The Public Record
Ben Nelson is a former United States Senator from Nebraska, serving from 2001 to 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, he was known for his moderate positions and bipartisan approach to legislation. During his tenure, he played a significant role in various issues, including healthcare reform and fiscal responsibility. Nelson was a key vote in the passage of the Affordable Care Act, which was a landmark piece of legislation during President Obama's administration.
There is the distinction that we talked about between that that is just criminal for profit type efforts versus terrorists or nation state efforts that are the equivalent of spying to try to access our secrets and inveigle their way into…
There have been a lot of penetrations of U.S. Government and industrial computer systems with data theft that have been traced back to China.
Statistics are now showing that criminals engaging in cyber crime make more money today in that cyber crime than via the drug trade for the first time.
The International Traffic in Arms Regulations restrictions on the export of space-related technologies... have had a negative impact on the U.S. space industrial base.
The Army is invested in space capabilities and requires them in order to function our operating forces in theater and around the world.
We've spent billions of dollars to produce a fabulous SATCOM network that is a critical part of our defense structure.
However, I have significant concerns regarding the administration's stated intention of pursuing proposals and concepts for arms control measures.
The Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) Office has had several successful space efforts, including TACSAT-3, demonstrating the military utility of small satellites to the warfighter.
The conventional DOD acquisition process is too long and too cumbersome to fit the needs of the many systems that require continuous changes and upgrades.
We must improve our acquisition practices to both continue to deliver the critical capabilities our warfighters need.
Can you explain what happened, what you are doing to fix this problem, and whether these test failures affect the deployed interceptors?
I believe that my original assessment of high technical and schedule risk is still valid.