If confirmed, I will consult with you, other members of Congress, and Florida growers to address these objectives.

Madam President, I come to the floor with a heavy heart because 10 years ago today, Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent, was detained in Iran on the tourist island of Kish Island in the Persian Gulf. Bob is a very respected, long-time FBI…

transnational crime and smuggling networks pose a significant threat to the United States.

The inherent flexibility of amphibious ships and the Navy-Marine Corps team is in high demand.

For the past 16 years, the Marine Corps has focused on counter-insurgency operations, largely in landlocked locations.

the Navy has long held the belief that strategic dispersal of capital ships--particularly the aircraft carrier--is important.

If cost is the issue in carrying out dispersal of our nuclear powered aircraft carriers are there savings to be had by reducing risk in dispersing our non-nuclear capital ships?

Secretary Mattis and General Dunford, in your testimony, you both referred to some conventional forces with specialized missions or increased capabilities as force multipliers for special operations forces.

Encroachment of activities incompatible with military test and training operations on our bases and ranges remains a major problem.

Do you think that the existing sanctions are enough to deter further Russian aggression in Ukraine and Syria?

Are we giving up options that were previously available to us to exercise before we reach an armed conflict by a budget that is substantially cutting the State Department and other agencies of soft power, such as USAID?