The United States of America has always been, I think, the global leader in advocating for open markets, efficient and free trade.

And, again, thank you for your clarity on that.

lack of transparency is a huge political advantage.

Well, and I know personally, in fact my family, I understand the opportunities provided by the oil industry...

And, Dr. Gilmore, tomorrow we are having a full committee hearing on the risk of losing military technology superiority and its implication for U.S. policy, strategy, and posture in the Asia-Pacific.

I appreciate your concern there. And what impact do you believe that depletion of Yemen's oil reserves as early as 2017 will have on the Houthi relationship with other nations in the region?

That is their plan. And as they are moving ahead with nuclear capability, also building missiles to include an ICBM which could only be interpreted as a threat to the American people and American families.

Thank you very much, Dr. Roe. Thank you, each of you, for being here.

I just can't imagine that we would be placing faith in regard to their now denial of developing a nuclear capability while they are building a missile system.

I know personally that almost 1,000 jobs, permanent jobs, would be created in a community that I represent.

I have seen personally the gruesome consequence of Obamacare, where I have had bag boys at the grocery store tell me they have lost hours.

I know it must be very distressing to you to see the current condition, but your service means a lot to the American people.

I am just so hopeful for your success because I believe, sadly, that as safe havens are created throughout that region and into Central Asia and North Africa, that the American people are at risk.

I am obviously very concerned about the Yemeni evacuation, what this means for the security of the United States and our allies.

Just a heinous enemy that we are facing.

How important are programs like the Small Business Innovative Research program (SBIR), Small Business Technology Transfer program (STTR), or the Rapid Innovation Program (RIP) to your technology transition efforts?

Could you give us an update on the status of the 'Trusted Foundry' program for providing a secure source of microchips for sensitive defense systems?

The American people need to know the survival rates that have been achieved, which are unprecedented in conflict.

Science and technology programs are part of the modernization investments that keep the Department prepared and ready to deal with those threats.

We cannot ignore today's concerns, including readiness, equipment recapitalization, and the health and welfare of our service members.

If we have to remain at sequestration levels, I fear the adverse impact it will have on our science and technology programs.

What tools do you have to transition successful technologies developed by S&T, whether in the labs or from contractors, into programs of record?

Do you have enough visibility into industry-directed independent research and development (IR&D)?

Defense sequestration jeopardizes that technological superiority and our ability to outmatch and outclass potential adversaries.

There has been a lot of discussion about the fact that biotechnology is widely proliferated now, which could make biothreats much more readily available to terrorist groups or even lone actors, domestically as well as abroad.