1 00:00:00,319 --> 00:00:03,130 Good morning . I want to welcome our 2 00:00:03,140 --> 00:00:04,973 witnesses , Secretary Austin and 3 00:00:04,973 --> 00:00:07,610 General Brown . Uh We appreciate you 4 00:00:07,619 --> 00:00:10,239 being with us here today . General 5 00:00:10,250 --> 00:00:12,361 Brown . This is your first appearance 6 00:00:12,361 --> 00:00:14,306 before this sub-committee and your 7 00:00:14,306 --> 00:00:16,361 position today . And I want to thank 8 00:00:16,361 --> 00:00:17,917 you for your commitment and 9 00:00:17,917 --> 00:00:20,028 long-standing service to our nation . 10 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:22,620 Secretary Austin last year . When you 11 00:00:22,629 --> 00:00:24,685 testified before this committee , we 12 00:00:24,685 --> 00:00:26,685 discussed the danger of a potential 13 00:00:26,685 --> 00:00:28,573 government default . Thankfully , 14 00:00:28,573 --> 00:00:30,796 cooler heads prevailed and we were able 15 00:00:30,796 --> 00:00:32,740 to come together with a bipartisan 16 00:00:32,740 --> 00:00:34,462 matter to avert a catastrophic 17 00:00:34,462 --> 00:00:36,740 government default and shut down , but 18 00:00:37,569 --> 00:00:40,099 we have failed miserably in getting the 19 00:00:40,110 --> 00:00:42,849 budget done on time . Here . We are 20 00:00:42,860 --> 00:00:44,916 more than halfway through the fiscal 21 00:00:44,916 --> 00:00:46,804 year and you just got your budget 22 00:00:46,804 --> 00:00:49,919 albeit six months late , these repeated 23 00:00:49,930 --> 00:00:53,709 delays and , and have real impact . And 24 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:55,860 I hope you will illustrate for us the 25 00:00:55,869 --> 00:00:59,259 impact of these late budgets and 26 00:00:59,270 --> 00:01:02,029 constant continuing resolutions . We 27 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:03,984 are meeting today to discuss dod s 28 00:01:03,984 --> 00:01:07,339 $833.5 billion budget request for the 29 00:01:07,349 --> 00:01:10,410 next fiscal year . This is a 1% 30 00:01:10,419 --> 00:01:13,480 increase above last year's budget and 31 00:01:13,489 --> 00:01:15,629 it is consistent with the budget caps 32 00:01:15,639 --> 00:01:18,120 that were agreed to in the bipartisan 33 00:01:18,129 --> 00:01:21,019 Fiscal Responsibility Act . On a side 34 00:01:21,029 --> 00:01:22,862 note , I will tell you this , Mr 35 00:01:22,862 --> 00:01:24,696 Secretary , the ranking member , 36 00:01:24,696 --> 00:01:27,260 Collins and myself think we need a 37 00:01:27,269 --> 00:01:30,150 bigger number and the reason for that 38 00:01:30,199 --> 00:01:32,255 and you know , this better than I is 39 00:01:32,255 --> 00:01:34,720 because if we're going to invest in 40 00:01:34,730 --> 00:01:37,160 future technologies , this number has 41 00:01:37,169 --> 00:01:40,440 to be bigger . Uh The military services 42 00:01:40,449 --> 00:01:42,282 and the command and commands are 43 00:01:42,282 --> 00:01:43,949 telling us they have unfunded 44 00:01:43,949 --> 00:01:46,171 requirements in excess of $20 billion . 45 00:01:46,230 --> 00:01:49,230 The price of fuel is much higher . Our 46 00:01:49,239 --> 00:01:51,128 military is engaged in operations 47 00:01:51,128 --> 00:01:52,919 around the world . The national 48 00:01:52,930 --> 00:01:54,930 security supplemental that Congress 49 00:01:54,930 --> 00:01:56,986 cleared just last month . Some eight 50 00:01:56,986 --> 00:01:58,763 months after the administration 51 00:01:58,763 --> 00:02:01,239 presented uh addresses some of those 52 00:02:01,250 --> 00:02:03,989 concerns . It includes important funds 53 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:06,056 to support Ukraine's continued fight 54 00:02:06,056 --> 00:02:08,278 against Russians , buys new weapons for 55 00:02:08,278 --> 00:02:10,500 our military services to approach those 56 00:02:10,500 --> 00:02:12,278 we have given to the Ukrainians 57 00:02:12,278 --> 00:02:13,944 supports Israel's air defense 58 00:02:13,944 --> 00:02:15,944 capability and provides much needed 59 00:02:15,944 --> 00:02:18,111 infusion of cash to pay for operations 60 00:02:18,111 --> 00:02:19,778 in the Red Sea and investment 61 00:02:19,778 --> 00:02:22,111 capabilities is critical to deter China . 62 00:02:22,111 --> 00:02:24,222 Finally passing the national security 63 00:02:24,222 --> 00:02:24,210 supplemental was an important step 64 00:02:24,220 --> 00:02:27,360 forward , but that alone will not help 65 00:02:27,369 --> 00:02:29,889 you or us get the job done because of 66 00:02:29,899 --> 00:02:32,121 the bipartisan budget caps on our fy 25 67 00:02:32,121 --> 00:02:35,169 budget request is roughly $10 billion 68 00:02:35,179 --> 00:02:37,380 below what you had planned for last 69 00:02:37,389 --> 00:02:39,419 year at this time . Uh We need to 70 00:02:39,429 --> 00:02:42,309 understand what risk this lower budget 71 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:44,431 creates for our military personnel or 72 00:02:44,431 --> 00:02:46,431 operations around the globe and our 73 00:02:46,431 --> 00:02:48,487 modernization efforts . We've got to 74 00:02:48,487 --> 00:02:50,598 get a budget done so that the men and 75 00:02:50,598 --> 00:02:52,487 women in uniform supported by the 76 00:02:52,487 --> 00:02:52,460 civilians at the Department of Defense 77 00:02:52,779 --> 00:02:54,946 and go about their business of keeping 78 00:02:54,946 --> 00:02:57,001 America safe . I support the ongoing 79 00:02:57,001 --> 00:02:59,112 efforts of Senator Murray and Collins 80 00:02:59,112 --> 00:03:01,279 to chart a path forward that will work 81 00:03:01,279 --> 00:03:03,501 and we work with anyone to get this job 82 00:03:03,501 --> 00:03:05,479 done once again . Uh Thank you , 83 00:03:05,490 --> 00:03:07,546 gentlemen for being here . Thank you 84 00:03:07,546 --> 00:03:09,546 for your testimony . But before you 85 00:03:09,546 --> 00:03:11,712 begin your opening remarks , I want to 86 00:03:11,712 --> 00:03:13,601 recognize Susan Collins , Senator 87 00:03:13,601 --> 00:03:15,601 Collins for her opening statement . 88 00:03:15,601 --> 00:03:17,880 Thank you very much , Chairman Tester 89 00:03:17,889 --> 00:03:20,919 for holding this very important hearing . 90 00:03:21,529 --> 00:03:24,440 General Brown as this is your first 91 00:03:24,449 --> 00:03:26,330 time testifying before the 92 00:03:26,339 --> 00:03:29,270 sub-committee in your capacity as 93 00:03:29,279 --> 00:03:31,789 chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff , 94 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:34,949 let me join the chairman in extending a 95 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:38,429 special welcome to you . I also want to 96 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:41,570 thank both of our witnesses as well as 97 00:03:41,580 --> 00:03:44,899 the Comptroller for your service and 98 00:03:44,910 --> 00:03:47,240 the service that the men and women you 99 00:03:47,250 --> 00:03:49,990 represent . I look forward to hearing 100 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:52,160 from you how the president's fiscal 101 00:03:52,169 --> 00:03:56,020 year 2025 budget requests will 102 00:03:56,029 --> 00:03:58,889 affect the department's implementation 103 00:03:59,029 --> 00:04:02,899 of the 2022 national defense 104 00:04:02,910 --> 00:04:06,509 security strategy . The goals of which 105 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:09,820 I largely support . We must be 106 00:04:09,830 --> 00:04:13,380 clear uh that this budget request would 107 00:04:13,389 --> 00:04:17,299 represent a real cut in funding 108 00:04:17,309 --> 00:04:19,329 for the Department of Defense as it 109 00:04:19,339 --> 00:04:22,500 fails to keep pace with inflation . It 110 00:04:22,510 --> 00:04:25,320 proposes a defense funding increase of 111 00:04:25,329 --> 00:04:28,679 just 1% $8.6 112 00:04:28,690 --> 00:04:31,700 billion relative to the current fiscal 113 00:04:31,709 --> 00:04:34,720 year , that amount is well short of the 114 00:04:34,730 --> 00:04:38,600 22.5 billion year over year 115 00:04:38,609 --> 00:04:41,190 increase that the department would need 116 00:04:41,410 --> 00:04:44,799 simply to cover projected costs , 117 00:04:44,890 --> 00:04:48,399 escalations related to fuel , military 118 00:04:48,410 --> 00:04:51,510 and civilian pay and medical care . 119 00:04:51,540 --> 00:04:55,179 This is a nearly $14 billion 120 00:04:55,190 --> 00:04:57,399 shortfall . It means that the 121 00:04:57,410 --> 00:05:00,750 president's request shifts funding away 122 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:04,230 from modernization , readiness and 123 00:05:04,239 --> 00:05:07,549 procurement to cover these must pay 124 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:11,179 costs . If the world were becoming 125 00:05:11,190 --> 00:05:14,269 safer , then perhaps such a reduction 126 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:16,869 could be absorbed with little risk to 127 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:19,519 national security . But unfortunately , 128 00:05:19,529 --> 00:05:22,859 that is not the world in which we live . 129 00:05:23,029 --> 00:05:25,850 Russian President Putin continues his 130 00:05:25,859 --> 00:05:29,329 brutal bomb , bomb , bomb bombardment 131 00:05:29,339 --> 00:05:32,899 in Ukraine . Hamas refuses to 132 00:05:32,910 --> 00:05:35,779 return the remaining 133 00:05:35,790 --> 00:05:39,279 133 hostages , including 134 00:05:39,290 --> 00:05:42,489 five Americans who have been held for 135 00:05:42,500 --> 00:05:46,100 214 days since Hamas's attack 136 00:05:46,109 --> 00:05:49,739 on Israel , Iran and its proxies 137 00:05:49,750 --> 00:05:52,779 continue to fan the flames of violence 138 00:05:52,869 --> 00:05:54,929 throughout the Middle East . And 139 00:05:54,940 --> 00:05:58,109 China's military budget and navy 140 00:05:58,149 --> 00:06:01,309 continued to grow including a 141 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:04,670 7.2% increase in 142 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:08,579 defense spending in the Chinese budget 143 00:06:08,589 --> 00:06:12,170 compared to last year . In the 144 00:06:12,179 --> 00:06:15,510 past few months . Two of our combatant 145 00:06:15,519 --> 00:06:17,850 commanders have told me that the 146 00:06:17,859 --> 00:06:20,850 threats we face today are the most 147 00:06:20,859 --> 00:06:23,950 dangerous than any that they have seen 148 00:06:24,209 --> 00:06:27,750 in any time during their careers . In 149 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:31,670 addition , we see a resurgence of ISIS 150 00:06:31,679 --> 00:06:35,589 K and other terrorist groups that have 151 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:39,529 caused the FBI directors to say 152 00:06:39,540 --> 00:06:42,964 that it is blinking red in terms of a 153 00:06:42,975 --> 00:06:46,355 potential terrorist attack on us or our 154 00:06:46,364 --> 00:06:48,714 western allies . Indeed , we've seen 155 00:06:48,725 --> 00:06:51,375 terrorist attacks . The proposed 156 00:06:51,385 --> 00:06:54,605 inventory divestments and cuts to ship 157 00:06:54,614 --> 00:06:57,505 vehicle and aircraft procurement 158 00:06:57,515 --> 00:06:59,459 included in the President's budget 159 00:06:59,459 --> 00:07:02,774 request would require us to incur 160 00:07:02,785 --> 00:07:06,654 excessive risk without there being any 161 00:07:06,665 --> 00:07:09,154 discernible reduction in the threats 162 00:07:09,165 --> 00:07:12,910 facing our country . The budget request 163 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:16,109 would result in the smallest air force 164 00:07:16,119 --> 00:07:18,989 fleet in the services history . We 165 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:21,700 would have the smallest army since the 166 00:07:21,709 --> 00:07:24,959 start of the all four volunteer force 167 00:07:24,970 --> 00:07:28,649 in 1973 our naval fleet 168 00:07:28,660 --> 00:07:32,535 of 290 ships is already smaller 169 00:07:32,545 --> 00:07:35,915 than China's fleet of more than 370 170 00:07:35,924 --> 00:07:38,595 ship . Under this budget , the navy's 171 00:07:38,605 --> 00:07:40,785 overall fleet would grow by just one 172 00:07:40,795 --> 00:07:44,035 ship , a single ship during the next 173 00:07:44,045 --> 00:07:46,614 five years , far fewer than the 174 00:07:46,625 --> 00:07:50,415 435 ships . China will have 175 00:07:50,670 --> 00:07:53,200 the technological and high end 176 00:07:53,209 --> 00:07:55,920 capabilities that we've enjoyed since 177 00:07:55,929 --> 00:07:59,510 the end of the Cold War is also eroding . 178 00:07:59,519 --> 00:08:02,290 It's being directly challenged by China 179 00:08:02,510 --> 00:08:05,809 and Russia . On a more positive note , 180 00:08:05,820 --> 00:08:08,670 I want to commend you Mr Secretary and 181 00:08:08,679 --> 00:08:11,049 your teams for efforts to make the 182 00:08:11,059 --> 00:08:13,920 department more innovative and in 183 00:08:13,929 --> 00:08:16,054 taking steps to strengthen the 184 00:08:16,065 --> 00:08:18,755 industrial base . Finally , I would be 185 00:08:18,765 --> 00:08:21,184 remiss if I did not use this 186 00:08:21,195 --> 00:08:24,625 opportunity to thank Chairman Tester 187 00:08:24,635 --> 00:08:27,244 and Chair Murray for working with 188 00:08:27,255 --> 00:08:30,015 leader mcconnell and me over the last 189 00:08:30,024 --> 00:08:32,794 several months . Indeed , this entire 190 00:08:32,804 --> 00:08:35,465 sub-committee to get the national 191 00:08:35,474 --> 00:08:38,325 security supplemental across the finish 192 00:08:38,335 --> 00:08:41,880 line . These investments will help to 193 00:08:41,890 --> 00:08:44,869 strengthen our own military and defense 194 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:48,080 industrial base while supporting key 195 00:08:48,090 --> 00:08:51,950 partners abroad from the 196 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:54,150 Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Southern 197 00:08:54,159 --> 00:08:57,640 Maine to the defense finance accounting 198 00:08:57,650 --> 00:09:00,750 service facility in Northern Maine 199 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:03,799 along our Canadian border and many 200 00:09:03,809 --> 00:09:07,229 places in between thousands of Mainers 201 00:09:07,239 --> 00:09:10,559 proudly support and contribute to our 202 00:09:10,570 --> 00:09:13,739 nation's defense employees at Bath Iron 203 00:09:13,750 --> 00:09:16,710 works which builds Naples , destroyers 204 00:09:16,719 --> 00:09:18,650 and Pratt and Whitney , which 205 00:09:18,659 --> 00:09:22,294 manufactures military engines , perform 206 00:09:22,304 --> 00:09:25,195 essential roles in support of our 207 00:09:25,205 --> 00:09:28,094 national security . All of the men and 208 00:09:28,104 --> 00:09:30,885 women who serve our country , whether 209 00:09:30,895 --> 00:09:34,065 in uniform or in the defense industrial 210 00:09:34,075 --> 00:09:36,755 base or as a civilian , federal 211 00:09:36,765 --> 00:09:39,974 employee deserve a budget that 212 00:09:39,984 --> 00:09:42,684 supports them . I look forward to 213 00:09:42,695 --> 00:09:44,554 hearing from our distinguished 214 00:09:44,565 --> 00:09:46,794 witnesses today . Thank you , Senator 215 00:09:46,804 --> 00:09:48,734 Collins . First up , we'll have 216 00:09:48,744 --> 00:09:50,940 Secretary Austin . I appreciate you 217 00:09:50,950 --> 00:09:53,006 being here , Mr Secretary , you have 218 00:09:53,006 --> 00:09:56,270 the floor uh Chairman Tesser , 219 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:58,710 ranking member Collins , distinguished 220 00:09:58,719 --> 00:10:00,775 members of the committee . Uh Thanks 221 00:10:00,775 --> 00:10:02,960 for the opportunity to testify in 222 00:10:02,969 --> 00:10:05,200 support of President Biden's proposed 223 00:10:05,210 --> 00:10:08,119 fiscal year 2025 budget for the 224 00:10:08,130 --> 00:10:10,530 Department of Defense . I'm pleased to 225 00:10:10,539 --> 00:10:12,650 be joined by our outstanding chairman 226 00:10:12,650 --> 00:10:14,817 of the joint Chiefs of Staff , General 227 00:10:14,817 --> 00:10:17,630 CQ Brown and by 228 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:20,929 undersecretary's controller , let me 229 00:10:20,940 --> 00:10:22,996 start by thanking this committee for 230 00:10:22,996 --> 00:10:24,884 all that you do to support the US 231 00:10:24,884 --> 00:10:27,650 military , our troops and our military 232 00:10:27,659 --> 00:10:30,479 families . As secretary , I've always 233 00:10:30,489 --> 00:10:32,378 been guided by three priorities , 234 00:10:32,929 --> 00:10:35,040 defending our nation , taking care of 235 00:10:35,049 --> 00:10:37,109 our people and succeeding through 236 00:10:37,119 --> 00:10:40,219 teamwork . A budget request for fiscal 237 00:10:40,229 --> 00:10:43,659 year 2025 will advance all three of 238 00:10:43,669 --> 00:10:45,960 these priorities . First , the 239 00:10:45,969 --> 00:10:47,913 president's request will invest in 240 00:10:47,913 --> 00:10:49,969 cutting edge capabilities across all 241 00:10:49,969 --> 00:10:53,890 domains that includes $48.1 242 00:10:53,900 --> 00:10:55,844 billion for naval and shipbuilding 243 00:10:55,844 --> 00:10:59,450 capabilities . $61.2 billion to 244 00:10:59,460 --> 00:11:03,109 reinforce us air dominance and $13 245 00:11:03,119 --> 00:11:05,460 billion to bolster army and Marine 246 00:11:05,469 --> 00:11:08,719 Corps combat capabilities . Our request 247 00:11:08,729 --> 00:11:11,840 will also provide $33.7 billion to 248 00:11:11,849 --> 00:11:14,619 strengthen our space architecture and 249 00:11:14,630 --> 00:11:18,020 $14.5 billion to develop and field 250 00:11:18,030 --> 00:11:21,539 advanced cybersecurity tools . It will 251 00:11:21,549 --> 00:11:24,900 direct $49.2 billion to modernize and 252 00:11:24,909 --> 00:11:27,359 recapitalize , recapitalize all three 253 00:11:27,369 --> 00:11:30,530 legs of our nuclear triad and it will 254 00:11:30,539 --> 00:11:33,159 sharpen our tech edge through a 255 00:11:33,169 --> 00:11:36,659 $167.5 billion investment in 256 00:11:36,669 --> 00:11:38,590 procurement and 257 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:42,239 $143.2 billion in R and D . 258 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:46,039 Second , this budget request will 259 00:11:46,049 --> 00:11:47,993 support our outstanding troops and 260 00:11:47,993 --> 00:11:50,729 their families that includes raising 261 00:11:50,739 --> 00:11:52,739 base pay and housing allowances , 262 00:11:53,539 --> 00:11:56,260 investing in better housing and making 263 00:11:56,270 --> 00:11:58,679 childcare more affordable and funding 264 00:11:58,690 --> 00:12:00,746 vital work to prevent sexual assault 265 00:12:00,746 --> 00:12:03,960 and suicide in the military . And third , 266 00:12:03,969 --> 00:12:06,080 this request will help the department 267 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:08,302 further deepen our teamwork worldwide . 268 00:12:09,090 --> 00:12:11,034 Our network of allies and partners 269 00:12:11,034 --> 00:12:13,460 remains a strategic advantage that no 270 00:12:13,469 --> 00:12:16,260 competitor can match and you can see 271 00:12:16,270 --> 00:12:18,520 its power in our strengthening ties 272 00:12:18,530 --> 00:12:21,390 across the Indo Pacific and in today's 273 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:25,090 expanded and United NATO and in the 50 274 00:12:25,099 --> 00:12:27,321 country , Ukraine Defense contact group 275 00:12:27,321 --> 00:12:30,760 that I convene . Our budget remains 276 00:12:30,770 --> 00:12:33,130 rooted in our 2022 National Defense 277 00:12:33,140 --> 00:12:35,969 strategy . Our request positions the 278 00:12:35,979 --> 00:12:37,535 United States to tackle the 279 00:12:37,535 --> 00:12:39,520 department's pacing challenge the 280 00:12:39,530 --> 00:12:41,719 People's Republic of China with 281 00:12:41,729 --> 00:12:44,909 confidence and urgency . It will help 282 00:12:44,919 --> 00:12:46,752 meet the acute threat of Putin's 283 00:12:46,752 --> 00:12:49,450 increasingly aggressive Russia . It 284 00:12:49,460 --> 00:12:51,404 will help us tackle the persistent 285 00:12:51,404 --> 00:12:53,900 dangers from Iran and its proxies . It 286 00:12:53,909 --> 00:12:56,760 will help us take on the threats from 287 00:12:56,770 --> 00:12:58,603 North Korea and global terrorist 288 00:12:58,603 --> 00:13:01,179 organizations and other malign actors . 289 00:13:01,349 --> 00:13:03,469 And it will help us continue to deter 290 00:13:03,479 --> 00:13:05,840 aggression against the United States 291 00:13:05,849 --> 00:13:07,793 and our allies and partners and to 292 00:13:07,793 --> 00:13:11,460 prevail in , in combat if necessary . 293 00:13:12,390 --> 00:13:14,334 Now , today , I want to underscore 294 00:13:14,334 --> 00:13:16,640 three key messages first , even as our 295 00:13:16,650 --> 00:13:18,817 budget request abides by the mandatory 296 00:13:18,817 --> 00:13:20,929 cap set by the Fiscal Responsibility 297 00:13:20,940 --> 00:13:23,770 Act . It is aligned to our strategy . 298 00:13:24,219 --> 00:13:26,479 We made tough but responsible decisions 299 00:13:26,489 --> 00:13:28,659 that prioritize near term readiness , 300 00:13:28,969 --> 00:13:31,025 modernization of the joint force and 301 00:13:31,025 --> 00:13:32,858 support for our troops and their 302 00:13:32,858 --> 00:13:35,479 families . Our approach dials back some 303 00:13:35,489 --> 00:13:37,669 near term modernization for programs 304 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:40,330 not set to come online until the 20 305 00:13:40,340 --> 00:13:43,979 thirties . Second , we can only fully 306 00:13:43,989 --> 00:13:46,045 reach the goals of our strategy with 307 00:13:46,045 --> 00:13:48,080 your help . And I'm grateful that 308 00:13:48,090 --> 00:13:50,690 Congress passed the fiscal year 2024 309 00:13:50,700 --> 00:13:53,200 appropriations in March . And the 310 00:13:53,210 --> 00:13:55,321 single greatest way that Congress can 311 00:13:55,321 --> 00:13:57,770 support the department is to pass 312 00:13:57,780 --> 00:14:00,530 predictable , sustained and timely 313 00:14:00,539 --> 00:14:03,239 appropriations . My third and final 314 00:14:03,250 --> 00:14:05,028 message is that the price of us 315 00:14:05,028 --> 00:14:07,950 leadership is real but it is far lower 316 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:10,859 than the price of us abdication . As 317 00:14:10,869 --> 00:14:12,869 the president has said , we're in a 318 00:14:12,869 --> 00:14:14,980 global struggle between democracy and 319 00:14:14,980 --> 00:14:17,460 autocracy and our security relies , 320 00:14:18,270 --> 00:14:20,489 relies on American strength of purpose 321 00:14:21,849 --> 00:14:25,299 for Israel's genocide is a , is 322 00:14:25,309 --> 00:14:28,869 committing war crimes with us 323 00:14:29,270 --> 00:14:33,090 weapons . It is committing war crimes 324 00:14:33,159 --> 00:14:36,340 for he leave and in violation of us , 325 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:42,030 he has now invaded rock with her legacy . 326 00:14:42,039 --> 00:14:45,500 Be alive . They , 327 00:14:47,090 --> 00:14:50,679 you may proceed and our security relies 328 00:14:50,690 --> 00:14:52,801 on American strength of purpose . And 329 00:14:52,801 --> 00:14:55,179 that's why our budget request seeks to 330 00:14:55,190 --> 00:14:57,134 invest in American security and in 331 00:14:57,134 --> 00:15:00,179 America's defense industrial base . The 332 00:15:00,190 --> 00:15:02,246 same is true for the recently passed 333 00:15:02,246 --> 00:15:04,246 national security supplemental that 334 00:15:04,246 --> 00:15:06,357 will support our partners in Israel , 335 00:15:06,357 --> 00:15:08,869 Ukraine and Taiwan and make key 336 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:10,769 investments to increase submarine 337 00:15:10,769 --> 00:15:13,179 production . In fact , about $50 338 00:15:13,190 --> 00:15:15,357 billion of this supplemental will flow 339 00:15:15,357 --> 00:15:17,468 through our defense industrial base , 340 00:15:17,468 --> 00:15:19,412 creating good jobs in more than 30 341 00:15:19,412 --> 00:15:21,357 states . So we're grateful for our 342 00:15:21,357 --> 00:15:23,468 partners in Congress who help us make 343 00:15:23,468 --> 00:15:25,523 the investments needed to strengthen 344 00:15:25,523 --> 00:15:27,523 America's security through both the 345 00:15:27,523 --> 00:15:29,746 supplemental and the president's budget 346 00:15:29,746 --> 00:15:31,801 requests . United States military is 347 00:15:31,801 --> 00:15:34,134 the most lethal fighting force on earth . 