1 00:00:00,340 --> 00:00:02,562 Thank you very much and Senator blunt , 2 00:00:02,562 --> 00:00:04,729 Thank you Chairman , Thank you stuff . 3 00:00:04,729 --> 00:00:06,896 And incidentally , just so people know 4 00:00:06,896 --> 00:00:09,118 that we're going to have a vote at just 5 00:00:09,118 --> 00:00:11,451 not to come out of senator blanche time , 6 00:00:11,451 --> 00:00:14,620 but we're going to have a voting about 7 00:00:14,620 --> 00:00:18,280 10 or 15 minutes when we do , I'll take 8 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:21,960 a 10 minute break at that time , 9 00:00:23,540 --> 00:00:25,890 I will come back after the vote and 10 00:00:25,890 --> 00:00:28,350 anybody else just you know , go ahead 11 00:00:28,350 --> 00:00:30,406 tournament . Thank you . Thank you . 12 00:00:30,406 --> 00:00:32,517 Chairman and Secretary Austin General 13 00:00:32,517 --> 00:00:34,517 Melanie , thanks to both of you for 14 00:00:34,517 --> 00:00:36,739 your service and for being here today . 15 00:00:36,739 --> 00:00:38,906 I also want to commend your efforts in 16 00:00:38,906 --> 00:00:41,072 developing a national defense strategy 17 00:00:41,072 --> 00:00:42,850 that takes into account china's 18 00:00:42,850 --> 00:00:44,739 continued growth and their global 19 00:00:44,739 --> 00:00:47,510 influence and their obvious commitment 20 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:49,590 economically militarily and in other 21 00:00:49,590 --> 00:00:52,840 ways too , to compete with us and 22 00:00:52,850 --> 00:00:55,080 better us if they can . And we of 23 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:57,247 course don't want to let that happen . 24 00:00:57,247 --> 00:00:59,580 I know Senator murkowski talked about 25 00:00:59,590 --> 00:01:03,560 um mining and minerals . 26 00:01:03,940 --> 00:01:05,980 Yeah , we produced no nickel in the 27 00:01:05,980 --> 00:01:08,220 country . Today . We produce no lithium 28 00:01:08,230 --> 00:01:11,390 in the country today . About 10,000 29 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:14,360 minds that have closed some of them for 30 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:16,416 environmental reasons . Some of them 31 00:01:16,416 --> 00:01:18,638 because whenever they try to open in an 32 00:01:18,638 --> 00:01:20,720 area where china has made a studied 33 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:24,230 effort all over the world to get there , 34 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:26,740 get control of these various minerals 35 00:01:26,740 --> 00:01:28,518 and resources . They would just 36 00:01:28,518 --> 00:01:32,300 undersell any american company or any 37 00:01:32,300 --> 00:01:34,244 company anywhere in the world that 38 00:01:34,244 --> 00:01:37,320 tries to compete . And I think , uh , 39 00:01:37,330 --> 00:01:39,330 that's an area of great concern . I 40 00:01:39,330 --> 00:01:41,219 didn't hear your entire answer to 41 00:01:41,219 --> 00:01:43,330 Senator murkowski . So you might have 42 00:01:43,330 --> 00:01:45,580 might have covered that already . But I 43 00:01:45,580 --> 00:01:47,730 do think from a defense perspective , 44 00:01:47,730 --> 00:01:49,952 we have to start looking at this supply 45 00:01:49,952 --> 00:01:52,050 chain of what it takes to have the 46 00:01:52,050 --> 00:01:54,780 equipment we need to defend the country . 47 00:01:54,780 --> 00:01:56,947 If there's anything either of you want 48 00:01:56,947 --> 00:01:59,224 to say on that , that you haven't said , 49 00:01:59,224 --> 00:02:02,120 I'd be glad to give you a moment . Well 50 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:04,670 thank you senator . I'll just say , I 51 00:02:04,670 --> 00:02:06,448 absolutely agree with you . The 52 00:02:06,448 --> 00:02:08,860 department agrees with you . That's why 53 00:02:08,860 --> 00:02:11,260 we're investing some $341 million 54 00:02:11,260 --> 00:02:15,240 dollars in uh in enabling us to better 55 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:17,730 partner with the U . S . Companies and 56 00:02:17,730 --> 00:02:19,960 part of that is going after some of 57 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:23,050 those rare earth elements that you 58 00:02:23,050 --> 00:02:27,010 talked about that are required to 59 00:02:27,020 --> 00:02:29,450 produce some of the capabilities that 60 00:02:29,450 --> 00:02:32,940 will need going forward . And you know , 61 00:02:32,950 --> 00:02:35,100 rarer is not nearly as rare as you 62 00:02:35,100 --> 00:02:37,044 might think it is . But every time 63 00:02:37,044 --> 00:02:39,100 again somebody tries to develop it , 64 00:02:39,100 --> 00:02:40,933 china's put themselves in such a 65 00:02:40,933 --> 00:02:43,100 situation there where they can make it 66 00:02:43,100 --> 00:02:45,580 incredibly unprofitable to try to do 67 00:02:45,580 --> 00:02:49,330 that on on that regard . Uh The 68 00:02:49,330 --> 00:02:53,330 indo pacific command generally the 69 00:02:53,340 --> 00:02:56,180 top of their unfunded requirements in 70 00:02:56,180 --> 00:02:58,840 that command missile Defense Agency 71 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:01,062 expressed a need for additional funding 72 00:03:01,062 --> 00:03:04,010 to boost defense against ballistic 73 00:03:04,020 --> 00:03:05,909 military threats . In the pacific 74 00:03:05,909 --> 00:03:08,430 specifically the endo specific 75 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:11,740 commanders . Number one priority is 76 00:03:11,740 --> 00:03:14,450 more money to develop a ballistic 77 00:03:14,450 --> 00:03:17,750 missile defense system for Guam . Uh 78 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:19,482 I'd be interested to hear your 79 00:03:19,482 --> 00:03:21,750 assessment of what happens when we 80 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:24,650 don't fund that priority . 81 00:03:27,140 --> 00:03:29,720 Uh It's a top priority for me to be 82 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:31,850 able to protect the United States of 83 00:03:31,850 --> 00:03:33,850 America . And of course Graham is a 84 00:03:33,850 --> 00:03:36,590 part of our country here . So We've 85 00:03:36,590 --> 00:03:38,750 invested $118 million dollars in this 86 00:03:38,750 --> 00:03:41,980 budget towards the development of 87 00:03:41,990 --> 00:03:44,212 missile defense capability , Dongguan . 88 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:47,430 And do you think that met the Indo 89 00:03:47,430 --> 00:03:50,100 pacific Commander's request ? That's 90 00:03:50,100 --> 00:03:52,267 not what he requested , but I think it 91 00:03:52,267 --> 00:03:54,211 gets us , it gets us moving in the 92 00:03:54,211 --> 00:03:56,322 right direction . And of course as we 93 00:03:56,322 --> 00:03:59,360 as we further develop this , we can we 94 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:01,950 can invest more as time goes forward . 95 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:03,873 Well , you know , one thing this 96 00:04:03,873 --> 00:04:05,929 committee has always looked at and I 97 00:04:05,929 --> 00:04:07,818 think well again this year is the 98 00:04:07,818 --> 00:04:10,040 unfunded list and the prioritization on 99 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:12,262 that list . This may be a topic we want 100 00:04:12,262 --> 00:04:14,484 to revisit later while we're in the end 101 00:04:14,484 --> 00:04:16,860 of pacific general milne as an example 102 00:04:17,340 --> 00:04:21,070 in our ally Australia . Clear that 103 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:23,460 china is doing everything . They can 104 00:04:23,940 --> 00:04:26,980 make world uncomfortable for Australia 105 00:04:26,980 --> 00:04:29,810 economically and militarily . What are 106 00:04:29,810 --> 00:04:32,320 we doing to further partner with and 107 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:35,260 better support Australia or any of the 108 00:04:35,260 --> 00:04:37,750 other indo pacific allies ? You'd want 109 00:04:37,750 --> 00:04:38,750 to mention 110 00:04:42,540 --> 00:04:45,930 a long I think you're mike may not be 111 00:04:45,930 --> 00:04:46,560 on again . 112 00:04:50,540 --> 00:04:54,400 Of what ? Uh huh . One 113 00:04:54,410 --> 00:04:57,240 is everything . Yeah . 114 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:01,370 Mhm . Yeah . Here . 115 00:05:03,540 --> 00:05:05,840 Mhm . Yeah . 116 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,840 Have this is Mhm . Yeah . 117 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:17,120 Yeah . Legal . Thank you much . 118 00:05:17,130 --> 00:05:20,930 Good . We have Rudy go 119 00:05:21,090 --> 00:05:24,540 back me as . Yeah . Yeah . 120 00:05:26,540 --> 00:05:30,530 Daily basis with myself . Mhm . Thanks 121 00:05:30,840 --> 00:05:34,060 a lot . I know a lot later than 122 00:05:34,740 --> 00:05:37,470 we do it at the unit basis uh as well 123 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:39,720 uh So we're doing it in the Navy , were 124 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:41,831 doing it in the army , we're doing it 125 00:05:41,831 --> 00:05:43,831 in the marines , were doing the air 126 00:05:43,831 --> 00:05:45,942 force and we worked very very closely 127 00:05:45,942 --> 00:05:48,053 with them in cyber and and with space 128 00:05:48,053 --> 00:05:48,000 capabilities . So we're very 129 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:49,940 interoperable with the Australian 130 00:05:49,940 --> 00:05:52,051 military . Uh And they of course have 131 00:05:52,051 --> 00:05:54,218 conducted operation with us in both uh 132 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:56,660 Afghanistan Iraq very regularly . So 133 00:05:56,670 --> 00:05:58,726 we're very tight with the Australian 134 00:05:58,726 --> 00:06:00,781 military . Well , I think that's the 135 00:06:00,781 --> 00:06:02,948 kind of thing that our adversaries and 136 00:06:02,948 --> 00:06:04,837 our our friends and our potential 137 00:06:04,837 --> 00:06:06,948 friends look at . And I'm glad you're 138 00:06:06,948 --> 00:06:09,003 continuing to do all the things that 139 00:06:09,003 --> 00:06:11,170 you're doing there . It's obvious it's 140 00:06:11,170 --> 00:06:13,226 noticeable and at the same time it's 141 00:06:13,226 --> 00:06:16,250 important . Thank you . Chairman . Mhm . 