WEBVTT 00:00.340 --> 00:02.562 Thank you very much and Senator blunt , 00:02.562 --> 00:04.729 Thank you Chairman , Thank you stuff . 00:04.729 --> 00:06.896 And incidentally , just so people know 00:06.896 --> 00:09.118 that we're going to have a vote at just 00:09.118 --> 00:11.451 not to come out of senator blanche time , 00:11.451 --> 00:14.620 but we're going to have a voting about 00:14.620 --> 00:18.280 10 or 15 minutes when we do , I'll take 00:18.280 --> 00:21.960 a 10 minute break at that time , 00:23.540 --> 00:25.890 I will come back after the vote and 00:25.890 --> 00:28.350 anybody else just you know , go ahead 00:28.350 --> 00:30.406 tournament . Thank you . Thank you . 00:30.406 --> 00:32.517 Chairman and Secretary Austin General 00:32.517 --> 00:34.517 Melanie , thanks to both of you for 00:34.517 --> 00:36.739 your service and for being here today . 00:36.739 --> 00:38.906 I also want to commend your efforts in 00:38.906 --> 00:41.072 developing a national defense strategy 00:41.072 --> 00:42.850 that takes into account china's 00:42.850 --> 00:44.739 continued growth and their global 00:44.739 --> 00:47.510 influence and their obvious commitment 00:47.520 --> 00:49.590 economically militarily and in other 00:49.590 --> 00:52.840 ways too , to compete with us and 00:52.850 --> 00:55.080 better us if they can . And we of 00:55.080 --> 00:57.247 course don't want to let that happen . 00:57.247 --> 00:59.580 I know Senator murkowski talked about 00:59.590 --> 01:03.560 um mining and minerals . 01:03.940 --> 01:05.980 Yeah , we produced no nickel in the 01:05.980 --> 01:08.220 country . Today . We produce no lithium 01:08.230 --> 01:11.390 in the country today . About 10,000 01:11.400 --> 01:14.360 minds that have closed some of them for 01:14.360 --> 01:16.416 environmental reasons . Some of them 01:16.416 --> 01:18.638 because whenever they try to open in an 01:18.638 --> 01:20.720 area where china has made a studied 01:20.720 --> 01:24.230 effort all over the world to get there , 01:24.240 --> 01:26.740 get control of these various minerals 01:26.740 --> 01:28.518 and resources . They would just 01:28.518 --> 01:32.300 undersell any american company or any 01:32.300 --> 01:34.244 company anywhere in the world that 01:34.244 --> 01:37.320 tries to compete . And I think , uh , 01:37.330 --> 01:39.330 that's an area of great concern . I 01:39.330 --> 01:41.219 didn't hear your entire answer to 01:41.219 --> 01:43.330 Senator murkowski . So you might have 01:43.330 --> 01:45.580 might have covered that already . But I 01:45.580 --> 01:47.730 do think from a defense perspective , 01:47.730 --> 01:49.952 we have to start looking at this supply 01:49.952 --> 01:52.050 chain of what it takes to have the 01:52.050 --> 01:54.780 equipment we need to defend the country . 01:54.780 --> 01:56.947 If there's anything either of you want 01:56.947 --> 01:59.224 to say on that , that you haven't said , 01:59.224 --> 02:02.120 I'd be glad to give you a moment . Well 02:02.120 --> 02:04.670 thank you senator . I'll just say , I 02:04.670 --> 02:06.448 absolutely agree with you . The 02:06.448 --> 02:08.860 department agrees with you . That's why 02:08.860 --> 02:11.260 we're investing some $341 million 02:11.260 --> 02:15.240 dollars in uh in enabling us to better 02:15.240 --> 02:17.730 partner with the U . S . Companies and 02:17.730 --> 02:19.960 part of that is going after some of 02:19.960 --> 02:23.050 those rare earth elements that you 02:23.050 --> 02:27.010 talked about that are required to 02:27.020 --> 02:29.450 produce some of the capabilities that 02:29.450 --> 02:32.940 will need going forward . And you know , 02:32.950 --> 02:35.100 rarer is not nearly as rare as you 02:35.100 --> 02:37.044 might think it is . But every time 02:37.044 --> 02:39.100 again somebody tries to develop it , 02:39.100 --> 02:40.933 china's put themselves in such a 02:40.933 --> 02:43.100 situation there where they can make it 02:43.100 --> 02:45.580 incredibly unprofitable to try to do 02:45.580 --> 02:49.330 that on on that regard . Uh The 02:49.330 --> 02:53.330 indo pacific command generally the 02:53.340 --> 02:56.180 top of their unfunded requirements in 02:56.180 --> 02:58.840 that command missile Defense Agency 02:58.840 --> 03:01.062 expressed a need for additional funding 03:01.062 --> 03:04.010 to boost defense against ballistic 03:04.020 --> 03:05.909 military threats . In the pacific 03:05.909 --> 03:08.430 specifically the endo specific 03:08.440 --> 03:11.740 commanders . Number one priority is 03:11.740 --> 03:14.450 more money to develop a ballistic 03:14.450 --> 03:17.750 missile defense system for Guam . Uh 03:17.760 --> 03:19.482 I'd be interested to hear your 03:19.482 --> 03:21.750 assessment of what happens when we 03:22.040 --> 03:24.650 don't fund that priority . 03:27.140 --> 03:29.720 Uh It's a top priority for me to be 03:29.720 --> 03:31.850 able to protect the United States of 03:31.850 --> 03:33.850 America . And of course Graham is a 03:33.850 --> 03:36.590 part of our country here . So We've 03:36.590 --> 03:38.750 invested $118 million dollars in this 03:38.750 --> 03:41.980 budget towards the development of 03:41.990 --> 03:44.212 missile defense capability , Dongguan . 03:45.440 --> 03:47.430 And do you think that met the Indo 03:47.430 --> 03:50.100 pacific Commander's request ? That's 03:50.100 --> 03:52.267 not what he requested , but I think it 03:52.267 --> 03:54.211 gets us , it gets us moving in the 03:54.211 --> 03:56.322 right direction . And of course as we 03:56.322 --> 03:59.360 as we further develop this , we can we 03:59.360 --> 04:01.950 can invest more as time goes forward . 04:02.040 --> 04:03.873 Well , you know , one thing this 04:03.873 --> 04:05.929 committee has always looked at and I 04:05.929 --> 04:07.818 think well again this year is the 04:07.818 --> 04:10.040 unfunded list and the prioritization on 04:10.040 --> 04:12.262 that list . This may be a topic we want 04:12.262 --> 04:14.484 to revisit later while we're in the end 04:14.484 --> 04:16.860 of pacific general milne as an example 04:17.340 --> 04:21.070 in our ally Australia . Clear that 04:21.080 --> 04:23.460 china is doing everything . They can 04:23.940 --> 04:26.980 make world uncomfortable for Australia 04:26.980 --> 04:29.810 economically and militarily . What are 04:29.810 --> 04:32.320 we doing to further partner with and 04:32.320 --> 04:35.260 better support Australia or any of the 04:35.260 --> 04:37.750 other indo pacific allies ? You'd want 04:37.750 --> 04:38.750 to mention 04:42.540 --> 04:45.930 a long I think you're mike may not be 04:45.930 --> 04:46.560 on again . 04:50.540 --> 04:54.400 Of what ? Uh huh . One 04:54.410 --> 04:57.240 is everything . Yeah . 04:58.440 --> 05:01.370 Mhm . Yeah . Here . 05:03.540 --> 05:05.840 Mhm . Yeah . 05:09.640 --> 05:12.840 Have this is Mhm . Yeah . 05:13.440 --> 05:17.120 Yeah . Legal . Thank you much . 05:17.130 --> 05:20.930 Good . We have Rudy go 05:21.090 --> 05:24.540 back me as . Yeah . Yeah . 05:26.540 --> 05:30.530 Daily basis with myself . Mhm . Thanks 05:30.840 --> 05:34.060 a lot . I know a lot later than 05:34.740 --> 05:37.470 we do it at the unit basis uh as well 05:37.480 --> 05:39.720 uh So we're doing it in the Navy , were 05:39.720 --> 05:41.831 doing it in the army , we're doing it 05:41.831 --> 05:43.831 in the marines , were doing the air 05:43.831 --> 05:45.942 force and we worked very very closely 05:45.942 --> 05:48.053 with them in cyber and and with space 05:48.053 --> 05:48.000 capabilities . So we're very 05:48.000 --> 05:49.940 interoperable with the Australian 05:49.940 --> 05:52.051 military . Uh And they of course have 05:52.051 --> 05:54.218 conducted operation with us in both uh 05:54.240 --> 05:56.660 Afghanistan Iraq very regularly . So 05:56.670 --> 05:58.726 we're very tight with the Australian 05:58.726 --> 06:00.781 military . Well , I think that's the 06:00.781 --> 06:02.948 kind of thing that our adversaries and 06:02.948 --> 06:04.837 our our friends and our potential 06:04.837 --> 06:06.948 friends look at . And I'm glad you're 06:06.948 --> 06:09.003 continuing to do all the things that 06:09.003 --> 06:11.170 you're doing there . It's obvious it's 06:11.170 --> 06:13.226 noticeable and at the same time it's 06:13.226 --> 06:16.250 important . Thank you . Chairman . Mhm . 06:17.840 --> 06:20.210 Chairman , Thank you very much and 06:20.220 --> 06:22.610 welcome uh Secretary Austin General 06:22.610 --> 06:24.800 Milley to the committee . I really do 06:24.800 --> 06:27.022 appreciate all the work you're doing to 06:27.022 --> 06:29.133 make sure that our armed Services are 06:29.133 --> 06:31.411 professional and welcoming environment . 