Joe Manchin

Do you think there's enough money in the system right now to defend our country?

There's schools of thoughts here, because some people think that we throw so much money, and it's just wasted, and there's no time, and there's no accountability and responsibility.

Almost--more than a trillion dollars of cost has been added because of regulations that have been sent from us, from Congress.

Just not using it wisely, right?

The United States has the greatest military in the world, but, make no mistake, protecting our military technological superiority is the urgent work of today, not tomorrow.

Every year we fail to do so, billions more in taxpayers' dollars will be wasted, and our military will be left less capable of performing its missions.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank all of you all for being here today and your service to our country.

Our constituents are very unhappy about our lack of achieving results here in Washington.

We must not allow any such technology and capability gap to grow.

We all want to keep the homeland safe. We'll do whatever we can to defend this great country.

I can't think of a better reservoir of leadership than our Armed Forces.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

We have too small a fighting force, and we've got too big a supporting force.

Do you all believe there's enough money in the defense budget to defend our country to continue to be the superpower of the world?

I mean--so, I don't know how you get a decision being made, or how the Secretary is getting the information.

I think that our funding today is inadequate, given our level of strategic appetite.

As I look at the organization of the Department of Defense, I have a hard time figuring out who's in charge.

Who's the most powerful after the Secretary of Defense? What--which layer does it go to?

We have adopted a policy now that if we try to correct the problem that we are having that came with sequestration, that we have a policy now that we cannot increase the spending in defense unless we have an equal amount of increase in…

We are really not spending enough on defense.

Should we maybe look at being a little more public in upping the ante and saying if you do this, North Korea, Iran, China, we will respond?

I personally believe that what he is doing with Russia is hurting our country.

But what if we did it?

Russia kind of sends an indirect message.

I think it is the greatest transfer of wealth in history.