Rob Wittman

I am hopeful this committee continues to build off of the momentum from the passage of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

That's why at the beginning of the last Congress I introduced the Water Infrastructure Sustainability and Efficiency--or WISE--Act.

I always think back to your predecessor's testimony here in 2021, when Admiral Davidson said that he believed that China would make their move to reunify with Taiwan forcefully by 2027.

We want to make sure we continue the effort to deter the Chinese Communist Party and make sure we can continue to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The Navy has used commercial aerial refueling tankers for over 20 years to supplement their refueling needs for Navy and Marine Corps training exercises that cannot met by the Air Force.

After the KC-10's are fully retired, will the Air Force have a tanker surge capacity in the event of a conflict in the Pacific?

Readiness is the backbone to the Department's ability to project power and keep the Homeland safe;

Please keep us informed on the progress that is being made.

The issue is for us the munitions that we're providing to Ukraine.

I believe that the industrial base is given clear objectives, understanding what the procurement process is going to involve in the long term.

To me, that's deeply concerning.

I think the speed of relevance is critical today.

We really shouldn't be shocked that the CCP had taken the brazen effort to fly a spy balloon over the United States.

I hope, as you look at that, that you not only look at the re-engining cost but also the lifecycle cost.

The challenge is, when we're doing the re-engining program now, we've seen a 50 percent increase in the cost of that particular program.

I hope that that's reflected in your decision.

Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Will it increase--will retiring those platforms, taking those platforms out of the inventory, will it increase or decrease the Navy's mine countermeasure mission capacity?

I would like to get those exact numbers.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

In your best professional military judgment, does that, then, in turn, reduce our ability to project power through our Navy-Marine Corps team?

It just seems like in the face of what we need, fewer ships or being able to take out ships is not the direction we need to be going.

I am in full support of zero-based budgeting.

It is time to finally pass measures like mine that will hold Members to a higher standard and complete the work of the people.

If Members cannot get their most basic responsibility of funding our government done, we must be held accountable.