WEBVTT 00:00.009 --> 00:02.120 Admiral Clewell , he's got a lot more 00:02.120 --> 00:04.909 experiences in this as well . Sir , I 00:04.909 --> 00:06.576 would , I'm , I'm glad you're 00:06.576 --> 00:08.353 championing this . I think it's 00:08.353 --> 00:10.465 important . Uh , it's a full spectrum 00:10.465 --> 00:12.187 for us . We need more R&D from 00:12.187 --> 00:14.409 universities , of course . We need more 00:14.409 --> 00:16.576 STEM degree seeking students . We need 00:16.576 --> 00:18.687 more vocational , uh , private public 00:18.687 --> 00:20.909 partnerships with vocational schools to 00:20.909 --> 00:23.076 generate the talent and the skill sets 00:23.076 --> 00:25.242 we need . And then , quite frankly , I 00:25.242 --> 00:27.670 actually leverage additional and unused 00:27.670 --> 00:30.389 space today to actually do school , my 00:30.389 --> 00:32.590 own navy schools in partnership . With 00:32.590 --> 00:34.646 universities to leverage their empty 00:34.646 --> 00:36.701 classrooms , so it's just across the 00:36.701 --> 00:38.590 spectrum of , of academia that we 00:38.590 --> 00:40.590 actually need to outgun this . So I 00:40.590 --> 00:42.757 completely agree with the secretary on 00:42.757 --> 00:44.923 that and fully committed to doing more 00:44.923 --> 00:46.923 there . Great , I'll follow up with 00:46.923 --> 00:48.979 that , but , uh , I , I thought that 00:48.979 --> 00:48.639 was the policy , and it's been working 00:48.639 --> 00:51.360 so well , uh , on so many fronts that 00:51.360 --> 00:53.693 are needs . Uh , I'm almost out of time . 00:53.720 --> 00:55.609 Another thing we're working on in 00:55.609 --> 00:57.498 procurement is just trying to get 00:57.498 --> 00:59.609 smaller companies involved instead of 00:59.609 --> 01:01.720 the larger , uh , uh , corporations , 01:01.720 --> 01:03.498 uh , and . Uh , I had one in my 01:03.498 --> 01:05.553 district in New Bedford and see if I 01:05.553 --> 01:07.776 can summarize this quickly , but they , 01:07.776 --> 01:09.998 you know , they were told that unmanned 01:09.998 --> 01:12.109 warships , uh , were needed quickly . 01:12.109 --> 01:14.053 They ran through a , a competition 01:14.053 --> 01:16.276 called the modular attack surface craft 01:16.276 --> 01:18.331 competition , and here's the concern 01:18.331 --> 01:20.387 with some of the smaller ones . I'll 01:20.387 --> 01:22.609 just raise it and you really don't have 01:22.609 --> 01:22.080 to answer it , but I just want you to , 01:22.389 --> 01:24.800 uh , hear it again . When they're doing 01:24.800 --> 01:26.967 this and they're trying to get capital 01:26.967 --> 01:29.133 in these small companies , they're not 01:29.133 --> 01:31.189 like the large corporations in doing 01:31.189 --> 01:33.244 that . There's changes that occur in 01:33.244 --> 01:35.244 the process , so they're going into 01:35.244 --> 01:38.300 this , uh , uh , with one prototype , 01:38.559 --> 01:41.300 uh , and then , after , after already 01:41.300 --> 01:43.467 selecting the companies , then they're 01:43.467 --> 01:45.300 moving to different prototypes , 01:45.300 --> 01:47.522 they're changing course , uh , and that 01:47.522 --> 01:49.578 causes for smaller companies a great 01:49.578 --> 01:51.744 difficulty . So I'll just raise that , 01:51.744 --> 01:54.000 uh , as an issue to as a way to try and 01:54.250 --> 01:56.194 ameliorate some of those conflicts 01:56.194 --> 01:58.306 because what happens with the smaller 01:58.306 --> 02:00.306 companies like that . Uh , that can 02:00.306 --> 02:02.528 offer so many , so much innovation more 02:02.528 --> 02:04.528 quickly . Uh , they turn around and 02:04.528 --> 02:06.639 they lose their capital . Uh , they , 02:06.639 --> 02:08.639 they can't sustain that . So I just 02:08.639 --> 02:10.750 offer that as a comment . I thank you 02:10.750 --> 02:12.861 again . Uh , this committee has had a 02:12.861 --> 02:14.750 priority on working , uh , on the 02:14.750 --> 02:16.861 procurement issue , I think with some 02:16.861 --> 02:19.083 real success , uh , and I thank you for 02:19.083 --> 02:21.194 your service . Now you're back , Mr . 02:21.194 --> 02:23.250 Valing you're recognized for . Thank 02:23.250 --> 02:22.809 you , Mr . Chairman . Ameliorate . That 02:22.809 --> 02:25.142 is a word I'm gonna look up . Very good . 02:26.380 --> 02:28.436 Uh , Secretary Cow , in your opening 02:28.436 --> 02:30.602 remarks you mentioned what your family 02:30.602 --> 02:33.259 lost . Into the hands of communist 02:33.259 --> 02:35.660 authoritarians and it was stirring and 02:35.660 --> 02:37.827 it literally gave me goosebumps . Uh , 02:37.860 --> 02:39.619 I recall it , it just gave us 02:39.619 --> 02:41.730 perspective , I think , on what we're 02:41.730 --> 02:43.897 all doing here . And I was knocking on 02:43.897 --> 02:46.008 doors years ago , I met a fellow in a 02:46.008 --> 02:48.300 similar circumstance , lost everything , 02:48.380 --> 02:50.380 and he was a brand new voter and he 02:50.380 --> 02:53.020 grabbed my shoulder and he said , this 02:53.020 --> 02:56.419 is the last life raft of liberty . We 02:56.419 --> 02:58.979 have , we have nowhere else to go . So 02:58.979 --> 03:01.289 thank you for sharing that . Secretary 03:01.289 --> 03:03.400 Cal , you also mentioned you've known 03:03.400 --> 03:05.567 Rob Goucher , Admiral Goucher , for 36 03:05.567 --> 03:07.940 years . The starting center for my high 03:07.940 --> 03:10.162 school football team was a fellow named 03:10.162 --> 03:12.273 Rob Goucher , which means by math , I 03:12.273 --> 03:14.759 know I've known him 41 years . So I got 03:14.759 --> 03:18.470 you . Uh , looking over the 03:18.470 --> 03:20.692 materials to prepare for this hearing , 03:20.692 --> 03:22.990 I still noted that , uh , the , the 03:22.990 --> 03:25.157 afloat manning requirement were 20,000 03:25.157 --> 03:27.429 shy , and we had missed recruiting 03:27.429 --> 03:29.762 goals in the past , and we hit them now . 03:29.762 --> 03:31.707 What I'd love to do is ask you and 03:31.707 --> 03:34.389 Admiral Caudle , um , what you , you 03:34.389 --> 03:36.445 think , how we can help you and what 03:36.445 --> 03:38.667 you're all are doing to ensure , number 03:38.667 --> 03:40.611 one , that we continue to meet our 03:40.611 --> 03:42.929 recruiting goals . Thank you so much 03:42.929 --> 03:44.818 for just all your comments , uh , 03:44.818 --> 03:47.199 Congressman . Last year alone , we , we 03:47.199 --> 03:50.190 exceeded recruiting by 8600 . 03:51.000 --> 03:53.440 New entrants into the Navy above what 03:53.440 --> 03:55.880 we did in previous years . This year 03:55.880 --> 03:57.936 we're well above above . We're gonna 03:57.936 --> 04:00.679 meet above 11,000 more entrants , but 04:00.679 --> 04:02.901 we need to pay these guys , and this is 04:02.901 --> 04:05.235 why we need to pass this bill , so , so , 04:05.235 --> 04:07.401 so that we make sure that we , we're , 04:07.401 --> 04:09.568 we're giving the retention bonus and , 04:09.568 --> 04:11.568 and , and the . Enlistment bonus as 04:11.568 --> 04:13.623 well and and keep them in as well as 04:13.623 --> 04:15.679 providing safe , clean , comfortable 04:15.679 --> 04:17.735 housing for them uh at the same time 04:17.735 --> 04:19.790 getting them the right training they 04:19.790 --> 04:19.214 need and that's that's why I'm asking 04:19.214 --> 04:21.158 this body to please pass this bill 04:21.334 --> 04:23.556 because we need it in order to to pay , 04:23.695 --> 04:25.862 pay our debt to to these young men and 04:25.862 --> 04:27.917 women who raised their hands . And , 04:27.917 --> 04:29.973 and I'll , I , I wanna add to , uh , 04:29.973 --> 04:32.084 what , give it over to Admiral Cottle 04:32.084 --> 04:34.195 for anything he might wanna just real 04:34.195 --> 04:33.730 quick , you know , mission , uh , 04:34.089 --> 04:35.978 improves our , our recruiting and 04:35.978 --> 04:38.200 retention . People love what they do in 04:38.200 --> 04:40.179 the Navy . You will see record 04:40.179 --> 04:42.290 retention coming from the Ford strike 04:42.290 --> 04:44.401 group . It's just the opposite of the 04:44.401 --> 04:46.529 lay people think , you know , as the 04:46.529 --> 04:48.529 Secretary said , they're not coming 04:48.529 --> 04:50.751 back head held low . They're prideful . 04:50.751 --> 04:52.973 And so our mission is what's recruiting 04:52.973 --> 04:55.029 and seeing record retention . But if 04:55.029 --> 04:57.029 any ask I would give you , when you 04:57.029 --> 04:59.489 grow the for soil we have with 1011 , 04:59.570 --> 05:02.329 12,000 additional recruits , my A 05:02.329 --> 05:05.000 school , C school pipeline can be 05:05.000 --> 05:07.278 impeded by infrastructure requirements . 05:07.489 --> 05:08.989 So , you know , I need the 05:08.989 --> 05:10.989 infrastructure money to improve the 05:10.989 --> 05:13.156 barracks at my , at my schoolhouses to 05:13.156 --> 05:15.156 make sure they got a place to sleep 05:15.156 --> 05:17.433 without being forward to a room . Well , 05:17.433 --> 05:16.929 Admiral , I appreciate your comments 05:16.929 --> 05:18.985 about the most valuable resource you 05:18.985 --> 05:20.707 have as your sailors and their 05:20.707 --> 05:20.489 heartbeat of the Navy , and I fully 05:20.489 --> 05:22.711 agree with that . Uh , General , it was 05:22.711 --> 05:24.767 great to see you again . I very much 05:24.767 --> 05:24.690 enjoyed meeting with you and your staff , 05:24.970 --> 05:27.570 uh , high performers all around . Uh , 05:27.850 --> 05:29.961 can you visit with me a little bit in 05:29.961 --> 05:32.230 the committee on being the one branch 05:32.230 --> 05:34.452 that has met the recruiting goals every 05:34.452 --> 05:36.563 year ? Why you think you did that and 05:36.563 --> 05:38.730 what best practices you can share with 05:38.730 --> 05:40.897 the other services ? Well , sir , we , 05:40.897 --> 05:43.174 we have a systematic recruiting system . 05:43.174 --> 05:45.508 We have a professional recruiting force , 05:45.508 --> 05:47.674 which combines with those , uh , those 05:47.674 --> 05:49.841 Marines who are assigned to recruiting 05:49.841 --> 05:51.897 duty . Um , we hold them accountable 05:51.897 --> 05:51.589 for their mission just like we hold all 05:51.589 --> 05:53.811 Marines accountable for their mission . 05:53.811 --> 05:55.422 And we reward them when they 05:55.422 --> 05:57.645 successfully complete a recruiting tour 05:57.645 --> 05:57.220 and we relieve them when they don't 05:57.220 --> 05:59.387 meet their mission . I mean , it's a , 05:59.387 --> 06:01.553 it is a simple , you're required to go 06:01.553 --> 06:03.720 recruit this many people . If you fail 06:03.720 --> 06:05.887 that mission , we relieve you and move 06:05.887 --> 06:05.779 you on . Uh , if you successfully 06:05.779 --> 06:07.668 complete it , you're rewarded and 06:07.668 --> 06:09.835 you're sent back to your MOS . Um , we 06:09.835 --> 06:11.890 have a . Professional element of our 06:11.890 --> 06:14.112 recruiting force . Uh , they're 80 , we 06:14.112 --> 06:16.168 call them 84 wonderfuls , 84 , 12s . 06:16.168 --> 06:18.446 They're , they're full-time recruiters . 06:18.446 --> 06:20.668 So we combine full-time recruiters with 06:20.668 --> 06:22.668 those who were sent out through the 06:22.668 --> 06:24.612 recruiting school . We have a very 06:24.612 --> 06:26.779 professionalized recruiting force . We 06:26.779 --> 06:28.946 do systematic recruiting . You make so 06:28.946 --> 06:30.890 many phone calls . You get so many 06:30.890 --> 06:33.112 contacts . So many contacts leads to so 06:33.112 --> 06:34.835 many contracts . We have great 06:34.835 --> 06:37.001 relationships with our , with our high 06:37.001 --> 06:39.168 schools . We have full and open access 06:39.168 --> 06:38.959 to high schools , uh , and our 06:38.959 --> 06:40.903 recruiters are just working hard . 06:40.903 --> 06:43.015 They're Marines . They don't know how 06:43.015 --> 06:45.292 to fail . U , in the time we have left , 06:45.292 --> 06:47.070 uh , Mr . Secretary , the pilot 06:47.070 --> 06:49.126 retention , can we talk a little bit 06:49.126 --> 06:48.390 about that , what we need to do , uh , 06:48.480 --> 06:50.702 or Admiral , I wanna just jump in there 06:50.702 --> 06:52.924 real quick because I noticed that we're 06:52.924 --> 06:52.119 having a little bit of an issue with 06:52.119 --> 06:54.341 that as well . Again , sir , it's going 06:54.341 --> 06:56.563 to be about the retention bonuses and , 06:56.563 --> 06:58.619 and reducing the PCS , but I'll turn 06:58.619 --> 07:00.897 over to Admiral Calder real fast , sir . 07:00.897 --> 07:02.897 Thank you , sir . It is a problem . 07:02.897 --> 07:05.119 That's our , that's a critical point of 07:05.119 --> 07:04.910 all of our communities at the 07:04.910 --> 07:07.132 department head level where we get them 07:07.132 --> 07:09.299 to sign and then we got them for , you 07:09.299 --> 07:11.410 know , a career . And so the aviation 07:11.410 --> 07:13.743 community , we're going full in on that . 07:13.743 --> 07:15.966 Part of that is a bit of an artifact of 07:15.966 --> 07:18.077 backlog and the experience . So as we 07:18.077 --> 07:20.188 improve the experience for aviators , 07:20.188 --> 07:20.100 then I think the retention improvements 07:20.100 --> 07:22.044 will come . Amen . And my time has 07:22.044 --> 07:24.378 expired . Thank you very much , uh , Mr . 07:24.378 --> 07:26.322 Chairman . I go back . Ms . Hoan , 07:26.322 --> 07:28.544 you're recognized for 5 minutes . Thank 07:28.544 --> 07:31.100 you Mr . Chair . Secretary Coo , you 07:31.100 --> 07:33.322 made some really interesting statements 07:33.322 --> 07:35.433 in 2024 in a debate that you had with 07:35.433 --> 07:37.559 Senator Kaine . You said what we need 07:37.559 --> 07:40.220 is alpha males and alpha females who 07:40.220 --> 07:42.331 are going to rip out their guts , eat 07:42.331 --> 07:44.579 them , and ask for seconds . Those are 07:44.579 --> 07:46.690 young men and women that are going to 07:46.690 --> 07:49.700 win wars . Mr . Secretary , did you say 07:49.700 --> 07:51.589 that ? And do you stand by that ? 07:52.820 --> 07:54.931 Absolutely ma'am . I , I did say that 07:54.931 --> 07:57.042 and I , I stand by it . I , I command 07:57.042 --> 07:58.931 the Naval Diving Salvage Training 07:58.931 --> 08:00.931 Center . We had 11 standard only it 08:00.931 --> 08:03.209 doesn't matter if you're a man , woman , 08:03.209 --> 08:02.649 black or white , because the sea is 08:02.649 --> 08:04.649 unforgiving and things like war and 08:04.649 --> 08:06.760 hardship is gonna kill you the same . 08:06.760 --> 08:08.816 My job is to make sure they live . I 08:08.816 --> 08:10.982 agree with you , ma'am , and I'll stop 08:10.982 --> 08:12.927 you there , Mr . Secretary . It is 08:12.927 --> 08:14.982 really wonderful to hear that you're 08:14.982 --> 08:17.093 supportive of everyone serving in the 08:17.093 --> 08:19.205 military , uh , brown , white , black 08:19.205 --> 08:21.316 women , as you mentioned , especially 08:21.316 --> 08:23.482 the alpha ones , and I agree with that 08:23.482 --> 08:25.649 as well . I was wondering if you might 08:25.649 --> 08:27.705 share that support of those kinds of 08:27.705 --> 08:29.427 people , women included , with 08:29.427 --> 08:31.649 Secretary Hegseth , because it seems as 08:31.649 --> 08:33.371 though he has a very different 08:33.371 --> 08:35.482 perspective on that . Congresswoman , 08:35.768 --> 08:37.768 Secretary Hegseth and I are in line 08:37.768 --> 08:39.712 that as long as you meet the , the 08:39.712 --> 08:41.935 standards , then , then you're , you're 08:41.935 --> 08:41.669 ready to serve . Perfect . And then , 08:41.718 --> 08:43.607 uh , my next question , Mr . uh , 08:43.607 --> 08:45.829 Secretary , is since you are supportive 08:45.829 --> 08:48.107 and apparently Mr . Hegseth is as well , 08:48.107 --> 08:50.329 of women in service or at least of , of 08:50.329 --> 08:52.496 gender neutral standards , I'm hopeful 08:52.496 --> 08:54.385 that you might take a look and be 08:54.385 --> 08:56.440 supportive of a bill that . Supports 08:56.440 --> 08:58.607 removing gender standards from service 08:58.607 --> 09:00.607 so that everyone is able to fit one 09:00.607 --> 09:02.496 standard . It's a bill called the 09:02.496 --> 09:04.496 Warrior Act . It's a bill that I've 09:04.496 --> 09:06.607 introduced and it would codify or put 09:06.607 --> 09:08.551 into law these standards of gender 09:08.551 --> 09:10.718 neutral requirements to make sure that 09:10.718 --> 09:12.607 everyone , women included , would 09:12.607 --> 09:14.774 qualify who's qualified to serve would 09:14.774 --> 09:16.996 be able to . Would you be supportive of 09:16.996 --> 09:19.218 that , sir ? Uh , Congressman , if they 09:19.218 --> 09:21.440 meet the , the standards , uh , in , in 09:21.440 --> 09:21.090 accordance with the rules and 09:21.090 --> 09:23.570 regulations , then , I'll , again , I'm 09:23.570 --> 09:25.681 not , I'm not a member of this , this 09:25.681 --> 09:27.792 house , uh , so I , I , I'm , I can't 09:27.792 --> 09:29.903 support or , or not support . I would 09:29.903 --> 09:31.903 love it if you would take a look at 09:31.903 --> 09:33.626 that because it is not without 09:33.626 --> 09:35.792 precedence that people such as you are 09:35.792 --> 09:37.848 supportive of ideas that come out of 09:37.848 --> 09:40.014 the Congress , and this Warrior Act is 09:40.014 --> 09:39.809 something that given your stance on 09:39.809 --> 09:42.031 these issues , I would imagine that you 09:42.031 --> 09:44.198 would be supportive of , and it sounds 09:44.198 --> 09:45.753 as though given your . Uh , 09:45.753 --> 09:47.976 relationship with Mr . Hegseth and your 09:47.976 --> 09:47.929 understanding of his belief that he 09:47.929 --> 09:50.262 should also be supportive of it as well . 09:50.262 --> 09:52.373 Sometimes , unfortunately we actually 09:52.373 --> 09:54.318 have to put things in law that are 09:54.318 --> 09:56.429 common sense , and I would love it if 09:56.429 --> 09:55.960 you take a look at the Wire Act . 09:56.530 --> 09:58.586 Similarly , one of the things that's 09:58.586 --> 10:00.808 frustrating to me , and it's come up in 10:00.808 --> 10:02.974 this conversation quite a few times is 10:02.974 --> 10:05.141 that it's totally true that we need to 10:05.141 --> 10:07.308 be the most lethal , uh , force in the 10:07.308 --> 10:09.609 world in order to be successful , but 10:09.609 --> 10:12.590 we have . For whatever reason , begun 10:12.590 --> 10:14.669 to undermine the fact that bronze is 10:14.669 --> 10:17.150 not enough , that we also need to have 10:17.150 --> 10:19.440 brains to be able to be successful in 10:19.440 --> 10:21.750 the military , and that technology and 10:21.750 --> 10:23.950 STEM education and all of those kinds 10:23.950 --> 10:26.549 of things are just as important as 10:26.549 --> 10:28.716 having somebody who's strong enough to 10:28.716 --> 10:30.882 carry a person . And one of the things 10:30.882 --> 10:33.460 that I'm really frustrated by in these 10:33.460 --> 10:35.739 conversations is we have maligned 10:35.739 --> 10:37.961 education , we have maligned research , 10:38.109 --> 10:40.510 we have maligned all of the things that 10:40.510 --> 10:42.510 make it possible for us to not only 10:42.510 --> 10:45.150 have lethality in our bronze but also 10:45.150 --> 10:47.590 lethality in our brains . Admiral , I'd 10:47.590 --> 10:49.701 love it if you talk a little bit more 10:49.701 --> 10:51.923 about the fact that you , uh , have hit 10:51.923 --> 10:54.090 now 3 times during this hearing on the 10:54.090 --> 10:57.640 importance of STEM education . Well , 10:58.000 --> 10:59.889 Congresswoman , I mean , I hold 4 10:59.889 --> 11:02.167 degrees myself , including a doctorate , 11:02.167 --> 11:04.278 so I am a lifelong learner and firmly 11:04.278 --> 11:06.278 believe in everything you're saying 11:06.278 --> 11:08.222 that everyone should be a lifelong 11:08.222 --> 11:10.333 learner . So , uh , STEM education is 11:10.333 --> 11:12.444 extremely important in this , and I'm 11:12.444 --> 11:14.611 always in close collaboration with our 11:14.611 --> 11:16.722 Naval Academy and the ROTSI units and 11:16.722 --> 11:19.190 of course the other programs , OCS and 11:19.190 --> 11:21.246 making sure that the right , the pie 11:21.246 --> 11:23.412 chart of STEEM coming into the Navy is 11:23.412 --> 11:25.579 proper . I had to tension that a bit , 11:25.579 --> 11:27.468 you know , as far as , you know , 11:27.468 --> 11:29.634 sex-based differences , you know , one 11:29.634 --> 11:31.690 of the things that really has opened 11:31.690 --> 11:33.857 that up is women . Uh , and submarines 11:33.857 --> 11:35.968 and some of the other initiatives who 11:35.968 --> 11:37.801 have a preponderance of the STEM 11:37.801 --> 11:39.857 degrees . So you know that's an area 11:39.857 --> 11:39.609 where I think there's been a real 11:39.609 --> 11:41.799 strength in that 100% . And I would 11:41.799 --> 11:43.688 love to continue to emphasize the 11:43.688 --> 11:45.688 importance of that and to make sure 11:45.688 --> 11:47.577 that we have career paths , clear 11:47.577 --> 11:49.688 career paths that make people feel as 11:49.688 --> 11:51.799 though they're welcome in this ser in 11:51.799 --> 11:51.409 these services , all of them . My , my 11:51.409 --> 11:53.131 father served in the Navy , my 11:53.131 --> 11:55.242 grandfather as well . I served in the 11:55.242 --> 11:57.576 Air Force , my , my brother in the Army . 11:57.576 --> 11:59.798 Uh , but I also wanna make sure that we 11:59.798 --> 12:01.742 stop and knock off the nonsense of 12:01.742 --> 12:03.909 maligning places like Harvard or MIT . 12:03.909 --> 12:06.242 We , those things have both come up now . 12:06.242 --> 12:08.465 We work so hard to be not just the best 12:08.465 --> 12:10.465 military in the world , but also to 12:10.465 --> 12:12.520 have the best schools in the world , 12:12.520 --> 12:14.742 and it's really , really important that 12:14.742 --> 12:14.739 we do that as well . I appreciate your 12:14.739 --> 12:16.850 time , gentlemen , and I yield back . 12:19.640 --> 12:21.862 Mr . Moylan , you're recognized . Thank 12:21.862 --> 12:23.640 you , Mr . Chairman . Uh , Mr . 12:23.640 --> 12:25.807 Secretary , congratulations . Um , I'm 12:25.807 --> 12:27.807 glad we had the opportunity in your 12:27.807 --> 12:29.862 previous position , but I understand 12:29.862 --> 12:31.918 you're still holding that as well as 12:31.918 --> 12:34.196 being the SD , uh , for Indopecom area . 12:34.196 --> 12:36.251 It's a wonderful experience I've had 12:36.251 --> 12:38.473 with you . I appreciate the visits that 12:38.473 --> 12:40.140 you have gone to Guam and the 12:40.140 --> 12:42.140 conversations that you had , making 12:42.140 --> 12:44.251 sure Indopaycom is really protected . 12:44.251 --> 12:46.418 I'm very proud and I'm very happy that 12:46.418 --> 12:46.280 you're selected for the secretary . 12:46.440 --> 12:48.599 Thank you so much . Uh , Admiral , I 12:48.599 --> 12:50.766 wanna say thanks for mentioning , uh , 12:50.766 --> 12:52.821 the submariners in Guam . I , I tell 12:52.821 --> 12:54.877 you I had a few conversations with a 12:54.877 --> 12:57.043 few of them young folks too , and some 12:57.043 --> 12:59.377 of them even married on different ships , 12:59.377 --> 13:01.599 but it's really interesting how excited 13:01.599 --> 13:01.150 they are to be in the submarine because 13:01.150 --> 13:03.317 in Guam , once you pull out the dock , 13:03.317 --> 13:05.261 you just go out a little drive and 13:05.261 --> 13:07.428 you're down deep as fast as possible . 13:07.428 --> 13:09.594 It's quite exciting . They tell me all 13:09.594 --> 13:11.817 about it . I wouldn't wanna get on that 13:11.817 --> 13:13.928 sub . I'm an army guy , but , but I'm 13:13.928 --> 13:13.320 glad they're there and I appreciate 13:13.320 --> 13:15.431 your support in the Indorecom area as 13:15.431 --> 13:17.849 well . Uh , general , thank , thank you . 13:17.969 --> 13:20.025 Guam has had a great experience with 13:20.025 --> 13:22.136 the Marine Corps since World War II . 