WEBVTT

00:00.750 --> 00:01.740
(gavel banging)

00:01.740 --> 00:03.450
- Meeting will come to order and in the spirit

00:03.450 --> 00:06.380
^of having our military here, we're gonna

00:06.380 --> 00:07.653
^get started on time,

00:07.820 --> 00:09.750
^so we appreciate you all

00:09.750 --> 00:11.393
^being here very, very much.

00:11.900 --> 00:13.673
^Subcommittee will come to order.

00:13.810 --> 00:16.074
^Today we're meeting to discuss the President's

00:16.074 --> 00:21.074
^fiscal year 2019 budget request for military construction.

00:22.510 --> 00:25.420
^Family housing and base realignment and closure

00:25.420 --> 00:27.613
^for the Department of Defense.

00:27.950 --> 00:32.950
^The fiscal year 2019 budget request of 10.5 billion dollars

00:33.130 --> 00:35.603
^reflects a slight increase over the 2018

00:35.603 --> 00:39.213
^enacted level of 10.1 billion dollars.

00:39.890 --> 00:42.623
^MILCON delivers facility investments

00:42.623 --> 00:47.593
^that contribute to current and future force readiness.

00:47.840 --> 00:50.839
^Whether they support the next generation of weapon systems,

00:50.839 --> 00:54.260
^provides support to the combatant commanders

00:54.260 --> 00:56.663
^or strength in partnerships with our allies.

00:57.050 --> 00:59.500
^Facility investments improve the quality of life

00:59.500 --> 01:02.823
^for our soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines.

01:03.700 --> 01:05.940
^Not only with mission critical facilities,

01:05.940 --> 01:08.203
^but with improvements in family housing,

01:08.390 --> 01:12.310
^schools, health care and a variety of support facilities.

01:12.310 --> 01:16.320
^While the fiscal year 2019 MILCON request is some

01:16.320 --> 01:18.807
^improvement over the historically low request

01:18.807 --> 01:23.299
^from prior years, this request remains relative flat

01:23.299 --> 01:26.743
^compared to fiscal year 2018.

01:27.410 --> 01:29.560
^The MILCON portfolio has been taking on

01:29.560 --> 01:32.093
^increasing levels of risk for years,

01:32.140 --> 01:34.057
^its limited resources have been put towards

01:34.057 --> 01:37.033
^higher priority readiness issues,

01:37.240 --> 01:39.820
^critical recapitalization projects

01:39.820 --> 01:42.409
^have been displaced as an already constrained budget

01:42.409 --> 01:45.020
^is squeezed even further to accommodate

01:45.020 --> 01:47.623
^new platforms and weapons systems.

01:48.270 --> 01:51.520
^Compounded with the long list of deferred capitalization,

01:51.520 --> 01:53.750
^the increased complexity of facilities

01:54.740 --> 01:56.880
^needed to support today's weapon systems

01:56.880 --> 01:59.003
^are putting further strain on the budget.

01:59.720 --> 02:02.940
^Buildings today are more complex in design and function

02:03.420 --> 02:07.300
^than traditional construction projects resulting

02:07.300 --> 02:11.150
^in higher cost and critical construction schedules

02:11.360 --> 02:14.350
^as new platforms and weapons systems are interdependent

02:14.350 --> 02:15.823
^with their new facilities.

02:16.930 --> 02:19.430
^There are more projects that exceed 100 million dollars

02:19.430 --> 02:22.080
^in the fiscal year 2019 budget

02:22.410 --> 02:25.183
^than the past four budget requests combined.

02:25.889 --> 02:29.640
^This cost of construction projects continue to rise,

02:29.640 --> 02:33.760
^affordability decreases as large and complex projects

02:33.760 --> 02:35.560
^take up greater share of the budget.

02:36.050 --> 02:38.689
^In light of the environment just described,

02:38.689 --> 02:41.070
^it is disappointing the infrastructure did not

02:41.070 --> 02:44.543
^receive any increases from the recent budget cap agreement.

02:45.290 --> 02:48.540
^It's also frustrating that half of the department

02:48.540 --> 02:51.300
^decided not to submit an unfunded priority list

02:51.620 --> 02:53.782
^when all of the services have acknowledged

02:53.782 --> 02:57.423
^the substantial backlog of MILCON requirements.

02:58.050 --> 03:01.940
^Increases in fiscal year 2019 budget request

03:01.940 --> 03:04.450
^begin to improve our infrastructure

03:04.840 --> 03:07.260
^but reversing years of underfunding

03:07.270 --> 03:09.720
^while simultaneously building ready and resilient

03:09.759 --> 03:13.540
^installations to support changing global posture

03:13.950 --> 03:15.343
^will remain a challenge.

03:15.800 --> 03:18.410
^We must work smarter and find innovative solutions

03:18.410 --> 03:20.541
^to bring the right investment at the right time

03:20.541 --> 03:23.650
^on schedule within budget to deliver facilities

03:23.650 --> 03:27.493
^that provide maximum readiness and war fighting capability.

03:28.140 --> 03:29.920
^Today, we will hear from representatives

03:29.920 --> 03:31.800
^of all the military services, as well as

03:31.800 --> 03:33.500
^the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

03:33.500 --> 03:37.350
^Joining us are Mr. Lucian Niemeyer,

03:37.350 --> 03:39.530
^Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy,

03:39.530 --> 03:41.163
^Installations and Environment.

03:41.690 --> 03:44.020
^Lieutenant General Gwendolyn Bingham,

03:44.020 --> 03:45.860
^Assistant Chief of Staff of the Army

03:45.860 --> 03:47.853
^for Installation Management.

03:48.410 --> 03:50.660
^Vice Admiral Dixon R. Smith, Deputy Chief

03:50.660 --> 03:54.893
^for Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics.

03:55.324 --> 03:58.897
^Major General Vincent Coglianese, Commander of

03:58.897 --> 04:01.290
^the Marine Corps Installation Command

04:01.850 --> 04:05.460
^and Assistant Deputy Commander, Installations

04:05.460 --> 04:07.570
^and Logistics and

04:08.520 --> 04:11.650
^Major General Timothy S. Green, Air Force

04:11.650 --> 04:16.650
^Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering,

04:17.760 --> 04:20.663
^and Force Protection Director of Civil Engineers.

04:21.150 --> 04:24.223
^Subcommittee looks forward to your testimony.

04:24.530 --> 04:27.070
^Before we turn to our witnesses, I'd like to recognize

04:27.070 --> 04:28.810
^my colleague, the senator from Hawaii

04:28.810 --> 04:31.197
^for his opening remarks and also this is

04:31.197 --> 04:34.230
^as you know, there's been reshuffling

04:34.230 --> 04:36.355
^and it really is a real honor to serve with

04:36.355 --> 04:39.890
^Senator Schatz and look forward to

04:39.890 --> 04:41.730
^a very close relationship.

04:41.730 --> 04:43.113
^The great thing about this committee

04:43.113 --> 04:46.453
^is it's very bi-partisan in the things

04:46.453 --> 04:48.253
^that we attempt to get done.

04:48.850 --> 04:51.580
^And again, we really do look forward to working

04:51.580 --> 04:54.003
^not only with you but even better, your staff.

04:55.540 --> 04:57.400
^- Thank you very much Mr. Chairman.

04:57.400 --> 04:59.290
^I appreciate your holding this hearing

04:59.290 --> 05:04.110
^to discuss the fiscal year 2019 military construction

05:04.110 --> 05:06.500
^and family housing budget request.

05:06.500 --> 05:09.350
^I also want to congratulate you on taking over

05:09.350 --> 05:12.960
^this subcommittee as a leader on the Veterans' Affairs

05:12.960 --> 05:15.290
^committee and in the senate Air Force caucus

05:15.290 --> 05:18.414
^you are well aware of the challenges facing our veterans

05:18.414 --> 05:21.653
^along with our men and women in uniform.

05:22.450 --> 05:23.980
^I also want to thank our outgoing chairman,

05:23.980 --> 05:26.220
^Senator Moran, for his friendship and collaboration

05:26.220 --> 05:29.420
^as we completed the 2018 Omnibus.

05:29.420 --> 05:31.980
^That bill represented an important effort to move us

05:31.980 --> 05:34.880
^in the right direction on military infrastructure

05:34.880 --> 05:36.100
^and because of his leadership,

05:36.100 --> 05:38.320
^this subcommittee has made great strides

05:38.320 --> 05:40.970
^in fulfilling the promises made to our veterans

05:40.970 --> 05:45.970
^and I'm looking forward to working with you Mr. Chairman.

05:46.280 --> 05:49.520
^I'd also like to welcome the members of our panel

05:49.520 --> 05:51.270
^and look forward to your testimony.

05:51.350 --> 05:53.110
^General Green, this will be your last time

05:53.110 --> 05:55.090
^testifying before this subcommittee

05:55.420 --> 05:58.020
^and we want to thank you for your more than 30 years

05:58.560 --> 06:00.710
^of service and wish you well in retirement.

06:01.030 --> 06:03.500
^For too long, we have put off properly investing

06:03.500 --> 06:04.930
^in our military facilities.

06:04.930 --> 06:06.787
^That has put the department and the services

06:06.787 --> 06:08.613
^in a difficult position.

06:08.900 --> 06:10.920
^They have had to sacrifice infrastructure

06:10.920 --> 06:13.290
^and sustainment so that they can pay for other

06:13.290 --> 06:16.199
^important investments like urgent non-infrastructure,

06:16.199 --> 06:19.373
^readiness requirements and new missions and operations.

06:19.600 --> 06:21.850
^These hard choices have been made more difficult

06:21.850 --> 06:26.453
^by nearly two decades of conflict, sequestration, and CR's.

06:27.410 --> 06:30.090
^While there's been some relief from these fiscal pressures

06:30.090 --> 06:31.940
^with the bipartisan budget agreement,

06:31.970 --> 06:35.750
^MILCON has not seen the windfall other DOD accounts have

06:36.670 --> 06:38.093
^under this budget deal.

06:38.650 --> 06:42.750
^We must not continue to overlook our neglected facilities.

06:42.750 --> 06:44.990
^This is where our service members live, train,

06:44.990 --> 06:47.023
^and maintain vehicles and aircraft.

06:47.300 --> 06:49.850
^This is the home base from which they deploy

06:50.360 --> 06:53.420
^and that means a failed or failing infrastructure

06:53.420 --> 06:55.340
^weakens our ability to train, support,

06:55.340 --> 06:57.778
^and ensure high quality of life for our service members

06:57.778 --> 06:59.463
^and their families.

06:59.640 --> 07:02.377
^And with this in mind, the fiscal '19 budget request

07:02.377 --> 07:04.390
^for MILCON and family housing represents

07:04.390 --> 07:06.023
^a modest step forward.

07:06.160 --> 07:09.700
^Total funding is up 4% over 18 enacted levels

07:09.700 --> 07:12.407
^including unfunded requirements added by Congress

07:12.407 --> 07:15.120
^and military family housing accounts are up

07:15.150 --> 07:17.933
^12% over the '18 enacted amount.

07:18.310 --> 07:20.270
^But we need sustained and predictable

07:20.270 --> 07:21.597
^funding moving forward.

07:21.597 --> 07:24.551
^One or two years of investment will not dig us

07:24.551 --> 07:26.768
^out of the hole that we are in,

07:26.768 --> 07:28.973
^that came about through years of neglect.

07:29.410 --> 07:31.410
^We also need to make sure our MILCON investment,

07:31.410 --> 07:33.130
^particularly overseas, reflects

07:33.130 --> 07:35.053
^our national security strategy.

07:35.170 --> 07:37.230
^Coming from Hawaii, I take a particular interest

07:37.230 --> 07:40.430
^in the Asia Pacific region where our commitment

07:40.430 --> 07:44.580
^to our partners remains absolute

07:44.580 --> 07:46.700
^and that's why I was surprised to see

07:46.700 --> 07:49.424
^that this budget request is light on MILCON

07:49.424 --> 07:51.840
^in the region and so I look forward to hearing

07:51.840 --> 07:55.023
^from our witnesses about how this request came together.

07:55.270 --> 07:57.090
^We also have to make good on our promise

07:57.090 --> 07:59.120
^to our troops and their families on the home front

07:59.120 --> 08:01.939
^and invest in projects to improve quality of life.

08:01.939 --> 08:05.020
^This includes facilities for our guard and reserve

08:05.020 --> 08:07.117
^who have served as an operational reserve

08:07.117 --> 08:09.654
^for nearly two decades and require parody

08:09.654 --> 08:11.480
^with the active component.

08:11.480 --> 08:13.593
^I look forward to your testimony.

08:13.640 --> 08:14.473
^Thank you.

08:17.280 --> 08:20.573
^Mr. Niemeyer, we welcome your testimony.

08:20.750 --> 08:21.583
^- Thank you.

08:21.611 --> 08:24.076
^I'd like to submit my written record,

08:24.076 --> 08:26.980
^testimony for the record and have a brief oral statement.

08:26.980 --> 08:29.513
^I want to thank you Mr. Chairman, ranking member,

08:29.610 --> 08:30.974
^distinguished members of the sub-committee

08:30.974 --> 08:33.090
^for the opportunity to talk to you today

08:33.390 --> 08:34.740
^about the President's budget request

08:34.740 --> 08:37.863
^for military installations, energy, and the environment.

08:38.030 --> 08:40.780
^I also want to thank personally Senator Moran

08:40.780 --> 08:42.580
^for his support for the military and our veterans

08:42.580 --> 08:43.413
^over the years.

08:43.413 --> 08:45.477
^I look forward to having that same support

08:45.477 --> 08:47.360
^from Senator Boozman and I really appreciate it

08:47.360 --> 08:49.220
^and look forward to working with the committee

08:49.220 --> 08:51.410
^as we address the needs of our military

08:51.410 --> 08:53.560
^and their families who are called to sacrifice

08:53.560 --> 08:55.710
^so much on behalf of our country every day.

