Four billion, that is a lot of money.

Tell us very directly what we need to do, what we on this Committee and we in the Congress need to do to actually turn the course of this aircraft carrier, turn this carrier more quickly.

You can do it, we can help--just like at Home Depot.

Every past Secretary of Homeland Security has said, 'Do this, actually make this investment, and over time you will save not just hundreds of millions of dollars; you will save billions of dollars for taxpayers over 30 years.'

The whole notion of retention of proceeds, as I explained before, I think is critical.

In the Navy, when we were doing the hard things, we would sometimes liken it to changing the course of an aircraft carrier.

I would just tell you that I would be willing to be able to join you in that journey and try to figure out a way that we can get this resolved.

Keep doing oversight.

I have talked, I think, to every previous Secretary of Homeland Security, and I came here not thinking St. E's made a whole lot of sense.

What can we do to help in a particular way to save money in what you are doing?

I am encouraged here to give it another shot and work together.

I suggest the absence of a quorum. The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

Treat other people the way we want to be treated, the most important rule of all.

If it is not perfect, make it better.

Nobody is entitled to say, 'Well, forget about it. It is the government's money.' No. It is my money. It is your money.

I think maybe they are picking on the wrong enemies or the wrong issues.

We are dealing right now with domestic enemies, enemies that have no intention of respecting the Whistleblower Act.

I will never accept that, because what you have done is raise an issue that is extremely important to this Nation.

It is a pleasure to meet all of you and to welcome you here today.

Just do it. Not the easy thing, not the expedient thing, what is the right thing to do.

Several of you said things that reminded me of a sad chapter in our State last week when we buried the son of Joe Biden and Jill Biden.

The Military Whistleblower Protection Act is the lowest common denominator in the U.S. Code for accountability through whistleblower protection.

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union.

We will make sure that that day comes.

Again, thank you so much for being here, for sharing your stories with us, and again for your service, past and present, to our country.