13:22.136 --> 13:24.025 Uh , we're looking forward to the 13:24.025 --> 13:26.302 Marines coming on back as we feel , uh , 13:26.302 --> 13:28.247 continue to do the buildup at Camp 13:28.247 --> 13:30.413 Bembos , our first Marine general from 13:30.413 --> 13:32.580 Guam , a fine name after that for that 13:32.580 --> 13:34.858 camp , and driving down Marine . Drive . 13:34.858 --> 13:36.747 I'm look Marine Corps Drive . I'm 13:36.747 --> 13:38.858 looking forward to seeing the Marines 13:38.858 --> 13:41.025 occupy that camp as soon as possible . 13:41.025 --> 13:43.136 So I thank the Marines , and I'm glad 13:43.136 --> 13:43.059 we had this , and I thank you all for 13:43.400 --> 13:45.567 your interest in the most Western soil 13:45.567 --> 13:47.733 of the United States of America , that 13:47.733 --> 13:50.067 being Guam . Thank you so much for that . 13:50.067 --> 13:52.233 Uh , Secretary , you know , we had the 13:52.233 --> 13:54.456 opportunity . I thank you for coming to 13:54.456 --> 13:56.511 my office also with , uh , Assistant 13:56.511 --> 13:58.622 Secretary Rogers . We were discussing 13:58.622 --> 14:00.622 the housing issue on Guam as we had 14:00.622 --> 14:02.678 this build up . We're small island . 14:02.678 --> 14:04.733 It's quite difficult to keep up with 14:04.733 --> 14:06.844 the demand of housing , so we roughly 14:06.844 --> 14:09.011 have 300 million that's been requested 14:09.011 --> 14:11.233 for housing construction , uh , in Guam 14:11.233 --> 14:14.510 for 2027 . Uh , and can you discuss 14:14.510 --> 14:17.150 with are are your efforts for the your 14:17.150 --> 14:19.206 department on taking to reducing the 14:19.206 --> 14:21.372 military demands on the housing market 14:21.372 --> 14:23.428 in Guam and can provide us some more 14:23.428 --> 14:25.428 updates how the department plans to 14:25.428 --> 14:27.429 reduce reliance on existing housing 14:27.429 --> 14:30.049 stock while accommodating more focus , 14:30.390 --> 14:33.890 uh , stationed in Guam . Congressman , 14:33.940 --> 14:36.162 thank you so much for your kind words . 14:36.162 --> 14:38.273 I mean , what an amazing country this 14:38.273 --> 14:40.384 is that 51 years ago when I landed in 14:40.384 --> 14:42.607 Guam as a refugee , that I came back as 14:42.607 --> 14:44.829 a senior defense official in Guam , and 14:44.829 --> 14:47.051 only in America can something like that 14:47.051 --> 14:49.273 happen , and I think that God , uh , is 14:49.273 --> 14:49.090 kind of laughing . The , the Lord are , 14:49.530 --> 14:52.590 are , is , is kind of have a , has a , 14:52.679 --> 14:54.790 a sense of humor in this , uh , sir , 14:54.790 --> 14:57.123 in , in terms of , uh , housing in Guam , 14:57.123 --> 14:58.940 we . We are looking at the most 14:58.940 --> 15:01.299 economical way to to develop there for 15:01.299 --> 15:04.530 our military members as well as uh as 15:05.140 --> 15:07.859 giving a a a little leeway for for the 15:07.859 --> 15:10.026 population there . I know that we , we 15:10.026 --> 15:12.081 talked about making sure that people 15:12.081 --> 15:14.192 aren't getting gouged which drives up 15:14.192 --> 15:16.303 the cost of , of , uh , the housing , 15:16.303 --> 15:18.470 but I also understand all the problems 15:18.470 --> 15:18.309 that happened with , uh , Typhoon 15:18.309 --> 15:20.309 Marwar , uh , that , that happened 15:20.309 --> 15:22.450 there . So we will continue to work 15:22.450 --> 15:24.506 together , Congressman , in order to 15:24.506 --> 15:26.672 make sure that we're developing Guam , 15:26.672 --> 15:28.672 uh , in , in the right in the , the 15:28.672 --> 15:30.672 most expeditious manner , including 15:30.672 --> 15:33.006 what we did recently with the , uh , uh , 15:33.006 --> 15:34.728 working with the Department of 15:34.728 --> 15:36.894 Transportation for the , the guarantee 15:36.894 --> 15:39.006 cranes in , uh , at the port there as 15:39.006 --> 15:38.890 well , sir . We're gonna fight for Guam 15:38.890 --> 15:40.946 and going , gonna fight , fight from 15:40.946 --> 15:42.779 Guam , and that's why Guam is so 15:42.779 --> 15:44.946 important to us , sir . Uh , thank you 15:44.946 --> 15:47.168 for that . Uh , also , uh , in addition 15:47.168 --> 15:49.112 to the housing , we have the power 15:49.112 --> 15:51.279 situation . Uh , we , we're so small , 15:51.279 --> 15:53.501 right ? We're , uh , we're sharing with 15:53.501 --> 15:55.501 the Guam Power Authority , but we , 15:55.501 --> 15:57.557 we're also talking about the small , 15:57.557 --> 15:59.779 small modular reactors , uh , but there 15:59.779 --> 16:02.001 still has to be a balance since there's 16:02.001 --> 16:04.112 a lot of workforce outside , uh , and 16:04.112 --> 16:06.223 not all the small nuclear reactors if 16:06.223 --> 16:08.557 it does come . And by , by the way , in , 16:08.557 --> 16:10.668 in law we also put there's a one year 16:10.668 --> 16:12.834 not notification before that does come 16:12.834 --> 16:15.057 to the island if it is planned and goes 16:15.057 --> 16:17.112 forward . Just , uh , make sure your 16:17.112 --> 16:19.334 awareness of that . Uh , but how do you 16:19.334 --> 16:21.501 plan to work the Guang Power Authority 16:21.501 --> 16:23.446 into your plans as we build up the 16:23.446 --> 16:26.219 power grid needs ? Congressman , again , 16:26.299 --> 16:28.340 uh , we need power for , for the 16:28.340 --> 16:30.369 defense of Guam with all the , uh , 16:30.380 --> 16:32.619 Guam defense systems out there , so we 16:32.619 --> 16:34.730 will work hand in hand with the , the 16:34.730 --> 16:36.841 government of Guam in order to ensure 16:36.841 --> 16:39.008 that we , we stabilize the , the , the 16:39.008 --> 16:41.119 energy there as well as , uh , secure 16:41.119 --> 16:43.286 it . I mean , as you know , uh , the , 16:43.286 --> 16:45.341 um , the Chinese have been trying to 16:45.341 --> 16:47.397 hack into Guam for , for years and , 16:47.397 --> 16:49.341 and , uh , so we need to , to . To 16:49.341 --> 16:51.563 secure the IT infrastructure in Guam as 16:51.563 --> 16:53.786 well , while , while we're securing the 16:53.786 --> 16:56.119 water and the power supplies , uh , for , 16:56.119 --> 16:55.909 for the island , uh , thank you , Mr . 16:55.919 --> 16:58.200 Secretary , uh , General . Are the 16:58.200 --> 17:00.280 Marines coming to Guam ? Give us an 17:00.280 --> 17:03.159 update , sir . We are , um , we , we're 17:03.159 --> 17:05.326 building out Camp Blas , as you know , 17:05.359 --> 17:07.303 uh , we're going to occupy that in 17:07.303 --> 17:09.470 accordance with the DPRI , the Defense 17:09.470 --> 17:11.637 Posture Review Initiative , but we are 17:11.637 --> 17:13.803 coming to Guam and we're excited about 17:13.803 --> 17:15.803 it . Thank you . Looking forward to 17:15.803 --> 17:18.137 coming back to Guam and staying on Guam . 17:18.137 --> 17:20.303 Yes sir . Thank you , Mr . Chair . You 17:20.303 --> 17:22.526 bet . Mr . Golden , you're recognized . 17:23.098 --> 17:25.558 Thank you , Mr . Chair . Uh , good 17:25.558 --> 17:27.780 morning , gentlemen . I have to confess 17:27.780 --> 17:30.170 I was . A little bit dismayed to see 17:30.170 --> 17:32.170 that the president's budget request 17:32.170 --> 17:33.948 included procurement for only 1 17:33.948 --> 17:36.003 destroyer down from the usual 2 or 3 17:36.003 --> 17:38.209 under previous administrations . I 17:38.209 --> 17:40.098 heard just yesterday from General 17:40.098 --> 17:42.265 Dynamics in a public setting that this 17:42.265 --> 17:44.265 week demand signal , if approved by 17:44.265 --> 17:46.265 Congress , would trigger layoffs at 17:46.265 --> 17:48.431 Bath Iron Works as soon as next year . 17:48.431 --> 17:50.376 So imagine my surprise when I next 17:50.376 --> 17:52.729 receive the US Navy shipbuilding plan , 17:53.050 --> 17:54.828 which said the department seeks 17:54.828 --> 17:56.994 congressional authority to build ships 17:56.994 --> 17:59.106 with foreign labor in foreign yards . 17:59.260 --> 18:01.204 And sir , I've read the plan . You 18:01.204 --> 18:03.371 aren't just proposing sending American 18:03.371 --> 18:05.649 workers to learn from foreign builders , 18:05.649 --> 18:07.760 which as an aside , I don't think you 18:07.760 --> 18:09.927 would want to go to a yard of American 18:09.927 --> 18:11.982 workers and tell them that you think 18:11.982 --> 18:14.204 they need to go overseas to learn their 18:14.204 --> 18:16.316 craft . On page 37 , it says you want 18:16.316 --> 18:18.859 to build halls in foreign yards and you 18:18.859 --> 18:20.859 specifically say you intend to seek 18:20.859 --> 18:22.970 authority in this year's defense bill 18:22.970 --> 18:25.430 to build entire ships . And halls of 18:25.430 --> 18:28.140 others overseas . Stop and think about 18:28.140 --> 18:30.251 that . In the same year that American 18:30.251 --> 18:32.362 shipbuilders might get laid off , the 18:32.362 --> 18:34.696 US Navy wants to employ foreign workers . 18:35.099 --> 18:37.266 Good luck selling that as anything but 18:37.266 --> 18:39.155 a one for one trade-off . I can't 18:39.155 --> 18:41.488 believe the Navy would even consider it , 18:41.488 --> 18:43.543 and it would be an absolute shame if 18:43.543 --> 18:45.599 the Congress approved it . Secretary 18:45.599 --> 18:47.766 Hegseth was before this committee just 18:47.766 --> 18:49.655 a few weeks ago , and we talked a 18:49.655 --> 18:49.550 little bit about shipbuilding . So I've 18:49.550 --> 18:52.000 already heard a part of justification , 18:52.439 --> 18:55.449 the backlog of ships . I don't blame 18:55.449 --> 18:57.671 the Navy for wanting more surface ships 18:57.671 --> 18:59.782 in the fleet , but sir , there are no 18:59.782 --> 19:01.782 shortcuts to building a first-class 19:01.782 --> 19:03.949 combatant ship . I've stood on foreign 19:03.949 --> 19:06.060 ships before and compared to ours , I 19:06.060 --> 19:08.282 thought it felt like it was made out of 19:08.282 --> 19:10.505 plastic . I kid you not . I think you'd 19:10.505 --> 19:12.930 have a hard time going to your sailors 19:13.189 --> 19:15.189 and asking them how they feel about 19:15.189 --> 19:17.411 going into a fight , essentially a hunk 19:17.411 --> 19:19.459 of junk . I would challenge the 19:19.459 --> 19:21.570 administration to claim that American 19:21.570 --> 19:23.515 shipbuilders don't build it best , 19:23.515 --> 19:25.515 especially the shipbuilders from my 19:25.515 --> 19:27.737 state , where everyone knows the phrase 19:27.737 --> 19:29.903 best built , best built . There's many 19:29.903 --> 19:32.070 levers , levers the Navy could pull to 19:32.070 --> 19:34.126 speed up ship construction , but you 19:34.126 --> 19:36.237 know what you absolutely do without , 19:36.237 --> 19:38.237 and that's experienced shipbuilders 19:38.237 --> 19:40.403 that know how to build it right . Walk 19:40.403 --> 19:42.515 the shipyards and talk to the workers 19:42.515 --> 19:44.681 and you will get a sense that the work 19:44.681 --> 19:44.099 going on there stands upon the 19:44.099 --> 19:45.780 shoulders of generations of 19:45.780 --> 19:47.836 shipbuilding knowledge and the skill 19:47.836 --> 19:50.199 set to build top-notch ships at pace 19:50.420 --> 19:53.880 just doesn't happen overnight . The 19:53.880 --> 19:55.824 country needs to protect this core 19:55.824 --> 19:57.991 national security asset , shipbuilders 19:57.991 --> 20:00.158 with the knowledge base and skill sets 20:00.158 --> 20:03.040 to build our naval fleet . The Navy 20:03.040 --> 20:05.040 sees an opportunity to build faster 20:05.040 --> 20:07.207 with foreign labor . I see nothing but 20:07.207 --> 20:09.207 risk . And given the justifications 20:09.207 --> 20:11.151 offered , I just don't see how the 20:11.151 --> 20:12.984 juice is worth the squeeze . The 20:12.984 --> 20:15.119 backlog is nothing from my , in my 20:15.119 --> 20:17.063 opinion , but a present day demand 20:17.063 --> 20:18.952 signal that incentivizes shipyard 20:18.952 --> 20:21.410 investments in both infrastructure and 20:21.479 --> 20:23.650 in the American shipbuilder . In the 20:23.650 --> 20:25.872 past few years I have watched Bath Iron 20:25.872 --> 20:28.150 Works carry out a recruitment campaign . 20:28.150 --> 20:30.206 They've trained young shipbuilders , 20:30.206 --> 20:32.150 and they've successfully increased 20:32.150 --> 20:34.372 their rate of production year over year 20:34.372 --> 20:36.483 coming out of COVID , and they aren't 20:36.483 --> 20:38.539 done making progress on that front . 20:38.539 --> 20:40.650 But now this proposal would literally 20:40.650 --> 20:42.872 pull the rug out from underneath them , 20:42.872 --> 20:44.983 and it's not just BIW . This proposal 20:44.983 --> 20:46.761 would send work overseas across 20:46.761 --> 20:48.206 multiple platforms . This 20:48.206 --> 20:50.317 administration has said over and over 20:50.317 --> 20:52.150 that it will prioritize American 20:52.150 --> 20:54.261 manufacturing . How could those goals 20:54.261 --> 20:56.150 possibly square with a request to 20:56.150 --> 20:58.206 offshore American fleet production ? 20:58.206 --> 21:00.150 Every hull that gets sent overseas 21:00.150 --> 21:02.372 weakens America's shipbuilders , making 21:02.372 --> 21:04.317 it harder for them to maintain the 21:04.317 --> 21:06.372 capacity , knowledge , and technical 21:06.372 --> 21:08.539 skills necessary to build and maintain 21:08.539 --> 21:10.650 the fleet that your sailors are gonna 21:10.650 --> 21:12.739 go to war in . This proposal weakens 21:12.739 --> 21:15.270 America's industrial base . It would 21:15.270 --> 21:17.989 weaken our American supply chains , and 21:17.989 --> 21:20.156 most importantly , it puts at risk the 21:20.156 --> 21:22.420 benefits of innovation that happen only 21:22.420 --> 21:24.489 on deck plates . And I'm not talking 21:24.489 --> 21:26.790 about engineers or AI . I'm talking 21:26.790 --> 21:28.846 about the type of innovation you get 21:28.846 --> 21:31.250 from a shipbuilder . To send any 21:31.250 --> 21:33.306 portion of our shipbuilding overseas 21:33.329 --> 21:35.550 would be a complete failure . There's 21:35.550 --> 21:37.661 no way I will support that proposal , 21:37.661 --> 21:39.772 and I hope that my colleagues in this 21:39.772 --> 21:41.939 Congress join me in opposing it . Even 21:41.939 --> 21:43.717 better would be for the Navy to 21:43.717 --> 21:45.859 withdraw it , rethink it , and come 21:45.859 --> 21:48.081 back with a plan to strengthen American 21:48.081 --> 21:51.709 shipyards . There's no way that you had 21:51.709 --> 21:53.709 much involvement in the drafting of 21:53.709 --> 21:56.150 this . It didn't happen in 3 weeks , 21:56.569 --> 21:59.280 but I'm gonna forget trying to pull it 21:59.280 --> 22:01.502 out of my memory . But General Powell , 22:01.502 --> 22:03.391 I think , said in his 13 rules of 22:03.391 --> 22:05.502 leadership , when you come into a new 22:05.502 --> 22:07.724 command position , don't just go making 22:07.724 --> 22:09.947 changes immediately , and I can't quite 22:09.947 --> 22:12.058 remember if it's 30 days or 90 days , 22:12.058 --> 22:14.169 but I'll go with 30 . After 30 days , 22:14.169 --> 22:16.510 sir , you own it . Thank you , 22:16.520 --> 22:18.631 Congressman . Uh , again , we have 80 22:18.631 --> 22:20.187 ships on contract and 59 in 22:20.187 --> 22:22.409 construction right now , and I , I just 22:22.409 --> 22:24.576 need for Bath Iron Works if they can , 22:24.576 --> 22:26.300 again , I would love to add 10 22:26.400 --> 22:28.567 destroyers in every year if we could . 22:28.599 --> 22:30.710 You guys can finish this conversation 22:30.710 --> 22:32.543 later . The gentleman's time has 22:32.543 --> 22:34.877 expired , expired , and I know you will . 22:34.877 --> 22:37.043 Doctor McCormick , you're recognized . 22:37.043 --> 22:38.988 Thank you , Mr . Chair . Uh , it's 22:38.988 --> 22:41.155 great to have you all here . It's near 22:41.155 --> 22:43.377 and dear to my heart as a both a Marine 22:43.377 --> 22:45.920 Corps and Navy veteran . Uh , welcome 22:45.920 --> 22:48.599 and congratulations for passing 3 22:48.599 --> 22:50.210 consecutive audits and , and 22:50.210 --> 22:51.988 congratulations to your son for 22:51.988 --> 22:54.099 becoming a Marine Corps officer . I'm 22:54.099 --> 22:53.680 really excited about that . I'm , I'm a 22:53.680 --> 22:55.736 little jealous . Uh , Ronnie Jackson 22:55.736 --> 22:57.736 just had his uh commissioned in the 22:57.736 --> 22:59.791 Marine Corps as well , as you know , 22:59.791 --> 23:01.624 and congratulations for having 4 23:01.624 --> 23:01.319 degrees . I'm a little jealous of that 23:01.319 --> 23:04.040 too . Um , one of the interesting 23:04.040 --> 23:06.151 things that came up , you , you , you 23:06.151 --> 23:08.429 expressed in your opening remarks , uh , 23:08.429 --> 23:10.262 the greatness of having 3 marine 23:10.262 --> 23:12.484 extradition units deployed at any given 23:12.484 --> 23:12.469 time to react to all the things that 23:12.469 --> 23:14.525 are going on around the world . Um , 23:14.525 --> 23:16.691 the assistant commandant came here and 23:16.691 --> 23:18.719 actually , uh , testified that we 23:18.719 --> 23:20.839 needed basically in order to sustain 23:20.839 --> 23:23.640 those 3 R slash MU , uh , basically a 23:23.640 --> 23:26.719 40 ship amphibious fleet . 23:27.439 --> 23:30.079 Um , Do you agree with that ? 23:31.439 --> 23:33.383 I do , sir . It's a combination of 23:33.420 --> 23:36.050 making what we have more ready and a 23:36.050 --> 23:37.939 combination of that combined with 23:37.939 --> 23:41.560 buying new . OK . Admiral , uh , one of 23:41.560 --> 23:43.782 the things that I saw in your , in your 23:43.782 --> 23:46.630 40 amphib , 40 amphib ships , doesn't 23:46.630 --> 23:48.686 really match your plan . I looked at 23:48.686 --> 23:50.686 your plan and , and , uh , the last 23:50.686 --> 23:52.852 time I saw the Navy's 30 ship building 23:52.852 --> 23:55.019 plan tops out at 35 amphib ships , and 23:55.019 --> 23:58.719 that is in 2055 . Uh , am I incorrect 23:58.719 --> 24:01.609 in any of that , uh , reading , Sir , I 24:01.609 --> 24:03.720 can tell you , you know , I , I think 24:03.720 --> 24:05.887 until recent , meaning within the last 24:05.887 --> 24:09.010 year , have we come and become aligned 24:09.010 --> 24:12.089 on 3-0 . And so the Navy was committed 24:12.089 --> 24:14.729 to 31 . And when we , you know , really , 24:14.849 --> 24:16.960 you know , realized , you know , I am 24:16.960 --> 24:19.280 all about 30 . That I needed some space 24:19.280 --> 24:21.391 to go understand the force generation 24:21.391 --> 24:23.669 process . Losing the Bahama Shard hurt , 24:23.839 --> 24:25.783 all the things that we're doing to 24:25.783 --> 24:28.006 improve the readiness before I can land 24:28.006 --> 24:30.117 a full number . But if you just do 30 24:30.117 --> 24:32.439 RMU , that's 9 ships , if you say a 4 24:32.439 --> 24:34.589 to make 1 or a 5 to make one , that 24:34.589 --> 24:37.199 lands somewhere between 36 ships and 45 24:37.199 --> 24:39.680 ships . So in initial rough order of 24:39.680 --> 24:41.847 magnitude 40 ships . That's not , that 24:41.847 --> 24:44.124 can't be that far off . So , so when I , 24:44.124 --> 24:46.347 I'm a simple marine , I only can get up 24:46.347 --> 24:48.347 to 20 because I run out of toes and 24:48.347 --> 24:50.180 fingers . So your , your degrees 24:50.180 --> 24:52.402 outmatch my fingers in many ways . Uh , 24:52.402 --> 24:52.150 but when I turn , turned to the 24:52.150 --> 24:54.483 secretary , who I consider a friend and , 24:54.483 --> 24:56.706 and , uh , I've spent time with , and I 24:56.706 --> 24:58.928 say , how do we reconcile those numbers 24:58.928 --> 25:01.150 when our best ship contract is 6 months 25:01.150 --> 25:03.372 behind and , uh , well , and about 150% 25:03.372 --> 25:06.219 over budget . And we do have shipping 25:06.219 --> 25:08.275 problems here in America , and I , I 25:08.275 --> 25:10.330 get the challenge where we've fallen 25:10.330 --> 25:12.275 behind . I went to Japan and Korea 25:12.275 --> 25:13.886 recently and looked at their 25:13.886 --> 25:13.459 shipbuilding . What are they doing 25:13.459 --> 25:15.626 differently ? How they modernize , how 25:15.626 --> 25:17.848 they've they've gotten better than us . 25:17.848 --> 25:20.070 I mean they , they deliver almost every 25:20.070 --> 25:22.339 ship under budget and on time . We 25:22.339 --> 25:24.395 never do that . And and our shipping 25:24.395 --> 25:26.728 industry is basically clapped on itself . 25:26.728 --> 25:28.895 No offense to the guys who do it , but 25:28.895 --> 25:28.579 we're obviously not doing something 25:28.579 --> 25:30.660 right . And so I , I applaud you for 25:30.660 --> 25:32.882 thinking outside the box . Whatever the 25:32.882 --> 25:35.216 answer is , bringing in their abilities , 25:35.216 --> 25:37.049 bringing in their technologies , 25:37.049 --> 25:36.819 bringing in their , their management 25:36.819 --> 25:38.875 skills , whatever it is , we need to 25:38.875 --> 25:40.763 change business , obviously . I'm 25:40.763 --> 25:42.986 trying to ask the secretary , how do we 25:42.986 --> 25:45.208 reconcile the difference between 40 and 25:45.208 --> 25:47.541 35 ships and how do we get back on time ? 25:47.541 --> 25:49.541 It's not just the way we contract , 25:49.541 --> 25:51.430 it's the way we build . How do we 25:51.430 --> 25:53.375 reconcile that ? You're absolutely 25:53.375 --> 25:55.486 right , Congressman . Again , I , I , 25:55.486 --> 25:57.819 we put out a 30 year ship building plan , 25:57.819 --> 26:00.041 but we have to really be honest and say 26:00.041 --> 25:59.939 we , we need to concentrate on 5 , 10 , 26:00.180 --> 26:02.513 and then change for 15 . Uh , this is a , 26:02.579 --> 26:04.690 a , a living document that we need to 26:04.690 --> 26:07.060 continually evolve and change to , to 26:07.060 --> 26:09.459 based on what the industry can produce , 26:09.619 --> 26:11.841 and this is why we need to , to look at 26:11.841 --> 26:13.730 every single lever , every single 26:13.730 --> 26:15.619 opportunity . Need to make things 26:15.619 --> 26:17.786 better faster through AI through added 26:17.786 --> 26:19.952 manufacturing . Things will change a , 26:19.952 --> 26:21.952 a great deal , sir , in , in 5 , 10 26:21.952 --> 26:23.897 years it's gonna be , it's , we're 26:23.897 --> 26:23.739 gonna get the industry going and we 26:23.739 --> 26:25.906 will crank out these ships , including 26:25.906 --> 26:28.072 amphibious ships , uh , and , uh , and 26:28.072 --> 26:30.295 destroyers as , as we need them , sir . 26:30.295 --> 26:32.517 I like the positive thought , but I , I 26:32.517 --> 26:32.459 was just looking at the recent fiscal 26:32.459 --> 26:35.640 year 27 budget . I noticed the LH 8 , 26:36.140 --> 26:39.280 LHA 8 and 9 are both a year behind now , 26:39.849 --> 26:42.016 uh , and we obviously , that's exactly 26:42.016 --> 26:44.127 what we're talking about right now is 26:44.127 --> 26:46.293 an amphibious fleet . And , and I know 26:46.293 --> 26:48.516 the , the positivity is there , but I'm 26:48.516 --> 26:48.449 looking for , uh , I don't care if we 26:48.449 --> 26:50.227 have to build ships overseas or 26:50.227 --> 26:52.116 whatever , but I wanna bring that 26:52.116 --> 26:51.930 technology back . I wanna bring that 26:51.930 --> 26:54.263 know-how back . I wanna work ethic back . 26:54.263 --> 26:56.319 I wanna bring all the things back to 26:56.319 --> 26:58.541 America that made us the leaders in the 26:58.541 --> 27:00.763 world originally . What is the specific 27:00.763 --> 27:03.410 plan to get American production back on 27:03.410 --> 27:05.530 track ? Love our ship workers , but 27:05.530 --> 27:07.869 something's broke for sure . That would 27:07.869 --> 27:10.036 be more shipyards , uh , congressman , 27:10.036 --> 27:12.202 and , and more getting the , the , the 27:12.202 --> 27:14.036 youth to come in . We're , we're 27:14.036 --> 27:16.036 looking at 540,000 jobs in order to 27:16.036 --> 27:18.091 build all these ships , not just our 27:18.091 --> 27:20.258 warships , but also commercial ships , 27:20.258 --> 27:20.150 and that's , that's what we need to 27:20.150 --> 27:22.261 invigorate and that's what we need to 27:22.261 --> 27:24.094 get in there . That's why I'm so 27:24.094 --> 27:26.261 excited . And again , in a few weeks I 27:26.261 --> 27:28.372 will be able to come into your office 27:28.372 --> 27:28.109 and tell you , hey , in 24 hours we're 27:28.109 --> 27:30.220 gonna , we're gonna announce this . I 27:30.220 --> 27:32.053 look forward to that . Right now 27:32.053 --> 27:34.220 China's outproducing about 201 and has 27:34.220 --> 27:36.276 about 50 times more ports . That's a 27:36.276 --> 27:35.550 problem . Thank you . With that a yield . 