If confirmed, do you commit to working to address this modernization backlog at this and other important shipyards?

Will you make that assurance to this committee?

I do not believe that we should subjugate our national security for our failure to have political courage here in Washington.

I will be making recommendations to him based on your best assessment of what should be done on all major areas in DOD.

The concern that I and others share is that as States 'manage their finances' they are spending an extraordinarily higher amount of money percentagewise of borrowed dollars.

I want to also thank our men and women in the armed forces for their sacrifice and the tremendous progress that we've made in Iraq.

Do you anticipate any enhanced force presence in Kuwait in case there is an emergency in Iraq from either Iranian aggression or some other form, where security regresses in Iraq?

With that many contractors that you're currently relying on, and relying on additional contractors as this transition is made, are you confident that there's sufficient oversight to address waste, fraud, and abuse with taxpayer dollars…

we do not recognize these results, and therefore engaging in the business-as-usual diplomatic relations with a government that is headed by a leader whom we do not recognize is hard to imagine.

I think Congress can play a role to ensure that the assistance package for Belarus be robust.

I certainly agree with what both of you are--really, everybody who has testified has said about the importance of a coordinated effort between the United States and the EU to address what is happening in Belarus.

We have to stand with them. They face tremendously adverse circumstances there.

I certainly would agree with and think that makes sense.

I hope the Congress will move forward with quickly, and that, too, would send a signal of both support.

The integrity of the elections was so flawed and so bad that it requires that election to be held again.

the pursuit of sanctions, asset freezes, and a ban on travel by the regime and those involved in the latest crackdown are intended to compel the government to treat its people fairly.

The united front from the EU and the United States I think is very important.

the immediate release of opposition candidates, party leaders, and civil society members must be the first step and should occur without delay.