Kirsten Gillibrand

Other panelists, do you have any thoughts on ways we can help you do your jobs better?

Admiral Tidd, interdiction of drugs in Puerto Rico is a challenging but necessary task.

Do you agree that victims have certain rights both before and during trial that can only be protected if the victim has access to both the service appellate courts and CAAF?

I do believe this is an important policy issue worthy of debate with valid concerns on both sides of the question.

Prior to the recent, and welcomed, attention to sexual assault victims, I would have disagreed with the statement that the system appropriately addresses the rights of victims.

I am, however aware of some of the views on both sides of the issue.

I have read no reports nor have I seen any data on the probable cause standard as it relates to victim expectations.

I believe the USCAAF currently provides online access to all briefs in granted cases.

I believe that transparency is important in the court-martial process.

If I am confirmed, one of my highest priorities will be to drive intelligence operations and activities to satisfy national security requirements and shape intelligence efforts to best support current operations and political-military…

So I would like you, for the record, to give me some recommendations for how we can professionalize all of the services' prosecution units.

But there seems to be a need to professionalize the lawyers within the military so that they actually get some specialized training.

I think that the bill only says the decision-maker has to be 06 or above, which is not dissimilar to the current decision-making for non-lawyers who are commanders.

I think 62 percent is, obviously, completely unacceptable.

I think one of the main issues that the Department has been looking at are ways to get at that problem.

What do you think the best approach is to stop retaliation and change the climate?

I would urge you to look very heavily at this issue of retaliation, because, unfortunately, the effect of it is, less survivors come forward.

I was dismayed to hear allegations that senior officials at U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) were altering the analysts' reports on ISIL to make these reports appear more favorable.

The United States must remain vigilant against the threat posed by adversaries while aggressively pursuing ISR capabilities to achieve success in counter-terrorism and related operations.

There's an issue with some commanders that they really need to be trained better to eradicate sexual harassment and sexual discrimination.

I hope you will make a commitment that you will work with me and the rest of us on trying to end the scourge of sexual violence.

Thank you for your commitment to service, all your sacrifices.

I strongly believe that we should have appropriate standards that meet the needs of the positions.

We have a real challenge here with retaliation.

I also want to associate myself with the remarks from Senator Ernst, Hirono, and McCaskill about sexual assault in the military and how important it is for this committee that we solve that problem.