Kit Bond

This entire battle which puts human lives and farmland at risk is all done in the name of a fish.

This is simply unacceptable.

I hope we will act quickly to get Mr. Strickland confirmed and to work for the American people.

This hearing is an extremely important opportunity to examine the transportation investment needs throughout our system.

Quality infrastructure connects people and communities with one another.

I think you have a way ahead with the counterinsurgency strategy.

I think that's a tragedy. I've made my point time and time again at these hearings year after year.

I hope in the QDR there's some realism that strikes and that you do take a look at the costs.

We must do the latter to ensure the equipment this subcommittee provides, especially for dual-mission homeland defense, is in fact directed to the Guard for that very purpose.

My view, now is not the time to be placing significant financial risk on the Government, and it is never time to place the country at a security risk.

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.

Tactical fighters are a paramount piece of equipment for the Air Guard to fulfill its mission.

I remain convinced and we will discuss whether it is time to rethink the plan. JSF is too big to fail.

Navy and Marine Corps carrier-based F/A-18 aircraft are providing precision strike in support of the forces on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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

I just think that was required in law, and the QDR, I know everybody hypes it, but if it's just a justification of what you put in the budget--I hope there will be some thinking on that.

I certainly appreciate your speaking about the need to protect the defense industrial base, because if we go down the same path that our fine ally Great Britain has gone, their industrial base was allowed to atrophy, so they can no longer…

We need to shift away from the 99 percent exquisite, service-centric platforms that are so costly.

I have some very real concerns about the intermediate term plans and, to be honest, what I see as a lack of intermediate plans.

I believe the counterinsurgency strategy is important.

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.

If this budget were carried out, we would be down to one.

no one is above the law

I will certainly oppose raising energy costs on suffering families and workers during an economic crisis.

If the U.S. passes carbon legislation without developed countries like India and China taking similar actions, that carbon levels will still rise dramatically.