Angus King

My sense is the private sector does a better job of their capital assets being online.

I would appreciate it if you could supply for the Committee by class of ships what percentage of the fleet of that class is available at any given moment?

There was some testimony--not testimony. There was a question in the full Committee meeting this morning about the John S. McCain, and it is about to come back into service.

I hope that one of the requirements for all these new platforms is that they be easily modifiable.

I hope that is in the plan.

We are, in a sense, paying bills that have not been paid because some of these platforms are 40, 50 years old.

It would be helpful, I think, if you guys could quantify that to some extent.

We go home and are asked to defend the defense budget and the cost.

Do we have a plan on recapitalizing ready reserve force?

Plus, for the second round, you would have additional competition. You would have additional competition plus industrial base maintenance. I hope that is at least in the discussion.

Why that approach? I mean, you are having five yards, highly qualified, a lot of work, a lot of intellectual input, why not some kind of division of those--of that buy in order, again, to get back to the question we were discussing about…

I understand that is winner-take-all. Out of the five bidders, one yard is going to get all that business.

I compliment you on that. I think closing the door on the requirements at some point is one of the ways that we can defeat the problems of procurement and cost.

We aim to put together strategies that enable us both to keep cost competitiveness, as well as a predictable, stable industrial base.

This is more tools in your toolkit.

I do not think it replaces it at all.

I take it that you are supportive of the Restore Our Parks Act, which is bipartisan legislation reported out by this Committee?

Have the Koch brothers, directly or indirectly, been substantial supporters of that foundation?

Do you know any specifics?

I am surprised and disappointed that you feel you have to consult with counsel on something that is so clear.

The United States Code says any judge, justice or magistrate judge of the United States shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned.

Deferred maintenance is debt, and we've got to address this.

Deferred maintenance is debt.

Certainly, a cyberattack on the grid is a very serious concern.

New England is enormously dependent on natural gas.