00:36:01,120 --> 00:36:03,209 of the requirement for unaccompanied 915 00:36:03,219 --> 00:36:06,459 housing . I'll go to each , each 916 00:36:06,469 --> 00:36:10,300 service for the army . The answer is 917 00:36:10,310 --> 00:36:13,610 yes . What about uh what would be the 918 00:36:13,620 --> 00:36:15,959 cost for the army to address the 919 00:36:15,969 --> 00:36:16,560 backlog ? 920 00:36:19,959 --> 00:36:22,015 It would be multi billions . I don't 921 00:36:22,015 --> 00:36:24,126 have the exact numbers . Can you come 922 00:36:24,126 --> 00:36:26,403 back to the committee with that number ? 923 00:36:26,403 --> 00:36:28,570 Yes , sir . Thank you , MS Berger 100% 924 00:36:28,570 --> 00:36:30,626 unaccompanied housing for the Navy s 925 00:36:30,626 --> 00:36:32,792 for the Marine Corps under the capital 926 00:36:32,792 --> 00:36:34,903 planning tool . It's a deviation from 927 00:36:34,903 --> 00:36:37,070 100% to make sure that we are applying 928 00:36:37,070 --> 00:36:39,330 all of those funds um to include demo . 929 00:36:39,620 --> 00:36:42,199 Um And so , um as we do an assessment , 930 00:36:42,209 --> 00:36:44,376 we make sure that we're applying um it 931 00:36:44,376 --> 00:36:46,376 across the board in a way that puts 932 00:36:46,376 --> 00:36:48,487 every dollar where it counts . Um the 933 00:36:48,487 --> 00:36:50,431 capital planning tool which I'd be 934 00:36:50,431 --> 00:36:52,653 happy to come brief you on . Um , looks 935 00:36:52,653 --> 00:36:54,765 at a sustainment in a different way . 936 00:36:54,765 --> 00:36:57,098 And so we have navy sustainment at 100% . 937 00:36:57,098 --> 00:36:59,209 Um and a different approach um that I 938 00:36:59,209 --> 00:37:01,320 would give you a fuller brief on when 939 00:37:01,320 --> 00:37:03,265 there's more time under the Marine 940 00:37:03,265 --> 00:37:05,431 Corps capital planning . So that's not 941 00:37:05,431 --> 00:37:07,542 100% of the requirement or we don't . 942 00:37:07,542 --> 00:37:09,709 There , there are items on the pool um 943 00:37:09,709 --> 00:37:11,876 this , this year um that we could move 944 00:37:11,876 --> 00:37:14,042 left um with , with more opportunity , 945 00:37:14,042 --> 00:37:16,098 a little bit of sequencing was off , 946 00:37:16,098 --> 00:37:18,209 but we're trying to make sure that we 947 00:37:18,209 --> 00:37:17,754 are moving it forward with what we did 948 00:37:17,764 --> 00:37:19,820 request to , to keep going forward . 949 00:37:20,004 --> 00:37:22,171 I'll take that as a yes for Navy and a 950 00:37:22,195 --> 00:37:24,725 no to be explained for the Marine Corps 951 00:37:26,145 --> 00:37:29,889 Air Force . Oh , I'm sorry . And please 952 00:37:29,899 --> 00:37:31,899 come to the committee with what the 953 00:37:31,899 --> 00:37:35,679 backlog number is . Thank you . G we're 954 00:37:35,689 --> 00:37:39,489 at 100% on unaccompanied backlog of 46 955 00:37:39,500 --> 00:37:42,020 billion . We're gonna get it with by 956 00:37:42,030 --> 00:37:45,389 tripling our demo demo rate and when I 957 00:37:45,399 --> 00:37:47,510 say backlog 46 billion , that's the , 958 00:37:47,510 --> 00:37:50,159 that's the total of all of our assets . 959 00:37:50,209 --> 00:37:52,590 Uh So uh we're gonna get at that by 960 00:37:52,600 --> 00:37:55,199 reducing uh our uh reducing our 961 00:37:55,209 --> 00:37:58,439 inventory and um u using , utilizing 962 00:37:58,449 --> 00:38:00,620 privatization uh to reduce the 963 00:38:00,629 --> 00:38:03,000 denominator . Uh So that those backlogs 964 00:38:03,010 --> 00:38:05,288 going . So turning over uh things with , 965 00:38:05,288 --> 00:38:07,510 with privatization activities allows us 966 00:38:07,510 --> 00:38:09,580 to reduce uh that backlog . But also 967 00:38:09,590 --> 00:38:13,040 we're roughly quadrupling our , our 968 00:38:13,629 --> 00:38:17,459 um demo from roughly 30 million a year 969 00:38:17,469 --> 00:38:19,639 to about 100 and 40 to 100 and 60 970 00:38:19,649 --> 00:38:21,982 million per year across the fit up . Ok , 971 00:38:21,982 --> 00:38:24,205 great . That sounds smart , but that is 972 00:38:24,205 --> 00:38:26,316 a pretty astounding number um over to 973 00:38:26,316 --> 00:38:30,070 you Mr Gamin Mr Chairman . Thank you 974 00:38:30,080 --> 00:38:32,370 for that line of questioning . And if 975 00:38:32,379 --> 00:38:35,159 the uh witnesses could provide uh to 976 00:38:35,169 --> 00:38:38,110 the committee , a specific information 977 00:38:38,120 --> 00:38:41,010 on your plans for the privatization 978 00:38:41,020 --> 00:38:43,899 expansion for both accompanied as well 979 00:38:43,909 --> 00:38:46,310 as unaccompanied housing and how you 980 00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:48,487 might carry that out . We know we have 981 00:38:48,487 --> 00:38:50,659 a scoring issue on a lot of that . But 982 00:38:50,669 --> 00:38:53,290 uh please come with as much detailed 983 00:38:53,300 --> 00:38:56,949 information as you could . I wasn't 984 00:38:56,959 --> 00:38:59,070 gonna go back into the Sentinel . How 985 00:38:59,070 --> 00:39:02,560 are Mr Chare ? I shall . So I read your 986 00:39:02,570 --> 00:39:04,889 statement and you say the the need 987 00:39:04,899 --> 00:39:07,260 remains to recapitalize the over 50 988 00:39:07,270 --> 00:39:08,969 year old ICBM system . 989 00:39:11,209 --> 00:39:14,770 The non mccurdy process 990 00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:18,469 specifically designed to 991 00:39:18,479 --> 00:39:21,489 answer that question . Is it needed ? 992 00:39:21,500 --> 00:39:23,611 What are the alternatives ? What will 993 00:39:23,611 --> 00:39:25,556 not be done if we spend 100 and 30 994 00:39:25,556 --> 00:39:27,639 billion ? I think I may have shared 995 00:39:27,649 --> 00:39:30,310 with you the $130 billion cost of the 996 00:39:30,320 --> 00:39:33,979 Sentinel going forward . Um does not 997 00:39:33,989 --> 00:39:37,959 include the weapons systems themselves . 998 00:39:37,969 --> 00:39:40,080 That is the bombs and the pits and so 999 00:39:40,080 --> 00:39:42,025 forth . So that would be added and 1000 00:39:42,025 --> 00:39:43,858 that's probably another 20 to 30 1001 00:39:43,858 --> 00:39:47,600 billion there . However , the cost of A 1002 00:39:47,610 --> 00:39:51,439 B 21 is about 700 1003 00:39:51,449 --> 00:39:54,719 million . Simple math would indicate 1004 00:39:54,729 --> 00:39:58,439 you could almost get 180 B 21 . S 1005 00:40:01,429 --> 00:40:03,810 if you did not spend 100 and 30 billion 1006 00:40:03,860 --> 00:40:06,489 on the sentinel , just something to 1007 00:40:06,500 --> 00:40:08,989 think about for deterrence purposes . 1008 00:40:09,360 --> 00:40:12,379 Um , I think I'll go back to 1009 00:40:13,179 --> 00:40:16,800 local issues . Uh , after all , 1010 00:40:17,219 --> 00:40:19,330 uh , the encroachment issues are very 1011 00:40:19,330 --> 00:40:21,275 real when we've talked extensively 1012 00:40:21,275 --> 00:40:23,275 about Travis Air Force Base , a new 1013 00:40:23,275 --> 00:40:25,219 city being built next to it and so 1014 00:40:25,219 --> 00:40:27,552 forth . Uh , I appreciate the Air Force , 1015 00:40:27,552 --> 00:40:30,840 uh , very quickly coming forward to 1016 00:40:30,850 --> 00:40:33,072 assist in trying to figure out when the 1017 00:40:33,072 --> 00:40:35,830 world's going on there . Um , however , 1018 00:40:36,070 --> 00:40:39,979 Secretary Jacobson , did you know you 1019 00:40:39,989 --> 00:40:43,439 have a problem at a MATCO facility 1020 00:40:44,679 --> 00:40:48,080 you do overlooking the Matco facility , 1021 00:40:48,090 --> 00:40:51,909 which is the principal way in which the 1022 00:40:51,919 --> 00:40:54,669 military will move munitions from the 1023 00:40:54,679 --> 00:40:57,229 west coast of the United States , 1024 00:40:58,060 --> 00:41:01,000 presumably further west uh 1025 00:41:01,010 --> 00:41:04,639 overlooking directly within a few 100 1026 00:41:04,649 --> 00:41:06,870 yards of that facility , which is a 1027 00:41:06,879 --> 00:41:10,080 very high security secret facility . 