06:31.411 --> 06:34.370 But one thing I am concerned about is 06:34.370 --> 06:36.800 that within our armed forces were still 06:36.800 --> 06:39.040 seeing discrimination and extremism . 06:39.040 --> 06:41.830 And I really encourage you to continue 06:41.830 --> 06:44.052 your focus for this on the department . 06:44.052 --> 06:46.219 I know there's a long ways to go . And 06:46.219 --> 06:49.240 another similar problem is sexual 06:49.240 --> 06:51.540 assault . After all of the work that 06:51.540 --> 06:53.596 has occurred , as you both know over 06:53.596 --> 06:55.707 many , many years . I'm not satisfied 06:55.707 --> 06:57.929 that there has been meaningful progress 06:57.929 --> 06:59.929 in ending sexual assault and sexual 06:59.929 --> 07:02.040 harassment in our services . Congress 07:02.040 --> 07:04.096 has provided significant funding and 07:04.096 --> 07:06.610 authorities and been patient with 07:06.610 --> 07:08.880 studies and training programs , but the 07:08.880 --> 07:11.470 numbers remain far too high . Your 07:11.470 --> 07:13.526 testimony reference those problems , 07:13.526 --> 07:15.692 but I want to know what specific steps 07:15.692 --> 07:17.748 you think needs to happen to finally 07:17.748 --> 07:20.210 make meaningful progress in eliminating 07:20.210 --> 07:22.377 these problems in the rank . Secretary 07:22.377 --> 07:25.690 Austin , if you don't start . Um it may 07:25.690 --> 07:27.690 be helpful just to kind of tell you 07:27.690 --> 07:30.780 where we are in the in the in the in 07:30.780 --> 07:33.010 our efforts to take on this . Uh this 07:33.010 --> 07:35.970 very important issue , senator , and I 07:35.970 --> 07:38.440 absolutely agree with you . A lot of 07:38.440 --> 07:40.662 effort has gone into this and we've got 07:40.662 --> 07:42.496 a lot a lot of support from this 07:42.496 --> 07:46.190 committee and others uh to uh help 07:46.190 --> 07:48.620 us focus on this over the years , but 07:48.620 --> 07:51.980 we haven't made much progress . So one 07:51.980 --> 07:54.430 of the very first things I did uh 07:54.440 --> 07:57.270 coming in as secretary is it was issue 07:57.270 --> 08:00.620 a directive to uh to the services to 08:00.620 --> 08:03.880 provide me input and their best advice 08:03.890 --> 08:06.360 best ideas on how we could improve . 08:06.840 --> 08:09.640 But beyond that , I commissioned an 08:09.650 --> 08:12.460 independent review commission by 08:12.460 --> 08:14.750 direction of the president to look at 08:14.760 --> 08:17.590 ourselves on sexual assault four lines 08:17.590 --> 08:19.534 of effort in that commission . The 08:19.534 --> 08:21.800 first is accountability and that's uh 08:21.810 --> 08:24.860 that addresses how we how we 08:25.240 --> 08:28.560 prosecute uh 08:29.540 --> 08:33.250 violations or sexual assault offenses . 08:33.260 --> 08:35.860 Uh and uh and of course this this 08:35.860 --> 08:38.350 addresses the U . C . M . J . That 08:38.740 --> 08:40.962 another line of effort was prevention . 08:40.962 --> 08:43.600 Another line of effort was uh climate 08:43.600 --> 08:45.711 and culture . And then finally victim 08:45.711 --> 08:47.830 care . I've already gotten the input 08:47.830 --> 08:50.890 back on accountability . And uh you 08:50.890 --> 08:52.890 know , I've talked about that input 08:53.140 --> 08:55.990 with uh with the service secretaries 08:55.990 --> 08:59.410 and the Service Chiefs very shortly . I 08:59.410 --> 09:01.580 will I will make a recommendation to 09:01.580 --> 09:04.250 the President on how I how I think we 09:04.250 --> 09:06.980 should proceed . But clearly I believe 09:06.980 --> 09:09.500 we have to take a different approach to 09:09.500 --> 09:11.710 be able to restore confidence in our 09:11.710 --> 09:14.170 system . I think right now we're at a 09:14.170 --> 09:17.320 point where we don't have the 09:17.320 --> 09:19.440 confidence that we should have in our 09:19.440 --> 09:22.690 young troopers who are in our ranks 09:22.700 --> 09:24.900 and so we have to do something about 09:24.900 --> 09:27.320 that . Thank you . General . Yes , 09:27.330 --> 09:29.497 senator . And I've said publicly and I 09:29.497 --> 09:31.608 said testimony and other committees , 09:31.740 --> 09:33.851 you're correct . We haven't moved the 09:33.851 --> 09:36.140 needle . Um , and we haven't reduced 09:36.140 --> 09:38.480 significantly or even a little bit the 09:38.480 --> 09:40.536 numbers , uh , the actual numbers of 09:40.536 --> 09:43.280 reported sexual assaults . Therefore we 09:43.280 --> 09:45.224 need to do something fundamentally 09:45.224 --> 09:47.336 different . The IRC , the Independent 09:47.336 --> 09:49.336 Review Commission is coming up with 09:49.336 --> 09:51.002 recommendations . I've had an 09:51.002 --> 09:53.113 opportunity to interact with both the 09:53.113 --> 09:55.336 commission and obviously give my advice 09:55.336 --> 09:57.391 to the secretary and I and the other 09:57.391 --> 09:59.613 chiefs are very open to fundamental and 09:59.613 --> 10:01.780 significant change in the uniform code 10:01.780 --> 10:01.750 of Military Justice with respect to 10:01.750 --> 10:03.917 sexual assault , sexual harassment and 10:03.917 --> 10:06.028 related crimes . We are reviewing the 10:06.028 --> 10:08.194 other lines of effort very carefully . 10:08.194 --> 10:10.250 And I think you're going to see some 10:10.250 --> 10:12.417 substantive change here very shortly . 10:12.417 --> 10:14.472 Very good . I look forward to seeing 10:14.472 --> 10:16.528 that soon . Thank you . Um Secretary 10:16.528 --> 10:18.306 Austin , as you know , military 10:18.306 --> 10:20.472 families face a range of challenges on 10:20.472 --> 10:24.470 a day to day basis . And I one study 10:24.470 --> 10:26.526 shows one in eight military families 10:26.526 --> 10:28.830 are experiencing food insecurity 10:28.840 --> 10:30.951 without rate being higher actually in 10:30.951 --> 10:33.007 some areas of country , like my home 10:33.007 --> 10:35.229 state of Washington . I hear frequently 10:35.229 --> 10:37.229 from families in my state about the 10:37.229 --> 10:39.007 long wait lists for childcare . 10:39.007 --> 10:41.229 Military families from Washington state 10:41.229 --> 10:43.380 struggled to find affordable housing 10:43.390 --> 10:45.510 with shortages of military family 10:45.510 --> 10:48.090 housing on base and rising prices for 10:48.090 --> 10:50.590 homes . Um , talk to me about how 10:50.590 --> 10:52.812 you're going to prioritize these issues 10:52.812 --> 10:54.850 and empower the department to take 10:54.850 --> 10:56.850 meaningful action to improve this . 10:58.740 --> 11:00.851 Well , as you know , senator , we had 11:00.851 --> 11:03.018 some issues with these types of things 11:03.018 --> 11:05.360 before the pandemic . The pandemic 11:05.370 --> 11:07.920 exacerbated uh , these these problems 11:07.930 --> 11:10.200 because , you know , spouses , uh , 11:10.210 --> 11:14.030 lost jobs , uh , couldn't get towel 11:14.030 --> 11:16.030 care and that sort of stuff . So we 11:16.030 --> 11:18.030 have we have made provision in this 11:18.030 --> 11:21.930 budget to address uh Uh military 11:21.930 --> 11:25.150 family support programs . And I think 11:25.160 --> 11:28.350 you'll see uh you know near $8 billion 11:28.350 --> 11:30.650 dollars that will be focused on this . 11:30.660 --> 11:33.050 And I think it will provide tremendous 11:33.060 --> 11:36.360 help and assistance going forward . 11:37.040 --> 11:39.207 Well , thank you and I look forward to 11:39.207 --> 11:41.530 supporting that retention uh and 11:41.530 --> 11:43.550 recruitment . These are absolutely 11:43.550 --> 11:45.600 critical issues to that effort . So 11:45.600 --> 11:47.544 thank you for that . MR Chairman . 11:47.544 --> 11:50.160 Thank you . Thank you very much . And 11:50.170 --> 11:53.580 Senator Holman uh recognize you . I 11:53.590 --> 11:55.710 understand the vote will be on time . 11:55.710 --> 11:58.990 So when you finish we'll take a short 11:58.990 --> 12:01.190 recess . Thank you . Mr Chairman 12:01.310 --> 12:05.250 Secretary Austin in the 2022 budget . 