142 00:06:17,840 --> 00:06:20,210 Chairman , Thank you very much and 143 00:06:20,220 --> 00:06:22,610 welcome uh Secretary Austin General 144 00:06:22,610 --> 00:06:24,800 Milley to the committee . I really do 145 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,022 appreciate all the work you're doing to 146 00:06:27,022 --> 00:06:29,133 make sure that our armed Services are 147 00:06:29,133 --> 00:06:31,411 professional and welcoming environment . 148 00:06:31,411 --> 00:06:34,370 But one thing I am concerned about is 149 00:06:34,370 --> 00:06:36,800 that within our armed forces were still 150 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:39,040 seeing discrimination and extremism . 151 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:41,830 And I really encourage you to continue 152 00:06:41,830 --> 00:06:44,052 your focus for this on the department . 153 00:06:44,052 --> 00:06:46,219 I know there's a long ways to go . And 154 00:06:46,219 --> 00:06:49,240 another similar problem is sexual 155 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:51,540 assault . After all of the work that 156 00:06:51,540 --> 00:06:53,596 has occurred , as you both know over 157 00:06:53,596 --> 00:06:55,707 many , many years . I'm not satisfied 158 00:06:55,707 --> 00:06:57,929 that there has been meaningful progress 159 00:06:57,929 --> 00:06:59,929 in ending sexual assault and sexual 160 00:06:59,929 --> 00:07:02,040 harassment in our services . Congress 161 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:04,096 has provided significant funding and 162 00:07:04,096 --> 00:07:06,610 authorities and been patient with 163 00:07:06,610 --> 00:07:08,880 studies and training programs , but the 164 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:11,470 numbers remain far too high . Your 165 00:07:11,470 --> 00:07:13,526 testimony reference those problems , 166 00:07:13,526 --> 00:07:15,692 but I want to know what specific steps 167 00:07:15,692 --> 00:07:17,748 you think needs to happen to finally 168 00:07:17,748 --> 00:07:20,210 make meaningful progress in eliminating 169 00:07:20,210 --> 00:07:22,377 these problems in the rank . Secretary 170 00:07:22,377 --> 00:07:25,690 Austin , if you don't start . Um it may 171 00:07:25,690 --> 00:07:27,690 be helpful just to kind of tell you 172 00:07:27,690 --> 00:07:30,780 where we are in the in the in the in 173 00:07:30,780 --> 00:07:33,010 our efforts to take on this . Uh this 174 00:07:33,010 --> 00:07:35,970 very important issue , senator , and I 175 00:07:35,970 --> 00:07:38,440 absolutely agree with you . A lot of 176 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:40,662 effort has gone into this and we've got 177 00:07:40,662 --> 00:07:42,496 a lot a lot of support from this 178 00:07:42,496 --> 00:07:46,190 committee and others uh to uh help 179 00:07:46,190 --> 00:07:48,620 us focus on this over the years , but 180 00:07:48,620 --> 00:07:51,980 we haven't made much progress . So one 181 00:07:51,980 --> 00:07:54,430 of the very first things I did uh 182 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:57,270 coming in as secretary is it was issue 183 00:07:57,270 --> 00:08:00,620 a directive to uh to the services to 184 00:08:00,620 --> 00:08:03,880 provide me input and their best advice 185 00:08:03,890 --> 00:08:06,360 best ideas on how we could improve . 186 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:09,640 But beyond that , I commissioned an 187 00:08:09,650 --> 00:08:12,460 independent review commission by 188 00:08:12,460 --> 00:08:14,750 direction of the president to look at 189 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:17,590 ourselves on sexual assault four lines 190 00:08:17,590 --> 00:08:19,534 of effort in that commission . The 191 00:08:19,534 --> 00:08:21,800 first is accountability and that's uh 192 00:08:21,810 --> 00:08:24,860 that addresses how we how we 193 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:28,560 prosecute uh 194 00:08:29,540 --> 00:08:33,250 violations or sexual assault offenses . 195 00:08:33,260 --> 00:08:35,860 Uh and uh and of course this this 196 00:08:35,860 --> 00:08:38,350 addresses the U . C . M . J . That 197 00:08:38,740 --> 00:08:40,962 another line of effort was prevention . 198 00:08:40,962 --> 00:08:43,600 Another line of effort was uh climate 199 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:45,711 and culture . And then finally victim 200 00:08:45,711 --> 00:08:47,830 care . I've already gotten the input 201 00:08:47,830 --> 00:08:50,890 back on accountability . And uh you 202 00:08:50,890 --> 00:08:52,890 know , I've talked about that input 203 00:08:53,140 --> 00:08:55,990 with uh with the service secretaries 204 00:08:55,990 --> 00:08:59,410 and the Service Chiefs very shortly . I 205 00:08:59,410 --> 00:09:01,580 will I will make a recommendation to 206 00:09:01,580 --> 00:09:04,250 the President on how I how I think we 207 00:09:04,250 --> 00:09:06,980 should proceed . But clearly I believe 208 00:09:06,980 --> 00:09:09,500 we have to take a different approach to 209 00:09:09,500 --> 00:09:11,710 be able to restore confidence in our 210 00:09:11,710 --> 00:09:14,170 system . I think right now we're at a 211 00:09:14,170 --> 00:09:17,320 point where we don't have the 212 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:19,440 confidence that we should have in our 213 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:22,690 young troopers who are in our ranks 214 00:09:22,700 --> 00:09:24,900 and so we have to do something about 215 00:09:24,900 --> 00:09:27,320 that . Thank you . General . Yes , 216 00:09:27,330 --> 00:09:29,497 senator . And I've said publicly and I 217 00:09:29,497 --> 00:09:31,608 said testimony and other committees , 218 00:09:31,740 --> 00:09:33,851 you're correct . We haven't moved the 219 00:09:33,851 --> 00:09:36,140 needle . Um , and we haven't reduced 220 00:09:36,140 --> 00:09:38,480 significantly or even a little bit the 221 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:40,536 numbers , uh , the actual numbers of 222 00:09:40,536 --> 00:09:43,280 reported sexual assaults . Therefore we 223 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:45,224 need to do something fundamentally 224 00:09:45,224 --> 00:09:47,336 different . The IRC , the Independent 225 00:09:47,336 --> 00:09:49,336 Review Commission is coming up with 226 00:09:49,336 --> 00:09:51,002 recommendations . I've had an 227 00:09:51,002 --> 00:09:53,113 opportunity to interact with both the 228 00:09:53,113 --> 00:09:55,336 commission and obviously give my advice 229 00:09:55,336 --> 00:09:57,391 to the secretary and I and the other 230 00:09:57,391 --> 00:09:59,613 chiefs are very open to fundamental and 231 00:09:59,613 --> 00:10:01,780 significant change in the uniform code 232 00:10:01,780 --> 00:10:01,750 of Military Justice with respect to 233 00:10:01,750 --> 00:10:03,917 sexual assault , sexual harassment and 234 00:10:03,917 --> 00:10:06,028 related crimes . We are reviewing the 235 00:10:06,028 --> 00:10:08,194 other lines of effort very carefully . 236 00:10:08,194 --> 00:10:10,250 And I think you're going to see some 237 00:10:10,250 --> 00:10:12,417 substantive change here very shortly . 238 00:10:12,417 --> 00:10:14,472 Very good . I look forward to seeing 239 00:10:14,472 --> 00:10:16,528 that soon . Thank you . Um Secretary 240 00:10:16,528 --> 00:10:18,306 Austin , as you know , military 241 00:10:18,306 --> 00:10:20,472 families face a range of challenges on 242 00:10:20,472 --> 00:10:24,470 a day to day basis . And I one study 243 00:10:24,470 --> 00:10:26,526 shows one in eight military families 244 00:10:26,526 --> 00:10:28,830 are experiencing food insecurity 245 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:30,951 without rate being higher actually in 246 00:10:30,951 --> 00:10:33,007 some areas of country , like my home 247 00:10:33,007 --> 00:10:35,229 state of Washington . I hear frequently 248 00:10:35,229 --> 00:10:37,229 from families in my state about the 249 00:10:37,229 --> 00:10:39,007 long wait lists for childcare . 250 00:10:39,007 --> 00:10:41,229 Military families from Washington state 251 00:10:41,229 --> 00:10:43,380 struggled to find affordable housing 252 00:10:43,390 --> 00:10:45,510 with shortages of military family 253 00:10:45,510 --> 00:10:48,090 housing on base and rising prices for 254 00:10:48,090 --> 00:10:50,590 homes . Um , talk to me about how 255 00:10:50,590 --> 00:10:52,812 you're going to prioritize these issues 256 00:10:52,812 --> 00:10:54,850 and empower the department to take 257 00:10:54,850 --> 00:10:56,850 meaningful action to improve this . 258 00:10:58,740 --> 00:11:00,851 Well , as you know , senator , we had 259 00:11:00,851 --> 00:11:03,018 some issues with these types of things 260 00:11:03,018 --> 00:11:05,360 before the pandemic . The pandemic 261 00:11:05,370 --> 00:11:07,920 exacerbated uh , these these problems 262 00:11:07,930 --> 00:11:10,200 because , you know , spouses , uh , 263 00:11:10,210 --> 00:11:14,030 lost jobs , uh , couldn't get towel 264 00:11:14,030 --> 00:11:16,030 care and that sort of stuff . So we 265 00:11:16,030 --> 00:11:18,030 have we have made provision in this 266 00:11:18,030 --> 00:11:21,930 budget to address uh Uh military 267 00:11:21,930 --> 00:11:25,150 family support programs . And I think 268 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:28,350 you'll see uh you know near $8 billion 269 00:11:28,350 --> 00:11:30,650 dollars that will be focused on this . 270 00:11:30,660 --> 00:11:33,050 And I think it will provide tremendous 271 00:11:33,060 --> 00:11:36,360 help and assistance going forward . 272 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:39,207 Well , thank you and I look forward to 273 00:11:39,207 --> 00:11:41,530 supporting that retention uh and 274 00:11:41,530 --> 00:11:43,550 recruitment . These are absolutely 275 00:11:43,550 --> 00:11:45,600 critical issues to that effort . So 276 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:47,544 thank you for that . MR Chairman . 277 00:11:47,544 --> 00:11:50,160 Thank you . Thank you very much . And 278 00:11:50,170 --> 00:11:53,580 Senator Holman uh recognize you . I 279 00:11:53,590 --> 00:11:55,710 understand the vote will be on time . 280 00:11:55,710 --> 00:11:58,990 So when you finish we'll take a short 281 00:11:58,990 --> 00:12:01,190 recess . Thank you . Mr Chairman 282 00:12:01,310 --> 00:12:05,250 Secretary Austin in the 2022 budget . 