We've written to you on the question of more transparency of where equipment goes--we appropriate the money for it, and we kind of lose sight as it comes off the assembly line, where it goes.

I am glad to see the Secretary and Admiral Mullen.

If a little tiny State like ours could do it, why don't other States do that?

Given the importance of the capability to deter, detect, and destroy airborne threats to the United States, it is important that the Air Force address current and future requirements of the ASA mission to ensure its long-term…

I have seen the enormous cuts in the amount of money that is available for forensic science in the past few years.

We approve here in Congress budget requests based on justification documents that say a certain amount of gear will go to the Guard and Reserves.

The labs should not be beholden to the law enforcement side, because labs should be about science.

I know the importance of this firsthand from the experience of my friend Kirk Bloodsworth, an innocent man who was twice convicted of murder and rape, served 8 years in prison, including two on death row, and then they finally tested the…

I think that the new strategy and now the newest development which gives me more hope than I've had in quite a while.

I think the potential is there. I think it's a real uphill battle.

I have been concerned about the increased use of roadside bombs.

With aging equipment.

I know you both know the 86th Mountain Brigade, that's upward of 1,800 very proud citizen soldiers from the Vermont Army National Guard are going to begin a deployment, either end of this year or early next year, to Afghanistan.

Forensic scientists too rarely get to review crime scene evidence in sleek, ultra-modern, state-of-the-art laboratories.

I think the Army Guard is going to be better equipped, better trained, and in a better position because of your service.

Today, we are going to examine the pressing need to strengthen forensic science in America.

This year, we are working to make additional progress by modernizing the United States patent system.

I am glad we are having this hearing because, as we all know, intellectual property is critical to our Nation's economy.

Unquestionably for IBM, patent reform will increase the value of our company in a number of ways.

Last year, I led the bipartisan effort to pass the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act to enforce laws against stealing America's intellectual property.

We worked together with 21 Senate cosponsors, Republicans and Democrats, our House counterparts.

We cannot be in the 21st century with a 50-year-old system, and we will bring it up-to-date.

The Patent Reform Act is about jobs, about innovation; it is also about consumers.

I do not think we can continue with a 50-year-old system.

Only great countries, Mr. Chairman, confident in themselves, are prepared to look at their most serious mistakes.