27:43.900 --> 27:45.956 Thank you Mr . Chairman and uh thank 27:45.956 --> 27:47.956 you all for being here today . It's 27:47.956 --> 27:51.439 good to see you . Um , Admiral , the 27:51.439 --> 27:53.439 secretary was here , uh , Secretary 27:53.439 --> 27:55.550 Hecketh , uh , here a couple of weeks 27:55.550 --> 27:57.661 ago . I asked him about the extension 27:57.661 --> 27:59.606 of the , uh , the USS Ford carrier 27:59.606 --> 28:01.717 strike group that had been extended , 28:01.717 --> 28:04.050 uh . And I asked him , which I didn't 28:04.050 --> 28:06.272 think was a satisfactory answer that he 28:06.272 --> 28:08.383 gave , right , what did the Navy tell 28:08.383 --> 28:10.609 him when they were modifying the gift 28:10.609 --> 28:13.050 map to extend , you know , the forward 28:13.050 --> 28:16.449 going to the Med and then down to South 28:16.449 --> 28:19.410 America and then obviously at the end 28:19.410 --> 28:21.521 here doing operations in the , in the 28:21.521 --> 28:23.466 Persian Gulf , crossed the equator 28:23.466 --> 28:25.569 multiple times . Uh , if there's a 28:25.569 --> 28:27.736 pollywog left on that ship , uh , it's 28:27.736 --> 28:31.140 gonna surprise me , um . But what , 28:31.219 --> 28:33.441 what concerns did you raise during that 28:33.441 --> 28:35.497 process when they were modifying the 28:35.497 --> 28:37.275 gift map and , and what are the 28:37.275 --> 28:39.108 ramifications gonna be for being 28:39.108 --> 28:41.439 extended out for over , over 300 days ? 28:42.900 --> 28:44.956 Sir , if you , uh , if you Google me 28:44.956 --> 28:47.178 and extensions , you'll see extensive , 28:47.180 --> 28:49.780 uh , articles out there on my pushback 28:49.780 --> 28:52.410 on extending any ship . It has 28:52.410 --> 28:54.243 detrimental impacts on our force 28:54.243 --> 28:56.609 readiness , on families , on sailors , 28:56.819 --> 28:59.041 the quality of their life , things that 28:59.041 --> 29:01.380 they miss , and the wear and tear , and 29:01.380 --> 29:03.729 then just the additional cost . Uh , 29:03.849 --> 29:06.800 but when we need military options for , 29:07.729 --> 29:09.785 we have to utilize what we have . We 29:09.785 --> 29:11.951 fight with the navy , we have , and so 29:11.951 --> 29:14.239 we make those , those risks apparent to 29:14.239 --> 29:16.183 the chairman . He carries those up 29:16.183 --> 29:18.239 echelon to the Secretary of War . We 29:18.239 --> 29:20.517 clearly articulate the impacts of that . 29:20.517 --> 29:22.628 And the hard decisions are made . And 29:22.628 --> 29:24.739 when it's made , we move out and then 29:24.739 --> 29:26.961 we conduct those operations and you see 29:26.961 --> 29:29.295 our sailors rise to that occasion . And , 29:29.295 --> 29:31.183 and I look at me , I , I know our 29:31.183 --> 29:33.183 sailors and our marines and all our 29:33.183 --> 29:32.844 forces , right , are going to rise . 29:32.885 --> 29:34.996 They're going to do what , what needs 29:34.996 --> 29:37.218 to be done whenever the situation calls 29:37.218 --> 29:39.329 for it . I have no doubt about that . 29:39.329 --> 29:41.441 But , you know , when you look at the 29:41.441 --> 29:43.607 situation , you had two other carriers 29:43.607 --> 29:42.935 around there . You had an arg and 29:42.935 --> 29:45.219 another arg on the way . Uh , really , 29:45.300 --> 29:47.411 was , did the Ford need to be there ? 29:47.411 --> 29:50.270 Absolutely , sir , 100% . Why is that ? 29:50.380 --> 29:52.547 You know , why do we need , why did we 29:52.547 --> 29:54.769 need more than one carrier group strike 29:54.769 --> 29:56.936 group there to kind of do it if , if , 29:56.936 --> 29:59.102 you know , this wasn't the , and , and 29:59.102 --> 30:01.380 to going back to historical times here , 30:01.380 --> 30:03.602 right ? This wasn't the Japanese during 30:03.602 --> 30:05.769 World War II . This wasn't the Spanish 30:05.769 --> 30:07.880 Armada . You know , in the early like 30:07.880 --> 30:09.991 16th century , this was a small naval 30:09.991 --> 30:12.449 force with the Iranians , right ? This 30:12.449 --> 30:14.505 wasn't a huge military force that we 30:14.505 --> 30:17.000 were facing . Why did we need 3 strike 30:17.000 --> 30:19.056 groups and an arc there to carry out 30:19.056 --> 30:21.167 this operation ? Sort of the planners 30:21.167 --> 30:23.222 at the US Central Command and at 5th 30:23.222 --> 30:25.056 Fleet go through detailed threat 30:25.056 --> 30:26.944 analysis to understand . That the 30:26.944 --> 30:28.667 actual axis and threats , uh , 30:28.667 --> 30:30.778 directionality and the things that we 30:30.778 --> 30:32.889 can do as a combat force to make sure 30:32.889 --> 30:34.556 we have overlapping fires and 30:34.556 --> 30:36.670 protection for our forces requires a 30:36.670 --> 30:38.892 certain amount of force before as force 30:38.892 --> 30:40.837 elements roll in and out in a make 30:40.837 --> 30:43.003 before break fashion . So that rolling 30:43.003 --> 30:45.281 amount of force has to be put in place . 30:45.281 --> 30:47.114 We don't evacuate the theater of 30:47.114 --> 30:49.448 operations before the next one comes in . 30:49.448 --> 30:51.559 That scheme of maneuver is delicate . 30:51.559 --> 30:53.781 It's balanced , and it's threat-based . 30:53.781 --> 30:55.892 And so that's all put out in front of 30:55.892 --> 30:57.948 all of us . We all look at it and we 30:57.948 --> 30:57.599 concur with those schemes of maneuver . 30:58.140 --> 31:00.196 All right , well , thank you for the 31:00.196 --> 31:02.196 answer , but we , I , again , I , I 31:02.196 --> 31:02.180 don't think we needed it there , and I 31:02.180 --> 31:04.347 think it was more extended . You could 31:04.347 --> 31:06.458 add another carrier there , um , than 31:06.458 --> 31:08.900 was needed . Um , General , good to see 31:08.900 --> 31:11.067 you again . Hope your health is good . 31:11.290 --> 31:13.179 Yes sir , I'm back to my fighting 31:13.179 --> 31:15.290 weight . Good , good , good . Glad to 31:15.290 --> 31:17.401 hear it . Um , you know , I'm a gator 31:17.401 --> 31:20.319 sailor , very big on the ark . Um , I 31:20.319 --> 31:22.319 wanna make sure that we , we get to 31:22.319 --> 31:24.486 what you need to be , and , and I know 31:24.486 --> 31:24.079 you're kind of like you said , you're 31:24.079 --> 31:26.301 working towards this 3.0 , but I didn't 31:26.301 --> 31:28.869 really get that that was really once we 31:28.869 --> 31:31.150 get there . That's where we need to be . 31:31.540 --> 31:33.859 What is it gonna take beyond that where 31:33.859 --> 31:35.859 you , where you're trying to get to 31:35.859 --> 31:37.970 right now to get to where you believe 31:37.970 --> 31:40.192 the Marine Corps and , and the AG needs 31:40.192 --> 31:42.415 because we are constantly , again , the 31:42.415 --> 31:44.748 COCOs . They're asking for the carriers . 31:44.748 --> 31:46.859 They're asking for the AG out there , 31:46.859 --> 31:46.829 right ? And right now we don't really , 31:46.949 --> 31:49.005 I think , have enough to , to supply 31:49.005 --> 31:51.116 what's needed . So what's going to be 31:51.116 --> 31:53.282 needed that you need to ensure that we 31:53.282 --> 31:55.560 can answer the call when needed ? Well , 31:55.560 --> 31:57.393 sir , the , the Marines have the 31:57.393 --> 31:59.449 capability to provide a constant 3.0 31:59.449 --> 32:01.560 RMU presence . We again , we have the 32:01.560 --> 32:00.790 squadrons , the infantry battalions , 32:00.880 --> 32:02.880 the artillery batteries . Um , what 32:02.880 --> 32:04.713 we're working on in concert with 32:04.713 --> 32:06.602 Admiral Caudle in the Navy is the 32:06.602 --> 32:08.769 ability to make our ships more ready , 32:08.769 --> 32:10.658 to make what we have more . Ready 32:10.658 --> 32:12.436 because it's not just about the 32:12.436 --> 32:14.491 deployment , it's about the workup , 32:14.491 --> 32:16.713 because as I often say , the first time 32:16.713 --> 32:16.564 you land on a pitching rolling deck 32:16.854 --> 32:19.055 shouldn't be at night on your way to a 32:19.055 --> 32:21.277 fight . You gotta have a 6 month workup 32:21.375 --> 32:23.431 or at least most of a 6 month workup 32:23.431 --> 32:25.597 followed by a 6 month deployment , and 32:25.597 --> 32:27.764 then you have to have downtime because 32:27.764 --> 32:29.986 those sailors and marines , they signed 32:29.986 --> 32:29.734 up to deploy , but they also have 32:29.734 --> 32:31.845 families and they want to come home . 32:31.845 --> 32:34.694 And so the ability to , to man a 3.0 RU 32:34.694 --> 32:37.920 presence is really our North Star . And 32:37.920 --> 32:40.031 that comes down to how many AMIBs can 32:40.031 --> 32:41.920 we have that are made ready , and 32:41.920 --> 32:44.031 Admiral Caudle is doing everything he 32:44.031 --> 32:46.198 can do along with Fleet Forces command 32:46.198 --> 32:46.050 to increase the readiness of those 32:46.050 --> 32:48.410 AMIBs to gentleman's time's expired 32:48.410 --> 32:50.466 here , and I recognize the gentleman 32:50.466 --> 32:52.688 from Wisconsin , Mr . Van Orden . Thank 32:52.688 --> 32:54.799 you , Mr . Chairman . Uh , thanks for 32:54.799 --> 32:54.170 coming out today , Mick Pond . Great to 32:54.170 --> 32:56.810 see you back there . Uh , I just wanna 32:56.810 --> 32:58.866 address a couple things , you know , 32:58.866 --> 33:01.088 I'm the longest serving enlisted guy to 33:01.088 --> 33:00.459 ever get elected to Congress in the 33:00.459 --> 33:02.515 history of the country , which means 33:02.515 --> 33:04.737 you can't lie to me . I got , I got all 33:04.737 --> 33:06.737 your numbers . Um , OK , on the old 33:06.737 --> 33:08.959 Facebook sphere , I wanna clear up some 33:08.959 --> 33:10.959 stuff . There's rumors going around 33:10.959 --> 33:13.015 with people my age that , uh , the , 33:13.015 --> 33:15.348 the NEX's and PX's are closing on bases . 33:15.348 --> 33:17.626 Is that correct ? Just say it out loud , 33:17.626 --> 33:19.570 man . No , OK , I want everyone on 33:19.570 --> 33:21.737 Facebook to hear what the admiral just 33:21.737 --> 33:23.792 said , that anything we're improving 33:23.792 --> 33:25.959 them . OK , thank you very much . It's 33:25.959 --> 33:25.780 really important . We gotta dispel a 33:25.780 --> 33:27.169 lot of stuff . General , 33:27.170 --> 33:29.780 congratulations on your , uh , passing 33:29.780 --> 33:31.780 your audit , but I'm gonna tell you 33:31.780 --> 33:33.891 this , you guys are notorious for not 33:33.891 --> 33:37.099 asking for stuff , OK ? So you know 33:37.099 --> 33:39.210 we're here to provide everything that 33:39.210 --> 33:41.619 our marines need , and so you gotta ask , 33:41.699 --> 33:44.040 and I know , I know it pains you guys 33:44.040 --> 33:46.373 terribly . I love the Marine Corps . Uh , 33:46.479 --> 33:48.535 you , you just gotta ask . So if you 33:48.535 --> 33:51.280 have OM deficits and Marines are buying 33:51.280 --> 33:53.447 equipment and all that sort of stuff , 33:53.447 --> 33:55.391 that is unacceptable , and we'll , 33:55.391 --> 33:57.558 we'll get your Marines everything they 33:57.558 --> 33:59.780 need . Just ask . You're welcome . Uh , 33:59.780 --> 34:01.780 Mr . Secretary , Where are you from 34:01.780 --> 34:03.780 again ? Where were you born ? I was 34:03.780 --> 34:05.891 born in Vietnam . You were . And when 34:05.891 --> 34:08.113 did you learn to speak English ? At the 34:08.113 --> 34:10.649 age of 12 . At the age of 12 . So you 34:10.649 --> 34:13.049 came here from Vietnam . And you became 34:13.049 --> 34:15.388 an American citizen . And then you 34:15.388 --> 34:17.555 retired as a Navy captain . Did any of 34:17.555 --> 34:19.499 that have to do with the fact that 34:19.499 --> 34:21.610 you're Vietnamese by birth ? No sir , 34:21.610 --> 34:23.832 it did . It did not . Did , did it have 34:23.832 --> 34:25.944 anything to do with the fact that you 34:26.589 --> 34:28.700 could speak two different languages ? 34:29.269 --> 34:31.269 It didn't . Why , why , why did you 34:31.269 --> 34:33.849 retire as a captain ? Sir , I , I , I , 34:33.968 --> 34:36.049 I retired at the time because after 34:36.049 --> 34:38.049 what happened in Afghanistan I just 34:38.049 --> 34:40.382 couldn't , I , I couldn't do it anymore . 34:41.249 --> 34:43.138 I will answer your question . You 34:43.138 --> 34:46.408 retired as an 06 because of merit , 34:46.888 --> 34:49.055 because you earned that position , and 34:49.055 --> 34:51.221 I , I do need to make it real clear to 34:51.221 --> 34:54.249 some of my colleagues that that is the 34:54.249 --> 34:56.193 United States military is the last 34:56.193 --> 34:58.416 meritocracy , and it has to remain . We 34:58.416 --> 35:00.249 don't care that you were born in 35:00.249 --> 35:02.360 Vietnam . We don't care that you're a 35:02.360 --> 35:04.360 naturalized citizen . We don't care 35:04.360 --> 35:03.958 that you speak two languages . We don't 35:03.958 --> 35:06.236 care if you're a man or you're a woman , 35:06.236 --> 35:08.402 if you're black or you're Mexican . We 35:08.402 --> 35:10.458 don't care . As long as the military 35:10.458 --> 35:12.919 maintains that and my navy um looks at 35:12.919 --> 35:15.520 people solely through the lens of 35:15.520 --> 35:17.600 meritocracy , then you're gonna do 35:17.600 --> 35:20.590 great . Um , I do want to bring up , 35:20.850 --> 35:22.906 I'm gonna echo what my friend , uh , 35:22.906 --> 35:25.300 Morgan Luttrell said . About , uh , 35:25.310 --> 35:27.629 suicide in the military and in the 35:27.629 --> 35:30.669 veterans , uh , I'm a chairman of 35:30.669 --> 35:33.189 subcommittee on VA . It's economic 35:33.189 --> 35:35.300 opportunity and prevention of veteran 35:35.300 --> 35:37.590 suicide is one of my , uh , taskings , 35:37.629 --> 35:39.740 and I'll be honest , we're failing at 35:39.740 --> 35:42.010 it . Uh , the predominant problem that 35:42.010 --> 35:43.843 I've had in the past is with the 35:43.843 --> 35:46.429 Department of War , um , in the 35:46.429 --> 35:48.580 transition assistance program . So a 35:48.580 --> 35:50.524 lot of our veterans commit suicide 35:50.524 --> 35:52.747 within that 1st 24 months after getting 35:52.747 --> 35:54.802 out of the military because you lose 35:54.802 --> 35:54.709 your uniform , your rank , and . The 35:54.709 --> 35:57.629 joke with the wives is , um , twice the 35:57.629 --> 35:59.907 husband , half the paycheck , you know , 35:59.907 --> 36:02.189 so what I want from you guys , Admiral 36:02.189 --> 36:04.133 and general , is that I do want to 36:04.133 --> 36:05.967 commit . I'm gonna ask you for a 36:05.967 --> 36:07.689 commitment and from you , Mr . 36:07.689 --> 36:07.389 Secretary , that you're gonna work with 36:07.389 --> 36:09.649 us at the Veterans Affairs Committee 36:09.909 --> 36:12.020 and with Doug Collins . Doug and Pete 36:12.020 --> 36:14.131 signed , you know , an , an amazing , 36:14.131 --> 36:16.298 uh , MOU , and I really need follow up 36:16.298 --> 36:18.750 on this because you're not making just 36:18.750 --> 36:20.972 sailors and you're not making marines , 36:20.972 --> 36:23.083 you're making Americans . Then you're 36:23.083 --> 36:25.194 making strong American citizens , and 36:25.194 --> 36:27.194 we want to look at someone from the 36:27.194 --> 36:30.860 time they joined the military . So in 36:31.010 --> 36:34.489 recruitment to the grave . And I , I 36:34.489 --> 36:36.656 just , I want a public commitment from 36:36.656 --> 36:38.822 you guys that you're going to continue 36:38.822 --> 36:38.729 to work with us and really increase 36:38.729 --> 36:40.785 your efforts . Admiral , will you do 36:40.785 --> 36:42.618 that with us ? Yes , sir , fully 36:42.618 --> 36:44.673 committed to that , Mr . Secretary . 36:44.673 --> 36:46.840 Sir , as a veteran and a retiree , yes 36:46.840 --> 36:50.570 sir . OK , General . 100% OK . Um , 36:50.830 --> 36:52.608 I will echo some of my Democrat 36:52.608 --> 36:54.719 colleagues . As , as many ships as we 36:54.719 --> 36:56.719 can build in the United States , we 36:56.719 --> 36:58.941 wanna build them . I understand that we 36:58.941 --> 37:01.052 have to go outside of our , our lines 37:01.052 --> 37:00.850 of communications right now because , 37:01.149 --> 37:03.260 uh , we just have lost the capacity . 37:03.429 --> 37:05.485 But , um , I firmly believe that our 37:05.485 --> 37:07.590 American , uh , men and women , our 37:07.590 --> 37:09.812 tradesmen and women , uh , are the best 37:09.812 --> 37:12.090 in the world . So as long as you guys 37:12.090 --> 37:14.500 are , you're filling a gap that exists 37:14.500 --> 37:16.830 right now , but you're also focusing . 37:17.409 --> 37:19.576 Uh , and making sure that we can build 37:19.576 --> 37:21.409 up our defense industrial base , 37:21.580 --> 37:23.913 particularly in the maritime arena , um , 37:24.219 --> 37:26.163 I think that we're going to do the 37:26.163 --> 37:28.330 right thing . So , uh , welcome aboard 37:28.330 --> 37:30.386 again , I guess . General , anything 37:30.386 --> 37:32.441 you guys need for your marines , you 37:32.441 --> 37:34.775 ask , sir . Will do , sir . And Admiral , 37:34.775 --> 37:37.108 take care of my Navy , will you ? We go , 37:37.108 --> 37:39.275 sir . Congress , just if I may , sir , 37:39.275 --> 37:41.441 uh , just real fast , uh , I know we , 37:41.441 --> 37:41.010 we keep , everybody loves the Marine 37:41.010 --> 37:43.177 Corps , Marsha , Marsha , Marsha , but 37:43.177 --> 37:45.399 the Navy , the Navy is also , uh , it's 37:45.399 --> 37:47.399 very close to finishing the working 37:47.399 --> 37:49.621 capital fund . We're months ahead , and 37:49.621 --> 37:51.843 by next year , we , uh , so we're gonna 37:51.843 --> 37:54.066 finish that , and then the general fund 37:54.066 --> 37:54.050 will be done next year . So the 37:54.050 --> 37:56.106 Department of Navy will be the first 37:56.106 --> 37:58.272 department in the Department of War to 37:58.272 --> 38:00.217 complete a , a clean audit , sir . 38:00.217 --> 38:03.159 Excellent . Thank you . I yield . As is 38:03.159 --> 38:05.381 a gentle lady from New Hampshire , Ms . 38:05.381 --> 38:07.659 Goodlander , thank you , Mr . Chairman . 38:07.659 --> 38:09.659 Thank you to our witnesses for your 38:09.659 --> 38:11.715 service to our country and for being 38:11.715 --> 38:13.826 here today . Mr . Cow , thank you for 38:13.826 --> 38:16.120 that very clear commitment that the 38:16.120 --> 38:18.370 Navy will be the first of the 38:18.370 --> 38:20.592 departments to pass a clean audit . You 38:20.592 --> 38:23.560 testified that . Part of your mission 38:23.560 --> 38:26.159 is to restore trust in the Navy and 38:26.580 --> 38:29.100 public trust depends upon a clean audit . 38:29.189 --> 38:31.219 So we look forward to the swift 38:31.219 --> 38:34.590 delivery on that most basic , most 38:34.590 --> 38:37.459 basic requirement that any organization 38:37.459 --> 38:39.939 in the state I , I represent . would 38:39.939 --> 38:42.729 hold themselves to . Um , so I , I 38:42.729 --> 38:46.290 wanna ask you . Along the lines of 38:46.290 --> 38:49.209 restoring trust , a really basic 38:49.209 --> 38:50.931 question as I look at , at the 38:50.931 --> 38:53.098 department's budget and where we could 38:53.098 --> 38:55.265 really crack down on waste , fraud and 38:55.265 --> 38:57.540 abuse , um . I think a lot about the 38:57.540 --> 39:00.179 right to repair . Do you agree , Mr . 39:00.189 --> 39:02.260 Cow , that , uh , the Navy should be 39:02.260 --> 39:04.419 able to repair and maintain its own 39:04.419 --> 39:07.060 equipment ? Congressman , absolutely . 39:07.179 --> 39:09.346 We , we paid for a lot of this RDT&E . 39:09.346 --> 39:11.568 I mean , for my car , for example , I , 39:11.568 --> 39:13.457 I , I , I don't have the right to 39:13.457 --> 39:15.679 repair because it , well , I mean , I , 39:15.679 --> 39:15.219 you know , I , I don't have the 39:15.219 --> 39:17.441 intellectual property , but we paid for 39:17.441 --> 39:19.663 this RDT&E . So the way I see it , it's 39:19.663 --> 39:21.719 our property as well , and we should 39:21.719 --> 39:23.941 have the right to repair this , ma'am . 39:23.941 --> 39:26.108 So can I count on your support for our 39:26.108 --> 39:25.860 Warrior right to repair Act in this 39:25.860 --> 39:29.469 year's NDAA ? Is that to 39:29.469 --> 39:32.070 repair equip , uh , or , or repair or 39:32.070 --> 39:35.699 it's to codify the right of our service 39:35.699 --> 39:37.755 members to repair and maintain their 39:37.755 --> 39:39.421 own equipment . Thank you . I 39:39.421 --> 39:41.477 appreciate that , and we really look 39:41.477 --> 39:43.588 forward to working with you on this . 39:43.588 --> 39:45.588 Um , your predecessor had a , had a 39:45.588 --> 39:47.755 clear commitment to this cause , and , 39:47.755 --> 39:49.755 uh , really look forward to working 39:49.755 --> 39:52.032 with you on this . I wanna turn to you , 39:52.032 --> 39:54.143 Admiral . You , you testified . Thank 39:54.143 --> 39:56.199 you for your testimony on our public 39:56.199 --> 39:58.255 naval shipyards . You testified that 39:58.255 --> 40:00.610 the most important driver to improving 40:00.610 --> 40:02.499 shipyard performance is workforce 40:02.499 --> 40:04.832 retention , stability , and development . 40:04.832 --> 40:07.689 You also testified that this past year 40:07.689 --> 40:09.467 we've seen higher than expected 40:09.467 --> 40:11.810 attrition and lower than planned new 40:11.810 --> 40:14.409 hires , which led to , as you put it , 40:14.489 --> 40:16.600 gaps in the engineering workforce and 40:16.600 --> 40:20.010 in critical trade shops . I wanna , I 40:20.010 --> 40:23.000 wanna ask you , uh , for your 40:23.000 --> 40:26.729 commitment to work with us in this NDAA , 40:27.100 --> 40:29.330 uh , to put in place some of the most 40:29.330 --> 40:31.320 basic protections that the men and 40:31.320 --> 40:33.542 women of our shipyards need right now . 40:33.542 --> 40:36.409 We've seen . Their jobs that are 40:36.409 --> 40:38.465 already so difficult be made so much 40:38.465 --> 40:40.530 harder , um , by policies that are 40:40.530 --> 40:44.439 emanating from OPM and OMB , uh , 40:44.689 --> 40:47.330 way out of the , the chain of command 40:47.330 --> 40:49.497 that we need to see right now . So I , 40:49.497 --> 40:51.330 I , I would like to ask for your 40:51.330 --> 40:53.409 support for a provision that we're 40:53.409 --> 40:55.520 working to advance in this year's NDA 40:55.520 --> 40:57.520 which would do a simple thing would 40:57.520 --> 41:00.489 prohibit the use of funds . Uh , 41:00.810 --> 41:03.032 federal funds for carrying out a hiring 41:03.032 --> 41:04.977 freeze , a reduction in force , or 41:04.977 --> 41:06.921 delay without cause in hiring at a 41:06.921 --> 41:09.088 public shipyard , we secured that on a 41:09.088 --> 41:11.330 bipartisan basis last year , um , and 41:11.330 --> 41:13.052 wanna ask for your support and 41:13.052 --> 41:15.219 commitment to securing that again this 41:15.219 --> 41:17.350 year . Uh , Congresswoman , anything 41:17.350 --> 41:20.139 that protects the over 37,000 shipyard 41:20.139 --> 41:22.361 workers that are for public yards , you 41:22.361 --> 41:24.528 have my full commitment on . They're a 41:24.528 --> 41:26.417 national treasure , and I'm fully 41:26.417 --> 41:28.583 committed to make sure they don't lose 41:28.583 --> 41:28.489 their job and make sure they're 41:28.489 --> 41:31.020 properly compensated as well . How , 41:31.139 --> 41:34.020 how far below , uh , the planned new 41:34.020 --> 41:36.479 hires were we this past fiscal year ? 