348 00:15:34,134 --> 00:15:36,134 And with your help , we're going to 349 00:15:36,134 --> 00:15:38,301 keep it that way . I deeply appreciate 350 00:15:38,301 --> 00:15:40,357 your support for our mission and our 351 00:15:40,357 --> 00:15:42,246 troops and I look forward to your 352 00:15:42,246 --> 00:15:44,246 questions . Thank you , Chairman uh 353 00:15:44,246 --> 00:15:46,357 Secretary Austin . Thank you for your 354 00:15:46,357 --> 00:15:48,357 testimony . Uh Next , we'll have uh 355 00:15:48,357 --> 00:15:50,357 General Brown , General Brown , you 356 00:15:50,357 --> 00:15:52,190 have the floor Chairman Tester , 357 00:15:52,190 --> 00:15:53,900 ranking member , Collins and 358 00:15:53,909 --> 00:15:56,187 distinguished members of the committee . 359 00:15:56,187 --> 00:15:58,242 I'm honored to join Secretary Austin 360 00:15:58,242 --> 00:16:00,465 and the honorable Mike mccord to appear 361 00:16:00,465 --> 00:16:02,919 for you today , on behalf of the joint 362 00:16:02,929 --> 00:16:05,151 force Department of Defense , civilians 363 00:16:05,151 --> 00:16:07,239 and our families . I want to thank 364 00:16:07,250 --> 00:16:09,472 Congress for your steadfast support and 365 00:16:09,472 --> 00:16:11,361 the opportunity to testify on the 366 00:16:11,361 --> 00:16:13,340 fiscal year 2025 defense budget 367 00:16:13,349 --> 00:16:16,400 requests which reflects our shared 368 00:16:16,409 --> 00:16:18,669 commitment to national security . I 369 00:16:18,679 --> 00:16:20,846 also want to thank you for passing the 370 00:16:20,846 --> 00:16:22,901 national security supplemental which 371 00:16:22,901 --> 00:16:24,735 provides vital support to allies 372 00:16:24,735 --> 00:16:26,735 partners and our defense industrial 373 00:16:26,735 --> 00:16:28,979 base to counter aggression and 374 00:16:28,989 --> 00:16:31,211 strengthen our joint force capabilities 375 00:16:31,211 --> 00:16:33,267 and capacity and preparation for any 376 00:16:33,267 --> 00:16:35,760 future contingency . The global 377 00:16:35,770 --> 00:16:37,826 security environment is increasingly 378 00:16:37,826 --> 00:16:40,090 complex . The 2022 national defense 379 00:16:40,099 --> 00:16:42,432 strategy identifies five key challenges . 380 00:16:43,039 --> 00:16:44,983 The People's Republic of China are 381 00:16:44,983 --> 00:16:47,150 facing challenge to continue its risky 382 00:16:47,150 --> 00:16:49,830 behavior around the globe . A newly 383 00:16:49,859 --> 00:16:51,970 aggressive Russia with its unprovoked 384 00:16:51,970 --> 00:16:55,710 war against Ukraine , a reckless Iran 385 00:16:55,809 --> 00:16:58,010 who we saw a few weeks ago attempts to 386 00:16:58,020 --> 00:17:00,030 escalate regional conflict with 387 00:17:00,039 --> 00:17:02,150 unprecedented attacks in support of 388 00:17:02,159 --> 00:17:05,329 proxy forces destabilizing North Korea 389 00:17:05,339 --> 00:17:07,599 which threatens regional security in 390 00:17:07,609 --> 00:17:09,720 violent extremist organizations which 391 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:11,831 leverage instability to advance their 392 00:17:11,831 --> 00:17:14,009 costs . These challenges are 393 00:17:14,019 --> 00:17:15,848 interconnected which demands a 394 00:17:15,859 --> 00:17:17,859 strategic approach , addressing the 395 00:17:17,859 --> 00:17:20,026 immediate threats whilst preparing for 396 00:17:20,026 --> 00:17:22,520 future contingencies , requires all of 397 00:17:22,530 --> 00:17:24,752 us to operate with a sense of urgency . 398 00:17:25,609 --> 00:17:27,665 Days after becoming the chairman , I 399 00:17:27,665 --> 00:17:29,553 laid out three expectations in my 400 00:17:29,553 --> 00:17:31,776 message to the joint force , honing our 401 00:17:31,776 --> 00:17:33,942 work funding skills has primacy in all 402 00:17:33,942 --> 00:17:35,910 we do modernizing and aggressive 403 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:37,809 leading with new approaches , new 404 00:17:37,809 --> 00:17:40,229 concepts and approaches and trust is 405 00:17:40,239 --> 00:17:43,109 the foundation of our profession . Our 406 00:17:43,119 --> 00:17:45,175 military exists to fight and win our 407 00:17:45,175 --> 00:17:47,949 nation's wars . We train every day to 408 00:17:47,959 --> 00:17:49,959 ensure we are so good at what we do 409 00:17:50,229 --> 00:17:52,270 that we deter any adversary for 410 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:55,719 engaging us in conflict . This budget 411 00:17:55,729 --> 00:17:58,239 requests $147 billion to sustain 412 00:17:58,250 --> 00:18:00,472 readiness and ensure the department can 413 00:18:00,472 --> 00:18:02,780 counter near term threats . We also 414 00:18:02,790 --> 00:18:04,957 focus on better integrating our allies 415 00:18:04,957 --> 00:18:06,846 and partners and our planning and 416 00:18:06,846 --> 00:18:08,846 operations by investing in critical 417 00:18:08,846 --> 00:18:10,846 programs and capability , expanding 418 00:18:10,846 --> 00:18:13,109 security cooper operation exercises , 419 00:18:13,119 --> 00:18:15,750 training and in operability . Our 420 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:17,760 investments are ready to ensure the 421 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:19,982 joint force can respond when the nation 422 00:18:19,982 --> 00:18:21,982 calls . While we are focused on our 423 00:18:21,982 --> 00:18:24,250 readiness for today , it is critical to 424 00:18:24,260 --> 00:18:26,371 modernize and leave with new concepts 425 00:18:26,371 --> 00:18:28,150 to prepare for tomorrow . The 426 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:30,049 department continues to invest in 427 00:18:30,049 --> 00:18:32,216 capability and capacity to outpace our 428 00:18:32,216 --> 00:18:34,216 competitors while transforming from 429 00:18:34,216 --> 00:18:36,216 costly legacy platforms that are no 430 00:18:36,216 --> 00:18:38,800 longer relevant to the threat . This 431 00:18:38,810 --> 00:18:42,140 budget strategically invests 1.167 0.5 432 00:18:42,150 --> 00:18:44,372 billion in procurement underscoring our 433 00:18:44,372 --> 00:18:46,372 commitment to equip the joint force 434 00:18:46,372 --> 00:18:48,483 with unparalleled combat capabilities 435 00:18:48,483 --> 00:18:51,310 across every domain . This budget also 436 00:18:51,319 --> 00:18:55,089 invests $143.2 billion in research 437 00:18:55,219 --> 00:18:57,790 development tests and evaluation of 438 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:00,040 future capabilities that will retain 439 00:19:00,050 --> 00:19:02,750 our strategic edge . Find this budget 440 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:04,649 invest significantly into nuclear 441 00:19:04,649 --> 00:19:06,704 modernization , digital innovation , 442 00:19:06,704 --> 00:19:08,709 multiyear procurement of critical 443 00:19:08,719 --> 00:19:10,886 munitions and the strengthened defense 444 00:19:10,886 --> 00:19:13,500 industrial base with rapidly evolving 445 00:19:13,510 --> 00:19:15,621 threats and technology accelerating . 446 00:19:15,621 --> 00:19:18,739 Our modernization is crucial . Lastly , 447 00:19:18,750 --> 00:19:20,472 trust is the foundation of our 448 00:19:20,472 --> 00:19:23,420 profession joint force must uphold , 449 00:19:23,869 --> 00:19:25,925 must build upon and uphold the trust 450 00:19:25,925 --> 00:19:28,709 each other , trust of our families , 451 00:19:28,790 --> 00:19:31,000 trust of our elected leaders and trust 452 00:19:31,010 --> 00:19:33,369 of our nation . Enhancing the quality 453 00:19:33,380 --> 00:19:35,491 of service and the quality of life of 454 00:19:35,491 --> 00:19:37,380 our personnel is not just a moral 455 00:19:37,380 --> 00:19:39,047 obligation . It's a strategic 456 00:19:39,047 --> 00:19:40,880 imperative . The budget includes 457 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:42,769 investments in quality of service 458 00:19:42,769 --> 00:19:44,769 efforts such as advanced training , 459 00:19:44,769 --> 00:19:46,547 educational benefits and career 460 00:19:46,547 --> 00:19:48,658 development . While also investing in 461 00:19:48,658 --> 00:19:50,602 quality life projects like housing 462 00:19:50,602 --> 00:19:52,269 medical clinics and childcare 463 00:19:52,269 --> 00:19:54,619 facilities , as well as funding spouse 464 00:19:54,630 --> 00:19:56,519 employment initiatives , enhanced 465 00:19:56,519 --> 00:19:58,463 mental health resources and robust 466 00:19:58,463 --> 00:20:00,297 robust programs to combat sexual 467 00:20:00,297 --> 00:20:02,359 assault . You must create an 468 00:20:02,369 --> 00:20:04,425 environment where all can reach your 469 00:20:04,425 --> 00:20:06,699 full potential trust that our joint 470 00:20:06,709 --> 00:20:09,189 force stands ready , ready to defend 471 00:20:09,199 --> 00:20:11,421 our national interests , ready to deter 472 00:20:11,421 --> 00:20:13,900 aggression and ready if necessary to 473 00:20:13,910 --> 00:20:15,979 fight and win our nation's wars . I 474 00:20:15,989 --> 00:20:17,920 thank you for your support and 475 00:20:17,930 --> 00:20:20,152 collaboration and our shared commitment 476 00:20:20,152 --> 00:20:22,319 to face the security challenges of the 477 00:20:22,319 --> 00:20:24,374 day and prepare for tomorrow . We're 478 00:20:24,374 --> 00:20:26,263 living in consequential times and 479 00:20:26,263 --> 00:20:28,319 there's no time to waste . Thank you 480 00:20:28,319 --> 00:20:30,486 and I look forward to your questions . 481 00:20:30,486 --> 00:20:30,160 Thank you for your statement . Uh 482 00:20:30,170 --> 00:20:32,280 General Brown and there will be uh 483 00:20:32,430 --> 00:20:34,459 probably uh multiple rounds but 484 00:20:34,469 --> 00:20:36,580 there'll be five minutes per member . 485 00:20:37,209 --> 00:20:39,520 This is for you . Secretary Austin . 486 00:20:39,530 --> 00:20:41,641 The budget request is consistent with 487 00:20:41,641 --> 00:20:43,609 the cap set forth in the Fiscal 488 00:20:43,619 --> 00:20:46,050 Responsibility Act . However , the 489 00:20:46,060 --> 00:20:47,949 proposed growth is below current 490 00:20:47,959 --> 00:20:50,126 inflation levels . It does not account 491 00:20:50,126 --> 00:20:52,292 for billions of dollars for additional 492 00:20:52,292 --> 00:20:55,489 requirements . And identified by the 493 00:20:55,500 --> 00:20:58,839 military services . Um as has been 494 00:20:58,849 --> 00:21:01,016 pointed out by both of you , this is a 495 00:21:01,016 --> 00:21:03,238 very dangerous time in which we live uh 496 00:21:03,238 --> 00:21:05,920 in my lifetime , probably comparable to 497 00:21:06,239 --> 00:21:08,072 the early sixties with the Cuban 498 00:21:08,072 --> 00:21:11,339 missile crisis . Uh So Mr Secretary , 499 00:21:11,349 --> 00:21:13,460 where are you taking risks because of 500 00:21:13,460 --> 00:21:17,410 this budget cap ? I should 501 00:21:17,420 --> 00:21:19,890 say , where are we taking risks because 502 00:21:19,900 --> 00:21:23,469 of this budget gap ? Uh Thanks chairman . 503 00:21:23,479 --> 00:21:26,310 Um First of all , uh our budget uh 504 00:21:26,319 --> 00:21:29,150 continues to be strategy driven over 505 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:31,049 the last several years . Uh We've 506 00:21:31,049 --> 00:21:33,160 worked hard to make sure that we , we 507 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:34,938 link the budget requests to the 508 00:21:34,938 --> 00:21:38,319 strategy . And uh and that's been uh uh 509 00:21:38,550 --> 00:21:41,550 in my view , uh the uh the best 510 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:44,069 approach to uh to constructing the 511 00:21:44,079 --> 00:21:46,550 budget . Uh but to meet the caps uh 512 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:50,449 approved by Congress uh the uh we , 513 00:21:50,459 --> 00:21:52,126 we had to make some tough but 514 00:21:52,126 --> 00:21:55,020 responsible choices . Uh And uh we 515 00:21:55,030 --> 00:21:57,699 prioritized uh near term readiness . Uh 516 00:21:57,709 --> 00:21:59,987 As you heard me say earlier , chairman , 517 00:21:59,987 --> 00:22:03,040 we , we decided not to invest in some 518 00:22:03,050 --> 00:22:05,209 uh uh modernization that would not , 519 00:22:05,219 --> 00:22:08,489 would not deliver results before 2030 . 520 00:22:08,949 --> 00:22:12,939 Uh And we invested in uh in our , 521 00:22:12,949 --> 00:22:16,130 our people and our , our families . Um 522 00:22:16,349 --> 00:22:19,920 The kinds of this uh um decisions that 523 00:22:19,930 --> 00:22:22,689 we had to make were uh tough decisions 524 00:22:22,699 --> 00:22:24,755 that we had to make were were things 525 00:22:24,755 --> 00:22:26,921 like 5th and 6th generation aircraft . 526 00:22:27,180 --> 00:22:30,479 Uh But having said that um our budget 527 00:22:30,489 --> 00:22:32,839 does include , as you heard me say 528 00:22:32,849 --> 00:22:34,969 earlier , uh 100 and 529 00:22:34,979 --> 00:22:38,589 $43.2 billion for RDT and E 530 00:22:39,130 --> 00:22:42,430 and 100 and $67.5 billion for 531 00:22:42,439 --> 00:22:46,040 procurement . Uh And because uh 532 00:22:46,319 --> 00:22:49,640 we accepted uh some risk in uh in 533 00:22:49,650 --> 00:22:51,880 modernization for the out years , we'll 534 00:22:51,890 --> 00:22:55,420 need to have a , a growth in a top line 535 00:22:55,430 --> 00:22:57,541 uh in the out years to ensure that uh 536 00:22:57,541 --> 00:22:59,520 that we can recapture some of the 537 00:22:59,530 --> 00:23:01,697 things that uh we weren't able to , to 538 00:23:01,697 --> 00:23:03,919 get into this . But so let me follow up 539 00:23:03,919 --> 00:23:06,030 on that . Uh You talked about you're 540 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:08,369 going to focus on the projects that can 541 00:23:08,380 --> 00:23:11,819 give you results before 2030 . Um So 542 00:23:11,829 --> 00:23:14,051 that means basically with this budget , 543 00:23:14,051 --> 00:23:16,162 what we're doing is we're putting off 544 00:23:16,162 --> 00:23:18,640 expenditures into future budget cycles 545 00:23:18,650 --> 00:23:21,989 because these projects after 2030 are 546 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:24,060 projects that will have to be taken 547 00:23:24,069 --> 00:23:27,180 care of fiscally correct . That's 548 00:23:27,189 --> 00:23:30,060 correct . Chairman and our plan is to 549 00:23:30,319 --> 00:23:32,719 going forward , invest in those things . 550 00:23:32,729 --> 00:23:35,050 But uh but we weren't able to do it in , 551 00:23:35,060 --> 00:23:37,282 in this budget . We , we've prioritized 552 00:23:37,282 --> 00:23:39,339 near term raus uh and uh and taking 553 00:23:39,349 --> 00:23:42,400 care of our people . Uh And uh and we , 554 00:23:42,410 --> 00:23:44,521 I believe that's the right approach . 555 00:23:44,521 --> 00:23:46,743 Do you believe that in future budgets , 556 00:23:46,743 --> 00:23:48,743 if we're able to invest uh in those 557 00:23:48,743 --> 00:23:50,910 projects that we will be able to catch 558 00:23:50,910 --> 00:23:52,959 up and remain on schedule ? I do 559 00:23:52,969 --> 00:23:56,839 chairman provided I I 560 00:23:56,849 --> 00:23:59,579 if , if we are uh provided the , the 561 00:23:59,589 --> 00:24:01,699 resources and the , and the uh the 562 00:24:01,709 --> 00:24:03,931 growth in the top line in the out years 563 00:24:03,931 --> 00:24:05,959 that uh that we'll ask for General 564 00:24:05,969 --> 00:24:08,319 Brown . Um You talked about where we 565 00:24:08,329 --> 00:24:11,670 are today . Um Is there 566 00:24:11,680 --> 00:24:14,160 operational impacts from this budget 567 00:24:14,300 --> 00:24:17,920 today over the next year ? Um 568 00:24:18,689 --> 00:24:21,560 And what impact does this have say five 569 00:24:21,569 --> 00:24:23,810 years down the road or the for 570 00:24:23,819 --> 00:24:26,041 operational impacts for today ? Because 571 00:24:26,041 --> 00:24:28,263 we , because of our focus on radius , I 572 00:24:28,263 --> 00:24:30,630 don't see operational impacts now as 573 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:32,807 the secretary highlighted is we had to 574 00:24:32,807 --> 00:24:34,918 defer some of our modernization , you 575 00:24:34,918 --> 00:24:37,209 think about 56 , you know , years a 576 00:24:37,219 --> 00:24:39,979 decade from now . Um There's potential 577 00:24:39,989 --> 00:24:41,711 challenges if we don't get the 578 00:24:41,711 --> 00:24:43,822 additional support in the top line in 579 00:24:43,822 --> 00:24:46,800 in the out years . Excuse me , what 580 00:24:46,810 --> 00:24:49,032 kind of challenges are we talking about 581 00:24:49,032 --> 00:24:51,088 when you say additional challenges ? 582 00:24:51,088 --> 00:24:53,459 Well , part of it was the deferring 583 00:24:53,469 --> 00:24:55,670 some of our modernization and ensure , 584 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:57,736 you know , the thing I focus on as a 585 00:24:57,736 --> 00:24:59,791 chairman is to ensure we have both a 586 00:24:59,791 --> 00:25:01,902 capability and capacity and we got to 587 00:25:01,902 --> 00:25:03,958 make sure we have capability that is 588 00:25:03,958 --> 00:25:06,180 stays ahead of the threat and then also 589 00:25:06,180 --> 00:25:08,347 have capacity to be able to operate in 590 00:25:08,347 --> 00:25:10,569 many of the areas around the world like 591 00:25:10,569 --> 00:25:12,791 we like we do today and that's where we 592 00:25:12,791 --> 00:25:15,013 need to make sure we're working closely 593 00:25:15,013 --> 00:25:16,958 together on uh on the out years to 594 00:25:16,958 --> 00:25:19,180 ensure that we can actually continue to 595 00:25:19,180 --> 00:25:21,291 modernize and make sure we stay ahead 596 00:25:21,291 --> 00:25:24,040 of the threat . Senator Collins . Thank 597 00:25:24,050 --> 00:25:27,859 you , Mr Chairman Mr Secretary . 598 00:25:27,869 --> 00:25:29,813 Let me follow up on the chairman's 599 00:25:29,813 --> 00:25:33,079 question by asking you a very 600 00:25:33,089 --> 00:25:37,040 basic question . And that is , 601 00:25:38,050 --> 00:25:41,550 if you had your preference , would you 602 00:25:41,560 --> 00:25:44,189 be operating under a 603 00:25:44,199 --> 00:25:47,989 1% increase ? In other 604 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:50,800 words , do you think that Congress 605 00:25:50,810 --> 00:25:54,589 should revisit the 1% cap 606 00:25:54,599 --> 00:25:56,630 that is imposed by the Fiscal 607 00:25:56,640 --> 00:25:58,510 Responsibility Act ? 608 00:26:00,449 --> 00:26:03,329 Certainly the , the , the cap makes it 609 00:26:03,339 --> 00:26:05,506 more challenging and forces us to make 610 00:26:05,506 --> 00:26:08,420 choices that , that if we didn't have 611 00:26:08,430 --> 00:26:10,541 that cap , we obviously wouldn't have 612 00:26:10,541 --> 00:26:13,790 to make . So , yes , it does provide , 613 00:26:14,369 --> 00:26:17,020 provide more challenges . But certainly 614 00:26:17,030 --> 00:26:20,239 we have worked hard to link our request 615 00:26:20,250 --> 00:26:22,589 to our strategy and , and as much of 616 00:26:22,599 --> 00:26:24,766 our strategy as we as we can support , 617 00:26:24,766 --> 00:26:28,229 we're going to support . Thank you . I 618 00:26:28,239 --> 00:26:31,290 want to switch to a different issue 619 00:26:31,780 --> 00:26:35,089 on October 25th , 620 00:26:35,420 --> 00:26:39,390 2023 . That 621 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:42,869 was the darkest day in Maine history in 622 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:46,729 my lifetime . 18 Mainers lost their 623 00:26:46,739 --> 00:26:50,719 lives , 13 others were injured in 624 00:26:50,729 --> 00:26:54,069 the worst mass shooting that we have 625 00:26:54,079 --> 00:26:57,790 seen . The killer Robert card 626 00:26:57,800 --> 00:27:01,270 was the sergeant first class in the US 627 00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:05,109 Army Reserve . The governor of Maine 628 00:27:05,119 --> 00:27:07,689 established an independent commission 629 00:27:07,699 --> 00:27:11,030 that has issued an interim report 630 00:27:11,449 --> 00:27:15,390 and that report included several 631 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:19,150 very troubling findings about 632 00:27:19,449 --> 00:27:22,670 missed opportunities to prevent this 633 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:26,500 tragedy . For instance , mental health 634 00:27:26,510 --> 00:27:29,900 providers recommended to Mr Card's Army 635 00:27:29,910 --> 00:27:33,569 Reserve Unit that measures be taken to 636 00:27:33,579 --> 00:27:36,449 safely remove all firearms and weapons 637 00:27:36,459 --> 00:27:40,239 from his home . Well , the Army Reserve 638 00:27:40,250 --> 00:27:43,160 unit took appropriate action to reserve . 639 00:27:43,170 --> 00:27:46,869 Mr Card's access to military 640 00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:50,469 weapons . This recommendation was never 641 00:27:50,479 --> 00:27:53,969 communicated by the army to relevant 642 00:27:53,979 --> 00:27:56,589 law enforcement agencies . In Maine , 643 00:27:56,849 --> 00:28:00,530 we had members of Mr Card's unit 644 00:28:00,925 --> 00:28:03,954 raising alarms with their supervisors . 645 00:28:03,964 --> 00:28:07,665 About what about their fear that he was 646 00:28:07,675 --> 00:28:09,854 extremely dangerous ? He actually 647 00:28:09,864 --> 00:28:13,334 assaulted a fellow soldier . He was 648 00:28:13,344 --> 00:28:17,234 institutionalized for two weeks at a at 649 00:28:17,244 --> 00:28:20,665 a hospital uh for those with mental 650 00:28:20,675 --> 00:28:22,842 illness in New York State while he was 651 00:28:22,842 --> 00:28:26,780 on drill , we have an inspector 652 00:28:26,790 --> 00:28:29,209 general's report that is underway to 653 00:28:29,219 --> 00:28:32,609 look at this more thoroughly . After I 654 00:28:32,619 --> 00:28:35,719 received that report , I intend to 655 00:28:35,729 --> 00:28:39,619 draft legislation that would require 656 00:28:39,630 --> 00:28:43,209 our military services to report to the 657 00:28:43,219 --> 00:28:46,489 appropriate authorities when 658 00:28:46,500 --> 00:28:49,290 someone , when a service member poses a 659 00:28:49,300 --> 00:28:52,619 threat to him or herself or to 660 00:28:52,630 --> 00:28:56,430 others while protecting the second 661 00:28:56,439 --> 00:28:59,609 amendment rights of our service members . 