The fact that some of these corporations are using the money to buy stocks back without building capacity first is incredibly irresponsible.

It requires coordination between DOD, USAID, and State in fragile countries that are not yet failed states.

In my opinion, this is a disgrace.

Do you guys have a plan to fix the shortages that you perceive within the contracting. Yes, or no?

I think that is ineptness on Congress' part, not on yours, and we tend to tie your hands behind your back when we don't get budgets done on time.

I am very concerned about the security and stability situation in the region.

The proposed inventory divestments and cuts to ship vehicle and aircraft procurement included in the President's budget request would require us to incur excessive risk without there being any discernible reduction in the threats facing…

We need to coordinate between defense, diplomacy, and development to be as effective as possible.

But we have failed miserably in getting the budget done on time.

As far as the Navy and the Air Force goes, do you guys use that account and do you feel same way as Secretary Bush feels?

Congress dropped the ball on that because that would have changed things dramatically.

I want to thank you all for your testimony and your concise answers with the questions. We appreciate that.

The Sentinel Project is a project that is near and dear to both Senator Hoeven and me.

We need to understand what risks this lower budget creates for our military personnel, our operations around the globe, and our modernization efforts.

We are running against some real-time issues if we are going to get these replaced in the three ICBM bases by 2036.

Some folks want it to be used as a political tool, when in fact we ought to be working for the betterment of the country, not for Democrats or Republicans.

we cannot produce two attack submarines a year. We're at about 1.2 and I think everyone can see this platform is probably the most critical and decisive.

Look, I have repeatedly called upon Secretary Mayorkas, and President Biden, and Congress, to step up and fix what is going on in the southern border.