WEBVTT

00:00.200 --> 00:02.910
John Phelan , Secretary of the Navy ,

00:03.079 --> 00:06.119
Admiral James Kilby , Acting Chief of

00:06.119 --> 00:08.119
Naval Oper operations , and General

00:08.119 --> 00:11.199
Eric Smith , Commandant of the Marine

00:11.199 --> 00:13.032
Corps , we're grateful for their

00:13.032 --> 00:14.810
presence here today . I want to

00:14.810 --> 00:16.810
congratulate the Navy for turning a

00:16.810 --> 00:18.755
corner . Recruiting numbers are up

00:18.755 --> 00:20.699
significantly , and the Navy is on

00:20.699 --> 00:23.049
track to meet its fiscal year 2025

00:23.049 --> 00:25.239
recruiting goal . This is especially

00:25.239 --> 00:27.406
significant because the goal is higher

00:27.406 --> 00:30.610
than it has been in 20 years . Notably ,

00:30.659 --> 00:32.770
the department has shifted focus from

00:32.770 --> 00:34.979
divisive policies such as climate

00:34.979 --> 00:37.299
change and the EI . Renewed focus on

00:37.299 --> 00:40.700
war fighting and service contributes to

00:40.700 --> 00:42.810
these recent recruiting successes .

00:42.900 --> 00:45.270
This positive momentum provides an

00:45.270 --> 00:47.048
opportunity to raise recruiting

00:47.048 --> 00:49.619
standards and attract the highest

00:49.619 --> 00:52.180
caliber of war fighters our nation

00:52.180 --> 00:53.847
requires . In fact , if these

00:53.847 --> 00:56.013
recruitment trends continue , we could

00:56.013 --> 00:57.979
end up with too few ships for our

00:57.979 --> 01:00.779
sailors . That we're making some

01:00.779 --> 01:02.612
improvements , Navy shipbuilding

01:02.612 --> 01:05.610
remains in a in an abysmal condition

01:05.819 --> 01:08.519
overall . And we're going to talk about

01:08.519 --> 01:09.963
that today . The previous

01:09.963 --> 01:12.050
administration tended to scapegoat

01:12.050 --> 01:14.480
industry . But the current

01:14.480 --> 01:16.809
administration is problem solving ,

01:17.040 --> 01:18.929
canceling redundant contracts and

01:18.929 --> 01:20.651
reducing bureaucratic layers .

01:20.800 --> 01:22.911
President Trump's executive orders on

01:22.911 --> 01:24.967
federal acquisition reform , drawing

01:24.967 --> 01:27.680
from proposals in the forged act , are

01:27.680 --> 01:30.040
streamlining procurement to maximize

01:30.040 --> 01:32.319
every defense dollar . The forged act .

01:33.169 --> 01:35.290
would empower the Navy to buy smarter

01:35.290 --> 01:37.401
and innovate faster , and I expect to

01:37.401 --> 01:40.000
see these provisions in this year's

01:40.330 --> 01:42.610
National Defense Authorization Act .

01:42.620 --> 01:46.550
The request . Um , Falls far

01:46.550 --> 01:48.606
short of what we need to protect our

01:48.606 --> 01:51.349
country though . I must say I am deeply

01:51.349 --> 01:53.790
disappointed with the administration's

01:53.790 --> 01:57.760
fiscal year 2026 budget request

01:57.760 --> 02:00.599
for the Navy . In particular , I'm

02:00.599 --> 02:02.432
disturbed about the shipbuilding

02:02.432 --> 02:06.019
account , which plummeted to $20.8

02:06.019 --> 02:09.940
billion from last year's $37 billion .

02:10.830 --> 02:14.360
20.8 billion Down from last year's

02:14.899 --> 02:17.320
$37 billion this shortfall reflects

02:17.320 --> 02:19.279
efforts to game the budget in

02:19.279 --> 02:21.119
anticipation of congressional

02:21.119 --> 02:22.919
reconciliation funds which were

02:22.919 --> 02:24.752
intended as supplemental , not a

02:24.752 --> 02:26.697
substitute . I'm alarmed that this

02:26.697 --> 02:28.697
budget request does not include the

02:28.697 --> 02:31.039
procurement of a new destroyer . For

02:31.039 --> 02:32.928
several years now it has been the

02:32.928 --> 02:36.639
practice to request two destroyers per

02:36.639 --> 02:39.320
year , with Congress adding a third in

02:39.320 --> 02:41.800
the odd numbered year , the pattern .

02:42.190 --> 02:45.610
It is simple . 2 ships , then 3 ships

02:46.059 --> 02:48.300
alternating each year . This provides

02:48.300 --> 02:50.189
orders to the shipyards to get us

02:50.189 --> 02:53.979
closer to the statutorily required 355

02:53.979 --> 02:56.699
ships required by statute .

02:57.830 --> 02:59.886
Um , this year , funds were meant to

02:59.886 --> 03:02.440
cover the odd year . From

03:02.440 --> 03:04.662
reconciliation , additional third ships

03:04.662 --> 03:08.399
for 2027 and 2029 .

03:08.800 --> 03:10.744
They were not meant to replace the

03:10.744 --> 03:12.911
regular annual two-ship request . This

03:12.911 --> 03:15.100
budget ignores that congressional

03:15.100 --> 03:18.250
ignores this congressional intent .

03:19.339 --> 03:21.990
Intent failing to include two

03:21.990 --> 03:24.320
destroyers in this year's budget

03:24.320 --> 03:27.130
request destabilizes industry , shows

03:27.130 --> 03:30.449
bad faith , and slows our shipbuilding

03:30.449 --> 03:33.050
efforts . Equally troubling is the

03:33.050 --> 03:34.772
omission of any Virginia class

03:34.772 --> 03:36.994
submarine procurements . Here as well ,

03:37.020 --> 03:39.740
the administration is relying on the 1

03:39.740 --> 03:42.500
boat proposed in reconciliation . This

03:42.500 --> 03:44.722
would upend the multi-year negotiations

03:44.899 --> 03:48.380
that presume 9 boats over 5 years

03:48.380 --> 03:50.580
instead of 8 . It jeopardizes

03:50.580 --> 03:53.220
industrial-based recovery . Moreover ,

03:53.229 --> 03:55.340
the Columbia Class program , critical

03:55.340 --> 03:58.320
for strategic deterrence is underfunded

03:58.320 --> 04:01.399
by $4 billion . The number relies on

04:01.399 --> 04:03.800
unapproved authorities for incremental

04:04.160 --> 04:05.604
funding . The shipbuilder

04:05.604 --> 04:08.570
Accountability and Workforce Support

04:08.570 --> 04:11.919
Initiative , SAWSAS .

04:12.839 --> 04:15.839
Would enable 2 Virginia class and 1

04:15.839 --> 04:18.589
Columbia class submarine annually .

04:20.028 --> 04:22.829
If we do saws , we could do 2 Virginias

04:22.829 --> 04:26.429
and 1 Columbia class each year . Yet

04:26.429 --> 04:29.869
OMB opposes this and

04:29.869 --> 04:33.269
has has created the crisis we now

04:33.269 --> 04:35.910
face . There's still time to implement

04:35.910 --> 04:38.739
SAS , and I urge action to avoid

04:39.029 --> 04:41.309
further damage . The absence of

04:41.309 --> 04:43.309
constellation class frigates in the

04:43.309 --> 04:45.476
budget also raises serious questions .

04:45.476 --> 04:48.390
We'll discuss that during Q&A . Last

04:48.390 --> 04:50.420
year , we halted new procurements

04:50.420 --> 04:52.579
because of design instability . This

04:52.579 --> 04:54.649
year , the omission of two frigates

04:54.660 --> 04:57.070
signals severe problems with the

04:57.070 --> 04:59.890
program . I hope our witnesses clarify

04:59.890 --> 05:02.001
the frigate's future and how the navy

05:02.001 --> 05:05.119
will sustain critical shipyard capacity

05:05.730 --> 05:08.010
in the event the program falters .

05:08.170 --> 05:10.337
Shipbuilding is not our only problem .

05:10.337 --> 05:12.281
The future of naval aviation faces

05:12.281 --> 05:14.170
significant challenges . The Navy

05:14.170 --> 05:16.226
continues to rely on the 30 year old

05:16.226 --> 05:18.337
Super Hornet designed as the mainstay

05:18.337 --> 05:20.929
of its carrier-based fleet . While

05:20.929 --> 05:24.010
capability gaps have been exacerbated

05:24.010 --> 05:27.480
with reduced F-35 orders . Compounding

05:27.480 --> 05:31.059
this , the FAXX 6th generation

05:31.059 --> 05:34.140
fighter intended to replace the aging

05:34.140 --> 05:36.362
Super Hornet faces funding and schedule

05:36.362 --> 05:40.299
setbacks . The recent loss of 3 FA-18s

05:40.299 --> 05:42.410
during a single deployment of the USS

05:42.410 --> 05:45.179
Truman underscores the operational

05:45.179 --> 05:48.140
strain on an aging fleet . There is

05:48.140 --> 05:52.059
$750 million proposed in the budget

05:52.059 --> 05:54.299
reconciliation to jumpstart this

05:54.299 --> 05:56.521
program . An announcement from the Navy

05:56.521 --> 05:58.355
will need to be made soon , Mr .

05:58.355 --> 06:00.779
Secretary , or we will risk further

06:00.779 --> 06:02.940
challenges to the industrial base . I

06:02.940 --> 06:05.140
recognize that the overall budgetary

06:05.140 --> 06:07.251
decisions were not made by the Navy .

06:07.779 --> 06:09.335
Uh , and I'm committed to a

06:09.335 --> 06:11.112
congressional solution to these

06:11.540 --> 06:13.730
shortfalls . The committee expects a

06:13.730 --> 06:17.049
clear plan . To restore shipbuilding

06:17.049 --> 06:20.799
momentum . Leverage Ford Act

06:20.799 --> 06:23.540
authorities and ensure a fleet capable

06:23.540 --> 06:25.630
of deterring aggression in an

06:25.630 --> 06:28.619
increasingly contested world .

06:29.649 --> 06:33.440
Um , Uh , most members know that

06:33.440 --> 06:36.350
Senator Reid is attending a very

06:36.350 --> 06:38.390
important graduation ceremony this

06:38.390 --> 06:40.940
morning , and we congratulate him and

06:40.940 --> 06:43.549
his family in his place . I'm delighted

06:43.549 --> 06:46.290
to recognize Senator Kaine , who will

06:46.290 --> 06:49.670
make opening remarks on behalf of the

06:49.670 --> 06:51.892
Democrats . Thank you , Mr . Chairman ,

06:51.892 --> 06:54.114
to my colleagues and to the witnesses .

06:54.114 --> 06:56.337
I echo many of the comments of Chairman

06:56.337 --> 06:58.448
Wicker about problems each of you are

06:58.448 --> 07:00.614
part of the solution , not part of the

07:00.614 --> 07:02.448
problem , and . That will be our

07:02.448 --> 07:04.281
dialogue today . Uh , we meet to

07:04.281 --> 07:06.392
discuss the Navy's budget request for

07:06.392 --> 07:08.559
FY20's 26 , but we have yet to receive

07:08.559 --> 07:10.392
the full budget request from the

07:10.392 --> 07:12.448
administration , and this is quickly

07:12.448 --> 07:14.448
becoming the longest delayed budget

07:14.448 --> 07:16.670
submission in memory . I urge the White

07:16.670 --> 07:18.837
House to deliver it . My understanding

07:18.837 --> 07:20.781
in the FY26 budget is the DOD will

07:20.781 --> 07:22.948
request an essentially flat budget for

07:22.948 --> 07:25.003
the Navy . Secretary Falin , I wanna

07:25.003 --> 07:27.114
ask for your assessment of the Navy's

07:27.114 --> 07:29.170
current posture and requirements for

07:29.170 --> 07:29.100
the coming year . I'm sure my

07:29.100 --> 07:31.540
colleagues will do the same . Before we

07:31.540 --> 07:33.707
discuss the current status of the Navy

07:33.707 --> 07:35.873
and Marine Corps , I want to make some

07:35.873 --> 07:37.984
comments on the deployment of Marines

07:37.984 --> 07:40.096
and and National Guard to conduct law

07:40.096 --> 07:42.318
enforcement operations in Los Angeles .

07:42.318 --> 07:44.373
We have two SAC hearings this week .

07:44.373 --> 07:46.207
The second hearing is on CENTCOM

07:46.207 --> 07:47.929
posture , and this is the more

07:47.929 --> 07:50.262
appropriate time to make these comments ,

07:50.262 --> 07:53.059
um . I have a lot of experience in

07:53.059 --> 07:55.459
dealing with the guard , um , as a

07:55.459 --> 07:57.681
former mayor and governor and there are

07:57.681 --> 07:59.792
others on this panel who have been in

07:59.792 --> 08:02.109
that role um I have requested

08:02.109 --> 08:04.619
assistance from the National Guard . uh

08:04.619 --> 08:06.563
I have deployed the Virginia Guard

08:06.563 --> 08:08.970
primarily during weather emergencies

08:08.970 --> 08:12.279
and public safety instances as governor .

08:12.619 --> 08:15.250
I have visited Virginia Guard troops in

08:15.250 --> 08:17.417
combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan .

08:17.720 --> 08:19.942
Uh , and in other federal missions such

08:19.942 --> 08:22.109
as the protection of the Capitol after

08:22.109 --> 08:24.276
January 6 , most , most recently I was

08:24.276 --> 08:26.276
with the Virginia Guard doing joint

08:26.276 --> 08:28.498
exercises with the Finnish Army as part

08:28.498 --> 08:30.839
of the state partnership program . The

08:30.839 --> 08:33.239
genius of the guard is that it is a

08:33.239 --> 08:35.640
partnership between the president and

08:35.640 --> 08:38.039
the governors and guardsmen and women .

08:38.799 --> 08:41.159
That partnership over centuries has

08:41.159 --> 08:43.326
really been the genius of the garden .

08:44.489 --> 08:46.650
The president's decision to deploy

08:46.650 --> 08:48.780
thousands of guardsmen and women to

08:48.780 --> 08:52.780
quell protest in Los Angeles without a

08:52.780 --> 08:55.140
request by the California governor and

08:55.140 --> 08:57.099
in fact over the objection of the

08:57.099 --> 08:58.820
California governor is nearly

08:58.820 --> 09:02.059
unprecedented . The last time the guard

09:02.059 --> 09:04.179
was deployed to quell protest was in

09:04.179 --> 09:06.012
the aftermath of the Rodney King

09:06.012 --> 09:08.179
beating that was at the request of the

09:08.179 --> 09:11.419
California governor . We are in very ,

09:11.479 --> 09:14.630
very dangerous territory . Uh , I think

09:14.630 --> 09:16.630
my colleagues and I are right to be

09:16.630 --> 09:18.630
concerned about this . The American

09:18.630 --> 09:20.574
public is concerned about it . The

09:20.574 --> 09:22.630
state of California is , uh , filing

09:22.630 --> 09:24.797
litigation to challenge this misuse of

09:24.797 --> 09:26.963
power , and I suspect we'll be dealing

09:26.963 --> 09:29.130
with it but proposed amendments in the

09:29.130 --> 09:31.408
NDAA as well . Similarly , the Marines ,

09:31.950 --> 09:34.061
uh , to deploy active duty Marines to

09:34.061 --> 09:36.510
quell civilian protest is , in my view ,

09:36.590 --> 09:38.757
very , very dangerous , very dangerous

09:38.757 --> 09:40.868
precedent . And it's dangerous beyond

09:40.868 --> 09:43.090
the escalatory effects that both the

09:43.090 --> 09:45.201
governor and the mayor of Los Angeles

09:45.201 --> 09:47.423
are warning us about if we screw up the

09:47.423 --> 09:51.200
balance of how we use the guard

09:51.200 --> 09:53.849
or how we use the military in the

09:53.849 --> 09:56.071
instance of civilian protest that local

09:56.071 --> 09:58.127
law enforcement can handle , we will

09:58.127 --> 10:00.460
regret that for a very , very long time .

10:00.900 --> 10:03.067
And so I encourage my colleagues and I

10:03.067 --> 10:05.289
encourage the courts we'll grapple with

10:05.289 --> 10:07.400
this and hopefully we can establish a

10:07.400 --> 10:10.049
balance that is not easily upset . The

10:10.049 --> 10:12.289
president's not a king , the military

10:12.289 --> 10:15.330
is not a palace guard . Um , last thing

10:15.330 --> 10:17.497
I'll say is this if you're watching as

10:17.497 --> 10:21.039
a citizen . You are able to peacefully

10:21.039 --> 10:23.095
assemble and petition government for

10:23.095 --> 10:25.095
redress of grievances . It's in the

10:25.095 --> 10:27.317
First Amendment to the Constitution and

10:27.317 --> 10:29.428
it's in there for a reason . It's not

10:29.428 --> 10:31.595
just to protect individuals' rights to

10:31.595 --> 10:33.761
express themselves . It's also because

10:33.761 --> 10:35.428
of a belief that a democratic

10:35.428 --> 10:37.595
government does better when people can

10:37.595 --> 10:39.483
peacefully express dissent . Free

10:39.483 --> 10:41.539
speech , free exercise of religion ,

10:41.539 --> 10:43.706
free press , the ability to peacefully

10:43.706 --> 10:45.761
assemble and petition government for

10:45.761 --> 10:47.983
redress of grievances . The founders of

10:47.983 --> 10:49.706
this country believe that made

10:49.706 --> 10:51.928
government work better than suppressing

10:52.130 --> 10:55.669
dissenting voices . Many Americans are

10:55.669 --> 10:57.502
worried now that if they express

10:57.502 --> 10:59.558
dissenting voices to policies of the

10:59.558 --> 11:01.780
administration , they're concerned that

11:01.780 --> 11:04.002
the military be may be deployed against

11:04.002 --> 11:06.070
them and they notice a disharmony

11:06.070 --> 11:08.469
between a president who would not

11:08.469 --> 11:10.525
deploy the National Guard to protect

11:10.525 --> 11:12.630
the Capitol on January 6th despite

11:12.630 --> 11:15.179
repeated requests by the mayor of DC

11:15.179 --> 11:17.235
and the head of the Capitol police .

11:18.250 --> 11:20.417
Because those protesters supported the

11:20.417 --> 11:23.090
president and a president who deploys

11:23.090 --> 11:25.609
the guard and marines in the absence of

11:25.609 --> 11:27.831
a request and over the objection of the

11:27.831 --> 11:29.942
mayor of Los Angeles and the governor

11:29.942 --> 11:32.053
of California . I just want to say to

11:32.053 --> 11:34.220
any of you there who believe firmly in

11:34.220 --> 11:35.887
your First Amendment right to

11:35.887 --> 11:37.720
peacefully assemble and petition

11:37.720 --> 11:39.776
government for redress of grievances

11:39.776 --> 11:41.887
that fully inhabiting that right in a

11:41.887 --> 11:44.109
peaceful way is more important now than

11:44.109 --> 11:46.299
it's been . During my lifetime . We're

11:46.299 --> 11:48.559
coming up on the commemoration of 250

11:48.559 --> 11:50.726
years of American democracy , and it's

11:50.726 --> 11:52.837
on the shoulders of this generation .

11:53.510 --> 11:55.510
To decide whether the commemoration

11:55.510 --> 11:59.400
will be a celebration . Or a requiem or

11:59.400 --> 12:01.567
a wake or a coronation we need to make

12:01.567 --> 12:03.678
it a celebration and for that we need

12:03.678 --> 12:05.733
brave and patriotic citizens who are

12:05.733 --> 12:07.789
willing to , without fear , exercise

12:07.789 --> 12:09.789
rights that were guaranteed to them

12:09.789 --> 12:11.622
from the very first days of this

12:11.622 --> 12:13.630
country . The Navy does remain the

12:13.630 --> 12:15.686
finest maritime force in the world ,

12:15.686 --> 12:17.797
but it struggled to grow and maintain

12:17.797 --> 12:19.630
the fleet , and I needn't repeat

12:19.630 --> 12:21.630
comments that Senator Wicker made .

12:21.630 --> 12:23.574
Many vessels , aircraft carriers ,

12:23.574 --> 12:25.741
multiple destroyers and frigates , and

12:25.741 --> 12:27.797
some of the air platforms are behind

12:27.797 --> 12:29.908
schedule , in particular the Virginia

12:29.908 --> 12:32.130
class fast attack subs , Columbia class

12:32.130 --> 12:34.186
ballistic missile submarines , which

12:34.186 --> 12:36.241
are so critical and prioritized very

12:36.241 --> 12:38.830
highly by all of you are delayed and

12:38.830 --> 12:41.950
face budgetary challenges . And other

12:41.950 --> 12:44.172
programs in both the private and public

12:44.172 --> 12:46.172
shipyards . We are doing a shipyard

12:46.172 --> 12:47.783
industrial um infrastructure

12:47.783 --> 12:49.950
optimization program investing heavily

12:49.950 --> 12:52.172
that's showing some improvement we need

12:52.172 --> 12:55.289
to do more . I continue to believe that

12:55.289 --> 12:57.456
the most significant challenge we have

12:57.456 --> 12:59.622
is a workforce challenge , and I would

12:59.622 --> 12:59.479
want to ask each of you about how

12:59.479 --> 13:01.479
you're grappling with the workforce

13:01.479 --> 13:03.650
challenges . Um , the administration

13:03.650 --> 13:05.372
recently announced a major new

13:05.372 --> 13:07.594
shipbuilding initiative in the State of

13:07.594 --> 13:09.761
the Union address . I thought that was

13:09.761 --> 13:11.983
positively run by the National Security

13:11.983 --> 13:14.039
Council , but I understand that this

13:14.039 --> 13:15.761
office will focus primarily on

13:15.761 --> 13:17.706
commercial shipbuilding , not navy

13:17.706 --> 13:19.761
vessels , and given the departure of

13:19.761 --> 13:19.570
many of the staff from the NSC who are

13:19.570 --> 13:21.792
expected to staff that initiative , I'm

13:21.792 --> 13:23.848
sort of wondering , uh , what , what

13:23.848 --> 13:25.792
your interaction has been with the

13:25.792 --> 13:27.959
White House and how they may add value

13:27.959 --> 13:30.181
to this problem we're trying to solve .

13:30.181 --> 13:30.000
General Smith , the Marine Corps

13:30.000 --> 13:32.000
continues to pursue your multi-year

13:32.000 --> 13:34.222
force design transformation effort with

13:34.222 --> 13:36.111
a focus on the Indo-Pacific . The

13:36.111 --> 13:38.167
Marine Corps is restructuring around

13:38.167 --> 13:40.389
expeditionary concepts that can provide

13:40.389 --> 13:42.556
a more flexible amphibious force , but

13:42.556 --> 13:44.778
to achieve it , um , you're focusing on

13:44.778 --> 13:47.056
a number of efforts , long range fires ,

13:47.056 --> 13:49.000
enhanced air and missile defense ,

13:49.000 --> 13:51.111
improved ground and amphibious combat

13:51.111 --> 13:53.489
vehicles . But we continue to grapple

13:53.489 --> 13:55.711
with the question of the sufficiency of

13:55.711 --> 13:57.822
the amphibious fleet , and I think my

13:57.822 --> 13:59.600
colleagues and I will have some

13:59.600 --> 14:01.489
questions about that today . Um ,

14:01.489 --> 14:03.211
finally , I will note that the

14:03.211 --> 14:05.378
president has failed to nominate a new

14:05.378 --> 14:07.322
chief of naval operations since he

14:07.322 --> 14:06.960
abruptly dismissed Admiral Lisa

14:06.960 --> 14:08.682
Franchetti in February without

14:08.682 --> 14:11.250
explanation . I would welcome any

14:11.250 --> 14:13.599
guidance as to when the committee might ,

14:13.929 --> 14:15.873
uh , receive a nomination for that

14:15.873 --> 14:17.985
critical importance . Thank you on to

14:17.985 --> 14:20.040
the witnesses and Mr . Chair , since

14:20.040 --> 14:22.262
I'm going to be here when we get on the

14:22.262 --> 14:23.985
Democratic side , I'm gonna be

14:23.985 --> 14:23.890
deferring and letting other Democrats

14:23.890 --> 14:27.109
ask questions before me . Uh , thank

14:27.109 --> 14:29.219
you , Senator Kaine . Um , I think

14:29.219 --> 14:33.020
we'll start , um , opening remarks with

14:33.020 --> 14:35.750
Secretary Phelin . And then proceed

14:35.750 --> 14:37.960
with uh Admiral Kilby and then General

14:37.960 --> 14:40.030
Smith . So , Mr . Secretary , you're

14:40.030 --> 14:40.789
recognized .

14:47.010 --> 14:48.232
Microphone , please .

15:11.590 --> 15:12.590
What's easier for

15:24.390 --> 15:27.369
OK , there we go . All right , there we

15:27.369 --> 15:29.369
go , uh , Chairman Wicker , Senator

15:29.369 --> 15:31.425
Kaine , distinguished members of the

15:31.425 --> 15:33.091
committee , thank you for the

15:33.091 --> 15:35.258
opportunity to appear before you today

15:35.258 --> 15:37.258
alongside General Smith and Admiral

15:37.258 --> 15:39.480
Kilby . I'm grateful to President Trump

15:39.480 --> 15:41.702
for the trust he's placed in me to lead

15:41.702 --> 15:43.536
this department and serve as the

15:43.536 --> 15:45.647
seventy-ninth Secretary of the Navy .

15:45.647 --> 15:47.869
I'm also grateful to this committee for

15:47.869 --> 15:50.036
my confirmation and for your continued

15:50.036 --> 15:52.258
support of our Navy Marine Corps team .

15:52.258 --> 15:54.369
Senators , my North Star secretary is

15:54.369 --> 15:56.820
readiness before a dollar is spent on

15:56.820 --> 15:59.809
any capability , an exquisite platform ,

16:00.059 --> 16:02.539
or infrastructure , I will always ask

16:02.539 --> 16:05.099
the following question What is the

16:05.099 --> 16:07.460
impact to our readiness ? And does it

16:07.460 --> 16:09.940
increase or does it add to it ? If the

16:09.940 --> 16:12.330
answer is no , we will not spend the

16:12.330 --> 16:14.960
dollar . As stated to this committee

16:14.960 --> 16:17.010
before , I'm focused on 3 priority

16:17.010 --> 16:19.349
areas first , strengthening

16:19.349 --> 16:21.571
shipbuilding in the maritime industrial

16:21.571 --> 16:24.059
base . Second , fostering adaptive ,

16:24.309 --> 16:26.142
accountable , and innovative war

16:26.142 --> 16:28.669
fighter culture . Third , improving the

16:28.669 --> 16:30.836
health , welfare , and training of our

16:30.836 --> 16:32.891
people , our sailors , marines , and

16:32.891 --> 16:35.320
their families . Since my confirmation

16:35.320 --> 16:37.450
2.5 months ago , I've been on a

16:37.450 --> 16:39.570
listening and learning tour . I've

16:39.570 --> 16:41.792
traveled across the country and visited

16:41.792 --> 16:44.090
some of our allies overseas . I've

16:44.090 --> 16:46.034
visited our public , private , and

16:46.034 --> 16:48.210
overseas shipyards as well as our

16:48.210 --> 16:50.559
installations , and I've met with many

16:50.559 --> 16:53.010
of our sailors , marines , and shipyard

16:53.010 --> 16:56.330
workers . What I've learned is this we

16:56.330 --> 16:58.400
are still the dominant naval power ,

16:58.690 --> 17:00.919
but our adversaries are closing the gap

17:00.919 --> 17:04.109
at a concerning accelerating rate . We

17:04.109 --> 17:06.109
need to make important cultural and

17:06.109 --> 17:08.719
strategic changes in order to maintain

17:08.719 --> 17:11.150
our competitive advantage , and we need

17:11.150 --> 17:13.540
to address a culture one riddled with

17:13.540 --> 17:16.069
bureaucratic decision making and gold

17:16.069 --> 17:18.430
plated requirements that is endemic to

17:18.430 --> 17:21.709
this department . Because there is no

17:21.709 --> 17:23.876
doubt we are operating in a world that

17:23.876 --> 17:26.189
is more hostile and unpredictable , as

17:26.189 --> 17:28.430
evidenced by recent conflicts , warfare

17:28.430 --> 17:31.050
as we know it has changed dramatically .

17:31.709 --> 17:34.060
China is no longer just a pacing threat .

17:34.229 --> 17:36.689
It is our primary competitor , both

17:36.689 --> 17:39.469
economically and militarily . With

17:39.469 --> 17:42.069
their naval fleet nearing 400 ships ,

17:42.270 --> 17:44.214
China's goal is not defense of its

17:44.214 --> 17:46.430
homeland only . It is the forward

17:46.430 --> 17:48.949
projection of power and influence . In

17:48.949 --> 17:50.893
the Indo-Pacific , our Navy Marine

17:50.893 --> 17:53.180
Corps team is deepening cooperation

17:53.180 --> 17:55.150
with our allies and partners to

17:55.150 --> 17:57.390
strengthen deterrence and keep open our

17:57.390 --> 18:00.189
sea lines of communication . At home

18:00.189 --> 18:02.189
they're supporting homeland defense

18:02.189 --> 18:04.300
through Task Force Zapper , providing

18:04.300 --> 18:06.790
surveillance , logistics and manpower

18:06.790 --> 18:09.069
at the southern border and in the Red

18:09.069 --> 18:11.550
Sea they've defeated scores of missiles

18:11.550 --> 18:14.069
and drones from Iranian backed Houthis ,

18:14.349 --> 18:16.571
helped defend our regional allies , and

18:16.571 --> 18:19.150
guaranteed access to a major artery of

18:19.150 --> 18:22.319
global trade . Our global presence

18:22.319 --> 18:24.375
sends a clear message to the world .

18:24.589 --> 18:26.811
The United States Navy and Marine Corps

18:26.811 --> 18:29.150
are prepared and ready to fight and win

18:29.599 --> 18:33.099
anytime and anywhere . However , our

18:33.099 --> 18:35.900
naval superiority is under threat . For

18:35.900 --> 18:38.122
too long we've allowed our shipbuilding

18:38.122 --> 18:40.300
industry to erode , hollowing out the

18:40.300 --> 18:42.819
very capacity we need to maintain

18:42.819 --> 18:45.420
credible naval deterrence that must

18:45.420 --> 18:47.939
change . Rebuilding our maritime

18:47.939 --> 18:50.599
industrial base is not just a matter of

18:50.599 --> 18:53.140
economic policy , it is a national

18:53.140 --> 18:55.839
security imperative . President Trump's

18:55.839 --> 18:59.170
executive order on restoring America's

18:59.170 --> 19:01.119
maritime dominance highlights that

19:01.119 --> 19:03.869
urgency and puts us on the right path .

19:04.439 --> 19:07.040
I've been to 10 shipyards , 7 here in

19:07.040 --> 19:09.790
the United States , and 3 overseas ,

19:10.079 --> 19:12.246
and I've spoken directly with shipyard

19:12.246 --> 19:14.246
leaders and hardworking tradesmen ,

19:14.560 --> 19:16.890
essential to our maritime operations .