41:36.729 --> 41:38.896 I'd have to get you the exact number , 41:38.896 --> 41:40.951 but you can think of a number like I 41:40.951 --> 41:43.062 would say like 1000 kind of number in 41:43.062 --> 41:45.118 that order of magnitude . But I'll , 41:45.169 --> 41:47.280 I'll take that for the record and get 41:47.280 --> 41:49.280 you the exact figure . I appreciate 41:49.280 --> 41:51.447 that and would love to be kept closely 41:51.447 --> 41:53.558 updated on this , that this shouldn't 41:53.558 --> 41:56.270 be so difficult . We have patriotic . 41:56.899 --> 41:58.955 People all across this country in my 41:58.955 --> 42:01.159 home state who are eager to serve and 42:01.340 --> 42:03.229 the red tape and the bureaucratic 42:03.229 --> 42:06.250 nonsense is harming our readiness , um , 42:06.260 --> 42:07.927 and really setting us back so 42:07.927 --> 42:09.982 unnecessarily . So I appreciate your 42:09.982 --> 42:12.204 commitment , Mr . Cow . Can we count on 42:12.204 --> 42:14.538 your commitment to work with us on this , 42:14.538 --> 42:16.760 on these provisions ? Thank you . I , I 42:16.760 --> 42:20.209 want to turn , uh , finally to the 42:20.209 --> 42:22.376 submarine industrial base . You know , 42:23.090 --> 42:25.034 New Hampshire small businesses are 42:25.034 --> 42:27.090 critical suppliers to our submarine 42:27.090 --> 42:30.270 industrial base , and what I've seen , 42:30.350 --> 42:32.406 uh , again and again is that our 2nd 42:32.406 --> 42:34.239 and 3rd tier suppliers have been 42:34.239 --> 42:36.072 challenged by . A whole range of 42:36.072 --> 42:38.183 factors . Um , in last year's NDAA we 42:38.183 --> 42:40.350 had a provision that directed the Navy 42:40.350 --> 42:42.572 to provide a briefing to this committee 42:42.572 --> 42:45.270 no later than January 31st , 2026 to 42:45.270 --> 42:47.239 better understand what tools are 42:47.239 --> 42:49.760 available to support our 2nd and 3rd 42:49.760 --> 42:52.679 tier industrial-based suppliers . We 42:52.679 --> 42:54.846 still haven't received that briefing . 42:54.846 --> 42:56.957 Can , can you commit to us that we'll 42:56.957 --> 42:59.235 get that briefing this month ? We will , 42:59.239 --> 43:01.350 uh , work on that as soon as we can , 43:01.350 --> 43:03.479 ma'am . OK . Can we expect before the 43:03.479 --> 43:06.909 end of , of this month ? If you mean 2 43:06.909 --> 43:09.242 weeks , I , I , I'll have to look at it , 43:09.242 --> 43:11.298 ma'am . I generally time's expired . 43:11.298 --> 43:11.159 Jerry and I recognize the gentleman 43:11.159 --> 43:13.459 from Virginia , Mr . McGuire . Thank 43:13.459 --> 43:15.770 you , Mr . Chairman . Um , I'd like to 43:15.770 --> 43:17.992 thank our witnesses for being here with 43:17.992 --> 43:19.937 us today . Um , I want to start by 43:19.937 --> 43:22.103 recognizing the sailors and Marines of 43:22.103 --> 43:24.326 the USS , uh , Gerald R . Ford's strike 43:24.326 --> 43:26.492 group . After a historic , you need to 43:26.492 --> 43:28.381 pull that microphone a little bit 43:28.381 --> 43:28.090 closer . Thank you , sir . Thank you , 43:28.129 --> 43:30.351 Mr . Chairman . Um , I want to start by 43:30.351 --> 43:32.518 recognizing the sailors and Marines of 43:32.518 --> 43:34.760 the USS Gerald R . Ford strike group . 43:35.250 --> 43:37.028 After a historic record set and 43:37.028 --> 43:39.028 deployment , they're finally almost 43:39.028 --> 43:41.330 home to Virginia , um . This was a 43:41.330 --> 43:43.620 historic trip , and they , they 43:43.620 --> 43:45.731 basically were deployed almost a year 43:46.139 --> 43:48.219 because we have atrophied in so many 43:48.219 --> 43:51.820 ways . And , uh , the , our , the CCP 43:51.820 --> 43:53.820 for example , has more submarines . 43:53.820 --> 43:56.042 They have more ships , more airplanes , 43:56.042 --> 43:58.153 more tanks than us , and which is why 43:58.153 --> 44:00.098 this budget is so important . This 44:00.098 --> 44:02.153 budget gives our sailors and marines 44:02.153 --> 44:04.264 the resources they need to do the job 44:04.264 --> 44:06.376 that the nation ask with them without 44:06.376 --> 44:06.139 having to stretch the fleet to a 44:06.139 --> 44:09.120 breaking point . And , uh , Secretary 44:09.120 --> 44:11.064 Cow , both the Navy and the Marine 44:11.064 --> 44:13.231 Corps met recruiting goals last year , 44:13.639 --> 44:15.861 uh , and you're on track to do it again 44:15.861 --> 44:17.972 this year . What would you say is the 44:17.972 --> 44:19.917 driving factors for the recruiting 44:19.917 --> 44:22.083 success , and are your quality of life 44:22.083 --> 44:24.306 efforts making an impact on retention ? 44:24.520 --> 44:26.631 So the main thing is the leadership . 44:26.679 --> 44:28.957 They know that we have their backs now , 44:28.957 --> 44:31.179 and that's what's so important . Look , 44:31.179 --> 44:33.346 our , our enlisted ranks are , are the 44:33.346 --> 44:35.457 backbone of this military . This is , 44:35.457 --> 44:37.512 you , you can talk about the Chinese 44:37.512 --> 44:39.623 fleet all you all day long , but they 44:39.623 --> 44:39.399 don't have what we have . The secret 44:39.399 --> 44:41.574 sauces that are . Listed ranks . Uh , 44:41.774 --> 44:43.996 it's , that's , that's the , the really 44:43.996 --> 44:46.052 the , what drives our military . You 44:46.052 --> 44:48.107 can be an E9 in the Chinese Navy and 44:48.107 --> 44:50.330 all you can do is sweep the floor . But 44:50.330 --> 44:52.385 here , our , our E3s are , are plane 44:52.385 --> 44:54.574 captains on the USS Gerald R . Ford . 44:54.814 --> 44:58.620 This is the difference , sir . OK , um , 44:59.459 --> 45:01.681 Admiral Cadell , I know there have been 45:01.681 --> 45:03.792 many conversations and questions over 45:03.792 --> 45:05.848 the past few days regarding the news 45:05.848 --> 45:08.070 that the Trump class battleship will be 45:08.070 --> 45:07.780 nuclear powered , and as you know , 45:07.860 --> 45:10.027 Virginia has a long history of nuclear 45:10.027 --> 45:12.027 shipbuilding . What specific design 45:12.027 --> 45:14.138 plans can you share at this point and 45:14.138 --> 45:16.304 could speak to how nuclear power would 45:16.304 --> 45:18.082 enable , uh , this system to be 45:18.082 --> 45:20.330 successful ? Sir , we walked away from 45:20.330 --> 45:22.552 surface nuclear power decades ago , and 45:22.552 --> 45:24.608 that was one of the largest mistakes 45:24.608 --> 45:26.774 the Navy ever did , and we're bringing 45:26.774 --> 45:28.663 it back . We need nuclear powered 45:28.663 --> 45:30.441 surface ships to sustain combat 45:30.441 --> 45:32.441 operations with our nuclear powered 45:32.441 --> 45:34.552 aircraft carriers . Imagine what that 45:34.552 --> 45:36.663 would have looked like in the Arabian 45:36.663 --> 45:38.552 Gulf if I'd had a nuclear powered 45:38.552 --> 45:40.608 battleship there to give the air and 45:40.608 --> 45:42.719 defense and fires power that it could 45:42.719 --> 45:44.719 sustain while I rotate , you know , 45:44.719 --> 45:46.663 ships that roll that need gasoline 45:46.663 --> 45:48.886 around it . So the , the imperative for 45:48.886 --> 45:50.997 this is crucial to develop that level 45:50.997 --> 45:53.219 of payload capacity . We intend to with 45:53.219 --> 45:55.370 all we can do , use pull-through 45:55.370 --> 45:57.592 technologies , things that we've worked 45:57.592 --> 46:00.169 on with DDGX . It will have the SPY 6 46:00.169 --> 46:02.225 radar . It will have the baseline 10 46:02.225 --> 46:04.280 Aegis . Combat system , it will pull 46:04.280 --> 46:06.336 through , of course , the A1B4 class 46:06.336 --> 46:08.485 reactor plan and all the design that 46:08.485 --> 46:10.263 goes with that . The only thing 46:10.263 --> 46:12.485 inherently new to it will be the actual 46:12.485 --> 46:14.435 hull itself . And so most of the 46:14.435 --> 46:16.491 fixtures in it , and I would say the 46:16.491 --> 46:18.713 directed energy and upgunning that will 46:18.713 --> 46:20.879 also be new . Awesome . And , uh , for 46:20.879 --> 46:22.879 the Commandant General Smith , uh , 46:22.879 --> 46:25.102 talk to me about how important it is to 46:25.102 --> 46:27.435 have more amphibious ships . Well , sir , 46:27.435 --> 46:29.435 as I've said , the , the amphibious 46:29.435 --> 46:31.546 Ready Group Marine Expeditionary Unit 46:31.546 --> 46:31.479 is the Swiss Army knife of the Joint 46:31.479 --> 46:33.520 Force . It can do a little bit of 46:33.520 --> 46:35.631 everything . Uh , it , it is a combat 46:35.631 --> 46:37.979 formation that is deployable globally . 46:38.159 --> 46:40.439 It can move hundreds of miles in a day . 46:40.729 --> 46:42.951 It can conduct non-combatant evacuation 46:42.951 --> 46:45.173 operations . It can conduct strike . It 46:45.173 --> 46:46.951 can conduct , uh , humanitarian 46:46.951 --> 46:49.118 assistance , disaster relief . It is , 46:49.118 --> 46:51.340 it is the Swiss Army knife of the Joint 46:51.340 --> 46:53.451 Force , and it is the 2nd most called 46:53.451 --> 46:55.507 for item in the DOD inventory by the 46:55.507 --> 46:55.370 combatant commanders . We love the 46:55.370 --> 46:57.703 Marine Corps . And by the way , Admiral , 46:57.703 --> 46:59.481 I really appreciate you and the 46:59.481 --> 47:01.648 Secretary and what we're doing to take 47:01.648 --> 47:03.703 care of our Navy and , uh . Our Navy 47:03.703 --> 47:05.759 sailors and our Marines . And by the 47:05.759 --> 47:07.648 way , BWXT as you know , is in my 47:07.648 --> 47:09.592 district , but we also have ATDM , 47:09.592 --> 47:11.592 accelerate , uh , Advanced Training 47:11.592 --> 47:13.703 Defense manufacturing . And we talked 47:13.703 --> 47:15.648 about that earlier , and we talked 47:15.648 --> 47:17.870 about how we have a need to step up our 47:17.870 --> 47:20.092 game and how many ships , how important 47:20.092 --> 47:22.203 is are places like ATDM ? I just need 47:22.203 --> 47:24.370 to rinse , lather and repeat , sir . I 47:24.370 --> 47:26.426 need them all over the country . You 47:26.426 --> 47:25.879 know , people ask me what they can do 47:25.879 --> 47:27.879 to bolster our defense and maritime 47:27.879 --> 47:29.935 industrial base . That's the model . 47:29.935 --> 47:32.080 And so I need more of that so that we 47:32.080 --> 47:34.439 can expand the recruiting palette that 47:34.439 --> 47:36.772 the shipyards , you know , recruit from . 47:36.772 --> 47:38.939 Most shipyard workers come within 5 to 47:38.939 --> 47:41.120 1015 miles from the shipyard . We need 47:41.120 --> 47:43.189 to have a , uh , country . Wide 47:43.189 --> 47:45.411 recruiting and development , and that's 47:45.411 --> 47:47.578 part of that plan that we need to do . 47:47.578 --> 47:49.800 Well , I agree with the Secretary and I 47:49.800 --> 47:51.911 agree with my friend Derek Van Norden 47:51.911 --> 47:54.133 here is that we want to build all ships 47:54.133 --> 47:53.189 and submarines and things in the United 47:53.189 --> 47:55.379 States , but we have atrophied for 47:55.379 --> 47:57.546 whatever reason . So partner , we have 47:57.546 --> 47:59.546 to have partners , go there , learn 47:59.546 --> 48:01.435 what they're doing , and grow the 48:01.435 --> 48:03.546 American defense industrial base . We 48:03.546 --> 48:05.823 really appreciate all of your services . 48:05.823 --> 48:07.990 Thank you so much . Gentlemen , yields 48:07.990 --> 48:09.990 back here , and I recognize Jen Lee 48:09.990 --> 48:12.101 from California , Ms . Jacobs . Thank 48:12.101 --> 48:15.350 you Mr . Chairman , um . Uh , Secretary 48:15.350 --> 48:17.830 Coo , um , the think tank CSIS 48:17.830 --> 48:19.949 estimates Operation Epic Furery cost 48:19.949 --> 48:23.949 roughly $900 million a day , about $3.7 48:23.949 --> 48:26.790 billion in the 1st 100 hours , with $10 48:26.790 --> 48:28.846 to $16 billion in munitions fired in 48:28.846 --> 48:32.030 the first four days . Your FY 27 budget 48:32.030 --> 48:34.870 requests $82.6 billion for operations 48:34.870 --> 48:36.981 and maintenance from this committee . 48:36.981 --> 48:38.981 What portion of that is just buying 48:38.981 --> 48:41.149 back what we shot in Epic Fury versus 48:41.149 --> 48:43.093 funding the Navy's readiness going 48:43.093 --> 48:45.316 forward ? Congresswoman , thank you for 48:45.316 --> 48:47.482 the question . None of this budget was 48:47.482 --> 48:50.270 built before Epic Fury , uh , and , and 48:50.270 --> 48:52.870 this is why we will require , require 48:52.870 --> 48:54.926 supplemental in order to pay for all 48:54.926 --> 48:56.870 the munitions and , and the , uh , 48:56.870 --> 48:59.037 operations and maintenance , uh , that 48:59.037 --> 49:01.370 comes with it , OK , because , you know , 49:01.370 --> 49:03.481 with the fleet already 20,000 sailors 49:03.481 --> 49:05.929 short on sea billets . I'm concerned 49:05.929 --> 49:09.110 that this $340 billion is not actually 49:09.449 --> 49:11.560 going to be what you need in terms of 49:11.560 --> 49:13.616 buying the ships , the sailors , the 49:13.616 --> 49:15.616 magazine depth to sustain what will 49:15.616 --> 49:17.790 likely be . Uh , sustained Centcom 49:17.790 --> 49:20.270 presence for years in the Strait of 49:20.270 --> 49:23.709 Hormuz . So can you commit to deliver 49:23.709 --> 49:25.709 to this committee , um , the 49:25.709 --> 49:27.653 department's current assessment of 49:27.653 --> 49:29.876 commercial shipping transit through the 49:29.876 --> 49:32.153 Strait under US , Iranian acquiescence , 49:32.153 --> 49:34.376 or , or neither , along with the Navy's 49:34.376 --> 49:36.431 force generation plan for sustaining 49:36.431 --> 49:38.542 the presence required through FY 27 ? 49:39.050 --> 49:41.217 Congressman , we will provide whatever 49:41.217 --> 49:43.383 information you need . Again , this is 49:43.383 --> 49:45.606 still an ongoing operation . Uh , as of 49:45.606 --> 49:47.606 yesterday , they're still , they're 49:47.606 --> 49:49.939 still launching over 100 , uh , one-man , 49:49.939 --> 49:51.939 uh , one-way attack drones and more 49:51.939 --> 49:54.800 than 33 or 4 dozen cruise missiles at 49:54.800 --> 49:56.967 us . So the operations are still going 49:56.967 --> 49:58.800 on , we , you know , even though 49:58.800 --> 50:00.800 there's a ceasefire , they're still 50:00.800 --> 50:02.967 firing at us , ma'am . Sure , I mean , 50:03.000 --> 50:05.429 but the , the president said it was 50:05.560 --> 50:07.449 over , and now you're saying it's 50:07.449 --> 50:09.616 ongoing , so you can understand why we 50:09.616 --> 50:11.504 as the committee that's trying to 50:11.504 --> 50:13.616 figure out what you're actually going 50:13.616 --> 50:15.671 to need , need some more information 50:15.671 --> 50:18.004 from you all . Yes , ma'am , absolutely , 50:18.004 --> 50:20.171 but yes , our operations , our kinetic 50:20.171 --> 50:22.282 operations have finished . We're just 50:22.282 --> 50:24.449 protecting other people , and that's , 50:24.449 --> 50:23.840 that's what we're doing with that . The , 50:23.889 --> 50:26.000 the , the Iranians are still shooting 50:26.000 --> 50:28.056 at , at allied , uh , shipping and , 50:28.056 --> 50:30.278 and , uh , and just being belligerent , 50:30.278 --> 50:32.222 ma'am . OK , well , well , we , we 50:32.222 --> 50:34.389 would like to know what you all in the 50:34.389 --> 50:36.278 Navy are going to need to sustain 50:36.510 --> 50:39.570 either this US presence or this 50:39.870 --> 50:42.092 blockade or , you know , whatever we're 50:42.092 --> 50:44.426 doing , so please , um , get that to us , 50:44.426 --> 50:46.590 um , General Smith , as you know , I 50:46.590 --> 50:48.479 represent San Diego , the largest 50:48.479 --> 50:50.479 military community in the country . 50:50.479 --> 50:52.701 There are many reports of strain of the 50:52.701 --> 50:54.868 strain on our marine and Navy families 50:54.868 --> 50:57.090 across San Diego . Um , we know Marines 50:57.090 --> 50:59.312 are trained for accelerated departure . 50:59.312 --> 51:01.423 You guys are first out . This is what 51:01.423 --> 51:03.534 you train for , but that doesn't make 51:03.534 --> 51:05.423 it any easier on the families and 51:05.423 --> 51:07.646 especially with the lack of information 51:07.646 --> 51:09.757 on timelines and you know I talked to 51:09.757 --> 51:11.590 one family support counselor who 51:11.590 --> 51:11.159 described the current situation in San 51:11.159 --> 51:14.610 Diego as panic and worry . Uh , at 51:14.610 --> 51:16.554 levels they had not seen in recent 51:16.554 --> 51:19.100 years and honestly , the family members 51:19.100 --> 51:21.044 I talked to , they don't know what 51:21.044 --> 51:23.156 support systems are available to them 51:23.156 --> 51:25.489 while their family members are deployed . 51:25.489 --> 51:27.322 What specific resources , family 51:27.322 --> 51:29.267 readiness programs , mental health 51:29.267 --> 51:31.489 support , chaplain services , etc . are 51:31.489 --> 51:33.489 currently funded and active for the 51:33.489 --> 51:36.330 families of the 11th Mw ? Ma'am , the , 51:36.409 --> 51:38.530 the 11th MU has family readiness 51:38.530 --> 51:41.360 coordinators who are active duty , uh , 51:41.370 --> 51:43.426 members who support the families who 51:43.426 --> 51:45.481 are back home , and then they have a 51:45.481 --> 51:47.370 family support network , which is 51:47.370 --> 51:49.537 comprised of the spouses who are , who 51:49.537 --> 51:51.537 are gonna keep a phone tree , so to 51:51.537 --> 51:53.648 speak , to keep themselves informed . 51:53.648 --> 51:53.209 And then the command has the 51:53.209 --> 51:55.320 responsibility to keep those families 51:55.320 --> 51:57.449 informed via those , uh . Via those 51:57.449 --> 52:00.570 coordinators , OK , well , whatever is 52:00.570 --> 52:02.737 happening is not enough . Families are 52:02.737 --> 52:04.903 not getting what they need , and I'm , 52:04.903 --> 52:06.848 I'm glad you brought up the family 52:06.848 --> 52:08.959 readiness coordinators . Um , I asked 52:08.959 --> 52:10.959 Lieutenant General Bowers this at a 52:10.959 --> 52:10.649 military personnel subcommittee last 52:10.649 --> 52:12.705 month , but there's been recent news 52:12.705 --> 52:14.760 that the Marine Corps is phasing out 52:14.760 --> 52:16.816 its civilian personnel personnel and 52:16.816 --> 52:18.649 family readiness program . These 52:18.649 --> 52:20.982 positions are needed now more than ever . 52:20.982 --> 52:22.871 Um , these coordinators work with 52:22.871 --> 52:24.705 commanders to provide insight on 52:24.705 --> 52:26.816 quality of life for Marines and their 52:26.816 --> 52:26.590 families , relay information to spouses . 52:26.919 --> 52:29.120 Can you provide an update to me on 52:29.120 --> 52:30.787 these coordinators ? Have you 52:30.787 --> 52:33.009 reconsidered this decision to phase out 52:33.009 --> 52:35.176 these positions ? Ma'am , I'll have to 52:35.176 --> 52:35.120 come back to you on that . OK , well , 52:35.179 --> 52:37.439 I really hope that you do because we 52:37.439 --> 52:39.328 cannot make this responsibility a 52:39.328 --> 52:41.715 collateral duty . For our marines we 52:41.715 --> 52:43.945 will undermine both missions . Our , 52:44.024 --> 52:47.185 our families need to get this 52:47.185 --> 52:49.352 information . They need to get this so 52:49.352 --> 52:51.685 that our marines can do their jobs , um , 52:51.685 --> 52:53.685 and you know , my , my community is 52:53.685 --> 52:55.852 paying the brunt of this right now and 52:55.852 --> 52:57.741 it is really , really hard on our 52:57.741 --> 52:59.963 community and on our family . So I hope 52:59.963 --> 52:59.354 that you'll do everything you can to 52:59.354 --> 53:01.465 make sure they're getting the support 53:01.465 --> 53:03.798 that they need , Mr . Chairman Ayy back . 53:03.798 --> 53:05.854 Gentle , yields back , Chair , and I 53:05.854 --> 53:08.021 recognize the gentleman from Indiana , 53:08.021 --> 53:10.021 Mr . Mesmer . Uh , thank you , Mr . 53:10.021 --> 53:09.120 Chairman , and thank you for our 53:09.120 --> 53:10.953 witnesses for being here today . 53:10.953 --> 53:13.520 Secretary Cow , the US Navy's 20266 53:13.520 --> 53:15.870 shipbuilding plan says distributed 53:15.870 --> 53:18.280 shipbuilding is about 10% today , and 53:18.280 --> 53:20.600 the goal is to get to 50% . Since I've 53:20.600 --> 53:22.822 been in Congress , I've advocated for a 53:22.822 --> 53:24.711 distributive model that leverages 53:24.711 --> 53:26.878 industrial capacity in the Midwest and 53:26.878 --> 53:28.767 in the Ohio and Mississippi River 53:28.767 --> 53:30.933 valleys . Uh , what is going to be the 53:30.933 --> 53:33.044 actual metric you will use to measure 53:33.044 --> 53:35.378 that 50% goal ? Is it dollars , tonnage , 53:35.378 --> 53:35.139 modules , and when should we expect to 53:35.139 --> 53:36.972 see some real movement in that ? 53:37.560 --> 53:39.893 Congressman , uh , uh , Congressman , I , 53:39.893 --> 53:42.060 I , I would love for us to build ships 53:42.060 --> 53:44.116 along the Mississippi River River in 53:44.116 --> 53:46.060 modules , float it down and put it 53:46.060 --> 53:48.004 together down in the , the Gulf of 53:48.004 --> 53:49.949 America . Uh , I will defer to the 53:49.949 --> 53:52.004 Secretary , uh , does he know , uh , 53:52.004 --> 53:54.004 for the metrics that you need . And 53:54.004 --> 53:56.060 Congressman , you know , I think all 53:56.060 --> 53:55.750 those metrics have to be measured . 53:55.870 --> 53:58.037 Calls , performance indices have to be 53:58.037 --> 54:00.259 looked at , but I think the best one is 54:00.259 --> 54:02.203 the module count , and it's how we 54:02.203 --> 54:04.426 distribute those modules to different , 54:04.426 --> 54:06.648 uh , uh , uh , manufacturers to be able 54:06.648 --> 54:08.814 to put that together . The yards today 54:08.814 --> 54:10.870 keep records on that and graphics on 54:10.870 --> 54:13.037 that and metrics on that . And to me , 54:13.037 --> 54:15.148 that's the best , uh , way that we'll 54:15.148 --> 54:14.830 actually measure that modularity 54:14.830 --> 54:16.941 approach . OK , if we're gonna get to 54:16.941 --> 54:19.270 50% of distributed work , how are we 54:19.270 --> 54:21.492 going to incentivize the primes to give 54:21.492 --> 54:23.449 up the , uh , Worksha that they 54:23.449 --> 54:25.679 historically have done in-house , uh , 54:25.850 --> 54:27.961 or inside to keep , uh , their legacy 54:27.961 --> 54:30.080 supplier base , uh , intact . How are 54:30.080 --> 54:32.247 we gonna incentivize it ? You're gonna 54:32.247 --> 54:34.413 mandate it ? I mean , how are we gonna 54:34.413 --> 54:37.459 get from where we are today to More 54:37.459 --> 54:39.681 modules . Well , you know , that's only 54:39.681 --> 54:41.403 come through collaboration and 54:41.403 --> 54:43.515 partnerships , contractual strategies 54:43.515 --> 54:45.626 that incentivize , uh , talking about 54:45.626 --> 54:47.515 how they , you know , we actually 54:47.515 --> 54:49.237 improve re-facilitization with 54:49.237 --> 54:51.237 additional partners to actually get 54:51.237 --> 54:53.126 into the game . I think there's a 54:53.126 --> 54:55.126 concern that they can't deliver and 54:55.126 --> 54:54.919 they'll become the critical path . 54:55.179 --> 54:57.346 Because their inability to deliver the 54:57.346 --> 54:59.457 module . So we need to like prototype 54:59.457 --> 55:01.123 that and make sure that these 55:01.123 --> 55:03.290 additional manufacturers can do that , 55:03.290 --> 55:05.512 build confidence , and then when , when 55:05.512 --> 55:07.735 the actual demand signal gets there and 55:07.735 --> 55:09.679 then , and the prime yards realize 55:09.679 --> 55:11.790 they're actually making more money by 55:11.790 --> 55:13.790 this approach , I think it'll solve 55:13.790 --> 55:16.860 itself . OK . Very good . Um , Mr . 55:17.000 --> 55:19.580 Secretary , your shipbuilding plan says 55:19.580 --> 55:22.100 the department accepted proprietary 55:22.100 --> 55:25.020 locked in and undervalued its IP rights 55:25.020 --> 55:26.899 in ways that degraded organic 55:26.899 --> 55:29.100 maintenance . Is part of that reason , 55:29.219 --> 55:31.219 is that part of the reason the Navy 55:31.219 --> 55:33.620 still struggles to sustain the legacy 55:33.620 --> 55:34.953 spy one radar systems ? 