Mark Pryor

Thank you both for hosting this and I want to thank you for being here on behalf of the SBA because SBA does a lot of great things around the country.

I appreciate your commitment to the clusters because like I said, I agree with the stats you are giving the Committee today.

Let me ask about an ARS issue, about a 30-percent cut to extramural ARS activities.

We're right on our numbers? Thank you.

I think that on this, and maybe some of these other facilities that we've talked about today, they focus on long-term basic research that actually helps farming, helps agriculture, and helps that be a core strength in the U.S. economy.

That seems inconsistent with the statute, because what they're left with is, they're left with traveling farther than the 20 miles that's in the statute to get to an FSA office.

I think that is one reason why you're seeing some reluctance. Obviously, there are political reasons too, but some reluctance in the Senate.

it's hard for me to understand where the savings are coming from.

I'm very concerned that all of this was not taken into consideration when it came time to make decisions on the budget.

I'm troubled that while survival rates of many cancers are steadily improving, one of the most lethal forms of cancer, pancreatic cancer, remains at about 6 percent.

I've asked repeatedly for a cost analysis used by the Air Force, and there's been reluctance on behalf of the Air Force to share the cost analysis with me.

I'm a cancer survivor. I survived clear-cell sarcoma about 15 years ago.

I'd still like to see the numbers to satisfy my curiosity about how much we'd actually be saving there.

Well, does that mean, though, that you're going to prioritize it in terms of funding and try to invest more there?

I want to thank General Jackson and General Etter for coming into the office in recent weeks to talk about one of the things I want to talk to you about today.

I understand that we are in a shrinking-budget environment. I completely get that and appreciate that.

I am concerned, though, that the Air National Guard and the Air Reserve component were not necessarily listened to...

I'm not at all convinced of is the cost savings achieved by doing this, specifically with the A-10s.

But do you understand the inconsistency? The Air Force wants to do it now before there's a BRAC, before there's the thorough review.

the cost analyses have not been forthcoming from DOD.

Shouldn't the Air Force wait until the BRAC does its work before making a determination on where the A-10s should be located?

I appreciate that. And I do think that they're key to our economic future.

I would encourage you to take a look at it, and hopefully help generate some support for it.

FRA appreciates Sen. Mark Pryor's leadership by introducing the 'Honor American's Guard-Reserve Retirees' (S. 491) bill.

It is always good to see you.