Joe Courtney

We actually have the ability to make real change in terms of the National Defense Authorization Act [NDAA].

I think challenged all of us on this subcommittee and full Committee of Armed Services to do more, in terms of action.

Congress needs to step in and, like we did with McCain and Fitzgerald, make real changes.

The CR did come back and identify real weaknesses in the existing system after McCain and ways that we could structurally and by law actually prevent that.

We, as Congress, have a real role in laying out what that strategy looks like, and we have to play the long game here.

Last year's NDAA, we finally restarted a maritime tanker program to really address this issue as well as the Maritime Security Program.

I really want to thank Chairman Bera and Ranking Member Chabot, as well as my good friend and colleague, Mr. Wittman...

This is actually I think a pretty unique event, which is to have a joint hearing...

The U.S. should become a participant in UNCLOS because we lose the moral authority and the legal standing

But also I think it is good to make sure that we all are on the same baseline in terms of terminology.

I just think that is important to sort of put on the record, that this is an example where Congress really drove this process.

We must invest in school infrastructure so that students and school staff can learn and work safely.

We can't afford to allow children to be deprived of the education they deserve because they are in a State or a locality that doesn't want to make the efforts to provide the quality of education for them.

I think basically one from Mr. McCluskey that diplomas are just pieces of paper.

This hearing could not be more timely, I mean partly because obviously we have a President who is really serious about doing more than just announcing infrastructure week, but actually but an infrastructure plan on the table for Congress…

Our students, parents, and school staff do not care if school buildings or community colleges are called infrastructure--they care about whether or not all students have access to a quality education.

Working parents do not care if access to child care is labeled as infrastructure--they care about having a safe, enriching place for their children to grow and learn while they work.

Unemployed and underemployed workers do not care if job training programs are branded as infrastructure.

Working parents do not care if access to childcare is labeled as infrastructure, they care about having a safe, enriched place for their children to grow and learn while they work.

We must invest in school infrastructure that the students and school staff can learn and work safely.

They care about whether or not all students have access to a quality education.

Well, you know, again, we heard from the opening statements and certainly the press reports that, you know, we have a challenge here that people have to work together to address.

Those workers just, you know, totally performed and did their job and really deserve everyone's, you know, appreciation.

The military can do just about anything, and we are examining this problem with all of our resources right now to find a way to do it, you know, in the most intelligent, risk-free manner that we can.

The announcement that President Biden made was really to try and make that agreement more logistically executable