WEBVTT

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Good morning . Uh , subcommittee on

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defense will come to order . Uh , we

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have a number of members who are going

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to be straggling in . There's some

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various markups up , so I apologize for

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that . But , uh , to keep everybody on

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time , we'll go ahead and begin the

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subcommittee hearing . Uh , today , the

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subcommittee will convene for an open

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budget hearing to receive testimony on

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the National Guard and reserve forces .

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We're pleased to be joined by our

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witnesses , General Steven Nordhaus ,

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Chief of the National Guard Bureau ,

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Lieutenant General Robert Harder ,

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Chief of the Army Reserve and

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Commanding General US Army Reserve

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Command , Rear Admiral Lauer , half ,

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uh , I mean , uh , lower half , Richard

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S . Lofgren , acting Chief of the Navy

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Reserve . Lieutenant General Leonard

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Anderson , commander of the US Marine

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Corps Reserve , and Lieutenant General

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John Healey , Chief of the Air Force

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Reserve . A warm welcome to you all and

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thank you for your years of

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distinguished service . I want to

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congratulate Lieutenant General Healey

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on his upcoming retirement this summer .

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The men and women of the National Guard

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and reserves play a critical role in

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supporting our national security

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efforts at home and abroad . They

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sustain peace and respond to crisis ,

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whether they're managing California

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wildfires or strengthening the

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international relationships through the

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state partnership program . The

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department's counterdrug program

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remains a key priority of mine . And

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the work done through the National

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Guard Counter Drug Program and National

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Guard Counterdrug schools program

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continues to have an incredible impact

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on our communities . Our military force

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structure depends on the ability of

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guard and reserves to surge when called .

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We ask a lot of them , particularly

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this past year , as demonstrated by

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their role in Operation Epic Fury , I

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would like to take a moment to

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acknowledge the guardsmen and

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reservists , as well as all service

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members who have made the ultimate

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sacrifice serving our country in this

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conflict . With heightened requirements ,

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they're tasked with balancing both a

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civilian career and their military

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service . It's important our guard and

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reserves are properly resourced and

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that we continue to support them and

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their families . In fiscal year 2027 ,

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for the first time , the president's

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budget request includes funding for the

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National Guard and reserve equipment

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account . The committee has long

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supported the guard and reserves here ,

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and we look forward to hearing more

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about how this change will impact your

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modernization efforts . I'd also like

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to hear from all of you on how the

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components you're thinking about on

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modernization , current capability gaps ,

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areas where Congress can be helpful ,

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and additionally , the Guard and

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reserves require proper facilities to

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address growing mission requirements .

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I look forward to hearing more about

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the conditions of your facilities and

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the resource needs for your services .

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I now recognize the distinguished

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ranking member , Ms . McCollum for her

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opening remarks . Thank you , Mr .

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Chair . Good morning . Thank you all

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for appearing before the subcommittee ,

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and I'd like to um reflect the

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statements made by my , my chair and

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some of the things that he has said

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about the work that you do . I wanna

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also extend a special thanks to

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Lieutenant General Healey . 36 years of

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service , greatly appreciated , and we

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know your family served alongside of

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you . Thank you , sir . I want to begin

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by acknowledging as the chair did the

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loss of our 13 service members in the

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Middle East , several who were

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reservists and National Guard personnel .

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But I'll take a moment to just reflect

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on , on the , on the service of Master

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Sergeant Nicole Amore of uh White Bear

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Lake , Minnesota . Um , I appreciate

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the way the army and the reserve

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managed to get a very special person

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home for the funeral . It was so

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important for the family . Thank you

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very much for your work in making sure

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that it happened . And , um , I know

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the reserve and , and the guard back in

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Minnesota are working together to

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support the family as well as the VFW

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and American Legion . Know that we're

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all deeply grateful for your service .

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Our National Guard and reserve

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components are called upon to support a

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variety of critical missions ,

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including humanitarian missions ,

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overseas operations , and the increase

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to support the Southwest Border Mission ,

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and the guard in particular , the state

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partnership programs through , through

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many activities . Each reserve unit is

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truly an operational partner with their

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active conduit , active component .

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This is the first time in the

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administration's fiscal 2027 budget

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includes funding for the National Guard

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and reserve equipment account , an

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account that Congress normally provided

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the funding for . So , I think we're

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making some progress , Mr . Chair .

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Thank you for all your work on that .

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Unfortunately , we do not yet have the

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supporting documents um from the

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administration to understand the

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details of the request . So I'm

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concerned that the division of funds in

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this account may leave some of the

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reserve components lacking the

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equipment they so desperately need to

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properly execute . Their missions . In

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the past , this account was dynamic ,

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look at each of the components and

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their needs , especially for their

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future missions . So I would appreciate

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each of you sharing with the

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subcommittee what these funds will be

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used for and whether your modernization

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priorities are being met by the budget

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request . I'm also concerned about the

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status of readiness for some of the

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forces , and I'll tell you why . Um ,

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Each of you has described the work of

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the reserve components that work hand

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in glove with your active duty uh

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counterparts . We know that firsthand

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and we see it when we're in theater .

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However , picking up waste in the

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District of Columbia does not prepare

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anyone for conflicts that could arise

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in Europe , Asia , and the Middle East .

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Given the Supreme Court's decision of

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December 23rd , which left in place a

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lower court decision to prevent the

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administration from deploying the

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National Guard to Illinois , I'm

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hopeful that we will not see any

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additional unnecessary deployments of

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our military personnel in US city

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streets . I was curious about the

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$216 million in the budget for the

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National Guard reaction report .

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This is supposed to respond to

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incidents requiring defense support for

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civil authorities . General Norris ,

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I'd like to better understand the use

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of this funding and how it will be

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chosen and why it's necessary after the

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Supreme Court's November decision .

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Given the announcement of the number of

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troops still deployed on the southern

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border mission , I would also like to

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better understand how it will continue

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to impact the readiness of these units

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and how their missions may be impacting

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morale and retention . And finally ,

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I'd like to understand the impact of

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the civilian workforce reductions in

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last year . What is now being done by

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the guard and reserve components to

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compensate for the civilian personnel

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cuts . And what does it do to impact

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their ability to train ? Serving your

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country on top of managing a civilian

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job , in many cases , supporting a

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family is one of the highest forms of

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service . You are truly putting country

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above self with the people that you are

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representing today with your seats at

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the table . Thank you all for your

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efforts and I look forward to a

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productive dialogue . Thank you . Uh ,

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I think we're gonna have .

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Buttons here . Several more members uh

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coming in uh shortly . Uh , but we're

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going to now , uh , begin with our

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witness testimony . Without objection ,

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your full written testimony will be

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placed in the record . Uh , General

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Nordhaus , we begin with you for a

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brief summary of your remarks . You're

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recognized . Thank you . Before I

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provide my opening remarks , I ask that

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we remember too our fallen service

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members from across the joint force .

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Who have made the ultimate sacrifice

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for our country , uh , they will always

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be remembered . Chairman Calvert ,

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Ranking Member McCollum , and esteemed

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members of the subcommittee . Thank you

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for the opportunity to testify today on

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the strength of your locally-based ,

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globally engaged National Guard . I

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thank the 54 adjutants general and

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senior enlisted leader , John Raines

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here with me today for their counsel .

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Moreover , I want to thank you ,

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Congress , for your support that

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underpins everything we do . Ensuring a

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stronger and more secure tomorrow .

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It's an honor to represent 435 soldiers

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and airmen of the National Guard .

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Today , over 41,000 guardsmen are

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engaged worldwide , securing our

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homeland and supporting every combatant

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commander around the globe . Your

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National Guard has had a remarkable

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year defined by scale and simultaneity

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of operations . We are powered by our

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core advantage , the citizen , soldier

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and airman . They combine the warrior

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ethos with civilian acquired skills ,

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creating an organization that is as

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innovative as it is lethal . A force

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that is community-based and engaged

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worldwide . Defending the homeland is

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the Department of War's number one

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priority . This is the National Guard's

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foundational mission , or dual mission .

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Serving the primary combat reserve of

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the Army and the Air Force while also

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serving as the military first

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responders in domestic crisis . This is

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a challenge that we proudly accept .

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Without hesitation during Operation

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Midnight Hammer and Epic Fury , the

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National Guard crews delivered decisive

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blows to Iran in lockstep with their

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joint force partners . In Operation

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Absolute Resolve , the National Guard

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fought against narco-terrorism . And

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daily we responded in the homeland

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tolling 2.4 million hours of direct

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support to our fellow citizens . Your

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National Guard is an indispensable

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return on investment for America . We

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represent 20% of the joint force , yet

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we operate on less than 4% of the

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department's budget . Our decisive

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capabilities are only possible in our

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citizen soldiers and airmen when we are

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trained on modernized equipment and

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fully interoperable with our joint

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force . To sustain strategic dominance ,

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we must modernize concurrently with our

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services to aggressively outpace and

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overmatch tomorrow's threats with

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robust investments today . This year ,

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I remain laser-focused on sharpening

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our fighting edge to increase our

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guardsmen readiness and bolster our

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capabilities for our core missions for

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homeland or fighting in partnerships .

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We must train and modernize and

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lockstep with the active components .

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This requires sufficient and

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predictable resources and flying hours ,

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weapons system sustainment , facility

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sustainment , base operations support ,

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and in GRA . When we use these

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resources to serve our citizens and

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state active duty , Current policy

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sends these force , these funds back to

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the treasury . We ask your support in

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restoring that readiness directly back

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to our formations . Our warfighters are

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our most critical asset , and to

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support their service , we must enact

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duty status reform and compensate equal

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work with equal pay and benefits . And

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it is imperative that our warfighters

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are supported by a modernized and

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properly resourced full-time force .

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The strength of our citizens , soldiers ,

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and airmen is amplified through a

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network of partnerships which begins in

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hometowns and reaches across the globe .

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The jewel of this effort is a state

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partnership program , which connects

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the department with nearly 60% of the

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world's country at nearly 1% of the

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theater security cooperation budget .

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Your help with flexible multi-year

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budget authority will allow us to

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sustain the pace of these highly

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effective engagements . While threats

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are unpredictable , our readiness is

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not . We are an indispensable part of

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the joint force built to respond with

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speed , power , and precision . We are

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stronger together because we are

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integrated at every level . In closing ,

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I want to again thank this committee

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for your unwavering support that

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ensures a secure tomorrow for all

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Americans . Let us continue to support

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and pray for our warfighters in harm's

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way . We stand by them and their

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families and are thankful for their

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service . We will always keep our

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promise to the nation and to our

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citizens to be always ready and always

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there . Thank you and I look forward to

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your questions . Thank you . Thank you ,

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General . Uh , General Harder , you're

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now recognized for your remarks .

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Chairman Calvert , Ranking Member

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McCollum , and distinguished members of

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this committee , thank you for the

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opportunity to be here today . On

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behalf of Command Sergeant Major Greg

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Betty and the more than 180,000

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soldiers and civilians of your Army

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Reserve , thank you for the support of

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our warrior citizens and their families .

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For just 6% of the total Army budget .

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The Army Reserve provides over half of

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the Army's maneuver support forces ,

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including the majority of theater-level

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medical , engineer , and sustainment

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units , and more than 95% of the bulk

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distribution fuel capacity in support

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of the joint force . You go , we go .

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That's my message to my active duty

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teammates . Right now , nearly 9000

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Army Reserve soldiers are deployed

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supporting Army and joint force

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requirements both at home and around

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the globe to include support of

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Operation Epic Fury and operations on

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our southern border . Our soldiers are

13:27.520 --> 13:29.650
in the fight . To keep pace with

13:29.650 --> 13:31.650
emerging threats and to prepare for

13:31.650 --> 13:33.890
large scale combat operations or LSCO ,

13:34.010 --> 13:36.729
we are transforming . The foundation of

13:36.729 --> 13:38.729
this transformation is our shift to

13:38.729 --> 13:41.010
geographic Mission Command , a model

13:41.010 --> 13:43.330
that replaces a C2 structure built for

13:43.330 --> 13:45.929
predictable GWWAT deployments with a

13:45.929 --> 13:47.762
geographic alignment that better

13:47.762 --> 13:49.707
supports readiness for large scale

13:49.707 --> 13:51.719
combat operations . Additional

13:51.719 --> 13:53.941
transformation efforts include aligning

13:53.941 --> 13:55.663
Army Reserve units with active

13:55.663 --> 13:57.775
formations to drive integration . And

13:57.775 --> 14:00.380
placing key equipment forward in Europe

14:00.380 --> 14:02.890
and the Pacific , training and

14:02.890 --> 14:06.400
operating as we will fight . To ensure

14:06.400 --> 14:09.080
our soldiers and units remain ready , I

14:09.080 --> 14:11.659
ask for your help in three key areas .

14:12.200 --> 14:13.979
First , predictable funding .

14:14.479 --> 14:16.590
Continuing resolutions and government

14:16.590 --> 14:18.812
shutdowns have huge readiness impacts ,

14:18.812 --> 14:20.923
and the , and the part-time nature of

14:20.923 --> 14:22.979
our force makes missed training days

14:22.979 --> 14:25.201
nearly impossible to recover . Second ,

14:25.201 --> 14:27.312
your continued support of our OMA and

14:27.312 --> 14:29.739
RPA funding . In a major conflict ,

14:29.960 --> 14:32.559
more than 35,000 Army Reserve soldiers

14:32.559 --> 14:35.039
are required within the 1st 60 days .

14:35.469 --> 14:38.500
We must be ready . Third , continued

14:38.500 --> 14:40.278
support of the much appreciated

14:40.278 --> 14:42.333
National Guard and Reserve Equipping

14:42.333 --> 14:44.333
Account or NEGRA , which allows for

14:44.333 --> 14:46.167
flexible procurement of critical

14:46.210 --> 14:49.700
equipment . On 7 March of this year ,

14:50.020 --> 14:52.242
my command sergeant Major and I were on

14:52.242 --> 14:54.076
the tarmac in Dover , Delaware ,

14:54.210 --> 14:56.299
greeting our six fallen Army Reserve

14:56.299 --> 14:58.410
heroes as they returned home from the

14:58.410 --> 15:00.466
CEO AOR . And Congressman McCollum ,

15:00.466 --> 15:02.299
thank you for being there . Your

15:02.299 --> 15:04.355
support of Nicole and her family and

15:04.355 --> 15:06.521
our , and our , our whole Army Reserve

15:06.521 --> 15:08.688
enterprise . More than 30 Army Reserve

15:08.688 --> 15:10.521
soldiers were injured in that or

15:10.521 --> 15:12.688
wounded in that same attack . We honor

15:12.688 --> 15:14.743
their sacrifice , and it affirms our

15:14.743 --> 15:16.799
resolve to ensure every Army Reserve

15:16.799 --> 15:18.521
soldier receives counter drone

15:18.521 --> 15:20.743
equipment and training at pace with the

15:20.743 --> 15:22.900
Army and joint force . To that end ,

15:23.119 --> 15:25.230
we've dedicated nearly a third of our

15:25.230 --> 15:27.230
Negria appropriation to counter UAS

15:27.230 --> 15:29.599
systems and will continue to invest in

15:29.599 --> 15:32.099
these life saving technologies . In

15:32.099 --> 15:33.960
closing , while we are your Army

15:33.960 --> 15:36.830
Reserve , we are not a force in reserve .

15:36.960 --> 15:39.182
We are in the fight . The resources you

15:39.182 --> 15:41.238
provide are critical to ensuring the

15:41.238 --> 15:43.071
young men and women of your Army

15:43.071 --> 15:45.182
Reserve stay combat ready . Thank you

15:45.182 --> 15:47.016
for your time today , and I look

15:47.016 --> 15:49.238
forward to your questions . Thank you ,

15:49.238 --> 15:51.460
General . Uh , Admiral Lofgren , you're

15:51.460 --> 15:53.627
now recognized for your remarks . Good

15:53.627 --> 15:53.099
morning , Chair Calvert , Ranking

15:53.099 --> 15:55.099
Member McCollum , and distinguished

15:55.099 --> 15:57.099
members of this committee . For 111

15:57.099 --> 15:59.321
years , the Navy Reserve has provided a

15:59.321 --> 16:01.488
critical strategic depth for the fleet

16:01.488 --> 16:03.599
and the joint force . When our nation

16:03.599 --> 16:05.655
calls , we answer , ready , lethal ,

16:05.655 --> 16:08.520
and all in to fight and win today . We

16:08.520 --> 16:10.742
are building the navy of the future and

16:10.742 --> 16:12.853
defining the next era of American sea

16:12.853 --> 16:14.798
power . Today , we are resilient ,

16:14.798 --> 16:17.320
agile , globally present , and a combat

16:17.320 --> 16:19.559
credible force that is fully integrated

16:19.559 --> 16:21.840
into the Navy's mission . With me today

16:21.840 --> 16:24.118
is our Force Master Chief , Nicky Rios ,

16:24.118 --> 16:26.340
a tireless advocate for our sailors and

16:26.340 --> 16:28.507
their families . Force and I thank you

16:28.507 --> 16:30.507
for the opportunity to address this

16:30.507 --> 16:32.618
committee on behalf of our incredible

16:32.618 --> 16:34.673
Navy Reserve sailors . Over the past

16:34.673 --> 16:36.396
couple of months in support of

16:36.396 --> 16:38.396
Operation Epic Fury , our logistics

16:38.396 --> 16:40.507
support wing flying the C40 and C-130

16:40.507 --> 16:42.396
aircraft have evacuated over 2800

16:42.396 --> 16:44.618
personnel , including families , out of

16:44.618 --> 16:46.673
harm's way and demonstrated critical

16:46.673 --> 16:48.784
aerial refueling capabilities for our

16:48.784 --> 16:50.840
navy while supporting carrier strike

16:50.840 --> 16:53.007
group logistics . These same squadrons

16:53.007 --> 16:55.118
have delivered thousands of pounds of

16:55.118 --> 16:57.118
critical cargo and tactical airlift

16:57.118 --> 16:59.284
support to SouthTHCOM , protecting our

16:59.284 --> 17:01.229
homeland and safely relocating our

17:01.229 --> 17:03.173
teams out of the path of Hurricane

17:03.173 --> 17:05.396
Melissa . When our nation and our fleet

17:05.396 --> 17:07.340
calls , the Navy Reserve answers ,

17:07.340 --> 17:09.340
delivering logistics when and where

17:09.340 --> 17:11.451
they're needed . Your support for the

17:11.451 --> 17:13.359
KC-130 Juliets in the president's

17:13.359 --> 17:15.470
budget will ensure we can continue to

17:15.470 --> 17:17.526
answer that call with the capability

17:17.526 --> 17:20.040
and capacity our nation requires . Our

17:20.040 --> 17:21.839
North Star is clear . We are

17:21.839 --> 17:23.900
unambiguously focused on warfighting

17:23.900 --> 17:27.588
readiness . Today 14,000 of our 59,000

17:27.588 --> 17:29.810
Navy Reserve sailors are on active duty

17:29.810 --> 17:31.588
orders serving in every area of

17:31.588 --> 17:33.909
responsibility . Our sailors are

17:33.909 --> 17:37.308
deployed 24/7 365 , restoring peace

17:37.308 --> 17:39.364
through strength while advancing the

17:39.364 --> 17:41.641
foundry , the fleet , and how we fight .

17:42.359 --> 17:44.599
We continue to modernize our force and

17:44.599 --> 17:46.709
align our resources to war fighting

17:46.709 --> 17:48.931
priorities , ensuring that we are ready

17:48.931 --> 17:51.560
to fight and win today , tomorrow , and

17:51.560 --> 17:54.209
well into the future . Our most

17:54.209 --> 17:55.987
significant contribution in the

17:55.987 --> 17:57.653
nation's defense and the very

17:57.653 --> 17:59.876
foundation of our deterrence posture is

17:59.876 --> 18:02.050
our people . A lethal , ready , and

18:02.050 --> 18:04.369
resilient force is not built of steel

18:04.369 --> 18:06.480
and circuits alone . It's forged from

18:06.480 --> 18:08.480
the talent , the training , and the

18:08.480 --> 18:10.702
motivation of our sailors . Therefore ,

18:10.702 --> 18:12.869
I ask for your full support in funding

18:12.869 --> 18:14.647
the RPN , the OMNR , and degree

18:14.647 --> 18:16.536
appropriations at the president's

18:16.536 --> 18:18.647
budget levels . These accounts enable

18:18.647 --> 18:20.647
our force to recruit and retain the

18:20.647 --> 18:22.647
very best that America has to offer

18:22.647 --> 18:24.813
through pay , bonuses , and benefits .

18:24.813 --> 18:27.036
And like you , our talent lives in your

18:27.036 --> 18:29.258
communities . To ensure they are always

18:29.258 --> 18:31.202
prepared , RPN provides the travel

18:31.202 --> 18:33.313
budget to get our people to where the

18:33.313 --> 18:35.480
fighting forces train . Negria affords

18:35.480 --> 18:37.536
the Navy Reserve agility and rapidly

18:37.536 --> 18:39.591
procuring and implementing equipment

18:39.591 --> 18:41.536
solutions that provide parity with

18:41.536 --> 18:43.758
active duty equipment and fill critical

18:43.758 --> 18:45.869
mission capabilities . Our investment

18:45.869 --> 18:48.430
in our sailors is critical to enabling

18:48.430 --> 18:50.719
a mobilization and combat ready force .

18:51.069 --> 18:53.560
Every drill weekend , every exercise ,

18:53.790 --> 18:55.790
every mobilization must sharpen our

18:55.790 --> 18:57.957
edge and must be matched by investment

18:57.957 --> 19:00.280
in modern equipment . To this end , we

19:00.280 --> 19:02.224
are posturing our force to deliver

19:02.224 --> 19:04.280
advanced combat-focused capabilities

19:04.280 --> 19:06.560
that the fleet demands . Replacing our

19:06.560 --> 19:08.839
aging C-130 Tango fleet with a modern

19:08.839 --> 19:11.599
KC-130 Juliet Super Hercules aircraft

19:11.599 --> 19:13.800
meets the fleet's demand to enable

19:13.800 --> 19:15.839
contested logistics and sustained

19:15.839 --> 19:17.895
maritime power . As I've shared with

19:17.895 --> 19:20.061
many of you , our C-130 fleet operated

19:20.061 --> 19:22.117
exclusively in the Navy Reserve , is

19:22.117 --> 19:25.030
the Navy's only long-range intratheater

19:25.030 --> 19:27.640
airlift of oversized cargo . Last year ,

19:27.719 --> 19:29.886
the fleet logistics support wing moved

19:29.886 --> 19:32.719
over 72,000 passengers and 22 million

19:32.719 --> 19:34.839
pounds of cargo , delivering critical

19:34.839 --> 19:37.310
munitions , repair parts , personnel ,

19:37.319 --> 19:39.520
and fuel , sustaining carrier strike

19:39.520 --> 19:41.464
groups in every theater around the

19:41.464 --> 19:43.719
globe . Our C-130 squadrons are in the

19:43.719 --> 19:45.663
fight from the first minute of the

19:45.663 --> 19:48.040
first hour of the first day . However ,

19:48.119 --> 19:50.175
this fleet is aging and lacks modern

19:50.175 --> 19:52.008
survivability and communications

19:52.008 --> 19:53.730
equipment needed for contested

19:53.730 --> 19:55.508
logistics environments . We are

19:55.508 --> 19:57.452
grateful for the strong bipartisan

19:57.452 --> 20:00.160
alignment on this priority . Chairman

20:00.160 --> 20:02.599
Calvert , Ranking Member McCollum , and

20:02.599 --> 20:04.655
the members of the committee , thank

20:04.655 --> 20:06.766
you for your continued support of the

20:06.766 --> 20:08.488
Navy Reserve and the sailors ,

20:08.640 --> 20:10.751
civilians , and families who make our

20:10.751 --> 20:12.807
mission possible . Our commitment is

20:12.807 --> 20:15.140
clear to enhance the fleet's lethality

20:15.479 --> 20:17.701
and warfighting readiness by delivering

20:17.701 --> 20:19.812
decisive capabilities at the point of

20:19.812 --> 20:22.146
need . I look forward to your questions .

20:22.146 --> 20:24.423
Thank you , Admiral . General Anderson ,

20:24.423 --> 20:26.701
you're now recognized for your remarks .

20:26.701 --> 20:28.590
Good morning , Chairman Calvert ,

20:28.590 --> 20:30.812
Ranking Member McCollum , distinguished

20:30.812 --> 20:32.757
members of the subcommittee . Uh ,

20:32.757 --> 20:32.540
thank you for the opportunity to

20:32.540 --> 20:34.707
testify on behalf of the Commandant of

20:34.707 --> 20:36.651
the Marine Corps about your Marine

20:36.651 --> 20:38.818
Corps reserve . I am joined here today

20:38.818 --> 20:40.984
by my incoming command senior enlisted

20:40.984 --> 20:43.096
leader , Sergeant Major Patrick Fay .