283 00:12:05,260 --> 00:12:08,990 The nuclear modernization efforts 284 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:11,640 is adequately funded both the G . BSD 285 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:13,590 and the RSO . I understand the 286 00:12:13,590 --> 00:12:15,646 administration wants to do a nuclear 287 00:12:15,646 --> 00:12:18,860 posture review . Um Two questions in 288 00:12:18,860 --> 00:12:20,971 regard to that will that be completed 289 00:12:20,971 --> 00:12:23,780 prior to the determinations in the 2023 290 00:12:23,780 --> 00:12:26,340 budget as far as upgrading the nuclear 291 00:12:26,340 --> 00:12:29,940 mission . And uh also are 292 00:12:29,940 --> 00:12:32,150 you uh will you commit that ? It will 293 00:12:32,150 --> 00:12:33,950 be done with an eye toward the 294 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:37,400 escalation of both Russia and 295 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:40,290 particularly china in terms of their 296 00:12:40,290 --> 00:12:42,512 overall military and certainly in terms 297 00:12:42,512 --> 00:12:45,650 of their nuclear capabilities . We 298 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:49,200 our plan is to uh to complete the 299 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:52,500 review within the next year . So yes to 300 00:12:52,500 --> 00:12:54,444 answer your question . And and the 301 00:12:54,444 --> 00:12:56,790 second question is absolutely we'll 302 00:12:56,790 --> 00:12:59,390 take into consideration the current 303 00:12:59,390 --> 00:13:01,920 threats and and emerging threats as we 304 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:04,650 do the review . Would the existing U . 305 00:13:04,650 --> 00:13:06,983 S . Strategic deterrent remain credible ? 306 00:13:06,983 --> 00:13:09,310 If china fielded forces twice the size 307 00:13:09,310 --> 00:13:13,230 they have today ? I think 308 00:13:13,230 --> 00:13:17,040 we have to look at deterrence to 309 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:19,400 answer that question Yes our our intent 310 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:21,850 is to remain credible . Uh no matter 311 00:13:21,850 --> 00:13:25,760 what and so the purpose of the review 312 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:27,927 is to make sure that we have the right 313 00:13:27,927 --> 00:13:30,310 capabilities in place uh to counter any 314 00:13:30,310 --> 00:13:32,710 threat presented by china Russia or 315 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:35,060 whomever . And would you agree that the 316 00:13:35,540 --> 00:13:37,360 efficacy and strength of our 317 00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:40,590 conventional forces is necessarily 318 00:13:40,590 --> 00:13:42,423 buttressed by having an adequate 319 00:13:42,423 --> 00:13:44,560 nuclear deterrent that equals or 320 00:13:44,560 --> 00:13:46,960 exceeds that of our major adversaries . 321 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:52,210 Our nuclear triad has been the bedrock 322 00:13:52,210 --> 00:13:55,620 of our of our deterrence effort for for 323 00:13:55,620 --> 00:13:57,842 many many years and it will continue to 324 00:13:57,842 --> 00:14:00,280 be so to be so in the future . Uh So 325 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:02,391 the answer to that question , senator 326 00:14:02,391 --> 00:14:04,810 is yes . Uh General Millard asked you 327 00:14:04,820 --> 00:14:07,240 essentially the same question . Yeah . 328 00:14:07,250 --> 00:14:11,140 First uh the answer is yes . Uh now 329 00:14:11,150 --> 00:14:14,320 and in the future if we continue to 330 00:14:14,330 --> 00:14:18,160 fully modernize the triad than the U . 331 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:20,920 S . Nuclear strategic deterrent is 332 00:14:20,930 --> 00:14:23,970 fully adequate to deter any adversary 333 00:14:23,980 --> 00:14:26,050 to include china . Even if china 334 00:14:26,050 --> 00:14:27,994 doubled what they have right now . 335 00:14:27,994 --> 00:14:29,939 There's no question in my mind but 336 00:14:29,939 --> 00:14:32,470 deterrence as you know requires not 337 00:14:32,470 --> 00:14:34,750 only the capability and the will but 338 00:14:34,750 --> 00:14:36,950 also the communication . The adversary 339 00:14:37,030 --> 00:14:39,141 needs to understand that you have the 340 00:14:39,141 --> 00:14:41,363 capability in the will . So all of that 341 00:14:41,363 --> 00:14:43,586 together it's a complicated piece there 342 00:14:43,586 --> 00:14:45,752 but all of it together , I'm very very 343 00:14:45,752 --> 00:14:47,974 confident that our nuclear systems once 344 00:14:47,974 --> 00:14:50,197 modernized and fully modernized today . 345 00:14:50,197 --> 00:14:52,141 They are adequate and I think once 346 00:14:52,141 --> 00:14:51,920 modernized they'll be adequate in the 347 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:54,031 future . The conventional piece . The 348 00:14:54,031 --> 00:14:55,976 nuclear peace and the conventional 349 00:14:55,976 --> 00:14:57,920 peace go hand in here . And it's a 350 00:14:57,920 --> 00:14:59,920 dynamic that works in order to keep 351 00:14:59,920 --> 00:15:02,087 great power peace . And it's very very 352 00:15:02,087 --> 00:15:04,480 important that we retain overmatch 353 00:15:04,490 --> 00:15:07,200 relative to china or Russia . But 354 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:09,560 specifically now we're talking china uh 355 00:15:09,570 --> 00:15:11,626 into the future . And in combination 356 00:15:11,626 --> 00:15:13,750 those two in combination will keep us 357 00:15:13,750 --> 00:15:15,920 at a level of competition . Uh and we 358 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:18,600 won't be able to or we won't get from 359 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:20,767 competition into conflict and that's a 360 00:15:20,767 --> 00:15:22,989 critical thing as we go to the future . 361 00:15:22,989 --> 00:15:25,760 Do you support helping Israel 362 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:27,538 replenished its missile defense 363 00:15:27,538 --> 00:15:30,260 following the recent attacks by Hamas ? 364 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:33,790 Do I support that ? Uh That's a policy 365 00:15:33,790 --> 00:15:36,090 question uh about whether we should 366 00:15:36,090 --> 00:15:38,257 support , we have the capability to do 367 00:15:38,257 --> 00:15:40,146 it . Uh And I think it's a policy 368 00:15:40,146 --> 00:15:42,090 question as to whether we do and I 369 00:15:42,090 --> 00:15:44,312 would ask Secretary Austin absolutely . 370 00:15:44,312 --> 00:15:46,870 We remain committed to supporting the 371 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:50,860 defense of Israel . Uh General 372 00:15:50,860 --> 00:15:52,860 Milley does the 22 budget requests 373 00:15:52,860 --> 00:15:55,027 provide you with the tools you need to 374 00:15:55,027 --> 00:15:56,749 compete in the Arctic region , 375 00:15:56,749 --> 00:15:58,749 particularly with the focus at both 376 00:15:58,749 --> 00:16:00,749 Russia and China are putting on the 377 00:16:00,749 --> 00:16:02,749 Arctic region , I think it does for 378 00:16:02,749 --> 00:16:04,971 right now and for the period of time of 379 00:16:04,971 --> 00:16:07,082 the of the budget . But the arctic is 380 00:16:07,082 --> 00:16:09,249 going to become increasingly important 381 00:16:09,249 --> 00:16:11,249 geo strategically . And we see that 382 00:16:11,249 --> 00:16:13,416 already with some activities that both 383 00:16:13,416 --> 00:16:15,304 Russia and china are doing in the 384 00:16:15,304 --> 00:16:17,550 arctic . So as the arctic ice melts and 385 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:19,610 resources become more available 386 00:16:19,610 --> 00:16:21,530 etcetera is going to be increased 387 00:16:21,530 --> 00:16:23,760 competition in the arctic in the years 388 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:26,620 to come . So I think that this budget 389 00:16:26,630 --> 00:16:28,741 does for the immediate future , which 390 00:16:28,741 --> 00:16:31,420 is what this budget does . But uh as 391 00:16:31,420 --> 00:16:33,587 you go into the future that remains to 392 00:16:33,587 --> 00:16:35,753 be seen , we're gonna have to continue 393 00:16:35,753 --> 00:16:35,660 and probably increased resourcing for 394 00:16:35,660 --> 00:16:38,300 the arctic in the future . Final 395 00:16:38,300 --> 00:16:41,100 question is is there are there other 396 00:16:41,100 --> 00:16:43,156 things that we should be doing vis a 397 00:16:43,156 --> 00:16:46,460 vis Taiwan to help ensure its 398 00:16:46,470 --> 00:16:50,150 defense ? You want to say 399 00:16:50,150 --> 00:16:53,860 something ? We are we are committed to 400 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:57,770 mhm Taiwan's ability to defend itself 401 00:16:57,780 --> 00:17:01,190 and in accordance with Taiwan relations 402 00:17:01,190 --> 00:17:04,130 Act and the three joint communiques and 403 00:17:04,130 --> 00:17:06,820 six assurances . So we're doing a lot 404 00:17:06,820 --> 00:17:09,360 now to help them be able to defend 405 00:17:09,360 --> 00:17:11,360 themselves and we'll continue to do 406 00:17:11,360 --> 00:17:13,193 that in the future . Thank you . 407 00:17:13,193 --> 00:17:15,304 Gentlemen . Thank you . Mr Chairman . 408 00:17:15,340 --> 00:17:18,050 Well , thank you . And I thank the two 409 00:17:18,050 --> 00:17:20,300 witnesses . I apologize . We will take 410 00:17:20,300 --> 00:17:24,220 a Oxford 411 00:17:24,220 --> 00:17:27,090 in 10 minutes break . I'm going to go 412 00:17:27,100 --> 00:17:31,070 vote and come right back and we'll pick 413 00:17:31,070 --> 00:17:34,020 up with the order there now that I hope 414 00:17:34,020 --> 00:17:36,170 that works for our witnesses . Yeah , 415 00:17:42,940 --> 00:17:46,560 Right . Thank everybody . 