Claire McCaskill

Yes. We had a hard time. We have a hard time.

Like we did for the IGs?

This hearing is an important step. We need an independent and muscular contract audit agency that protects the taxpayer.

Who is doing the audits now?

This is a case study of incompetence at contract competition.

I don't want to hear any more lectures about the government's socialization or subsidization of American companies, because if this is not relevant, then we shouldn't be complaining about it.

Am I unhappy about the notion that a subsidized company from another country is going to compete on a level playing field with a company that's not subsidized? Yes, I'm very unhappy about that.

I think, is absolutely wrong, especially in DOD.

Okay. I'm confused, though. It appears to me, from looking at the information, that they originally said they looked at it a very short period of time. The forensics indicated that may not be true, that they might have looked at it longer…

I mean, we have a farm field in Alabama and a company that's receiving tens upon billions of dollars of subsidies from foreign governments.

I don't believe there's anything in the FAR that prohibits that from being considered.

I have complimented Secretary Gates because he has provided accountability at the top level in many instances where we have had problems. But, I just think this is beyond the pale.

I would like to know, in this instance, what punitive actions have been taken.

I'm confused about the screen. EADS said, originally, that they didn't look at the data. Is that correct?

That's a question I would like for the record. I would like to know, from DOD's perspective, whether or not it is unusual for Boeing to file a complaint and whether or not it is unusual that all nine bases on which they filed the complaint…

Secretary Gates directed the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (USD(P)), along with your office, and several other offices, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to inventory, review, coordinate, and provide guidance on…

I want to remind everyone also about the timeline of the integration of our Services.

I have an awful lot of confidence in our military, and the longer I have served on this committee, the more confidence I have.

What about on the recruitment process? Is there going to be any questions asked about sexual orientation?

Would there be any special diversity programs or tracking in terms of trying to have some kind of quota or any attempt to distinguish from one member to the other based on sexual orientation?

I think at the time that the Armed Forces was integrated, a black person couldn't stay in the same hotel in the south with a white person; isn't that correct?

I want to congratulate you for that, because I think you've set a great example for all that will follow you.

One way would be... to provide more funds to the departmental IGs to allow them to hire more auditors and inspectors.

The origin of this hearing began in March 2009 when I joined with Senator Lieberman, Senator Collins, Senator Coburn, and Senator Grassley to introduce legislation to give SIGAR better hiring authority.

And you do not need to tell me that is very, very unusual.