55:37.679 --> 55:39.790 Congressman , again , despite one , a 55:39.790 --> 55:41.735 lot of the pieces and parts are no 55:41.735 --> 55:44.012 longer , uh , construction , but again , 55:44.012 --> 55:46.235 I , I , you , you're right , we need to 55:46.235 --> 55:46.000 have the right to repair . We need to 55:46.000 --> 55:48.056 be able to go , get in there . Our , 55:48.056 --> 55:51.280 our sailors are so just so talented , 55:51.320 --> 55:53.542 and they , they can fix anything . I've 55:53.542 --> 55:55.487 seen this with my own eyes in , in 55:55.487 --> 55:57.598 combat where if something goes down , 55:57.598 --> 55:59.709 they're , they're working all day and 55:59.709 --> 56:01.764 all night to get these things up and 56:01.764 --> 56:03.931 going , and it's just a very difficult 56:03.931 --> 56:03.804 to get a contractor out there . In the 56:03.804 --> 56:06.026 middle while you're getting shot out at 56:06.026 --> 56:08.304 the in the streets of Hormuz . So , uh , 56:08.304 --> 56:10.415 yes sir , this is why we need to make 56:10.415 --> 56:12.471 sure that we have right to repair is 56:12.471 --> 56:12.014 very critical . Thank you . Uh , 56:12.084 --> 56:14.764 Admiral Caudle , is the USS Zoomwalt 56:14.764 --> 56:16.764 still on track to conduct the first 56:16.764 --> 56:18.764 afloat , a conventional prop strike 56:18.764 --> 56:20.486 test in 2027 ? And what's your 56:20.486 --> 56:22.653 realistic timeline , timeline for that 56:22.653 --> 56:24.375 weapon system to reach initial 56:24.375 --> 56:26.597 operation capability ? Sir , I think it 56:26.597 --> 56:28.597 is on track to do that test , and I 56:28.597 --> 56:30.764 think it's IOC for that will be , uh , 56:30.764 --> 56:33.290 probably in the , in the late part of 56:33.290 --> 56:35.401 this decade before I would claim that 56:35.401 --> 56:37.623 it's fully ready and operational . OK . 56:37.689 --> 56:39.745 Uh , reporting indicates the Navy is 56:39.745 --> 56:41.856 considering replacing the SPY 3 radar 56:41.856 --> 56:44.250 with a SPY-6 . Will this shift , uh , 56:44.409 --> 56:46.465 create additional schedule or , uh , 56:46.465 --> 56:48.576 cost risks for CPS fielding and delay 56:48.576 --> 56:50.576 the Navy's plan , uh , to bring the 56:50.576 --> 56:52.298 full Zumal class online with a 56:52.298 --> 56:55.540 hypersonic capability ? Not according 56:55.540 --> 56:57.762 to our plan . And so , you know , we're 56:57.762 --> 56:59.762 working hard to make sure that that 56:59.762 --> 57:01.929 stays out of the critical path for the 57:01.929 --> 57:04.151 delivery of Zumwalt's capability . OK . 57:04.151 --> 57:06.318 Uh , with only 3 ships in this class , 57:06.318 --> 57:08.318 can the Navy realistically meet the 57:08.318 --> 57:10.484 Indoean present requirements for the , 57:10.484 --> 57:12.484 uh , for this weapon system ? Or is 57:12.484 --> 57:14.373 force simply too small to provide 57:14.373 --> 57:16.318 persistent operational impact . So 57:16.318 --> 57:18.318 we're looking at crewing models for 57:18.318 --> 57:17.770 that to make sure that we're doing that 57:17.770 --> 57:19.937 right . You can see that it's almost a 57:19.937 --> 57:22.250 natural fit to what we did with SSGNs 57:22.330 --> 57:24.441 where we had a blue and gold crew for 57:24.441 --> 57:26.386 that . So I'm looking at different 57:26.386 --> 57:28.163 models to actually maximize our 57:28.163 --> 57:30.163 operational availability of a three 57:30.163 --> 57:32.108 ship class to actually keep one on 57:32.108 --> 57:33.997 station most of the time and then 57:33.997 --> 57:36.163 rotate changes of command in theater . 57:36.163 --> 57:38.219 OK , thank you , uh , uh , Secretary 57:38.219 --> 57:40.441 Coal . The navy has clearly prioritized 57:40.441 --> 57:42.620 low-cost at scale hypersonic systems 57:43.110 --> 57:45.221 with a $1.6 billion budget request to 57:45.221 --> 57:48.659 procure 4,157 . Uh , Mace missiles , 57:48.739 --> 57:50.572 can you highlight how multi-year 57:50.572 --> 57:52.795 procurement acquisitions have made this 57:52.795 --> 57:54.906 purchase possible and , and how , how 57:54.906 --> 57:56.795 we , we could be applied to other 57:56.795 --> 57:58.739 munitions ? Multi , you , you guys 57:58.739 --> 58:00.739 allowing us to do multi-year , uh , 58:00.739 --> 58:02.906 procurement has really opened up the , 58:02.906 --> 58:05.017 the aperture for industry to actually 58:05.017 --> 58:07.183 invest into their , their , uh , their 58:07.183 --> 58:09.239 development and as well as give them 58:09.239 --> 58:11.350 the stable gentleman's time's expired 58:11.350 --> 58:11.260 here and I recognize a young lady from 58:11.260 --> 58:14.639 Maryland , Miss Elforth . Thank you , 58:14.659 --> 58:16.826 Mr . Thank you , Mr . Secretary . Um , 58:16.826 --> 58:18.937 I think you're hearing the bipartisan 58:18.937 --> 58:21.048 nature . I don't think I've been in a 58:21.048 --> 58:20.989 committee hearing that is this 58:20.989 --> 58:22.711 bipartisan , especially on the 58:22.711 --> 58:24.933 shipbuilding front . I'd like to remind 58:24.933 --> 58:27.100 everybody that I represent Coast Guard 58:27.100 --> 58:29.211 here in Baltimore , not , not yours , 58:29.211 --> 58:31.211 but they help you on occasion , 130 58:31.211 --> 58:33.378 yard , uh , yard that , uh , sometimes 58:33.378 --> 58:35.489 has 3 generations of workers who have 58:35.489 --> 58:37.711 been . Uh , supporting this work and as 58:37.711 --> 58:39.822 we think about easy ecosystems to tap 58:39.822 --> 58:41.989 into to meet this demand , I'd like to 58:41.989 --> 58:44.322 have that conversation , Mr . Secretary , 58:44.322 --> 58:43.560 if you'd be willing to have it in the 58:43.560 --> 58:45.919 next few weeks about . Yes , ma'am , I 58:45.919 --> 58:48.252 think in a few weeks we will be talking , 58:48.252 --> 58:50.419 uh , independently about some of these 58:50.419 --> 58:52.641 things . Perfect . Another bipartisan , 58:52.641 --> 58:52.020 uh , issue you're hearing is this 58:52.020 --> 58:54.260 commitment to actually getting to our 58:54.260 --> 58:56.649 goal with AMIBs , and I know that the 58:56.649 --> 58:58.760 budget right now has $6.2 billion for 58:58.760 --> 59:00.371 submarines , 7.2 for nuclear 59:00.371 --> 59:02.482 shipbuilder , productivity , 6.7% for 59:02.482 --> 59:04.689 surface ships combined in terms of the 59:04.689 --> 59:06.745 industrial base , uh , investments , 59:06.860 --> 59:09.090 but I'm , I'm struggling to find our 59:09.090 --> 59:11.312 industrial-based investments for AMIB . 59:11.312 --> 59:13.257 So we're in the budget . Uh , Mr . 59:13.257 --> 59:15.590 Secretary or Admiral , is the Navy 59:15.590 --> 59:17.479 specifically investing to protect 59:17.479 --> 59:19.479 amphibious shipbuilding capacity at 59:19.479 --> 59:21.368 Ingalls from being displaced from 59:21.368 --> 59:24.310 competing interests ? Well , I , I 59:24.310 --> 59:26.366 think that's all part of the broader 59:26.366 --> 59:28.477 mid money . So I don't know that that 59:28.477 --> 59:30.643 Ingalls called out that it's not being 59:30.643 --> 59:32.866 part of that . I can get you the detail 59:32.866 --> 59:34.921 of what percentage Ingalls itself is 59:34.921 --> 59:34.550 getting of that , but they're certainly 59:34.550 --> 59:36.828 part of that . They're crucial to this , 59:36.828 --> 59:38.883 ma'am . I'd appreciate just that . I 59:38.883 --> 59:38.379 think that level of detail will help 59:38.379 --> 59:40.601 assuage . Some of the concern on , on , 59:40.601 --> 59:42.768 on both sides of the aisle , um , Mr . 59:42.820 --> 59:44.931 Secretary , I wanna congratulate your 59:44.931 --> 59:46.931 family in advance on your son being 59:46.931 --> 59:49.153 commissioned next week . I wish I could 59:49.153 --> 59:48.820 be there . Votes have been called , uh , 59:48.860 --> 59:50.804 on Friday . I represent the United 59:50.804 --> 59:52.749 States Naval Academy , uh , on the 59:52.749 --> 59:54.971 board as well as a few other members of 59:54.971 --> 59:57.138 this committee . Um , and I'm sure , I 59:57.138 --> 59:56.949 know , thank you for being there . The 59:56.949 --> 59:59.005 superintendent told me , uh , you've 59:59.005 --> 01:00:00.782 spent a lot of time there . You 01:00:00.782 --> 01:00:02.893 understand , obviously how incredibly 01:00:02.893 --> 01:00:02.879 important it is to the nation , but 01:00:02.879 --> 01:00:05.469 also , uh , it's suffering from a 01:00:05.469 --> 01:00:07.870 vulnerability that a lot of by nature 01:00:07.870 --> 01:00:10.750 of marine and Navy bases being close to 01:00:10.750 --> 01:00:12.750 water is , is suffering from a real 01:00:12.750 --> 01:00:14.972 challenge , which is flooding . Um , we 01:00:14.972 --> 01:00:16.917 are fighting right now . I'm gonna 01:00:16.917 --> 01:00:19.028 leave to try to get some , some extra 01:00:19.028 --> 01:00:20.972 funding for the Naval Academy , 86 01:00:20.972 --> 01:00:20.629 million it needs just to be able to 01:00:20.629 --> 01:00:22.719 keep classes running on time . Um , 01:00:22.879 --> 01:00:24.879 what's happening though is , as I'm 01:00:24.879 --> 01:00:27.212 sure you know , the urgency of flooding , 01:00:27.212 --> 01:00:29.379 we don't need to argue about the cause 01:00:29.379 --> 01:00:31.490 that's happening , is displacing some 01:00:31.490 --> 01:00:33.601 other really important infrastructure 01:00:33.601 --> 01:00:35.768 needs across our , our Navy and Marine 01:00:35.768 --> 01:00:35.699 bases , including the Naval Academy . 01:00:36.159 --> 01:00:37.937 This is just the reality of the 01:00:37.937 --> 01:00:39.937 situation . So we were making , you 01:00:39.937 --> 01:00:42.103 know , good , decent progress on it so 01:00:42.103 --> 01:00:44.215 far . I was a little surprised to see 01:00:44.215 --> 01:00:46.381 that the fiscal year 27 budget reduces 01:00:46.381 --> 01:00:48.548 domestic stormwater compliance funding 01:00:48.548 --> 01:00:50.770 by approximately 1/3 from where we were 01:00:50.770 --> 01:00:52.881 in last fiscal year . And again , the 01:00:52.881 --> 01:00:54.937 seas are gonna keep rising . They're 01:00:54.937 --> 01:00:57.048 going , these projects are gonna push 01:00:57.048 --> 01:00:57.020 out other important infrastructure 01:00:57.020 --> 01:00:59.131 priorities because we have to address 01:00:59.131 --> 01:01:01.187 them now . And I just wanna flag for 01:01:01.187 --> 01:01:03.131 everybody at this table that I , I 01:01:03.131 --> 01:01:05.464 would love to see a more ambitious , uh , 01:01:05.464 --> 01:01:07.687 approach to protecting our bases from , 01:01:07.820 --> 01:01:09.764 from nuisance flooding , sunny day 01:01:09.764 --> 01:01:11.876 flooding . You're gonna see the Naval 01:01:11.876 --> 01:01:13.987 Academy . I , I think we need to be a 01:01:13.987 --> 01:01:13.800 little more aggressive and concerted 01:01:14.100 --> 01:01:16.211 when it comes to flooding . I do want 01:01:16.211 --> 01:01:18.267 to move on with my time , um , to an 01:01:18.267 --> 01:01:20.489 opportunity that was the challenge , an 01:01:20.489 --> 01:01:22.767 opportunity , switching gears entirely , 01:01:22.767 --> 01:01:24.989 uh , Packs River in Maryland , um , has 01:01:24.989 --> 01:01:26.989 the largest anechoic chamber in the 01:01:26.989 --> 01:01:29.044 country . We're very proud of it . I 01:01:29.044 --> 01:01:27.959 wanna thank you all for your 01:01:27.959 --> 01:01:30.280 investments in it over the years . You 01:01:30.280 --> 01:01:32.391 probably don't know it's so popular , 01:01:32.391 --> 01:01:35.060 it has a years-long backlog for testing . 01:01:35.570 --> 01:01:37.626 Um , I think this is the moment when 01:01:37.626 --> 01:01:39.848 we're thinking about our capabilities , 01:01:39.848 --> 01:01:41.959 especially with our adversaries , you 01:01:41.959 --> 01:01:43.959 know , catching up , that we should 01:01:43.959 --> 01:01:46.070 think about a second anechoic chamber 01:01:46.070 --> 01:01:45.610 just to relieve some of the pressure of 01:01:45.610 --> 01:01:47.721 that testing . I would love to invite 01:01:47.721 --> 01:01:49.943 you all to come down to Packs River . I 01:01:49.943 --> 01:01:52.110 know Congressman Hoyer has been , this 01:01:52.110 --> 01:01:54.221 has been his life's work to come down 01:01:54.221 --> 01:01:53.929 and see that anechoic chamber . Can I 01:01:53.929 --> 01:01:56.096 have a , a , you know , time is of the 01:01:56.096 --> 01:01:58.207 essence , but I , I understand you're 01:01:58.207 --> 01:02:00.262 busy . I would love to , to show you 01:02:00.262 --> 01:02:02.373 that and try to figure out a way to , 01:02:02.373 --> 01:02:04.373 to get that second anechoic chamber 01:02:04.373 --> 01:02:06.596 built for , for our warfighters . Yes , 01:02:06.596 --> 01:02:08.762 ma'am , we'll , we'll , we'll get down 01:02:08.762 --> 01:02:08.679 there . Definitely in my commitment to 01:02:08.679 --> 01:02:10.623 come , uh , you know , if I'm , if 01:02:10.623 --> 01:02:12.790 that's in the critical path of holding 01:02:12.790 --> 01:02:14.957 back things when we need another one , 01:02:14.957 --> 01:02:14.409 I'll certainly look at it . OK . I , I 01:02:14.409 --> 01:02:16.576 really appreciate it . I think there's 01:02:16.576 --> 01:02:18.798 a way to get this privately and , and , 01:02:18.798 --> 01:02:20.909 and publicly funded and , and get the 01:02:20.909 --> 01:02:23.076 best deal for our warfighters . Um , I 01:02:23.076 --> 01:02:22.510 have one more question that I'm just 01:02:22.510 --> 01:02:24.621 gonna off the cuff this because we've 01:02:24.621 --> 01:02:26.788 been talking about partnering with our 01:02:26.788 --> 01:02:28.954 allies like Finland and , and Korea to 01:02:28.954 --> 01:02:31.066 meet the moment that we , is required 01:02:31.066 --> 01:02:33.177 of all of us to get this shipbuilding 01:02:33.177 --> 01:02:35.343 kickstarted again in this country . If 01:02:35.343 --> 01:02:37.343 you were sitting on our side of the 01:02:37.343 --> 01:02:39.399 table though , I , I think you heard 01:02:39.399 --> 01:02:41.621 some skepticism and some intrigue , how 01:02:41.621 --> 01:02:43.919 do we get you to , to tie your hands 01:02:43.919 --> 01:02:46.086 that you're actually gonna bring those 01:02:46.086 --> 01:02:48.197 jobs back to the states ? We're gonna 01:02:48.197 --> 01:02:50.197 go overseas , get that , you know , 01:02:50.399 --> 01:02:52.500 training , but we need to bring that 01:02:52.719 --> 01:02:54.775 capability back so we can expand our 01:02:54.775 --> 01:02:56.997 own industrial base . How would you tie 01:02:56.997 --> 01:02:59.275 your own hands ? Ma'am , again , we're , 01:02:59.275 --> 01:03:01.330 we're Americans and we need to build 01:03:01.330 --> 01:03:03.552 things in America as much as possible . 01:03:03.552 --> 01:03:05.830 But right now , even at , uh , the ATS , 01:03:05.830 --> 01:03:07.997 the , uh , the auxiliary tug salvage , 01:03:07.997 --> 01:03:10.052 it's been on , we , we've had a need 01:03:10.052 --> 01:03:12.108 for this since 2016 . It's still not 01:03:12.108 --> 01:03:11.629 built yet . I mean , that's a salvage 01:03:11.629 --> 01:03:13.962 ship . I mean , it's a tugboat , really , 01:03:13.962 --> 01:03:15.962 a large tugboat , and that's why we 01:03:15.962 --> 01:03:18.129 need to , to , to look at every single 01:03:18.129 --> 01:03:18.060 aspect . Young lady's time's expired 01:03:18.060 --> 01:03:20.393 here , and I recognize gentle lady from , 01:03:20.393 --> 01:03:22.616 uh , South Carolina , Ms . Mace . Thank 01:03:22.616 --> 01:03:24.671 you , Mr . Chairman and thank you to 01:03:24.671 --> 01:03:26.727 our witnesses for being here today . 01:03:26.727 --> 01:03:28.949 South Carolina's Low Country is home to 01:03:28.949 --> 01:03:30.893 critical marine and naval assets . 01:03:30.893 --> 01:03:33.004 Joint Base Charleston hosts essential 01:03:33.004 --> 01:03:32.989 naval naval tenant commands , including 01:03:32.989 --> 01:03:34.822 the Naval Nuclear Power Training 01:03:34.822 --> 01:03:36.878 Command and Training Unit Charleston 01:03:36.878 --> 01:03:38.767 and the Naval Information Warfare 01:03:38.767 --> 01:03:40.767 Center Atlantic . We've been making 01:03:40.767 --> 01:03:42.989 Marines at Parris Island since 1915 and 01:03:42.989 --> 01:03:45.045 just up the road at the Marine Corps 01:03:45.045 --> 01:03:47.156 Air Station Beaufort hosts and trains 01:03:47.156 --> 01:03:49.110 active duty F-35 and FA-18 Hornet 01:03:49.110 --> 01:03:51.679 squadrons . When we hear them flying 01:03:51.679 --> 01:03:53.929 overhead , we say it's the sound of 01:03:53.929 --> 01:03:56.149 freedom in South Carolina . Our 01:03:56.149 --> 01:03:58.260 community is incredibly supportive of 01:03:58.260 --> 01:04:00.260 our servicemen and servicewomen and 01:04:00.260 --> 01:04:02.482 proud to play such an important role in 01:04:02.482 --> 01:04:04.427 our national defense , and there's 01:04:04.427 --> 01:04:06.260 still room to grow . So my first 01:04:06.260 --> 01:04:05.989 question today is for General Smith . 01:04:06.560 --> 01:04:08.370 As part of the barracks 2030 01:04:08.370 --> 01:04:10.537 initiatives , what improvements can we 01:04:10.537 --> 01:04:12.426 see to recruit barracks at Parris 01:04:12.426 --> 01:04:15.699 Island ? Ma'am , that is one of my 01:04:15.699 --> 01:04:17.699 highest priorities is getting those 01:04:17.699 --> 01:04:19.755 recruit barracks up to snuff because 01:04:19.755 --> 01:04:21.921 frankly they're not . We still have to 01:04:21.921 --> 01:04:24.032 maintain open squad base . That's who 01:04:24.032 --> 01:04:23.800 we are . That's how we make Marines , 01:04:24.179 --> 01:04:26.290 but we have to improve the quality of 01:04:26.290 --> 01:04:28.512 those barracks because they are getting 01:04:28.512 --> 01:04:30.790 ancient . Are we making progress on it ? 01:04:30.790 --> 01:04:33.012 We are , ma'am , but we're never making 01:04:33.012 --> 01:04:32.780 fast enough progress , as you know , 01:04:32.820 --> 01:04:34.931 the workforce in the , in the coastal 01:04:34.931 --> 01:04:36.931 Carolinas is really the challenge . 01:04:36.931 --> 01:04:39.153 It's about making sure that they can be 01:04:39.153 --> 01:04:41.209 guaranteed steady , predictable work 01:04:41.209 --> 01:04:43.431 for years to come . So they don't go to 01:04:43.431 --> 01:04:45.431 work for the auto industry or go to 01:04:45.431 --> 01:04:45.060 work somewhere else , because once you 01:04:45.060 --> 01:04:47.116 lose that workforce , you don't have 01:04:47.116 --> 01:04:49.338 any idea like timeline you think or how 01:04:49.338 --> 01:04:51.282 long this will take , ma'am , it's 01:04:51.282 --> 01:04:53.227 gonna be multiple years , um , and 01:04:53.227 --> 01:04:55.282 General Smith , can you speak to the 01:04:55.282 --> 01:04:57.338 importance of funding the completion 01:04:57.338 --> 01:04:56.709 costs of new aircraft maintenance 01:04:56.709 --> 01:04:58.709 hangars at MCAS Beaufort ? Oh yes , 01:04:58.709 --> 01:05:00.542 ma'am . Marine Corps Air Station 01:05:00.542 --> 01:05:02.487 Beaufort is , is our hub . Those , 01:05:02.487 --> 01:05:04.153 those maintenance hangars are 01:05:04.153 --> 01:05:06.320 absolutely required for our F-35s . Do 01:05:06.320 --> 01:05:08.431 you have enough funding for them ? We 01:05:08.431 --> 01:05:10.542 do , ma'am . We can always use more , 01:05:10.542 --> 01:05:12.765 but we do have enough funding right now 01:05:12.765 --> 01:05:12.570 to make those maintenance hangars a 01:05:12.570 --> 01:05:15.209 reality . But again , it comes down to 01:05:15.209 --> 01:05:17.431 who can build those maintenance hangars 01:05:17.431 --> 01:05:19.598 on what schedule can they build them , 01:05:19.598 --> 01:05:21.820 because those maintenance hangars , you 01:05:21.820 --> 01:05:21.610 know , otherwise are you struggling 01:05:21.610 --> 01:05:23.679 with finding the right , finding the 01:05:23.679 --> 01:05:25.810 right , uh , employees and right 01:05:25.810 --> 01:05:27.810 contractors to do that work because 01:05:27.810 --> 01:05:30.143 those F-thirty-fives if they're sitting . 01:05:30.143 --> 01:05:32.199 Out in the sun , they're degrading . 01:05:32.199 --> 01:05:34.421 They need to be inside of a maintenance 01:05:34.421 --> 01:05:36.699 hangar to be able to do it . Yes ma'am , 01:05:36.699 --> 01:05:38.699 or in the rain . So , um , OK . And 01:05:38.699 --> 01:05:40.921 fiscal year 26 , Congress allocated the 01:05:40.921 --> 01:05:42.754 first tranche of funding for the 01:05:42.754 --> 01:05:44.532 nuclear power training facility 01:05:44.532 --> 01:05:46.477 simulation expansion at Joint Base 01:05:46.477 --> 01:05:48.588 Charleston . So Admiral Caudle , um , 01:05:48.588 --> 01:05:50.810 can you speak to the status of this and 01:05:50.810 --> 01:05:52.977 the impact this will have on readiness 01:05:52.977 --> 01:05:52.584 and personnel and the personnel 01:05:52.584 --> 01:05:55.250 pipeline ? I can't give you where it is 01:05:55.250 --> 01:05:57.417 on the timeline so I can take that for 01:05:57.417 --> 01:05:59.528 the record , but I can certainly tell 01:05:59.528 --> 01:06:01.528 you how vital it is . I mean , it's 01:06:01.528 --> 01:06:01.449 crucial to generating our nuclear 01:06:01.449 --> 01:06:03.689 propulsion students and , uh , it's a 01:06:03.689 --> 01:06:05.522 critical path for us filling our 01:06:05.522 --> 01:06:07.689 submarines and our aircraft carriers . 01:06:07.689 --> 01:06:09.578 So it's much appreciated and it's 01:06:09.578 --> 01:06:11.745 inherent to the nuclear power pipeline 01:06:11.745 --> 01:06:13.800 training where that project is . Can 01:06:13.800 --> 01:06:16.022 get you the data . They're very excited 01:06:16.022 --> 01:06:18.078 about it , uh , down there . So over 01:06:18.078 --> 01:06:20.133 the last several years under the DHA 01:06:20.133 --> 01:06:22.022 model , we've seen Beaufort Naval 01:06:22.022 --> 01:06:24.133 Hospital transition from an inpatient 01:06:24.133 --> 01:06:23.899 treatment facility to an ambulatory 01:06:23.899 --> 01:06:26.121 care center . This has resulted in many 01:06:26.121 --> 01:06:28.343 recruits and Marines being referred out 01:06:28.343 --> 01:06:30.010 to the , into the community , 01:06:30.010 --> 01:06:32.121 potentially leading to delays in care 01:06:32.121 --> 01:06:32.020 and a strain on the community health 01:06:32.020 --> 01:06:34.360 system . Um , General Smith , how has 01:06:34.360 --> 01:06:36.527 this service change , impacted , how , 01:06:36.560 --> 01:06:38.282 how has it impacted the timely 01:06:38.282 --> 01:06:40.449 treatment of recruits at Parris Island 01:06:40.449 --> 01:06:42.560 and Marines at MCAS Beaufort ? Well , 01:06:42.560 --> 01:06:44.560 ma'am , anytime , and especially in 01:06:44.560 --> 01:06:44.360 recruit training , anytime you have to 01:06:44.360 --> 01:06:46.979 send a recruit off of the depot to get 01:06:47.239 --> 01:06:49.399 care , you're , you're exceeding or 01:06:49.399 --> 01:06:51.343 you're increasing the time they're 01:06:51.343 --> 01:06:53.232 spending away from training . And 01:06:53.232 --> 01:06:55.399 you're increasing the time it takes to 01:06:55.399 --> 01:06:57.177 build and make a marine . So we 01:06:57.177 --> 01:06:59.399 obviously are in favor of having things 01:06:59.399 --> 01:07:01.455 on board and onto our bases , but we 01:07:01.455 --> 01:07:03.566 also recognize that there's a limited 01:07:03.566 --> 01:07:05.677 number of of physicians and nurses in 01:07:05.677 --> 01:07:07.677 the naval Medical Corps , and we're 01:07:07.677 --> 01:07:09.677 struggling mightily to make sure we 01:07:09.677 --> 01:07:11.955 recruit enough of them and retain them , 01:07:11.955 --> 01:07:13.955 frankly . And then acting Secretary 01:07:13.955 --> 01:07:15.899 Chow , uh , given the need for the 01:07:15.899 --> 01:07:18.066 timely access to care for our recruits 01:07:18.066 --> 01:07:17.919 and Marines and the needs of the 01:07:17.919 --> 01:07:19.808 service , what do you believe the 01:07:19.808 --> 01:07:21.697 future of Beaufort Naval Hospital 01:07:21.697 --> 01:07:23.197 should or will look like ? 