416 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:49,500 I will go back to the hearings , 417 00:17:49,500 --> 00:17:53,490 Senator baldwin next and then fathers 418 00:17:53,490 --> 00:17:55,657 come back to the hearing . We'll go to 419 00:17:55,657 --> 00:17:57,823 them . Senator Barton . Thank you very 420 00:17:57,823 --> 00:18:01,500 much . Mr Chairman . And thank you for 421 00:18:01,510 --> 00:18:04,780 your service . Um I 422 00:18:04,780 --> 00:18:08,540 have your top line request this year is 423 00:18:08,550 --> 00:18:12,380 715 billion . That is 424 00:18:12,380 --> 00:18:16,340 a 1.6% increase I've been 425 00:18:16,340 --> 00:18:18,900 actually reading about and hearing a 426 00:18:18,900 --> 00:18:22,740 lot of criticism about the level of 427 00:18:22,740 --> 00:18:25,040 funding compared to the budgets under 428 00:18:25,050 --> 00:18:27,950 the previous administration . However , 429 00:18:27,950 --> 00:18:31,890 this neglects the fact that while 430 00:18:31,900 --> 00:18:34,360 President trump's top line was higher , 431 00:18:34,740 --> 00:18:37,630 he also diverted billions of defense 432 00:18:37,630 --> 00:18:40,840 dollars to fund a wall on the southern 433 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:44,460 border . Um I may have differing views 434 00:18:44,460 --> 00:18:46,627 on the appropriate size of the defense 435 00:18:46,627 --> 00:18:49,330 budget . Um But Secretary Austin , I 436 00:18:49,330 --> 00:18:51,690 just like to give you a chance to 437 00:18:51,690 --> 00:18:54,080 explain why this top line is the right 438 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:57,700 amount . Thank you , Senator . 439 00:18:57,700 --> 00:19:01,160 I think this uh first of all the the 440 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:04,670 budget is based upon or is informed by 441 00:19:05,140 --> 00:19:06,973 the President's interim National 442 00:19:06,973 --> 00:19:10,970 Security strategy . Uh and uh and 443 00:19:10,970 --> 00:19:13,070 also my message to the force and I 444 00:19:13,070 --> 00:19:16,580 think advise us the flexibility that we 445 00:19:16,580 --> 00:19:18,802 need to go after the right capabilities 446 00:19:19,340 --> 00:19:21,118 that will ensure that we remain 447 00:19:21,118 --> 00:19:24,590 relevant uh in any competition 448 00:19:24,590 --> 00:19:27,240 with any great power . And so we're 449 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:29,351 trying to invest in those things that 450 00:19:29,351 --> 00:19:33,260 will be um absolutely relevant 451 00:19:33,260 --> 00:19:36,540 for the future . And uh it includes , 452 00:19:36,550 --> 00:19:39,230 again , tremendous investments in 453 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:42,320 missile defeat and defense , uh 454 00:19:42,330 --> 00:19:45,940 $6.5 billion in long range fires . We 455 00:19:45,940 --> 00:19:48,830 invest $52 billion in buying a lethal 456 00:19:48,830 --> 00:19:51,260 Air force , $34 billion dollars in 457 00:19:51,260 --> 00:19:54,990 buying Uh combat effective naval forces 458 00:19:54,990 --> 00:19:57,820 and $12.3 billion dollars for combat 459 00:19:57,830 --> 00:20:00,140 effective ground forces . And when you 460 00:20:00,140 --> 00:20:02,140 combine that with our investment in 461 00:20:02,140 --> 00:20:04,770 cyber , which is about 10 $10.5 billion . 462 00:20:05,140 --> 00:20:07,680 Uh And and some other things , it 463 00:20:07,690 --> 00:20:09,890 really does create a tremendous 464 00:20:09,900 --> 00:20:12,270 capability for us . Thank you . 465 00:20:13,240 --> 00:20:15,230 I want to briefly talk about buy 466 00:20:15,230 --> 00:20:18,310 american policies . We really excel in 467 00:20:18,310 --> 00:20:20,710 the US at innovation , but we've 468 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:23,600 allowed our domestic industrial base to 469 00:20:23,610 --> 00:20:25,910 atrophy . And the National Defense 470 00:20:25,910 --> 00:20:28,510 Industrial Association gave our defense 471 00:20:28,510 --> 00:20:31,820 industrial base a grade of C in 472 00:20:31,820 --> 00:20:35,570 february . Meanwhile , china's has 473 00:20:35,570 --> 00:20:38,360 grown exponentially , especially in 474 00:20:38,360 --> 00:20:41,460 areas like shipbuilding and suppliers . 475 00:20:41,940 --> 00:20:44,950 Um I I think that our defense 476 00:20:44,950 --> 00:20:48,780 acquisition system focuses too 477 00:20:48,780 --> 00:20:52,130 heavily on upfront costs perhaps at the 478 00:20:52,140 --> 00:20:55,520 expense of factoring in the long term 479 00:20:55,520 --> 00:20:58,850 dividends for having a competitive U . 480 00:20:58,850 --> 00:21:01,460 S . Manufacturing and production edge 481 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:05,300 over competitors like china . Although 482 00:21:05,310 --> 00:21:07,421 I've discussed this with you and with 483 00:21:07,421 --> 00:21:09,690 the china task force , I don't hear 484 00:21:09,690 --> 00:21:12,220 much about protecting and expanding our 485 00:21:12,220 --> 00:21:15,090 domestic supplier base when we talk 486 00:21:15,090 --> 00:21:17,660 about china . Um So please discuss how 487 00:21:17,660 --> 00:21:19,810 the department can leverage the 488 00:21:19,810 --> 00:21:23,240 benefits of Made in America uh 489 00:21:23,250 --> 00:21:26,050 during acquisition decisions . 490 00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:30,650 Well , thank you . I think you you've 491 00:21:30,650 --> 00:21:32,900 heard the president talked about making 492 00:21:32,900 --> 00:21:36,170 sure that we begin to reinvest in our 493 00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:39,440 in our industrial base here and also 494 00:21:39,450 --> 00:21:43,090 our our education education 495 00:21:43,090 --> 00:21:45,146 system to ensure that we're creating 496 00:21:45,146 --> 00:21:48,250 the best and brightest scientists and 497 00:21:48,250 --> 00:21:50,660 engineers . And I think that's that's 498 00:21:50,660 --> 00:21:52,940 really important . You may have heard 499 00:21:52,940 --> 00:21:54,940 me say earlier that we're investing 500 00:21:54,940 --> 00:21:58,170 $341 million dollars uh in uh 501 00:21:58,740 --> 00:22:02,340 and uh an effort to be able to better 502 00:22:02,340 --> 00:22:06,340 partner with U . S . Companies and and 503 00:22:06,340 --> 00:22:09,180 to to to really begin to strengthen our 504 00:22:09,180 --> 00:22:11,310 supply chains . Uh We want to be 505 00:22:11,310 --> 00:22:13,900 competitive across the board and and 506 00:22:13,910 --> 00:22:16,021 that includes , you know , what we're 507 00:22:16,021 --> 00:22:17,799 doing here in the homeland with 508 00:22:17,799 --> 00:22:19,910 industry . We want to make sure we're 509 00:22:19,910 --> 00:22:21,688 growing the best scientists and 510 00:22:21,688 --> 00:22:23,688 engineers and so this is gonna take 511 00:22:23,688 --> 00:22:25,854 some time . But uh but it's absolutely 512 00:22:25,854 --> 00:22:28,021 our focus to be able to compete across 513 00:22:28,021 --> 00:22:31,110 the board and not just military items 514 00:22:31,110 --> 00:22:34,060 alone . Thank you . Um 515 00:22:35,540 --> 00:22:39,070 The US will withdraw all US forces from 516 00:22:39,070 --> 00:22:42,690 Afghanistan by september a decision . I 517 00:22:42,690 --> 00:22:46,500 agree with , can you please uh follow 518 00:22:46,500 --> 00:22:49,790 up with the committee and me uh in 519 00:22:49,790 --> 00:22:52,790 writing , but certainly I'll welcome 520 00:22:52,790 --> 00:22:55,160 your comments right now describing what 521 00:22:55,170 --> 00:22:57,190 the enduring over the horizon 522 00:22:57,190 --> 00:22:59,750 requirements will be for Afghanistan's 523 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:02,670 once we withdraw , which is now in less 524 00:23:02,670 --> 00:23:05,750 than 90 days . Um And 525 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:08,570 uh yesterday the new york times 526 00:23:08,570 --> 00:23:10,570 reported that the administration is 527 00:23:10,570 --> 00:23:13,100 reconsidering its rules on conducting 528 00:23:13,110 --> 00:23:16,570 drone strikes as well uh as as well as 529 00:23:16,570 --> 00:23:18,740 the future for US Special Operations 530 00:23:18,740 --> 00:23:21,790 Forces in Somalia . So I'm concerned 531 00:23:21,790 --> 00:23:24,260 about any expanded footprints or 532 00:23:24,260 --> 00:23:27,230 operations without significant uh 533 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:29,560 congressional oversight . But I'm also 534 00:23:29,560 --> 00:23:32,350 concerned with any expansion while the 535 00:23:32,360 --> 00:23:35,370 services uh testified that they have 536 00:23:35,380 --> 00:23:38,100 other underfunded needs . So do you 537 00:23:38,100 --> 00:23:39,878 have any update on the decision 538 00:23:39,878 --> 00:23:42,670 timelines and any relevant authorities 539 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:45,430 uh or funding issues associated with 540 00:23:45,430 --> 00:23:49,430 these policies ? We as you 541 00:23:49,430 --> 00:23:51,430 know , we're doing a forced posture 542 00:23:51,430 --> 00:23:55,200 review and I won't predict when 543 00:23:55,210 --> 00:23:57,320 we'll complete that work , but we'll 544 00:23:57,320 --> 00:24:00,050 get through it as quickly as we can . 545 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:02,890 The Somalia issue and other issues will 546 00:24:02,890 --> 00:24:06,570 be a part of that . Um , but the 547 00:24:06,570 --> 00:24:09,050 focus will be to make sure that , you 548 00:24:09,050 --> 00:24:12,010 know , whether it's in Somalia or some 549 00:24:12,010 --> 00:24:14,370 other place in the world that 550 00:24:14,370 --> 00:24:16,426 terrorists don't have the ability to 551 00:24:16,426 --> 00:24:19,130 threaten our homeland from uh , from an 552 00:24:19,130 --> 00:24:21,620 ungoverned space . I think we owe it to 553 00:24:21,620 --> 00:24:23,731 the american people to make sure that 554 00:24:23,731 --> 00:24:26,760 we're defending forward um in terms of 555 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:28,871 our requirements for over the horizon 556 00:24:28,871 --> 00:24:31,110 capabilities . Well , absolutely lay 557 00:24:31,110 --> 00:24:33,340 those out for you in writing as you've 558 00:24:33,340 --> 00:24:36,050 requested . Thank you . Thank you . 559 00:24:36,940 --> 00:24:39,420 Thank you . And I , uh Senator Coons is 560 00:24:39,420 --> 00:24:43,320 here and of Sarah 561 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:45,487 coons go ahead and there's nobody else 562 00:24:45,487 --> 00:24:47,970 comes . We will recess . Thank you so 563 00:24:47,970 --> 00:24:50,220 much . Chairman Leahy and Vice Chairman 564 00:24:50,230 --> 00:24:52,563 Shelby . And it's great to see you both . 