Lloyd Austin

We are in a global struggle between democracy and autocracy, and our security relies on American strength of purpose.

The price of U.S. leadership is real, but it is far lower than the price of U.S. abdication.

Ukraine has done a commendable job in terms of protecting its sovereign territory.

This is about the rules-based international order.

The world of chaos and conquest that Putin seeks--one in which autocrats think they can rewrite borders by force--would leave the United States far less secure.

Passing this supplemental is absolutely critical, and our request is that we pass it as quickly as possible.

We want to see, at the end of the day, a Ukraine that is a democratic, independent, and sovereign state.

Delaying the supplemental sends a terrible signal to our allies and partners.

The threat that we face today was clearly not a threat that we were facing 10 years ago, and it won't be the same 10 years from now.

I do believe that Hamas has to be defeated, yes.

We owe it to the members of the community to ensure that we do in fact do this.

We are asking you for 4.5 percent pay raise in this budget request.

If we don't fund State and others to the right level, then we are going to need more bullets because they do great and important work to move things towards greater stability and security in all regions of the world.

I support the President's----

We had to make some tough but responsible choices, and we prioritized near-term readiness.

Hezbollah is a terrorist organization.

Our commitment to Israel's security is ironclad.

We are in a global struggle between democracy and autocracy, and our security relies on American strength of purpose.

The price of U.S. leadership is real, but it is far lower than the price of U.S. abdication.

The start of our response.

This is the start of our response. The President has directed additional actions to hold the IRGC and affiliated militias accountable for their attacks.

Today's coalition action sends a clear message to the Houthis that they will bear further costs if they do not end their illegal attacks.

Protecting civilians is both a moral duty and a strategic imperative.

The center of gravity is the civilian population. And if you drive them into the arms of the enemy, you replace a tactical victory with a strategic defeat.

I have personally pushed Israeli leaders to avoid civilian casualties, and to shun irresponsible rhetoric, and to prevent violence by settlers in the West Bank.