Madeleine Bordallo: “I just want to know if you could answer, how can this problem be mitigated with our renewed focus on the Asia-Pacific…”

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.

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.

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

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.