there were many people who received bonuses who are in positions where, unfortunately, they were engaged in this issue.

it has been 631 days that we have not had a permanent Inspector General at the VA

I hope that we follow up with our actions on our words on this, otherwise I fear that the Chinese will continue their actions.

Obviously, the Department of Defense has reorganized its recovery efforts and stood up the new Defense POW-MIA Accounting Agency.

I would hope that we would reevaluate our position and become a signatory with most of the rest of the world of the Law of the Sea Convention.

I think we need to certainly make it more rigorous, and we need to make it clear for people.

Can you imagine a business where 95 percent of what you can do goes down?

I cannot see how they are taking the balance of the fishery in.

I think it is important to point that out.

I think our efforts in Syria have been a tragic failure.

if we are serious about building a third-way alternative force that is aimed at pushing back against ISIS and perhaps creating the space for the long-term political settlement, then where is that plan?

I certainly hope we will take that opportunity.

I think we need to reassess our whole strategy across the Middle East.

if we are going to try to at least say...that this, in part, will not only aim to defeat ISIS, but then also perhaps set the stage for a negotiated political solution, we need to do a better job on building those forces.

I am confident that we can pass the legislation in committee, and that will give us a chance to bring it to the Senate floor.

this is a high priority of mine, and as a member of the Budget Committee, I will be able to ensure that we take this up in the committee.

I hope is that this year, we will find a vehicle that will allow us to enact this legislation and provide the certainty of funding going forward.

I hope when you issue this report that you will also give us guidance on what the models are.