565 00:24:52,563 --> 00:24:54,619 Thank you . Secretary Austin General 566 00:24:54,619 --> 00:24:56,786 Milley , both for your testimony today 567 00:24:56,786 --> 00:24:58,619 and for your decades of tireless 568 00:24:58,619 --> 00:25:00,897 service to our nation . General Milley . 569 00:25:00,897 --> 00:25:03,119 I enjoyed our conversation earlier this 570 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:05,008 week and agree that the House and 571 00:25:05,008 --> 00:25:07,119 Senate need to do our job and passing 572 00:25:07,119 --> 00:25:09,230 on time budget for the D . O . D . To 573 00:25:09,230 --> 00:25:11,286 avoid a continuing resolution and to 574 00:25:11,286 --> 00:25:13,341 deliver the sort of robust financial 575 00:25:13,341 --> 00:25:15,508 support that the men and women at arms 576 00:25:15,508 --> 00:25:17,730 who serve our nation deserved given the 577 00:25:17,730 --> 00:25:19,730 swift rise of china , given ongoing 578 00:25:19,730 --> 00:25:22,460 threats from Russia and Iran and Dprk 579 00:25:22,460 --> 00:25:24,750 and others and the prolonged challenges 580 00:25:24,750 --> 00:25:26,750 presented by the pandemic . I think 581 00:25:26,750 --> 00:25:28,917 this is a crucial defense budget . I'm 582 00:25:28,917 --> 00:25:31,028 pleased to see significant investment 583 00:25:31,028 --> 00:25:32,972 in modernizing our armed forces by 584 00:25:32,972 --> 00:25:35,083 Developing and adopting and deploying 585 00:25:35,083 --> 00:25:36,806 the technologies of tomorrow . 586 00:25:36,806 --> 00:25:39,139 Cyberwarfare capabilities in particular , 587 00:25:39,139 --> 00:25:41,194 as well as artificial intelligence , 588 00:25:41,194 --> 00:25:43,194 hypersonic , microelectronic 5G and 589 00:25:43,194 --> 00:25:45,410 others . The character of warfare as 590 00:25:45,410 --> 00:25:47,577 you both testified is changing and our 591 00:25:47,577 --> 00:25:49,854 budget needs to reflect that this week , 592 00:25:49,854 --> 00:25:52,660 NATO for the first time recognized um 593 00:25:52,660 --> 00:25:54,493 the security challenges posed by 594 00:25:54,493 --> 00:25:56,660 china's aggressive foreign policy . Uh 595 00:25:56,660 --> 00:25:58,960 and I'm hopeful this budget will allow 596 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:01,182 us to work more closely with allies and 597 00:26:01,182 --> 00:26:03,182 partners to secure and maintain our 598 00:26:03,182 --> 00:26:05,349 force posture in the south china sea , 599 00:26:05,349 --> 00:26:07,349 the strait of Taiwan and the larger 600 00:26:07,349 --> 00:26:09,571 indo pacific region . I'd be interested 601 00:26:09,571 --> 00:26:11,904 in hearing from both of you if possible . 602 00:26:11,904 --> 00:26:13,682 We just had a foreign relations 603 00:26:13,682 --> 00:26:15,571 committee hearing on Taiwan . How 604 00:26:15,571 --> 00:26:18,070 likely is china to actively pursue a 605 00:26:18,070 --> 00:26:20,100 unification strategy with Taiwan 606 00:26:20,120 --> 00:26:23,690 through force in the near future ? How 607 00:26:23,690 --> 00:26:25,912 are we working with allies and partners 608 00:26:25,912 --> 00:26:28,079 to deter china from taking any further 609 00:26:28,079 --> 00:26:30,412 provocative action in the Taiwan strait ? 610 00:26:30,412 --> 00:26:32,357 And how does this budget support , 611 00:26:32,357 --> 00:26:34,468 capabilities relevant or critical for 612 00:26:34,468 --> 00:26:36,690 deterrence more broadly ? In the end of 613 00:26:36,690 --> 00:26:38,912 pacific if you might , mr Secretary and 614 00:26:38,912 --> 00:26:41,850 then mr Chairman uniting with Taiwan . 615 00:26:41,860 --> 00:26:45,770 Taiwan is is no question the goal 616 00:26:45,770 --> 00:26:48,140 of china in terms of , you know , what 617 00:26:48,150 --> 00:26:51,240 what the timeline or time frame for 618 00:26:51,240 --> 00:26:54,390 that is is left to be seen . Of course , 619 00:26:54,390 --> 00:26:56,880 there are a number of intelligence 620 00:26:56,890 --> 00:27:00,460 uh estimates that addressed that 621 00:27:00,460 --> 00:27:02,571 issue and an issue that we have to go 622 00:27:02,571 --> 00:27:05,960 into closed session uh to uh to address . 623 00:27:06,340 --> 00:27:09,590 Um but we know that it's a goal of 624 00:27:09,590 --> 00:27:13,240 china . And uh we also know 625 00:27:13,250 --> 00:27:17,030 that our position is that we remain 626 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:20,450 committed to uh helping the defense of 627 00:27:20,450 --> 00:27:23,920 Taiwan in terms of providing uh the 628 00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:26,060 ability for them to defend themselves 629 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:28,650 uh in accordance with the Taiwan's 630 00:27:28,650 --> 00:27:32,340 relate Taiwan Relations Act , the uh 631 00:27:32,350 --> 00:27:35,310 the uh three communiques and the six 632 00:27:35,310 --> 00:27:38,580 assurances . So uh it is very likely 633 00:27:38,590 --> 00:27:40,980 that they'll want to do that in terms 634 00:27:40,980 --> 00:27:43,110 of when they will have the capability 635 00:27:43,120 --> 00:27:45,200 to do that is left to be seen . And 636 00:27:45,210 --> 00:27:47,543 over the general General General Milley , 637 00:27:47,543 --> 00:27:50,460 excuse me , senator . Um and you've 638 00:27:50,460 --> 00:27:52,490 heard testimony recently from the 639 00:27:52,490 --> 00:27:54,601 former end up a com commander and the 640 00:27:54,601 --> 00:27:56,823 current and opaque um commander in this 641 00:27:56,823 --> 00:27:58,768 very topic . And you've heard from 642 00:27:58,768 --> 00:28:01,830 others as well , my assessment in terms 643 00:28:01,830 --> 00:28:05,590 of capability um I think china 644 00:28:05,590 --> 00:28:07,980 has uh a ways to go to develop the 645 00:28:07,990 --> 00:28:10,740 actual no kidding capability to conduct 646 00:28:10,740 --> 00:28:12,796 military operations to seize through 647 00:28:12,796 --> 00:28:15,330 military means the entire island of 648 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:17,424 Taiwan if they wanted to do that , 649 00:28:17,424 --> 00:28:20,370 secondly , is intent . Um I think you 650 00:28:20,370 --> 00:28:22,590 asked about probability we go into 651 00:28:22,590 --> 00:28:24,701 classified session and tell you why I 652 00:28:24,701 --> 00:28:26,812 think this , but I think that there's 653 00:28:26,812 --> 00:28:28,890 uh little intent right now or 654 00:28:28,890 --> 00:28:31,030 motivation to do it militarily , 655 00:28:31,030 --> 00:28:33,252 there's no reason to do it militarily . 656 00:28:33,252 --> 00:28:35,200 Uh and they know that . So I think 657 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:37,256 right now the probabilities probably 658 00:28:37,256 --> 00:28:39,478 low in the immediate near term future . 659 00:28:39,478 --> 00:28:41,256 but I do think it is a core CRE 660 00:28:41,256 --> 00:28:44,800 national interest of China tonight , 661 00:28:44,810 --> 00:28:47,500 Taiwan and and uh and the internal 662 00:28:47,500 --> 00:28:49,611 politics of china up to china as long 663 00:28:49,611 --> 00:28:51,778 as whatever is done is done peacefully 664 00:28:51,778 --> 00:28:53,944 and doesn't destabilised the region of 665 00:28:53,944 --> 00:28:56,167 the world . Thank you both . We've just 666 00:28:56,167 --> 00:28:58,620 seen how well placed cyberattacks can 667 00:28:58,620 --> 00:29:00,842 cripple critical infrastructure . There 668 00:29:00,842 --> 00:29:03,064 is a recent incident involving colonial 669 00:29:03,064 --> 00:29:04,953 pipeline , um there's significant 670 00:29:04,953 --> 00:29:07,064 investment in this budget for cyber . 671 00:29:07,064 --> 00:29:09,064 How are we positioning ourselves Mr 672 00:29:09,064 --> 00:29:11,120 secretary to both defend against and 673 00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:14,210 respond to cyberattacks ? Right . In 674 00:29:14,210 --> 00:29:16,850 terms of defending , you know , we're 675 00:29:16,860 --> 00:29:20,430 part of of a whole of 676 00:29:20,430 --> 00:29:22,500 government effort to to work on a 677 00:29:22,500 --> 00:29:24,780 defense of our nation , our our 678 00:29:24,780 --> 00:29:28,300 infrastructure and other things . Um we 679 00:29:28,300 --> 00:29:30,670 have the ability to uh to defend 680 00:29:30,670 --> 00:29:33,990 forward in terms of making sure that we 681 00:29:33,990 --> 00:29:37,370 address uh aggressive actions at the 682 00:29:37,370 --> 00:29:39,700 source of the of the activity and 683 00:29:39,700 --> 00:29:42,560 maintaining contact or or uh 684 00:29:42,940 --> 00:29:46,830 uh with that element throughout . 685 00:29:46,840 --> 00:29:50,170 But in terms of defense of the 686 00:29:50,170 --> 00:29:52,880 homeland , we're one of a number of 687 00:29:52,880 --> 00:29:54,713 elements that are working , it's 688 00:29:54,713 --> 00:29:56,713 working together to in the whole of 689 00:29:56,713 --> 00:29:59,030 government effort . Um two things , if 690 00:29:59,030 --> 00:30:00,974 I might just a concern in the last 691 00:30:00,974 --> 00:30:02,974 question , several of my colleagues 692 00:30:02,974 --> 00:30:05,086 have raised concerns about the timing 693 00:30:05,086 --> 00:30:07,086 and the planning for the retrograde 694 00:30:07,086 --> 00:30:09,141 operations in Afghanistan and making 695 00:30:09,141 --> 00:30:11,252 sure that we have provided sufficient 696 00:30:11,252 --> 00:30:13,308 planning and capability um for those 697 00:30:13,308 --> 00:30:15,141 who served alongside us , I look 698 00:30:15,141 --> 00:30:17,141 forward to working with you both on 699 00:30:17,141 --> 00:30:19,170 addressing those challenges . Um 700 00:30:19,180 --> 00:30:21,280 General , if I might uh one last 701 00:30:21,280 --> 00:30:23,336 question , as the department reviews 702 00:30:23,336 --> 00:30:25,680 its global force posture , how do you 703 00:30:25,680 --> 00:30:27,402 view the US military's role in 704 00:30:27,402 --> 00:30:30,580 responding to um jihadist extremist 705 00:30:30,580 --> 00:30:32,636 groups in the Sahel , in the Horn of 706 00:30:32,636 --> 00:30:34,802 Africa and our partnerships with other 707 00:30:34,802 --> 00:30:36,858 nations in ensuring that they do not 708 00:30:36,858 --> 00:30:38,802 develop the capacity to strike the 709 00:30:38,802 --> 00:30:42,030 homeland . Well , our primary role is 710 00:30:42,030 --> 00:30:43,974 to protect the United States , the 711 00:30:43,974 --> 00:30:46,086 homeland , citizens and our interests 712 00:30:46,086 --> 00:30:48,308 worldwide . And