John McCain

How will the Air Force ensure the availability of competition to help drive costs down?

What are the other most significant elements of risk in this program and how is the Air Force addressing them?

General Schwartz, are you still committed to your plan to prevent an operational pause at Luke AFB by not beginning to move any portion of the first of two F-16 squadrons until Luke AFB receives its first F-35 squadron?

Sequestration would force an immediate percentage reduction in our operation and maintenance accounts which could damage readiness.

Sequestration would drive major additional reductions beyond the first phase of the Budget Control Act reductions.

With sequestration in its present anticipated form if it were not changed, what would be the impact on those three major Air Force programs for the future?

I thank you, and I hope that the refueling tanker will be a much greater success than the F-35 was.

I continue to closely monitor the multi-billion KC-46 aerial refueling tanker program.

We will place the force again under more pressure to put spending into excess capacity when it should go into readiness and modernization.

I think it's been described by the acquisition czar in the Pentagon as 'acquisition malpractice.'

Would you do us a favor and perhaps in writing give us a detailed, not minutely detailed, but certainly an assessment of the impact on Air Force to provide or be provided the necessary weapons systems to defend the country?

Given the proposed reduction of nearly 10,000 airmen over the next 5 years, I ask that our witnesses address the capability and readiness risk the Air Force is prepared to accept as a result of these manpower reductions.

There's no doubt in your mind that we need to close additional Air Force installations?

I ask to be made part of the record, that requests the Department take no action that would be difficult or impossible to reverse if Congress disapproves a related proposal in the fiscal year 2013 request.

I request that you also refrain from taking such actions.

I join you in welcoming our witnesses to discuss the President's budget request for fiscal year 2013 for the Department of the Air Force.

I have been frustrated by the fundamental disconnect between how many F-35 jets the Department signs up to buy and the program's slow progress in developmental testing.

Secretary Mabus, to your knowledge, has anyone in the Navy been contacted by a Member of Congress or staff...

Our planned end strength of 182,100 marines represents fewer infantry battalions, artillery battalions, fixed-wing aviation squadrons, and general support combat logistics battalions than we had prior to September 11.

Is there a projected strike fighter shortfall for the Navy and Marine Corps, and, if so, what is that number?

What are the potential operational implications of these early retirements?

General Amos, once you have discharged a combat-trained marine, how do you reverse that decision?

The reductions in Marine Corps end strength should not impact current Operational Plans.

I remain concerned about the impact of these cuts, which, in my view, reflect budgetary imperatives rather than the national security threats we face.

How does retiring seven Ticonderoga-class Aegis cruisers early and putting two LSD amphibious ships in reduced operating status reconcile with the Secretary of Defense's new strategic guidance