662 00:28:59,750 --> 00:29:03,614 Would you me to working with me on 663 00:29:03,625 --> 00:29:06,944 such legislation to establish formal 664 00:29:06,954 --> 00:29:10,275 policies and procedures so that we can 665 00:29:10,285 --> 00:29:14,214 ensure that our military services share 666 00:29:14,224 --> 00:29:17,334 this kind of relevant information with 667 00:29:17,344 --> 00:29:20,395 law enforcement and with state 668 00:29:20,405 --> 00:29:22,935 officials under the appropriate state 669 00:29:22,944 --> 00:29:26,900 laws . Um Thanks Senator . Well , first 670 00:29:26,910 --> 00:29:30,260 of all , um this was a tragedy and my 671 00:29:30,270 --> 00:29:32,589 thoughts and prayers go out to all 672 00:29:32,599 --> 00:29:34,670 those affected by , by , by this 673 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:38,650 tragedy . Um The health and welfare of 674 00:29:38,660 --> 00:29:41,239 our troops is very important to me at 675 00:29:41,250 --> 00:29:43,472 the top of my mind all the time . So is 676 00:29:43,472 --> 00:29:45,694 the health and welfare of our community 677 00:29:45,694 --> 00:29:49,680 members . And so absolutely , we will , 678 00:29:49,689 --> 00:29:53,060 we will work with you to uh to ensure 679 00:29:53,069 --> 00:29:55,849 that we have the mechanisms to where 680 00:29:55,859 --> 00:29:58,319 appropriate pass uh relevant 681 00:29:58,329 --> 00:30:00,780 information to authorities and , and uh 682 00:30:01,099 --> 00:30:03,589 so I look forward to our uh my staff , 683 00:30:03,599 --> 00:30:05,710 engaging your staff on this issue and 684 00:30:05,710 --> 00:30:07,900 going forward . Thank you very much , 685 00:30:10,439 --> 00:30:14,260 Senator Shane . Thank you , 686 00:30:14,270 --> 00:30:16,780 Mr Chairman . Um Welcome Mr Secretary 687 00:30:16,790 --> 00:30:20,209 General Brown . Um and Mr 688 00:30:20,219 --> 00:30:24,079 mccord Secretary Austin . Uh Well , I'm 689 00:30:24,089 --> 00:30:27,290 glad that um we were able to pass the 690 00:30:27,300 --> 00:30:29,244 national security supplemental . I 691 00:30:29,244 --> 00:30:31,356 think all of us um were relieved that 692 00:30:31,356 --> 00:30:33,467 that happened . Um What we've seen is 693 00:30:33,467 --> 00:30:35,633 that Russia's industrial base has been 694 00:30:35,633 --> 00:30:38,150 able to increase production um in part 695 00:30:38,160 --> 00:30:40,810 due to sanctions , evasions um in part 696 00:30:40,819 --> 00:30:42,986 because they're getting assistance now 697 00:30:42,986 --> 00:30:45,097 from the People's Republic of China , 698 00:30:45,097 --> 00:30:47,489 from Iran , from North Korea . Um 699 00:30:48,479 --> 00:30:51,209 So , and we know that Iran now supplies 700 00:30:51,219 --> 00:30:53,640 70% of Russia's drone capabilities in 701 00:30:53,650 --> 00:30:55,849 Ukraine . Those are the same drones 702 00:30:55,859 --> 00:30:57,969 that they're using the in the Middle 703 00:30:57,979 --> 00:31:01,030 East to um kill American service 704 00:31:01,040 --> 00:31:03,670 members and attack us . So , can you 705 00:31:03,680 --> 00:31:05,458 talk a little bit about how the 706 00:31:05,458 --> 00:31:07,402 administration is seeking to limit 707 00:31:07,402 --> 00:31:09,291 industrial based cooper operation 708 00:31:09,291 --> 00:31:11,670 between Russia and China ? And what in 709 00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:14,040 this budget will help us do that ? 710 00:31:19,310 --> 00:31:21,420 Well , we certainly have have raised 711 00:31:21,430 --> 00:31:23,969 this issue in , in the right channels . 712 00:31:23,979 --> 00:31:26,790 Uh uh Senator and , and uh and you are 713 00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:29,949 right . Um Prior 714 00:31:29,959 --> 00:31:33,239 to at one point , Russia had 715 00:31:33,250 --> 00:31:36,180 experienced significant losses because 716 00:31:36,189 --> 00:31:39,079 of the work that Ukraine and its forces 717 00:31:39,089 --> 00:31:41,599 was doing . They had inflicted 718 00:31:41,609 --> 00:31:43,720 significant casualties on the Russian 719 00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:47,540 forces destroyed a significant amount 720 00:31:47,550 --> 00:31:49,883 of its equipment . And so to your point , 721 00:31:49,883 --> 00:31:53,780 we saw , we saw Russia uh engaged North 722 00:31:53,790 --> 00:31:57,410 Korea who provided uh quite a bit of 723 00:31:57,420 --> 00:32:00,239 munitions and uh and , and , and 724 00:32:00,250 --> 00:32:03,329 missiles , the drones provided by 725 00:32:03,339 --> 00:32:07,199 Iran really kind of help begin to turn 726 00:32:07,209 --> 00:32:09,320 the tide there for Russia a bit and , 727 00:32:09,320 --> 00:32:11,431 and allow them to kind of get back up 728 00:32:11,431 --> 00:32:13,689 on their feet in addition to them 729 00:32:13,699 --> 00:32:15,930 increasing their , their 730 00:32:16,410 --> 00:32:19,079 production in their industrial base . 731 00:32:19,420 --> 00:32:22,969 But without the help from Iran , 732 00:32:22,979 --> 00:32:25,380 North Korea and China , to your point , 733 00:32:25,390 --> 00:32:27,168 uh this probably would not have 734 00:32:27,168 --> 00:32:29,112 occurred to the degree that it has 735 00:32:29,112 --> 00:32:32,300 occurred . Uh So we have engaged in the , 736 00:32:32,310 --> 00:32:36,260 in the right channels to uh emphasize 737 00:32:36,270 --> 00:32:40,160 our , our serious concerns about the PR 738 00:32:40,170 --> 00:32:42,392 C and , and , and others providing this 739 00:32:42,392 --> 00:32:44,890 sort of support . Um As you know , uh 740 00:32:44,900 --> 00:32:46,900 there are sanctions that uh that we 741 00:32:46,900 --> 00:32:48,844 continue to look at in a number of 742 00:32:48,844 --> 00:32:51,810 areas . Uh and uh and we revisit those 743 00:32:51,819 --> 00:32:54,510 sanctions to ensure that uh they're 744 00:32:54,520 --> 00:32:56,687 being , we're being as effective as we 745 00:32:56,687 --> 00:32:58,798 can , but that continues to be a work 746 00:32:58,798 --> 00:33:00,989 in progress . And , and , and , and so 747 00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:03,167 this is a whole of government effort . 748 00:33:03,167 --> 00:33:06,550 And uh and uh again , 749 00:33:07,430 --> 00:33:09,541 uh I think we're engaging in , in the 750 00:33:09,541 --> 00:33:11,541 right , in the right channels , but 751 00:33:11,541 --> 00:33:13,319 there's a lot more work that uh 752 00:33:13,319 --> 00:33:16,030 continues to uh need to be done . Well , 753 00:33:16,040 --> 00:33:18,189 thank you . Clearly , we still have 754 00:33:18,199 --> 00:33:20,839 work to do . Um Secretary Austin the 755 00:33:20,849 --> 00:33:22,905 last time I saw you before the Armed 756 00:33:22,905 --> 00:33:25,071 Services Committee , we talked about , 757 00:33:25,071 --> 00:33:26,905 um , the 60 minutes report about 758 00:33:26,905 --> 00:33:29,250 anomalous health incidents and you 759 00:33:29,260 --> 00:33:33,089 committed to , um , taking a look 760 00:33:33,099 --> 00:33:36,609 again at , um , the genesis of those 761 00:33:36,619 --> 00:33:39,449 incidents . But one of the other 762 00:33:39,459 --> 00:33:42,209 aspects of that are the , the personnel 763 00:33:42,219 --> 00:33:43,997 who have been affected by those 764 00:33:43,997 --> 00:33:46,330 anomalous health incidents . And in dod , 765 00:33:46,369 --> 00:33:48,650 the appropriate , uh , the fiscal year 766 00:33:48,660 --> 00:33:52,339 appropriations bill for dod in 2024 767 00:33:52,349 --> 00:33:55,430 provided funding specific for , um 768 00:33:55,500 --> 00:33:57,722 payments to victims of anomalous health 769 00:33:57,722 --> 00:34:00,250 incidents . And there is funding in 770 00:34:00,260 --> 00:34:03,719 2025 to provide payments as well . But 771 00:34:03,790 --> 00:34:06,869 the rulemaking um that is required to 772 00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:09,102 get those payments out the door has not 773 00:34:09,102 --> 00:34:11,530 yet happened . Will you commit to this 774 00:34:11,540 --> 00:34:14,500 committee that uh the department will 775 00:34:14,949 --> 00:34:17,610 work on that and provide the required 776 00:34:17,620 --> 00:34:21,309 payments to victims ? Absolutely . 777 00:34:22,178 --> 00:34:24,067 And do you know when dod plans to 778 00:34:24,067 --> 00:34:26,122 publish its final regulations around 779 00:34:26,122 --> 00:34:28,259 this issue ? Uh I'll have to get back 780 00:34:28,269 --> 00:34:30,269 to you on that . I don't have a , a 781 00:34:30,269 --> 00:34:32,436 forecast . Um If you could get back to 782 00:34:32,436 --> 00:34:34,769 the committee , I would appreciate that . 783 00:34:34,769 --> 00:34:36,713 Um I know that we have a number of 784 00:34:36,713 --> 00:34:40,438 people who are waiting for help , who 785 00:34:40,448 --> 00:34:43,299 have been affected . Um General Brown , 786 00:34:44,129 --> 00:34:45,962 this budget invests in important 787 00:34:45,962 --> 00:34:48,209 conventional capabilities , but one of 788 00:34:48,219 --> 00:34:50,550 the areas where we still have 789 00:34:50,560 --> 00:34:52,500 challenges is in the area of 790 00:34:53,138 --> 00:34:56,158 disinformation and misinformation . So 791 00:34:56,168 --> 00:34:58,057 can you talk about how the budget 792 00:34:58,057 --> 00:35:00,479 invests in our capabilities for cyber 793 00:35:00,489 --> 00:35:02,358 and in the information domain to 794 00:35:02,368 --> 00:35:05,019 counter what we're seeing um from 795 00:35:05,029 --> 00:35:07,079 virtually all of our adversaries . 796 00:35:09,060 --> 00:35:11,282 Well , you know , there's areas that we 797 00:35:11,282 --> 00:35:13,504 invest in , in the information domain , 798 00:35:13,504 --> 00:35:16,590 in particular , there's about $14.5 799 00:35:16,600 --> 00:35:18,822 billion in our , our cyber capabilities 800 00:35:18,822 --> 00:35:21,100 for both offensive and defensive cyber . 801 00:35:21,100 --> 00:35:22,822 There's about $1.8 billion for 802 00:35:22,822 --> 00:35:24,711 artificial intelligence to better 803 00:35:24,711 --> 00:35:26,878 understand how we would use that . But 804 00:35:26,878 --> 00:35:26,449 I think it's also important that we 805 00:35:26,459 --> 00:35:28,515 understand how our adversaries would 806 00:35:28,515 --> 00:35:30,959 use artificial intelligence against us . 807 00:35:31,149 --> 00:35:33,260 And it's really again , how we bring 808 00:35:33,270 --> 00:35:35,381 together our , our data and using our 809 00:35:35,381 --> 00:35:38,290 data and having get under way ways to 810 00:35:38,300 --> 00:35:40,522 analyze particularly the misinformation 811 00:35:40,580 --> 00:35:42,790 uh and ensuring that we stay ahead in 812 00:35:42,800 --> 00:35:44,689 the particular cyber realm to get 813 00:35:44,689 --> 00:35:46,911 information out and get the , the facts 814 00:35:46,911 --> 00:35:49,022 out early . And , and part of this is 815 00:35:49,022 --> 00:35:48,919 not only the investment in the 816 00:35:48,929 --> 00:35:50,651 technology , but it's also the 817 00:35:50,651 --> 00:35:52,818 investment in the training of our , of 818 00:35:52,818 --> 00:35:54,929 our force uh to , to move at the pace 819 00:35:54,929 --> 00:35:57,209 of the way information moves today . Um 820 00:35:57,219 --> 00:35:59,441 That's something we'll continue to work 821 00:35:59,441 --> 00:36:01,663 on as well . Well , thank you . My time 822 00:36:01,663 --> 00:36:03,775 is up , but I hope we're also working 823 00:36:03,775 --> 00:36:03,750 with the Global Engagement Center at 824 00:36:03,770 --> 00:36:06,000 the Department of State because clearly 825 00:36:06,229 --> 00:36:09,909 this is an area where we have an equal 826 00:36:09,919 --> 00:36:11,863 amount of work to do . Thank you , 827 00:36:11,939 --> 00:36:14,320 Senator Moran Chairman . Thank you , Mr 828 00:36:14,330 --> 00:36:16,552 Secretary . Thank you for your presence 829 00:36:16,552 --> 00:36:19,550 and service . Um The administration has 830 00:36:19,560 --> 00:36:21,739 halted a shipment of American made 831 00:36:21,750 --> 00:36:24,360 munitions to Israel even if it's the 832 00:36:24,370 --> 00:36:26,203 administration's goal to reach a 833 00:36:26,203 --> 00:36:28,689 ceasefire agreement . Does this not 834 00:36:28,699 --> 00:36:30,860 send the wrong message to our ally , 835 00:36:30,870 --> 00:36:33,610 Israel and embolden Iran and Iranian 836 00:36:33,620 --> 00:36:36,780 backed groups ? We should not be 837 00:36:36,790 --> 00:36:38,846 signaling to Iran's enemies that our 838 00:36:38,846 --> 00:36:42,590 support is conditional . Many of us in 839 00:36:42,600 --> 00:36:45,030 this room worked hard to get aid 840 00:36:45,250 --> 00:36:48,389 included and passed by the House and 841 00:36:48,399 --> 00:36:51,199 Senate in the emergency supplemental . 842 00:36:52,020 --> 00:36:54,719 My questions on this topic are three . 843 00:36:54,729 --> 00:36:56,729 Should we be concerned that the aid 844 00:36:56,729 --> 00:36:58,562 that was included in that recent 845 00:36:58,562 --> 00:37:01,070 supplemental is in jeopardy of being 846 00:37:01,080 --> 00:37:03,500 withheld from Israel . Did the 847 00:37:03,510 --> 00:37:05,677 Secretary of State Secretary Blinken , 848 00:37:05,677 --> 00:37:08,419 consult with you on this decision ? And 849 00:37:08,429 --> 00:37:11,580 do you agree that that halting us 850 00:37:11,590 --> 00:37:14,050 assistance to Israel emboldens its 851 00:37:14,060 --> 00:37:17,739 enemies ? Thanks Senator . First of all , 852 00:37:17,750 --> 00:37:20,969 our , our commitment to Israel's 853 00:37:20,979 --> 00:37:24,500 security is ironclad . As you had seen 854 00:37:24,510 --> 00:37:26,790 from the very beginning , we have 855 00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:30,199 flowed billions of dollars of security 856 00:37:30,209 --> 00:37:33,219 assistance at a very rapid pace into , 857 00:37:33,229 --> 00:37:36,860 into Israel . And as you just mentioned , 858 00:37:36,870 --> 00:37:39,360 with your help and we're grateful for 859 00:37:39,370 --> 00:37:42,750 this . You just passed the largest ever 860 00:37:42,760 --> 00:37:46,409 supplemental appropriation and most 861 00:37:46,419 --> 00:37:49,810 recently in uh on April 13th and 862 00:37:49,820 --> 00:37:52,419 14th , you saw us lead a 863 00:37:53,919 --> 00:37:56,489 an unprecedented coalition to defend 864 00:37:56,500 --> 00:37:59,899 Israel as Iran attacked Israel with a 865 00:38:00,590 --> 00:38:03,889 significant number of drones and and uh 866 00:38:03,899 --> 00:38:07,050 and ballistic missiles . And so we're 867 00:38:07,060 --> 00:38:08,782 going to continue to do what's 868 00:38:08,782 --> 00:38:11,004 necessary to ensure that Israel has the 869 00:38:11,004 --> 00:38:13,600 means to defend itself . But that said 870 00:38:13,770 --> 00:38:15,840 we are currently reviewing some near 871 00:38:15,860 --> 00:38:19,169 term security assistance shipments in 872 00:38:19,179 --> 00:38:22,439 the context of unfolding events in 873 00:38:22,449 --> 00:38:26,419 Rafah . Uh , so you agree 874 00:38:26,429 --> 00:38:28,800 with the pause and , I mean , you were 875 00:38:28,810 --> 00:38:31,032 consulted and agree with the pause , Mr 876 00:38:31,032 --> 00:38:33,540 Secretary . Uh , I , again , I , I 877 00:38:33,550 --> 00:38:35,750 think , uh , we haven't made any 878 00:38:35,760 --> 00:38:37,760 decisions . We , uh , we did , uh , 879 00:38:37,770 --> 00:38:41,639 pause as we , uh , re evaluated , uh , 880 00:38:41,679 --> 00:38:44,310 uh some of the security assistance that 881 00:38:44,320 --> 00:38:46,260 we're providing , uh , to , 882 00:38:52,159 --> 00:38:54,570 yeah , right 883 00:38:58,100 --> 00:39:00,449 to stop the clock . So that Jerry gets 884 00:39:00,459 --> 00:39:04,290 his full 2.5 minutes . So 885 00:39:04,300 --> 00:39:06,467 we , we've been very clear , Senator , 886 00:39:06,467 --> 00:39:08,578 as you know , from the very beginning 887 00:39:08,578 --> 00:39:11,610 that that Israel shouldn't launch a 888 00:39:11,620 --> 00:39:14,090 major attack in a Rafa without 889 00:39:14,100 --> 00:39:17,080 accounting for and protecting the 890 00:39:17,090 --> 00:39:19,423 civilians that are in that battle space . 891 00:39:19,739 --> 00:39:23,030 And , and again , as we have assessed 892 00:39:23,040 --> 00:39:26,010 the situation , we paused one shipment 893 00:39:26,020 --> 00:39:29,689 of high , high uh payload munitions . 894 00:39:30,439 --> 00:39:33,860 And , and again , I think 895 00:39:34,360 --> 00:39:36,770 we've also been very clear about the 896 00:39:36,780 --> 00:39:40,159 steps that we'd like to see Israel take 897 00:39:40,169 --> 00:39:42,280 to account for and take care of those 898 00:39:42,280 --> 00:39:45,090 civilians before major combat takes 899 00:39:45,100 --> 00:39:47,267 place . We certainly would like to see 900 00:39:47,267 --> 00:39:49,378 no major combat take place in Rafah . 901 00:39:49,378 --> 00:39:51,879 But , but certainly our focus is on 902 00:39:51,889 --> 00:39:53,667 making sure that we protect the 903 00:39:53,667 --> 00:39:55,722 civilians and we , again , we've not 904 00:39:55,722 --> 00:39:57,919 made a final determination on how to 905 00:39:57,929 --> 00:40:00,760 proceed with the , with that shipment . 906 00:40:01,530 --> 00:40:04,989 And I would highlight that this , 907 00:40:05,000 --> 00:40:07,167 this shipment doesn't have anything to 908 00:40:07,167 --> 00:40:09,389 do with the supplemental appropriations 909 00:40:09,389 --> 00:40:11,790 that , that you just helped us , helped 910 00:40:11,800 --> 00:40:14,860 us get . And my final comment is that 911 00:40:14,870 --> 00:40:16,899 we are absolutely committed to 912 00:40:18,669 --> 00:40:21,090 continuing to support Israel in its , 913 00:40:21,100 --> 00:40:23,267 in its right to defend itself . Mister 914 00:40:23,267 --> 00:40:25,378 Secretary , thank you . I worry about 915 00:40:25,378 --> 00:40:27,322 the suggestion that support by the 916 00:40:27,322 --> 00:40:29,433 United States is conditional . Let me 917 00:40:29,433 --> 00:40:31,656 turn to a different topic . Legislative 918 00:40:31,656 --> 00:40:34,159 proposal . 480 . The Space Guard issue 919 00:40:34,169 --> 00:40:36,169 about the National Guard , the code 920 00:40:36,169 --> 00:40:38,280 dictates that National Guard equities 921 00:40:38,280 --> 00:40:40,502 cannot be withdrawn without the consent 922 00:40:40,502 --> 00:40:43,550 of a state's governor . I am informed 923 00:40:43,560 --> 00:40:46,919 that recently governors from 53 States 924 00:40:47,030 --> 00:40:48,974 and Territories wrote you a letter 925 00:40:48,974 --> 00:40:51,199 opposing this legislative proposal . 926 00:40:51,780 --> 00:40:55,330 Would you tell me what the department's 927 00:40:55,340 --> 00:40:58,689 thoughts are ? Do you consult with 928 00:40:58,699 --> 00:41:01,280 governors ? And based upon this 929 00:41:01,290 --> 00:41:04,510 overwhelming feedback , does it cause 930 00:41:04,520 --> 00:41:06,187 any reconsideration about the 931 00:41:06,187 --> 00:41:10,010 legislative proposal ? I have received 932 00:41:10,020 --> 00:41:12,310 a letter from uh from the governor 933 00:41:12,320 --> 00:41:15,199 senator and uh most recently , the 934 00:41:15,209 --> 00:41:17,719 Secretary of the Air Force has uh , has 935 00:41:17,729 --> 00:41:20,020 reached out and engaged the governors 936 00:41:20,030 --> 00:41:22,330 to , to talk about this issue and 937 00:41:22,340 --> 00:41:25,620 explain the rationale uh as you know , 938 00:41:25,629 --> 00:41:28,560 when we stood up , uh Space Force , uh 939 00:41:28,570 --> 00:41:31,919 we uh we took on uh 940 00:41:32,800 --> 00:41:35,469 units and people that were focused on 941 00:41:35,479 --> 00:41:38,270 the space mission and incorporated 942 00:41:38,280 --> 00:41:40,391 those from the Air Force , from the , 943 00:41:40,391 --> 00:41:42,169 from the army , from the Navy , 944 00:41:42,169 --> 00:41:44,729 incorporated those people and units 945 00:41:44,739 --> 00:41:48,110 into space force . This 946 00:41:48,159 --> 00:41:52,050 uh this measure will affect , I 947 00:41:52,060 --> 00:41:54,429 believe a small number of people , but 948 00:41:54,439 --> 00:41:56,661 certainly , you know , I understand the 949 00:41:56,661 --> 00:41:58,717 governor's concerns and we owe it to 950 00:41:58,717 --> 00:42:00,772 the governors to engage them on it . 951 00:42:00,772 --> 00:42:02,772 And that's why Secretary of the Air 952 00:42:02,772 --> 00:42:04,550 Force has recently engaged them 953 00:42:04,550 --> 00:42:06,272 personally . On this issue . I 954 00:42:06,272 --> 00:42:06,219 encourage that to occur . Mister 955 00:42:06,229 --> 00:42:08,550 Secretary , thank you , Chairman of the 956 00:42:08,560 --> 00:42:10,782 Full Appropriations Committee , Senator 957 00:42:10,782 --> 00:42:12,838 Murray . Thank you very much , Chair 958 00:42:12,838 --> 00:42:14,949 Tester and thank you to our witnesses 959 00:42:14,949 --> 00:42:17,060 for joining us today . Right now , we 960 00:42:17,060 --> 00:42:19,060 face a number of serious challenges 961 00:42:19,060 --> 00:42:21,004 across the globe . That's why Vice 962 00:42:21,004 --> 00:42:23,171 Chair Collins and I pushed through the 963 00:42:23,171 --> 00:42:25,060 gridlock to hammer out and pass a 964 00:42:25,060 --> 00:42:27,179 strong national security package that 965 00:42:27,189 --> 00:42:29,411 sent support to our allies , especially 966 00:42:29,411 --> 00:42:32,340 Ukraine , humanitarian aid to civilians 967 00:42:32,350 --> 00:42:34,199 and a message to our allies and 968 00:42:34,209 --> 00:42:36,909 adversaries alike that America is still 969 00:42:36,919 --> 00:42:39,709 strong enough and united enough to lead 970 00:42:39,719 --> 00:42:41,899 the free world . We didn't just pass a 971 00:42:41,909 --> 00:42:44,389 bill . We passed a critical test on the 972 00:42:44,399 --> 00:42:46,566 world stage and something I don't want 973 00:42:46,566 --> 00:42:48,677 anyone to forget the bill . The House 974 00:42:48,677 --> 00:42:50,570 eventually passed was essentially 975 00:42:50,580 --> 00:42:52,750 identical to the one the Senate passed 976 00:42:52,760 --> 00:42:55,060 two months earlier . However , the 977 00:42:55,070 --> 00:42:58,149 delay and inaction was not without cost . 978 00:42:58,229 --> 00:43:00,760 We and our allies lost precious time 979 00:43:00,770 --> 00:43:02,969 and resources during those two months 980 00:43:02,979 --> 00:43:05,310 that we can't recover . This is similar 981 00:43:05,320 --> 00:43:07,669 to the costs we face each time we flirt 982 00:43:07,679 --> 00:43:09,790 with a government shutdown or put the 983 00:43:09,790 --> 00:43:11,457 government on autopilot under 984 00:43:11,457 --> 00:43:13,179 continuing resolutions . Those 985 00:43:13,179 --> 00:43:16,189 situations come with costs and notably , 986 00:43:16,199 --> 00:43:18,088 neither China nor Russia face the 987 00:43:18,088 --> 00:43:20,610 threat of a government shutdown or ac R 988 00:43:21,250 --> 00:43:23,083 I'm certain all of us agree that 989 00:43:23,083 --> 00:43:24,750 democracies are stronger than 990 00:43:24,750 --> 00:43:26,694 Dictatorships , but we have got to 991 00:43:26,694 --> 00:43:28,250 prove it and that will take 992 00:43:28,250 --> 00:43:30,472 bipartisanship because as we all know , 993 00:43:30,472 --> 00:43:33,239 our work is not done . We must maintain 994 00:43:33,250 --> 00:43:35,379 America's leadership and make smart 995 00:43:35,389 --> 00:43:37,278 investments to help reduce global 996 00:43:37,278 --> 00:43:39,278 conflict and instability , which of 997 00:43:39,278 --> 00:43:41,560 course keeps our country safe . That 998 00:43:41,570 --> 00:43:43,792 means ensuring our military remains the 999 00:43:43,792 --> 00:43:46,000 best in the world , supporting the men 1000 00:43:46,010 --> 00:43:48,121 and women in uniform , who sacrificed 1001 00:43:48,121 --> 00:43:50,066 greatly to keep our country safe , 1002 00:43:50,066 --> 00:43:52,709 having our allies backs and taking an 1003 00:43:52,719 --> 00:43:54,886 all of government approach to keep our 1004 00:43:54,886 --> 00:43:57,409 country strong and secure . We are 1005 00:43:57,419 --> 00:43:59,689 working with tight fiscal constraints 1006 00:43:59,699 --> 00:44:01,939 but Secretary Austin is so important , 1007 00:44:01,949 --> 00:44:04,229 we make sure not only that your 1008 00:44:04,239 --> 00:44:06,550 department has the resources needed to 1009 00:44:06,560 --> 00:44:08,782 execute our national defense strategy , 1010 00:44:08,840 --> 00:44:10,451 but that our count that your 1011 00:44:10,451 --> 00:44:12,780 counterparts across government also 1012 00:44:12,790 --> 00:44:15,139 have the resources they need to keep 1013 00:44:15,149 --> 00:44:17,949 our country safe . The 1% increase in 1014 00:44:17,959 --> 00:44:20,479 funding provided for fy 25 under the 1015 00:44:20,489 --> 00:44:23,229 caps is as inadequate for nondefense 1016 00:44:23,239 --> 00:44:25,461 spending as it is for the Department of 1017 00:44:25,461 --> 00:44:27,820 Defense having just worked together to 1018 00:44:27,830 --> 00:44:29,997 write and pass 12 bipartisan bills for 1019 00:44:29,997 --> 00:44:33,010 fy 24 . We all know this very clearly . 