we'll do that no matter 713 00:30:48,308 --> 00:30:50,530 where they are , whether in the cell or 714 00:30:50,530 --> 00:30:52,641 wherever . Um and specific though , I 715 00:30:52,641 --> 00:30:54,880 think the best approach not only there 716 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:57,810 but globally , is to work by with and 717 00:30:57,810 --> 00:30:59,699 through friends and allies in the 718 00:30:59,699 --> 00:31:03,260 region a small train , advise uh 719 00:31:03,270 --> 00:31:05,790 missions , intelligence , surveillance , 720 00:31:05,790 --> 00:31:08,490 reconnaissance assets , uh and and that 721 00:31:08,490 --> 00:31:10,712 sort of thing in some financial aid . I 722 00:31:10,712 --> 00:31:12,546 think that's the best approach , 723 00:31:12,546 --> 00:31:14,712 broadly speaking , in order to contain 724 00:31:14,712 --> 00:31:18,070 or disrupt or deny any advanced 725 00:31:18,080 --> 00:31:20,302 terrorist actions against United States 726 00:31:20,302 --> 00:31:22,413 and where we see it developing then , 727 00:31:22,413 --> 00:31:25,040 if appropriate , we would recommend to 728 00:31:25,040 --> 00:31:27,900 take direct action if necessary . Thank 729 00:31:27,900 --> 00:31:30,067 you both . Thank you . Mr . Chairman , 730 00:31:30,067 --> 00:31:32,178 thank you . Thank you . Senator coons 731 00:31:32,178 --> 00:31:35,530 and Senator Murphy . Thank you very 732 00:31:35,530 --> 00:31:37,641 much . Mr . Chairman , thank you both 733 00:31:37,641 --> 00:31:39,752 for your service and appearing before 734 00:31:39,752 --> 00:31:41,863 the committee today in 2017 . Senator 735 00:31:41,863 --> 00:31:44,910 Portman and I authored and passed into 736 00:31:44,910 --> 00:31:47,340 law the countering foreign propaganda 737 00:31:47,340 --> 00:31:49,173 and disinformation Act . This is 738 00:31:49,173 --> 00:31:51,396 legislation that established the Global 739 00:31:51,396 --> 00:31:54,050 Engagement Center at the Department of 740 00:31:54,060 --> 00:31:56,171 State . We did this primarily because 741 00:31:56,171 --> 00:31:58,393 Russia and china as well as lots of non 742 00:31:58,393 --> 00:32:00,393 state actors . They understand that 743 00:32:00,393 --> 00:32:02,760 today's information environment allows 744 00:32:02,760 --> 00:32:05,240 them to have real time access to a 745 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:07,240 global audience . They often have a 746 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:09,407 first mover advantage . They flood the 747 00:32:09,407 --> 00:32:11,780 space with information that's 748 00:32:11,780 --> 00:32:13,891 deliberately manipulated so that it's 749 00:32:13,891 --> 00:32:16,058 mostly truthful with carefully crafted 750 00:32:16,058 --> 00:32:18,700 deceptive elements . These actors can 751 00:32:18,700 --> 00:32:21,450 gain leverage to threaten our interests , 752 00:32:21,940 --> 00:32:25,210 um understanding that this 753 00:32:25,220 --> 00:32:28,600 capability to combat misinformation 754 00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:30,711 lies both of the State Department and 755 00:32:30,711 --> 00:32:32,711 at the Department of Defense . Um I 756 00:32:32,711 --> 00:32:34,933 understand that the final months of the 757 00:32:34,933 --> 00:32:37,156 trump administration , there was a move 758 00:32:37,156 --> 00:32:39,300 made to let the military run these 759 00:32:39,310 --> 00:32:41,477 influence campaigns , sort of commonly 760 00:32:41,477 --> 00:32:43,870 referred to as psyops . Let them run 761 00:32:43,870 --> 00:32:46,080 them more efficiently with from what I 762 00:32:46,080 --> 00:32:48,136 understand less input from the State 763 00:32:48,136 --> 00:32:49,960 Department and I understand Mr 764 00:32:49,960 --> 00:32:52,690 Secretary that you are right now in the 765 00:32:52,690 --> 00:32:56,440 middle of review . Um I understand the 766 00:32:56,440 --> 00:32:58,650 need to move fast . Um we want to be 767 00:32:58,650 --> 00:33:01,340 able to confront that first mover 768 00:33:01,340 --> 00:33:03,507 advantage that many of our adversaries 769 00:33:03,507 --> 00:33:05,900 have in the information space . But I 770 00:33:05,900 --> 00:33:08,067 also believe that the State Department 771 00:33:08,067 --> 00:33:10,380 needs to maintain their lead role in 772 00:33:10,380 --> 00:33:13,000 public diplomacy overseas . And so my 773 00:33:13,000 --> 00:33:15,167 question is this , do you believe that 774 00:33:15,167 --> 00:33:18,730 we can balance quick response when it 775 00:33:18,730 --> 00:33:22,370 comes to information warfare along with 776 00:33:22,370 --> 00:33:24,760 maintaining a meaningful lead role for 777 00:33:24,760 --> 00:33:26,538 the State Department and public 778 00:33:26,538 --> 00:33:30,110 diplomacy ? I do senator . And this is 779 00:33:30,110 --> 00:33:32,480 a this is a subject that Secretary 780 00:33:32,480 --> 00:33:35,600 blanket and I have discussed and I 781 00:33:35,600 --> 00:33:38,480 think we see this alike . I do think 782 00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:40,760 the state should lead in this effort 783 00:33:41,140 --> 00:33:43,720 and we should work together to make 784 00:33:43,720 --> 00:33:45,664 sure that we're creating the right 785 00:33:45,664 --> 00:33:48,640 kinds of effects in the space . My 786 00:33:48,640 --> 00:33:51,350 understanding is that under the prior 787 00:33:51,360 --> 00:33:53,650 uh , rubric , it would sometimes take 788 00:33:53,650 --> 00:33:55,594 months for the State Department to 789 00:33:55,594 --> 00:33:57,706 respond . That's too much time at the 790 00:33:57,706 --> 00:33:59,950 same time . I do think it's incredibly 791 00:33:59,950 --> 00:34:02,070 important for them to continue , 792 00:34:02,080 --> 00:34:04,136 especially those that are serving in 793 00:34:04,136 --> 00:34:07,790 post uh embassies 794 00:34:07,790 --> 00:34:09,790 overseas to have meaningful input . 795 00:34:09,790 --> 00:34:12,000 Appreciate that question for both of 796 00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:14,410 you on our basing footprint in the 797 00:34:14,420 --> 00:34:16,660 Middle East . You know , in the 19 798 00:34:16,660 --> 00:34:18,716 eighties , the Middle East was a key 799 00:34:18,716 --> 00:34:20,827 Cold War theater . It was the primary 800 00:34:20,827 --> 00:34:23,049 source of us purchased oil , accounting 801 00:34:23,049 --> 00:34:25,540 for 80% of our imports today . The Cold 802 00:34:25,540 --> 00:34:27,596 War is over and well , there's still 803 00:34:27,596 --> 00:34:29,651 great power competition happening in 804 00:34:29,651 --> 00:34:31,818 the Middle East . It's not the same as 805 00:34:31,818 --> 00:34:33,984 it was in the eighties . And of course 806 00:34:33,984 --> 00:34:36,151 today , our share of imported oil that 807 00:34:36,151 --> 00:34:35,800 comes from the Middle East is down to 808 00:34:35,800 --> 00:34:38,010 about 11% . We import more from Mexico 809 00:34:38,010 --> 00:34:40,430 than we do from Saudi Arabia . Uh , and 810 00:34:40,430 --> 00:34:43,470 yet we still have over 30 bases in the 811 00:34:43,470 --> 00:34:46,140 region . And I guess I think we need to 812 00:34:46,140 --> 00:34:47,973 have an honest conversation as a 813 00:34:47,973 --> 00:34:50,029 committee about the costs associated 814 00:34:50,029 --> 00:34:52,140 with those bases , both the financial 815 00:34:52,140 --> 00:34:56,040 costs . But they also draw our 816 00:34:56,040 --> 00:34:58,207 focus away from increasingly important 817 00:34:58,207 --> 00:35:00,151 theaters in Africa and Asia . They 818 00:35:00,151 --> 00:35:02,373 create pressure on the United States to 819 00:35:02,373 --> 00:35:04,730 ignore serious human rights abuses . Um , 820 00:35:04,740 --> 00:35:06,907 let's start criticism of these regimes 821 00:35:06,907 --> 00:35:08,684 put our troops at risk and they 822 00:35:08,684 --> 00:35:10,573 sometimes stand out as propaganda 823 00:35:10,573 --> 00:35:14,130 fodder for Iran or Al Qaeda or ISIS . 824 00:35:15,840 --> 00:35:18,590 Question to both of you is that as you 825 00:35:18,600 --> 00:35:22,120 um , look at our proper 826 00:35:22,130 --> 00:35:24,930 basing footprint around the world , 827 00:35:24,940 --> 00:35:27,700 isn't it ? Time for us to take a hard 828 00:35:27,700 --> 00:35:30,300 look at our force level and are basing 829 00:35:30,310 --> 00:35:32,660 levels in these locations in the Middle 830 00:35:32,660 --> 00:35:35,600 East to try to match uh , that 831 00:35:35,600 --> 00:35:37,860 footprint . An updated national 832 00:35:37,860 --> 00:35:40,610 security assessment of the real threats 833 00:35:40,610 --> 00:35:42,721 that are present in the United States 834 00:35:42,721 --> 00:35:44,610 is not the 1980s any longer . And 835 00:35:44,610 --> 00:35:46,777 there's a big um there's a big expense 836 00:35:46,777 --> 00:35:48,943 to this committee and to the taxpayers 837 00:35:48,943 --> 00:35:51,110 that come with that footprint , but it 838 00:35:51,110 --> 00:35:53,277 also tends to draw our focus away from 839 00:35:53,277 --> 00:35:55,443 theaters that I know are of increasing 840 00:35:55,443 --> 00:35:57,666 importance . Thank you . Senator in the 841 00:35:57,666 --> 00:35:59,832 Middle East is important to us now and 842 00:35:59,832 --> 00:36:03,150 it will be so going forward , you heard 843 00:36:03,150 --> 00:36:05,290 me say a number of times that are 844 00:36:05,290 --> 00:36:07,750 pacing challenge . My facing challenges 845 00:36:08,230 --> 00:36:11,990 is china . And uh and so our 846 00:36:11,990 --> 00:36:14,140 focus is on making sure that we have 847 00:36:14,140 --> 00:36:16,260 the right operational concepts and 848 00:36:16,260 --> 00:36:19,720 capabilities to deter china or Russia 849 00:36:19,720 --> 00:36:21,887 or anybody else who would want to take 850 00:36:21,887 --> 00:36:24,070 us on . Uh huh . We're undergoing a 851 00:36:24,080 --> 00:36:26,100 force posture review . We're also 852 00:36:26,110 --> 00:36:28,260 developing a new national defense 853 00:36:28,260 --> 00:36:31,550 strategy . Uh and so to answer your 854 00:36:31,550 --> 00:36:33,890 question , it is time to take a look at 855 00:36:33,890 --> 00:36:35,890 where we are and what we're doing . 