I want to make sure the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture have to do their due diligence to show that there is indeed a scientific purpose behind these lead restrictions. We want to make sure we are effectively…

Cartels in Mexico are empowered to expand lucrative trafficking and smuggling operations across our porous southwest border. The actions of Secretary Mayorkas have led to a complete humanitarian and national security catastrophe. Congress…

I include in the Record a letter of support for the SHARKED Act, signed by 123 companies and organizations, including the American Sportfishing Association. September 20, 2023. Hon. Rob Wittman, House of Representatives, Washington, DC…

The Water Resources Development Act is necessary legislation that provides for improvements to the Nation's ports, inland waterways, flood protection, ecosystem restoration, and other water resources infrastructure and policy.

I hope this committee and the House upholds its duty to authorize nationally important water infrastructure improvements that are more locally driven.

Thank you for allowing me to testify before you today. I am honored to highlight some of the needs facing Virginia.

War is on our doorstep. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Iran's proxy conflict with Israel, North Korea's long-range ballistic missile development, and China's belligerence in the South China Sea, an axis of evil is rising again…

I think those things are incredibly important questions that need to be asked before you take any next step in the final engine decision-making.

Listen, a great hardware platform, but it can't do the things that we need for it to do if it is not software enabled.

Listen, I think you are spot on.

Yeah. I think it's a matter, too, as you said, good systems engineering, good look at, you know, the whole element to a performance-based logistics.

I think this also begs the question about the enterprise on advance systems, especially F-35.

the non-mission capable rates due to lack of parts is currently at 42.5 percent, absolutely unacceptable.

it is critically important that we continue to evaluate our military capabilities to ensure we are postured for robust deterrence.

the National Defense Strategy is clear in its focus on China as our Nation's pacing threat.

the development of a SLCM-N capability would help us address the deterrents challenges that you so eloquently point out in your report

When you look across, as Representative Wittman said, some cases it is bringing the work to the people.

We have to be able to look beyond just the yards themselves.

Before I begin questioning I would like to take a moment to honor the 241 marines, sailors, and soldiers of the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit who 30 years ago today were killed in a terrorist attack in Beirut, Lebanon.

Large-scale oyster restoration is really Mother Nature's filter in taking a lot of stuff out of the Bay.

Can you speak then to the shortfin mako ban?

What we have seen is a resurgence of shark populations, which is good. But what we have also seen with that is shark depredation.

I think you really illustrate the picture perfectly for what it means for our recreational fisheries that rely on clients to charter their boats to go out and fish.

I would like to thank you and Ranking Member Grijalva for holding this hearing today. I think it is incredibly important.

I would love for you to get that information to the Committee. I think that is incredibly important.