08:56.090 --> 08:57.337
^We are extremely grateful to Congress

08:57.337 --> 09:00.331
^for the recently enacted bipartisan budget act of 2018

09:00.331 --> 09:02.500
^which begins the recovery from

09:02.500 --> 09:04.330
^the significant impact of sequestration.

09:04.330 --> 09:07.270
^We have a responsibility now to honor

09:07.270 --> 09:09.750
^the trust of the American people by spending each

09:09.750 --> 09:11.033
^defense dollar wisely.

09:11.770 --> 09:13.810
^In order to do so, our investments are now

09:13.810 --> 09:16.410
^guided by the President's national security strategy

09:16.920 --> 09:19.470
^and the secretary of defense's national defense strategy

09:19.470 --> 09:22.230
^recently released with both clearly articulate

09:22.230 --> 09:24.863
^the threats and challenges we face as a nation.

09:25.490 --> 09:27.193
^Our mission is clear.

09:27.570 --> 09:30.049
^We must be prepared to defend the homeland,

09:30.049 --> 09:33.000
^remain the pre-eminent military power in the world

09:33.280 --> 09:35.250
^and advance under international order

09:35.250 --> 09:37.563
^that promotes a security and prosperity.

09:38.388 --> 09:40.720
^The strategy confronts a stark reality

09:40.720 --> 09:43.223
^that the homeland is no longer a sanctuary.

09:43.550 --> 09:45.546
^The strategy requires increase adaptive

09:45.546 --> 09:48.053
^and dispersed basing.

09:48.810 --> 09:51.510
^It also requires the department to drive budget discipline

09:51.510 --> 09:54.350
^and affordability in order to direct resources

09:54.350 --> 09:57.393
^towards the highest unfunded war fighter requirements.

09:58.110 --> 10:00.910
^Our budget priorities today support the strategy

10:01.040 --> 10:03.050
^by establishing a foundation to rebuild

10:03.050 --> 10:06.460
^the agility, resilience, readiness, and lethality

10:06.810 --> 10:07.893
^of armed forces.

10:09.260 --> 10:11.160
^With a clear understanding of the strategy,

10:11.160 --> 10:13.380
^we have set forth the following objectives

10:13.530 --> 10:15.250
^to confront some of the challenges poised

10:15.250 --> 10:17.253
^by years of underfunded accounts.

10:17.660 --> 10:20.180
^First we are eliminating waste in the management

10:20.180 --> 10:22.210
^of installations and we continue to advocate

10:22.210 --> 10:24.780
^within the building for adequate funding

10:24.780 --> 10:26.223
^to maintain our facilities.

10:26.760 --> 10:28.500
^We're protecting installation and ranges

10:28.500 --> 10:30.910
^from incompatible developments around the country

10:30.910 --> 10:33.830
^and improving the combat credibility of our test

10:33.830 --> 10:35.093
^and training assets.

10:35.560 --> 10:37.310
^We're enhancing our entry security.

10:37.403 --> 10:39.300
^We are exploring new opportunities

10:39.300 --> 10:41.073
^for third party partnerships.

10:41.300 --> 10:43.110
^We are working with the contracting community

10:43.110 --> 10:44.960
^to develop smarter contracts and

10:44.960 --> 10:46.853
^to manage contracts smartly.

10:47.420 --> 10:48.693
^We continue to provide for the welfare

10:48.693 --> 10:51.367
^of our people and resources through unparalleled

10:51.367 --> 10:55.453
^environmental stewardship and occupational safety programs.

10:55.939 --> 10:58.530
^And so importantly, we continue to collaborate

10:58.530 --> 11:01.150
^with the hundreds of dedicated defense communities

11:01.150 --> 11:04.310
^around the country who support our bases every day

11:04.310 --> 11:06.740
^and provide for the quality of life for our troops

11:06.740 --> 11:07.753
^and their families.

11:08.500 --> 11:10.210
^These guiding principles will allow us

11:10.210 --> 11:12.438
^to apply the resources in this budget request

11:12.438 --> 11:14.623
^to achieve real results.

11:15.110 --> 11:17.580
^The request of 11.4 billion dollars

11:18.660 --> 11:21.110
^for military construction and family housing programs

11:21.110 --> 11:24.253
^makes significant progress in recapitalizing facilities.

11:24.650 --> 11:27.550
^But this year's funding will not fully reverse

11:27.550 --> 11:30.003
^the impacts of six years of sequestration.

11:30.910 --> 11:34.100
^We currently have an unfunded maintenance backlog

11:34.243 --> 11:38.023
^exceeding 116 billion dollars.

11:38.180 --> 11:42.030
^23% of the department's facilities are in poor condition

11:42.240 --> 11:46.623
^and another 9% are failing based on recent analysis.

11:47.240 --> 11:50.060
^My frank assessment is that may be too costly

11:50.060 --> 11:52.143
^to buy ourselves out of this backlog.

11:52.420 --> 11:55.280
^We must work to remove unneeded capacity

11:55.430 --> 11:57.483
^in order to fund higher priorities.

11:57.800 --> 11:59.460
^As noted in national defense strategy,

11:59.460 --> 12:01.469
^we continue to reduce excess infrastructure

12:01.469 --> 12:03.533
^and assess our installations.

12:03.650 --> 12:06.160
^For instance, we must ensure facilities that are sized

12:06.160 --> 12:10.279
^for 100 personnel actually have 100 personnel

12:10.279 --> 12:13.373
^working in that facility.

12:13.920 --> 12:16.200
^We also proposed increased efforts

12:16.200 --> 12:18.113
^to demolish unneeded facilities.

12:18.170 --> 12:20.520
^We are reducing leases in order to remove folks

12:20.520 --> 12:21.683
^back on base.

12:21.771 --> 12:23.900
^Our work will get us part of the way

12:23.900 --> 12:25.550
^but we still need your support

12:25.830 --> 12:28.718
^for a fair objective and transparent process

12:28.718 --> 12:31.453
^for future base realignments and closures.

12:31.780 --> 12:34.860
^These efforts will be enhanced by a careful evaluation

12:35.280 --> 12:37.650
^of how and where we need to base new forces

12:37.650 --> 12:38.913
^and new technologies.

12:39.250 --> 12:41.710
^Bottom line, we must be able to transform

12:41.710 --> 12:43.740
^from a cold war basing strategy

12:43.910 --> 12:46.820
^by realigning forces at the right locations

12:46.820 --> 12:48.870
^to improve their readiness and lethality.

12:50.200 --> 12:51.890
^We're also facing other challenges as well

12:51.890 --> 12:53.390
^head on within the department.

12:53.550 --> 12:56.260
^We're managing the impact of increased cost of labor

12:56.330 --> 12:58.580
^and materials resulting from adverse weather

12:58.750 --> 13:00.650
^on our military construction projects.

13:00.890 --> 13:03.510
^We are proactively improving MILCON project

13:03.510 --> 13:06.250
^and contract management to deliver a power projection

13:06.250 --> 13:09.343
^projects on schedule and within budget.

13:10.380 --> 13:12.510
^Given the cyber risks documented recently

13:12.510 --> 13:14.360
^by the Department of Homeland Security,

13:14.360 --> 13:16.430
^the department's energy programs are focused

13:16.430 --> 13:18.933
^on power security for critical facilities.

13:19.170 --> 13:21.240
^We appreciate this committee's support

13:21.460 --> 13:22.750
^for the energy resiliency

13:22.750 --> 13:24.550
^and conservation improvement program

13:24.720 --> 13:27.110
^to improve infrastructure security

13:27.460 --> 13:31.037
^while still maintaining a payback for our projects.

13:31.037 --> 13:33.810
^We are also urgently identifying resources

13:33.810 --> 13:36.090
^to improve the cyber protection of our facility

13:36.090 --> 13:37.633
^related control systems.

13:38.500 --> 13:41.570
^Our war fighters also need access to unencumbered land,

13:41.570 --> 13:44.650
^water and airspace to hone readiness and lethality

13:44.840 --> 13:47.003
^without compromising health and safety.

13:47.520 --> 13:49.612
^We are heavily engaged with other federal agencies

13:49.612 --> 13:52.400
^to provide larger and more realistic air

13:52.400 --> 13:55.350
^and land ranges with less maneuver restrictions

13:55.350 --> 13:57.430
^to better simulate battlefield and threats

13:57.430 --> 13:58.513
^around the world.

13:58.700 --> 14:01.700
^Our commitment is to provide combat credible

14:01.700 --> 14:03.513
^test and training capabilities.

14:03.822 --> 14:06.163
^In all Mr. Chairman ranking member,

14:06.260 --> 14:07.890
^we have both challenges and opportunities

14:07.890 --> 14:10.090
^in support of our new national defense strategy.

14:10.090 --> 14:11.860
^We have a determined sense of urgency

14:11.860 --> 14:15.310
^to achieve results now, knowing each achievement

14:15.330 --> 14:17.623
^deters aggression by our adversaries.

14:17.840 --> 14:20.040
^We appreciate your continued support for our military

14:20.040 --> 14:22.410
^and look forward to working with you on the committee

14:22.410 --> 14:24.060
^to promote our nation's security.

14:26.554 --> 14:27.843
^- [John] Thank you.

14:28.050 --> 14:29.400
^Lieutenant General Bingham.

14:30.810 --> 14:31.693
^- Good morning.

14:32.050 --> 14:34.510
^Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Schatz,

14:34.510 --> 14:36.453
^and members of this subcommittee,

14:36.930 --> 14:39.880
^thank you for your leadership, your advocacy

14:39.940 --> 14:41.620
^and your support of our men and women

14:41.620 --> 14:43.290
^who are serving in harm's way

14:43.290 --> 14:45.133
^in places all around the globe.

14:45.700 --> 14:49.090
^The US Army is focused on readiness and lethality

14:49.150 --> 14:51.960
^to meet combatant commander and national defense

14:51.960 --> 14:53.573
^strategy requirements.

14:53.970 --> 14:58.630
^The FY 2018 MILCON appropriations reflects your support

14:58.630 --> 15:02.453
^of Army installations and we are very grateful for it.

15:03.040 --> 15:05.950
^The Army's FY '19 request for MILCON

15:06.000 --> 15:09.283
^provides for ready and resilient installations.

15:09.520 --> 15:12.320
^This will ensure our soldiers are properly trained

15:12.320 --> 15:14.800
^and can be deployed anywhere in the world

15:14.980 --> 15:18.083
^in order to fight and win our nation's wars.

15:18.510 --> 15:21.963
^We must continue to reduce critical facilities' deficits,

15:22.030 --> 15:24.900
^recapitalize and modernize our infrastructure

15:25.130 --> 15:28.163
^and consolidate our installation footprint.

15:28.670 --> 15:31.410
^The Army's family housing construction budget

15:31.520 --> 15:34.260
^invests in the Army's most valuable asset

15:34.290 --> 15:35.893
^and that is our people.

15:36.670 --> 15:38.900
^Quality housing and housing services

15:38.900 --> 15:41.540
^provides homes for soldiers and their families

15:41.720 --> 15:44.463
^living on our installations around the world.

15:45.000 --> 15:48.950
^We continue to reduce resilience on external utility systems

15:48.950 --> 15:50.563
^for our critical missions,

15:50.685 --> 15:53.550
^improve energy and water efficiency,

15:53.550 --> 15:56.000
^enable operational freedom of action

15:56.190 --> 15:58.553
^and contribute to mission readiness.

15:59.050 --> 16:01.910
^The Army requests just over 2 billion dollars

16:01.910 --> 16:04.533
^in our FY '19 MILCON budget.

16:04.790 --> 16:08.700
^This begins to arrest facility degradation

16:08.700 --> 16:11.173
^and improve installation readiness.

16:11.420 --> 16:13.980
^We appreciate your continued advocacy

16:13.980 --> 16:17.222
^of predictable, adequate sustained and timely funding

16:17.222 --> 16:19.900
^for our installations to continue enabling

16:19.900 --> 16:21.333
^war fighting readiness.

16:21.460 --> 16:24.990
^Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today.

16:24.990 --> 16:26.640
^I look forward to your questions.

16:27.250 --> 16:28.240
^- [John] Thank you very much.

16:28.240 --> 16:29.463
^Vice Admiral Smith.

16:31.290 --> 16:32.887
^- Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Schatz

16:32.887 --> 16:35.187
^and distinguished members of the subcommittee,

16:35.240 --> 16:37.800
^I appreciate the opportunity to provide an overview

16:37.800 --> 16:41.300
^of the Navy's fiscal year 2019 military construction

16:41.300 --> 16:42.433
^budget request.

16:42.812 --> 16:45.040
^On behalf of the sailors and their families,

16:45.040 --> 16:47.990
^thank you for you and your continued support

16:48.446 --> 16:50.630
^of the Navy, it's military construction program

16:50.630 --> 16:52.890
^and our 71 installations around the world

16:52.890 --> 16:55.783
^which enable the Navy the nation needs.

16:56.170 --> 16:58.120
^Thank you as well, for the funding provided

16:58.120 --> 17:00.500
^in both the fiscal year '18 omnibus appropriation

17:00.500 --> 17:02.193
^and the hurricane amendment.

17:02.633 --> 17:05.070
^The fiscal year '18 omnibus appropriation

17:05.070 --> 17:07.640
^included critical Navy MILCON projects such as

17:07.640 --> 17:10.140
^the communications encrypto facility in Hawaii

17:10.410 --> 17:12.910
^which underpinned the Department of Defense priorities

17:12.910 --> 17:15.733
^to restore war fighting readiness and increase lethality.

17:15.733 --> 17:18.600
^Further, the fiscal year '18 hurricane amendment

17:18.600 --> 17:21.570
^is enabling us to repair, replace Navy facilities

17:21.570 --> 17:23.575
^damaged or destroyed by hurricanes

17:23.575 --> 17:26.960
^and installations in Florida, Georgia, Texas

17:26.960 --> 17:27.923
^and Puerto Rico.

17:28.458 --> 17:31.440
^The Navy's fiscal year '19 MILCON budget

17:31.450 --> 17:33.510
^requests approximately two billion dollars

17:33.510 --> 17:36.453
^for 33 projects is the largest in a decade.

