Tom Cotton

I hope that we provide you and all the sailors that you represent the adequate support you need, both to modernize our fleet and to continue to be a forward-deployed force to project American power.

The U.S. military advantage has begun to erode.

I believe that, in aggregate, we would be better with a renewed successor agreement than without it.

The true test for any capability is user adoption, so why would you expect the Army to force an inferior, failing, over-priced program on the warfighter?

Shouldn't we procure programs like Palantir's that exceed the performance and expectations of an internal build like DCGS-A?

General Dunford, the nominee to be the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, called Russia an existential threat.

I know the total number of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines that were killed by Iranian activities, and the number has been recently reported as about 500.

Does the United States have the military capability to destroy Iran's nuclear program?

So you believe that at least part of that money can go to terrorist organizations they support like Hezbollah.

How do you expect Iran will use that signing bonus?

I find that proposal somewhat underwhelming, although a step in the right direction.

Given that Russia... is currently in ongoing violation of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty, do you believe the United States should consider withdrawing from that treaty?

If Russia refuses to return to compliance, the United States should prevent Russia from achieving a military advantage from its violation.

The United States goal should be to convince Russia to return to compliance with the INF Treaty in a verifiable manner.

I believe there is a strong case that it would violate the Geneva Conventions to have soldiers operating without insignia.

When this transfer happened, Congress was not notified as required by the law.

But that doesn't mean they will trade five stone-cold Taliban killers for us.

I opposed it then, and I would oppose it now. We didn't leave Bowe Bergdahl behind.

I want to get back on track to getting enough money for defense by getting rid of sequester.

Congress and the President should repeal the Budget Control Act immediately and return as soon as possible to at least the funding baseline proposed in Bob Gates' FY 2012 defense budget.

Thank you all for your service, not just on this commission, but many of you have served our country in other ways.

Having dealt with junior enlisted men who are new to the Army, I can say the financial literacy proposals are very critical as well.

But, in the meantime, Iran now controls or has dominant influence in five capitals in the Middle East.

So, why is it that Iran can initially undertake needlessly provocative acts toward the United States and our partners, yet we are supposed to just simply look the other way while this Congress, considering legislation that clearly would…

Secretary Kerry obviously miscalculated when he said 15 months ago that we could reach a deal in 3 to 6 months.