Patty Murray

One of our highest priorities was investing in programs that would pay off for our country over the long term.

I am hoping the conversation will be broader than that, because our students and our families are facing some very serious challenges today.

I want to thank Senator Johnson, who is standing in today for our Ranking Member, Senator Sessions.

Congress needs to get to work on a long-term transportation bill that doesn't just patch our aging roads.

It's time to put our money where our safety is.

This has been a very helpful hearing.

Well, the Federal Aid Highway Program is based on the principle that States own and operate the National Highway System.

I wanted to go back to what happened on the Skagit River Bridge in my State.

What happened at home in Washington State on the Skagit River Bridge has just been an eye-opener for everyone in my State.

Well, this is clearly a project that we don't want to be shut down because one of those of maintenance says, 'No more.'

It's a critical piece of infrastructure on the I-5 corridor. Needs to be replaced.

Our transportation system requires collaboration among all levels of government.

The collapse of this bridge really was a huge reminder that our Nation's infrastructure is aging

I go home to Washington State every weekend. And I'm hearing from friends, neighbors, businesses, everyone about the impact of the Skagit River Bridge closure on their daily lives.

We do, too. So, thank you. Working very hard on that.

I commend your leadership on addressing our transportation challenges.

We will be looking very seriously at that in this committee as we move forward in the appropriations process.

I appreciate that. And NTSB has been onsite and expect to have their report out.

We need a long-term fix if possible.

The President has requested $526.6 billion in funding for DOD, with one-third going to operations, one-third going to personnel costs, and the remaining third used for investments.

The President has also requested an additional $79.4 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations funding for DOD.

I think our Nation's most important cybersecurity resource is its cyber workforce.

I think as we move forward, we are going to have to make sure that we are coordinating with them.

Is it in the United States' interest to allow the open and unfettered sale of these exploits and other attack capabilities?

We absolutely must have that workforce. I agree.