Rob Wittman

I think those are all extraordinarily important aspects of what we, as a team, Congress, the administration, need to do to make sure we have what is necessary going into the future.

We will continue to stay in touch as we go through this year's NDAA to make sure that you have the tools necessary to stay on track with the Columbia class and do all we can to address the deficit of submarines in the attack class it will…

Well, I am eternally hopeful that we will not get another CR next year.

We shall never forget that it was our submarines that held the lines against our enemies while our fleets replaced losses and repaired wounds.

I would also believe that it would be very helpful and is the desire of this subcommittee to provide that authorization, that direction as far as extending the service life of those Los Angeles-class submarines, as well as aggressively as…

I choose a strong America that emboldens allies and deters future aggression.

The Columbia class is projected to carry about 70 percent of our Nation's strategic deterrence. This is a program that we cannot get wrong.

I support the alternative path. Consistent with the Navy's 30-year shipbuilding plan, we need to increase our attack submarine build rate.

If we continue to allow the reduction in our attack submarine force, potential adversaries may see this decline as a strategic inflection point.

Our adversaries are always measuring options and looking at our funding decisions to determine how this impacts their own strategic goals.

Admiral Harris, our PACOM commander, constantly reminds us that his most critical shortfall is attack submarines.

We are currently on a path that reduces our attack submarine force structure from 52 boats today to 42 boats in 2028.

Today we are at a crossroads in regard to our undersea forces.

I hope that you and I, as well as the conservation partners, can work to make sure that we get that done here in the very near future.

I want to highlight, too, the importance of our regional fishery management commissions.

I think that is absolutely critical. Hopefully, we will have your support as it makes its way through the Senate.

It is critical the relationship, the partnership we have with the Federal Government, especially the Department of the Interior agencies, is key to making sure that that cleanup takes place properly.

I hope that you will work with me to make sure that we finally get this land into the refuge system that we have worked on for years and years.

That is a good thing. Recognition long overdue.

These programs, which are complex programs--KC-46A, B-21, F-35--these have to be delivered on budget and on time.

Getting this right is the key.

If there are things that we can do in this year's NDAA as far as authorization, as far as direction that you feel that you need with this, please let us know.

I hope that you all reflect upon that.

I think it is critical. As you look at the needs identified in our OPLANs, ... the key is lift.

I think there is--well, I think it is both a tactical and strategic question the Air Force has to deal with.