Ron Johnson

I have a great deal of respect for the type of information the Inspectors General provide to Congress.

We will not ever accept the grab by Russia--what it is doing in the Ukraine or any other country.

I think from an LNG export policy standpoint... the United States should reexamine our existing policy and laws on energy exports.

Part of the problem is when we heard this actually from the Prime Minister himself, they are very reluctant to ask for something they know would not be supplied.

They should be given equipment that would help mitigate Russia's strengths in armor and aircraft.

I agree it is basically one-sided, so let me go to you, Secretary Nuland.

Simply put, if NATO did not exist, we would have to invent it.

Your concern about the proposal to 'Finlandize' Ukraine is warranted.

No decision or recommendation should be permitted or advanced that would in any way limit its applicability to any European country.

So we are standing by the assurance that we basically granted by being a signatory to the Budapest memorandum to do everything we can to maintain the border integrity of Ukraine.

Are we rethinking whether or not we are going to provide them the type of support they actually requested and they actually need if Vladimir Putin moves further?

Part of the rationale was we certainly did not want to do anything that could provoke Vladimir Putin.

We need to deter Vladimir Putin, and we need to do that in a very forthright and resolved way.

Tough talk is fine, but Vladimir Putin really responds to only one thing, action.

That is not significant. That is not a demonstration of resolve. That communicates hesitancy to the Russians.

I think it is also unfortunate that when you take a look at our current budget situation, the enormous pressure we are under, most Americans take a look at foreign aid and that is the first place they want to cut.

So, basically, what the conclusion would be is that process, that procedure, that computer system was purposefully overridden.

But it is going to be pretty important to find out who was responsible for overriding the quality system to change that part.

So if there is a problem, there is a defect in the manufacturing process, you can trace back exactly where that happened.

That is really just a total violation of a total quality management system, correct?

And the only reason anybody would make sure in a total quality management system that a part number didn't change would be to hide the fact that that part changed for some reason, correct?

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Do you feel that Caterpillar is at a competitive disadvantage because of the U.S. tax system?

It is really important that we have a tax code that allows us to compete fairly in the global marketplace.

You had a whistleblower say that you did not report $2 billion worth of income tax to the United States.