12:05.260 --> 12:08.990 The nuclear modernization efforts 12:09.000 --> 12:11.640 is adequately funded both the G . BSD 12:11.640 --> 12:13.590 and the RSO . I understand the 12:13.590 --> 12:15.646 administration wants to do a nuclear 12:15.646 --> 12:18.860 posture review . Um Two questions in 12:18.860 --> 12:20.971 regard to that will that be completed 12:20.971 --> 12:23.780 prior to the determinations in the 2023 12:23.780 --> 12:26.340 budget as far as upgrading the nuclear 12:26.340 --> 12:29.940 mission . And uh also are 12:29.940 --> 12:32.150 you uh will you commit that ? It will 12:32.150 --> 12:33.950 be done with an eye toward the 12:34.240 --> 12:37.400 escalation of both Russia and 12:37.400 --> 12:40.290 particularly china in terms of their 12:40.290 --> 12:42.512 overall military and certainly in terms 12:42.512 --> 12:45.650 of their nuclear capabilities . We 12:46.440 --> 12:49.200 our plan is to uh to complete the 12:49.200 --> 12:52.500 review within the next year . So yes to 12:52.500 --> 12:54.444 answer your question . And and the 12:54.444 --> 12:56.790 second question is absolutely we'll 12:56.790 --> 12:59.390 take into consideration the current 12:59.390 --> 13:01.920 threats and and emerging threats as we 13:01.920 --> 13:04.650 do the review . Would the existing U . 13:04.650 --> 13:06.983 S . Strategic deterrent remain credible ? 13:06.983 --> 13:09.310 If china fielded forces twice the size 13:09.310 --> 13:13.230 they have today ? I think 13:13.230 --> 13:17.040 we have to look at deterrence to 13:17.040 --> 13:19.400 answer that question Yes our our intent 13:19.400 --> 13:21.850 is to remain credible . Uh no matter 13:21.850 --> 13:25.760 what and so the purpose of the review 13:25.760 --> 13:27.927 is to make sure that we have the right 13:27.927 --> 13:30.310 capabilities in place uh to counter any 13:30.310 --> 13:32.710 threat presented by china Russia or 13:32.720 --> 13:35.060 whomever . And would you agree that the 13:35.540 --> 13:37.360 efficacy and strength of our 13:37.360 --> 13:40.590 conventional forces is necessarily 13:40.590 --> 13:42.423 buttressed by having an adequate 13:42.423 --> 13:44.560 nuclear deterrent that equals or 13:44.560 --> 13:46.960 exceeds that of our major adversaries . 13:48.440 --> 13:52.210 Our nuclear triad has been the bedrock 13:52.210 --> 13:55.620 of our of our deterrence effort for for 13:55.620 --> 13:57.842 many many years and it will continue to 13:57.842 --> 14:00.280 be so to be so in the future . Uh So 14:00.280 --> 14:02.391 the answer to that question , senator 14:02.391 --> 14:04.810 is yes . Uh General Millard asked you 14:04.820 --> 14:07.240 essentially the same question . Yeah . 14:07.250 --> 14:11.140 First uh the answer is yes . Uh now 14:11.150 --> 14:14.320 and in the future if we continue to 14:14.330 --> 14:18.160 fully modernize the triad than the U . 14:18.160 --> 14:20.920 S . Nuclear strategic deterrent is 14:20.930 --> 14:23.970 fully adequate to deter any adversary 14:23.980 --> 14:26.050 to include china . Even if china 14:26.050 --> 14:27.994 doubled what they have right now . 14:27.994 --> 14:29.939 There's no question in my mind but 14:29.939 --> 14:32.470 deterrence as you know requires not 14:32.470 --> 14:34.750 only the capability and the will but 14:34.750 --> 14:36.950 also the communication . The adversary 14:37.030 --> 14:39.141 needs to understand that you have the 14:39.141 --> 14:41.363 capability in the will . So all of that 14:41.363 --> 14:43.586 together it's a complicated piece there 14:43.586 --> 14:45.752 but all of it together , I'm very very 14:45.752 --> 14:47.974 confident that our nuclear systems once 14:47.974 --> 14:50.197 modernized and fully modernized today . 14:50.197 --> 14:52.141 They are adequate and I think once 14:52.141 --> 14:51.920 modernized they'll be adequate in the 14:51.920 --> 14:54.031 future . The conventional piece . The 14:54.031 --> 14:55.976 nuclear peace and the conventional 14:55.976 --> 14:57.920 peace go hand in here . And it's a 14:57.920 --> 14:59.920 dynamic that works in order to keep 14:59.920 --> 15:02.087 great power peace . And it's very very 15:02.087 --> 15:04.480 important that we retain overmatch 15:04.490 --> 15:07.200 relative to china or Russia . But 15:07.200 --> 15:09.560 specifically now we're talking china uh 15:09.570 --> 15:11.626 into the future . And in combination 15:11.626 --> 15:13.750 those two in combination will keep us 15:13.750 --> 15:15.920 at a level of competition . Uh and we 15:15.920 --> 15:18.600 won't be able to or we won't get from 15:18.600 --> 15:20.767 competition into conflict and that's a 15:20.767 --> 15:22.989 critical thing as we go to the future . 15:22.989 --> 15:25.760 Do you support helping Israel 15:25.760 --> 15:27.538 replenished its missile defense 15:27.538 --> 15:30.260 following the recent attacks by Hamas ? 15:31.040 --> 15:33.790 Do I support that ? Uh That's a policy 15:33.790 --> 15:36.090 question uh about whether we should 15:36.090 --> 15:38.257 support , we have the capability to do 15:38.257 --> 15:40.146 it . Uh And I think it's a policy 15:40.146 --> 15:42.090 question as to whether we do and I 15:42.090 --> 15:44.312 would ask Secretary Austin absolutely . 15:44.312 --> 15:46.870 We remain committed to supporting the 15:46.880 --> 15:50.860 defense of Israel . Uh General 15:50.860 --> 15:52.860 Milley does the 22 budget requests 15:52.860 --> 15:55.027 provide you with the tools you need to 15:55.027 --> 15:56.749 compete in the Arctic region , 15:56.749 --> 15:58.749 particularly with the focus at both 15:58.749 --> 16:00.749 Russia and China are putting on the 16:00.749 --> 16:02.749 Arctic region , I think it does for 16:02.749 --> 16:04.971 right now and for the period of time of 16:04.971 --> 16:07.082 the of the budget . But the arctic is 16:07.082 --> 16:09.249 going to become increasingly important 16:09.249 --> 16:11.249 geo strategically . And we see that 16:11.249 --> 16:13.416 already with some activities that both 16:13.416 --> 16:15.304 Russia and china are doing in the 16:15.304 --> 16:17.550 arctic . So as the arctic ice melts and 16:17.560 --> 16:19.610 resources become more available 16:19.610 --> 16:21.530 etcetera is going to be increased 16:21.530 --> 16:23.760 competition in the arctic in the years 16:23.760 --> 16:26.620 to come . So I think that this budget 16:26.630 --> 16:28.741 does for the immediate future , which 16:28.741 --> 16:31.420 is what this budget does . But uh as 16:31.420 --> 16:33.587 you go into the future that remains to 16:33.587 --> 16:35.753 be seen , we're gonna have to continue 16:35.753 --> 16:35.660 and probably increased resourcing for 16:35.660 --> 16:38.300 the arctic in the future . Final 16:38.300 --> 16:41.100 question is is there are there other 16:41.100 --> 16:43.156 things that we should be doing vis a 16:43.156 --> 16:46.460 vis Taiwan to help ensure its 16:46.470 --> 16:50.150 defense ? You want to say 16:50.150 --> 16:53.860 something ? We are we are committed to 16:54.240 --> 16:57.770 mhm Taiwan's ability to defend itself 16:57.780 --> 17:01.190 and in accordance with Taiwan relations 17:01.190 --> 17:04.130 Act and the three joint communiques and 17:04.130 --> 17:06.820 six assurances . So we're doing a lot 17:06.820 --> 17:09.360 now to help them be able to defend 17:09.360 --> 17:11.360 themselves and we'll continue to do 17:11.360 --> 17:13.193 that in the future . Thank you . 17:13.193 --> 17:15.304 Gentlemen . Thank you . Mr Chairman . 17:15.340 --> 17:18.050 Well , thank you . And I thank the two 17:18.050 --> 17:20.300 witnesses . I apologize . We will take 17:20.300 --> 17:24.220 a Oxford 17:24.220 --> 17:27.090 in 10 minutes break . I'm going to go 17:27.100 --> 17:31.070 vote and come right back and we'll pick 17:31.070 --> 17:34.020 up with the order there now that I hope 17:34.020 --> 17:36.170 that works for our witnesses . Yeah , 17:42.940 --> 17:46.560 Right . Thank everybody . 17:47.240 --> 17:49.500 I will go back to the hearings , 17:49.500 --> 17:53.490 Senator baldwin next and then fathers 17:53.490 --> 17:55.657 come back to the hearing . We'll go to 17:55.657 --> 17:57.823 them . Senator Barton . Thank you very 17:57.823 --> 18:01.500 much . Mr Chairman . And thank you for 18:01.510 --> 18:04.780 your service . Um I 18:04.780 --> 18:08.540 have your top line request this year is 18:08.550 --> 18:12.380 715 billion . That is 18:12.380 --> 18:16.340 a 1.6% increase I've been 18:16.340 --> 18:18.900 actually reading about and hearing a 18:18.900 --> 18:22.740 lot of criticism about the level of 18:22.740 --> 18:25.040 funding compared to the budgets under 18:25.050 --> 18:27.950 the previous administration . However , 18:27.950 --> 18:31.890 this neglects the fact that while 18:31.900 --> 18:34.360 President trump's top line was higher , 18:34.740 --> 18:37.630 he also diverted billions of defense 18:37.630 --> 18:40.840 dollars to fund a wall on the southern 18:40.840 --> 18:44.460 border . Um I may have differing views 18:44.460 --> 18:46.627 on the appropriate size of the defense 18:46.627 --> 18:49.330 budget . Um But Secretary Austin , I 18:49.330 --> 18:51.690 just like to give you a chance to 18:51.690 --> 18:54.080 explain why this top line is the right 18:54.080 --> 18:57.700 amount . Thank you , Senator . 