Lindsey Graham

We need to invest in our shipbuilding.

What I want the country to know is that we're on course to shrink the Navy as China is increasing the Navy.

If these numbers are not accurate cause we have capability to do it with half of that, I need to know right now.

Do you support the plan to get to 515 ships?

How much money do you need?

We're going to have one more ship than we have today in 2030.

We need 515. How many do we have now in terms of ships?

If we stop weapons necessary to destroy the enemies of the State of Israel at a time of great peril, we will pay a price, this is obscene, it is absurd.

I think this committee ought to look at an OCO (Overseas Contingency Operations) account, if you believe the Navy is essential to deterring China.

I totally agree, there are people on our side, Senator Collins will tell you, we hear from all the time.

If we lose in Ukraine, pull the plug on Ukraine, we will send a signal of weakness.

What I want the country to know is that we're on course to shrink the Navy as China is increasing the Navy.

I'm not talking to you.

We're still below inflation.

We're going to have one more ship than we have today in 2030.

How much money do you need

The responsibility falls on elected officials, but I would like you all to echo what I'm saying.

We need 515. How many do we have now in terms of ships?

We need to invest in our shipbuilding.

Yes. We will have a very vigorous discussion about how wrong you are to empower this group that has been perpetrating all of the wrong things, not the right things. Now, having said all that--

This budget is not only inadequate, it puts us on a pathway to reduce our capabilities.

This budget agreement has put us on track to have the lowest spending on Defense in modern history.

The number one job and goal of the federal government to me is to defend the nation.

I will do everything I can to turn this trend around.

The Defense side of this budget is not good for our country.