19:17.239 --> 19:19.128
I now have a clear picture of our

19:19.128 --> 19:21.239
challenges and then developing a plan

19:21.239 --> 19:23.729
to fix what's broken . We do need to

19:23.729 --> 19:26.250
act with urgency , and this will take a

19:26.250 --> 19:28.530
whole of government approach to rebuild

19:28.530 --> 19:31.890
our capacity and expertise . We're

19:31.890 --> 19:34.680
developing a deliberate actionable plan

19:34.930 --> 19:37.449
to restore our industrial base , but we

19:37.449 --> 19:40.920
cannot do it alone . Congress , private

19:40.920 --> 19:42.976
industry , and the Department of the

19:42.976 --> 19:45.031
Navy must work collaboratively if we

19:45.031 --> 19:47.087
are serious about ensuring our naval

19:47.087 --> 19:49.800
superiority . In closing , it is clear

19:49.800 --> 19:51.599
that our greatest asset is the

19:51.599 --> 19:53.821
extraordinary men and women who serve ,

19:53.959 --> 19:56.400
our sailors and marines . We will

19:56.400 --> 19:58.344
continue to invest in them through

19:58.344 --> 20:00.567
smarter recruitment , better training ,

20:00.567 --> 20:02.456
and targeted retention efforts to

20:02.456 --> 20:05.010
retain top tier talent , and we will

20:05.010 --> 20:06.677
prioritize quality of service

20:06.677 --> 20:08.954
initiatives to ensure that our sailors ,

20:08.959 --> 20:11.070
marines , and their families have the

20:11.070 --> 20:14.640
resources they need . Thank you . Very

20:14.640 --> 20:16.918
much appreciated . Thank you very much ,

20:16.918 --> 20:19.140
Mr . Secretary , and if you could slide

20:19.140 --> 20:21.362
your microphone over to Admiral Kilby .

20:21.900 --> 20:24.770
We will recognize him , Admiral . We're

20:24.770 --> 20:26.659
delighted to have you and you are

20:26.659 --> 20:28.381
recognized , Chairman Wicker ,

20:28.381 --> 20:30.659
distinguished members of the committee ,

20:30.659 --> 20:32.492
thank you for the opportunity to

20:32.492 --> 20:34.548
testify on the posture of the United

20:34.548 --> 20:36.969
States Navy . Your navy provides our

20:36.969 --> 20:40.089
nation with sea power and sea control

20:40.530 --> 20:42.760
needed to preserve our way of life and

20:42.760 --> 20:45.150
ensure our security and prosperity .

20:45.510 --> 20:47.689
Your oversight and funding ensure we

20:47.689 --> 20:50.660
are ready when the nation calls . I'm

20:50.660 --> 20:52.939
pleased to testify alongside Secretary

20:52.939 --> 20:54.995
Filin , who brings needed and unique

20:54.995 --> 20:57.217
skills set of skills and experiences to

20:57.217 --> 20:59.439
help us accelerate the work of our Navy

20:59.439 --> 21:01.717
and alongside my partner General Smith ,

21:01.717 --> 21:03.939
the commandant of the Marine Corps . In

21:03.939 --> 21:05.772
the past year , our sailors have

21:05.772 --> 21:08.050
defeated hundreds of drones , missiles ,

21:08.050 --> 21:09.883
and executed dozens of offensive

21:09.883 --> 21:11.995
strikes from the Mediterranean in the

21:11.995 --> 21:14.050
Eastern , the Red Sea in the eastern

21:14.050 --> 21:16.217
Mediterranean . They have strengthened

21:16.217 --> 21:17.939
alliances and deterred Chinese

21:17.939 --> 21:20.161
aggression in the Western Pacific , and

21:20.161 --> 21:22.272
they have supported operations on the

21:22.272 --> 21:24.050
southern border , and they have

21:24.050 --> 21:25.883
maintained an unbroken strategic

21:25.883 --> 21:27.939
deterrent with our ballistic missile

21:27.939 --> 21:30.160
submarines . In short , the navy

21:30.160 --> 21:32.439
integrated with the joint force remains

21:32.439 --> 21:35.239
postured and ready to fight and win .

21:36.229 --> 21:38.396
We remain committed to a strong global

21:38.396 --> 21:40.507
navy , one that is prepared to defend

21:40.507 --> 21:42.709
our homeland , deter our adversaries ,

21:42.869 --> 21:45.420
and prevail in war . We are laser

21:45.420 --> 21:47.300
focused on China as our most

21:47.300 --> 21:49.150
consequential opponent while

21:49.150 --> 21:50.989
strengthening the defense of the

21:50.989 --> 21:54.510
homeland . We prioritize our operations ,

21:54.670 --> 21:56.869
training , and readiness accounts to

21:56.869 --> 21:59.420
ensure our naval forces remain ready ,

21:59.750 --> 22:03.479
resilient and able to execute national

22:03.479 --> 22:06.699
tasking . The Navy and the Marine Corps

22:06.699 --> 22:08.532
preserves peace through strength

22:08.660 --> 22:10.716
through investments in our strategic

22:10.716 --> 22:12.716
deterrence , our defense industrial

22:12.716 --> 22:15.750
base , our installations via

22:15.750 --> 22:17.417
initiatives like the Shipyard

22:17.417 --> 22:19.528
infrastructure optimization program .

22:20.060 --> 22:22.116
Most importantly , we are continuing

22:22.116 --> 22:24.227
our strong commitment to our people ,

22:24.227 --> 22:26.338
our sailors , our navy families , and

22:26.338 --> 22:28.560
our civilians through pay raises and

22:28.560 --> 22:30.282
investments in quality service

22:30.282 --> 22:32.171
initiatives such as unaccompanied

22:32.171 --> 22:34.400
housing and childcare , but we are

22:34.400 --> 22:37.140
facing some challenges . First , our

22:37.140 --> 22:39.362
platforms are not as ready as they need

22:39.362 --> 22:41.579
to be . We set an ambitious goal to

22:41.579 --> 22:43.800
make 80% of our ships , submarines and

22:43.800 --> 22:46.119
aircraft combat surge ready by 1

22:46.119 --> 22:49.430
January 2027 . To do that , we are

22:49.430 --> 22:51.349
reducing maintenance delays and

22:51.349 --> 22:53.750
improving manning , training , and

22:53.750 --> 22:56.969
modernization and sustainment . Second ,

22:57.270 --> 23:01.109
the Navy has 22,950 gaps at

23:01.109 --> 23:03.969
sea . Thanks to process improvements

23:03.969 --> 23:06.025
and targeted investments , we are on

23:06.025 --> 23:07.525
plan to reduce that number

23:07.525 --> 23:11.010
significantly by the end of 2026 . We

23:11.010 --> 23:12.788
are committed to attracting and

23:12.788 --> 23:14.788
developing Americans who innovate ,

23:14.810 --> 23:17.250
solve hard problems , and dominate in

23:17.250 --> 23:19.900
combat . The Navy contracted over

23:19.900 --> 23:21.979
40,000 sailors last year , the most

23:21.979 --> 23:24.540
since 2003 , and we are currently on

23:24.540 --> 23:26.651
pace to exceed our recruiting goal in

23:26.651 --> 23:29.849
2025 . And third , our ordinance

23:29.849 --> 23:31.682
expenditures in the Red Sea have

23:31.682 --> 23:33.905
highlighted the strain on our munitions

23:33.905 --> 23:36.270
industrial base . The Navy is working

23:36.270 --> 23:38.326
with both our traditional primes and

23:38.326 --> 23:40.159
new entrants to close this gap ,

23:40.280 --> 23:42.224
developing kinetic and non-kinetic

23:42.224 --> 23:45.119
weapons at speed and at scale . In all

23:45.119 --> 23:47.319
these efforts , consistent and

23:47.319 --> 23:49.469
predictable funding is foundational .

23:49.800 --> 23:52.319
We appreciate the continued support of

23:52.319 --> 23:55.020
this committee . In closing , I'm proud

23:55.020 --> 23:57.076
of our navy's accomplishments in the

23:57.076 --> 23:59.187
past year , and I'm excited about the

23:59.187 --> 24:01.353
growing consensus that is powering our

24:01.353 --> 24:03.859
maritime rejuvenation . This whole of

24:03.859 --> 24:05.970
government and whole nation effort is

24:05.970 --> 24:07.637
essential to our security and

24:07.637 --> 24:10.030
prosperity . We have work to do to

24:10.030 --> 24:12.197
ensure that we will remain the premier

24:12.197 --> 24:15.770
maritime force for another 250 years .

24:16.030 --> 24:18.010
Your leadership and support are

24:18.010 --> 24:20.500
critical to achieving this imperative

24:20.500 --> 24:22.667
on behalf of the sailors , civilians ,

24:22.667 --> 24:24.722
and families around the world of the

24:24.722 --> 24:26.778
Navy , thank you . I look forward to

24:26.778 --> 24:29.300
your questions . Thank you , Admiral

24:29.300 --> 24:31.300
General Smith , you're recognized .

24:36.859 --> 24:38.692
Good morning , Chairman Wicker .

24:39.689 --> 24:41.856
Senator Kaine , ladies and gentlemen ,

24:42.329 --> 24:44.400
I'm honored to appear before you

24:45.060 --> 24:47.171
alongside Secretary Falin and Admiral

24:47.171 --> 24:49.393
Kilby , my shipmate , to represent your

24:49.393 --> 24:51.227
Marine Corps . I'm gonna keep my

24:51.227 --> 24:53.227
comments short so I can answer your

24:53.227 --> 24:55.338
questions . First , I'd like to start

24:55.338 --> 24:57.560
by sharing the Marine Corps's top three

24:57.560 --> 24:59.616
priorities . First , restoring a 3.0

24:59.616 --> 25:01.282
amphibious Ready Group Marine

25:01.282 --> 25:03.393
Expeditionary Unit presence . This is

25:03.393 --> 25:05.338
the Marine Corps North Star . That

25:05.338 --> 25:07.449
simply means one Marine expeditionary

25:07.449 --> 25:09.560
unit constantly deployed off the east

25:09.560 --> 25:11.782
coast , one constantly deployed off the

25:11.782 --> 25:11.660
west coast , and one episodically

25:11.660 --> 25:13.771
deployed out of Okinawa , Japan , the

25:13.771 --> 25:15.993
FDNF , the 4 deployed naval force . The

25:15.993 --> 25:18.104
amphibious Read Group with the Marine

25:18.104 --> 25:20.327
Expeditionary Unit embarked is the most

25:20.327 --> 25:22.604
versatile tool in the nation's arsenal .

25:22.604 --> 25:24.771
It's the Swiss Army knife of the Joint

25:24.771 --> 25:26.938
Force . We're working closely with our

25:26.938 --> 25:28.660
Navy partners to maximize this

25:28.660 --> 25:30.660
capability . Our second priority is

25:30.660 --> 25:32.660
accelerating force design . Force

25:32.660 --> 25:34.771
design is our journey to adapt to the

25:34.771 --> 25:36.827
changing character of war . We're in

25:36.827 --> 25:39.049
the implementation phase , fielding new

25:39.049 --> 25:41.160
capabilities and reshaping formations

25:41.160 --> 25:42.993
across the force from our marine

25:42.993 --> 25:44.938
expeditionary units and marine lit

25:44.938 --> 25:47.049
regiments to our marine expeditionary

25:47.049 --> 25:49.339
forces . And finally improving the

25:49.339 --> 25:51.506
quality of life of our marines . Every

25:51.506 --> 25:53.728
marine deserves a clean , safe place to

25:53.728 --> 25:55.728
lay their head down at night . They

25:55.728 --> 25:57.783
don't ask for much , but they do ask

25:57.783 --> 25:59.339
for that . This is the most

25:59.339 --> 26:01.172
consequential housing investment

26:01.172 --> 26:04.119
barracks 2030 in our history , and the

26:04.119 --> 26:05.897
quality of life goes beyond our

26:05.897 --> 26:08.063
barracks . We're also investing in the

26:08.063 --> 26:10.175
well-being of marine families because

26:10.175 --> 26:12.286
you recruit the marine and you retain

26:12.286 --> 26:14.230
the family . Because retaining our

26:14.230 --> 26:16.175
marines means supporting those who

26:16.175 --> 26:18.479
stand beside them . I'll close with

26:18.479 --> 26:21.160
this . Your marines remain the most

26:21.160 --> 26:23.327
ready when the nation is least ready .

26:23.327 --> 26:25.327
It's our mantra . It's who we are .

26:25.327 --> 26:27.216
It's what we do . We're a forward

26:27.216 --> 26:29.619
postured force trained for combat and

26:29.619 --> 26:31.739
built to deliver flexible lethal

26:31.739 --> 26:34.660
options anytime , anywhere . Thank you

26:34.660 --> 26:36.716
again for the trust and support that

26:36.716 --> 26:38.827
you've placed in the Marine Corps . I

26:38.827 --> 26:40.993
look forward to your questions . Thank

26:40.993 --> 26:43.104
you very much to all three of you for

26:43.104 --> 26:45.216
your testimony and for your service .

26:45.216 --> 26:47.438
Secretary Phelan , you've made it clear

26:47.660 --> 26:50.290
in your opening statement that , uh ,

26:50.300 --> 26:52.930
the number of ships we presently have

26:53.380 --> 26:57.130
is inadequate . That um the

26:57.130 --> 27:00.630
strength of our industrial base is

27:00.630 --> 27:02.969
inadequate and headed in the wrong

27:02.969 --> 27:05.810
direction , particularly , uh , as

27:05.810 --> 27:08.859
compared . To what has been called our

27:08.859 --> 27:12.339
pacing thread and um which Admiral

27:12.339 --> 27:16.260
Kilby uh actually um used

27:16.260 --> 27:19.689
a stronger language to describe um ,

27:19.900 --> 27:23.500
Admiral Kilby you said um that the

27:23.500 --> 27:26.420
Navy must be ready when the nation

27:26.420 --> 27:30.020
calls . And I think I take from from

27:30.020 --> 27:33.780
your testimony , uh , com uh combined

27:33.780 --> 27:36.579
with that of Secretaryhelin that if the

27:36.579 --> 27:40.180
current trend continues , uh , we will

27:40.180 --> 27:43.170
not be ready when the nation calls ,

27:43.579 --> 27:45.635
although you're doing your best with

27:45.635 --> 27:49.339
what we have , um . General

27:49.339 --> 27:52.530
Smith . Let , let's talk about ,

27:52.619 --> 27:56.500
um , amphibious ship readiness to ,

27:56.729 --> 28:00.569
to be specific . The GAO , um ,

28:01.010 --> 28:04.209
report just last December . Uh ,

28:04.300 --> 28:08.290
highlighted that 16 of the 32

28:08.660 --> 28:12.530
amphibious ships are in poor material

28:12.530 --> 28:15.250
condition . Those are the exact words ,

28:15.260 --> 28:17.469
poor material condition because of

28:17.469 --> 28:20.689
deferred maintenance . Obsolete

28:21.079 --> 28:24.369
steam propulsion systems and shortages

28:24.369 --> 28:28.109
of spare parts . You went even

28:28.109 --> 28:30.989
further , um , general , um .

28:32.079 --> 28:34.800
Calling this a crisis and instead of 16

28:34.800 --> 28:37.949
of 32 . You noted .

28:39.170 --> 28:42.780
3 months ago , That only 13 of

28:42.780 --> 28:46.689
32 ships were seaworthy as of March

28:46.689 --> 28:50.410
of this year . Uh , far below the 80%

28:50.410 --> 28:52.530
readiness rate needed to meet

28:52.530 --> 28:54.560
congressionally mandated 31 ship

28:54.829 --> 28:58.410
minimum to support , um , 3.0 amphib

28:59.170 --> 29:01.609
ready Group Marine Expeditionary unit

29:01.609 --> 29:05.290
requirements . Um , have I misstated

29:05.290 --> 29:08.709
anything , General Smith ? No , sir ,

29:08.790 --> 29:11.012
you , you're correct , although I would

29:11.012 --> 29:12.901
note that , uh , Admiral Kilby is

29:12.901 --> 29:14.734
working mightily to improve that

29:14.734 --> 29:17.270
readiness . Absolutely , and we want to ,

29:17.430 --> 29:19.630
uh , we want to work with with you on

29:19.630 --> 29:23.300
that . Uh , how is , um , OK , thank

29:23.390 --> 29:25.446
thank you for the compliment , and I

29:25.446 --> 29:27.557
know y'all are shoulder to shoulder ,

29:27.557 --> 29:29.279
but how is the Navy supporting

29:29.279 --> 29:31.279
readiness of the amphibious warfare

29:31.279 --> 29:33.446
fleet and , uh , I'll , I'll let you ,

29:33.750 --> 29:35.861
uh , continue the compliment and then

29:35.861 --> 29:37.972
we'll toss it back to Admiral Kilby .

29:38.900 --> 29:40.789
Senator , what I would say is the

29:40.789 --> 29:43.067
optimized fleets response plan OFRP is ,

29:43.067 --> 29:45.060
is , uh , I , I will not speak for

29:45.060 --> 29:47.459
Admiral Kilby , but it is the plan to

29:47.459 --> 29:50.160
get the Amphib readiness fleet up to

29:50.160 --> 29:52.329
standard , get it up to its 80%

29:52.329 --> 29:54.440
readiness rate . There's , there's no

29:54.440 --> 29:56.385
time to waste , is there , General

29:56.385 --> 29:59.239
Smith ? No , sir . Admiral Kilby . Sir ,

29:59.319 --> 30:01.152
uh , just a , uh , maybe a quick

30:01.152 --> 30:03.760
correction , our goal of 80% combat

30:03.760 --> 30:06.420
surge ready is for those ships ,

30:06.439 --> 30:08.495
aircraft , and submarines not in the

30:08.495 --> 30:11.520
depot availability right now . I will

30:11.520 --> 30:14.959
tell you that we are at 67 for 80s

30:14.959 --> 30:16.737
aviation that includes aircraft

30:16.737 --> 30:20.380
carriers , 67% . 72% for

30:20.380 --> 30:24.030
uh submarines and 61% for

30:24.030 --> 30:27.150
Crudes . The amphibious ships are below

30:27.150 --> 30:29.229
that , and I'm calling that out to

30:29.229 --> 30:32.310
focus with the uh two type commanders ,

30:32.390 --> 30:34.989
Admiral McLean and Admiral Cay Hill on

30:34.989 --> 30:37.100
the east coast requirement below that

30:37.100 --> 30:39.369
for amphibs . It is not . OK , so the ,

30:39.430 --> 30:41.979
the requirement is 80% for amphibs too .

30:42.349 --> 30:44.420
It is , yes sir . Let me , let me be

30:44.469 --> 30:46.802
quick here . And get to one other issue ,

30:46.802 --> 30:48.691
and you , you can supplement your

30:48.691 --> 30:50.858
answer admirable , but General Smith ,

30:50.858 --> 30:52.747
let me ask you about landing ship

30:53.079 --> 30:57.000
medium , LSMs . Um , if , if you could

30:57.000 --> 30:59.599
briefly describe what they will do in

30:59.599 --> 31:02.140
getting our , our , uh , Uh ,

31:02.719 --> 31:05.469
servicemen to the islands and um ,

31:06.079 --> 31:08.599
would you be supportive of a block by

31:08.599 --> 31:12.540
of these ships ? Well Senator ,

31:12.619 --> 31:14.619
I'm always supportive of block buys

31:14.619 --> 31:16.841
because they save the American taxpayer

31:16.841 --> 31:19.119
money and they reinforce the workforce .

31:19.119 --> 31:21.119
They give them a sense that there's

31:21.119 --> 31:20.939
gonna be continued work in the

31:20.939 --> 31:22.995
shipyards and the one thing we can't

31:22.995 --> 31:25.161
lose is our workforce . OK , and , and

31:25.161 --> 31:27.380
so , um , how valuable will they be

31:27.689 --> 31:29.856
should something happen , particularly

31:29.856 --> 31:31.911
say in the in the Indo-Pacific ? The

31:31.911 --> 31:33.967
landing ship medium is vital to us ,

31:33.967 --> 31:36.022
sir . It's our in island connector .

31:36.022 --> 31:38.078
It's what enables us to disperse and

31:38.078 --> 31:40.300
re-aggregate the force rapidly . And to

31:40.300 --> 31:43.219
do so in a nondescript manner to keep

31:43.219 --> 31:45.589
ourselves below the threshold of uh of

31:45.589 --> 31:47.829
noticeability by the adversary to

31:47.829 --> 31:50.469
deliver lethal cap an existing design

31:50.469 --> 31:53.310
which we could begin production on very

31:53.310 --> 31:55.489
quickly . Um , there are a couple that

31:55.489 --> 31:57.545
we're looking at , sir , but what we

31:57.545 --> 31:59.711
require is a is a purpose built ship ,

31:59.810 --> 32:01.754
um , something that can be shallow

32:01.754 --> 32:03.477
drafted , carry marine missile

32:03.477 --> 32:05.410
batteries , carry marines , and

32:05.410 --> 32:07.577
distribute themselves across the first

32:07.577 --> 32:09.521
island chain with enough range and

32:09.521 --> 32:13.130
capability to get the job done . And

32:13.130 --> 32:16.819
are there ships , um . Uh

32:16.819 --> 32:18.875
ready right now that could do that ,

32:19.219 --> 32:21.330
sir , I would say there are not ships

32:21.330 --> 32:23.330
that are currently fully capable of

32:23.330 --> 32:25.386
executing , but there are some ships

32:25.386 --> 32:27.497
that can be used as surrogates on the

32:27.497 --> 32:29.330
way to a spiral development to a

32:29.330 --> 32:31.386
purpose-built ship . What would be ,

32:31.386 --> 32:33.552
what would be the alternative to using

32:33.552 --> 32:35.663
them right now ? How many years would

32:35.663 --> 32:37.552
we have to wait for the so-called

32:37.552 --> 32:39.663
purpose-built ship ? I , I can't give

32:39.663 --> 32:41.719
you an exact number of years that we

32:41.719 --> 32:43.830
would have to wait , sir , but it's ,

32:43.830 --> 32:46.680
it's more than 2 . Um , there may be

32:46.680 --> 32:48.847
some , um , questions for the record ,

32:48.847 --> 32:51.329
um , on that issue . Uh , thank you

32:51.329 --> 32:53.385
very much , uh , Senator Kaine . You

32:53.385 --> 32:55.496
are recognized . Prior to recognizing

32:55.496 --> 32:57.607
Senator Blumenthal , Mr . Chair , I'd

32:57.607 --> 32:59.773
like to ask to introduce the statement

32:59.773 --> 33:01.996
of Senator Reid prepared for today into

33:01.996 --> 33:01.410
the record . Without objection ,

33:01.760 --> 33:03.760
Senator Blumenthal , thanks . Uh ,

33:04.119 --> 33:06.341
thank you , Mr . Chairman . Thank you ,

33:06.341 --> 33:08.563
Senator Kaine . Thank you , gentlemen ,

33:08.563 --> 33:10.619
for your service to our nation and .

33:10.709 --> 33:14.430
You're being here this morning and uh .

33:15.219 --> 33:17.810
I want to reiterate some of the points

33:17.810 --> 33:20.130
that my colleague , Senator Kaine made .

33:20.209 --> 33:23.209
I'm deeply , deeply concerned about the

33:23.209 --> 33:25.329
use of our National Guard and our

33:25.329 --> 33:28.920
Marines . Essentially in what appears

33:28.920 --> 33:31.430
to be law enforcement and crowd control .

33:32.510 --> 33:34.732
It threatens our civil rights and civil

33:34.732 --> 33:37.020
liberties directly contrary to the

33:37.020 --> 33:40.339
doctrine of posse comitte , which is at

33:40.339 --> 33:43.250
the core of our constitutional

33:43.819 --> 33:46.939
protections , these . Active duty

33:46.939 --> 33:50.609
military are being used essentially

33:50.609 --> 33:54.030
to . Do crowd control and

33:54.319 --> 33:58.310
to potentially use force against

33:58.880 --> 34:00.880
fellow Americans , which is exactly

34:00.880 --> 34:03.359
what the founders wanted to prevent

34:03.359 --> 34:06.170
through this doctrine and that Congress

34:06.170 --> 34:07.869
sought to prevent through the

34:07.869 --> 34:09.925
insurrection Act . Unfortunately the

34:09.925 --> 34:13.429
insurrection Act is fraught with

34:13.760 --> 34:17.580
weaknesses that . In effect give

34:17.580 --> 34:21.439
the president Unbridled power . I

34:21.439 --> 34:24.070
will introduce later today reforms to

34:24.070 --> 34:27.409
the insurrection Act that limit the

34:27.409 --> 34:29.520
president's power with safeguards and

34:29.520 --> 34:32.159
guard rails for the purpose of

34:32.159 --> 34:34.326
protecting our constitutional rights .

34:35.030 --> 34:37.989
But also , frankly , Protecting our

34:37.989 --> 34:40.270
military and that's the main point I

34:40.270 --> 34:43.510
want to make today . I consider the use

34:43.510 --> 34:45.989
of the military in this way a risk to

34:45.989 --> 34:48.550
our national security at a time when we

34:48.550 --> 34:51.189
need more support and more credibility .

34:52.429 --> 34:56.040
For The kinds

34:56.040 --> 34:58.959
of complicated and challenging tasks we

34:58.959 --> 35:01.126
ask our men and women in uniform to do

35:01.679 --> 35:05.020
this . Escalatory and

35:05.020 --> 35:07.899
inflammatory use of military men and

35:07.899 --> 35:11.139
women against their fellow citizens

35:11.699 --> 35:14.689
threatens to be a stain on their honor .

35:15.610 --> 35:17.989
And a blow to their support and

35:17.989 --> 35:21.379
credibility . Among Americans , the

35:21.379 --> 35:23.459
sight of Marines .

35:25.409 --> 35:27.600
Taking potential force against fellow

35:27.600 --> 35:31.580
Americans . Commandant Smith , I regard

35:31.580 --> 35:35.179
as deeply dangerous . To our Marine

35:35.179 --> 35:38.350
Corps . These

35:39.199 --> 35:42.469
Marines have no training in crowd

35:42.469 --> 35:45.560
control , do they ? Senator , the

35:45.560 --> 35:47.504
Marines that have deployed do have

35:47.504 --> 35:49.727
crowd control training . Where did they

35:49.727 --> 35:51.838
do that crowd control ? They did that

35:51.838 --> 35:53.893
at their home station at 29 Palmer .

35:53.893 --> 35:55.782
You said that they're trained for

35:55.782 --> 35:59.389
combat . They're being deployed for .

36:00.399 --> 36:02.455
In effect , law enforcement , aren't

36:02.455 --> 36:05.419
they ? So they're being deployed to

36:05.419 --> 36:08.729
support law enforcement . But the

36:08.989 --> 36:12.540
task that they are being assigned to do

36:12.830 --> 36:15.310
is not central to their mission as

36:15.310 --> 36:17.659
Marines . Senator , I would say that

36:17.659 --> 36:19.659
all Marines are trained in in crowd

36:19.659 --> 36:21.881
control , embassy reinforcement , etc .

36:22.020 --> 36:24.353
So this is part of their training , sir .

36:24.353 --> 36:26.459
All Marines are trained in crowd

36:26.459 --> 36:28.860
control . So , a standard Marine

36:28.860 --> 36:30.971
expeditionary unit before they deploy

36:30.971 --> 36:32.971
is trained , and this battalion was

36:32.971 --> 36:34.916
ready for that . And what kinds of

36:34.916 --> 36:37.138
equipment do they have ? So , they have

36:37.138 --> 36:40.750
uh shields and batons . And do they

36:40.750 --> 36:43.909
have the kinds of arrest powers that

36:43.909 --> 36:46.270
police would have ? Do they have the

36:46.270 --> 36:49.270
kinds of authorities that are necessary

36:49.270 --> 36:52.270
for crowd control ? So they do not have

36:52.270 --> 36:54.326
arrest authority . They are there to

36:54.326 --> 36:56.548
protect uh federal property and federal

36:56.548 --> 36:58.739
personnel . Wouldn't you agree that

36:58.739 --> 37:01.750
there's a danger they will use . The

37:01.750 --> 37:04.030
kind of lethal force that you've just

37:04.030 --> 37:06.669
described as their central mission to

37:06.669 --> 37:09.830
deliver and that . There could be

37:09.830 --> 37:11.939
injuries and deaths as a result ,

37:12.469 --> 37:14.802
Senator , I am , I am not concerned . I ,

37:14.802 --> 37:16.858
I have great faith in my Marines and

37:16.858 --> 37:18.969
their junior leaders and they're more

37:18.969 --> 37:21.025
senior leaders to execute the lawful

37:21.025 --> 37:23.191
task that they're given . I have great

37:23.191 --> 37:25.413
faith in the Marine Corps when they are

37:25.413 --> 37:28.020
assigned to do what is their central

37:28.020 --> 37:31.489
mission . I am deeply worried .

37:32.320 --> 37:35.500
About the effect of the use of Marines

37:35.500 --> 37:37.739
or National Guard in a way that could

37:37.739 --> 37:40.270
inflame and incite rather than calm

37:40.580 --> 37:44.340
tensions , Marines are trained to be a

37:44.340 --> 37:47.540
lethal force , as you have said , and

37:47.540 --> 37:49.540
that is known by the people who are

37:49.540 --> 37:52.330
gonna be in those streets . And I'm

37:52.330 --> 37:54.552
deeply concerned about the stain on the

37:54.552 --> 37:56.608
honor of the Marine Corps that could

37:56.608 --> 37:58.552
result and the loss of support and

37:58.552 --> 38:01.280
credibility for exactly the kinds of

38:01.689 --> 38:04.050
increasing support for the industrial

38:04.050 --> 38:06.959
base , better living conditions , and

38:07.209 --> 38:09.376
other challenges that we have and that

38:09.376 --> 38:11.979
require . More commitment , Mr .

38:11.989 --> 38:14.550
Secretary . Uh , my time has expired .

38:15.040 --> 38:18.280
Thank you . Senator Fisher ,

38:18.959 --> 38:20.989
thank you , Mr . Chairman . Mr .

38:21.000 --> 38:23.830
Secretary , Admiral General , welcome .

38:24.199 --> 38:26.143
Thank you for being here today and

38:26.143 --> 38:28.032
thank you for your service to our

38:28.032 --> 38:30.949
country . I am deeply concerned with

38:30.949 --> 38:33.250
the health of our munition stockpiles ,

38:33.719 --> 38:36.189
including those affected by recent

38:36.189 --> 38:38.709
operations in the Red Sea . Large

38:38.709 --> 38:40.919
numbers of missiles such as the

38:40.919 --> 38:43.639
Tomahawk land attack missile were

38:43.639 --> 38:46.040
expended during these operations . We

38:46.040 --> 38:48.439
are expending missiles far faster than

38:48.439 --> 38:52.129
we are producing them . We have a real

38:52.129 --> 38:54.520
opportunity to make progress on this

38:54.520 --> 38:57.350
through reconciliation . But the Navy's

38:57.350 --> 39:00.780
future based budgets must also account

39:00.780 --> 39:03.620
for increased production rates . Mr .

39:03.629 --> 39:06.030
Secretary , at your confirmation

39:06.030 --> 39:08.030
hearing you talked about working to

39:08.030 --> 39:10.669
incentivize companies and reviewing

39:10.669 --> 39:13.750
Navy munition contracts . What have you

39:13.750 --> 39:15.694
discovered in your review of these

39:15.694 --> 39:17.909
munitions production contracts ?