1028 00:41:11,250 --> 00:41:14,219 Uh is public land , not , excuse me , 1029 00:41:14,229 --> 00:41:16,560 private land that could become a 1030 00:41:16,570 --> 00:41:19,050 development and could easily see 1031 00:41:19,060 --> 00:41:21,004 exactly what's going on at Matco , 1032 00:41:21,330 --> 00:41:24,070 which I suspect our adversaries would 1033 00:41:24,080 --> 00:41:26,320 like to know . So , uh let's pay 1034 00:41:26,330 --> 00:41:28,709 attention to this issue . It's not just 1035 00:41:28,719 --> 00:41:30,830 the two that I've raised . Travis and 1036 00:41:30,830 --> 00:41:32,997 Matco , but it goes beyond most of our 1037 00:41:32,997 --> 00:41:35,320 bases . And I would suggest there are 1038 00:41:35,330 --> 00:41:36,959 strategies that we could use 1039 00:41:36,969 --> 00:41:39,191 principally the purchase of easements , 1040 00:41:39,449 --> 00:41:41,449 not necessarily the purchase of the 1041 00:41:41,449 --> 00:41:43,560 land , but rather the purchase of the 1042 00:41:43,560 --> 00:41:45,616 easements and let the landowner then 1043 00:41:45,616 --> 00:41:48,429 maintain the land . Um So I let that 1044 00:41:48,439 --> 00:41:51,540 one go there . Uh We do have a problem . 1045 00:41:51,610 --> 00:41:55,399 Uh M Berger Mare Island that we clean 1046 00:41:55,409 --> 00:41:57,570 up . I'll use this as an example of 1047 00:41:57,580 --> 00:41:59,524 cleanups that need to be done most 1048 00:41:59,524 --> 00:42:02,429 everywhere for every department . Um 1049 00:42:03,250 --> 00:42:05,139 Mere Island . Uh We're looking to 1050 00:42:05,139 --> 00:42:07,306 transfer the land but we got to finish 1051 00:42:07,306 --> 00:42:09,417 the cleanups . You and I talked about 1052 00:42:09,417 --> 00:42:11,639 this in detail . I won't take much time 1053 00:42:11,639 --> 00:42:13,959 here to , to , to raise the issue , but 1054 00:42:13,969 --> 00:42:16,340 please get on with it . We want to get 1055 00:42:16,350 --> 00:42:18,949 that uh transfer done , get that land 1056 00:42:18,959 --> 00:42:21,070 off the military books . There's more 1057 00:42:21,070 --> 00:42:23,181 to be done there as the navy tries to 1058 00:42:23,181 --> 00:42:25,469 figure out how to and where it might 1059 00:42:25,479 --> 00:42:28,560 repair more ships that are likely to be 1060 00:42:28,570 --> 00:42:31,120 in the Pacific for the uh other um 1061 00:42:32,340 --> 00:42:34,939 assistant secretaries . Please keep in 1062 00:42:34,949 --> 00:42:38,689 mind this issue is really worldwide and 1063 00:42:38,699 --> 00:42:41,350 you did talk uh all of you about uh the 1064 00:42:42,030 --> 00:42:44,290 pfos and the issues there . I'd be very 1065 00:42:44,300 --> 00:42:46,356 interested in hearing the technology 1066 00:42:46,356 --> 00:42:48,949 that you intend to use to uh meet those 1067 00:42:48,959 --> 00:42:50,626 requirements , those clean up 1068 00:42:50,626 --> 00:42:54,229 requirements . I not sure that that 1069 00:42:54,239 --> 00:42:56,439 really exists with that . I think I'll 1070 00:42:56,449 --> 00:42:58,560 let it go , Mr Chairman and thank you 1071 00:42:58,560 --> 00:43:00,782 for the hearing . Oh , excuse me , I've 1072 00:43:00,782 --> 00:43:02,929 got 28 seconds . Mr Chaudry , 1073 00:43:03,729 --> 00:43:06,459 $700 million is a down payment on the 1074 00:43:06,469 --> 00:43:08,358 one of the most expensive mil con 1075 00:43:08,358 --> 00:43:11,679 projects ever otherwise known as the 1076 00:43:12,550 --> 00:43:16,040 Sentinel silos Command Control on and 1077 00:43:16,050 --> 00:43:19,070 on . Do you have any notion of what is 1078 00:43:19,080 --> 00:43:22,070 the actual mil con expenditure over the 1079 00:43:22,080 --> 00:43:23,191 next decade or so ? 1080 00:43:26,840 --> 00:43:28,896 Ranking member Garamendi . Um We are 1081 00:43:28,899 --> 00:43:30,788 currently letting the nun mccurdy 1082 00:43:30,788 --> 00:43:33,300 process uh conduct their analysis . Uh 1083 00:43:33,310 --> 00:43:36,330 We will have a number of facility folks , 1084 00:43:36,340 --> 00:43:38,284 one of my uh staff members will be 1085 00:43:38,284 --> 00:43:40,396 engaging on that process and we'll be 1086 00:43:40,396 --> 00:43:42,507 looking at that very , very subject . 1087 00:43:42,507 --> 00:43:44,673 So we look forward to reporting to you 1088 00:43:44,673 --> 00:43:46,896 uh what the results of that on what the 1089 00:43:46,896 --> 00:43:49,007 future projections are and facilities 1090 00:43:49,007 --> 00:43:51,062 we do anticipate in all transparency 1091 00:43:51,062 --> 00:43:53,229 for it to grow as you know , as well . 1092 00:43:53,229 --> 00:43:55,229 Um But uh we'll let the nun mccurdy 1093 00:43:55,229 --> 00:43:57,507 process , uh execute that analysis and , 1094 00:43:57,507 --> 00:43:59,507 and give us a report . I'm not sure 1095 00:43:59,507 --> 00:44:01,784 we've ever seen a real baseline number , 1096 00:44:01,784 --> 00:44:03,729 but yes , we do need that specific 1097 00:44:03,729 --> 00:44:03,379 information . Mr Chairman , I yield 1098 00:44:03,389 --> 00:44:06,370 back chair and I recognized Mr Moreland 1099 00:44:06,379 --> 00:44:10,320 for five minutes . Thank you , 1100 00:44:10,330 --> 00:44:13,050 Mr Chairman Secretary Berger . Uh 1101 00:44:13,090 --> 00:44:15,034 Thanks for visiting my office once 1102 00:44:15,034 --> 00:44:17,034 again , appreciate it . Uh The Navy 1103 00:44:17,034 --> 00:44:19,250 leaders have relayed me the importance 1104 00:44:19,260 --> 00:44:21,360 of repairing the breakwater and I've 1105 00:44:21,370 --> 00:44:22,981 been told that this piece of 1106 00:44:22,981 --> 00:44:25,790 infrastructure is at risk of failing 1107 00:44:26,040 --> 00:44:28,120 which in turn would destroy Guam's 1108 00:44:28,129 --> 00:44:30,500 civilian harbor . However , the 1109 00:44:30,510 --> 00:44:32,566 breakwater is also very important to 1110 00:44:32,566 --> 00:44:34,732 the navy . So could you please explain 1111 00:44:34,732 --> 00:44:37,489 why fully funding a repair of the Guam 1112 00:44:37,500 --> 00:44:40,379 Breakwater is the Navy's number two 1113 00:44:40,389 --> 00:44:41,820 unfunded priority . 1114 00:44:44,959 --> 00:44:47,219 And uh it , it was very nice to visit 1115 00:44:47,229 --> 00:44:50,439 with you as well and uh this , this is 1116 00:44:50,449 --> 00:44:52,629 an unfunded priority because of timing 1117 00:44:52,790 --> 00:44:55,419 of it . And so um we , we weren't able 1118 00:44:55,429 --> 00:44:57,707 to get the submission in the right way , 1119 00:44:57,707 --> 00:44:59,873 but the 600 million that you see there 1120 00:44:59,873 --> 00:45:01,985 um as you rightly notice for where uh 1121 00:45:01,985 --> 00:45:04,207 the Navy has a shared ownership of that 1122 00:45:04,207 --> 00:45:07,250 breakwater . And so um this would be uh 1123 00:45:07,260 --> 00:45:09,129 funding that we would be able to 1124 00:45:09,139 --> 00:45:11,729 obligate um within the year and , and 1125 00:45:11,739 --> 00:45:13,906 be able to move forward and execute on 1126 00:45:13,906 --> 00:45:16,128 uh to make sure that we are taking care 1127 00:45:16,128 --> 00:45:18,350 of the infrastructure that supports not 1128 00:45:18,350 --> 00:45:20,461 only the Navy's work um but is shared 1129 00:45:20,461 --> 00:45:22,889 um in , in the space um of the , of the 1130 00:45:22,899 --> 00:45:25,189 uh government , the community um and 1131 00:45:25,199 --> 00:45:27,366 then go forward . Uh We will have some 1132 00:45:27,366 --> 00:45:29,366 challenges . I will note um that we 1133 00:45:29,366 --> 00:45:31,729 will prioritize as we think about um 1134 00:45:31,739 --> 00:45:34,889 material um the support of uh workers 1135 00:45:34,899 --> 00:45:37,189 in construction . Thank you uh to all 1136 00:45:37,199 --> 00:45:39,421 of Congress for making sure that we did 1137 00:45:39,421 --> 00:45:41,429 have uh the extended H two B visas 1138 00:45:41,439 --> 00:45:43,661 which which helps as we think about how 1139 00:45:43,661 --> 00:45:46,110 to manage uh work across , across Guam 1140 00:45:46,120 --> 00:45:48,287 that we will need to do . Um but a , a 1141 00:45:48,287 --> 00:45:50,398 priority and one that we will be able 1142 00:45:50,398 --> 00:45:53,290 to execute on if funded . Uh Thank you . 1143 00:45:53,300 --> 00:45:55,467 You also answered my second question , 1144 00:45:55,467 --> 00:45:57,356 but my third and last would be uh 1145 00:45:57,356 --> 00:45:59,469 secretary , a centralized energy 1146 00:45:59,479 --> 00:46:01,646 storage system is necessary to provide 1147 00:46:01,646 --> 00:46:04,469 steady shore power for the Virginia 1148 00:46:04,479 --> 00:46:07,250 class submarines on Guam , investing in 1149 00:46:07,260 --> 00:46:09,260 the power grid infrastructure would 1150 00:46:09,260 --> 00:46:11,204 also support resilience uh for the 1151 00:46:11,204 --> 00:46:13,469 island civilian population and reduce 1152 00:46:13,479 --> 00:46:15,312 the amount of load shedding . My 1153 00:46:15,312 --> 00:46:17,530 constituents experience . Would you 1154 00:46:17,540 --> 00:46:19,770 advocate the Department of Defense 1155 00:46:19,780 --> 00:46:21,836 enter and negotiate partnership with 1156 00:46:21,836 --> 00:46:23,947 the Guam Power Authority to install a 1157 00:46:23,947 --> 00:46:26,209 centralized energy storage system 1158 00:46:26,449 --> 00:46:29,000 sufficient to meet such a critical need . 