1020 00:44:33,290 --> 00:44:35,469 So as members talk about how we might 1021 00:44:35,479 --> 00:44:37,701 increase investments to better meet our 1022 00:44:37,701 --> 00:44:39,757 defense needs , we cannot ignore our 1023 00:44:39,757 --> 00:44:41,820 needs here at home as well when it 1024 00:44:41,830 --> 00:44:44,052 comes to additional resources above the 1025 00:44:44,052 --> 00:44:46,219 caps , which the vice chair and others 1026 00:44:46,219 --> 00:44:48,441 have mentioned . I'm going to insist on 1027 00:44:48,441 --> 00:44:50,608 parity for nondefense spending to make 1028 00:44:50,608 --> 00:44:52,774 sure we are providing for our Children 1029 00:44:52,774 --> 00:44:54,719 and families , keeping them safe . 1030 00:44:55,679 --> 00:44:59,169 After all , our safety also depends on 1031 00:44:59,179 --> 00:45:01,270 our diplomatic core , which works 1032 00:45:01,280 --> 00:45:03,280 around the clock to prevent and end 1033 00:45:03,280 --> 00:45:05,604 conflict , our counterterrorism , some 1034 00:45:05,614 --> 00:45:07,392 efforts and the law enforcement 1035 00:45:07,392 --> 00:45:09,281 personnel working to identify and 1036 00:45:09,281 --> 00:45:11,281 disrupt threats , our public health 1037 00:45:11,281 --> 00:45:13,534 system and pandemic response efforts , 1038 00:45:13,725 --> 00:45:15,965 the officials enforcing our sanctions 1039 00:45:15,975 --> 00:45:18,564 to help choke off financial resources 1040 00:45:18,574 --> 00:45:20,885 for dictators like Putin our work 1041 00:45:20,895 --> 00:45:23,195 countering the influence of the Chinese 1042 00:45:23,205 --> 00:45:25,665 Communist Party , ensuring we remain on 1043 00:45:25,675 --> 00:45:27,508 the cutting edge of research and 1044 00:45:27,508 --> 00:45:29,899 manufacturing and so much more so . 1045 00:45:29,909 --> 00:45:32,076 With that in mind , Secretary Austin , 1046 00:45:32,076 --> 00:45:34,469 can you talk about your work with your 1047 00:45:34,479 --> 00:45:36,459 counterparts across government , 1048 00:45:36,570 --> 00:45:39,179 whether that's at state or commerce or 1049 00:45:39,189 --> 00:45:41,245 so many other agencies and how their 1050 00:45:41,245 --> 00:45:43,770 efforts assist the work you do to keep 1051 00:45:43,780 --> 00:45:46,139 our country safe and factor into our 1052 00:45:46,149 --> 00:45:47,739 national defense strategy . 1053 00:45:50,629 --> 00:45:53,350 You've heard a number of secretaries 1054 00:45:53,360 --> 00:45:56,129 say before , Chair Murray that um if , 1055 00:45:56,189 --> 00:46:00,050 if we don't fund state and others 1056 00:46:00,060 --> 00:46:02,370 to the right level , then we're going 1057 00:46:02,379 --> 00:46:04,770 to need more bullets because they do 1058 00:46:04,780 --> 00:46:08,209 great and important work to uh uh 1059 00:46:08,540 --> 00:46:12,270 to move things uh towards uh greater 1060 00:46:12,280 --> 00:46:15,139 stability and security in all regions 1061 00:46:15,149 --> 00:46:18,330 of uh of the world . And so is it it's 1062 00:46:18,340 --> 00:46:20,709 this whole of government effort , this 1063 00:46:20,770 --> 00:46:24,370 this interaction between departments in 1064 00:46:24,379 --> 00:46:26,554 support of our overall goals and 1065 00:46:26,564 --> 00:46:29,104 objectives that that really is what 1066 00:46:29,114 --> 00:46:31,774 causes us to be effective . So it's 1067 00:46:31,784 --> 00:46:34,014 important that they do get , they do 1068 00:46:34,024 --> 00:46:36,191 get supported . Thank you . And as the 1069 00:46:36,191 --> 00:46:38,080 chair of our committee knows that 1070 00:46:38,080 --> 00:46:39,746 includes our veterans and the 1071 00:46:39,746 --> 00:46:41,802 challenges that they're having right 1072 00:46:41,802 --> 00:46:43,913 now with the va budget , Mr Secretary 1073 00:46:43,913 --> 00:46:45,746 on the $60 billion that Congress 1074 00:46:45,746 --> 00:46:47,913 appropriated to support Ukraine in its 1075 00:46:47,913 --> 00:46:49,968 fight against Putin a package . This 1076 00:46:49,968 --> 00:46:52,135 committee worked on for months as this 1077 00:46:52,135 --> 00:46:54,357 war continues now into its third year . 1078 00:46:54,357 --> 00:46:56,468 How is this funding being used ? What 1079 00:46:56,468 --> 00:46:58,691 improvements are we seeing on the front 1080 00:46:58,691 --> 00:47:02,219 line ? It's still very early on as you 1081 00:47:02,229 --> 00:47:04,451 know , it does take time to get some of 1082 00:47:04,451 --> 00:47:07,260 this capability in . But we in 1083 00:47:07,270 --> 00:47:09,590 anticipation of the potential of 1084 00:47:09,600 --> 00:47:12,500 getting the supplemental approved , we 1085 00:47:12,510 --> 00:47:14,560 forward position some things , some 1086 00:47:14,570 --> 00:47:17,699 critical things like air defense 1087 00:47:17,709 --> 00:47:20,129 interceptors and , and artillery 1088 00:47:20,139 --> 00:47:22,472 munitions . So that if it were approved , 1089 00:47:22,472 --> 00:47:25,060 we would be able to rapidly move those 1090 00:47:25,070 --> 00:47:27,350 things in , in support of Ukraine . And 1091 00:47:27,360 --> 00:47:30,840 we are doing that . And uh you know , I , 1092 00:47:30,850 --> 00:47:34,399 I talk to my counterpart in Ukraine 1093 00:47:34,409 --> 00:47:36,350 every week . I just talked to him 1094 00:47:36,360 --> 00:47:39,040 yesterday as a matter of fact , uh in 1095 00:47:39,239 --> 00:47:41,540 checking on uh how , how that's going , 1096 00:47:41,550 --> 00:47:44,439 what his most critical needs are . And 1097 00:47:44,459 --> 00:47:48,340 uh and uh I think again , this is going 1098 00:47:48,350 --> 00:47:50,572 to be very , very helpful , but to your 1099 00:47:50,572 --> 00:47:53,649 point , it's hard to buy back time . 1100 00:47:53,659 --> 00:47:56,070 And , and , but given that , I think 1101 00:47:56,080 --> 00:47:58,489 that without this help , Ukraine would 1102 00:47:58,500 --> 00:48:00,429 be , would have a very tough time 1103 00:48:00,669 --> 00:48:03,229 defending against what is a superior 1104 00:48:03,239 --> 00:48:05,639 force with the Russians and is our 1105 00:48:05,649 --> 00:48:07,260 inventory here at home being 1106 00:48:07,260 --> 00:48:09,810 replenished . It will , this 1107 00:48:09,820 --> 00:48:11,979 supplemental will certainly help in a 1108 00:48:11,989 --> 00:48:14,560 major way in that regard . I want to 1109 00:48:14,570 --> 00:48:18,469 make sure that , that we , we do 1110 00:48:18,479 --> 00:48:20,701 have the ability to replenish our , our 1111 00:48:20,701 --> 00:48:22,889 stocks and as we have drawn down some 1112 00:48:22,899 --> 00:48:26,780 of our stocks and provided weapons and 1113 00:48:26,830 --> 00:48:30,040 vehicles to Ukraine , we'll replace 1114 00:48:30,050 --> 00:48:33,280 those weapons with newer models and , 1115 00:48:33,290 --> 00:48:35,949 and all of that work flows through our 1116 00:48:35,959 --> 00:48:38,181 industrial base and it will affect some 1117 00:48:38,181 --> 00:48:40,979 30 different states in the country and 1118 00:48:40,989 --> 00:48:43,419 that creates good jobs , good paying 1119 00:48:43,429 --> 00:48:45,860 jobs for Americans and we remain 1120 00:48:45,870 --> 00:48:48,037 excited about that . Thank you . Thank 1121 00:48:48,037 --> 00:48:50,092 you very much , Mr Secretary . Thank 1122 00:48:50,092 --> 00:48:52,203 you , Mr Chairman , Senator Bozeman . 1123 00:48:53,969 --> 00:48:56,260 Uh Thank you , Mr Chairman and Vice 1124 00:48:56,270 --> 00:48:58,790 Chair Collins for this important 1125 00:48:58,800 --> 00:49:00,969 hearing . Uh Secretary Austin General 1126 00:49:00,979 --> 00:49:03,312 Brown , thank you both for your service . 1127 00:49:03,320 --> 00:49:05,153 I appreciate your leadership and 1128 00:49:05,153 --> 00:49:07,264 unwavering commitment to our , to our 1129 00:49:07,264 --> 00:49:09,487 service members and very importantly to 1130 00:49:09,487 --> 00:49:11,879 their families . Um 1131 00:49:15,139 --> 00:49:17,361 Secretary Austin , the National Defense 1132 00:49:17,361 --> 00:49:19,195 Strategy underscores the need to 1133 00:49:19,195 --> 00:49:22,389 prioritize interoperability and enable 1134 00:49:22,530 --> 00:49:25,000 coalitions with enhanced capabilities . 1135 00:49:25,629 --> 00:49:27,796 I remain dedicated to working with the 1136 00:49:27,796 --> 00:49:30,209 Air Force to ensure ebbing Air National 1137 00:49:30,219 --> 00:49:32,399 Guard Base in Fort Smith , Arkansas 1138 00:49:32,409 --> 00:49:35,000 becomes the premier F-35 pilot training 1139 00:49:35,010 --> 00:49:37,260 center in the future . It is important 1140 00:49:37,270 --> 00:49:39,381 that this mission begins on time with 1141 00:49:39,381 --> 00:49:41,530 the necessary resources . Secretary , 1142 00:49:41,820 --> 00:49:44,042 Secretary Austin , can you speak to how 1143 00:49:44,042 --> 00:49:45,876 this mission will strengthen war 1144 00:49:45,876 --> 00:49:47,876 fighting capabilities and create an 1145 00:49:47,876 --> 00:49:50,042 enduring advantage with our allies and 1146 00:49:50,042 --> 00:49:51,042 partners ? 1147 00:49:54,229 --> 00:49:57,479 Well , this is a , this 1148 00:49:57,489 --> 00:50:00,760 clearly uh provides the capability to 1149 00:50:00,770 --> 00:50:03,239 for us to enhance our interoperability . 1150 00:50:03,250 --> 00:50:06,879 Uh Senator and um it's , it's a great 1151 00:50:06,909 --> 00:50:09,389 uh great platform , great capability . 1152 00:50:09,399 --> 00:50:13,310 Uh The training is always uh uh first 1153 00:50:13,320 --> 00:50:16,219 rate because of the commitment of our , 1154 00:50:16,229 --> 00:50:19,919 our trainers . And uh um again , 1155 00:50:20,320 --> 00:50:22,431 there are a lot of countries who want 1156 00:50:22,431 --> 00:50:24,542 this capability and uh and having the 1157 00:50:24,542 --> 00:50:26,590 the the ability to , to train to 1158 00:50:26,600 --> 00:50:30,310 standard in , in country is , is 1159 00:50:30,320 --> 00:50:33,929 absolutely important . And 1160 00:50:33,939 --> 00:50:37,199 so it contributes to the overall 1161 00:50:37,209 --> 00:50:39,610 readiness of the uh of the combined 1162 00:50:39,620 --> 00:50:43,560 force . So you can , you know , 1163 00:50:43,570 --> 00:50:46,270 interoperability means having the right , 1164 00:50:46,280 --> 00:50:48,169 the same , the right policies and 1165 00:50:48,169 --> 00:50:50,949 procedures . But it also means uh the 1166 00:50:50,959 --> 00:50:53,409 ability to work with together with uh 1167 00:50:53,419 --> 00:50:55,641 with our comrades and other countries . 1168 00:50:55,649 --> 00:50:59,290 And so this uh this face to face uh um 1169 00:51:00,010 --> 00:51:02,520 work that is conducted at places like 1170 00:51:02,530 --> 00:51:04,697 this I think is critical . Thank you , 1171 00:51:04,697 --> 00:51:06,770 Mister Secretary General Brown , you 1172 00:51:06,780 --> 00:51:09,330 and I recently visited Camden Arkansas 1173 00:51:09,709 --> 00:51:11,909 where we turned a munitions production 1174 00:51:11,919 --> 00:51:14,580 facility and saw the urgent need for 1175 00:51:14,590 --> 00:51:16,812 our defense industrial base to increase 1176 00:51:16,812 --> 00:51:19,034 capacity and replenish our stockpiles . 1177 00:51:19,580 --> 00:51:22,340 The passage of the $95 billion security 1178 00:51:22,350 --> 00:51:24,461 supplemental bill proves that when we 1179 00:51:24,461 --> 00:51:26,989 provide assistance to our allies and 1180 00:51:27,000 --> 00:51:29,056 partners , we strengthen our defense 1181 00:51:29,056 --> 00:51:32,159 industrial base as well . This fiscal 1182 00:51:32,169 --> 00:51:34,280 year congress also approved multiyear 1183 00:51:34,280 --> 00:51:36,449 procurement for six missile programs 1184 00:51:36,459 --> 00:51:38,820 for the first time . General Brown , 1185 00:51:38,830 --> 00:51:41,659 what impact will multiyear procurement 1186 00:51:41,669 --> 00:51:44,090 authority have on the defense 1187 00:51:44,100 --> 00:51:46,409 industrial base and specifically 1188 00:51:46,629 --> 00:51:49,330 munitions production ? Well , when I 1189 00:51:49,340 --> 00:51:51,507 think about multiyear procurement , uh 1190 00:51:51,507 --> 00:51:53,396 what it does is it provides uh uh 1191 00:51:53,396 --> 00:51:55,451 opportunity for consistency and that 1192 00:51:55,451 --> 00:51:57,562 consistency is a uh for us to be able 1193 00:51:57,562 --> 00:51:59,729 to provide a uh uh a consistent demand 1194 00:51:59,729 --> 00:52:01,729 signal to an industry . So they can 1195 00:52:01,729 --> 00:52:04,959 actually uh get a workforce , have a 1196 00:52:04,969 --> 00:52:08,169 supply chain and uh and , and know what 1197 00:52:08,179 --> 00:52:11,909 to forecast for over several years . Um 1198 00:52:11,919 --> 00:52:14,086 I think that's going to help us in the 1199 00:52:14,086 --> 00:52:16,252 long run because that consistency will 1200 00:52:16,252 --> 00:52:18,363 help build trust . It will drive down 1201 00:52:18,363 --> 00:52:20,729 cost and it will then uh uh ensure we 1202 00:52:20,739 --> 00:52:22,850 get uh capability delivered on time . 1203 00:52:22,850 --> 00:52:24,961 If we have inconsistency , it's going 1204 00:52:24,961 --> 00:52:27,239 to , you know , uh decrease that trust , 1205 00:52:27,239 --> 00:52:29,017 increase the cost and then also 1206 00:52:29,017 --> 00:52:31,239 increase how long it's going to take to 1207 00:52:31,239 --> 00:52:30,969 get the capability in the hands of our 1208 00:52:30,979 --> 00:52:32,868 warfighter . So uh the multi year 1209 00:52:32,868 --> 00:52:34,868 procurement , the national security 1210 00:52:34,868 --> 00:52:36,923 supplemental that will invest in our 1211 00:52:36,923 --> 00:52:39,146 defense industrial base is uh is hugely 1212 00:52:39,146 --> 00:52:41,368 important , not only for our allies and 1213 00:52:41,368 --> 00:52:43,479 partners , but it's just as important 1214 00:52:43,479 --> 00:52:45,479 for , for our force as well . And I 1215 00:52:45,479 --> 00:52:47,646 appreciate you getting out and about , 1216 00:52:47,646 --> 00:52:47,330 I know you're traveling a lot , you 1217 00:52:47,340 --> 00:52:49,679 know , visiting these places . And uh 1218 00:52:50,070 --> 00:52:51,848 again , I I think that's really 1219 00:52:51,848 --> 00:52:53,792 important and very well received . 1220 00:52:53,792 --> 00:52:55,848 Secretary Austin . I appreciate your 1221 00:52:55,848 --> 00:52:57,737 continued focus in taking care of 1222 00:52:57,737 --> 00:53:00,110 people . The budget calls for a 4.5% 1223 00:53:00,120 --> 00:53:02,239 pay increase for service members and 1224 00:53:02,250 --> 00:53:05,090 annual increases , the housing and uh 1225 00:53:05,100 --> 00:53:07,840 substance allowances . The quadri 1226 00:53:08,229 --> 00:53:09,951 quadrennial review of military 1227 00:53:09,951 --> 00:53:12,118 compensation is due to be completed by 1228 00:53:12,118 --> 00:53:15,560 January 2025 . In the meantime , there 1229 00:53:15,570 --> 00:53:18,209 have also been multiple recommendations 1230 00:53:18,469 --> 00:53:21,530 to enhance pay flexibility for service 1231 00:53:21,540 --> 00:53:23,610 members including incentive pay for 1232 00:53:23,620 --> 00:53:25,989 certain career fields and targeted 1233 00:53:26,000 --> 00:53:28,629 raises for junior enlisted service 1234 00:53:28,639 --> 00:53:31,939 members . Secretary Austin , in your 1235 00:53:31,949 --> 00:53:34,060 opinion , where would pay flexibility 1236 00:53:34,060 --> 00:53:36,500 be most effective if implemented ? 1237 00:53:40,000 --> 00:53:42,111 Well , first of all , let me , let me 1238 00:53:42,111 --> 00:53:44,222 thank you for the support that you've 1239 00:53:44,222 --> 00:53:46,333 given us today . As you pointed out , 1240 00:53:46,333 --> 00:53:48,489 we're asking you for a 4.5% pay raise 1241 00:53:48,500 --> 00:53:51,050 in , in this budget request , Senator . 1242 00:53:51,500 --> 00:53:55,020 But to take you back a bit in 23 1243 00:53:55,510 --> 00:53:58,699 we asked you for a 44.6% pay raise . 1244 00:53:59,040 --> 00:54:01,620 You supported us on that . And in the 1245 00:54:01,629 --> 00:54:04,929 fiscal year 24 budget , we asked you 1246 00:54:04,939 --> 00:54:08,290 for a 5.2% pay raise and that's the 1247 00:54:08,300 --> 00:54:11,239 largest pay raise in 20 years . And so 1248 00:54:11,250 --> 00:54:14,800 when you add those together , I think 1249 00:54:15,760 --> 00:54:18,270 that's , that's a pretty meaningful 1250 00:54:18,280 --> 00:54:21,709 increase in compensation . Um 1251 00:54:22,709 --> 00:54:26,409 My goal is to , is to provide , 1252 00:54:26,419 --> 00:54:28,370 reduce the cost on , on troops and 1253 00:54:28,379 --> 00:54:30,629 families and provide more resources . 1254 00:54:30,919 --> 00:54:34,409 And so anything that we do in terms of 1255 00:54:34,570 --> 00:54:36,750 um these types of actions to answer 1256 00:54:36,760 --> 00:54:40,399 your question , uh does reduce the 1257 00:54:40,409 --> 00:54:42,687 strain on , on our troops and families . 1258 00:54:42,687 --> 00:54:44,853 Uh Whether or not , uh you know , we , 1259 00:54:44,853 --> 00:54:47,131 we can do that going forward . Uh Well , 1260 00:54:47,131 --> 00:54:49,298 certainly uh any recommendation that's 1261 00:54:49,298 --> 00:54:51,520 being uh that's made , we'll have to do 1262 00:54:51,520 --> 00:54:54,540 an analysis in terms of how it affects , 1263 00:54:54,550 --> 00:54:56,661 uh you know , the budget now and into 1264 00:54:56,661 --> 00:54:59,620 the future . And , and so as you 1265 00:54:59,629 --> 00:55:02,969 propose uh different things , uh we , 1266 00:55:02,979 --> 00:55:05,257 we certainly look to work with you and , 1267 00:55:05,257 --> 00:55:07,600 and provide you that analysis . Thank 1268 00:55:07,610 --> 00:55:09,721 you , sir . Thank you , Mr Chairman . 1269 00:55:10,689 --> 00:55:12,800 Thank you , Senator Bozeman , Senator 1270 00:55:12,800 --> 00:55:14,856 Schatz . Thank you , uh chair , vice 1271 00:55:14,856 --> 00:55:17,199 chair secretary . Uh Thanks for being 1272 00:55:17,209 --> 00:55:19,376 here . I want to talk to you about the 1273 00:55:19,376 --> 00:55:21,510 Red Hill closure and remediation . Um 1274 00:55:21,520 --> 00:55:24,379 Once the decision was taken to uh shut 1275 00:55:24,389 --> 00:55:26,510 down Red Hill , that part went um 1276 00:55:26,520 --> 00:55:30,129 relatively smoothly um and was uh ahead 1277 00:55:30,139 --> 00:55:32,306 of schedule and then there's the , the 1278 00:55:32,306 --> 00:55:34,472 whole enterprise of the new concept of 1279 00:55:34,472 --> 00:55:36,695 operations as it relates to fuel in the 1280 00:55:36,695 --> 00:55:38,806 Pacific . I'm gonna set that aside uh 1281 00:55:38,806 --> 00:55:41,028 for the moment because the um the thing 1282 00:55:41,028 --> 00:55:43,270 that the community is working on and 1283 00:55:43,280 --> 00:55:47,149 thinking about um the most is uh 1284 00:55:47,159 --> 00:55:49,709 long term health impacts and long term 1285 00:55:49,719 --> 00:55:52,870 environmental impacts . And um what of 1286 00:55:52,879 --> 00:55:55,229 the appropriated money that we provided 1287 00:55:55,330 --> 00:55:58,050 to the department is allocated for that ? 1288 00:55:58,060 --> 00:56:00,060 Now , we just got a brief and so we 1289 00:56:00,060 --> 00:56:02,610 have some broad categories for um what 1290 00:56:02,620 --> 00:56:04,787 I think is called community response . 1291 00:56:04,820 --> 00:56:06,876 Um But I'd love it if you could just 1292 00:56:06,876 --> 00:56:09,098 articulate both at the conceptual level 1293 00:56:09,098 --> 00:56:11,209 and as , and , and in , as granular a 1294 00:56:11,209 --> 00:56:13,431 ma a manner as you can . Um what you're 1295 00:56:13,431 --> 00:56:15,487 planning to do with the remainder of 1296 00:56:15,487 --> 00:56:17,542 the money as it relates to uh making 1297 00:56:17,542 --> 00:56:19,570 sure that none of that petroleum 1298 00:56:19,580 --> 00:56:21,747 eventually makes its way back into any 1299 00:56:21,747 --> 00:56:24,159 of those aquifers and that anyone who's 1300 00:56:24,169 --> 00:56:26,113 been harmed by ingesting petroleum 1301 00:56:26,113 --> 00:56:28,169 product um gets taken care of by the 1302 00:56:28,169 --> 00:56:31,790 department . Well , I 1303 00:56:31,800 --> 00:56:34,139 Thank Senator Schatz . As you , as you 1304 00:56:34,149 --> 00:56:38,030 mentioned , once the Deuel was 1305 00:56:38,040 --> 00:56:39,984 complete , you know , then we , we 1306 00:56:39,984 --> 00:56:42,600 stood down , uh , the Red Hill task 1307 00:56:42,610 --> 00:56:45,379 force and then stood up , uh , a task 1308 00:56:45,389 --> 00:56:48,520 force that the Navy is now in charge of . 1309 00:56:48,790 --> 00:56:52,419 Uh , and is , uh , is uh charged 1310 00:56:52,429 --> 00:56:56,030 with uh environmental remediation . And , 1311 00:56:56,040 --> 00:56:58,129 uh , you know , I've , uh , I've had 1312 00:56:58,139 --> 00:57:00,439 personal conversations with uh both the 1313 00:57:00,449 --> 00:57:02,338 leader of the task force and most 1314 00:57:02,338 --> 00:57:04,560 importantly , the Secretary of the Navy 1315 00:57:04,560 --> 00:57:06,616 uh on how important this is and they 1316 00:57:06,616 --> 00:57:08,782 are committed to ensuring that we're , 1317 00:57:08,782 --> 00:57:10,782 that they do the right things uh to 1318 00:57:10,782 --> 00:57:14,030 make sure that uh that we uh 1319 00:57:15,250 --> 00:57:17,860 get this right going forward , we owe 1320 00:57:17,870 --> 00:57:20,092 it to the members of the community to , 1321 00:57:20,092 --> 00:57:22,203 to ensure that uh that we , we have , 1322 00:57:22,203 --> 00:57:24,409 we do , in fact , do this uh in terms 1323 00:57:24,419 --> 00:57:27,169 of specific amounts of uh of uh funds 1324 00:57:27,179 --> 00:57:29,012 that are allocated to uh to each 1325 00:57:29,012 --> 00:57:31,012 segment of this . I'll have to take 1326 00:57:31,012 --> 00:57:33,235 that for the record and , and come back 1327 00:57:33,235 --> 00:57:35,457 to you on that . That's fine . Um And , 1328 00:57:35,457 --> 00:57:37,679 you know , we just got briefed uh on it 1329 00:57:37,679 --> 00:57:39,957 yesterday and it's still a bit of like , 1330 00:57:39,957 --> 00:57:42,290 you know , big pots of money categories , 1331 00:57:42,290 --> 00:57:44,346 95 million here , 32 million there , 1332 00:57:44,346 --> 00:57:46,346 562 going to the task force . So we 1333 00:57:46,346 --> 00:57:48,679 don't even know what these numbers mean . 1334 00:57:48,679 --> 00:57:50,457 Um But I think , you know , the 1335 00:57:50,457 --> 00:57:52,679 community is asking me what's happening 1336 00:57:52,679 --> 00:57:54,901 with the money . It has to be obligated 1337 00:57:54,901 --> 00:57:57,068 by the end of the , this fiscal year . 1338 00:57:57,068 --> 00:57:59,123 And so , um time is short . So if we 1339 00:57:59,123 --> 00:57:58,899 can get fidelity on that , it doesn't 1340 00:57:58,909 --> 00:58:01,131 have to be with you , but it can be any 1341 00:58:01,131 --> 00:58:03,242 member of your team . That would be , 1342 00:58:03,242 --> 00:58:05,353 that would be very , very . And while 1343 00:58:05,353 --> 00:58:07,520 we're at it with your permission , I'd 1344 00:58:07,520 --> 00:58:09,576 just like to thank you and , and the 1345 00:58:09,576 --> 00:58:11,576 delegation for , for your continued 1346 00:58:11,576 --> 00:58:13,798 support . Uh without that , we probably 1347 00:58:13,798 --> 00:58:15,798 wouldn't have the , the adequate uh 1348 00:58:15,798 --> 00:58:17,798 resources to do the things that are 1349 00:58:17,798 --> 00:58:19,965 going to need to be done going forward 1350 00:58:19,965 --> 00:58:22,076 here . Thank you . Uh General Brown , 1351 00:58:22,076 --> 00:58:24,131 uh you know , the amount of aid that 1352 00:58:24,131 --> 00:58:26,298 this committee can provide is finite . 