As an Arctic Nation, when we have one operational Polar Class vessel, and it doesn't even get to the Arctic, we are woefully behind.

I, too, am concerned about the border as we all are...

I think many of us in this committee, in this Congress are very concerned about where we are with our naval fleet.

I look at the Marines' role in Arctic Ops as absolutely necessary.

more than 50 percent said they would not transfer to the Active Duty Space Force.

more than 50 percent said they would not transfer to the Active Duty Space Force.

I need to know and I'd like your commitment, Admiral, that the Navy as the contract agent for this effort is proactively supporting the Coast Guard and their acquisition of additional icebreakers.

Last year you testified that the Air National Guard makes up 30 percent of our Nation's Space Force capacity.

I think that tight coupling is where when the dollars get big there needs to be a service partner identified in advance before the money gets too big.

What is really going to cost us is when these people vote with their feet, when they leave, and then we lose that experience that we have invested in them.

if we don't take care of our people, if we don't give them predictability, those decades of experience that they have, that will take decades to replace, they are going to vote with their feet, and they are going to do something else.

we're moving forward with the first deep water Arctic port, the Port of Nome. It's going to be incredibly important to our national defense interests.

the concern here of course is that you are going to have an impact on the mission on our preparedness.

We are appreciative and grateful. We recognize, so many of us recognize just the role of our Reserve Forces.

In the fiscal year 2025 budget, Air Force is acquiring less fighters than originally projected six less F-35s, six less F-15EXs than originally planned.

So, let me ask a question about the expansion of research and the modernization funding in OSD.

if we don't take care of our people, if we don't give them predictability, those decades of experience that they have, that will take decades to replace, they are going to vote with their feet, and they are going to do something else.

I think many of us in this committee, in this Congress are very concerned about where we are with our naval fleet.