Deb Fischer

The hearing will come to order.

This Nation owes you both a deep debt of gratitude for your four decades of military service.

The full scope of a Facebook user's activity can paint a very personal picture.

I rise today to discuss H.R. 1865, the anti-human-trafficking legislation currently being considered here on the Senate floor. Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing criminal enterprises in the world. More than 20 million people…

I have 7 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following…

I rise today to continue my tribute to Nebraska's heroes: the current generation of men and women who lost their lives defending our freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each of these Nebraskans has a special story to tell. Sergeant Lonnie…

I am especially pleased to see included in this legislation policies that I have championed in this Committee for many years.

This bill encompasses a variety of priorities that I and many members of this Committee have labored over for, in some cases, many years.

In terms of the out-years, can you give us some idea of the scale of investment that we are looking at here?

To provide the required strategic vision needed to inform critical warhead modernization investments, the DOD and DOE Nuclear Weapons Council approved a strategic plan.

When you say we're taking it on, is that the Weapons Council?

We have not made sufficient progress towards a responsive nuclear infrastructure.

isn't it true that Moscow deploys a highly capable ballistic missile defense system?

DOD requested the reprogramming of 2017 funding of more than $400 million to counter the North Korean missile threat.

the only country that's been running this race has been the Russians over the last 10, 20 years.

General Rand, we have low-yield nuclear weapons in our triad's airborne leg; how is the development of advanced air defenses impacting our ability to hold targets at risk with these weapons?

So with that in mind, can you describe how the Department is translating the NPR into specific guidance?

Dr. Soofer, please provide an anticipated timeline and associated milestones for the Department's Analysis of Alternatives (AOA) for the sea-launched cruise missile?

Last year, the Congress directed NNSA to establish the infrastructure modernization initiative in order to reduce the backlog of deferred maintenance at least by 30 percent by 2025.

the administration's intent to rapidly pursue Stockpile Responsiveness Program established by Congress, and this is something that I am very supportive of.

I hope you will continue to keep Congress informed on that to make sure we are meeting the objectives that were laid out by Congress.

If we don't, we're going to have a gap, and that gap is going to adversely affect our deterrence to the point where it may not be credible.

the AOA will presumably analyze alternatives related to the missile body and the platform, but the SLCM will also require a warhead.

This is an incredibly important and timely discussion given the increasing missile threats facing our Nation.

Will the Department provide that implementation guidance to this committee?