Mike Rogers

This budget is throwing the shipbuilding industrial base further into disarray.

Unfortunately, I was being naive. Rather than keeping pace with the threat from China, the President's budget recommendation would let us lap them--let them lap us.

I wholeheartedly agree with that. I was optimistic that President--the President would hear that rhetoric from the Secretary and turn it into action.

I am really interested in us doing some creative things when it comes to recruitment and retention.

In my opening statement, you heard me talk about the threats that we have in new warfighting domains that we have to be conscious of.

I welcome you and your commissioners, and I appreciate the work you all have put into this report.

I am of the opinion this should have been resolved before you announced you were leaving.

I don't doubt the commitment of the Biden administration against the terrorist threat and I would hope that they are committed, as all previous administrations have been, to taking the steps necessary and striking when we need to to…

I think it's really important, certainly, the Department of Defense but the State Department and whole of government really sort of moves that up on the priority list to go--to go forward to try and find a way to help the people who have…

Make no mistake, they will fight until they control that country again.

The big difference is the previous administration's was conditions based. This is unconditional withdrawal.

I have significant concerns about President Biden's decision.

The chairman was correct earlier when he made the point that Biden administration's policy to withdraw from Afghanistan is following up on the previous administration's.

I wholeheartedly agree with the request for the Aegis Ashore site at Guam, that that is inadequate, and this should be one of our highest priorities, to protect what we know is an early target from any attack.

I share my concern on the burn pits that Representative Welch talked about.

Our National Guard folks are right alongside Active Duty personnel... they should get the same treatment.

We do not need to have a slush fund for the Defense Department.

I think that is unacceptable.

Maintaining financial control over this behemoth is critical to ensure taxpayer accountability and avoid waste, fraud, and abuse.

There had better be a plan for that, and I expect the administration to explain it to us as soon as possible.

I am very concerned that the Taliban will overrun the democratically elected government soon after we withdraw.

Given the commitment and given where we are at in our national security needs, I think the President made the right call.

We should be more concerned about raising the baseline of our partners' capabilities in Eastern Europe than about Vladimir Putin's ego.

I believe that the committee should continue its strong support for European Deterrence Initiative, the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, and other programs to build our capacity in Europe and empower our partners.

European Command and our NATO allies are facing an increasingly belligerent Russia and a growing Chinese influence in their operations.