I remain, however, very concerned about the Department's future shipbuilding plan, particularly as it affects the transition from the DDG to the experimental destroyer (DD(X)).

I will be following up in writing with some of those concerns.

Why were we so ill-prepared? Why didn't we have more body armor and more fortified HMMWVs available to protect our troops?

I very much appreciate the commitment that you've shown in your budget to fully fund the construction of three guided missile destroyers (DDGs) this year.

One of the most important things for any soldier to know is when are they coming home.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Secretary Brownlee, like many of my colleagues, I have heard repeated concerns expressed by the families of our guard members and reservists who are serving in Iraq about the shortages of body armor and fortified…

I very much appreciate the commitment you have shown in your budget to fully fund the construction of three DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

General Hagee, in preparation for OIF 2, you mentioned that the Marines are drawing on lessons learned from your sister Services, coalition partners, inter-departmental agencies, and the Marine Corps' own 'Small Wars' experience.

If this occurs, it would be the first year in more than 20 years that our Navy will not be procuring a major surface combatant.

Thank you very much. That's good news.

I feel we have a moral obligation to make sure that they have all of the supplies and equipment, and most of all, protection that they need.

It is our duty. This is not a case where we're not eager to give you the money you need.

I continue to receive e-mails from soldiers in Iraq who tell me that they still lack the equipment they need.

We do need to exercise our constitutional responsibilities.

I hope you will consider working with the committee to come up with a more traditional request.

All of us want to make sure that we do that quickly and fully.

We really do need to preserve the important role that Congress plays.

I, for one, don't know whether or not to trust the intelligence estimates on North Korea now.