1159 00:46:29,340 --> 00:46:31,396 And in general could more be done to 1160 00:46:31,396 --> 00:46:34,929 work with the Guam Power Authority . Uh 1161 00:46:35,419 --> 00:46:37,590 Yes , yes . Representative Moylan . Um 1162 00:46:37,600 --> 00:46:39,830 we've , we've seen some very good 1163 00:46:39,840 --> 00:46:42,250 results of exactly the construct that 1164 00:46:42,260 --> 00:46:45,739 you describe . Um a , a near example is 1165 00:46:45,750 --> 00:46:47,694 in Hawaii where we've been able to 1166 00:46:47,694 --> 00:46:50,129 combine um resilient um and renewable 1167 00:46:50,139 --> 00:46:52,250 energy with battery storage to ensure 1168 00:46:52,250 --> 00:46:54,209 that not only the mission has the 1169 00:46:54,219 --> 00:46:56,219 energy that it needs , but also the 1170 00:46:56,219 --> 00:46:58,386 community has the energy that it needs 1171 00:46:58,386 --> 00:47:00,441 and it works exactly as you say , by 1172 00:47:00,441 --> 00:47:02,330 working with our uh utility , our 1173 00:47:02,330 --> 00:47:05,010 energy providers . Um And so , uh this 1174 00:47:05,020 --> 00:47:07,330 is something I very recently my office 1175 00:47:07,340 --> 00:47:09,562 uh representatives went out uh to spend 1176 00:47:09,562 --> 00:47:11,562 time with Guam Power and , and make 1177 00:47:11,562 --> 00:47:13,396 sure that we understood both the 1178 00:47:13,396 --> 00:47:15,396 requirement and the way forward and 1179 00:47:15,396 --> 00:47:17,340 certainly something um that we are 1180 00:47:17,340 --> 00:47:19,340 learning more about considering and 1181 00:47:19,340 --> 00:47:21,396 eager to continue working uh with uh 1182 00:47:21,396 --> 00:47:23,396 Guam Power to make sure that we are 1183 00:47:23,396 --> 00:47:25,618 thinking together on that . And I would 1184 00:47:25,618 --> 00:47:27,618 welcome the opportunity to show you 1185 00:47:27,618 --> 00:47:29,507 some of the places that we've had 1186 00:47:29,507 --> 00:47:31,396 successes . And thank you for the 1187 00:47:31,396 --> 00:47:33,618 invitation and thank you to the panel , 1188 00:47:33,618 --> 00:47:33,489 Mr Chairman . I go back . Thank you . 1189 00:47:38,159 --> 00:47:40,215 Thank you so much and I was happy to 1190 00:47:40,215 --> 00:47:42,437 hear the chairman mention our labs . Um 1191 00:47:42,437 --> 00:47:44,979 Certainly if we are going to continue 1192 00:47:44,989 --> 00:47:47,156 to attract the best and brightest , we 1193 00:47:47,156 --> 00:47:49,530 need cutting edge research facilities . 1194 00:47:49,540 --> 00:47:51,949 Um But I'd like to talk a little bit 1195 00:47:51,959 --> 00:47:54,070 about the increased rate and severity 1196 00:47:54,070 --> 00:47:56,199 of natural disasters due to the 1197 00:47:56,209 --> 00:47:58,265 changing climate . They're impacting 1198 00:47:58,265 --> 00:48:00,487 our installations , our readiness every 1199 00:48:00,487 --> 00:48:02,265 year are impacting our national 1200 00:48:02,265 --> 00:48:04,376 security as a whole . So I understand 1201 00:48:04,376 --> 00:48:08,219 that in the fy 24 ins installation 1202 00:48:08,229 --> 00:48:10,340 resilience and energy accounts , they 1203 00:48:10,340 --> 00:48:12,285 were targeted as we heard from our 1204 00:48:12,285 --> 00:48:14,290 ranking as quote wasteful climate 1205 00:48:14,300 --> 00:48:16,300 change programs . And yet as we've 1206 00:48:16,310 --> 00:48:18,532 heard in many hearings over the years , 1207 00:48:18,532 --> 00:48:20,532 including on this committee , these 1208 00:48:20,532 --> 00:48:22,754 programs are critical for building both 1209 00:48:22,754 --> 00:48:24,866 energy and extreme weather resilience 1210 00:48:24,866 --> 00:48:26,977 and mission assurance at our domestic 1211 00:48:26,977 --> 00:48:28,866 installations and developing oper 1212 00:48:28,866 --> 00:48:31,139 operational energy programs that 1213 00:48:31,149 --> 00:48:33,540 increase on station time and mitigate 1214 00:48:33,550 --> 00:48:36,040 contested logistics challenges with 1215 00:48:36,050 --> 00:48:38,060 near peer competitors . So first 1216 00:48:38,070 --> 00:48:40,959 Secretary Choudhury , then Secretary 1217 00:48:40,969 --> 00:48:42,969 Jacobson , could you talk about how 1218 00:48:42,969 --> 00:48:44,969 these cuts could impact readiness ? 1219 00:48:46,689 --> 00:48:48,800 Thank your rep Cheryl . Uh appreciate 1220 00:48:48,800 --> 00:48:51,659 it . And um uh I would say , and I 1221 00:48:51,669 --> 00:48:54,030 would bring it to uh your home state of 1222 00:48:54,040 --> 00:48:56,520 New Jersey where we are installing and 1223 00:48:56,530 --> 00:48:59,540 investing in a micro grid using an en 1224 00:48:59,580 --> 00:49:01,899 energy service performance contract uh 1225 00:49:01,909 --> 00:49:04,419 at that location . Uh The power demands 1226 00:49:04,429 --> 00:49:07,254 at a joint base uh as they have become 1227 00:49:07,264 --> 00:49:09,675 a joint base . Uh I've experienced it 1228 00:49:09,685 --> 00:49:12,054 myself uh because I was stationed there 1229 00:49:12,064 --> 00:49:14,415 many , many years ago and flew C 17 is 1230 00:49:14,425 --> 00:49:16,354 out of that location . Um But the 1231 00:49:16,364 --> 00:49:18,804 partnerships required . Also required 1232 00:49:18,814 --> 00:49:20,685 uh um a tremendous amount of 1233 00:49:20,695 --> 00:49:23,294 understanding of the uh uh layered 1234 00:49:23,304 --> 00:49:25,235 power structures within that 1235 00:49:25,245 --> 00:49:28,419 installation and installing a micro 1236 00:49:28,429 --> 00:49:30,540 grid will allow you to do a number of 1237 00:49:30,540 --> 00:49:33,590 things . One , it allows you to add 1238 00:49:33,600 --> 00:49:36,290 energy storage capability . Should the 1239 00:49:36,300 --> 00:49:38,909 lights go out due to grid stress ? It 1240 00:49:38,919 --> 00:49:41,800 allows you to um have key redundancies 1241 00:49:41,810 --> 00:49:43,921 that allow you to keep power moving . 1242 00:49:43,921 --> 00:49:45,921 Uh Second , it allows you to island 1243 00:49:45,921 --> 00:49:48,370 from the local community . If a civil 1244 00:49:48,379 --> 00:49:51,030 unrest is being uh disrupted by 1245 00:49:51,040 --> 00:49:53,600 unfriendly adversaries , uh then you 1246 00:49:53,610 --> 00:49:56,572 can is from that location and then get 1247 00:49:56,582 --> 00:49:59,142 the jets out of town as you know , uh C 1248 00:49:59,152 --> 00:50:02,092 seventeens are key to mobility and uh 1249 00:50:02,102 --> 00:50:05,412 activating our response and any threat 1250 00:50:05,422 --> 00:50:07,642 anytime anywhere . So getting those 1251 00:50:07,652 --> 00:50:10,052 jets out of town is critical by having 1252 00:50:10,062 --> 00:50:12,511 a micro grid , you can get those jets 1253 00:50:12,521 --> 00:50:14,941 out of town because you can island from 1254 00:50:14,951 --> 00:50:18,332 uh other disruptions , store your power 1255 00:50:18,342 --> 00:50:20,731 and then um and , and get the jets out 1256 00:50:20,741 --> 00:50:23,454 of town and then resume operations the 1257 00:50:23,464 --> 00:50:25,520 other . And , and then once you have 1258 00:50:25,520 --> 00:50:27,520 that installed , you could train to 1259 00:50:27,520 --> 00:50:29,686 that standard , you can conduct energy 1260 00:50:29,686 --> 00:50:32,053 resilience readiness exercises that 1261 00:50:32,063 --> 00:50:35,614 allow you to uh find gaps , understand 1262 00:50:35,624 --> 00:50:38,154 where critical redundancies need work 1263 00:50:38,164 --> 00:50:40,664 and evaluate yourself . And that all 1264 00:50:40,674 --> 00:50:43,424 incurs in conjunction with resiliency 1265 00:50:43,434 --> 00:50:45,545 programs , not to mention operational 1266 00:50:45,545 --> 00:50:48,104 energy programs . When if you uh add a 1267 00:50:48,114 --> 00:50:51,226 small 3d print micro veins to the side 1268 00:50:51,236 --> 00:50:53,736 of ac 17 , you could save millions and 1269 00:50:53,746 --> 00:50:55,802 millions of gallons of fuel and that 1270 00:50:55,802 --> 00:50:57,913 builds agility for the fight . So all 1271 00:50:57,913 --> 00:51:00,156 these things in both portfolios add up 1272 00:51:00,166 --> 00:51:03,926 to uh uh the criticality of uh building 1273 00:51:03,936 --> 00:51:06,535 resiliency and how those climate funds 1274 00:51:06,545 --> 00:51:08,575 uh can benefit our readiness going 1275 00:51:08,585 --> 00:51:10,807 forward . Thank you so much . Certainly 1276 00:51:10,807 --> 00:51:12,863 in a state like New Jersey which has 1277 00:51:12,863 --> 00:51:14,974 withstood Superstorm sandy and we see 1278 00:51:14,974 --> 00:51:17,085 attacks on our pipelines from foreign 1279 00:51:17,085 --> 00:51:19,085 adversaries . So you can imagine an 1280 00:51:19,085 --> 00:51:21,307 attack on our grid , having those micro 1281 00:51:21,307 --> 00:51:23,418 grids and the resiliency they provide 1282 00:51:23,418 --> 00:51:25,585 as well as , as you were suggesting um 1283 00:51:25,585 --> 00:51:27,752 being able to have to meet some of the 1284 00:51:27,752 --> 00:51:29,918 logistics challenges . Um With some of 1285 00:51:29,918 --> 00:51:32,085 these technologies is something I hear 1286 00:51:32,085 --> 00:51:34,196 requested from many of our services . 