To the Administration's credit, they have initiated a review of the country's human space flight programs, and they have selected the right man to lead that effort in Norm Augustine.

We will work with you to double check that, but that clarification would make sense. I just want to make sure that is what is going on and there are not new notices starting in June or July.

What I believe is clear to most of us, however, is that the projected funding levels provided in this proposal for the 5-years following FY 2010 represent a virtual no-growth budget that likely would not even keep pace with inflation.

I would love thoughts from any of you, including the GAO, about the suggestion by some that we do not have enough focus...

I don't care what the current START says. You can sign a new treaty that's the same as the old one, with one comma missing, and it can last 6 months if you want to, if that's the smart thing to do.

Secretary Gates has said that, without testing, it will, 'become impossible to keep extending the life of our arsenal.'

I look forward to hearing from our witnesses today how this money will be spent wisely.

I want to thank Chairman Levin and Ranking Member McCain for their acquisition reform bill.

I look forward to working with you on the many important issues under this subcommittee's jurisdiction.

I do not mean to interrupt. But the best capable. What is the possibility of falling short of what is our expectation and defining a gap as anything short of that?

I look forward to working with you and all the other members on these significant issues.

I just want to make sure we do it right and don't set deadlines or timetables or goals with PR in mind, versus substance, and basically put politics and PR ahead of substance.

I am also encouraged with many--not all, but certainly many--of Secretary Gates' strong recommendations.

Generally, they have said that competition for dollars leads to low-cost estimation and unrealistic scheduling.

GAO has found that because the Department of Defense (DOD) starts more weapon programs that it can afford.

I think the political rationale behind it is to avoid coming back to us for anything.

the common understanding on Capitol Hill--I think this is very fair to say--is that that would be paid to reduce the Federal debt and would be a permanent reduction of the initial $700 billion.

I was just suggesting, earlier, that logically it seems pretty clear to me we shouldn't finish a new START before the NPR is finished.

Under the leadership of Chairman Levin and Ranking Member McCain, this committee broadly recognized those problems.

Just to follow up directly on that, Mr. Secretary, in general, what would be your bottom line on this in terms of, what do you think the probability is of any sort of gap, however broadly defined developing?

I hope that as we go through the debate we can have a full, honest debate.

It really reminds me of something going on in your State, which is the actions of the California Air Resources Board.

The Administration asked us earlier this year to support borrowing $800 billion on our children's credit card to 'stimulate' the economy.

Thank you all very much and we will bring this Committee hearing to a close.

Thank you very much, Madam Chairman, for the opportunity to discuss this proposed budget and delve into some of the major items facing the Agency and the Country...