17:36.800 --> 17:39.370
^Coupled with an additional 2.1 billion

17:39.560 --> 17:41.610
^in fiscal year '19 to sustain, restore

17:41.610 --> 17:43.693
^and modernize our facilities.

17:43.850 --> 17:47.170
^The proposed investments are deliberately targeting

17:47.170 --> 17:49.520
^to slow further degradation of our facilities

17:49.520 --> 17:52.810
^and begin reducing the existing 14.3 billion dollar

17:52.810 --> 17:55.583
^backlog of facilities' maintenance and repair.

17:56.190 --> 17:59.120
^While this request would achieve significant progress

18:02.154 --> 18:05.127
^for the shore accounts, it is tempered by the reality

18:05.127 --> 18:08.040
^that these problems were not created overnight

18:08.230 --> 18:11.180
^and the path to full readiness recovery

18:11.180 --> 18:13.193
^will take long term commitment of resources,

18:13.193 --> 18:15.207
^predictable funding and time.

18:15.207 --> 18:17.983
^The shore investments are inextricably linked

18:17.983 --> 18:20.790
^to the Navy the nation needs to ensure we achieve

18:20.790 --> 18:25.013
^a bigger, better networked, talented, agile and ready fleet.

18:25.300 --> 18:27.900
^Indeed, CNO Richardson recently testified to

18:27.900 --> 18:30.350
^the importance of the shipyards as a critical enabler

18:30.350 --> 18:32.760
^and as you know, the Navy recently released

18:32.760 --> 18:35.510
^our shipyard infrastructure optimization plan

18:35.510 --> 18:38.123
^to recapitalize these critical facilities.

18:38.515 --> 18:41.780
^This report to Congress outlines a 21 billion dollar

18:41.780 --> 18:43.840
^investment plan to improve dry docks,

18:43.840 --> 18:46.230
^optimize our shipyards, and invest in capital

18:46.230 --> 18:47.793
^equipment over 20 years.

18:48.210 --> 18:50.490
^Approximately 18 billion dollars of the total

18:50.490 --> 18:52.670
^is just for infrastructure and that equates

18:52.670 --> 18:55.293
^to approximately 900 million dollars per year.

18:55.840 --> 18:57.730
^These protective funding levels far exceed

18:57.730 --> 19:00.103
^Navy's historical investment in shipyards.

19:00.460 --> 19:02.400
^In order to optimize our shipyards

19:02.710 --> 19:05.250
^at a cost above and beyond our shore investment plan,

19:05.250 --> 19:07.460
^the Navy will remain closely aligned with Congress

19:07.460 --> 19:09.563
^to ensure our path to success.

19:10.290 --> 19:13.150
^It is a privilege to testify before this committee today

19:13.160 --> 19:14.290
^and share the details of

19:14.290 --> 19:17.083
^a proposed fiscal year '19 investments.

19:17.380 --> 19:19.190
^Congress is our critical partner to achieve

19:19.190 --> 19:20.673
^the Navy the nation needs.

19:20.750 --> 19:22.986
^As the secretary and CNO testified Tuesday,

19:22.986 --> 19:24.970
^we are committed to being good stewards

19:24.970 --> 19:26.163
^of the taxpayer dollar.

19:26.490 --> 19:28.384
^We will invest smartly and we'll drive efficiency

19:28.384 --> 19:31.360
^to ensure the best return on investment for the nation,

19:31.360 --> 19:32.883
^our sailors and civilians.

19:33.000 --> 19:35.430
^Again, thank you for your support of the Navy's

19:35.430 --> 19:37.180
^shore infrastructure programs and I look forward

19:37.180 --> 19:38.113
^to your questions.

19:39.643 --> 19:41.210
^- Thank you very much.

19:41.210 --> 19:43.080
^Major General Coglianese.

19:51.900 --> 19:52.733
^I'm sorry.

19:54.390 --> 19:57.774
^- Distinguished members of the committee, General Neller,

19:57.774 --> 19:59.500
^and thousands of marines and sailors,

19:59.500 --> 20:01.300
^civilians and family members,

20:01.300 --> 20:02.921
^we thank you for continued support

20:02.921 --> 20:04.590
^to the defense of the nation of

20:04.590 --> 20:06.080
^the United States Marine Corps.

20:06.080 --> 20:09.380
^Thanks to your support, your Marine Corps is on track

20:09.380 --> 20:10.713
^to make significant improvements

20:10.713 --> 20:12.360
^in the quality and condition

20:12.360 --> 20:14.060
^of our installation infrastructure

20:14.460 --> 20:16.483
^which is fundamental to combat readiness

20:16.483 --> 20:18.853
^and a generation of combat power.

20:19.380 --> 20:22.030
^Our installations provide three critical force

20:22.030 --> 20:23.233
^enable and functions.

20:23.590 --> 20:25.930
^First, there are the deployment platforms

20:25.930 --> 20:27.930
^for which our expeditionary forces fight

20:28.000 --> 20:29.493
^and win our nation's battles.

20:29.940 --> 20:33.570
^Second, they wear our Marine air ground task force

20:33.570 --> 20:36.113
^trained and honed their combat skills.

20:36.700 --> 20:38.190
^And third, they're home to

20:38.190 --> 20:39.940
^our Marines, sailors, and families.

20:40.881 --> 20:43.590
^As commander, the single authority of

20:43.590 --> 20:45.490
^the Marine Corps installation matters,

20:45.490 --> 20:46.810
^the protection of our installations is

20:46.810 --> 20:48.140
^my number one concern.

20:48.140 --> 20:51.300
^There's a myriad of challenges in the current operating

20:51.300 --> 20:53.670
^environment and all signs indicate

20:53.670 --> 20:56.513
^those challenges will compound and grow.

20:57.350 --> 20:59.800
^The fact is, our installations are vulnerable targets

20:59.800 --> 21:02.913
^for a growing host of sophisticated threats.

21:04.130 --> 21:06.500
^The intent to disrupt and degrade our ability

21:06.500 --> 21:08.150
^to generate combat power in the support

21:08.150 --> 21:09.483
^of national defense.

21:10.434 --> 21:13.380
^Our installations must prove resilient in the face

21:13.380 --> 21:14.613
^of threats we face.

21:15.030 --> 21:17.160
^We need to invest in next generation installation

21:17.160 --> 21:21.023
^infrastructure to match the growing capability.

21:21.452 --> 21:24.360
^Your support is crucial as we begin to develop

21:24.360 --> 21:25.867
^the installation infrastructure and support

21:25.867 --> 21:27.613
^the next generation MAGTF.

21:29.250 --> 21:31.270
^The Marine Corps infrastructure reset strategy

21:31.270 --> 21:32.970
^which is signed by the commandant,

21:33.028 --> 21:35.019
^will improve the life cycle management

21:35.019 --> 21:37.730
^and ensure the infrastructure investments

21:37.730 --> 21:39.350
^are in line with the Marine Corps capability

21:39.350 --> 21:41.888
^base requirements to support the war fighting mission

21:41.888 --> 21:45.533
^and contribute directly to current and future readiness.

21:46.530 --> 21:51.373
^PV '19 funds, the infrastructure reset,

21:51.375 --> 21:54.150
^with the realized long-term savings,

21:54.150 --> 21:59.150
^the reduction of over 1,056 failing structures

22:01.910 --> 22:04.080
^which will recoup 14 million square feet

22:04.080 --> 22:08.260
^over (mumbles) which will yield cost avoidance

22:08.400 --> 22:10.120
^in facilities sustainment

22:10.485 --> 22:13.843
^restoration modernization accounts.

22:15.120 --> 22:17.176
^Our infrastructure reset, if properly funded,

22:17.176 --> 22:20.320
^and executed, will set us on solid ground

22:20.320 --> 22:22.328
^as we pivot inside conditions fully enabled

22:22.328 --> 22:24.063
^our operating forces.

22:24.318 --> 22:28.133
^No place to hide, no sanctuary, no boundaries.

22:28.650 --> 22:30.400
^This is a new operating environment

22:30.610 --> 22:33.360
^and the implications of our installations are profound.

22:33.570 --> 22:36.730
^Tomorrow's Marine Corps installation will look

22:36.730 --> 22:39.253
^much different than in existence today.

22:39.500 --> 22:42.080
^Our installations are power projection platforms

22:42.390 --> 22:44.830
^that are only as lethal as those forces we

22:46.520 --> 22:49.443
^project whose training and readiness are key.

22:49.940 --> 22:52.810
^We must also look to the modernization,

22:52.810 --> 22:55.973
^how and where we train.

22:56.080 --> 22:58.310
^We must advance our protection capabilities

22:58.390 --> 23:00.400
^and is vital we increase the resiliency

23:00.460 --> 23:02.173
^in the face of increasing threats.

23:02.933 --> 23:05.140
^We are promoting an atmosphere innovation

23:05.140 --> 23:07.410
^of modernization by working with industry

23:07.410 --> 23:09.310
^to incorporate the cutting edge technologies

23:09.310 --> 23:10.663
^across our installations.

23:11.000 --> 23:12.380
^I look forward to working with you

23:12.380 --> 23:14.940
^to sustain a war fighting capability and readiness

23:15.050 --> 23:17.290
^of our power projection platforms

23:17.450 --> 23:19.600
^and a quality of life for our Marine Corps.

23:19.840 --> 23:23.790
^Thank you for the time and the opportunity to speak

23:23.790 --> 23:26.700
^on behalf of the Marines, sailors, families and civilians.

23:26.700 --> 23:28.350
^I look forward to your questions.

23:30.780 --> 23:31.613
^- Thank you.

23:31.850 --> 23:33.003
^Major General Green.

23:34.370 --> 23:36.420
^- Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Schatz

23:36.420 --> 23:37.850
^and distinguished members of the committee.

23:37.850 --> 23:40.230
^I'm honored today to represent America's airmen

23:40.520 --> 23:42.821
^and also to discuss the Air Force's fiscal year 2019

23:42.821 --> 23:45.713
^military construction and housing request.

23:46.230 --> 23:48.420
^I want to start with a thank you for your personal support

23:48.420 --> 23:52.280
^for the five FY '18 and 35A bed down project

23:52.280 --> 23:54.670
^at Eielson Air Force Base that we requested

23:54.670 --> 23:56.140
^as part of the last and final

23:56.140 --> 23:58.033
^continuing resolution this year.

23:58.670 --> 24:01.310
^Your support allowed us to in fact award these projects

24:01.310 --> 24:05.250
^ahead of the summer construction season this year

24:05.710 --> 24:08.050
^in Alaska and you've kept the beddown on track

24:08.050 --> 24:08.883
^so thank you.

24:09.684 --> 24:11.490
^I also want to say thanks for your support

24:11.490 --> 24:14.090
^in giving the Air Force much needed budgetary relief

24:14.110 --> 24:18.023
^in FY '18 and '19 though the bipartisan budget agreement.

24:18.470 --> 24:20.640
^Your support enables the Air Force to meet

24:20.640 --> 24:22.713
^the national defense strategy objectives.

24:23.660 --> 24:26.270
^The Air Force's fiscal year 2019 budget request

24:26.270 --> 24:29.170
^is rooted in the realities of our strategic environment

24:29.470 --> 24:31.963
^and the reemergence of great power competition.

24:32.500 --> 24:34.320
^As we prepare this budget request,

24:34.320 --> 24:37.920
^the Air Force deliberately evaluated both today's needs

24:37.920 --> 24:41.453
^and the capabilities demanded by anticipated future threats.

24:42.638 --> 24:44.680
^The result is a budget aligned with

24:44.680 --> 24:47.123
^a national defense strategy to restore readiness,

24:47.123 --> 24:50.300
^drive innovation and prepare the Air Force to win

24:50.300 --> 24:51.913
^any fight at any time.

24:53.370 --> 24:56.466
^Our 2019 budget request includes 1.78

24:56.466 --> 25:00.243
^billion dollars in military construction requirements,

25:00.290 --> 25:03.323
^prioritizing our efforts in three primary categories:

25:03.720 --> 25:05.503
^The beddown of new weapons systems,

25:05.690 --> 25:07.740
^combatant command urgent requirements

25:07.950 --> 25:12.083
^and recapitalizing our existing mission infrastructure.

25:13.150 --> 25:15.800
^At the macro level, the Air Force infrastructure investment

25:15.800 --> 25:19.950
^is approximately 887 million dollars in support of

25:19.950 --> 25:21.910
^the Air Force's modernization programs

25:21.910 --> 25:25.633
^including the beddown of the F35-A and KC46-A.

25:26.480 --> 25:29.470
^We request 230 million dollars for combatant commander

25:29.470 --> 25:32.830
^urgent requirements ensuring the United States' position

25:32.830 --> 25:34.683
^to project power across the globe.

25:35.430 --> 25:37.510
^This year's budget request also includes

25:37.510 --> 25:41.150
^377 million dollars to recapitalize our most urgent

25:41.150 --> 25:43.200
^existing mission infrastructure needs

25:43.680 --> 25:47.850
^including 225 million dollars to maintain

25:47.850 --> 25:50.140
^necessary research and development facilities

25:50.320 --> 25:52.660
^to ensure we maintain a technological edge

25:52.660 --> 25:54.003
^over our adversaries.

25:54.505 --> 25:57.020
^Additionally, too often lost in our focus

25:57.020 --> 25:59.280
^on readiness and lethality, is the importance

25:59.280 --> 26:00.930
^of the quality of life facilities

26:01.050 --> 26:03.450
^on recruiting and retention as they support

26:03.450 --> 26:04.936
^our airmen and their families.

26:04.936 --> 26:08.766
^The FY '19 budget request includes 395 million dollars

26:08.766 --> 26:10.610
^for quality of life funding

26:10.610 --> 26:12.242
^for military housing construction

26:12.242 --> 26:14.083
^and operations and maintenance.