856 00:36:35,890 --> 00:36:38,500 It's you know the right way to do 857 00:36:38,500 --> 00:36:42,440 business and so uh more to follow on 858 00:36:42,440 --> 00:36:46,110 that . But we are doing it and I signed 859 00:36:46,110 --> 00:36:48,960 up to that as well . Um We have uh 860 00:36:49,830 --> 00:36:52,430 troops actually in about 160 165 861 00:36:52,430 --> 00:36:54,800 countries around the world in many many 862 00:36:54,810 --> 00:36:57,580 bases beyond the Middle East and 863 00:36:57,590 --> 00:37:01,310 holistic review of force posture review 864 00:37:01,320 --> 00:37:03,660 to include bases to ensure that the 865 00:37:03,660 --> 00:37:05,827 disposition of the U . S . Military is 866 00:37:05,827 --> 00:37:08,049 out there doing what we needed to do in 867 00:37:08,049 --> 00:37:09,827 terms of our national interests 868 00:37:09,827 --> 00:37:11,827 etcetera and specific to the Middle 869 00:37:11,827 --> 00:37:13,827 East . The short answer is yes , We 870 00:37:13,827 --> 00:37:15,993 absolutely need to do the review . Our 871 00:37:15,993 --> 00:37:18,216 interests have changed over time and we 872 00:37:18,216 --> 00:37:17,560 need to make sure we get the right 873 00:37:17,560 --> 00:37:19,616 people in the right place to achieve 874 00:37:19,616 --> 00:37:21,838 the right effect in accordance with the 875 00:37:21,838 --> 00:37:23,949 NDS or the new NDS . That'll come out 876 00:37:23,949 --> 00:37:23,390 and according to the president's 877 00:37:23,390 --> 00:37:25,880 guidance and in accordance with the 878 00:37:25,880 --> 00:37:27,960 ends that we are trying to achieve , 879 00:37:28,470 --> 00:37:32,070 Senator , the we're going to have to 880 00:37:32,070 --> 00:37:35,150 stop very soon because of the vote over 881 00:37:35,150 --> 00:37:37,840 to Senator Van Hollen . I believe one 882 00:37:37,840 --> 00:37:41,120 other senators come in . If you will 883 00:37:41,120 --> 00:37:43,120 keep it to five minutes and then we 884 00:37:43,120 --> 00:37:46,050 will uh recess the hearing at that time . 885 00:37:47,230 --> 00:37:50,290 Thank you . Mr Chairman Secretary 886 00:37:50,290 --> 00:37:52,512 Austin . General Milley , thank you for 887 00:37:52,512 --> 00:37:55,390 your service to the country . Secretary 888 00:37:55,390 --> 00:37:57,501 Austin , I know you stated previously 889 00:37:57,501 --> 00:37:59,446 that you believe extending the New 890 00:37:59,446 --> 00:38:01,446 Start agreement is very much in our 891 00:38:01,446 --> 00:38:03,501 national security interest . And you 892 00:38:03,501 --> 00:38:05,820 also indicated that follow on 893 00:38:05,820 --> 00:38:07,940 negotiations with Russia china and 894 00:38:07,940 --> 00:38:11,290 others on nuclear arms control could 895 00:38:11,290 --> 00:38:14,600 serve our interest . Um Generally , I'm 896 00:38:14,610 --> 00:38:16,970 interested in your thoughts as well . I 897 00:38:16,970 --> 00:38:19,770 saw that just last month , the Admiral 898 00:38:19,770 --> 00:38:22,310 Richard , on behalf of stratcom had had 899 00:38:22,310 --> 00:38:24,421 said that he thought extension of New 900 00:38:24,421 --> 00:38:26,680 Start was very much in our interest in 901 00:38:26,690 --> 00:38:29,720 General Haydn . As you well know , 902 00:38:29,720 --> 00:38:31,840 formerly stratcom commander and now 903 00:38:31,850 --> 00:38:34,590 Vice Chairman Joint Chiefs have said 904 00:38:34,590 --> 00:38:36,701 the same thing . He said , he thought 905 00:38:36,701 --> 00:38:38,923 it was a good thing . Do you agree that 906 00:38:38,923 --> 00:38:41,990 extends to the new start is in our 907 00:38:41,990 --> 00:38:45,030 national security interest ? I do , and 908 00:38:45,040 --> 00:38:47,650 not only that , but as a matter of 909 00:38:48,020 --> 00:38:50,210 principal , I am in favour of arms 910 00:38:50,210 --> 00:38:52,730 control uh in general , when especially 911 00:38:52,730 --> 00:38:55,063 when it comes to those types of weapons . 912 00:38:55,063 --> 00:38:57,440 So yes , on New Star . Uh and you also 913 00:38:57,440 --> 00:39:01,110 agree , I think that continuing 914 00:39:01,110 --> 00:39:04,010 negotiations with Russia and 915 00:39:04,020 --> 00:39:07,490 initiating discussions with china on 916 00:39:07,500 --> 00:39:10,200 arms control can serve our national 917 00:39:10,200 --> 00:39:12,170 security interests . I absolutely 918 00:39:12,170 --> 00:39:15,000 believe that uh putting limits on and 919 00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:16,833 having international regimes and 920 00:39:16,833 --> 00:39:19,990 treaties etcetera to limit weapons , 921 00:39:20,060 --> 00:39:22,790 especially weapons like those I think 922 00:39:22,790 --> 00:39:24,957 is always in our national interest . I 923 00:39:24,957 --> 00:39:28,900 appreciate that uh Secretary Austin a 924 00:39:28,910 --> 00:39:31,010 little closer to home , including uh 925 00:39:31,020 --> 00:39:32,853 Maryland , but still of national 926 00:39:32,853 --> 00:39:36,160 significance . I know both of you agree 927 00:39:36,160 --> 00:39:38,820 that quality health care for our troops 928 00:39:38,830 --> 00:39:42,200 is a very important element of military 929 00:39:42,210 --> 00:39:44,930 readiness . Um and the coronavirus 930 00:39:44,940 --> 00:39:47,400 pandemic has underscored the critical 931 00:39:47,400 --> 00:39:51,000 importance of military medicine um as 932 00:39:51,000 --> 00:39:53,720 well as other medical research in our 933 00:39:53,720 --> 00:39:57,430 country last year . For the first time 934 00:39:57,430 --> 00:40:00,000 in its history , the uniformed services 935 00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:02,222 University of Health Sciences graduated 936 00:40:02,230 --> 00:40:04,820 class early so they could deploy to the 937 00:40:04,820 --> 00:40:07,240 front lines in the fight against Covid 938 00:40:07,610 --> 00:40:10,800 19 . Yet at the same time , 939 00:40:10,810 --> 00:40:14,210 the Department of Defense under 940 00:40:14,220 --> 00:40:16,690 former leadership was proposing 941 00:40:16,690 --> 00:40:19,720 dramatic cuts to military medicine and 942 00:40:19,720 --> 00:40:23,240 cuts specifically . Uh to us , you 943 00:40:23,710 --> 00:40:27,310 I'm pleased that the FY22 budget turns 944 00:40:27,310 --> 00:40:30,150 away from those cuts and authorizes a 945 00:40:30,150 --> 00:40:32,720 2% increase in medical , military , 946 00:40:32,720 --> 00:40:34,930 medical and strength . Uh Secretary 947 00:40:34,930 --> 00:40:36,874 Austin , can you just talk briefly 948 00:40:36,874 --> 00:40:38,930 about the role of military doctors , 949 00:40:38,930 --> 00:40:40,430 nurses , and other medical 950 00:40:40,430 --> 00:40:42,374 professionals in the fight against 951 00:40:42,374 --> 00:40:45,430 Covid 19 and how The FY 22 budget 952 00:40:45,810 --> 00:40:48,032 proposal invests in military medicine ? 953 00:40:50,410 --> 00:40:52,577 Well , to adequately describe the role 954 00:40:52,577 --> 00:40:55,140 of our docs uh , in military 955 00:40:55,140 --> 00:40:58,090 professionals in the Covid fight might 956 00:40:58,090 --> 00:41:01,160 take a couple of hours , but but you 957 00:41:01,160 --> 00:41:04,650 won't be surprised to know that I am 958 00:41:04,650 --> 00:41:06,890 absolutely proud of what we've seen 959 00:41:06,900 --> 00:41:09,460 here over this past year , not only 960 00:41:09,460 --> 00:41:11,860 from our docs and uh our military 961 00:41:11,870 --> 00:41:14,830 medicine professionals , but but also 962 00:41:14,830 --> 00:41:18,150 from the military overall . Uh , this 963 00:41:18,150 --> 00:41:20,261 is something that has taken the lives 964 00:41:20,261 --> 00:41:23,920 of 600 1000 americans . And so coming 965 00:41:23,920 --> 00:41:26,990 into this chairman and I really wanted 966 00:41:26,990 --> 00:41:30,050 to have the ability to influence this 967 00:41:30,050 --> 00:41:32,540 and and do our part to help our country 968 00:41:32,550 --> 00:41:34,900 recover from this awful pandemic . And 969 00:41:34,900 --> 00:41:37,122 that's exactly what we did . You saw us 970 00:41:37,122 --> 00:41:40,440 out helping to distribute vaccines , 971 00:41:40,450 --> 00:41:43,850 uh , deliver vaccines , the warp 972 00:41:43,850 --> 00:41:47,020 speed , a number of things , but that 973 00:41:47,030 --> 00:41:50,040 it's just absolutely important to us to 974 00:41:50,050 --> 00:41:52,500 be a part of this . And I think we've 975 00:41:52,500 --> 00:41:55,630 had the ability to make a difference 976 00:41:55,630 --> 00:41:58,790 there . Uh in terms of the budget , I 977 00:41:58,800 --> 00:42:02,120 believe this budget does um , 978 00:42:02,600 --> 00:42:05,400 resource . The 979 00:42:05,410 --> 00:42:09,300 are medical professionals . How much is 980 00:42:09,300 --> 00:42:11,578 enough ? There's probably never enough . 981 00:42:11,578 --> 00:42:13,800 This is something that's very important 982 00:42:13,800 --> 00:42:15,967 to me . And you have my word that I'll 983 00:42:15,967 --> 00:42:18,189 remain cited on it . And uh , and we'll 984 00:42:18,189 --> 00:42:21,050 make sure that we resource are medical 985 00:42:21,050 --> 00:42:22,883 professionals to the best of our 986 00:42:22,883 --> 00:42:24,939 ability going forward . So thank you 987 00:42:24,939 --> 00:42:26,950 secretary . Just in my remaining 30 988 00:42:26,950 --> 00:42:29,006 seconds , I do want to put something 989 00:42:29,006 --> 00:42:30,960 very much on your radar screen in 990 00:42:30,960 --> 00:42:33,071 connection with this issue , which is 991 00:42:33,071 --> 00:42:35,220 while Sort of operational , ongoing 992 00:42:35,230 --> 00:42:37,610 funding has been restored to us . You 993 00:42:37,610 --> 00:42:41,030 in the in the FY 22 budget . There had 994 00:42:41,030 --> 00:42:43,330 been previously on track in the 995 00:42:43,340 --> 00:42:46,980 military construction budget funds for 996 00:42:46,980 --> 00:42:49,202 the new education and research building 997 00:42:49,202 --> 00:42:51,320 at USU . When the previous 998 00:42:51,320 --> 00:42:53,660 administration cut military medicine 999 00:42:53,660 --> 00:42:55,771 funds . They also cut that out of the 1000 00:42:55,771 --> 00:42:58,380 long year five year budget review . So 1001 00:42:58,380 --> 00:43:00,491 I do look forward to working with you 1002 00:43:00,491 --> 00:43:02,658 and your team to make sure we get that 1003 00:43:02,658 --> 00:43:05,650 critical program back on the budget as 1004 00:43:05,650 --> 00:43:07,706 it had been planned to be for a very 1005 00:43:07,706 --> 00:43:09,483 long time . Do I just have your 1006 00:43:09,483 --> 00:43:12,120 commitment discuss that with you ? You 1007 00:43:12,120 --> 00:43:14,287 do have my commitment . Thank you . Mr 1008 00:43:14,287 --> 00:43:16,453 Secretary . Thank you both . Thank you 1009 00:43:16,453 --> 00:43:18,620 very much . And Senator Brown , you're 1010 00:43:18,620 --> 00:43:20,787 recognized for five minutes . And then 1011 00:43:20,787 --> 00:43:23,780 we will a german , but I will get the 1012 00:43:23,780 --> 00:43:26,640 record open for questions until 1013 00:43:26,640 --> 00:43:28,990 thursday of next week . Thank you . Mr 1014 00:43:28,990 --> 00:43:31,190 Chairman . I want to preface my first 1015 00:43:31,190 --> 00:43:32,912 question . That will be both . 