1287 00:51:34,196 --> 00:51:36,330 Uh Miss Jacobson , uh Thank you very 1288 00:51:36,340 --> 00:51:38,284 much for that question and just to 1289 00:51:38,284 --> 00:51:40,451 address also your interest in labs and 1290 00:51:40,451 --> 00:51:42,673 I know we talked about this last time . 1291 00:51:42,673 --> 00:51:44,840 I just want to report that in our five 1292 00:51:44,840 --> 00:51:46,618 year program , we do have a , a 1293 00:51:46,618 --> 00:51:48,451 substantial investment for Picca 1294 00:51:48,451 --> 00:51:50,507 Arsenal . So I'm glad to report that 1295 00:51:50,507 --> 00:51:53,489 our investment uh uh which some have 1296 00:51:53,500 --> 00:51:55,556 tagged as climate change investments 1297 00:51:55,556 --> 00:51:57,770 and therefore were reduced from the fy 1298 00:51:57,780 --> 00:51:59,969 24 budget or eliminated . I should say 1299 00:51:59,979 --> 00:52:02,035 they're about readiness . It's about 1300 00:52:02,035 --> 00:52:04,146 resilience . Congress has directed us 1301 00:52:04,270 --> 00:52:06,889 in previous legislation to maintain 1302 00:52:07,070 --> 00:52:09,879 ready and resilient installations . And 1303 00:52:09,889 --> 00:52:11,639 that's what this is about the 1304 00:52:11,649 --> 00:52:14,370 vulnerabilities uh to our power are not 1305 00:52:14,379 --> 00:52:16,212 just from severe weather there . 1306 00:52:16,212 --> 00:52:17,657 Sometimes they're manmade 1307 00:52:17,657 --> 00:52:19,823 vulnerabilities . There was a shooting 1308 00:52:19,823 --> 00:52:21,879 at a substation at Fort Liberty that 1309 00:52:21,879 --> 00:52:24,101 caused a loss of power to 45,000 people 1310 00:52:24,101 --> 00:52:26,212 for several days . We can't afford to 1311 00:52:26,219 --> 00:52:28,510 lose power . If we lose power , we lose 1312 00:52:28,520 --> 00:52:31,389 training with respect to severe weather . 1313 00:52:31,510 --> 00:52:34,860 If , if our our bases are inundated by 1314 00:52:34,870 --> 00:52:37,389 flooding , for example , as was West 1315 00:52:37,399 --> 00:52:39,810 Point last summer in a very severe 1316 00:52:39,820 --> 00:52:43,120 storm or West point was the epicenter . 1317 00:52:43,179 --> 00:52:45,620 West Point lost power . There's at this 1318 00:52:45,629 --> 00:52:47,750 point , 200/200 million dollars of 1319 00:52:47,760 --> 00:52:50,560 damage and counting . So this is about 1320 00:52:50,570 --> 00:52:52,949 keeping our bases resilient and ready 1321 00:52:52,959 --> 00:52:56,550 to train operationally . Again . This 1322 00:52:56,560 --> 00:52:58,889 is everything we're doing operationally 1323 00:52:58,899 --> 00:53:01,409 for hybridization and future , 1324 00:53:01,419 --> 00:53:04,929 potentially future electrification of 1325 00:53:04,939 --> 00:53:06,995 the , of our tactical vehicles . Not 1326 00:53:06,995 --> 00:53:09,229 now , it's , it's operation . It's uh 1327 00:53:09,239 --> 00:53:12,459 it's meant to be uh uh right now is 1328 00:53:12,469 --> 00:53:15,739 research . It's , it's meant to improve 1329 00:53:15,750 --> 00:53:19,080 combat efficiency . It's meant to save 1330 00:53:19,090 --> 00:53:23,080 fuel . It's meant to uh uh make 1331 00:53:23,090 --> 00:53:25,090 sure that our , our vehicles of the 1332 00:53:25,090 --> 00:53:28,100 future are , are silent , are faster . 1333 00:53:28,110 --> 00:53:31,500 Don't have a heat marker and make the 1334 00:53:31,510 --> 00:53:34,239 war fighter more ready . We would never 1335 00:53:34,250 --> 00:53:37,179 ever compromise effectiveness of our 1336 00:53:37,189 --> 00:53:40,830 mission ever . Thank you , Miss 1337 00:53:40,840 --> 00:53:44,719 Cheryl . Uh Mr Scott , uh Mr Choudhry , 1338 00:53:44,729 --> 00:53:46,929 I represent uh Moody Air Force Base in 1339 00:53:46,939 --> 00:53:49,161 Valdosta . I also represent Robbins Air 1340 00:53:49,161 --> 00:53:50,995 Force Base in uh Warner Robins , 1341 00:53:50,995 --> 00:53:53,161 Georgia . And uh it's one of the three 1342 00:53:53,161 --> 00:53:56,169 depots and as you know , um 1343 00:53:56,850 --> 00:54:00,530 these are extremely important parts of 1344 00:54:00,540 --> 00:54:03,149 our organic industrial base and my 1345 00:54:03,159 --> 00:54:05,326 question gets to just the general base 1346 00:54:05,326 --> 00:54:07,103 infrastructure of these organic 1347 00:54:07,103 --> 00:54:10,110 industrial bases are , are aging . And 1348 00:54:10,120 --> 00:54:13,600 what is the air force uh doing from a 1349 00:54:13,610 --> 00:54:16,199 strategic standpoint with regard to the 1350 00:54:16,209 --> 00:54:19,110 base of structure at those at those 1351 00:54:19,120 --> 00:54:22,679 depots ? Thank you for the question . 1352 00:54:22,689 --> 00:54:24,689 Uh Represent Scott . Uh uh I really 1353 00:54:24,689 --> 00:54:26,522 appreciate your question . I was 1354 00:54:26,522 --> 00:54:28,689 actually stationed at Robins Air Force 1355 00:54:28,689 --> 00:54:30,856 Base at the depot uh in my career . So 1356 00:54:30,856 --> 00:54:32,800 I understand the value of what the 1357 00:54:32,800 --> 00:54:35,022 depots provide . Uh You can't win a war 1358 00:54:35,022 --> 00:54:36,967 without uh the type of sustainment 1359 00:54:36,967 --> 00:54:39,078 capability that our nation provides . 1360 00:54:39,078 --> 00:54:41,245 And our three depots provide that . Uh 1361 00:54:41,245 --> 00:54:43,189 I was there through the transition 1362 00:54:43,189 --> 00:54:45,411 where in the C five depot workload came 1363 00:54:45,411 --> 00:54:47,467 to Warner Robbins . And what a great 1364 00:54:47,467 --> 00:54:49,300 boon . That was those incredible 1365 00:54:49,300 --> 00:54:51,189 hangers uh that overlay and , and 1366 00:54:51,189 --> 00:54:53,356 accommodate uh overhaul work now being 1367 00:54:53,356 --> 00:54:55,105 operated on C seventeens uh is 1368 00:54:55,115 --> 00:54:58,025 absolutely critical . Uh The um uh the 1369 00:54:58,035 --> 00:55:00,257 amount of work that goes down uh at our 1370 00:55:00,257 --> 00:55:02,926 depots uh is critical to our nation . 1371 00:55:03,075 --> 00:55:05,186 And so that's why the Air Force in fy 1372 00:55:05,186 --> 00:55:07,226 25 is gonna going to be investing 1373 00:55:07,236 --> 00:55:09,496 roughly uh 700 million in uh 1374 00:55:09,555 --> 00:55:12,805 infrastructure at our three depots . I 1375 00:55:12,815 --> 00:55:15,256 believe . Uh the portion that goes to 1376 00:55:15,266 --> 00:55:18,295 Robbins is roughly 230 million . I can 1377 00:55:18,305 --> 00:55:20,527 double , I can get that to you . Uh But 1378 00:55:20,527 --> 00:55:22,638 I had a chance to visit uh Robbins in 1379 00:55:22,638 --> 00:55:25,721 the fall . Uh and uh and looked at some 1380 00:55:25,731 --> 00:55:27,898 of their industrial capabilities . One 1381 00:55:27,898 --> 00:55:30,120 of the areas that concerned me was that 1382 00:55:30,120 --> 00:55:32,342 there were a number of boilers there uh 1383 00:55:32,342 --> 00:55:34,342 that are at the end of their life , 1384 00:55:34,342 --> 00:55:36,562 they've been rehabilitated um and 1385 00:55:36,572 --> 00:55:38,628 replaced , several of them have been 1386 00:55:38,628 --> 00:55:40,794 replaced , but the replacement did not 1387 00:55:40,794 --> 00:55:43,016 go as well . So uh I'm gonna check into 1388 00:55:43,016 --> 00:55:45,183 that . Uh and , and look at the health 1389 00:55:45,183 --> 00:55:47,405 of that because I think it's absolutely 1390 00:55:47,405 --> 00:55:51,239 crucial going forward . We'll 1391 00:55:51,250 --> 00:55:54,459 move on uh to you Mr Secretary , you 1392 00:55:54,469 --> 00:55:56,636 know , as we talk about these military 1393 00:55:56,636 --> 00:55:58,691 construction projects , even if it's 1394 00:55:58,691 --> 00:56:00,913 simply the replacement of a boiler , uh 1395 00:56:00,913 --> 00:56:02,802 it seems to take us significantly 1396 00:56:02,802 --> 00:56:05,025 longer than it takes the private sector 1397 00:56:05,025 --> 00:56:07,080 to get anything done uh in the dod , 1398 00:56:07,080 --> 00:56:09,247 not just in the area of construction , 1399 00:56:09,247 --> 00:56:11,689 but pretty much anything . I think it 1400 00:56:11,699 --> 00:56:13,921 took the army 10 years to pick a pistol 1401 00:56:13,921 --> 00:56:16,088 out . Is that right ? Somewhere around 1402 00:56:16,088 --> 00:56:18,709 10 years . And uh and yet most of the 1403 00:56:18,719 --> 00:56:20,886 guys , if they have the choice of what 1404 00:56:20,886 --> 00:56:23,108 they carry , they carry a different one 1405 00:56:23,108 --> 00:56:26,500 than the army picked . Um anyway , five 1406 00:56:26,510 --> 00:56:28,677 years to turn the lights on from start 1407 00:56:28,677 --> 00:56:30,788 to finish on a construction project . 