20:43.096 --> 20:45.262
The Marine Corps Reserve is a critical

20:45.262 --> 20:47.429
component of our nation's defense . We

20:47.429 --> 20:49.484
are not a strategic reserve held for

20:49.484 --> 20:51.429
distant crises . We are a globally

20:51.429 --> 20:53.651
engaged operational force that provides

20:53.651 --> 20:55.762
the Marine Corps with strategic depth

20:55.762 --> 20:57.484
and the ability to augment and

20:57.484 --> 20:59.484
reinforce the active component on a

20:59.484 --> 21:01.429
moment's notice . Our relevance is

21:01.429 --> 21:03.484
defined by our readiness . Providing

21:03.484 --> 21:05.818
combat-ready units to global operations ,

21:05.818 --> 21:07.984
the reserve seamlessly integrated into

21:07.984 --> 21:10.207
the total force . In fiscal year 2025 ,

21:10.207 --> 21:12.040
we activated reserve marines for

21:12.040 --> 21:13.984
requirements across five combatant

21:13.984 --> 21:15.929
commands . Today , we have Marines

21:15.929 --> 21:18.151
activated in every geographic combatant

21:18.151 --> 21:20.373
command to include combat operations in

21:20.373 --> 21:22.373
CENTCOM . These deployments are not

21:22.373 --> 21:24.484
just a measure of our readiness , but

21:24.484 --> 21:26.651
it is how we build it . We are growing

21:26.651 --> 21:28.540
a more capable , combat seasoned

21:28.540 --> 21:30.540
reserve force prepared for high-end

21:30.540 --> 21:33.170
conflict . This level of readiness and

21:33.170 --> 21:35.489
modernization is directly enabled by

21:35.489 --> 21:37.500
your support . We thank the

21:37.500 --> 21:39.833
subcommittee for your continued support ,

21:39.833 --> 21:41.944
especially through the National Guard

21:41.944 --> 21:44.167
and reserve equipment account . For the

21:44.167 --> 21:46.222
Marine Corps Reserve , Negria is not

21:46.222 --> 21:46.189
just a funding line . It is a war

21:46.189 --> 21:48.609
fighting requirement and a primary tool

21:48.989 --> 21:51.156
that enables our modernization . These

21:51.156 --> 21:53.100
funds allow us to field the modern

21:53.100 --> 21:55.267
platforms and systems our Marines that

21:55.267 --> 21:57.510
need to train as they fight . With a

21:57.510 --> 22:00.829
99% execution rate across recent fiscal

22:00.829 --> 22:02.885
years , the Marine Corps Reserve has

22:02.885 --> 22:04.829
proven its ability to execute with

22:04.829 --> 22:07.109
discipline and speed while maintaining

22:07.109 --> 22:09.510
our services clean audit for the last 3

22:09.510 --> 22:11.900
years . Reserve readiness requires

22:11.900 --> 22:14.079
modern infrastructure . The Marine

22:14.079 --> 22:16.439
Corps Reserve occupies 148 reserve

22:16.439 --> 22:19.479
training centers across 47 states , and

22:19.479 --> 22:21.646
the average condition of our portfolio

22:21.646 --> 22:23.819
is rated as poor . While we

22:23.819 --> 22:25.890
aggressively pursue efficiencies

22:25.890 --> 22:27.612
through programs like facility

22:27.612 --> 22:29.390
sustainment , restoration , and

22:29.390 --> 22:31.001
modernization , and military

22:31.001 --> 22:33.001
construction , navy reserve to slow

22:33.001 --> 22:35.057
this decline , the disparity between

22:35.057 --> 22:36.946
our requirements and resources is

22:36.946 --> 22:38.946
growing . Continued support for our

22:38.946 --> 22:41.057
military construction and sustainment

22:41.057 --> 22:43.279
accounts is essential to provide safe ,

22:43.279 --> 22:45.334
secure , and modern facilities where

22:45.334 --> 22:47.279
our Marines train . Because at the

22:47.279 --> 22:49.729
heart of our success are the individual

22:49.729 --> 22:52.579
Marines , sailors , and families who

22:52.579 --> 22:54.979
serve with unwavering dedication . They

22:54.979 --> 22:57.090
are the foundation of our readiness .

22:57.090 --> 22:58.979
With your continued support , I'm

22:58.979 --> 23:01.201
confident that the Marine Corps Reserve

23:01.201 --> 23:03.368
will remain what our nation expects us

23:03.368 --> 23:05.368
to be an elite , combat ready force

23:05.439 --> 23:07.800
prepared to answer the call any climb

23:08.020 --> 23:10.449
and place . Thank you for the

23:10.449 --> 23:12.505
opportunity to testify today , and I

23:12.505 --> 23:14.671
look forward to your questions . Thank

23:14.671 --> 23:16.893
you , General . General Healey , you're

23:16.893 --> 23:18.782
now recognized for your remarks .

23:18.782 --> 23:20.671
Chairman Calvert , Ranking Member

23:20.671 --> 23:20.489
McCollum , distinguished members of the

23:20.489 --> 23:22.711
subcommittee . It's an honor to be here

23:22.711 --> 23:24.656
today one last time with my senior

23:24.656 --> 23:26.433
enlisted adviser , Chief Master

23:26.433 --> 23:28.489
Sergeant Israel Nunes , representing

23:28.489 --> 23:30.849
67,000 Air Force Reserve airmen . We

23:30.849 --> 23:33.869
are a strategic advantage and a cost

23:34.520 --> 23:37.699
effective investment . Not a backup

23:37.699 --> 23:40.140
force by any shape or means . Our

23:40.140 --> 23:42.307
airmen's unmatched experience provided

23:42.307 --> 23:44.140
the strategic depth to deter our

23:44.140 --> 23:46.219
adversaries . Our partnership builds

23:46.219 --> 23:48.275
interoperability with our allies and

23:48.275 --> 23:50.459
partners , and our recent surge proves

23:50.459 --> 23:52.660
we are always ready and accessible to

23:52.660 --> 23:55.060
respond to any crisis in less than 72

23:55.060 --> 23:57.719
hours . This is the reserve advantage .

23:58.390 --> 24:01.229
When properly resourced , we're a cost

24:01.229 --> 24:03.340
effective solution for the Department

24:03.340 --> 24:05.562
of the Air Force in all mission areas .

24:05.562 --> 24:07.729
We operate our installations 28 days a

24:07.729 --> 24:09.562
month on just 25% of our force ,

24:09.562 --> 24:11.579
delivering mission ready airmen for

24:11.579 --> 24:14.410
only 30% on the dollar . Fiscal year

24:14.410 --> 24:16.790
25's closeout was our best on record .

24:17.010 --> 24:19.250
Your support and our data-driven tools

24:19.250 --> 24:21.770
enable precise resource management and

24:21.770 --> 24:24.859
risk-informed decisions . The Air Force

24:24.859 --> 24:27.349
Reserve is efficient . It's experienced .

24:27.400 --> 24:29.400
It's accessible , and most of all ,

24:29.400 --> 24:31.660
it's lethal . We need your support to

24:31.660 --> 24:34.469
maintain this advantage . 77% of our

24:34.469 --> 24:37.229
fleet is over 39 years old . Supply

24:37.229 --> 24:39.118
chain shortages threaten aircraft

24:39.118 --> 24:42.109
availability , and a $1.5 billion

24:42.109 --> 24:44.739
backlog means requirements are rapidly

24:44.739 --> 24:48.599
outpacing resources . Inria is critical

24:49.420 --> 24:51.420
to the modernization , agility and

24:51.420 --> 24:53.540
maximization of our force and our

24:53.540 --> 24:55.596
purchasing power . I look forward to

24:55.596 --> 24:57.484
the discussion on the change from

24:57.484 --> 24:59.660
dedicated congressional appropriation

24:59.660 --> 25:01.549
to inclusion into the president's

25:01.549 --> 25:03.839
budget . We're currently hollowing out

25:03.839 --> 25:06.099
our nation's future combat capability

25:06.099 --> 25:08.210
through disproportionate divestment .

25:08.560 --> 25:10.727
Over the fight . The Air Force Reserve

25:10.727 --> 25:12.959
is projected to lose 20.1% of our

25:12.959 --> 25:15.400
inventory , a significant imbalance

25:15.400 --> 25:17.989
compared to the other components . Our

25:17.989 --> 25:20.211
number one priority has always been and

25:20.211 --> 25:22.433
will remain concurrent and proportional

25:22.433 --> 25:25.030
fielding of advanced aircraft . As our

25:25.030 --> 25:27.086
crews prove their value right now in

25:27.086 --> 25:29.252
Operation Epic Fury , disproportionate

25:29.252 --> 25:31.540
divestment is an unnecessary risk to

25:31.540 --> 25:33.969
national security . That security

25:33.969 --> 25:35.410
hinges upon our seamless

25:35.410 --> 25:37.609
interoperability with our allies and

25:37.609 --> 25:39.498
partners . Recent operations have

25:39.498 --> 25:41.553
proven this is an urgent necessity ,

25:41.553 --> 25:44.130
not a choice . Now in its 2nd year ,

25:44.209 --> 25:46.487
our reserve and allies partner program .

25:46.660 --> 25:48.660
Continues to build interoperability

25:48.790 --> 25:51.012
while operating on a near zero budget .

25:51.030 --> 25:53.150
We've conducted 71 strategic

25:53.150 --> 25:55.039
engagements last year , including

25:55.039 --> 25:57.206
formal partnership agreements with the

25:57.206 --> 25:59.094
United Kingdom and France , while

25:59.094 --> 26:01.206
establishing new security cooperation

26:01.206 --> 26:03.317
pathways with the Netherlands and the

26:03.317 --> 26:05.539
Philippines . Prioritizing this program

26:05.539 --> 26:07.539
is a cost-effective investment that

26:07.539 --> 26:09.706
enables our allies to share the burden

26:09.706 --> 26:12.160
of strategic deterrence . Finally , I'd

26:12.160 --> 26:13.938
like to say thank you this last

26:13.938 --> 26:16.104
opportunity for your continued support

26:16.104 --> 26:17.938
of the Air Force Reserve and our

26:17.938 --> 26:20.160
warfighters . I'd also like to thank my

26:20.160 --> 26:21.993
wife Kathy with me today , whose

26:21.993 --> 26:23.938
unwavering support for the men and

26:23.938 --> 26:26.160
women and the families of the Air Force

26:26.160 --> 26:28.216
Reserve and to me deserves a note in

26:28.216 --> 26:30.271
this record . Thank you again . Look

26:30.271 --> 26:32.493
forward to your questions . Thank you ,

26:32.493 --> 26:34.660
General , and thank you . This is your

26:34.660 --> 26:36.882
last , last hearing . I'm sure you're ,

26:36.882 --> 26:39.104
you're going to miss them a whole lot .

26:40.089 --> 26:42.256
Still mark it on the calendar for next

26:42.256 --> 26:44.089
year . I'd like to recognize the

26:44.140 --> 26:45.973
chairman of the full committee ,

26:45.973 --> 26:48.084
Chairman Cole . Thank you very much ,

26:48.084 --> 26:49.807
uh , Mr . Chairman . I want to

26:49.807 --> 26:51.807
apologize to you and our guests for

26:51.807 --> 26:53.696
being a little late . The ranking

26:53.696 --> 26:55.918
member and I were elsewhere discharging

26:55.918 --> 26:58.029
our duties , and we got here as quick

26:58.029 --> 26:57.880
as we could . Uh , but again , we

26:57.880 --> 27:00.369
apologize for any inconvenience . Again ,

27:00.449 --> 27:02.449
I want to thank you , uh , Chairman

27:02.449 --> 27:04.560
Calvert , Ranking Member McCollum . I

27:04.560 --> 27:06.449
want to welcome our distinguished

27:06.449 --> 27:08.505
witnesses and thank you all for your

27:08.505 --> 27:10.505
dedicated service with the National

27:10.505 --> 27:12.505
Guard and reserve components of our

27:12.505 --> 27:14.449
force . Let me begin by expressing

27:14.449 --> 27:16.560
gratitude to the men and women of the

27:16.560 --> 27:18.616
National Guard and the Reserve . You

27:18.616 --> 27:20.671
have the difficult task of balancing

27:20.671 --> 27:23.000
both civilian and military life . This

27:23.000 --> 27:25.500
unique structure . Gives us an

27:25.500 --> 27:28.000
adaptable force ready to respond .

27:28.979 --> 27:31.650
Excuse me . Whether it's deployments

27:31.650 --> 27:35.650
abroad . Or disaster response

27:35.650 --> 27:37.872
or helping secure our borders , you are

27:37.872 --> 27:40.030
vital to our national defense and our

27:40.030 --> 27:42.141
communities . I can't thank the units

27:42.141 --> 27:44.949
of the Oklahoma National Guard enough

27:44.949 --> 27:47.171
for their swift response and assistance

27:47.171 --> 27:49.599
every time a tornado strikes our

27:49.599 --> 27:52.150
communities . From the deadly F5

27:52.290 --> 27:54.650
tornadoes that struck my own hometown

27:54.650 --> 27:56.810
more twice many years ago to the most

27:56.810 --> 27:59.329
recent tornadoes struck the town of

27:59.329 --> 28:01.496
Sulfur in my district , the search and

28:01.496 --> 28:03.170
rescue operation and hands-on

28:03.170 --> 28:05.560
assistance . Provided by these men and

28:05.560 --> 28:08.520
women of the National Guard truly

28:08.520 --> 28:10.609
encompassed what it means to serve .

28:11.079 --> 28:13.246
I'm proud to say that we're continuing

28:13.246 --> 28:15.190
to advance regular order , further

28:15.190 --> 28:17.839
ensuring large omnibus bills are a

28:17.839 --> 28:20.000
thing of the past . Importantly , we

28:20.000 --> 28:21.889
will also have the opportunity to

28:21.889 --> 28:23.722
evaluate your funding priorities

28:23.722 --> 28:25.959
alongside the budget request . Today's

28:25.959 --> 28:28.070
hearing is an important forum for you

28:28.070 --> 28:30.292
to discuss current readiness , resource

28:30.292 --> 28:32.348
constraints , and priorities for our

28:32.348 --> 28:34.739
guard and reserve components . And just

28:34.739 --> 28:36.650
this past year we've seen clear

28:36.650 --> 28:38.817
examples of both the guard and reserve

28:38.817 --> 28:40.928
components serving as essential force

28:40.928 --> 28:43.280
multipliers across a range of missions .

28:43.900 --> 28:46.122
We owe it to you to ensure that federal

28:46.122 --> 28:48.020
funding reflects your operational

28:48.020 --> 28:50.020
demands and the critical dual roles

28:50.020 --> 28:52.430
that you serve . I also look forward to

28:52.430 --> 28:54.719
hearing about the ongoing challenges

28:54.719 --> 28:56.920
with recruitment and retention along

28:56.920 --> 28:59.142
with efforts to modernize equipment and

28:59.142 --> 29:01.239
facilities . We require a candid

29:01.239 --> 29:03.640
dialogue about your requirements and

29:03.640 --> 29:06.160
how Congress can be a true partner in

29:06.160 --> 29:08.160
strengthening our guard and reserve

29:08.160 --> 29:10.699
forces . Quote , Always ready , always

29:10.699 --> 29:13.180
there . It's not just a motto , but a

29:13.180 --> 29:15.619
promise you have proven time and time

29:15.619 --> 29:17.508
again that you take seriously and

29:17.508 --> 29:19.699
fulfill the letter . Whether you're in

29:19.699 --> 29:22.219
Oklahoma or serving abroad , our

29:22.219 --> 29:24.219
guardsmen and reservists deserve to

29:24.219 --> 29:26.330
know we have your back . Again , Mr .

29:26.380 --> 29:28.436
Chairman , I want to thank you and I

29:28.436 --> 29:30.158
want to thank particularly our

29:30.158 --> 29:32.500
witnesses for their service and their

29:32.500 --> 29:33.719
distinguished .

29:35.910 --> 29:39.030
Efforts to help our country and keep it

29:39.030 --> 29:41.086
safe and secure . We've got to yield

29:41.086 --> 29:43.489
back . Thank you , Mr . Chairman . I

29:44.239 --> 29:46.461
Chairman , or the ranking member of the

29:46.461 --> 29:48.628
full committee . Thank you very much ,

29:48.628 --> 29:50.461
Mr . Chairman and Ranking Member

29:50.461 --> 29:52.572
McCollum , and a really big thank you

29:52.572 --> 29:54.739
to our witnesses , uh , for testifying

29:54.739 --> 29:56.739
here today . There's a lot of brass

29:56.739 --> 29:58.850
here , and just , you know , it's not

29:58.850 --> 30:01.183
intimidated though , you know , so , uh ,

30:01.183 --> 30:03.295
let me just address a few topics this

30:03.295 --> 30:05.350
morning . The first is the manner in

30:05.350 --> 30:07.350
which our National Guard troops are

30:07.350 --> 30:09.350
being treated . I have to extend my

30:09.350 --> 30:11.517
thoughts to the entire guard community

30:11.517 --> 30:13.739
and especially The families of National

30:13.739 --> 30:15.739
Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom , who was

30:15.739 --> 30:17.572
killed in a senseless act of gun

30:17.572 --> 30:19.461
violence , and National Guardsman

30:19.461 --> 30:21.350
Andrew Wolffe , who was seriously

30:21.350 --> 30:23.183
injured . This should never have

30:23.183 --> 30:25.406
happened and the individual responsible

30:25.406 --> 30:27.709
must be punished according to the law .

30:29.160 --> 30:30.938
Since August of last year , the

30:30.938 --> 30:32.938
National Guard has been deployed to

30:32.938 --> 30:35.049
Washington DC at the direction of the

30:35.049 --> 30:37.271
president in what I view as a political

30:37.271 --> 30:39.680
stunt that has gone on for far too long .

30:40.449 --> 30:42.505
The president has the National Guard

30:42.505 --> 30:44.782
patrolling around the nation's capital .

30:45.020 --> 30:48.180
Directing tourists , picking up trash .

30:48.540 --> 30:51.339
To be clear , these guardsmen have been

30:51.339 --> 30:54.739
nothing but professional since they

30:54.739 --> 30:57.949
were sent here . My problem is that

30:57.949 --> 31:00.390
they should not have not have to do

31:00.390 --> 31:04.150
this . It is not a responsible use of

31:04.150 --> 31:06.270
resources . The National Guard are

31:06.270 --> 31:08.560
crucial to supporting military

31:08.560 --> 31:10.838
operations around the world and assist ,

31:11.530 --> 31:13.586
assisting with emergency response at

31:13.586 --> 31:16.449
home . When a severe storm devastates a

31:16.449 --> 31:18.505
community , it is the National Guard

31:18.505 --> 31:20.505
who respond with tents , blankets ,

31:20.530 --> 31:22.697
medical equipment , food , and water .

31:23.119 --> 31:25.479
They are often the first sign of hope

31:25.760 --> 31:28.180
for many who have just endured perhaps

31:28.180 --> 31:31.270
the worst ordeal of their lives . Guard

31:31.270 --> 31:33.381
forces are also routinely deployed to

31:33.381 --> 31:35.579
support combat operations overseas .

31:36.180 --> 31:39.599
Roughly 500 members of the Connecticut

31:39.599 --> 31:42.079
National Guard are deployed in the

31:42.079 --> 31:45.729
Middle East . And I am so grateful

31:46.310 --> 31:48.750
for their service to our country , and

31:48.750 --> 31:50.972
I want to make sure that they have what

31:50.972 --> 31:54.180
they need and that they are safe . In

31:54.180 --> 31:56.347
his budget , President Trump requested

31:56.347 --> 31:58.430
an additional $605 million for

31:58.430 --> 32:00.910
continued National Guard deployments in

32:00.910 --> 32:04.739
Washington DC And news reports indicate

32:04.739 --> 32:06.795
that he intends to keep the National

32:06.795 --> 32:08.850
Guard in the Capitol until he leaves

32:08.850 --> 32:10.859
office . Every day and every dollar

32:10.859 --> 32:13.180
spent keeping the National Guard here

32:13.180 --> 32:15.579
takes away from where they are needed

32:15.579 --> 32:18.040
elsewhere . We should not be

32:18.040 --> 32:21.729
fabricating crises . Just to keep the

32:21.729 --> 32:25.329
guard busy . In addition to the

32:25.329 --> 32:27.440
National Guard , please let me take a

32:27.440 --> 32:29.551
moment to express my appreciation for

32:29.551 --> 32:31.839
our reserve forces as well . The

32:31.839 --> 32:33.920
reserves play a crucial role in our

32:33.920 --> 32:36.000
armed forces . They provide critical

32:36.000 --> 32:38.959
logistical mobility and nuclear mission

32:38.959 --> 32:42.579
support . 9 reserve service members

32:42.920 --> 32:46.280
have lost their lives during the war

32:46.280 --> 32:50.140
with Iran . 13 servicemen have been

32:50.479 --> 32:53.750
killed . 9 of them were reservists . I

32:53.750 --> 32:55.880
offer my deepest condolences to their

32:55.880 --> 32:59.280
families and express a profound sadness .

32:59.969 --> 33:02.930
At what is a tragic loss , it is

33:02.930 --> 33:04.763
critical that we in the Congress

33:04.763 --> 33:06.930
provide the resources necessary to

33:06.930 --> 33:08.763
support the men and women of our

33:08.763 --> 33:11.290
National Guard and reserve forces . I

33:11.290 --> 33:13.729
look forward to hearing your answers to

33:13.729 --> 33:16.250
our questions today . Thank you , and I

33:16.250 --> 33:20.010
yield back . Thank the ranking

33:20.010 --> 33:23.890
member . Um , now we'll go to questions .

33:24.109 --> 33:26.053
Uh , we'll hopefully get around to

33:26.053 --> 33:27.998
everybody , so we'll limit it to 5

33:27.998 --> 33:29.942
minutes . I'll start with myself .

33:29.942 --> 33:32.109
First , make a comment . Uh , we all ,

33:32.109 --> 33:33.776
I've heard the comments about

33:33.776 --> 33:35.887
predictable funding , uh , and I know

33:35.887 --> 33:38.053
that's important to all of you , and I

33:38.053 --> 33:41.270
can , I think , say with , with support

33:41.270 --> 33:43.492
on both sides here that we , none of us

33:43.492 --> 33:46.920
like continuing resolutions . And so

33:46.920 --> 33:49.087
we're going to work hard with the full

33:49.087 --> 33:51.540
committee chairman here and the ranking

33:51.709 --> 33:54.000
member who worked very hard together to

33:54.239 --> 33:56.461
make sure that we have that predictable

33:56.461 --> 33:58.683
funding and that we hopefully can avoid

33:58.683 --> 34:02.630
continued resolutions . Um , One of

34:02.630 --> 34:04.852
the issues that that's been important ,

34:04.930 --> 34:07.041
uh , I live on a border state , state

34:07.041 --> 34:09.041
of California . It's been extremely

34:09.041 --> 34:11.610
important is the counter drug program ,

34:11.739 --> 34:14.810
and I appreciate the impact . has had

34:14.810 --> 34:17.520
in our communities . Congress provided

34:18.459 --> 34:20.409
305 million for the National Guard

34:20.409 --> 34:22.576
counter Drug Program in fiscal year 26

34:22.576 --> 34:24.409
and provide critical funding for

34:24.409 --> 34:26.449
training and operations . And we've

34:26.449 --> 34:28.671
also provided an additional $30 million

34:28.671 --> 34:30.671
for the National Guard counter Drug

34:30.671 --> 34:32.671
school program to provide necessary

34:32.671 --> 34:34.671
education to support combating drug

34:34.671 --> 34:36.671
trafficking efforts . As you know .

34:36.679 --> 34:38.901
Hundreds of thousands of Americans have

34:38.901 --> 34:40.901
died of fentanyl poisoning over the

34:40.901 --> 34:43.149
last number of years . Uh , it's a

34:43.149 --> 34:46.360
horrible poison , as I call it , and uh .

34:47.320 --> 34:50.129
This unfortunately has been . Inflicted

34:50.129 --> 34:53.729
upon the American population . So I , I

34:53.729 --> 34:55.785
appreciate what you're all doing and

34:55.785 --> 34:57.951
General Nordhaus , how is the National

34:57.951 --> 34:59.896
Guard utilizing these resources to

34:59.896 --> 35:01.760
disrupt and degrade illicit drug

35:01.760 --> 35:04.330
production to make our community safer ?

35:06.389 --> 35:08.278
Chairman , uh , thank you for the

35:08.278 --> 35:10.222
question and thank Congress , uh ,

35:10.222 --> 35:12.333
holistically for the additional funds

35:12.333 --> 35:14.445
in this , um , counter-drug program .

35:14.445 --> 35:16.167
Last year , the National Guard

35:16.167 --> 35:18.189
counter-drug program took off $15

35:18.189 --> 35:20.760
billion of illicit drugs , uh ,

35:20.820 --> 35:22.987
supporting our law enforcement . Can't

35:22.987 --> 35:25.098
imagine how many lives that has saved

35:25.098 --> 35:27.264
and families that has been , uh , kept

35:27.264 --> 35:29.264
together because , uh , those drugs

35:29.264 --> 35:31.550
have been taken off the street . 69,000

35:31.550 --> 35:34.379
other law enforcement agencies and uh

35:34.379 --> 35:36.601
agents have been trained uh through the

35:36.601 --> 35:38.657
counterdrug school program which are

35:38.657 --> 35:40.823
funded through Congress , so we cannot

35:40.823 --> 35:42.823
thank you enough . Uh , each of the

35:42.823 --> 35:44.935
states have a counterdrug program and

35:44.935 --> 35:47.110
each year is taken a look at of how

35:47.110 --> 35:49.110
they can better it to increase what

35:49.110 --> 35:51.110
they're getting after what's in the

35:51.110 --> 35:53.221
local area , whether it's fentanyl or

35:53.221 --> 35:53.110
other drugs and how they can work with

35:53.110 --> 35:55.169
their local . Uh , law enforcement

35:55.169 --> 35:57.489
agencies . So each year we tune it up ,

35:57.649 --> 35:59.489
we get better and stronger . The

35:59.489 --> 36:02.419
previous year , uh , we took off $13

36:02.419 --> 36:04.770
billion and last year at $15 billion .

36:04.850 --> 36:07.072
So , every dollar you give the National

36:07.072 --> 36:09.128
Guard , you're getting huge bang for

36:09.128 --> 36:11.128
your buck because our guardsmen are

36:11.128 --> 36:13.183
professional . They're experienced ,

36:13.183 --> 36:15.517
they use their civilian skill sets , uh ,

36:15.517 --> 36:17.628
and come into those programs and make

36:17.628 --> 36:19.906
us stronger . Well , thank you , and I ,

36:19.906 --> 36:22.128
I , there's a lot of important missions

36:22.128 --> 36:24.239
that you do , but I , I think this is

36:24.239 --> 36:26.017
right on top of the list , so I

36:26.017 --> 36:28.183
appreciate anything you can do to , to

36:28.183 --> 36:30.350
do this . Um , what , uh , what , uh ,

36:30.370 --> 36:32.481
general , you gonna , what priorities

36:32.481 --> 36:34.537
do you have in the coming years ? We

36:34.537 --> 36:36.759
write this budget . This year , uh , if

36:36.759 --> 36:39.320
you had to pick your top two or three

36:39.320 --> 36:41.487
priorities , what would that be ? Mm .

36:42.870 --> 36:44.926
Uh , Chairman , uh , certainly as we

36:44.926 --> 36:47.148
look at foundational readiness accounts

36:47.148 --> 36:49.203
to be an always ready , always there

36:49.203 --> 36:51.426
force , and as you heard from the other

36:51.426 --> 36:53.537
reserve component chiefs here , we're

36:53.537 --> 36:55.759
operational . And when you look at what

36:55.759 --> 36:57.926
the National Guard is doing in support

36:57.926 --> 36:59.981
of the joint force over in Operation

36:59.981 --> 37:02.037
Epic Fury , uh , We have to be ready

37:02.274 --> 37:04.218
and trained , and the foundational

37:04.218 --> 37:06.441
readiness accounts really add to that .

37:06.441 --> 37:08.330
So that deals with flying hours ,

37:08.330 --> 37:10.441
weapons systems sustainment , and ops

37:10.441 --> 37:12.524
tempo . Um , also , as we look at

37:12.524 --> 37:14.357
modernization , we have to be in

37:14.357 --> 37:16.357
modernized equipment , whether it's

37:16.357 --> 37:18.524
helicopters or whether it's fighters ,

37:18.524 --> 37:21.389
tankers . Uh , bombers or mobility

37:21.389 --> 37:23.222
aircraft , we have to have those

37:23.222 --> 37:25.333
capabilities . Uh , Ingria once again

37:25.333 --> 37:27.679
does an amazing amount that allows us

37:27.679 --> 37:29.901
to make sure that we're interoperable ,

37:29.901 --> 37:32.012
um , across the board with our , uh ,

37:32.012 --> 37:33.846
services . And , uh , I know how

37:33.846 --> 37:35.901
important you heard all the comments

37:35.901 --> 37:38.012
from Ingria . So that would be , uh ,

37:38.012 --> 37:40.179
my initial comments there , Chairman .

