This has been very enlightening.

I wish to speak as in morning business for 1 minute. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I simply want to take a moment to say a few words about the devastating storms that swept through my home State of Mississippi yesterday. My prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives, those who were injured, and the…

I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There is a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk called the roll. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the…

I appreciate the fact that you're not here speaking for the Department of the Army in that respect.

That hurts us in trying to reduce the cost each year, does it not?

It's not desirable to go to 450,000 by 2017, but we can do it; is that your testimony?

Canada has yet to decide if they are going to buy an F-35.

The Army's fiscal year 2015 budget request for $120.5 billion represents the fifth straight year the Army has budgeted for an amount that was lower than the previous year.

Italy is committed to buying airplanes, but they reduced their buy from 130 to 90 2 years ago.

Congratulations on your first hearing as chair of this distinguished subcommittee.

There's a debate in this town about what our presence looks like after the end of this year.

There seems to be a feeling out there among the American people that somewhere along the line we made a tragic mistake and that this somehow has become a disaster.

We went into Afghanistan after the terrorist attacks of September 11, and I would remind my fellow citizens and my colleagues, we went in virtually unanimously.

If we've learned anything about assumptions regarding national security and ground forces, it's usually that they are wrong.

I'm relieved to know they were correct, although they're disturbing. Now what are we going to have to do without if that doesn't change, sir?

Could you quantify how much one cancellation costs us?

I think I will take another round because I have to go.

Netherlands originally committed to buying 80 airplanes. Now they are committed to only buying 37.

Accordingly, the Army's budget request for investment accounts, procurement, research, development, test, and evaluation is $20.1 billion or 17 percent of the Army's total budget.

It just seems to me that we have an opportunity to leave this place stable, a place that will not be a haven for terrorists, and to walk away with some degree of success.

Thank you for holding the hearing and I thank the witnesses for their attendance today.

I think we have an opportunity to turn this into a defeat if we make that decision collectively as a body politic.

I thank my colleague. Mr. President, I do not know if I need to seek recognition to be in a colloquy, but I do appreciate the remarks of the Senator from Rhode Island and the Senator from Alaska. I rise this afternoon to join them in…

What is your assessment of the risk to the Marine Corps' ability to execute its objectives, for example, in the Asia Pacific, if we do not provide you with the right number of ready, capable amphibious ships?