01:07:24.469 --> 01:07:26.802 Congresswoman , uh , again down in , um , 01:07:26.802 --> 01:07:28.913 Parris Island , my , my dear friend , 01:07:28.913 --> 01:07:31.080 uh , uh , Brigadier General Williamson 01:07:31.080 --> 01:07:33.302 has done a great deal to , to make sure 01:07:33.302 --> 01:07:35.469 our recruits go down there , uh , uh , 01:07:35.469 --> 01:07:37.580 get , get the proper medical care and 01:07:37.580 --> 01:07:37.429 going back to also housing , it's not 01:07:37.429 --> 01:07:39.540 just about the , the barracks for our 01:07:39.540 --> 01:07:41.596 sailor , uh , our marines , but also 01:07:41.596 --> 01:07:43.707 the instructors , uh , that , that we 01:07:43.707 --> 01:07:45.873 can't have them living , you know , an 01:07:45.873 --> 01:07:47.818 hour out , uh , where , where they 01:07:47.818 --> 01:07:47.709 can't afford it , where . You know , 01:07:47.790 --> 01:07:50.068 and drive in every day because they're , 01:07:50.068 --> 01:07:52.179 they're really on call 24 hours a day 01:07:52.179 --> 01:07:52.110 and that's what General Williamson's 01:07:52.110 --> 01:07:54.110 done so hard , uh , you know , he's 01:07:54.110 --> 01:07:56.443 worked so hard to , to partner with the , 01:07:56.443 --> 01:07:58.830 uh , privatized , um , housing , uh , 01:07:59.229 --> 01:08:01.860 uh , partners in order to , to , uh , 01:08:01.870 --> 01:08:03.790 provide good housing for our 01:08:03.790 --> 01:08:05.623 instructors . We are the fastest 01:08:05.623 --> 01:08:07.457 growing state in the country and 01:08:07.457 --> 01:08:09.679 therefore the cost of housing has risen 01:08:09.679 --> 01:08:11.901 exponentially over the years . So thank 01:08:11.901 --> 01:08:14.179 you gentlemen for your testimony today . 01:08:14.179 --> 01:08:16.401 And I yelled back Generally yields back 01:08:16.401 --> 01:08:18.457 here and I recognized gentleman from 01:08:18.457 --> 01:08:20.623 Virginia , Mr . Benjamin . Thank you , 01:08:20.623 --> 01:08:22.734 Chairman . Thank you to our witnesses 01:08:22.734 --> 01:08:24.957 here . First , let me start by saying , 01:08:24.957 --> 01:08:24.819 um , General Smith , um , I fully 01:08:24.819 --> 01:08:28.479 endorse , uh , MEU , um , 3.0 01:08:28.479 --> 01:08:31.540 and the , um , uh , force generating 01:08:31.540 --> 01:08:33.779 capabilities that come out of Quantico 01:08:33.779 --> 01:08:35.890 to support that concept , a base that 01:08:35.890 --> 01:08:37.946 I'm , uh , privileged and proud to . 01:08:38.370 --> 01:08:40.720 Represent thousands of Marines and 01:08:40.720 --> 01:08:43.009 marine families . So , um , it's a real 01:08:43.009 --> 01:08:45.250 gem , and I hope we continue to invest 01:08:45.250 --> 01:08:47.361 in that facility . It is a crossroads 01:08:47.361 --> 01:08:49.472 of the cops , sir , as you know , yes 01:08:49.472 --> 01:08:51.528 sir , it's our home to our education 01:08:51.528 --> 01:08:53.806 system . Um , just switching gears now , 01:08:53.806 --> 01:08:55.972 I wanna talk a little bit about , uh , 01:08:55.972 --> 01:08:58.194 the Navy's navigation Plan 2022 , which 01:08:58.194 --> 01:09:00.417 defines distributed maritime operations 01:09:00.417 --> 01:09:02.194 as dispersing the fleet to deny 01:09:02.194 --> 01:09:04.306 adversaries targetable concentrations 01:09:04.306 --> 01:09:06.528 of forces . In fact , I believe Admiral 01:09:06.528 --> 01:09:08.639 Caudle , you referred to this sort of 01:09:08.639 --> 01:09:10.750 framework in your opening statement . 01:09:10.750 --> 01:09:12.861 Does DMO remain operative doctrine or 01:09:12.861 --> 01:09:15.568 has the department abandoned it ? No , 01:09:15.608 --> 01:09:17.886 it remains operative . You know , it's , 01:09:17.886 --> 01:09:19.997 it's the Navy's way to say expand and 01:09:19.997 --> 01:09:21.997 maneuver this part of the joint war 01:09:21.997 --> 01:09:24.108 fighting concept . It underwrites the 01:09:24.108 --> 01:09:26.330 way we do business . Thank you . So the 01:09:26.330 --> 01:09:29.048 2026 2026 shipbuilding plan describes 01:09:29.048 --> 01:09:31.270 the Trump class battleship as a forward 01:09:31.270 --> 01:09:33.437 command and control platform leading a 01:09:33.437 --> 01:09:34.992 surface action group . Does 01:09:34.992 --> 01:09:36.881 concentrating command authority , 01:09:37.159 --> 01:09:39.326 offensive fires , nuclear reactor into 01:09:39.326 --> 01:09:42.278 a single 35,000 ton hull advance DMO's 01:09:42.278 --> 01:09:44.389 core principle of denying adversaries 01:09:44.398 --> 01:09:46.509 high value targets , Mr . Secretary ? 01:09:47.930 --> 01:09:49.986 Congressman , the nuclear battleship 01:09:49.986 --> 01:09:51.819 would basically be able to bring 01:09:51.819 --> 01:09:53.930 firepower very quickly to a place . I 01:09:53.930 --> 01:09:56.152 mean , we were able to move the forward 01:09:56.152 --> 01:09:58.374 carrier strike group from the Ford went 01:09:58.374 --> 01:10:00.597 from Venezuela to the Mediterranean . I 01:10:00.597 --> 01:10:00.569 got it , but you're concentrating all 01:10:00.569 --> 01:10:04.209 of that into one hull at , uh , 11 01:10:04.209 --> 01:10:06.490 massive hull . And so I'm a former Army 01:10:06.490 --> 01:10:08.323 guy . I'm not an expert in naval 01:10:08.323 --> 01:10:10.810 warfare , uh , but I'm gonna quote , uh , 01:10:10.850 --> 01:10:13.129 retired Admiral , uh , James Stavridis , 01:10:13.209 --> 01:10:15.376 former NATO Supreme Allied Commander , 01:10:15.376 --> 01:10:17.320 who wrote in Bloomberg . About the 01:10:17.320 --> 01:10:19.487 proposed battleship that given today's 01:10:19.487 --> 01:10:21.542 drone swarms , stealthy submarines , 01:10:21.542 --> 01:10:23.265 hypersonic missiles , advanced 01:10:23.265 --> 01:10:25.376 torpedoes , offensive cyber weapons , 01:10:25.376 --> 01:10:27.431 putting lots of eggs in a handful of 01:10:27.431 --> 01:10:29.729 baskets doesn't make sense . China can 01:10:29.729 --> 01:10:31.930 field dozens of DF-26 ballistic 01:10:31.930 --> 01:10:35.310 missiles for under a billion dollars . 01:10:35.370 --> 01:10:38.620 That , uh , these are really about $20 01:10:38.620 --> 01:10:40.676 million per missile . A single Trump 01:10:40.676 --> 01:10:42.787 class battleship is estimated to cost 01:10:42.787 --> 01:10:44.953 $17 billion . What is the department's 01:10:44.953 --> 01:10:47.231 assessment of that cost exchange ratio , 01:10:47.231 --> 01:10:49.064 and has any independent war game 01:10:49.064 --> 01:10:51.290 concluded that a vessel could costing 01:10:51.290 --> 01:10:53.279 1000 times more than the missile 01:10:53.279 --> 01:10:55.890 designed to sink it represents a sound 01:10:55.890 --> 01:10:59.870 investment ? Congressman , we talked 01:10:59.870 --> 01:11:01.870 about these hypersonics and all the 01:11:01.870 --> 01:11:03.870 missiles that can sink it , but the 01:11:03.870 --> 01:11:05.926 ship is going over 1 nautical mile a 01:11:05.926 --> 01:11:08.148 minute . There's no hypersonic that can 01:11:08.148 --> 01:11:08.029 change course that quickly , and this 01:11:08.029 --> 01:11:10.029 is why we need this , uh , a large 01:11:10.029 --> 01:11:12.085 capacity there been , we've had this 01:11:12.085 --> 01:11:13.973 have there been studies that have 01:11:13.973 --> 01:11:15.696 determined that we , we've had 01:11:15.696 --> 01:11:17.696 requirements , uh , again , in that 01:11:17.696 --> 01:11:20.029 case , I would love to see that because , 01:11:20.029 --> 01:11:21.862 uh , I , and I'm sure others are 01:11:21.862 --> 01:11:23.973 skeptical of making a mass investment 01:11:23.973 --> 01:11:26.319 in a system that is literally , uh , 01:11:26.339 --> 01:11:29.620 1000 times more . More expensive than 01:11:29.620 --> 01:11:31.740 the missiles designed to to sink it , 01:11:31.879 --> 01:11:34.046 so I would love to see that work being 01:11:34.046 --> 01:11:36.399 done . Now the survivability here rests 01:11:36.399 --> 01:11:37.955 on lasers , rail guns , and 01:11:37.955 --> 01:11:40.121 interceptors that don't exist yet . Is 01:11:40.121 --> 01:11:42.343 that correct ? Congressman , it's still 01:11:42.343 --> 01:11:44.510 the ship as it is right now can defend 01:11:44.510 --> 01:11:46.455 itself . I mean , it's got 200 VLS 01:11:46.455 --> 01:11:48.677 cells . Do we have everything from rail 01:11:48.677 --> 01:11:50.732 guns ? Do we have rail guns that are 01:11:50.732 --> 01:11:52.899 actually functional right now , lasers 01:11:52.899 --> 01:11:54.566 and other that's for future , 01:11:54.566 --> 01:11:56.732 Congressman . Right now the ship as it 01:11:56.732 --> 01:11:58.788 is has , has 200 VLS cells that go . 01:11:58.788 --> 01:11:58.580 Let me ask you a question and Block 2 01:11:58.580 --> 01:12:01.459 to SM6 and SM3 . Since we're talking 01:12:01.459 --> 01:12:03.700 about the president , um , the 01:12:03.700 --> 01:12:06.680 president has demanded delivery by 2028 . 01:12:07.100 --> 01:12:09.267 The current plan shows an order placed 01:12:09.267 --> 01:12:12.259 in 2036 . Are you committing to deliver 01:12:12.259 --> 01:12:14.660 the battleship by 2028 , or what is the 01:12:14.660 --> 01:12:16.160 delivery time frame here ? 01:12:18.479 --> 01:12:20.646 Sir , I think that it's realistic that 01:12:20.646 --> 01:12:22.590 that's a mid 2030 delivery when we 01:12:22.590 --> 01:12:24.812 since we've made it nuclear , and yes , 01:12:24.812 --> 01:12:26.757 there are rail guns in existence . 01:12:26.757 --> 01:12:28.923 That's , it's a linear motor . There's 01:12:28.923 --> 01:12:30.979 no physics complexity there , and to 01:12:30.979 --> 01:12:33.035 scale that on the battleship is long 01:12:33.035 --> 01:12:34.812 overdue . I can send a 50 pound 01:12:34.812 --> 01:12:36.590 projectile 500 miles from it at 01:12:36.590 --> 01:12:38.868 multiple repetitive rates . The asymme . 01:12:38.868 --> 01:12:40.701 capability of that battleship is 01:12:40.701 --> 01:12:42.868 unmatched , and if I don't protect the 01:12:42.868 --> 01:12:45.035 units , nothing across the joint force 01:12:45.035 --> 01:12:47.368 works , including B-21 or anything else . 01:12:47.419 --> 01:12:49.641 So countertargeting is essential to all 01:12:49.641 --> 01:12:51.779 survivability of all elements of the 01:12:51.779 --> 01:12:54.100 joint force . So this is , this is my 01:12:54.100 --> 01:12:56.156 concern , Admiral and Secretary , is 01:12:56.156 --> 01:12:59.399 that this is a , a . An 01:12:59.399 --> 01:13:02.560 aesthetics or a uh a project for the 01:13:02.560 --> 01:13:05.319 president that does not meet the 01:13:05.319 --> 01:13:07.430 current threat environment that we've 01:13:07.430 --> 01:13:09.620 seen in the Black Sea and repeatedly 01:13:09.959 --> 01:13:12.070 and I will do I'll give you one pitch 01:13:12.070 --> 01:13:14.181 is that if you're gonna develop these 01:13:14.181 --> 01:13:16.348 capabilities come see what's available 01:13:16.348 --> 01:13:18.348 in Dahlgren because that is where a 01:13:18.348 --> 01:13:21.979 tremendous amount of the Navy's R&D and 01:13:21.979 --> 01:13:24.035 so these in place is gonna come from 01:13:24.035 --> 01:13:26.200 Dahlgren . Thank you . Mr . Bacon , 01:13:26.240 --> 01:13:29.720 you're recognized . Thank you . I 01:13:29.720 --> 01:13:31.998 appreciate all three of you being here . 01:13:31.998 --> 01:13:34.220 I was thinking those two out there were 01:13:34.220 --> 01:13:33.290 gonna go ahead of me , but I'm ready . 01:13:33.629 --> 01:13:35.740 Admiral Connell , could you tell us a 01:13:35.740 --> 01:13:37.962 little bit about the USS 4 deployment ? 01:13:37.962 --> 01:13:40.018 I understand it was out for 10 or 11 01:13:40.018 --> 01:13:41.907 months . Uh , can you just take a 01:13:41.907 --> 01:13:43.907 little time to brag on the crew and 01:13:43.907 --> 01:13:46.018 help , Sir , thank you for that . You 01:13:46.018 --> 01:13:45.720 know , it is an incredible 01:13:45.720 --> 01:13:47.887 record-breaking deployment . It hasn't 01:13:47.887 --> 01:13:49.942 been that long , one that long since 01:13:49.942 --> 01:13:52.053 the Vietnam War . That's a backhanded 01:13:52.053 --> 01:13:54.220 compliment to the Navy . On one side , 01:13:54.220 --> 01:13:56.164 I wish I had more capacity to flew 01:13:56.164 --> 01:13:58.387 additional strike groups into theater , 01:13:58.387 --> 01:14:00.553 but on the other hand , the durability 01:14:00.553 --> 01:14:02.498 and the way we Construct our ships 01:14:02.498 --> 01:14:02.359 actually shows what can be done with 01:14:02.359 --> 01:14:05.390 that new class . World record sort of 01:14:05.390 --> 01:14:07.668 generation rate on that , on that , uh , 01:14:07.668 --> 01:14:09.557 that class , some , uh , aircraft 01:14:09.557 --> 01:14:11.557 carrier . Started out , of course , 01:14:11.557 --> 01:14:13.557 down in South America with absolute 01:14:13.557 --> 01:14:15.390 resolve and Southernear , sorted 01:14:15.390 --> 01:14:17.557 immediately into the Mediterranean and 01:14:17.557 --> 01:14:19.723 picked up right into epic fury . Did 5 01:14:19.723 --> 01:14:21.834 Suez , uh . Uh , Canal Transits had a 01:14:21.834 --> 01:14:23.910 major fire on board and sustained 01:14:23.910 --> 01:14:26.243 operations 3 days afterwards , and , uh , 01:14:26.243 --> 01:14:28.299 and it's just , uh , you know , kick 01:14:28.299 --> 01:14:30.354 and tick names every single day . So 01:14:30.354 --> 01:14:32.521 we're going to give our hero's welcome 01:14:32.521 --> 01:14:34.743 back on Saturday , and , uh , it's just 01:14:34.743 --> 01:14:36.854 an extraordinary ship , extraordinary 01:14:36.854 --> 01:14:39.021 crew , an extraordinary strike group , 01:14:39.021 --> 01:14:41.021 and the sailors I could not be more 01:14:41.021 --> 01:14:43.077 proud of . Could you say , explain a 01:14:43.077 --> 01:14:42.359 little bit about how you resupply 01:14:42.359 --> 01:14:44.415 because there was some , I believe , 01:14:44.415 --> 01:14:46.581 misinformation on some of the food and 01:14:46.581 --> 01:14:48.637 things like that . Yeah , but if you 01:14:48.637 --> 01:14:48.500 could set the record straight and how 01:14:48.500 --> 01:14:50.609 you resupply , I'd be grateful . We 01:14:50.609 --> 01:14:52.899 monitor Class One food on our ships and 01:14:52.899 --> 01:14:54.899 our strike groups , um , you know , 01:14:54.899 --> 01:14:57.121 every single day . I get a report on it 01:14:57.121 --> 01:14:59.232 every day . The lowest I've seen is 4 01:14:59.232 --> 01:15:01.288 days of the cyclic menu . That means 01:15:01.288 --> 01:15:03.343 they're in their normal menu serving 01:15:03.343 --> 01:15:05.455 what they're supposed to serve with 4 01:15:05.455 --> 01:15:07.343 days still remaining . That's the 01:15:07.343 --> 01:15:09.566 lowest . We try to keep it above in the 01:15:09.566 --> 01:15:11.788 teens , and we're doing that from Diego 01:15:11.788 --> 01:15:11.540 Garcia and of course in the 01:15:11.540 --> 01:15:13.151 Mediterranean ports from the 01:15:13.151 --> 01:15:15.262 Mediterranean . And so , uh , those , 01:15:15.262 --> 01:15:17.373 those things are continuing to roll . 01:15:17.373 --> 01:15:19.429 It's offensive to me that people put 01:15:19.429 --> 01:15:21.651 out that our culinary specialists serve 01:15:21.651 --> 01:15:23.540 food that's not nutritious , that 01:15:23.540 --> 01:15:25.707 doesn't look appetizing , and it's not 01:15:25.707 --> 01:15:27.929 world class . So the way we do culinary 01:15:27.929 --> 01:15:29.762 arts on board our ships , and if 01:15:29.762 --> 01:15:31.873 anyone's ever served on a navy ship , 01:15:31.873 --> 01:15:34.096 knows that it's world class . So that's 01:15:34.096 --> 01:15:36.207 completely , I did one tour in '96 in 01:15:36.207 --> 01:15:38.373 the Persian Gulf , and I knew I had to 01:15:38.373 --> 01:15:40.596 work out because there was good food on 01:15:40.596 --> 01:15:42.818 there . Had to find a place to work out 01:15:42.818 --> 01:15:44.873 on the , on the , where I couldn't . 01:15:44.873 --> 01:15:46.873 But I just want to take a moment to 01:15:46.873 --> 01:15:48.873 praise the men and women on the USS 01:15:48.873 --> 01:15:48.700 sport and all the folks that , you know , 01:15:48.740 --> 01:15:51.509 the battle staff that accompany that . 01:15:52.830 --> 01:15:55.052 And I want to praise the families too , 01:15:55.052 --> 01:15:56.997 you know , they didn't expect a 10 01:15:56.997 --> 01:15:58.997 month or 11 month deployment . They 01:15:58.997 --> 01:16:01.163 expected probably 6 months . And , and 01:16:01.163 --> 01:16:00.669 so we appreciate the service and 01:16:00.669 --> 01:16:02.890 sacrifice . I got a follow on question 01:16:03.430 --> 01:16:05.652 dealing with the Tacommo . I appreciate 01:16:05.652 --> 01:16:07.763 the mission of the Tacommo . I'm from 01:16:07.763 --> 01:16:09.930 off at Air Force Base , command of the 01:16:09.930 --> 01:16:11.930 base . I used to fly on the Looking 01:16:11.930 --> 01:16:14.041 Glass mission when I was a 1 star . I 01:16:14.041 --> 01:16:16.152 understand that this mission is going 01:16:16.152 --> 01:16:18.097 to a C-130 . And the Air Force has 01:16:18.097 --> 01:16:19.986 picked up this . Could you talk a 01:16:19.986 --> 01:16:19.779 little bit about whether it's the 01:16:19.779 --> 01:16:22.629 secretary or the Admiral . How are you 01:16:22.629 --> 01:16:24.796 going to do this transition to the Air 01:16:24.796 --> 01:16:26.962 Force ? Do we have a plan yet ? Well , 01:16:26.962 --> 01:16:29.296 you know , we can share the answer here . 01:16:29.296 --> 01:16:31.351 I'll kick off , but , you know , our 01:16:31.351 --> 01:16:33.407 E6B Mercury is aging out , 707 . You 01:16:33.407 --> 01:16:35.518 know , it's , it's , uh , it's been , 01:16:35.518 --> 01:16:37.296 uh , a , a challenge to keep it 01:16:37.296 --> 01:16:39.240 maintained , a depot , and we've , 01:16:39.240 --> 01:16:39.229 we've , you know , run the wings off of 01:16:39.229 --> 01:16:41.910 that . So as we bring in the E-130J as 01:16:41.910 --> 01:16:44.077 a program of record for that , we will 01:16:44.077 --> 01:16:46.189 transition the Tacoma portion of that 01:16:46.189 --> 01:16:48.549 Mission command over to that airframe . 01:16:48.870 --> 01:16:51.037 You know , the Air Force still has the 01:16:51.037 --> 01:16:53.037 ABICAP mission . That's what you're 01:16:53.037 --> 01:16:55.314 referring to . And so , I think that's , 01:16:55.314 --> 01:16:57.203 there's an imperative there and a 01:16:57.203 --> 01:16:59.259 mandate that the Air Force determine 01:16:59.259 --> 01:17:01.481 how they're going to provide the ABICAP 01:17:01.481 --> 01:17:03.481 mission to US Strategic Command . I 01:17:03.481 --> 01:17:02.830 look forward to working with the Air 01:17:02.830 --> 01:17:04.663 Force on that . There's a lot of 01:17:04.663 --> 01:17:06.163 solutions that we could do 01:17:06.163 --> 01:17:08.330 collaboratively to that to make that a 01:17:08.330 --> 01:17:10.441 joint solution . And so I can be part 01:17:10.441 --> 01:17:12.663 of that discussion . You know , for the 01:17:12.663 --> 01:17:12.640 record , we have weapons that can hit 01:17:12.640 --> 01:17:15.209 us in 15 minutes , and there's future 01:17:15.209 --> 01:17:17.376 technology that's even worse . We need 01:17:17.376 --> 01:17:19.487 an airborne or some kind of emergency 01:17:19.487 --> 01:17:21.598 airborne command and control that can 01:17:21.598 --> 01:17:23.820 respond if the White House , Pentagon , 01:17:23.820 --> 01:17:25.876 or StratCom is hit , and that's what 01:17:25.876 --> 01:17:27.931 this looking glass mission is . I've 01:17:27.931 --> 01:17:30.098 been a part of it , and I just want to 01:17:30.098 --> 01:17:32.265 make sure that the Pentagon , uh , not 01:17:32.265 --> 01:17:32.100 just the Navy and the Air Force , we 01:17:32.100 --> 01:17:34.044 have a plan because it's all about 01:17:34.044 --> 01:17:36.322 nuclear command and control deterrence . 01:17:36.359 --> 01:17:38.081 Uh , one last question with my 01:17:38.081 --> 01:17:40.137 remaining 50 seconds . We're burning 01:17:40.137 --> 01:17:42.930 through SM 6s and SM-2s . Like every , 01:17:42.979 --> 01:17:45.146 the first day of the war is probably 2 01:17:45.146 --> 01:17:47.312 or 3 months' worth of production . How 01:17:47.312 --> 01:17:49.520 do we get to the point Well , we're 01:17:49.520 --> 01:17:51.576 gonna have to do something different 01:17:51.576 --> 01:17:53.631 here where we're doubling production 01:17:53.631 --> 01:17:53.540 lines . Uh , are , do we have a plan ? 01:17:55.350 --> 01:17:57.628 Congressman , yes , we do , uh , we're , 01:17:57.628 --> 01:17:59.572 we're looking at even just to , to 01:17:59.572 --> 01:18:01.739 recertify these munitions , like , for 01:18:01.739 --> 01:18:03.739 example , the Tomahawk , you know , 01:18:03.739 --> 01:18:05.794 look , I came , I grew up poor . You 01:18:05.794 --> 01:18:08.017 things don't just expire , right ? Just 01:18:08.017 --> 01:18:07.229 because the contractor said it does , 01:18:07.470 --> 01:18:09.581 you know , you bread , you roll , rub 01:18:09.581 --> 01:18:11.914 some water in it , microwave 15 seconds , 01:18:11.914 --> 01:18:14.137 it's ready to eat . So likewise we were 01:18:14.137 --> 01:18:16.475 able to recertify hundreds of of of 01:18:16.475 --> 01:18:18.586 Tomahawk missiles to launch out there 01:18:18.586 --> 01:18:20.531 for uh through from Class echo and 01:18:20.531 --> 01:18:22.642 Foxtrot to November and likewise with 01:18:22.642 --> 01:18:24.419 recertification of the standard 01:18:24.419 --> 01:18:26.586 missiles that's what we did , sir . We 01:18:26.586 --> 01:18:28.808 need to double production I believe and 01:18:28.808 --> 01:18:28.035 we gotta have a budget to do it with 01:18:28.035 --> 01:18:31.660 that I yield back . Thank you , 01:18:32.120 --> 01:18:34.509 Mr . Bell , you're recognized . Thank 01:18:34.509 --> 01:18:36.509 you , Mr . Chair . Thank you to the 01:18:36.509 --> 01:18:38.620 witnesses for being here today . Uh , 01:18:38.620 --> 01:18:41.229 Secretary Cow , last week I sent you a 01:18:41.229 --> 01:18:43.990 bipartisan bicameral letter regarding 01:18:43.990 --> 01:18:46.189 the effort to relocate the Missouri 01:18:46.189 --> 01:18:48.629 Army , National Guard , Marine Corps 01:18:48.629 --> 01:18:51.319 reserves , and Navy Reserve units 01:18:51.629 --> 01:18:53.870 currently located on 34 acres of 01:18:53.870 --> 01:18:56.080 property at Saint Louis Lambert 01:18:56.080 --> 01:18:58.520 International Airport . The current 01:18:58.520 --> 01:19:00.720 facilities are outdated and need to be 01:19:00.720 --> 01:19:03.080 replaced with modernized long-term 01:19:03.080 --> 01:19:05.399 facilities . At the same time , these 01:19:05.399 --> 01:19:08.350 units must be relocated in order to , 01:19:08.790 --> 01:19:10.859 in order for Lambert to move forward 01:19:10.959 --> 01:19:12.779 with its multi-billion dollar 01:19:12.910 --> 01:19:15.279 modernization and expansion project . 01:19:15.770 --> 01:19:18.649 In return , Lambert has identified a 01:19:18.649 --> 01:19:21.770 new larger parcel of land to serve as 01:19:21.770 --> 01:19:24.089 the permanent long-term location for 01:19:24.089 --> 01:19:26.033 the Guard and Marine Corps units , 01:19:26.250 --> 01:19:28.361 while the Missouri National Guard has 01:19:28.361 --> 01:19:30.194 identified historic buildings at 01:19:30.194 --> 01:19:32.306 Jefferson Barracks Air National Guard 01:19:32.609 --> 01:19:34.529 station that can be renovated to 01:19:34.529 --> 01:19:36.473 support the Navy Reserve mission . 01:19:36.473 --> 01:19:38.640 Interim facilities would be used until 01:19:38.640 --> 01:19:40.973 those permanent locations are completed . 01:19:41.390 --> 01:19:43.446 The Missouri Army National Guard and 01:19:43.446 --> 01:19:45.334 Marine Corps Reserve have already 01:19:45.470 --> 01:19:47.549 expressed support for the temporary 01:19:47.549 --> 01:19:50.189 relocation proposal , including the use 01:19:50.189 --> 01:19:52.549 of interim facilities in North Saint 01:19:52.549 --> 01:19:55.229 Louis . However , the Navy Reserve has 01:19:55.229 --> 01:19:57.589 not yet agreed to move forward with the 01:19:57.589 --> 01:20:00.700 temporary relocation plan , despite the 01:20:00.700 --> 01:20:02.922 significant economic and infrastructure 01:20:03.069 --> 01:20:05.790 implications associated with delaying 01:20:05.790 --> 01:20:09.049 the Lambert expansion project . 