Richard Blumenthal

I think we need to figure out a way to assure greater accountability in this system.

I think both Russia and China are waging political warfare against the United States every day.

I've actually called it--and others on the committee, as well--an act of war.

A number of us on the committee have referred to the interference in the 2016 elections by the Russians as an attack on our country.

The Navy intends to execute all the workload programmed at the Naval Ship Yards, with no availabilities moving from the public to the private sector.

CBO released a report in September titled, 'Comparing the Costs of Submarine Maintenance at Public and Private Shipyards,' and found private shipyards, on average, were less expensive than public shipyards.

Actions Needed to Address Costly Maintenance Delays Facing the Attack Submarine Fleet.

I think that strategic change in direction will be welcome to everybody on this Committee because we are all concerned about the maintenance backlogs that have occurred, which pose a danger to our national security as well as our fiscal…

And will one of those yards be Electric Boat?

Can you tell us when you will be making those awards?

So we need action now to address the backlog that is bad for our national security and the harmful impact on our industrial base.

I am sure that you have read repeatedly and carefully the GAO report entitled, 'Actions Needed To Address Costly Maintenance Delays Facing the Attack Submarine Fleet.'

That is the reason that I championed an additional $237 million in this year's NDAA in advance procurement above the President's Budget to address the long lead time that is required for this kind of program.

I was very pleased, Secretary Geurts and Admiral Merz, to see in your written testimony that the Columbia-class program remains the Navy's number-one acquisition priority and is on track to start construction at the beginning of fiscal…

I would like to ask is a commitment from you that you will assess the market share of the big tech companies, the top five, and that you will report back to us on what that market share is.

I think part of the concern is those are not authorities to police the First Amendment itself.

I think, you know, that we're expecting you to use the full range of your authority--consumer protection, antitrust--and they're both really--and deceptive and misleading practices that affect consumers and antitrust affects consumers.

And I'm assuming that you will let this Committee know of any contacts between you or any of the commissioners and the White House staff.

A 26-million-dollar settlement, that's not a nickel-and-dime. It's an all-time case.

I really think that you owe this Committee answers quickly about this subpoena for the sake of your law enforcement credibility.

It's really in your interest to have answers to these questions.

Would you agree with me that anyone, particularly somebody involved in the case as a potential defendant, has an obligation to comply with FTC subpoenas?

And possibly illegal.

That kind of statement would be improper.

I want to again, by the way, in all seriousness, thank Senator Moran for his leadership here.