37:40.179 --> 37:43.580
Thank you , Ms . McCollum . Thank you ,

37:43.629 --> 37:47.550
Mr . Chair . I've got uh 22 kind of

37:47.560 --> 37:49.782
topic questions and you can get back to

37:49.782 --> 37:52.290
me with more information uh should you

37:52.290 --> 37:54.290
choose to , but I wanna finish up a

37:54.290 --> 37:56.290
little more about what I said in my

37:56.290 --> 37:58.512
opening statements about the deployment

37:58.512 --> 38:00.629
of the National Guard . So , um , the

38:00.629 --> 38:04.350
information that we have is that $605

38:04.350 --> 38:07.169
million . Uh , for the extended

38:07.169 --> 38:09.391
deployment of the National Guard troops

38:09.391 --> 38:11.391
for non-military activities for the

38:11.391 --> 38:14.250
beautification of Washington DC , uh ,

38:14.370 --> 38:16.590
and I assume those activities will

38:16.590 --> 38:18.919
support America , uh , as we celebrate

38:18.919 --> 38:21.770
250 years , and so they're here now ,

38:21.850 --> 38:24.250
we'll have a lot of people visiting . I

38:24.250 --> 38:26.770
could see that being of , of , of

38:26.770 --> 38:29.169
comfort and , and , and , and joy for

38:29.169 --> 38:31.389
everyone . Uh , having the interaction

38:31.389 --> 38:33.611
with , with our , um , men and women in

38:33.611 --> 38:35.870
uniform . However , that celebration is

38:35.870 --> 38:38.899
gonna end in July . And it's been

38:38.899 --> 38:40.899
reported that the Pentagon wants to

38:40.899 --> 38:42.788
keep the National Guard troops in

38:42.788 --> 38:44.899
through as a , as a uh ranking member

38:44.899 --> 38:46.843
of the full committee said through

38:46.843 --> 38:48.899
January 2029 . That's the end of the

38:48.899 --> 38:51.139
president's second term . That's well

38:51.139 --> 38:53.472
beyond the scope of this budget request .

38:53.850 --> 38:57.020
So , and the budget request for $260

38:57.020 --> 38:58.742
million for the National Guard

38:58.742 --> 39:00.742
Reactionary Force is also something

39:00.742 --> 39:02.631
that , that this committee's been

39:02.631 --> 39:04.742
reading about in the paper to respond

39:04.742 --> 39:06.909
to incidents . So , General Norris , I

39:06.909 --> 39:09.020
have just a few questions for you and

39:09.020 --> 39:10.909
if you have to get back with more

39:10.909 --> 39:13.242
information at the committee truly . Uh ,

39:13.242 --> 39:15.298
understand , we look forward to it .

39:15.298 --> 39:17.520
How long do you see the deployments for

39:17.520 --> 39:19.464
the National Guard law enforcement

39:19.464 --> 39:21.344
support role in DC , uh , is

39:21.344 --> 39:24.804
sustainable ? Because that $605 million

39:24.804 --> 39:26.804
in the request is all coming at the

39:26.804 --> 39:28.748
expense of something else that the

39:28.748 --> 39:31.399
National Guard will not be doing . Um ,

39:31.409 --> 39:33.750
and , uh , then regarding the National ,

39:33.929 --> 39:36.449
uh , Guard Reactionary Force , I'd like

39:36.449 --> 39:38.616
some more information and detail , and

39:38.616 --> 39:40.838
we had a little bit of a , a discussion

39:40.838 --> 39:42.671
in the office , but where is the

39:42.671 --> 39:44.727
funding coming from and contained in

39:44.727 --> 39:47.330
this budget ? Um , so we , we had a

39:47.330 --> 39:49.274
brief discussion in the office . I

39:49.274 --> 39:51.552
think you know what I'm going at , and ,

39:51.552 --> 39:53.330
but I'm gonna ask the admiral a

39:53.330 --> 39:55.386
question first and then you can both

39:55.386 --> 39:57.719
respond . I'll kind of pack it together .

39:57.719 --> 40:00.909
Um , so the guard usually deploys as a ,

40:01.040 --> 40:02.762
as a group . I've been to many

40:02.762 --> 40:04.984
deployments . We have guard in Kuwait ,

40:04.984 --> 40:07.151
and Djibouti right now . They go . The

40:07.151 --> 40:09.318
reserves tend to , I've been to , I've

40:09.318 --> 40:12.310
been during the height of Iraq and

40:12.310 --> 40:14.800
Afghanistan . I would watch Marines

40:14.800 --> 40:17.949
deploy as one . Uh , so you don't

40:17.949 --> 40:20.709
usually have the , you know , you

40:20.709 --> 40:22.765
deploy at one and then when you come

40:22.765 --> 40:24.931
home , sometimes you come home alone .

40:24.931 --> 40:27.042
You're not even being deployed in the

40:27.042 --> 40:28.987
big group . Um , so I just want to

40:28.987 --> 40:31.098
acknowledge that and this leads me to

40:31.098 --> 40:33.429
my question to you , Admiral . Um , you

40:33.429 --> 40:35.485
know , what is the length of time it

40:35.485 --> 40:37.485
takes for a naval reserve sailor to

40:37.485 --> 40:39.540
replace a sailor on another platform

40:39.540 --> 40:41.762
during a time of crisis ? You're unique

40:41.762 --> 40:43.818
in , in what you do with the reserve

40:43.818 --> 40:45.318
that way . I know I have a

40:45.318 --> 40:47.318
cybersecurity unit in Minnesota and

40:47.318 --> 40:49.485
there's diff , there's different units

40:49.485 --> 40:51.707
that go on . The pilots tend to because

40:51.707 --> 40:51.679
of keeping hours and that they're ,

40:51.760 --> 40:53.760
they're all going , but when you uh

40:53.760 --> 40:56.540
have to uh take um one of our , your

40:56.540 --> 40:58.800
sailors and put them physically on , on

40:58.800 --> 41:02.399
a , on a ship , uh , what is , uh , how

41:02.399 --> 41:04.566
does that integrate ? How long does it

41:04.566 --> 41:06.677
take for that unit's activity to , to

41:06.677 --> 41:09.320
fully be cohesive ? So my concern is if

41:09.320 --> 41:11.487
we need to provide Provide more proper

41:11.487 --> 41:13.598
resources in order for the navy to be

41:13.598 --> 41:15.709
successful , especially as we look at

41:15.709 --> 41:17.820
what they're doing with this blockade

41:17.820 --> 41:19.987
right now , the long deployment of the

41:19.987 --> 41:22.153
Ford , um , you know , we want to make

41:22.153 --> 41:24.320
sure that it's seamless for the , uh ,

41:24.320 --> 41:26.320
sailors on board the ship , the one

41:26.320 --> 41:28.542
coming in , the one going off , the one

41:28.542 --> 41:30.598
serving . I need to learn more about

41:30.598 --> 41:32.764
this . Uh , commander McCullin , thank

41:32.764 --> 41:34.876
you for the , uh , for the question .

41:34.876 --> 41:36.376
When you look at the , the

41:36.376 --> 41:38.542
mobilizations for , uh , for your Navy

41:38.542 --> 41:40.709
reserve , uh , really they fit in , in

41:40.709 --> 41:42.820
two different pieces . You've got the

41:42.820 --> 41:42.419
operational support and those units

41:42.419 --> 41:44.419
that mobilize together as a unit of

41:44.419 --> 41:46.641
action . Those can be examples like our

41:46.641 --> 41:48.752
SEAL teams that are currently getting

41:48.752 --> 41:50.975
deployed , our aviation squadrons , our

41:50.975 --> 41:52.808
VR squadrons , our C-130 and C40

41:52.808 --> 41:54.919
squadrons that are mobilizing as well

41:54.919 --> 41:56.975
now together as units of action , as

41:56.975 --> 41:58.919
well as our maritime expeditionary

41:58.919 --> 42:00.975
security squadrons that are deployed

42:00.975 --> 42:03.308
together in Djibouti . They're constant .

42:03.308 --> 42:05.475
Constantly refining and training , and

42:05.475 --> 42:08.379
the criticality is around both the RPN

42:08.379 --> 42:10.601
and the OMNR budgets to be able to fund

42:10.601 --> 42:12.768
those at the levels requested for them

42:12.768 --> 42:14.768
to continue to hone and refine that

42:14.768 --> 42:16.990
edge . So we feel very comfortable that

42:16.990 --> 42:19.212
those units of action and those members

42:19.212 --> 42:21.435
are ready to go right in the first hour

42:21.435 --> 42:20.479
or the first minute .

42:26.050 --> 42:29.590
My question on the guard . Oh , Ranking

42:29.590 --> 42:31.646
Member McCollum , uh , thank you for

42:31.646 --> 42:33.812
your question . Uh , as we look at the

42:33.812 --> 42:35.923
DC safe and Beautiful , certainly our

42:35.923 --> 42:38.034
primary focus is on the safety of our

42:38.034 --> 42:39.923
citizens . Um , and as we look at

42:39.923 --> 42:42.257
America 250 coming and , uh , uh , FIFA ,

42:42.257 --> 42:44.270
our National Guard will be ready to

42:44.270 --> 42:46.399
support , um , in any of those

42:46.399 --> 42:48.121
locations , uh , through their

42:48.121 --> 42:50.177
governors and then here in DC , uh ,

42:50.177 --> 42:52.288
through the secret , uh , from that .

42:52.459 --> 42:54.681
Um , as we look at our National Guard ,

42:54.681 --> 42:56.348
we continue to , uh , see our

42:56.348 --> 42:58.729
servicemen and women do amazing things ,

42:58.919 --> 43:02.050
uh , in support of , uh , the local law

43:02.050 --> 43:05.040
enforcement . Excuse me , sir , I , it

43:05.040 --> 43:06.984
pains me to interrupt you , but my

43:06.984 --> 43:09.760
time's limited . And so I asked about

43:09.760 --> 43:11.927
uh the funding contained in the budget

43:11.927 --> 43:13.871
for the National Guard Reactionary

43:13.871 --> 43:17.000
Force and the request of the $605

43:17.000 --> 43:20.280
million that uh for what that we're

43:20.280 --> 43:22.169
doing in DC that does come at the

43:22.169 --> 43:24.391
expense of something else in the line .

43:24.391 --> 43:26.699
So what are we not doing ? Uh , Ranking

43:26.699 --> 43:28.810
Member McCollum , uh , we are working

43:28.810 --> 43:30.532
with the department and , uh ,

43:30.532 --> 43:32.770
reimbursements from , um , the

43:32.770 --> 43:35.739
department from DOJ and DHS . Uh , we

43:35.739 --> 43:37.517
will continue to work with this

43:37.517 --> 43:39.739
committee and we look forward to making

43:39.739 --> 43:41.739
sure that we can do all the mission

43:41.739 --> 43:41.439
sets that we've been directed to do .

43:41.770 --> 43:43.770
And then also make sure that we can

43:43.770 --> 43:45.881
provide all the statutory training to

43:45.881 --> 43:47.937
the National Guard cause we know how

43:47.937 --> 43:49.992
critical it is . I'd like a detailed

43:49.992 --> 43:52.214
breakout of the money and what training

43:52.214 --> 43:52.159
is not being done . Thank you , Mr .

43:52.320 --> 43:56.030
Chair . Yes , ma'am . Thank you , Mr .

43:56.189 --> 43:58.356
Cole . Uh , thank you very much , Mr .

43:58.356 --> 44:00.689
Chairman . And again , to our witnesses ,

44:00.689 --> 44:03.449
thank all of you . I too have budget

44:03.449 --> 44:05.560
concerns and requests , and you might

44:05.560 --> 44:07.727
not be in a position to give me a full

44:07.727 --> 44:09.893
answer . I certainly understand that ,

44:09.893 --> 44:11.949
but uh , I'm just gonna kind of move

44:11.949 --> 44:14.060
down the , the list here and ask each

44:14.060 --> 44:16.010
of you , could you give us a quick

44:16.229 --> 44:19.590
overview of the role your component is

44:19.590 --> 44:22.189
playing in your respective area . In

44:22.189 --> 44:24.830
the current military actions in Iran

44:25.810 --> 44:29.050
and give us some view because at some

44:29.050 --> 44:31.649
point I would expect a supplemental

44:31.649 --> 44:34.370
request to come from the administration

44:34.370 --> 44:36.481
in this regard and you certainly need

44:36.481 --> 44:38.750
to be part of that supplemental . So

44:39.250 --> 44:41.570
insofar as you can give us some

44:41.570 --> 44:43.929
estimate of what sort of impact this

44:43.929 --> 44:47.159
has had on your budget . It's

44:47.159 --> 44:49.326
impossible to know the exact ending of

44:49.326 --> 44:51.326
something like this , so I wouldn't

44:51.326 --> 44:53.437
expect you to give us anywhere near a

44:53.437 --> 44:55.548
complete estimate , but some sense of

44:55.548 --> 44:58.070
how much this has impacted you and You

44:58.070 --> 45:00.350
know , what you might be , what would

45:00.350 --> 45:03.659
unite , uh , what we might need to

45:04.030 --> 45:06.252
extend to you to make sure that you can

45:06.252 --> 45:08.909
continue your operations unterrupted in

45:08.909 --> 45:10.965
the other areas that you're , you're

45:10.965 --> 45:12.853
responsible for . So , I'll start

45:12.853 --> 45:15.131
General Nordhaus , if I may , with you ,

45:15.131 --> 45:17.131
and then just kind of move down the

45:17.131 --> 45:19.189
line if that's OK . Uh , Chairman ,

45:19.239 --> 45:21.461
thank you for the question . Uh , as we

45:21.461 --> 45:23.628
look at the National Guard , certainly

45:23.628 --> 45:25.739
on the Air National Guard , we're 30%

45:25.739 --> 45:27.739
of the operational force of the Air

45:27.739 --> 45:29.961
Force , and to not get into specifics ,

45:29.961 --> 45:32.128
we're , we're at least that or above ,

45:32.128 --> 45:34.128
uh , in support of the mission sets

45:34.128 --> 45:36.239
over in Epic Fury , uh , whether it's

45:36.239 --> 45:38.406
in tankers , fighters , uh , bombers ,

45:38.406 --> 45:40.572
or , uh , mobility aircraft , and then

45:40.572 --> 45:42.800
logistics planning , ISR platforms

45:42.800 --> 45:44.911
across the board . Uh , our guardsmen

45:44.911 --> 45:46.969
are doing amazing work and , uh ,

45:46.979 --> 45:49.257
making sure that we can take , uh , um ,

45:49.260 --> 45:51.570
the fight to the adversary . And , uh ,

45:51.580 --> 45:53.691
but as we look at the budgets , we'll

45:53.691 --> 45:55.858
continue to work with you and to bring

45:55.858 --> 45:58.024
those forward to make sure that we can

45:58.024 --> 45:58.010
continue to do all the mission sets .

45:58.300 --> 46:00.078
And I will say also in the Army

46:00.078 --> 46:02.189
National Guard side , they're doing .

46:02.189 --> 46:04.540
Amazing work as well on artillery and

46:04.540 --> 46:06.651
other things to take the fight to the

46:06.651 --> 46:08.707
adversary . So let me just follow up

46:08.707 --> 46:11.090
very quickly . You mentioned 30% , an

46:11.340 --> 46:13.760
extraordinary burden . Congratulations

46:13.760 --> 46:15.593
for discharging that . Would you

46:15.593 --> 46:17.919
estimate that , you know , just in

46:17.919 --> 46:20.086
general , that's what you would need ?

46:20.086 --> 46:22.659
Let's just say we notionally had a $100

46:22.659 --> 46:24.770
billion or whatever supplemental that

46:24.770 --> 46:26.937
you would need something in accordance

46:26.937 --> 46:29.159
to 30% of the total we would expend for

46:29.159 --> 46:31.419
air operations . Chairman , I'd like to

46:31.419 --> 46:33.641
get back to you , but , um , that makes

46:33.641 --> 46:35.641
sense . Look , I know this is not a

46:35.641 --> 46:37.586
fair question , so , and you can't

46:37.586 --> 46:39.919
possibly have the information , but yes ,

46:39.919 --> 46:42.086
if you can get back to me , that would

46:42.086 --> 46:44.252
be helpful . You know , I've I've seen

46:44.252 --> 46:46.475
enough of these things to see sometimes

46:46.475 --> 46:48.641
we shortchange the guard and reserve ,

46:48.641 --> 46:50.808
uh , you know , we're asking a lot out

46:50.808 --> 46:53.030
of you when the time comes to , uh , to

46:53.030 --> 46:55.030
get a supplemental . I just want to

46:55.030 --> 46:56.863
make sure that what goes in that

46:56.863 --> 46:58.863
supplemental adequately covers your

46:58.863 --> 47:02.100
needs . Well , uh , any information you

47:02.100 --> 47:04.060
provide as we progress along , be

47:04.060 --> 47:06.820
gratefully received . Um , same

47:06.820 --> 47:09.153
question , if I may , to General Harder .

47:10.310 --> 47:12.199
Chairman Cole , thank you for the

47:12.199 --> 47:14.532
question on behalf of the Army Reserves .

47:14.532 --> 47:16.421
So right , right now we have just

47:16.421 --> 47:18.588
almost 4000 young men and women , just

47:18.588 --> 47:18.429
a little less , uh , supporting

47:18.429 --> 47:21.429
Operation Epic Fury . Uh , we are the

47:21.429 --> 47:23.262
bulk of sustainment and enabling

47:23.262 --> 47:25.500
capacity for the joint force , total

47:25.500 --> 47:27.770
army , uh , where , where we took a

47:27.770 --> 47:30.350
reduction from the army in , in some of

47:30.350 --> 47:32.517
our up-tempo , uh , especially affects

47:32.517 --> 47:34.750
our home station training . And we can

47:34.750 --> 47:36.861
get you those numbers upwards of , of

47:36.861 --> 47:39.229
$60 million . That's the one decrement

47:39.229 --> 47:41.469
that , that , again , is a little bit

47:41.469 --> 47:43.636
hard for us to make up . Our young men

47:43.636 --> 47:45.747
and women are getting after it , uh ,

47:45.747 --> 47:48.080
getting after the home station training ,

47:48.080 --> 47:49.969
but , uh , that , that's where we

47:49.969 --> 47:52.191
always need some support is , is before

47:52.191 --> 47:54.302
we go to the mob site and before we ,

47:54.302 --> 47:54.189
our boots on the ground in theater .

47:55.070 --> 47:58.469
Thank you , uh , Admiral Lofman . Yes

47:58.469 --> 48:00.750
sir , Chairman Cole , as far as our

48:00.750 --> 48:03.100
troops that are sailors rather that are

48:03.100 --> 48:05.790
deployed overseas , the bulk of those

48:05.790 --> 48:08.989
sailors are currently flying the C-130s

48:09.229 --> 48:11.389
and the C-40s , providing critical

48:11.389 --> 48:13.649
resupply , rearming , and refueling .

48:13.899 --> 48:16.820
For both the carrier strike groups and

48:16.820 --> 48:18.987
other aircraft that are that are in in

48:18.987 --> 48:21.330
that theater . In addition , we are

48:21.330 --> 48:24.250
supply or supplying teams that are

48:24.250 --> 48:27.219
doing maritime operations support for

48:27.219 --> 48:29.899
5th Fleet as well right now . So , and

48:29.899 --> 48:31.955
like , like General Nordhaus , we've

48:31.955 --> 48:34.010
got sailors that are engaged in both

48:34.010 --> 48:36.121
the cyber warfare and some of the the

48:36.121 --> 48:38.288
integrated intelligence work as well ,

48:38.288 --> 48:40.621
sir . Very good , uh , General Anderson .

48:42.159 --> 48:43.992
Thank you , Mr . Chairman . Uh ,

48:43.992 --> 48:46.326
predominantly for Marine Forces Reserve ,

48:46.326 --> 48:48.103
these were planned , budgeted ,

48:48.103 --> 48:50.326
deployments , and they are forward with

48:50.326 --> 48:53.169
31st MU to include civil affairs , to

48:53.169 --> 48:54.613
include our light armored

48:54.613 --> 48:56.725
reconnaissance teams that are there ,

48:57.070 --> 48:59.403
uh , and to the ranking members comment .

48:59.403 --> 49:01.570
We also have the individual augmentees

49:01.570 --> 49:03.570
that go in with specific skill sets

49:03.570 --> 49:05.459
that help send . So , to get to a

49:05.459 --> 49:07.348
specific number for you as far as

49:07.348 --> 49:09.403
funding for your , your Marine Corps

49:09.403 --> 49:11.403
reserve and increased readiness and

49:11.403 --> 49:10.955
training , I'd have to get a more

49:10.955 --> 49:13.177
specific number back to you . But right

49:13.177 --> 49:15.344
now , as we plan in the Marine Corps ,

49:15.344 --> 49:17.566
we plan across the fit up . Uh , so our

49:17.566 --> 49:19.399
deployments for our reserves are

49:19.399 --> 49:21.566
planned and they're already budgeted ,

49:21.566 --> 49:23.511
so it's a predictable life for our

49:23.511 --> 49:25.733
marine reservists . Great . And General

49:25.733 --> 49:28.011
Healey , thanks for the question , sir .

49:28.011 --> 49:27.955
The , um , with the Air Force Reserve ,

49:27.995 --> 49:30.544
what we did was close to a miracle .

49:30.635 --> 49:32.802
Our contract is a 72 hour deployment .

49:33.379 --> 49:35.590
We rarely test that . The normal time

49:35.590 --> 49:37.560
scale for a predictable deployment

49:37.560 --> 49:40.110
cycle is 180 days prior , but we

49:40.110 --> 49:42.770
knocked out greater than 3000 deployers

49:43.030 --> 49:45.189
in that 72 hour mark in the form of

49:45.189 --> 49:47.356
multiple orders . So if you were to go

49:47.356 --> 49:49.300
around to any of the reserve owned

49:49.300 --> 49:51.522
bases right now , whether it be cargo ,

49:51.522 --> 49:51.310
air refueling , you're not going to see

49:51.310 --> 49:53.254
any airplanes there and you're not

49:53.254 --> 49:55.310
going to see any people there . They

49:55.310 --> 49:55.189
all moved out already , greater than

49:55.189 --> 49:57.850
3000 total from an emergent perspective .

49:58.199 --> 50:00.290
But in addition to that , we've also

50:00.290 --> 50:02.889
got double that in our expected

50:02.889 --> 50:05.250
overseas normal rotational basis as

50:05.250 --> 50:07.570
well . So we're fully vested in all the

50:07.570 --> 50:10.370
cargo , air refueling , intel , command

50:10.370 --> 50:13.129
and control . I , I'd classify the

50:13.129 --> 50:15.018
impact that we're going to have ,

50:15.018 --> 50:17.240
depending on the length of this will be

50:17.240 --> 50:19.462
in the form of , you know , the , the ,

50:19.462 --> 50:21.351
the standard for a reservist or a

50:21.351 --> 50:23.462
guardsman is 1 week and a month and 2

50:23.462 --> 50:22.830
weeks a year . Well , that money that

50:22.830 --> 50:24.997
we typically use for that is not going

50:24.997 --> 50:27.163
to get used because they're being used

50:27.163 --> 50:29.386
for contingency operations . Likewise ,

50:29.386 --> 50:31.552
all the aircraft that we typically use

50:31.552 --> 50:33.552
for training day in and day out are

50:33.552 --> 50:35.552
currently deployed , so there is no

50:35.552 --> 50:37.774
opportunity for those back at home that

50:37.774 --> 50:37.570
have not deployed to continue with that

50:37.570 --> 50:39.403
training . So it's a little more

50:39.403 --> 50:41.626
challenging from that perspective . All

50:41.626 --> 50:43.181
of our support agencies and

50:43.181 --> 50:45.348
non-deployed activities outside of ops

50:45.348 --> 50:47.570
and maintenance , there's realistically

50:47.570 --> 50:47.330
no impact on it , but we're watching

50:47.330 --> 50:49.386
closely the timing and how to manage

50:49.386 --> 50:51.608
that money when they do return . Well ,

50:51.608 --> 50:53.608
thank you very much , and again , I

50:53.608 --> 50:55.552
think you know , collectively your

50:55.552 --> 50:57.608
testimony really underlines what Not

50:57.608 --> 50:59.830
every American realized how much of our

50:59.830 --> 51:01.886
ability to conduct an operation like

51:01.886 --> 51:03.997
this really depends on your readiness

51:03.997 --> 51:06.052
and what you have at your disposal ,

51:06.052 --> 51:08.108
and of course it's not a predictable

51:09.199 --> 51:11.366
exercise . You can do the best you can

51:11.366 --> 51:13.421
to plan , but none of us . knew this

51:13.421 --> 51:15.643
was coming and none of us knew how long

51:15.643 --> 51:17.810
it would take or know how long it will

51:17.810 --> 51:19.699
take . So just thank you for your

51:19.699 --> 51:19.334
adaptability . Thank you for what

51:19.334 --> 51:22.655
you're doing , and please to yourselves

51:22.655 --> 51:24.711
and to the administration , when the

51:24.711 --> 51:27.235
time comes to send us a bill , because

51:27.235 --> 51:30.094
it certainly will , we need to make

51:30.094 --> 51:33.334
sure that your forces receive what they

51:33.334 --> 51:36.455
need for what they've used and what

51:36.455 --> 51:38.566
they need in terms of recovery time ,

51:38.566 --> 51:40.679
retraining , what have you . Uh , so

51:40.679 --> 51:42.735
that you're ready , God forbid if we

51:42.735 --> 51:45.012
need to call on you again anytime soon .

51:45.399 --> 51:47.510
So again , thank each of you for your

51:47.510 --> 51:49.639
service . Thank you very much to the

51:49.639 --> 51:51.639
men and women that you respectively

51:51.639 --> 51:53.806
lead in their service to the country .

51:54.040 --> 51:56.280
Mr . Chairman , I yield back . Thank

51:56.280 --> 51:58.113
you . And before I recognize the

51:58.113 --> 52:00.224
ranking member , I just want to agree

52:00.224 --> 52:02.391
with the chairman that we look forward

52:02.391 --> 52:04.719
to receiving the supplemental . From

52:04.719 --> 52:06.552
the administration and obviously

52:06.552 --> 52:08.719
there's operational costs that's going

52:08.719 --> 52:11.600
to be that we need to recover in this

52:11.600 --> 52:15.360
and I suspect O&M costs and additional

52:15.360 --> 52:17.979
costs , so . I'm hoping that it's

52:17.979 --> 52:20.312
reflected in the supplemental with that ,

52:20.312 --> 52:22.479
uh , the ranking member Mr . Stelara .

