The minimum Navy requirement for amphibious ships is 38. Combatant commanders need more than 50 amphibious ships on a day-to-day basis.

Mr. Secretary, you answered Senator Kaine's question about the troubling issue of the advanced weapons elevators.

if you lack that capability, then your only option is to bring it from some other land, some other place

The problem with the Arleigh Burke is she is full. We really do not have much room to expand or modernize her much beyond her current platform.

A 355-ship fleet is not some best-case ideal that we would like to achieve if everything goes well.

Tell us about that number.

It was a bipartisan achievement, and I am I proud to have been part of this team.

We do not want you to be alarmist. We do not want you to exaggerate and wave your arms.

You guys are in the building business and hardware business, not so much in the personnel business, except that you really are.

The $450 million that you asked about earlier----

So I think that's a great idea.

For anyone that offended for my -- by my comments, I certainly apologize.

as the Presiding Officer entered the Chamber and took the Chair, I was explaining to Members what the Coast Guard does--all the various vital activities they do to provide for the safety and security of Americans. Let me tell my colleagues…

I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll. The senior assistant bill clerk called the roll. The result was announced--yeas 94…

it is my understanding that the distinguished Democratic leader will be coming in soon to participate in leadership time, but until such time, I ask unanimous consent to address the Senate on the Coast Guard bill for 5 minutes. The…

reclaiming my time, I thank the Senator from Florida for making those points and for his leadership as ranking member of the Commerce Committee. In this regard, I suggest the vote coming up soon will be probably as lopsided as the one on…

I wish to say a word or two about the Coast Guard bill, which is coming up soon. I assure my colleagues that when the leader comes to the Chamber to make leadership remarks, I will certainly defer to him. I cannot tell you how pleased I am…

Why is that important, and can you discuss the impact that these national security cutters have on the Coast Guard's efforts to carry out its core missions?