Saxby Chambliss

We have a system that is flawed and a system that in this particular instance has once again failed consumers across America.

So again, there is no way FDA has any control over what products are recalled other than the company itself advising the people to whom it sold the product to make their own recall of their products, is that correct?

If FDA had the authority to recall product on its own, they would have done so immediately, I am sure.

But that is what I am saying. They don't have to give it to you, nor is there any requirement that if they find a bacterial infestation in a food product that is going into interstate commerce, they don't have to tell you about that, do…

I have real concerns about Afghanistan from a different perspective than Iraq.

I would argue very strongly for the opposite, that if we truly want to stimulate the economy there is no better place to do it than in defense spending.

If confirmed, will you pledge to give Bob Carey and the Federal Voting Assistance Program all the personnel and support they need to carry out this new legislation?

This year, Congress passed legislation authorizing fiscal year 2010 Active Duty end strengths for the Army, of 562,400; the Marine Corps, of 202,100; the Air Force, of 331,700; and the Navy, of 328,800.

I think the chairman and Senator McCain's bill does address this in a very strong way.

You're certainly very correct in pointing out that the shrinking industrial base has been a real issue.

Whatever it is, it's very low, which means that at some point in time when we think we have achieved military success, we still have to look at the other side.

Our committee recommended, and last week the Senate adopted, legislation to further improve care and effectiveness of support for our wounded warriors and their families.

I simply want to get your assurance again on the record that you will address this issue as soon as you are confirmed and take whatever measures possible to fill the gap left by an additional brigade combat team not coming in order to help…

We have a known quantity with the F-22. If you just divide the number of F-35s that we are going to procure by the dollars that have been requested by the Pentagon, the cost of the current F-35 is comparable to the cost of a current F-22.

My point is that there is obviously disagreement in the military about what this number ought to be.

It's no longer a volunteer service on their part, almost; it's a constant service.

As you and I talked the other day, a military solution in Afghanistan is one thing, but, at the end of the day, it's going to have to require a political solution to ultimately solve the issues there.

I think that still remains our weakest link there.

We look forward to you being in place and continuing that strong relationship.

Not unlike what we saw in Iraq, the training of the military and the enlistment of folks into the military in Afghanistan has been on the rise.

I do believe, however, they suffer a very similar problem.

This train wreck that was coming 10 years ago is here with respect to certain systems.

I think that the Russians certainly recognize that some of the most serious threats to their own security are the same as the ones that we worry about: instability to their south, Islamic fundamentalism, and of course the conflict in…

As Senator Levin said, we're going to take up this bill it looks like next Thursday.

I wish we could do more of them [multi-year contracts].