Lisa Murkowski

As an Arctic Nation, when we have one operational Polar Class vessel, and it doesn't even get to the Arctic, we are woefully behind.

I, too, am concerned about the border as we all are...

As an Arctic Nation, when we have one operational Polar Class vessel, and it doesn't even get to the Arctic, we are woefully behind.

I, too, am concerned about the border as we all are...

If we don't take care of our people, if we don't give them predictability, those decades of experience that they have, that will take decades to replace, they are going to vote with their feet, and they are going to do something else.

We are trying and we are making some headway, but again, it is these little things.

So, you think it's a good idea, but we're not quite there yet in terms of making sure that we are implementing to scale?

I think that tight coupling is where when the dollars get big there needs to be a service partner identified in advance before the money gets too big.

So, let me ask a question about the expansion of research and the modernization funding in OSD.

I think many of us in this committee, in this Congress are very concerned about where we are with our naval fleet.

The United States is an Arctic nation, and of course, this is a strategically important region to us.

I think would be a strategic critical error.

I need to know and I'd like your commitment, Admiral, that the Navy as the contract agent for this effort is proactively supporting the Coast Guard and their acquisition of additional icebreakers.

Count me amongst those that are worried about our shipbuilding capacity and our infrastructure.

If we don't take care of our people, if we don't give them predictability, those decades of experience that they have, that will take decades to replace, they are going to vote with their feet, and they are going to do something else.

I appreciate your response to that. But I also recognize that as I talk to these AGR folks back home, they have got decisions to make.

What is really going to cost us is when these people vote with their feet, when they leave, and then we lose that experience that we have invested in them.

We are appreciative and grateful. We recognize, so many of us recognize just the role of our Reserve Forces.

We are trying and we are making some headway, but again, it is these little things.

I would commit to you that we will look at that, but I would like to look at it in the context of some of the other programs that we are doing as well.

If we fail to invest adequately in our soldiers, that is where we fail, that is where we have the vulnerabilities.

So, you think it's a good idea, but we're not quite there yet in terms of making sure that we are implementing to scale?

I think that tight coupling is where when the dollars get big there needs to be a service partner identified in advance before the money gets too big.

So, let me ask a question about the expansion of research and the modernization funding in OSD.

In the fiscal year 2025 budget, Air Force is acquiring less fighters than originally projected six less F-35s, six less F-15EXs than originally planned.