John Warner

But in the light of the lack of progress with this surge in the minds of many Members of Congress and the American public, and other deficiencies that the chairman and myself pointed out that we see as far as the execution of our policy…

I personally have the highest regard for those two individuals and the committee that put together that report. I had a small hand in creating the situation which gave rise to that report. I thought the report was very constructive.

I think we're progressing. Congress has now required the President to come back up here by July 15 and give us a current assessment, not wait until September.

But I say to you--and you know more about this than I do--we're paying a very heavy price to allow them to grapple with seizing the reins of sovereignty.

You are taking this position at the request of the President of the United States.

I want to bring one to your attention, because I, fortunately, with other members of the committee, have spent a lot of time here in these many years working on unmanned vehicles.

I would hope that you'd feel free--and, really, I ask that you come back before the committee, at least inform the staff, in about 90 days--do you have enough resources to operate that office as you see appropriate?

I hope that these management burdens--you'll handle it, but, at the same time, keep your skills up, and a little hands-on medicine, I think, is good for the heart and the soul, and to show the troops that you still know how to do it.

So, I hope you give us your assurances you'll do the best you can to strengthen that program.

We have a magnificent, I think, Secretary of Defense now, in Bob Gates.

I suggest that we allow our two colleagues from the Senate and our distinguished good colleague from the House of Representatives, Representative Everett--he is the ranking member on the Strategic Subcommittee of the House Armed Services…

Extraordinary bravery and courage.

There is work to be done.

I will never forget, on September 11, Chairman Levin and I went over to the Pentagon.

I think we all agree that the criticality of the Guard and Reserve at this time as a consequence of their very courageous and forthcoming contribution to procuring the goals both in Iraq and Afghanistan have left it in some rather unusual…

The report by the Commission on the roles and missions of the National Guard and Reserve finds that the Commander of NORTHCOM 'does not sufficiently advocate for the full range of civil support requirements affecting the National Guard and…

The Department of Homeland Security and other State and local agencies have the primary initial responsibility.

I have been on this committee 29 years and I think about 20 of those years I have been trying to work with the Corps on building a much-needed dam in Virginia.

I believe in going with as much transparency as you can.

Let us focus on the word 'transparency.' It means a sharing with the public, with Congress, and others the nature of your challenges and how you best think you can address it.

I have found through the years one of the core problems that arises between Congress, which understandably has a need to be very closely advised with regard to the work that you do, given that so much of that work impacts our States.

I thank the chair. Days long past.

I do hope that you continue to provide strong support for these concepts.

This committee had a great deal to do with the establishment of the legislation which created the 55 Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil Support Teams.

Will you continue to take a look at that?