Carl Levin

We cannot get something done around here without being able to table it. But the President, under this bill, would be able to.

I will not give it away.

I just think we have to be very careful here. It is enhanced power to the President. I just disagree with you.

Did President Bush honor the GAO decision?

I noticed that the more recent President Bush did not even ask for rescissions.

According to your chart here, there were none.

I sure would not. It is the people's money, but I sure as heck do not want to provide an incentive to people who move their businesses offshore.

The cost of even a 400,000 Afghan security force is a tiny, tiny fraction of what the cost is of having our forces in Afghanistan.

I happen to agree with Senator Manchin in terms of the economic giant, and that China intends to be a military giant.

Thank you very much, Senator Shaheen.

With the exception of the moderate risk associated with projected retention in some Navy irregular warfare specialties, I assess the risk to readiness, effectiveness, and cohesion of the Navy to be low.

Wounded sailors and marines deserve the highest priority for support services, healing and recuperation, rehabilitation, evaluation for return to duty, successful transition from Active Duty, if required, and continuing support beyond…

We are in a battle, and more than half of it is taking place in the battlefield of the media.

Are you confident that DOS is committed to making this initiative work jointly beyond the tenures of both of you and Secretary Clinton?

All in favor, say aye.

I support this proposed increase. I know from our conversations that Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen support it as well.

DOD's base funding of $526 billion for fiscal year 2011 would be $23 billion below the original fiscal year 2011 request of $549 billion.

Do either of you have concerns that the joint arrangement will prove too unwieldy?

I join and concur with Senator McCain and his comments about you and your tenure here as Secretary of Defense.

I hope that we will soon, as a committee, be in a position to enact a full year appropriation at an appropriate level.

Secretary Gates, are the Iraqis recruiting and training any police units that are comprised exclusively of religious minorities and, if so, are they deployed exclusively to the areas where their respective communities reside?

The Department of Defense, as are all Federal agencies, is currently operating under a continuing resolution (CR) that expires on March 4, 2011.

No part of the Government, including DOD, can be exempt from close examination.

Improving Afghan governance remains a major challenge to success.

Secretary Gates, the Air Force has proposed to incrementally fund the acquisition of two large and critical satellite programs, using multi-year, fixed-prices contracting authority that will require advanced appropriations.