1408 00:56:30,788 --> 00:56:33,080 Uh What is the Department of Defense 1409 00:56:33,090 --> 00:56:35,729 doing to shorten that timeline ? 1410 00:56:37,510 --> 00:56:39,677 There are a number of initiatives that 1411 00:56:39,677 --> 00:56:43,500 we have underway starting in 2020 1412 00:56:43,510 --> 00:56:45,788 18 , I believe was the first time when , 1413 00:56:45,788 --> 00:56:48,479 when our uh office started to look at 1414 00:56:48,489 --> 00:56:51,110 mil on reform as a as a significant 1415 00:56:51,120 --> 00:56:53,780 opportunity to improve on term time for 1416 00:56:53,790 --> 00:56:56,179 projects that includes re looking at 1417 00:56:56,189 --> 00:56:58,133 the way we do cost estimating , re 1418 00:56:58,133 --> 00:57:00,245 looking at the way that we do program 1419 00:57:00,245 --> 00:57:02,467 ramming . We're looking at the way that 1420 00:57:02,467 --> 00:57:04,578 we are um pushing forward with , with 1421 00:57:04,578 --> 00:57:06,800 the , with the core and with AC C uh to 1422 00:57:06,800 --> 00:57:08,745 ensure that we're driving on those 1423 00:57:08,745 --> 00:57:10,967 things , I'd be happy to come brief you 1424 00:57:10,967 --> 00:57:13,078 on specific things that our office is 1425 00:57:13,078 --> 00:57:15,245 doing uh in to , to get down to really 1426 00:57:15,245 --> 00:57:19,040 details . Let me ask it 1427 00:57:19,050 --> 00:57:23,000 another way then . So in the 1428 00:57:23,010 --> 00:57:26,959 States with commercial buildings , 1429 00:57:26,969 --> 00:57:29,629 um sometimes not as big as what we have 1430 00:57:29,639 --> 00:57:31,870 at dod , but sometimes they are dorms 1431 00:57:31,879 --> 00:57:34,101 would be an example of something that a 1432 00:57:34,101 --> 00:57:36,699 college campus would , would build that 1433 00:57:36,709 --> 00:57:39,379 uh we sometimes would build , we have 1434 00:57:39,389 --> 00:57:42,530 hotels at uh Fort Moore . Uh Are we 1435 00:57:42,540 --> 00:57:44,540 looking at the ability to allow the 1436 00:57:44,540 --> 00:57:47,340 private sector to , to design build and 1437 00:57:47,350 --> 00:57:49,572 lease back to us ? They seem to be able 1438 00:57:49,572 --> 00:57:51,760 to do it in a uh a much faster , more 1439 00:57:51,770 --> 00:57:55,080 efficient manner if we looked at um 1440 00:57:56,080 --> 00:57:58,136 allowing the private sector to build 1441 00:57:58,136 --> 00:58:00,191 and own the building and , and leash 1442 00:58:00,191 --> 00:58:02,413 lease the facility back from them for a 1443 00:58:02,413 --> 00:58:04,649 certain period of time . Uh uh I think 1444 00:58:04,659 --> 00:58:06,770 you've picked two good examples . One 1445 00:58:06,770 --> 00:58:08,826 with unaccompanied housing , dorms , 1446 00:58:08,826 --> 00:58:10,715 barracks and one with temper with 1447 00:58:10,715 --> 00:58:12,881 lodging facilities , temporary lodging 1448 00:58:12,881 --> 00:58:12,810 facilities . I think the army has done 1449 00:58:12,820 --> 00:58:15,419 an excellent job of privatizing their 1450 00:58:15,429 --> 00:58:17,540 lodging facilities . And I think that 1451 00:58:17,540 --> 00:58:19,762 that is a case study in terms of how we 1452 00:58:19,762 --> 00:58:21,939 can leverage private sector speed and 1453 00:58:21,949 --> 00:58:23,879 and efficiency to deliver those 1454 00:58:23,889 --> 00:58:26,620 projects . I think the to to uh ranking 1455 00:58:26,629 --> 00:58:29,050 member Garamendi's and Chairman Waltz's 1456 00:58:29,060 --> 00:58:31,282 uh earlier comments about privatization 1457 00:58:31,282 --> 00:58:33,227 for unaccompanied housing . We are 1458 00:58:33,227 --> 00:58:35,282 definitely looking at how we can get 1459 00:58:35,282 --> 00:58:37,449 after that and and decrease the beds , 1460 00:58:37,449 --> 00:58:40,189 you know , the dollar per bed uh unit 1461 00:58:40,199 --> 00:58:42,421 costs that we are experiencing . I have 1462 00:58:42,421 --> 00:58:44,850 experienced traditionally time expired . 1463 00:58:48,239 --> 00:58:50,409 Thank you , Mr Scott Mr Vasquez from 1464 00:58:50,419 --> 00:58:53,379 the great state of New Mexico . Thank 1465 00:58:53,389 --> 00:58:55,611 you , Mr Chairman . Uh Thank you to all 1466 00:58:55,611 --> 00:58:57,833 the witnesses for taking the time to be 1467 00:58:57,833 --> 00:58:57,780 here today . I have the privilege of 1468 00:58:57,790 --> 00:58:59,623 representing New Mexico's second 1469 00:58:59,623 --> 00:59:01,734 district home to H and Air Force Base 1470 00:59:01,734 --> 00:59:03,901 and white sands missile range . And as 1471 00:59:03,901 --> 00:59:05,679 the only member of New Mexico's 1472 00:59:05,679 --> 00:59:05,600 delegation to serve on the armed 1473 00:59:05,610 --> 00:59:07,666 services committee , I have a vested 1474 00:59:07,666 --> 00:59:09,443 interest in all of New Mexico's 1475 00:59:09,443 --> 00:59:11,499 installations . Uh But today I wanna 1476 00:59:11,499 --> 00:59:13,332 talk about fixing the problem of 1477 00:59:13,332 --> 00:59:15,554 unexploded ordinance on tribal lands in 1478 00:59:15,554 --> 00:59:17,666 places such as the Pueblo of Isleta , 1479 00:59:17,666 --> 00:59:19,721 which is in my district just outside 1480 00:59:19,721 --> 00:59:21,777 bordering Kirtland Air Force Base in 1481 00:59:21,777 --> 00:59:23,832 Albuquerque . Uh Tribal members have 1482 00:59:23,832 --> 00:59:26,229 been unable to use over 35,000 acres of 1483 00:59:26,239 --> 00:59:28,699 their own sovereign land for decades 1484 00:59:28,709 --> 00:59:30,487 due to the amount of unexploded 1485 00:59:30,487 --> 00:59:32,487 ordinance left by the Department of 1486 00:59:32,487 --> 00:59:34,487 Defense . Now , this includes lands 1487 00:59:34,487 --> 00:59:36,542 that the tribe would like to use for 1488 00:59:36,542 --> 00:59:38,653 farming purposes , for infrastructure 1489 00:59:38,653 --> 00:59:40,820 building , for road building . So this 1490 00:59:40,820 --> 00:59:42,931 not only impacts their ability to use 1491 00:59:42,931 --> 00:59:45,098 their own natural resources and access 1492 00:59:45,098 --> 00:59:47,098 significant cultural sites on their 1493 00:59:47,098 --> 00:59:48,876 land , but it poses an economic 1494 00:59:48,876 --> 00:59:50,876 hindrance to their advancement as a 1495 00:59:50,876 --> 00:59:53,042 sovereign nation and poses an imminent 1496 00:59:53,042 --> 00:59:55,209 safety risk to their community . Now , 1497 00:59:55,209 --> 00:59:57,376 the department has taken some steps in 1498 00:59:57,376 --> 00:59:59,376 the right direction by creating the 1499 00:59:59,376 --> 00:59:59,040 Native American lands environment 1500 00:59:59,050 --> 01:00:01,449 mitigation program to clean up U XL on 1501 01:00:01,459 --> 01:00:03,770 tribal lands . But the department and 1502 01:00:03,780 --> 01:00:05,891 this is what I've heard directly from 1503 01:00:05,891 --> 01:00:07,891 the tribe has failed to provide the 1504 01:00:07,891 --> 01:00:10,113 partnership and the resources necessary 1505 01:00:10,113 --> 01:00:12,336 to clean up these uxo on tribal lands . 