Our problem, of course, is that we have to balance readiness now for what now versus readiness 10 years from now.

allowing the Air Force to slip to a lower state of readiness requiring a long buildup to regain full combat effectiveness negates the essential strategic advantages of airpower and puts joint forces at risk.

General Dunford, what are your top concerns and challenges with the reset and redeployment of U.S. Forces from Afghanistan?

General Dunford, have you seen any decrease in the overall readiness of the U.S. forces that are being deployed to Afghanistan?

As a bottom line up front, it is ISAF's assessment that the momentum achieved by the Taliban in Afghanistan since 2005 has been arrested in much of the country and reversed in a number of important areas.

What are specific conditions on the ground, relating to both Afghan National Security Force capabilities and the capabilities of the enemy you will be examining to manage the U.S. troop drawdowns?

the Army--Active, the Guard, and Reserve--has deployed more than 1.1 million soldiers to combat with more than 4,500 giving the last full measure of devotion to this country.

Over the past 12 years, the Army--Active, Guard, and Reserve--has deployed more than 1.1 million soldiers to combat.

In light of the fact that the Navy has spent the last six years operating a significant part of the force above a long-term sustainable tempo level, will the Navy be able to sustain its operations and meet enduring GFMAP requirements with…

How will utilization of regionally aligned forces (RAFs) support the new strategic guidance?

To what level are you able to repair your equipment now? Can you achieve the maintenance standards required in technical manual 10-20, or are you having to settle for less?

Does sequestration call into question our ability to maintain an Operational Reserve? What would be the impacts of reverting to a Strategic Reserve?

Secretary Mabus, what are the operational impacts of civilian furloughs on fleet maintenance activities particularly in light of civilian hiring freezes and reduction to overtime work?

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

the strategy must drive where we need to go, what the Army must accomplish and then the force structure designed to accomplish that task.

Any degradation to operational readiness will be taken in non-deployed forces to the maximum extent possible.

I concur with the gentleman from New Jersey in that this bill should pass, and I appreciate the bipartisan support. With that, I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the…

As an original cosponsor of H.R. 1033, I would like to express my appreciation to Mr. Holt for his continued leadership to preserve and protect important historic battlefields throughout the United States, including those in his home State…

Again, the bill continues a modest investment of Federal resources to protect these hallowed grounds where independence was won and our Republic secured. I do want to reiterate what Mr. Holt said in that this legislation does not increase…

I yield myself such time as I may consume. As Mr. Holt said, preserving battlefields is extraordinarily important, but it does more than just honor those who have fought in the past: it's important that it protects these places that are so…

The American Battlefield Protection Act addressed the preservation and protection of Civil War battlefields through conservation easements or through the purchase of land from willing sellers with Federal grants. H.R. 1033 renews this…

The Army has announced the reduction of 2,500 enablers as part of our force structure footprint reduction in EUCOM.

From an Army perspective, what will be the primary purpose of U.S. troops based in Europe once the regular deployments to Afghanistan are done?

I believe that the Department of Defense needs a robust military capacity and that any diminution of this capacity should be staunchly opposed.

Please provide an update as to when the Department is expected to complete the Study on Overseas Basing Presence of United States Forces required in Section 347 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012.