01:20:09.450 --> 01:20:11.669 Therefore , the proposal cannot move 01:20:11.669 --> 01:20:14.330 forward . This is not simply an airport 01:20:14.330 --> 01:20:16.497 issue . This project represents one of 01:20:16.497 --> 01:20:18.552 the largest economic development and 01:20:18.552 --> 01:20:20.497 modernization efforts in the Saint 01:20:20.497 --> 01:20:23.009 Louis region , and delays could have 01:20:23.009 --> 01:20:25.370 major downstream impacts on 01:20:25.370 --> 01:20:27.569 construction timelines , regional 01:20:27.569 --> 01:20:30.290 growth , and future investment . The 01:20:30.290 --> 01:20:32.457 Saint Louis region is a is a center of 01:20:32.457 --> 01:20:34.290 innovation , a major defense and 01:20:34.290 --> 01:20:36.450 manufacturing hub , and plays a 01:20:36.450 --> 01:20:38.490 critical role in strengthening our 01:20:38.490 --> 01:20:40.529 national security . St . Louis has 01:20:40.529 --> 01:20:42.870 shown that we are a reliable partner 01:20:43.089 --> 01:20:45.250 and we are asking that you all be a 01:20:45.250 --> 01:20:48.290 reliable partner in return . So today 01:20:48.290 --> 01:20:50.680 I'm asking you to personally look into 01:20:50.680 --> 01:20:53.209 the issue and work with the Navy 01:20:53.209 --> 01:20:55.450 Reserve to understand the necessity and 01:20:55.450 --> 01:20:58.189 urgency of this temporary relocation . 01:20:58.660 --> 01:21:00.604 And will you commit to having your 01:21:00.604 --> 01:21:02.604 staff work with my office and local 01:21:02.604 --> 01:21:04.438 stakeholders to help resolve the 01:21:04.438 --> 01:21:06.660 current stalemate and move this project 01:21:06.660 --> 01:21:08.827 forward ? Congressman , we will , uh , 01:21:08.827 --> 01:21:10.993 answer your , your , uh , letter and , 01:21:10.993 --> 01:21:13.216 and we will work with you , sir . Thank 01:21:13.216 --> 01:21:15.382 you . Um , and then Secretary Cowell , 01:21:15.382 --> 01:21:17.740 the Navy's , um , FAXX program will 01:21:17.740 --> 01:21:20.580 play a critical role in maintaining 01:21:20.580 --> 01:21:23.339 carrier air wing superiority against 01:21:23.339 --> 01:21:25.395 increasingly advanced threats in the 01:21:25.395 --> 01:21:27.910 Indo-Pacific . Given its importance , 01:21:28.160 --> 01:21:30.319 how is the Navy coordinating with the 01:21:30.319 --> 01:21:32.439 Air Force on 6th generation fighter 01:21:32.439 --> 01:21:36.240 development to ensure interoperability 01:21:36.240 --> 01:21:38.629 where appropriate while avoiding 01:21:38.629 --> 01:21:40.439 unnecessary duplication and 01:21:40.439 --> 01:21:43.839 inefficiencies between FAXX and NGAD 01:21:43.839 --> 01:21:45.959 efforts ? Congressman , thank you for 01:21:45.959 --> 01:21:48.237 that question . We , this is why we're , 01:21:48.237 --> 01:21:49.848 we're , uh , uh , having the 01:21:49.848 --> 01:21:51.959 Undersecretary of War for acquisition 01:21:51.959 --> 01:21:54.181 sustainment be kind of the arbitrator , 01:21:54.181 --> 01:21:56.181 make sure we're not making the same 01:21:56.181 --> 01:21:58.237 mistakes , uh , or , well , I mean , 01:21:58.237 --> 01:22:00.292 not just learning from the Air Force 01:22:00.292 --> 01:22:00.040 what they're doing . And by the end of 01:22:00.040 --> 01:22:02.151 the summer we will have a down select 01:22:02.151 --> 01:22:03.984 for the FAXX so they can we move 01:22:03.984 --> 01:22:05.984 forward again learning from the Air 01:22:05.984 --> 01:22:08.096 Force , we will be able to accelerate 01:22:08.096 --> 01:22:09.929 and move that program out , uh , 01:22:09.929 --> 01:22:11.762 further . I mean , again , Kerry 01:22:11.762 --> 01:22:13.929 Airwing , uh , if you saw an Epic Fury 01:22:13.929 --> 01:22:13.759 and , and , uh , you know , absolute 01:22:13.759 --> 01:22:15.926 resolve , that's , that's the best way 01:22:15.926 --> 01:22:18.399 to get firepower downrange quickly and , 01:22:18.479 --> 01:22:21.040 and the , the F-35 has done amazingly 01:22:21.040 --> 01:22:23.279 well , but we need a , a 6th generation 01:22:23.279 --> 01:22:25.501 aircraft that to thwart the next , uh , 01:22:25.501 --> 01:22:27.835 threat , sir . Thank you . I yield back . 01:22:30.259 --> 01:22:32.426 Mr . Higgins , you're recognized for 5 01:22:32.426 --> 01:22:34.537 minutes . Thank you , Mr . Chairman . 01:22:34.537 --> 01:22:36.759 Secretary Cowe , much of the discussion 01:22:36.759 --> 01:22:39.220 around maritime industrial base focuses 01:22:39.220 --> 01:22:41.600 on major shipyards , but smaller 01:22:42.060 --> 01:22:44.459 regional shipbuilders are critical to 01:22:44.459 --> 01:22:47.319 meeting Navy demands . Um , I think we 01:22:47.319 --> 01:22:49.375 can agree with that statement and in 01:22:49.375 --> 01:22:51.879 the interest of time , can I , can I 01:22:51.879 --> 01:22:55.149 humbly requested a meeting , sir , with , 01:22:55.520 --> 01:22:58.439 with your senior staff in , in June . 01:22:59.169 --> 01:23:00.930 Uh , directly with your office 01:23:00.930 --> 01:23:03.208 regarding small shipyards in Louisiana . 01:23:03.529 --> 01:23:05.862 Absolutely , sir . I'll , I'll be there . 01:23:05.862 --> 01:23:07.973 Thank you , sir . I , I will , I look 01:23:07.973 --> 01:23:10.140 forward to that meeting and our staffs 01:23:10.140 --> 01:23:13.359 working together , um , Admiral . A 01:23:13.359 --> 01:23:16.930 Joint Reserve Base New Orleans . Plays 01:23:16.930 --> 01:23:18.486 a critical role and remains 01:23:18.486 --> 01:23:20.649 strategically important installation 01:23:20.649 --> 01:23:24.370 for both homeland defense and global 01:23:24.370 --> 01:23:26.537 force projection . I'm sure we agree . 01:23:27.259 --> 01:23:29.259 And they provide aggressor aircraft 01:23:29.259 --> 01:23:31.330 that prepare our combat aviators to 01:23:31.330 --> 01:23:33.120 succeed in forward theaters . 01:23:34.399 --> 01:23:36.370 Louisiana's reserve units have 01:23:36.370 --> 01:23:39.390 consistently delivered for the Navy . 01:23:40.209 --> 01:23:42.479 Delivered operational capability at a 01:23:42.479 --> 01:23:45.810 high level , but aging platforms . Or 01:23:45.810 --> 01:23:47.754 creating increased sustainment and 01:23:47.754 --> 01:23:50.330 mission capability challenges , that , 01:23:50.490 --> 01:23:52.712 that statement it's something I'm quite 01:23:52.712 --> 01:23:54.934 certain you're 100% in agreement with . 01:23:55.529 --> 01:23:58.259 Um , and we can agree that there's a 01:23:58.259 --> 01:24:00.740 great deal of importance in readiness , 01:24:00.810 --> 01:24:03.220 pilot retention , and maintaining surge 01:24:03.220 --> 01:24:05.859 capacity in the reserve component , and 01:24:05.859 --> 01:24:09.459 I commend the Navy for addressing these 01:24:09.459 --> 01:24:12.470 challenges and , and , and for 01:24:12.779 --> 01:24:15.740 addressing fighter re recapitalization 01:24:15.740 --> 01:24:18.459 efforts such as transitioning from the 01:24:18.459 --> 01:24:21.839 legacy F-5 aircraft to the newer . FA 01:24:21.839 --> 01:24:25.569 18 platforms at Joint Reserve Base in 01:24:25.569 --> 01:24:28.810 New Orleans . However , There was a but 01:24:28.810 --> 01:24:31.379 coming , right ? However , it's 01:24:31.379 --> 01:24:33.649 reported that necessary , uh , 01:24:33.660 --> 01:24:36.229 simulators and maintenance contracts 01:24:36.549 --> 01:24:38.859 will not arrive in time to support the 01:24:38.859 --> 01:24:41.069 transition . Can you just , can you 01:24:41.069 --> 01:24:43.291 speak to that ? What's the Navy doing ? 01:24:43.291 --> 01:24:45.180 What can we do to help ? Is there 01:24:45.180 --> 01:24:47.189 anything I'm not doing as , as a 01:24:47.189 --> 01:24:50.160 Louisiana representative ? Uh , please 01:24:50.160 --> 01:24:52.382 speak to that . So there's nothing more 01:24:52.382 --> 01:24:54.604 frustrating to get a capability and not 01:24:54.604 --> 01:24:56.827 be able to train on it before you , you 01:24:56.827 --> 01:24:55.919 know , you try to fill it and make sure 01:24:55.919 --> 01:24:58.086 the pilots are ready to go and they've 01:24:58.086 --> 01:25:00.252 got the simulators and tubs as we call 01:25:00.252 --> 01:25:02.363 them , and we're ready to actually do 01:25:02.363 --> 01:25:04.475 that . So let me take that for action 01:25:04.475 --> 01:25:06.641 to understand where we are in fielding 01:25:06.641 --> 01:25:08.808 that there and what the requirement is 01:25:08.808 --> 01:25:11.030 and if it's behind , why , and get back 01:25:11.030 --> 01:25:10.600 to you on what we're going to do to 01:25:10.600 --> 01:25:12.850 shore that up . Yeah , I will look 01:25:12.850 --> 01:25:15.290 forward to that , that communication . 01:25:15.410 --> 01:25:17.930 Can I , can I humbly ask you as well , 01:25:18.089 --> 01:25:20.609 sir , for a senior staff meeting with 01:25:20.609 --> 01:25:22.720 my staff for an update on that within 01:25:22.720 --> 01:25:25.053 the next 3 or 4 weeks ? Of course , yes , 01:25:25.053 --> 01:25:26.887 sir . Thank you very much , uh , 01:25:27.049 --> 01:25:30.319 gentlemen , for all of you . Let me say 01:25:30.319 --> 01:25:33.060 that . It's a lot of money . 01:25:34.680 --> 01:25:36.640 And it's the people's treasure and 01:25:36.640 --> 01:25:38.751 we're gonna watch it very carefully , 01:25:38.751 --> 01:25:42.229 but we , we want to invest in , in the , 01:25:42.240 --> 01:25:45.620 uh . In in this 01:25:45.620 --> 01:25:49.370 era of of development of an 01:25:49.370 --> 01:25:53.259 indomitable military and none of us up 01:25:53.259 --> 01:25:55.620 here who question your the 01:25:55.620 --> 01:25:57.731 professionalism and the intentions of 01:25:57.731 --> 01:26:00.649 your request . Um , we're gonna have to 01:26:00.649 --> 01:26:02.790 look at every dollar very carefully . 01:26:03.330 --> 01:26:06.939 I'm sure you concur . I'm gonna address 01:26:06.939 --> 01:26:10.669 pilot shortages for just a moment . My , 01:26:11.250 --> 01:26:13.450 my dad , I think is one of the most 01:26:13.450 --> 01:26:17.000 concerning . Uh , sort of internal 01:26:17.000 --> 01:26:19.359 threats that we faced our readiness and 01:26:19.359 --> 01:26:22.069 capability and , and our ability to 01:26:22.069 --> 01:26:25.850 project force . My dad was 01:26:25.850 --> 01:26:28.049 a Navy pilot in World War II . 01:26:29.740 --> 01:26:32.040 And it was , it was , it was 01:26:32.040 --> 01:26:34.149 fascinating to be a son . I can tell 01:26:34.149 --> 01:26:36.390 you I ended up joining the army , maybe 01:26:36.390 --> 01:26:38.334 so that would have one interest in 01:26:38.334 --> 01:26:42.299 football weekend per year . But the , 01:26:43.520 --> 01:26:46.200 the challenges that the Navy and the 01:26:46.200 --> 01:26:48.144 and the Marine Corps face across , 01:26:48.250 --> 01:26:50.279 across the spectrum just pilot . 01:26:51.250 --> 01:26:54.950 Retention and qualified pilots stand 01:26:54.950 --> 01:26:58.859 in uniform . Um , I 01:26:58.859 --> 01:27:02.259 commend what's being done , but I ask , 01:27:02.779 --> 01:27:05.180 is , is , is the Navy and the Marine 01:27:05.180 --> 01:27:08.899 Corps addressing the culture within the 01:27:08.899 --> 01:27:12.540 pilot , uh , realm that , that , 01:27:12.660 --> 01:27:14.779 that pulls these guys out when they 01:27:14.779 --> 01:27:17.001 leave the uniform of United States Navy 01:27:17.001 --> 01:27:19.223 or Marine Corps and put on a uniform of 01:27:19.223 --> 01:27:22.339 Delta or United . Sir , I can tell you 01:27:22.339 --> 01:27:24.395 that we're in a pretty good place on 01:27:24.395 --> 01:27:26.617 our pilot retention . We're paying them 01:27:26.617 --> 01:27:28.728 a pretty handsome bonus to stay , and 01:27:28.728 --> 01:27:30.895 they wanna be marines . They signed up 01:27:30.895 --> 01:27:33.228 to fly tactical aircraft , uh , but the , 01:27:33.228 --> 01:27:35.450 the , there is a draw by the commercial 01:27:35.450 --> 01:27:37.450 industry to pull them away , paying 01:27:37.450 --> 01:27:39.395 them an exorbitant salary , and so 01:27:39.395 --> 01:27:41.759 we're always struggling . Thank you 01:27:41.759 --> 01:27:43.981 gentlemen . Thank you , Mr . Chairman . 01:27:44.729 --> 01:27:46.951 Mr . Sorenson , you're recognized for 5 01:27:46.951 --> 01:27:49.062 minutes . Thank you , Mr . Chairman . 01:27:49.062 --> 01:27:51.340 I'd like to welcome Secretary Coo , um , 01:27:51.390 --> 01:27:53.723 Admiral Caudle , and General Smith , uh , 01:27:53.723 --> 01:27:56.109 for being here in committee . Um , I am 01:27:56.109 --> 01:27:58.109 honored to be the only professional 01:27:58.109 --> 01:28:00.331 meteorologist serving in the Congress . 01:28:00.331 --> 01:28:02.387 Uh , before the people elected me to 01:28:02.387 --> 01:28:04.165 serve them , I served in , in a 01:28:04.165 --> 01:28:06.165 different way , um , as a broadcast 01:28:06.165 --> 01:28:08.220 meteorologist , telling the moms and 01:28:08.220 --> 01:28:10.331 dads when to go in the basement for a 01:28:10.331 --> 01:28:12.442 tornado or when to stay off the roads 01:28:12.442 --> 01:28:14.609 for a blizzard . Um , but that job set 01:28:14.609 --> 01:28:16.831 me up to be able to do this job today . 01:28:16.831 --> 01:28:19.053 Um , I would never have been successful 01:28:19.053 --> 01:28:21.220 in my previous career if I didn't have 01:28:21.220 --> 01:28:23.165 the weather modeling data that was 01:28:23.165 --> 01:28:25.053 accurate . Um , here on the Armed 01:28:25.053 --> 01:28:26.998 Services Committee , I now look at 01:28:26.998 --> 01:28:28.998 weather through a national security 01:28:28.998 --> 01:28:31.220 lens . And you know , I'll never forget 01:28:31.220 --> 01:28:33.331 the chance that I had meeting sailors 01:28:33.331 --> 01:28:35.165 in Norfolk , Virginia on the USS 01:28:35.165 --> 01:28:37.229 Abraham Lincoln in 2017 . Navy 01:28:37.229 --> 01:28:39.709 meteorologists who are forecasting not 01:28:39.709 --> 01:28:41.765 tornadoes and blizzards , but rather 01:28:41.765 --> 01:28:43.598 keeping our war fighters safe by 01:28:43.598 --> 01:28:45.653 keeping the most important Americans 01:28:45.653 --> 01:28:48.229 away from the worst storms . So in your 01:28:48.229 --> 01:28:50.819 witness statement , Admiral Cottle , uh , 01:28:50.830 --> 01:28:52.608 you mentioned that the Navy has 01:28:52.608 --> 01:28:54.830 surpassed its recruiting goal . Can you 01:28:54.830 --> 01:28:56.886 share whether you're , you surpassed 01:28:56.950 --> 01:28:58.839 your recruiting goal for the Navy 01:28:58.839 --> 01:29:00.561 weather enterprise , including 01:29:00.561 --> 01:29:02.394 meteorology , oceanography , and 01:29:02.394 --> 01:29:04.589 aerographer mates ? Sir , they're not 01:29:04.589 --> 01:29:06.700 on my radar that we're behind there . 01:29:06.700 --> 01:29:08.867 So I'm assuming that we're on plan . I 01:29:08.867 --> 01:29:10.922 can go look at those exact numbers , 01:29:10.922 --> 01:29:12.922 but I can guarantee you that no one 01:29:12.922 --> 01:29:14.922 values it more than me . And , uh , 01:29:14.922 --> 01:29:17.089 across the whole spectrum . It is part 01:29:17.089 --> 01:29:19.089 of our warfighting apparatus . It's 01:29:19.089 --> 01:29:21.033 more , it's so much more than just 01:29:21.033 --> 01:29:23.200 weather , as you know . It's about the 01:29:23.200 --> 01:29:23.040 ocean , it's about space . It's about 01:29:23.040 --> 01:29:25.080 precision navigation and precise 01:29:25.080 --> 01:29:27.910 navigation timing . So the entire , all 01:29:27.910 --> 01:29:29.966 of this is all tied into that career 01:29:29.966 --> 01:29:31.632 field . So , uh , you have my 01:29:31.632 --> 01:29:33.743 commitment to make sure if , if I'm , 01:29:33.743 --> 01:29:35.743 if I'm deficient there , I will get 01:29:35.743 --> 01:29:37.910 back to you on those numbers . Because 01:29:37.910 --> 01:29:37.910 there's so much that we don't yet know . 01:29:37.990 --> 01:29:39.934 There are so many discoveries that 01:29:39.934 --> 01:29:41.990 we're going to need scientists and , 01:29:41.990 --> 01:29:45.870 and folks , um , to . Advance our 01:29:45.870 --> 01:29:48.092 understanding of meteorology . I fought 01:29:48.092 --> 01:29:50.148 hard to ensure that the DOD reversed 01:29:50.148 --> 01:29:52.390 its decision last year to cut critical 01:29:52.390 --> 01:29:54.390 satellite weather data to NOAA . 01:29:54.470 --> 01:29:56.303 Degradation in NOAA's data makes 01:29:56.303 --> 01:29:58.414 forecasting more difficult , and that 01:29:58.414 --> 01:30:00.637 directly hurts our military readiness . 01:30:00.750 --> 01:30:02.472 Uh , the naval meteorology and 01:30:02.472 --> 01:30:04.959 oceanography . Command relies on NOAAA 01:30:04.959 --> 01:30:07.070 data and our warfighters rely on both 01:30:07.070 --> 01:30:09.410 the Navy and NOAA to execute missions 01:30:09.410 --> 01:30:11.850 safely . Uh , to my next question to 01:30:11.850 --> 01:30:14.072 the Admiral and also to Secretary Coo , 01:30:14.072 --> 01:30:15.850 can you speak briefly about the 01:30:15.850 --> 01:30:17.850 importance of META and how the Navy 01:30:17.850 --> 01:30:19.794 partners with NOAA to ensure vital 01:30:19.794 --> 01:30:21.939 forecasting for our troops ? Well , I 01:30:21.939 --> 01:30:24.050 mean , it goes to safety of ship , it 01:30:24.050 --> 01:30:26.272 goes to planned operations , it goes to 01:30:26.272 --> 01:30:28.495 when we replenish , um , you know , our 01:30:28.495 --> 01:30:30.700 ships . It goes to modeling acoustic 01:30:30.700 --> 01:30:32.819 data for sound velocity profiles . It 01:30:32.819 --> 01:30:35.060 goes for how weapons perform . Uh , it 01:30:35.060 --> 01:30:36.616 goes to when we , how we do 01:30:36.616 --> 01:30:38.671 intelligence , uh , surveillance and 01:30:38.671 --> 01:30:40.671 reconnaissance . It's inherently in 01:30:40.671 --> 01:30:42.671 because it's part of the earth . It 01:30:42.671 --> 01:30:44.838 goes again , you know , uh , how we do 01:30:44.838 --> 01:30:47.060 PNT , all of that's tied into the MTA , 01:30:47.060 --> 01:30:49.879 uh , portfolio . So I value it greatly , 01:30:50.140 --> 01:30:52.196 uh , the command there , uh , it's , 01:30:52.196 --> 01:30:54.362 it's Stennis , I value greatly , and , 01:30:54.362 --> 01:30:56.529 and how it actually . Uh , we actually 01:30:56.529 --> 01:30:58.640 fill that and build those communities 01:30:58.640 --> 01:31:00.524 of practice and the , uh , NA I4 01:31:00.524 --> 01:31:02.357 community of practice is part of 01:31:02.357 --> 01:31:04.635 something I hold very dear . Thank you , 01:31:04.635 --> 01:31:06.802 Admiral . And Congressman , every year 01:31:06.802 --> 01:31:08.746 at the United States Naval Academy 01:31:08.746 --> 01:31:10.802 there's a , a handful of billets for 01:31:10.802 --> 01:31:12.968 the , the meteorology and oceanography 01:31:12.968 --> 01:31:15.424 majors . So it's a very coveted , um . 01:31:16.240 --> 01:31:18.462 Ability for them to to compete for that 01:31:18.462 --> 01:31:20.470 billet , those 5 billets to go into 01:31:20.470 --> 01:31:22.526 that , that specialty field and like 01:31:22.526 --> 01:31:24.581 the admiral said , I mean everything 01:31:24.581 --> 01:31:26.748 revolves around , uh , the weather . I 01:31:26.748 --> 01:31:28.581 mean we don't want an amphibious 01:31:28.581 --> 01:31:30.729 landing , uh , again unfortunately 01:31:30.779 --> 01:31:32.779 history has shown what what happens 01:31:32.779 --> 01:31:34.835 when you don't . Guess where , where 01:31:34.835 --> 01:31:37.057 the , uh , tide changes are and also we 01:31:37.057 --> 01:31:38.946 can't lose ships uh that that are 01:31:38.946 --> 01:31:41.223 sailing into harm's way also I mean we , 01:31:41.223 --> 01:31:43.390 we need to avoid ships . We do sorties 01:31:43.390 --> 01:31:43.245 all the time and that's thanks to the 01:31:43.245 --> 01:31:45.301 meteorology , uh , community , sir . 01:31:45.301 --> 01:31:47.245 And we can't just use what we have 01:31:47.245 --> 01:31:49.412 learned in the past . How important is 01:31:49.412 --> 01:31:51.578 it that we do focus on how our climate 01:31:51.578 --> 01:31:54.770 is changing ? Sir , we , we , we always 01:31:54.770 --> 01:31:56.937 need the climate's always changing . I 01:31:56.937 --> 01:31:59.103 mean , it , it's constantly changing , 01:31:59.103 --> 01:32:01.270 and again , uh , we're , that's why we 01:32:01.270 --> 01:32:03.270 need meteorologists to , to tell us 01:32:03.270 --> 01:32:05.326 where to go and when , when the best 01:32:05.326 --> 01:32:07.548 time to strike is . I mean , again , in 01:32:07.548 --> 01:32:07.120 special operations we need to make sure 01:32:07.120 --> 01:32:09.342 that we're not doing during a full moon 01:32:09.342 --> 01:32:11.564 and , and during a major storm , and so 01:32:11.564 --> 01:32:13.787 we need to be able to insert our people 01:32:13.787 --> 01:32:15.953 in quickly and , and safely and let so 01:32:15.953 --> 01:32:18.176 I would just add one additional thing . 01:32:18.176 --> 01:32:17.430 I normally don't jump back in like this , 01:32:17.479 --> 01:32:19.312 but it's also very important for 01:32:19.312 --> 01:32:21.279 unmanned . And so , you know , our 01:32:21.279 --> 01:32:23.557 unmanned autonomous vehicles out there , 01:32:23.557 --> 01:32:25.819 UAVs and understand the weather they're 01:32:25.819 --> 01:32:28.041 incurring and modeling that and knowing 01:32:28.041 --> 01:32:30.041 how to employ them effectively . So 01:32:30.041 --> 01:32:31.930 they're , it's inherently tied to 01:32:31.930 --> 01:32:34.152 unmanned . Last question , uh , to Mr . 01:32:34.152 --> 01:32:33.899 Secretary , how closely do you work 01:32:33.899 --> 01:32:35.788 with NOAA to make sure that we're 01:32:35.788 --> 01:32:38.189 working together . As of right now , 01:32:38.279 --> 01:32:40.168 sir , I , I , I can't answer that 01:32:40.168 --> 01:32:42.335 question , but I know in the past I've 01:32:42.335 --> 01:32:44.390 worked very closely with NOAA , uh , 01:32:44.390 --> 01:32:46.501 for , for everything from searching , 01:32:46.501 --> 01:32:48.612 uh , from the bottom of the ocean for 01:32:48.612 --> 01:32:48.080 like John F . Kennedy Jr . and his wife 01:32:48.080 --> 01:32:50.136 is gentleman's time . I'd love to be 01:32:50.136 --> 01:32:52.191 part of that . Yes , sir , uh , Mr . 01:32:52.191 --> 01:32:54.524 Davis , you're recognized for 5 minutes . 01:32:54.524 --> 01:32:56.636 Uh , thank you so much , Mr . Chair , 01:32:56.636 --> 01:32:56.080 and to the ranking member and to the 01:32:56.080 --> 01:32:58.689 witnesses who are here today . Marine 01:32:58.689 --> 01:33:01.600 Corps Air Station Cherry Point , um , 01:33:01.819 --> 01:33:04.060 continues to reach new heights for the 01:33:04.060 --> 01:33:06.116 2nd year in a row . The installation 01:33:06.116 --> 01:33:08.060 earned distinction . As the Marine 01:33:08.060 --> 01:33:10.410 Corps Air Station of the Year , and we 01:33:10.410 --> 01:33:12.490 indeed are proud of that , General 01:33:12.490 --> 01:33:16.299 Smith . Given the 2026 aviation 01:33:16.600 --> 01:33:20.080 plan rollout , can you confirm that the 01:33:20.080 --> 01:33:23.080 Marine Corps intends to keep all 6 F-35 01:33:23.080 --> 01:33:25.191 Lightning 2 squadrons whole at Cherry 01:33:25.191 --> 01:33:29.149 Point ? Sir , we do . OK . Thank you 01:33:29.149 --> 01:33:32.189 so much . Um , shifting gears . 01:33:33.220 --> 01:33:37.220 I've heard from so many . In 01:33:37.220 --> 01:33:39.580 Eastern North Carolina , which this has 01:33:39.580 --> 01:33:41.779 been a topic that's been ongoing for 01:33:41.779 --> 01:33:43.612 years for years , and that's the 01:33:43.612 --> 01:33:46.169 victims of toxic water contamination at 01:33:46.169 --> 01:33:48.700 Camp Le Jordan . I've continued to hear 01:33:48.700 --> 01:33:51.220 from families . The Wilson family have 01:33:51.220 --> 01:33:55.100 shared their story , how it impacts the 01:33:55.100 --> 01:33:57.299 entire family , and literally , we've 01:33:57.299 --> 01:34:00.620 seen people . Who've already now died . 01:34:01.330 --> 01:34:05.049 Um , Acting Secretary Cowell . 2,635 01:34:05.049 --> 01:34:07.105 lawsuits have been filed with the US 01:34:07.105 --> 01:34:09.271 District Court of the Eastern District 01:34:09.271 --> 01:34:11.370 of North Carolina , and only 400 01:34:11.370 --> 01:34:13.770 settlements have gone through . What is 01:34:13.770 --> 01:34:17.399 the department's plan of action ? And 01:34:17.399 --> 01:34:19.569 that may include , include any 01:34:19.569 --> 01:34:22.290 interagency cooperation with DOJ . 