Supporting our men and women in uniform is certainly a solemn and sacred responsibility that we have.

I believe our Government's most important responsibility is to protect the American people.

It also seems to me not only important in terms of the shipyard, but a way to save taxpayers' dollars.

I am deeply concerned about our policy toward detainees and release back into theater.

Please express our gratitude to all the troops that serve underneath you for all that they are doing to protect our country.

I appreciated everyone's expressed commitment, again, to the health and well-being of all the servicemen and women and their families.

Senator Brown and I are sponsoring a bill. It involves giving the authorities in Afghanistan an opportunity to terminate contracting funds...

But please know that we want a full-year defense appropriation for the rest of fiscal year 2011 to come forward.

I hope that leadership within the Senate and also in the House brings forward funding for the rest of the year for a defense appropriations.

This program has been supported by congressionally-directed spending--earmarks--which are not likely to continue.

In New Hampshire we have a very significant defense industry that has been doing a lot of cutting edge research.

I would just hope, Secretary Mabus and all of you, that you will take those recommendations very seriously.

I wanted to join in her comments about the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and the importance of that shipyard.

If there is feedback that you have and tools that we could provide you to make sure that you have the ability to terminate funds to contractors where the money shouldn't go...

I think that the least we can do for our troops is to hold those who are dangerous.

I think that is all that we can hope for in how you make your decision.

I certainly agree with that, and hopefully, if we adopt a clean energy standard, it will include biomass as part of that.

If we fail to have the political courage in Congress to make the difficult decisions... do you think this will make us less safe as we look forward?