I think I want to commend Senator Ernst for being the motivator behind this hearing.

We are an ally-rich Nation. Most of our adversaries and potential adversaries are ally-poor.

Since the end of World War II, the richest and most technologically advanced country in the world has sent its soldiers and marines into combat with inferior small arms. So inferior, in fact, that thousands have died needlessly.

So do you think we need to look at that, not just the caliber issue, but do you think we need to look at the sniper rifle?

Our goal is to make sure that, you know, the Members of the Senate who are on the bill that we introduced 2 weeks ago, is to make sure that, whoever is in the White House, has the kind of strategic time that, if and when he has this…

When the Army is talking about cost, if it is going to save thousands of lives of frontline troops, then it should not even be debatable.

I appreciate Senator Tester's commitment to that issue as well.

I think we need America first on missile defense.

General Hyten has stated in testimony that, 'The deployment of a global space-based sensor system with discrimination capability will be a critical component to improving the effectiveness of our deployed missile defense interceptors.'

Admiral Syring similarly stated, 'From a missile defense perspective, we have to develop a future operational space layer.'

I support the President's budget.

Defending the Nation should be our first priority.

I think that we need to do more to be able to protect the Homeland.

We should not take those threats lightly.

I am honored to recognize a remarkable coalition of veterans today. Every year on May 15, Alaskan Hmong American Vietnam veterans come together to celebrate Hmong American Veterans Memorial Day in remembrance of General Vang Pao's final…

every week I have been coming to the floor to recognize someone in my State who has made a difference, someone who has devoted time and energy to making my State a better place to live for others. We call these individuals our Alaskan of…

Great. Section 119 of the WIIN Act amends the law related to the territorial partial cost share waiver to add federally recognized Indian tribes as entities eligible for a limited waiver of local cost sharing for Army Corps studies and…

I would like to get offline with you because there are two specific provisions in the WRDA bill, just signed into law, that are very focused on that and are intended.

If there are delays, I need to understand why there are delays when the law has been changed to actually get the Corps to move out on this issue.

in addition to the Ministerial of the Arctic Council, as I mentioned, the eyes of the world are on this-- clearly on the important issue of U.S.-China relations. We had the recent President Trump and President Xi meeting in Mar-a- Lago…

I come to the floor to speak on a couple of important foreign policy issues. I begin by talking about what is going to be happening in Alaska in just a few days. Really, the eyes of the world are going to be on Fairbanks, AK--the Golden…

I have 8 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. Pursuant to Rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following…

We are going to be introducing a bill called the Rebuild America Now Act, which relates directly to this infrastructure streamlining the permitting process.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 146, submitted earlier today. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The senior assistant legislative clerk read as…

I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered…