Dianne Feinstein

The United States-Pakistan relationship is fundamental to our vital national security interests.

I support assistance to Pakistan that is targeted at achieving our core interests and sustaining our engagement.

Do you believe that the Afghan military will be fully ready to take over come 2014?

I think the combination does make clear that they're going to be able to govern and secure themselves at that point.

I think mistakes were made on their side as well as I've looked into this.

The national security of this Nation is best served if we can develop a positive relationship with Pakistan.

This recommendation represents an opportunity to achieve cost savings through reduction of duplication and variation.

In 2009, the Department of Defense (DOD) published research that showed that approximately 1 in 7 servicemembers with mental health contraindications had been prescribed mefloquine contrary to the instructions in the package insert…

Last June, the then Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Ashton Carter certified to the Congress that the Global Hawk was 'essential to the National security'; and 'that there are no alternatives to the…

I really appreciate that, Mr. Secretary. And what I'm told is, and this may be wrong, that they're under the impression they cannot compete for the rest of the decade. That's tragic, because it could be, I'm not saying it would be, but it…

I see the same thing happening here. Instead of being able to open the process for competition, the big companies are chosen, and it's a long contract.

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

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

I have felt this way in the Energy and Water Development Subcommittee. I chair that subcommittee, and we've had this problem with small nuclear reactors being limited, just the two big ones for licensing help.

Last November the Interior Department's Solicitors office issued a memorandum known as the 'M Opinion' which stated that railroad companies lack authority to permit activities along their right-of-way unless the projects directly benefit…

This year's budget provides you with $24 million to contract for new firefighting aircraft.

Would you please 'cc' me on the response, I'd appreciate it.

I know that that's true. Have you responded to CAL FIRE's letter of March 7?

Well, I'm going to follow this fire season very carefully and come back and look at this transcript.

I don't want to go through another Station Fire.

You're going to have huge food for fire.

I'm concerned because I know CAL FIRE, and they don't say things that they don't mean.

Unless there are a sufficient number of Federal airtankers, CAL FIRE cannot continue to support extended attack fires on Federal lands without adversely affecting our aviation program.

I'm concerned that during periods of multiple large fires in other regions, California will be left with an insufficient number of Federal aircraft to meet the normal initial and extended attack workload.

The reduction in the number of Federal airtankers from 43 in 2000, to 11 in 2011, has resulted in significant impacts on this integrated system.