I remain very, very troubled with the high level of suicide that we are seeing with our military, also with our veteran population.

we are sitting right up there on top. We have got a larger interface with the Asia-Pacific theater than any other State out there.

Are you satisfied that, in fact, that mission can be served with the C-130? Basically, is this the right thing to be doing?

Any ideas or suggestions as to how we can address the domestic airlift?

I believe it is critically important.

I do recognize though that part of the proposed savings that the Air Force is looking to is demolishing several buildings within Eielson.

Investing in sustainable future technologies is critical to Navy's ability to remain the world's premier maritime force.

I'm wondering how the Marine Corps trains to operate in cold climates and whether Alaska's ranges and training grounds might offer some value to the Corps.

I would certainly concur with that. And again, I would repeat my request, that you consider sending a general officer as part of that site survey.

Would moving the F-16s from Eielson AFB to JBER require either an environmental analysis or an environmental impact statement (EIS)?

I appreciate that you have gone there yourself, and would be curious in your impression, in terms of the quality of what we're doing in Alaska, in terms of the training.

Relocating the 18th Aggressor Squadron to JBER is not a precursor to closing Eielson AFB.

I am hopeful and would certainly encourage the Army to revisit its decision to retire the C-23.

As important as it is, when we talk about our military equipment and the infrastructure needs, I think we recognize that it always come back to the individual, to the human being, and we need to make sure that we are focusing equal…

I continue to press for the answer from the Air Force as to its intentions with Eielson AFB to continue that installation as a fully functioning base.

It looks just like home. So, it is a great place to train.

Greatly, greatly appreciated.

I know that the folks in Alaska recognize, again, not only the strategic advantage that is gained there, but some of the training opportunities that we have.

But that is being factored in.

Thank you, Madam Chairman.

It's going to take, I think, a mix of every economic activity that we have available to be able to have sustainable communities in the Southeast Alaska.

I share the concern and the frustration that we have that seemingly every sale is stopped by litigation.

I don't think that the current Forest Service plan for the Tongass is implementable.

Some of us feel pretty strongly that that time has expired a long time ago. We need to get this resolved.

I appreciate that you're going to be getting back to us on the letter that so many of us signed about the diversification of the fire fighting air tanker fleet.