"I certainly understand resource issues, but from our standpoint, too, we need to be making the argument about where the resources need to be."
"We know that our combatant commanders request that capability quite often for things like security cooperation and crisis response and regional deterrence."
"The requirement is 38 amphibious ships. The Navy and the Marine Corps for several years have agreed that the 33 is a fiscally constrained requirement."
"What can Congress do to keep the retirement of those nine ships from happening in fiscal year 2014?"
"We have to be able to know what we can do in order to battle for those resources."
"I believe our ship capability is the cornerstone of this Nation's defense structure."
"Where do we need to be as far as fleet size to really do the things that we need to do?"
"I have always been a proponent to say that strategy needs to drive budget, not budget driving strategy."
"As you know, when we get that energy footprint down, it is money we can plow back into the force structure and the systems that we need for the Navy in the future."
"In light of the existing shortfalls in the FY13 O&M accounts, what are your greatest concerns about the Navy's readiness?"
"How do you define 'readiness'? And, ready for what? And, will the forces be 'ready' in both FY13 and FY14?"
"In the absence of the OCO budget for consideration before the Congress at this time, can you please describe the impact of OCO funding on your ability to provide 'ready' and trained forces?"