18:57.700 --> 19:01.160 I think this uh first of all the the 19:01.160 --> 19:04.670 budget is based upon or is informed by 19:05.140 --> 19:06.973 the President's interim National 19:06.973 --> 19:10.970 Security strategy . Uh and uh and 19:10.970 --> 19:13.070 also my message to the force and I 19:13.070 --> 19:16.580 think advise us the flexibility that we 19:16.580 --> 19:18.802 need to go after the right capabilities 19:19.340 --> 19:21.118 that will ensure that we remain 19:21.118 --> 19:24.590 relevant uh in any competition 19:24.590 --> 19:27.240 with any great power . And so we're 19:27.240 --> 19:29.351 trying to invest in those things that 19:29.351 --> 19:33.260 will be um absolutely relevant 19:33.260 --> 19:36.540 for the future . And uh it includes , 19:36.550 --> 19:39.230 again , tremendous investments in 19:39.240 --> 19:42.320 missile defeat and defense , uh 19:42.330 --> 19:45.940 $6.5 billion in long range fires . We 19:45.940 --> 19:48.830 invest $52 billion in buying a lethal 19:48.830 --> 19:51.260 Air force , $34 billion dollars in 19:51.260 --> 19:54.990 buying Uh combat effective naval forces 19:54.990 --> 19:57.820 and $12.3 billion dollars for combat 19:57.830 --> 20:00.140 effective ground forces . And when you 20:00.140 --> 20:02.140 combine that with our investment in 20:02.140 --> 20:04.770 cyber , which is about 10 $10.5 billion . 20:05.140 --> 20:07.680 Uh And and some other things , it 20:07.690 --> 20:09.890 really does create a tremendous 20:09.900 --> 20:12.270 capability for us . Thank you . 20:13.240 --> 20:15.230 I want to briefly talk about buy 20:15.230 --> 20:18.310 american policies . We really excel in 20:18.310 --> 20:20.710 the US at innovation , but we've 20:20.720 --> 20:23.600 allowed our domestic industrial base to 20:23.610 --> 20:25.910 atrophy . And the National Defense 20:25.910 --> 20:28.510 Industrial Association gave our defense 20:28.510 --> 20:31.820 industrial base a grade of C in 20:31.820 --> 20:35.570 february . Meanwhile , china's has 20:35.570 --> 20:38.360 grown exponentially , especially in 20:38.360 --> 20:41.460 areas like shipbuilding and suppliers . 20:41.940 --> 20:44.950 Um I I think that our defense 20:44.950 --> 20:48.780 acquisition system focuses too 20:48.780 --> 20:52.130 heavily on upfront costs perhaps at the 20:52.140 --> 20:55.520 expense of factoring in the long term 20:55.520 --> 20:58.850 dividends for having a competitive U . 20:58.850 --> 21:01.460 S . Manufacturing and production edge 21:01.840 --> 21:05.300 over competitors like china . Although 21:05.310 --> 21:07.421 I've discussed this with you and with 21:07.421 --> 21:09.690 the china task force , I don't hear 21:09.690 --> 21:12.220 much about protecting and expanding our 21:12.220 --> 21:15.090 domestic supplier base when we talk 21:15.090 --> 21:17.660 about china . Um So please discuss how 21:17.660 --> 21:19.810 the department can leverage the 21:19.810 --> 21:23.240 benefits of Made in America uh 21:23.250 --> 21:26.050 during acquisition decisions . 21:28.440 --> 21:30.650 Well , thank you . I think you you've 21:30.650 --> 21:32.900 heard the president talked about making 21:32.900 --> 21:36.170 sure that we begin to reinvest in our 21:36.640 --> 21:39.440 in our industrial base here and also 21:39.450 --> 21:43.090 our our education education 21:43.090 --> 21:45.146 system to ensure that we're creating 21:45.146 --> 21:48.250 the best and brightest scientists and 21:48.250 --> 21:50.660 engineers . And I think that's that's 21:50.660 --> 21:52.940 really important . You may have heard 21:52.940 --> 21:54.940 me say earlier that we're investing 21:54.940 --> 21:58.170 $341 million dollars uh in uh 21:58.740 --> 22:02.340 and uh an effort to be able to better 22:02.340 --> 22:06.340 partner with U . S . Companies and and 22:06.340 --> 22:09.180 to to to really begin to strengthen our 22:09.180 --> 22:11.310 supply chains . Uh We want to be 22:11.310 --> 22:13.900 competitive across the board and and 22:13.910 --> 22:16.021 that includes , you know , what we're 22:16.021 --> 22:17.799 doing here in the homeland with 22:17.799 --> 22:19.910 industry . We want to make sure we're 22:19.910 --> 22:21.688 growing the best scientists and 22:21.688 --> 22:23.688 engineers and so this is gonna take 22:23.688 --> 22:25.854 some time . But uh but it's absolutely 22:25.854 --> 22:28.021 our focus to be able to compete across 22:28.021 --> 22:31.110 the board and not just military items 22:31.110 --> 22:34.060 alone . Thank you . Um 22:35.540 --> 22:39.070 The US will withdraw all US forces from 22:39.070 --> 22:42.690 Afghanistan by september a decision . I 22:42.690 --> 22:46.500 agree with , can you please uh follow 22:46.500 --> 22:49.790 up with the committee and me uh in 22:49.790 --> 22:52.790 writing , but certainly I'll welcome 22:52.790 --> 22:55.160 your comments right now describing what 22:55.170 --> 22:57.190 the enduring over the horizon 22:57.190 --> 22:59.750 requirements will be for Afghanistan's 22:59.760 --> 23:02.670 once we withdraw , which is now in less 23:02.670 --> 23:05.750 than 90 days . Um And 23:05.760 --> 23:08.570 uh yesterday the new york times 23:08.570 --> 23:10.570 reported that the administration is 23:10.570 --> 23:13.100 reconsidering its rules on conducting 23:13.110 --> 23:16.570 drone strikes as well uh as as well as 23:16.570 --> 23:18.740 the future for US Special Operations 23:18.740 --> 23:21.790 Forces in Somalia . So I'm concerned 23:21.790 --> 23:24.260 about any expanded footprints or 23:24.260 --> 23:27.230 operations without significant uh 23:27.240 --> 23:29.560 congressional oversight . But I'm also 23:29.560 --> 23:32.350 concerned with any expansion while the 23:32.360 --> 23:35.370 services uh testified that they have 23:35.380 --> 23:38.100 other underfunded needs . So do you 23:38.100 --> 23:39.878 have any update on the decision 23:39.878 --> 23:42.670 timelines and any relevant authorities 23:42.680 --> 23:45.430 uh or funding issues associated with 23:45.430 --> 23:49.430 these policies ? We as you 23:49.430 --> 23:51.430 know , we're doing a forced posture 23:51.430 --> 23:55.200 review and I won't predict when 23:55.210 --> 23:57.320 we'll complete that work , but we'll 23:57.320 --> 24:00.050 get through it as quickly as we can . 24:00.440 --> 24:02.890 The Somalia issue and other issues will 24:02.890 --> 24:06.570 be a part of that . Um , but the 24:06.570 --> 24:09.050 focus will be to make sure that , you 24:09.050 --> 24:12.010 know , whether it's in Somalia or some 24:12.010 --> 24:14.370 other place in the world that 24:14.370 --> 24:16.426 terrorists don't have the ability to 24:16.426 --> 24:19.130 threaten our homeland from uh , from an 24:19.130 --> 24:21.620 ungoverned space . I think we owe it to 24:21.620 --> 24:23.731 the american people to make sure that 24:23.731 --> 24:26.760 we're defending forward um in terms of 24:26.760 --> 24:28.871 our requirements for over the horizon 24:28.871 --> 24:31.110 capabilities . Well , absolutely lay 24:31.110 --> 24:33.340 those out for you in writing as you've 24:33.340 --> 24:36.050 requested . Thank you . Thank you . 24:36.940 --> 24:39.420 Thank you . And I , uh Senator Coons is 24:39.420 --> 24:43.320 here and of Sarah 24:43.320 --> 24:45.487 coons go ahead and there's nobody else 24:45.487 --> 24:47.970 comes . We will recess . Thank you so 24:47.970 --> 24:50.220 much . Chairman Leahy and Vice Chairman 24:50.230 --> 24:52.563 Shelby . And it's great to see you both . 24:52.563 --> 24:54.619 Thank you . Secretary Austin General 24:54.619 --> 24:56.786 Milley , both for your testimony today 24:56.786 --> 24:58.619 and for your decades of tireless 24:58.619 --> 25:00.897 service to our nation . General Milley . 25:00.897 --> 25:03.119 I enjoyed our conversation earlier this 25:03.119 --> 25:05.008 week and agree that the House and 25:05.008 --> 25:07.119 Senate need to do our job and passing 25:07.119 --> 25:09.230 on time budget for the D . O . D . To 25:09.230 --> 25:11.286 avoid a continuing resolution and to 25:11.286 --> 25:13.341 deliver the sort of robust financial 25:13.341 --> 25:15.508 support that the men and women at arms 25:15.508 --> 25:17.730 who serve our nation deserved given the 25:17.730 --> 25:19.730 swift rise of china , given ongoing 25:19.730 --> 25:22.460 threats from Russia and Iran and Dprk 25:22.460 --> 25:24.750 and others and the prolonged challenges 25:24.750 --> 25:26.750 presented by the pandemic . I think 25:26.750 --> 25:28.917 this is a crucial defense budget . I'm 25:28.917 --> 25:31.028 pleased to see significant investment 25:31.028 --> 25:32.972 in modernizing our armed forces by 25:32.972 --> 25:35.083 Developing and adopting and deploying 25:35.083 --> 25:36.806 the technologies of tomorrow . 