I think it is interesting that, you know, you all have pointed out that obviously Iraq and Afghanistan are two very different places.

Congress has done something and we were kicking and screaming, but we did it, and it turned out to be the right thing.

We want to make sure that we are doing everything we can obviously to help them out.

I again want to thank you for your leadership on this issue.

I want to begin by thanking Chairman Rahall and Ranking Member Hastings for calling this hearing and for this bill to come before us.

I think that holistic approach in trying to go away from some of the more simplistic ways to say well, it is as simple as A produces B, is where we need to go.

I appreciate your advocacy of the ecosystem approach in marine management.

I had the opportunity to go to Iraq and Afghanistan here recently, and I heard a number of complaints when I was there about stoppages and malfunctions with the M9 pistol and the M4 rifle.

What I have learned in the meantime is that there is a 2006 study out by the Center for Naval Analysis which polled soldiers who use these weapons in combat and found that 48 percent of the respondents were dissatisfied with the M9…