Tactical lift is critically important. Maintaining the skill level and the experience with those aircrews and those pilots is key.

I think that there are a number of challenges out there with KC-46A, as well as how we are going to operationalize in a continued way the C-130s and making sure we are cognizant of the incredible asset that our Guard units are.

there is a tremendous amount of innovation and creation out there, and what I hear constantly is the high level of frustration

I just don't think the appropriators understood the critical nature of that and why it was needed.

I want to know what you are doing internally to fix this systemic acquisitions issue

I think mobility is critically important. If you can move, you obviously lessen the risk there in the battlefield.

I regrettably missed the vote on rollcall No. 144. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 144.

This reduction further limits our ability to project forces in times of conflict. In my estimation, this is quite simply a dereliction of duty.

by any other measure in any other place, that would be unacceptable, and I would say it is unacceptable here

if there is not a long-term strategy about how we recapitalize, then it deeply concerns me

I share your frustration, because I wanted to move faster, but we are heading in that direction, sir.

This committee and our Nation is better because of your service, and we honor you, and we will miss you.

I appreciate your leadership and your friendship.

I want them to come into my National Defense Reserve Fleet.

Weakness begets aggression, and I categorically reject this path.

this is an incredibly important strategic issue.

I fervently believe that the best way to preserve the peace is to prepare for war.

These operations are designed to gain advantage without provoking a conventional military response, and they are, therefore, difficult to counter effectively.

The freedom of navigation Ops themselves, and also associated operations, special reconnaissance-type operations, being routinized over the last few years, is extremely positive.

I have faith in our Nation, our democracy, and our ideals.

the U.S., in both the Obama administration and the Trump administration, endorsed the tribunal's ruling.

I believe the United States needs to take several steps to deter this collision.

It is also not helpful that when we do one of these exercises against a partner or an upcoming ally, to go public with these operations.

Frankly, China is not abiding by cues, as I understand it from talking to naval operators.

this increasing Chinese brinkmanship may likely, at some point, conclude in a violent confrontation.