Daniel Akaka

Under USERRA, we really need to protect our returning service members.

I have worked to reform the protections for Federal whistleblowers, enacting the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act.

I feel strongly that our service members' rights must be protected as they prepare to enter or return to the civilian workforce.

I think it is worth a review, and I would again want to work with this Committee on that.

Do you believe the Hatch Act should be reviewed in light of these developments?

Thank you very much, Senator Johnson, for your statement.

I believe that civil servants must be able to serve their country without undue influence or fear of discrimination or retaliation.

Thank you. Ambassador Neumann, as you pointed out in your testimony, although State has established requirements for promotion to the senior ranks, the Academy reported that it is concerned that officers will be unprepared because the…

As you both know, much of the training at the posts is on-the-job training, which is an important aspect of training.

We cannot afford to leave their training to mistakes made on the way to experience.

I hope as cuts are examined the Congress will recognize that diplomacy is an essential element of national security.

Thank you. Ambassador Powell, what is the current status of implementing the Secretary's Diplomacy 3.0 initiative to increase Foreign Service employees by 25 percent and Civil Service employees by 13 percent by Fiscal Year 2014?

Senator, the answer is obviously difficult for all of us as we deal with the Fiscal Year 2011 funding.

I am a strong supporter of rotational programs to improve government integration and coordination.

Today, many dependent children of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled from a service connected disability or who died in the line of duty are no longer being covered by their health insurance program. I am introducing…

Your leadership over the past four years contributed to historic achievements for veterans.

Through Senator Akaka's efforts, VA spending for health care is now appropriated a year in advance--protecting it from an imperfect budget process that is so often affected by politics.

Through the Dodd-Frank Act, we provided the Commission with the authority to require meaningful disclosures prior to the purchase of an investment product or services.

This would most likely be your last defense budget hearing before this committee.

Given the many demands on the defense budget and the recently announced reductions, how does the fiscal year 2012 budget impact our military readiness in the Pacific region?

Every Afghan soldier and police recruit now undertakes mandatory literacy education.

I continue to work purposefully and responsibly toward certification.

The biggest challenge will be training those members who are not co-located with their units or who serve intermittently.

I believe that taking care of those defending our Nation is a responsibility and not a choice.

I want to thank you all for your leadership and service.