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.

Hopefully that cook would be making more if I'm eating that food.

I do think there's a lot of talent out there and a lot of weight upon the shoulders of some of our senior enlisted members.

I rise to thank my colleagues for their support of my legislation to overturn President Obama's eleventh hour rule that revokes States' rights to determine the best eligible subgrantees for title X family planning funding. It should be the…

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.

Well, we will continue working on this issue.

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

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 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.

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

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

I rise today to praise President Trump for selecting an eminently qualified nominee in Judge Neil Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. No one can dispute the academic credentials and intellectual rigor of Judge…

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

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 it is important that we are able to move rapidly.

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.

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.

Peeling back some of those regulations will be important.

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

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

I have made this clear to this administration. I made it clear to the last administration as well.

I think everything should be on the table at this point in reassuring and assisting our allies, our friends in the Balkans.