But if sequestration comes, that drops back off, and then we will only be able to focus on a smaller number.

Do you believe that the Atlantic Seismic PEIS balances environmental protection, including mitigating marine mammal impact while promoting a better understanding of the available resources in the study area?

One of my concerns is that if we are talking about a misalignment and trying to bring it back to what we project as the threats may be, just as you pointed out, that is a very dynamic environment.

I have a deep concern about that.

On rollcall No. 150, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'' ____________________

Please describe your service's efforts to migrate enduring requirements into the base budget? How challenging has sequestration made that task? What is most at-risk?

Without the support of OCO, at what point in time would the force return, in large measure, to full-spectrum readiness?

How dependent are you on OCO for day-to-day operations? How will the dependence change after the majority of, or possibly all, combat troops are out of Afghanistan?

And there is a lot that has been said about whether we will or will not have a bilateral security agreement [BSA] in Afghanistan.

I call to order the Subcommittee on Readiness of the House Armed Services Committee.

If we have learned nothing in the last 12 years of war it is that we do need to turn inside the enemy.

How would your overall readiness be affected by the elimination of OCO?

How does your service's FY15 base budget request reflect efforts to return to a non-OCO budgetary world? What specific functions have you moved from OCO to base?

the statements that have been made by the President of Afghanistan have been outrageous and inappropriate.

this Congress has an obligation to make sure that our men and women in uniform have the tools, the equipment, and the training and the leadership that they deserve.

I traveled to the Pacific Command a number of times, and I have gone there and I met with our allies, I have talked to our combatant commanders and their staffs and talked about the challenges in the region.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Secretary James, General Welsh, thank you so much for joining us today, and thanks for your service to our Nation.

And one thing that comes up consistently is the Chinese threat and specifically A2/AD [anti-access/area denial].

This is a critical piece of the modernization of our fighter fleet, and the problem is we have everything put here...

it is just not right that we are trying to balance our budgets, our Nation's budgets on the backs of our men and women in uniform and their families.

Secretary Hagel, let me begin with this: You have spoken very eloquently about the increased risk around the world that we face, the threats that are out there.

How are you going to be situated with accomplishing your mission in the face of a declining naval presence with fewer ships at your avail?

In fact, I would argue, in some areas, it actually took away readiness from the military.

I think that the bill that I am most interested in right now, which is Mr. Hastings' H.R. 3981, has a provision...

I will tell you I have been personally interested in since I represented the Bureau of Reclamation in the late 1970s.