Joni Ernst

I think it's great that we have that discussion.

Well, this is a great discussion, so thank you to the panelists for being here today, I appreciate it.

I think we would all appreciate a little more flexibility and efficiency.

I appreciate that. And what we would like to see, of course, is a much more efficient process going through that and hopefully, then, less costly, as well, to do those projects.

Well, we will continue working on this issue.

Thank you. And will you commit to work to solve this particular issue expeditiously and to work with myself and the OMB to modify the metrics that the Corps utilizes so we can stop discounting the rural areas such as Iowa and other…

I think this is going to be an area that we really do need to work through.

I hope that you will take a look at that make sure that we have the right person for that job established as well.

I think you are absolutely the right person to do that, so I appreciate that very much.

The length of time it takes to bring those applicants into the system is horrendous.

I know that we have the USAJOBS hiring process that exists out there, and Dr. Zakheim is laughing.

I have seen a lot of the benefits coming from STEM even in my home State of Iowa, who does tend to be on a leading edge with STEM education.

Peeling back some of those regulations will be important.

I have often thought that it should be one of their peers rather than like the old lady of the battalion standing in front of them and lecturing them.

The point is to prevent the problem before it ever happens. That is the intent of this bill.

Today I am introducing a bill with Senator Gillibrand that would require each branch of the military to educate servicemembers on sexual assault prevention before they actually leave for boot camp.

I think there could be some potential savings if we are looking at systems that could be modified, taken off the shelf and used for our soldiers.

I think many of us will agree on the need to prioritize small arms modernization in this year's NDAA.

Absolutely. I would agree wholeheartedly.

President Trump today is saying that he does support leaving troops in Iraq in the fight against ISIS.

I also agree with your remarks about our failing acquisition system. As you say, taking 10 years to develop a weapons system will leave us behind our adversaries.

Active engagement between the United States and our partner countries is very critical to maintaining the stability in that region.

I think it is important that we are able to move rapidly.

How important is it that we are able to rapidly develop things like directed energy weapons and swarming micro-drones?

I absolutely 100 percent agree with you.