26:14.910 --> 26:18.940
^In total, our FY 2019 military construction request

26:19.170 --> 26:22.640
^represents a strategic balance for capability

26:22.670 --> 26:25.570
^and capacity ensuring we are best postured

26:25.570 --> 26:28.130
^to fill a ready force today while concurrently

26:28.130 --> 26:31.253
^modernizing for the challenges of tomorrow.

26:32.026 --> 26:34.423
^Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Schatz,

26:34.540 --> 26:36.457
^thank you again for the opportunity to testify today

26:36.457 --> 26:38.393
^and I look forward to your questions.

26:39.210 --> 26:40.863
^- Thank you very much.

26:42.760 --> 26:47.493
^Let me start out, Secretary Niemeyer,

26:47.950 --> 26:49.760
^I was pleased to see your support for

26:49.760 --> 26:52.190
^the Office of Economic Adjustment, OEA,

26:54.000 --> 26:55.340
^in your prepared testimony.

26:55.340 --> 26:58.190
^OEA's work is important in the state of Arkansas

26:58.720 --> 27:01.250
^and we are currently engaged with OEA on several

27:01.250 --> 27:04.103
^joint land use studies for installations.

27:04.540 --> 27:06.750
^I believe maintaining support for this office

27:06.750 --> 27:09.824
^is crucial and I'm glad that you view their work

27:09.824 --> 27:13.080
^in collaboration with local communities is important

27:13.080 --> 27:14.020
^and essential as I do.

27:14.020 --> 27:16.403
^So again, thank you very much for your support.

27:16.970 --> 27:19.590
^One thing I'd like for us to talk a little bit about

27:19.590 --> 27:21.220
^and I think it's so, so important,

27:21.220 --> 27:25.433
^we struck this bipartisan agreement,

27:26.260 --> 27:27.580
^budget agreement, additional

27:27.580 --> 27:30.523
^165 billion dollars for defense.

27:30.918 --> 27:34.197
^Really not a whole lot in MILCON.

27:36.210 --> 27:39.180
^Can you talk about why that's the case?

27:39.180 --> 27:41.100
^I mean, I know we've got all of these things

27:41.100 --> 27:43.823
^going on, readiness is a huge factor.

27:45.150 --> 27:47.780
^We've got depleted munitions, the list goes

27:47.780 --> 27:48.613
^on and on.

27:49.323 --> 27:52.298
^But truly, as we look forward, these are things,

27:52.298 --> 27:55.650
^to me what should get into an infrastructure

27:55.650 --> 27:58.100
^is you can let things go

27:59.061 --> 28:00.993
^and it costs money.

28:01.540 --> 28:03.220
^You can fix 'em, it's cheaper,

28:03.220 --> 28:04.900
^you let 'em go long enough and you actually

28:04.900 --> 28:06.780
^have to replace it which you're talking

28:06.780 --> 28:07.613
^about huge costs.

28:07.613 --> 28:09.363
^So if you all would jump in.

28:10.044 --> 28:11.083
^Mr. Secretary.

28:11.320 --> 28:12.153
^- Yes, sir.

28:12.824 --> 28:14.324
^Part of it was a timing issue.

28:14.490 --> 28:17.800
^We normally prepare the budget for FY '19,

28:17.800 --> 28:21.143
^we start pretty much throughout the entire year 2018.

28:21.860 --> 28:23.630
^The initial guidance that was given to us

28:23.630 --> 28:25.429
^within the services was a little lower,

28:25.429 --> 28:28.040
^we leave it up to the services at OSD level

28:28.250 --> 28:30.610
^to go ahead and determine within the guidance given

28:30.610 --> 28:32.410
^how they want to allocate resources.

28:32.480 --> 28:35.393
^But from my perspective, I've been doing this a long time,

28:35.450 --> 28:39.130
^the numbers were not really provided to us in time

28:39.130 --> 28:40.420
^for us to be able to make the adjustments

28:40.420 --> 28:42.240
^to those particular investment accounts.

28:42.240 --> 28:44.860
^It does take longer than usual to make adjustments

28:44.860 --> 28:47.570
^in the MILCON accounts versus operations accounts

28:47.570 --> 28:50.042
^or otherwise and that really has a lot to do with it.

28:50.042 --> 28:52.200
^We already sent over the President's budget

28:52.360 --> 28:54.190
^by the time we got to final budget agreement

28:54.190 --> 28:57.470
^and ultimately the FY '18 onto this appropriations bill

28:57.470 --> 28:58.870
^with a higher dollar amount.

28:58.950 --> 29:01.390
^- And you'd agree with my reasoning that as you let

29:01.390 --> 29:02.939
^these things go, it just becomes more

29:02.939 --> 29:06.263
^and more expensive in time.

29:06.400 --> 29:08.090
^- Yes sir, we do our best within the billing

29:08.090 --> 29:10.503
^to make that clear to our leaders.

29:11.000 --> 29:13.250
^- Does anybody else want to jump in with that

29:13.981 --> 29:14.814
^or avoid it?

29:16.280 --> 29:17.663
^- Mr. Chairman I would agree with you.

29:17.663 --> 29:19.120
^And you addressed it.

29:19.120 --> 29:22.320
^It's about a balance and there are a lot

29:22.320 --> 29:24.967
^of competing demands and issues going on right now

29:24.967 --> 29:26.713
^and so we've gotta balance those.

29:27.440 --> 29:30.610
^As I eluded to in my statement, it's two billion dollars

29:30.610 --> 29:31.760
^for the Navy this year.

29:32.040 --> 29:33.423
^Is that enough? No sir.

29:33.540 --> 29:36.180
^Is that twice as much as what we've done historically?

29:36.180 --> 29:37.013
^Yes.

29:37.013 --> 29:38.680
^So we're starting to chip away at it.

29:38.680 --> 29:40.520
^It took us a long time to get here.

29:40.520 --> 29:42.570
^It's gonna take us time to get out of it.

29:44.480 --> 29:46.540
^Ranking Member Schatz and I talked about the other day

29:46.540 --> 29:48.020
^putting together the shipyard plan

29:48.020 --> 29:49.610
^so we understand it's a challenge,

29:49.610 --> 29:50.821
^we understand it's an issue.

29:50.821 --> 29:52.620
^We're not gonna fix it overnight

29:52.620 --> 29:54.670
^but we are aggressively attacking it sir.

29:54.740 --> 29:56.610
^- Let me ask you about something else

29:56.610 --> 29:58.410
^I think's really important as you're aware.

29:58.410 --> 30:01.580
^Congress and OMB have opposing views on incremental funding

30:01.580 --> 30:03.903
^for MILCON projects.

30:04.190 --> 30:07.660
^Congress prefers to incrementally fund large MILCON

30:07.660 --> 30:11.031
^projects to ensure the maximum utility for each dollar

30:11.031 --> 30:13.563
^appropriated in a given year.

30:14.150 --> 30:16.920
^Incrementation frees up money that would otherwise

30:16.920 --> 30:19.250
^not be executed until future years

30:19.250 --> 30:23.010
^and allows DOD to fund critical unfunded priorities

30:23.010 --> 30:25.010
^that can be executed in the budget year.

30:25.451 --> 30:28.330
^OMB has directed that any incremental project

30:28.330 --> 30:32.520
^not execute until all increments have been funded,

30:32.520 --> 30:34.860
^unnecessarily delaying the project

30:35.200 --> 30:37.650
^and defeating the purpose of incremental funding.

30:38.513 --> 30:39.880
^Does DOD...

30:41.420 --> 30:44.667
^Tell us your opinion as best you can--

30:46.214 --> 30:48.164
^- [Lucian] Except for that last caveat.

30:49.130 --> 30:50.930
^- Tell us the pros and cons of that.

30:50.940 --> 30:52.853
^Again, I've laid out the pros.

30:53.510 --> 30:56.430
^- Senator, that's a fantastic issue and having

30:56.430 --> 30:58.480
^been on the committee staff, I understand

30:58.590 --> 31:01.340
^and desire to want to spend dollars prudently

31:01.630 --> 31:04.230
^and it is tough for a large military construction project

31:04.230 --> 31:07.130
^to hold potentially hundreds of millions of dollars

31:07.130 --> 31:09.730
^until we get a chance to expense that in the future.

31:09.730 --> 31:11.063
^So I see both sides.

31:11.080 --> 31:12.520
^Now that I'm in the Department of Defense,

31:12.520 --> 31:13.449
^I understand that.

31:13.449 --> 31:16.940
^When Congress makes the decisions unilaterally

31:16.940 --> 31:18.563
^incrementally fund a project to allow to

31:18.563 --> 31:20.513
^free up dollars for other priorities,

31:20.580 --> 31:22.820
^it does create a budget nightmare for us

31:22.820 --> 31:24.860
^as we have to then go find that allocation

31:24.860 --> 31:26.680
^somewhere else in the subsequent year.

31:26.680 --> 31:28.540
^So I think that's what OMB was trying to get at

31:28.540 --> 31:31.118
^was really trying to ensure budget accountability

31:31.118 --> 31:33.820
^for each project we sent over is fully funded

31:34.110 --> 31:36.270
^while we also understand congressional concerns

31:36.270 --> 31:38.263
^about okay, we've got these unfunded priorities

31:38.263 --> 31:40.280
^that come over, we need to fund those too.

31:40.280 --> 31:41.483
^They're urgent as well.

31:41.989 --> 31:45.520
^I can see both sides and I'm not sure the best way forward.

31:45.520 --> 31:49.340
^I do believe a good policy would be to embrace

31:49.340 --> 31:50.776
^at that over certain dollar amount,

31:50.776 --> 31:52.560
^whether it be 100 million dollars

31:52.560 --> 31:54.223
^or whatever the dollar amount is.

31:54.280 --> 31:55.589
^When we know we're not gonna expense

31:55.589 --> 31:58.403
^a majority of those dollars in the first couple years,

31:58.470 --> 32:01.000
^allow us the flexibility to bring to you a request

32:01.000 --> 32:03.650
^that would provide some, only a partial appropriation

32:03.650 --> 32:04.963
^but a full authorization.

32:05.150 --> 32:07.310
^That to me probably haven't been around it for a long time

32:07.310 --> 32:08.970
^would be the best way to do that

32:09.070 --> 32:10.880
^but that discussion still needs to happen

32:10.880 --> 32:14.623
^between us, between OMB and the committees.

32:14.823 --> 32:16.406
^- [John] Thank you.

32:16.507 --> 32:17.757
^Senator Schatz.

32:18.716 --> 32:20.666
^- Thank you Mr. Chairman.

32:20.910 --> 32:22.210
^Lieutenant General Bingham

32:22.530 --> 32:24.835
^can you just walk us through the sort of medium

32:24.835 --> 32:28.010
^term MILCON needs in Hawaii?

32:28.010 --> 32:31.130
^I'm thinking Scofield, Wheeler and PTA

32:31.130 --> 32:33.130
^and why they're important for readiness?

32:35.810 --> 32:37.553
^- Yes, thank you Senator Schatz.

32:37.640 --> 32:41.610
^For sure all of the facilities in the Pacific theater

32:41.610 --> 32:44.490
^are important to our lethality and our readiness

32:44.890 --> 32:48.263
^not only in Hawaii but certainly in Korea as well.

32:48.340 --> 32:51.270
^And so what we have taken upon

32:51.270 --> 32:53.790
^is an investment plan

32:53.790 --> 32:56.480
^for Hawaii's infrastructure revitalization.

32:56.480 --> 32:58.530
^You and I talked about that a little bit.

32:58.619 --> 33:01.390
^That includes operational facilities,

33:01.390 --> 33:04.760
^maintenance facilities, Pohakuloa training area

33:04.760 --> 33:05.853
^to name a few.

33:06.080 --> 33:09.160
^It will take a substantive amount of time

33:09.160 --> 33:13.030
^but we have put about a 350 million dollar wedge

33:13.030 --> 33:18.030
^in the fight beginning in FY '20, and so that theater

33:18.280 --> 33:21.233
^is vitally critical to our readiness around the globe,

33:21.233 --> 33:24.610
^specifically in that theater, so we're committed

33:24.610 --> 33:26.343
^to it's revitalization.

33:26.550 --> 33:27.383
^- Thank you.

33:27.440 --> 33:30.510
^Admiral Smith, you and I have been talking about Red Hill

33:30.510 --> 33:32.173
^for a little while now.

33:32.210 --> 33:34.190
^For the benefit of the members of the committee,

33:34.190 --> 33:36.260
^can you just describe what Red Hill is

33:36.260 --> 33:38.960
^and why it's so important for the Navy in the Pacific?

33:39.105 --> 33:40.250
^- Yes sir.

33:40.250 --> 33:45.250
^So Red Hill is our strategic fuel reserve in Hawaii

33:45.830 --> 33:50.500
^that we rely on significantly in the Pacific

33:50.600 --> 33:52.344
^for any actions that we might have to take.

33:52.344 --> 33:56.083
^It's up under a hill, you can't see it,

33:56.093 --> 33:59.240
^it's gravity fed down so if you lose power

33:59.240 --> 34:01.633
^or anything else, it's got the ability to

34:01.633 --> 34:03.053
^sustain the fleet.

34:03.251 --> 34:05.700
^A couple of years ago, we discovered a leak

34:05.700 --> 34:07.000
^in one of the tanks

34:07.186 --> 34:12.186
^which was from a repair that was happening.

34:13.500 --> 34:14.593
^That's been fixed.

34:15.000 --> 34:17.049
^But obviously, it's a significant concern

34:17.049 --> 34:21.323
^to the citizens of Hawaii and on the island of Oahu.

34:21.820 --> 34:26.380
^It sits near an aquifer that provides the fresh water

34:26.610 --> 34:28.058
^and so we are working very closely

34:28.058 --> 34:32.540
^with the state of Hawaii and the water board,

34:32.540 --> 34:33.723
^department of health,

34:33.956 --> 34:36.590
^and the center and his colleagues to make sure

34:36.759 --> 34:41.759
^that we address this to conduct the appropriate repairs

34:42.256 --> 34:45.256
^and an appropriate cost to ensure this doesn't happen again.

34:45.780 --> 34:48.263
^- Thank you Admiral Smith.

