Madeleine Bordallo

I appreciate this year's budget request. It maintains compact impact discretionary funding of $3 million.

I would like to voice my appreciation for the Air Force's diligent work in moving forward with the acquisition process of the Long Range Strike Bomber.

The Army Chief of Staff has noted that the ability to conduct Decisive Action in support of Unified Land Operations to deter, deny, compel, and/or defeat the threat of hybrid warfare posed by nation-states represents the most demanding…

Army units are required to maintain a minimum level of personnel in order to sustain readiness.

So what you are saying then, Generals, is that the requirements are met in both areas.

We need to understand what resources it will take to build it back.

While the Air Force is growing, the Army is being asked to accommodate fiscal constraints by reducing manpower.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for convening this important hearing.

The Army has identified the need to restore the capability of units and leaders to exercise Decisive Action/Combined Arms Maneuver operations.

As long as the funding is there, we will be able to carry on.

I think they are integral to our readiness--our equipment readiness. They are very important.

Thank you for that. As the front line against persistent threats emanating from neighbors in the region, having a continuous capability to deter and, if necessary, neutralize these threats is very reassuring to the people of Guam.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I will be very interested this morning to hear about specific opportunities you see as you look at the future Army.

I go on record in full support of solving the Puerto Rico financial crisis and, of course, the inclusion of the other territories in this legislation.

The situation in Puerto Rico compels action, and I am very glad we are finally here today to discuss it.

I do applaud the work of our Navy in providing forward-deployed capabilities and continuous global force projection despite significant fiscal constraints.

The intent to move marines to Guam remains as strong as ever.

I would like to remind my colleagues that my home is next door to North Korea, when we talk about distances.

How, specifically, is your current budget request balancing the short-term requirement to repair or rebuild equipment with longer-term efforts to replace that same equipment with next-generation equipment?

If the current operational tempo were to increase, what would be the effect on readiness?

Are any additional training resources, such as adversary air for training purposes, required to support fifth generation or legacy aircraft?

Is the current range and air space infrastructure sufficient to meet the training needs of the Air Force? If not, what aircraft are most affected by range and air space limitations?

In instances where the Air Force has been unable to execute its flying hour program, what factors contributed to under-execution of the program?

There are several communities within in the Air Force that have deploy-to-dwell rates below the Secretary of Defense's goal of 1:2, and some stressed career fields have rates of 1:1.