39:20.800 --> 39:22.633
Uh , Senator , thank you for the

39:22.633 --> 39:26.159
question . Um , uh , I have yet to

39:26.159 --> 39:28.159
review munitions contracts . I have

39:28.159 --> 39:30.120
been dealing with shipbuilding and

39:30.120 --> 39:32.064
contracts for the most part . Uh ,

39:32.064 --> 39:34.120
munitions is next , but what I would

39:34.120 --> 39:36.520
say is that fully funding our munitions

39:36.520 --> 39:39.280
industrial base is critical and very

39:39.280 --> 39:41.620
important , and I have visited , uh ,

39:41.919 --> 39:44.560
two other companies at this stage that

39:44.560 --> 39:47.239
are 3D printing different types of

39:47.239 --> 39:49.295
munitions that I think have . Have a

39:49.295 --> 39:51.461
lot of potential , uh , and so I think

39:51.461 --> 39:53.564
we need to make sure that we are uh

39:53.564 --> 39:56.745
looking at both existing and new ways

39:56.745 --> 39:58.985
of making munitions , uh , so that will

39:58.985 --> 40:01.235
be critical to us in the future , uh ,

40:01.264 --> 40:03.320
but this is a very important thing .

40:03.320 --> 40:05.431
It's something that Admiral Kilby and

40:05.431 --> 40:07.597
the commandant and I talk about weekly

40:07.597 --> 40:09.764
when we go through our meetings , uh ,

40:09.764 --> 40:11.986
so , so it is critical and munitions is

40:11.986 --> 40:14.264
next up on the on the list . Thank you .

40:14.264 --> 40:16.486
Uh , we'll have to talk , uh , when you

40:16.486 --> 40:18.597
get an update on that , please , uh ,

40:18.597 --> 40:20.431
Admiral , are there any specific

40:20.431 --> 40:22.542
actions that you think , uh , need to

40:22.542 --> 40:25.469
be taken to increase that production

40:25.469 --> 40:28.330
capacity , uh , for the munitions for

40:28.330 --> 40:30.386
the navy ? Senator , thanks for that

40:30.386 --> 40:32.497
question . I agree with the Secretary

40:32.497 --> 40:35.580
Filin . I think we have to me expand my

40:35.949 --> 40:39.270
view of what is potential solutions for

40:39.270 --> 40:41.159
us to include vendors that aren't

40:41.159 --> 40:43.159
traditionally in this space . We do

40:43.159 --> 40:45.125
need to , uh , double down on

40:45.125 --> 40:47.895
traditional munitions like SM-6 ,

40:48.245 --> 40:51.725
SM-2 , Larazm , a conventional prop

40:51.725 --> 40:53.669
strike when it delivers , maritime

40:53.669 --> 40:55.669
strike , Tomahawk , all critical in

40:55.669 --> 40:57.669
this fight . And as you point out ,

40:57.669 --> 40:59.725
we're using them at a rate we hadn't

40:59.725 --> 41:01.781
anticipated because of the Red Sea .

41:01.781 --> 41:04.003
Are you , are you concerned , um , that

41:04.003 --> 41:06.405
too many of our programs rely on sole

41:06.405 --> 41:09.165
sources and that diminishes obviously

41:09.165 --> 41:11.387
then competition ? I don't know if um .

41:11.939 --> 41:13.995
I , I am concerned about the lack of

41:13.995 --> 41:16.161
competition in the industrial base for

41:16.161 --> 41:18.300
munitions . I think we , we must do

41:18.300 --> 41:20.939
better there even if it is producing a

41:20.939 --> 41:23.050
missile that isn't quite as effective

41:23.050 --> 41:25.669
as the SM-6 , that's better than zero

41:25.669 --> 41:27.820
missile in your magazine . So I think

41:27.820 --> 41:29.764
we've got work to do there and I'm

41:29.764 --> 41:31.487
committed to do that work with

41:31.487 --> 41:33.598
Secretary Phelan . Great thank you uh

41:33.598 --> 41:36.459
Mr . Secretary , I'm also deeply

41:36.459 --> 41:38.899
concerned about the delays in the

41:38.899 --> 41:41.739
Columbia class production timeline

41:41.739 --> 41:43.979
since taking office , what have you

41:43.979 --> 41:45.923
discovered regarding the pervasive

41:45.923 --> 41:48.370
delays in the Columbia class program ?

41:50.580 --> 41:52.913
Thank you Senator for the question . Uh ,

41:53.100 --> 41:55.267
as you know , Colombia is a priority ,

41:55.267 --> 41:58.179
uh , for us and and for for you

41:58.179 --> 42:00.929
obviously in the committee , um , I

42:00.929 --> 42:03.040
think there are a number of different

42:03.040 --> 42:05.318
issues we've come across . One is , uh ,

42:05.318 --> 42:07.207
you mentioned the topic of single

42:07.207 --> 42:09.770
source , uh , builders . We also have

42:09.770 --> 42:12.300
that in supplies , uh , which is

42:12.300 --> 42:14.540
potentially a problem , so we do need

42:14.540 --> 42:17.139
to expand out the industrial base . uh ,

42:17.219 --> 42:19.979
I think some of it has been , um .

42:22.030 --> 42:25.010
Uh , I've visited both Quonset and uh

42:25.010 --> 42:28.199
Groton and have gone there . I think

42:28.199 --> 42:31.169
that there is , uh , issues that can be

42:31.169 --> 42:34.090
done to increase productivity much

42:34.090 --> 42:36.520
faster , uh , and I've spoken with , uh ,

42:36.530 --> 42:38.770
the CEOs of both of those companies

42:38.770 --> 42:41.639
about my visit there and what I learned .

42:41.929 --> 42:44.139
Uh , I believe that we will start to

42:44.139 --> 42:46.361
see an . Increase we're trying to shift

42:46.361 --> 42:48.489
the schedule left and there are a few

42:48.489 --> 42:50.545
different things we are trying right

42:50.545 --> 42:53.550
now uh in addition , we have , uh , at

42:53.550 --> 42:56.209
the direction of the , uh , deputy

42:56.209 --> 42:58.649
secretary of defense we've sent in a

42:58.649 --> 43:02.169
group to try to help them analyze

43:02.169 --> 43:04.449
workflow processes and those sorts of

43:04.449 --> 43:06.338
things as well . Thank you , uh ,

43:06.338 --> 43:08.393
Admiral . I wanted to ask you . Uh ,

43:09.149 --> 43:11.260
because of the delays we're seeing on

43:11.260 --> 43:14.550
the Columbia class , I know the Navy's

43:14.550 --> 43:16.750
been working to extend the hulls of

43:16.750 --> 43:18.972
some of the existing Ohio class . How's

43:18.972 --> 43:21.300
that going ? I , I think we're in a

43:21.300 --> 43:23.356
good shape . That's a good insurance

43:23.356 --> 43:25.244
policy . Obviously we want to get

43:25.244 --> 43:27.244
Columbia out there because it has a

43:27.244 --> 43:29.356
capability beyond our Ohio's , but we

43:29.356 --> 43:31.522
have , uh , the ability to extend 7 of

43:31.522 --> 43:33.689
those through an availability called a

43:33.689 --> 43:35.800
PIRA , which I believe will make sure

43:35.800 --> 43:38.459
that we have maintained our , our , our

43:38.459 --> 43:41.489
strategic uh component from the Navy .

43:41.979 --> 43:44.300
Great , I will have some questions uh

43:44.300 --> 43:46.244
for follow up for all three of you

43:46.244 --> 43:48.133
gentlemen . Thank you very much .

43:50.699 --> 43:53.909
Thank you , Senator King . Thank you Mr .

43:54.010 --> 43:56.288
Chairman . First , uh , Mr . Secretary ,

43:56.288 --> 43:58.343
I wanna thank you for your visits to

43:58.343 --> 44:00.510
the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and Bath

44:00.510 --> 44:02.677
Iron Works , particularly for the time

44:02.677 --> 44:04.899
you took to talk with the men and women

44:04.899 --> 44:07.121
on the deck plates , the people who are

44:07.121 --> 44:07.110
out there doing the work . Uh , it

44:07.110 --> 44:09.332
meant a lot to those people and meant a

44:09.332 --> 44:11.590
lot to the workforce , uh , and the

44:11.590 --> 44:13.868
fact that you took the time to do that ,

44:13.868 --> 44:16.090
I think is , uh , exemplary . The other

44:16.090 --> 44:18.201
thing I wanna note at the beginning ,

44:18.201 --> 44:18.149
we always get in these hearings ,

44:18.189 --> 44:20.245
there's a lot of criticism and harsh

44:20.245 --> 44:22.356
questions . Uh , I want to compliment

44:22.356 --> 44:24.578
the Navy for the performance in the Red

44:24.578 --> 44:27.040
Sea . It's the longest protracted naval

44:27.040 --> 44:29.679
battle since World War II , and the

44:29.679 --> 44:32.012
Navy has performed extraordinarily well .

44:32.012 --> 44:33.870
I've had briefings both in this

44:33.870 --> 44:35.592
committee and the intelligence

44:35.592 --> 44:37.648
Committee about the , the , the work

44:37.648 --> 44:39.759
that's been done under very difficult

44:39.759 --> 44:41.926
circumstances , so I think that should

44:41.926 --> 44:43.759
be acknowledged , uh , in , in a

44:43.759 --> 44:45.926
hearing like this . Uh , I should also

44:45.926 --> 44:48.148
note that some of the workhorses in the

44:48.148 --> 44:50.939
Red Sea are DDGs . Uh , which are , uh ,

44:50.949 --> 44:52.782
I remember visiting a government

44:52.782 --> 44:55.005
facility some years ago that had , uh ,

44:55.005 --> 44:57.227
a spot on the map of the whole world of

44:57.227 --> 45:00.340
all of US assets and DDGs were all over

45:00.340 --> 45:03.060
that map , uh , the truly the workhorse

45:03.060 --> 45:05.379
of the Navy , and that brings me to my

45:05.379 --> 45:09.250
more difficult question which is , uh ,

45:09.340 --> 45:11.396
the shipbuilding budget being cut in

45:11.396 --> 45:13.419
half , uh , in this , in the base

45:13.419 --> 45:15.669
budget . Uh , those of us who have been

45:15.669 --> 45:17.919
on this committee for some time . Uh ,

45:18.139 --> 45:20.379
remember OO . It seems like this is son

45:20.379 --> 45:24.100
of OCO , uh , where we're using the

45:24.100 --> 45:27.899
reconciliation to do what ought to be

45:27.899 --> 45:30.010
in the base budget . The problem with

45:30.010 --> 45:32.177
it not being in the base budget , Mr .

45:32.177 --> 45:34.399
Secretary , is the message that sends ,

45:34.399 --> 45:36.510
uh , to industry in terms of planning

45:36.510 --> 45:38.343
and long long term commitments ,

45:38.343 --> 45:40.510
investments , uh , and I realized that

45:40.510 --> 45:42.677
the brooding omnipresence here is , is

45:42.677 --> 45:46.050
OMB , but I hope that you can ,

45:46.340 --> 45:50.010
uh . Advocate for the , for the

45:50.010 --> 45:52.010
strengthening of the base budget on

45:52.010 --> 45:54.232
shipbuilding because all the talk about

45:54.330 --> 45:56.219
building up ships and then having

45:56.219 --> 45:58.689
shipbuilding cut in half , uh doesn't ,

45:59.050 --> 46:00.959
doesn't jibe , your thoughts .

46:03.290 --> 46:05.179
Uh , thank you for the question ,

46:05.179 --> 46:07.179
Senator King . Uh , look , uh , the

46:07.179 --> 46:09.719
president is committed to a strong

46:09.719 --> 46:12.250
national defense , and the shipbuilding ,

46:12.320 --> 46:14.919
and , and I do believe the OMB director

46:14.919 --> 46:17.679
is as well . My team continues to work

46:17.679 --> 46:19.840
closely with the , uh , Secretary of

46:19.840 --> 46:23.199
Defense's office and OMB in order to

46:23.199 --> 46:26.209
try to prioritize and get these

46:26.209 --> 46:28.879
programs going . I think we are , um .

46:29.350 --> 46:31.517
Uh , moving in a good direction , uh ,

46:31.550 --> 46:33.439
and I am hopeful that we will get

46:33.439 --> 46:36.110
something out that well I hope so , a

46:36.110 --> 46:38.332
wise old New Englander once said , your

46:38.332 --> 46:40.388
actions speak so loudly I can't hear

46:40.388 --> 46:42.629
your words . Uh , so not being in the

46:42.629 --> 46:44.796
base budget , I think is a , is a , is

46:44.796 --> 46:48.090
a real problem . Both in terms of of of

46:48.090 --> 46:50.330
the practicality of it but also for the

46:50.330 --> 46:52.552
message that it sends uh to the defense

46:52.552 --> 46:54.386
industrial base you talked about

46:54.386 --> 46:56.163
availability and I've , this is

46:56.489 --> 46:58.711
something I've been working on for some

46:58.711 --> 47:00.933
time . The average availability of navy

47:00.933 --> 47:03.156
ships , and it varies amphibs are below

47:03.156 --> 47:05.156
50% , some , as you mentioned , are

47:05.156 --> 47:07.322
around 70% , but the average is around

47:07.322 --> 47:09.211
50% . The average availability of

47:09.211 --> 47:12.439
Carnival cruise lines is 93% . If

47:12.439 --> 47:14.606
Carnival Cruise Lines had 50% of their

47:14.606 --> 47:16.606
ships offline at any given moment ,

47:16.606 --> 47:19.169
they'd be out of business . And I don't

47:19.169 --> 47:21.225
think that's , I mean , I understand

47:21.225 --> 47:23.447
the complexity of the , of the ships is

47:23.447 --> 47:25.447
different and all of those kinds of

47:25.447 --> 47:27.502
things , but we ought to be thinking

47:27.502 --> 47:27.250
about a much higher level of

47:27.250 --> 47:29.417
availability . Admiral , how do we get

47:29.417 --> 47:31.489
to that 80% number ? Everybody talks

47:31.489 --> 47:33.656
about it , but we're not very close to

47:33.656 --> 47:35.767
it overall . Well , a couple things ,

47:35.767 --> 47:37.933
sir . One , let me just take overall ,

47:37.933 --> 47:40.045
I think shorter veils with a definite

47:40.045 --> 47:42.100
sized package where we can lock down

47:42.100 --> 47:44.899
planning . 90 or 120 days in advance of

47:44.899 --> 47:47.080
that avail so we can order the parts

47:47.080 --> 47:49.136
and align the workforce is the key .

47:49.159 --> 47:51.381
That means we have to be disciplined to

47:51.381 --> 47:53.548
do that and we have to do our open and

47:53.548 --> 47:55.326
inspects where we go assess the

47:55.326 --> 47:57.437
condition of the ship early enough to

47:57.437 --> 47:59.659
inform that pack , and there's software

47:59.659 --> 48:01.770
now that can predict part failure and

48:01.770 --> 48:03.659
those there's a lot of technology

48:03.659 --> 48:05.437
involved in in higher levels of

48:05.437 --> 48:07.492
availability . Yes , sir . In fact ,

48:07.492 --> 48:07.479
these open in specs now can be

48:07.479 --> 48:09.479
conducted . I don't have to drain a

48:09.479 --> 48:11.590
fuel oil tank . I can just use some .

48:11.590 --> 48:13.757
Uh , advanced technology to go look at

48:13.757 --> 48:15.868
that tank and assess it to whether it

48:15.868 --> 48:18.090
needs to be done or not . So we've done

48:18.090 --> 48:20.090
that with the case of USS America ,

48:20.090 --> 48:22.146
which is an amphibious ship . We had

48:22.146 --> 48:24.201
191 open inspects that were gonna be

48:24.201 --> 48:26.312
done in the veil . We pulled them far

48:26.312 --> 48:28.535
left of the veil so we can make sure we

48:28.535 --> 48:30.479
accurately predict that we'll keep

48:30.479 --> 48:32.590
having these hearings , and I'm gonna

48:32.590 --> 48:32.469
keep asking about availability until we

48:32.469 --> 48:34.510
really hit more like an 80% number

48:34.510 --> 48:37.000
because . That would solve a lot of our

48:37.000 --> 48:39.222
problems . We have more ships in in the

48:39.222 --> 48:41.444
ocean , not to mention submarines and ,

48:41.444 --> 48:43.222
and others . Uh , final point ,

48:43.222 --> 48:45.333
directed energy , it's unclear in the

48:45.333 --> 48:47.500
budget where the directed energy money

48:47.500 --> 48:49.444
is , if it's in there . Uh , those

48:49.444 --> 48:51.500
missiles that we're using in the Red

48:51.500 --> 48:54.750
Sea to knock down $20,000 Yemen

48:54.750 --> 48:58.030
drones cost $4 million apiece . Uh ,

48:58.169 --> 49:00.330
directed energy is an incredibly

49:00.330 --> 49:02.889
important priority . The prior

49:02.889 --> 49:05.111
administration grossly underfunded it .

49:05.111 --> 49:07.111
I hope this administration will pay

49:07.111 --> 49:09.278
attention . This is cost effective and

49:09.278 --> 49:11.167
it's the , it's the weapon of the

49:11.167 --> 49:13.389
future , Mr . Secretary . Are you gonna

49:13.389 --> 49:15.611
advocate for directed energy and see an

49:15.611 --> 49:18.340
increase in that budget ? Uh , yes ,

49:18.419 --> 49:20.641
Senator , I think it's very important ,

49:20.641 --> 49:22.697
uh , capability and as you mentioned

49:22.697 --> 49:25.030
it's a cost effective one . We continue

49:25.030 --> 49:27.141
to be working very hard and we've one

49:27.141 --> 49:29.820
system we've been testing , uh , live

49:29.820 --> 49:31.876
right now that appears to be working

49:31.876 --> 49:34.209
well and so we continue to work on that .

49:34.209 --> 49:36.320
So let's get that system into the Red

49:36.320 --> 49:38.487
Sea . Thank you , Mr . Chairman . Uh ,

49:38.487 --> 49:40.376
uh , uh , thank you , thank you ,

49:40.399 --> 49:43.080
Senator King . Let me say this , um ,

49:43.199 --> 49:46.820
Admiral Kilby . I want to request

49:46.820 --> 49:50.770
that you um . That you take some

49:50.770 --> 49:54.419
time and supplement your answer to

49:54.419 --> 49:57.580
Senator King . About

49:58.489 --> 50:01.409
What happens differently in the private

50:01.409 --> 50:03.576
sector ? I think the senator mentioned

50:03.929 --> 50:07.320
a cruise line . Uh , and , and you

50:07.320 --> 50:09.542
answered , and of course , we only have

50:09.542 --> 50:11.850
5 minutes per senator at this hearing .

50:12.979 --> 50:16.459
But this , um , this has a lot to do

50:16.959 --> 50:19.929
with the forged act which um

50:20.959 --> 50:23.181
which our Defense Department is already

50:23.181 --> 50:25.889
trying to implement and which much of

50:25.889 --> 50:28.449
which will be in the NDAA .

50:30.159 --> 50:33.689
But the point that private industry

50:33.689 --> 50:35.919
somehow figures out a way to be

50:35.919 --> 50:39.360
flexible enough and , and whatever laws

50:39.360 --> 50:42.320
govern them allows them to be flexible

50:42.320 --> 50:44.919
enough and we haven't been able .

50:46.479 --> 50:50.290
Up to this point . Uh , fully to

50:50.290 --> 50:52.449
implement that sort of thing for our

50:52.449 --> 50:55.040
fleet is , is , I think .

50:55.840 --> 50:59.189
Um , fundamental to this hearing and ,

50:59.270 --> 51:02.600
and what we're trying to do to , to ,

51:02.610 --> 51:06.199
uh , to address some of the statistics

51:06.199 --> 51:08.532
that we've mentioned . Will you do that ,

51:08.532 --> 51:10.699
sir ? I will do that , and I will also

51:10.699 --> 51:12.643
tell you that we've had an ongoing

51:12.643 --> 51:14.921
relationship with Carnival Cruise Line .

51:14.921 --> 51:14.719
We just sent a group of folks down

51:14.719 --> 51:17.040
there to watch them do an availability

51:17.040 --> 51:20.520
in 8 hours . cruise ship pulls in .

51:21.090 --> 51:23.409
Tourists leave 8 hours later tourists

51:23.409 --> 51:25.576
go on board and they get underway . So

51:25.576 --> 51:27.742
we're trying to understand that better

51:27.742 --> 51:29.631
and I'll put that in my answer to

51:29.631 --> 51:31.742
please help us understand that and uh

51:31.742 --> 51:33.853
we wanna give you what you need to to

51:33.853 --> 51:35.909
get to the sort of result that we're

51:35.909 --> 51:37.687
talking about . Thank you and I

51:37.687 --> 51:39.465
appreciate the committee , uh ,

51:39.465 --> 51:42.120
indulging me and Senator Cotton has

51:42.929 --> 51:45.790
appeared . And is recognized for 5

51:45.790 --> 51:48.012
minutes . Thank you . Uh , before I get

51:48.012 --> 51:50.070
to matters of bipartisan concern on

51:50.070 --> 51:52.126
things like shipbuilding munitions ,

51:52.126 --> 51:54.070
I'm compelled to respond to the

51:54.070 --> 51:56.270
unhinged partisan rants by Senator

51:56.270 --> 51:59.030
Kaine and Senator Blumenthal about the

51:59.030 --> 52:01.949
riots in Los Angeles . I heard a lot of

52:01.949 --> 52:03.727
complaints about the use of the

52:03.727 --> 52:06.370
National Guard or the Marine Corps to

52:06.370 --> 52:08.429
defend federal property , not

52:08.429 --> 52:10.373
surprisingly , a lot of attacks on

52:10.373 --> 52:13.790
Donald Trump . I don't think I heard

52:14.159 --> 52:17.469
condemnation . Of rioters and

52:17.469 --> 52:21.260
looters and arsonists and

52:21.260 --> 52:24.610
revolutionary anarchists . That are

52:24.610 --> 52:28.419
burning down parts of Los Angeles . So

52:28.419 --> 52:31.649
let's put it in context . What's

52:31.649 --> 52:34.610
happening in Los Angeles ? For 4 years

52:34.610 --> 52:37.320
under Joe Biden , we had a slow motion

52:37.320 --> 52:39.290
invasion of this country .

52:41.090 --> 52:43.850
By millions of migrants to include

52:43.850 --> 52:46.409
murderers , rapists , gang members ,

52:46.419 --> 52:50.350
and other depraved savages . It wasn't

52:50.350 --> 52:52.790
just tolerated by Democrats in the

52:52.790 --> 52:55.820
Senate , it was celebrated . The

52:55.820 --> 52:58.042
American people spoke very clearly last

52:58.042 --> 53:00.620
year . They elected Donald Trump and a

53:00.620 --> 53:02.939
Republican Congress to secure the

53:02.939 --> 53:05.389
border , to enforce our immigration

53:05.389 --> 53:09.209
laws and to deport violent illegal

53:09.459 --> 53:13.129
aliens . That's exactly what our

53:13.129 --> 53:16.300
brave immigration authorities started

53:16.300 --> 53:20.219
doing on Friday . You have illegal

53:20.219 --> 53:22.560
aliens that were rounded up in Los

53:22.560 --> 53:25.870
Angeles that had committed heinous

53:25.870 --> 53:29.439
violent crimes . Are we simply supposed

53:29.439 --> 53:31.679
to overlook them because they're in a

53:31.679 --> 53:34.120
democratic city or a democratic state .

53:35.250 --> 53:39.179
You can Sexually assault children as

53:39.179 --> 53:41.012
an illegal alien , but if you're

53:41.012 --> 53:43.179
standing outside a Home Depot as a day

53:43.179 --> 53:45.340
laborer , immigration authorities are

53:45.340 --> 53:47.451
not supposed to arrest you and remove

53:47.451 --> 53:49.229
you from the streets to protect

53:49.229 --> 53:51.979
innocent civilians . And then what

53:51.979 --> 53:55.879
happened ? Again Anarchists ,

53:56.000 --> 53:58.479
revolutionaries , left wing street

53:58.479 --> 54:00.919
militias started attacking law

54:00.919 --> 54:04.570
enforcement . With bricks and cement

54:04.570 --> 54:07.020
and frozen water bottles spitting in

54:07.020 --> 54:09.860
their faces or much worse setting cars

54:09.860 --> 54:12.739
on fire , looting buildings , setting

54:12.739 --> 54:16.409
buildings on fire . Under these

54:16.409 --> 54:18.739
conditions , of course we should always

54:18.739 --> 54:20.889
want the local police to be the first

54:20.889 --> 54:23.409
line of authority and they usually .

54:24.320 --> 54:27.429
Can restore order In Los Angeles they

54:27.429 --> 54:29.909
could not . How do we know the Los

54:29.909 --> 54:32.790
Angeles Police Department chief told us

54:32.790 --> 54:36.520
that his forces were overwhelmed . Even

54:36.520 --> 54:38.770
as he kept them on all after their

54:38.770 --> 54:42.159
shift , the next line of defense

54:42.159 --> 54:44.120
against such civil disorder is the

54:44.120 --> 54:46.939
National Guard . You would expect a

54:46.939 --> 54:49.639
responsible governor when one of his

54:49.639 --> 54:52.760
city's police forces are overwhelmed to

54:52.760 --> 54:55.040
call out the National Guard , but the

54:55.040 --> 54:58.000
incompetent and ideological governor of

54:58.000 --> 55:00.689
California refused to do so . So

55:00.689 --> 55:03.610
President Trump had to act . He has

55:03.610 --> 55:06.810
clear legal authority to federalize the

55:06.810 --> 55:09.489
guard when necessary to protect

55:09.489 --> 55:11.489
innocent life and property and

55:11.489 --> 55:14.840
especially federal officers and federal

55:14.840 --> 55:17.110
property that's exactly what he did .

55:17.969 --> 55:20.459
Just like for instance in my state in

55:20.459 --> 55:24.129
1957 . When the racist Democratic

55:24.129 --> 55:26.100
governor tried to use the National

55:26.100 --> 55:29.129
Guard to prevent the desegregation of

55:29.129 --> 55:31.240
Little Rock Central High School , and

55:31.240 --> 55:33.240
President Eisenhower said , I don't

55:33.240 --> 55:35.407
think so , and federalize the guard to

55:35.407 --> 55:37.870
ensure the desegregation of Little Rock

55:37.870 --> 55:41.850
Central . And what did the governor of

55:41.850 --> 55:44.570
California do rather than recognize the

55:44.570 --> 55:47.129
error of his ways and cooperate and try

55:47.129 --> 55:49.820
to restore order in California , he

55:49.820 --> 55:52.290
began grandstanding , attacking the

55:52.290 --> 55:55.290
president , suing the federal

55:55.290 --> 55:57.512
government for using the National Guard

55:57.512 --> 56:00.320
to restore order , which again is one

56:00.570 --> 56:03.889
of its functions . Now the third line

56:03.889 --> 56:05.722
of defense as Senator Blumenthal

56:05.722 --> 56:07.780
referenced is the insurrection Act ,

56:08.129 --> 56:10.290
the use of active duty troops to

56:10.290 --> 56:13.169
restore order . The president has taken

56:13.169 --> 56:15.580
a measured approach so far . He has

56:15.580 --> 56:17.802
said he doesn't think it's necessary to

56:17.802 --> 56:20.580
do so , but he will use that venerable

56:20.580 --> 56:22.469
law which goes back nearly to the

56:22.469 --> 56:24.820
beginning of our republic if called for

56:24.820 --> 56:27.699
as it was , for instance , in the 1992

56:27.699 --> 56:31.229
LA riots . Now again we all hope that

56:31.229 --> 56:34.020
these riots are stopped . That these

56:34.020 --> 56:36.739
outlaws and renegades are arrested and

56:36.739 --> 56:39.459
prosecuted to the fullest extent of the

56:39.459 --> 56:41.889
law . But the president has a

56:41.889 --> 56:44.530
constitutional respons responsibility .

56:45.189 --> 56:48.379
To protect innocent lives , to defend

56:48.379 --> 56:50.212
federal officers , and to defend

56:50.212 --> 56:52.620
federal property , which is exactly

56:52.620 --> 56:54.639
what the Marines were sent to Los

56:54.639 --> 56:57.429
Angeles to do , not to engage in crowd

56:57.429 --> 56:59.860
control , not to engage in civilian

56:59.860 --> 57:01.889
arrests , but to protect federal

57:01.889 --> 57:05.639
property . And my time has expired , so

57:05.639 --> 57:07.583
I won't get to address some of the

57:07.583 --> 57:09.750
important issues that you came here to

57:09.750 --> 57:11.972
speak about , gentlemen , but I do want

57:11.972 --> 57:14.139
to express my thanks to the California

57:14.139 --> 57:16.028
Guard and to the Marines that are

57:16.028 --> 57:18.949
currently trying to perform the simple

57:18.949 --> 57:21.649
responsibility of protecting federal

57:21.649 --> 57:24.040
officers , federal property , and help

57:24.040 --> 57:26.159
the local police restore order in Los

57:26.159 --> 57:29.550
Angeles . Uh ,

57:30.050 --> 57:32.217
thank you . Thank you very much , uh ,

57:32.217 --> 57:36.040
Senator . Well , just to respond ,

57:36.219 --> 57:38.469
the issue is not is there lawless

57:38.469 --> 57:40.790
behavior that can be controlled by

57:40.790 --> 57:42.734
local law enforcement . You either

57:42.734 --> 57:44.679
believe in a federal system or you

57:44.679 --> 57:47.110
don't , where a governor requests the

57:47.110 --> 57:49.110
National Guard or doesn't , and you

57:49.110 --> 57:51.620
either believe in a civilian military

57:51.620 --> 57:54.830
division or you don't . Now President

57:54.830 --> 57:56.750
Trump has addressed this topic in

57:56.750 --> 57:59.750
September of 2020 . Look , we have laws .

57:59.790 --> 58:01.846
We have to go by the laws . We can't

58:01.846 --> 58:04.068
move in the National Guard . I can call

58:04.068 --> 58:06.290
insurrection , but there's no reason to

58:06.290 --> 58:08.820
ever do that . Even in a Portland case ,

58:09.070 --> 58:11.229
we can't call in the National Guard

58:11.229 --> 58:14.100
unless we're requested . By a governor

58:15.159 --> 58:17.939
I'll set aside all the ad hominem

58:17.939 --> 58:19.995
partisan attacks and just say this .

58:19.995 --> 58:22.217
Senator Cotton brings up the example of

58:22.217 --> 58:24.272
Little Rock . President Eisenhower ,

58:24.272 --> 58:26.383
Republican president , did federalize

58:26.383 --> 58:28.328
the guard in that instance . Why ?