1353 00:58:26,649 --> 00:58:28,850 Um Given that the Indo Pacific is the 1354 00:58:28,860 --> 00:58:32,199 priority theater , um I'm gonna say 1355 00:58:32,209 --> 00:58:34,376 this somewhat less diplomatically than 1356 00:58:34,376 --> 00:58:36,487 my prepared question . What keeps you 1357 00:58:36,487 --> 00:58:38,487 up at night ? What are the unfunded 1358 00:58:38,487 --> 00:58:40,487 priorities that you think we really 1359 00:58:40,487 --> 00:58:42,709 need to take a hard look at in the , in 1360 00:58:42,709 --> 00:58:44,765 the Indo Pacific ? Well , the uh the 1361 00:58:44,765 --> 00:58:46,931 things that I , I stay focused on , um 1362 00:58:46,931 --> 00:58:48,810 and I'll just tell you I'm very 1363 00:58:48,820 --> 00:58:50,709 confident in our joint force . So 1364 00:58:50,709 --> 00:58:52,820 there's not much that keeps you up at 1365 00:58:52,820 --> 00:58:54,653 night , but I do stay focused on 1366 00:58:54,653 --> 00:58:56,820 ensuring we have the uh the capability 1367 00:58:56,820 --> 00:58:58,820 and capacity for our joint force to 1368 00:58:58,820 --> 00:59:01,042 execute what the nation to ask . And so 1369 00:59:01,042 --> 00:59:03,699 it is the uh the modernization things 1370 00:59:03,709 --> 00:59:05,709 that we highlighted earlier in this 1371 00:59:05,709 --> 00:59:08,560 hearing that we had to defer as we uh 1372 00:59:08,570 --> 00:59:10,626 because of the Fiscal Responsibility 1373 00:59:10,626 --> 00:59:12,737 Act . And so I want to make sure that 1374 00:59:12,737 --> 00:59:14,792 we actually have that capability and 1375 00:59:14,792 --> 00:59:16,903 capacity to modernize . It's also the 1376 00:59:16,903 --> 00:59:18,848 multiyear procurement that we also 1377 00:59:18,848 --> 00:59:21,014 spoke about on munitions . I also want 1378 00:59:21,014 --> 00:59:23,181 to have a strong defense in base so we 1379 00:59:23,181 --> 00:59:25,292 can produce those munitions and those 1380 00:59:25,292 --> 00:59:27,459 capabilities . So we don't have a fair 1381 00:59:27,459 --> 00:59:29,626 fight . I want to have an unfair fight 1382 00:59:29,626 --> 00:59:31,848 where we have the advantage and do that 1383 00:59:31,848 --> 00:59:31,250 not only with our joint force , but 1384 00:59:31,260 --> 00:59:33,260 also with our allies and partners . 1385 00:59:33,260 --> 00:59:35,260 This is a little bit outside of our 1386 00:59:35,260 --> 00:59:37,538 committee , but a lot of us are on the , 1387 00:59:37,538 --> 00:59:39,649 the Mil Con uh committee as well . Um 1388 00:59:39,649 --> 00:59:39,629 You know , the other thing I'd flag is 1389 00:59:39,639 --> 00:59:41,695 overseas , Mil Con is never the most 1390 00:59:41,695 --> 00:59:44,090 exciting thing for a member of the 1391 00:59:44,100 --> 00:59:46,211 United States Senate to fund , but it 1392 00:59:46,211 --> 00:59:48,433 is really essential in the Indo Pacific 1393 00:59:48,433 --> 00:59:50,780 Theater . And then certainly in the 1394 00:59:50,790 --> 00:59:54,209 State of Hawaii , a lot of uh the dod s 1395 00:59:54,649 --> 00:59:56,959 um assets , spaces and installations 1396 00:59:56,969 --> 00:59:58,913 and everything else are sitting on 1397 00:59:58,913 --> 01:00:01,520 really , really old infrastructure . So 1398 01:00:01,530 --> 01:00:03,474 that's the other thing that's less 1399 01:00:03,474 --> 01:00:05,641 exciting to fund sewer systems , water 1400 01:00:05,641 --> 01:00:07,863 systems , electrical redundancy and all 1401 01:00:07,863 --> 01:00:10,030 the rest of it . But we're not capable 1402 01:00:10,030 --> 01:00:12,252 if we don't have those things operating 1403 01:00:12,252 --> 01:00:14,086 well . So let's , let's at least 1404 01:00:14,086 --> 01:00:16,086 elevate it even though , you know , 1405 01:00:16,086 --> 01:00:15,689 it's not exactly the kind of thing that 1406 01:00:15,699 --> 01:00:18,639 you do a ribbon cutting for . Um uh if 1407 01:00:18,649 --> 01:00:20,871 you're a good politician . So thank you 1408 01:00:20,899 --> 01:00:23,010 and all those things cost money . And 1409 01:00:23,010 --> 01:00:25,177 it's another reason we need to revisit 1410 01:00:25,177 --> 01:00:27,343 the caps . Thank you , Senator . Thank 1411 01:00:27,343 --> 01:00:29,455 you , Senator Capito . Thank you , Mr 1412 01:00:29,455 --> 01:00:29,020 Chairman and thank you all for being 1413 01:00:29,030 --> 01:00:31,197 here and for your great service to our 1414 01:00:31,197 --> 01:00:33,600 country . Um Secretary Austin , I'm a 1415 01:00:33,610 --> 01:00:35,554 little concerned , uh , a lot very 1416 01:00:35,554 --> 01:00:37,721 concerned about the credibility of the 1417 01:00:37,721 --> 01:00:40,000 administration's deterrence policy . Uh 1418 01:00:40,010 --> 01:00:42,177 When I see President Biden's messaging 1419 01:00:42,177 --> 01:00:44,399 to Putin and to Iran and to the Houthis 1420 01:00:44,580 --> 01:00:47,399 and other Iran backed groups . I just 1421 01:00:47,409 --> 01:00:51,320 see President Biden saying don't and 1422 01:00:51,330 --> 01:00:53,552 we've had , you know , attacks people , 1423 01:00:53,552 --> 01:00:55,608 obviously not adhering to that . I'm 1424 01:00:55,608 --> 01:00:57,608 concerned that we are significantly 1425 01:00:57,608 --> 01:00:59,830 eroding our deterrence by setting these 1426 01:00:59,830 --> 01:01:01,663 sort of ambiguous boundaries and 1427 01:01:01,663 --> 01:01:03,719 letting our adversaries kind of walk 1428 01:01:03,719 --> 01:01:05,774 over us sometimes . So what steps do 1429 01:01:05,774 --> 01:01:07,774 are you and the president taking to 1430 01:01:07,774 --> 01:01:09,941 establish a stronger , more critical , 1431 01:01:09,941 --> 01:01:11,830 credible deterrence against these 1432 01:01:11,830 --> 01:01:13,997 threats from our adversaries ? Besides 1433 01:01:13,997 --> 01:01:17,949 just , don't I take 1434 01:01:17,959 --> 01:01:20,070 it , you're speaking about the Middle 1435 01:01:20,070 --> 01:01:22,840 East . Yes , sir , specifically . So , 1436 01:01:22,850 --> 01:01:25,750 um you know , we had a number of goals 1437 01:01:25,760 --> 01:01:28,399 at the very beginning uh of uh of this 1438 01:01:28,409 --> 01:01:30,959 crisis and one of them was to take , 1439 01:01:30,969 --> 01:01:34,679 protect our people and uh both our , 1440 01:01:34,689 --> 01:01:38,080 our troops and civilians in the region . 1441 01:01:38,489 --> 01:01:42,260 Another was to recover the hostages . 1442 01:01:42,600 --> 01:01:46,080 Another was to ensure that 1443 01:01:46,090 --> 01:01:48,919 we're doing everything that we can to 1444 01:01:48,929 --> 01:01:51,260 support Israel in its efforts to defend 1445 01:01:51,270 --> 01:01:53,610 itself . And then finally , it's our 1446 01:01:53,620 --> 01:01:56,780 goal to ensure that we contain this , 1447 01:01:57,100 --> 01:02:00,149 this conflict in Gaza and not have a 1448 01:02:00,159 --> 01:02:03,179 regional conflict break out . So you 1449 01:02:03,189 --> 01:02:07,020 saw us early on deploy some 1450 01:02:07,030 --> 01:02:10,050 pretty substantial capabilities into 1451 01:02:10,060 --> 01:02:11,949 theater to discourage people from 1452 01:02:11,949 --> 01:02:14,840 trying to do that , from trying to blow 1453 01:02:14,850 --> 01:02:17,840 this into a , a regional conflict . And 1454 01:02:17,850 --> 01:02:19,794 I think even though there's been , 1455 01:02:19,820 --> 01:02:21,820 there's been dustups throughout the 1456 01:02:21,820 --> 01:02:23,653 region , we don't see a regional 1457 01:02:23,653 --> 01:02:25,780 conflict at this point , Senator . 1458 01:02:28,040 --> 01:02:30,979 So if you take a look at the attacks 1459 01:02:30,989 --> 01:02:33,100 that were being conducted against our 1460 01:02:33,100 --> 01:02:35,267 troops , you recall that in January we 1461 01:02:35,267 --> 01:02:37,399 saw leading up to January , we saw a 1462 01:02:37,409 --> 01:02:39,669 number of attacks against our troops 1463 01:02:39,790 --> 01:02:42,699 and our , our bases and you saw us in 1464 01:02:42,709 --> 01:02:45,500 February conduct a pretty major strike 1465 01:02:45,510 --> 01:02:48,379 in and that the president authorized in 1466 01:02:48,389 --> 01:02:51,300 both Iraq and Syria . Since that time , 1467 01:02:51,310 --> 01:02:54,909 we've seen two incidents and , 1468 01:02:55,219 --> 01:02:57,469 and we attribute those actions to 1469 01:02:57,530 --> 01:02:59,586 probably rogue elements . So in that 1470 01:02:59,586 --> 01:03:02,679 case , they have been deterred from 1471 01:03:02,729 --> 01:03:05,007 attacking our troops , but in terms of , 1472 01:03:05,280 --> 01:03:08,800 of Iran and its , and its 1473 01:03:08,810 --> 01:03:11,179 actions in the region , Iran continues 1474 01:03:11,189 --> 01:03:14,389 to present AAA threat to the region 1475 01:03:14,719 --> 01:03:16,830 and , and that's something that we're 1476 01:03:16,830 --> 01:03:18,886 going to have to remain focused on . 1477 01:03:18,886 --> 01:03:21,052 For sure . Uh Let me ask both of you a 1478 01:03:21,052 --> 01:03:24,020 question here about the reports that uh 1479 01:03:24,820 --> 01:03:26,987 with , of withholding weapons . We all 1480 01:03:26,987 --> 01:03:28,899 voted , uh many of us I certainly 1481 01:03:28,909 --> 01:03:30,909 didn't , was pleased to support the 1482 01:03:30,909 --> 01:03:34,040 bill this by 79 to 18 1483 01:03:34,689 --> 01:03:37,149 to um reinvigorate not just our own 1484 01:03:37,159 --> 01:03:39,270 defense industrial , but also to give 1485 01:03:39,270 --> 01:03:42,530 aid to um several other entities . Um 1486 01:03:42,739 --> 01:03:45,750 What is the status of withholding our 1487 01:03:45,760 --> 01:03:47,899 weaponry that we voted to send to 1488 01:03:47,909 --> 01:03:50,131 Israel ? Are we doing that ? Why are we 1489 01:03:50,131 --> 01:03:51,131 doing that 1490 01:03:54,790 --> 01:03:57,012 again ? You know , our , our commitment 1491 01:03:57,012 --> 01:04:00,129 to Israel is ironclad senator and , and , 1492 01:04:00,139 --> 01:04:02,969 uh , you know , as I said earlier , 1493 01:04:04,020 --> 01:04:06,760 since October 7th , we have flowed in 1494 01:04:06,770 --> 01:04:08,881 billions of dollars worth of worth of 1495 01:04:08,881 --> 01:04:12,489 security assistance . Uh And uh as you 1496 01:04:12,500 --> 01:04:14,556 just mentioned , you just passed the 1497 01:04:14,556 --> 01:04:16,611 largest supplemental uh in , in , in 1498 01:04:16,611 --> 01:04:19,090 history that's focused on , on Israel . 1499 01:04:19,560 --> 01:04:21,616 Uh And we're going to continue to do 1500 01:04:21,616 --> 01:04:23,504 what's necessary to uh to support 1501 01:04:23,504 --> 01:04:26,310 Israel . Um Are those reports false 1502 01:04:26,320 --> 01:04:28,320 then that I'm reading ? No , we are 1503 01:04:28,320 --> 01:04:30,264 currently reviewing some near term 1504 01:04:30,264 --> 01:04:32,649 security assistance shipments in the 1505 01:04:32,659 --> 01:04:35,120 context of the unfolding events uh in , 1506 01:04:35,139 --> 01:04:38,750 in Rafah . So , so we are withholding 1507 01:04:38,770 --> 01:04:42,399 uh our shipments of weapons predicated 1508 01:04:42,409 --> 01:04:45,310 on the uh strategy that Israel's 1509 01:04:45,320 --> 01:04:47,560 employing and going into Rafah . Is 1510 01:04:47,570 --> 01:04:49,737 that the bottom line here ? We , we've 1511 01:04:49,737 --> 01:04:51,903 not uh again , we're , we're assessing 1512 01:04:51,903 --> 01:04:54,126 uh we , we , we have not made any final 1513 01:04:54,126 --> 01:04:57,870 decisions on this yet , but uh but um 1514 01:04:58,330 --> 01:05:00,669 to answer your question , yes , we are . 1515 01:05:01,010 --> 01:05:03,232 There are some things that we're taking 1516 01:05:03,232 --> 01:05:06,199 a closer look at . Ok . That , that , 1517 01:05:06,209 --> 01:05:08,800 that's uh an answer . That's uh well , 1518 01:05:08,810 --> 01:05:10,866 thank you for clarifying it . II , I 1519 01:05:10,866 --> 01:05:12,810 wouldn't say I agree with it , but 1520 01:05:12,810 --> 01:05:14,921 thank you for clarify it . Uh General 1521 01:05:14,921 --> 01:05:17,143 Brown , let me ask you . Uh This is one 1522 01:05:17,143 --> 01:05:19,310 of the things that's come up on the uh 1523 01:05:19,310 --> 01:05:21,254 the re fortification of our own uh 1524 01:05:21,254 --> 01:05:23,254 munitions . How do you see that now 1525 01:05:23,254 --> 01:05:23,090 that we've passed this and the 1526 01:05:23,100 --> 01:05:26,729 president signed this ? Well , it's 1527 01:05:26,739 --> 01:05:28,961 going to put us on a , on a much better 1528 01:05:28,961 --> 01:05:30,739 path and it's not only what the 1529 01:05:30,739 --> 01:05:32,795 supplemental , but it also say the , 1530 01:05:32,795 --> 01:05:35,199 the 24 fy 24 National Defense 1531 01:05:35,209 --> 01:05:37,270 Authorization Act which allowed for 1532 01:05:37,280 --> 01:05:39,502 multiyear procurement for six systems . 1533 01:05:39,600 --> 01:05:42,110 I wouldn't look to actually expand that 1534 01:05:42,120 --> 01:05:44,287 in the future on Multiyear procurement 1535 01:05:44,340 --> 01:05:46,790 because what that will do will provide 1536 01:05:46,800 --> 01:05:48,911 levels of consistency for our defense 1537 01:05:48,911 --> 01:05:51,078 industrial base . So they can actually 1538 01:05:51,078 --> 01:05:53,629 workforce facilities , supply chains 1539 01:05:54,219 --> 01:05:56,350 and allow us to make sure we have a 1540 01:05:56,360 --> 01:05:58,540 capacity for munition standpoint . So 1541 01:05:58,550 --> 01:06:00,717 you're convinced that we're on a glide 1542 01:06:00,717 --> 01:06:03,189 path to renew our munition supplies to 1543 01:06:03,199 --> 01:06:05,255 a satisfactory level for , for you . 1544 01:06:05,255 --> 01:06:07,477 We're on a good path . One of the piece 1545 01:06:07,477 --> 01:06:09,310 I'd also add though , you know , 1546 01:06:09,310 --> 01:06:11,366 getting a budget on time is actually 1547 01:06:11,366 --> 01:06:13,421 really important to actually provide 1548 01:06:13,421 --> 01:06:15,532 that level of consistency . So we can 1549 01:06:15,532 --> 01:06:17,649 write contracts and gives our uh our 1550 01:06:17,659 --> 01:06:19,881 defense and base the confidence and the 1551 01:06:19,881 --> 01:06:22,239 trust that they can invest and have 1552 01:06:22,250 --> 01:06:24,250 that workforce and supply chain . I 1553 01:06:24,250 --> 01:06:26,250 think we all hear you . Thank you , 1554 01:06:26,250 --> 01:06:28,306 Senator Coons . Thank you , Chairman 1555 01:06:28,306 --> 01:06:30,306 Tester and Vice Chair Collins . And 1556 01:06:30,306 --> 01:06:32,306 thank you to the leadership of this 1557 01:06:32,306 --> 01:06:34,361 committee , the Folk committee chair 1558 01:06:34,361 --> 01:06:36,583 and vice chair for navigating some very 1559 01:06:36,583 --> 01:06:38,583 challenging dynamics uh and getting 1560 01:06:38,583 --> 01:06:40,306 ultimately uh delivered to our 1561 01:06:40,306 --> 01:06:42,528 warfighters and uh to all the different 1562 01:06:42,528 --> 01:06:44,639 departments and agencies that were um 1563 01:06:44,639 --> 01:06:46,583 supported through the supplemental 1564 01:06:46,583 --> 01:06:48,806 critically needed additional funding as 1565 01:06:48,806 --> 01:06:50,861 a new member of this subcomittee , I 1566 01:06:50,861 --> 01:06:52,972 look forward to working with you . Um 1567 01:06:52,972 --> 01:06:55,028 I've got two questions . I'd like to 1568 01:06:55,028 --> 01:06:54,989 focus on as you heard , Chair Murray . 1569 01:06:55,189 --> 01:06:57,199 Um in her , I thought , compelling 1570 01:06:57,209 --> 01:06:59,729 commentary , we need to coordinate 1571 01:07:00,120 --> 01:07:01,860 between defense diplomacy and 1572 01:07:01,870 --> 01:07:03,759 development to be as effective as 1573 01:07:03,759 --> 01:07:05,926 possible , particularly in places that 1574 01:07:05,926 --> 01:07:07,648 are on the margins of the main 1575 01:07:07,648 --> 01:07:10,010 conflicts currently appropriately 1576 01:07:10,020 --> 01:07:12,270 occupying most of your time , I chair 1577 01:07:12,280 --> 01:07:14,447 the sub-committee that funds the State 1578 01:07:14,447 --> 01:07:17,629 Department and USA ID . Five years ago , 1579 01:07:18,080 --> 01:07:20,080 President Trump signed into law the 1580 01:07:20,080 --> 01:07:22,024 Global Fragility Act which Senator 1581 01:07:22,024 --> 01:07:23,949 Graham and I and two dozen other 1582 01:07:23,959 --> 01:07:26,310 senators cos sponsored and worked on 1583 01:07:26,669 --> 01:07:29,050 and it's a simple proposition . It 1584 01:07:29,060 --> 01:07:32,389 requires co ordination between dod USA 1585 01:07:32,399 --> 01:07:35,479 ID and state in fragile countries that 1586 01:07:35,489 --> 01:07:37,899 are not yet failed states , not yet 1587 01:07:37,909 --> 01:07:40,459 scenes of active combat , but where we 1588 01:07:40,469 --> 01:07:43,179 might implement the same sort of 1589 01:07:43,189 --> 01:07:45,729 strategy we pursued in Colombia over a 1590 01:07:45,739 --> 01:07:48,000 long period of time to prevent a 1591 01:07:48,010 --> 01:07:50,139 fragile state from becoming a failed 1592 01:07:50,149 --> 01:07:53,020 state . One of my concerns has been the 1593 01:07:53,030 --> 01:07:55,719 genuine lack of dod engagement in 1594 01:07:55,729 --> 01:07:58,060 global Fragility Act implementation . I 1595 01:07:58,070 --> 01:08:00,540 understand you have a lot on your plate . 1596 01:08:01,270 --> 01:08:03,530 Um but there are several identified 1597 01:08:03,540 --> 01:08:06,889 nations and areas of focus under G fa 1598 01:08:07,080 --> 01:08:09,340 one of them happens to now be the 1599 01:08:09,350 --> 01:08:11,294 subject of I think renewed intense 1600 01:08:11,294 --> 01:08:14,149 engagement coastal West Africa . I've 1601 01:08:14,159 --> 01:08:16,326 been to every country in the Sahel . I 1602 01:08:16,326 --> 01:08:18,381 have visited the relevant airbase in 1603 01:08:18,700 --> 01:08:21,620 that is now being occupied by both 1604 01:08:21,629 --> 01:08:23,979 Russian and American troops as we are 1605 01:08:24,379 --> 01:08:27,129 likely uh being forced to leave . 1606 01:08:28,129 --> 01:08:30,029 Um I'm very concerned about the 1607 01:08:30,040 --> 01:08:32,262 security and stability situation in the 1608 01:08:32,262 --> 01:08:35,009 region . And our partners , Ghana and 1609 01:08:35,020 --> 01:08:37,242 Cote d'ivoire with whom we have trained 1610 01:08:37,242 --> 01:08:39,464 and prepared for quite some time . Have 1611 01:08:39,464 --> 01:08:41,319 been asking now for years for 1612 01:08:41,330 --> 01:08:43,910 additional security assistance . Uh Mr 1613 01:08:43,919 --> 01:08:46,330 Secretary , I'd be interested in your 1614 01:08:46,339 --> 01:08:49,549 input on what dod S plans are for 1615 01:08:49,560 --> 01:08:51,449 taking advantage of this existing 1616 01:08:51,449 --> 01:08:53,950 structure for how we can coordinate 1617 01:08:54,339 --> 01:08:56,395 planning between the diplomats , the 1618 01:08:56,395 --> 01:08:58,283 development professionals and the 1619 01:08:58,283 --> 01:08:59,950 security professionals of our 1620 01:08:59,950 --> 01:09:02,061 government and our allied partners in 1621 01:09:02,061 --> 01:09:04,540 an area that is newly of some focus , 1622 01:09:04,549 --> 01:09:06,479 Ghana Cote d'ivoire , Togo Benin 1623 01:09:06,669 --> 01:09:09,259 because of the very real threats of 1624 01:09:09,270 --> 01:09:11,214 violent extremist organizations of 1625 01:09:11,214 --> 01:09:13,520 Wagner of Jihadists in the Sahel 1626 01:09:13,799 --> 01:09:16,100 threatening these partner nations . How 1627 01:09:16,109 --> 01:09:18,709 do we plan to use this tool , sir ? Uh 1628 01:09:18,770 --> 01:09:21,600 II I uh well , first of all , we , we 1629 01:09:21,609 --> 01:09:24,029 are fully committed to supporting the , 1630 01:09:24,040 --> 01:09:27,830 the uh uh the Global Fragility Act . Um 1631 01:09:29,169 --> 01:09:31,950 And you are right . Uh that area that 1632 01:09:31,959 --> 01:09:33,879 you mentioned is of increased 1633 01:09:33,890 --> 01:09:36,770 importance . Uh You mentioned that we 1634 01:09:36,779 --> 01:09:40,370 were forced to leave . Uh I uh 1635 01:09:40,790 --> 01:09:43,620 we will leave Senator . But uh as you 1636 01:09:43,629 --> 01:09:45,930 know uh what we do in order uh 1637 01:09:45,939 --> 01:09:48,669 terrorism thrives in ungoverned spaces . 1638 01:09:48,680 --> 01:09:50,870 And what we typically do is to try to 1639 01:09:51,109 --> 01:09:54,259 uh help uh uh countries develop their 1640 01:09:54,270 --> 01:09:57,629 own capability to , to control their , 1641 01:09:57,640 --> 01:10:00,319 their , their sovereign spaces . But 1642 01:10:00,330 --> 01:10:02,386 you got to have a reliable partner . 1643 01:10:02,549 --> 01:10:05,509 And in this case , you know , 1644 01:10:07,600 --> 01:10:09,711 sir , we could spend a lot of time on 1645 01:10:09,711 --> 01:10:11,878 the , on the coups in Mali and Burkina 1646 01:10:11,878 --> 01:10:14,100 and and how that happened and why I , I 1647 01:10:14,100 --> 01:10:16,211 not to interrupt , I don't mean to be 1648 01:10:16,211 --> 01:10:18,378 rude . I have very little time , sir . 1649 01:10:18,378 --> 01:10:20,211 I agree with you that we have an 1650 01:10:20,211 --> 01:10:22,433 unreliable partner in . I visited those 1651 01:10:22,433 --> 01:10:22,430 facilities . I regret that the 1652 01:10:22,439 --> 01:10:24,799 significant investment that we made 1653 01:10:24,810 --> 01:10:27,560 there will not likely redound to our 1654 01:10:27,569 --> 01:10:30,140 benefit . I just was wondering how you 1655 01:10:30,149 --> 01:10:33,209 see prioritizing partnering with state 1656 01:10:33,220 --> 01:10:35,959 and aid in developing security plans 1657 01:10:35,970 --> 01:10:38,040 for coastal West Africa if I might , 1658 01:10:38,049 --> 01:10:40,160 sir . So what I was going to say next 1659 01:10:40,160 --> 01:10:42,430 is that you are right , this is an 1660 01:10:42,439 --> 01:10:45,000 important area and we are working with 1661 01:10:45,009 --> 01:10:48,910 state currently to , to address those 1662 01:10:48,919 --> 01:10:50,879 places that you mentioned and 1663 01:10:50,890 --> 01:10:53,270 potentially develop the capability to , 1664 01:10:53,700 --> 01:10:56,660 to have a presence there and , and 1665 01:10:56,669 --> 01:11:00,160 partner in , in in more in a more 1666 01:11:00,169 --> 01:11:02,391 significant way with , with a couple of 1667 01:11:02,391 --> 01:11:04,225 those countries and that work is 1668 01:11:04,225 --> 01:11:06,391 ongoing now . Well , I look forward to 1669 01:11:06,391 --> 01:11:08,502 consulting with , with you both about 1670 01:11:08,502 --> 01:11:10,336 this because I think there is an 1671 01:11:10,336 --> 01:11:12,002 urgency to it from a security 1672 01:11:12,002 --> 01:11:14,169 perspective . I would agree chairman , 1673 01:11:14,169 --> 01:11:16,336 this is what keeps me up at night is a 1674 01:11:16,336 --> 01:11:18,058 number of very capable foreign 1675 01:11:18,058 --> 01:11:20,169 terrorist organizations that see this 1676 01:11:20,169 --> 01:11:22,169 if I might Mr Chairman ask one last 1677 01:11:22,169 --> 01:11:25,290 quick question quick , quick . Um I've 1678 01:11:25,299 --> 01:11:28,419 also recently visited um in Jordan and 1679 01:11:28,430 --> 01:11:30,939 Iraq and I'm very concerned about the 1680 01:11:30,950 --> 01:11:33,270 threat to our forces posed by low , 1681 01:11:33,279 --> 01:11:36,000 slow . The exactly the low technology 1682 01:11:36,009 --> 01:11:38,779 drones that Iran is providing to Russia 1683 01:11:38,790 --> 01:11:40,901 at , at scale . I see that there is a 1684 01:11:40,901 --> 01:11:42,979 specific counter UAs fund in this 1685 01:11:42,990 --> 01:11:45,520 year's budget just briefly speak um to 1686 01:11:45,529 --> 01:11:47,418 the importance of having flexible 1687 01:11:47,418 --> 01:11:49,750 funding and our ability to develop and 1688 01:11:49,759 --> 01:11:53,399 deploy quickly um state of the art 1689 01:11:53,410 --> 01:11:55,632 defenses to this evolving threat to our 1690 01:11:55,632 --> 01:11:58,259 troops . Thank you , sir , Senator 1691 01:11:58,270 --> 01:12:01,589 Baldwin . Thank you , Mr Chairman , Mr 1692 01:12:01,600 --> 01:12:04,669 Secretary . Uh the army continues to 1693 01:12:04,680 --> 01:12:07,759 budget for tactical wheeled vehicles at 1694 01:12:07,770 --> 01:12:10,680 rates well below the minimum sustaining 1695 01:12:10,689 --> 01:12:12,970 rates . Industry requires to keep uh 1696 01:12:13,180 --> 01:12:16,850 production lines open and further the 1697 01:12:16,859 --> 01:12:20,049 army is risking a gap in production by 1698 01:12:20,060 --> 01:12:22,529 transitioning the joint light tactical 1699 01:12:22,540 --> 01:12:24,689 vehicle to a company that has no 1700 01:12:24,700 --> 01:12:27,870 experience manufacturing this platform . 