Jim Inhofe

Without exception, every BRAC round for the first 3 years costs money.

That's not what the Constitution tells us we're supposed to be doing.

I think we also need to recognize...52 percent of all revenues that came into the United States went into defending America. That figure is now 15 percent.

None of those will get started.

If you want to meet the expectations of the American people, you have to be superior in all areas, which we're not.

Because it's a recognition we're not there.

I would hope you would always make sure people understand. You talk about risk, which talks about readiness, which talks about lives.

I mean, that philosophy tells me that the priority is not what I interpret the Constitution.

We have to do something about sequestration, we have to do something about the deterioration in the funding and the capabilities of our military.

I see this as I did 22 years ago in this committee, not just to get our state of readiness where it should be, but also to tell the truth about how unready we are.

With fiscal stability and predictability and increased resources, we will provide the Expeditionary Force in Readiness our Nation requires to protect its interests and security.

Thank you, Admiral. Excellent statement.

The most important actions you can take...will be to immediately repeal the 2011 Budget Control Act and ensure sufficient funding to train, man, and equip the fiscal year 2017 NDAA authorized force.

We want to hear it, and we want to get it on record.

The new administration has made some comments about spending that I agree with, a desire to boost military spending and repeal sequestration for the DOD.

The military does suffer from an unacceptable level of readiness.

American dominance on the seas, in the skies, and in space can no longer be taken for granted.

We had General Wilson talk about the hollow force, actually used the term 'hollow force.'

Only 3 of 58 brigade combat teams are ready to fight.

We're not willing to discard the old, and we continue on some of the older practices that we don't, you know, have anymore.

The over-regulation that we're dealing with on a regular basis--

This is a trend that we have started, and we want to continue with this, giving more of the options to the States.

I have had the advantage of dealing with these issues for 22 years in the Senate.

As you know, the President has talked about the public-private partnerships.

First of all, I have something to submit for the record, Mr. Chairman. This is the largest coalition I have seen. This is a letter to President Trump from over 500 organizations through almost everything in America.