58:28.328 --> 58:30.383
Because it was the governor that was

58:30.383 --> 58:34.179
violating federal law . There

58:34.179 --> 58:36.350
is no suggestion that Governor Newsom

58:36.350 --> 58:38.572
is violating federal law . In fact , he

58:38.572 --> 58:40.683
said , arrest me if I'm violating the

58:40.683 --> 58:42.739
law , and yesterday the chief border

58:42.739 --> 58:44.906
agent for the United States said there

58:44.906 --> 58:47.128
is no cause to arrest you , you are not

58:47.128 --> 58:49.072
violating federal law . And so the

58:49.072 --> 58:51.128
right balance in this instance is to

58:51.128 --> 58:53.800
let a local official , mayor , governor ,

58:53.909 --> 58:56.270
seek assistance if they need it . If

58:56.270 --> 58:59.229
the president decides more assets are

58:59.229 --> 59:01.229
needed , we wouldn't even be having

59:01.229 --> 59:03.340
this discussion if he said in federal

59:03.340 --> 59:06.110
law enforcement , FBI , DEA , federal

59:06.110 --> 59:08.790
law enforcement . We're having this

59:08.790 --> 59:11.110
discussion because the president in an

59:11.110 --> 59:14.790
unprecedented way without a request and

59:14.790 --> 59:17.012
over the objection of the local elected

59:17.012 --> 59:19.234
leadership is sent in the United States

59:19.234 --> 59:21.568
military and that is unprecedented . Um ,

59:22.439 --> 59:24.161
General Smith , I want to just

59:24.161 --> 59:26.383
compliment you . You , you listed three

59:26.383 --> 59:28.606
pillars of the area you're working on ,

59:28.606 --> 59:30.550
and number 3 was quality of life .

59:30.550 --> 59:32.495
Yesterday I was at , uh , Yorktown

59:32.495 --> 59:34.661
Naval Base , and I visited your Marine

59:34.661 --> 59:36.717
Corps Security Force regiment to see

59:36.717 --> 59:38.717
advances they're making on barracks

59:38.717 --> 59:40.383
2030 , and it was very , very

59:40.383 --> 59:42.606
impressive and I just , I , I told them

59:42.606 --> 59:44.717
that this is a real template for what

59:44.717 --> 59:46.828
we ought to be looking at Marine wide

59:46.828 --> 59:48.828
and and DODide and I just wanted to

59:48.828 --> 59:50.661
compliment you on that . Um , to

59:50.661 --> 59:52.939
Secretary Filin and Admiral Kilby , uh ,

59:52.939 --> 59:54.883
Senator Fisher has asked you about

59:54.883 --> 59:57.050
Columbia class . I was gonna ask , but

59:57.050 --> 59:59.161
normally just focus on , can you talk

59:59.161 --> 01:00:01.161
about where we are in trying to get

01:00:01.161 --> 01:00:03.383
Virginia class production up to speed ?

01:00:04.679 --> 01:00:06.846
Yeah all starts here we're , we're not

01:00:06.846 --> 01:00:08.735
where we want to be and we're not

01:00:08.735 --> 01:00:11.149
satisfied with it . We're at a 1.1 when

01:00:11.149 --> 01:00:13.429
we need to be in a 2.0 pace for us and

01:00:13.429 --> 01:00:17.100
2.33 for , um , the ultimate goal here ,

01:00:17.229 --> 01:00:19.870
uh , with the Aus program and just the

01:00:19.870 --> 01:00:22.037
timing of that , we , we need to be at

01:00:22.037 --> 01:00:23.870
2.33 kind of in the early to

01:00:23.870 --> 01:00:26.030
mid-thirties if we're going to . You

01:00:26.030 --> 01:00:28.197
know , be able to meet the commitments

01:00:28.197 --> 01:00:30.308
that we've made to the Aussies who've

01:00:30.308 --> 01:00:32.474
invested in our workforce to do that ,

01:00:32.474 --> 01:00:32.310
isn't that right ? That's , that's

01:00:32.310 --> 01:00:34.366
correct , sir . We have a heavy lift

01:00:34.366 --> 01:00:36.790
1.1 to 2.3 within 10 years . Yes sir .

01:00:37.219 --> 01:00:39.386
I , I do think there's been a bunch of

01:00:39.386 --> 01:00:41.219
uh investments that we've , uh ,

01:00:41.219 --> 01:00:44.040
enjoyed because of your approval in the

01:00:44.040 --> 01:00:45.873
maritime industrial base and the

01:00:45.873 --> 01:00:48.096
submarine industrial base in particular

01:00:48.096 --> 01:00:50.262
that I believe will help us here , but

01:00:50.262 --> 01:00:52.262
we do need the prime contractors to

01:00:52.262 --> 01:00:54.318
deliver and sequence work and get it

01:00:54.318 --> 01:00:56.620
done and focus on productivity just as

01:00:56.620 --> 01:00:59.639
Secretary Phelan laid out . Um , let me

01:00:59.639 --> 01:01:01.639
ask you this , uh , Admiral Kilby ,

01:01:01.729 --> 01:01:03.785
there's been a lot of attention to a

01:01:03.785 --> 01:01:05.729
couple of the , the mishaps in the

01:01:05.729 --> 01:01:08.239
Truman carrier strike group . But the

01:01:08.239 --> 01:01:10.239
group did such good work . We had a

01:01:10.239 --> 01:01:12.572
committee briefing about this last week ,

01:01:12.572 --> 01:01:14.628
and I think some of the positives of

01:01:14.628 --> 01:01:16.517
the work that was done under very

01:01:16.517 --> 01:01:18.683
difficult circumstances haven't really

01:01:18.683 --> 01:01:18.520
been described . Could you share with

01:01:18.520 --> 01:01:20.742
the committee ? I certainly can , sir .

01:01:20.742 --> 01:01:23.254
Thank you . I was , uh . privilege to

01:01:23.254 --> 01:01:25.254
go out and visit that , uh , strike

01:01:25.254 --> 01:01:27.476
group returning home the day before the

01:01:27.476 --> 01:01:29.643
two days before she returned home just

01:01:29.643 --> 01:01:31.921
to kind of give you a quick sound bite ,

01:01:31.921 --> 01:01:34.143
that strike group defended themselves ,

01:01:34.225 --> 01:01:37.014
other ships or other countries 160

01:01:37.014 --> 01:01:40.830
times successfully . They conducted 670

01:01:40.830 --> 01:01:42.886
strikes into Somalia either from the

01:01:42.886 --> 01:01:45.070
air or from the land . They conducted

01:01:45.070 --> 01:01:47.550
the largest single air strike ever

01:01:47.550 --> 01:01:50.790
launched from a carrier with 124,000

01:01:50.790 --> 01:01:53.350
pounds of munitions that detonated

01:01:53.350 --> 01:01:55.350
within two minutes of each other in

01:01:55.350 --> 01:01:58.310
Somalia . They participated in 8 named

01:01:58.310 --> 01:02:00.229
operations . They worked for 3

01:02:00.229 --> 01:02:03.350
different combatant commanders . They

01:02:03.350 --> 01:02:05.629
did great work for our nation , and

01:02:05.629 --> 01:02:07.685
they did not just the nation but the

01:02:07.685 --> 01:02:09.907
world . They really did good work . I ,

01:02:09.907 --> 01:02:11.907
I , I have some questions about why

01:02:11.907 --> 01:02:14.018
other allies didn't do more , but I'm

01:02:14.018 --> 01:02:13.800
glad that we did what we did . Um ,

01:02:13.949 --> 01:02:16.060
finally , Secretary Filin , I've been

01:02:16.060 --> 01:02:18.227
hearing good reviews of your traveling

01:02:18.227 --> 01:02:20.116
around to the shipyards , and you

01:02:20.116 --> 01:02:22.338
talked about it a little bit , but what

01:02:22.338 --> 01:02:22.149
would be some insights that you have

01:02:22.149 --> 01:02:24.560
about on the procurement side ? In

01:02:24.560 --> 01:02:26.949
terms of improvements that you believe

01:02:26.949 --> 01:02:29.116
you want to explore further based upon

01:02:29.116 --> 01:02:31.171
your tours thus far . Uh , thank you

01:02:31.171 --> 01:02:33.393
for the question , Senator . Look , I ,

01:02:33.393 --> 01:02:35.227
I , I think some of it is how we

01:02:35.227 --> 01:02:39.219
contract things , um , how we , um , uh ,

01:02:40.229 --> 01:02:42.459
locate things in terms of where our

01:02:42.459 --> 01:02:44.870
vendors are in terms of proximity to

01:02:44.870 --> 01:02:47.350
shipyards . I think we have to really

01:02:47.350 --> 01:02:49.510
look at the manufacturing process of

01:02:49.510 --> 01:02:51.840
modules , uh , and what we're doing . I

01:02:51.840 --> 01:02:53.840
think in the next Virginia class we

01:02:53.840 --> 01:02:57.469
have to really consider having HII .

01:02:57.649 --> 01:03:00.750
Build and EV build versus the two of

01:03:00.750 --> 01:03:03.350
them co-building , uh , I , I think we

01:03:03.350 --> 01:03:05.580
need to introduce some competition back

01:03:05.580 --> 01:03:08.469
into the system , um , and I think one

01:03:08.469 --> 01:03:10.191
of the issues we've dealt with

01:03:10.191 --> 01:03:12.302
particularly with Virginia is some of

01:03:12.302 --> 01:03:14.469
these boats were first of class . It's

01:03:14.469 --> 01:03:16.636
a even though it looks the same , it's

01:03:16.636 --> 01:03:18.802
very different . I think we're getting

01:03:18.802 --> 01:03:20.913
over that curve and learning faster .

01:03:20.913 --> 01:03:23.025
Um , and I think candidly it's just ,

01:03:23.025 --> 01:03:25.080
you know , one of the things I would

01:03:25.080 --> 01:03:27.191
say , interestingly , every company I

01:03:27.191 --> 01:03:29.525
met with every public shipyard I was at ,

01:03:29.525 --> 01:03:31.747
they all bragged about their training ,

01:03:31.747 --> 01:03:33.580
but when I sat down with all the

01:03:33.580 --> 01:03:33.500
workers , the one thing they said they

01:03:33.500 --> 01:03:35.667
didn't have really good was training .

01:03:35.739 --> 01:03:38.300
And so we're really , I think there are

01:03:38.300 --> 01:03:40.540
better ways to train them and get them

01:03:40.540 --> 01:03:42.429
in there and get them up to speed

01:03:42.429 --> 01:03:44.651
faster , and these are things we're all

01:03:44.651 --> 01:03:46.596
looking at . Thank you very much .

01:03:46.596 --> 01:03:49.760
Thank you . Senator Ros , thank you ,

01:03:49.770 --> 01:03:51.881
Mr . Chairman . First of all three of

01:03:51.881 --> 01:03:54.103
you , thank you for your service to our

01:03:54.103 --> 01:03:56.270
country . General Smith , I just wanna

01:03:56.270 --> 01:03:58.603
touch on one item very quickly and just ,

01:03:58.603 --> 01:04:01.090
you laid out very clearly to some

01:04:01.090 --> 01:04:03.469
questioning earlier the current

01:04:03.469 --> 01:04:05.525
situation with regard to the Marines

01:04:05.525 --> 01:04:07.636
that are currently in California that

01:04:07.636 --> 01:04:09.469
the president has identified , I

01:04:09.469 --> 01:04:11.636
believe you have approximately 2000 of

01:04:11.636 --> 01:04:15.149
them , is that correct , sir ? We've

01:04:15.149 --> 01:04:17.709
actually got uh 700 Marines from 2nd

01:04:17.709 --> 01:04:20.469
Battalion 7th Marines , sir . OK . And

01:04:20.469 --> 01:04:22.580
in , in , in their current position ,

01:04:22.580 --> 01:04:24.802
do you consider them what , what , what

01:04:24.802 --> 01:04:26.580
position are they in ? Are they

01:04:26.580 --> 01:04:28.691
mobilized or are they , what , what's

01:04:28.691 --> 01:04:30.913
the , the , the appropriate terminology

01:04:30.913 --> 01:04:32.969
that you would use for their current

01:04:32.969 --> 01:04:35.191
status ? So , I would say that they are

01:04:35.191 --> 01:04:37.413
there , uh , at the SECF's direction to

01:04:37.413 --> 01:04:39.413
NorthCO . Um , it's one of our most

01:04:39.413 --> 01:04:41.300
ready battalions . um , they're

01:04:41.300 --> 01:04:43.522
prepared to respond to lawful orders in

01:04:43.522 --> 01:04:45.633
their chain of command . Um , they're

01:04:45.633 --> 01:04:48.169
there to protect federal property and

01:04:48.169 --> 01:04:50.058
federal officers . Have they been

01:04:50.058 --> 01:04:52.570
called into that in in into that

01:04:52.570 --> 01:04:54.792
operation yet ? Sir , I would defer you

01:04:54.792 --> 01:04:56.959
to the commander of NorthCO for that .

01:04:56.959 --> 01:04:59.189
OK . When they , when they come in to

01:04:59.189 --> 01:05:01.489
do this , they're they have not engaged

01:05:01.489 --> 01:05:03.433
at all at this stage of the game .

01:05:03.433 --> 01:05:05.489
That's correct , sir . OK . The only

01:05:05.489 --> 01:05:07.378
time that they would engage is if

01:05:07.378 --> 01:05:09.550
properties are or individual other

01:05:09.550 --> 01:05:11.772
members of the armed services are being

01:05:11.772 --> 01:05:13.883
threatened . Is that accurate , sir ?

01:05:13.883 --> 01:05:16.106
That is correct , sir . So they're in a

01:05:16.106 --> 01:05:17.994
defensive posture right now , but

01:05:17.994 --> 01:05:19.939
they're and available as a reserve

01:05:19.939 --> 01:05:19.790
force . That that is correct , sir .

01:05:19.840 --> 01:05:21.673
And again , I would defer to the

01:05:21.673 --> 01:05:23.673
NorthCO commander for its for their

01:05:23.673 --> 01:05:25.896
employment . Thank you . I , I , I just

01:05:25.896 --> 01:05:27.840
wanna make it clear that . The the

01:05:27.840 --> 01:05:29.840
purpose for them being there is not

01:05:29.840 --> 01:05:31.951
necessarily for law enforcement , but

01:05:31.951 --> 01:05:34.173
it is there to protect other members of

01:05:34.173 --> 01:05:36.396
the military or federal properties . Is

01:05:36.396 --> 01:05:38.451
that accurate ? Sure , that is their

01:05:38.451 --> 01:05:40.396
mission , which is exactly what it

01:05:40.396 --> 01:05:42.507
would be if they were in another part

01:05:42.507 --> 01:05:44.784
of the sovereignty which we would have ,

01:05:44.784 --> 01:05:44.540
which would be at any embassy , any

01:05:44.540 --> 01:05:47.219
place in the world . Uh , basically ,

01:05:47.340 --> 01:05:50.870
sure . OK , thank you . Um , Secretary

01:05:50.870 --> 01:05:53.239
Phalin , just to , uh , thought you're

01:05:53.239 --> 01:05:55.580
brand new in the job , more or less . I ,

01:05:55.709 --> 01:05:59.000
I have , uh , asked , I , I guess

01:05:59.000 --> 01:06:00.944
almost every time we've had one of

01:06:00.944 --> 01:06:03.111
these types of setups in front of us .

01:06:03.389 --> 01:06:06.010
about a submarine called the USS Boise .

01:06:06.919 --> 01:06:09.141
And I think it's just a great example ,

01:06:09.141 --> 01:06:11.308
an unfortunate example of what happens

01:06:11.308 --> 01:06:13.800
when either you don't have the budget

01:06:13.800 --> 01:06:15.967
or you don't have the facilities , but

01:06:15.967 --> 01:06:18.199
it's , uh , kind of like that parakeet

01:06:18.530 --> 01:06:20.860
that you're , you take to a mine and it

01:06:20.860 --> 01:06:23.010
basically suggests that maybe things

01:06:23.010 --> 01:06:25.066
aren't all right . The USS Boise was

01:06:25.066 --> 01:06:27.840
originally commissioned in 1992 . Um ,

01:06:27.929 --> 01:06:31.280
it's a nuclear attack sub and it had ,

01:06:31.330 --> 01:06:33.441
it was , uh , taken out of service in

01:06:33.441 --> 01:06:36.370
2015 . And since that time , it has

01:06:36.370 --> 01:06:38.426
been in different phases of either a

01:06:38.426 --> 01:06:41.889
dry dock or sitting at dock . Right now ,

01:06:41.899 --> 01:06:44.090
the most current plan is that it will

01:06:44.090 --> 01:06:47.489
not go back into service until 2029 .

01:06:48.149 --> 01:06:50.427
There's something wrong with this . Uh ,

01:06:51.330 --> 01:06:53.441
just compared to how long it takes us

01:06:53.441 --> 01:06:55.810
to build a brand new sub today . This

01:06:55.810 --> 01:06:57.810
has been sitting there now and it's

01:06:57.810 --> 01:07:00.129
gonna be 14 years of not being in

01:07:00.129 --> 01:07:02.240
service . You had a chance to look at

01:07:02.240 --> 01:07:04.462
that operation or have you had a chance

01:07:04.462 --> 01:07:06.518
to look and see just what's going on

01:07:06.518 --> 01:07:08.909
there ? Uh , thank you for the question ,

01:07:08.979 --> 01:07:11.090
Senator . I know important to you . I

01:07:11.090 --> 01:07:13.312
have not on that specific one , but let

01:07:13.312 --> 01:07:15.590
me speak kind of in general about this ,

01:07:15.949 --> 01:07:19.949
um . Our maintenance times , this

01:07:19.949 --> 01:07:22.227
all comes back to the point of urgency .

01:07:22.379 --> 01:07:24.760
We , we don't seem to have that sense

01:07:24.760 --> 01:07:27.060
of urgency that we need . We don't in ,

01:07:27.100 --> 01:07:29.909
in the manufacturing and construction

01:07:29.909 --> 01:07:32.419
and maintenance business , there's one

01:07:32.419 --> 01:07:34.419
thing you know , Senator King talks

01:07:34.419 --> 01:07:36.419
about Carnival Cruise Line . Is one

01:07:36.419 --> 01:07:38.252
word schedule . If you don't hit

01:07:38.252 --> 01:07:41.600
schedule you get killed and we don't

01:07:41.600 --> 01:07:43.711
seem to hold the schedule and I think

01:07:43.711 --> 01:07:45.878
there are a number of reasons why some

01:07:45.878 --> 01:07:48.000
of that's the supply base some of

01:07:48.000 --> 01:07:50.639
that's green workers some of that's not

01:07:50.639 --> 01:07:52.695
having enough workers some of that's

01:07:52.695 --> 01:07:54.709
taking workers and shifting them to

01:07:54.919 --> 01:07:57.360
other jobs there are a lot of things

01:07:57.360 --> 01:07:59.879
that we aren't doing that are not very

01:07:59.879 --> 01:08:02.820
smart . I went to Korea . I , I went to

01:08:02.820 --> 01:08:04.739
Hanwa . I went to Hyundai Heavy

01:08:04.739 --> 01:08:06.870
Industries , went to two shipyards in

01:08:06.870 --> 01:08:10.860
Japan . The Japanese in 18 hour shift

01:08:10.860 --> 01:08:13.699
get done what we get done in 2.5 shifts .

01:08:13.899 --> 01:08:15.843
It is not because they are so much

01:08:15.843 --> 01:08:17.899
better . They are more experienced ,

01:08:17.979 --> 01:08:20.580
yes , but like you speak to a welder in

01:08:20.580 --> 01:08:23.580
Japan or Korea , they spend 0 time on

01:08:23.580 --> 01:08:26.220
paperwork . I've have yet to found a

01:08:26.220 --> 01:08:28.529
single shipyard where it's not between

01:08:28.529 --> 01:08:31.939
35 and 50% of their time is filling out

01:08:31.939 --> 01:08:34.106
paperwork . These are things that need

01:08:34.106 --> 01:08:36.161
to change . We need to modernize and

01:08:36.161 --> 01:08:38.700
design . So these maintenance , as , as

01:08:38.700 --> 01:08:40.811
you're talking about , this is a huge

01:08:40.811 --> 01:08:42.978
problem if you have a ship in a yard ,

01:08:42.978 --> 01:08:45.200
in my opinion , for more than a year or

01:08:45.200 --> 01:08:47.422
2 years , pretty hard to get it back in

01:08:47.422 --> 01:08:49.533
the water and we , we , we , we can't

01:08:49.533 --> 01:08:51.819
be spending 14 years trying to , to

01:08:51.819 --> 01:08:54.097
take it to its second life . It's just .

01:08:54.097 --> 01:08:56.319
Can't be done anymore . I agree . Thank

01:08:56.319 --> 01:08:58.750
you , thank you , Mr . Chairman . And ,

01:08:58.779 --> 01:09:00.740
uh , we , we look forward to your

01:09:00.740 --> 01:09:03.220
suggestions about specifically how to

01:09:03.220 --> 01:09:05.459
deal with the paperwork issue , Mr .

01:09:05.470 --> 01:09:08.508
Secretary . Senator Warren . Thank you

01:09:08.508 --> 01:09:11.628
Mr . Chairman . So for years giant

01:09:11.628 --> 01:09:13.949
defense contractors have been sneaking

01:09:13.949 --> 01:09:17.079
fine print into contracts that prevents

01:09:17.079 --> 01:09:19.789
sailors and marines from maintaining

01:09:19.789 --> 01:09:21.829
their own equipment . These

01:09:21.829 --> 01:09:24.148
restrictions increase costs , they hurt

01:09:24.148 --> 01:09:26.508
readiness , and they make a lot of

01:09:26.508 --> 01:09:29.579
money for the contractors . During your

01:09:29.579 --> 01:09:32.148
confirmation process , uh , Secretary

01:09:32.148 --> 01:09:34.068
Filin , you committed to quote .

01:09:34.620 --> 01:09:37.580
Explore how to best leverage right to

01:09:37.580 --> 01:09:40.700
repair and technical data rights within

01:09:40.700 --> 01:09:43.930
acquisition contracts to enable organic

01:09:43.930 --> 01:09:47.330
repair capacity . I wrote it down , uh ,

01:09:47.459 --> 01:09:49.200
so I wanna make sure that that

01:09:49.200 --> 01:09:51.700
maintains , uh , as a priority .

01:09:52.350 --> 01:09:55.029
Marines in Okinawa , Japan had to send

01:09:55.029 --> 01:09:57.990
back engines to contractors in the US

01:09:57.990 --> 01:10:00.830
for repairs , a process that took

01:10:00.830 --> 01:10:03.052
months when the Marines could have done

01:10:03.052 --> 01:10:05.870
it themselves on site , but they had to

01:10:05.870 --> 01:10:07.990
do that because that is what the

01:10:07.990 --> 01:10:11.120
contract said . And when it's a ship ,

01:10:11.549 --> 01:10:13.660
the United States government actually

01:10:13.660 --> 01:10:16.140
foots the bill to send the contractor

01:10:16.140 --> 01:10:19.680
out to sea . GAO found that travel

01:10:19.680 --> 01:10:21.720
costs to have a contractor complete

01:10:21.720 --> 01:10:25.680
repairs for one order on the USS

01:10:25.680 --> 01:10:28.479
Montgomery in Singapore would cost

01:10:28.479 --> 01:10:31.919
about $1.2 million . That's just for

01:10:31.919 --> 01:10:34.830
the travel costs . So Secretary Phalin ,

01:10:35.160 --> 01:10:37.327
would you agree that the Navy could be

01:10:37.327 --> 01:10:39.271
using those millions of dollars to

01:10:39.271 --> 01:10:41.271
train service members on the skills

01:10:41.271 --> 01:10:43.560
they need . So they could fix their own

01:10:43.560 --> 01:10:45.810
equipment rather than spending that

01:10:45.810 --> 01:10:48.839
money to fly contractors to provide

01:10:48.839 --> 01:10:52.640
tech support . Senator , thank

01:10:52.640 --> 01:10:54.862
you for the question . I know it's very

01:10:54.862 --> 01:10:57.899
important to you . What we do makes no

01:10:57.899 --> 01:11:01.540
sense to me , OK ? And so I am a

01:11:01.540 --> 01:11:04.450
huge supporter of right to repair . I ,

01:11:04.500 --> 01:11:07.959
I went on the Ford carrier . They had 8

01:11:07.959 --> 01:11:11.100
ovens . This is a this is a ship that

01:11:11.100 --> 01:11:14.089
serves 15,300 meals a day .

01:11:14.959 --> 01:11:18.509
Only 2 were working , 6 were out , like ,

01:11:18.839 --> 01:11:21.006
and I said , you've got 5300 people on

01:11:21.006 --> 01:11:23.061
the ship . You're telling me someone

01:11:23.061 --> 01:11:25.061
can't fix an oven . We got a lot of

01:11:25.061 --> 01:11:27.061
engineers . We can , but we need to

01:11:27.061 --> 01:11:29.395
wait for the contractor to get out . Um ,

01:11:29.395 --> 01:11:32.160
I asked the question about our

01:11:32.160 --> 01:11:34.160
elevators . If an elevator go out ,

01:11:34.160 --> 01:11:35.993
what happens ? We've got to call

01:11:35.993 --> 01:11:38.160
Huntington , they've got to call the 4

01:11:38.160 --> 01:11:40.216
other people . They have to come out

01:11:40.216 --> 01:11:42.216
and diagnose the problem , and then

01:11:42.216 --> 01:11:45.299
they'll fix it . It is crazy we should

01:11:45.299 --> 01:11:47.700
be able to fix this and my other hot

01:11:47.700 --> 01:11:49.811
button which I know is another one of

01:11:49.811 --> 01:11:52.419
yours in this committees is IP and our

01:11:52.419 --> 01:11:54.700
intellectual property rights , we end

01:11:54.700 --> 01:11:56.811
up paying for a lot of things that we

01:11:56.811 --> 01:11:58.859
don't control and we need to change

01:11:58.859 --> 01:12:01.220
that . And so contracting in general is

01:12:01.220 --> 01:12:03.529
something we're looking at very hard

01:12:03.779 --> 01:12:06.882
and we need to really try to . Going

01:12:06.882 --> 01:12:09.562
forward we control our IP and we have

01:12:09.562 --> 01:12:11.618
the ability to fix things because if

01:12:11.618 --> 01:12:13.784
we're in a fight , how do we not , how

01:12:13.784 --> 01:12:16.442
do we fix it then you have this so

01:12:16.442 --> 01:12:18.386
right , the importance not only of

01:12:18.386 --> 01:12:20.833
doing it on a day by day by day basis ,

01:12:21.243 --> 01:12:23.410
but you need all of that muscle memory

01:12:23.410 --> 01:12:25.410
of how to fix things in case you're

01:12:25.410 --> 01:12:28.433
under much more adverse circumstances

01:12:28.433 --> 01:12:31.016
and . Don't have time to let something

01:12:31.226 --> 01:12:33.545
lie there unused while you try to fly

01:12:33.545 --> 01:12:35.545
in somebody from halfway around the

01:12:35.545 --> 01:12:37.656
world . So let me just make sure I've

01:12:37.656 --> 01:12:39.656
got you on the record here . Do you

01:12:39.656 --> 01:12:41.823
agree that the Navy needs to negotiate

01:12:41.823 --> 01:12:45.105
for comprehensive repair rights so that

01:12:45.105 --> 01:12:48.335
contractors cannot find shady ways

01:12:48.496 --> 01:12:52.419
both to insist on their ability . To

01:12:52.419 --> 01:12:54.839
do the repairs , but also to keep the

01:12:54.839 --> 01:12:57.680
data that you need away from you so

01:12:57.680 --> 01:12:59.458
that you can't do it yourself .

01:13:01.549 --> 01:13:03.660
Senator , I agree we need to repair I

01:13:03.660 --> 01:13:05.716
have the right to repair our ships .

01:13:05.716 --> 01:13:07.827
How we specifically go about that , I

01:13:07.827 --> 01:13:10.049
need to look at and understand better ,

01:13:10.049 --> 01:13:12.216
but trust me , you and I are simpatico

01:13:12.216 --> 01:13:14.493
on this . OK . And then I will ask you ,

01:13:14.493 --> 01:13:16.605
while we're being so simpatico here ,

01:13:16.605 --> 01:13:18.438
let me ask you one more . Do you

01:13:18.438 --> 01:13:20.589
support Congress passing a law that

01:13:20.589 --> 01:13:23.819
will help you negotiate repair rights

01:13:24.069 --> 01:13:26.479
at a fair and reasonable price ? Yes ,

01:13:26.560 --> 01:13:29.040
I do . OK , I really do appreciate this ,

01:13:29.120 --> 01:13:31.799
you know , and so do 70% of voters

01:13:31.799 --> 01:13:34.319
according to recent polling , and this

01:13:34.319 --> 01:13:36.600
is why Senator Sheehy and I are

01:13:36.600 --> 01:13:39.439
introducing the Warrior Right to Repair

01:13:39.439 --> 01:13:42.560
Act to make sure that every service

01:13:42.560 --> 01:13:45.560
follows the Army's lead of securing

01:13:45.560 --> 01:13:48.439
repair rights and requiring contractors

01:13:48.439 --> 01:13:51.245
to offer . Those rights at fair and

01:13:51.245 --> 01:13:53.765
reasonable prices . This is an

01:13:53.765 --> 01:13:56.484
opportunity to stand up for our sailors

01:13:56.484 --> 01:13:58.285
and marines as well as for the

01:13:58.285 --> 01:14:00.685
taxpayers , and I look forward to

01:14:00.685 --> 01:14:02.852
working with you . I know that Senator

01:14:02.852 --> 01:14:05.140
Sheehy does as well . And we want to

01:14:05.140 --> 01:14:07.362
work with all of our colleagues to make

01:14:07.362 --> 01:14:09.529
sure that our service members have the

01:14:09.529 --> 01:14:11.584
tools they need to be able to repair

01:14:11.584 --> 01:14:13.807
their own equipment . Thank you . Thank

01:14:13.807 --> 01:14:15.696
you , Mr . Chairman . Thank you ,

01:14:15.696 --> 01:14:17.973
Senator Warren . Uh , Secretary Phelan ,

01:14:17.973 --> 01:14:20.140
have you had a chance or has your team

01:14:20.259 --> 01:14:22.490
had a chance to look at the specifics

01:14:22.899 --> 01:14:26.089
of the language of , of the , uh ,

01:14:26.100 --> 01:14:28.339
Warren Sheehy bill that has been

01:14:28.339 --> 01:14:31.149
referred to ? I have not . OK , will ,

01:14:31.350 --> 01:14:33.628
will you please do that and , and , uh ,

01:14:34.029 --> 01:14:36.709
comment , uh , about the specifics on

01:14:36.709 --> 01:14:39.042
the record . It'd be very helpful to us .

01:14:39.042 --> 01:14:41.042
Absolutely . Thank you , and I look

01:14:41.042 --> 01:14:43.153
forward to , uh , working with my two

01:14:43.153 --> 01:14:45.459
colleagues , uh , on a workable

01:14:45.459 --> 01:14:47.990
solution , particularly since the

01:14:47.990 --> 01:14:51.979
secretary , um . It is so supportive of

01:14:51.979 --> 01:14:55.779
that uh concept . Senator Ernst . Thank

01:14:55.779 --> 01:14:57.990
you , Mr . Chair and thank you

01:14:57.990 --> 01:15:00.299
Secretary Feline , Admiral Kilby and

01:15:00.299 --> 01:15:02.466
General Smith for being here today and

01:15:02.466 --> 01:15:04.660
for your service to our nation . I'd

01:15:04.660 --> 01:15:07.310
like to start with a discussion on

01:15:07.310 --> 01:15:10.140
recruiting and ship manning . So

01:15:10.140 --> 01:15:12.418
Secretary , we'll we'll start with you .

