Your organization's Hawaii Volcanoes Observatory plays a crucial role in monitoring Hawaii's active volcanoes, and as you know, Kilauea has been active for decades.

Given the increased seismic activity at Mauna Loa on the Big Island, can you discuss any ways that Congress can continue to provide support to this critical work to ensure public safety due to active volcanoes?

That is music to my ears.

Everybody understands, including the Governor of Okinawa, that if we can't build the facility in Henoko, we will be in Futenma.

With both Russia and China really increasing and modernizing and adding to their military assets, one wonders whether 308 ships is really, you know, what we should be talking about.

I am wondering what the Navy plans to do with the need that is going to arise at Kaneohe Bay.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I too want to welcome our witnesses to the hearing this afternoon.

I commend the Department for the continuing emphasis and commitment on the rebalance.

As long as we are on the subject of the LX(R), I know that the Navy announced an intention to compete a package of ship contracts, including the T-AO(X) oiler, the LHAR, and the LX(R) ships.

We will stay in touch with you on all of that.

These caps already seriously challenge our ability to meet our national security needs, and have already forced all of the military departments to make painful tradeoffs.

I think that is a worthy goal to follow.