Madeleine Bordallo

I want to thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to reinforce my strong support for H.R. 1171, and I urge the Committee to continue to move this legislation forward.

I would also like to thank my friend and colleague, Sam Farr, for introducing H.R. 1171.

Again I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 588, which is a bill that would rename the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge as the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge. I yield back the balance of my time.

(Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Do land acquisition funding sources utilized by the Service tap into taxpayers' dollars?

Will land within the proposed refuge boundary only be acquired from willing sellers?

Is it accurate to state that the refuge supports military readiness for troops training at Avon Park Air Force Range?

What are the advantages of conservation easements over fee simple acquisitions?

I would absolutely agree with you that if we brought all the marines back home, that it would be a MILCON bill back in the states.

Why don't we bring our troops back from these foreign countries? This would save us millions and millions of dollars.

Given China's rapid development of an increasingly capable blue-water navy and their intent to be in broadened command of the Western Pacific operating area, how would a resource-constrained Navy and Marine Corps respond to calls for…

At a certain point, you simply can't do more with less.

We applaud the Secretary's focus on this key region, and we will do everything we can to support this imperative.

Our naval and Air Force long-range strike capabilities are what to a greater extent provide stability in the Western Pacific.

Everything must be on the table to achieve a balanced result that helps put American finances back on track.

I do not believe sequestration needs to occur.

What actions is the Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps taking to ensure that critical and deliberate planning are completed to ensure reductions are directly linked to workload, and that appropriate workforce mix is maintained?

You stated that you may have to ``freeze civilian hiring'' beyond the first quarter in the event of a continuing resolution.

There is significant focus placed on the health and well-being of the industrial base and the impact on the economy as we enter this era of budget decreases for the DOD.

This committee has heard of specific instances across the Air Force, Marine Corps and Army where work performed by Government employees is being directly converted to contract performance.

The authority to rely on contract security guards is expiring at the end of this fiscal year.

The right mix of operating and generating forces, and the right mix of soldiers, civilians, and contractors.

We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of previous reductions.

I want to thank General Dunford for his comments about the Pacific area and how important it is that we continue to increase our force structure.

Congresswoman, we are a part of the same process that Admiral Ferguson described within the Department of the Navy.