01:34:23.069 --> 01:34:25.459 Would love to hear from you in terms of 01:34:25.759 --> 01:34:27.815 what's the plan for these families . 01:34:27.839 --> 01:34:29.561 Well , again , sir , you , you 01:34:29.561 --> 01:34:31.506 mentioned these are ongoing , uh , 01:34:31.506 --> 01:34:33.728 litigations , and I , I , I , I can't , 01:34:33.728 --> 01:34:35.728 uh , talk about this , but I just , 01:34:35.728 --> 01:34:37.895 we're always committed to take care of 01:34:37.895 --> 01:34:39.839 our sailors , uh , our sailors and 01:34:39.839 --> 01:34:42.609 marines and their families , sir . And 01:34:42.609 --> 01:34:46.240 shifting gears once again . Um , 01:34:46.290 --> 01:34:48.290 Newport News shipbuilding . 01:34:50.209 --> 01:34:53.600 We have over 1000 North Carolinians 01:34:53.600 --> 01:34:55.830 that are going , um , to the shipyard . 01:34:56.990 --> 01:34:59.101 And I'm really , I'm pleased with the 01:34:59.101 --> 01:35:02.419 work that's taking place there . Let me 01:35:02.419 --> 01:35:05.379 ask both , both Acting Secretary Cowell 01:35:05.580 --> 01:35:08.669 and Admiral , um , Cottle . What are 01:35:08.669 --> 01:35:11.750 the primary bottlenecks that you see , 01:35:12.029 --> 01:35:14.950 um , specifically with ramping up the 01:35:14.950 --> 01:35:17.089 production of American-made parts for 01:35:17.350 --> 01:35:19.517 our nuclear-powered submarines and the 01:35:19.517 --> 01:35:21.709 next generation vessels , um , to 01:35:21.709 --> 01:35:23.830 prepare for a potential Indo-Pacific 01:35:23.830 --> 01:35:26.729 conflict ? Congressman , the , uh , 01:35:26.740 --> 01:35:28.879 thank you for that . The , um . The 01:35:28.879 --> 01:35:32.479 supply is not 100% the issue . It's 01:35:32.479 --> 01:35:34.812 just the , the , the manufacturer , the , 01:35:34.812 --> 01:35:38.410 the , the , uh . The large companies 01:35:38.410 --> 01:35:41.589 are not telling the small manufacturers 01:35:41.589 --> 01:35:43.700 what the uh or the , the supply chain 01:35:43.700 --> 01:35:45.867 what what they need and this is why it 01:35:45.867 --> 01:35:48.089 was so important for this body to allow 01:35:48.089 --> 01:35:50.311 us to to have multi-year procurement so 01:35:50.311 --> 01:35:52.311 they can , they can tell , tell the 01:35:52.311 --> 01:35:54.533 suppliers , hey , we're gonna need this 01:35:54.533 --> 01:35:56.867 because we're gonna build one LPD every , 01:35:56.867 --> 01:35:59.033 every year . These are exactly what we 01:35:59.033 --> 01:36:01.256 need , but I'll , I'll defer to Admiral 01:36:01.256 --> 01:36:03.256 Caudle also . Well , first of all , 01:36:03.256 --> 01:36:05.367 just say go Wolfpack and go Tar Heels 01:36:05.367 --> 01:36:07.422 just to get that on the record , but 01:36:07.422 --> 01:36:09.533 the , um , uh , you know , the 1000 , 01:36:09.533 --> 01:36:11.756 you know , North Carolinians heading to 01:36:11.756 --> 01:36:13.533 Huntington Ingalls Newport News 01:36:13.533 --> 01:36:15.533 shipbuilding is exactly what Wright 01:36:15.533 --> 01:36:17.756 looks like . And so it is the flow of , 01:36:17.756 --> 01:36:19.811 of , of this workforce at that level 01:36:19.811 --> 01:36:21.867 from all the surrounding states into 01:36:21.867 --> 01:36:23.700 that maritime industrial kind of 01:36:23.700 --> 01:36:25.867 epicenter there in Virginia is what we 01:36:25.867 --> 01:36:27.867 need to keep the right talent , the 01:36:27.867 --> 01:36:30.145 right retention , the right recruiting , 01:36:30.145 --> 01:36:32.256 all that on track , you know , it's a 01:36:32.256 --> 01:36:34.311 massive question what you've asked , 01:36:34.311 --> 01:36:34.120 but we've got a lot of single vendor 01:36:34.120 --> 01:36:36.231 lock going . On out there we've got a 01:36:36.231 --> 01:36:37.953 lot of long lead time material 01:36:37.953 --> 01:36:39.731 challenges . We've got a lot of 01:36:39.731 --> 01:36:41.787 upgrades that need to be done on the 01:36:41.787 --> 01:36:44.120 yards and so it's , it's a big question , 01:36:44.120 --> 01:36:46.287 but I would just tell you , and I'd be 01:36:46.287 --> 01:36:45.390 happy to come and talk to you 01:36:45.390 --> 01:36:47.557 personally about it . But at the heart 01:36:47.557 --> 01:36:49.779 of it , it is all about the workforce . 01:36:49.779 --> 01:36:51.890 It's about turning wrenches , putting 01:36:51.890 --> 01:36:53.834 bead wells down , and planning and 01:36:53.834 --> 01:36:55.946 executing the maintenance on time and 01:36:55.946 --> 01:36:58.112 on schedule . Well , let me say , um , 01:36:58.112 --> 01:37:00.859 Admiral , um . Go Wolfpack , go Tar 01:37:00.859 --> 01:37:02.970 Heels , and we really appreciate your 01:37:02.970 --> 01:37:05.200 service to our country . And same thing 01:37:05.200 --> 01:37:07.939 to our , um , secretary and to General 01:37:07.939 --> 01:37:10.161 Smith . Thank you and God bless for the 01:37:10.161 --> 01:37:13.229 work that you're doing . Dr . Conaway , 01:37:13.310 --> 01:37:16.290 you're recognized for 5 minutes . Uh , 01:37:16.299 --> 01:37:18.410 thank you Mr . Chairman and thank you 01:37:18.410 --> 01:37:20.577 uh witnesses for presenting yourself , 01:37:20.577 --> 01:37:22.688 uh , to us today . Uh , before , um , 01:37:22.688 --> 01:37:24.855 getting to my I guess prepared remarks 01:37:24.855 --> 01:37:27.132 and question , um , uh , Secretary Cow , 01:37:27.132 --> 01:37:31.000 you mentioned , um . And just let 01:37:31.000 --> 01:37:33.000 me set up just a little bit . We've 01:37:33.000 --> 01:37:35.830 heard from the administration that the 01:37:35.839 --> 01:37:39.319 Iranian ability to project force has 01:37:39.319 --> 01:37:41.839 been decimated . They can't fire any 01:37:41.839 --> 01:37:45.180 missiles . They are 90% attrited . 01:37:45.839 --> 01:37:47.895 They're flat on their back . I heard 01:37:47.895 --> 01:37:50.720 you say in your remarks that , and you 01:37:50.720 --> 01:37:52.776 might have misspoken , and so I want 01:37:52.776 --> 01:37:54.942 clarification . Have the Iranians been 01:37:54.942 --> 01:37:57.990 firing at American assets ? Uh , or are 01:37:57.990 --> 01:38:01.229 they firing at , um , uh , other 01:38:01.229 --> 01:38:03.396 countries in the region or , or both , 01:38:03.396 --> 01:38:05.451 because it comes to this question of 01:38:05.451 --> 01:38:07.451 whether and when , uh , Congress is 01:38:07.451 --> 01:38:09.910 going to speak on , uh , this war , 01:38:10.229 --> 01:38:12.350 this Congress's authority to , to 01:38:12.350 --> 01:38:14.350 declare war , uh , and so I'm just 01:38:14.350 --> 01:38:16.572 curious whether or not the Iranians are 01:38:16.572 --> 01:38:19.850 firing at US assets in that region . 01:38:21.060 --> 01:38:22.893 Congressman , uh , we , after we 01:38:22.893 --> 01:38:24.893 stopped the hostilities and we were 01:38:24.893 --> 01:38:27.004 talking to , to them for , uh , peace 01:38:27.004 --> 01:38:29.419 negotiations , uh , again they , they 01:38:29.419 --> 01:38:31.363 have a lot lack of command control 01:38:31.363 --> 01:38:33.475 right now . No one really knows who's 01:38:33.475 --> 01:38:35.641 in charge over there . And so you have 01:38:35.641 --> 01:38:37.752 these , these one onesies and twosies 01:38:37.752 --> 01:38:37.419 go out and then , and they're , they're 01:38:37.419 --> 01:38:39.740 launching they , they . They dug out 01:38:39.740 --> 01:38:41.962 from their rebels and they pulled out a 01:38:41.962 --> 01:38:43.907 couple of missiles and they , they 01:38:43.907 --> 01:38:46.073 shoot at these merchant ships that are 01:38:46.073 --> 01:38:45.740 coming by and that's why our , our 01:38:45.740 --> 01:38:47.740 ships are protecting those ships as 01:38:47.740 --> 01:38:49.684 well . I , I mean , it's , there's 01:38:49.684 --> 01:38:51.740 always , so I mean , I'm sorry sir , 01:38:51.740 --> 01:38:53.962 are they firing at American ? They're , 01:38:53.962 --> 01:38:56.018 they're firing at commercial because 01:38:56.018 --> 01:38:55.819 that sounds very much like a warlike 01:38:55.819 --> 01:38:58.000 activity . And the Congress has yet to 01:38:58.000 --> 01:39:00.080 speak to the American people on the 01:39:00.080 --> 01:39:02.247 question of whether or not we ought to 01:39:02.247 --> 01:39:04.413 be at war . So I'm just curious what's 01:39:04.413 --> 01:39:06.580 happening with respect to our assets , 01:39:06.580 --> 01:39:08.858 uh , in , uh , the region of operation . 01:39:08.858 --> 01:39:10.969 They're shooting at , at the merchant 01:39:10.969 --> 01:39:13.136 ships , sir . OK , let me move on to , 01:39:13.136 --> 01:39:15.259 um , uh , uh , other , uh , remarks . 01:39:15.299 --> 01:39:17.243 uh , I wanna make a question . The 01:39:17.243 --> 01:39:19.466 United States continues to exist within 01:39:19.466 --> 01:39:21.521 a global economy where global supply 01:39:21.521 --> 01:39:23.466 chains , international trade , and 01:39:23.466 --> 01:39:25.632 manufacturing are all interconnected . 01:39:25.632 --> 01:39:27.632 This reality is directly tied to US 01:39:27.632 --> 01:39:29.855 naval shipbuilding initiatives outlined 01:39:29.855 --> 01:39:32.839 in both the FYI 27 naval budget and the 01:39:32.839 --> 01:39:34.520 US Navy shipbuilding plan . 01:39:34.799 --> 01:39:37.021 Specifically , the US Navy shipbuilding 01:39:37.021 --> 01:39:40.040 plan released in May 2026 emphasizes 01:39:40.040 --> 01:39:42.151 the need to revitalize our industrial 01:39:42.151 --> 01:39:43.984 base in order to comply with the 01:39:43.984 --> 01:39:46.040 president's executive order . The US 01:39:46.040 --> 01:39:48.040 manufacturing base has holistically 01:39:48.040 --> 01:39:50.520 been in decline since 1979 , and both 01:39:50.520 --> 01:39:52.631 military and commercial ship building 01:39:52.631 --> 01:39:55.169 have declined alongside it . Uh , this 01:39:55.169 --> 01:39:57.560 long term erosion compounded by the 01:39:57.560 --> 01:39:59.782 administration's cuts to the Department 01:39:59.782 --> 01:40:01.504 of Labor and the Department of 01:40:01.504 --> 01:40:03.504 Education has weakened the domestic 01:40:03.504 --> 01:40:03.410 workforce and reduced access to 01:40:03.410 --> 01:40:05.229 critical education and training 01:40:05.229 --> 01:40:06.951 pipelines . Specifically , the 01:40:06.951 --> 01:40:09.062 president's budget proposal would cut 01:40:09.062 --> 01:40:11.118 the Department of Labor's funding by 01:40:11.118 --> 01:40:13.340 nearly 26% , eliminating vital programs 01:40:13.340 --> 01:40:15.340 such as Job Corps and the Office of 01:40:15.340 --> 01:40:17.507 Federal Contract Compliance Programs . 01:40:17.507 --> 01:40:19.451 As stated in a 2025 article by the 01:40:19.451 --> 01:40:21.618 Center for Strategic and International 01:40:21.618 --> 01:40:23.173 Studies , the United States 01:40:23.173 --> 01:40:25.285 shipbuilding enterprise has struggled 01:40:25.285 --> 01:40:27.340 to stay abreast of best practices in 01:40:27.340 --> 01:40:29.562 shipbuilding in recent decades , and in 01:40:29.562 --> 01:40:31.785 no small part because of the small size 01:40:31.785 --> 01:40:33.785 of the US . Commercial shipbuilding 01:40:33.785 --> 01:40:36.450 base which tends to be where innovation 01:40:36.450 --> 01:40:39.729 arises in the sector worldwide . A lack 01:40:39.729 --> 01:40:41.810 of uh domestic manufacturing 01:40:41.810 --> 01:40:43.990 initiatives coupled with the Trump 01:40:44.040 --> 01:40:45.873 administration's reckless use of 01:40:45.873 --> 01:40:48.040 tariffs has cultivated a manufacturing 01:40:48.040 --> 01:40:50.207 environment , uh , that is both , uh , 01:40:50.207 --> 01:40:52.318 uh , disproportionate to the size and 01:40:52.318 --> 01:40:54.439 cost , Secretary Cowell , uh . In the 01:40:54.439 --> 01:40:57.669 new US ship building plan , your , uh , 01:40:57.680 --> 01:40:59.979 Ford emphasizes the need to revitalize 01:40:59.979 --> 01:41:02.201 the American industrial base . What are 01:41:02.201 --> 01:41:04.423 your priority initiatives to help build 01:41:04.423 --> 01:41:06.423 the capacity and capability of both 01:41:06.423 --> 01:41:08.368 domestic shipbuilding industry and 01:41:08.368 --> 01:41:10.257 vendors that support them ? And I 01:41:10.257 --> 01:41:12.257 certainly want to echo the comments 01:41:12.257 --> 01:41:14.423 that my colleagues have made about how 01:41:14.423 --> 01:41:16.479 important it is . Uh , that while we 01:41:16.479 --> 01:41:18.701 might borrow technology , copy it , use 01:41:18.701 --> 01:41:20.812 it here , that our , our ships , uh , 01:41:20.812 --> 01:41:22.868 and other , um , war fighting , uh , 01:41:22.868 --> 01:41:24.868 material be made here in the United 01:41:24.868 --> 01:41:26.923 States . So I appreciate your , uh , 01:41:26.923 --> 01:41:28.868 your answer to my question , sir . 01:41:28.868 --> 01:41:30.757 Congressman , I know this is very 01:41:30.757 --> 01:41:30.209 important to you and it's very 01:41:30.209 --> 01:41:32.209 important to everybody in this room 01:41:32.209 --> 01:41:34.265 also to build ships . We , we need . 01:41:34.265 --> 01:41:37.450 540,000 Americans to to turn , roll up 01:41:37.450 --> 01:41:39.506 their sleeves and work right now and 01:41:39.506 --> 01:41:41.728 this is what we're trying to do and you 01:41:41.728 --> 01:41:43.339 allowing us to do multi-year 01:41:43.339 --> 01:41:45.450 procurement allows that it allows for 01:41:45.450 --> 01:41:47.450 industry to say , OK , this is what 01:41:47.450 --> 01:41:49.672 we're gonna do for the next seven years 01:41:49.672 --> 01:41:49.450 and that's why I , I wanna thank the 01:41:49.450 --> 01:41:51.783 Congress for allowing us to do that and , 01:41:51.783 --> 01:41:54.006 and these are levers we need to pull in 01:41:54.006 --> 01:41:56.228 order to get shipbuilding going , sir . 01:41:56.228 --> 01:41:58.506 Uh , yes , and thank you for that . Um , 01:41:58.506 --> 01:42:00.617 Admiral O'Carroll , uh , how does the 01:42:00.617 --> 01:42:02.617 US Navy intend to increase civilian 01:42:02.617 --> 01:42:04.783 workforce development and retention in 01:42:04.783 --> 01:42:04.470 a sector that has been steadily 01:42:04.470 --> 01:42:06.526 declining for the last 45 years ? We 01:42:06.526 --> 01:42:08.748 heard from CEOs that there are some , I 01:42:08.748 --> 01:42:11.220 think , pilot , uh , programs that , um , 01:42:11.549 --> 01:42:14.330 are , um , designed to help , um , 01:42:14.830 --> 01:42:16.774 bring in a workforce , uh , that's 01:42:16.774 --> 01:42:18.386 going to be specifically the 01:42:18.386 --> 01:42:20.608 gentleman's time is expired . I'm right 01:42:20.608 --> 01:42:22.830 through it . But anyway , I'll leave it 01:42:22.830 --> 01:42:24.886 at that . Uh , uh , thank you , Mr . 01:42:24.886 --> 01:42:28.709 Chairman . OK . Um , It's been 01:42:28.709 --> 01:42:32.580 3+ hours . Congratulations to 01:42:32.580 --> 01:42:34.640 all of you . Um 01:42:36.450 --> 01:42:38.339 I've got a couple of thoughts , a 01:42:38.339 --> 01:42:40.394 couple of questions , and then we're 01:42:40.394 --> 01:42:42.506 going to be on our way because we all 01:42:42.506 --> 01:42:44.672 have very important things to do , but 01:42:44.672 --> 01:42:46.839 nothing more important than what we're 01:42:46.839 --> 01:42:48.839 doing here in this committee room . 01:42:48.839 --> 01:42:50.894 This is not Democrat or Republican . 01:42:50.894 --> 01:42:53.117 This is about Democrats and Republicans 01:42:53.117 --> 01:42:53.040 working together on armed services to 01:42:53.040 --> 01:42:55.207 get the right results for the national 01:42:55.207 --> 01:42:58.009 defense . So I wanna throw one acronym 01:42:58.009 --> 01:43:01.649 at you , ATM . This is 01:43:03.109 --> 01:43:06.350 money is not endless in an ATM , but in 01:43:06.350 --> 01:43:08.589 this particular instance , it stands 01:43:08.589 --> 01:43:11.330 for all things maritime . As we've 01:43:11.330 --> 01:43:13.219 listened over the last 3 hours to 01:43:13.219 --> 01:43:15.386 everybody make their statements , your 01:43:15.386 --> 01:43:17.608 responses , they have been thoughtful , 01:43:17.649 --> 01:43:19.970 but we still have to focus on all 01:43:19.970 --> 01:43:23.850 things maritime . And get that broader 01:43:23.850 --> 01:43:26.072 base whether it's the industrial base , 01:43:26.410 --> 01:43:30.080 whether it's the military ability to 01:43:30.089 --> 01:43:33.250 plan , project , and implement all of 01:43:33.250 --> 01:43:35.250 these things work together . So ATM 01:43:35.250 --> 01:43:37.850 just remember all things maritime , but 01:43:37.850 --> 01:43:40.209 money is not unlimited and time is 01:43:40.209 --> 01:43:44.209 finite too . OK , so no horse 01:43:44.209 --> 01:43:46.810 is too dead to beat , right ? OK , so 01:43:46.810 --> 01:43:49.149 we're gonna resurrect right now the , 01:43:49.169 --> 01:43:52.439 the subject . Of the amphibious fleet , 01:43:52.620 --> 01:43:54.787 uh , Admiral Caudle , over the years . 01:43:55.200 --> 01:43:58.500 The Navy budget consistently 01:43:59.040 --> 01:44:02.359 prioritized other platforms while the 01:44:02.359 --> 01:44:04.680 Marine Corps warned of a crisis in 01:44:04.680 --> 01:44:07.390 amphibious lift . As the ultimate 01:44:07.390 --> 01:44:09.790 arbiter , are you directing the 01:44:09.790 --> 01:44:13.299 Department of the Navy ? To adequately 01:44:13.299 --> 01:44:16.140 fund the amphibious warship procurement 01:44:16.140 --> 01:44:18.620 and maintenance required for this 01:44:18.620 --> 01:44:21.660 presence , or is there something we've 01:44:21.660 --> 01:44:25.350 missed and there's a strategic decision 01:44:25.899 --> 01:44:28.700 that lowers the Marine Corps in that 01:44:28.700 --> 01:44:31.790 priority list . Sir , I'm directing 01:44:31.790 --> 01:44:34.220 that everything we can do to maintain 01:44:34.220 --> 01:44:37.720 our amphibious fleet be done . I fully 01:44:37.720 --> 01:44:39.831 recognize the journey that we've been 01:44:39.831 --> 01:44:41.998 on and how it got to the state . I own 01:44:41.998 --> 01:44:44.164 it . I'm working with the General Eric 01:44:44.164 --> 01:44:46.164 Smith to work to fix it . It has my 01:44:46.164 --> 01:44:48.164 full commitment . It's getting full 01:44:48.164 --> 01:44:50.276 funding . It's getting full oversight 01:44:50.276 --> 01:44:52.387 and every lever I pull to improve the 01:44:52.387 --> 01:44:54.664 readiness of the amphibious force . OK , 01:44:54.664 --> 01:44:56.831 thank you , um , General Smith . Could 01:44:56.831 --> 01:44:58.720 you please briefly talk about the 01:44:58.720 --> 01:45:00.831 importance of the medium landing ship 01:45:00.831 --> 01:45:02.998 to Marine Corps operations , including 01:45:02.998 --> 01:45:05.164 your overall acquisition objective and 01:45:05.164 --> 01:45:07.220 preferred timeline for getting these 01:45:07.220 --> 01:45:09.339 ships into the fleet ? Sir , I can . 01:45:09.419 --> 01:45:11.419 The LSM or landing ship medium is a 01:45:11.419 --> 01:45:13.540 crucial inter-island connector . It's 01:45:13.540 --> 01:45:15.779 what moves us through and about the 01:45:15.779 --> 01:45:17.700 first island chain . It moves our 01:45:17.700 --> 01:45:19.700 things like our nemesis batty , our 01:45:19.700 --> 01:45:21.367 nemesis battery , Navy Marine 01:45:21.367 --> 01:45:23.644 expeditionary ship interdiction system , 01:45:23.644 --> 01:45:25.867 and our rogue nemesis system . So the , 01:45:25.867 --> 01:45:28.144 the number is to be decided , you know , 01:45:28.144 --> 01:45:30.669 it's about 30 . Uh , give or take , but 01:45:30.669 --> 01:45:32.780 we're , we're still determining those 01:45:32.780 --> 01:45:34.891 numbers , but it's , it's designed to 01:45:34.891 --> 01:45:37.058 move those units about and through the 01:45:37.058 --> 01:45:39.470 first island chain to be a limited 01:45:39.470 --> 01:45:41.870 target , to be disaggregated , and to 01:45:41.870 --> 01:45:44.470 re-aggregate forces in order to move 01:45:44.470 --> 01:45:46.637 throughout that first island chain and 01:45:46.637 --> 01:45:48.414 to sustain themselves , to move 01:45:48.414 --> 01:45:50.692 munitions , batteries , munitions , uh , 01:45:50.692 --> 01:45:53.410 supplies , and to move marines . Thank 01:45:53.410 --> 01:45:57.399 you , Mr . Secretary . It's great 01:45:57.399 --> 01:45:59.629 to see you here . Uh , I agree with the 01:45:59.629 --> 01:46:02.120 commandant's belief that the LSM is 01:46:02.120 --> 01:46:03.731 critical to the Marine Corps 01:46:03.731 --> 01:46:05.787 warfighting mission , which is why I 01:46:05.787 --> 01:46:07.787 think it's imperative that the Navy 01:46:07.787 --> 01:46:10.819 does everything it can to get as many 01:46:10.819 --> 01:46:13.700 ships delivered as quickly as possible . 01:46:14.490 --> 01:46:16.680 That requires sufficient funding , as 01:46:16.680 --> 01:46:18.479 we know , to fully utilize the 01:46:18.479 --> 01:46:21.350 production capacity of LSM shipbuilders , 01:46:21.830 --> 01:46:24.720 including Fincantieri Marionette Marine , 01:46:24.919 --> 01:46:28.439 which is able to construct 4 LSMs per 01:46:28.439 --> 01:46:30.550 year . I was up at their facilities , 01:46:30.550 --> 01:46:32.495 not that . Long ago and it's quite 01:46:32.495 --> 01:46:34.606 impressive . Um , what are your plans 01:46:34.685 --> 01:46:37.225 for resourcing the LSM program to meet 01:46:37.225 --> 01:46:40.125 the 4 ship per year target and maintain 01:46:40.125 --> 01:46:42.665 the shipbuilding workforce , uh , a 01:46:42.665 --> 01:46:45.265 majority of which , uh , commute from 01:46:45.265 --> 01:46:48.865 my district in into Tony Weed's 01:46:48.865 --> 01:46:52.759 district to go to work . Congressman , 01:46:52.879 --> 01:46:55.240 we , we are , uh , we have that in our 01:46:55.240 --> 01:46:57.407 budget this year , for that's , that's 01:46:57.407 --> 01:46:59.407 why , you know , it's so imperative 01:46:59.407 --> 01:47:01.684 that we pass this bill , sir , because , 01:47:01.684 --> 01:47:03.962 you know , we , time is of the essence , 01:47:03.962 --> 01:47:05.962 and these ships are not gonna build 01:47:05.962 --> 01:47:08.184 themselves . We need to be able to tell 01:47:08.184 --> 01:47:10.296 industry this is what we want , and , 01:47:10.296 --> 01:47:12.184 and we're gonna lock in the , the 01:47:12.184 --> 01:47:11.910 design and then move forward from there , 01:47:12.000 --> 01:47:15.459 sir . OK . If I , if I could add just 01:47:15.459 --> 01:47:17.570 two things that I think are important 01:47:17.570 --> 01:47:19.939 to that question is proven design . So 01:47:19.939 --> 01:47:22.259 it's this LST 100 , we're using the 01:47:22.259 --> 01:47:24.426 Damon design , and we're for the first 01:47:24.426 --> 01:47:26.592 time , the Navy's actually gonna use a 01:47:26.592 --> 01:47:28.592 vessel construction manager for the 01:47:28.592 --> 01:47:30.648 oversight of that build . So both of 01:47:30.648 --> 01:47:32.815 those are things that are going to get 01:47:32.815 --> 01:47:34.981 that delivered on time . Great , thank 01:47:34.981 --> 01:47:37.037 you . Well , and to close this out . 01:47:37.609 --> 01:47:41.490 You know what the term shell game . OK . 01:47:41.810 --> 01:47:43.977 Well , I would suggest to you , if you 01:47:43.977 --> 01:47:46.088 look at it , potentially , we've been 01:47:46.088 --> 01:47:49.209 playing a hull game for too long . It's 01:47:49.209 --> 01:47:51.549 time for the hull game to end . 01:47:52.509 --> 01:47:56.040 And the ships to be built , deployed 01:47:56.459 --> 01:47:58.979 to the fight , to humanitarian 01:47:58.979 --> 01:48:01.201 assistance , disaster relief , which is 01:48:01.201 --> 01:48:03.423 a lot of what our muses do when they're 01:48:03.423 --> 01:48:05.257 not in the fight , but it's that 01:48:05.257 --> 01:48:08.299 worldwide presence that our amphibious 01:48:08.299 --> 01:48:11.140 ready fleet shows the world that we're 01:48:11.140 --> 01:48:13.362 serious about what we do . We just need 01:48:13.362 --> 01:48:16.060 the seriousness to result in ships that 01:48:16.060 --> 01:48:17.949 are floating and marines that are 01:48:17.949 --> 01:48:20.004 aboard . And with that , um , unless 01:48:20.004 --> 01:48:23.899 there's anything else . This hearing is 01:48:23.899 --> 01:48:26.100 adjourned . I thank everybody for your 01:48:26.100 --> 01:48:27.180 time and your patience .