I appreciate that Admiral Smith took the time to visit the facility. However, I am concerned that he is saying the temperature problem in the rooms will not be addressed until 2018, and that is too long for my constituents to wait.

I really would appreciate, obviously, the focus on getting the military learning centers up and running as soon as possible at Portsmouth.

The administration is requesting that we authorize significant funds for host nation in-kind contributions on the Korean peninsula as part of the shift away from Seoul.

If this problem cannot be fixed sooner, will the Navy permit my constituents to stay elsewhere-providing them full reimbursement?

I appreciate your February 11 response, and I appreciate that you took the time to visit the facility.

I just want to say, for the shipyard workers at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, I know they want to go and help the other shipyards.

I want to thank all of you for being here. I want to thank you for your leadership and important positions of defending our country and serving our country with such distinction.

I just have one final question for you, Admiral Smith. One of the issues that I had focused on as well is our servicemembers and our DOD civilians, you know, the jobs that they are doing--is ensuring that they have access to good…

DOD has said that the Pentagon is starting to run low on smart bombs and guided missiles.

Thank you for your leadership and all that you have done for the country, for the Navy, and we are so grateful for the sacrifices and service of you and your family.

You have not put it in place yet.

One of the issues that we put in the 2016 NDAA was a concern that the new long-term TDY [temporary duty] policy may be discouraging excellent, excellent workers from going to other shipyards because of the cost of it and also, you know…

I wanted to follow up--I--on the maintenance issue that was raised earlier.

Is the Navy prepared, if they have to, to address the career progression issue?

The Navy has been struggling to adequately define maintenance requirements which are key to completing maintenance on time.

However, I am concerned that you are saying the temperature problem in the rooms will not be addressed until 2018.

We cannot deploy our men and women in uniform and put them in situations that make them sick.

I want to thank all my colleagues, including the ranking member and, of course, Senator Shaheen and Senator Hirono, for their support on this issue.

In May 2015, GAO found that incidents of degraded or out-of-service equipment have doubled on surface and amphibious ships over the past 5 years.

shipyards have harbor security barrier around it, as do our installation piers. But what we have right now does not meet the requirement for high-speed boats that could be used for a terrorist attack. We're looking for next (generation…

I would urge the Secretary to come forward, because obviously time is of the essence.

We believe F-15s, F-16s, and B-1s cannot replicate the CAS capabilities of the A-10. We know from combat experience that the elimination of the A-10 before a viable replacement achieves full operational capability will cost American lives.

Thank you. I think you might want to invite Senator Hirono to that groundbreaking. I am sure she really appreciates what you are doing there.

I appreciate it because when you can imagine when I read 'nonessential,' how that kind of makes me wonder.

I would say that this is one where I really am concerned that we're not keeping faith with them, if they have deployed multiple times and we're going to give them an involuntary separation.