Adam Smith

Over the past 5 years, Republicans and Democrats have joined forces to put real reforms in place.

Make no mistake, Congress shares the responsibility for preventing sexual assault within the military and assuring victims that their cases will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

We must ensure that our military training environment is safe and free from misconduct.

The United States faces complex national security challenges across Africa. The terrorism and violent extremism that plague the continent, along with instability, corruption, governance, poverty, illicit trafficking, and more, combine into…

Given the looming threat of sequestration, or further cuts to the military, I believe most of us on this Committee have become ever more focused on ensuring our military's missions are both essential and appropriately tailored.

I think we should work to try and seize [the economic opportunity in Congo].

They are not being a positive actor. They are not even being honest about what they are doing in the region.

I think it is critically important that the U.S. engage, that the U.N. engage a high level envoy to that region.

I believe there is a critical role that the DOD can play in building the security capacity in the eastern DRC.

The instability there is giving rise to the many Al Qaeda-inspired insurgencies and that instability threatens our security.

Stability in the region is incredibly important to the United States.

This is a very important issue. As you described, the situation in eastern DRC is dire.

The expertise is critical. And while we all replenish and restock and move forward, but as Members leave, we lose their expertise and their experience.

I want to ask unanimous consent that noncommittee Members be allowed to participate in today's hearing after all committee Members have had an opportunity to ask questions.

I think we are going to need as a country to start putting more pressure on Rwanda to change their behavior.

There is incredible economic opportunity in this region of Africa, economic opportunity for trade, partnerships with U.S. businesses.

The biggest problem in eastern DRC is a lack of governance, a lack of the rule of law.

Clearly, you are planning for it. Clearly, you are considering on a programmatic basis issues that are a very, very thorny problem to deal with.

Stop pretending that we can bang the table about how awful the deficit is and then shy away from any of the steps necessary to cut spending or raise revenue to deal with it.

This is not the way to do it. It is going to be a $57 billion cut at the absolute last minute.

They see sequestration as having a devastating impact on defense.

Sequestration is unquestionably the most important issue facing our Government, figuring out how to deal with it.

I think it is important that we examine that issue and try to figure out how to maximize our effectiveness at contracting out and pulling together those logistical challenges.

I think this is a great opportunity to learn from that and make improvements where we can.

I am certain that our witnesses' testimony will help us and the Department of Defense, as we continue the mission in Afghanistan and prepare for the challenges that may come, here at home or around the globe.