Kelly Ayotte

Addressing installation environmental concerns can be a costly endeavor over the long-term.

Can you help me with what that means, conceiving of a new risk paradigm?

Will it reference LEED, Green Globes, National Green Building Standard, or any other green building certification system?

Can you meet DOD goals for facility energy efficiency without achieving a LEED gold or platinum standard?

If Congress does not authorize additional BRAC rounds, DOD will be forced to use its authority to begin to close and realign bases.

Force reductions produce excess capacity, only through BRAC can we align our infrastructure with our defense strategy.

In my view this is not a risk that we can afford to undertake on behalf of our national security, as Secretary Panetta has articulated so well.

So that would certainly be something important so that you did not have to install a new trainer on a base.

It is important that the KC-46A basing decisions are made in an objective and transparent manner.

Dr. Robyn, are you proposing to use U.S. taxpayers' funds to invest in a facility to be closed?

We remain committed to the construction of a replacement facility for Marine Corps Air Station Futenma as the only viable way forward.

This decision must be guided by objective metrics that will standup to the inevitable scrutiny.

I think you have hit on a lot of key parameters here in terms of cost drivers, and they will be considered.

I am glad to hear you say that is one of the considerations that you are going to take into account.

I think there is a lot more information that Congress needs before we as a group decide to undertake a BRAC process again.

I think we have been a really strong team in dealing with our Nation's military readiness in this committee and also strong stewards of taxpayers' dollars.

It is apparent that a priority for this administration has been to advance renewable energy initiatives across all Federal agencies, including DOD.

Does the Air Force have a plan for strategic lift at Anderson Air Base to address the needs of Marine Corps forces coming to Guam?

I think this concurrent basing issue is very, very important.

Thank you, Senator McCaskill. I thank all the witnesses for being here today.

I am not convinced it is insulated from politics.

I understand that your office is undertaking a review of DOD's current green building policy.

We do not expect additional work to be required at every site where TCE has been detected.

We must continue to ensure that every taxpayer dollar provided to DOD is used to meet a valid military need or shortfall.

I will not support the request for a BRAC process to be carried out in 2013.