25:36.806 --> 25:39.139 Cyberwarfare capabilities in particular , 25:39.139 --> 25:41.194 as well as artificial intelligence , 25:41.194 --> 25:43.194 hypersonic , microelectronic 5G and 25:43.194 --> 25:45.410 others . The character of warfare as 25:45.410 --> 25:47.577 you both testified is changing and our 25:47.577 --> 25:49.854 budget needs to reflect that this week , 25:49.854 --> 25:52.660 NATO for the first time recognized um 25:52.660 --> 25:54.493 the security challenges posed by 25:54.493 --> 25:56.660 china's aggressive foreign policy . Uh 25:56.660 --> 25:58.960 and I'm hopeful this budget will allow 25:58.960 --> 26:01.182 us to work more closely with allies and 26:01.182 --> 26:03.182 partners to secure and maintain our 26:03.182 --> 26:05.349 force posture in the south china sea , 26:05.349 --> 26:07.349 the strait of Taiwan and the larger 26:07.349 --> 26:09.571 indo pacific region . I'd be interested 26:09.571 --> 26:11.904 in hearing from both of you if possible . 26:11.904 --> 26:13.682 We just had a foreign relations 26:13.682 --> 26:15.571 committee hearing on Taiwan . How 26:15.571 --> 26:18.070 likely is china to actively pursue a 26:18.070 --> 26:20.100 unification strategy with Taiwan 26:20.120 --> 26:23.690 through force in the near future ? How 26:23.690 --> 26:25.912 are we working with allies and partners 26:25.912 --> 26:28.079 to deter china from taking any further 26:28.079 --> 26:30.412 provocative action in the Taiwan strait ? 26:30.412 --> 26:32.357 And how does this budget support , 26:32.357 --> 26:34.468 capabilities relevant or critical for 26:34.468 --> 26:36.690 deterrence more broadly ? In the end of 26:36.690 --> 26:38.912 pacific if you might , mr Secretary and 26:38.912 --> 26:41.850 then mr Chairman uniting with Taiwan . 26:41.860 --> 26:45.770 Taiwan is is no question the goal 26:45.770 --> 26:48.140 of china in terms of , you know , what 26:48.150 --> 26:51.240 what the timeline or time frame for 26:51.240 --> 26:54.390 that is is left to be seen . Of course , 26:54.390 --> 26:56.880 there are a number of intelligence 26:56.890 --> 27:00.460 uh estimates that addressed that 27:00.460 --> 27:02.571 issue and an issue that we have to go 27:02.571 --> 27:05.960 into closed session uh to uh to address . 27:06.340 --> 27:09.590 Um but we know that it's a goal of 27:09.590 --> 27:13.240 china . And uh we also know 27:13.250 --> 27:17.030 that our position is that we remain 27:17.040 --> 27:20.450 committed to uh helping the defense of 27:20.450 --> 27:23.920 Taiwan in terms of providing uh the 27:23.920 --> 27:26.060 ability for them to defend themselves 27:26.440 --> 27:28.650 uh in accordance with the Taiwan's 27:28.650 --> 27:32.340 relate Taiwan Relations Act , the uh 27:32.350 --> 27:35.310 the uh three communiques and the six 27:35.310 --> 27:38.580 assurances . So uh it is very likely 27:38.590 --> 27:40.980 that they'll want to do that in terms 27:40.980 --> 27:43.110 of when they will have the capability 27:43.120 --> 27:45.200 to do that is left to be seen . And 27:45.210 --> 27:47.543 over the general General General Milley , 27:47.543 --> 27:50.460 excuse me , senator . Um and you've 27:50.460 --> 27:52.490 heard testimony recently from the 27:52.490 --> 27:54.601 former end up a com commander and the 27:54.601 --> 27:56.823 current and opaque um commander in this 27:56.823 --> 27:58.768 very topic . And you've heard from 27:58.768 --> 28:01.830 others as well , my assessment in terms 28:01.830 --> 28:05.590 of capability um I think china 28:05.590 --> 28:07.980 has uh a ways to go to develop the 28:07.990 --> 28:10.740 actual no kidding capability to conduct 28:10.740 --> 28:12.796 military operations to seize through 28:12.796 --> 28:15.330 military means the entire island of 28:15.480 --> 28:17.424 Taiwan if they wanted to do that , 28:17.424 --> 28:20.370 secondly , is intent . Um I think you 28:20.370 --> 28:22.590 asked about probability we go into 28:22.590 --> 28:24.701 classified session and tell you why I 28:24.701 --> 28:26.812 think this , but I think that there's 28:26.812 --> 28:28.890 uh little intent right now or 28:28.890 --> 28:31.030 motivation to do it militarily , 28:31.030 --> 28:33.252 there's no reason to do it militarily . 28:33.252 --> 28:35.200 Uh and they know that . So I think 28:35.200 --> 28:37.256 right now the probabilities probably 28:37.256 --> 28:39.478 low in the immediate near term future . 28:39.478 --> 28:41.256 but I do think it is a core CRE 28:41.256 --> 28:44.800 national interest of China tonight , 28:44.810 --> 28:47.500 Taiwan and and uh and the internal 28:47.500 --> 28:49.611 politics of china up to china as long 28:49.611 --> 28:51.778 as whatever is done is done peacefully 28:51.778 --> 28:53.944 and doesn't destabilised the region of 28:53.944 --> 28:56.167 the world . Thank you both . We've just 28:56.167 --> 28:58.620 seen how well placed cyberattacks can 28:58.620 --> 29:00.842 cripple critical infrastructure . There 29:00.842 --> 29:03.064 is a recent incident involving colonial 29:03.064 --> 29:04.953 pipeline , um there's significant 29:04.953 --> 29:07.064 investment in this budget for cyber . 29:07.064 --> 29:09.064 How are we positioning ourselves Mr 29:09.064 --> 29:11.120 secretary to both defend against and 29:11.120 --> 29:14.210 respond to cyberattacks ? Right . In 29:14.210 --> 29:16.850 terms of defending , you know , we're 29:16.860 --> 29:20.430 part of of a whole of 29:20.430 --> 29:22.500 government effort to to work on a 29:22.500 --> 29:24.780 defense of our nation , our our 29:24.780 --> 29:28.300 infrastructure and other things . Um we 29:28.300 --> 29:30.670 have the ability to uh to defend 29:30.670 --> 29:33.990 forward in terms of making sure that we 29:33.990 --> 29:37.370 address uh aggressive actions at the 29:37.370 --> 29:39.700 source of the of the activity and 29:39.700 --> 29:42.560 maintaining contact or or uh 29:42.940 --> 29:46.830 uh with that element throughout . 29:46.840 --> 29:50.170 But in terms of defense of the 29:50.170 --> 29:52.880 homeland , we're one of a number of 29:52.880 --> 29:54.713 elements that are working , it's 29:54.713 --> 29:56.713 working together to in the whole of 29:56.713 --> 29:59.030 government effort . Um two things , if 29:59.030 --> 30:00.974 I might just a concern in the last 30:00.974 --> 30:02.974 question , several of my colleagues 30:02.974 --> 30:05.086 have raised concerns about the timing 30:05.086 --> 30:07.086 and the planning for the retrograde 30:07.086 --> 30:09.141 operations in Afghanistan and making 30:09.141 --> 30:11.252 sure that we have provided sufficient 30:11.252 --> 30:13.308 planning and capability um for those 30:13.308 --> 30:15.141 who served alongside us , I look 30:15.141 --> 30:17.141 forward to working with you both on 30:17.141 --> 30:19.170 addressing those challenges . Um 30:19.180 --> 30:21.280 General , if I might uh one last 30:21.280 --> 30:23.336 question , as the department reviews 30:23.336 --> 30:25.680 its global force posture , how do you 30:25.680 --> 30:27.402 view the US military's role in 30:27.402 --> 30:30.580 responding to um jihadist extremist 30:30.580 --> 30:32.636 groups in the Sahel , in the Horn of 30:32.636 --> 30:34.802 Africa and our partnerships with other 30:34.802 --> 30:36.858 nations in ensuring that they do not 30:36.858 --> 30:38.802 develop the capacity to strike the 30:38.802 --> 30:42.030 homeland . Well , our primary role is 30:42.030 --> 30:43.974 to protect the United States , the 30:43.974 --> 30:46.086 homeland , citizens and our interests 30:46.086 --> 30:48.308 worldwide . And we'll do that no matter 30:48.308 --> 30:50.530 where they are , whether in the cell or 30:50.530 --> 30:52.641 wherever . Um and specific though , I 30:52.641 --> 30:54.880 think the best approach not only there 30:54.880 --> 30:57.810 but globally , is to work by with and 30:57.810 --> 30:59.699 through friends and allies in the 30:59.699 --> 31:03.260 region a small train , advise uh 31:03.270 --> 31:05.790 missions , intelligence , surveillance , 31:05.790 --> 31:08.490 reconnaissance assets , uh and and that 31:08.490 --> 31:10.712 sort of thing in some financial aid . I 31:10.712 --> 31:12.546 think that's the best approach , 31:12.546 --> 31:14.712 broadly speaking , in order to contain 31:14.712 --> 31:18.070 or disrupt