1506 01:00:12,336 --> 01:00:14,502 Uh Mr Owens and Mr Choudhury , how can 1507 01:00:14,502 --> 01:00:16,770 the department do a better job of 1508 01:00:16,780 --> 01:00:18,336 honoring the American lands 1509 01:00:18,336 --> 01:00:20,391 environmental mitigation program and 1510 01:00:20,391 --> 01:00:22,558 supporting tribes like the Pueblo Visa 1511 01:00:22,558 --> 01:00:24,780 to prioritize cleaning up Uxo and other 1512 01:00:24,780 --> 01:00:26,669 contaminants to keep these tribal 1513 01:00:26,669 --> 01:00:28,836 communities safe and able to use their 1514 01:00:28,836 --> 01:00:31,590 own sovereign lands . Thanks for 1515 01:00:31,600 --> 01:00:33,850 highlighting this issue . And I think 1516 01:00:33,860 --> 01:00:35,971 that that one of the things and , and 1517 01:00:35,971 --> 01:00:38,138 for highlighting nail as a , as a , as 1518 01:00:38,138 --> 01:00:40,249 a program that we uh have established 1519 01:00:40,249 --> 01:00:42,360 to do exactly what , what you're what 1520 01:00:42,360 --> 01:00:44,193 you're saying . Um Our uh budget 1521 01:00:44,193 --> 01:00:46,138 request for environmental clean up 1522 01:00:46,138 --> 01:00:48,304 programs this year is $1.6 billion . I 1523 01:00:48,304 --> 01:00:50,527 don't have the breakdown of how much of 1524 01:00:50,527 --> 01:00:52,638 that goes to nail them . Um I'm happy 1525 01:00:52,638 --> 01:00:54,804 to come back on that and , and provide 1526 01:00:54,804 --> 01:00:56,693 that information and then to work 1527 01:00:56,693 --> 01:00:58,249 specifically on uh with the 1528 01:00:58,249 --> 01:01:00,416 constituents that you're , that you're 1529 01:01:00,416 --> 01:01:00,149 talking with , to be able to make sure 1530 01:01:00,159 --> 01:01:02,326 that we're resourcing the that program 1531 01:01:02,326 --> 01:01:04,548 and in the place that that is , that is 1532 01:01:04,548 --> 01:01:06,603 needed . Thank you Mr Owens . And if 1533 01:01:06,603 --> 01:01:08,659 possible , we'd love to facilitate a 1534 01:01:08,659 --> 01:01:10,881 meeting directly with tribal leadership 1535 01:01:10,881 --> 01:01:10,580 so that we can get some type of 1536 01:01:10,590 --> 01:01:13,949 timeline uh for this very last uh this 1537 01:01:13,959 --> 01:01:16,015 very large swath of land , uh that's 1538 01:01:16,015 --> 01:01:18,015 very critical and important to them 1539 01:01:18,015 --> 01:01:20,181 considering uh how small some of these 1540 01:01:20,181 --> 01:01:22,292 tribal territories are . Absolutely . 1541 01:01:22,292 --> 01:01:24,515 Thank you , Mr Chatter . The only thing 1542 01:01:24,515 --> 01:01:26,626 I'll add is you have my commitment to 1543 01:01:26,626 --> 01:01:28,792 uh work with tribal uh nations to make 1544 01:01:28,792 --> 01:01:31,015 sure that we're partnering in the right 1545 01:01:31,015 --> 01:01:33,015 way . Uh We're engaging and uh uh I 1546 01:01:33,015 --> 01:01:35,181 look forward to uh meeting with you on 1547 01:01:35,181 --> 01:01:37,181 this topic as well as visiting if I 1548 01:01:37,181 --> 01:01:39,181 need to . Thank you so much . Uh My 1549 01:01:39,181 --> 01:01:41,181 other question and New Mexico has a 1550 01:01:41,181 --> 01:01:43,292 legacy of both contamination but also 1551 01:01:43,292 --> 01:01:46,379 uh be because of our nuclear legacy and 1552 01:01:46,389 --> 01:01:49,280 missile testing . Uh We have uh so not 1553 01:01:49,290 --> 01:01:51,123 just UXO , but of course , we're 1554 01:01:51,123 --> 01:01:53,068 dealing with the issue of Rika and 1555 01:01:53,068 --> 01:01:54,901 uncompensated victims of nuclear 1556 01:01:54,901 --> 01:01:56,969 testing in places uh in my district 1557 01:01:56,979 --> 01:01:58,979 right around the Trinity site . But 1558 01:01:58,979 --> 01:02:00,701 we're also seeing now today is 1559 01:02:00,701 --> 01:02:02,979 increased PFAS contamination . In fact , 1560 01:02:02,979 --> 01:02:05,201 there was a recent study that just came 1561 01:02:05,201 --> 01:02:07,368 out that showed PFAS contamination and 1562 01:02:07,368 --> 01:02:09,090 uh almost 100% of New Mexico's 1563 01:02:09,090 --> 01:02:11,090 Waterways . Uh And a lot of this is 1564 01:02:11,090 --> 01:02:12,923 attributable uh to Department of 1565 01:02:12,923 --> 01:02:14,812 Defense activities at places like 1566 01:02:14,812 --> 01:02:17,035 Kirtland , uh which had its bulk fields 1567 01:02:17,035 --> 01:02:19,201 facility , jet fuel leak uh discovered 1568 01:02:19,201 --> 01:02:21,090 in 1999 and we're still trying to 1569 01:02:21,090 --> 01:02:23,201 figure out how we're gonna clean that 1570 01:02:23,201 --> 01:02:22,909 up today and how we're going to fund 1571 01:02:22,919 --> 01:02:25,649 that today . Uh Mr Owens , Mr Chaudhary , 1572 01:02:25,659 --> 01:02:27,770 what is the status of the Air Force's 1573 01:02:27,770 --> 01:02:29,937 efforts to work with local partners on 1574 01:02:29,937 --> 01:02:32,159 the ground and agencies and communities 1575 01:02:32,159 --> 01:02:34,048 to continue the clean up of these 1576 01:02:34,048 --> 01:02:37,070 contaminants ? I'll start generally and 1577 01:02:37,080 --> 01:02:39,479 then ask doctor C to , to , to , to 1578 01:02:39,489 --> 01:02:41,433 talk specifically to the Air Force 1579 01:02:41,433 --> 01:02:44,229 piece . But with the release of the new 1580 01:02:44,239 --> 01:02:47,610 uh maximum contaminant limit for uh PF 1581 01:02:47,620 --> 01:02:50,860 EPA put out last week , uh this is a , 1582 01:02:50,870 --> 01:02:52,926 this is a sea change in terms of the 1583 01:02:52,926 --> 01:02:55,148 way that the department needs to engage 1584 01:02:55,148 --> 01:02:57,259 around this specific issue . Uh So we 1585 01:02:57,259 --> 01:02:59,314 have been working in anticipation of 1586 01:02:59,314 --> 01:03:01,790 this rule coming out uh for the last 1587 01:03:01,800 --> 01:03:03,879 eight months uh to be postured to be 1588 01:03:03,889 --> 01:03:06,056 able to understand the scope and scale 1589 01:03:06,056 --> 01:03:08,222 of the challenge that we now face with 1590 01:03:08,222 --> 01:03:10,919 these lower Mc Ls . And we have been 1591 01:03:10,929 --> 01:03:12,707 working in partnership with the 1592 01:03:12,707 --> 01:03:14,762 military departments to put together 1593 01:03:14,762 --> 01:03:16,985 that plan about how we're gonna address 1594 01:03:16,985 --> 01:03:18,929 these in a prioritized way . And I 1595 01:03:18,929 --> 01:03:20,818 think that is a , it's gonna be a 1596 01:03:20,818 --> 01:03:22,985 significant long term , decades , long 1597 01:03:22,985 --> 01:03:24,929 term challenge that we need to get 1598 01:03:24,929 --> 01:03:26,929 after con consistently and , and in 1599 01:03:26,929 --> 01:03:28,596 partnership with the military 1600 01:03:28,596 --> 01:03:30,651 departments and , and working with , 1601 01:03:30,651 --> 01:03:30,600 with Congress to get the funding to be 1602 01:03:30,610 --> 01:03:32,889 able to do that . Thank you , Mr Owens . 1603 01:03:32,899 --> 01:03:34,843 I appreciate that . And uh for the 1604 01:03:34,843 --> 01:03:37,066 record . I'm also asking this committee 1605 01:03:37,066 --> 01:03:39,010 to include the reauthorization and 1606 01:03:39,010 --> 01:03:40,843 expansion of Rica to include New 1607 01:03:40,843 --> 01:03:43,066 Mexicans in the fy 25 NDA A . Thank you 1608 01:03:43,066 --> 01:03:44,899 all for your great work and your 1609 01:03:44,899 --> 01:03:47,010 dedicated service to our country . Uh 1610 01:03:47,010 --> 01:03:49,232 Mr Chairman I , you back . Uh thank you 1611 01:03:49,232 --> 01:03:51,399 Mr Vasquez and in the interest of time 1612 01:03:51,399 --> 01:03:53,455 since votes have been called without 1613 01:03:53,455 --> 01:03:55,566 objection . Uh I'd like to change the 1614 01:03:55,566 --> 01:03:57,677 clock to three minutes . Uh so that I 1615 01:03:57,677 --> 01:03:59,788 believe that'll get us nine minutes , 1616 01:03:59,788 --> 01:04:02,010 we got 10 minutes remaining and then we 1617 01:04:02,010 --> 01:04:04,288 can hoof it over there . Uh Miss Tutta , 1618 01:04:04,288 --> 01:04:06,343 thank you , Mr Chair . You know , as 1619 01:04:06,343 --> 01:04:08,510 you know , my district spans all eight 1620 01:04:08,510 --> 01:04:10,732 of the major Hawaiian islands including 1621 01:04:10,732 --> 01:04:12,732 Maui which experienced the horrific 1622 01:04:12,732 --> 01:04:12,320 wildfires . Last August , the 1623 01:04:12,330 --> 01:04:14,108 Department of Defense played an 1624 01:04:14,108 --> 01:04:16,163 essential role in supporting initial 1625 01:04:16,163 --> 01:04:18,052 relief efforts and ongoing relief 1626 01:04:18,052 --> 01:04:19,997 efforts . And I would just like to 1627 01:04:19,997 --> 01:04:19,800 Mahalo , especially the Army Corps of 1628 01:04:19,810 --> 01:04:21,810 Engineers and so many who worked on 1629 01:04:21,810 --> 01:04:23,977 behalf of our , our community . At the 1630 01:04:23,977 --> 01:04:25,977 same time , the fires have spread a 1631 01:04:25,977 --> 01:04:28,143 broader awareness of the challenges of 1632 01:04:28,143 --> 01:04:27,949 pre disaster mitigation and post 1633 01:04:27,959 --> 01:04:29,820 disaster recovery across our 1634 01:04:29,830 --> 01:04:32,052 communities . And as one of the largest 1635 01:04:32,052 --> 01:04:34,163 landowners in Hawaii with significant 1636 01:04:34,163 --> 01:04:36,274 local impacts , people are looking at 1637 01:04:36,274 --> 01:04:38,052 the Department of Defense as an 1638 01:04:38,052 --> 01:04:40,163 important partner to help the efforts 1639 01:04:40,163 --> 01:04:42,330 going forward to rebuild and recover . 