JOHN M. McHUGH

We now face fiscal year 2016 defense spending cap insufficient for operation in an unsustainable global security environment.

We must have an end to sequestration this year, and we must have this budget.

We need to stop talking and start acting. We need wisdom, not words. We need results, not rhetoric.

As Russian-backed forces rolled into Ukraine, annexed Crimea, and threatened regional stability, our soldiers rapidly deployed to Eastern Europe in a demonstration of U.S. commitment and resolve.

Ladies and gentlemen, our Army, your Army faces a dark and dangerous future unless this Congress acts now to end these ill-conceived and inflexible budget cuts.

No Federal obligation is more important than protecting national security.

We must be seen as a credible ally and a dangerous enemy.

we are going to make sure that we are never doing business with someone that's exploiting labor in the United States or anywhere in the world.

the worst the thing that we can do is ask the men and women serving in our Army to perform a task that we do not equip and train them to do.

The time for action is now.

With defense budgets shrinking, it's important to evaluate if our current Active Component and Reserve Component force mix is appropriate for future engagements.

Honestly, I wish I had better news to share, but today we find our Army at a very dangerous crossroads which, if we as a nation choose the wrong path, may severely damage our force.

Over the past 12 years of conflict, our Army has proven itself in arguably the most difficult environment we have ever faced. Our leaders at every level have displayed unparalleled ingenuity, flexibility and adaptability. Our Soldiers have…

I don't think we can afford it. I don't think we can--hell, we're cutting 100,000 more right now.

You can succeed, from this day forward, in virtually every aspect of your military career, but if you fail at this--and that is leading on the issue of sexual assault--you've failed the Army.

Of the many things that trouble us all, Mr. Chairman, the areas you just spoke about, and particularly suicide, are amongst the most troubling.

I think you would agree it is breathtaking, first of all, that we have this problem but that we have it at places such as West Point, Air Force Academy and, of course, at Annapolis, it makes it even more disturbing.

Sequestration is not in the best interest of our national security.

Of the many things that trouble us all, Mr. Chairman, the areas you just spoke about, and particularly suicide, are amongst the most troubling.

I believe in both Korea and outside of Korea, there is a need to have a joint combined arms capability which would require ground forces.

we can't allow the actions of a few to derail what we are doing in Afghanistan

To use an ax to cut an additional half trillion dollars from defense spending would be perilous enough.

Our Strategic Vision is based on a decisive technological superiority to any potential adversary.

I would like to recognize and express my appreciation to the Senate as a whole for acting very expeditiously on a nomination that I think President Obama made very wisely of General Marty Dempsey as our new Chief of Staff.