34:48.884 --> 34:51.970
^This is a question for Lieutenant General Bingham

34:51.970 --> 34:53.680
^and Major General Green.

34:53.680 --> 34:55.466
^I want to talk about how MILCON dollars

34:55.466 --> 34:58.040
^are allocated across components

34:58.040 --> 34:59.500
^and this gets a little technical

34:59.500 --> 35:01.900
^so you can correct me if I get something wrong,

35:01.900 --> 35:06.351
^but my understanding is the real property asset database

35:06.351 --> 35:09.790
^is the way you determine the allocation

35:09.790 --> 35:12.830
^between the active and reserve components

35:12.830 --> 35:14.370
^as it relates to MILCON

35:14.720 --> 35:17.320
^and I'm not sure, it seems to me that that should

35:17.320 --> 35:19.340
^be a factor but not the only factor,

35:19.340 --> 35:22.118
^especially given the sort of pace and the

35:22.118 --> 35:26.810
^change in role that the

35:26.810 --> 35:29.060
^different service branches have undertaken

35:29.060 --> 35:31.900
^over the last 15 years that if you're still looking

35:31.900 --> 35:34.160
^at real property as the only way to determine

35:34.160 --> 35:37.970
^future MILCON, you're not recognizing that between

35:37.970 --> 35:40.330
^active and reserve, everything has changed over

35:40.330 --> 35:42.880
^the last 15 years so I guess the first question is

35:43.030 --> 35:45.590
^am I getting it right in terms of the way you

35:45.590 --> 35:47.720
^make your allocations for future MILCON

35:47.720 --> 35:50.160
^and if I am, are we to change that?

35:50.160 --> 35:51.823
^And I'll start with General Bingham.

35:52.180 --> 35:53.893
^- Thank you Ranking Member Schatz.

35:54.530 --> 35:58.900
^Partially true, we use a MILCON process

35:58.900 --> 36:02.566
^inside of the headquarters DA where we bring

36:02.566 --> 36:05.320
^together all the stakeholders and that's

36:05.320 --> 36:07.973
^a combination of our active component commands,

36:08.040 --> 36:11.500
^or reserve and our guard affiliated commands as well

36:11.790 --> 36:14.000
^and so what we look at is we look at

36:14.000 --> 36:15.670
^our installation status report.

36:15.670 --> 36:18.150
^We do, in fact, understand what the condition

36:18.150 --> 36:21.970
^of our worst facilities are throughout our portfolio

36:21.970 --> 36:23.990
^but we rack and stack if you will

36:24.190 --> 36:26.940
^what the needs are for each of the services

36:27.120 --> 36:30.710
^and we basically have a voting process

36:30.710 --> 36:33.143
^where we have a rank and file.

36:33.650 --> 36:35.680
^- And I'll move to General Green after I make this comment.

36:35.680 --> 36:39.950
^It seems to me that if it's based on real property assets,

36:39.950 --> 36:42.850
^that would make a lot of sense if it was an R&M schedule

36:43.160 --> 36:44.770
^but if you're talking about new construction,

36:44.770 --> 36:47.410
^then what you already have in inventory

36:47.540 --> 36:49.022
^is not the way you should determine what

36:49.022 --> 36:51.393
^else you're building.

36:51.560 --> 36:55.640
^So I just want you to consider whether this process

36:55.640 --> 36:57.540
^reflects the current state of affairs.

36:57.540 --> 36:59.383
^General Green with final comment.

36:59.610 --> 37:01.610
^- Yes sir, I think it does reflect

37:01.610 --> 37:02.840
^the current state of affairs as

37:02.840 --> 37:04.320
^a starting point of discussion.

37:04.320 --> 37:06.710
^But for example, when we're bedding down a new aircraft,

37:06.710 --> 37:10.390
^like a C-17 in a reserve base, last year the reserves

37:10.390 --> 37:12.540
^got more than what would be considered more

37:12.613 --> 37:13.640
^than a fair share because we were bedding down

37:13.640 --> 37:16.770
^a new mission so we do accommodate the things

37:16.770 --> 37:18.320
^I believe you're alluding to.

37:18.320 --> 37:20.079
^Another challenge for us today is

37:20.079 --> 37:22.400
^as we think about moving

37:24.230 --> 37:27.373
^the overseas contingency funds into the base,

37:27.700 --> 37:30.170
^those overseas facilities support all of our components,

37:30.170 --> 37:31.170
^active, guard and reserve

37:31.170 --> 37:33.453
^and so when we move it to the base,

37:33.550 --> 37:35.750
^it's counted against the active duty side

37:35.750 --> 37:37.970
^and therefore you would need to also raise

37:37.970 --> 37:39.773
^the reserve component, and, in fact,

37:39.780 --> 37:41.530
^those facilities support all of us.

37:41.590 --> 37:42.890
^- [Brian] Okay, thank you.

37:44.320 --> 37:45.330
^- [John] Senator Hoeven.

37:45.330 --> 37:46.580
^- Thank you Mr. Chairman.

37:46.924 --> 37:48.920
^I'd like to thank all the witnesses for being here today

37:48.920 --> 37:50.653
^and for your service.

37:50.690 --> 37:54.530
^I want to express my strong support for several projects

37:54.530 --> 37:55.363
^in my state.

37:55.363 --> 37:59.069
^One is a national guard readiness center in Fargo,

37:59.069 --> 38:01.603
^which is very much needed.

38:02.530 --> 38:06.340
^We've had a very heavy deployment and ops toppling our guard

38:07.653 --> 38:08.680
^in the war on terror and this is a facility

38:08.680 --> 38:10.120
^that is very much needed,

38:10.120 --> 38:13.570
^and then also for an upgrade to the helicopter facility

38:13.570 --> 38:15.830
^at the Minot Air Force Base which

38:16.630 --> 38:20.780
^actually serves the missile fields for the ICBM's,

38:20.780 --> 38:22.620
^they're still flying Huey helicopters

38:22.620 --> 38:23.893
^if you can believe that.

38:24.630 --> 38:27.970
^They were probably constructed in the 1960's

38:28.340 --> 38:30.806
^and they've kept them flying and they're out there

38:30.806 --> 38:33.900
^in all kind of weather covering a huge area.

38:33.900 --> 38:35.200
^I'm talking about our MP's

38:35.790 --> 38:38.490
^and we need a new facility so that we can

38:38.630 --> 38:43.180
^put the new helicopter, Black Hawks, in a facility

38:44.150 --> 38:46.063
^that's large enough to house them.

38:46.730 --> 38:49.220
^But it's amazing the workarounds these guys

38:49.330 --> 38:53.680
^have made work, still flying those Huey helicopters.

38:53.680 --> 38:55.715
^When I was governor, we started with Huey's

38:55.715 --> 39:00.650
^and graduated to Black Hawks and it's an iconic aircraft

39:01.500 --> 39:04.820
^but it's older than the people flying them so

39:04.820 --> 39:06.463
^that's a badly needed upgrade.

39:07.050 --> 39:10.680
^Major General Green, long lines of upgrades

39:10.790 --> 39:13.460
^at Minot Air Force Base, dual nuclear mission, ICBMs

39:13.460 --> 39:16.803
^and B-52 at both conventional nuclear capability.

39:16.886 --> 39:21.886
^The power lines that go to those ICBM missile fields

39:23.430 --> 39:26.623
^were probably put in in the '60's I would guess.

39:26.880 --> 39:28.670
^And as we work to upgrade the ICBM's,

39:28.670 --> 39:31.880
^we're gonna need to also upgrade those power lines.

39:31.880 --> 39:34.163
^What arrangements are you making to do that?

39:35.040 --> 39:37.340
^- Sir, as we look at the upgrade of the missile fields

39:37.340 --> 39:40.403
^for the GBSD as we plan the future requirement,

39:40.650 --> 39:42.950
^all of those considerations are gonna be

39:42.950 --> 39:45.450
^a part of that beddown of the new missile system.

39:45.450 --> 39:46.940
^So, we're looking at it.

39:46.940 --> 39:48.757
^There's not an immediate requirement today.

39:48.757 --> 39:51.380
^They're performing adequately today

39:51.600 --> 39:53.130
^but we recognize that it's something we need

39:53.130 --> 39:54.740
^to look forward to as we think about

39:54.740 --> 39:56.773
^the next generation of missiles.

39:57.180 --> 39:58.013
^- Okay.

39:58.040 --> 40:00.220
^So you're working with local electric providers

40:00.220 --> 40:02.870
^on that, they're informed, and you're determining

40:02.870 --> 40:04.623
^exactly what is needed and when?

40:04.880 --> 40:05.860
^- [Timothy] Yes, sir.

40:05.860 --> 40:07.003
^- All right.

40:07.382 --> 40:11.250
^In a FYDP, you don't specify upgrades to

40:11.250 --> 40:12.773
^Midot's weapons storage area.

40:12.810 --> 40:14.080
^And again, they have both conventional

40:14.080 --> 40:15.403
^and nuclear weapons there.

40:15.700 --> 40:17.130
^But there are other nuclear upgrades in some

40:17.130 --> 40:19.160
^of the other facilities, so my questions would be

40:19.160 --> 40:22.010
^when would Minot be in line for upgraded weapons storage?

40:22.430 --> 40:24.603
^- Sir, as you know, we're gonna redo all of

40:24.960 --> 40:26.420
^the weapons storage facilities.

40:26.420 --> 40:28.883
^Minot is outside of the FYDP so it is there

40:28.883 --> 40:30.929
^in our rural program and in fact, we've briefed

40:30.929 --> 40:33.740
^the committee staff members at some time,

40:33.740 --> 40:36.500
^different times so it's just residing outside

40:36.500 --> 40:37.713
^of the FYDP.

40:37.713 --> 40:41.057
^Because it's a dual use, the B-52s as well as

40:41.057 --> 40:43.520
^the missile fields, it will be our last,

40:43.520 --> 40:46.353
^our final WSF and it will be the largest one.

40:49.160 --> 40:52.000
^- Secretary Niemeyer, do we have adequate

40:52.000 --> 40:55.410
^air space and ranges to support unmanned flights

40:55.410 --> 40:57.130
^and the ability to test various sensors

40:57.130 --> 40:59.253
^that unmanned aircraft carry on board?

40:59.989 --> 41:04.160
^- Sir, we have resources available for unmanned flight.

41:04.160 --> 41:05.880
^I think the concern we have right now nationally,

41:05.880 --> 41:09.800
^I know North Dakota's leading the change in

41:09.890 --> 41:11.450
^FAA regulations and we're doing a lot

41:11.450 --> 41:12.850
^of test activities up there.

41:12.934 --> 41:16.490
^We do need nationally an updated FAA plan

41:16.490 --> 41:17.750
^for allow for unmanned systems.

41:17.750 --> 41:20.110
^We do have some training concerns around the country.

41:20.110 --> 41:22.410
^We have restricted air spaces in other places.

41:22.870 --> 41:24.790
^I think that's probably the biggest concern we have

41:24.790 --> 41:27.293
^right now as far as airspace run manned systems.

41:28.150 --> 41:30.090
^- Right and we have not only guard flying 'em,

41:30.090 --> 41:32.050
^we have Air Force flying 'em and Customs

41:32.050 --> 41:33.287
^and Border Protection flying them

41:33.287 --> 41:35.903
^and 900 miles of border responsibility that we use.

41:36.235 --> 41:37.068
^- [Lucian] Yep.

41:37.068 --> 41:39.320
^- So we certainly have the capacity there

41:39.320 --> 41:41.285
^in Grand Forks and the interface with

41:41.285 --> 41:44.690
^the technology park Grand Skies to do a lot of this

41:44.800 --> 41:46.750
^sensor testing and so forth.

41:46.750 --> 41:49.510
^Air space restrictions and so forth

41:49.510 --> 41:51.000
^that we've worked to get...

41:51.420 --> 41:52.760
^Restrictions isn't the right word.

41:52.760 --> 41:55.403
^Opportunities to fly unmanned.

41:56.610 --> 41:58.140
^One of the biggest infrastructure challenges

41:58.140 --> 42:00.590
^to increasing the number of unmanned flights

42:00.590 --> 42:03.730
^as far as an aircraft in

42:03.730 --> 42:05.863
^the unmanned inventory for DOD?

42:07.651 --> 42:09.530
^- I would say making sure we've got

42:09.530 --> 42:11.170
^a basing strategy in place.

42:11.170 --> 42:12.720
^Right now we've got a lot of our systems

42:12.720 --> 42:13.670
^are flying overseas.

42:13.670 --> 42:16.120
^We don't quite have plans in place that when

42:16.120 --> 42:17.980
^they do come home, hopefully peace will breakout

42:17.980 --> 42:19.310
^around the world at some point,

42:19.310 --> 42:20.833
^we can bring them back to the United States.

42:20.833 --> 42:23.260
^I think we still have work to do within

42:23.260 --> 42:25.460
^around the country where best to place those

42:25.800 --> 42:27.710
^and what locations would best support their

42:27.710 --> 42:30.570
^continued training and development of next generation

42:30.570 --> 42:32.503
^of capabilities for that system.

42:32.620 --> 42:34.753
^- Well now that's key isn't it because

42:34.753 --> 42:36.550
^we've got to be able to fly them in the NAS

42:36.890 --> 42:39.520
^for your training and development,

42:39.520 --> 42:41.840
^not only aircraft themselves but sensors

42:42.210 --> 42:44.120
^and so now you're talking about either

42:44.120 --> 42:46.953
^restricted airspace or conquering air space

42:47.135 --> 42:49.860
^and ultimately, we've got to get to concurrent airspace.

42:49.860 --> 42:50.844
^- [Lucian] Yes sir.

42:50.844 --> 42:52.630
^- And so that's something we can work with you

42:52.630 --> 42:55.223
^to develop, and are working to develop.

42:57.370 --> 42:59.610
^Any other thoughts you have in terms

42:59.610 --> 43:01.100
^of how we build that?

43:01.100 --> 43:03.140
^- Yeah, I would love to have the opportunity.