01:15:12.700 --> 01:15:14.589
Uh , the Navy did meet its , uh ,

01:15:14.589 --> 01:15:16.589
recruiting requirements . In fiscal

01:15:16.589 --> 01:15:20.384
year 24 , but even though it , it

01:15:20.384 --> 01:15:22.551
did that , we're still concerned about

01:15:22.551 --> 01:15:24.662
the top line metrics when it comes to

01:15:24.662 --> 01:15:26.606
meeting the fleet needs . It's the

01:15:26.606 --> 01:15:28.662
fleet is still short , roughly about

01:15:28.662 --> 01:15:31.504
18,000 at sea billets , and that's

01:15:31.504 --> 01:15:33.544
primarily among the junior enlisted

01:15:33.544 --> 01:15:35.655
ranks . And so of course we see the ,

01:15:35.655 --> 01:15:38.524
the chronic under crewing fatigue and

01:15:38.524 --> 01:15:41.220
of course the operational strain . Uh ,

01:15:41.290 --> 01:15:45.279
so there was a GAO report in 2024 that

01:15:45.279 --> 01:15:48.689
flagged some really unusual or

01:15:48.689 --> 01:15:51.379
troubling data practices where our

01:15:51.379 --> 01:15:53.850
junior sailors are being counted in

01:15:53.850 --> 01:15:56.479
senior billets , uh , which does

01:15:56.479 --> 01:15:58.970
inflate our readiness metrics , and I

01:15:58.970 --> 01:16:01.890
believe the report stated it was by 23% .

01:16:02.330 --> 01:16:05.850
So it does undermine transparency and

01:16:05.850 --> 01:16:08.290
it makes it really difficult for us to

01:16:08.290 --> 01:16:11.040
do our congressional oversight . Um ,

01:16:11.160 --> 01:16:13.327
so , Secretary , what specific actions

01:16:13.327 --> 01:16:15.382
are you taking to close the manpower

01:16:15.382 --> 01:16:18.359
gap and restore the transparency in how

01:16:18.359 --> 01:16:20.959
the Navy is reporting its personnel

01:16:20.959 --> 01:16:24.549
readiness to Congress ? Uh ,

01:16:25.330 --> 01:16:27.497
thanks for the question , Senator . So

01:16:27.497 --> 01:16:29.719
I have not seen the GAA report . I will

01:16:29.719 --> 01:16:31.941
get it and come back to you with that .

01:16:31.941 --> 01:16:34.209
So I'm unaware of it . Transparency is

01:16:34.209 --> 01:16:36.376
something we're working on very hard .

01:16:36.376 --> 01:16:39.330
I , I've learned in my 1st , 70 days

01:16:39.330 --> 01:16:42.529
here that if I don't ask the question

01:16:42.529 --> 01:16:44.770
and then the other 4 questions that are

01:16:44.770 --> 01:16:46.881
going to follow it , I don't get . At

01:16:46.881 --> 01:16:49.048
the information I need , so we need to

01:16:49.048 --> 01:16:50.992
be transparent with you . I'll ask

01:16:50.992 --> 01:16:53.159
Admiral Kirby maybe to comment on this

01:16:53.159 --> 01:16:55.270
specifically because I'm not specific

01:16:55.270 --> 01:16:57.437
around it , but I can just tell you in

01:16:57.437 --> 01:16:59.825
terms of the gaps that you mentioned ,

01:17:00.075 --> 01:17:03.674
we were at about 23,000 , I think two

01:17:03.674 --> 01:17:06.075
years ago , 20,000 we're hoping for

01:17:06.075 --> 01:17:09.240
fiscal year 25 to be at 18,000 . Uh ,

01:17:09.290 --> 01:17:11.012
in terms of shortage , but our

01:17:11.012 --> 01:17:12.846
recruiting numbers are up pretty

01:17:12.846 --> 01:17:15.068
significantly . I'd like to think we're

01:17:15.068 --> 01:17:17.123
gonna exceed our targets this year .

01:17:17.123 --> 01:17:19.123
We've seen a real pretty big pop in

01:17:19.123 --> 01:17:21.346
that , so we're optimistic that we'll ,

01:17:21.346 --> 01:17:23.290
we'll , we'll beat those numbers .

01:17:23.290 --> 01:17:25.401
Thank you , Secretary Admiral . I , I

01:17:25.401 --> 01:17:27.512
just add to what the . said , we , we

01:17:27.512 --> 01:17:30.319
really drained our reservoir , which is

01:17:30.319 --> 01:17:32.729
called the delayed entry program depth

01:17:33.250 --> 01:17:37.209
to 12% . It's now at 32% . We have

01:17:37.209 --> 01:17:39.098
exceeded our goals and we need to

01:17:39.098 --> 01:17:41.042
continue to do that and we need to

01:17:41.042 --> 01:17:43.153
continue to do that through 26 , 27 ,

01:17:43.153 --> 01:17:45.399
28 because it's gonna take , it takes 9

01:17:45.399 --> 01:17:48.250
months to get a recruit to a ship with

01:17:48.250 --> 01:17:50.589
no training . And so we're seeing that

01:17:50.589 --> 01:17:52.580
curve start to kick in when we

01:17:52.580 --> 01:17:54.747
testified before the hack , we were at

01:17:54.747 --> 01:17:58.580
23,200 gaps today , 22,900 gaps are

01:17:58.580 --> 01:18:00.691
trending in the right direction , but

01:18:00.691 --> 01:18:03.220
we are focused on this every day . It

01:18:03.220 --> 01:18:05.700
is this of the three things I worry

01:18:05.700 --> 01:18:08.259
about , it's , it's number 2 . OK ,

01:18:08.680 --> 01:18:10.902
we've really , really got to close that

01:18:10.902 --> 01:18:13.124
up and we'll , we'll follow up with you

01:18:13.124 --> 01:18:15.347
on that . Um , General Smith , you have

01:18:15.347 --> 01:18:17.402
consistently within the Marine Corps

01:18:17.402 --> 01:18:19.569
met your recruiting , uh goals . Can ,

01:18:19.569 --> 01:18:21.680
can you talk about the success of the

01:18:21.680 --> 01:18:23.736
Marine Corps and how you've achieved

01:18:23.736 --> 01:18:25.958
that ? Senator , I can , and thanks for

01:18:25.958 --> 01:18:28.013
calling that out . I'm very proud of

01:18:28.013 --> 01:18:30.124
our marine recruiters . The way we do

01:18:30.124 --> 01:18:32.347
it is Marines don't fail . We , we make

01:18:32.347 --> 01:18:34.069
our mission . Um , we give our

01:18:34.069 --> 01:18:36.236
recruiters a mission . We hold them to

01:18:36.236 --> 01:18:38.330
account for that mission every month

01:18:38.330 --> 01:18:39.997
they're required to recruit 3

01:18:39.997 --> 01:18:42.163
individuals and when they , they don't

01:18:42.163 --> 01:18:44.290
make it , we give them counseling and

01:18:44.290 --> 01:18:46.234
if they continue to not make it we

01:18:46.234 --> 01:18:48.346
replace them . Uh , recruiting is our

01:18:48.346 --> 01:18:50.457
lifeblood . We place our best and our

01:18:50.457 --> 01:18:52.568
brightest on recruiting duty , and we

01:18:52.568 --> 01:18:54.346
reward them with a duty station

01:18:54.346 --> 01:18:56.568
preference , promotions and awards when

01:18:56.568 --> 01:18:58.568
they do successfully complete their

01:18:58.568 --> 01:18:58.370
recruiting mission . And it's a simple

01:18:58.370 --> 01:19:00.537
fact . We're Marines . We don't fail .

01:19:00.537 --> 01:19:02.330
Well , thank you . We , we do

01:19:02.330 --> 01:19:04.930
appreciate that and um thanks for

01:19:04.930 --> 01:19:06.874
meeting those recruiting goals and

01:19:06.874 --> 01:19:09.729
inspiring uh those generations that are

01:19:10.169 --> 01:19:12.450
joining into the Marine Corps . um , so

01:19:12.450 --> 01:19:14.728
I really appreciate that . I do have a ,

01:19:14.810 --> 01:19:16.643
it's called the Serve Act and it

01:19:16.643 --> 01:19:18.866
provides a pipeline for young Americans

01:19:19.089 --> 01:19:22.129
to go into our service branches and .

01:19:22.470 --> 01:19:24.581
Uh , we hope we can get that included

01:19:24.581 --> 01:19:27.319
in this year's NDAA . Um , I do want to

01:19:27.319 --> 01:19:29.430
talk very briefly because I'm running

01:19:29.430 --> 01:19:31.520
out of time . I , I wanna talk about

01:19:31.729 --> 01:19:34.160
auditing , everybody's favorite topic .

01:19:34.339 --> 01:19:37.160
I love this topic . Um , but Secretary

01:19:37.160 --> 01:19:39.327
Phelan , you , you pledged during your

01:19:39.327 --> 01:19:41.549
confirmation hearing to deliver a clean

01:19:41.549 --> 01:19:43.716
audit by 2028 , and that is called for

01:19:43.716 --> 01:19:47.060
in . Uh , our NDAA , I got my start in

01:19:47.060 --> 01:19:49.899
public service as a county auditor , so

01:19:49.899 --> 01:19:52.010
this is really exciting stuff to me ,

01:19:52.339 --> 01:19:55.180
uh , but , uh , yeah , everybody laughs ,

01:19:55.259 --> 01:19:57.580
uh , but it is , uh , so the Marine

01:19:57.580 --> 01:20:00.100
Corps has achieved a clean audit not

01:20:00.100 --> 01:20:03.939
once but twice , uh , which is .

01:20:04.149 --> 01:20:07.180
Very , uh , very , very good . It is ,

01:20:07.270 --> 01:20:09.390
it proves really that success is , is

01:20:09.390 --> 01:20:11.334
possible when you have really good

01:20:11.334 --> 01:20:13.859
leadership , uh , that prioritizes it .

01:20:14.029 --> 01:20:16.140
So , uh , General Smith , what is the

01:20:16.140 --> 01:20:18.362
Marine Corps doing differently than our

01:20:18.362 --> 01:20:20.585
other service branches that has enabled

01:20:20.585 --> 01:20:22.585
you to meet this milestone not just

01:20:22.585 --> 01:20:24.830
that once but twice ? Well , Senator ,

01:20:24.839 --> 01:20:27.006
thanks for calling that out . I'm very

01:20:27.006 --> 01:20:29.228
proud of my Marines in the Marine Corps

01:20:29.228 --> 01:20:31.561
for passing an audit two years in a row .

01:20:31.561 --> 01:20:31.120
I can't speak for the other services .

01:20:31.169 --> 01:20:33.270
I can only speak for Marines . We're

01:20:33.270 --> 01:20:35.990
accountable . Um , we , we , we started

01:20:35.990 --> 01:20:38.046
at the recruit training . We started

01:20:38.046 --> 01:20:39.934
officer candidate school . You're

01:20:39.934 --> 01:20:41.990
issued a shelter half , 510 pins , 3

01:20:41.990 --> 01:20:43.990
tent poles , and a guide wire , and

01:20:43.990 --> 01:20:45.823
when you leave the unit , you're

01:20:45.823 --> 01:20:48.046
expected to turn in your shelter half ,

01:20:48.046 --> 01:20:50.379
510 pins , 310 poles , and a guide wire .

01:20:50.379 --> 01:20:52.660
And if you don't turn it in . We NJP

01:20:52.660 --> 01:20:54.959
you non-judicial punishment you or we

01:20:54.959 --> 01:20:57.015
allow you the opportunity to replace

01:20:57.015 --> 01:20:59.237
that using your own money , um , but we

01:20:59.237 --> 01:21:01.292
hold people accountable . And this ,

01:21:01.292 --> 01:21:03.515
this is American tax money and it's not

01:21:03.515 --> 01:21:05.570
ours to to tinker with . Yeah , as a

01:21:05.570 --> 01:21:07.681
logistician , I appreciate that . And

01:21:07.681 --> 01:21:09.737
Mr . Chairman , if I might , it , it

01:21:09.737 --> 01:21:12.430
may be overexaggerated , but is it true

01:21:12.430 --> 01:21:16.310
that the Brits had said , uh , on

01:21:16.310 --> 01:21:19.779
your next joint training exercise

01:21:19.779 --> 01:21:21.890
instead of sending your Marines , you

01:21:21.890 --> 01:21:24.112
send them your accountants ? Uh , I'm ,

01:21:24.112 --> 01:21:26.446
I'm not gonna swear to that , man , but ,

01:21:26.446 --> 01:21:28.501
but that may have been said . Really

01:21:28.501 --> 01:21:30.723
appreciate it . Thank you , gentlemen ,

01:21:30.723 --> 01:21:32.612
very much . Thank you , Senator ,

01:21:32.612 --> 01:21:34.946
Senator Kelly . Thank you Mr . Chairman .

01:21:34.946 --> 01:21:37.700
Uh , Secretary Phalin , Admiral Kilby ,

01:21:37.890 --> 01:21:39.890
General Smith , thank you for being

01:21:39.890 --> 01:21:42.057
here . Secretary Phalin , um , I wanna

01:21:42.057 --> 01:21:44.223
take the opportunity to follow up on a

01:21:44.223 --> 01:21:46.334
question I had during your nomination

01:21:46.334 --> 01:21:49.290
hearing regarding the slickum and the

01:21:49.290 --> 01:21:52.279
nuclear arms sea launch cruise missile .

01:21:52.609 --> 01:21:54.831
So during your nomination hearing , you

01:21:54.831 --> 01:21:56.998
stated you hadn't been fully read into

01:21:56.998 --> 01:21:59.220
the program , so you couldn't make in .

01:21:59.220 --> 01:22:01.370
Informed comment on the topic . Now ,

01:22:01.379 --> 01:22:03.600
having been in this job for a few

01:22:03.600 --> 01:22:05.933
months and having looked at the program ,

01:22:05.933 --> 01:22:07.989
I wanna make sure we're clear on the

01:22:07.989 --> 01:22:10.156
direction of the system and understand

01:22:10.156 --> 01:22:13.819
the cost benefit analysis in fielding

01:22:13.819 --> 01:22:16.950
this weapon system . If the navy fields

01:22:16.950 --> 01:22:19.629
the slickam and , it would likely

01:22:19.629 --> 01:22:22.910
require removing conventional weapons

01:22:22.910 --> 01:22:25.270
off of the Virginia class submarines ,

01:22:25.350 --> 01:22:28.870
meaning torpedoes , and there'd also be

01:22:28.870 --> 01:22:30.926
required a whole host of significant

01:22:30.926 --> 01:22:33.859
structural and procedural changes

01:22:34.069 --> 01:22:37.209
aboard the boats . Which would cost

01:22:37.209 --> 01:22:39.770
time , money , and sacrificing one of

01:22:39.770 --> 01:22:42.810
our greatest advantages that we have in

01:22:42.810 --> 01:22:45.410
the Western Pacific , which is our

01:22:45.410 --> 01:22:48.129
conventional submarine capability . So ,

01:22:48.140 --> 01:22:51.020
Mr . Secretary , what do you think is

01:22:51.020 --> 01:22:55.009
more likely ? In Indopeycom

01:22:55.009 --> 01:22:57.450
in the western Pacific , a conventional

01:22:57.450 --> 01:22:58.919
or a nuclear conflict .

01:23:02.600 --> 01:23:04.822
Thanks Senator Kelly for the question .

01:23:04.822 --> 01:23:07.100
I , I , I think I'm gonna defer to the ,

01:23:07.100 --> 01:23:09.390
uh . Admiral on this one , since he is

01:23:09.390 --> 01:23:11.612
the military expert as to how he thinks

01:23:11.612 --> 01:23:13.612
that's gonna transpire , but what I

01:23:13.612 --> 01:23:15.779
would say to you as it relates to like

01:23:15.950 --> 01:23:17.839
still evaluating that , trying to

01:23:17.839 --> 01:23:20.509
evaluate candidly the entire force

01:23:20.509 --> 01:23:22.830
structure and posture , how our manned

01:23:22.830 --> 01:23:25.069
unmanned should look like , what are

01:23:25.069 --> 01:23:27.125
the different programs we've got , I

01:23:27.125 --> 01:23:30.270
think we are seeing in real time combat

01:23:30.270 --> 01:23:32.381
changing very quickly . Yeah , well ,

01:23:32.381 --> 01:23:34.603
Mr . Secretary , let me , I , I'll give

01:23:34.603 --> 01:23:36.937
you my opinion on this , a conventional .

01:23:37.370 --> 01:23:40.529
Uh , conflict is much more likely in

01:23:40.529 --> 01:23:42.362
the Western Pacific instead of a

01:23:42.362 --> 01:23:45.049
nuclear conflict . So do you think

01:23:45.049 --> 01:23:48.339
fielding a submarine with a

01:23:48.339 --> 01:23:52.169
tactical nuclear weapon capability

01:23:52.169 --> 01:23:55.009
will contribute to integrated

01:23:55.009 --> 01:23:57.330
deterrence , uh , inside the first

01:23:57.330 --> 01:23:59.930
island chain in a in a Taiwan scenario ?

01:24:04.540 --> 01:24:07.970
Again , Senator , I , I think a lot

01:24:07.970 --> 01:24:10.609
depends on how that conflict takes

01:24:10.609 --> 01:24:13.770
place , what exactly they do , how we

01:24:13.770 --> 01:24:16.759
respond , uh , and , and you could make

01:24:16.759 --> 01:24:19.089
the argument that Slickam gives the

01:24:19.089 --> 01:24:21.311
president more options . Uh , you could

01:24:21.311 --> 01:24:23.640
also argue it gives him less options ,

01:24:23.850 --> 01:24:25.628
right ? So , so let me , let me

01:24:25.628 --> 01:24:27.899
transition here to Admiral Kilby ,

01:24:28.450 --> 01:24:30.959
Admiral . Do do you think it's more

01:24:30.959 --> 01:24:32.792
likely we have a conventional or

01:24:32.792 --> 01:24:35.126
nuclear conflict in the Western Pacific ?

01:24:35.126 --> 01:24:37.299
I , I think a conventional conflict is

01:24:37.299 --> 01:24:39.466
more likely , and I hope it stays that

01:24:39.466 --> 01:24:41.688
way . Yeah , well , thank you . Do , do

01:24:41.688 --> 01:24:44.140
we have another option to field a

01:24:44.140 --> 01:24:47.899
tactical nuclear weapon , uh , at sea ?

01:24:48.910 --> 01:24:51.279
I , I think there's multiple options .

01:24:51.439 --> 01:24:53.661
It's hard to do all options at the same

01:24:53.661 --> 01:24:55.772
time in an affordable manner . Well ,

01:24:55.772 --> 01:24:58.050
let me , let me ask you this , Admiral ,

01:24:58.050 --> 01:25:01.799
does it seem more complex and less

01:25:01.799 --> 01:25:05.640
or more complex and costly to integrate

01:25:05.640 --> 01:25:07.470
Slickam and to a Virginia class

01:25:07.470 --> 01:25:11.310
submarine , or would A maybe a

01:25:11.310 --> 01:25:13.990
simple , simpler and less costly option

01:25:13.990 --> 01:25:17.910
being a uh B61 aboard an aircraft

01:25:17.910 --> 01:25:21.020
carrier . I haven't studied the

01:25:21.020 --> 01:25:23.020
aircraft carrier position . I don't

01:25:23.020 --> 01:25:25.540
know the cost implications to create a

01:25:25.540 --> 01:25:27.890
nuclear program on an aircraft carrier .

01:25:28.299 --> 01:25:30.580
Uh , I know that Admiral , is it true

01:25:30.580 --> 01:25:34.379
that in the 1990s we had B61s and B-47s

01:25:34.379 --> 01:25:37.859
and B57s , B43s aboard aircraft

01:25:37.859 --> 01:25:40.026
carriers ? I believe so . And and also

01:25:40.026 --> 01:25:42.192
our er some version of nuclear weapons

01:25:42.192 --> 01:25:44.359
on our surface ships the capability as

01:25:44.359 --> 01:25:47.859
well . Um , And how do you , Admiral ,

01:25:47.899 --> 01:25:50.379
how do you think the uh the Russians

01:25:50.379 --> 01:25:53.779
and Chinese uh would respond if we did

01:25:53.779 --> 01:25:56.500
add slicker men to Virginia class subs ?

01:25:57.379 --> 01:25:59.268
Well , I think they would have to

01:25:59.268 --> 01:26:01.435
consider it . and I I'm , I'm actually

01:26:01.435 --> 01:26:03.546
a proponent of that if we chose to do

01:26:03.546 --> 01:26:06.049
that . Yeah , and I am not opposed to ,

01:26:06.259 --> 01:26:09.129
you know , having a , uh , tactical

01:26:09.129 --> 01:26:12.770
nuclear option at sea . My big

01:26:12.770 --> 01:26:15.939
concern is how it affects our

01:26:15.939 --> 01:26:19.419
conventional submarine force . We've

01:26:19.419 --> 01:26:22.500
got a significant overmatch . Uh , with

01:26:22.500 --> 01:26:24.667
the Chinese , and this is kind of hard

01:26:24.667 --> 01:26:26.889
for me to say as a naval aviator that ,

01:26:26.889 --> 01:26:28.778
you know , our submarine force is

01:26:28.778 --> 01:26:30.833
probably our biggest overmatch . I'd

01:26:30.833 --> 01:26:32.944
like to think our airplanes are , but

01:26:32.944 --> 01:26:34.778
it , it's pretty clear to me our

01:26:34.778 --> 01:26:36.944
submarine , our conventional submarine

01:26:36.944 --> 01:26:38.667
force is the overmatch that we

01:26:38.667 --> 01:26:40.833
currently need and integrating Slickam

01:26:40.833 --> 01:26:42.722
and a Virginia class submarine is

01:26:42.722 --> 01:26:44.667
incredibly complex . It's gonna be

01:26:44.667 --> 01:26:46.889
costly , and I think it's gonna cost us

01:26:46.889 --> 01:26:49.750
in our ability to , you know , execute .

01:26:50.180 --> 01:26:52.799
Undersea conventional warfare , um ,

01:26:52.979 --> 01:26:55.146
against the Chinese or any adversary ,

01:26:55.500 --> 01:26:57.667
uh , and there are other options . You

01:26:57.667 --> 01:27:00.189
know , B61 was deployed aboard the

01:27:00.189 --> 01:27:02.490
aircraft carrier that I served on and ,

01:27:02.540 --> 01:27:05.740
and many others , and my sense is , I

01:27:05.740 --> 01:27:07.684
haven't studied it either , but my

01:27:07.684 --> 01:27:10.379
sense is . You know , F-18s can carry

01:27:10.379 --> 01:27:12.930
B-61's getting aboard an aircraft

01:27:12.930 --> 01:27:15.152
carrier , if that's what we really want

01:27:15.152 --> 01:27:17.097
and need for deterrence , we could

01:27:17.097 --> 01:27:20.040
probably do that at a much reduced cost

01:27:20.450 --> 01:27:23.089
and at the same time preserve the

01:27:23.089 --> 01:27:25.145
conventional submarine force that we

01:27:25.145 --> 01:27:27.089
have today . Thank you , Admiral .

01:27:28.520 --> 01:27:30.798
Thank you very much , Senator Sullivan .

01:27:30.798 --> 01:27:32.909
Thank you , Mr . Chairman . Uh , Mr .

01:27:32.909 --> 01:27:34.909
Secretary , you don't have a lot of

01:27:34.909 --> 01:27:37.187
experience working with this committee ,

01:27:37.187 --> 01:27:36.740
so I'd like to start with some basics .

01:27:36.810 --> 01:27:38.919
What does Article 1 , Section 8 ,

01:27:39.299 --> 01:27:41.529
Clause 13 of the Constitution say ?

01:27:44.709 --> 01:27:46.876
I don't know . Why don't you tell me ,

01:27:46.876 --> 01:27:48.931
Senator ? It grants the Congress the

01:27:48.931 --> 01:27:51.098
power to provide and maintain a navy .

01:27:51.850 --> 01:27:55.509
And clause 12 grants Congress the

01:27:55.509 --> 01:27:57.565
power to raise an army . Do you know

01:27:57.565 --> 01:27:59.470
why the founding fathers had a

01:27:59.470 --> 01:28:01.669
difference between our constitutional

01:28:01.669 --> 01:28:04.330
responsibilities ? It's a big

01:28:04.330 --> 01:28:06.386
difference . Raise an army , provide

01:28:06.386 --> 01:28:09.490
and maintain a navy , you know why . I

01:28:09.490 --> 01:28:11.546
think I do , Senator , but why don't

01:28:11.546 --> 01:28:13.768
you give me the history lesson you seem

01:28:13.768 --> 01:28:15.768
to want to do today . Why don't you

01:28:15.768 --> 01:28:17.879
answer my question , Mr . Secretary .

01:28:20.270 --> 01:28:22.159
Do you wanna you wanna answer the

01:28:22.159 --> 01:28:25.180
question ? I don't . Oh ,

01:28:25.680 --> 01:28:29.009
OK , um . It gives

01:28:29.140 --> 01:28:33.060
uh . The Congress a longer term view of

01:28:33.060 --> 01:28:34.616
building ships , developing

01:28:34.616 --> 01:28:37.180
infrastructure , supporting a much more

01:28:37.180 --> 01:28:39.660
permanent naval force . Than with the

01:28:39.660 --> 01:28:42.029
army Do you know what section of the

01:28:42.029 --> 01:28:44.560
Constitution ? Mentions the sector of

01:28:44.560 --> 01:28:45.560
the navy .

01:28:49.500 --> 01:28:51.611
I do not , Senator . Why don't you go

01:28:51.611 --> 01:28:53.778
ahead not mentioned in this . It's not

01:28:53.778 --> 01:28:55.944
mentioned in the Constitution . Let me

01:28:55.944 --> 01:28:57.833
provide a hypothetical . Congress

01:28:57.833 --> 01:29:00.111
passes a law . had many hearings on it .

01:29:00.259 --> 01:29:03.020
President signs it . Your experts come

01:29:03.020 --> 01:29:05.020
to you say it's not one of your top

01:29:05.020 --> 01:29:08.399
priorities . What is your obligation to

01:29:08.399 --> 01:29:10.510
the law constitution , this body with

01:29:10.510 --> 01:29:14.209
regard to the law ? Sorry , can you

01:29:14.209 --> 01:29:15.987
repeat the question , Senator ?

01:29:16.609 --> 01:29:19.779
Congress passes a law . President signs

01:29:19.779 --> 01:29:21.890
that your experts come to you and say

01:29:21.890 --> 01:29:23.946
what that law mandates is not one of

01:29:23.946 --> 01:29:25.835
our top priorities . What is your

01:29:25.835 --> 01:29:28.490
obligation to the law constitution in

01:29:28.490 --> 01:29:30.157
this body with regard to that

01:29:30.157 --> 01:29:33.979
hypothetical ? I'm not sure what this

01:29:33.979 --> 01:29:36.201
is accomplishing , Senator , but at the

01:29:36.201 --> 01:29:38.201
end of the day I follow the laws as

01:29:38.201 --> 01:29:40.423
they're given that real world example .

01:29:40.600 --> 01:29:43.879
Please do that . How about , how about

01:29:43.879 --> 01:29:46.290
we talk about our call yesterday we had

01:29:46.290 --> 01:29:49.649
hearings we had hearings . Um ,

01:29:50.950 --> 01:29:54.910
To get to 31 amphibs in the law , Navy

01:29:54.910 --> 01:29:57.188
didn't like it , SECNav didn't like it ,

01:29:57.310 --> 01:30:00.069
the Marines didn't like it . We passed

01:30:00.069 --> 01:30:03.729
that . Uh , requiring 31 amphis , the

01:30:03.729 --> 01:30:06.259
law actually says the naval combat

01:30:06.259 --> 01:30:08.315
forces of the navy shall include not

01:30:08.315 --> 01:30:10.410
less than 11 operational aircraft

01:30:10.410 --> 01:30:13.129
carriers , not less than 31 operational

01:30:13.129 --> 01:30:15.930
amphibious war ships , of which not

01:30:15.930 --> 01:30:18.569
less than 10 shall be amphibious

01:30:18.569 --> 01:30:21.779
assault ships . Secretary of the Navy

01:30:21.779 --> 01:30:23.446
came here 2 years ago and his

01:30:23.680 --> 01:30:25.759
shipbuilding plan , he didn't hit 31

01:30:25.759 --> 01:30:28.240
amphibs at all . How do you think this

01:30:28.240 --> 01:30:29.907
committee responded to that ?

01:30:32.189 --> 01:30:34.245
Sure they didn't like it . We didn't

01:30:34.245 --> 01:30:36.500
like it . Secretary Senator Kaine and I

01:30:37.069 --> 01:30:39.549
put forward legislation that actually

01:30:39.549 --> 01:30:41.709
said the next year in the NDAA very

01:30:41.709 --> 01:30:43.950
bipartisan , if the Navy doesn't hit

01:30:43.950 --> 01:30:46.189
its 30 year shipbuilding plan that

01:30:46.189 --> 01:30:49.450
maintains 31 amphibs . That we would

01:30:49.700 --> 01:30:51.879
sequester half of the Navy's budget .

01:30:52.180 --> 01:30:54.700
So do we , do you think , and this is

01:30:54.700 --> 01:30:56.756
for all the gentlemen at the table ,

01:30:56.779 --> 01:30:58.890
are we hitting 31 amphibs right now ?

01:30:59.759 --> 01:31:03.250
Admiral , under the law . I believe we

01:31:03.250 --> 01:31:06.640
are . So my understanding is 3 of the

01:31:06.640 --> 01:31:10.319
31 , 32 are not mission

01:31:10.319 --> 01:31:12.799
capable . 14 are out of reporting and

01:31:12.799 --> 01:31:16.600
in shipyards . So is that . Are we

01:31:16.600 --> 01:31:19.669
hitting 31 amphibs with those , uh ,

01:31:19.810 --> 01:31:22.709
amphibs out of commission essentially ?

01:31:24.390 --> 01:31:26.446
By the letter of the law , we are in

01:31:26.446 --> 01:31:28.270
intent , we're not . Are those

01:31:28.270 --> 01:31:31.709
operational ? Amphibious warships ,

01:31:31.770 --> 01:31:33.770
that's the letter of the law . When

01:31:33.770 --> 01:31:35.770
they come out of maintenance , they

01:31:35.770 --> 01:31:37.881
will be , but 14 are in maintenance .

01:31:38.450 --> 01:31:41.000
So you , you think we're hitting that

01:31:41.370 --> 01:31:44.080
law right now ? General , do you think

01:31:44.080 --> 01:31:46.209
we're hitting that law ? Let me give

01:31:46.209 --> 01:31:49.970
you 11 of the ships on that list is the

01:31:49.970 --> 01:31:53.430
USS Tortuga that's been in and hasn't

01:31:53.430 --> 01:31:57.310
deployed since 2013 . The navy's

01:31:57.729 --> 01:31:59.840
counting that as meeting the law . Do

01:31:59.840 --> 01:32:01.951
you think that meets the you are very

01:32:01.951 --> 01:32:04.180
involved in the 31 amphib , uh , law .

