Mark Begich

If confirmed, I would use this ongoing process as a starting point to improve health care for servicemembers stationed in Alaska.

If confirmed, I would work to ensure that these accounts are responsibly funded and maintained.

If confirmed, I pledge to work to improve these services to the best of my ability so that our servicemembers have access to the fullest spectrum of health care possible; they deserve no less.

I believe that there are important roles for the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), DOD agencies, military Services, and the combatant commanders in oversight and management of contracts and of contractors on the battlefield.

I believe this can be done at a fraction of the time and cost it would take if the Department tried to develop the technology itself.

KLC is a national treasure that has the capabilities to support a host of DOD customers requiring launch capability.

In my opinion, DOD should review the implementation of this policy, however, I am not aware of the degree to which DOD currently reviews the awarding of contracts to small business, minority and women owned businesses.

I will focus my initial efforts to try to ensure the Air Force moves smartly and quickly to put the right foundational elements in place.

So you'll look at the bigger picture.

Last because my time is up, I know you said in short order. How do you define that?

We have to make a decision on what we're going to do and how we're going to do it.

But I would say we're not there even in those high-intensity areas.

In our authorization bill that will be up Monday, we have some language in there specifically talking about a testing plan.

One of the keys that we are looking at in this assessment is we have in the technology side, on what we could call the test and modeling side of the house, demonstrated a capability particularly for the SM-3 missile to be able to intercept…

How do you define in Afghanistan--that is what I am focused on right now, a win in Afghanistan?

There is a policy discussion that needs to occur if the belief is that the system should be developed beyond what we would call a rogue state capability.

There are two priorities that we have set for the European site. One is a regional defense capability to protect the nations, and the second is a redundant capability that would assist in protecting the United States or the Homeland.

How will you deal with the conflicts that might occur when a budget constraint is put on you in regards to testing?

I was one of the first mayors when I served as mayor to sign the covenant with the Army.

It's absolutely vital that we have an extremely strong family support group.

I think you're a great group of folks and President Obama has once again selected some good individuals, especially in the armed services area.

I truly believe we are totally underresourced up there for what is going to be necessary, not only today but into the future.

I want to echo that I think families and spouses are under great stress at this time based on the deployments.

The President has continued to bring folks forward for confirmation, especially to this committee that I have a role in.

I think you answered--my second question was going to be that, in regards to other major systems, that those three stages should also be utilized?