or deny any advanced 31:18.080 --> 31:20.302 terrorist actions against United States 31:20.302 --> 31:22.413 and where we see it developing then , 31:22.413 --> 31:25.040 if appropriate , we would recommend to 31:25.040 --> 31:27.900 take direct action if necessary . Thank 31:27.900 --> 31:30.067 you both . Thank you . Mr . Chairman , 31:30.067 --> 31:32.178 thank you . Thank you . Senator coons 31:32.178 --> 31:35.530 and Senator Murphy . Thank you very 31:35.530 --> 31:37.641 much . Mr . Chairman , thank you both 31:37.641 --> 31:39.752 for your service and appearing before 31:39.752 --> 31:41.863 the committee today in 2017 . Senator 31:41.863 --> 31:44.910 Portman and I authored and passed into 31:44.910 --> 31:47.340 law the countering foreign propaganda 31:47.340 --> 31:49.173 and disinformation Act . This is 31:49.173 --> 31:51.396 legislation that established the Global 31:51.396 --> 31:54.050 Engagement Center at the Department of 31:54.060 --> 31:56.171 State . We did this primarily because 31:56.171 --> 31:58.393 Russia and china as well as lots of non 31:58.393 --> 32:00.393 state actors . They understand that 32:00.393 --> 32:02.760 today's information environment allows 32:02.760 --> 32:05.240 them to have real time access to a 32:05.240 --> 32:07.240 global audience . They often have a 32:07.240 --> 32:09.407 first mover advantage . They flood the 32:09.407 --> 32:11.780 space with information that's 32:11.780 --> 32:13.891 deliberately manipulated so that it's 32:13.891 --> 32:16.058 mostly truthful with carefully crafted 32:16.058 --> 32:18.700 deceptive elements . These actors can 32:18.700 --> 32:21.450 gain leverage to threaten our interests , 32:21.940 --> 32:25.210 um understanding that this 32:25.220 --> 32:28.600 capability to combat misinformation 32:28.600 --> 32:30.711 lies both of the State Department and 32:30.711 --> 32:32.711 at the Department of Defense . Um I 32:32.711 --> 32:34.933 understand that the final months of the 32:34.933 --> 32:37.156 trump administration , there was a move 32:37.156 --> 32:39.300 made to let the military run these 32:39.310 --> 32:41.477 influence campaigns , sort of commonly 32:41.477 --> 32:43.870 referred to as psyops . Let them run 32:43.870 --> 32:46.080 them more efficiently with from what I 32:46.080 --> 32:48.136 understand less input from the State 32:48.136 --> 32:49.960 Department and I understand Mr 32:49.960 --> 32:52.690 Secretary that you are right now in the 32:52.690 --> 32:56.440 middle of review . Um I understand the 32:56.440 --> 32:58.650 need to move fast . Um we want to be 32:58.650 --> 33:01.340 able to confront that first mover 33:01.340 --> 33:03.507 advantage that many of our adversaries 33:03.507 --> 33:05.900 have in the information space . But I 33:05.900 --> 33:08.067 also believe that the State Department 33:08.067 --> 33:10.380 needs to maintain their lead role in 33:10.380 --> 33:13.000 public diplomacy overseas . And so my 33:13.000 --> 33:15.167 question is this , do you believe that 33:15.167 --> 33:18.730 we can balance quick response when it 33:18.730 --> 33:22.370 comes to information warfare along with 33:22.370 --> 33:24.760 maintaining a meaningful lead role for 33:24.760 --> 33:26.538 the State Department and public 33:26.538 --> 33:30.110 diplomacy ? I do senator . And this is 33:30.110 --> 33:32.480 a this is a subject that Secretary 33:32.480 --> 33:35.600 blanket and I have discussed and I 33:35.600 --> 33:38.480 think we see this alike . I do think 33:38.480 --> 33:40.760 the state should lead in this effort 33:41.140 --> 33:43.720 and we should work together to make 33:43.720 --> 33:45.664 sure that we're creating the right 33:45.664 --> 33:48.640 kinds of effects in the space . My 33:48.640 --> 33:51.350 understanding is that under the prior 33:51.360 --> 33:53.650 uh , rubric , it would sometimes take 33:53.650 --> 33:55.594 months for the State Department to 33:55.594 --> 33:57.706 respond . That's too much time at the 33:57.706 --> 33:59.950 same time . I do think it's incredibly 33:59.950 --> 34:02.070 important for them to continue , 34:02.080 --> 34:04.136 especially those that are serving in 34:04.136 --> 34:07.790 post uh embassies 34:07.790 --> 34:09.790 overseas to have meaningful input . 34:09.790 --> 34:12.000 Appreciate that question for both of 34:12.000 --> 34:14.410 you on our basing footprint in the 34:14.420 --> 34:16.660 Middle East . You know , in the 19 34:16.660 --> 34:18.716 eighties , the Middle East was a key 34:18.716 --> 34:20.827 Cold War theater . It was the primary 34:20.827 --> 34:23.049 source of us purchased oil , accounting 34:23.049 --> 34:25.540 for 80% of our imports today . The Cold 34:25.540 --> 34:27.596 War is over and well , there's still 34:27.596 --> 34:29.651 great power competition happening in 34:29.651 --> 34:31.818 the Middle East . It's not the same as 34:31.818 --> 34:33.984 it was in the eighties . And of course 34:33.984 --> 34:36.151 today , our share of imported oil that 34:36.151 --> 34:35.800 comes from the Middle East is down to 34:35.800 --> 34:38.010 about 11% . We import more from Mexico 34:38.010 --> 34:40.430 than we do from Saudi Arabia . Uh , and 34:40.430 --> 34:43.470 yet we still have over 30 bases in the 34:43.470 --> 34:46.140 region . And I guess I think we need to 34:46.140 --> 34:47.973 have an honest conversation as a 34:47.973 --> 34:50.029 committee about the costs associated 34:50.029 --> 34:52.140 with those bases , both the financial 34:52.140 --> 34:56.040 costs . But they also draw our 34:56.040 --> 34:58.207 focus away from increasingly important 34:58.207 --> 35:00.151 theaters in Africa and Asia . They 35:00.151 --> 35:02.373 create pressure on the United States to 35:02.373 --> 35:04.730 ignore serious human rights abuses . Um , 35:04.740 --> 35:06.907 let's start criticism of these regimes 35:06.907 --> 35:08.684 put our troops at risk and they 35:08.684 --> 35:10.573 sometimes stand out as propaganda 35:10.573 --> 35:14.130 fodder for Iran or Al Qaeda or ISIS . 35:15.840 --> 35:18.590 Question to both of you is that as you 35:18.600 --> 35:22.120 um , look at our proper 35:22.130 --> 35:24.930 basing footprint around the world , 35:24.940 --> 35:27.700 isn't it ? Time for us to take a hard 35:27.700 --> 35:30.300 look at our force level and are basing 35:30.310 --> 35:32.660 levels in these locations in the Middle 35:32.660 --> 35:35.600 East to try to match uh , that 35:35.600 --> 35:37.860 footprint . An updated national 35:37.860 --> 35:40.610 security assessment of the real threats 35:40.610 --> 35:42.721 that are present in the United States 35:42.721 --> 35:44.610 is not the 1980s any longer . And 35:44.610 --> 35:46.777 there's a big um there's a big expense 35:46.777 --> 35:48.943 to this committee and to the taxpayers 35:48.943 --> 35:51.110 that come with that footprint , but it 35:51.110 --> 35:53.277 also tends to draw our focus away from 35:53.277 --> 35:55.443 theaters that I know are of increasing 35:55.443 --> 35:57.666 importance . Thank you . Senator in the 35:57.666 --> 35:59.832 Middle East is important to us now and 35:59.832 --> 36:03.150 it will be so going forward , you heard 36:03.150 --> 36:05.290 me say a number of times that are 36:05.290 --> 36:07.750 pacing challenge . My facing challenges 36:08.230 --> 36:11.990 is china . And uh and so our 36:11.990 --> 36:14.140 focus is on making sure that we have 36:14.140 --> 36:16.260 the right operational concepts and 36:16.260 --> 36:19.720 capabilities to deter china or Russia 36:19.720 --> 36:21.887 or anybody else who would want to take 36:21.887 --> 36:24.070 us on . Uh huh . We're undergoing a 36:24.080 --> 36:26.100 force posture review . We're also 36:26.110 --> 36:28.260 developing a new national defense 36:28.260 --> 36:31.550 strategy . Uh and so to answer your 36:31.550 --> 36:33.890 question , it is time to take a look at 36:33.890 --> 36:35.890 where we are and what we're doing . 