Jack Reed

Until you remove the bias and conflict of interest out of the chain of command, you will not solve this problem.

A proven sexual assault occurs in my command and I don't report it, I am gone.

It is actually everyone's responsibility to prevent someone getting in the aircraft who is intoxicated.

I have no doubt, Colonel, if you will let, or even without your knowledge, an intoxicated pilot get in one of your aircraft, you would be relieved.

I don't think you can separate it. In fact, it is my opinion that if we do separate these two things that you are talking about, you are actually going to have a significant decrease in reporting.

I think, however, we still condone sexual violence in the day-to-day, which is different.

It is embarrassing, sir. You have an 18-year-old kid who just wants to do well, who is embarrassed by it.

I commanded a paratrooper company a long time ago. It was not mixed gender so this issue of sexual assault was not as central as it is today.

I think there is enough there not to dismiss that as sort of, well, it is worse in the civilian life.

The essence of the military is that soldiers protect, not exploit, their comrades, and commanders particularly protect and not exploit their commanders.

It may be well to consider making that much more explicit not only in terms of relief, but in terms of evaluation and in terms of promotion.

Thank you, Chief. My final question is that the land acquisition component is about $57.9 million.

And one of the things that we will pursue, and we'd like your support in this pursuit, is that at some point we're going to have to declare emergencies for these fires.

We have this conversation every single year. And we're just not seeing things improve in the Tongass.

Well, thank you, Chief. Another proposal is the Integrated Resource Restoration Program.

Well, again, I think both the ranking members are concerned, and we have to come up with a mechanism.

It would be significantly affecting title 10.

The markets go up and down. And there are times when the private market, just because of the returns and the economic climate, will cover all the needs.

There has to be at least a way to come back and move the market.

The only game in town was Fannie and Freddie, but at least we were able to keep a housing market.

I do worry that, in some sense, waiting until there is the perfect solution means that we do not do anything.

Even for those who want a privatized system a first step is some type of Government guarantee.

I think the Senator has made some excellent comments.

I cannot think of a more complicated military operation than amphibious assault.

Unit integrity is critical to us, obviously.