It will take years of increased funding to get us to where we need to be.

I am concerned that the fiscal year 2018 defense budget request is not enough to address the shortfalls and damage caused by years of underfunding.

Our adversaries are rapidly advancing their tactics and their capabilities.

I believe we need both of these capabilities.

What Russia really is going about doing each and every day is undermining the credibility of our alliance commitment to NATO and our ability to respond to NATO.

It has to be a physical manifestation of our commitment, and the European Reassurance Initiative, which this year is $4.8 billion, gives us three brigade combat teams on a continuous basis in Europe.

At no other time in history have we as a Nation faced such serious, complex, and growing threats to our national security.

We have got to keep this asset flying.

We believe that that is where it needs to stay.

I am committed to working with you as you ensure our military is the strongest fighting force in the world.

Many Reserve facilities do not meet antiterrorism and force protection requirements, and that these deficiencies result in traffic, congestion in surrounding roads.

If we want our forces in Europe to serve as an effective deterrent to Russian aggression, we must fully fund the Stryker upgrades necessary to ensure that we pose a credible threat to our adversary forces.