Robert C. Byrd: “So, in essence, you are suggesting, I suppose, that it is cheaper to contract out those services.”

In closing, may I say that the President's request includes $658 million for construction of the U.S. Embassy in Iraq.

I cannot support this item unless there are some limitations on it, unless Congress can exercise its power over the purse, as the Constitution provides.

Promoting efficiency and preventing fraud in defense acquisitions will obviously be a high priority.

My top priority will be to learn what challenges the DOD IG office needs to address and to ensure the adequacy of resources required to accomplish its mission.