52:22.479 --> 52:24.701
Thank you , Mr . Chairman . Um , uh , I

52:24.701 --> 52:26.868
understand that the guard , uh , still

52:26.868 --> 52:29.090
flies over 200 Lima model Black Hawks ,

52:29.090 --> 52:31.146
and they're scheduled to reach their

52:31.146 --> 52:33.201
end of year service , end of service

52:33.201 --> 52:35.312
life in 2032 . We have heard that the

52:35.312 --> 52:37.201
Army National Guard has validated

52:37.201 --> 52:40.110
requirement of 225 Black Hawk aircraft ,

52:40.610 --> 52:43.449
and for 2027 , the budget only requests

52:43.449 --> 52:46.290
one Black Hawk for the active Army and

52:46.290 --> 52:49.129
zero for the National Guard . At the

52:49.129 --> 52:51.185
same time , the budget proposes that

52:51.185 --> 52:53.296
the CH-47 Chinook procurement dropped

52:53.296 --> 52:56.770
from 11 to 5 . The guard flies both

52:56.770 --> 52:58.603
platforms in support of domestic

52:58.603 --> 53:00.729
missions every day , performing

53:00.729 --> 53:03.007
disaster response , medical evacuation ,

53:03.050 --> 53:04.939
search and rescue on top of their

53:04.939 --> 53:07.610
overseas commitments . Um , I have a

53:07.610 --> 53:09.721
question for General Nordhaus and for

53:09.721 --> 53:11.554
General Harder on this , on this

53:11.554 --> 53:13.666
question . General Nordhaus , can you

53:13.666 --> 53:15.721
speak to the guard's requirement for

53:15.721 --> 53:15.689
Black Hawks and whether your current

53:15.689 --> 53:18.129
aviation inventory is sufficient to

53:18.129 --> 53:20.185
meet mission demands ? What do these

53:20.185 --> 53:21.851
procurement and modernization

53:21.851 --> 53:24.018
reductions mean in practical terms for

53:24.018 --> 53:26.129
what the guard can do and cannot do ?

53:26.840 --> 53:28.896
Ranking Memer Delaro , thank you for

53:28.896 --> 53:31.007
the question . Uh , as we look at the

53:31.007 --> 53:33.229
National Guard and work with the Army ,

53:33.229 --> 53:35.320
uh , Our army aviation is critical

53:35.320 --> 53:37.959
across the board for all of our 54 and

53:37.959 --> 53:40.015
the mission sets that they do in the

53:40.015 --> 53:42.126
homeland and in the war fight . As we

53:42.126 --> 53:44.479
look at the oldest Limas , some that we

53:44.479 --> 53:46.600
will divest , um , it's a small

53:46.600 --> 53:48.659
percentage that we have to make sure

53:48.659 --> 53:51.879
that are double the price to fly , uh ,

53:52.000 --> 53:54.000
are hard to maintain . And so as we

53:54.000 --> 53:56.167
look at bringing in , uh , Mike models

53:56.167 --> 53:58.278
in transition , some of our Limmas to

53:58.278 --> 54:00.611
mics that Cascade down . Uh , from , uh ,

54:00.611 --> 54:02.611
other compos into the Army National

54:02.611 --> 54:04.778
Guard and then also some Chinooks that

54:04.778 --> 54:06.830
come to us , uh , and then what we

54:06.830 --> 54:08.663
wanna do is be able to take that

54:08.663 --> 54:11.239
investment into the MV-75 , that new

54:11.239 --> 54:13.461
platform with the Army , and so we feel

54:13.461 --> 54:16.159
very nested with , uh , General Le Neve

54:16.360 --> 54:18.693
and Army as we go forward , right ? But ,

54:18.693 --> 54:21.560
but , but the MV-75 is a ways off , and

54:21.560 --> 54:25.199
my question is . Whether your current

54:25.199 --> 54:28.760
aviation inventory is sufficient now to

54:28.760 --> 54:31.360
meet mission demands and what do the

54:31.360 --> 54:33.027
procurement and modernization

54:33.027 --> 54:35.193
reductions mean in practical terms for

54:35.193 --> 54:37.439
what the guard can or cannot do ? Do

54:37.439 --> 54:40.149
you have what you need ? I mean , I , I ,

54:40.199 --> 54:42.419
I understand what this transitions ,

54:42.439 --> 54:46.280
but this is now , this is current . The

54:46.280 --> 54:50.080
MV 75 is It's no deployable

54:50.820 --> 54:52.876
prototype until the end of next year

54:52.876 --> 54:55.139
probably . So , what , where are you

54:55.139 --> 54:57.340
now ? Yes , ma'am . I , I , I think

54:57.340 --> 54:59.760
we're in an OK spot , but we need to

54:59.820 --> 55:02.110
make sure that we continue to Bring

55:02.110 --> 55:05.389
other mics from the other compos into

55:05.389 --> 55:07.611
Army National Guard . Make sure that we

55:07.611 --> 55:09.929
take the oldest aircraft that are twice

55:09.929 --> 55:12.110
as expensive and take that money to be

55:12.110 --> 55:14.629
able to put those parts and increase

55:14.629 --> 55:16.740
the rates on the mic models and Limas

55:16.740 --> 55:18.518
that we do have as we bring new

55:18.518 --> 55:22.370
aircraft on in the future . Well , it

55:22.419 --> 55:24.586
seems to me that we have a gap here of

55:24.586 --> 55:28.340
uh uh . Which I think we need to

55:28.340 --> 55:30.451
address and we can't fully address it

55:30.451 --> 55:32.673
now , but I think we have a gap in what

55:32.673 --> 55:34.618
you need in terms of , of aviation

55:34.618 --> 55:37.110
requirements going forward , especially

55:37.110 --> 55:39.350
with what the president's budget looks

55:39.350 --> 55:43.070
like in terms of this area and uh going

55:43.070 --> 55:45.669
from Uh , I know people think that I

55:45.669 --> 55:48.870
have , it's , it's parochial because we ,

55:49.030 --> 55:51.197
we build the Black Hawks in my , in my

55:51.197 --> 55:53.363
district , but you go from what , uh ,

55:53.363 --> 55:55.729
you know , uh , it's 24 to 1 , guard

55:55.729 --> 55:59.129
gets 0 , Chinooks are down , so ,

56:00.939 --> 56:02.717
It seems that we need some real

56:03.020 --> 56:05.780
analysis of where all of this is as we

56:05.780 --> 56:08.580
move forward . General Harder , uh , I

56:08.580 --> 56:10.636
want to ask about the Army Reserve .

56:10.636 --> 56:12.802
The transformation initiative proposes

56:12.802 --> 56:15.024
eliminating the Army's Reserve's rotary

56:15.024 --> 56:17.247
wing capability , raises concerns about

56:17.247 --> 56:19.080
retaining qualified aviators and

56:19.080 --> 56:21.191
maintaining their expertise at a time

56:21.191 --> 56:23.136
when commanders continue to signal

56:23.136 --> 56:25.191
demand for aviation support . How is

56:25.191 --> 56:27.413
the Army thinking about preserving that

56:27.413 --> 56:30.610
capacity and what risks should We ,

56:30.820 --> 56:32.876
we understand here in the Congress ,

56:32.876 --> 56:34.876
Ranking Member DeLauro , thanks for

56:34.876 --> 56:36.931
that question . So as you're aware ,

56:36.931 --> 56:39.153
the Army made the decision to divest of

56:39.153 --> 56:41.209
two of our brigades , uh , but , but

56:41.209 --> 56:43.376
Congress also put a restriction not to

56:43.376 --> 56:45.487
turn in anything , you know , until ,

56:45.487 --> 56:48.139
until June . So we have 228 aircraft .

56:48.580 --> 56:50.802
We've turned in a few of the older Lima

56:50.802 --> 56:53.239
models . We still have all of , you

56:53.239 --> 56:55.479
know , all the remaining aircraft , and

56:55.479 --> 56:57.590
we're maintaining those aircraft as ,

56:57.679 --> 57:00.080
as , as you stated and as we all well

57:00.080 --> 57:02.159
know , our pilots are seasoned and

57:02.159 --> 57:04.919
qualified . We've developed some models

57:04.919 --> 57:07.086
where we will continue to retain those

57:07.086 --> 57:09.141
pilots in support of our Campo 1 and

57:09.141 --> 57:11.363
Campo 2 teammates . So the Army Reserve

57:11.363 --> 57:13.475
right now stands stands by to support

57:13.475 --> 57:15.586
the needs of the nation as directed .

57:15.586 --> 57:17.475
OK , thank you . Can I do another

57:17.475 --> 57:21.459
question , Mr . Chairman , or do I ? OK ,

57:21.620 --> 57:23.842
just , yes , if I can , I , I'll , I'll

57:23.842 --> 57:25.787
try to be quick . Um , 22 adjutant

57:25.787 --> 57:27.787
generals wrote to this committee on

57:27.787 --> 57:29.953
April 1st saying the Air Force needs a

57:29.953 --> 57:31.953
minimum of 72 new fighters per year

57:31.953 --> 57:34.120
just to begin reducing the average age

57:34.120 --> 57:36.009
of the fleet , and that cascading

57:36.009 --> 57:37.787
legacy aircraft from the active

57:37.787 --> 57:39.453
component to the guard is not

57:39.453 --> 57:41.676
recapitalization . They have also noted

57:41.676 --> 57:44.050
that 13 of the 24 Air National Guard

57:44.050 --> 57:46.161
fighter squadrons remain programmed .

57:46.161 --> 57:48.370
On F-16 post-blockc aircraft with no

57:48.370 --> 57:50.889
recapitalization plan on record . Yet ,

57:51.129 --> 57:53.810
the budget again 2027 requests a total

57:53.810 --> 57:57.209
of 38 new fighters , barely half of the

57:57.209 --> 57:59.431
reported minimum requirement , and I do

57:59.431 --> 58:01.098
not see any of those aircraft

58:01.098 --> 58:03.153
specifically designated for guard or

58:03.153 --> 58:05.042
reserve in the budget documents .

58:05.042 --> 58:06.876
Significant gap between what the

58:06.876 --> 58:08.765
reserve components have validated

58:08.765 --> 58:10.876
versus what the budget looks like and

58:10.876 --> 58:13.153
need to , to , to provide . Again , to ,

58:13.153 --> 58:15.699
to , um , I'm gonna , I , I , I'll ask

58:15.699 --> 58:17.588
both questions at the same time .

58:17.588 --> 58:19.699
General Norhaus , current rate , when

58:19.699 --> 58:21.532
do the guard fighter units begin

58:21.532 --> 58:23.699
transitioning to modern aircraft ? How

58:23.699 --> 58:25.921
are you thinking about the path forward

58:25.921 --> 58:25.330
for those 13 Air National Guard

58:25.330 --> 58:26.969
squadrons still raiding

58:26.969 --> 58:29.100
recapitalization decisions ? General

58:29.100 --> 58:31.560
Healey , the Air Force Reserve operates

58:31.560 --> 58:33.919
as legacy platforms and faces similar

58:34.020 --> 58:36.242
recapitalization challenges . What does

58:36.242 --> 58:39.459
a procurement level of 38 fighters per

58:39.459 --> 58:42.800
year compared to the 72 identified ? By

58:42.800 --> 58:45.280
the adjutant general's mean for the Air

58:45.280 --> 58:47.280
Force Reserve readiness and mission

58:47.280 --> 58:50.280
capability over the next 5 years . So

58:50.280 --> 58:52.224
I'll start with General Nordhaus .

58:52.224 --> 58:54.391
Thank you , uh , ranking member . Uh ,

58:54.391 --> 58:56.336
your numbers that you talked about

58:56.336 --> 58:58.280
there , 13 of the 24 do not have a

58:58.280 --> 59:00.613
current plan . We certainly are working ,

59:00.613 --> 59:03.310
uh , rapidly with the Air Force to find

59:03.310 --> 59:05.421
out what that fielding plan is in the

59:05.421 --> 59:07.532
future . We're currently looking at a

59:07.532 --> 59:09.810
couple of modes , uh , modes 16 and 17 ,

59:09.810 --> 59:11.949
which would be F-35s , uh , and then

59:11.949 --> 59:14.550
the F-15 EXs coming to several of our ,

59:14.590 --> 59:17.205
uh , wings . Uh . In the future , but

59:17.205 --> 59:19.435
we need those additional aircraft and ,

59:19.645 --> 59:21.812
you know , the defense industrial base

59:21.812 --> 59:23.923
so that we can have the aircraft that

59:23.923 --> 59:26.034
can come into our formation as we see

59:26.034 --> 59:28.089
fighters are critical . Our fighters

59:28.089 --> 59:30.885
were at epic fury , absolute resolve ,

59:30.965 --> 59:33.024
midnight hammer . Amen . And so

59:33.764 --> 59:35.986
recapitalizing these Air National Guard

59:35.986 --> 59:38.084
fighter units is critical for our

59:38.084 --> 59:40.645
nation . Thank you , General . Ma'am ,

59:40.695 --> 59:43.370
you're speaking my language . The last

59:43.370 --> 59:45.537
year's comments specifically got after

59:45.537 --> 59:47.703
the fact that whether it be Nellis and

59:47.703 --> 59:49.759
our aggressor F-16s divested without

59:49.759 --> 59:52.010
recapitalization , our Whiteman A-10s

59:52.010 --> 59:54.370
currently slated to divest in 2728

59:54.370 --> 59:57.159
associated with Moody . In addition to

59:57.300 --> 59:59.820
our Homestead F-16s with no scheduled

59:59.820 --> 01:00:02.260
recap at this time , so this has been

01:00:02.260 --> 01:00:04.482
something that I've been trying to push

01:00:04.739 --> 01:00:06.795
from my end in the Air Force Reserve

01:00:06.795 --> 01:00:08.795
through the Air Force and with help

01:00:08.795 --> 01:00:10.961
from Congress when I specifically talk

01:00:10.961 --> 01:00:13.128
about concurrent proportional fielding

01:00:13.128 --> 01:00:15.183
of weapons systems . I think there's

01:00:15.183 --> 01:00:15.149
some positive . Outlooks with regard to

01:00:15.149 --> 01:00:17.093
Homestead in the near future and a

01:00:17.093 --> 01:00:19.038
conversion from F-16 pre-blocks to

01:00:19.038 --> 01:00:21.560
F-35s , and we're also optimistic that

01:00:21.560 --> 01:00:23.616
we might have made some headway with

01:00:23.616 --> 01:00:25.727
regard to Whiteman Air Force Base and

01:00:25.727 --> 01:00:27.616
the divestment of the A-10s and a

01:00:27.616 --> 01:00:29.782
possible recapitalization there . It's

01:00:29.782 --> 01:00:29.760
something that's been since day one

01:00:29.760 --> 01:00:31.704
since I came in the job , and it's

01:00:31.704 --> 01:00:34.360
going to be day 460 , you know , day 4

01:00:34.360 --> 01:00:36.471
years' worth when I exit the job that

01:00:36.471 --> 01:00:38.638
I'm going to keep asking for this . Uh

01:00:38.638 --> 01:00:40.804
so I , I , I appreciate the candor . I

01:00:40.804 --> 01:00:42.693
just make one final comment is we

01:00:42.693 --> 01:00:44.916
talked about F-35s , talked about F-16s

01:00:44.916 --> 01:00:47.082
and the needs for that , but in no way

01:00:47.082 --> 01:00:49.138
have we talked about Black Hawks and

01:00:49.138 --> 01:00:51.471
the need for that . I think that's , uh ,

01:00:51.471 --> 01:00:53.527
that's a future conversation and one

01:00:53.527 --> 01:00:53.129
that I'd like to keep in touch with you

01:00:53.129 --> 01:00:55.351
on . I look forward to working with you

01:00:55.351 --> 01:00:57.296
to see that the budget that we are

01:00:57.296 --> 01:00:59.929
doing reflects that reality of making

01:00:59.929 --> 01:01:02.096
sure , uh , you have the equipment and

01:01:02.096 --> 01:01:04.262
the modernization and the . Support to

01:01:04.262 --> 01:01:06.485
be able to do it with the guard and the

01:01:06.485 --> 01:01:06.310
reserves . Thank you , Mr . Chairman .

01:01:06.479 --> 01:01:08.646
Appreciate it . Thank you . And also ,

01:01:08.646 --> 01:01:10.701
I want to point out , I , you know ,

01:01:10.701 --> 01:01:10.620
we're gonna be flying Black Hawks for a

01:01:10.620 --> 01:01:12.787
long time , and I , I agree with you .

01:01:12.787 --> 01:01:14.953
We have to have a smooth transition as

01:01:14.953 --> 01:01:17.290
we move to the next platform . And uh

01:01:18.110 --> 01:01:20.221
also , you know , something we should

01:01:20.221 --> 01:01:22.979
bring up is the ITIPP program and to

01:01:22.979 --> 01:01:25.510
re-engine the both the Black Hawks and

01:01:25.510 --> 01:01:28.050
the Apaches to more power , more range .

01:01:28.790 --> 01:01:30.734
Better capabilities of some of the

01:01:30.734 --> 01:01:33.010
older platforms that we're flying , so

01:01:33.229 --> 01:01:35.451
that's something we all need to work on

01:01:35.451 --> 01:01:37.507
to see if we have the suitable funds

01:01:37.507 --> 01:01:39.550
for that . Judge Carter recognize .

01:01:42.120 --> 01:01:44.360
Thank you , Mr . Chairman , and thank

01:01:44.360 --> 01:01:48.209
all of you for , for being here . Uh ,

01:01:48.340 --> 01:01:50.610
General Harter , United States Army

01:01:50.610 --> 01:01:54.010
Reserve is currently operated all over

01:01:54.010 --> 01:01:56.699
the world , right ? Highlighting the

01:01:56.699 --> 01:02:00.260
vital role of the Army Reserve . Plays

01:02:00.500 --> 01:02:04.320
in defense of our nation . Pardon me

01:02:04.320 --> 01:02:07.310
for my voice . The importance of being

01:02:07.729 --> 01:02:10.250
manned , trained and equipped to meet

01:02:10.250 --> 01:02:13.570
the demands of large-scale combat

01:02:14.280 --> 01:02:17.090
operations is important . Can you talk

01:02:17.090 --> 01:02:19.919
to me about your biggest equipment and

01:02:19.919 --> 01:02:23.810
modernization concerns ? I'm sorry

01:02:23.810 --> 01:02:25.421
about my voice . Thank you ,

01:02:25.530 --> 01:02:27.363
Congressman . Thank you for that

01:02:27.363 --> 01:02:29.530
question . And so , you know , exactly

01:02:29.530 --> 01:02:31.530
right , sir . As I stated earlier ,

01:02:31.530 --> 01:02:33.697
we're , we're the bulk of the enabling

01:02:33.697 --> 01:02:35.974
capacity for the joint force . Uh , so ,

01:02:36.010 --> 01:02:38.066
I tell you , events , we continue to

01:02:38.066 --> 01:02:40.469
work with Army on modernization of our

01:02:40.469 --> 01:02:42.379
fleets , uh , bulk , uh , bulk

01:02:42.379 --> 01:02:44.290
petroleum distribution , water

01:02:44.290 --> 01:02:46.560
purification . Uh , Obviously all

01:02:46.560 --> 01:02:48.838
distribution assets , truck formations ,

01:02:49.000 --> 01:02:51.278
uh , but what I'm seeing is , uh , and ,

01:02:51.278 --> 01:02:53.444
and I said in my opening comment about

01:02:53.444 --> 01:02:55.667
leveraging Negria , the ability to have

01:02:55.667 --> 01:02:58.219
protection capability in our formations .

01:02:58.790 --> 01:03:01.449
Uh , the threat is ubiquitous . Uh ,

01:03:01.560 --> 01:03:03.782
obviously evidence what happened , uh ,

01:03:04.120 --> 01:03:06.342
at the port of Shuba in Kuwait , but we

01:03:06.342 --> 01:03:08.287
see that everywhere we go with the

01:03:08.287 --> 01:03:10.360
enemy can deliver with drones and

01:03:10.360 --> 01:03:12.138
missiles , and how do we defend

01:03:12.138 --> 01:03:14.310
ourselves at Echelon . This is not an

01:03:14.310 --> 01:03:16.643
infantry fight . It's everybody's fight .

01:03:16.643 --> 01:03:18.866
And so what we are looking to invest in

01:03:18.866 --> 01:03:20.921
in the Army Reserve is for our , for

01:03:20.921 --> 01:03:22.866
our formations , truck companies ,

01:03:22.866 --> 01:03:24.921
water purification , those young men

01:03:24.921 --> 01:03:27.032
and women have to have the capability

01:03:27.032 --> 01:03:29.254
to identify , assess , and defend . And

01:03:29.254 --> 01:03:30.921
so we are investing in that .

01:03:30.921 --> 01:03:30.780
Capability . We'll be testing it in our ,

01:03:30.830 --> 01:03:32.709
in our exercise , uh , really in

01:03:32.709 --> 01:03:34.876
partnership with my guard teammates in

01:03:34.876 --> 01:03:36.765
June out at Fort Polk and at Camp

01:03:36.765 --> 01:03:38.598
Shelby . We're , uh , we , we've

01:03:38.598 --> 01:03:40.542
procured some kit using Negria and

01:03:40.542 --> 01:03:42.431
we're gonna test that . So , it's

01:03:42.431 --> 01:03:44.542
distribution systems , fuel systems ,

01:03:44.542 --> 01:03:46.820
as well as our protection capabilities ,

01:03:46.820 --> 01:03:48.876
sir . The uh Guard and reserve units

01:03:48.889 --> 01:03:51.889
are mobilizing on short notice . How

01:03:51.889 --> 01:03:54.739
effective are the current uh

01:03:55.610 --> 01:03:59.469
Prepositioned stocks . And equipment

01:03:59.469 --> 01:04:02.889
sets to ensure they deploy with modern

01:04:03.510 --> 01:04:06.790
mission ready capabilities rather than

01:04:06.790 --> 01:04:09.310
legacy systems . Well , sir , sir ,

01:04:09.469 --> 01:04:11.580
again , we're about 1 , you know , we

01:04:11.580 --> 01:04:13.080
get about 1% of the army's

01:04:13.080 --> 01:04:16.149
modernization dollars , uh , not

01:04:16.149 --> 01:04:18.371
complaining , stating the fact . That's

01:04:18.371 --> 01:04:20.705
why a degree is so important to us . Uh ,

01:04:20.705 --> 01:04:22.816
but what we have been doing , uh , is

01:04:22.816 --> 01:04:24.871
posturing some of our equipment that

01:04:24.871 --> 01:04:27.093
has been modified . Modernize forward .

01:04:27.093 --> 01:04:29.205
So we've positioned truck maintenance

01:04:29.205 --> 01:04:31.739
company ammunition formations forward

01:04:31.739 --> 01:04:34.409
in Europe , and we're doing the same

01:04:34.409 --> 01:04:36.699
thing in the Indoecom AOR . The Army

01:04:36.699 --> 01:04:38.866
Reserve is maintaining that so that we

01:04:38.866 --> 01:04:40.669
can fall in on that modernized

01:04:40.669 --> 01:04:42.969
equipment should we be asked to deploy

01:04:43.070 --> 01:04:45.126
and fight in support of the nation .

01:04:45.126 --> 01:04:47.292
That's a good idea . Thank you , sir .

01:04:47.292 --> 01:04:49.459
By the way , there are a lot of people

01:04:49.459 --> 01:04:51.790
that I see every day that are coming up

01:04:51.790 --> 01:04:54.510
with solutions for water and other

01:04:54.510 --> 01:04:58.179
things . It looked really good . So ,

01:04:58.590 --> 01:05:00.757
we'll be looking at that too for you .

01:05:00.757 --> 01:05:02.757
Yes , sir . Thank you . Thank you ,

01:05:02.757 --> 01:05:04.979
Chairman . Thank you , gentlemen . Ms .

01:05:04.979 --> 01:05:07.034
Captor . Thank you , Mr . Chairman ,

01:05:07.034 --> 01:05:09.257
and welcome to our distinguished guests

01:05:09.257 --> 01:05:09.080
this morning . Thank you for your

01:05:09.080 --> 01:05:11.247
service . I'd like to begin my remarks

01:05:11.247 --> 01:05:13.959
by recognizing uh the noble service of

01:05:13.959 --> 01:05:16.159
Captain Seth Koval , uh , Captain

01:05:16.159 --> 01:05:18.103
Curtis Engst , and Master Sergeant

01:05:18.103 --> 01:05:20.215
Tyler Simmons from the Ohio Air Guard

01:05:20.215 --> 01:05:23.510
121st Air Refueling Wing who lost their

01:05:23.510 --> 01:05:27.169
lives over Uh , Iran recently members

01:05:27.169 --> 01:05:29.449
should co-sponsor if they can House

01:05:29.449 --> 01:05:32.300
Resolution 1129 honoring these fallen

01:05:32.300 --> 01:05:34.229
Ohio National Guardsmen .

01:05:37.550 --> 01:05:39.661
I've served in Congress a long time .

01:05:40.199 --> 01:05:43.659
And you have served a long time as well .

01:05:44.080 --> 01:05:46.302
I just wanted to offer an observation .

01:05:47.250 --> 01:05:49.330
The Department of Defense is the

01:05:49.330 --> 01:05:52.370
largest in terms of budget capacity in

01:05:52.370 --> 01:05:54.148
the entire federal government ,

01:05:54.148 --> 01:05:56.314
followed by the Department of Homeland

01:05:56.314 --> 01:05:58.830
Security . I speak today on behalf of

01:05:58.830 --> 01:06:02.229
local police and sheriffs and just um

01:06:02.229 --> 01:06:05.409
give you a conundrum . Um , I am

01:06:06.199 --> 01:06:08.088
concerned about the deployment of

01:06:08.088 --> 01:06:10.790
federal , uh , guardsmen and reservists

01:06:10.790 --> 01:06:12.929
into the streets of our communities ,

01:06:13.310 --> 01:06:16.030
and , um , I'll speak on behalf of my

01:06:16.030 --> 01:06:18.310
sheriffs and local police . They say to

01:06:18.310 --> 01:06:20.532
me , Marcy , does anybody in Washington

01:06:20.532 --> 01:06:24.050
know that our jails are full of 3 3/4

01:06:24.050 --> 01:06:26.328
of the people in them are mentally ill ,

01:06:26.429 --> 01:06:28.651
uh , and the others are drug addicted ,

01:06:28.709 --> 01:06:31.929
and , um , have been arrested for

01:06:31.929 --> 01:06:34.810
serious crimes . In addition , we also

01:06:34.810 --> 01:06:37.032
house , as we arrest them , uh , people

01:06:37.032 --> 01:06:39.489
who are coming from other countries and

01:06:39.489 --> 01:06:42.290
commit crimes . But , uh , in my

01:06:42.290 --> 01:06:44.850
hometown , uh , the jail is almost half

01:06:44.850 --> 01:06:46.810
a century old . It's a disaster .