43:03.140 --> 43:04.630
^I hate to put another shameless plug in

43:04.630 --> 43:06.010
^but I'd love to be able to take a look at

43:06.010 --> 43:08.040
^the entire enterprise for unmanned systems,

43:08.040 --> 43:10.500
^through a process where I could pick

43:10.500 --> 43:12.570
^those locations that are most ideally suited

43:12.570 --> 43:15.303
^for us to be able to support those systems long term.

43:15.490 --> 43:18.460
^Right now for us, the base realignment and closure process

43:18.460 --> 43:19.790
^allows that enterprise look.

43:19.790 --> 43:21.750
^It's emerging technologies like that

43:21.750 --> 43:23.200
^and where best to place them.

43:23.500 --> 43:25.960
^- Are you looking at it without that type of...

43:25.960 --> 43:27.890
^In other words, are you actively doing that

43:27.890 --> 43:28.767
^without a--

43:29.070 --> 43:30.670
^- The services are doing the best they can

43:30.670 --> 43:32.694
^as you know, the Air Force has a basing process

43:32.694 --> 43:35.140
^to try to identify locations.

43:35.140 --> 43:37.440
^I do believe there's some encumbrances to that

43:37.440 --> 43:39.970
^particular process that could be solved by

43:39.970 --> 43:43.193
^taking a more wide and more comprehensive enterprise look.

43:43.760 --> 43:44.860
^- [John] Okay, thank you.

43:44.860 --> 43:47.270
^Again, thanks to all of you, appreciate it.

43:47.270 --> 43:48.420
^- [John] Senator Udall.

43:48.701 --> 43:51.990
^- Thank you Mr. Chairman and thank you

43:51.990 --> 43:55.640
^Ranking Senator Schatz and really appreciate

43:55.640 --> 43:58.330
^all of you being here today with us.

43:58.330 --> 44:00.250
^General Green, I'd like to start

44:00.250 --> 44:03.910
^by having a conversation about the New Space

44:03.910 --> 44:07.313
^Rapid Capabilities Office at Kirtland Air Force Base.

44:08.090 --> 44:10.770
^The new space, RCO, is supposed to play

44:10.770 --> 44:13.335
^an important role in the Air Force's attempt

44:13.335 --> 44:16.210
^to leverage public private partnerships

44:16.210 --> 44:17.870
^and reduce the time to launch

44:17.870 --> 44:20.683
^national security assets into space.

44:21.070 --> 44:25.220
^While space RCO is just starting to get off the ground,

44:25.220 --> 44:26.810
^I believe that it will need funding

44:26.810 --> 44:28.840
^for new military construction in order

44:28.840 --> 44:32.743
^to truly scale up and meet the Air Force's needs.

44:32.980 --> 44:35.530
^For example, there is a lack of building space

44:35.530 --> 44:40.130
^adjacent to Kirtland, AFRL, for companies to utilize.

44:40.130 --> 44:43.890
^There is also a need for secure compartmentalized

44:43.890 --> 44:46.703
^information space both for the space RCO

44:46.977 --> 44:50.560
^and private companies to utilize and support of

44:50.560 --> 44:53.110
^the Air Force in Albuquerque and I'm sure there are

44:53.110 --> 44:54.040
^many other needs.

44:54.040 --> 44:56.820
^Will you make it a priority to stand up

44:56.820 --> 45:00.980
^the space RCO quickly and expedite the military

45:00.980 --> 45:03.100
^construction priorities in order to meet

45:03.360 --> 45:07.173
^the Secretary of the Air Force's goals for space launches?

45:07.860 --> 45:08.840
^- Yes, sir, we will.

45:08.840 --> 45:11.096
^As you likely know, we've already identified

45:11.096 --> 45:14.270
^facilities today as the initial short-term

45:14.270 --> 45:15.800
^facility options and we'll be studying

45:15.800 --> 45:17.150
^all of the things that you described

45:17.150 --> 45:17.987
^for the way ahead, yes sir.

45:17.987 --> 45:21.510
^- All right, do you agree that in trying to access

45:21.510 --> 45:24.110
^to space is a national security priority

45:24.360 --> 45:27.790
^and that a successful space RCO will be

45:27.790 --> 45:29.793
^a key component of this effort?

45:30.397 --> 45:31.697
^- [Timothy] Yes sir, I do.

45:31.750 --> 45:32.583
^- Great.

45:32.923 --> 45:33.756
^And I--

45:33.756 --> 45:36.223
^- More importantly, the Secretary of the Air Force does.

45:37.400 --> 45:38.663
^- That's important too.

45:38.780 --> 45:42.300
^And I also look forward to working with you

45:42.300 --> 45:44.053
^and the secretary on this.

45:44.110 --> 45:46.363
^General Bingham, great to see you again.

45:46.530 --> 45:48.500
^You announced last year in this committee

45:48.500 --> 45:50.560
^that White Sands Missile Range,

45:50.560 --> 45:53.129
^after a long drought, that military construction

45:53.129 --> 45:56.490
^would be moving forward with the information systems

45:56.490 --> 45:58.963
^facility included in this year's budget.

45:59.300 --> 46:02.603
^The project was originally slated for 2023,

46:02.820 --> 46:05.560
^but the needs for better data management

46:05.560 --> 46:09.073
^made this project a major priority for the Army and DOD.

46:10.000 --> 46:12.260
^General Bingham, how will this new facility

46:12.260 --> 46:14.920
^improve White Sands Missile Range's ability

46:14.920 --> 46:17.333
^to manage and acquire data for testing?

46:18.380 --> 46:19.970
^- Thank you Senator Udall and great

46:19.970 --> 46:21.513
^to see you again as well.

46:21.930 --> 46:24.268
^As you know, I haven't been stationed at White Sands

46:24.268 --> 46:26.233
^for about 21 months.

46:26.500 --> 46:28.650
^I had really come to appreciate that it's an

46:28.650 --> 46:30.633
^absolute national treasure there.

46:31.570 --> 46:33.420
^We will be making good use of

46:33.420 --> 46:35.740
^this new information systems facility.

46:35.740 --> 46:40.310
^It will actually displace seven separate facilities

46:40.310 --> 46:43.150
^so that will make it more efficiently used

46:43.170 --> 46:45.250
^by information management and

46:45.250 --> 46:48.873
^its communications capability there on the range,

46:48.930 --> 46:52.730
^so I know it'll be quite an asset for the men

46:52.730 --> 46:54.030
^and women who will use it.

46:54.120 --> 46:56.260
^- Appreciate that answer, and do you believe

46:56.260 --> 46:59.330
^that the new facility could enable White Sands

46:59.330 --> 47:02.228
^to be a more efficient user of the air space?

47:02.228 --> 47:03.311
^- Absolutely.

47:04.650 --> 47:07.363
^- Mr. Niemeyer, you know New Mexico well.

47:07.480 --> 47:10.470
^New Mexico has proudly supported its military bases

47:10.470 --> 47:13.590
^and I believe the President's military construction budget

47:13.860 --> 47:16.240
^does a good job supporting the troops who work

47:16.240 --> 47:18.090
^and train in New Mexico.

47:18.090 --> 47:20.390
^The budget in New Mexico's also critical

47:20.610 --> 47:24.323
^to address some of the training shortfalls for pilots.

47:24.690 --> 47:28.000
^And then this question is for Mr. Niemeyer,

47:28.000 --> 47:29.833
^General Bingham and General Green.

47:29.900 --> 47:32.320
^The pilot shortage is a very serious issue.

47:32.320 --> 47:35.173
^I think many of you have talked about that before.

47:35.320 --> 47:37.660
^In New Mexico, the Department of Defense and all

47:37.660 --> 47:40.400
^the military branches who utilize WSMR

47:40.640 --> 47:44.193
^need to work together to improve this situation.

47:44.460 --> 47:47.760
^The F-16 training pipeline through Holloman Air Force Base

47:47.760 --> 47:50.500
^is one important component to address

47:50.500 --> 47:53.040
^the pilot shortage and for years now,

47:53.040 --> 47:54.950
^I've pressed all stakeholders to work

47:54.950 --> 47:57.070
^with White Sands to do a better job

47:57.270 --> 47:59.910
^about deconflicting air space with Holloman

48:00.130 --> 48:03.843
^in order to ensure access for Holloman's pilots.

48:03.860 --> 48:06.277
^In my opinion, the Air Force should move quickly

48:06.277 --> 48:10.310
^to make the F-16 basing permanent at Holloman,

48:10.310 --> 48:12.980
^moving to another base will likely cost

48:12.980 --> 48:15.813
^additional money for MILCON and will sap the time

48:15.813 --> 48:20.100
^from the airmen working to alleviate the pilot shortage.

48:20.100 --> 48:22.590
^Do you agree that the Air Force needs to do everything

48:22.590 --> 48:25.650
^it can to improve opportunities for training

48:25.920 --> 48:29.463
^and should work to prevent unneeded future MILCON spending?

48:29.730 --> 48:31.810
^Mr. Niemeyer, why don't we start with you?

48:31.810 --> 48:33.700
^- I'll talk more to what I see is

48:34.020 --> 48:35.947
^happening in New Mexico happens around the country

48:35.947 --> 48:39.360
^where you have a friendly competition between

48:39.360 --> 48:41.683
^test requirements and training requirements.

48:42.045 --> 48:45.133
^WSMR has a long history of trying to balance that.

48:45.540 --> 48:48.810
^As we manage a very important part of our national airspace

48:48.810 --> 48:51.060
^and training and test infrastructure at WSMR,

48:51.063 --> 48:53.410
^my job is to work with both services

48:53.410 --> 48:56.370
^to make sure that we can support the test requirements

48:56.370 --> 48:59.140
^which there's no other test range like this in the world,

48:59.140 --> 49:02.500
^what we have at WSMR, along with what is a very, very

49:02.500 --> 49:04.663
^desirable piece of airspace for training.

49:04.970 --> 49:06.940
^We work every day to try to balance that

49:06.940 --> 49:07.850
^within the department of defense.

49:07.850 --> 49:08.880
^I'll leave that up to the services

49:08.880 --> 49:10.563
^to talk about the F-16.

49:10.580 --> 49:12.533
^- Just brief answers, I'm out of time,

49:13.232 --> 49:15.650
^but General Bingham and General Green.

49:15.650 --> 49:17.755
^- Certainly we want to work with our Air Force

49:17.755 --> 49:22.755
^comrades and do on a repeated basis out at White Sands

49:23.350 --> 49:26.190
^to do as Secretary Niemeyer mentioned to deconflict

49:26.190 --> 49:28.343
^that air space out there and I think we've got

49:28.343 --> 49:29.593
^a good system to do that.

49:30.551 --> 49:31.384
^- Great, thank you.

49:31.384 --> 49:32.217
^General Green.

49:32.520 --> 49:34.660
^- Yes sir, we agree about the partnership

49:34.660 --> 49:36.600
^with regard to the airspace and certainly

49:36.600 --> 49:38.416
^as we go through the basing process,

49:38.416 --> 49:40.677
^the secretary will announce the candidates this year

49:40.677 --> 49:43.020
^and we agree with the need so minimize MILCON.

49:43.020 --> 49:44.860
^- [Tom] Thank you very much, thank you Mr. Chairman

49:44.860 --> 49:45.760
^for your courtesy.

49:46.850 --> 49:47.683
^- [John] Thank you.

49:47.683 --> 49:48.516
^Senator Moran.

49:48.760 --> 49:49.710
^- Mr. Chairman, thank you.

49:49.710 --> 49:51.810
^Let me first commend and congratulate you

49:51.810 --> 49:53.880
^on your assumption of the chairmanship of this committee.

49:53.880 --> 49:55.680
^- [John] We've got big shoes to fill

49:55.680 --> 49:56.550
^but we're gonna do our best.

49:56.550 --> 49:58.104
^- I knew you'd say that, that's why I complemented you.

49:58.104 --> 50:00.040
^(laughing)

50:00.040 --> 50:02.473
^And let me also thank the staff,

50:02.850 --> 50:05.210
^Patrick and his crew have been great to work with

50:05.210 --> 50:06.318
^and I'm very appreciative of their help

50:06.318 --> 50:08.941
^and I look forward to being a valuable

50:08.941 --> 50:12.003
^and active member of this subcommittee.

50:12.320 --> 50:15.540
^And I appreciate Senator Schatz's comments

50:16.503 --> 50:17.670
^and I was trying to think if you're

50:17.670 --> 50:20.680
^my favorite ranking member but then I have two others

50:20.680 --> 50:21.680
^that I would offend.

50:22.280 --> 50:24.763
^Don't point at Tester, none of them are Tester.

50:25.028 --> 50:27.278
^(laughing)

50:27.659 --> 50:31.500
^Let me start with Fort Leavenworth.

50:31.500 --> 50:34.833
^The 35th ID Readiness Center.

50:35.480 --> 50:37.450
^Secretary Niemeyer, I appreciate the chance

50:37.450 --> 50:39.090
^I've had to work with you in the services

50:39.090 --> 50:41.794
^that you attempt to work with and coordinate

50:41.794 --> 50:43.590
^and I thank you for that relationship.

50:43.590 --> 50:46.210
^Let me ask you and General Bingham

50:46.850 --> 50:51.190
^our committee provided in FY 2017, 31.9 million dollars

50:51.190 --> 50:53.540
^for a new readiness center at Fort Leavenworth.

50:53.580 --> 50:56.640
^Only this last February has the national guard bureau

50:56.640 --> 50:58.340
^released a request for proposal

50:58.671 --> 51:01.283
^to award a contract for construction.

51:01.395 --> 51:04.880
^I'm not here to analyze why that's the case,

51:04.880 --> 51:06.910
^I just would like to know if you and General Bingham

51:06.910 --> 51:09.380
^would commit to me doing everything you can

51:09.380 --> 51:10.447
^to see that this..

51:10.580 --> 51:13.660
^We make up for the lost time that this project

51:13.660 --> 51:15.920
^proceeds to its rapid completion.

51:15.920 --> 51:16.753
^- [Lucian] Yes sir I will.

