Madeleine Bordallo

I am concerned that the Army is standing up a four-star organization with up to three lieutenant generals as deputies without a clearly defined command relationship.

I think it is fair to ask if the Army is, in fact, just creating more overhead that will further slow an already cumbersome process.

I look forward to hearing how you believe it will be different this time.

The system needs, as you said, overhauling. There is no question about it, whether you go to privatization, or whatever. And it should not be a monopoly.

I am confident that there is bipartisan support among the Committee for offshore wind, which would improve self-reliance and lower electricity costs in the territories.

The cost of electricity for Puerto Rico residents is nearly twice the national average, while at the same time their GDP per capita and median household income are just half that of the mainland United States.

I wish to mention that I have enjoyed working with Mr. McClintock of California on these Natural Resources bills. It was a joy to have bipartisanship. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr…

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You always make my day.

If we are going to rebuild readiness, we need to ensure that the depot maintenance accounts are fully funded to meet the requirement.

I have long stated that just as important as it is to provide our service members with new, modernized equipment, we must fully maintain the assets that we already have.

I am concerned that in a year where readiness has been cited as the Department's top priority, the Department's budget request falls well short of meeting the total depot maintenance requirement for the Army and the Marine Corps.

Without properly maintained ships, vehicles, aircraft, and weapon systems, our forces cannot perform necessary training required to build readiness or meet the operational requirements that are placed upon them.

I think that we all agree that when the American public thinks of the terms 'national defense,' they envision our proud service members stationed around the world and the equipment, the ships, the tanks, and aircraft, that we supply so…

I strongly support Ranking Member Adam Smith's proposal for an independent national commission on military aviation safety.

I understand that 1-day safety standdowns were ordered after the recent mishaps so that the service could review its safety measures and curb a drastic rise in aviation mishaps.

Thank you very much. And, Mr. Chairman, I want to say thank you. This has been a very informative hearing.

Thank you very much.

There is no room in our current aviation readiness status to suffer personnel or material losses that should be avoidable.

So to lessen that 180 days?

We expect to have that completed before the end of the fiscal year.

I am concerned that in a year where readiness has been cited as the Department's top priority, the Department's budget request only supports 93 percent of the Air Force depot maintenance requirements and 92 percent of the Navy's aviation…

Without properly maintained ships, submarines, aircraft, and weapon systems, our forces cannot perform necessary training required to build readiness or meet the operational requirements that are placed upon them.

I think that we all agree that when the American public thinks of the term 'national defense,' they envision our proud service members stationed around the world, and the equipment, the ships, tanks, and aircraft that we supply so they can…

It is not a matter of losing the funds, it is just a matter of we are not being able to expand at all.