Ben Nelson: “We've spent billions of dollars to produce a fabulous SATCOM network that is a critical part of our defense structure.”

It is encouraging to know that there is that effort at coordination and collaboration because if there is any quick way to lose opportunity or to miss optimization, it is everyone going off on their own way.

We cannot just be catching up or trying to stay at par with the rest of the world or otherwise our defenses are down.

These programs are central to our national security. They deserve full, bipartisan support.

Let me add my thoughts. We ask you to reduce budgets, to watch the growth, and then when you come before us after you've done it, then we question why you've done it and whether you've done it right or not.