1640 01:04:42,330 --> 01:04:44,441 So my questions today relate to local 1641 01:04:44,441 --> 01:04:44,219 opportunities by which the department 1642 01:04:44,229 --> 01:04:46,007 may be a helpful partner to our 1643 01:04:46,007 --> 01:04:47,840 communities while also improving 1644 01:04:47,840 --> 01:04:50,062 installation resilience , readiness and 1645 01:04:50,062 --> 01:04:52,229 quality of life . Doctor Choudhry , as 1646 01:04:52,229 --> 01:04:53,951 you know , the fires destroyed 1647 01:04:53,951 --> 01:04:56,173 thousands of homes on Maui making worse 1648 01:04:56,173 --> 01:04:56,080 an already tight housing market that 1649 01:04:56,090 --> 01:04:58,257 was challenging for locals to afford . 1650 01:04:58,257 --> 01:05:00,257 That is also true for several dozen 1651 01:05:00,257 --> 01:05:02,368 department of the Air force personnel 1652 01:05:02,368 --> 01:05:04,423 and contractors assigned to the 15th 1653 01:05:04,423 --> 01:05:06,368 space Surveillance squadron on the 1654 01:05:06,368 --> 01:05:08,423 island of Maui tasked with essential 1655 01:05:08,423 --> 01:05:08,399 space related missions in this 1656 01:05:08,409 --> 01:05:10,353 worsening housing crisis . We have 1657 01:05:10,353 --> 01:05:12,242 heard anecdotal reports that Maui 1658 01:05:12,242 --> 01:05:14,353 residents unaffected by the fires are 1659 01:05:14,353 --> 01:05:16,187 losing their leases . Given that 1660 01:05:16,187 --> 01:05:18,409 department personnel in Maui were known 1661 01:05:18,409 --> 01:05:17,969 to have challenges with securing 1662 01:05:17,979 --> 01:05:19,979 housing projects . The fires . I am 1663 01:05:19,979 --> 01:05:22,090 concerned about their situation after 1664 01:05:22,090 --> 01:05:24,035 the fires . Doctor Chaudry has the 1665 01:05:24,035 --> 01:05:26,201 Department of the Air Force considered 1666 01:05:26,201 --> 01:05:26,169 or will the department consider 1667 01:05:26,179 --> 01:05:28,479 creative housing solutions including 1668 01:05:28,489 --> 01:05:30,489 acquiring and developing government 1669 01:05:30,489 --> 01:05:32,600 owned housing on Maui to help provide 1670 01:05:32,600 --> 01:05:34,822 housing stability for its personnel and 1671 01:05:34,822 --> 01:05:36,656 contractors on island and to not 1672 01:05:36,656 --> 01:05:38,545 further burden any of the private 1673 01:05:38,545 --> 01:05:40,767 inventory we have for our residents rep 1674 01:05:40,800 --> 01:05:42,911 te I thank you for that question . Uh 1675 01:05:42,911 --> 01:05:45,330 The answer to your question is yes . Um 1676 01:05:45,340 --> 01:05:47,780 What uh II I believe my team is uh 1677 01:05:47,790 --> 01:05:49,901 taking in for the record to make sure 1678 01:05:49,901 --> 01:05:51,790 that we uh take a look at all the 1679 01:05:51,790 --> 01:05:53,790 housing options . Uh We , we have a 1680 01:05:53,790 --> 01:05:55,512 number of opportunities uh and 1681 01:05:55,512 --> 01:05:57,734 capabilities within our quiver to uh uh 1682 01:05:57,734 --> 01:05:59,623 address housing issues across our 1683 01:05:59,623 --> 01:06:01,679 Department of the Air Force . One of 1684 01:06:01,679 --> 01:06:03,901 the one of the victories that we've had 1685 01:06:03,901 --> 01:06:05,790 is that at Altus Air Force ? Ok , 1686 01:06:05,790 --> 01:06:07,901 Oklahoma , where we've partnered with 1687 01:06:07,901 --> 01:06:07,326 the local community , established 1688 01:06:07,336 --> 01:06:09,487 partnerships and Intergovernmental 1689 01:06:09,497 --> 01:06:11,664 Service agreements that allow us to do 1690 01:06:11,664 --> 01:06:13,830 that . Uh That doesn't mean I wouldn't 1691 01:06:13,830 --> 01:06:16,053 rule out a potential government housing 1692 01:06:16,053 --> 01:06:18,108 opportunity . Um But what I would uh 1693 01:06:18,108 --> 01:06:20,330 ask for your assistance with is to work 1694 01:06:20,330 --> 01:06:22,497 with your team uh to better understand 1695 01:06:22,497 --> 01:06:24,719 what the tailored needs are within that 1696 01:06:24,719 --> 01:06:26,941 particular market and then come up with 1697 01:06:26,941 --> 01:06:26,666 a solution that works for our uh 1698 01:06:26,677 --> 01:06:28,733 members that are serving and doesn't 1699 01:06:28,733 --> 01:06:30,899 impact the community . Absolutely , we 1700 01:06:30,899 --> 01:06:32,899 look forward to working with you on 1701 01:06:32,899 --> 01:06:35,066 that . Um Just to touch upon one other 1702 01:06:35,066 --> 01:06:37,288 issue , one of the reasons why the fire 1703 01:06:37,288 --> 01:06:39,344 in Lahaina was so deadly was limited 1704 01:06:39,344 --> 01:06:41,566 road access once blocked , made it very 1705 01:06:41,566 --> 01:06:43,677 difficult for entire neighborhoods to 1706 01:06:43,677 --> 01:06:45,733 evacuate quickly . Um And so I would 1707 01:06:45,733 --> 01:06:45,644 like to talk about Cole Cole Pass , 1708 01:06:45,753 --> 01:06:47,753 Cole Cole Road situated on Army and 1709 01:06:47,753 --> 01:06:49,920 Navy property . Uh Cole Cole Road cuts 1710 01:06:49,920 --> 01:06:52,142 through the Wine Eye Mountain Range and 1711 01:06:52,142 --> 01:06:54,253 in a high pathet disaster on the west 1712 01:06:54,253 --> 01:06:56,197 side could be a crucial evacuation 1713 01:06:56,197 --> 01:06:58,420 route for those communities . However , 1714 01:06:58,420 --> 01:06:57,730 while there is a standing agreement 1715 01:06:57,740 --> 01:06:59,462 permitting use of Cole Cole in 1716 01:06:59,462 --> 01:07:01,629 emergency situations , the road is not 1717 01:07:01,629 --> 01:07:03,796 in proper condition to support a major 1718 01:07:03,796 --> 01:07:05,740 evacuation . I know I cannot go on 1719 01:07:05,740 --> 01:07:07,740 further but Miss Jacob M Berger , I 1720 01:07:07,740 --> 01:07:07,611 hope we can work with your departments 1721 01:07:07,621 --> 01:07:09,381 to improve Cole Cole Road for 1722 01:07:09,391 --> 01:07:11,502 maintenance and safety so that we can 1723 01:07:11,502 --> 01:07:13,613 use this as a way to quickly evacuate 1724 01:07:13,613 --> 01:07:16,100 our residents in times of need . Thank 1725 01:07:16,110 --> 01:07:18,909 you , Mr K . Uh time has expired , Mr 1726 01:07:18,919 --> 01:07:22,820 Vy . Thank you very much . I wanted 1727 01:07:22,830 --> 01:07:25,320 to uh ask some questions about some 1728 01:07:25,330 --> 01:07:28,129 switching station uh issues that we've 1729 01:07:28,139 --> 01:07:30,610 had uh in Fort Worth . And I was hoping 1730 01:07:30,620 --> 01:07:33,449 that uh uh uh that Miss Berger that you 1731 01:07:33,459 --> 01:07:35,570 could answer specifically . Could you 1732 01:07:35,570 --> 01:07:37,348 first explain why an electrical 1733 01:07:37,348 --> 01:07:39,515 switching station is critical for base 1734 01:07:39,515 --> 01:07:41,681 operations and mission readiness ? And 1735 01:07:41,681 --> 01:07:43,459 how does it support the overall 1736 01:07:43,459 --> 01:07:45,237 functionality and security of a 1737 01:07:45,237 --> 01:07:48,530 military installation ? Uh Yes . Uh 1738 01:07:48,540 --> 01:07:50,762 Congressman VC most , most broadly , uh 1739 01:07:50,762 --> 01:07:53,219 energy is going to keep the lights on . 1740 01:07:53,229 --> 01:07:55,451 Uh keep everything working to make sure 1741 01:07:55,451 --> 01:07:57,785 that the uh base can accomplish mission . 1742 01:07:57,989 --> 01:08:00,169 So my staff recently visited Naval Air 1743 01:08:00,179 --> 01:08:02,401 Station four , they were in town . Some 1744 01:08:02,401 --> 01:08:04,512 of the DC staff wasn't , were in town 1745 01:08:04,512 --> 01:08:06,770 recently . And uh and the installation 1746 01:08:06,780 --> 01:08:08,669 commander mentioned uh their most 1747 01:08:08,669 --> 01:08:10,558 pressing issue is obtaining a new 1748 01:08:10,558 --> 01:08:12,669 electrical switch switching station . 1749 01:08:12,669 --> 01:08:14,891 The current station's infrastructure uh 1750 01:08:14,891 --> 01:08:17,002 is very old and shuts down and causes 1751 01:08:17,002 --> 01:08:19,169 power outage and water supply issues . 