Mazie Hirono

It has been long enough and the time for leadership is certainly now.

Funding for critical programs, both defense and non-defense, is not an either/or proposition.

The mindless cuts to defense and non-defense programs brought by sequestration were meant to be so bad that Congress would move forward or would be forced to find an alternative way forward.

I think it's really important that you are paying attention to the corrosion issue because the lifetime use of our aircraft can be extended by that kind of attention to that matter.

I would say the C-9s are not only hard down but we've transitioned them out of the Marine Corps inventory.

If we're committing to absolutely nothing, why do you even need authorization?

When Congress agrees to support an administration request for multi-year procurement authority, it is a serious matter

Unless Congress can achieve a broad and bipartisan agreement to repeal or modify the BCA, any approval of the $12 billion increase for the Navy and Marine Corps will trigger sequestration of a similar amount in domestic programs.

We must also make sure that any increases in resources do not come at the expense of important domestic programs.

These threats require us to consider how best to get the Navy and Marine Corps the resources that you need.

My understanding is that you would like to get to more than 5,500.

So the ultimately goal is 5,500 JLTVs.

We owe it to these men and women to ensure that resources are available for training and readiness activities and to ensure that they have fully functional equipment to get the job done.

I just wanted to note that as a very strong supporter of the Jones Act, not only is the Jones Act important to maintaining our industrial base, but it is a very important part of national security.

We do have bipartisan support for eliminating the sequestration, but we have not quite been able to achieve that.

I commend you for that because that was something that you did internally. You were able to effect a shortening of the time frame for when you would be able to hire the needed workers.

I just want to make sure that if we need to look at the statutory basis for us going forward with these two kinds of contracts that you all agree are good, then I will explore that.

That cutting would not be done with a scalpel, but rather the meat cleaver that is sequestration.

Ultimately, if we do not act to amend or replace the Budget Control Act, we could end up cutting, not increasing, the size of the Navy.

I think we need to be very realistic in the short-term and in the long-term of ways that we can get to this goal.

I would like to join you in thanking our witnesses for being here with us this morning to discuss how we can get to the goal of a 355-ship Navy.

Is it your understanding that the Administration intends to maintain pursuit of fully implementing UN sanctions?

When do you estimate that North Korea will have the capability to strike Hawaii, Alaska and the Continental United States?

It is clear that North Korea is committed to developing long-range missile technology.

I am pleased to submit this testimony in strong support of S. 324, the State Veterans Home Adult Day Health Care Improvement Act of 2017.