What concerns me about this budget is that I think we're giving up a capability that we're going to need.

it is my understanding that C-5 RERP is performing well, that Lockheed Martin is performing to cost and schedule, and that the Air Force has indicated that RERP meets or exceeds all key performance parameters specified by contract.

Has the F-22 been pointed to, over the last decade, as the next-generation fighter that was going to allow us to maintain air dominance and air superiority?

By the time you take out planes for testing, by the time you consider planes that are in depot maintenance, you're going to wind up with combat-coded airplanes roughly in the range of 125 to 135.

I kind of like that line of questioning you were on, Mr. Chairman.

Is it not normal to have some analysis for terminating a line, versus deciding to terminate the line and then do your analysis after the fact?

This landmark report was the culmination of nearly 2 years of work by an independent task force of prominent national leaders.

I think we need to be real careful here, but I also think we need to use this as an incentive with the leadership to remind them, relative to these most important Americans, the men and women who put themselves in harm's way on our behalf…

And I hope that you will remember always the importance of this legislative prerogative. And it is not just a prerogative. It is a requirement.

So you make a great point, but just because the Congress has not done its job funding programs in a timely manner doesn't mean you have to go and change the constitutional process of annual oversight and appropriations from the legislative…

Commitment to the military is a family commitment, we understand that.

I would hope that we wouldn't pass a restriction before that comes in because we'd--like in Sago, where we finally learned what actually caused the accident.

I have told everybody this is the best pick the President has made.

We have a significant challenge in the United States transportation system.

I would comment Chairman Murray that good things can happen from what this committee does.

It is great to be in the time where we can deal with this particular issue and other similar issues, especially given the economic crisis that has, in part, been caused by laissez-faire attitudes.

This Congress has consistently stated over almost the past 100 years that, if there is no benefit to consumers, then allowing manufacturers to set retail pricing is disfavored.

Even former President Ronald Reagan condemned retail price fixing because it stifles competition, and adds to inflation.