01:06:46.889 --> 01:06:49.111
They've not been able to have the money

01:06:49.111 --> 01:06:52.149
to actually rebuild the jail . Um , and

01:06:52.149 --> 01:06:54.510
the salaries are very different for the

01:06:54.510 --> 01:06:56.621
individuals who work there , both for

01:06:56.621 --> 01:06:58.788
the sheriff and for the local police ,

01:06:58.788 --> 01:07:01.121
and , uh , the US Department of Justice ,

01:07:01.229 --> 01:07:03.285
which doesn't get the funding of the

01:07:03.285 --> 01:07:05.340
Department of Defense , uh , here in

01:07:05.340 --> 01:07:07.396
Washington , has some grant programs

01:07:07.396 --> 01:07:09.562
that can help our local policing , but

01:07:09.562 --> 01:07:11.785
let me just say . These officers at the

01:07:11.785 --> 01:07:13.562
local level and these sheriff's

01:07:13.562 --> 01:07:15.729
deputies know the turf , and I am

01:07:15.729 --> 01:07:17.951
really concerned about what happened in

01:07:17.951 --> 01:07:19.896
Minnesota and what could happen in

01:07:19.896 --> 01:07:22.100
other places and the diminishment of

01:07:22.100 --> 01:07:23.979
local policing . I was here when

01:07:23.979 --> 01:07:26.146
Homeland Security was established as a

01:07:26.146 --> 01:07:28.899
department and the , um , I brought

01:07:28.899 --> 01:07:32.300
money for our border patrol . Uh , the

01:07:32.300 --> 01:07:34.522
Air Guard has the Northern Border Watch

01:07:34.522 --> 01:07:36.800
in our area , but we have all the , uh ,

01:07:36.800 --> 01:07:39.760
I'm not against Homeland Security . We

01:07:39.760 --> 01:07:42.949
fund it , but they have big buildings ,

01:07:43.159 --> 01:07:46.159
new vehicles , higher salaries , and

01:07:46.159 --> 01:07:49.560
our local sheriffs and police are being

01:07:49.560 --> 01:07:51.959
undervalued . I was recruited to run

01:07:51.959 --> 01:07:54.080
for this job by an officer who'd been

01:07:54.080 --> 01:07:55.747
in the military , came home ,

01:07:55.747 --> 01:07:58.080
unfortunately , was shot , lost his eye ,

01:07:58.280 --> 01:08:01.199
lost part of his face , and uh did

01:08:01.199 --> 01:08:03.032
other things that were extremely

01:08:03.032 --> 01:08:05.032
valuable to our community . But I'm

01:08:05.032 --> 01:08:07.088
just saying to you , as you get into

01:08:07.088 --> 01:08:09.032
meetings at the federal level , be

01:08:09.032 --> 01:08:11.270
aware . That locally what's happening

01:08:11.270 --> 01:08:13.270
is the diminishment of our policing

01:08:13.270 --> 01:08:16.189
forces at the local level and for

01:08:16.189 --> 01:08:18.589
juveniles , and we have the arrest of

01:08:18.589 --> 01:08:20.850
many , our juvenile detention facility

01:08:20.850 --> 01:08:24.620
is a disgrace . And the , um , there

01:08:24.620 --> 01:08:27.069
are no places for the children once

01:08:27.069 --> 01:08:29.939
they're uh sentenced , the juvenile

01:08:29.939 --> 01:08:32.217
detention facility can't hold them all .

01:08:32.529 --> 01:08:34.649
And the Department of Justice doesn't

01:08:34.649 --> 01:08:37.569
have the money to actually provide for ,

01:08:37.810 --> 01:08:39.810
I call them repatriation programs ,

01:08:39.810 --> 01:08:41.866
bring , bring these children back to

01:08:41.866 --> 01:08:43.810
society in a way that they're more

01:08:43.810 --> 01:08:45.977
whole . So , as I look at you and your

01:08:45.977 --> 01:08:47.866
engagement and what the executive

01:08:47.866 --> 01:08:49.810
branch asks you to do , I see this

01:08:49.810 --> 01:08:51.810
withering . Maybe it's different in

01:08:51.810 --> 01:08:53.588
Texas , maybe it's different in

01:08:53.588 --> 01:08:55.921
California , I don't know , but locally ,

01:08:55.921 --> 01:08:58.088
All you have to do is just compare the

01:08:58.088 --> 01:09:00.143
vehicles of Homeland Security to the

01:09:00.143 --> 01:09:02.199
vehicles of the sheriff's department

01:09:02.199 --> 01:09:04.421
and the vehicles of the Toledo police ,

01:09:04.421 --> 01:09:06.421
for example , and then look at what

01:09:06.421 --> 01:09:08.421
they're paid . Look at what they're

01:09:08.421 --> 01:09:10.310
paid . And I really think there's

01:09:10.310 --> 01:09:12.366
something creeping forward here that

01:09:12.366 --> 01:09:14.532
isn't good for our country and we need

01:09:14.532 --> 01:09:16.477
to have an equal emphasis or added

01:09:16.477 --> 01:09:18.532
emphasis on our local policing . And

01:09:18.532 --> 01:09:20.643
our local sheriffs , and they deserve

01:09:20.643 --> 01:09:22.643
the kind of attention . They , they

01:09:22.643 --> 01:09:24.866
have particular knowledge , they have ,

01:09:24.866 --> 01:09:26.810
uh , they live there and so I just

01:09:26.810 --> 01:09:29.032
think that there's a real mismatch here

01:09:29.032 --> 01:09:28.990
and I wanted to place that on the

01:09:28.990 --> 01:09:31.779
record . I also , um , wanted to , um ,

01:09:31.790 --> 01:09:34.990
mention that , um , uh , General David

01:09:34.990 --> 01:09:37.899
Petraeus recently wrote an article , um ,

01:09:37.910 --> 01:09:40.910
and In the Wall Street Journal about

01:09:40.910 --> 01:09:43.029
the changing nature of modern warfare

01:09:43.029 --> 01:09:44.918
and though you won't have time to

01:09:44.918 --> 01:09:48.000
answer my question uh orally here , uh ,

01:09:48.009 --> 01:09:51.680
he talked about multi-domain unmanned

01:09:51.680 --> 01:09:54.508
systems . And what Ukraine is teaching

01:09:54.508 --> 01:09:56.619
us about the nature of modern warfare

01:09:56.619 --> 01:09:58.841
versus what is happening in the Iranian

01:09:58.841 --> 01:10:01.949
domain , and I think what he says about

01:10:02.599 --> 01:10:05.238
mass precision , about AI , about

01:10:05.238 --> 01:10:07.599
unmanned systems , about sea drones ,

01:10:07.749 --> 01:10:10.079
etc . I think there's a lot we have to

01:10:10.079 --> 01:10:12.858
explore there in terms of how we train

01:10:13.048 --> 01:10:15.278
our forces to meet this new need , and

01:10:15.278 --> 01:10:17.278
I wanted you to comment on that and

01:10:17.278 --> 01:10:19.445
hopefully there'll be a second round .

01:10:19.445 --> 01:10:19.208
Thank you , and I yield back .

01:10:23.479 --> 01:10:25.890
To the gentle lady's query on uh on

01:10:25.890 --> 01:10:28.560
that issue with Mr . Petraeus'reman .

01:10:30.049 --> 01:10:32.660
Uh , with that , uh , next to Mr . Diaz

01:10:32.660 --> 01:10:34.939
Ballard . Mr . Chairman , thank you

01:10:34.939 --> 01:10:37.410
very much , um , and to all of you ,

01:10:37.509 --> 01:10:40.439
thank you for your service , and

01:10:41.459 --> 01:10:43.737
you know , you don't have to remind us ,

01:10:43.737 --> 01:10:45.903
but it's important to remind , I think

01:10:45.903 --> 01:10:45.859
the American people how , how

01:10:45.859 --> 01:10:49.830
indispensable , um , uh , and

01:10:49.830 --> 01:10:52.459
you are to our national security , uh ,

01:10:52.500 --> 01:10:54.859
to the , you know , without you we

01:10:54.859 --> 01:10:56.692
don't have the military that the

01:10:56.692 --> 01:10:58.748
American people expect , and , and I

01:10:58.748 --> 01:11:00.748
just , it's , it's , it's , it's so

01:11:00.748 --> 01:11:02.748
important to just remind people and

01:11:02.748 --> 01:11:05.026
other members of Congress as well . Uh ,

01:11:05.299 --> 01:11:08.680
generally , uh , you have served . For

01:11:08.680 --> 01:11:12.600
what , 37 years ? 37

01:11:12.600 --> 01:11:14.479
years , uh , and by the way , my

01:11:14.479 --> 01:11:16.590
understanding is that you're gonna be

01:11:16.590 --> 01:11:18.590
probably the only person that's not

01:11:18.590 --> 01:11:20.757
moving to Florida , uh , but , but you

01:11:20.757 --> 01:11:22.868
know , you would be welcome there you

01:11:22.868 --> 01:11:25.146
would , you would be welcome there . I ,

01:11:25.146 --> 01:11:27.201
I just , you mentioned , uh , uh , I

01:11:27.201 --> 01:11:29.479
think I was answering a question about ,

01:11:29.479 --> 01:11:31.646
um , about the potential transition to

01:11:31.646 --> 01:11:33.812
F-35s , for example , in Homestead Air

01:11:33.812 --> 01:11:35.923
Force , but I , I , I don't . Need to

01:11:35.923 --> 01:11:37.923
go into the details now . I just do

01:11:37.923 --> 01:11:40.750
need to , uh , take , uh , a short time ,

01:11:41.089 --> 01:11:43.367
uh , you know , to thank you for , for ,

01:11:43.549 --> 01:11:45.830
um , you know , you in , in the time

01:11:45.830 --> 01:11:47.830
that I've had the privilege of , of

01:11:47.830 --> 01:11:51.750
knowing you , uh , you really are so in

01:11:51.750 --> 01:11:54.669
tune to some details that some people

01:11:54.669 --> 01:11:57.870
may not be aware of and , and part of

01:11:57.870 --> 01:12:00.092
that example is your intimate knowledge

01:12:00.092 --> 01:12:03.899
of , of what homestead . Base

01:12:04.319 --> 01:12:06.319
means to our national security . So

01:12:06.319 --> 01:12:08.549
again I'm , I , I , I , I don't need an

01:12:08.549 --> 01:12:10.771
answer from you . Uh , I just wanted to

01:12:10.771 --> 01:12:13.359
let you know again that , uh , that I

01:12:13.359 --> 01:12:15.581
appreciate , uh , not only your service

01:12:15.581 --> 01:12:17.859
but , uh , but your detailed knowledge ,

01:12:17.859 --> 01:12:19.859
uh , and , and , uh , you mentioned

01:12:19.859 --> 01:12:21.915
that you've been on this case , uh ,

01:12:21.915 --> 01:12:24.081
for a long time and I think , um , you

01:12:24.081 --> 01:12:26.149
know , God willing , uh , that will

01:12:26.149 --> 01:12:28.399
succeed , uh , but I just again , not ,

01:12:28.560 --> 01:12:30.449
not only wanna thank you for your

01:12:30.449 --> 01:12:32.671
service but the fact that those who may

01:12:32.671 --> 01:12:34.671
not know you as well . Uh , need to

01:12:34.671 --> 01:12:36.727
understand that very few people have

01:12:36.727 --> 01:12:40.290
been as persistent but as knowledgeable ,

01:12:40.870 --> 01:12:42.926
uh , including about some areas that

01:12:42.926 --> 01:12:45.148
some people may not be so knowledgeable

01:12:45.148 --> 01:12:47.259
about . So again , uh , while you may

01:12:47.259 --> 01:12:49.314
not go to Florida , I just know that

01:12:49.314 --> 01:12:51.426
you have somebody who greatly admires

01:12:51.426 --> 01:12:53.537
your service and , and , and not just

01:12:53.537 --> 01:12:55.703
on the . Not an Air Force pun , not on

01:12:55.703 --> 01:12:57.648
the 40,000 level , but also on the

01:12:57.648 --> 01:12:59.759
detailed level . So thank you , sir .

01:12:59.759 --> 01:12:59.410
Thank all of you . And with that , Mr .

01:12:59.450 --> 01:13:01.506
Chairman , uh , thank you for , uh ,

01:13:01.506 --> 01:13:04.169
any yield back . You're already taking

01:13:04.169 --> 01:13:08.100
all our Californians , so . Limit

01:13:08.100 --> 01:13:11.069
that . Uh , next , uh , Mr . Case .

01:13:14.459 --> 01:13:16.459
Thank you , Mr . Chair , and I join

01:13:16.459 --> 01:13:18.570
everybody in thanking each and all of

01:13:18.570 --> 01:13:20.737
you for your incredible service , uh ,

01:13:20.737 --> 01:13:22.959
General Healey , I , I share all of the

01:13:22.959 --> 01:13:25.126
sentiments . Um , I think , uh , among

01:13:25.126 --> 01:13:27.348
many accomplishments you've just been a

01:13:27.348 --> 01:13:29.126
really good partner , uh , with

01:13:29.126 --> 01:13:31.403
Congress . I think that's a skill , um ,

01:13:31.403 --> 01:13:33.515
to treat this as a true partnership ,

01:13:33.515 --> 01:13:35.515
um , and you've done that and maybe

01:13:35.515 --> 01:13:37.515
that can be one of your , uh , next

01:13:37.515 --> 01:13:39.626
jobs is consulting on partnering with

01:13:39.626 --> 01:13:39.350
Congress , assuming you wanna have

01:13:39.350 --> 01:13:41.759
anything to do with this . Um , and ,

01:13:41.830 --> 01:13:43.774
um , to each and all of you , um ,

01:13:43.774 --> 01:13:45.886
thanks so much for , uh , taking care

01:13:45.886 --> 01:13:47.663
and advocating so effectively ,

01:13:47.709 --> 01:13:49.653
especially for my Hawaii guard and

01:13:49.653 --> 01:13:51.653
reservists . I think they would say

01:13:51.653 --> 01:13:53.765
that if they were here . Uh , many of

01:13:53.765 --> 01:13:55.598
you have visited , um , I really

01:13:55.598 --> 01:13:57.931
appreciate that . Um , and I think , um ,

01:13:57.931 --> 01:14:00.042
to , to Jared Cole's comments about ,

01:14:00.042 --> 01:14:02.153
um , about , um , your service in our

01:14:02.153 --> 01:14:04.265
states in time of need , I think back

01:14:04.265 --> 01:14:06.487
to the , the 3 or 4 crises we've had in

01:14:06.487 --> 01:14:08.765
Hawaii just over the last 4 or 5 years ,

01:14:08.765 --> 01:14:11.042
COVID , of course , uh , Red Hill . Um ,

01:14:11.042 --> 01:14:12.876
uh , the Maui wildfires and more

01:14:12.876 --> 01:14:14.709
recently , uh , some very severe

01:14:14.709 --> 01:14:16.931
flooding , uh , you've been involved in

01:14:16.931 --> 01:14:18.931
a critical part in all of that , so

01:14:18.931 --> 01:14:21.153
that needs to be , uh , emphasized also

01:14:21.153 --> 01:14:23.265
is , is your readiness in those times

01:14:23.265 --> 01:14:25.542
of need . So I thank you for that . Um ,

01:14:25.542 --> 01:14:27.320
we're sorting through kind of a

01:14:27.320 --> 01:14:29.376
confusing budget right now . Uh , we

01:14:29.376 --> 01:14:31.542
have been presented with , um , a very

01:14:31.542 --> 01:14:33.765
large budget with insufficient detail .

01:14:33.765 --> 01:14:36.270
Um , and that budget is , um ,

01:14:36.279 --> 01:14:39.069
conflated as between discretionary and ,

01:14:39.080 --> 01:14:41.740
um , uh proposed reconciliation funding .

01:14:42.240 --> 01:14:44.518
We've been trying to sort through , uh ,

01:14:44.518 --> 01:14:46.796
the overall thinking of the department ,

01:14:46.796 --> 01:14:48.962
uh , the individual services , and the

01:14:48.962 --> 01:14:51.129
individual components in terms of what

01:14:51.129 --> 01:14:53.240
is allocated to each of those buckets

01:14:53.240 --> 01:14:55.573
and why . Um , and I'm noting that , um ,

01:14:55.573 --> 01:14:57.684
in the case of , of the guard and the

01:14:57.684 --> 01:14:59.684
reserves , uh , there's not a whole

01:14:59.684 --> 01:15:01.907
bunch of , uh , proposed reconciliation

01:15:01.907 --> 01:15:04.073
funding , and we've talked a lot about

01:15:04.073 --> 01:15:06.296
NRA and procurement , uh , lines here .

01:15:06.296 --> 01:15:08.351
We all acknowledge the importance of

01:15:08.351 --> 01:15:10.518
that , but how are we actually getting

01:15:10.518 --> 01:15:12.629
after that in funding ? That's really

01:15:12.629 --> 01:15:14.740
the , the bottom line question here .

01:15:14.740 --> 01:15:16.684
Um , and I'm , I'm just , I'm just

01:15:16.684 --> 01:15:16.520
trying to piece through the little

01:15:16.520 --> 01:15:18.687
information that we have already , and

01:15:18.687 --> 01:15:20.742
I don't think that there's any FY 27

01:15:20.742 --> 01:15:22.959
proposed . Um , the , um ,

01:15:23.009 --> 01:15:26.189
reconciliation mandatory funding , um ,

01:15:26.410 --> 01:15:28.810
for any of you with the exception of

01:15:28.810 --> 01:15:31.729
the Navy , uh , reserve equipment , I

01:15:31.729 --> 01:15:33.950
see aircraft procurement at

01:15:33.950 --> 01:15:37.640
$1.19 billion in proposing the

01:15:37.640 --> 01:15:40.640
mandatory side of things . Um , Admiral ,

01:15:40.729 --> 01:15:43.049
do you know what that's for and why

01:15:43.049 --> 01:15:45.271
it's in reconciliation as opposed , and

01:15:45.271 --> 01:15:47.382
by the way , you've got a big , a big

01:15:47.382 --> 01:15:50.120
lump , a lump there as well , 1.7 . 55

01:15:50.120 --> 01:15:52.231
billion in the , in the discretionary

01:15:52.231 --> 01:15:54.342
budget , but why are you loading some

01:15:54.342 --> 01:15:57.569
of that into um uh reconciliation and

01:15:57.569 --> 01:16:01.259
what is it ? Congressman Casey , I

01:16:01.259 --> 01:16:03.426
appreciate the , uh , I appreciate the

01:16:03.426 --> 01:16:05.648
question . As I look at the , uh , look

01:16:05.648 --> 01:16:07.703
at the president's budget , uh , and

01:16:07.703 --> 01:16:07.640
looking at the two pieces , I view that

01:16:07.640 --> 01:16:09.918
as two bills , one budget is the way I ,

01:16:09.918 --> 01:16:12.770
the way that I , I see that . Uh , you

01:16:12.770 --> 01:16:14.603
know , with regards to , uh , to

01:16:14.603 --> 01:16:16.881
replacement of , uh , of C-130s for us ,

01:16:16.881 --> 01:16:19.214
it remains our , our most critical , uh ,

01:16:19.214 --> 01:16:21.326
requirement for , uh , for the Navy .

01:16:21.326 --> 01:16:22.826
Uh , it is our only , uh ,

01:16:22.826 --> 01:16:24.881
intra-theater long-range , uh , uh ,

01:16:24.881 --> 01:16:27.159
transport to , to both , uh , You know ,

01:16:27.159 --> 01:16:29.492
rearm , resupply , and refuel the fleet .

01:16:29.492 --> 01:16:31.603
Uh , it's the only aircraft that will

01:16:31.603 --> 01:16:33.659
deliver oversized cargo in theater ,

01:16:33.700 --> 01:16:35.867
and right now it's actually performing

01:16:35.867 --> 01:16:38.089
in-flight aerial refueling , which is a

01:16:38.089 --> 01:16:40.256
critical , critical component for us .

01:16:40.256 --> 01:16:42.410
Those aircraft right now are 35 years

01:16:42.410 --> 01:16:44.529
old . They have mission capability

01:16:44.529 --> 01:16:47.220
rates in the 30% . The new models of

01:16:47.220 --> 01:16:49.331
Juliet's , they've got , uh , they've

01:16:49.331 --> 01:16:51.498
got better survivability . They've got

01:16:51.498 --> 01:16:54.229
better communic . integrated systems

01:16:54.229 --> 01:16:56.062
that really will allow us to fly

01:16:56.062 --> 01:16:58.390
farther , faster , and higher and

01:16:58.390 --> 01:16:59.946
provide a greater degree of

01:16:59.946 --> 01:17:01.950
survivability for . OK , so that's

01:17:01.950 --> 01:17:04.350
C-130 replacement , is that what that

01:17:04.350 --> 01:17:08.109
line is ? I'll take that question for

01:17:08.109 --> 01:17:11.109
the record . And in addition to the

01:17:11.109 --> 01:17:13.165
question , why , why the distinction

01:17:13.165 --> 01:17:15.053
between between discretionary and

01:17:15.053 --> 01:17:17.169
reconciliation is that a Is that a

01:17:17.169 --> 01:17:19.620
contingency plan in terms of , in terms

01:17:19.620 --> 01:17:21.842
of congressional funding , or is that ,

01:17:21.842 --> 01:17:24.064
um , you know , phased or what ? That ,

01:17:24.064 --> 01:17:26.231
that's a rhetorical question for now .

01:17:26.231 --> 01:17:28.453
Yes sir . OK . And also I'm just noting

01:17:28.453 --> 01:17:30.620
here , um , in the , uh , budget , and

01:17:30.620 --> 01:17:32.842
this is on the discretionary side , I'm

01:17:32.842 --> 01:17:35.064
seeing procurement of ammunition , Navy

01:17:35.064 --> 01:17:37.520
and Marine Corps , um , is that in your ,

01:17:37.540 --> 01:17:39.939
uh , uh , and , and it's listed under

01:17:39.939 --> 01:17:41.939
Guard and Reserve . So is that , is

01:17:41.939 --> 01:17:44.050
that you and what is , what kind of .

01:17:44.050 --> 01:17:46.217
What kind of equi uh ammunition are we

01:17:46.217 --> 01:17:48.383
talking about ? Is that related at all

01:17:48.383 --> 01:17:50.495
to the Iran war , or is that a normal

01:17:50.495 --> 01:17:52.661
uh replenishment or what ? Sir , I can

01:17:52.661 --> 01:17:54.717
only speak to the specificity around

01:17:54.717 --> 01:17:56.495
the reserve . I'm not , I'm not

01:17:56.495 --> 01:17:55.950
familiar with the details , but I'll

01:17:55.950 --> 01:17:58.172
work with your staff and I'll take that

01:17:58.172 --> 01:18:00.339
as a as a follow-up , sir . OK , thank

01:18:00.339 --> 01:18:02.399
you very much . Yes , I yield .

01:18:06.500 --> 01:18:08.810
Thank you , Mr . Chairman , uh , and to

01:18:08.810 --> 01:18:10.699
each of you gentlemen , I had the

01:18:10.699 --> 01:18:12.930
privilege of meeting and greeting with

01:18:12.930 --> 01:18:14.930
each and every one of you today and

01:18:14.930 --> 01:18:17.870
your staffs . Profound thanks . Your

01:18:17.870 --> 01:18:19.926
questions , your testimony today has

01:18:19.926 --> 01:18:22.850
been impeccable , um , to the reserve

01:18:22.850 --> 01:18:25.379
and guardsmen , uh , in the officer in

01:18:25.379 --> 01:18:27.609
the listed ranks , thank you so much

01:18:27.609 --> 01:18:29.569
for what you do every day , crisis

01:18:29.569 --> 01:18:33.390
after crisis . Uh , my questions are

01:18:33.390 --> 01:18:35.750
going to be largely really to all of

01:18:35.750 --> 01:18:38.390
you all , uh , on the logistics and

01:18:38.390 --> 01:18:41.229
sustainment in the Indo-Pacific . As

01:18:41.229 --> 01:18:42.896
you've all laid out , reserve

01:18:42.896 --> 01:18:45.118
components in the National Guard play a

01:18:45.118 --> 01:18:47.007
critical role in the joint forces

01:18:47.007 --> 01:18:49.173
logistics and sustainment enterprise ,

01:18:49.173 --> 01:18:51.340
including aerial refueling , strategic

01:18:51.340 --> 01:18:53.310
lift , fuel distribution , ground

01:18:53.310 --> 01:18:55.709
support , water purification , and

01:18:55.709 --> 01:18:59.140
other critical needs . My question for

01:18:59.140 --> 01:19:01.251
each of you , for the panel , what is

01:19:01.251 --> 01:19:03.362
the highest priority need for each of

01:19:03.362 --> 01:19:05.196
you so that we can realistically

01:19:05.196 --> 01:19:07.196
address in the next couple of years

01:19:07.196 --> 01:19:09.196
that will meaningfully improve your

01:19:09.196 --> 01:19:11.418
logistics and capabilities to sustained

01:19:11.470 --> 01:19:14.100
prolonged combat operations in the

01:19:14.100 --> 01:19:16.339
Western Pacific , and we can just go in

01:19:16.339 --> 01:19:19.509
whatever order you all determine . OK .

01:19:22.799 --> 01:19:24.577
Thank you , Congressman . I , I

01:19:24.577 --> 01:19:26.521
appreciate , uh , I appreciate the

01:19:26.521 --> 01:19:28.521
question . Uh , while we have , you

01:19:28.521 --> 01:19:30.799
know , the NDS directs us to look at

01:19:30.799 --> 01:19:33.021
Western Hemisphere Command as well , we

01:19:33.021 --> 01:19:35.077
are , we are laser focused on what's

01:19:35.077 --> 01:19:37.299
going on in the Indo-Pacific . When you

01:19:37.299 --> 01:19:39.410
look at the , the , the , the size of

01:19:39.410 --> 01:19:41.577
the space that you have to move around

01:19:41.577 --> 01:19:43.743
out there , my CSM and I were just out

01:19:43.743 --> 01:19:46.021
there not that long ago , Korea , Guam ,

01:19:46.021 --> 01:19:48.188
Hawaii . met with some of our troopers

01:19:48.188 --> 01:19:50.410
out there . I tell you , our investment

01:19:50.410 --> 01:19:52.243
continues to be , we continue to

01:19:52.243 --> 01:19:54.243
provide the bulk of the sustainment

01:19:54.243 --> 01:19:56.870
capability forward bulk fuel operations ,

01:19:56.990 --> 01:19:59.189
water purification , ammunition

01:19:59.189 --> 01:20:01.939
resupply companies , and so continuing

01:20:01.939 --> 01:20:03.995
to invest in the modernization . Of

01:20:03.995 --> 01:20:06.595
those of that kit , uh , is critical to

01:20:06.595 --> 01:20:08.834
us and then probably affording us the

01:20:08.834 --> 01:20:10.890
opportunity to position that forward

01:20:10.890 --> 01:20:13.056
and , and , and we're working with the

01:20:13.056 --> 01:20:15.278
COCOM and , and the Army service , uh ,

01:20:15.278 --> 01:20:17.278
the ASCC out there , usur PAC , but

01:20:17.278 --> 01:20:19.445
that's the critical , uh , mission for

01:20:19.445 --> 01:20:21.612
us in the Indo-Paycom AR . Thank you ,

01:20:21.612 --> 01:20:24.950
sir . Congressman , I appreciate the

01:20:24.950 --> 01:20:27.172
question around the Indo-Pacific . Um ,

01:20:27.509 --> 01:20:29.565
when I look at the , the Indopecom ,

01:20:29.565 --> 01:20:31.787
the one thing that hasn't changed since

01:20:31.787 --> 01:20:33.953
the end of World War II is geography .