36:35.890 --> 36:38.500 It's you know the right way to do 36:38.500 --> 36:42.440 business and so uh more to follow on 36:42.440 --> 36:46.110 that . But we are doing it and I signed 36:46.110 --> 36:48.960 up to that as well . Um We have uh 36:49.830 --> 36:52.430 troops actually in about 160 165 36:52.430 --> 36:54.800 countries around the world in many many 36:54.810 --> 36:57.580 bases beyond the Middle East and 36:57.590 --> 37:01.310 holistic review of force posture review 37:01.320 --> 37:03.660 to include bases to ensure that the 37:03.660 --> 37:05.827 disposition of the U . S . Military is 37:05.827 --> 37:08.049 out there doing what we needed to do in 37:08.049 --> 37:09.827 terms of our national interests 37:09.827 --> 37:11.827 etcetera and specific to the Middle 37:11.827 --> 37:13.827 East . The short answer is yes , We 37:13.827 --> 37:15.993 absolutely need to do the review . Our 37:15.993 --> 37:18.216 interests have changed over time and we 37:18.216 --> 37:17.560 need to make sure we get the right 37:17.560 --> 37:19.616 people in the right place to achieve 37:19.616 --> 37:21.838 the right effect in accordance with the 37:21.838 --> 37:23.949 NDS or the new NDS . That'll come out 37:23.949 --> 37:23.390 and according to the president's 37:23.390 --> 37:25.880 guidance and in accordance with the 37:25.880 --> 37:27.960 ends that we are trying to achieve , 37:28.470 --> 37:32.070 Senator , the we're going to have to 37:32.070 --> 37:35.150 stop very soon because of the vote over 37:35.150 --> 37:37.840 to Senator Van Hollen . I believe one 37:37.840 --> 37:41.120 other senators come in . If you will 37:41.120 --> 37:43.120 keep it to five minutes and then we 37:43.120 --> 37:46.050 will uh recess the hearing at that time . 37:47.230 --> 37:50.290 Thank you . Mr Chairman Secretary 37:50.290 --> 37:52.512 Austin . General Milley , thank you for 37:52.512 --> 37:55.390 your service to the country . Secretary 37:55.390 --> 37:57.501 Austin , I know you stated previously 37:57.501 --> 37:59.446 that you believe extending the New 37:59.446 --> 38:01.446 Start agreement is very much in our 38:01.446 --> 38:03.501 national security interest . And you 38:03.501 --> 38:05.820 also indicated that follow on 38:05.820 --> 38:07.940 negotiations with Russia china and 38:07.940 --> 38:11.290 others on nuclear arms control could 38:11.290 --> 38:14.600 serve our interest . Um Generally , I'm 38:14.610 --> 38:16.970 interested in your thoughts as well . I 38:16.970 --> 38:19.770 saw that just last month , the Admiral 38:19.770 --> 38:22.310 Richard , on behalf of stratcom had had 38:22.310 --> 38:24.421 said that he thought extension of New 38:24.421 --> 38:26.680 Start was very much in our interest in 38:26.690 --> 38:29.720 General Haydn . As you well know , 38:29.720 --> 38:31.840 formerly stratcom commander and now 38:31.850 --> 38:34.590 Vice Chairman Joint Chiefs have said 38:34.590 --> 38:36.701 the same thing . He said , he thought 38:36.701 --> 38:38.923 it was a good thing . Do you agree that 38:38.923 --> 38:41.990 extends to the new start is in our 38:41.990 --> 38:45.030 national security interest ? I do , and 38:45.040 --> 38:47.650 not only that , but as a matter of 38:48.020 --> 38:50.210 principal , I am in favour of arms 38:50.210 --> 38:52.730 control uh in general , when especially 38:52.730 --> 38:55.063 when it comes to those types of weapons . 38:55.063 --> 38:57.440 So yes , on New Star . Uh and you also 38:57.440 --> 39:01.110 agree , I think that continuing 39:01.110 --> 39:04.010 negotiations with Russia and 39:04.020 --> 39:07.490 initiating discussions with china on 39:07.500 --> 39:10.200 arms control can serve our national 39:10.200 --> 39:12.170 security interests . I absolutely 39:12.170 --> 39:15.000 believe that uh putting limits on and 39:15.000 --> 39:16.833 having international regimes and 39:16.833 --> 39:19.990 treaties etcetera to limit weapons , 39:20.060 --> 39:22.790 especially weapons like those I think 39:22.790 --> 39:24.957 is always in our national interest . I 39:24.957 --> 39:28.900 appreciate that uh Secretary Austin a 39:28.910 --> 39:31.010 little closer to home , including uh 39:31.020 --> 39:32.853 Maryland , but still of national 39:32.853 --> 39:36.160 significance . I know both of you agree 39:36.160 --> 39:38.820 that quality health care for our troops 39:38.830 --> 39:42.200 is a very important element of military 39:42.210 --> 39:44.930 readiness . Um and the coronavirus 39:44.940 --> 39:47.400 pandemic has underscored the critical 39:47.400 --> 39:51.000 importance of military medicine um as 39:51.000 --> 39:53.720 well as other medical research in our 39:53.720 --> 39:57.430 country last year . For the first time 39:57.430 --> 40:00.000 in its history , the uniformed services 40:00.000 --> 40:02.222 University of Health Sciences graduated 40:02.230 --> 40:04.820 class early so they could deploy to the 40:04.820 --> 40:07.240 front lines in the fight against Covid 40:07.610 --> 40:10.800 19 . Yet at the same time , 40:10.810 --> 40:14.210 the Department of Defense under 40:14.220 --> 40:16.690 former leadership was proposing 40:16.690 --> 40:19.720 dramatic cuts to military medicine and 40:19.720 --> 40:23.240 cuts specifically . Uh to us , you 40:23.710 --> 40:27.310 I'm pleased that the FY22 budget turns 40:27.310 --> 40:30.150 away from those cuts and authorizes a 40:30.150 --> 40:32.720 2% increase in medical , military , 40:32.720 --> 40:34.930 medical and strength . Uh Secretary 40:34.930 --> 40:36.874 Austin , can you just talk briefly 40:36.874 --> 40:38.930 about the role of military doctors , 40:38.930 --> 40:40.430 nurses , and other medical 40:40.430 --> 40:42.374 professionals in the fight against 40:42.374 --> 40:45.430 Covid 19 and how The FY 22 budget 40:45.810 --> 40:48.032 proposal invests in military medicine ? 40:50.410 --> 40:52.577 Well , to adequately describe the role 40:52.577 --> 40:55.140 of our docs uh , in military 40:55.140 --> 40:58.090 professionals in the Covid fight might 40:58.090 --> 41:01.160 take a couple of hours , but but you 41:01.160 --> 41:04.650 won't be surprised to know that I am 41:04.650 --> 41:06.890 absolutely proud of what we've seen 41:06.900 --> 41:09.460 here over this past year , not only 41:09.460 --> 41:11.860 from our docs and uh our military 41:11.870 --> 41:14.830 medicine professionals , but but also 41:14.830 --> 41:18.150 from the military overall . Uh , this 41:18.150 --> 41:20.261 is something that has taken the lives 41:20.261 --> 41:23.920 of 600 1000 americans . And so coming 41:23.920 --> 41:26.990 into this chairman and I really wanted 41:26.990 --> 41:30.050 to have the ability to influence this 41:30.050 --> 41:32.540 and and do our part to help our country 41:32.550 --> 41:34.900 recover from this awful pandemic . And 41:34.900 --> 41:37.122 that's exactly what we did . You saw us 41:37.122 --> 41:40.440 out helping to distribute vaccines , 41:40.450 --> 41:43.850 uh , deliver vaccines , the warp 41:43.850 --> 41:47.020 speed , a number of things , but that 41:47.030 --> 41:50.040 it's just absolutely important to us to 41:50.050 --> 41:52.500 be a part of this . And I think we've 41:52.500 --> 41:55.630 had the ability to make a difference 41:55.630 --> 41:58.790 there . Uh in terms of the budget , I 41:58.800 --> 42:02.120 believe this budget does um , 42:02.600 --> 42:05.400 resource . The 42:05.410 --> 42:09.300 are medical professionals . How much is 42:09.300 --> 42:11.578 enough ? There's probably never enough . 42:11.578 --> 42:13.800 This is something that's very important 42:13.800 --> 42:15.967 to me . And you have my word that I'll 42:15.967 --> 42:18.189 remain cited on it . And uh , and we'll 42:18.189 --> 42:21.050 make sure that we resource are medical 42:21.050 --> 42:22.883 professionals to the best of our 42:22.883 --> 42:24.939 ability going forward . So thank you 42:24.939 --> 42:26.950 secretary . Just in my remaining 30 42:26.950 --> 42:29.006 seconds , I do want to put something 42:29.006 --> 42:30.960 very much on your radar screen in 42:30.960 --> 42:33.071 connection with this issue , which is 42:33.071 --> 42:35.220 while Sort of operational , ongoing 42:35.230 --> 42:37.610 funding has been restored to us . You 42:37.610 --> 42:41.030 in the in the FY 22 budget . There had 42:41.030 --> 42:43.330 been previously on track in the 42:43.340 --> 42:46.980 military construction budget funds for 42:46.980 --> 42:49.202 the new education and research building 42:49.202 --> 42:51.320 at USU . When the previous 42:51.320 --> 42:53.660 administration cut military medicine 42:53.660 --> 42:55.771 funds . They also cut that out of the 42:55.771 --> 42:58.380 long year five year budget review . So 42:58.380 --> 43:00.491 I do look forward to working with you 43:00.491 --> 43:02.658 and your team to make sure we get that 43:02.658 --> 43:05.650 critical program back on the budget as 43:05.650 --> 43:07.706 it had been planned to be for a very 43:07.706 --> 43:09.483 long time . Do I just have your 43:09.483 --> 43:12.120 commitment discuss that with you ? You 43:12.120 --> 43:14.287 do have my commitment . Thank you . Mr 43:14.287 --> 43:16.453 Secretary . Thank you both . Thank you 43:16.453 --> 43:18.620 very much . And Senator Brown , you're 43:18.620 --> 43:20.787 recognized for five minutes . And then 43:20.787 --> 43:23.780 we will a german , but I will get the 43:23.780 --> 43:26.640 record open for questions until 43:26.640 --> 43:28.990 thursday of next week . Thank you . Mr 43:28.990 --> 43:31.190 Chairman . I want to preface my first 43:31.190 --> 43:32.912 question . That will be both . 