Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And, General, thank you very much for being here.

Thank you all for your service and for being with us to testifying today.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 84 The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the resolution. The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the ayes appeared to have it. Recorded Vote

The Central Command area of responsibility remains critical to our national interests, and we have to maintain a focus on security in the region.

To truly defeat ISIS, we must be just as determined to secure a durable peace as we have been to achieve a decisive military victory.

We cannot allow the region to fall into violent extremism again.

Military achievements alone, as I think we all know, will not guarantee long-term success.

I think your strong statement earlier about our diplomatic missions need to be supported as much budgetarily as our defense missions as well.

Of course, fiscal certainty is also critically important, and we are all well aware of the challenges in that regard.

we have to eliminate sequestration and lift the BCA [Budget Control Act] caps.

A precocious 10-year-old named Stella reminded me yesterday that we teach our children in kindergarten that it doesn't matter who starts a problem, what counts is that we end it. She asked me how it is that once we become adults we somehow…

College students everywhere are enjoying the last days of vacation before heading back to school. But for thousands of people, this break was spent trying to figure out how to stay in the only home they have ever known. There have been…