Mazie Hirono

I think the sense is that 63 cents of every dollar going to personnel costs is not necessarily the kind of balance that you would want to have in order to make sure that your readiness needs are met.

I think the prevention aspect is one where I would really like to see more specific kinds of programs.

Cybersecurity plays a vital role in the security of our Nation.

I think the sequester has an effect on that.

I believe that closer ties between the People's Republic of China and Taiwan are a positive development.

A strong trilateral relationship can be an important deterrent against regional threats such as those posed by North Korea.

Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea, two of our closest treaty allies, remain strained.

With this additional funding as a result of this agreement, how will DOD prioritize readiness funding levels for these fiscal years--by program or capacity, and what will the readiness impacts be for fiscal year 2016, should sequestration…

It is wonderful to see such a diverse group of nominees and to have all from one State.

I would like to echo acknowledging the diversity that is represented in our nominees this morning.

The general proposition in our country is that people should have the right to access our courts to seek redress and justice.

I am not against arbitration clauses per se, but when they go this far basically to trump federal law, I think that we need to address the situation.

Perhaps we need to make sure, because I am holding letters from over 200 major domestic and foreign institutional investors who are very concerned that the SEC has not promulgated a rule that would disallow forced arbitration clauses in…

A class action ban is inherently not consumer friendly, because a consumer cannot bring a collective claim when there is a class action waiver.

With this kind of a ruling, private entities can trump federal law.

Hawaii's relationship with our fellow Pacific Island territories and nations is strong.

Esther's understanding of Guam helped to shepherd through both the Guam Excess Land Act and later the Guam Land Reform Act.

Esther has dedicated herself to public service, especially on behalf of the people of Hawaii and the Pacific.

I'm confident that the committee will find that Esther truly is the best nominee for guiding our relationship with the territories and the independent nations of the Pacific.

If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 6:18 p.m., adjourned until Thursday, November 7, 2013, at 10 a.m.

There will be two rollcall votes at 11:45 a.m. tomorrow and a third rollcall vote at 1:45 p.m. ____________________

I remain committed to providing support to our allies in the Asia-Pacific region.

I'm particularly interested in the potential effects on the manufacturing of Virginia-class submarines.

The industry also employs many of our science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduates who are in search of high-tech opportunities to challenge them.

R&D is very important in order to help advance our technologies and develop systems to assist in executing our defense strategy.