01:20:33.953 --> 01:20:33.790
Uh , we're still , uh , we're still

01:20:33.790 --> 01:20:36.012
wrought with , uh , with the tyranny of

01:20:36.012 --> 01:20:37.901
distance . These vast distances ,

01:20:37.901 --> 01:20:39.734
they're , they're still the same

01:20:39.734 --> 01:20:41.901
challenges , and , but they , and they

01:20:41.901 --> 01:20:41.589
still define how we fight today . But

01:20:41.589 --> 01:20:43.700
what's changed is the threat . And we

01:20:43.700 --> 01:20:45.533
have to operate across that same

01:20:45.533 --> 01:20:47.478
expanse in a contested environment

01:20:47.478 --> 01:20:49.256
where when you think about it ,

01:20:49.256 --> 01:20:51.478
survivability , speed , and flexibility

01:20:51.478 --> 01:20:53.478
matter more than ever . So for us ,

01:20:53.478 --> 01:20:55.367
that KC-130 Juliet's critically ,

01:20:55.367 --> 01:20:57.478
critically important . It provides us

01:20:57.478 --> 01:20:59.645
the only service retained capability ,

01:20:59.645 --> 01:21:01.867
the ability to operate from those short

01:21:01.867 --> 01:21:04.145
austere runways all across the Pacific .

01:21:04.145 --> 01:21:06.256
And those aircraft provide additional

01:21:06.256 --> 01:21:08.422
operational performance . Again , as I

01:21:08.422 --> 01:21:10.589
mentioned , greater distances , faster

01:21:10.589 --> 01:21:12.700
and higher . Critically important and

01:21:12.700 --> 01:21:14.867
it also provides a greater degree of ,

01:21:14.867 --> 01:21:17.033
I would say fiscal responsibility with

01:21:17.033 --> 01:21:19.145
regards to operating those aircraft .

01:21:19.145 --> 01:21:21.200
They're more efficient as well too ,

01:21:21.200 --> 01:21:23.422
and that's survivability integration of

01:21:23.422 --> 01:21:25.645
comms . When I think about Link 16 , we

01:21:25.645 --> 01:21:24.939
think about the ACE gear , the

01:21:24.939 --> 01:21:26.995
integrated communication suites that

01:21:26.995 --> 01:21:29.600
those Juliets provide . It creates a

01:21:29.600 --> 01:21:31.822
greater degree of survivability for our

01:21:31.822 --> 01:21:33.767
aircrews as they're flying there .

01:21:33.767 --> 01:21:36.129
Thank you , sir . Uh , congressman for

01:21:36.129 --> 01:21:38.296
the National Guard , we look at , uh ,

01:21:38.296 --> 01:21:40.629
probably the number one is tankers . So

01:21:40.629 --> 01:21:43.629
14 of our 17 tanker units are in the

01:21:43.629 --> 01:21:46.830
KC-135 . Um , so those need to be , you

01:21:46.830 --> 01:21:48.830
know , modernized as we go into the

01:21:48.830 --> 01:21:50.997
future , uh , concurrently , uh , with

01:21:50.997 --> 01:21:52.941
our Air Force . As we look at also

01:21:52.941 --> 01:21:55.009
connecting those platforms , um ,

01:21:55.029 --> 01:21:57.251
through IRA funds and other things that

01:21:57.251 --> 01:21:59.418
we do to make sure those platforms are

01:21:59.418 --> 01:22:01.473
connected , uh , in that vast , uh ,

01:22:01.473 --> 01:22:03.751
Indoaycom theater . And then certainly ,

01:22:03.751 --> 01:22:05.973
thank you to Congress on the C-130J's ,

01:22:05.973 --> 01:22:08.140
uh , as we finish out , uh , hopefully

01:22:08.140 --> 01:22:10.418
get to all J's here in , in the future .

01:22:10.540 --> 01:22:12.596
And then certainly any modernization

01:22:12.596 --> 01:22:14.651
that we can do with uh Agria and the

01:22:14.651 --> 01:22:16.651
C-17 to make sure it's connected as

01:22:16.651 --> 01:22:18.929
well in that platform for that theater .

01:22:18.929 --> 01:22:21.096
Thank you , sir . Congressman , as you

01:22:21.096 --> 01:22:23.207
know , the Marine Corps is focused on

01:22:23.207 --> 01:22:25.540
the amphibious nature of , of the fight ,

01:22:25.540 --> 01:22:27.873
uh , understanding our role in that AOR ,

01:22:27.873 --> 01:22:29.984
and we're certainly keeping an eye on

01:22:29.984 --> 01:22:32.096
amphibious ship readiness and uh look

01:22:32.096 --> 01:22:34.040
forward to the landing ship medium

01:22:34.040 --> 01:22:36.207
coming online , and coming forward for

01:22:36.207 --> 01:22:38.373
us as a Marine Corps reserve , for our

01:22:38.373 --> 01:22:40.596
individual marine . We are committed to

01:22:40.596 --> 01:22:42.762
the light tactical vehicle family that

01:22:42.762 --> 01:22:44.873
includes JLTV . Uh , and , and ULTV ,

01:22:44.873 --> 01:22:47.040
I'm , I'm concerned that the price may

01:22:47.040 --> 01:22:49.207
increase as the , uh , as the Army has

01:22:49.207 --> 01:22:51.373
pulled out of that program . So as a ,

01:22:51.373 --> 01:22:50.970
as a service for the Marine Corps ,

01:22:51.009 --> 01:22:52.930
we're focused on , um , staying

01:22:52.930 --> 01:22:55.097
committed to that program . It's going

01:22:55.097 --> 01:22:56.986
to move everything , not only our

01:22:56.986 --> 01:22:56.930
Marines , but our Nemesis missiles ,

01:22:57.169 --> 01:22:59.750
GPS-80s , uh , other kit that we have ,

01:22:59.759 --> 01:23:01.759
uh , for the mobility on the island

01:23:01.759 --> 01:23:03.926
chain . So , our number one focus will

01:23:03.926 --> 01:23:06.092
be getting those GLTVs to the reserves

01:23:06.092 --> 01:23:08.315
so I can have those Marines trained and

01:23:08.315 --> 01:23:07.450
ready to go when they do get into the

01:23:07.450 --> 01:23:09.617
first island chain . Thank you , sir .

01:23:10.149 --> 01:23:12.316
And I agree with General Nordhaus with

01:23:12.316 --> 01:23:14.371
regard to the air refuelers as being

01:23:14.371 --> 01:23:16.649
our number one priority in the theater ,

01:23:16.649 --> 01:23:18.705
using our Agria dollars to make sure

01:23:18.705 --> 01:23:20.982
they got the online site communication .

01:23:20.982 --> 01:23:22.871
Ensuring they got Larricum as the

01:23:22.871 --> 01:23:24.982
defensive system as well , converting

01:23:24.982 --> 01:23:27.205
the KC-46 as well so that we can use it

01:23:27.205 --> 01:23:29.260
as a force multiplier . I'd also add

01:23:29.260 --> 01:23:31.770
that continuing exercises as a reserve

01:23:31.770 --> 01:23:33.937
component with the active component to

01:23:33.937 --> 01:23:35.548
ensure that we're completely

01:23:35.548 --> 01:23:37.548
interoperable in every type of Olan

01:23:37.548 --> 01:23:39.659
excursion . And then lastly , the Air

01:23:39.659 --> 01:23:41.437
Force Reserve has a significant

01:23:41.437 --> 01:23:43.659
presence with our civil engineering and

01:23:43.659 --> 01:23:43.049
the ability to get out there and

01:23:43.049 --> 01:23:45.160
actually set the theater prior is one

01:23:45.160 --> 01:23:47.271
of our priorities . Thank you . Thank

01:23:47.271 --> 01:23:51.250
you , sir . I yield back . Oh .

01:23:52.310 --> 01:23:55.850
Yeah . Thank you , uh , Ms . Chairman ,

01:23:55.859 --> 01:23:58.081
and , uh , gentlemen , thank all of you

01:23:58.081 --> 01:24:00.192
for your service to our country and ,

01:24:00.192 --> 01:24:02.859
uh , a special , uh , good wishes to

01:24:02.859 --> 01:24:04.859
you , general , and , uh , and your

01:24:04.859 --> 01:24:07.259
wife as you , um , enter the next phase

01:24:07.259 --> 01:24:09.299
of your , uh , your service in your

01:24:09.299 --> 01:24:12.290
life . I , um . I want to start if I

01:24:12.290 --> 01:24:14.370
can , uh , General Nordhaus , uh , I

01:24:14.370 --> 01:24:15.814
serve at the , I have two

01:24:15.814 --> 01:24:17.370
responsibilities here , the

01:24:17.370 --> 01:24:19.148
intersection of both which come

01:24:19.148 --> 01:24:21.314
together around a question I wanna ask

01:24:21.314 --> 01:24:23.426
you . I serve not only appropriations

01:24:23.426 --> 01:24:25.259
but as the ranking member on the

01:24:25.259 --> 01:24:27.481
Committee on House Administration which

01:24:27.481 --> 01:24:29.203
has responsibility for federal

01:24:29.203 --> 01:24:32.140
elections , um . The president raised

01:24:32.689 --> 01:24:34.911
eyebrows a couple of months ago when he

01:24:34.970 --> 01:24:36.970
said he regretted not deploying the

01:24:36.970 --> 01:24:40.009
National Guard during the 2020 election .

01:24:40.439 --> 01:24:44.169
As you can imagine , that has caused

01:24:45.209 --> 01:24:47.542
considerable anxiety around the country ,

01:24:47.542 --> 01:24:49.653
millions of Americans concerned about

01:24:49.653 --> 01:24:51.770
the potential deployment of military

01:24:51.770 --> 01:24:53.950
personnel at election

01:24:55.609 --> 01:24:57.879
centers or at precincts throughout the

01:24:57.879 --> 01:24:59.939
country . In the midterm elections ,

01:25:00.700 --> 01:25:03.220
what assurances can you give not only

01:25:03.220 --> 01:25:05.442
to me but the millions of Americans who

01:25:05.442 --> 01:25:07.109
have those concerns about the

01:25:07.109 --> 01:25:09.331
deployment of National Guard at polling

01:25:09.331 --> 01:25:12.470
places ? Uh , Congressman , um , the

01:25:12.470 --> 01:25:15.000
National Guard obviously always follows

01:25:15.000 --> 01:25:16.889
Constitution , law , policy , and

01:25:16.889 --> 01:25:18.944
guidance both at the federal and the

01:25:18.944 --> 01:25:21.056
state level . Uh , now , the National

01:25:21.056 --> 01:25:23.222
Guard has been utilized by governors ,

01:25:23.222 --> 01:25:26.600
uh , really back in the 2020 and 2022

01:25:26.600 --> 01:25:29.240
timeframe due to COVID-19 . And it was

01:25:29.240 --> 01:25:31.296
due to a lack of volunteers . And so

01:25:31.479 --> 01:25:33.600
guardsmen had in , in multiple states

01:25:33.600 --> 01:25:35.378
done things in administration ,

01:25:35.378 --> 01:25:37.560
logistics , and cyber , but they were

01:25:37.560 --> 01:25:39.504
always in civilian clothes . To my

01:25:39.504 --> 01:25:41.504
knowledge , and they were always in

01:25:41.504 --> 01:25:44.254
support , um , so that those state , um ,

01:25:44.294 --> 01:25:46.575
polling stations could execute and our

01:25:46.575 --> 01:25:48.895
citizens could , could vote , uh , as

01:25:48.895 --> 01:25:51.062
normal . And so as we go forward , you

01:25:51.062 --> 01:25:53.375
know that the National Guard is , is

01:25:53.654 --> 01:25:55.710
always going to follow the law , the

01:25:55.710 --> 01:25:57.598
Constitution , and all policy and

01:25:57.598 --> 01:25:59.765
guidance , and we're there to increase

01:25:59.765 --> 01:26:01.765
public trust and make sure that our

01:26:01.765 --> 01:26:03.876
citizens have the ability to do their

01:26:03.876 --> 01:26:05.932
duty of voting . Good . Well , I , I

01:26:05.932 --> 01:26:08.154
appreciate that and I , uh Uh , I would

01:26:08.154 --> 01:26:10.321
love to stay in touch with you if , if

01:26:10.321 --> 01:26:12.543
anything untoward seems to be happening

01:26:12.543 --> 01:26:14.598
or any concerns are raised by people

01:26:14.598 --> 01:26:16.765
that they see warning signs that would

01:26:16.765 --> 01:26:18.939
suggest some , uh , non-traditional ,

01:26:19.279 --> 01:26:21.620
uh , uh , participation by the guard ,

01:26:21.910 --> 01:26:23.854
uh , in our , uh , in our national

01:26:23.854 --> 01:26:25.854
elections , but I , I do appreciate

01:26:25.854 --> 01:26:25.720
that and just wanted to raise it with

01:26:25.720 --> 01:26:28.080
you . If I could , uh , continue on a

01:26:28.080 --> 01:26:31.209
more traditional topic . General , as

01:26:31.209 --> 01:26:34.009
you know , the 109th Airlift Wing in

01:26:34.009 --> 01:26:36.120
the New York Air National Guard , and

01:26:36.120 --> 01:26:38.176
you and I have talked about this and

01:26:38.176 --> 01:26:40.287
always appreciate you stopping by the

01:26:40.287 --> 01:26:42.398
office and chatting , but it provides

01:26:42.398 --> 01:26:44.231
the military's only ski equipped

01:26:44.231 --> 01:26:46.398
airlift capability supporting critical

01:26:46.398 --> 01:26:48.231
operations in the Arctic and the

01:26:48.231 --> 01:26:50.287
Antarctic . The missions have become

01:26:50.287 --> 01:26:52.176
increasingly important . As polar

01:26:52.176 --> 01:26:54.129
regions take on greater strategic

01:26:54.129 --> 01:26:56.351
significance , the president and others

01:26:56.351 --> 01:26:58.462
have talked about it , uh , in global

01:26:58.462 --> 01:27:00.569
power competition , and the LC-130

01:27:00.569 --> 01:27:02.689
fleet is aging . I know I've shared

01:27:02.689 --> 01:27:04.856
this with you before . I wonder if you

01:27:04.856 --> 01:27:06.578
could give me an update on the

01:27:06.578 --> 01:27:08.522
strategic value of the 109th polar

01:27:08.522 --> 01:27:10.745
mission and how we can recapitalize the

01:27:10.970 --> 01:27:14.850
LC-130 fleet , uh , um , enhance their

01:27:14.850 --> 01:27:16.906
operational capabilities , and align

01:27:16.906 --> 01:27:18.628
with broader national security

01:27:18.628 --> 01:27:21.990
priorities . Uh , Congressman Morrell ,

01:27:22.350 --> 01:27:24.517
uh , I actually went to the South Pole

01:27:24.517 --> 01:27:28.120
on New York's LC-130s , uh , incredible

01:27:28.120 --> 01:27:29.950
aircraft as they upgraded to uh

01:27:29.950 --> 01:27:32.117
different props and the capabilities ,

01:27:32.250 --> 01:27:34.472
uh , with the H models that they have .

01:27:34.472 --> 01:27:36.417
That capability to be able to have

01:27:36.417 --> 01:27:38.306
C-130s , uh , whether it's in the

01:27:38.306 --> 01:27:40.529
southern , uh , you know , South Pole ,

01:27:40.640 --> 01:27:42.807
or whether it's in the Arctic is going

01:27:42.807 --> 01:27:44.696
to be critical going forward . We

01:27:44.696 --> 01:27:46.807
appreciate everything Congress does ,

01:27:46.807 --> 01:27:48.918
uh , to move us in that direction and

01:27:48.918 --> 01:27:48.799
look forward to working with the Air

01:27:48.799 --> 01:27:50.910
Force and this body to make sure that

01:27:50.910 --> 01:27:53.290
Uh , that capability remains strong ,

01:27:53.390 --> 01:27:55.279
and as we go into the future , it

01:27:55.279 --> 01:27:57.334
transforms at the appropriate time .

01:27:57.334 --> 01:27:59.569
Very good , sir . Um , and in my last

01:27:59.569 --> 01:28:02.129
minute , um , in 2021 , General , three

01:28:02.129 --> 01:28:04.009
highly experienced New York Army

01:28:04.009 --> 01:28:06.120
National Guard pilots , Chief Warrant

01:28:06.120 --> 01:28:08.120
Officer Steve Skoda , Chief Warrant

01:28:08.120 --> 01:28:09.953
Officer Daniel Priel , and Chief

01:28:09.953 --> 01:28:11.953
Warrant Officer Christian Koch were

01:28:11.953 --> 01:28:14.065
tragically lost in a helicopter crash

01:28:14.169 --> 01:28:16.729
during a night training flight in my

01:28:16.729 --> 01:28:19.270
district , um , a stark reminder of the

01:28:19.450 --> 01:28:21.617
inherent risks in rotary wing training

01:28:21.617 --> 01:28:23.890
and operations . Um , any lessons

01:28:23.890 --> 01:28:25.890
learned from these incidents , uh ,

01:28:25.890 --> 01:28:27.668
being incorporated into updated

01:28:27.668 --> 01:28:29.890
training protocols , simulator use , or

01:28:29.890 --> 01:28:32.112
crew coordination , uh , that we should

01:28:32.112 --> 01:28:34.279
know about ? Uh , Congressman , let me

01:28:34.279 --> 01:28:36.501
just start off by , uh , I'm a longtime

01:28:36.501 --> 01:28:39.020
aviator . Uh , not only flying F-16s

01:28:39.020 --> 01:28:40.979
and F-35s , but flying for a major

01:28:40.979 --> 01:28:43.146
airline . And I have a son flying this

01:28:43.146 --> 01:28:45.146
morning called me last night . He's

01:28:45.146 --> 01:28:47.090
doing a cross-country because he's

01:28:47.090 --> 01:28:46.939
getting his pilot license . You can

01:28:46.939 --> 01:28:49.272
believe I'm talking safety all the time .

01:28:49.272 --> 01:28:51.495
This last week , I had the team in from

01:28:51.495 --> 01:28:53.495
both the Air National Guard and the

01:28:53.495 --> 01:28:53.259
Army National Guard . I do it quarterly

01:28:53.259 --> 01:28:55.370
to make sure we're looking at all the

01:28:55.370 --> 01:28:57.537
safety across the board . I'm happy to

01:28:57.537 --> 01:28:59.648
report that the National Guard on the

01:28:59.648 --> 01:29:01.703
Army National Guard has had no Class

01:29:01.703 --> 01:29:04.669
A's in 25 or 26 . Um , it is a major

01:29:04.669 --> 01:29:06.836
focus of , uh , both the Army National

01:29:06.836 --> 01:29:08.891
Guard and the Air National Guard and

01:29:08.891 --> 01:29:11.058
across , uh , aviation that we have to

01:29:11.058 --> 01:29:13.113
learn these lessons from safety . We

01:29:13.113 --> 01:29:15.336
have to put them out . So they're doing

01:29:15.336 --> 01:29:17.502
stand-ups on a , on a regular basis to

01:29:17.502 --> 01:29:19.836
make sure that they're taking , uh , uh ,

01:29:19.836 --> 01:29:21.836
lessons learned from incidents that

01:29:21.836 --> 01:29:23.891
have happened recently and ones that

01:29:23.891 --> 01:29:26.113
have happened years ago . So as they do

01:29:26.113 --> 01:29:25.310
these stand-ups , they can talk and

01:29:25.310 --> 01:29:27.588
they can remind even the newest pilots .

01:29:27.588 --> 01:29:29.310
Of how a little bit of loss in

01:29:29.310 --> 01:29:31.839
concentration or not understanding how

01:29:31.839 --> 01:29:34.330
something might affect the safety of

01:29:34.330 --> 01:29:36.330
their flight comes into play and it

01:29:36.330 --> 01:29:38.441
makes them better and more safe . And

01:29:38.441 --> 01:29:40.608
I'm seeing on the ground safety and on

01:29:40.608 --> 01:29:42.663
the air safety both for Air National

01:29:42.663 --> 01:29:44.663
Guard and Army National Guard , the

01:29:44.663 --> 01:29:46.830
trends are down and going in the right

01:29:46.830 --> 01:29:46.640
direction . Very good . Thank you again ,

01:29:46.680 --> 01:29:48.736
gentlemen , and to the men and women

01:29:48.736 --> 01:29:50.847
who served with you . Appreciate your

01:29:50.847 --> 01:29:53.069
service to our country . I yield back ,

01:29:53.069 --> 01:29:52.640
sir . Thank you , gentlemen , Mr .

01:29:52.720 --> 01:29:56.490
Elsie . Hey , Mr . Chairman , thank you

01:29:56.490 --> 01:29:58.657
all for being here . Uh , before I get

01:29:58.657 --> 01:30:00.934
started with my comments and questions ,

01:30:00.934 --> 01:30:03.101
I'd like to thank , uh , Kathy Healy .

01:30:03.169 --> 01:30:05.529
Um , the unsung heroes of all of these

01:30:05.529 --> 01:30:08.149
men in front of you are the families .

01:30:08.560 --> 01:30:10.560
You have carried the water for your

01:30:10.560 --> 01:30:12.727
husband and his family and your family

01:30:12.727 --> 01:30:15.959
for nearly 40 years , if not more , and

01:30:15.959 --> 01:30:18.070
you never get the recognition . There

01:30:18.070 --> 01:30:20.292
should be a medal that equals the Medal

01:30:20.292 --> 01:30:22.879
of Honor for spouses , especially

01:30:22.879 --> 01:30:26.640
spouses of generals who have dealt with .

01:30:26.720 --> 01:30:28.959
A lot over the years and I just want to

01:30:28.959 --> 01:30:31.126
say thank you and put it on the record

01:30:31.126 --> 01:30:33.348
that we recognize your sacrifice , uh ,

01:30:33.348 --> 01:30:35.520
over these years and , uh , I think I

01:30:35.520 --> 01:30:37.687
see a tear streaming down from General

01:30:37.687 --> 01:30:39.798
Healey's eyes . But God bless you and

01:30:39.798 --> 01:30:41.909
God bless all the families of members

01:30:41.909 --> 01:30:44.160
of , uh , of , of what of of the

01:30:44.160 --> 01:30:46.359
service members , uh , to the senior

01:30:46.359 --> 01:30:48.439
enlisted advisors sitting behind the

01:30:48.439 --> 01:30:50.383
men with the stars , you carry the

01:30:50.383 --> 01:30:52.495
water for the training and excellence

01:30:52.495 --> 01:30:54.717
of the National Guard and Reserve , and

01:30:54.717 --> 01:30:57.660
I thank you as well . It is , if you

01:30:57.660 --> 01:30:59.771
don't know how important we think you

01:30:59.771 --> 01:31:01.827
are , we were up till 3 o'clock last

01:31:01.827 --> 01:31:04.049
night voting , and this is probably the

01:31:04.049 --> 01:31:06.160
first time I've seen the entire panel

01:31:06.160 --> 01:31:08.382
up here with all the members of Defense

01:31:08.382 --> 01:31:10.549
Appropriations here at once to include

01:31:10.549 --> 01:31:12.438
the , uh , the , the chair of the

01:31:12.438 --> 01:31:14.549
overall committee and the ranker . So

01:31:14.549 --> 01:31:16.604
we take what you do very seriously .

01:31:16.604 --> 01:31:18.771
And as Tom Cole said , we shortchanged

01:31:18.771 --> 01:31:20.716
the guard and reserve . And that's

01:31:20.716 --> 01:31:22.938
always evident when we go into conflict

01:31:22.938 --> 01:31:24.959
because whoever has to clean up

01:31:25.060 --> 01:31:27.171
whatever mess that wasn't planned for

01:31:27.299 --> 01:31:30.250
is covered by you and your services ,

01:31:30.259 --> 01:31:32.339
and you do so with , with

01:31:32.339 --> 01:31:34.283
professionalism and expertise that

01:31:34.283 --> 01:31:36.395
doesn't exist in the active duty . So

01:31:36.395 --> 01:31:38.395
whenever there's a mess that's been

01:31:38.395 --> 01:31:40.561
made , we go to the experts , which is

01:31:40.561 --> 01:31:42.672
why you should , I believe , have the

01:31:42.672 --> 01:31:44.895
best of everything we have . You should

01:31:44.895 --> 01:31:47.006
have the newest of everything we have

01:31:47.006 --> 01:31:49.117
because every pilot . That you've got

01:31:49.117 --> 01:31:51.283
in your respective units , they're the

01:31:51.283 --> 01:31:53.506
ones that have 3000 hours as opposed to

01:31:53.506 --> 01:31:55.672
the newest pilots in the active duty .

01:31:55.672 --> 01:31:57.839
And I think that , that , uh , getting

01:31:57.839 --> 01:31:59.950
the newest of everything is extremely

01:31:59.950 --> 01:32:02.061
important when the F-47 comes out . I

01:32:02.061 --> 01:32:04.283
think the reserve should get the second

01:32:04.283 --> 01:32:06.859
squadron . When the MV-75 comes out , I

01:32:06.859 --> 01:32:08.939
think that the , the , the reserves

01:32:08.939 --> 01:32:11.106
should get the second squadron because

01:32:11.106 --> 01:32:13.106
you're going to work it out in ways

01:32:13.106 --> 01:32:15.106
that only those experts have that ,

01:32:15.106 --> 01:32:17.328
that , that stick with it . Uh , and as

01:32:17.328 --> 01:32:20.120
far as , you know , keeping lines hot ,

01:32:20.240 --> 01:32:22.351
we're about to find out in the Navy ,

01:32:22.351 --> 01:32:24.518
we're going to have for the first time

01:32:24.518 --> 01:32:26.759
in 7 decades , no , no aircraft coming

01:32:26.759 --> 01:32:29.037
off the line that are fighter aircraft .

01:32:29.037 --> 01:32:31.092
Starting next fall , we won't have a

01:32:31.092 --> 01:32:33.092
hotline . We're going to transition

01:32:33.092 --> 01:32:35.549
from the Super Hornet to the FAXX , but

01:32:35.549 --> 01:32:37.660
with a 3-year gap of new , that can't

01:32:37.660 --> 01:32:39.882
be allowed to happen . So when it comes

01:32:39.882 --> 01:32:42.049
to the Army , we know that you operate

01:32:42.049 --> 01:32:44.160
within a budget . Constraint , but we

01:32:44.160 --> 01:32:46.327
should keep the line hot for the H60 .

