Chairman Inouye and Ranking Member Cochran, you and this entire subcommittee have been leaders in the effort to continue this innovative investment in breast cancer research.

If a deficit reduction agreement is not reached, DOD will take its first increment of an across-the-board reduction of nearly $500 billion over the next 10 years.

Our economy, our country is facing a budget deficit, and you have been tasked with significantly reducing the Department of Defense's (DOD) budget plans in an effort to cut down spending.

This year's budget proposes significant force structure changes for the Air National Guard, reducing end-strength by 5,100 billets and aircraft inventory of 134 aircraft.

On behalf of the subcommittee, I thank the Surgeons General, and the Chief of the Nurses Corps, and we look forward to working with you in the coming months.

I find this rather strange.

I look forward to working with you to make certain that the fiscal year 2013 appropriations bill reflects the current and future needs of the U.S. Army.

The Congress has provided additional equipment funding for the Guard and Reserve in each of the last 32 years because year after year, the President's budget fails to sufficiently fund Reserve components.

I'm certain you're aware that this subcommittee is deeply concerned about the rising rate of suicides. We will make certain that these funds are used for research and prevention.

You've brought up a matter that's very personal to me because during the war I got about 30 transfusions. I just must have been lucky.

Since the very beginning of this program in 1992, the Congress has stood with us in support of this important approach in the fight against breast cancer.