It is important for the committee to continue our bipartisan support of these programs.

The defense of the homeland and our security efforts in the Western Hemisphere are becoming increasingly more complex as China and Russia and other adversaries expand their reach and improve their capabilities to strike us.

That is why I greatly was disappointed with the President's top-line budget number of $715 billion requested for DOD, which constitutes a nearly $5 billion cut in real dollars.

I oppose the sweeping cuts to the State Department put forward by the previous administration.

The American taxpayer has a right to be outraged.

I am deeply concerned that, far from supporting the middle class, advancing a Green New Deal... will destroy more jobs in Kentucky.

I am also concerned about the magnitude of the increases being proposed in this request.

Nowhere was the impact more harshly felt than in the heart of Appalachia, my eastern Kentucky district.

I also want to root out of the military those who actively participate in vile and violent hate groups.

It's also important to point out that we lack any concrete evidence that violent extremism is rife in the military.

We urge you to oppose any new domestic terrorism charge, the creation of a list of designated domestic terrorist organizations, or other expansion of existing nonterrorism-related authorities.

We need to tread very carefully here on First Amendment rights. This is--this is dangerous territory.

We are a little bit ahead but not very much.

Well, I share Mr. Larsen and Mr. Lynch's observation. This Commission did some great work.

It's a resource that we definitely need to be tapping into because it would help fill a need that we have got.

Last week, the Chinese Communist Party rolled out a new set of defense policies. It included a 7 percent increase in defense spending and a plan to become an Arctic and Antarctic power.

I am also very concerned with a lack of progress the DOD is making vaccinating our service members.

I remain worried about the cumulative impact they are having on our readiness.

However it could be another 2 years before these vaccines receive full FDA approval.

America must engage with our allies and partners to defend ourselves from this growing threat.

This Congress must continue to address threats posed by a rising China and a belligerent Russia.

It is just an honor to be here. And this committee does have a bipartisan history that we value and we want to see continue.

This means addressing gaps in our readiness and fielding next-generation capabilities faster than ever before.

At this time, I am prepared to close, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. First, I want to thank my friend and colleague Chairman Smith, and I look forward to working with him over this 2-year cycle. The debate we have had today…

I have two more speakers who aren't here yet. So I reserve the balance of my time.