The budget is not just a collection of numbers. It is an illustration of our values.

To me, winning now would be having the King survive, controlling the chemical weapons.

America's investment in foreign policy is 'national security insurance.'

this debate we are having about gun control legislation and how to solve a difficult problem is a good debate. Quite frankly, I never understood why we would not want to have this debate. This is an issue where most Americans very much…

I ask unanimous consent to be recognized to talk about the pending amendments for about 8 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is recognized.

America is the guardian of global security. People all through the region look to us for that leadership, the indispensable nation.

what additional challenges do you see in attaining the required level of standardization?

our Nations' historical experience of pursuing cost savings by cutting military compensation has demonstrated that periods of designed reduction in overall compensation levels resulted in retention problems.

how much will it cost for your Service to field a new EHR?

Secretary Lamont, Secretary Garcia, and Secretary Ginsberg, was your Service consulted to determine the cost impact of extending these benefits to same sex partners?

what impact do you anticipate for your Services' medical readiness?

It is unconscionable that servicemembers must wait many months to receive a disability determination from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

I am concerned about the potential impact of civilian furloughs on the Services' critically important family support programs.

But one thing I think would destroy morale is to believe that your spouse is not well equipped and well trained.

So the glide path for the budget is pretty much not growing very fast, but health care costs are.

Do you agree with former Secretary Panetta, that when it comes to benefits paid for by hard-working American taxpayers, that DOD should favor same-sex domestic partners over heterosexual partners?

DOD and VA have been working on an integrated electronic health record (EHR) for a number of years with very little progress being made.

what additional tools does your Service need in order to continue to reduce--with the goal of eliminating--sexual assault?

This committee is concerned that medical care providers were not fully aware of their obligations concerning restricted reports.

They really have not been adjusted since 1995, have they?

This is really a wonderful opportunity to make sure that Congress listens and we get it right.

The country has enough problems without making me secretary of anything.

We are going to have to do something about TRICARE. We are going to have to make it more sustainable...

it is unconscionable that servicemembers must wait many months to receive a disability determination from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

How do you know if DOD and its beneficiaries are getting good value for dollars spent in the private sector healthcare?