I commend you both for your distinguished careers and your leadership of an Army in the midst of organizational change.

No, sir, I have not seen that.

Hopefully by the mid- to latter-part of 2013, we will be able to make a transition from a combat role.

We owe it to our servicemembers and their families to address any change in their compensation and benefits in a manner that acknowledges the commitment that we made to them when they volunteered to serve in our Armed Forces.

Secretary McHugh, how will production lines for defense items be kept warm as DOD scales back on purchasing over the next few years?

Unfortunately, this defense budget continues the administration's habit of putting short-term political considerations over our long-term national security interests.

Our goal is to complete all of the transition to a training, advisory, and assistance role in 2013.

Certainly in New Hampshire we've seen both sides of the issue, because Pease Air Force Base was the first base closed in the country.

This is a problem that I worry about a great deal.

If it is as catastrophic as you state, then why don't we sit down?

Once infrastructure is lost in the United States, the capacity may never be gained back.

This year's request includes $525 billion for the base budget and $88.4 billion for overseas contingency operations (OCO).

I fear that this defense budget and the broader plan to cut $487 billion from DOD over 10 years only continues this dangerous and regrettable pattern.

The administration's approach thus far has been too defined by short-term domestic political considerations. The administration has not led.

I do not fully endorse this budget request. Indeed, I am seriously concerned about how we arrived at this point.

the welfare of our citizens is even more vital.

We're making great progress on that.