1701 01:12:28,009 --> 01:12:29,731 So I'm worried that the army's 1702 01:12:29,740 --> 01:12:31,907 management of these programs and their 1703 01:12:31,907 --> 01:12:35,689 associated industrial base . Um And , 1704 01:12:35,700 --> 01:12:39,419 and um the army is due uh to complete a 1705 01:12:39,430 --> 01:12:41,541 strategy for the acquisition of these 1706 01:12:41,541 --> 01:12:44,149 platforms this summer . Uh But I'm 1707 01:12:44,160 --> 01:12:46,271 concerned about the army's ability to 1708 01:12:46,271 --> 01:12:48,450 grade its own work . Frankly , the 1709 01:12:48,459 --> 01:12:51,189 tactical wheel vehicle sector is an 1710 01:12:51,200 --> 01:12:52,867 important part of the overall 1711 01:12:52,867 --> 01:12:54,700 industrial base and our national 1712 01:12:54,700 --> 01:12:58,080 security strategy . Um So Mr Secretary , 1713 01:12:58,089 --> 01:13:01,160 can I count on sound decision making 1714 01:13:01,209 --> 01:13:03,359 from dod on vehicle programs and 1715 01:13:03,370 --> 01:13:06,220 further will you engage the office of 1716 01:13:06,229 --> 01:13:08,839 the Assistant Secretary of defense for 1717 01:13:08,850 --> 01:13:11,580 industrial based policy in reviewing 1718 01:13:11,589 --> 01:13:13,700 the army's management of the tactical 1719 01:13:13,700 --> 01:13:16,120 wheeled vehicles and providing 1720 01:13:16,129 --> 01:13:19,520 recommendations . Uh You , you can , I , 1721 01:13:19,529 --> 01:13:23,120 I will . Um , and that there's no 1722 01:13:23,129 --> 01:13:25,459 question that Wisconsin's industrial 1723 01:13:25,470 --> 01:13:28,220 base is critical . And , uh , and so , 1724 01:13:28,419 --> 01:13:30,197 uh we want to make sure that we 1725 01:13:30,197 --> 01:13:32,197 continue to do the right things and 1726 01:13:32,197 --> 01:13:34,141 keep the and make sure we have the 1727 01:13:34,141 --> 01:13:36,141 capacity to address our needs going 1728 01:13:36,141 --> 01:13:39,339 forward . So , ok , um Wisconsin's 1729 01:13:39,350 --> 01:13:41,628 industrial base is something of course , 1730 01:13:41,628 --> 01:13:43,628 that's always on my mind and so I'm 1731 01:13:43,628 --> 01:13:46,839 going to shift to our shipbuilding . Um 1732 01:13:46,850 --> 01:13:49,589 Mr Secretary , we uh were all troubled 1733 01:13:49,600 --> 01:13:53,259 by the uh 75 day shipbuilding review 1734 01:13:53,270 --> 01:13:56,120 that found major delays among most of 1735 01:13:56,129 --> 01:13:58,680 the shipbuilding programs . And I was 1736 01:13:58,689 --> 01:14:00,520 surprised to hear that the navy 1737 01:14:00,529 --> 01:14:02,720 estimates that the frigate uh will be 1738 01:14:02,729 --> 01:14:06,509 delayed by as many as 36 months . Um 1739 01:14:06,520 --> 01:14:09,310 As you and I discussed last year , uh I 1740 01:14:09,319 --> 01:14:11,790 worked to secure funding for uh the 1741 01:14:11,799 --> 01:14:13,466 industrial base and workforce 1742 01:14:13,466 --> 01:14:15,750 development programs that would support 1743 01:14:15,759 --> 01:14:17,870 growing the skilled workforce that we 1744 01:14:17,870 --> 01:14:20,620 need to sustain robust production of 1745 01:14:20,629 --> 01:14:23,270 the frigate . I'm disappointed that it 1746 01:14:23,279 --> 01:14:26,490 took uh the navy 15 months to obligate 1747 01:14:26,500 --> 01:14:30,299 the fiscal year 2023 funds . Um 1748 01:14:30,310 --> 01:14:33,240 Mr Secretary , uh will you explain to 1749 01:14:33,250 --> 01:14:35,028 the committee the importance of 1750 01:14:35,028 --> 01:14:37,169 continuing to fully fund the frigate 1751 01:14:37,180 --> 01:14:39,990 program and its associated workforce 1752 01:14:40,000 --> 01:14:42,299 development needs on a consistent 1753 01:14:42,310 --> 01:14:44,819 annual basis ? And will you commit to 1754 01:14:44,830 --> 01:14:47,160 working with me to ensure that the navy 1755 01:14:47,310 --> 01:14:50,220 uh works diligently and responsibly to 1756 01:14:50,229 --> 01:14:53,259 execute these funds . A as you know , 1757 01:14:53,270 --> 01:14:55,381 this this budget request senator does 1758 01:14:55,381 --> 01:14:58,310 include uh request uh for uh fully 1759 01:14:58,319 --> 01:15:01,620 funding the , the fy 25 frigate . And 1760 01:15:01,640 --> 01:15:04,770 uh but to your point in terms of making 1761 01:15:04,779 --> 01:15:08,069 sure that we have uh the workforce that 1762 01:15:08,080 --> 01:15:10,191 can provide the capacity that we need 1763 01:15:10,191 --> 01:15:12,919 to stay on , on track and uh and keep 1764 01:15:12,930 --> 01:15:15,069 up with the with the demand that's 1765 01:15:15,080 --> 01:15:17,410 critical . So industrial base needs to 1766 01:15:17,419 --> 01:15:19,530 be able to recruit , not only recruit 1767 01:15:19,530 --> 01:15:21,990 but retain the talent that's needed to , 1768 01:15:22,000 --> 01:15:24,399 to do that . Uh And we have to continue 1769 01:15:24,410 --> 01:15:26,577 to invest in that and , and again , we 1770 01:15:26,577 --> 01:15:28,688 have to pick up the pace and so we'll 1771 01:15:28,688 --> 01:15:30,632 continue to work with the industry 1772 01:15:30,632 --> 01:15:32,743 leaders uh to do uh in fact , do that 1773 01:15:32,743 --> 01:15:34,632 and I have met with some industry 1774 01:15:34,632 --> 01:15:36,854 leaders and talked about uh the , the , 1775 01:15:36,854 --> 01:15:39,077 you know , what we're doing with the uh 1776 01:15:39,077 --> 01:15:41,299 the resources that are being provided 1777 01:15:41,310 --> 01:15:43,477 uh to investing in , in the industrial 1778 01:15:43,477 --> 01:15:45,609 base . And we'll continue to do that 1779 01:15:45,620 --> 01:15:47,850 going forward and I think they , they 1780 01:15:47,859 --> 01:15:50,470 are doing some things on their own to 1781 01:15:50,479 --> 01:15:52,799 uh to invest . Uh But uh we have to 1782 01:15:52,810 --> 01:15:54,977 work together in a more meaningful way 1783 01:15:54,977 --> 01:15:57,143 to , to increase capacity . So , thank 1784 01:15:57,143 --> 01:16:00,520 you . Thank you , Senator Grim . Thank 1785 01:16:00,529 --> 01:16:02,751 you . Uh rather than getting in a fight 1786 01:16:02,751 --> 01:16:04,751 about the navy , why don't we agree 1787 01:16:04,751 --> 01:16:06,862 with the following uh that the battle 1788 01:16:06,862 --> 01:16:09,085 four ship assessment requirement report 1789 01:16:09,085 --> 01:16:12,330 uh issued said that we need 381 manned 1790 01:16:12,339 --> 01:16:15,660 ships . 301 134 1791 01:16:15,669 --> 01:16:19,379 unmanned for a total fleet size of 515 , 1792 01:16:19,390 --> 01:16:22,810 I think by 2043 . Uh General Brown , is 1793 01:16:22,819 --> 01:16:26,049 that right ? Senator ? I'm not familiar 1794 01:16:26,060 --> 01:16:28,227 with a complete study , but I , I do , 1795 01:16:28,227 --> 01:16:30,560 I do know we need an additional uh , ok . 1796 01:16:30,560 --> 01:16:32,560 So I'm just assuming the people who 1797 01:16:32,560 --> 01:16:34,782 issued this knew what they were talking 1798 01:16:34,782 --> 01:16:38,160 about . We're on track to have 294 1799 01:16:38,169 --> 01:16:41,700 ships by 2030 under the budget proposal . 1800 01:16:41,709 --> 01:16:44,689 Is that right ? Uh um Secretary Austin 1801 01:16:46,660 --> 01:16:49,799 129 and , and , yeah . Right . So we're 1802 01:16:49,810 --> 01:16:53,470 at 293 and 2030 we're gonna have 1803 01:16:53,479 --> 01:16:57,000 294 . It must be a lot of shipbuilding 1804 01:16:57,049 --> 01:17:01,040 between 3040 . The problems . B it's 1805 01:17:01,049 --> 01:17:02,882 not your fault . I'm not blaming 1806 01:17:02,882 --> 01:17:05,049 anybody . I think this committee ought 1807 01:17:05,049 --> 01:17:07,271 to look at an oo account if you believe 1808 01:17:07,271 --> 01:17:09,216 the navy is essential to deterring 1809 01:17:09,216 --> 01:17:10,827 China that to come up with a 1810 01:17:10,827 --> 01:17:13,410 sustainable plan to get our navy in 1811 01:17:13,419 --> 01:17:15,919 shape to deter war with China and other 1812 01:17:15,930 --> 01:17:18,279 places . I think we gotta look at sort 1813 01:17:18,290 --> 01:17:21,470 of modernization . Ok . O I want to 1814 01:17:21,479 --> 01:17:23,799 have a bipartisan discussion about to 1815 01:17:23,810 --> 01:17:26,049 give you the ships and the , the things 1816 01:17:26,060 --> 01:17:28,171 you need to win the wars . We hope we 1817 01:17:28,171 --> 01:17:30,529 never have to fight by deterring them . 1818 01:17:30,540 --> 01:17:33,250 Um So let's go to Ukraine right quick . 1819 01:17:33,259 --> 01:17:36,490 Uh General Austin , you said that uh 1820 01:17:36,500 --> 01:17:38,549 Ukraine is a vital natural uh , 1821 01:17:38,560 --> 01:17:40,449 national security interest in the 1822 01:17:40,449 --> 01:17:42,616 United States , how that ends ? Do you 1823 01:17:42,616 --> 01:17:44,838 agree that if we lose in Ukraine , pull 1824 01:17:44,838 --> 01:17:47,004 the plug on Ukraine will send a signal 1825 01:17:47,004 --> 01:17:49,140 of weakness . That's right . Yeah , 1826 01:17:49,410 --> 01:17:51,577 that's right . I , I agree with that . 1827 01:17:51,577 --> 01:17:53,743 And General Brown , I'm sure you agree 1828 01:17:53,743 --> 01:17:55,632 too . I totally agree . There are 1829 01:17:55,632 --> 01:17:57,688 people on our side . Senator Collins 1830 01:17:57,688 --> 01:18:00,021 will tell you we hear from all the time . 1831 01:18:00,021 --> 01:18:02,132 Just , you know , it doesn't matter , 1832 01:18:02,132 --> 01:18:03,966 pull the plug on Green , all due 1833 01:18:03,966 --> 01:18:05,966 respect . You're wrong . Uh , in my 1834 01:18:05,966 --> 01:18:08,132 view . So I'm going to keep supporting 1835 01:18:08,132 --> 01:18:10,354 Ukraine . Now , you just confirmed that 1836 01:18:10,354 --> 01:18:12,188 there that , that we're delaying 1837 01:18:12,188 --> 01:18:14,021 transfer or stopping transfer of 1838 01:18:14,029 --> 01:18:17,339 certain weapons like £2000 bombs to 1839 01:18:17,350 --> 01:18:20,759 Israel . Is that correct ? We're 1840 01:18:20,850 --> 01:18:23,919 assessing , you know , where we are 1841 01:18:23,930 --> 01:18:25,874 right now ? Well , there are media 1842 01:18:25,874 --> 01:18:27,930 reports that has happened . Are they 1843 01:18:27,930 --> 01:18:31,330 incorrect that we have made a decision 1844 01:18:31,339 --> 01:18:33,919 to , again ? We've made no decisions . 1845 01:18:34,450 --> 01:18:36,394 Are you worried that if you make a 1846 01:18:36,394 --> 01:18:38,450 decision to deny weapons that Israel 1847 01:18:38,450 --> 01:18:40,859 say they need , uh , that it would send 1848 01:18:40,870 --> 01:18:43,529 a signal to Hamas and Iran 1849 01:18:44,459 --> 01:18:46,870 to keep pushing , uh , Senator , we 1850 01:18:46,879 --> 01:18:49,046 want to make sure that we're providing 1851 01:18:49,046 --> 01:18:52,069 the right kinds of weaponry . Ok . 1852 01:18:52,729 --> 01:18:54,840 Would you have supported dropping the 1853 01:18:54,840 --> 01:18:57,118 atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki . 1854 01:18:57,118 --> 01:18:58,951 General Brown in World War Two . 1855 01:19:01,169 --> 01:19:03,391 Well , Senator , I think it is based on 1856 01:19:03,391 --> 01:19:05,558 the situation where , well , we know , 1857 01:19:05,558 --> 01:19:07,613 I mean , it's happened , we know I'm 1858 01:19:07,613 --> 01:19:09,669 not asking that they did it . Do you 1859 01:19:09,669 --> 01:19:13,220 think that was disproportionate . It , 1860 01:19:13,229 --> 01:19:15,396 it was , uh , it was definitely , uh , 1861 01:19:15,396 --> 01:19:17,507 what do you , do you , in hindsight , 1862 01:19:17,507 --> 01:19:19,285 do you think that was the right 1863 01:19:19,285 --> 01:19:21,507 decision for America to drop two atomic 1864 01:19:21,507 --> 01:19:23,285 bombs on the Japanese cities in 1865 01:19:23,285 --> 01:19:25,507 question ? Well , I'll tell you to stop 1866 01:19:25,507 --> 01:19:27,840 the World War . Ok . Well , so we had a , 1867 01:19:27,840 --> 01:19:27,299 do you agree , General Austin , if 1868 01:19:27,310 --> 01:19:29,477 you'd been around , would you say drop 1869 01:19:29,477 --> 01:19:32,839 them ? I , I , you know , I agree with 1870 01:19:32,850 --> 01:19:34,961 the chairman here . I mean , I mean , 1871 01:19:34,961 --> 01:19:36,961 if you were , if we go back in time 1872 01:19:36,961 --> 01:19:39,128 says , hey , we got two atomic bombs . 1873 01:19:39,128 --> 01:19:41,183 Should we drop them ? What would you 1874 01:19:41,183 --> 01:19:43,183 say ? Well , you know , I think the 1875 01:19:43,183 --> 01:19:45,072 leadership was interested in , in 1876 01:19:45,072 --> 01:19:47,406 curtailing the , well , what's , what's , 1877 01:19:47,406 --> 01:19:49,520 what's Israel interested in ? Do you 1878 01:19:49,529 --> 01:19:51,779 believe Iran really wants to kill all 1879 01:19:51,790 --> 01:19:54,750 the Jews if they could , the Iranian 1880 01:19:54,759 --> 01:19:57,149 regime ? Yeah . Do you believe Hamas is 1881 01:19:57,160 --> 01:19:59,327 serious when they say we'll keep doing 1882 01:19:59,327 --> 01:20:01,382 it over and over again ? Do you , do 1883 01:20:01,382 --> 01:20:04,180 you agree that they will if they can do ? 1884 01:20:04,379 --> 01:20:06,830 Ok . Do you believe that Hezbollah is a 1885 01:20:06,839 --> 01:20:09,279 terrorist organization also been on the 1886 01:20:09,290 --> 01:20:11,179 destruction of the Jewish state . 1887 01:20:11,720 --> 01:20:13,887 Hezbollah is a terrorist , terrorist . 1888 01:20:13,887 --> 01:20:15,998 Ok . So Israel's been hit in the last 1889 01:20:15,998 --> 01:20:18,640 few weeks by Iran Hezbollah and Hamas 1890 01:20:18,649 --> 01:20:21,020 dedicated to their destruction . And 1891 01:20:21,029 --> 01:20:23,430 you're telling me you're gonna tell 1892 01:20:23,439 --> 01:20:26,839 them how to fight the war and what they 1893 01:20:26,850 --> 01:20:29,979 can and can't use when everybody around 1894 01:20:29,990 --> 01:20:32,399 them wants to kill all the Jews . And 1895 01:20:32,410 --> 01:20:34,521 you're telling me that if we withhold 1896 01:20:34,529 --> 01:20:38,319 weapons in this fight , the existential 1897 01:20:38,330 --> 01:20:40,608 fight for the life of the Jewish state , 1898 01:20:40,608 --> 01:20:42,830 it won't send the wrong signal . Do you 1899 01:20:42,830 --> 01:20:44,663 still think it was a good idea ? 1900 01:20:44,663 --> 01:20:46,274 General Austin to get out of 1901 01:20:46,274 --> 01:20:48,608 Afghanistan ? I support the President's . 1902 01:20:48,629 --> 01:20:50,796 Yeah , I think you do . I think it was 1903 01:20:50,796 --> 01:20:53,350 a disastrous decision if we stop 1904 01:20:53,359 --> 01:20:56,479 weapons necessary to destroy the 1905 01:20:56,490 --> 01:20:58,490 enemies of the state of Israel at a 1906 01:20:58,490 --> 01:21:01,419 time of great Pra , we will pay a price . 1907 01:21:01,790 --> 01:21:04,939 This is obscene . It is absurd . Give 1908 01:21:04,950 --> 01:21:07,117 Israel what they need to fight the war 1909 01:21:07,117 --> 01:21:09,129 they can't afford to lose . This is 1910 01:21:09,140 --> 01:21:12,209 Hiroshima and Nagasaki on steroids . 1911 01:21:14,810 --> 01:21:17,032 Senator Murphy . You're clear , Senator 1912 01:21:17,032 --> 01:21:19,088 Murphy . Uh Thank you very much , Mr 1913 01:21:19,088 --> 01:21:21,199 Chairman . Uh great to see you both . 1914 01:21:21,199 --> 01:21:23,088 Thank you for your service to the 1915 01:21:23,088 --> 01:21:25,143 country . It's pretty stunning to me 1916 01:21:25,143 --> 01:21:27,390 how this country and our allies fail to 1917 01:21:27,399 --> 01:21:31,089 learn recent history lessons . 1918 01:21:31,899 --> 01:21:34,270 Those recent history lessons in both 1919 01:21:34,279 --> 01:21:37,109 Afghanistan and Iraq , tell us that 1920 01:21:37,120 --> 01:21:40,990 there are substantial grave limitations 1921 01:21:41,569 --> 01:21:45,169 to the ability of military force to 1922 01:21:45,180 --> 01:21:47,700 eliminate a terrorist threat . In fact , 1923 01:21:47,709 --> 01:21:51,220 history tells us that the application 1924 01:21:51,229 --> 01:21:54,189 of overwhelming military force can in 1925 01:21:54,200 --> 01:21:56,640 fact grow terrorist threats , not 1926 01:21:56,649 --> 01:21:59,470 shrink them . Mr Secretary , you've 1927 01:21:59,479 --> 01:22:02,649 said today that Israel has the right to 1928 01:22:02,660 --> 01:22:04,549 defend itself . The United States 1929 01:22:04,549 --> 01:22:06,438 supports Israel's right to defend 1930 01:22:06,438 --> 01:22:08,830 itself . I agree . But if Israel's 1931 01:22:08,839 --> 01:22:12,490 strategy is making it more likely 1932 01:22:12,799 --> 01:22:15,930 not less likely that future terrorist 1933 01:22:15,939 --> 01:22:18,649 attacks will occur , then it is not an 1934 01:22:18,660 --> 01:22:22,540 effective strategy and so it's all 1935 01:22:22,549 --> 01:22:25,919 well and good to get angry 1936 01:22:26,580 --> 01:22:28,747 about a conversation the United States 1937 01:22:28,747 --> 01:22:30,802 is having with Israel over the right 1938 01:22:30,802 --> 01:22:32,913 strategy to defeat terrorism . But we 1939 01:22:32,913 --> 01:22:35,020 have lots of experience in failed 1940 01:22:35,029 --> 01:22:38,109 strategies . The national intelligence 1941 01:22:38,509 --> 01:22:40,589 estimate released just earlier this 1942 01:22:40,600 --> 01:22:44,330 year said this , that the Gaza crisis 1943 01:22:44,529 --> 01:22:47,290 has galvanized violence by a range of 1944 01:22:47,299 --> 01:22:49,466 actors around the world . And while it 1945 01:22:49,466 --> 01:22:51,609 is too early to tell , it is likely 1946 01:22:51,870 --> 01:22:53,919 that the Gaza conflict will have a 1947 01:22:53,930 --> 01:22:57,069 generational impact on terrorism . A 1948 01:22:57,080 --> 01:22:59,589 generational impact on terrorism . Both 1949 01:22:59,600 --> 01:23:01,740 Al Qaeda and Isis inspired by Hamas 1950 01:23:01,750 --> 01:23:04,049 have directed supporters to conduct 1951 01:23:04,060 --> 01:23:06,609 attacks against Israeli and us 1952 01:23:06,620 --> 01:23:09,009 interests . Here's my question , 1953 01:23:11,029 --> 01:23:13,029 how do we apply the lessons that we 1954 01:23:13,029 --> 01:23:16,759 learned in Iraq and Afghanistan 1955 01:23:17,770 --> 01:23:19,992 as a means of helping Israel understand 1956 01:23:19,992 --> 01:23:23,490 how to defeat Hamas ? And what is your 1957 01:23:23,500 --> 01:23:27,140 assessment of whether this campaign 1958 01:23:27,979 --> 01:23:31,149 is in the long run going to decrease 1959 01:23:31,509 --> 01:23:33,398 the ability of Hamas or follow on 1960 01:23:33,398 --> 01:23:36,029 organizations to recruit and retain 1961 01:23:36,040 --> 01:23:39,490 strength and the ability to hurt Israel . 1962 01:23:39,500 --> 01:23:43,410 And the United States Senator , we 1963 01:23:43,419 --> 01:23:45,500 said all along that Hamas does not 1964 01:23:45,509 --> 01:23:48,990 equal the Palestinian people . They are 1965 01:23:49,000 --> 01:23:51,419 not one and the same . And , and what 1966 01:23:51,430 --> 01:23:54,020 we learned to , to your point key 1967 01:23:54,029 --> 01:23:56,180 lesson there is that you have to 1968 01:23:56,189 --> 01:23:58,300 protect the people , the civilians in 1969 01:23:58,300 --> 01:24:01,100 the battle space , otherwise you create 1970 01:24:01,109 --> 01:24:04,509 more terrorists going forward . So it's 1971 01:24:04,520 --> 01:24:07,549 not only uh a moral imperative , but 1972 01:24:07,560 --> 01:24:11,350 it's also um a , a strategic imperative 1973 01:24:11,359 --> 01:24:13,350 that uh that you , you protect 1974 01:24:13,359 --> 01:24:15,526 civilians . And so , and , and the two 1975 01:24:15,526 --> 01:24:17,692 aren't mutually exclusive . You can do 1976 01:24:17,692 --> 01:24:19,803 both and , uh , and , and , and , and 1977 01:24:19,803 --> 01:24:21,748 we know how to do that . And so in 1978 01:24:21,748 --> 01:24:23,692 terms of the lessons learned , the 1979 01:24:23,692 --> 01:24:25,859 kinds of things that we would endeavor 1980 01:24:25,859 --> 01:24:27,915 to pass along . Those are the things 1981 01:24:27,915 --> 01:24:29,803 that , that we continue to have a 1982 01:24:29,803 --> 01:24:31,859 dialogue on . But , you know , there 1983 01:24:31,859 --> 01:24:33,970 have been far too many , far too many 1984 01:24:33,970 --> 01:24:35,915 casual civilian casualties in this 1985 01:24:35,915 --> 01:24:37,859 battle space and , and I think , I 1986 01:24:37,859 --> 01:24:40,026 think we should do everything possible 1987 01:24:40,026 --> 01:24:42,081 to ensure that we , we're protecting 1988 01:24:42,081 --> 01:24:44,192 the civilians and providing for , for 1989 01:24:44,192 --> 01:24:46,526 their welfare , humanitarian assistance . 1990 01:24:46,526 --> 01:24:50,169 I think you are right that there is a 1991 01:24:50,180 --> 01:24:52,236 strategic and a moral reason to care 1992 01:24:52,236 --> 01:24:54,458 about the number of civilian casualties 1993 01:24:54,458 --> 01:24:57,370 in Gaza . Even if you don't care about 1994 01:24:57,870 --> 01:25:01,450 the moral consequences of 13,000 1995 01:25:01,459 --> 01:25:03,570 Children dead , you should care about 1996 01:25:03,570 --> 01:25:05,792 the strategic consequences of providing 1997 01:25:05,792 --> 01:25:07,903 continued bulletin board , recruiting 1998 01:25:07,903 --> 01:25:10,126 material to the very organizations that 1999 01:25:10,126 --> 01:25:11,903 we're trying to destroy . Um Mr 2000 01:25:11,903 --> 01:25:14,070 Secretary , let me do a hard turn here 2001 01:25:14,070 --> 01:25:16,070 on a subject really important to us 2002 01:25:16,070 --> 01:25:18,015 national security , but also to my 2003 01:25:18,015 --> 01:25:20,237 state . Um as you know , this budget um 2004 01:25:20,237 --> 01:25:22,348 downgrades our commitment to building 2005 01:25:22,348 --> 01:25:24,570 Virginia class submarines from 2 to 1 a 2006 01:25:24,570 --> 01:25:26,737 year . Um We made a big mistake in the 2007 01:25:26,737 --> 01:25:28,792 19 nineties when we hollowed out the 2008 01:25:28,792 --> 01:25:30,959 submarine industrial base . Uh we went 2009 01:25:30,959 --> 01:25:32,890 from having 12,000 uh 2010 01:25:32,899 --> 01:25:36,209 employees uh at electric boat down to 2011 01:25:36,220 --> 01:25:38,850 about 1500 it took us a decade or more 2012 01:25:38,859 --> 01:25:40,915 to scale back up when we realized we 2013 01:25:40,915 --> 01:25:44,009 really needed these submarines . Um How , 2014 01:25:44,020 --> 01:25:46,242 how do , how can we look at the request 2015 01:25:46,242 --> 01:25:48,353 for only one Virginia class submarine 2016 01:25:48,353 --> 01:25:50,353 in Fy 25 ? Is anything but a pretty 2017 01:25:50,353 --> 01:25:52,464 enormous step back for our industrial 2018 01:25:52,464 --> 01:25:54,298 base . I'm really read about our 2019 01:25:54,298 --> 01:25:56,779 ability to be able to deliver what we 2020 01:25:56,790 --> 01:25:58,846 know we need , which is two Virginia 2021 01:25:58,846 --> 01:26:00,879 class submarines and keeping the 2022 01:26:00,890 --> 01:26:03,180 Columbia class on time . I just worry 2023 01:26:03,189 --> 01:26:05,411 that you can't do that . Uh If you take 2024 01:26:05,411 --> 01:26:07,745 this big , even if it's just a one year , 2025 01:26:07,745 --> 01:26:09,800 but a big step back in commitment to 2026 01:26:09,800 --> 01:26:12,022 the Virginia program . Thanks Senator . 2027 01:26:12,022 --> 01:26:14,479 So the choices are to uh increase the 2028 01:26:14,490 --> 01:26:16,712 backlog by putting more demand on the , 2029 01:26:16,712 --> 01:26:19,100 on the system or invest more in the 2030 01:26:19,109 --> 01:26:20,942 industrial base . And that's the 2031 01:26:20,942 --> 01:26:22,998 approach that we've taken . We asked 2032 01:26:22,998 --> 01:26:25,180 you for uh in 23 and 24 we asked you 2033 01:26:25,189 --> 01:26:29,160 for $1.9 billion to put uh to invest in 2034 01:26:29,169 --> 01:26:31,280 the industrial base sub in industrial 2035 01:26:31,280 --> 01:26:33,310 base . Uh for this budget , we're 2036 01:26:33,319 --> 01:26:37,290 asking for $4 billion . Uh The uh 2037 01:26:37,299 --> 01:26:39,950 the supplemental gives us $3.3 billion . 