Kirsten Gillibrand

It is critical that the study be specifically focused on the New York-New Jersey region that was hardest hit by Superstorm Sandy.

Thank you, Madam Chairwoman, for holding this very important hearing on our Nation's water infrastructure priorities.

I believe the authorizing language on the supplemental appropriations bill directs the Corps of Engineers throughout its North Atlantic Division.

One sexual assault is one too many.

This service afforded you the unique opportunity to take concrete measures to address the growing problem of sexual assault in our military.

Commanders' ability and result of command and control on command climate is a critical piece that is considered for any promotion or future command.

Criminal conduct of any kind is not consistent with good order and discipline.

Holding offenders accountable is a priority; and I acknowledge that a higher conviction rate is one factor among many that may increase a victim's confidence in the system.

This really does require a culture change and it has to start right away because time is running out on patience for this problem to be resolved.

To have the DACOWITS panel, who has been investigating these issues for 20 years, to make a recommendation to the Secretary of Defense that not only should you take the decisionmaking for all serious crimes out of the chain of command, but…

When Dick Cheney was the Secretary of Defense some 20-odd years ago, he said there was zero tolerance for sexual assault in the military.

Those tools remain within the commander's purview entirely. That commander is solely responsible for good order and discipline.

You want nothing else because if you drive cases forward because you feel like it or because you do not like the perpetrator or do not like the accused or really like the victim, you are using bias.

A judge advocate outside the chain of command will be looking at a case through a different lens than a military commander.

What more can DOD do to ensure our veterans have a smooth transition from DOD to the VA?

What authorities will be needed to keep the U.S. military on the cutting edge of cyber?

If confirmed, what steps will you take to ensure we are recruiting the best and the brightest to this field?

Men and women should have the opportunity to overcome their mental disorders or their mental health challenges and shouldn't be stigmatized.

I receive the monthly suicide data and am saddened to see the number of servicemembers who fall through the cracks in the system.

If confirmed, what are your plans to improve upon suicide prevention throughout DOD?

If confirmed, do I have your commitment to work with me to reform and improve upon the way that TRICARE cares for special needs dependents?

I am aware the Air Force advocates and supports cyberspace and computer training and education programs nationwide.

The cyber mission strikes me as a good one for the National Guard and Reserve.

The Air Force is scheduled to add more than 1,000 cyber professionals between fiscal years 2014 and 2016.

We want prosecutions that are going to result in guilty verdicts, and weighing these kinds of evidence is very difficult.