Jim Langevin

I'm also deeply concerned about the reference in your testimony to a delay in the procurement of the first SSBN(X) by a year.

Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUVs) provide capable, relatively low cost alternatives to addressing certain mission sets while reducing operational risk.

Stepping back a bit, can you remind me why these programs--VCS, VPM, ORP--are so important, given the intense A2/AD challenges we are likely to face in future contingencies?

While the Virginia program has been a model procurement story, there are clearly some other procurements in the Navy that have had more trouble.

Can you give us an update on the Virginia Payload Module and how the program is faring given sequestration, a potential CR, and other fiscal adversities?

I am deeply troubled by any potential impacts on the two-per-year procurement schedule for Virginia-class boats that we so badly need.

The cost of the Ohio replacement SSBN is significant relative to the annual ship procurement resources available to the Navy in any given year.

I find it troubling that, as many of my colleagues do, the DOD is having to make, in my opinion, very unacceptable cuts in areas, such as modernization and force structure, that will no doubt affect this Nation's security for years to come.

If the Budget Control Act's sequester-level caps remain in Fiscal Year 2014 then what impacts will this have on DOD's modernization portfolio?

I am very concerned over any degradation in our cutting-edge capabilities and our investments in the fundamentals of a strong national defense.

I would simply emphasize the importance of having discussions with Congress sooner rather than later.

I applaud the Department's willingness to seriously examine reducing DOD's overhead and administrative costs.

My understanding of the LCS program is that the ship is critical to the Navy's network-centric warfare and intended to replace three other classes of aging ships.

I appreciate the comments that the chairman has just made. I'd just point out that in the Defense authorization bill this was authorized at the higher level. And the information I have from program managers is that they could, in fact…

The strategic guidance emphasizes the presence of U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) in the Asia-Pacific region.

I have long been concerned about the ability of our basing and infrastructure to withstand the cyber attacks that could reasonably be expected in any conflict scenario.

Your insights are clearly invaluable as we look to rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region.

Historically, how successful has the U.S. been in using the provision of military assistance to empower moderate rebel groups?

I am deeply concerned that the spillover of both refugees and violence into Lebanon could further destabilize that country.

I share concerns that have been expressed about aid, particularly lethal aid, being directed to some of the more extremist elements of the Syrian rebel groups.

What might a successful political settlement in Syria look like, and how has that changed since the confirmation of the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons?

I would disagree respectfully with the ranking member who would say that this is not going to have any benefit at all.

There is also the troubling fact that there have been approximately 100,000 people that have been killed in this conflict.

I think that the argument that has been raised today about some type of limited strikes have merit.

I certainly plan to introduce it again in this Congress.