Martin Heinrich

This issue of how we fund our forests and our management of our forests is critical to communities across the West.

I just want to thank Senator Murphy for everything he has done on this issue and for not taking no for an answer.

I have one last question for my colleague from Connecticut, and this one is probably the hardest one. It is simply why? Why is this so hard? I stand here as a gun owner. I have looked at each of these amendments through the lens of what it…

And is it not true, I ask Senator Murphy through the Chair, that there are due process protections in this amendment so that if someone were to find themselves on a list, there is a right to redress so that we ensure not only that…

I think that raises some serious concerns about the future stability of DOD's trusted microelectronics source.

It is important to understand that the recent developments in expectations for the market, such as oil and natural gas, as we consider any new policy changes.

I think it is a testament, a testimony, to your leadership and to Ranking Member Cantwell's leadership that this particular Committee has been so productive at a time where we will find that to be the exception rather than the rule around…

To be clear, I support Federal efforts to reduce waste, but I also believe there needs to be a balanced approach that encourages producers to reduce emissions without inadvertently causing producing wells to be capped.

I do not think any of us up here support waste. Natural gas is an important energy source and too valuable of a commodity not to take all practical steps to capture it and to put it to beneficial use.

I actually introduced legislation this morning with Senator Inhofe to look at granting rapid acquisition authorities for directed-energy weapon systems.

I think that directed energy has suffered from being--from always being just 25 years off. I think we're now not 25 years off.

I look forward to working with you, Chief, to make sure we do extend that program and working with my colleagues.

I am pleased to see the President's budget for FY17 calls for $3.4 billion for the European Reassurance Initiative.

What has the Russian response been to the $3.4 billion European Reassurance Initiative (ERI) in the FY17 budget request?

What has the European response been to the $3.4 billion European Reassurance Initiative (ERI) in the FY17 budget request?

Are we seeing any changes in terms of Europe's commitment to defense spending in response to Russia's increased aggression in the region?

It seems to me this is a change in doctrine that is really disturbing.

I think that creates some real risk for us.

I hope the Congress will listen to the advice of our military commanders.

It is also very clear that because of the budget box that we have put the Army in, that we are not modernizing at a level necessary to stay ahead of our adversaries the way that we have in the past.

I was pleased to see the budget request year quadruples the European Security Initiative to $3.4 billion.

Congress authorized the 'Third Offset' initiative last year to accelerate the fielding of systems that would help counter the technological gains of our adversaries.

Data security is an absolute necessity for [the military], and that, I'm not a believer in back doors or a single technical approach to what is a complex problem.

Our missile defense strategy was, quote/unquote, unsustainable and that ballistic missile threats, quote, continue to outpace our Active defense systems, unquote.

I think it is going to be more and more important that we look at long-term solutions that are actual game-changers like directed energy to solve some of those issues.