I do believe it's very important, and hopefully we'll be able to have a good discussion today and we'll be able to study your recommendations.

With sequestration and the way current law expects spending to be, DOD will spend $521 billion this year.

We will make a mistake if we get far away from that, in my opinion.

we are going to invest in the modernization we need to keep the deterrent stronger than it has ever been, and you have my commitment on that.

I do not want to overstate my happiness about where we are financially and the way the programs are going.

The program is fragile, and any funding reductions at this point could pose unacceptable risk to the health of the nuclear enterprise.

I think all of us believe that we need a modernized nuclear force, that we're past due for that.

I wish Congress and the President would allow new weapons to be built. I think that'd be safer and cheaper and better.

We don't doubt that they eventually have the capability to make that a successful missile if left to their own devices?

I support a more frugal approach. I will give you an A, but it is delaying things.

I am troubled by these developments and look forward to understanding your strategy for countering and deterring China's offensive space efforts.

I think it is very important.

What missile defense capabilities might be useful as part of a potential military response to Russian aggression in Crimea?

There is no more cuts if we stay on the Budget Control Act (BCA) numbers.

I do not think, under the Budget Control Act, they will have to be cut that much, which is good news.

I believe that this report you've submitted to us is very valuable.

I think that is important to us because we need a healthy triad and healthy nuclear deterrent.

Our understanding is that we could go back and modernize the triad over a period of years.

I hope that will continue. They have to participate with intensity in this effort.

In March of last year, Secretary Hagel announced steps to strengthen homeland missile defense, including the deployment of 14 more ground-based interceptors (GBI) in Alaska.

It has been my concern, which I have raised publicly, that the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) statement that had some 30-odd references to a world without nuclear weapons was stunning to me.

The President made a commitment at the time of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) that we would be involved in this.

This budget demonstrates a failure in presidential leadership that undermines our national security.

Let me just tell you, you're going to be looking at $521 billion. Is that sequestration or not?

Adversaries like China and Russia are rapidly positioning themselves to overtake American dominance in the space domain.