01:32:04.259 --> 01:32:06.370
Do you think that that that meets the

01:32:06.370 --> 01:32:08.481
letter of the law , Senator ? I can't

01:32:08.481 --> 01:32:10.703
speak to what what meets the letter and

01:32:10.703 --> 01:32:12.926
intent of the law . I only can speak to

01:32:12.926 --> 01:32:14.926
the requirement of a 3.0 amphibious

01:32:14.926 --> 01:32:17.092
ready group presence , uh , one in our

01:32:17.092 --> 01:32:19.203
view off the East Coast , one off the

01:32:19.203 --> 01:32:21.148
west coast , and the 31st . Are we

01:32:21.148 --> 01:32:23.259
close to that right now , sir , we're

01:32:23.259 --> 01:32:25.426
not , OK . Uh , what are the combatant

01:32:25.426 --> 01:32:27.370
commanders saying they want 3.0 or

01:32:27.370 --> 01:32:29.537
higher ? Uh , the combatant commanders

01:32:29.537 --> 01:32:31.648
are asking for 5.5 , and I would note

01:32:31.648 --> 01:32:33.703
that that is unobtainium , and we're

01:32:33.703 --> 01:32:35.592
not even at 3.0 , and that's some

01:32:36.089 --> 01:32:38.200
requirement you think we need . I , I

01:32:38.200 --> 01:32:40.367
believe as the amphibious requirements

01:32:40.367 --> 01:32:42.533
officer 3.0 is the requirement . Yes ,

01:32:42.533 --> 01:32:44.645
sir . Mr . Secretary , when we , when

01:32:44.645 --> 01:32:44.490
you went through your confirmation

01:32:44.490 --> 01:32:47.620
hearing . Uh , I highlighted a GAO

01:32:47.620 --> 01:32:51.529
report , had 4 recommendations , talked

01:32:51.529 --> 01:32:54.209
about the amphibious fleet readiness ,

01:32:54.250 --> 01:32:57.160
which is in a state of disaster , um .

01:33:00.040 --> 01:33:02.207
Have you , are you familiar with these

01:33:02.207 --> 01:33:03.984
four recommendations ? Have you

01:33:03.984 --> 01:33:06.540
implemented any of them ? And maybe you

01:33:06.540 --> 01:33:08.939
can get back to this committee with

01:33:08.939 --> 01:33:11.106
each of those recommendations and what

01:33:11.106 --> 01:33:13.328
you're doing to implement them from the

01:33:13.328 --> 01:33:15.550
GAO on getting our amphib fleet back in

01:33:16.140 --> 01:33:18.850
readiness . Take that for the record

01:33:18.850 --> 01:33:20.683
and come back to you , Senator .

01:33:20.970 --> 01:33:23.089
Finally , um , general , what happens

01:33:23.089 --> 01:33:25.729
if we don't have 3.0 . toe to

01:33:27.220 --> 01:33:30.640
toe capability . Senator , it increases

01:33:30.640 --> 01:33:32.862
risk for the combatant commander . That

01:33:32.862 --> 01:33:34.362
means there's not a marine

01:33:34.362 --> 01:33:36.362
expeditionary unit off the coast of

01:33:36.362 --> 01:33:38.473
Africa . Should an embassy need to be

01:33:38.473 --> 01:33:38.399
evacuated or should Houthis need to be

01:33:38.399 --> 01:33:40.566
struck ? It means there's not a Marine

01:33:40.566 --> 01:33:42.677
expeditionary unit , uh , prepared to

01:33:42.677 --> 01:33:45.259
go in the teeth of the PRC or prepared

01:33:45.259 --> 01:33:47.370
to operate in the SOCOM AOR . And are

01:33:47.370 --> 01:33:49.839
the Marines ready to be 3.0 ? We , we

01:33:49.839 --> 01:33:51.950
are , so we have the capacity and the

01:33:51.950 --> 01:33:54.061
capability , but the Navy isn't . The

01:33:54.061 --> 01:33:56.172
amphib readiness rate is currently uh

01:33:56.172 --> 01:33:58.180
doesn't meet the 3.0 requirement .

01:33:58.299 --> 01:34:00.466
Admiral , do you know when we're gonna

01:34:00.466 --> 01:34:03.100
get to that ? I can tell you what we're

01:34:03.100 --> 01:34:06.459
at 41% and I want to get the 80% . I

01:34:06.459 --> 01:34:08.403
don't have an exact day when we're

01:34:08.403 --> 01:34:10.459
gonna get there , but it has my full

01:34:10.459 --> 01:34:12.737
attention . Thank you , thank you , Mr .

01:34:12.737 --> 01:34:14.737
Chairman . Uh , thank you , Senator

01:34:14.737 --> 01:34:16.848
Sullivan . Senator Rosen . Well thank

01:34:16.848 --> 01:34:18.848
you Chairman Wicker for holding the

01:34:18.848 --> 01:34:20.959
hearing . I'd like to thank Secretary

01:34:20.959 --> 01:34:23.015
Phelan , Admiral Kilby , and General

01:34:23.015 --> 01:34:24.848
Smith for testifying today , and

01:34:24.848 --> 01:34:26.848
Admiral and General , thank you for

01:34:26.848 --> 01:34:28.626
your service to our nation . We

01:34:28.626 --> 01:34:30.848
appreciate it . I'm gonna talk a little

01:34:30.848 --> 01:34:32.959
bit about uh Naval Air Station Fallon

01:34:32.959 --> 01:34:35.292
and modernization . So Secretary Phelan ,

01:34:35.292 --> 01:34:37.515
as you know , the Nevada delegation has

01:34:37.515 --> 01:34:37.299
worked closely with the Navy , federal

01:34:37.299 --> 01:34:39.299
agencies , tribal governments , and

01:34:39.299 --> 01:34:41.466
local stakeholders . We've worked with

01:34:41.466 --> 01:34:43.466
them for years to secure the Fallon

01:34:43.466 --> 01:34:45.688
Range Training Complex modernization in

01:34:45.688 --> 01:34:48.700
the FY23 NDAA , expanding the range by

01:34:48.700 --> 01:34:51.220
over 600,000 acres to meet critical

01:34:51.220 --> 01:34:54.000
national security training needs . Now

01:34:54.000 --> 01:34:56.000
that the navy's moving forward with

01:34:56.000 --> 01:34:57.778
modernization , I again want to

01:34:57.778 --> 01:34:59.722
underscore the importance of fully

01:34:59.722 --> 01:35:01.667
meeting the legal requirement that

01:35:01.667 --> 01:35:03.720
grazing permit holders who will no

01:35:03.720 --> 01:35:06.479
longer be able to use this land receive

01:35:06.479 --> 01:35:08.799
full and complete compensation for

01:35:08.799 --> 01:35:12.229
their lifetime losses . They will never

01:35:12.229 --> 01:35:14.830
use this land in Nevada again .

01:35:15.399 --> 01:35:17.399
Unfortunately , the initial payment

01:35:17.399 --> 01:35:19.621
offers the ranchers on the B-16 range ,

01:35:19.621 --> 01:35:21.788
they've fallen well below expectations

01:35:21.788 --> 01:35:25.209
and estimated value . Appraisals must

01:35:25.209 --> 01:35:27.320
consider not only land value but also

01:35:27.320 --> 01:35:29.689
FSA loans , groundwater excess in the

01:35:29.689 --> 01:35:33.140
lifetime . Worth of lost of the lost

01:35:33.140 --> 01:35:35.362
business itself , so Secretary Phelan ,

01:35:35.362 --> 01:35:37.529
thank you for your prior commitment to

01:35:37.529 --> 01:35:39.584
meet with me regarding the issue . I

01:35:39.584 --> 01:35:41.696
know our respective teams are working

01:35:41.696 --> 01:35:43.862
to schedule that as soon as possible .

01:35:43.862 --> 01:35:45.918
However , during your confirmation ,

01:35:45.918 --> 01:35:45.500
you also committed to meeting with me

01:35:45.500 --> 01:35:47.556
and my team and some of the impacted

01:35:47.556 --> 01:35:49.750
stakeholders . So Churchill County and

01:35:49.750 --> 01:35:52.330
grazing permittees on the B 16 range ,

01:35:52.339 --> 01:35:54.395
we need to meet with them . Will you

01:35:54.395 --> 01:35:56.672
commit to scheduling this meeting ? Uh ,

01:35:56.672 --> 01:35:58.561
I have a few others , so will you

01:35:58.561 --> 01:35:58.540
commit to scheduling this meeting with

01:35:58.540 --> 01:36:00.450
me and them as soon as possible ?

01:36:02.620 --> 01:36:04.676
Uh , thanks , Senator . I appreciate

01:36:04.676 --> 01:36:06.842
the question . Uh , yes , as I know we

01:36:06.842 --> 01:36:09.064
have an upcoming office call later this

01:36:09.064 --> 01:36:11.064
month and I'm committed to visiting

01:36:11.064 --> 01:36:13.231
Fallon myself personally , uh , to see

01:36:13.231 --> 01:36:14.842
the operations and see local

01:36:14.842 --> 01:36:17.009
stakeholders . So continuing on this ,

01:36:17.009 --> 01:36:18.842
I want to reiterate that in your

01:36:18.842 --> 01:36:21.064
negotiations with impacted permittees ,

01:36:21.064 --> 01:36:23.231
their grazing losses must be treated ,

01:36:23.231 --> 01:36:25.398
should be treated as a complete loss ,

01:36:25.398 --> 01:36:27.731
not a buyout . This means , for example ,

01:36:27.731 --> 01:36:29.898
valuing heads of cattle at full market

01:36:29.898 --> 01:36:32.009
value over time . My understanding is

01:36:32.009 --> 01:36:34.120
that the Navy's calculations continue

01:36:34.120 --> 01:36:36.342
to fall short of this . Will you commit

01:36:36.342 --> 01:36:38.398
to sharing with my team the specific

01:36:38.398 --> 01:36:40.509
calculation you're using to determine

01:36:40.509 --> 01:36:42.676
this value over time so we can discuss

01:36:42.676 --> 01:36:45.839
it . Uh , Senator , I will look into

01:36:45.839 --> 01:36:48.080
these specifics and try to understand

01:36:48.080 --> 01:36:50.191
them better and come back to you with

01:36:50.191 --> 01:36:52.302
an answer . Thank you . Uh , does the

01:36:52.302 --> 01:36:54.770
Navy have the expertise ? Needed to

01:36:54.770 --> 01:36:56.770
make this kind of determination and

01:36:56.770 --> 01:36:58.992
offer because it's critically important

01:36:58.992 --> 01:37:01.048
the permittees are made whole and if

01:37:01.048 --> 01:37:03.159
your team does not have the tools and

01:37:03.159 --> 01:37:05.214
expertise to do this or I don't hear

01:37:05.214 --> 01:37:06.992
back from you to work with us ,

01:37:06.992 --> 01:37:09.214
Congress will need to look at providing

01:37:09.214 --> 01:37:11.437
you with additional guidance so that we

01:37:11.437 --> 01:37:13.603
can finally get this right . So do you

01:37:13.603 --> 01:37:15.826
have the expertise to make this kind of

01:37:15.826 --> 01:37:17.937
determination and offer to our cattle

01:37:17.937 --> 01:37:20.859
ranchers ? I believe we do , Senator ,

01:37:20.950 --> 01:37:23.061
but I will confirm that . Thank you .

01:37:23.069 --> 01:37:25.180
I'm gonna stay on Fallon because it's

01:37:25.180 --> 01:37:27.347
so critical to our nation's security ,

01:37:27.347 --> 01:37:29.180
safety , and of course really uh

01:37:29.180 --> 01:37:31.125
important to us in Nevada . So the

01:37:31.125 --> 01:37:33.402
remoteness of Naval Air Station Fallon ,

01:37:33.402 --> 01:37:35.509
it's a major asset . Um , provides a

01:37:35.509 --> 01:37:37.676
range space that we need to ensure the

01:37:37.676 --> 01:37:39.787
fleet is deployable and operationally

01:37:39.787 --> 01:37:42.009
ready . The base has been designated as

01:37:42.009 --> 01:37:45.109
a remote duty installation since 1989

01:37:45.470 --> 01:37:47.470
with the quality of life challenges

01:37:47.470 --> 01:37:49.959
that come along with that . NAS Fallon

01:37:49.959 --> 01:37:51.640
is the only navy base in the

01:37:51.640 --> 01:37:53.862
continental United States designated as

01:37:53.862 --> 01:37:57.080
a critical housing area with housing in

01:37:57.080 --> 01:37:58.858
very short supply , so the vast

01:37:58.858 --> 01:38:01.120
majority of those stationed at Fallon

01:38:01.120 --> 01:38:03.176
live either in Reno or Carson City ,

01:38:03.319 --> 01:38:05.549
which are each maybe an hour or over an

01:38:05.549 --> 01:38:08.290
hour away . The Navy anticipates

01:38:08.290 --> 01:38:10.457
entering into a public private venture

01:38:10.457 --> 01:38:12.649
to build 172 new homes at Fallon , but

01:38:12.649 --> 01:38:14.593
more infrastructure is required to

01:38:14.593 --> 01:38:16.770
support them , enlarging the existing

01:38:16.770 --> 01:38:18.603
wastewater treatment plant , for

01:38:18.603 --> 01:38:20.714
example . So Mr . Secretary , can you

01:38:20.714 --> 01:38:22.826
provide us an update on the status of

01:38:22.826 --> 01:38:24.659
that housing project , including

01:38:24.659 --> 01:38:26.659
timelines for supporting the , uh ,

01:38:26.659 --> 01:38:28.659
infrastructure improvements such as

01:38:28.659 --> 01:38:30.770
building larger waste water treatment

01:38:30.770 --> 01:38:33.759
plants . Senator , I'll have to take

01:38:33.759 --> 01:38:35.981
that one for the record and get back to

01:38:35.981 --> 01:38:38.148
you . And we just wanna be sure as you

01:38:38.148 --> 01:38:40.037
do that that we wanna be sure the

01:38:40.037 --> 01:38:41.926
Navy's planning to keep pace with

01:38:41.926 --> 01:38:44.148
infrastructure , uh , requirements such

01:38:44.148 --> 01:38:46.370
as housing , child care , medical , and

01:38:46.370 --> 01:38:48.537
others as , uh , we support the growth

01:38:48.537 --> 01:38:50.648
of NAS Fallon . Uh , quickly , I want

01:38:50.648 --> 01:38:50.640
to talk about the Fallon Rage flooding

01:38:50.640 --> 01:38:52.807
because the Sheckler Reservoir outside

01:38:52.807 --> 01:38:54.807
of Fallon experienced more frequent

01:38:54.807 --> 01:38:56.973
overflows in the past decade , causing

01:38:56.973 --> 01:38:59.029
flooding to Fallon's B-16 range . It

01:38:59.029 --> 01:39:01.560
renders it inoperable for ground combat

01:39:01.560 --> 01:39:04.259
training . Cesarius , the Bureau of

01:39:04.259 --> 01:39:06.339
Reclamation owns a reservoir . Its

01:39:06.339 --> 01:39:08.395
infrastructure and water flow impact

01:39:08.395 --> 01:39:10.228
the Navy , all while the Navy is

01:39:10.228 --> 01:39:11.895
investing millions into range

01:39:11.895 --> 01:39:14.180
modernization . So we have to work

01:39:14.180 --> 01:39:16.236
together . You have to work together

01:39:16.236 --> 01:39:18.347
with us and the Bureau of Reclamation

01:39:18.347 --> 01:39:20.458
to route the water around B16 so that

01:39:20.458 --> 01:39:22.609
no longer floods the range . We need

01:39:22.609 --> 01:39:25.540
that range to keep us safe . It halts

01:39:25.540 --> 01:39:27.707
training . It risks flooding . Can you

01:39:27.707 --> 01:39:29.929
commit to us to working with the Bureau

01:39:29.929 --> 01:39:32.779
of Reclamation , my office , and

01:39:32.779 --> 01:39:35.540
obviously the Navy to get around this

01:39:35.540 --> 01:39:37.919
issue of flooding of the B-16 range ?

01:39:39.669 --> 01:39:41.836
Uh , thanks for the question , Senator

01:39:41.836 --> 01:39:43.891
Fallon's obviously a critical , uh ,

01:39:43.891 --> 01:39:45.780
range for us , and I'll commit to

01:39:45.780 --> 01:39:47.780
working with you to try to get this

01:39:47.780 --> 01:39:49.836
problem resolved . Thank you . Thank

01:39:49.836 --> 01:39:51.780
you , Senator Rosen , uh , Senator

01:39:51.780 --> 01:39:53.891
Scott . First , I wanna thank each of

01:39:53.891 --> 01:39:55.947
you for being here . Thanks for your

01:39:55.947 --> 01:39:57.836
service . Um , I also wanna thank

01:39:57.836 --> 01:40:00.058
President Trump for doing everything he

01:40:00.058 --> 01:40:02.225
can to create some , um , stability in

01:40:02.225 --> 01:40:02.180
California . It's really , I think I

01:40:02.180 --> 01:40:04.124
wanna thank him for calling up the

01:40:04.124 --> 01:40:06.013
California National Guard and for

01:40:06.013 --> 01:40:08.069
having the Marines ready . Uh , it's

01:40:08.069 --> 01:40:07.740
disappointing that the governor of

01:40:07.740 --> 01:40:09.962
California and the mayor of Los Angeles

01:40:09.962 --> 01:40:12.129
is not as focused on the security of ,

01:40:12.129 --> 01:40:14.018
of the , uh , the citizens as our

01:40:14.018 --> 01:40:16.490
president is Secretary Fellin . Uh ,

01:40:16.529 --> 01:40:18.696
thank you for being here . During your

01:40:18.696 --> 01:40:20.862
confirmation hearing , you'll probably

01:40:20.862 --> 01:40:20.370
remember I showed you a picture of a

01:40:20.370 --> 01:40:23.020
rusty ship pulling into shore . As an

01:40:23.020 --> 01:40:25.242
example of the ways the Navy has fallen

01:40:25.242 --> 01:40:27.464
behind , uh , during the Biden's , uh ,

01:40:27.464 --> 01:40:29.687
term , I've , I know you've made this a

01:40:29.687 --> 01:40:31.687
priority to get this fixed . Uh , I

01:40:31.687 --> 01:40:33.798
wanna thank you for everything you're

01:40:33.798 --> 01:40:36.339
doing . Um , can you , uh , well , let

01:40:36.339 --> 01:40:38.395
me give you some more facts . In the

01:40:38.395 --> 01:40:40.283
last 5 years , the Navy has taken

01:40:40.283 --> 01:40:42.228
delivery of 41 ships , only 4 were

01:40:42.228 --> 01:40:44.395
delivered on time and on budget , uh ,

01:40:44.395 --> 01:40:46.339
so 4 were delivered on time and on

01:40:46.339 --> 01:40:49.200
budget . That's like under 10% . So

01:40:49.200 --> 01:40:51.533
you're a business guy , um , both of us ,

01:40:51.533 --> 01:40:53.311
if we had 10% success rate , we

01:40:53.311 --> 01:40:55.311
wouldn't have been in business very

01:40:55.311 --> 01:40:57.256
long , and we wouldn't accept , we

01:40:57.256 --> 01:40:59.533
wouldn't accept that from anybody that ,

01:40:59.533 --> 01:41:01.700
um , that ever worked for us . So , so

01:41:01.700 --> 01:41:03.867
for Secretary Filin Admiro Kilby , can

01:41:03.867 --> 01:41:05.922
you give us like , what are your top

01:41:05.922 --> 01:41:05.479
three things , each of you , that's

01:41:05.479 --> 01:41:07.701
gonna improve , um , the accountability

01:41:07.701 --> 01:41:10.620
of our shipbuilding ? Whoever wants to

01:41:10.620 --> 01:41:14.430
go first . Hey sir , thanks for the

01:41:14.430 --> 01:41:16.709
question . Uh , one , I think the top 3

01:41:16.709 --> 01:41:18.487
things we need to do is get the

01:41:18.487 --> 01:41:20.549
workforce right and stable . Uh , I

01:41:20.549 --> 01:41:22.605
agree with Secretary feeling that we

01:41:22.605 --> 01:41:24.382
need , uh , uh , an experienced

01:41:24.382 --> 01:41:26.382
workforce . We're seeing challenges

01:41:26.382 --> 01:41:28.216
that in multiple yards , whether

01:41:28.216 --> 01:41:30.382
they're repair or shipyards . Uh , 2 ,

01:41:30.382 --> 01:41:32.620
for repair we need to manage the , uh ,

01:41:32.629 --> 01:41:35.330
package size so we can get it done in

01:41:35.330 --> 01:41:38.490
the time needed . Uh , our delays are

01:41:38.490 --> 01:41:41.089
called in ship repair caused by growth

01:41:41.089 --> 01:41:43.049
work , which means we discover

01:41:43.049 --> 01:41:45.680
something after the fact and the avail

01:41:45.680 --> 01:41:48.089
that the avail has begun . So I alluded

01:41:48.089 --> 01:41:50.490
earlier about doing those open inspects

01:41:50.490 --> 01:41:52.680
earlier , definitizing the package ,

01:41:52.970 --> 01:41:55.214
and , and costing it out to . Do that

01:41:55.214 --> 01:41:57.436
work and not hope that we don't have to

01:41:57.436 --> 01:41:59.603
do those work and then finally I think

01:41:59.603 --> 01:42:01.658
there's some opportunities in the in

01:42:01.658 --> 01:42:03.881
the sparing accounts to do a better job

01:42:03.881 --> 01:42:06.734
to have uh uh our parts available and

01:42:06.734 --> 01:42:08.845
ready when we need to do the avail so

01:42:08.845 --> 01:42:10.845
we don't have a growth work because

01:42:10.845 --> 01:42:12.845
we're waiting for a part that's not

01:42:12.845 --> 01:42:15.149
readily available . Secretary , you

01:42:15.149 --> 01:42:17.316
want , you wanna add anything ? Yeah ,

01:42:17.316 --> 01:42:19.316
look , I , I think Senator , what ,

01:42:19.316 --> 01:42:22.750
what I've seen in 72 days here is we've

01:42:22.750 --> 01:42:24.950
got a , a , a big problem and the

01:42:24.950 --> 01:42:27.117
problem is the following . Um , number

01:42:27.117 --> 01:42:29.790
one , we have underinvested in our

01:42:29.790 --> 01:42:32.189
infrastructure , we've underinvested in

01:42:32.189 --> 01:42:34.133
our maintenance we've , we've been

01:42:34.133 --> 01:42:37.020
maintaining ships at 50-60% maintenance ,

01:42:37.089 --> 01:42:40.709
which is not good . Um , the bills for

01:42:40.709 --> 01:42:43.189
prior conflicts is where we spent a lot

01:42:43.189 --> 01:42:45.830
of money . And , and that all those

01:42:45.830 --> 01:42:48.509
deferrals , all that underinvestment is

01:42:48.509 --> 01:42:51.890
coming due . So we have a very , very

01:42:51.890 --> 01:42:54.569
tough job in front of us in terms of

01:42:54.569 --> 01:42:56.250
trying to figure out how to

01:42:56.250 --> 01:42:58.472
appropriately allocate capital to these

01:42:58.472 --> 01:43:01.049
different areas as it relates to to

01:43:01.049 --> 01:43:03.569
ship building , we do not have the

01:43:03.569 --> 01:43:05.625
capacity to handle the ships that we

01:43:05.625 --> 01:43:09.569
need to build today . OK , and so we

01:43:09.569 --> 01:43:11.625
need to put all options on the table

01:43:11.625 --> 01:43:13.791
because I think I bucket it in kind of

01:43:13.791 --> 01:43:15.847
two ways . The short term , which is

01:43:15.847 --> 01:43:17.958
how do I get holes in the water , how

01:43:17.958 --> 01:43:19.958
do I get them out of the yard , and

01:43:19.958 --> 01:43:21.902
then long term , how do I get this

01:43:21.902 --> 01:43:23.847
maritime industrial base growing .

01:43:23.847 --> 01:43:25.847
Probably need to add shipyards . We

01:43:25.847 --> 01:43:28.305
need to bring in expertise . We need to

01:43:28.305 --> 01:43:30.694
digitize a number of things and add

01:43:30.694 --> 01:43:32.805
technology to things . When I went to

01:43:32.805 --> 01:43:35.584
the foreign yards again , I saw things

01:43:35.584 --> 01:43:38.024
that were far more advanced than what

01:43:38.024 --> 01:43:40.544
we were doing , and we need to start to

01:43:40.544 --> 01:43:44.035
implement those and add those , um , so

01:43:44.035 --> 01:43:46.091
one thing if you could do is just as

01:43:46.091 --> 01:43:48.257
early as you can give us a timeline of

01:43:48.257 --> 01:43:50.368
when you can do these things . So let

01:43:50.368 --> 01:43:52.535
me ask you one other thing . So , um ,

01:43:52.535 --> 01:43:54.757
I know you have , you've , we've talked

01:43:54.757 --> 01:43:54.220
about some of the issues the Navy's

01:43:54.220 --> 01:43:57.580
dealing with and um . So the , the

01:43:57.580 --> 01:43:59.691
Marine , uh , the Marines and the Air

01:43:59.691 --> 01:44:01.802
Force are 100% recapitalized on their

01:44:01.802 --> 01:44:05.200
C-130s . Uh , the Navy needs over 30

01:44:05.200 --> 01:44:08.459
C-130s , and unfortunately they yet to

01:44:08.459 --> 01:44:10.292
have a program for this critical

01:44:10.292 --> 01:44:12.515
tactical air airlift platform . I think

01:44:12.515 --> 01:44:15.029
they only have one on contract . So ,

01:44:15.160 --> 01:44:16.993
um , first , General Smith , how

01:44:16.993 --> 01:44:19.216
important are the C-130s for the Marine

01:44:19.216 --> 01:44:21.327
Corps and joint forces ? Center , the

01:44:21.327 --> 01:44:23.609
C-130 is a workhorse . It's vital to be

01:44:23.609 --> 01:44:26.209
able to provide us organic mobility

01:44:26.209 --> 01:44:28.320
throughout the first island chain and

01:44:28.320 --> 01:44:30.542
globally . It's got global reach . OK ,

01:44:30.569 --> 01:44:32.513
so Admiral Kilby and and Secretary

01:44:32.513 --> 01:44:34.850
Filin , tell me , is this , is this a

01:44:34.850 --> 01:44:37.209
priority ? And if it is , what's the

01:44:37.209 --> 01:44:40.419
timeline ? So it is a priority for the

01:44:40.419 --> 01:44:42.419
Navy . It's competing with a lot of

01:44:42.419 --> 01:44:44.530
other priorities . I'd say 50% of our

01:44:44.530 --> 01:44:48.140
C-130 fleet or C-130Ts , and then the

01:44:48.140 --> 01:44:51.330
other 50% are uh KC-130J's refueling .

01:44:51.740 --> 01:44:54.339
So it provides flexibility for us and

01:44:54.339 --> 01:44:56.689
is helpful for us kind of in that , uh ,

01:44:56.700 --> 01:44:58.819
Pacific logistics challenge , but we

01:44:58.819 --> 01:45:01.041
are challenged with a lot of priority ,

01:45:01.041 --> 01:45:03.208
sir . Are you gonna , will you be able

01:45:03.208 --> 01:45:05.319
to come back at some point and say we

01:45:05.319 --> 01:45:07.319
got a lot of all these priorities .

01:45:07.319 --> 01:45:09.319
This is the list this is what we're

01:45:09.319 --> 01:45:11.319
gonna do it we're gonna break these

01:45:11.319 --> 01:45:11.120
down one at a time and this is how

01:45:11.120 --> 01:45:13.287
we're gonna solve them . That would be

01:45:13.287 --> 01:45:15.640
helpful . Yes sir . Alright , thank you ,

01:45:15.680 --> 01:45:19.089
Chairman . Uh , thank you . um , uh , a

01:45:19.089 --> 01:45:21.319
vote has started and members will come

01:45:21.319 --> 01:45:24.810
and go . Um , Senator Scott , you asked ,

01:45:25.020 --> 01:45:28.890
um , you asked the secretary for , um ,

01:45:28.919 --> 01:45:32.319
a timeline . Um , I wonder if you could

01:45:32.319 --> 01:45:34.375
do , if you could , uh , do that for

01:45:34.375 --> 01:45:37.279
the record , uh , uh , would you try to ,

01:45:37.529 --> 01:45:40.520
to get a timeline , um , and supplement

01:45:40.520 --> 01:45:43.819
your testimony today ? It'll be easier

01:45:43.819 --> 01:45:47.279
next time . I'll work on that . Thank

01:45:47.279 --> 01:45:49.890
you both . Uh , so we're , we're Peters

01:45:49.890 --> 01:45:52.439
now . Thank you Mr . Chairman uh

01:45:53.049 --> 01:45:55.327
Secretary uh Filand , uh , I certainly ,

01:45:55.330 --> 01:45:57.608
uh , appreciate , uh , your commitment ,

01:45:57.608 --> 01:45:59.719
uh , during your nomination , Harry ,

01:45:59.719 --> 01:46:01.774
to , uh , to work with me to get the

01:46:01.774 --> 01:46:03.886
constellation uh class frigate , uh ,

01:46:03.886 --> 01:46:06.052
program , uh , back on track , uh , as

01:46:06.052 --> 01:46:08.490
we discussed , uh , in that hearing and

01:46:08.490 --> 01:46:10.823
as , uh , you mentioned to , uh , house ,

01:46:10.823 --> 01:46:12.990
uh , appropriators , uh , these delays

01:46:12.990 --> 01:46:15.212
are due , uh , in part , and I think to

01:46:15.212 --> 01:46:17.040
quote to post-contract design

01:46:17.040 --> 01:46:19.790
modifications by the government . Uh ,

01:46:19.830 --> 01:46:21.941
the navy and the shipyard have , uh ,

01:46:21.941 --> 01:46:24.163
collaboratively made progress , uh , to

01:46:24.163 --> 01:46:26.390
rectify these issues , including in

01:46:26.390 --> 01:46:28.540
design completion , production ramp ,

01:46:28.549 --> 01:46:30.327
and workforce hiring as well as

01:46:30.327 --> 01:46:32.419
retention , and I'm glad that , uh ,

01:46:32.430 --> 01:46:34.430
congressionally provided industrial

01:46:34.430 --> 01:46:36.541
based funding that I supported , uh ,

01:46:36.541 --> 01:46:38.708
has , has helped in , in each of these

01:46:38.708 --> 01:46:40.763
areas , uh , and I know that you saw

01:46:40.763 --> 01:46:42.874
this , uh , progress firsthand , uh ,

01:46:42.874 --> 01:46:45.041
during your uh shipyard program review

01:46:45.041 --> 01:46:47.097
visit , uh , just , uh , last week .

01:46:47.097 --> 01:46:49.319
And while there , uh , I understand you

01:46:49.319 --> 01:46:51.486
learned about the frigate's vital role

01:46:51.486 --> 01:46:53.708
in the future navy mission requirements

01:46:53.708 --> 01:46:55.708
as well as the Great Lakes region's

01:46:55.708 --> 01:46:57.541
valuable contributions to the US

01:46:57.541 --> 01:46:59.597
shipbuilding industrial base . So my

01:46:59.597 --> 01:47:01.819
question , uh , for you , sir , is what

01:47:01.819 --> 01:47:03.819
what are your plans for the frigate

01:47:03.819 --> 01:47:05.874
program in particular and how can we

01:47:05.874 --> 01:47:08.041
maintain this positive progress to get

01:47:08.041 --> 01:47:10.129
this program finally back on track ?

