Mr. Sullivan and Dr. Gansler, I have several concerns with the acquisition system as it currently operates.

I thank Senator Levin and Senator McCain for their legislation, S. 454, which certainly would take us forward in significant ways.

Is there any way, now or maybe afterward, to submit for the record, you could give us a sense of what we would normally, in conversation, consider to be the acquisition workforce--how many people in the DOD are actually involved in…

It's probably not been an exciting hearing in content, but it's actually very important, an educational hearing.

I am concerned that DOD has historically done a poor job of procuring capabilities that address joint requirements.

Mr. Sullivan and Dr. Gansler, what are your recommendations for effectively balancing the requirement validation process with the calendar-driven funding process?

The DOD's S&T program must be adequately funded to 'stay ahead'; and, traditionally, whenever there is a shortage of DOD money it is one of the areas the Services tend to cut.

I think, clearly, for research-and-development-type activities, cost-plus is an appropriate way to do it.

Good. Get it for the record, please.

The United States must face the fact that it no longer has a monopoly on the world's best military technology.

I see this legislation, this conference report, as essentially being a prod to the American economy, which is kind of like a lethargic frog right now, not moving very far, and when this bill passes and is signed by President Obama, that…

I thank my friends, Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Senator Susan Collins of Maine, Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, for their eloquent comments. I thank them for their leadership. I thank them for their courage. I am honored to be…

Mr. President, one of the favorite metaphors that is used in time of crisis is of a burning house. I wish I could find a different metaphor because that one is used so frequently. But, frankly, I can't find one that better expresses what I…

Two? It is a deal. See, that is in the spirit of compromise, in this case not bipartisan.

Senator Isakson and I have offered an amendment which will create a $15,000 tax credit for any purchaser of a home within a year after the date of enactment. There is no recapture clause for that. We do so to offer one of what we hope will…

I rise to address comments made by my colleagues regarding several measures for the Department of Homeland Security in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: the $248 million provided for the construction of a consolidated…

I hope that we on the Senate side--I know in the House the number of military projects in the stimulus is small relative to the size of the package, and I hope we'll take another look at your list and see if we can add some more.

Even so, words of caution. There's still the potential for setbacks. This is not an irreversible situation.

Previously, many of us on this committee urged you and others to give a lot of attention and respect with regard to decisions of action in Iraq to the commanders on the ground.

I rise simply to say a few words of personal tribute to our dear friend, the distinguished Senator from Colorado, who has just spoken so beautifully. We are going to miss this man. He has only been here 4 years, but he has made an…

the deployment of ballistic missile defense assets in Europe would make a significant contribution to the protection of the United States and Europe from a Middle-Eastern ballistic missile threat.

I think our credibility in the world--we have the ability to support the people of Afghanistan and to move in to shape a better future that they want, and I think that that will make a difference in how we are viewed, worldwide.

I would see that as a significantly difficult issue for the region. It would create instability within the region.

Isn't it true that any effort to break away local Taliban... requires us similarly to convince those local Taliban that we're committed to this fight?

We need multi-layered missile defense capabilities stationed and operational in the region before a threat fully emerges to ensure our common European allies' and partners' security.