01:32:46.327 --> 01:32:48.438
The H60 is not going away ever . It's

01:32:48.438 --> 01:32:50.493
going to always have areas that it's

01:32:50.493 --> 01:32:52.660
going to be needed , even as the MV-75

01:32:52.660 --> 01:32:54.882
comes online , which is not necessarily

01:32:54.882 --> 01:32:54.740
a replacement . It's just another

01:32:54.740 --> 01:32:57.140
category . So they're both needed , and

01:32:57.140 --> 01:32:59.569
I hope they continue . With respect to

01:32:59.569 --> 01:33:02.290
tanking , uh , I would say that we need

01:33:02.290 --> 01:33:04.569
to emphasize more on contract air

01:33:04.569 --> 01:33:07.089
services , uh , domestically so that

01:33:07.089 --> 01:33:10.509
when we do have a need for , uh , for

01:33:10.770 --> 01:33:13.169
you all and the active component to do

01:33:13.169 --> 01:33:15.649
tanking , whether it's the Navy's

01:33:15.649 --> 01:33:19.049
C-130Js , which suddenly , the , the

01:33:19.049 --> 01:33:21.049
stuff that we have allocated , this

01:33:21.049 --> 01:33:22.827
panel has allocated through our

01:33:22.827 --> 01:33:25.049
appropriations bills you're using right

01:33:25.049 --> 01:33:27.105
now , is that correct ? They've been

01:33:27.105 --> 01:33:29.049
appropriate . We're not flying the

01:33:29.049 --> 01:33:31.160
Juliet yet , sir , but they're coming

01:33:31.160 --> 01:33:33.382
online in another year and a half . But

01:33:33.382 --> 01:33:35.493
you're given gas in a way that wasn't

01:33:35.493 --> 01:33:37.438
part of the plan . Yes , sir . The

01:33:37.438 --> 01:33:39.771
KC-130 tangos are pushing gas right now ,

01:33:39.771 --> 01:33:41.993
right now to carrier strike groups that

01:33:41.993 --> 01:33:44.105
are operating , you know , just right

01:33:44.105 --> 01:33:46.049
outside the Red Sea and off of the

01:33:46.049 --> 01:33:48.410
Straits of Hormuz . Yes , in PA , we

01:33:48.410 --> 01:33:50.521
lost some of those , and I think some

01:33:50.521 --> 01:33:52.919
of those were reserve tankers . And so

01:33:53.419 --> 01:33:55.641
when it comes down to combat , fighters

01:33:55.641 --> 01:33:57.863
are , but you don't do anything without

01:33:57.863 --> 01:34:00.030
tankers . Whenever I would do a 7 hour

01:34:00.030 --> 01:34:02.252
mission in Afghanistan , I would tank 5

01:34:02.252 --> 01:34:04.419
times . I can't do a 7 hour mission in

01:34:04.419 --> 01:34:06.363
those faraway lands , no matter if

01:34:06.363 --> 01:34:08.530
you're Air Force or Navy , without the

01:34:08.530 --> 01:34:10.530
tankers . And suddenly when the war

01:34:10.530 --> 01:34:12.697
gets going , people go , Where are the

01:34:12.697 --> 01:34:14.919
tankers , and we never have enough , so

01:34:14.919 --> 01:34:17.540
we need to reallocate those as quickly

01:34:17.540 --> 01:34:20.410
as we can , so . I think most of the

01:34:20.410 --> 01:34:22.688
questions have been covered here today .

01:34:22.970 --> 01:34:24.950
You know , you joined the military

01:34:25.569 --> 01:34:27.680
because you love your country and you

01:34:27.680 --> 01:34:30.013
want to protect her . That's number one .

01:34:30.013 --> 01:34:32.236
It's a servant's heart . It's not to be

01:34:32.236 --> 01:34:34.291
a warrior . It's to be a protector .

01:34:34.291 --> 01:34:36.347
Sometimes that requires going to war

01:34:36.347 --> 01:34:38.569
and becoming a warrior . There's a cost

01:34:38.569 --> 01:34:40.402
to that . And in the active duty

01:34:40.402 --> 01:34:42.625
component we do that knowing what we're

01:34:42.625 --> 01:34:44.791
going to do . We decide to stay in and

01:34:44.791 --> 01:34:47.013
and serve for the for a career or not .

01:34:47.013 --> 01:34:49.236
What I think sets you guys apart is you

01:34:49.236 --> 01:34:51.458
all have another life . You've all done

01:34:51.458 --> 01:34:53.347
something different . You are all

01:34:53.347 --> 01:34:55.347
experts in another field . You love

01:34:55.347 --> 01:34:57.180
this country so much that you've

01:34:57.180 --> 01:34:59.347
decided to keep the uniform on . And I

01:34:59.347 --> 01:35:01.569
think that uh that that it bears noting

01:35:01.569 --> 01:35:03.680
that for all of the people in uniform

01:35:03.680 --> 01:35:05.902
here they have another life and they're

01:35:05.902 --> 01:35:08.770
continuing to sacrifice um for the for

01:35:08.770 --> 01:35:10.937
the betterment of our country and when

01:35:10.937 --> 01:35:12.937
we're talking about protecting this

01:35:12.937 --> 01:35:15.048
city and I know that it it does cause

01:35:15.048 --> 01:35:18.000
some , some um . Some hard feelings ,

01:35:18.200 --> 01:35:20.919
but the National Guard is a protector

01:35:20.919 --> 01:35:23.200
first . Where there is no order , it

01:35:23.200 --> 01:35:25.256
provides order , and they do so with

01:35:25.256 --> 01:35:28.299
the heart of protecting our communities .

01:35:28.680 --> 01:35:30.680
So when they are here , that's what

01:35:30.680 --> 01:35:32.902
their goal is , and I know that there's

01:35:32.902 --> 01:35:35.013
some hard feelings about it . But the

01:35:35.013 --> 01:35:37.124
reality is that I see these young men

01:35:37.124 --> 01:35:39.180
and women walking around down at the

01:35:39.180 --> 01:35:41.291
wharf near where I live . They're the

01:35:41.291 --> 01:35:40.990
nicest people on the planet . They have

01:35:40.990 --> 01:35:43.046
other jobs . They have families that

01:35:43.046 --> 01:35:45.669
they're sacrificing time with to keep

01:35:45.669 --> 01:35:47.780
order , and they've done a good job .

01:35:47.780 --> 01:35:49.947
But as we've seen last weekend down at

01:35:49.947 --> 01:35:52.002
Navy Yard , order is still needed as

01:35:52.002 --> 01:35:54.169
the entire community was overrun where

01:35:54.169 --> 01:35:56.280
most of our staffers live . That is a

01:35:56.280 --> 01:35:58.225
scary thing for them , so I'm glad

01:35:58.225 --> 01:36:00.447
they're here and providing that order ,

01:36:00.447 --> 01:36:02.613
but I also know that it's an impact on

01:36:02.613 --> 01:36:04.613
the community . But I want to thank

01:36:04.613 --> 01:36:06.669
everybody who's doing that right now

01:36:06.669 --> 01:36:08.836
and for those of you who provide those

01:36:08.836 --> 01:36:11.058
forces , I'm deeply grateful , and I've

01:36:11.058 --> 01:36:10.560
gone way over . I'm sorry , I didn't

01:36:10.560 --> 01:36:12.560
mean to do that , Mr . Chairman . I

01:36:12.560 --> 01:36:15.459
yield back my time . Ms . Lee , uh ,

01:36:15.580 --> 01:36:17.747
thank you , Mr . Chairman . I , um , I

01:36:17.747 --> 01:36:19.969
associate myself with the comments from

01:36:19.969 --> 01:36:23.450
the eloquent , uh , Mr . Elsie and , uh ,

01:36:23.660 --> 01:36:26.540
General Healey and Mrs . Healey . I'm

01:36:26.540 --> 01:36:28.707
wishing you all the best and thank you

01:36:28.707 --> 01:36:30.779
for your career of service to our

01:36:30.779 --> 01:36:34.259
country . Um , I wanted to , uh , being

01:36:34.259 --> 01:36:36.779
from the West , um , when I think about

01:36:36.779 --> 01:36:38.501
National Guard , I think about

01:36:38.501 --> 01:36:41.470
wildfires . And General , you know , we

01:36:41.470 --> 01:36:43.526
have a contingent of airmen from the

01:36:43.526 --> 01:36:47.350
1502nd Airlift and Airlift Wing in Reno

01:36:47.350 --> 01:36:49.419
that the high rollers who have been

01:36:49.419 --> 01:36:53.009
deployed to Central Command . And um I

01:36:53.009 --> 01:36:55.176
just wanted to ask General Nordhaus if

01:36:55.176 --> 01:36:57.209
those guardsmen guardsmen remain

01:36:57.209 --> 01:37:00.390
deployed , uh , this has been a record

01:37:00.609 --> 01:37:04.129
year of no snowpack in the West and I

01:37:04.129 --> 01:37:07.680
think um one concern we have is

01:37:07.680 --> 01:37:10.470
preparation for what I believe will be

01:37:10.770 --> 01:37:14.089
a record wildfire year and very

01:37:14.089 --> 01:37:16.145
concerning to me , um , what are the

01:37:16.145 --> 01:37:18.970
contingency plans , um . You know , if

01:37:18.970 --> 01:37:21.209
they remain deployed throughout the

01:37:21.209 --> 01:37:24.279
summer and we see a wildfire , uh ,

01:37:24.290 --> 01:37:26.549
break out , especially in the Sierras .

01:37:28.080 --> 01:37:30.247
Uh , Congresswoman Lee , thank you for

01:37:30.247 --> 01:37:32.469
the question . Uh , yeah , our National

01:37:32.469 --> 01:37:34.413
Guard does 3 of the 4 units of the

01:37:34.413 --> 01:37:36.580
mobile airborne firefighting systems .

01:37:36.580 --> 01:37:38.691
They do amazing work . I , I actually

01:37:38.691 --> 01:37:41.250
landed and was in , uh , California as

01:37:41.250 --> 01:37:43.472
they launched the first , uh , missions

01:37:43.472 --> 01:37:45.583
on the palisade fires . Um , and they

01:37:45.583 --> 01:37:47.770
all came out , um , to be able to do

01:37:47.770 --> 01:37:49.603
that . All 8 of the aircraft and

01:37:49.603 --> 01:37:51.659
systems were put in place . So as we

01:37:51.659 --> 01:37:53.992
work with NIFSI and with the department ,

01:37:53.992 --> 01:37:55.881
we'll continue to watch that very

01:37:55.881 --> 01:37:58.048
closely and make sure that we have the

01:37:58.048 --> 01:37:57.910
right aircraft in the right place to

01:37:57.910 --> 01:38:00.021
get after and serve our nation , um ,

01:38:00.021 --> 01:38:02.077
to make sure that , uh , we can take

01:38:02.077 --> 01:38:04.077
care of those wild wildfires , uh ,

01:38:04.180 --> 01:38:06.402
within our department and of course the

01:38:06.402 --> 01:38:08.458
Forest Service as well . Thank you .

01:38:08.458 --> 01:38:11.470
And speaking of equipment , uh , the

01:38:11.470 --> 01:38:13.581
Nevada Air National Guard Base , uh ,

01:38:13.589 --> 01:38:15.311
has been fighting for years to

01:38:15.311 --> 01:38:18.979
recapitalize the C-130H's , um ,

01:38:19.189 --> 01:38:22.580
which , um , Which would be helpful to

01:38:22.580 --> 01:38:25.180
its ability to continue to fight

01:38:25.180 --> 01:38:27.291
wildfires , and I understand that one

01:38:27.291 --> 01:38:29.620
of the points against the Nevada

01:38:29.620 --> 01:38:31.560
National Guard is deficient in

01:38:31.569 --> 01:38:34.370
infrastructure to house the C-130Js ,

01:38:34.379 --> 01:38:36.850
and there's 4 infrastructure projects

01:38:36.850 --> 01:38:39.072
that have been identified as critical ,

01:38:39.072 --> 01:38:41.620
but only one , has the documentation to

01:38:41.620 --> 01:38:43.939
move forward . And I just wanna ask if

01:38:43.939 --> 01:38:46.050
I can receive your commitment to work

01:38:46.050 --> 01:38:48.272
with me to advocate for the funding for

01:38:48.272 --> 01:38:50.609
the infrastructure needed . To put the

01:38:50.609 --> 01:38:52.831
Nevada Air National Guard in a position

01:38:52.831 --> 01:38:54.990
to receive these C-130J's .

01:38:56.560 --> 01:38:58.560
Uh , Congressman Lee will certainly

01:38:58.560 --> 01:39:00.680
work with , uh , Nevada and the

01:39:00.680 --> 01:39:02.736
incredible wings . I've been to both

01:39:02.736 --> 01:39:04.847
your wings and was recently down with

01:39:04.847 --> 01:39:06.958
General Waters down in , in Las Vegas

01:39:06.958 --> 01:39:09.180
as well . And I talked to General Perak

01:39:09.180 --> 01:39:11.402
about the criteria . We do have MB 12 ,

01:39:11.402 --> 01:39:13.624
which will be the stationing of another

01:39:13.624 --> 01:39:15.958
C-130J . And so we look forward to , uh ,

01:39:15.958 --> 01:39:17.902
Nevada competing very strongly and

01:39:17.902 --> 01:39:20.124
working with your state . Thank you . I

01:39:20.124 --> 01:39:22.240
appreciate that . Um , when we speak

01:39:22.240 --> 01:39:25.750
about the deployment , uh , to , uh ,

01:39:25.959 --> 01:39:28.799
Epic Fury , um , I know that there are

01:39:28.799 --> 01:39:30.759
a lot of young people who've been

01:39:30.759 --> 01:39:33.520
deployed right now , uh , who have

01:39:33.520 --> 01:39:35.353
never been deployed before , and

01:39:35.353 --> 01:39:37.520
General Healey , we spoke , uh , about

01:39:37.520 --> 01:39:39.298
this when you came to my office

01:39:39.298 --> 01:39:41.600
yesterday . Uh , we talked about the

01:39:41.600 --> 01:39:44.020
Yellow Ribbon reintegration program ,

01:39:44.359 --> 01:39:46.137
and I guess this is for all the

01:39:46.137 --> 01:39:48.303
witnesses . I'll start with you , uh ,

01:39:48.303 --> 01:39:50.839
General Healey . What steps are we

01:39:50.839 --> 01:39:53.520
taking now to prepare to help these

01:39:53.520 --> 01:39:55.680
reservists and guardsmen when they

01:39:55.680 --> 01:39:57.902
return home ? Thanks for the question ,

01:39:57.902 --> 01:39:59.791
ma'am , and I appreciate the time

01:39:59.791 --> 01:40:02.439
yesterday . What we try to do upfront

01:40:02.439 --> 01:40:04.720
is , is routine training just to make

01:40:04.720 --> 01:40:06.887
sure the resiliency is built up in all

01:40:06.887 --> 01:40:08.942
of our members going overseas . When

01:40:08.942 --> 01:40:11.109
they do deploy , they fall on the same

01:40:11.109 --> 01:40:13.220
healthcare system , mental healthcare

01:40:13.220 --> 01:40:15.164
system that the active duty enjoys

01:40:15.164 --> 01:40:16.950
overseas . This is a little bit

01:40:16.950 --> 01:40:19.061
different than in previous years . We

01:40:19.061 --> 01:40:21.172
haven't exercised the muscles , so to

01:40:21.172 --> 01:40:23.283
speak , to capture people coming back

01:40:23.283 --> 01:40:25.394
that have been exposed to a TA strike

01:40:25.394 --> 01:40:27.669
within a few 100 yards . It's , we have

01:40:27.669 --> 01:40:29.725
young people over there . What we're

01:40:29.725 --> 01:40:31.836
initially trying to do is ensure that

01:40:31.836 --> 01:40:34.058
they're they're paired up with somebody

01:40:34.058 --> 01:40:33.910
a little bit more experienced , and

01:40:33.910 --> 01:40:36.021
with that experience , I would expect

01:40:36.021 --> 01:40:38.188
resilience . But when they come back ,

01:40:38.188 --> 01:40:40.354
we're very concerned that we meet them

01:40:40.354 --> 01:40:42.410
appropriately from the first part of

01:40:42.410 --> 01:40:44.466
embarkation to identify if there are

01:40:44.466 --> 01:40:46.632
any issues that they need specifically

01:40:46.632 --> 01:40:48.854
addressing . When we do bring them back

01:40:48.854 --> 01:40:50.966
into our units , we want to ensure if

01:40:50.966 --> 01:40:53.188
it's a classic associate and it's got a

01:40:53.188 --> 01:40:55.410
a medical treatment facility associated

01:40:55.410 --> 01:40:55.040
with the active duty that they're

01:40:55.040 --> 01:40:57.439
prepared as well to treat any type of

01:40:57.439 --> 01:41:00.910
mental mental aftereffects from being

01:41:00.910 --> 01:41:02.955
deployed . But the Yellow Ribbon

01:41:02.955 --> 01:41:05.066
program ultimately is gonna be what's

01:41:05.066 --> 01:41:07.464
providing that long-term care , uh ,

01:41:07.475 --> 01:41:09.253
not only for them but for their

01:41:09.253 --> 01:41:11.253
families . We're watching that very

01:41:11.253 --> 01:41:13.142
closely . Again , we haven't been

01:41:13.142 --> 01:41:15.253
exposed to this type of conflict in ,

01:41:15.253 --> 01:41:17.142
in quite a bit , so we're , we're

01:41:17.142 --> 01:41:19.419
concerned about it as well . Thank you .

01:41:19.419 --> 01:41:21.308
Thank you . My time is up . I , I

01:41:21.308 --> 01:41:23.419
imagine all of you have the same type

01:41:23.419 --> 01:41:25.419
of concern . Thank you all for your

01:41:25.419 --> 01:41:29.370
service . Thank you . Um , this is the

01:41:29.370 --> 01:41:32.669
Money Committee . And , uh , so I'm

01:41:32.669 --> 01:41:34.669
going to talk money here for just a

01:41:34.669 --> 01:41:37.049
minute . Um , and General Nordhaus , uh ,

01:41:37.149 --> 01:41:40.930
the topic . Is state active duty

01:41:40.930 --> 01:41:43.790
reimbursement . And I know you're well

01:41:43.790 --> 01:41:47.129
versed on it . Uh , and I want my

01:41:47.129 --> 01:41:50.009
colleagues around the dais , uh , who

01:41:50.009 --> 01:41:52.065
aren't familiar with this issue to .

01:41:52.750 --> 01:41:54.972
Understand it better because we need to

01:41:54.972 --> 01:41:58.540
fix it . If we truly care about

01:41:59.479 --> 01:42:02.319
these reservists , this is an issue

01:42:02.319 --> 01:42:04.375
that needs to be fixed , but they're

01:42:04.375 --> 01:42:06.750
double taxed . When they're aiding our

01:42:06.750 --> 01:42:10.020
communities in response to an emergency .

01:42:11.189 --> 01:42:13.133
States reimburse the guard for the

01:42:13.133 --> 01:42:15.356
services , but due to the Miscellaneous

01:42:15.356 --> 01:42:17.411
Receipts Act . A non-federal funding

01:42:17.411 --> 01:42:19.522
source paying a federal agency causes

01:42:19.522 --> 01:42:21.633
the funds to be deposited back in the

01:42:21.633 --> 01:42:23.800
treasury , not in the guard accounts .

01:42:24.029 --> 01:42:26.370
The guard bureau never sees that money ,

01:42:26.709 --> 01:42:28.765
and then on the backside , the guard

01:42:28.765 --> 01:42:30.987
still has to pay for the maintenance of

01:42:30.987 --> 01:42:33.609
that equipment . So in Arkansas this

01:42:33.609 --> 01:42:36.970
played out not long ago when soldiers

01:42:36.970 --> 01:42:39.290
from our fires brigade , our

01:42:39.290 --> 01:42:41.919
expeditionary combat aviation brigade ,

01:42:42.290 --> 01:42:44.810
our infantry brigade , all in response

01:42:44.810 --> 01:42:47.930
to a winter storm , operated 66 federal

01:42:47.930 --> 01:42:49.763
vehicles in support of emergency

01:42:49.763 --> 01:42:51.930
services , the Arkansas State Police ,

01:42:51.930 --> 01:42:53.986
and the state reimbursed the federal

01:42:53.986 --> 01:42:55.819
government about 20,000 for that

01:42:55.819 --> 01:42:57.819
equipment use . But instead of that

01:42:57.819 --> 01:42:57.649
money going to maintaining those

01:42:57.649 --> 01:42:59.593
vehicles , it's now sitting in the

01:42:59.593 --> 01:43:01.760
Treasury's general fund . That doesn't

01:43:01.760 --> 01:43:04.390
seem Very wise to me and it's not just

01:43:04.390 --> 01:43:06.334
in Arkansas , it's playing out all

01:43:06.334 --> 01:43:08.557
across the country . General Nordhaus ,

01:43:08.557 --> 01:43:10.779
uh , can you elaborate on just how much

01:43:10.779 --> 01:43:12.723
of an issue this is to the already

01:43:12.723 --> 01:43:15.939
constrained budget of our guard ? Um ,

01:43:16.600 --> 01:43:18.822
Congressman Womack , first off , thanks

01:43:18.822 --> 01:43:20.600
for , uh , allowing me to visit

01:43:20.600 --> 01:43:22.878
Arkansas last week . Uh , amazing , uh ,

01:43:22.878 --> 01:43:25.229
time there and for our office call . Uh ,

01:43:25.549 --> 01:43:27.660
you talked about the 15 states in the

01:43:27.660 --> 01:43:29.827
western , um , with the winter storm ,

01:43:29.827 --> 01:43:31.993
but we also have Hawaii going on right

01:43:31.993 --> 01:43:34.189
now with their flooding , and Guam is

01:43:34.189 --> 01:43:37.049
now responding to the typhoon . Um ,

01:43:37.430 --> 01:43:39.652
Wisconsin right now has storms up there

01:43:39.652 --> 01:43:41.874
and so they have guardsmen responding .

01:43:41.874 --> 01:43:44.097
So each one of these across the 54 , it

01:43:44.097 --> 01:43:46.390
happens . Every year these funds go to

01:43:46.390 --> 01:43:48.669
the Treasury instead of back into the

01:43:48.669 --> 01:43:51.560
guard units so that we can Get the

01:43:51.560 --> 01:43:53.727
equipment back up to speed so when the

01:43:53.727 --> 01:43:55.838
next winter storm happens or the next

01:43:55.838 --> 01:43:58.004
flood or tornado or hurricane or event

01:43:58.009 --> 01:44:00.009
that we can respond quickly , we're

01:44:00.009 --> 01:44:02.176
ready and uh we're there for you . And

01:44:02.176 --> 01:44:04.120
without that we're losing uh those

01:44:04.120 --> 01:44:06.839
funds are going to , um , other things

01:44:06.839 --> 01:44:09.006
that we can't keep the equipment up to

01:44:09.006 --> 01:44:11.910
speed where it needs to be . I was

01:44:11.910 --> 01:44:13.966
going to ask a question about Iria ,

01:44:14.229 --> 01:44:16.229
but I just want to say this because

01:44:16.229 --> 01:44:18.285
I've got another question on another

01:44:18.285 --> 01:44:20.507
topic that's more important to me right

01:44:20.507 --> 01:44:22.673
now , and that is , um , for the first

01:44:22.673 --> 01:44:24.896
time , Mr . Chairman , it pleases me to

01:44:24.896 --> 01:44:27.149
know that that the administration has

01:44:27.149 --> 01:44:30.049
asked for the billion dollars in the

01:44:30.049 --> 01:44:32.271
IRA accounts . Usually you have to rely

01:44:32.271 --> 01:44:34.438
on the Pentagon to make that request .

01:44:34.580 --> 01:44:36.747
And , uh , and fund it . And there was

01:44:36.747 --> 01:44:38.969
one year , it wasn't very long ago , if

01:44:38.969 --> 01:44:41.136
you remember one year , they wiped out

01:44:41.136 --> 01:44:43.080
the entire IRA account for another

01:44:43.080 --> 01:44:46.259
purpose . So , um , this IRA account

01:44:46.500 --> 01:44:49.609
is , um , while only a billion dollars ,

01:44:49.689 --> 01:44:51.911
and I say only a billion dollars , like

01:44:51.911 --> 01:44:54.133
it's not a significant , you know , not

01:44:54.133 --> 01:44:56.467
a , it is a significant amount of money .

01:44:56.467 --> 01:44:58.578
But over time we haven't been able to

01:44:58.578 --> 01:45:00.633
keep up with inflation and so that's

01:45:00.633 --> 01:45:02.633
reducing really the actual purchase

01:45:02.633 --> 01:45:04.300
power , if you will , of that

01:45:04.300 --> 01:45:06.467
particular account . But how important

01:45:06.467 --> 01:45:10.129
it is is in Gria to the overall service .

01:45:11.189 --> 01:45:13.245
Uh , Congressman , you've heard from

01:45:13.245 --> 01:45:15.189
everyone on this table , uh , that

01:45:15.189 --> 01:45:16.911
Angria is the lifeblood of our

01:45:16.911 --> 01:45:18.689
modernization so that we can be

01:45:18.689 --> 01:45:20.856
interoperable when we get called to go

01:45:20.856 --> 01:45:23.133
do Epic Fury or any other mission sets .

01:45:23.133 --> 01:45:25.133
And we do it innovatively . Our Air

01:45:25.133 --> 01:45:27.356
National Guard , Air Force Reserve Test

01:45:27.356 --> 01:45:29.411
Center , uh , really gets 80% of the

01:45:29.411 --> 01:45:31.467
capabilities at 20% of the cost . So

01:45:31.467 --> 01:45:33.680
every dollar that goes into Agria is

01:45:33.680 --> 01:45:35.847
really a huge force multiplier for the

01:45:35.847 --> 01:45:37.569
National Guard and the reserve

01:45:37.569 --> 01:45:39.624
component . To be interoperable with

01:45:39.624 --> 01:45:41.680
our services , I would like for that

01:45:41.680 --> 01:45:43.902
account to be somewhat indexed , if you

01:45:43.902 --> 01:45:46.580
will , in its request for inflationary

01:45:46.580 --> 01:45:48.636
pressures . That to me would be very

01:45:48.636 --> 01:45:50.700
important . Last question , combat

01:45:50.700 --> 01:45:53.009
training center rotations . We talked

01:45:53.009 --> 01:45:55.065
about this yesterday with the Army ,

01:45:55.065 --> 01:45:57.065
with Secretary Driscoll and General

01:45:57.065 --> 01:45:59.859
Laneve , and I know one of our Arkansas

01:45:59.859 --> 01:46:02.299
units has taken a spot , volunteered to

01:46:02.299 --> 01:46:05.629
take a spot . Uh , uh , in a CTC

01:46:05.629 --> 01:46:07.740
rotation . General Nordhaus , can you

01:46:07.740 --> 01:46:11.240
share how important the CTC rotations

01:46:11.240 --> 01:46:14.479
are in building foundational readiness

01:46:14.479 --> 01:46:17.479
and help the guard , uh , be that

01:46:17.479 --> 01:46:19.090
operational force that we so

01:46:19.090 --> 01:46:21.201
desperately need . Uh , Congressman ,

01:46:21.201 --> 01:46:23.423
yes , last year I went to Fort Polk for

01:46:23.423 --> 01:46:26.339
JRTC and out to Fort Irwin for NTC .