2038 01:26:39,959 --> 01:26:42,220 And the Australians are also investing 2039 01:26:42,229 --> 01:26:44,285 in a submarine industrial base , our 2040 01:26:44,285 --> 01:26:47,100 submarine industrial base . So uh as I 2041 01:26:47,109 --> 01:26:49,276 have talked with industry leaders , uh 2042 01:26:49,276 --> 01:26:51,387 you know , we have talked about about 2043 01:26:51,387 --> 01:26:53,665 how we go about recruiting more people , 2044 01:26:53,665 --> 01:26:55,720 increasing strength , uh strength in 2045 01:26:55,720 --> 01:26:58,100 the supply chains . And so that work 2046 01:26:58,109 --> 01:27:00,165 that work is ongoing and needs to be 2047 01:27:00,165 --> 01:27:02,276 done . But we have to uh increase the 2048 01:27:02,276 --> 01:27:04,498 capacity . And I know there's arguments 2049 01:27:04,498 --> 01:27:06,831 both ways in terms of the demand versus , 2050 01:27:06,831 --> 01:27:09,129 versus investing in uh in the capacity . 2051 01:27:09,319 --> 01:27:12,459 Uh But uh they believe and , and I 2052 01:27:12,470 --> 01:27:15,089 believe that that we'll get there , but 2053 01:27:15,100 --> 01:27:17,100 we just need to do more in terms of 2054 01:27:17,100 --> 01:27:19,410 capacity . So II I appreciate that $4 2055 01:27:19,419 --> 01:27:21,641 billion investment is significant , but 2056 01:27:21,641 --> 01:27:23,808 that has to be an immediate pathway to 2057 01:27:23,808 --> 01:27:25,808 get us back on track to be building 2058 01:27:25,808 --> 01:27:27,808 those two Virginia classes a year . 2059 01:27:27,808 --> 01:27:27,470 Look forward to working with you on it . 2060 01:27:27,479 --> 01:27:29,701 Thank you , Mr Chairman Senator Homan . 2061 01:27:29,701 --> 01:27:32,035 Thank you , Mr Chairman uh Mr Secretary . 2062 01:27:32,035 --> 01:27:34,257 Do you believe that Israel has to fully 2063 01:27:34,257 --> 01:27:36,379 defeat Hamas so that they don't come 2064 01:27:36,390 --> 01:27:38,870 back and have another attack like 2065 01:27:38,879 --> 01:27:42,850 October 7th ? It's , 2066 01:27:42,859 --> 01:27:44,810 I do believe that Hamas has to be 2067 01:27:44,819 --> 01:27:47,709 defeated . Yes . And the goal of the 2068 01:27:47,720 --> 01:27:50,950 Israeli leadership as , as 2069 01:27:51,370 --> 01:27:54,620 um stated by them is to destroy Hamas , 2070 01:27:54,839 --> 01:27:57,569 then if they need to be fully defeated , 2071 01:27:57,709 --> 01:28:00,470 then won't giving them precision 2072 01:28:00,479 --> 01:28:02,839 weapons like Boeing's joint attack , 2073 01:28:02,850 --> 01:28:05,020 direct attack munitions and small 2074 01:28:05,029 --> 01:28:08,089 diameter bombs help them fully defeat 2075 01:28:08,330 --> 01:28:11,770 Hamas without , with , with less uh 2076 01:28:11,779 --> 01:28:14,100 collateral with less impact on 2077 01:28:14,109 --> 01:28:16,109 civilians . Those precision weapons 2078 01:28:16,109 --> 01:28:19,720 will help them fully defeat Hamas with 2079 01:28:19,729 --> 01:28:22,169 less impact on the civilian population 2080 01:28:22,180 --> 01:28:24,390 in Gaza . So why wouldn't we go ahead 2081 01:28:24,399 --> 01:28:26,566 and get them to get them those weapons 2082 01:28:26,566 --> 01:28:29,020 just as fast as we can ? I tend to 2083 01:28:29,029 --> 01:28:31,419 agree with you , you need uh precision 2084 01:28:31,620 --> 01:28:33,620 GED munitions of the , of the right 2085 01:28:33,620 --> 01:28:35,453 type . And that's why we uh just 2086 01:28:35,453 --> 01:28:37,910 recently provided uh small uh small 2087 01:28:37,919 --> 01:28:41,180 diameter bombs to , to Israel . But 2088 01:28:41,189 --> 01:28:43,890 clearly it was the intent of Congress 2089 01:28:43,899 --> 01:28:46,609 to get Israel that assistance . And so 2090 01:28:46,620 --> 01:28:48,676 we're watching very closely that you 2091 01:28:48,676 --> 01:28:50,970 get that to them as expeditiously as 2092 01:28:50,979 --> 01:28:53,660 possible so they can fully defeat Hamas . 2093 01:28:53,669 --> 01:28:55,836 So Hamas doesn't regenerate and do the 2094 01:28:55,836 --> 01:28:57,891 same kind of attack that they did on 2095 01:28:57,891 --> 01:29:00,002 October 7th . Wouldn't you agree with 2096 01:29:00,002 --> 01:29:03,069 that ? I , I would agree with that and 2097 01:29:03,080 --> 01:29:05,540 I would also agree with the point that 2098 01:29:05,549 --> 01:29:08,200 we need to do everything we can to , to 2099 01:29:08,209 --> 01:29:10,431 protect civilians in the battle space . 2100 01:29:10,431 --> 01:29:12,653 So that precision that you talked about 2101 01:29:12,653 --> 01:29:14,820 is really , really important . So some 2102 01:29:14,820 --> 01:29:16,820 types of munitions are , are better 2103 01:29:16,820 --> 01:29:18,987 suited than , than others . But uh but 2104 01:29:18,987 --> 01:29:20,987 we really would like to see that uh 2105 01:29:20,987 --> 01:29:23,209 that begin to happen in terms of uh you 2106 01:29:23,209 --> 01:29:24,987 know , fewer casualties , fewer 2107 01:29:24,987 --> 01:29:27,209 civilian casualties and more . Do you , 2108 01:29:27,290 --> 01:29:30,620 do you agree or not that we need to get 2109 01:29:30,629 --> 01:29:33,120 them the assistance to fully defeat 2110 01:29:33,129 --> 01:29:35,351 Hamas ? Do you agree with that or not ? 2111 01:29:35,359 --> 01:29:37,470 We have been doing that from the very 2112 01:29:37,470 --> 01:29:39,581 beginning . Do you agree with that or 2113 01:29:39,581 --> 01:29:41,803 not ? Ok . Thank you , Mr Secretary . I 2114 01:29:41,803 --> 01:29:44,000 appreciate it . Uh Mr Chairman , uh I 2115 01:29:44,009 --> 01:29:46,120 want to talk to you about Sentinel uh 2116 01:29:46,120 --> 01:29:49,029 given the incredible uh threat from 2117 01:29:49,040 --> 01:29:51,370 China and Russia and the incredible 2118 01:29:51,379 --> 01:29:53,601 build up . We're seeing particularly in 2119 01:29:53,601 --> 01:29:55,657 China with their nuclear arsenal and 2120 01:29:55,657 --> 01:29:58,310 given the non mccurdy review , uh One 2121 01:29:58,319 --> 01:30:00,129 are you fully committed to 2122 01:30:00,140 --> 01:30:03,279 modernization of our nuclear forces to 2123 01:30:03,290 --> 01:30:06,399 the Sentinel program ? And how are you 2124 01:30:06,410 --> 01:30:08,632 going to do ? And what are you gonna do 2125 01:30:08,632 --> 01:30:12,500 to keep that on track as you know , 2126 01:30:12,509 --> 01:30:14,565 the uh our nuclear portfolio and our 2127 01:30:14,565 --> 01:30:16,676 nuclear triad is key to our strategic 2128 01:30:16,676 --> 01:30:19,020 deterrence . And uh and so in this 2129 01:30:19,029 --> 01:30:21,259 budget , there's $49 billion that is 2130 01:30:21,270 --> 01:30:24,459 focused on on that portfolio . For a 2131 01:30:24,470 --> 01:30:27,149 Sentinel , there's 3.7 billion as the 2132 01:30:27,160 --> 01:30:29,104 air force works through its number 2133 01:30:29,104 --> 01:30:31,160 curdy . We want to continue down the 2134 01:30:31,160 --> 01:30:33,870 path to modernize because this leg is 2135 01:30:33,879 --> 01:30:36,220 this leg of the triad . Sentinel is the 2136 01:30:36,229 --> 01:30:39,879 one available 24 7 . Um and to provide 2137 01:30:39,890 --> 01:30:42,001 that strategic deterrence in addition 2138 01:30:42,001 --> 01:30:44,001 to the other two legs of the uh the 2139 01:30:44,001 --> 01:30:45,946 triad , are you fully committed to 2140 01:30:45,946 --> 01:30:48,112 doing what you need to , to keep it on 2141 01:30:48,112 --> 01:30:50,223 track I am ? And do you feel that you 2142 01:30:50,223 --> 01:30:52,390 have the plan in place right now to do 2143 01:30:52,390 --> 01:30:54,390 that ? Well , this is where the air 2144 01:30:54,390 --> 01:30:54,120 force is working through the the number 2145 01:30:54,140 --> 01:30:56,140 mccurdy and I've not gotten a brief 2146 01:30:56,140 --> 01:30:58,196 from , from them , but I , I do know 2147 01:30:58,196 --> 01:31:00,307 that the Air Force is , is focused on 2148 01:31:00,307 --> 01:31:02,473 this based on my past experience and , 2149 01:31:02,473 --> 01:31:04,696 and based on how important I know it is 2150 01:31:04,696 --> 01:31:06,807 for , for the nation . Are there , is 2151 01:31:06,807 --> 01:31:06,660 there something that you would want to 2152 01:31:06,669 --> 01:31:08,891 see from this committee that would help 2153 01:31:08,891 --> 01:31:11,620 you do that . But I think the , the , 2154 01:31:11,629 --> 01:31:13,851 the collaboration with the committee uh 2155 01:31:13,851 --> 01:31:15,907 and consistent uh uh funding on time 2156 01:31:15,907 --> 01:31:17,962 funding will be helpful to , to move 2157 01:31:17,962 --> 01:31:19,962 forward . And then uh this constant 2158 01:31:19,962 --> 01:31:21,962 dialogue , uh we have to figure out 2159 01:31:21,962 --> 01:31:21,629 where we can take out any slack to 2160 01:31:21,640 --> 01:31:23,751 ensure we get the uh the capability . 2161 01:31:23,751 --> 01:31:26,560 Well , the uh our chairman is uh from 2162 01:31:26,569 --> 01:31:28,791 Montana , the home of Balms . And , and 2163 01:31:28,791 --> 01:31:30,902 of course , we have the Mor Air Force 2164 01:31:30,902 --> 01:31:32,736 Base in North Dakota and Senator 2165 01:31:32,736 --> 01:31:35,305 Barrasso . And uh and uh Fe Warren , I 2166 01:31:35,314 --> 01:31:37,370 know that we're committed to helping 2167 01:31:37,370 --> 01:31:39,592 you . So if there's something else that 2168 01:31:39,592 --> 01:31:41,814 needs to be done , we want to know what 2169 01:31:41,814 --> 01:31:41,095 it is to keep that program on track , 2170 01:31:41,115 --> 01:31:43,171 we'll definitely let you know . Ok , 2171 01:31:43,171 --> 01:31:45,393 thank you very much . And then the last 2172 01:31:45,393 --> 01:31:47,448 question I would have uh Mr Chairman 2173 01:31:47,448 --> 01:31:50,500 for you is um how are you making sure 2174 01:31:50,509 --> 01:31:53,229 that we have enough ISR with this , you 2175 01:31:53,240 --> 01:31:55,580 know , development in for space based 2176 01:31:55,589 --> 01:31:57,478 assets ? And that's , I know it's 2177 01:31:57,478 --> 01:31:59,367 critically important . We're very 2178 01:31:59,367 --> 01:32:01,589 committed to funding that and advancing 2179 01:32:01,589 --> 01:32:03,533 it . I'm concerned that you're not 2180 01:32:03,533 --> 01:32:05,839 doing enough to maintain an ISR 2181 01:32:05,850 --> 01:32:09,020 capacity . What are you doing to make 2182 01:32:09,029 --> 01:32:11,196 sure that you have the ISR assets that 2183 01:32:11,196 --> 01:32:13,473 all of the forces , not just Air Force , 2184 01:32:13,473 --> 01:32:15,770 but all of our forces are asking for , 2185 01:32:16,310 --> 01:32:18,143 you know , as a , as a joint war 2186 01:32:18,143 --> 01:32:20,477 fighter and having been serving jointly . 2187 01:32:20,477 --> 01:32:22,532 Um I've been focused not just on the 2188 01:32:22,532 --> 01:32:24,588 air Force , but all the services and 2189 01:32:24,588 --> 01:32:26,699 when I look at ISR in particular , um 2190 01:32:26,699 --> 01:32:28,699 it's the capability that only do we 2191 01:32:28,699 --> 01:32:30,754 have from the air breathing assets , 2192 01:32:30,754 --> 01:32:32,977 but it's how we bring in ISR from our , 2193 01:32:32,977 --> 01:32:32,740 our , our other , our maritime assets , 2194 01:32:32,750 --> 01:32:34,750 how we bring it in and particularly 2195 01:32:34,750 --> 01:32:36,583 from our space assets and how we 2196 01:32:36,583 --> 01:32:38,750 transition . Um I'd also highlight the 2197 01:32:38,750 --> 01:32:40,972 fact that how cyber plays a key role in 2198 01:32:40,972 --> 01:32:43,139 uh in uh some of our ISR as well . And 2199 01:32:43,139 --> 01:32:45,250 so having the capability and to bring 2200 01:32:45,250 --> 01:32:47,194 that uh all together and using our 2201 01:32:47,194 --> 01:32:48,861 digital tools to take all the 2202 01:32:48,861 --> 01:32:50,917 information we get from whatever ISR 2203 01:32:50,917 --> 01:32:53,083 platform . That's what we really , you 2204 01:32:53,083 --> 01:32:55,250 know , that's where the focus is . How 2205 01:32:55,250 --> 01:32:54,870 do you take that information , the 2206 01:32:54,879 --> 01:32:57,399 things we can analyze to determine 2207 01:32:57,410 --> 01:33:00,000 intent and it's not just I know our 2208 01:33:00,149 --> 01:33:02,093 commands are focused on particular 2209 01:33:02,093 --> 01:33:04,316 platforms , but it's the combination of 2210 01:33:04,316 --> 01:33:06,316 platforms and capability and how we 2211 01:33:06,316 --> 01:33:08,316 bring that together that's going to 2212 01:33:08,316 --> 01:33:08,080 make us most effective as a joint force . 2213 01:33:08,089 --> 01:33:10,145 Well , you and I have worked on this 2214 01:33:10,145 --> 01:33:12,145 for some time and you've had a good 2215 01:33:12,145 --> 01:33:14,311 common sense approach approach to it . 2216 01:33:14,311 --> 01:33:16,422 Uh And so we want to continue working 2217 01:33:16,422 --> 01:33:18,645 with you on it , but what you do in ISR 2218 01:33:18,645 --> 01:33:20,810 affects every single uh force in the 2219 01:33:20,819 --> 01:33:23,041 dod , not just air force , it's vitally 2220 01:33:23,041 --> 01:33:25,240 important . So I want to uh encourage 2221 01:33:25,250 --> 01:33:27,310 your continued focus on making sure 2222 01:33:27,319 --> 01:33:29,375 that you have adequate ISR and we'll 2223 01:33:29,375 --> 01:33:31,375 work with you to do that , but very 2224 01:33:31,375 --> 01:33:33,430 much actually having an ISR actually 2225 01:33:33,430 --> 01:33:35,541 makes my job easier . So uh I'm , I'm 2226 01:33:35,541 --> 01:33:37,708 completely focused on ensuring we have 2227 01:33:37,708 --> 01:33:37,689 that capability . Thank you , Mr Chair . 2228 01:33:38,049 --> 01:33:40,271 Yeah , th thank you , II I got a couple 2229 01:33:40,271 --> 01:33:42,493 more questions and I thank you guys for 2230 01:33:42,493 --> 01:33:44,549 your patience . And in going through 2231 01:33:44,549 --> 01:33:46,327 the order here , we've had good 2232 01:33:46,327 --> 01:33:48,216 participation today . Look , I've 2233 01:33:48,216 --> 01:33:50,382 repeatedly called upon Secretary Mayor 2234 01:33:50,382 --> 01:33:52,410 and President Biden and Congress to 2235 01:33:52,419 --> 01:33:54,586 step up and fix what's going on in the 2236 01:33:54,586 --> 01:33:56,752 southern border . It's not sustainable 2237 01:33:56,752 --> 01:33:59,439 at all and it's unacceptable . Uh DH S 2238 01:33:59,450 --> 01:34:02,759 continues to rely on dod support uh at 2239 01:34:02,770 --> 01:34:04,881 the southern border to make sure that 2240 01:34:05,009 --> 01:34:08,649 uh they're doing what they can do . Um 2241 01:34:09,040 --> 01:34:11,069 But once again , I don't see any 2242 01:34:11,080 --> 01:34:13,069 funding in this budget for dod 2243 01:34:13,080 --> 01:34:15,930 personnel for those operations . So Mr 2244 01:34:15,939 --> 01:34:18,217 Secretary a couple things , number one , 2245 01:34:18,217 --> 01:34:20,328 how many troops are serving currently 2246 01:34:20,328 --> 01:34:22,709 on the southern border ? Um There's 2247 01:34:22,720 --> 01:34:26,390 about 2500 and how does dod cover these 2248 01:34:26,399 --> 01:34:30,370 costs as we always have out 2249 01:34:30,379 --> 01:34:32,500 of our operating budget ? And so , uh 2250 01:34:32,509 --> 01:34:35,479 what does that mean operationally ? Who 2251 01:34:35,490 --> 01:34:38,919 gets shorted ? Um Of course , that , 2252 01:34:38,930 --> 01:34:41,097 that means that there's something else 2253 01:34:41,097 --> 01:34:43,152 that we're not doing because of that 2254 01:34:43,152 --> 01:34:46,759 support . So , um but , but you know , 2255 01:34:46,770 --> 01:34:48,930 they , they , it's important that uh 2256 01:34:49,490 --> 01:34:51,830 that we do everything we can to support 2257 01:34:51,839 --> 01:34:54,859 DH S in its effort to uh in , in its 2258 01:34:54,870 --> 01:34:57,092 work on the , in the , on the southwest 2259 01:34:57,092 --> 01:34:59,203 border . Uh We've been doing that for 2260 01:34:59,203 --> 01:35:01,770 19 of the last 23 years , uh , the , 2261 01:35:01,790 --> 01:35:04,169 the , the price tags been about $4 2262 01:35:04,180 --> 01:35:06,379 billion . Uh , but , uh , but again , 2263 01:35:06,740 --> 01:35:08,684 uh , we are supporting , uh , uh , 2264 01:35:08,684 --> 01:35:11,319 agency and , and DH S is a lead agency 2265 01:35:11,330 --> 01:35:13,552 and , and again , it's important to our 2266 01:35:13,552 --> 01:35:15,663 country and , and we're going to do . 2267 01:35:15,970 --> 01:35:18,490 So , let me ask you this , Mr Secretary , 2268 01:35:18,500 --> 01:35:21,649 do you agree with my perspective that 2269 01:35:21,660 --> 01:35:23,660 the administration needs to do more 2270 01:35:23,660 --> 01:35:26,189 secure the border and we shouldn't have 2271 01:35:26,200 --> 01:35:28,478 to depend upon the military to do that . 2272 01:35:29,410 --> 01:35:32,569 Um We should or should not , I should 2273 01:35:32,580 --> 01:35:34,636 not have to depend upon the military 2274 01:35:34,636 --> 01:35:37,839 that I could not . I agree . But uh but 2275 01:35:37,850 --> 01:35:40,149 if we're required to uh to assist , 2276 01:35:40,160 --> 01:35:42,271 then certainly we will continue to do 2277 01:35:42,271 --> 01:35:44,160 so . I want to go back to and the 2278 01:35:44,160 --> 01:35:46,160 president agrees with the fact that 2279 01:35:46,160 --> 01:35:48,216 there's more that should be done and 2280 01:35:48,216 --> 01:35:50,327 that's why when you came up with this 2281 01:35:50,327 --> 01:35:52,493 bipartisan approach that was very much 2282 01:35:52,493 --> 01:35:54,438 supported . Yeah . Well , no doubt 2283 01:35:54,438 --> 01:35:56,660 about it . Congress dropped the ball on 2284 01:35:56,660 --> 01:35:58,716 that because that would have changed 2285 01:35:58,716 --> 01:36:00,771 things dramatically . But some folks 2286 01:36:00,771 --> 01:36:02,938 want it to be used as a political tool 2287 01:36:02,938 --> 01:36:02,859 when in fact , we ought to be working 2288 01:36:02,870 --> 01:36:05,092 for the betterment of the country , not 2289 01:36:05,092 --> 01:36:07,259 for Democrats or Republicans . III , I 2290 01:36:07,259 --> 01:36:09,426 want to talk to you a little bit about 2291 01:36:09,426 --> 01:36:11,703 Sentinel Senator Hoven brought this up . 2292 01:36:11,703 --> 01:36:14,549 Um I'm frustrated , 2293 01:36:15,939 --> 01:36:19,000 Secretary Kendall is recused himself 2294 01:36:19,009 --> 01:36:21,100 for reasons by the way that I 2295 01:36:21,109 --> 01:36:23,060 understand members of Congress who 2296 01:36:23,069 --> 01:36:26,660 created that problem . Um Northrop 2297 01:36:26,669 --> 01:36:29,240 Grumman is doing what they can do . The 2298 01:36:29,250 --> 01:36:31,361 Air Force is doing what they can do . 2299 01:36:31,361 --> 01:36:34,399 Bechtel is doing what they can do . You 2300 01:36:34,410 --> 01:36:36,577 guys have educated me very , very well 2301 01:36:36,577 --> 01:36:38,632 on what's going on in this world and 2302 01:36:38,632 --> 01:36:40,688 why this is a dangerous time yet . I 2303 01:36:40,688 --> 01:36:42,640 don't get the sense of urgency on 2304 01:36:42,649 --> 01:36:44,871 Sentinel , particularly with the ground 2305 01:36:44,871 --> 01:36:48,569 based missiles that we have . We've 2306 01:36:48,580 --> 01:36:51,229 got timelines and quite frankly , we 2307 01:36:51,240 --> 01:36:53,689 had a , we had a uh a general in front 2308 01:36:53,700 --> 01:36:57,080 of um the , the va Mil con committee 2309 01:36:57,089 --> 01:36:59,256 and uh and General Green , I believe , 2310 01:36:59,256 --> 01:37:01,589 correct me if I'm wrong , General Green . 2311 01:37:01,589 --> 01:37:03,811 And I asked him about timelines . Great 2312 01:37:03,811 --> 01:37:05,645 guy , incredibly , uh incredibly 2313 01:37:05,645 --> 01:37:08,080 talented , could not even give me the 2314 01:37:08,089 --> 01:37:11,799 year the anticipated starting this 2315 01:37:11,810 --> 01:37:13,680 program and I get it . There's , 2316 01:37:13,689 --> 01:37:15,911 there's studies going on , there's cost 2317 01:37:15,911 --> 01:37:18,022 issues and it's going to cost a lot . 2318 01:37:18,930 --> 01:37:21,819 Uh General Brown , can you give me any 2319 01:37:21,830 --> 01:37:24,990 sort of uh this is in your old job , 2320 01:37:25,000 --> 01:37:27,222 front and center and it's still in your 2321 01:37:27,222 --> 01:37:29,389 new job too , by the way ? But can you 2322 01:37:29,389 --> 01:37:31,459 give me any idea on if I should be 2323 01:37:31,470 --> 01:37:34,310 concerned about the timeline continuing 2324 01:37:34,319 --> 01:37:36,439 to slip on the ground based nuclear 2325 01:37:36,450 --> 01:37:38,770 missile Sentinel project that I think 2326 01:37:38,779 --> 01:37:40,946 is critically important as a deterrent 2327 01:37:40,946 --> 01:37:42,946 moving forward in this world in the 2328 01:37:42,946 --> 01:37:45,229 21st century . Senator , I don't 2329 01:37:45,240 --> 01:37:47,296 necessarily have the details , but I 2330 01:37:47,296 --> 01:37:49,240 think for , for all of us , we all 2331 01:37:49,240 --> 01:37:51,573 should be uh you know , I get concerned , 2332 01:37:51,573 --> 01:37:51,149 we don't get capability in the hands of 2333 01:37:51,160 --> 01:37:53,160 our war fighters or things that are 2334 01:37:53,160 --> 01:37:54,938 very important to our strategic 2335 01:37:54,938 --> 01:37:57,104 deterrence . And so my , my focus as a 2336 01:37:57,104 --> 01:37:59,216 chairman and , and same as when I was 2337 01:37:59,216 --> 01:38:01,382 the air force chief is to ensure we're 2338 01:38:01,382 --> 01:38:03,604 doing everything we can to make sure we 2339 01:38:03,604 --> 01:38:05,827 bring that cap forward . And , and so I 2340 01:38:05,827 --> 01:38:07,827 am focused and uh want to make sure 2341 01:38:07,827 --> 01:38:09,938 that uh we , we continue to do that . 2342 01:38:09,938 --> 01:38:12,049 So I , I do have , uh , like you have 2343 01:38:12,049 --> 01:38:11,569 some concerns . I want to understand 2344 01:38:11,580 --> 01:38:13,580 where we are and what the things we 2345 01:38:13,580 --> 01:38:15,636 need to do , uh , to ensure we bring 2346 01:38:15,636 --> 01:38:17,858 that , bring that capability forward as 2347 01:38:17,858 --> 01:38:19,913 quickly as possible . We are here to 2348 01:38:19,913 --> 01:38:22,080 help . Yes , sir . But I will tell you 2349 01:38:22,080 --> 01:38:23,913 that and unless we start getting 2350 01:38:23,913 --> 01:38:26,080 timelines and goals and everything set 2351 01:38:26,080 --> 01:38:30,009 up , um , there's gonna be a lot of 2352 01:38:30,020 --> 01:38:32,076 pressure being put on people because 2353 01:38:32,076 --> 01:38:35,169 quite frankly , I , I do not think , um , 2354 01:38:35,370 --> 01:38:38,919 it's acceptable to be continuing to say . 2355 01:38:39,700 --> 01:38:42,500 Um , don't worry about this . It's 2356 01:38:42,509 --> 01:38:44,959 coming . Uh , the truth is , is we've 2357 01:38:44,970 --> 01:38:47,137 been at this for a while and I haven't 2358 01:38:47,137 --> 01:38:49,137 seen it coming . Uh , we've seen it 2359 01:38:49,137 --> 01:38:51,192 progressing to the , to the point it 2360 01:38:51,192 --> 01:38:53,359 needs to , um , uh , Senator Collins , 2361 01:38:53,359 --> 01:38:55,303 I'll get to you . I want to get to 2362 01:38:55,303 --> 01:38:57,526 Senator Murkowski for her first round . 2363 01:38:57,526 --> 01:38:59,692 Senator Mows . Thank you , Mr Chairman 2364 01:38:59,692 --> 01:39:01,859 and apologize . Um , we're all jumping 2365 01:39:01,859 --> 01:39:01,439 in between multiple appropriations 2366 01:39:01,450 --> 01:39:03,529 subcommittees this morning . But 2367 01:39:03,540 --> 01:39:05,959 gentlemen , Thank you for being here . 