the Air National Guard represents only 6 percent of the Air Force budget, and yet it provides nearly 35 percent of its capabilities.

In New Hampshire we believe that under any objective criteria our strategic location in the Northeast... would result in a very cost-effective utilization of the placement of the KC-46s.

I remain committed to working with our allies to ensure the strength of the NATO alliance and collective European defense.

I hope that DOD will take that very seriously and produce that, because as we're looking at our security going forward, those public shipyards are a critical part of that.

I would hope that the Air Force and DOD will take a look and ensure that at least some of those aircraft are based at Guard bases around the country.

are we doing all we can to defend the Homeland against long-range missile threats?

we must be better prepared to respond to threats that give us little to no advance warning

Unfortunately, this is part of the pattern for Russia.

If you know someone is killing someone and committing murder... and you knowingly provide them with arms, you are not just standing silent; you are actually an accomplice to those killings.

I was proud to join my colleagues... in writing a letter to Secretary Panetta to express our outrage regarding the Russian arms sales.

It is inexcusable that we are in this position now... not knowing what we're going to do because we have been unable to act.

I believe we should minimize using cost-plus contracts to procure major weapons systems.

I fully commit to supporting that critical program.

I appreciate all of the witnesses being here today

We are talking about small businesses that if they are put out of business by sequestration, then it is difficult often to bring that capability back.

Is it correct that DOD is purchasing helicopters from Rosoboronexport for use in Afghanistan?

I hope that is the case this time, but I am concerned about what I see as a mismatch between our stated national security objectives and a portion of the Pentagon budget proposal.

Mr. Kendall, are you aware of Rosoboronexport's activities in Syria and how that company, which is affiliated with the Russian Government, has continued to arm the Assad regime and enable that regime's murder of its own citizens?