Robert C. Byrd: “Well, Mr. Secretary, I understand it may be a terrible way, but we are talking about the expenditure of the taxpayers'…”

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.

The Department is firmly committed to working closely and openly with Congress in order to protect the health of our servicemembers.

Our service men and women, now more than ever, are depending on your leadership to put the military medical system on a new track.

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