Jack Reed

There is no question that we have a state of good repair backlog that must be addressed to have safe, reliable, dependable service at the same time that we have the highest ridership in public transit this country has seen in more than 50…

So my sense, Mr. Hanley, is you would urge us to go back and look at that and try to provide more resources for physical security for bus systems across the country.

The Open Market Committee has several times made the point that we seem to be operating at cross purposes.

Our current debate about unemployment compensation, most objective observers would suggest that could add anywhere from 180,000 to 200,000 jobs to our economy.

We are in the throes of trying to figure out if we are going to actually fund our highway system after next September.

The one point, I think, because it's one thing going down the range, which I couldn't do, and hit anything flying a helicopter, but you also have to work with ground troops on a constant basis, so that they're comfortable and you're…

But a National Guard brigade, even if we get back to the pre-this budget and this sequestration, it was about an average of once every 7 years a brigade would go through; is that correct, General Grass?

That's something that we all have to reflect upon in terms of the costs, as Senator Inhofe pointed out, of the sequestration impact.

But typically the training level and the training test of the year is at the platoon and company level; is that fair?

My observation has been that our National Guard when they're deployed and our Reserve when they're deployed is one Army.

I sense, and the point you're trying to make, General, as the Active Force gets smaller, the ability to project these forces immediately becomes more critical; is that correct?

I have a few seconds remaining, so I have more of a comment than a question.

General Odierno, one of the principles of a reduced force is that it is more readily deployed, faster, quicker, with more lethality, better training, and better--I hate to use the word 'productivity,' but a much more efficient force.

This is not simply a Navy issue, because this is the central part of our nuclear triad.

In fact, in your statement you allude to the possibility that this will slip.

The lift is the enabler that makes that happen.

Without that lift, you would be challenged to simply conduct opposed amphibious assault.

Do you have informal contact with Chinese counterparts and a perspective on what their attitude is towards the regime in Pyongyang today?

I would rank them very highly. They are a modern, capable force.

They might represent the most sophisticated technological platforms that the Chinese have in terms of their seaborne platforms?

This is a tragic situation at Fort Hood.

Pressure is felt even more keenly in some of these civilian agencies that sometimes do not have the same emotional appeal to Congress

It is a resource issue, and it might even be getting the direction from DOD to do that

Cyber is part of what is going on in the Ukraine, cyber is now a fully developed dimension of any type of conflict.

Certainly, I think that the threat that the TTP has presented certainly has changed their thinking in a number of areas, and they do consider that to be a significant threat.