Secretary Hammack, please provide an update on the status of the environmental assessment for the Pinon Canyon Training Site in Colorado.

The REPI is a highly effective and cost-efficient tool to help us meet that commitment.

what DOD is doing in terms of energy efficiency, biofuels, and other energy-related programs is a model for the Federal Government and society as a whole.

How important are programs like the Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI) in protecting our bases and ranges now and into the future?

The Navy will achieve energy security by utilizing sustainable non-food feedstock sources that meet force sustainment functions.

Energy independence is achieved when naval forces rely only on energy resources that are not subject to intentional or accidental supply disruptions.

True energy security for U.S. bases cannot be realized as long as the supply of electricity to key systems and operations would be disrupted.

The President set forth a bold energy agenda and DOD, like other departments and agencies, is working aggressively to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.

Our testing and training footprint for new weapon systems continues to increase.

I think there's a feeling that we're kind of in an, maybe not to put it too dramatically, emergency situation.

I wish to applaud the work of Judiciary Committee Chairman Leahy and Ranking Member Grassley for working so hard to bring this complex, bipartisan legislation to the Senate floor. As we work to rebuild our economy, get Americans back to…

Right now, the European Union uses four geographically diverse patent offices. By only having one patent office, we are at a competitive disadvantage. We need to have these regional offices in order to connect innovators and businesses…

There really are a number of objective reasons for choosing Denver. First, opening an office in Colorado will permit USPTO to recruit and hire from a pool of the best candidates the U.S. has to offer. Colorado is home to a great number of…

I look forward to working closely with the Senator to advocate for an office in Denver. I think a Western office will go a long way toward ensuring the success of our patent system.

In March 2011, Senator Mark Udall of Colorado introduced bipartisan legislation, the Small Business Lending Enhancement Act (S.509), which would raise the arbitrary credit union member business lending cap to 27.5 percent of total assets.

while our economy is beginning to show signs of recovery, there is still a long way to go. This is especially true in our rural communities. That is why I am reintroducing a bipartisan bill that would help provide new economic…

I rise today to address an issue that affects both our economic and national security--critical minerals and materials. These materials are used in everything from wind turbines to cell phones to weapons guidance systems. However, these…

Our advice and encouragement may hold more weight in this region and other regions of the world, as those leaders and those countries look at the example of Egypt and Tunisia, perhaps others.

I think the United States has pretty consistently, primarily privately but also publicly, encouraged these regimes for years to undertake political and economic reform.

I think you both know that the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2011 required the President...to provide an economic strategy for Afghanistan.

I want to make sure we defend those assets.

digital, baby, digital

One challenge we face is how to rapidly transition new capabilities to our Operating Forces, and ultimately into fully supported programs of record.

Is such a project scaleable to other FOBs as well?

The ExFOB capabilities we have evaluated in Afghanistan have helped our marines operate lighter, with less reliance on resupply.