01:47:12.279 --> 01:47:14.390
Thanks , Senator . I know this , uh ,

01:47:14.390 --> 01:47:16.612
topic , uh , important to you . Uh , so

01:47:16.612 --> 01:47:18.879
I was at uh Finketeria Marine two weeks

01:47:18.879 --> 01:47:22.240
ago . Um , I was very impressed by the

01:47:22.240 --> 01:47:24.129
investments they've made in their

01:47:24.129 --> 01:47:26.296
shipyard and things they've done in an

01:47:26.296 --> 01:47:28.240
attempt to modernize , and I think

01:47:28.240 --> 01:47:30.296
there's some things that some of the

01:47:30.296 --> 01:47:32.573
other shipyards can actually , uh , uh ,

01:47:32.573 --> 01:47:34.851
take and , and , and potentially adapt ,

01:47:34.851 --> 01:47:37.299
uh . Um , as it relates to the frigate

01:47:37.299 --> 01:47:39.577
program , I think as , as I've learned ,

01:47:39.577 --> 01:47:41.243
I , I think the Navy has some

01:47:41.243 --> 01:47:43.521
culpability , as does the company , uh ,

01:47:43.521 --> 01:47:45.688
in terms of the problems we have . And

01:47:45.688 --> 01:47:47.743
I think this , it , it comes down to

01:47:47.743 --> 01:47:50.479
candidly , in general , how we contract

01:47:50.479 --> 01:47:52.990
it today . Um , you're incentive to

01:47:52.990 --> 01:47:55.157
just low bid and then come back to the

01:47:55.157 --> 01:47:57.212
government and ask for the fill up ,

01:47:57.270 --> 01:48:00.120
and we need to change that , um . Uh ,

01:48:00.200 --> 01:48:02.422
as it relates to the frigate and in the

01:48:02.422 --> 01:48:04.422
force , still evaluating that we're

01:48:04.422 --> 01:48:06.589
still trying to understand how it fits

01:48:07.040 --> 01:48:09.470
when we can get it fixed , what , what ,

01:48:09.600 --> 01:48:12.640
what the plans are for it , and so I

01:48:12.640 --> 01:48:14.862
will come see you as soon as we get a ,

01:48:14.862 --> 01:48:17.029
a handle on that , but it is something

01:48:17.029 --> 01:48:19.930
we're looking at very hard , um . And ,

01:48:19.939 --> 01:48:22.729
uh , I do think that the , uh , uh ,

01:48:22.740 --> 01:48:24.907
the shipbuilder there has done a great

01:48:24.907 --> 01:48:27.299
job and so we need to figure out how to ,

01:48:27.379 --> 01:48:29.435
how to keep that going and add to it

01:48:29.435 --> 01:48:31.700
and , and understand that . Well , I'll

01:48:31.700 --> 01:48:33.922
look forward to uh future conversations

01:48:33.922 --> 01:48:35.756
on it . I appreciate your , your

01:48:35.756 --> 01:48:37.978
attention to that . Uh , Admiral , uh ,

01:48:37.978 --> 01:48:39.756
Kilby , as , as you know , uh ,

01:48:39.756 --> 01:48:41.867
Michigan plays a critical role in the

01:48:41.867 --> 01:48:44.200
US , uh , maritime industrial base , uh ,

01:48:44.200 --> 01:48:46.533
leveraging , uh , really a century-long ,

01:48:46.533 --> 01:48:48.533
uh , legacy of manufacturing , uh ,

01:48:48.533 --> 01:48:50.367
excellence . Michigan has been a

01:48:50.367 --> 01:48:52.589
powerhouse of innovation and industrial

01:48:52.589 --> 01:48:54.609
grit , uh , from the arsenal of

01:48:54.609 --> 01:48:56.450
democracy during World War II to

01:48:56.450 --> 01:48:58.810
supplying today's , uh , automotive and

01:48:58.810 --> 01:49:01.009
aerospace sectors including uh land

01:49:01.009 --> 01:49:03.450
systems for the US Army . Uh , we've

01:49:03.450 --> 01:49:05.617
also been investing in skill intensive

01:49:05.617 --> 01:49:07.728
training and produced , uh , critical

01:49:07.728 --> 01:49:09.894
to produce critical naval components .

01:49:09.894 --> 01:49:12.006
Michigan has created a national model

01:49:12.006 --> 01:49:14.172
for cultivating the next generation of

01:49:14.172 --> 01:49:16.283
engineers , builders , and maritime ,

01:49:16.359 --> 01:49:18.526
uh , innovators . Uh , this effort , I

01:49:18.526 --> 01:49:20.748
think gives Americans , uh , a decisive

01:49:20.748 --> 01:49:23.240
edge over our adversaries who are also

01:49:23.240 --> 01:49:25.351
seeking to dominate , uh , global sea

01:49:25.351 --> 01:49:27.240
lanes as well as uh technological

01:49:27.240 --> 01:49:29.407
development . So my question for you ,

01:49:29.407 --> 01:49:31.573
sir , is how is the DOD supporting and

01:49:31.573 --> 01:49:34.339
utilizing regional manufacturing

01:49:34.339 --> 01:49:36.850
ecosystems like we have uh in Michigan

01:49:37.100 --> 01:49:38.989
to reduce the reliance on foreign

01:49:38.989 --> 01:49:41.859
suppliers for critical naval components .

01:49:43.290 --> 01:49:45.560
Sir , I thanks for that question . Um ,

01:49:45.649 --> 01:49:48.049
I , I am not as familiar with Michigan

01:49:48.049 --> 01:49:51.169
as a site I went to visit in Senator

01:49:51.169 --> 01:49:53.669
Kaine's state recently in Danville ,

01:49:53.689 --> 01:49:56.490
Virginia , and that site has two

01:49:56.490 --> 01:49:59.229
purposes . One , it creates 5 specific

01:49:59.229 --> 01:50:03.109
trades in . 16 weeks and ,

01:50:03.140 --> 01:50:06.669
and it goes 24/7 , so 3 sections , 900

01:50:06.669 --> 01:50:09.750
people a day to go add to our defense

01:50:09.750 --> 01:50:12.790
industrial base and it also has an

01:50:12.790 --> 01:50:14.457
added manufacturing center of

01:50:14.457 --> 01:50:16.623
excellence which is working to get the

01:50:16.623 --> 01:50:19.089
IP . So we can produce those parts that

01:50:19.089 --> 01:50:21.689
are out of , out of circulation because

01:50:21.689 --> 01:50:23.689
they belong to older systems . So I

01:50:23.689 --> 01:50:26.049
think that could be replicated in our

01:50:26.049 --> 01:50:28.216
nation . I don't know if it is in your

01:50:28.216 --> 01:50:30.382
state , sir . I'll check , but I think

01:50:30.382 --> 01:50:32.605
we need to do that as as much as we can

01:50:32.605 --> 01:50:36.040
to uh add to our uh workforce to get it

01:50:36.040 --> 01:50:37.818
back to where it needs to be to

01:50:37.818 --> 01:50:39.929
maintain our ships , aircraft and our

01:50:39.929 --> 01:50:42.040
and our military across our country .

01:50:42.319 --> 01:50:44.319
Well , uh , I'd like to , uh , work

01:50:44.319 --> 01:50:46.375
with you on that because Michigan is

01:50:46.375 --> 01:50:48.375
doing a lot of , uh , what you just

01:50:48.375 --> 01:50:50.597
described , so I'd like the the Navy to

01:50:50.597 --> 01:50:52.486
to have an opportunity to see and

01:50:52.486 --> 01:50:54.708
understand the contribution , uh , that

01:50:54.708 --> 01:50:56.708
the industrial workforce , which is

01:50:56.708 --> 01:50:58.652
highly trained , highly skilled in

01:50:58.652 --> 01:51:00.486
Michigan , and the advantages to

01:51:00.486 --> 01:51:02.652
deploying , or employing them rather ,

01:51:02.652 --> 01:51:04.930
uh , in , uh , in Navy work would , uh ,

01:51:04.930 --> 01:51:07.208
I'd certainly welcome that opportunity .

01:51:07.208 --> 01:51:09.430
Yes sir , I'll take advantage of that .

01:51:09.430 --> 01:51:13.089
Great , thank you . Uh , thank you , uh ,

01:51:13.220 --> 01:51:15.331
Senator Tuberville . Thank you , Mr .

01:51:15.331 --> 01:51:17.498
Chairman . Uh , just a quick statement

01:51:17.498 --> 01:51:20.580
sector feeling the , uh , everything we

01:51:20.580 --> 01:51:23.859
read obviously is China's using AI on

01:51:23.859 --> 01:51:25.970
almost everything that they do . They

01:51:25.970 --> 01:51:27.970
can build a bridge in 3 months . It

01:51:27.970 --> 01:51:29.526
takes us 3 years . I'm sure

01:51:29.526 --> 01:51:31.581
shipbuilding is part of that in your

01:51:31.581 --> 01:51:33.692
travels , hopefully , hopefully we're

01:51:33.692 --> 01:51:35.803
getting , getting into that . I don't

01:51:35.803 --> 01:51:37.692
know how far , uh , and how , how

01:51:37.692 --> 01:51:39.915
impressed you have been with that . Any

01:51:39.915 --> 01:51:43.799
thoughts ? So , uh , Senator , thanks

01:51:43.799 --> 01:51:46.077
for that . You , we're , we're , we're ,

01:51:46.077 --> 01:51:48.410
we're , we're slowly adapting and , and ,

01:51:48.410 --> 01:51:50.577
and getting there . I think that there

01:51:50.577 --> 01:51:52.632
is more that we need to do and we're

01:51:52.632 --> 01:51:54.799
focused in the public shipyards trying

01:51:54.799 --> 01:51:57.077
to get that , that done . I , you know ,

01:51:57.077 --> 01:51:59.355
I saw at , uh , at Pinketeria actually ,

01:51:59.355 --> 01:52:01.410
they have these 3D goggles where you

01:52:01.410 --> 01:52:03.355
can actually look at where they're

01:52:03.355 --> 01:52:05.410
welding and how it matches up versus

01:52:05.410 --> 01:52:07.632
the blueprint to make sure that they're

01:52:07.632 --> 01:52:09.743
not off because the precision of this

01:52:09.743 --> 01:52:12.410
manufacturing is Incredibly intense . I

01:52:12.410 --> 01:52:14.299
mean , these are very complicated

01:52:14.299 --> 01:52:16.410
things , so we're getting there and I

01:52:16.410 --> 01:52:18.390
think implementing AI , even just

01:52:18.390 --> 01:52:20.879
basically digital twinning of projects ,

01:52:21.129 --> 01:52:23.351
there are a number of things we have to

01:52:23.351 --> 01:52:25.529
do to to get in and and done to that I

01:52:25.529 --> 01:52:28.189
think will speed up construction , make

01:52:28.189 --> 01:52:31.234
design faster . We spend way too much

01:52:31.234 --> 01:52:33.555
time and requirements and design . This

01:52:33.555 --> 01:52:35.904
needs to move much , much quicker . So

01:52:35.904 --> 01:52:37.793
streamlining that I think will be

01:52:37.793 --> 01:52:40.115
helpful as well , just what I read , it

01:52:40.115 --> 01:52:42.226
looks like we're just falling farther

01:52:42.226 --> 01:52:44.559
and far behind , you know , the Chinese ,

01:52:44.559 --> 01:52:46.726
and we can't deal with that too much .

01:52:46.726 --> 01:52:48.782
Uh , General Smith , I'd like , like

01:52:48.782 --> 01:52:50.948
just to make a , uh , a statement here

01:52:50.948 --> 01:52:52.948
and discuss you about a constituent

01:52:52.948 --> 01:52:55.004
matter . Uh , normally this would be

01:52:55.004 --> 01:52:57.004
handled in emails and conversations

01:52:57.004 --> 01:52:59.004
between our staffs and . After more

01:52:59.004 --> 01:53:01.059
than 7 months of headquarters Marine

01:53:01.059 --> 01:53:03.282
Corps being evasive and unresponsive to

01:53:03.282 --> 01:53:05.319
my questions , here we are , uh . A

01:53:05.319 --> 01:53:07.479
little over 2 years ago , uh , we had

01:53:07.479 --> 01:53:09.569
an F-35 crash in Charleston , South

01:53:09.569 --> 01:53:12.600
Carolina . The pilot , uh , an Alabama

01:53:12.600 --> 01:53:14.822
constituent who entered service from my

01:53:14.822 --> 01:53:16.767
state had been selected for a very

01:53:16.767 --> 01:53:18.600
important command and was in the

01:53:18.600 --> 01:53:20.544
process of converting from another

01:53:20.544 --> 01:53:22.600
aircraft and staying current for his

01:53:22.600 --> 01:53:24.544
new job . This mishap got a lot of

01:53:24.544 --> 01:53:26.656
attention because the pilot ejected .

01:53:26.656 --> 01:53:28.711
The aircraft continued to fly for an

01:53:28.711 --> 01:53:28.399
extended period of time before it

01:53:28.399 --> 01:53:30.510
eventually hit the ground . Of course

01:53:30.510 --> 01:53:32.677
there was no way for the pilot to know

01:53:32.677 --> 01:53:34.788
that this would happen if he had , he

01:53:34.788 --> 01:53:36.899
would have remained in the aircraft .

01:53:36.899 --> 01:53:38.899
What the pilot knew at the time was

01:53:38.899 --> 01:53:40.955
that the weather was bad . He had no

01:53:40.955 --> 01:53:40.879
visual reference for the ground in his

01:53:40.879 --> 01:53:42.689
primary sector instruments had

01:53:42.689 --> 01:53:45.000
completely failed . Disoriented by the

01:53:45.000 --> 01:53:47.000
cascading failures and low to the

01:53:47.000 --> 01:53:49.278
ground , he ejected . The Marine Corps ,

01:53:49.529 --> 01:53:51.696
uh , did what it always does , uh , in

01:53:51.696 --> 01:53:54.319
these mishap situations , they had 3

01:53:54.319 --> 01:53:56.000
investigations . One command

01:53:56.000 --> 01:53:58.333
investigation determined the mishap was .

01:53:58.333 --> 01:54:00.444
In the line of duty and the pilot had

01:54:00.444 --> 01:54:02.611
committed any misconduct , it found no

01:54:02.611 --> 01:54:04.939
misconduct . A field flight performance

01:54:04.939 --> 01:54:07.161
board that focuses on pilot actions and

01:54:07.161 --> 01:54:09.328
abilities and the safety investigation

01:54:09.328 --> 01:54:11.550
that is meant to determine the truth of

01:54:11.550 --> 01:54:13.717
the incident and provide a way forward

01:54:13.717 --> 01:54:15.828
and lessons learned to prevent future

01:54:15.828 --> 01:54:17.995
occurrences . All three investigations

01:54:17.995 --> 01:54:21.060
were completed February 2024 . You know ,

01:54:21.100 --> 01:54:23.267
this investigation and their summaries

01:54:23.267 --> 01:54:25.211
were routed to headquarters Marine

01:54:25.211 --> 01:54:27.350
Corps . Where it was determined that

01:54:27.350 --> 01:54:29.709
the pilot had acted appropriately and

01:54:29.709 --> 01:54:31.876
should continue his career . The pilot

01:54:31.876 --> 01:54:33.709
and his family were moved across

01:54:33.709 --> 01:54:35.931
country to Yuma , Arizona , and he took

01:54:35.931 --> 01:54:39.109
command in late June 2024 , a year ago ,

01:54:39.189 --> 01:54:41.300
General Smith , that July you visited

01:54:41.300 --> 01:54:43.669
the squadron and while speaking with

01:54:43.669 --> 01:54:46.020
the pilot in his office , you asked him

01:54:46.229 --> 01:54:48.879
what his future plans were stating . We

01:54:48.879 --> 01:54:50.768
put you here for a reason and the

01:54:50.768 --> 01:54:52.935
Marine Corps isn't done with you after

01:54:52.935 --> 01:54:54.990
this command . Then a month later in

01:54:54.990 --> 01:54:57.101
August 2024 , redacted version of the

01:54:57.101 --> 01:54:58.879
command investigation was being

01:54:58.879 --> 01:55:00.935
prepared for public release . During

01:55:00.935 --> 01:55:02.990
that process , you apparently became

01:55:02.990 --> 01:55:05.212
familiar with this mishap for the first

01:55:05.212 --> 01:55:07.268
time and without reviewing the other

01:55:07.268 --> 01:55:09.323
two investigations directed that the

01:55:09.323 --> 01:55:13.169
VMX1CL be relieved . It is important to

01:55:13.169 --> 01:55:15.620
emphasize that all information on this

01:55:15.620 --> 01:55:17.731
mishap and the investigation had been

01:55:17.731 --> 01:55:19.898
available at headquarters Marine Corps

01:55:19.898 --> 01:55:22.064
for more than 8 months by this point ,

01:55:22.064 --> 01:55:24.064
and it was also available when this

01:55:24.064 --> 01:55:26.176
family was moved across the country .

01:55:26.176 --> 01:55:28.287
During the video call relieving him ,

01:55:28.287 --> 01:55:30.231
this Marine was told by the deputy

01:55:30.231 --> 01:55:32.231
commandant for aviation that you've

01:55:32.231 --> 01:55:34.231
done nothing wrong . You're doing a

01:55:34.231 --> 01:55:36.540
great job , but that commandant that

01:55:36.540 --> 01:55:38.609
the commandant had decided you could

01:55:38.609 --> 01:55:41.140
not stay in command . I wonder what the

01:55:41.140 --> 01:55:43.779
reasons were for this erratic and hasty

01:55:43.779 --> 01:55:45.835
decision . The officer who conducted

01:55:45.835 --> 01:55:47.279
the command investigation

01:55:47.279 --> 01:55:49.390
inappropriately offered his opinion .

01:55:49.779 --> 01:55:52.001
That mishap was caused by pilot error .

01:55:52.001 --> 01:55:53.946
Of course , it was incorrect . The

01:55:53.946 --> 01:55:56.580
mishap was caused by never before seen

01:55:56.580 --> 01:55:58.580
series of failures . This erroneous

01:55:58.580 --> 01:56:01.020
opinion is what . You justified

01:56:01.020 --> 01:56:02.909
breaking faith for this decorated

01:56:02.909 --> 01:56:05.049
combat vet for more than 33 years of

01:56:05.049 --> 01:56:07.299
combat service because you never

01:56:07.299 --> 01:56:08.910
reviewed obviously the other

01:56:08.910 --> 01:56:11.188
investigation in detail , maybe at all ,

01:56:11.188 --> 01:56:13.355
you don't know that you didn't know or

01:56:13.355 --> 01:56:15.577
tell the different story of things that

01:56:15.577 --> 01:56:17.799
were said . Do this unique circumstance

01:56:17.799 --> 01:56:19.855
of mishap , the board believes . The

01:56:19.855 --> 01:56:22.132
pilot was justified in his decision to ,

01:56:22.132 --> 01:56:24.355
uh , eject recovery from the previously

01:56:24.355 --> 01:56:26.521
described flight regime is not trained

01:56:26.521 --> 01:56:29.040
in the F-35 syllabus , and the FFPB

01:56:29.040 --> 01:56:31.629
believes that the predominance of naval

01:56:31.629 --> 01:56:33.851
aviators with similar experience of the

01:56:33.851 --> 01:56:36.439
F-35B would have made the same decision .

01:56:36.709 --> 01:56:38.653
This treatment of this pilot to me

01:56:38.653 --> 01:56:40.765
feels punitive and vindictive . There

01:56:40.765 --> 01:56:42.876
was no attempt by the Marine Corps to

01:56:42.876 --> 01:56:45.042
take care of this marine or his family

01:56:45.042 --> 01:56:47.376
despite his excellent performance as CO .

01:56:47.376 --> 01:56:49.939
And the abundance of misconduct of any

01:56:49.939 --> 01:56:52.106
kind , this family was denied a change

01:56:52.106 --> 01:56:54.050
of command ceremony even after the

01:56:54.050 --> 01:56:55.772
committee's professional staff

01:56:55.772 --> 01:56:57.939
requested you evaluate this decision .

01:56:57.939 --> 01:56:59.939
General Smith , I'd like you to get

01:56:59.939 --> 01:57:01.995
answers to these questions I've been

01:57:01.995 --> 01:57:04.106
asking since October . I prefer to it

01:57:04.106 --> 01:57:06.272
to happen through normal means instead

01:57:06.272 --> 01:57:08.383
of a hearing , uh , but I am chairman

01:57:08.383 --> 01:57:10.328
of the committee , subcommittee on

01:57:10.328 --> 01:57:12.439
personnel , and we can arrange that .

01:57:12.439 --> 01:57:14.661
But to Trey and Jess Del Piso and their

01:57:14.661 --> 01:57:16.828
family , thank you for your many years

01:57:16.828 --> 01:57:18.995
of service and sacrifice to this great

01:57:18.995 --> 01:57:20.883
nation . I think you deserve much

01:57:20.883 --> 01:57:23.350
better here . There is no excuse to

01:57:23.680 --> 01:57:25.958
treat a marine and his family this way ,

01:57:25.958 --> 01:57:28.180
so I look forward to hearing from you ,

01:57:28.180 --> 01:57:31.410
General Smith . Thank you . Uh , do you ,

01:57:31.520 --> 01:57:33.353
do you have a response to that ,

01:57:33.353 --> 01:57:35.298
General ? Senator , I will get you

01:57:35.298 --> 01:57:37.464
everything I have on Cheese Delpio's ,

01:57:37.464 --> 01:57:39.520
uh , relief , but he was about to be

01:57:39.520 --> 01:57:41.576
the commanding officer of our Marine

01:57:41.576 --> 01:57:43.798
aviation weapons and tactics instructor

01:57:43.798 --> 01:57:46.020
squadron , our premier squadron , and

01:57:46.020 --> 01:57:48.020
in all candor , he punched out of a

01:57:48.020 --> 01:57:50.419
perfectly good airplane , um , and I

01:57:50.419 --> 01:57:52.540
can't allow , uh , an individual who

01:57:52.540 --> 01:57:54.318
punched out of a perfectly good

01:57:54.318 --> 01:57:56.151
airplane . A flyable airplane to

01:57:56.151 --> 01:57:58.373
command our marine aviation and weapons

01:57:58.373 --> 01:58:00.596
and taxes instructor squadron that is a

01:58:00.596 --> 01:58:04.299
a flawless no no uh no uh mistakes

01:58:04.299 --> 01:58:06.410
allowed command and uh and I couldn't

01:58:06.410 --> 01:58:08.299
allow him to take command of that

01:58:08.299 --> 01:58:10.640
squadron . Thank you . I look forward

01:58:10.640 --> 01:58:14.319
to visiting with you . Thank you . A

01:58:14.319 --> 01:58:17.390
center . Well , let's see , I'm , I'm

01:58:17.390 --> 01:58:19.549
not clear on who is .

01:58:22.169 --> 01:58:25.259
So just like . Thank you , Chairman .

01:58:25.410 --> 01:58:28.629
um , thank you for being here , um ,

01:58:28.810 --> 01:58:31.729
Commandant , um , thank you for , for

01:58:31.729 --> 01:58:33.970
being here with everything going on in

01:58:33.970 --> 01:58:36.192
the country . I , I just wanna give you

01:58:36.192 --> 01:58:38.359
the opportunity to talk a little bit ,

01:58:38.359 --> 01:58:40.303
you know , the country is watching

01:58:40.303 --> 01:58:43.890
what's happening in LA , um , and first

01:58:43.890 --> 01:58:46.330
and foremost , if you use violence as a

01:58:46.330 --> 01:58:48.663
protester , you're no longer a peaceful ,

01:58:48.663 --> 01:58:52.520
a peaceful protester . And you

01:58:52.790 --> 01:58:54.850
lose the right to be able to just

01:58:55.129 --> 01:58:56.907
destroy property , shoot at law

01:58:56.907 --> 01:58:59.120
enforcement , attack law enforcement ,

01:58:59.209 --> 01:59:01.410
all those things . So , um , people

01:59:01.410 --> 01:59:03.649
should be treated appropriately , but I

01:59:03.649 --> 01:59:05.427
think it is a different thing ,

01:59:05.427 --> 01:59:07.427
particularly for our military to be

01:59:07.427 --> 01:59:09.705
seen on the streets of American cities .

01:59:10.330 --> 01:59:12.770
Potentially adding fuel to the fire

01:59:12.770 --> 01:59:15.370
rather than decreasing it . Um , I know

01:59:15.370 --> 01:59:17.481
that the Marines have been sent out .

01:59:17.529 --> 01:59:20.649
Have you had direct contact with LAPD

01:59:20.649 --> 01:59:23.089
leadership or the governor of

01:59:23.089 --> 01:59:25.750
California ? Senator , I have not .

01:59:27.140 --> 01:59:30.569
Um Can you imagine if you were

01:59:30.569 --> 01:59:32.680
controlling some space , we've served

01:59:32.680 --> 01:59:34.902
together in many different places , you

01:59:34.902 --> 01:59:36.958
and I , um , and another armed force

01:59:36.958 --> 01:59:40.330
was coming to participate in actions

01:59:40.330 --> 01:59:42.490
with you , and you had not got not

01:59:42.490 --> 01:59:45.439
gotten a call from the commander . Yes ,

01:59:45.509 --> 01:59:47.509
Senator , I , I can't speak to what

01:59:47.509 --> 01:59:49.342
NorthCO's coordinated . Uh , the

01:59:49.342 --> 01:59:51.565
Marines there are under the auspices of

01:59:51.565 --> 01:59:53.676
the US Northern Command . OK , well ,

01:59:53.676 --> 01:59:55.898
I'd be interested to know if anyone has

01:59:55.898 --> 01:59:58.009
just pick up the phone so that we can

01:59:58.009 --> 02:00:00.200
try and have two groups of people who

02:00:00.200 --> 02:00:02.200
are in theory trying to do the same

02:00:02.200 --> 02:00:04.919
thing coordinating . Um , the reporting

02:00:04.919 --> 02:00:06.697
yesterday was that you all were

02:00:06.697 --> 02:00:08.863
scrambling , quote unquote , to figure

02:00:08.863 --> 02:00:11.030
out the rules of engagement . That you

02:00:11.030 --> 02:00:13.252
were sending folks without knowing what

02:00:13.252 --> 02:00:15.086
actual rules of engagement these

02:00:15.086 --> 02:00:17.141
Marines would be sent in with . Have

02:00:17.141 --> 02:00:19.252
they received any training on Miranda

02:00:19.252 --> 02:00:21.197
rights and custodial interrogation

02:00:21.197 --> 02:00:23.419
protocols ? Do they have the ability to

02:00:23.419 --> 02:00:25.641
arrest ? Senator , they do not have the

02:00:25.641 --> 02:00:27.959
ability to . Did they have any training

02:00:27.959 --> 02:00:31.160
on the use of less than lethal force in

02:00:31.160 --> 02:00:33.327
cities ? They do have training on less

02:00:33.327 --> 02:00:36.029
than lethal means on batons , on tasers ,

02:00:36.240 --> 02:00:39.589
beanbag , um , rounds , etc . How many

02:00:39.589 --> 02:00:43.580
hours of we no longer beans . How many

02:00:43.580 --> 02:00:45.802
hours of training have they received in

02:00:45.802 --> 02:00:48.024
less than lethal force ? I mean , these

02:00:48.024 --> 02:00:50.247
are Marines , right ? And when I served

02:00:50.247 --> 02:00:52.358
in Iraq , there was no one I wanted ,

02:00:52.358 --> 02:00:52.299
no offense to anybody here . There was

02:00:52.299 --> 02:00:54.521
no one I wanted more protecting me than

02:00:54.521 --> 02:00:56.521
the Marines , um , whether I was in

02:00:56.521 --> 02:00:58.355
Ramadi or Fallujah or Baghdad or

02:00:58.355 --> 02:01:00.410
whatever , but that's very different

02:01:00.410 --> 02:01:02.466
than active being active in American

02:01:02.466 --> 02:01:04.688
cities . So how many hours of less than

02:01:04.688 --> 02:01:06.910
lethal force have your Marines received

02:01:06.910 --> 02:01:08.966
in training , Senator , I'll have to

02:01:08.966 --> 02:01:11.132
get back to you with an exact number ,

02:01:11.132 --> 02:01:13.188
but , but it's , it's in excess of 2

02:01:13.188 --> 02:01:15.355
hours . Um , that is a standard annual

02:01:15.355 --> 02:01:17.688
training in the use of non-lethal means .

02:01:17.688 --> 02:01:19.855
So the LAPD folks who are out on the ,

02:01:19.855 --> 02:01:21.910
um , on the beat right now receive a

02:01:21.910 --> 02:01:24.132
minimum of 600 hours of training before

02:01:24.132 --> 02:01:26.355
they can be active in law enforcement .

02:01:26.355 --> 02:01:28.521
You can understand . And again , the ,

02:01:28.521 --> 02:01:30.930
the problem for me is not , um ,

02:01:31.180 --> 02:01:34.939
uh , I don't question that these things

02:01:34.939 --> 02:01:37.161
in , in LA have gotten violent . That's

02:01:37.161 --> 02:01:39.272
not my question , and , and I condemn

02:01:39.272 --> 02:01:41.050
it . Um , I'm worried about the

02:01:41.050 --> 02:01:43.520
reputation of the US military in the

02:01:43.520 --> 02:01:45.879
United States of America . I think that

02:01:45.879 --> 02:01:47.712
you were designed , particularly

02:01:47.712 --> 02:01:49.768
Marines were designed to be a lethal

02:01:49.768 --> 02:01:52.839
force abroad , and the idea that an

02:01:52.839 --> 02:01:54.930
apolitical military , which we all

02:01:54.930 --> 02:01:56.959
should cherish and value , are now

02:01:56.959 --> 02:01:58.959
going to be thrown into a situation

02:01:58.959 --> 02:02:01.126
that they're scrambling to participate

02:02:01.126 --> 02:02:03.560
in , um , where the LAPD says we don't

02:02:03.560 --> 02:02:06.779
need them . Um , to create a dramatic

02:02:06.779 --> 02:02:09.700
story , I'm worried about what that

02:02:09.700 --> 02:02:12.140
will say about the US military , and I

02:02:12.140 --> 02:02:14.307
speak from experience . In the city of

02:02:14.307 --> 02:02:16.529
Detroit in 1967 , the guard was brought

02:02:16.529 --> 02:02:18.660
in . It made violence worse , and

02:02:18.660 --> 02:02:21.859
literally 50 years later , people are

02:02:21.859 --> 02:02:24.459
still stressed about the US military

02:02:24.459 --> 02:02:27.250
being active in that city . So , um ,

02:02:27.339 --> 02:02:29.339
uh , do you think that the American

02:02:29.339 --> 02:02:33.220
public Um , wants to see troops that

02:02:33.220 --> 02:02:35.387
were trained , active duty troops that

02:02:35.387 --> 02:02:37.609
were trained for lethal force abroad on

02:02:37.609 --> 02:02:40.609
their city streets . Yes , Senator , I ,

02:02:40.680 --> 02:02:42.736
I can't comment on what the American

02:02:42.736 --> 02:02:45.069
people want to see or don't want to see .