2368 01:39:05,970 --> 01:39:08,890 Thank you for your leadership . Um I 2369 01:39:08,899 --> 01:39:11,121 know that there's probably been a great 2370 01:39:11,121 --> 01:39:13,010 deal of , of discussion here this 2371 01:39:13,010 --> 01:39:14,955 morning as there is just generally 2372 01:39:14,955 --> 01:39:17,310 about the uh the the threats from , 2373 01:39:17,319 --> 01:39:20,750 from China , uh Iran um 2374 01:39:21,339 --> 01:39:24,470 uh the conflicts in Ukraine , but 2375 01:39:24,669 --> 01:39:27,910 I feel it's important to always 2376 01:39:27,919 --> 01:39:30,120 underscore that we never take our eye 2377 01:39:30,129 --> 01:39:32,919 off of North Korea . We just last month , 2378 01:39:32,930 --> 01:39:34,708 of course fired missiles in the 2379 01:39:34,708 --> 01:39:36,486 direction of Japan , one of our 2380 01:39:36,486 --> 01:39:39,680 strongest allies in the Pacific . Um It 2381 01:39:39,689 --> 01:39:42,620 was Prime Minister uh Kasha who noted 2382 01:39:42,629 --> 01:39:44,799 just shortly after the most recent 2383 01:39:44,810 --> 01:39:47,029 launch from North Korea that their 2384 01:39:47,040 --> 01:39:49,262 frequent launches , launches threatened 2385 01:39:49,262 --> 01:39:51,429 the peace and safety of not only Japan 2386 01:39:51,429 --> 01:39:53,484 but the region and the international 2387 01:39:53,484 --> 01:39:55,651 security . So I just , I just make the 2388 01:39:55,651 --> 01:39:58,490 statement to uh to let you know that 2389 01:39:58,500 --> 01:40:00,939 it's something that we're certainly um 2390 01:40:01,149 --> 01:40:03,649 uh engaged in tracking and I know you 2391 01:40:03,660 --> 01:40:06,189 are as well . Uh But I want to ask you , 2392 01:40:06,200 --> 01:40:09,589 Mr Secretary , uh not about North Korea 2393 01:40:09,600 --> 01:40:13,350 but um a focus on the Arctic . Your 2394 01:40:13,359 --> 01:40:17,229 fy 25 budget overview states 2395 01:40:17,240 --> 01:40:19,370 that the goal of this year's budget 2396 01:40:19,379 --> 01:40:22,870 request is to quote , develop a monitor 2397 01:40:22,879 --> 01:40:25,569 and response approach in the Arctic . 2398 01:40:25,819 --> 01:40:29,549 So I read that to suggest that this 2399 01:40:29,560 --> 01:40:33,020 is a passive approach in the Arctic 2400 01:40:33,029 --> 01:40:36,339 which I think would be a strategic 2401 01:40:36,350 --> 01:40:38,509 critical air . Um as you know , we're 2402 01:40:38,520 --> 01:40:41,250 already behind , we're under equipped 2403 01:40:41,259 --> 01:40:43,490 when it comes to , to assets uh when 2404 01:40:43,500 --> 01:40:45,667 you look at what Russia has with their 2405 01:40:45,667 --> 01:40:48,200 icebreaker fleet of about 50 vessels in 2406 01:40:48,209 --> 01:40:50,790 the United States here . We have barely 2407 01:40:50,799 --> 01:40:54,750 two . uh Mr Secretary , 2408 01:40:54,759 --> 01:40:56,759 you've , you've been to the state , 2409 01:40:56,759 --> 01:40:58,759 you've had really strong statements 2410 01:40:58,759 --> 01:41:01,569 noting that uh the United States has to 2411 01:41:01,580 --> 01:41:03,660 project power in both regions while 2412 01:41:03,669 --> 01:41:05,669 also serving as a front line in the 2413 01:41:05,669 --> 01:41:07,725 homeland defense mission . So you're 2414 01:41:07,725 --> 01:41:09,836 saying all the right things , but I'm 2415 01:41:09,836 --> 01:41:12,020 concerned about the wording here . And 2416 01:41:12,029 --> 01:41:15,310 II , I would ask for you to just expand 2417 01:41:15,319 --> 01:41:18,359 on what a monitor and respond approach 2418 01:41:18,370 --> 01:41:22,149 in the Arctic really entails . Uh 2419 01:41:22,250 --> 01:41:24,350 Thanks , Senator um 2420 01:41:25,950 --> 01:41:29,009 United States is an Arctic nation . And 2421 01:41:29,020 --> 01:41:32,040 uh and of course , this is a 2422 01:41:32,049 --> 01:41:34,830 strategically important region to us 2423 01:41:34,839 --> 01:41:37,990 for , for a number of reasons . And 2424 01:41:38,000 --> 01:41:40,222 we're going to continue to take actions 2425 01:41:40,222 --> 01:41:44,180 to prioritize the region . Um You're 2426 01:41:44,189 --> 01:41:46,189 going to soon see us release a new 2427 01:41:46,200 --> 01:41:49,629 Arctic strategy and that strategy will 2428 01:41:49,640 --> 01:41:51,362 account for the changes in the 2429 01:41:51,362 --> 01:41:53,418 environment , you know , the , the , 2430 01:41:53,418 --> 01:41:56,830 the warming climate . Um the uh the 2431 01:41:56,839 --> 01:41:58,839 fact that we have uh you know , new 2432 01:41:58,839 --> 01:42:00,910 members of NATO that uh that I think 2433 01:42:00,919 --> 01:42:03,479 will be very helpful in uh in working 2434 01:42:03,490 --> 01:42:07,250 with us going forward . Um We see each 2435 01:42:07,259 --> 01:42:09,189 of the military services making 2436 01:42:09,200 --> 01:42:13,029 investments in uh in their ability to 2437 01:42:13,069 --> 01:42:16,279 uh to operate uh in uh uh in that 2438 01:42:16,290 --> 01:42:19,490 environment . Um We also see a 2439 01:42:19,850 --> 01:42:22,310 combatant commander on North com uh 2440 01:42:22,319 --> 01:42:25,540 partnering with uh with Canada uh to , 2441 01:42:25,549 --> 01:42:29,180 to modernize uh uh no ad . Uh 2442 01:42:29,229 --> 01:42:32,819 And so , um again , it's 2443 01:42:32,830 --> 01:42:35,620 important to us . Um you , you , you 2444 01:42:35,629 --> 01:42:37,810 know that uh we conduct some pretty 2445 01:42:37,819 --> 01:42:40,000 significant exercises like uh Northern 2446 01:42:40,009 --> 01:42:43,649 Edge um uh up there and , and uh uh 2447 01:42:43,939 --> 01:42:46,106 every time we do that , we learn a lot 2448 01:42:46,106 --> 01:42:48,328 more about ourselves and the challenges 2449 01:42:48,328 --> 01:42:50,272 that are facing us . Uh But uh but 2450 01:42:50,272 --> 01:42:51,995 again , the Arctic will remain 2451 01:42:51,995 --> 01:42:53,939 important to us and , and uh we'll 2452 01:42:53,939 --> 01:42:55,995 account for that in the , in the new 2453 01:42:55,995 --> 01:42:58,161 strategy that we're going to release . 2454 01:42:58,161 --> 01:43:00,272 Well , I thank you for that and , and 2455 01:43:00,272 --> 01:43:02,272 would suggest uh also , and when we 2456 01:43:02,272 --> 01:43:04,272 factor it into the strategy again , 2457 01:43:04,272 --> 01:43:06,161 when we look at , at the budget , 2458 01:43:06,161 --> 01:43:09,475 making sure that it is resourced to uh 2459 01:43:09,484 --> 01:43:11,745 to demonstrate that whether it is in 2460 01:43:11,865 --> 01:43:15,104 the proper Arctic equipment , um uh 2461 01:43:15,115 --> 01:43:18,245 Cold weather service incentive programs 2462 01:43:18,254 --> 01:43:20,814 uh and the like uh very quickly to you , 2463 01:43:20,825 --> 01:43:24,654 General Brown , um as you well know , 2464 01:43:25,259 --> 01:43:27,740 Alaska is in a pretty unique position 2465 01:43:27,750 --> 01:43:30,319 because it executes a North Com mission , 2466 01:43:30,779 --> 01:43:33,410 but with Paycom assets and it creates 2467 01:43:33,419 --> 01:43:36,129 some operational control issues as 2468 01:43:36,140 --> 01:43:38,439 North com and 11th Air Force commanders 2469 01:43:38,450 --> 01:43:41,189 are unable to effectively utilize their 2470 01:43:41,200 --> 01:43:43,422 assets in a , in a timely and efficient 2471 01:43:43,422 --> 01:43:45,959 manner . Every 11th Air Force commander 2472 01:43:45,970 --> 01:43:47,914 I've worked with has expressed the 2473 01:43:47,914 --> 01:43:50,026 concerns about the structure and that 2474 01:43:50,026 --> 01:43:52,192 it doesn't prioritize homeland defense 2475 01:43:52,192 --> 01:43:54,414 making their job a little bit more hard 2476 01:43:54,414 --> 01:43:56,720 harder . I'm , I'm sure you're tracking 2477 01:43:56,729 --> 01:44:00,310 this issue . Um uh I know that the , 2478 01:44:00,319 --> 01:44:02,097 the proposal is currently being 2479 01:44:02,097 --> 01:44:04,041 considered within the Pentagon . I 2480 01:44:04,041 --> 01:44:06,263 don't know if you have any updates that 2481 01:44:06,263 --> 01:44:08,486 you can provide now or um uh at a later 2482 01:44:08,486 --> 01:44:10,486 point in time , but it is something 2483 01:44:10,486 --> 01:44:12,319 that again we're looking to , to 2484 01:44:12,319 --> 01:44:14,319 address . I had a conversation with 2485 01:44:14,319 --> 01:44:16,541 General uh Guillo , uh just yesterday . 2486 01:44:17,600 --> 01:44:19,544 Uh Well , I'm having served as the 2487 01:44:19,544 --> 01:44:21,600 commander of Pacific Air Force . I'm 2488 01:44:21,600 --> 01:44:23,267 very familiar with the uh the 2489 01:44:23,267 --> 01:44:25,433 operational challenges associated with 2490 01:44:25,433 --> 01:44:27,378 our forces in Alaska that are both 2491 01:44:27,378 --> 01:44:29,459 focused on Norcom NORAD missions as 2492 01:44:29,470 --> 01:44:32,140 well as Indo missions . Uh I'm not 2493 01:44:32,149 --> 01:44:34,371 aware of a direct proposal , but I have 2494 01:44:34,371 --> 01:44:37,839 talked to General A as well and just 2495 01:44:37,850 --> 01:44:39,739 based on experience , I know it's 2496 01:44:39,739 --> 01:44:41,850 something we got to take a look at to 2497 01:44:41,850 --> 01:44:43,850 continue to make sure that we don't 2498 01:44:43,850 --> 01:44:45,961 create unnecessary seams to make sure 2499 01:44:45,961 --> 01:44:47,961 we can respond in whichever way the 2500 01:44:47,961 --> 01:44:50,072 nation requires with the capabilities 2501 01:44:50,072 --> 01:44:52,239 that are stationed there in Alaska . I 2502 01:44:52,239 --> 01:44:51,649 appreciate your review of that . Thank 2503 01:44:51,660 --> 01:44:53,660 you , Mr Chairman Senator Collins . 2504 01:44:53,660 --> 01:44:57,589 Thank you , Mr Chairman Mr Secretary 2505 01:44:57,759 --> 01:45:01,049 Congress has overwhelmingly and with 2506 01:45:01,060 --> 01:45:03,419 bipartisan support 2507 01:45:03,669 --> 01:45:07,069 indicated its support for 2508 01:45:07,080 --> 01:45:10,470 providing weapons and other assistance 2509 01:45:10,479 --> 01:45:14,350 to Israel . These funding 2510 01:45:14,359 --> 01:45:17,979 bills have passed with 70 to 80 2511 01:45:17,990 --> 01:45:21,490 votes in the Senate and by similar 2512 01:45:21,500 --> 01:45:25,149 bipartisan margins in the house . 2513 01:45:26,009 --> 01:45:29,069 You said in response to a question 2514 01:45:29,080 --> 01:45:32,029 today that no final 2515 01:45:32,040 --> 01:45:35,850 decision has been made . I 2516 01:45:35,859 --> 01:45:39,399 would suggest to you that pausing or 2517 01:45:39,410 --> 01:45:42,459 delaying the delivery of weapons to 2518 01:45:42,470 --> 01:45:46,350 Israel is a decision and it's a 2519 01:45:46,359 --> 01:45:49,660 decision that most members of Congress 2520 01:45:49,790 --> 01:45:53,750 would take issue with , I was 2521 01:45:53,759 --> 01:45:57,310 reading a report but from John 2522 01:45:57,319 --> 01:46:01,169 Spencer , who is the chair of Urban War 2523 01:46:01,520 --> 01:46:04,939 Warfare Studies at West 2524 01:46:04,950 --> 01:46:08,770 Point . And he said , quote , Israel 2525 01:46:08,779 --> 01:46:11,370 has implemented more measures to 2526 01:46:11,379 --> 01:46:14,979 prevent civilian casualties in urban 2527 01:46:14,990 --> 01:46:18,669 warfare than any other military in the 2528 01:46:18,680 --> 01:46:22,589 history of war . So that 2529 01:46:22,600 --> 01:46:26,430 leads me to ask you what conditions is 2530 01:46:26,439 --> 01:46:30,229 the administration asking Israel to 2531 01:46:30,240 --> 01:46:34,020 fulfill before releasing these weapons 2532 01:46:34,029 --> 01:46:36,209 that the administration has 2533 01:46:36,220 --> 01:46:40,100 deliberately delayed despite strong 2534 01:46:40,109 --> 01:46:42,709 congressional support for this 2535 01:46:42,720 --> 01:46:45,779 assistance . Thanks Senator . Well , 2536 01:46:45,790 --> 01:46:48,012 first of all , it's , it's about having 2537 01:46:48,012 --> 01:46:50,068 the right kinds of weapons for the , 2538 01:46:50,068 --> 01:46:53,390 for the , for the uh for the task at 2539 01:46:53,399 --> 01:46:56,100 hand . And a small diameter bomb , 2540 01:46:56,109 --> 01:46:58,331 which is a precision weapon that's very 2541 01:46:58,331 --> 01:47:00,220 useful in a , in a dense built up 2542 01:47:00,220 --> 01:47:03,020 environment . It's is helpful but maybe 2543 01:47:03,029 --> 01:47:05,740 not so much a £2000 bomb that uh that 2544 01:47:05,750 --> 01:47:08,083 could create a lot of collateral damage . 2545 01:47:08,083 --> 01:47:10,680 And so we've been very clear that uh 2546 01:47:11,180 --> 01:47:13,859 that we have to do more to uh or Israel 2547 01:47:13,870 --> 01:47:15,919 needs to do more to protect the 2548 01:47:15,930 --> 01:47:18,097 civilians in the battle space . And we 2549 01:47:18,097 --> 01:47:20,319 wanted to make sure that uh that we saw 2550 01:47:20,319 --> 01:47:23,270 a plan to uh to move to move those 2551 01:47:23,279 --> 01:47:25,859 civil out of , out of the battle space 2552 01:47:25,939 --> 01:47:28,500 before executing any kind of ground 2553 01:47:28,509 --> 01:47:31,419 combat operation . And , and , and we 2554 01:47:31,560 --> 01:47:34,020 would also like to see him do more 2555 01:47:34,029 --> 01:47:36,740 precise operations . Now , um 2556 01:47:38,060 --> 01:47:40,116 You know , I , I don't doubt that uh 2557 01:47:40,116 --> 01:47:42,870 they have some very good policies and 2558 01:47:42,879 --> 01:47:44,689 they do . Uh , but it's , it's 2559 01:47:44,700 --> 01:47:46,644 important to make sure that , that 2560 01:47:46,644 --> 01:47:48,811 we're following the policies and , and 2561 01:47:48,811 --> 01:47:50,756 so we've been having conversations 2562 01:47:50,756 --> 01:47:53,589 about this and , uh , and so we think 2563 01:47:53,600 --> 01:47:56,270 it's imperative that , that we do more 2564 01:47:56,279 --> 01:47:58,223 to protect civilians in the battle 2565 01:47:58,223 --> 01:48:00,168 space and that's , that's the real 2566 01:48:00,168 --> 01:48:03,040 issue . And I would just suggest to you 2567 01:48:03,399 --> 01:48:06,785 that it is Hamas fed , has its 2568 01:48:06,794 --> 01:48:10,294 military operations under hospitals 2569 01:48:10,334 --> 01:48:13,794 under schools concealed in 2570 01:48:13,805 --> 01:48:17,365 civilian areas and is using our 2571 01:48:17,375 --> 01:48:21,174 hostages , American hostages , 2572 01:48:21,325 --> 01:48:24,734 Israeli hostages and innocent 2573 01:48:24,745 --> 01:48:28,595 Palestinian civilians as human shields . 2574 01:48:28,604 --> 01:48:31,154 I think we need to remember and always 2575 01:48:31,165 --> 01:48:35,069 remind ourselves that it was Hamas 2576 01:48:35,080 --> 01:48:39,080 that massacred 1200 Israelis . 2577 01:48:40,250 --> 01:48:44,040 It wasn't the Israelis that 2578 01:48:44,049 --> 01:48:47,990 started this conflict and I'm just 2579 01:48:48,000 --> 01:48:51,939 very concerned that we not try 2580 01:48:51,950 --> 01:48:55,930 to micromanage Israel's right 2581 01:48:55,939 --> 01:48:59,229 to defend itself against the terrorist 2582 01:48:59,240 --> 01:49:01,549 group backed by Iran . 2583 01:49:03,640 --> 01:49:06,180 Let me just quickly go to one other 2584 01:49:06,189 --> 01:49:09,819 issue . Um And that is , I 2585 01:49:09,830 --> 01:49:13,299 know that the national security 2586 01:49:13,310 --> 01:49:16,000 strategy focuses on great power 2587 01:49:16,009 --> 01:49:19,459 competition with China . However , the 2588 01:49:19,470 --> 01:49:23,100 most imminent threat to the US homeland 2589 01:49:23,319 --> 01:49:26,259 and our citizens abroad as well as our 2590 01:49:26,270 --> 01:49:30,040 allies may well be the reconstituted 2591 01:49:30,049 --> 01:49:32,740 terrorist factions that have grown 2592 01:49:32,750 --> 01:49:36,220 since our abandonment of Afghanistan . 2593 01:49:37,009 --> 01:49:39,990 And to follow up on the chairman's 2594 01:49:40,000 --> 01:49:43,509 point . According to one DH s 2595 01:49:43,520 --> 01:49:47,109 official cited in a Washington Post 2596 01:49:47,120 --> 01:49:50,870 report , more than 10,000 migrants 2597 01:49:50,879 --> 01:49:53,870 from Central Asian countries have 2598 01:49:53,879 --> 01:49:56,020 entered into the United States in the 2599 01:49:56,029 --> 01:49:59,169 past year . Some of whom have crossed 2600 01:49:59,180 --> 01:50:02,089 the border illegally . So it's the 2601 01:50:02,100 --> 01:50:05,640 Department of Defense also keeping its 2602 01:50:05,649 --> 01:50:09,569 eye on the terrorist threat , which 2603 01:50:09,580 --> 01:50:13,549 I believe is as the FBI 2604 01:50:13,560 --> 01:50:16,830 director has said , blinking red and 2605 01:50:16,839 --> 01:50:19,649 working with our intelligence community . 2606 01:50:21,259 --> 01:50:24,129 Absolutely , Senator , we are , um , 2607 01:50:24,359 --> 01:50:27,620 you know , I , uh , I meet routinely 2608 01:50:27,629 --> 01:50:31,279 with , uh , director of the CIA and the 2609 01:50:31,290 --> 01:50:33,401 Director of National Intelligence and 2610 01:50:33,401 --> 01:50:35,979 discuss , uh , you know , our , our 2611 01:50:35,990 --> 01:50:38,229 assets and resources that we have that 2612 01:50:38,240 --> 01:50:40,462 are focused on collecting on the , on , 2613 01:50:40,462 --> 01:50:43,810 on , on these groups . And I remind you 2614 01:50:43,819 --> 01:50:46,950 that we were the , we were the country 2615 01:50:46,959 --> 01:50:49,850 that warned both Iran and Russia of a 2616 01:50:49,859 --> 01:50:52,589 pending attack . And uh and so we 2617 01:50:52,600 --> 01:50:54,767 couldn't do that if we didn't have the 2618 01:50:54,767 --> 01:50:56,933 visibility that we have now , it's not 2619 01:50:56,933 --> 01:50:59,640 perfect and we will continue to work to 2620 01:50:59,649 --> 01:51:01,816 do everything we can to make sure that 2621 01:51:01,816 --> 01:51:03,779 we have every sensor available uh 2622 01:51:03,810 --> 01:51:05,643 helping us here . So thank you , 2623 01:51:05,959 --> 01:51:07,910 Senator Moran , chairman , vice 2624 01:51:08,040 --> 01:51:11,819 chairman . Thank you General , the Air 2625 01:51:11,830 --> 01:51:14,470 Force recently awarded a contract for 2626 01:51:14,479 --> 01:51:17,350 the new survivable airborne operations 2627 01:51:17,359 --> 01:51:21,240 centers to replace the e for the 2628 01:51:21,250 --> 01:51:24,810 doomsday . Uh Would you general 2629 01:51:24,819 --> 01:51:26,763 highlight for this committee , the 2630 01:51:26,763 --> 01:51:28,708 importance of this aircraft in the 2631 01:51:28,708 --> 01:51:31,049 event of a national emergency or 2632 01:51:31,060 --> 01:51:32,949 destruction of ground command and 2633 01:51:32,949 --> 01:51:36,100 control centers ? Well , it's designed 2634 01:51:36,109 --> 01:51:38,276 to support our nation on our worst day 2635 01:51:38,276 --> 01:51:40,165 on a major attack on our , on our 2636 01:51:40,165 --> 01:51:42,165 nation . And so it's very important 2637 01:51:42,165 --> 01:51:44,109 that it's not only for command and 2638 01:51:44,109 --> 01:51:46,220 control and for the leadership of the 2639 01:51:46,220 --> 01:51:48,109 nation , but also for our nuclear 2640 01:51:48,109 --> 01:51:50,109 command and control as well . So it 2641 01:51:50,109 --> 01:51:51,887 plays a key role to provide the 2642 01:51:51,887 --> 01:51:53,998 president and our national leadership 2643 01:51:53,998 --> 01:51:56,165 options to continue to operate when we 2644 01:51:56,165 --> 01:51:57,776 have a any type of crisis or 2645 01:51:57,776 --> 01:51:59,887 contingency . What's the reason there 2646 01:51:59,887 --> 01:52:01,720 needs to be a replacement of the 2647 01:52:01,720 --> 01:52:04,680 current aircraft just based on age and 2648 01:52:04,689 --> 01:52:06,522 one of the things we have to pay 2649 01:52:06,522 --> 01:52:08,245 attention to not only for this 2650 01:52:08,245 --> 01:52:10,467 particular platform , but for , I would 2651 01:52:10,467 --> 01:52:12,689 say all of the platforms we have within 2652 01:52:12,689 --> 01:52:14,689 the department is to ensure that we 2653 01:52:14,689 --> 01:52:16,911 actually have a viable platform that we 2654 01:52:16,911 --> 01:52:18,800 we can sustain from a maintenance 2655 01:52:18,800 --> 01:52:20,911 standpoint because at some point , it 2656 01:52:20,911 --> 01:52:23,133 gets more costly to maintain than to uh 2657 01:52:23,133 --> 01:52:25,300 moving into a new capability . I would 2658 01:52:25,300 --> 01:52:27,189 also say technology as technology 2659 01:52:27,189 --> 01:52:29,411 advances , we want to make sure we have 2660 01:52:29,411 --> 01:52:31,633 the most advanced capabilities that the 2661 01:52:31,633 --> 01:52:33,689 nation has to offer in the platforms 2662 01:52:33,689 --> 01:52:33,609 that we use , not only for our command 2663 01:52:33,620 --> 01:52:35,453 and control but also for our war 2664 01:52:35,453 --> 01:52:37,439 fighters . Thank you , General 2665 01:52:37,450 --> 01:52:39,470 Secretary Austin , the bipartisan 2666 01:52:39,479 --> 01:52:42,020 Strategic Posture Committee report 2667 01:52:42,029 --> 01:52:43,759 recommended fully and urgently 2668 01:52:43,770 --> 01:52:46,080 executing the US nuclear modernization 2669 01:52:46,089 --> 01:52:48,350 program of record including the 2670 01:52:48,359 --> 01:52:50,620 replacement of all delivery systems . 2671 01:52:51,750 --> 01:52:53,806 Can you highlight please some of the 2672 01:52:53,806 --> 01:52:56,080 key successes related to modernization 2673 01:52:56,089 --> 01:52:58,033 of our strategic delivery system ? 2674 01:53:01,450 --> 01:53:03,672 Yeah . Well , in this forum , I'll I'll 2675 01:53:03,672 --> 01:53:07,580 say that again . We've we're asking 2676 01:53:07,589 --> 01:53:11,129 you in this budget for some $49 billion 2677 01:53:11,140 --> 01:53:13,649 to uh continue to invest in all three 2678 01:53:13,660 --> 01:53:16,720 legs of the Triad , um , we've 2679 01:53:16,729 --> 01:53:18,729 requested , uh , to this point some 2680 01:53:18,729 --> 01:53:22,540 $149 billion in , in that money is 2681 01:53:22,549 --> 01:53:25,339 being put to use to , uh , to upgrade 2682 01:53:25,350 --> 01:53:27,294 our capabilities , uh , across the 2683 01:53:27,294 --> 01:53:30,169 board . Uh , so as we look at the 2684 01:53:30,180 --> 01:53:32,236 threat though , going forward , uh , 2685 01:53:32,236 --> 01:53:36,100 Senator Senator Moran , um , you know , 2686 01:53:36,109 --> 01:53:38,276 the , the threat that we face today is 2687 01:53:38,276 --> 01:53:40,276 clearly not the threat that we were 2688 01:53:40,276 --> 01:53:42,498 facing 10 years ago . Uh , and it won't 2689 01:53:42,498 --> 01:53:44,609 be the same uh 10 years from now . So 2690 01:53:44,609 --> 01:53:47,740 this is a kind of a , a changing uh um 2691 01:53:47,859 --> 01:53:50,609 uh challenge and , and we have to , we 2692 01:53:50,620 --> 01:53:52,953 have to keep pace with that . And so we , 2693 01:53:52,953 --> 01:53:54,898 we anticipate that going forward , 2694 01:53:54,898 --> 01:53:57,169 there will be more uh uh 2695 01:53:58,759 --> 01:54:00,926 changes that will have to be made . Uh 2696 01:54:00,926 --> 01:54:03,092 And you know , as , as our adversaries 2697 01:54:03,092 --> 01:54:04,660 get more capability . 2698 01:54:07,839 --> 01:54:10,890 Thank you . Thank you both . I want to 2699 01:54:10,899 --> 01:54:13,066 thank you for being here , gentlemen . 2700 01:54:13,066 --> 01:54:15,121 Uh We appreciate you , we appreciate 2701 01:54:15,121 --> 01:54:17,232 the testimony you've given here today 2702 01:54:17,232 --> 01:54:19,066 and the answers to the questions 2703 01:54:19,066 --> 01:54:21,232 senators may submit additional written 2704 01:54:21,232 --> 01:54:23,399 questions and we ask you to respond to 2705 01:54:23,399 --> 01:54:23,270 those questions at a reasonable amount 2706 01:54:23,279 --> 01:54:26,180 of time . Um special . Thank you . Even 2707 01:54:26,189 --> 01:54:28,300 though you didn't say one word , Mike 2708 01:54:28,300 --> 01:54:30,411 mccord . Thank you very , very much . 2709 01:54:30,411 --> 01:54:32,356 You are a critical part , critical 2710 01:54:32,356 --> 01:54:34,578 component of making all this stuff work 2711 01:54:34,578 --> 01:54:36,856 and I want to recognize your good work . 2712 01:54:36,856 --> 01:54:39,133 Thank you very , very much . Thank you , 2713 01:54:39,133 --> 01:54:41,356 Chairman . I appreciate the opportunity 2714 01:54:41,356 --> 01:54:41,009 to engage with this subcomittee . 2715 01:54:41,020 --> 01:54:43,076 Throughout the year in , in multiple 2716 01:54:43,080 --> 01:54:45,220 forms . Absolutely . This 2717 01:54:45,229 --> 01:54:47,285 subcommittee's going to reconvene on 2718 01:54:47,285 --> 01:54:49,507 Wednesday , May 15th at 10 a.m. to hear 2719 01:54:49,507 --> 01:54:51,810 from the undersecretary's and service 2720 01:54:51,819 --> 01:54:54,520 acquisition executives . As of right 2721 01:54:54,529 --> 01:54:56,330 now , we stand in recess .