I would just clarify the chairman said sequestration. He doesn't mean the sequestration that we are dealing with here; he means the sequestration that is so going to disproportionately hit the Department of Defense.

if we reauthorize that, that will be the first time in 3 years. It is a $17 billion reauthorization.

I welcome our witnesses as well, General Mattis, Admiral McRaven, General Fraser.

I think, too, the recognition that Iran's role is extremely unhelpful is simply part of dealing with reality.

I just want to make a quick editorial comment, then I just have one question.

I don't think that is acceptable, it is not the number we should be at, and I think as a Congress we should not forget that we still have a very strong obligation to address revenue and to address mandatory spending.

We are one of the most bipartisan committees in Congress.

We hope that you would credit the committee's budget with any savings that accrue.

Just reiterating the challenge of keeping people in such a highly skilled position as professional staff member on Armed Services in light of pay cuts and downsizing and the difficulty of that.

I couldn't have asked for a better question about trying to find quality people.

Reauthorizing NASA is very important.

However, an emphasis on direct action during the last 11 years of combat may have left our Special Operations Forces out of balance for a future that will increasingly require building partnership capacity and advisory and assistance…