1752 01:08:19,169 --> 01:08:21,224 And wasn't sure if you were aware of 1753 01:08:21,224 --> 01:08:23,280 that . I I have become aware . Yes , 1754 01:08:23,280 --> 01:08:26,160 Congress . Uh and given those concerns , 1755 01:08:26,169 --> 01:08:28,225 uh can you commit to working with my 1756 01:08:28,225 --> 01:08:30,620 office to help collaborate uh some sort 1757 01:08:30,629 --> 01:08:33,169 of a plan to address those outdated uh 1758 01:08:33,180 --> 01:08:35,402 switching station issues ? We need to , 1759 01:08:35,402 --> 01:08:37,402 you know , obviously make sure that 1760 01:08:37,402 --> 01:08:39,624 nobody's safety is compromised and that 1761 01:08:39,624 --> 01:08:41,680 the base can do everything that they 1762 01:08:41,680 --> 01:08:41,589 need to be able to , to get done to 1763 01:08:41,600 --> 01:08:44,208 address that . Uh Absolutely . Yes , 1764 01:08:44,219 --> 01:08:46,441 sir . And you create the , the critical 1765 01:08:46,441 --> 01:08:48,386 connection that we see . Um um why 1766 01:08:48,386 --> 01:08:50,330 resilience is so important for our 1767 01:08:50,330 --> 01:08:52,608 bases . So um very uh very eager to 1768 01:08:52,619 --> 01:08:55,429 work with uh your team um and the on 1769 01:08:55,438 --> 01:08:57,549 the on site uh team to make sure that 1770 01:08:57,549 --> 01:08:59,827 we are scoping something going forward . 1771 01:08:59,827 --> 01:09:01,938 Um And this is another example of why 1772 01:09:01,999 --> 01:09:04,378 um energy resilience is so important 1773 01:09:04,479 --> 01:09:06,535 for our installations . Absolutely . 1774 01:09:06,535 --> 01:09:08,590 Thank you very much . I yield back . 1775 01:09:09,329 --> 01:09:12,100 Thank you , Mr VC Mr Panetta . Thank 1776 01:09:12,109 --> 01:09:14,053 you , Mr Chairman , ranking member 1777 01:09:14,053 --> 01:09:16,165 Garamendi . Thank you for allowing me 1778 01:09:16,165 --> 01:09:18,387 to join you today . Um I want to uh the 1779 01:09:18,387 --> 01:09:20,609 three of you , I don't , I'm focused on 1780 01:09:20,609 --> 01:09:22,776 Miss Berger right now . Uh So you guys 1781 01:09:22,776 --> 01:09:24,831 can just kind of zone out uh just to 1782 01:09:24,831 --> 01:09:26,887 let you know . Um I wanna thank Miss 1783 01:09:26,887 --> 01:09:28,776 Berger for uh her help uh to push 1784 01:09:28,776 --> 01:09:30,776 forward the new Naval in Innovation 1785 01:09:30,776 --> 01:09:32,942 Center at the Navy Postgraduate School 1786 01:09:32,942 --> 01:09:32,930 in my district , 19th congressional 1787 01:09:32,939 --> 01:09:35,179 district of Monterey California . Uh 1788 01:09:35,188 --> 01:09:37,349 You've worked very closely uh with 1789 01:09:37,358 --> 01:09:39,358 Secretary of the Navy Secretary Del 1790 01:09:39,358 --> 01:09:41,469 Toro on Naval Innovation on the Naval 1791 01:09:41,469 --> 01:09:43,636 Innovation Center , the Nick as I call 1792 01:09:43,636 --> 01:09:45,858 it , uh which is part of his initiative 1793 01:09:45,858 --> 01:09:47,914 to propel innovation by transforming 1794 01:09:47,914 --> 01:09:49,802 how the dod leverages the private 1795 01:09:49,802 --> 01:09:52,025 sector and dod innovation hubs to bring 1796 01:09:52,025 --> 01:09:54,199 capabilities quickly . Our adversaries 1797 01:09:54,208 --> 01:09:56,208 understand that one of our greatest 1798 01:09:56,208 --> 01:09:58,430 challenges is bringing solutions to the 1799 01:09:58,430 --> 01:10:00,541 battlefield quickly and innovation is 1800 01:10:00,541 --> 01:10:02,541 deterrence and directly affects the 1801 01:10:02,541 --> 01:10:04,541 credibility of the United States to 1802 01:10:04,541 --> 01:10:06,708 forestall China from taking aggressive 1803 01:10:06,708 --> 01:10:08,875 action against Taiwan , deter Russia , 1804 01:10:08,875 --> 01:10:10,986 from expanding the conflict in Europe 1805 01:10:10,986 --> 01:10:13,208 and defending allies in the Middle East 1806 01:10:13,208 --> 01:10:15,319 from Iranian aggression as you know . 1807 01:10:15,319 --> 01:10:17,486 Well , the Nick will create innovative 1808 01:10:17,486 --> 01:10:19,708 solutions by enabling interdisciplinary 1809 01:10:19,708 --> 01:10:21,430 teams to curate experiment and 1810 01:10:21,430 --> 01:10:22,986 collaborate on cutting edge 1811 01:10:22,986 --> 01:10:24,875 technologies , industry and other 1812 01:10:24,875 --> 01:10:26,930 partners will work side by side with 1813 01:10:26,930 --> 01:10:28,986 the Navy postgraduate schools , 1500 1814 01:10:28,986 --> 01:10:31,097 plus us and international students to 1815 01:10:31,097 --> 01:10:32,986 address strategic competition and 1816 01:10:32,986 --> 01:10:35,097 regular warfare . Now , Miss Berger , 1817 01:10:35,097 --> 01:10:37,264 we appreciate all of your efforts with 1818 01:10:37,264 --> 01:10:39,041 the secretary to accelerate the 1819 01:10:39,041 --> 01:10:41,152 construction of the knick , including 1820 01:10:41,152 --> 01:10:43,319 securing the planning and design funds 1821 01:10:43,319 --> 01:10:45,399 for Fy 25 and Fy 26 prioritizing the 1822 01:10:45,410 --> 01:10:48,060 completion of the 1391 form which 1823 01:10:48,069 --> 01:10:50,236 outlines the funding and intent of the 1824 01:10:50,236 --> 01:10:52,350 center uh accelerating the 1825 01:10:52,359 --> 01:10:54,581 environmental assessment review and the 1826 01:10:54,581 --> 01:10:56,470 secretary highlighting the center 1827 01:10:56,470 --> 01:10:58,526 recently even at the Reagan National 1828 01:10:58,526 --> 01:11:00,637 Defense Forum . Uh one quick question 1829 01:11:00,637 --> 01:11:02,748 um because I have a limited amount of 1830 01:11:02,748 --> 01:11:05,279 time , what can I , what can Congress 1831 01:11:05,290 --> 01:11:08,089 do to support the center's inclusion in 1832 01:11:08,100 --> 01:11:11,370 the Navy's Fydp for Fy 26 . 1833 01:11:13,009 --> 01:11:15,970 Uh So Congressman 1st , 1st we plan uh 1834 01:11:15,979 --> 01:11:18,257 then we go forward . So as as you know , 1835 01:11:18,257 --> 01:11:20,390 we've got 25 million in there for um 1836 01:11:20,399 --> 01:11:23,399 PND and then from that informed and 1837 01:11:23,410 --> 01:11:25,790 scoped way forward , um we come back 1838 01:11:25,799 --> 01:11:28,009 and we make an informed request . And 1839 01:11:28,020 --> 01:11:30,187 so 1st , 1st , our planning for sure . 1840 01:11:30,187 --> 01:11:32,353 But as you note , um there are so many 1841 01:11:32,353 --> 01:11:34,409 assets and and um benefits that come 1842 01:11:34,409 --> 01:11:36,549 from our naval education enterprise , 1843 01:11:36,560 --> 01:11:38,782 specifically at the Naval War College . 1844 01:11:38,782 --> 01:11:41,794 And so we learn from the history , we 1845 01:11:41,805 --> 01:11:43,861 act in the present and we anticipate 1846 01:11:43,861 --> 01:11:46,027 the future so that we are creating the 1847 01:11:46,027 --> 01:11:48,249 best war fighters . The same is true of 1848 01:11:48,249 --> 01:11:50,472 our infrastructure . And so as we build 1849 01:11:50,472 --> 01:11:52,249 forward , we build towards that 1850 01:11:52,249 --> 01:11:53,861 environment in a resilient , 1851 01:11:53,861 --> 01:11:56,083 sustainable , using the materials , the 1852 01:11:56,083 --> 01:11:58,249 water , the energy , all of the things 1853 01:11:58,249 --> 01:12:00,361 that we want to prioritize as we move 1854 01:12:00,361 --> 01:12:02,527 forward . So you will see the planning 1855 01:12:02,527 --> 01:12:04,583 that mimics the war fighters that we 1856 01:12:04,583 --> 01:12:06,638 are , we are trying to create and in 1857 01:12:06,638 --> 01:12:08,861 five seconds , anything else that I can 1858 01:12:08,861 --> 01:12:08,495 be doing to make sure that the Navy 1859 01:12:08,504 --> 01:12:10,870 stays on track ? Uh We , we are on 1860 01:12:10,879 --> 01:12:12,879 track and we will , we'll make sure 1861 01:12:12,879 --> 01:12:15,101 we're staying in close touch with you . 1862 01:12:15,101 --> 01:12:15,100 Outstanding . Thank you . Thank you , 1863 01:12:15,109 --> 01:12:17,850 Mr Chairman . Thank you . Thank you to 1864 01:12:17,859 --> 01:12:20,026 our witnesses and the preparation that 1865 01:12:20,026 --> 01:12:22,081 goes into this . I used to be in the 1866 01:12:22,081 --> 01:12:24,129 Pentagon preparing uh preparing for 1867 01:12:24,140 --> 01:12:26,251 these uh for these hearings . I think 1868 01:12:26,251 --> 01:12:28,307 it's an incredible important part of 1869 01:12:28,307 --> 01:12:30,307 our system uh that I now have a new 1870 01:12:30,307 --> 01:12:32,473 appreciation for . But thank you . The 1871 01:12:32,473 --> 01:12:32,720 hearing stands adjourned .