Sequester is purely the fallout of political gridlock.
We need your help with both.
It is unfair to the servicemember to make them have to worry about how our government is organized.
I strongly support the President in requesting a defense budget above the artificial caps of the Budget Control Act.
I support the President's commitment to vetoing any bill that locks in sequestration, because to do otherwise would be both unsafe and waste...
We need a safe, secure, and reliable nuclear deterrent. The submarine force is a key leg of the triad.
It is a national priority, and it ought to be funded out of the defense budget.
But--and I want to be clear about this--under sequestration, which is set to return in 211 days, our Nation will be less secure.
Taking the fight to ISIL requires that we be flexible and patient in our efforts.
I thank you for the opportunity to be before this committee today and to continue that process of coordination and consultation with you.
The President has outlined a framework for the authorities he believes will be necessary to pursue this long-term campaign.