02:02:45.069 --> 02:02:47.013
Well , I , I can imagine that most

02:02:47.013 --> 02:02:49.124
people , um , are pretty disturbed by

02:02:49.124 --> 02:02:51.124
those pictures , and I , I've asked

02:02:51.124 --> 02:02:53.236
every single nominee who's come up in

02:02:53.236 --> 02:02:55.689
front of me here , um , about this very

02:02:55.689 --> 02:02:57.856
issue because it was predictable . The

02:02:57.856 --> 02:03:00.160
president made clear he wanted to , to

02:03:00.160 --> 02:03:03.399
have this set of circumstances play out .

02:03:03.479 --> 02:03:06.160
It was in his project 2025 . He's

02:03:06.160 --> 02:03:08.382
talked about putting active duty troops

02:03:08.382 --> 02:03:10.660
in . And I am expecting leaders like

02:03:10.660 --> 02:03:13.259
you who I know have deep integrity to

02:03:13.259 --> 02:03:16.339
stand up for the US military and saying

02:03:16.339 --> 02:03:18.339
that some of these missions , while

02:03:18.339 --> 02:03:20.506
they may , we may figure out a way for

02:03:20.506 --> 02:03:23.060
them to be legal , don't support the

02:03:23.060 --> 02:03:25.282
reputation of the military that we need

02:03:25.282 --> 02:03:27.116
to uphold for the safety of this

02:03:27.116 --> 02:03:29.227
country , and we're counting on you .

02:03:29.227 --> 02:03:30.227
Are you back ?

02:03:34.290 --> 02:03:35.410
Thank you . um .

02:03:38.569 --> 02:03:40.839
Senator Duckworth , thank you , Mr .

02:03:40.919 --> 02:03:43.141
Chairman . I'm gonna follow along on my

02:03:43.141 --> 02:03:45.252
colleague's uh chain of questioning .

02:03:45.252 --> 02:03:47.086
Uh , General Smith , I share her

02:03:47.086 --> 02:03:49.252
concerns and , and the concerns of the

02:03:49.252 --> 02:03:51.363
other members of this committee about

02:03:51.363 --> 02:03:53.530
the mobilization of the 700 Marines in

02:03:53.530 --> 02:03:55.863
response to the protests in Los Angeles .

02:03:55.863 --> 02:03:57.919
Uh , I am a Marine Corps family . My

02:03:57.919 --> 02:03:57.819
father , who lies at rest in Arlington ,

02:03:57.939 --> 02:04:00.050
uh , uh , served in the United States

02:04:00.050 --> 02:04:02.217
Marines only for a few years . He's an

02:04:02.217 --> 02:04:04.439
Army officer for the rest of the time ,

02:04:04.439 --> 02:04:04.145
but that man was a Marine until the day

02:04:04.145 --> 02:04:06.312
he died . And once a Marine , always a

02:04:06.312 --> 02:04:09.455
Marine senator . Urara . And now , even

02:04:09.455 --> 02:04:11.677
if this is technically legal , what the

02:04:11.677 --> 02:04:13.788
president is doing under an expansive

02:04:13.788 --> 02:04:15.455
interpretation of Article Two

02:04:15.455 --> 02:04:17.122
authorities , I believe it is

02:04:17.122 --> 02:04:19.122
incredibly unwise . I don't condone

02:04:19.122 --> 02:04:21.288
violence or property destruction , but

02:04:21.288 --> 02:04:23.455
using active duty Marines for domestic

02:04:23.455 --> 02:04:25.344
protest response sets a dangerous

02:04:25.344 --> 02:04:27.455
precedence . When citizens around the

02:04:27.455 --> 02:04:29.622
country , not just in California , see

02:04:29.622 --> 02:04:31.788
Marines on the streets of America , it

02:04:31.788 --> 02:04:33.511
risks damaging their trust and

02:04:33.511 --> 02:04:35.622
politicizing a force that must remain

02:04:35.622 --> 02:04:37.455
apolitical and mission focused .

02:04:37.455 --> 02:04:39.677
President Trump is asking Marines to be

02:04:39.677 --> 02:04:41.899
a . From their families for a situation

02:04:41.899 --> 02:04:43.677
that the president himself said

02:04:43.677 --> 02:04:45.677
yesterday was and I quote , this is

02:04:45.677 --> 02:04:47.733
what he said yesterday simmering but

02:04:47.733 --> 02:04:49.677
not very much , end quote . Do you

02:04:49.677 --> 02:04:51.677
general have any concerns about the

02:04:51.677 --> 02:04:53.788
moral moral injury of Marines who are

02:04:53.788 --> 02:04:55.955
now being tasked to face Americans and

02:04:55.955 --> 02:04:57.566
deploy their community in an

02:04:57.566 --> 02:04:59.511
unprecedented way and what are you

02:04:59.511 --> 02:05:01.566
doing to address those mental health

02:05:01.566 --> 02:05:03.455
concerns ? Senator , Marines will

02:05:03.455 --> 02:05:05.511
execute their lawful orders . Uh , I

02:05:05.511 --> 02:05:07.622
don't have any concerns that uh about

02:05:07.622 --> 02:05:11.029
their , their moral , um , uh , damage .

02:05:11.240 --> 02:05:13.296
They're executing lawful orders that

02:05:13.296 --> 02:05:15.184
they're trained to do . They're ,

02:05:15.184 --> 02:05:17.018
they're completely confident and

02:05:17.018 --> 02:05:18.684
they're capable of conducting

02:05:18.684 --> 02:05:20.684
protection of federal personnel and

02:05:20.684 --> 02:05:22.518
federal property . I , I have no

02:05:22.518 --> 02:05:24.629
question on their ability to do their

02:05:24.629 --> 02:05:26.851
jobs . They're Marines after all . Uh ,

02:05:26.851 --> 02:05:28.851
my concern is the moral , the , the

02:05:28.851 --> 02:05:31.149
psychological injury to Marines who are

02:05:31.149 --> 02:05:32.871
gonna be told to turn on their

02:05:32.871 --> 02:05:35.299
Americans their fellow Americans . We

02:05:35.299 --> 02:05:37.355
know , and I would , would you agree

02:05:37.355 --> 02:05:39.299
that there can be , uh , uh , uh ,

02:05:39.299 --> 02:05:41.629
hidden injuries such as , uh , mental

02:05:41.629 --> 02:05:43.573
health injuries to Marines whether

02:05:43.573 --> 02:05:45.910
they're at war or I mean when you go to

02:05:45.910 --> 02:05:47.966
war , would you agree that there are

02:05:47.966 --> 02:05:50.299
hidden injuries that can happen such as ,

02:05:50.299 --> 02:05:52.521
uh , psychological injuries ? There are

02:05:52.521 --> 02:05:54.743
psychological injuries when one goes to

02:05:54.743 --> 02:05:56.910
war , yes ma'am . We are you concerned

02:05:56.910 --> 02:05:55.859
that there might be psychological

02:05:55.859 --> 02:05:57.970
injuries to the Marines who are being

02:05:57.970 --> 02:06:00.339
told to uh turn on American citizens uh

02:06:00.339 --> 02:06:02.672
during this deployment ? Well , Senator ,

02:06:02.672 --> 02:06:04.783
I would say that , uh , these Marines

02:06:04.783 --> 02:06:06.783
are not being able to , they're not

02:06:06.783 --> 02:06:06.620
being told to turn on their fellow

02:06:06.620 --> 02:06:08.731
citizens . They're conducting federal

02:06:08.731 --> 02:06:10.787
property protection . So you have no

02:06:10.787 --> 02:06:12.787
concern that there might be Marines

02:06:12.787 --> 02:06:14.731
that are having um a psychological

02:06:14.731 --> 02:06:17.009
negative reaction to being put on , uh ,

02:06:17.009 --> 02:06:19.231
I'm not saying that they can't do their

02:06:19.231 --> 02:06:19.040
jobs . I'm saying you , you have no

02:06:19.040 --> 02:06:21.151
concerns and you're not preparing for

02:06:21.151 --> 02:06:23.040
any mental health counseling as a

02:06:23.040 --> 02:06:25.151
result of this deployment for the 700

02:06:25.151 --> 02:06:27.096
Marines . Senator , we always have

02:06:27.096 --> 02:06:26.609
mental health counseling available to

02:06:26.609 --> 02:06:28.776
Marines at all times for any purpose ,

02:06:28.776 --> 02:06:30.553
but I don't have any heightened

02:06:30.553 --> 02:06:32.442
concerns about this , OK . Well ,

02:06:32.442 --> 02:06:34.609
active duty troops are trained for war

02:06:34.609 --> 02:06:36.776
fighting and not policing we ask a lot

02:06:36.776 --> 02:06:38.887
of different very difficult things of

02:06:38.887 --> 02:06:41.109
our troops taxing their mental health ,

02:06:41.109 --> 02:06:40.910
and now we're sending them to turn on

02:06:40.910 --> 02:06:43.077
their own communities outside of their

02:06:43.077 --> 02:06:45.243
normal training . I would be concerned

02:06:45.243 --> 02:06:47.299
for the well-being of our heroes . I

02:06:47.299 --> 02:06:49.021
wanna switch , uh , my line of

02:06:49.021 --> 02:06:50.899
questioning to Clift , um , and

02:06:50.899 --> 02:06:52.899
leveraging our , uh , international

02:06:52.899 --> 02:06:54.955
partners . There's a reason that our

02:06:54.955 --> 02:06:57.066
system is supposed to prevent the use

02:06:57.066 --> 02:06:59.232
of our military on our soil except for

02:06:59.232 --> 02:07:01.455
the most necessary circumstances . Uh ,

02:07:01.455 --> 02:07:03.455
uh , ideally incarnation with local

02:07:03.455 --> 02:07:03.060
elected leaders , alternative is

02:07:03.060 --> 02:07:05.740
un-American , uh , uh , from my perch

02:07:05.740 --> 02:07:07.684
on this committee and the commerce

02:07:07.684 --> 02:07:09.962
committee changing topics a little bit ,

02:07:09.962 --> 02:07:12.073
I am concerned about our military and

02:07:12.073 --> 02:07:14.140
commercial maritime capacity . I

02:07:14.140 --> 02:07:16.362
appreciate the leadership of many of my

02:07:16.362 --> 02:07:16.299
colleagues on this issue , and I

02:07:16.299 --> 02:07:18.299
strongly support ongoing efforts to

02:07:18.299 --> 02:07:20.188
expand our domestic ship building

02:07:20.188 --> 02:07:22.021
industrial base . Even with this

02:07:22.021 --> 02:07:23.632
renewed emphasis on domestic

02:07:23.632 --> 02:07:25.855
shipbuilding , especially of commercial

02:07:25.855 --> 02:07:28.021
vessels or big ticket military ships ,

02:07:28.021 --> 02:07:27.049
I remain concerned that we are

02:07:27.049 --> 02:07:29.271
underinvesting in a critical element of

02:07:29.271 --> 02:07:31.569
any future flight sea lift . Uh , it

02:07:31.569 --> 02:07:33.736
will not matter how many submarines or

02:07:33.736 --> 02:07:35.902
destroyers we can build if equipment ,

02:07:35.902 --> 02:07:35.850
fuel , and resupply cannot make it to

02:07:35.850 --> 02:07:38.017
theater . And if our troops don't have

02:07:38.017 --> 02:07:40.072
enough ships to ferry each other and

02:07:40.072 --> 02:07:39.970
they resupply from place to place

02:07:39.970 --> 02:07:41.803
within the theater , and this is

02:07:41.803 --> 02:07:44.026
especially important for the Marines to

02:07:44.026 --> 02:07:45.859
have , uh , amphibious and local

02:07:45.859 --> 02:07:48.026
resources , I'd like to ask all of our

02:07:48.026 --> 02:07:47.859
witnesses , do you agree that we lack

02:07:47.859 --> 02:07:49.859
the necessary number of sea lift or

02:07:49.859 --> 02:07:51.526
auxiliary vessels to meet the

02:07:51.526 --> 02:07:53.581
logistical demands of a contestant .

02:07:53.581 --> 02:07:55.470
Environment in the Indo-Pacific ,

02:07:55.470 --> 02:07:55.436
Admiral , I'd like to start with you

02:07:55.436 --> 02:07:57.603
and everybody on the panel . I think ,

02:07:57.603 --> 02:07:59.880
I think we can do better there , ma'am .

02:07:59.880 --> 02:08:02.103
I'm not sure I would say we lack . I do

02:08:02.103 --> 02:08:03.825
think we've pursued a buy used

02:08:03.825 --> 02:08:06.875
philosophy and , uh , those used ships ,

02:08:07.166 --> 02:08:09.222
at least the initial ones took a lot

02:08:09.222 --> 02:08:11.444
more work to get them serviceable . The

02:08:11.444 --> 02:08:13.610
the latest ones have been better , but

02:08:13.610 --> 02:08:15.481
I think uh a buy . New and used

02:08:15.481 --> 02:08:17.537
philosophy is probably prudent going

02:08:17.537 --> 02:08:19.759
forward . Do you think we could benefit

02:08:19.759 --> 02:08:21.592
from partnering with , um , uh ,

02:08:21.592 --> 02:08:23.148
friendly foreign nations on

02:08:23.148 --> 02:08:25.148
co-production and co-sustainment of

02:08:25.148 --> 02:08:27.259
auxiliary vessels from cargo ships to

02:08:27.259 --> 02:08:29.203
small supply boats to cable repair

02:08:29.203 --> 02:08:31.425
ships , etc . to build surge production

02:08:31.425 --> 02:08:33.537
and maintenance capacity within the I

02:08:33.537 --> 02:08:33.452
do , and I also think there's

02:08:33.452 --> 02:08:35.563
opportunities to bring that work into

02:08:35.563 --> 02:08:37.508
the United States . Yeah , I think

02:08:37.508 --> 02:08:41.479
there's opportunity for both . I

02:08:41.479 --> 02:08:43.646
concur with the admiral . I don't have

02:08:43.646 --> 02:08:45.701
really much to add to what he said .

02:08:45.701 --> 02:08:47.812
What currently prevents the navy from

02:08:47.812 --> 02:08:47.520
developing or scaling foreign

02:08:47.520 --> 02:08:49.520
partnerships , um , to build our or

02:08:49.520 --> 02:08:51.631
maintain our auxiliary vessels , Mr .

02:08:51.631 --> 02:08:51.560
Secretary ?

02:08:55.529 --> 02:08:57.807
Um , I , you know , Senator , look , I ,

02:08:57.807 --> 02:09:00.359
I think there are a couple of , uh , uh ,

02:09:00.370 --> 02:09:02.314
different issues we have to , uh ,

02:09:02.314 --> 02:09:04.648
tackle when it comes to , uh , to those ,

02:09:04.648 --> 02:09:06.870
but I think it's , you know , as I said

02:09:06.870 --> 02:09:08.981
in my testimony during confirmation ,

02:09:08.981 --> 02:09:11.092
all options are on the table , and we

02:09:11.092 --> 02:09:13.092
do need to look at this , and we do

02:09:13.092 --> 02:09:15.299
need to look at both having foreign

02:09:15.299 --> 02:09:17.410
builders build some . Ships like this

02:09:17.410 --> 02:09:19.299
for us and also obviously they're

02:09:19.299 --> 02:09:21.521
coming here and looking at investing in

02:09:21.521 --> 02:09:23.632
our base and bringing their expertise

02:09:23.632 --> 02:09:25.855
so I think that would be very useful to

02:09:25.855 --> 02:09:27.855
us or even partnering with American

02:09:27.855 --> 02:09:30.021
builders but overseas in theater to um

02:09:30.021 --> 02:09:32.021
be able to provide immediate repair

02:09:32.021 --> 02:09:34.021
absolutely thank you thank you Mr .

02:09:34.021 --> 02:09:35.910
Chairman . Um , I understand that

02:09:35.910 --> 02:09:38.021
Senator Banks is almost here , so I'm

02:09:38.021 --> 02:09:40.188
gonna do one question while we await ,

02:09:40.188 --> 02:09:42.132
um , him to arrive , uh , and then

02:09:42.132 --> 02:09:44.243
following Senator Banks , we're gonna

02:09:44.243 --> 02:09:44.140
adjourn this public portion of the

02:09:44.140 --> 02:09:46.307
hearing and reconvene in 15 minutes in

02:09:46.307 --> 02:09:48.779
the skiff for the closed portion . Um ,

02:09:48.850 --> 02:09:50.961
and this is for Secretary Filin , and

02:09:50.961 --> 02:09:53.072
it's just about something that I want

02:09:53.072 --> 02:09:54.961
you to make a priority . It's not

02:09:54.961 --> 02:09:57.017
really a question . It's the Brandon

02:09:57.017 --> 02:09:59.128
Act . Um , the Brandon Act was passed

02:09:59.128 --> 02:10:01.239
by this body a number of years back ,

02:10:01.239 --> 02:10:03.294
named after a young sailor , Brandon

02:10:03.294 --> 02:10:05.128
Caserta , who died by suicide in

02:10:05.128 --> 02:10:07.410
Norfolk . He was from Arizona , but he

02:10:07.410 --> 02:10:10.290
died while serving in Norfolk , and

02:10:10.290 --> 02:10:12.234
there were a lot of challenges and

02:10:12.234 --> 02:10:14.123
problems with , frankly , lack of

02:10:14.123 --> 02:10:16.290
access to mental health services . And

02:10:16.290 --> 02:10:18.457
it was a pivotal step toward improving

02:10:18.457 --> 02:10:20.623
access to mental health services , not

02:10:20.623 --> 02:10:22.568
just for Navy but everybody in the

02:10:22.568 --> 02:10:24.623
service . The implementations across

02:10:24.623 --> 02:10:26.679
the armed forces we've seen fits and

02:10:26.679 --> 02:10:28.679
starts , but some critical gaps and

02:10:28.679 --> 02:10:30.179
effectiveness , fragmented

02:10:30.179 --> 02:10:32.290
implementation , undefined procedures

02:10:32.290 --> 02:10:34.346
for mental health requests , lack of

02:10:34.346 --> 02:10:36.457
policies tailored toward the National

02:10:36.457 --> 02:10:38.401
Guard and reserves , probably done

02:10:38.401 --> 02:10:40.346
better in the active duty than the

02:10:40.346 --> 02:10:42.512
guard reserves . I would really love .

02:10:42.512 --> 02:10:44.512
Of your help working to continue to

02:10:44.512 --> 02:10:46.679
implement this and Admiral Kilby knows

02:10:46.679 --> 02:10:48.734
this , this story very , very well ,

02:10:48.734 --> 02:10:50.901
and I appreciate your leadership on it

02:10:50.901 --> 02:10:50.709
in the past , but this is something

02:10:50.709 --> 02:10:52.876
that in the future I'll be checking in

02:10:52.876 --> 02:10:54.987
with you on to see what we can better

02:10:54.987 --> 02:10:57.209
do to implement the act and with that I

02:10:57.209 --> 02:10:59.265
will recognize Senator Banks . Thank

02:10:59.265 --> 02:11:01.098
you , Mr . Chairman . Thanks for

02:11:01.098 --> 02:11:03.042
sticking around for me , um , Mr .

02:11:03.042 --> 02:11:05.209
Secretary , prior to President Trump's

02:11:05.209 --> 02:11:07.376
election , the military was struggling

02:11:07.376 --> 02:11:09.431
with the worst recruitment crisis in

02:11:09.431 --> 02:11:11.799
half a century . Now the Navy's on pace

02:11:11.799 --> 02:11:14.439
for its best recruitment in 2 decades ,

02:11:14.509 --> 02:11:16.676
and I wonder if you can give us a good

02:11:16.676 --> 02:11:19.799
explanation about why . Uh , thank you ,

02:11:19.810 --> 02:11:21.866
Senator for the question . I , I , I

02:11:21.866 --> 02:11:24.529
think that there's been a , uh , a big

02:11:24.529 --> 02:11:26.890
morale boost , uh , both from the

02:11:27.290 --> 02:11:29.299
president's commitment to , uh ,

02:11:29.330 --> 02:11:32.560
defense , um , the fact that we are ,

02:11:32.770 --> 02:11:36.009
uh , changing the , the , the , the

02:11:36.009 --> 02:11:38.370
ethos and the culture of the , of the

02:11:38.370 --> 02:11:41.265
military . To more of uh of its , it's

02:11:41.265 --> 02:11:44.654
roots , uh , in war fighting , uh , and ,

02:11:44.754 --> 02:11:46.955
and I think in general people we've

02:11:46.955 --> 02:11:50.504
done a better job of explaining what it

02:11:50.504 --> 02:11:52.595
means to serve . we've done a better

02:11:52.595 --> 02:11:56.279
job of the uh . Uh , the skills you

02:11:56.279 --> 02:11:59.319
will get , um , and I think we've also

02:11:59.319 --> 02:12:01.541
helped in this committee's been helpful

02:12:01.541 --> 02:12:03.708
in increasing compensation and closing

02:12:03.708 --> 02:12:05.875
the gap between the private sector and

02:12:05.875 --> 02:12:07.986
the public sector , which has made it

02:12:07.986 --> 02:12:10.097
better . I , I do think we do need to

02:12:10.097 --> 02:12:12.319
improve on housing , uh , and , and our

02:12:12.319 --> 02:12:14.152
barracks , uh , in order to , to

02:12:14.152 --> 02:12:16.208
maintain that , but I think both the

02:12:16.208 --> 02:12:18.375
Navy and the Marine Corps are set to ,

02:12:18.375 --> 02:12:20.430
uh , uh , exceed numbers and , and ,

02:12:20.430 --> 02:12:22.208
and do better and , and I , I .

02:12:22.208 --> 02:12:24.375
Directly , uh , at least right now try

02:12:24.375 --> 02:12:26.597
to associate that with , uh , uh , from

02:12:26.597 --> 02:12:28.763
what we've seen in the data , uh , the

02:12:28.763 --> 02:12:31.041
president's election and the focus and ,

02:12:31.041 --> 02:12:33.263
and to be honest , you know , we , we ,

02:12:33.263 --> 02:12:35.319
we've done a much better job of what

02:12:35.319 --> 02:12:37.375
the mission is and the importance of

02:12:37.375 --> 02:12:39.486
the mission . Uh , is it , is it safe

02:12:39.486 --> 02:12:39.024
to say , Mr . Secretary , that

02:12:39.305 --> 02:12:41.638
recruitment improved after the election ,

02:12:41.638 --> 02:12:43.749
after President Trump was elected ? I

02:12:43.749 --> 02:12:46.027
mean , the , the numbers bear that out .

02:12:46.027 --> 02:12:48.083
It's sort of stunning to look at the

02:12:48.083 --> 02:12:50.083
last 4 years compared to the last 6

02:12:50.083 --> 02:12:52.305
months . We definitely saw a bump after

02:12:52.305 --> 02:12:54.472
the election , and Admiral , what does

02:12:54.472 --> 02:12:56.527
that mean to the Navy for for better

02:12:56.527 --> 02:12:58.583
recruitment and retention ? I mean ,

02:12:58.583 --> 02:12:58.439
how important is that ? What does that

02:12:58.439 --> 02:13:01.200
mean to the whole United States Navy

02:13:01.200 --> 02:13:03.367
and your ability to do your job ? We ,

02:13:03.367 --> 02:13:05.839
we absolutely have to recruit really

02:13:05.839 --> 02:13:08.500
beyond our goal to die down our gaps at

02:13:08.500 --> 02:13:12.080
sea . Um , I spoke earlier about we had

02:13:12.080 --> 02:13:14.919
last month at 23,200 gaps at sea . Now

02:13:14.919 --> 02:13:18.649
we're 29 . Uh , 22,900 gaps to see , so

02:13:18.649 --> 02:13:20.689
we've come back 300 , but that only

02:13:20.689 --> 02:13:22.856
comes when you exceed your goal . If ,

02:13:22.856 --> 02:13:24.800
if not , you're just made treading

02:13:24.800 --> 02:13:26.967
water . So my view , sir , is that the

02:13:26.967 --> 02:13:29.850
Navy really turned around our focus on

02:13:29.850 --> 02:13:32.410
this area as Secretary indicated in the

02:13:32.410 --> 02:13:34.879
way we manage our recruiting machine

02:13:34.879 --> 02:13:37.169
and really , uh , try to incentivize

02:13:37.169 --> 02:13:39.113
our recruiters to not have monthly

02:13:39.113 --> 02:13:41.225
quotas but to just bring everybody in

02:13:41.225 --> 02:13:43.430
we could . So we really took an all

02:13:43.430 --> 02:13:45.910
hands deck approach on this and as I

02:13:45.910 --> 02:13:48.132
said before , I'll take any , I'll ride

02:13:48.132 --> 02:13:50.689
any wave to get in someone who wants to

02:13:50.689 --> 02:13:53.310
serve in our country's navy and do our

02:13:53.310 --> 02:13:55.669
work , uh , for our nation . How do we

02:13:55.669 --> 02:13:57.836
keep it up ? Well , I think we have to

02:13:57.836 --> 02:13:59.725
keep looking at it every day . We

02:13:59.725 --> 02:14:01.950
cannot take our eye off the ball . Uh ,

02:14:02.120 --> 02:14:04.231
the demographics are not in our favor

02:14:04.231 --> 02:14:06.453
here . One , we have a country that has

02:14:06.453 --> 02:14:08.509
less propensity to serve , and two ,

02:14:08.509 --> 02:14:10.731
we're , we're approaching a cliff where

02:14:10.731 --> 02:14:12.787
we're gonna have a smaller , smaller

02:14:12.787 --> 02:14:15.120
population that we're all competing for .

02:14:15.120 --> 02:14:16.842
So we've got to make the value

02:14:16.842 --> 02:14:18.953
proposition that the secretary talked

02:14:18.953 --> 02:14:21.120
about on why it's important to serve ,

02:14:21.120 --> 02:14:23.231
why you will be fulfilled by a career

02:14:23.231 --> 02:14:25.453
in our in uniform , and then , and then

02:14:25.453 --> 02:14:27.509
do the quality of service things the

02:14:27.509 --> 02:14:29.620
secretary indicated to make them feel

02:14:29.620 --> 02:14:31.898
valued . Um , general , I mean , I , I ,

02:14:31.910 --> 02:14:34.021
the last 4 years , the last 8 years I

02:14:34.021 --> 02:14:35.966
served on the House Armed Services

02:14:35.966 --> 02:14:38.132
Committee , and I chaired the Military

02:14:38.132 --> 02:14:40.188
personnel Subcommittee on Hask . Now

02:14:40.188 --> 02:14:42.188
I'm very proud to be a part of this

02:14:42.188 --> 02:14:44.243
institution , this committee . The ,

02:14:44.243 --> 02:14:46.354
the one anomaly over the last 4 years

02:14:46.354 --> 02:14:48.354
was the Marine Corps . I mean , the

02:14:48.354 --> 02:14:48.299
Army , the Air Force , the Navy all

02:14:48.299 --> 02:14:50.299
fell way short of recruitment , the

02:14:50.299 --> 02:14:52.410
worst recruitment crisis since an all

02:14:52.410 --> 02:14:54.577
volunteer force . But the Marine Corps

02:14:54.577 --> 02:14:56.743
held steady . I , I think it's because

02:14:56.743 --> 02:14:58.966
you all were selling something that was

02:14:58.966 --> 02:15:01.132
unique , what young men and women were

02:15:01.132 --> 02:15:03.188
looking forward to being a part of .

02:15:03.188 --> 02:15:05.410
What , what lessons can , can the other

02:15:05.410 --> 02:15:07.577
branches learn from the Marine Corps ?

02:15:07.577 --> 02:15:09.688
When it comes to recruitment , well ,

02:15:09.688 --> 02:15:09.629
Senator , thanks for that question .

02:15:09.759 --> 02:15:12.359
What I would say that we , we put our

02:15:12.359 --> 02:15:15.009
recruiters out there and we offer the

02:15:15.009 --> 02:15:17.176
opportunity to earn the title Marine .

02:15:17.176 --> 02:15:19.120
We don't promise you anything . We

02:15:19.120 --> 02:15:21.231
offer you the opportunity to earn the

02:15:21.231 --> 02:15:23.453
title US Marine . We place our best and

02:15:23.453 --> 02:15:25.565
our brightest on recruiting duty . We

02:15:25.565 --> 02:15:27.787
hold them accountable for their mission

02:15:27.787 --> 02:15:29.398
and we reward them when they

02:15:29.398 --> 02:15:31.620
successfully complete it . I'm a former

02:15:31.620 --> 02:15:33.676
recruiter . my current , my son is a

02:15:33.676 --> 02:15:35.676
current officer recruiter . We have

02:15:35.676 --> 02:15:37.731
multiple general officers , multiple

02:15:37.731 --> 02:15:39.676
who are prior recruiters , General

02:15:39.676 --> 02:15:41.787
Turner , General Glenn . Uh , General

02:15:41.787 --> 02:15:43.953
Garcia , we have multiple officers who

02:15:44.169 --> 02:15:46.225
have done successfully on recruiting

02:15:46.225 --> 02:15:48.447
and then we promote them and so I think

02:15:48.447 --> 02:15:50.613
you have to do a combination of all of

02:15:50.613 --> 02:15:52.836
the above . Yeah , I , I , I just offer

02:15:52.836 --> 02:15:55.002
one final thought . I mean , Secretary

02:15:55.002 --> 02:15:56.836
Hegseth , President Trump , this

02:15:56.836 --> 02:15:59.058
administration's focus on lethality and

02:15:59.058 --> 02:16:01.280
fighting and winning wars and preparing

02:16:01.280 --> 02:16:03.169
for that rather than politics and

02:16:03.169 --> 02:16:05.002
political causes the recruitment

02:16:05.002 --> 02:16:06.947
numbers show that that that's what

02:16:06.947 --> 02:16:06.729
works . That's what young men and women

02:16:06.729 --> 02:16:08.896
are looking forward and inspired to be

02:16:08.896 --> 02:16:11.020
a part of and . I , I give , I give

02:16:11.020 --> 02:16:13.242
this administration a lot of credit for

02:16:13.242 --> 02:16:15.298
that . With that , Mr . Chairman , I

02:16:15.298 --> 02:16:17.576
yield back . Thank you , Senator Banks .

02:16:17.576 --> 02:16:19.520
This concludes the open portion of

02:16:19.520 --> 02:16:19.350
today's hearing . I want to thank the

02:16:19.350 --> 02:16:22.209
witnesses for their candid testimony ,

02:16:22.379 --> 02:16:24.101
for the information of members

02:16:24.101 --> 02:16:26.323
questions for the record will be due to

02:16:26.323 --> 02:16:28.546
the committee within 2 business days of

02:16:28.546 --> 02:16:30.712
the conclusion of the hearing , and we

02:16:30.712 --> 02:16:32.768
would appreciate prompt and thorough

02:16:32.768 --> 02:16:34.990
responses . We will commence the closed

02:16:34.990 --> 02:16:36.879
portion of this hearing in Senate

02:16:36.879 --> 02:16:38.990
security in 15 minutes with that . We

02:16:38.990 --> 02:16:41.290
are , we adjourn . I think