Pete Aguilar: “I thank my colleague for his comments. We have had this discussion a number of times. I served on his committee and have…”

“I thank my colleague for his comments. We have had this discussion a number of times. I served on his committee and have a lot of respect for him. But he called this a bad idea. He said that it is a bargain if we just continue the status quo. Mr. Chairman, the Department of Energy asked this exact question. The Department of Energy produces a fiscal year stockpile stewardship and management plan. It is a 25-year plan with long-term costs. It is required in Federal code. We are doing this analysis in other areas. Why isn't the Department of Defense doing this? The majority seeks to say: Why even ask the question? We have to ask ourselves, what is oversight if we don't ask hard questions? Now, I think that there is a reason why folks like the National Taxpayers Union, who have supported this amendment and have said that they are going to score this amendment, have signed on to support it. It is because we need to ask these tough questions. If we are going to genuinely offer oversight, we need to ask how much these programs cost, we need to plan, and we need to budget. It seems like a reasonable step to take. I appreciate my colleagues' concerns, and I would ask an ``aye'' vote of my colleagues. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.”