01:46:26.799 --> 01:46:28.910
This is where our units are getting

01:46:28.910 --> 01:46:31.390
that complex training environment

01:46:31.390 --> 01:46:33.390
across the board to be able to pull

01:46:33.390 --> 01:46:35.629
that all together . Um , and so , each

01:46:35.629 --> 01:46:37.796
one of these rotations are critical to

01:46:37.796 --> 01:46:39.962
National Guard's readiness for mission

01:46:39.962 --> 01:46:42.296
sets that we might get asked to do , or ,

01:46:42.296 --> 01:46:44.407
or are part of a GIF map rotation , a

01:46:44.407 --> 01:46:46.629
global force management rotation in the

01:46:46.629 --> 01:46:48.851
future , and so it gets our units ready

01:46:48.851 --> 01:46:51.018
to go so that they can go forward . So

01:46:51.018 --> 01:46:53.018
they're critical to our readiness .

01:46:53.018 --> 01:46:55.073
Yeah , and Arkansas is our brigade ,

01:46:55.073 --> 01:46:57.018
our infantry brigade is one of the

01:46:57.018 --> 01:46:59.129
units that's going to transition from

01:46:59.129 --> 01:47:01.185
the infantry structure to the mobile

01:47:01.185 --> 01:47:03.518
structure . A little less for structure ,

01:47:03.518 --> 01:47:05.573
but even with that , I think the CTC

01:47:05.573 --> 01:47:08.069
rotations are quite important . I have

01:47:08.069 --> 01:47:10.402
other questions I'll ask for the record .

01:47:10.402 --> 01:47:12.291
Did you want to respond to that ,

01:47:12.291 --> 01:47:14.291
Congressman , if I can just add one

01:47:14.291 --> 01:47:16.402
piece , one other thing that we do at

01:47:16.402 --> 01:47:18.458
NTCs and JRTCs is we bring our state

01:47:18.458 --> 01:47:20.569
partnership partners with us . And so

01:47:20.569 --> 01:47:22.569
both of those , um , the units that

01:47:22.569 --> 01:47:24.736
were deployed had their state partners

01:47:24.736 --> 01:47:26.791
with them , you know , that's 60% of

01:47:26.791 --> 01:47:29.013
the globe are partnered with a National

01:47:29.013 --> 01:47:31.236
Guard state , territory or the District

01:47:31.236 --> 01:47:33.458
of Columbia . And thank you to Congress

01:47:33.458 --> 01:47:35.680
for the additional funds for that state

01:47:35.680 --> 01:47:37.680
partnership program . Great point .

01:47:37.680 --> 01:47:39.902
Remember we talked about that SPP being

01:47:39.902 --> 01:47:42.013
a two-way street , helps them , helps

01:47:42.013 --> 01:47:44.125
us . There's mutual benefit to it . I

01:47:44.125 --> 01:47:46.458
yield back . Thank you , gentlemen , Mr .

01:47:46.458 --> 01:47:48.791
Joyce . Hey , Mr . Chairman . Gentlemen ,

01:47:48.791 --> 01:47:50.625
thank you for being here today .

01:47:50.625 --> 01:47:52.291
Lieutenant General Healey , I

01:47:52.291 --> 01:47:54.236
appreciate your partnership as the

01:47:54.236 --> 01:47:55.958
Youngstown Air Reserve Station

01:47:55.958 --> 01:47:58.013
transitions to the new C-130J . This

01:47:58.013 --> 01:48:00.069
modernization effort is critical for

01:48:00.069 --> 01:48:02.291
the 910th Airlift Wing , which operates

01:48:02.291 --> 01:48:04.513
the department's only fixed-wing aerial

01:48:04.513 --> 01:48:06.513
spray mission . Can you discuss how

01:48:06.513 --> 01:48:08.736
this modernization enhances our ability

01:48:08.736 --> 01:48:10.791
to respond to national disasters and

01:48:10.791 --> 01:48:13.200
evolving threats ? Erin , thank you

01:48:13.200 --> 01:48:15.311
very much for the question . Uh , the

01:48:15.311 --> 01:48:17.478
9/10 is a fantastic wing . It's , it's

01:48:17.478 --> 01:48:19.644
one of those , one of those true bases

01:48:19.644 --> 01:48:21.756
when you get the opportunity to visit

01:48:21.756 --> 01:48:24.033
it , it's a self-contained wonder . Uh ,

01:48:24.033 --> 01:48:26.144
fantastic people working that mission

01:48:26.144 --> 01:48:28.879
for years in the only spray system that

01:48:28.879 --> 01:48:30.990
serves the entire . country , whether

01:48:30.990 --> 01:48:33.101
it's pesticide control , whether it's

01:48:33.101 --> 01:48:35.305
oil slicks , this current system that

01:48:35.305 --> 01:48:37.472
they were using under the H models has

01:48:37.472 --> 01:48:39.424
been effective for years . As we

01:48:39.424 --> 01:48:41.625
transition right now from H models to

01:48:41.625 --> 01:48:44.424
J's , we also have to transition that

01:48:44.424 --> 01:48:46.555
mass system to an EM mass system .

01:48:46.944 --> 01:48:49.055
There's delays right now currently in

01:48:49.055 --> 01:48:51.544
the J model production and delivery to

01:48:51.544 --> 01:48:55.424
Youngstown , and there's also delays

01:48:55.424 --> 01:48:57.265
with regard to certification and

01:48:57.265 --> 01:48:59.432
availability of the new EMASS system .

01:48:59.720 --> 01:49:01.998
We're going to run into a bit of a gap ,

01:49:01.998 --> 01:49:04.330
I predict next year in 207 , where

01:49:04.330 --> 01:49:06.450
we're going to be stuck with only one

01:49:06.450 --> 01:49:09.410
potential uh spray system to service

01:49:09.410 --> 01:49:11.243
the country , and I think that's

01:49:11.243 --> 01:49:13.354
uncomfortable risk with regard to the

01:49:13.354 --> 01:49:15.577
mission set that they provide . I'll be

01:49:15.577 --> 01:49:17.688
working ideally with Congress and the

01:49:17.688 --> 01:49:20.689
Air Force to try to extend 1 to 2 of

01:49:20.689 --> 01:49:22.890
our H models from divesting prior to

01:49:22.890 --> 01:49:24.501
the J models getting there .

01:49:24.501 --> 01:49:27.069
Unfortunately , the The legacy version

01:49:27.069 --> 01:49:29.180
of the spray system is not compatible

01:49:29.180 --> 01:49:31.291
with the new J model , so in order to

01:49:31.291 --> 01:49:33.458
maintain proper coverage , we're going

01:49:33.458 --> 01:49:35.680
to be looking for a slight extension of

01:49:35.680 --> 01:49:37.847
at least 1 to 2 H models until the end

01:49:37.847 --> 01:49:39.958
of September time frame of 27 when we

01:49:39.958 --> 01:49:42.790
expect 2 to 3 E mass and J production

01:49:42.790 --> 01:49:44.709
on time again , sir . Thank you .

01:49:46.049 --> 01:49:48.569
General Nordhaus , uh , in your written

01:49:48.569 --> 01:49:51.029
testimony , you made note that over 400

01:49:51.029 --> 01:49:53.529
guard cyber professionals are activated

01:49:53.529 --> 01:49:55.290
in 2025 to respond to network

01:49:55.290 --> 01:49:57.270
intrusions against state and local

01:49:57.270 --> 01:49:59.492
governments . He described the guard as

01:49:59.492 --> 01:50:01.714
a cornerstone of the whole of the state

01:50:01.714 --> 01:50:03.609
cybersecurity strategy . Can you

01:50:03.609 --> 01:50:05.331
discuss how that cybersecurity

01:50:05.331 --> 01:50:07.442
collaboration works on the ground and

01:50:07.442 --> 01:50:09.553
what investments Congress can make to

01:50:09.553 --> 01:50:11.165
help strengthen that , those

01:50:11.165 --> 01:50:13.276
partnerships in FY 27 ? Uh , thanks ,

01:50:13.276 --> 01:50:15.609
Congressman . Uh , you know , right now ,

01:50:15.609 --> 01:50:17.442
I talked about in Minnesota with

01:50:17.442 --> 01:50:19.553
Wynnona County , um , their emergency

01:50:19.553 --> 01:50:21.609
management system was taken over and

01:50:21.609 --> 01:50:23.720
they , uh , pushed the guard 16 or 15

01:50:24.250 --> 01:50:26.417
soldiers out there and what might take

01:50:26.417 --> 01:50:28.472
months , it sounds like talking with

01:50:28.472 --> 01:50:30.639
the adjutant general , it's gonna take

01:50:30.639 --> 01:50:30.169
weeks . It's gonna take a little bit of

01:50:30.169 --> 01:50:32.169
time , but they're on it . Uh , the

01:50:32.169 --> 01:50:34.336
National Guard has , you know , on the

01:50:34.336 --> 01:50:36.502
Air National Guard 16 cyber protection

01:50:36.502 --> 01:50:39.040
teams . Uh , uh , 11 on the Army

01:50:39.040 --> 01:50:41.439
National Guard side . And so those

01:50:41.439 --> 01:50:43.550
cyber professionals , because they're

01:50:43.550 --> 01:50:45.606
guardsmen , right , they work out in

01:50:45.606 --> 01:50:47.661
industry , they bring those civilian

01:50:47.661 --> 01:50:49.717
skill sets in . They're the pros out

01:50:49.717 --> 01:50:51.828
there that are working for industry ,

01:50:51.828 --> 01:50:54.050
and then they come in and with the tool

01:50:54.050 --> 01:50:56.328
sets that department , uh , gives them .

01:50:56.328 --> 01:50:58.328
Now you have this incredible , uh ,

01:50:58.328 --> 01:51:00.328
capability there . So our guardsmen

01:51:00.328 --> 01:51:02.550
need to have the same authorities as we

01:51:02.550 --> 01:51:04.550
go across and think about that from

01:51:04.550 --> 01:51:06.217
state active duty to Title 32

01:51:06.217 --> 01:51:08.328
authorities and then to Title 10 . So

01:51:08.328 --> 01:51:10.495
that however they're used and whatever

01:51:10.495 --> 01:51:12.606
authority that they can best help the

01:51:12.606 --> 01:51:14.828
community secure and respond within the

01:51:14.828 --> 01:51:16.995
homeland for critical infrastructure ,

01:51:16.995 --> 01:51:19.161
but can also uh do homeland defense as

01:51:19.161 --> 01:51:21.399
cyber protection teams . I can't agree

01:51:21.399 --> 01:51:23.399
with you more . We need to get more

01:51:23.399 --> 01:51:25.621
involved in that . It's one area that ,

01:51:25.621 --> 01:51:27.510
uh , unfortunately with CISA , we

01:51:27.510 --> 01:51:29.455
continue to , uh , cut or , or not

01:51:29.455 --> 01:51:31.621
provide the information . And when I ,

01:51:31.621 --> 01:51:34.419
uh , brought CISA to my , uh , district

01:51:34.640 --> 01:51:36.862
and had a hearing , I was amazed at the

01:51:36.862 --> 01:51:38.862
amount of schools and hospitals and

01:51:38.862 --> 01:51:41.029
other uh areas that have been attacked

01:51:41.029 --> 01:51:43.196
already and , and we're not doing much

01:51:43.196 --> 01:51:45.362
to , to help or provide that effort at

01:51:45.362 --> 01:51:47.696
a local level . Yes , Congressman , and ,

01:51:47.696 --> 01:51:47.669
and I'm gonna brag on the guard members ,

01:51:47.720 --> 01:51:50.859
this is not about . me , it's about our

01:51:50.859 --> 01:51:53.370
guards member , but 5 out of the last 6 .

01:51:54.540 --> 01:51:56.549
Um , championships have been won by

01:51:56.549 --> 01:51:58.771
these National Guard teams because they

01:51:58.771 --> 01:52:00.938
have these skill sets and they go back

01:52:00.938 --> 01:52:03.216
and forth across on the , on , on that .

01:52:03.216 --> 01:52:03.069
And we have a huge exercise cyber

01:52:03.069 --> 01:52:05.850
shield coming up with , uh , I believe ,

01:52:06.310 --> 01:52:08.532
I can't remember the exact number , but

01:52:08.532 --> 01:52:10.754
I think it's 22 states and then they're

01:52:10.754 --> 01:52:12.977
also bringing in their state partners ,

01:52:12.977 --> 01:52:14.977
um , across the board from 16 or 17

01:52:14.977 --> 01:52:17.088
nations . So , we're not only helping

01:52:17.088 --> 01:52:18.977
within , uh , the US but now also

01:52:18.977 --> 01:52:21.032
taking that partnership capacity and

01:52:21.032 --> 01:52:23.366
cyber out to , uh , our partner nations .

01:52:23.366 --> 01:52:25.477
That's something to brag about . Uh ,

01:52:25.477 --> 01:52:27.588
it quickly though , I don't have much

01:52:27.588 --> 01:52:29.810
time left . Uh , what can we do for you

01:52:29.810 --> 01:52:32.939
to help enhance those efforts ? Uh , I

01:52:32.939 --> 01:52:34.883
talked about authorities , so just

01:52:34.883 --> 01:52:36.828
making sure that the guard has the

01:52:36.828 --> 01:52:39.050
authorities needed to be able to , if a

01:52:39.050 --> 01:52:41.217
governor needs them to come out and be

01:52:41.217 --> 01:52:40.859
able to be on equipment and help the

01:52:40.859 --> 01:52:43.026
state that they have those authorities

01:52:43.026 --> 01:52:45.081
to be able to execute it in the tool

01:52:45.081 --> 01:52:46.803
sets and then , uh , from that

01:52:46.803 --> 01:52:48.915
standpoint , also making sure that we

01:52:48.915 --> 01:52:51.081
have , uh , funding in the budget to ,

01:52:51.081 --> 01:52:53.192
uh , grow cyber . There we go . Yes ,

01:52:53.192 --> 01:52:55.192
sir . Thank you very much . I yield

01:52:55.192 --> 01:52:57.415
back , Mr . Chairman . Thank you . Um ,

01:52:57.415 --> 01:52:59.581
just a couple of comments and I'll ask

01:52:59.581 --> 01:53:01.692
Ms . McCollum to make comments before

01:53:01.692 --> 01:53:04.026
we conclude . Um , Mr . Elsey mentioned ,

01:53:04.026 --> 01:53:06.229
and it's true that uh we have a , we

01:53:06.229 --> 01:53:09.250
have a , a fighter problem . Obviously

01:53:09.250 --> 01:53:11.750
the F-18 line is shutting down .

01:53:12.250 --> 01:53:14.472
Probably shouldn't have done that , but

01:53:14.472 --> 01:53:17.390
we did . Um , uh , the F-16s are old

01:53:17.390 --> 01:53:19.557
that you have , the F-15s you have are

01:53:19.557 --> 01:53:23.500
old . Um . Probably a question uh both

01:53:23.500 --> 01:53:25.667
for Mr . Norhaus and for Mr . Healey ,

01:53:26.250 --> 01:53:29.529
General Healey , um , How critical is

01:53:29.529 --> 01:53:31.751
it that we get these fighter production

01:53:31.751 --> 01:53:35.009
numbers up ? In order to make sure that

01:53:35.009 --> 01:53:37.180
you have adequate aircraft to fly the

01:53:37.180 --> 01:53:40.000
mission that we count on . Uh , in the

01:53:40.000 --> 01:53:42.111
future . I'll start with you , John .

01:53:42.939 --> 01:53:44.995
Chairman , I just take a look at the

01:53:44.995 --> 01:53:47.270
aerospace control alert mission set

01:53:47.700 --> 01:53:50.540
that's done . 94% are the fighters

01:53:50.540 --> 01:53:52.819
across the United States are covered by

01:53:52.819 --> 01:53:54.763
Air National Guard units . Many of

01:53:54.763 --> 01:53:57.609
those are flying older F-16 aircraft ,

01:53:57.620 --> 01:53:59.842
and so they need to be modernized as we

01:53:59.842 --> 01:54:02.009
get into the future . They have strong

01:54:02.009 --> 01:54:04.290
capabilities now , but as we get to the

01:54:04.290 --> 01:54:06.290
future and new threats , we have to

01:54:06.290 --> 01:54:08.234
make sure that we recapitalize our

01:54:08.234 --> 01:54:11.080
fighters . Sir , and the challenge

01:54:11.080 --> 01:54:13.302
we've dealt with is we've , we're going

01:54:13.302 --> 01:54:15.600
to see by the end of the fight up 9% ,

01:54:15.680 --> 01:54:18.080
9.6% of the fighter force within the

01:54:18.080 --> 01:54:20.247
Air Force Reserve is going to decrease

01:54:20.247 --> 01:54:22.247
to about 3% . So we're seeing as we

01:54:22.247 --> 01:54:24.600
diminish and retire aircraft like the

01:54:24.600 --> 01:54:27.589
A-10 . Uh , rightfully so . The , the

01:54:27.589 --> 01:54:29.367
challenge is there's not enough

01:54:29.367 --> 01:54:31.422
production . So directly answer your

01:54:31.422 --> 01:54:33.422
question , we need those production

01:54:33.422 --> 01:54:35.533
levels to , to increase so that we're

01:54:35.533 --> 01:54:37.645
available to retain that talent . One

01:54:37.645 --> 01:54:39.478
of the examples from , uh , Mr .

01:54:39.478 --> 01:54:42.640
Elsie's comments was last year we had a ,

01:54:42.649 --> 01:54:45.879
uh , we , we offered , we had , we're

01:54:45.879 --> 01:54:47.990
taking physicians who were interested

01:54:47.990 --> 01:54:50.939
in an F-35 unit . We've received 200

01:54:50.939 --> 01:54:53.470
qualified applications for 6 positions

01:54:53.799 --> 01:54:56.479
in that F-35 unit . So that's , that's

01:54:56.479 --> 01:54:58.646
the function of if we're in the proper

01:54:58.646 --> 01:55:00.590
aircraft , if we've got the proper

01:55:00.590 --> 01:55:02.368
production , that's a return on

01:55:02.368 --> 01:55:04.535
investment for a highly trained , well

01:55:04.535 --> 01:55:06.479
trained active duty force for much

01:55:06.479 --> 01:55:08.423
cheaper in the . Reserve and guard

01:55:08.423 --> 01:55:10.479
going forward . Mr . Chairman , if I

01:55:10.479 --> 01:55:12.646
could , as a Marine fighter pilot , if

01:55:12.646 --> 01:55:14.812
I could chime in on that because it is

01:55:14.812 --> 01:55:14.129
important to us as well as we

01:55:14.129 --> 01:55:16.129
transition to the F-35C here in the

01:55:16.129 --> 01:55:18.240
coming years . Our last deployment of

01:55:18.240 --> 01:55:20.240
the F-18 is going to happen in this

01:55:20.240 --> 01:55:22.407
next fiscal year into the first island

01:55:22.407 --> 01:55:24.573
chain , so we are certainly keeping an

01:55:24.573 --> 01:55:26.796
eye on fighter production . Thank you .

01:55:27.020 --> 01:55:29.899
I , before I , I wanna thank you for

01:55:29.899 --> 01:55:32.010
coming here today . We , we depend on

01:55:32.010 --> 01:55:34.121
the guard and reserve for what you do

01:55:34.121 --> 01:55:35.955
with service to our country . We

01:55:35.955 --> 01:55:38.049
appreciate that very much . Uh ,

01:55:38.779 --> 01:55:40.835
General Healey , uh , Mrs . Healey ,

01:55:40.835 --> 01:55:43.001
thank you both for your service . Um ,

01:55:43.359 --> 01:55:45.359
uh , I hope the best for you in the

01:55:45.359 --> 01:55:47.850
future . Uh , I'll miss you at these ,

01:55:47.959 --> 01:55:50.070
uh , these hearings . We'll be around

01:55:50.070 --> 01:55:52.240
though . But um now I'll uh thank you

01:55:52.240 --> 01:55:54.518
again and I'll recognize Mr . McCollum .

01:55:55.319 --> 01:55:57.208
Thank you and I wanna thank you ,

01:55:57.240 --> 01:56:00.000
Lieutenant Jen uh Anderson for uh

01:56:00.000 --> 01:56:01.833
stepping up and saying something

01:56:01.833 --> 01:56:03.778
because this is part of my closing

01:56:03.778 --> 01:56:06.649
remarks , um . The , the degree of

01:56:06.649 --> 01:56:10.549
funding , um . For profile

01:56:10.549 --> 01:56:13.109
for the Marine Corps is not good , and

01:56:13.109 --> 01:56:15.053
I'm just gonna put this out on the

01:56:15.053 --> 01:56:17.509
table . Marine Corps Reserves INGRA

01:56:17.509 --> 01:56:19.620
funding profile has historically been

01:56:19.620 --> 01:56:21.287
the lowest of all the service

01:56:21.287 --> 01:56:24.759
components . Um , The

01:56:24.759 --> 01:56:27.279
marine , um , reservists received

01:56:27.279 --> 01:56:29.390
substantially less funding than their

01:56:29.390 --> 01:56:31.446
counterparts in the other services .

01:56:31.446 --> 01:56:33.668
This has put a long-standing trend into

01:56:33.668 --> 01:56:35.612
perspective . Let me give you some

01:56:35.612 --> 01:56:37.390
figures . The funding is around

01:56:37.390 --> 01:56:41.370
$464 per marine . It's not just the

01:56:41.370 --> 01:56:43.592
lowest of any of the components , but a

01:56:43.592 --> 01:56:45.648
significant detachment from the next

01:56:45.648 --> 01:56:47.703
lowest funded service , which is the

01:56:47.703 --> 01:56:49.703
Army Reserve , which receives about

01:56:49.703 --> 01:56:53.569
$788 per soldier , over 70%

01:56:53.569 --> 01:56:55.402
more per person than the Marines

01:56:55.402 --> 01:56:57.680
reservist . You play an important role .

01:56:57.729 --> 01:57:00.169
You just mentioned um the , the , the

01:57:00.169 --> 01:57:02.930
part that , that deals with flight . Um ,

01:57:02.970 --> 01:57:05.180
but I'm going to task you with some

01:57:05.180 --> 01:57:07.236
homework . We need to make sure that

01:57:07.236 --> 01:57:09.458
there's parity . Marines will always go

01:57:09.458 --> 01:57:11.513
into the fight with what they have ,

01:57:11.513 --> 01:57:13.624
but we need to make sure that there's

01:57:13.624 --> 01:57:15.402
parity in what they have , uh ,

01:57:15.402 --> 01:57:17.347
especially as we look at the angry

01:57:17.347 --> 01:57:19.569
accounts . Mr . Joyce , um , brought up

01:57:19.569 --> 01:57:21.791
cyber , which is hugely important , and

01:57:21.791 --> 01:57:24.290
I think , uh , some information on what

01:57:24.290 --> 01:57:26.234
you're all doing on cyber would be

01:57:26.234 --> 01:57:28.457
helpful for this committee , especially

01:57:28.457 --> 01:57:30.679
as the Department of Homeland . Um , is

01:57:30.679 --> 01:57:32.846
cutting what it's doing , it's putting

01:57:32.846 --> 01:57:36.049
more and more , uh , um , not pressure

01:57:36.189 --> 01:57:38.245
because you're ready to do the job ,

01:57:38.245 --> 01:57:40.356
but it's putting more activity at the

01:57:40.356 --> 01:57:42.467
cyber , uh , guard level . We had two

01:57:42.467 --> 01:57:44.633
attacks in Minnesota this year . First

01:57:44.633 --> 01:57:46.729
responders were affected with it and

01:57:46.750 --> 01:57:49.109
they work seamlessly with , um , with

01:57:49.109 --> 01:57:51.950
our , our , uh , civilian components in

01:57:51.950 --> 01:57:54.061
the municipalities and counties , but

01:57:54.061 --> 01:57:56.228
they can't do it alone . These , these

01:57:56.228 --> 01:57:58.339
attacks are getting more aggressive .

01:57:58.339 --> 01:58:00.450
The third thing I'd point out , Mr. ,

01:58:00.450 --> 01:58:02.506
Mr . uh , uh , Chair is , you know ,

01:58:02.506 --> 01:58:04.617
when the equipment was coming back to

01:58:04.617 --> 01:58:06.894
the guard and the reserve , uh , after ,

01:58:06.894 --> 01:58:09.430
um , Afghanistan and Iraq . One of the

01:58:09.430 --> 01:58:11.597
things that we asked in this committee

01:58:11.597 --> 01:58:14.910
was a real good profile on . We know

01:58:14.910 --> 01:58:17.132
it's not gonna come back the same way ,

01:58:17.390 --> 01:58:19.609
but we were asking for it to come back

01:58:19.669 --> 01:58:21.836
in pretty good shape , so it was ready

01:58:21.836 --> 01:58:24.709
to go . And this is gonna be true again .

01:58:25.180 --> 01:58:27.299
As we're deploying this equipment and

01:58:27.299 --> 01:58:29.859
as you pointed out , um , sometimes is ,

01:58:29.979 --> 01:58:33.299
is much older , uh , equipment that we

01:58:33.299 --> 01:58:36.140
were on a list to , to , uh , replace

01:58:36.419 --> 01:58:38.641
and it's not being replaced fast enough

01:58:38.641 --> 01:58:40.770
and then you have re equipment , uh ,

01:58:40.779 --> 01:58:42.946
turning , turning around coming back ,

01:58:43.060 --> 01:58:45.227
not in the same shape but left uh home

01:58:45.227 --> 01:58:47.227
with . So , uh , we look forward to

01:58:47.227 --> 01:58:49.649
working with you and once again , uh ,

01:58:49.700 --> 01:58:52.299
thank you , congratulations on , on

01:58:52.299 --> 01:58:54.910
service well done . We appreciate it ,

01:58:55.160 --> 01:58:57.620
Mr . Chario back . Thank you , gentle

01:58:57.620 --> 01:58:59.842
lady , and thank you , thank you to all

01:58:59.842 --> 01:59:01.842
our witnesses . Uh , this concludes

01:59:01.842 --> 01:59:03.787
today's hearing . The subcommittee

01:59:03.787 --> 01:59:03.200
stands adjourned .