Dianne Feinstein

Could we please see the results of your pit-aging studies?

Well, how much longer can the stockpile be considered safe without ignition?

Is it possible that NIF will not achieve ignition?

NIF is supposed to achieve ignition by September. My question is, will it? There are some that believe it will not.

Well, the Iranians are doing that, too.

And if you can't achieve ignition, that becomes a very big deal in terms of testing of weapons.

So we didn't fund it.

I'm strongly opposed to it.

The Global Hawk was 'essential to the National security'; and 'that there are no alternatives to the program which will provide acceptable capability to meet the joint military requirement at less cost.'

So, in terms of Fresno, which is a community that is very upset about it, it will be a substitution, and as far as the community is concerned, there will be a continuation.

My interest is a competition, where everybody can compete, and the Government can hopefully save some money.

I'm very concerned that this is not the case, that with the United Launch Alliance (ULA) contract, details of which are apparently not put out, that there is no competitive bidding.

I think it's important for us to manage risk.

If I may, gentlemen, I'd like to follow-up on Senator Hutchison's question, because it also affects Fresno, California, and the 144th.

And when would that competition begin? When would the first year be when a new company can compete?

That's tragic, because it could be, I'm not saying it would be, but it could be a savings of many billion dollars, if they're competitive.

Will SpaceX be able to compete?

You had farmers in bread lines. It was really a terrible, terrible situation.

In 2009 when we had a similar situation, you had 45 percent unemployment.

California, I should say, America's largest agriculture State is California.

Well, as I recall in 2009, we got about 450,000 acre-feet from a number of administrative changes...

Well, that's really what I mean by adaptive management of the pumps.

Even though they have been found to be wanting.

We've got a big water problem coming up, Mike, and in contrast to last year's near-record level precipitation, 2012 looks to be a fairly dry year.

Well, not if you get flooded. And, you know, the chances of it getting flooded are much greater than ever having to use the W61 warhead.