51:16.753 --> 51:18.140
^- [Jerry] Thank you, General?

51:19.330 --> 51:21.580
^- Thank you, we appreciate the opportunity

51:21.580 --> 51:25.000
^through our Army National Guard master transformation

51:25.000 --> 51:26.943
^plan for readiness centers.

51:27.550 --> 51:31.000
^We are definitely very much wanting to improve

51:31.000 --> 51:33.350
^the readiness of all of those facilities

51:33.600 --> 51:37.610
^and currently we are using sustainment dollars

51:37.610 --> 51:40.823
^as well as R&M dollars and MILCON dollars to do that.

51:41.170 --> 51:42.070
^- Thank you ma'am.

51:42.400 --> 51:44.060
^Let me know talk about Sunflower,

51:44.060 --> 51:46.513
^excuse me Army Ammunition Plant.

51:46.830 --> 51:49.533
^Not a conversation that we've not had previously.

51:49.920 --> 51:53.700
^This begins in 2005 when the Army conveyed Sunflower

51:53.700 --> 51:57.650
^Army Ammunition Plant which is over 9,000 acres of land

51:58.030 --> 52:00.640
^in Johnson County, Kansas, the suburbs of Kansas City

52:00.640 --> 52:03.643
^on the Kansas side, to Sunflower Redevelopment.

52:05.690 --> 52:08.533
^This has drug on a very long time.

52:09.180 --> 52:12.110
^10 years of back and forth on remediation of the land.

52:12.110 --> 52:15.770
^I convened a meeting in 2015 with the Army

52:15.770 --> 52:17.920
^and brought officials to Sunflower

52:18.386 --> 52:20.330
^trying to get everyone on the same page.

52:20.330 --> 52:22.237
^Of course, that commitment was made to me

52:22.237 --> 52:23.823
^and to the people in the room.

52:24.160 --> 52:28.230
^Three years later, I view the disconnect continues.

52:28.230 --> 52:31.571
^FY '18 MILCON construction has report language,

52:31.571 --> 52:35.140
^bill language that directs the Army to conduct

52:35.140 --> 52:36.950
^an assessment to ensure that the redevelopment

52:36.950 --> 52:39.830
^priorities are synchronized with the developer

52:39.830 --> 52:40.663
^and the Army.

52:42.100 --> 52:45.264
^I don't know that the situation today is any better

52:45.264 --> 52:48.900
^and it doesn't seem like anybody is taking charge.

52:48.900 --> 52:50.123
^It's so slow.

52:50.590 --> 52:52.860
^The project managers are running out of funds

52:54.080 --> 52:57.163
^and the works stops, it's a waste of time and money.

52:59.010 --> 53:01.230
^The Army apparently will be at Sunflower

53:01.230 --> 53:04.793
^for another decade cleaning up the site.

53:04.870 --> 53:07.330
^It's just such a long haul and I would ask you

53:07.330 --> 53:10.557
^General Bingham, I'd like to request that you visit

53:10.557 --> 53:14.410
^with me Sunflower and get a picture

53:14.410 --> 53:15.863
^for what I'm talking about.

53:16.670 --> 53:18.900
^And then I would ask you to follow up with me

53:18.900 --> 53:23.470
^that you could tell me the facts about what the total

53:24.132 --> 53:27.693
^expenditure on remediation by the Army has,

53:28.290 --> 53:30.210
^what's been completed and at what cost

53:30.770 --> 53:35.700
^and I need to also highlight for you the specific need

53:35.700 --> 53:37.410
^for removal of concrete on the site,

53:37.410 --> 53:40.060
^so first of all, I want to highlight the concrete,

53:40.060 --> 53:42.520
^second would like you to agree to come with me

53:42.520 --> 53:44.843
^and see the facility, see the location,

53:45.090 --> 53:47.190
^and thirdly, if you could tell me at some point

53:47.190 --> 53:51.060
^in the near future the amount of money

53:51.060 --> 53:53.345
^spent on remediation, where we are in the process

53:53.345 --> 53:55.795
^and how you see it being brought to a conclusion.

53:57.380 --> 53:59.940
^- Thank you Senator Moran, I appreciate that question.

53:59.940 --> 54:02.080
^I just do want to assure you though that the Army

54:02.080 --> 54:05.520
^is committed to fulfilling our obligation

54:05.520 --> 54:09.300
^to clean up Sunflower and point of facts are

54:09.300 --> 54:11.930
^we are in a three phased operation as you mentioned.

54:11.930 --> 54:14.640
^It has taken a long time, we're currently in phase one

54:14.640 --> 54:17.063
^that began in earnest about four years ago,

54:17.340 --> 54:21.533
^which deals with our planning and documentation.

54:21.660 --> 54:24.950
^Our second phase after we complete this, hopefully next year

54:24.950 --> 54:27.960
^will move into the execution phase and be able

54:27.960 --> 54:30.320
^to see that remediation through the completion.

54:30.320 --> 54:32.800
^But yes, I'd be honored to accompany you

54:32.800 --> 54:35.360
^to visit that site and we'll schedule that

54:35.360 --> 54:36.290
^with your planner.

54:36.290 --> 54:37.470
^- Thank you for your response.

54:37.470 --> 54:40.093
^Secretary, you instructed me,

54:40.600 --> 54:42.650
^probably in your words, you suggested to me

54:42.650 --> 54:44.980
^that I have a conversation on this topic

54:45.191 --> 54:46.741
^with the Secretary of the Army.

54:46.850 --> 54:50.099
^That has happened and he indicated

54:50.099 --> 54:53.100
^an awareness of the issue and indicated

54:53.100 --> 54:54.993
^a willingness to become more aware.

54:55.300 --> 54:57.100
^I would ask you if you have any other suggestions

54:57.100 --> 54:59.370
^of how I can better address this issue

54:59.620 --> 55:01.610
^in trying to get the Army to move more rapidly.

55:01.610 --> 55:04.270
^- As you were discussing with General Bingham,

55:04.270 --> 55:06.070
^I have made a note to myself to see,

55:06.090 --> 55:07.850
^I know General Bingham the last thing she wants to hear

55:07.850 --> 55:09.623
^where OSD can assist.

55:10.000 --> 55:11.750
^I'm not sure how much we both can provide

55:11.750 --> 55:13.170
^but I've made a note to myself to make sure

55:13.170 --> 55:15.570
^that my staff, my expertise that I have with my staff

55:15.570 --> 55:17.863
^can be available to General Bingham and yourself.

55:17.863 --> 55:19.900
^- Assuming that's fine with General Bingham,

55:19.900 --> 55:21.680
^I'm pleased with that because you have

55:21.680 --> 55:23.540
^an expertise and a background in this arena

55:23.540 --> 55:25.563
^and I would welcome your help.

55:26.020 --> 55:26.853
^Mr. Chairman, thank you.

55:26.853 --> 55:30.940
^I would concur with you, at least your line of question

55:32.433 --> 55:33.833
^about incremental financing.

55:34.190 --> 55:36.190
^We've got to get to the point in my view

55:36.448 --> 55:37.530
^in which we can begin funding even though we

55:37.530 --> 55:39.176
^don't have all funding and I would encourage

55:39.176 --> 55:42.370
^the secretary's office and the

55:43.320 --> 55:46.733
^departments to pursue that with this administration.

55:46.816 --> 55:47.649
Thank you.

55:48.490 --> 55:49.690
^- [John] Senator Tester.

55:50.580 --> 55:52.680
^- Thank you Mr. Chairman and I want to thank you all

55:52.680 --> 55:54.290
^for being here and by the way Mr. Chairman,

55:54.290 --> 55:56.543
^congratulations on the new soup committee.

55:56.710 --> 55:58.730
^- [John] Well thank you and I'm gonna miss you dearly.

55:58.730 --> 55:59.920
^- I'm gonna miss you too.

55:59.920 --> 56:04.833
^You are my favorite chairman, I'm proud to say.

56:05.220 --> 56:06.883
^But thank you very, very much.

56:06.940 --> 56:09.054
^- [John] As you talk about your MILCON project.

56:09.054 --> 56:10.483
^- Exactly right.

56:11.130 --> 56:14.233
^General Green, thank you all for being here.

56:14.483 --> 56:16.647
^I understand that you're gonna--

56:16.940 --> 56:18.570
^My crack staff tells me you're gonna hang up

56:18.570 --> 56:21.080
^your cleats here in some moment in time this year.

56:21.540 --> 56:23.090
^I want to say thank you for your service

56:23.090 --> 56:26.540
^and I've looked forward to working with you

56:26.540 --> 56:28.220
^and we look forward to working for the person

56:28.220 --> 56:30.253
^who is gonna take your place.

56:31.420 --> 56:33.460
^I want to talk about the ICBMs a little bit.

56:33.460 --> 56:35.160
^That's what happens when you have Hoven and Tester

56:35.160 --> 56:38.203
^on the same appropriations committee.

56:38.630 --> 56:42.040
^I want to talk about the weapons storage facility

56:42.850 --> 56:44.423
^and those projects.

56:45.040 --> 56:49.880
^F.E. Warren and Malmstrom

56:51.905 --> 56:55.310
^is moving forward although

56:55.980 --> 57:00.210
^because of potentially some issues that have come up

57:00.210 --> 57:02.690
^at F.E. Warren, we have slid from 19 to 20

57:03.230 --> 57:04.420
^and I don't want to put words in your mouth,

57:04.420 --> 57:05.540
^you can correct me on that.

57:05.540 --> 57:08.853
^Could you give me a brief update,

57:08.860 --> 57:10.690
^a very brief update on what's going on

57:10.690 --> 57:13.600
^with F.E. Warren and if it is going ahead

57:13.600 --> 57:14.870
^of where it was initially scheduled

57:14.870 --> 57:15.923
^or are we behind?

57:16.200 --> 57:18.290
^Do we have a potential slide another year

57:18.290 --> 57:21.170
^or could we potentially even pick up a year

57:21.430 --> 57:24.303
^and start this project towards the end of '19.

57:25.020 --> 57:27.566
^- Yes sir, so we've got one more request

57:27.566 --> 57:29.890
^for reauthorization to come over and

57:29.890 --> 57:33.493
^the appropriation addition for the F.E. Warren.

57:33.990 --> 57:35.467
^We've worked with your staff about that

57:35.467 --> 57:36.990
^and that should put it on track.

57:36.990 --> 57:39.800
^Where we've been, importantly, is the Commander

57:39.800 --> 57:41.180
^of Air Force Global Strike Command,

57:41.180 --> 57:42.993
^the Commander of Air Force Materiel Command

57:42.993 --> 57:46.570
^convened a working group and they went very deliberately

57:46.570 --> 57:48.280
^through each and every requirement

57:48.630 --> 57:50.370
^of the facilities and I won't go through

57:50.370 --> 57:52.690
^all the details but what we came out with

57:52.690 --> 57:54.960
^in the end is really the validation of many

57:54.960 --> 57:56.660
^of the requirements from security,

57:56.780 --> 57:58.520
^operational and safety.

57:58.520 --> 58:00.040
^Those were the three big rocks

58:00.200 --> 58:01.990
^so I think we have a good definition of what

58:01.990 --> 58:03.123
^we need in the future.

58:03.210 --> 58:06.300
^We've made the adjustments that we can within F.E. Warren

58:06.480 --> 58:09.330
^and we're ready to move forward and we're confident

58:09.330 --> 58:11.620
^that we can continue to learn.

58:11.620 --> 58:14.083
^- Have you started construction on Warren yet?

58:14.160 --> 58:16.743
^- No sir, we have not awarded the contract.

58:16.910 --> 58:21.140
^- But you anticipate now that that contract

58:21.140 --> 58:23.000
^will start on time and end on time

58:23.640 --> 58:26.223
^and we'll get to Malmstrom Air Force on time?

58:26.910 --> 58:28.350
^- Yes, sir, I'm confident we'll get

58:28.350 --> 58:29.930
^to Malmstrom Air Force on time.

58:29.930 --> 58:31.143
^- Okay, which is 2020.

58:31.940 --> 58:32.943
^- [Timothy] Yes, sir.

58:32.953 --> 58:34.873
^- Secretary Niemeyer,

58:36.000 --> 58:39.490
^look there are regional threats and emerging

58:39.490 --> 58:40.570
^global threats

58:41.987 --> 58:45.173
^that quite frankly all over the world.

58:46.620 --> 58:51.033
^We have had a tendency, and I still think we do,

58:52.391 --> 58:54.950
^to disproportionately foot the bill

58:55.600 --> 58:57.650
^in both manpower and equipment,

58:57.650 --> 58:59.963
^we're talking about equipment here today.

59:00.600 --> 59:02.830
^I think it is our obligation as the leader

59:02.830 --> 59:04.960
^of the free world to do our fair share

59:04.960 --> 59:06.410
^and maybe even a little more,

59:06.760 --> 59:10.300
^but the question is that time and time again,

59:10.300 --> 59:12.100
^I think we've put ourselves on the line,

59:12.100 --> 59:14.550
^taxpayer dollars, American lives,

59:14.550 --> 59:16.470
^and I don't think there's any doubt about that.

59:16.470 --> 59:18.700
^Meanwhile our allies are freed up to spend

59:18.700 --> 59:20.860
^a lot of those dollars that they may be

59:21.160 --> 59:22.900
^spending on some of the stuff we're spending on,

59:22.900 --> 59:26.200
^on education and infrastructure

59:26.200 --> 59:27.990
^and research and development and all the things

59:27.990 --> 59:29.573
^we need to spend money on too.

59:29.940 --> 59:33.203
^So the question is in terms of the overseas MILCON,

59:33.585 --> 59:37.640
^does this budget exacerbate our allies over reliance

59:37.640 --> 59:39.821
^on the US military to provide their security

59:39.821 --> 59:43.623
^and could you tell me why or why it doesn't do that.

59:44.850 --> 59:46.950
^- So we've spent a lot of time in the last year,

59:46.950 --> 59:49.130
^secretary of defense has, working with NATO allies

59:49.130 --> 59:51.320
^to ensure that we, we do have some concerns

59:51.320 --> 59:55.653
^with the size of the military, the spending by our allies.

