"All 16 members of the U.S. Intelligence Community jointly released a declassified report in January that included their shared conclusion that Vladimir Putin personally ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the U.S."
"I have seen the obvious necessity of our military power. But I have also heard almost universally from our commanders in the field how necessary it was to have also the soft power handled by the State..."
"If we do not lift the budget caps from 2 years ago, effectively, we are robbing Peter to pay Paul."
"I realize we cannot maintain the strongest military at the expense of our domestic priorities."
"We cannot be both militarily strong but economically weak."
"I think there has to be a commitment, though, if they are going to get the funding they need."
"I have been on this committee for an awful lot of years."
"You do not agree with us finding ways to cut readiness, do you?"
"National security is not solely the mission of the Department of Defense. The President says he prefers 'hard' power to 'soft' power, but the notion that 'soft' power is weak or wasteful is mindless."
"This proposed budget would inflict human and political costs that far outweigh any potential budget savings."
"I urge you to proactively raise the Columbia River Treaty at every opportunity with your Canadian counterparts."