Kelly Ayotte

So, why was the decision made to close all the contracting towers, versus the towers that had the FAA employees that perhaps could have gone on to do other work?

I would appreciate an answer to that, because there is over--of course, as I understand it, in looking how much is in Essential Air Services, that's a pretty substantial amount of funding on an annual basis.

Can you explain to me why one, and not the other, and what--how you distinguish between certain towers?

So, in fact, I think, the initial list proposed for closure would have had about 238 towers, under that standard.

I would echo the sentiments of my colleague, Senator Cantwell, for the important work that you've done in the light of what's happened in Boston.

I want to thank all of our witnesses for being here.

I will also be particularly interested to hear from Administrator Huerta on the FAA's response to the sequester.

Do some Afghans fear that the United States may abandon Afghanistan?

If we rush to the exits or provide an insufficient force after 2014, what would failure in Afghanistan potentially look like?

General Dunford, do you anticipate having to drawdown U.S. forces during the fighting season?

What would be the dangers to our mission, and to our troops, if the plan was changed and you were forced to withdraw a significant number of troops during this fighting season?

If we fail in Afghanistan, what could be the impact on U.S. national security interests?

We are going to do whatever we need to do to support the Afghan security forces in establishing an operational environment within which free, fair, and legitimate elections can take place.

General Dunford, do you believe you have the discretion to wait until after the fighting season concludes?

I think it is very important that we be in all four regions.

If we were not to have a presence or a sufficient presence in the western part of the country looking at our post-2014 posture, along with our NATO allies, what type of influence do you think Iran would have, and what do you think that…

I think anything that would keep resources out of the hands of the enemy would be a positive step.

To have participatory elections, effective elections, elections that are accepted as legitimate, we're going to have the right security environment to do that.

And can we combine that with a proposal to make sure that it goes to the areas that really need it: the greenfields capacity?

That way, we know it's going to places where we really need it.

But, tell that to the people that don't have any access.

Yet, there is huge economic capability there if we could have broadband access.

I'm really concerned about that.

I appreciate your advice on that.

I thank the Chair. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Washington.