43:32.912 --> 43:35.134 Gentlemen . I think defense is the most 43:35.134 --> 43:37.470 important thing we do here in the 43:37.470 --> 43:40.070 federal government . Uh , I think that 43:40.080 --> 43:42.080 infrastructure is important . We're 43:42.080 --> 43:44.350 wrestling with that as well . But the 43:44.350 --> 43:46.572 states can weigh in on that and the one 43:46.572 --> 43:49.110 thing that we should do and do well is 43:49.110 --> 43:51.710 defend our country . I'm going to quote 43:51.710 --> 43:53.766 the General Mike Mullen made back in 43:53.766 --> 43:57.750 2010 saying that the most significant 43:57.750 --> 44:01.600 threat to our country in his mind is 44:01.610 --> 44:04.810 not the red Menace , but the red ink . 44:05.190 --> 44:08.200 I'd like each of you to comment on what 44:08.210 --> 44:10.830 General Mike Mullen said back in 2010 44:10.830 --> 44:14.340 and I think of anything back then we 44:14.340 --> 44:16.451 were significantly less in death than 44:16.451 --> 44:18.640 we are now . And just note for the 44:18.640 --> 44:21.500 record is Admiral Mike mullen . General 44:21.890 --> 44:25.860 Admiral Yeah . He's a mentor 44:25.860 --> 44:27.916 of mine . So he will be honored that 44:27.916 --> 44:30.920 you called him a general center . Uh 44:31.790 --> 44:35.160 Yeah , I know him well enough to know 44:35.160 --> 44:37.610 that that he was always focused on 44:38.090 --> 44:40.146 making sure that we could afford the 44:40.146 --> 44:42.520 capabilities that we needed to to 44:42.520 --> 44:46.310 defend this country . And so 44:46.690 --> 44:49.230 uh making sure that we not only had a 44:49.230 --> 44:52.500 budget , but we had a budget on time . 44:52.510 --> 44:54.760 So so we didn't have to continue to go 44:54.760 --> 44:56.927 through continuing resolutions because 44:56.927 --> 44:59.038 as you know , you can't do new starts 44:59.038 --> 45:01.316 when you're in a continuing resolution . 45:01.590 --> 45:05.280 So uh that was a principal 45:05.280 --> 45:07.880 focus of his and as I hear him talk 45:07.880 --> 45:10.158 today , it remains the principal focus . 45:10.158 --> 45:12.324 Uh but but and I certainly would agree 45:12.324 --> 45:14.269 with them , we have to have timely 45:14.269 --> 45:16.820 budgets uh and they have to be adequate 45:16.820 --> 45:19.500 to resource the the capabilities that 45:19.500 --> 45:21.460 we need . And as you heard me say 45:21.460 --> 45:23.760 earlier , I think this budget does that 45:23.760 --> 45:25.927 for us , it gives us the ability to go 45:25.927 --> 45:28.910 after um you know , the right mix of 45:28.920 --> 45:31.142 capabilities that we need to defend the 45:31.142 --> 45:35.050 nation . So uh Senator thanks um and I 45:35.050 --> 45:37.106 served for Admiral mullen many times 45:37.106 --> 45:38.939 and and I know he wanted to be a 45:38.939 --> 45:40.828 general uh throughout most of his 45:40.828 --> 45:43.750 career , um He did pretty good , he did 45:43.750 --> 45:46.180 travel Joint Chief . I got a call from 45:46.180 --> 45:49.440 every week , so um but but what are you 45:49.440 --> 45:51.551 talking about there , I think was the 45:51.551 --> 45:53.773 budgets , but also in the broader since 45:53.773 --> 45:55.662 Adam muller was talking about the 45:55.662 --> 45:58.640 national US national economy and as you 45:58.640 --> 46:00.807 look at national security and you take 46:00.807 --> 46:03.040 a very wide angle view , um you're not 46:03.040 --> 46:05.040 going to have a military unless you 46:05.040 --> 46:07.262 have a robust , healthy vibrant economy 46:07.262 --> 46:09.429 is just not going to have a military . 46:09.429 --> 46:11.762 Uh It takes we're very expensive entity . 46:11.762 --> 46:14.430 Uh 50 cents on every discretionary 46:14.430 --> 46:16.541 dollars spent half of the President's 46:16.541 --> 46:18.520 budget is going to defense . $715 46:18.520 --> 46:21.030 million is a lot of money . And that 46:21.040 --> 46:23.040 can't be done unless there's a very 46:23.040 --> 46:25.096 robust economy . So in the very wide 46:25.096 --> 46:26.830 angle view , uh looking at it 46:26.830 --> 46:29.490 holistically , uh your economic 46:29.500 --> 46:31.611 strength and vibrancy is perhaps your 46:31.611 --> 46:33.722 number one critical national security 46:33.722 --> 46:35.500 capability that you have from a 46:35.500 --> 46:37.778 strictly military standpoint . However , 46:38.080 --> 46:41.080 I think strictly military standpoint 46:41.090 --> 46:43.490 china is , as the secretary said , the 46:43.490 --> 46:45.570 pacing threat and it is the pacing 46:45.570 --> 46:47.530 threat as we move forward into the 46:47.530 --> 46:50.250 years of come china is going to be . It 46:50.260 --> 46:52.600 is , it will it will become the 46:52.600 --> 46:54.433 greatest geo strategic challenge 46:54.433 --> 46:56.489 militarily that the United States is 46:56.489 --> 46:58.544 facing a long time . Thank you . And 46:58.980 --> 47:01.202 for the short time I've been here . The 47:01.202 --> 47:03.313 process works seemingly in this way . 47:03.580 --> 47:05.430 One side of the aisle puts great 47:05.430 --> 47:08.360 emphasis on defense . The other side of 47:08.360 --> 47:10.471 the aisle does on domestic spending . 47:10.880 --> 47:13.770 Neither one of us has the political 47:13.770 --> 47:16.810 will and discipline to do anything 47:16.810 --> 47:19.100 about the stuff that we like most . 47:19.480 --> 47:22.450 That is why I think it's incumbent upon 47:22.450 --> 47:26.050 defense to subject itself to 47:26.050 --> 47:29.780 audits , to find all the ways that you 47:29.780 --> 47:32.002 can get better value out of . And I can 47:32.002 --> 47:34.710 say this with almost absolute certainty . 47:35.280 --> 47:38.430 You cannot keep doing What we've been 47:38.430 --> 47:40.750 doing in the short time I've been here , 47:40.750 --> 47:42.970 which has added nearly $10 trillion 47:42.970 --> 47:45.700 dollars to our debt to be able to do 47:45.710 --> 47:48.440 anything in a healthy fashion in the 47:48.440 --> 47:50.790 long run , you can't run a school board 47:50.790 --> 47:52.734 that way . You can't run state and 47:52.734 --> 47:54.734 local government that way . And the 47:54.734 --> 47:57.320 rigor of the marketplace or the economy , 47:57.330 --> 47:59.510 which has competition to keep you in 47:59.510 --> 48:02.890 line , prevents any other 48:02.890 --> 48:05.030 entity from performing the way we do 48:05.030 --> 48:08.820 here . And I'd love to see uh secretary 48:08.820 --> 48:12.740 that you embrace cost cutting , getting 48:12.740 --> 48:14.851 better value out of the money that we 48:14.851 --> 48:18.080 spend and especially having audits that 48:18.080 --> 48:20.970 are done soon . So we can take a peek 48:20.970 --> 48:23.500 at what's going on , not only in 48:23.500 --> 48:26.380 defense across the government , because 48:26.390 --> 48:28.612 you cannot justify this with the modern 48:28.612 --> 48:30.780 monetary theory . And just because you 48:30.780 --> 48:33.058 can get by with it , you keep doing it . 48:33.058 --> 48:34.390 Thank you so much . 48:40.470 --> 48:43.230 I had one all senators to here . If we 48:43.230 --> 48:45.590 want to avoid a continuing resolution , 48:46.270 --> 48:49.890 uh we must begin bipartisan and 48:49.890 --> 48:51.946 bicameral discussions with the White 48:51.946 --> 48:55.250 House to establish top lines For fiscal 48:55.250 --> 48:59.090 year 22 , Uh 2022 . 48:59.090 --> 49:01.257 So the appropriations committee can do 49:01.257 --> 49:05.200 its work . It does neither the 49:05.200 --> 49:07.300 country of the Defense or any other 49:07.300 --> 49:10.820 department . Uh , Good dude , 49:10.830 --> 49:12.997 governed by continuing resolution . In 49:12.997 --> 49:15.870 fact , it's a disservice to the the 49:15.870 --> 49:19.530 country and we will continue to work to 49:19.540 --> 49:23.430 get real appropriations 49:23.430 --> 49:25.590 and vote them up or vote them down . 49:26.270 --> 49:28.330 And I thank you . two gentlemen has 49:28.330 --> 49:31.580 been along morning and all the other 49:31.580 --> 49:34.320 duties , but it has been a most 49:34.320 --> 49:36.940 informative , a discussion , your 49:36.940 --> 49:40.160 answers to members of both parties and 49:40.160 --> 49:42.710 I appreciate it . We should we stand 49:42.720 --> 49:43.310 adjourned .