1016 00:43:32,912 --> 00:43:35,134 Gentlemen . I think defense is the most 1017 00:43:35,134 --> 00:43:37,470 important thing we do here in the 1018 00:43:37,470 --> 00:43:40,070 federal government . Uh , I think that 1019 00:43:40,080 --> 00:43:42,080 infrastructure is important . We're 1020 00:43:42,080 --> 00:43:44,350 wrestling with that as well . But the 1021 00:43:44,350 --> 00:43:46,572 states can weigh in on that and the one 1022 00:43:46,572 --> 00:43:49,110 thing that we should do and do well is 1023 00:43:49,110 --> 00:43:51,710 defend our country . I'm going to quote 1024 00:43:51,710 --> 00:43:53,766 the General Mike Mullen made back in 1025 00:43:53,766 --> 00:43:57,750 2010 saying that the most significant 1026 00:43:57,750 --> 00:44:01,600 threat to our country in his mind is 1027 00:44:01,610 --> 00:44:04,810 not the red Menace , but the red ink . 1028 00:44:05,190 --> 00:44:08,200 I'd like each of you to comment on what 1029 00:44:08,210 --> 00:44:10,830 General Mike Mullen said back in 2010 1030 00:44:10,830 --> 00:44:14,340 and I think of anything back then we 1031 00:44:14,340 --> 00:44:16,451 were significantly less in death than 1032 00:44:16,451 --> 00:44:18,640 we are now . And just note for the 1033 00:44:18,640 --> 00:44:21,500 record is Admiral Mike mullen . General 1034 00:44:21,890 --> 00:44:25,860 Admiral Yeah . He's a mentor 1035 00:44:25,860 --> 00:44:27,916 of mine . So he will be honored that 1036 00:44:27,916 --> 00:44:30,920 you called him a general center . Uh 1037 00:44:31,790 --> 00:44:35,160 Yeah , I know him well enough to know 1038 00:44:35,160 --> 00:44:37,610 that that he was always focused on 1039 00:44:38,090 --> 00:44:40,146 making sure that we could afford the 1040 00:44:40,146 --> 00:44:42,520 capabilities that we needed to to 1041 00:44:42,520 --> 00:44:46,310 defend this country . And so 1042 00:44:46,690 --> 00:44:49,230 uh making sure that we not only had a 1043 00:44:49,230 --> 00:44:52,500 budget , but we had a budget on time . 1044 00:44:52,510 --> 00:44:54,760 So so we didn't have to continue to go 1045 00:44:54,760 --> 00:44:56,927 through continuing resolutions because 1046 00:44:56,927 --> 00:44:59,038 as you know , you can't do new starts 1047 00:44:59,038 --> 00:45:01,316 when you're in a continuing resolution . 1048 00:45:01,590 --> 00:45:05,280 So uh that was a principal 1049 00:45:05,280 --> 00:45:07,880 focus of his and as I hear him talk 1050 00:45:07,880 --> 00:45:10,158 today , it remains the principal focus . 1051 00:45:10,158 --> 00:45:12,324 Uh but but and I certainly would agree 1052 00:45:12,324 --> 00:45:14,269 with them , we have to have timely 1053 00:45:14,269 --> 00:45:16,820 budgets uh and they have to be adequate 1054 00:45:16,820 --> 00:45:19,500 to resource the the capabilities that 1055 00:45:19,500 --> 00:45:21,460 we need . And as you heard me say 1056 00:45:21,460 --> 00:45:23,760 earlier , I think this budget does that 1057 00:45:23,760 --> 00:45:25,927 for us , it gives us the ability to go 1058 00:45:25,927 --> 00:45:28,910 after um you know , the right mix of 1059 00:45:28,920 --> 00:45:31,142 capabilities that we need to defend the 1060 00:45:31,142 --> 00:45:35,050 nation . So uh Senator thanks um and I 1061 00:45:35,050 --> 00:45:37,106 served for Admiral mullen many times 1062 00:45:37,106 --> 00:45:38,939 and and I know he wanted to be a 1063 00:45:38,939 --> 00:45:40,828 general uh throughout most of his 1064 00:45:40,828 --> 00:45:43,750 career , um He did pretty good , he did 1065 00:45:43,750 --> 00:45:46,180 travel Joint Chief . I got a call from 1066 00:45:46,180 --> 00:45:49,440 every week , so um but but what are you 1067 00:45:49,440 --> 00:45:51,551 talking about there , I think was the 1068 00:45:51,551 --> 00:45:53,773 budgets , but also in the broader since 1069 00:45:53,773 --> 00:45:55,662 Adam muller was talking about the 1070 00:45:55,662 --> 00:45:58,640 national US national economy and as you 1071 00:45:58,640 --> 00:46:00,807 look at national security and you take 1072 00:46:00,807 --> 00:46:03,040 a very wide angle view , um you're not 1073 00:46:03,040 --> 00:46:05,040 going to have a military unless you 1074 00:46:05,040 --> 00:46:07,262 have a robust , healthy vibrant economy 1075 00:46:07,262 --> 00:46:09,429 is just not going to have a military . 1076 00:46:09,429 --> 00:46:11,762 Uh It takes we're very expensive entity . 1077 00:46:11,762 --> 00:46:14,430 Uh 50 cents on every discretionary 1078 00:46:14,430 --> 00:46:16,541 dollars spent half of the President's 1079 00:46:16,541 --> 00:46:18,520 budget is going to defense . $715 1080 00:46:18,520 --> 00:46:21,030 million is a lot of money . And that 1081 00:46:21,040 --> 00:46:23,040 can't be done unless there's a very 1082 00:46:23,040 --> 00:46:25,096 robust economy . So in the very wide 1083 00:46:25,096 --> 00:46:26,830 angle view , uh looking at it 1084 00:46:26,830 --> 00:46:29,490 holistically , uh your economic 1085 00:46:29,500 --> 00:46:31,611 strength and vibrancy is perhaps your 1086 00:46:31,611 --> 00:46:33,722 number one critical national security 1087 00:46:33,722 --> 00:46:35,500 capability that you have from a 1088 00:46:35,500 --> 00:46:37,778 strictly military standpoint . However , 1089 00:46:38,080 --> 00:46:41,080 I think strictly military standpoint 1090 00:46:41,090 --> 00:46:43,490 china is , as the secretary said , the 1091 00:46:43,490 --> 00:46:45,570 pacing threat and it is the pacing 1092 00:46:45,570 --> 00:46:47,530 threat as we move forward into the 1093 00:46:47,530 --> 00:46:50,250 years of come china is going to be . It 1094 00:46:50,260 --> 00:46:52,600 is , it will it will become the 1095 00:46:52,600 --> 00:46:54,433 greatest geo strategic challenge 1096 00:46:54,433 --> 00:46:56,489 militarily that the United States is 1097 00:46:56,489 --> 00:46:58,544 facing a long time . Thank you . And 1098 00:46:58,980 --> 00:47:01,202 for the short time I've been here . The 1099 00:47:01,202 --> 00:47:03,313 process works seemingly in this way . 1100 00:47:03,580 --> 00:47:05,430 One side of the aisle puts great 1101 00:47:05,430 --> 00:47:08,360 emphasis on defense . The other side of 1102 00:47:08,360 --> 00:47:10,471 the aisle does on domestic spending . 1103 00:47:10,880 --> 00:47:13,770 Neither one of us has the political 1104 00:47:13,770 --> 00:47:16,810 will and discipline to do anything 1105 00:47:16,810 --> 00:47:19,100 about the stuff that we like most . 1106 00:47:19,480 --> 00:47:22,450 That is why I think it's incumbent upon 1107 00:47:22,450 --> 00:47:26,050 defense to subject itself to 1108 00:47:26,050 --> 00:47:29,780 audits , to find all the ways that you 1109 00:47:29,780 --> 00:47:32,002 can get better value out of . And I can 1110 00:47:32,002 --> 00:47:34,710 say this with almost absolute certainty . 1111 00:47:35,280 --> 00:47:38,430 You cannot keep doing What we've been 1112 00:47:38,430 --> 00:47:40,750 doing in the short time I've been here , 1113 00:47:40,750 --> 00:47:42,970 which has added nearly $10 trillion 1114 00:47:42,970 --> 00:47:45,700 dollars to our debt to be able to do 1115 00:47:45,710 --> 00:47:48,440 anything in a healthy fashion in the 1116 00:47:48,440 --> 00:47:50,790 long run , you can't run a school board 1117 00:47:50,790 --> 00:47:52,734 that way . You can't run state and 1118 00:47:52,734 --> 00:47:54,734 local government that way . And the 1119 00:47:54,734 --> 00:47:57,320 rigor of the marketplace or the economy , 1120 00:47:57,330 --> 00:47:59,510 which has competition to keep you in 1121 00:47:59,510 --> 00:48:02,890 line , prevents any other 1122 00:48:02,890 --> 00:48:05,030 entity from performing the way we do 1123 00:48:05,030 --> 00:48:08,820 here . And I'd love to see uh secretary 1124 00:48:08,820 --> 00:48:12,740 that you embrace cost cutting , getting 1125 00:48:12,740 --> 00:48:14,851 better value out of the money that we 1126 00:48:14,851 --> 00:48:18,080 spend and especially having audits that 1127 00:48:18,080 --> 00:48:20,970 are done soon . So we can take a peek 1128 00:48:20,970 --> 00:48:23,500 at what's going on , not only in 1129 00:48:23,500 --> 00:48:26,380 defense across the government , because 1130 00:48:26,390 --> 00:48:28,612 you cannot justify this with the modern 1131 00:48:28,612 --> 00:48:30,780 monetary theory . And just because you 1132 00:48:30,780 --> 00:48:33,058 can get by with it , you keep doing it . 1133 00:48:33,058 --> 00:48:34,390 Thank you so much . 1134 00:48:40,470 --> 00:48:43,230 I had one all senators to here . If we 1135 00:48:43,230 --> 00:48:45,590 want to avoid a continuing resolution , 1136 00:48:46,270 --> 00:48:49,890 uh we must begin bipartisan and 1137 00:48:49,890 --> 00:48:51,946 bicameral discussions with the White 1138 00:48:51,946 --> 00:48:55,250 House to establish top lines For fiscal 1139 00:48:55,250 --> 00:48:59,090 year 22 , Uh 2022 . 1140 00:48:59,090 --> 00:49:01,257 So the appropriations committee can do 1141 00:49:01,257 --> 00:49:05,200 its work . It does neither the 1142 00:49:05,200 --> 00:49:07,300 country of the Defense or any other 1143 00:49:07,300 --> 00:49:10,820 department . Uh , Good dude , 1144 00:49:10,830 --> 00:49:12,997 governed by continuing resolution . In 1145 00:49:12,997 --> 00:49:15,870 fact , it's a disservice to the the 1146 00:49:15,870 --> 00:49:19,530 country and we will continue to work to 1147 00:49:19,540 --> 00:49:23,430 get real appropriations 1148 00:49:23,430 --> 00:49:25,590 and vote them up or vote them down . 1149 00:49:26,270 --> 00:49:28,330 And I thank you . two gentlemen has 1150 00:49:28,330 --> 00:49:31,580 been along morning and all the other 1151 00:49:31,580 --> 00:49:34,320 duties , but it has been a most 1152 00:49:34,320 --> 00:49:36,940 informative , a discussion , your 1153 00:49:36,940 --> 00:49:40,160 answers to members of both parties and 1154 00:49:40,160 --> 00:49:42,710 I appreciate it . We should we stand 1155 00:49:42,720 --> 00:49:43,310 adjourned .