Kit Bond

To the Commandant, congratulations on the excellent job that you have done in al-Anbar.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Yes, on this subject I do have a lot to say.

Your reference to dealing with the PTSD and the traumatic brain injury (TBI), which is so important, is something we're going to have to continue to address.

It is a great story that has convinced many people, as they now see how it resolves.

To me it looks like you've made a bad bet if you have not proven something that can take its place and you're cutting it off.

I do want to mention one area that I think is of overall concern.

First, thank you, Chairman Boxer and Ranking Member Inhofe. I am pleased to be here to discuss a subject vital to the State of Missouri and the Country, the reauthorization and oversight of the Economic Development Administration.

I think both men come to this hearing with impressive credentials, considerable experience and a modest recognition that they still have to learn much about national security law.

We're winning the war on the ground, and we're absolutely losing it in the media.

America must renew its efforts to stay engaged in the region, or run the risk of ceding influence to China.

We cannot send a special envoy to negotiate with a pandemic or call a summit with carbon dioxide.

We are being out-communicated by the Taliban and Al Qaeda. That is absolutely unacceptable.

We're working with Israel and the Palestinian authority to advance our goal of a two-state solution.

As we move forward with the responsible redeployment of our combat forces from Iraq, this budget provides the tools we need to facilitate the transition to a stable, sovereign, and self-reliant Iraq.

If something goes wrong, admit it, tell it, apologize, tell what we're doing to solve it.

We really believe this will advance our values.

I applaud your leadership of the State Department and for embracing the concept of 'smart power.'

We're now a full partner in the P5-plus-1 talks.

I hope if you need additional powers to expand beyond that, there has to be greater coordination among our agencies.

We happen to be the battery capital in Missouri so if you want to work with us we would be happy to do that.

Expected taxpayer subsidies are very expensive and Federal subsidies of $100,000 per green job plus the costs of the taxpayer subsidies for some of the energy generated by solar and wind are too high.

The red tape and the environmental restrictions have cut down significantly on our river transportation.

A unilateral carbon tax puts us further at disadvantage.

I think we all need it. Not only leadership.

I believe that energy conservation is one that reduces costs.