We believe and would advocate strongly for offense-defense integration for missile defense.

The non-lethal application of offensive capability, in conjunction with missile defense, demonstrates the ability of the United States to both deter a threat and assure our allies.

When you said earlier that to means test military without programs would be discriminatory, would be, and in my view that would be wrong.

We have a divided--we have a citizenry that is of multiple opinions about it.

I agree it would be very unwise to do this on the military side without doing it more broadly.

I feel better having you guys on the case. I have a son in the military, and it is good to know that there are great advocates like you out there battling for him.

If it was only a matter of employment law we were thinking about, you would be right.

I kind of feel like I am in a schizophrenic world in the Senate because I go to Budget Committee meetings where a primary message is we are not cutting enough spending, and I go to Armed Services Committee meetings where a primary message…

I think we would all say if we looked at deficits right now, they are not what we want them to be, and we want to manage them in a significant way, but do it right, and do it consistent with obligations.

Sometimes even the schizophrenia combines, so when active, major military figures say that the deficit is the number one security challenge, which we have had that testimony before us, it is challenging to know how to negotiate these…

Thank you, Madam Chairman.

Is it wise to be steady as you go if it looks like the overall----

I very much applaud in the submission the focus on credentialing and training.

We are watching it like a hawk.

We appreciate that you serve, but in a day of an all-volunteer military, where only 1 percent of adults serve, they do not understand what a gunnery sergeant does or what an E-5 does.

It is sometimes hard to explain to America that you are letting people go, but we still would like to hire somebody.

I urge you all to be as forward leaning as possible in ensuring that all of our military benefits are as inclusive as possible.

I personally remain very skeptical about increasing costs for military members and veterans.

We have seen some concerns on the civilian recruiting side because of a 20 percent cut in pay.

There is no greater responsibility for Congress and military leaders than to support our brave servicemembers.

A system where less than 1 out of 10 reported perpetrators are held accountable for their alleged crimes is not a system that is working.

We hope that the economy in the United States continues to improve and that the unemployment rate continues to go down.

I rise to perform a solemn duty today, which is to commemorate the shooting at Virginia Tech of 32 students and faculty members who were killed 6 years ago today and many others who were injured: Ross Alameddine, Jamie Bishop, Brian Bluhm…

I think many members of the committee and many Senators look at certain actions that the Pakistani Government with a lot of concern.

I think our presence post-2014 is designed to address two conflicting issues: first, that we are not an occupying force; but second, we are not going to abandon Afghanistan.