"If the threats from Russia and China and Iran and North Korea, potentially other now or future nuclear states were to grow and our leaders determine that we need to produce more than that number of pits per year, with additional funding, do we have the technical ability to achieve that?"
"Again, driven primarily by the threat that Russia has posed by both the rhetoric and the reality of their nuclear modernization."
"Sir, every day Russia is in a position basically to checkmate us with what they are doing. It is urgent."
"No, sir. It is a continuity of our nuclear deterrent framework that you see."
"Absolutely."
"the Air Force's unfunded priorities list states that the ground-based strategic deterrent and long-range standoff weapon programs are both expected to run out of funding by the end of the year."
"nothing has done more damage to the United States Air Force than budget uncertainty or sequester over the last decade."
"we are actually executing on the nuclear modernization, on the research and development phase of that faster than we thought."
"it is imperative that Congress act to eliminate those caps and the risk of sequestration."
"There is nothing classified about my question or your answer, though."
"They're not out of the woods with respect to Russian interference in their government."