59:56.080 --> 59:57.840
^We continue to make those points that we do

59:57.840 --> 59:59.730
^need to see a greater commitment on the part

59:59.730 --> 01:00:02.160
^of our NATO allies, particularly in providing

01:00:02.160 --> 01:00:05.363
^for their defense as well as a common defense of NATO.

01:00:05.550 --> 01:00:08.530
^We do have still requirements that we are asking

01:00:08.530 --> 01:00:10.541
^for your support for, within the overseas

01:00:10.541 --> 01:00:12.243
^contingency construction account.

01:00:12.420 --> 01:00:14.335
^For select projects that we believe

01:00:14.335 --> 01:00:18.830
^are needed to help us with allies which are increasing

01:00:18.830 --> 01:00:21.140
^their support for us and in countries

01:00:21.140 --> 01:00:22.990
^we haven't traditionally invested in.

01:00:23.100 --> 01:00:24.870
^We do believe those are prudent investments

01:00:24.870 --> 01:00:28.110
^to provide the secretary of defense his goal

01:00:28.110 --> 01:00:29.540
^with the national defense trade to provide

01:00:29.540 --> 01:00:32.710
^for more adaptive and disbursed basing opportunities

01:00:32.940 --> 01:00:34.610
^to allow us to be able to work with

01:00:34.610 --> 01:00:37.050
^a greater number of allies in Europe specifically

01:00:37.050 --> 01:00:39.443
^as we try to deter Russian aggression.

01:00:39.450 --> 01:00:43.350
^- So to put it really, to put it very bluntly then,

01:00:43.350 --> 01:00:46.770
^you believe that this budget is a fair balance

01:00:46.770 --> 01:00:48.750
^between what we're spending and what our allies

01:00:48.750 --> 01:00:51.640
^are spending as far as the threats that are occurring

01:00:51.640 --> 01:00:52.490
^around the world?

01:00:52.590 --> 01:00:54.488
^- I have not made personally the determination

01:00:54.488 --> 01:00:56.930
^whether it's fair, I do know why we are asking for

01:00:56.930 --> 01:00:59.737
^the funds and why they are in concert with

01:00:59.737 --> 01:01:01.220
^the National Defense Strategy.

01:01:01.220 --> 01:01:04.173
^- [Jon] Okay, thank you Mr. Chairman, thank you.

01:01:04.173 --> 01:01:05.437
^- [John] Senator Collins.

01:01:05.437 --> 01:01:07.183
^- Thank you Mr. Chairman.

01:01:07.320 --> 01:01:10.313
^Let me add my congratulations to you

01:01:10.317 --> 01:01:12.760
^as you take over the chairmanship

01:01:13.020 --> 01:01:16.188
^of this important subcommittee and I can assure you

01:01:16.188 --> 01:01:20.290
^that at this particular hearing, that you and

01:01:20.290 --> 01:01:22.340
^the ranking member are the favorites

01:01:22.340 --> 01:01:26.143
^of all of us here on the panel.

01:01:26.540 --> 01:01:30.500
^Both before us and the panel of your colleagues.

01:01:30.500 --> 01:01:33.583
^But it truly is great to have you here.

01:01:34.420 --> 01:01:38.550
^Admiral Smith, as you know, Maine is the proud home

01:01:38.550 --> 01:01:41.580
^of the Portsmith Naval Shipyard in Kittery

01:01:42.170 --> 01:01:45.070
^and I'm very pleased that the Navy and

01:01:45.070 --> 01:01:48.910
^the Defense Logistics Agency have requested

01:01:48.910 --> 01:01:53.470
^162 million dollars in total for much needed

01:01:53.470 --> 01:01:56.543
^improvements at the shipyard this year.

01:01:56.750 --> 01:01:59.715
^These projects will help insure that the

01:01:59.715 --> 01:02:03.200
^Portsmith Naval Shipyard can effectively dock

01:02:03.570 --> 01:02:07.330
^both Los Angeles class and Virginia class submarines

01:02:07.330 --> 01:02:11.410
^to conduct their maintenance support the requirements

01:02:11.410 --> 01:02:15.026
^to execute the Los Angeles class service life

01:02:15.026 --> 01:02:19.260
^extensions in the years to come and expand

01:02:19.260 --> 01:02:22.490
^an outdated warehouse facility that will help

01:02:22.490 --> 01:02:26.280
^the shipyard receive, inspect and distribute

01:02:26.280 --> 01:02:30.253
^submarine components for worldwide fleet support.

01:02:31.000 --> 01:02:34.810
^These modernization in infrastructure investments

01:02:34.810 --> 01:02:37.200
^are desperately needed, they've been needed

01:02:37.200 --> 01:02:41.800
^for a long time to help the shipyard conduct

01:02:41.880 --> 01:02:45.980
^the availabilities necessary to improve

01:02:45.980 --> 01:02:48.320
^and maintain fleet readiness

01:02:48.320 --> 01:02:52.270
^so it's very much a step in the right direction.

01:02:52.270 --> 01:02:56.130
^I'm particularly supportive of the more mature

01:02:56.130 --> 01:03:01.000
^dry dock revitalization portion of the Navy's

01:03:01.000 --> 01:03:04.263
^overall shipyard modernization plan.

01:03:04.520 --> 01:03:09.520
^That will restore 67 of the 68 deferred maintenance

01:03:09.950 --> 01:03:12.380
^availabilities over 20 years

01:03:12.380 --> 01:03:17.053
^so that's a great return on investment for the Navy.

01:03:17.320 --> 01:03:21.110
^My one question for you and I am getting

01:03:21.110 --> 01:03:25.680
^to a question is that the modernization plan

01:03:25.890 --> 01:03:30.890
^was completed before there was the additional funding

01:03:32.480 --> 01:03:36.760
^and in light of the fact that the size of the fleet

01:03:37.030 --> 01:03:42.030
^is likely to be larger than the plan's initial assumptions,

01:03:42.480 --> 01:03:46.330
^are you taking another look at the adequacy of

01:03:46.330 --> 01:03:48.683
^the current modernization plan?

01:03:49.620 --> 01:03:53.330
^- Senator, yes, that shipyard is great,

01:03:53.330 --> 01:03:55.100
^I've had a chance to visit it several times

01:03:55.100 --> 01:03:57.410
^and it's great to be able to see that we're putting

01:03:57.410 --> 01:03:59.460
^the resources into it that we need to put in

01:03:59.460 --> 01:04:02.503
^to not only that shipyard but all four shipyards.

01:04:03.085 --> 01:04:04.520
^Yes, you're correct

01:04:05.050 --> 01:04:07.800
^the shipyard authorization plan came out

01:04:07.880 --> 01:04:12.173
^before we identified where we need to grow to 355

01:04:14.170 --> 01:04:18.003
^so we are relooking that with a growth of the fleet.

01:04:18.800 --> 01:04:20.413
^What's in the plan right now?

01:04:20.880 --> 01:04:23.163
^What meets the future requirement,

01:04:23.370 --> 01:04:25.030
^what doesn't meet the future requirement,

01:04:25.030 --> 01:04:28.120
^what's that delta, what has to be added or changed

01:04:28.120 --> 01:04:29.870
^to do that, so that analysis going on,

01:04:29.870 --> 01:04:32.520
^being led by naval C Systems command right now ma'am.

01:04:32.690 --> 01:04:34.683
^- I'm very glad to hear that.

01:04:35.140 --> 01:04:39.440
^The other issue I want to follow up on Senator Moran raised

01:04:39.460 --> 01:04:42.543
^and that has to do with incremental funding.

01:04:43.080 --> 01:04:46.280
^One of the projects for the Portsmith Naval Shipyard

01:04:46.280 --> 01:04:50.490
^this fiscal year is to build a super flood basin

01:04:50.490 --> 01:04:53.570
^at dry dock number one and the long term goal

01:04:53.750 --> 01:04:56.330
^is to make it fully capable of docking

01:04:56.330 --> 01:04:57.930
^the Virginia class submarines

01:04:59.261 --> 01:05:01.510
^and eventually this is gonna require

01:05:01.510 --> 01:05:05.170
^building a partition within the super flood basin

01:05:05.460 --> 01:05:10.460
^which the Navy is planning to fund in fiscal year 2021.

01:05:11.040 --> 01:05:15.040
^So I understand the cost of the project is what

01:05:15.040 --> 01:05:19.750
^has caused the Navy to split the project into

01:05:19.750 --> 01:05:24.750
^two phased projects over fiscal year 2021 and 2022,

01:05:26.740 --> 01:05:29.740
^but my concern is that a phased approach

01:05:29.740 --> 01:05:34.230
^could introduce unacceptable risk to

01:05:34.230 --> 01:05:38.370
^the tight schedule required to make sure that

01:05:38.370 --> 01:05:41.720
^the project is complete when the Navy needs it

01:05:41.720 --> 01:05:45.800
^for maintenance beginning in January of 2024.

01:05:47.060 --> 01:05:52.060
^So rather than splitting the project, which significantly

01:05:52.550 --> 01:05:57.313
^increases the risk to the scheduled completion date,

01:05:57.650 --> 01:06:00.770
^would the Navy consider two options?

01:06:00.770 --> 01:06:05.770
^One either fully funding it in a single fiscal year,

01:06:05.890 --> 01:06:09.110
^it's a single project rather than a two phase project

01:06:09.510 --> 01:06:14.510
^or if that isn't feasible providing incremental funding

01:06:15.750 --> 01:06:20.750
^at 65% in fiscal year '21 and then 35%

01:06:22.270 --> 01:06:24.063
^in fiscal year '22.

01:06:25.210 --> 01:06:26.043
^- Yes ma'am, thank you,

01:06:26.043 --> 01:06:29.480
^so as you state, this is gonna be an expensive project

01:06:29.480 --> 01:06:30.623
^but it's much needed.

01:06:30.870 --> 01:06:33.340
^We have not built a dry dock in 30 years

01:06:33.590 --> 01:06:36.750
^so we're going through the engineering analysis

01:06:36.750 --> 01:06:39.820
^right now to figure out how to properly do this.

01:06:39.820 --> 01:06:43.140
^That engineering analysis will help us determine

01:06:43.140 --> 01:06:44.893
^what is the best way to fund that to make sure

01:06:44.893 --> 01:06:46.883
^that we get that done when it's needed.

01:06:47.330 --> 01:06:50.762
^- Great, I would ask that you keep us informed

01:06:50.762 --> 01:06:54.280
^as that engineering study progresses.

01:06:54.280 --> 01:06:55.130
^- [Dixon] Yes ma'am, absolutely.

01:06:55.130 --> 01:06:58.073
^- Thank you and thank you all for your service.

01:06:58.820 --> 01:07:00.053
^Thank you Mr. Chairman.

01:07:00.490 --> 01:07:01.323
^- [John] Thank you.

01:07:01.323 --> 01:07:02.156
^Senator Murphy.

01:07:03.380 --> 01:07:04.630
^- Thank you very much Mr. Chairman.

01:07:04.630 --> 01:07:08.283
^Welcome all of you, thank you very much for being here.

01:07:08.360 --> 01:07:10.963
^Admiral Smith, good to see you again.

01:07:11.280 --> 01:07:15.610
^I wanted to stay on the topic that Senator Collins

01:07:15.620 --> 01:07:17.580
^raised and that's the flip side of it

01:07:17.580 --> 01:07:20.120
^coming from the perspective of a state

01:07:20.120 --> 01:07:22.323
^with a private shipyard.

01:07:23.030 --> 01:07:24.840
^I'm very supportive of the efforts

01:07:24.840 --> 01:07:28.040
^to try to make up for this deferred maintenance

01:07:28.040 --> 01:07:29.840
^in our public shipyards, but as we know,

01:07:29.840 --> 01:07:33.501
^that's a long term project and even if you stay on schedule

01:07:33.501 --> 01:07:37.350
^the Navy has projected that there's going to be a large

01:07:37.350 --> 01:07:39.330
^percentage of maintenance work that just simply

01:07:39.330 --> 01:07:40.700
^won't be able to be done.

01:07:40.700 --> 01:07:43.240
^At the public shipyards, thus, it brings me

01:07:43.240 --> 01:07:44.073
^to my question.

01:07:44.073 --> 01:07:47.810
^As you know, we've got this workload valley

01:07:48.630 --> 01:07:53.561
^in Connecticut's electric boat as we seek to ramp up

01:07:53.561 --> 01:07:56.060
^to the point at which we're gonna be producing it

01:07:56.060 --> 01:07:59.040
^many times two submarines in that yard

01:07:59.040 --> 01:08:00.350
^at any one given time

01:08:00.350 --> 01:08:04.620
^and we are very worried about the likelihood

01:08:04.620 --> 01:08:08.060
^of losing some really important skilled workforce

01:08:08.190 --> 01:08:10.020
^during that period of valley

01:08:10.260 --> 01:08:15.060
^and so we've talked previously about maintenance projects

01:08:15.060 --> 01:08:17.050
^like the Boise and I'm glad that

01:08:17.050 --> 01:08:20.163
^that contract got awarded.

01:08:20.930 --> 01:08:22.750
^To the wrong shipyard, but Virginia

01:08:22.750 --> 01:08:24.053
^does decent work as well.

01:08:24.397 --> 01:08:26.720
^The question is just this, wouldn't it be wise

01:08:26.720 --> 01:08:29.870
^to fill this private yard workforce valley now

01:08:29.870 --> 01:08:32.490
^with some backlog maintenance to make sure

01:08:32.490 --> 01:08:34.100
^that that trained workforce is there

01:08:34.100 --> 01:08:36.580
^when we have that ramp up as the Columbia starts

01:08:36.580 --> 01:08:38.433
^to come into view?

01:08:40.100 --> 01:08:41.549
^- Thank you senator for the question, sir,

01:08:41.549 --> 01:08:42.899
^it's good to see you again.

01:08:43.260 --> 01:08:45.480
^Obviously the readiness of our fleet

01:08:45.500 --> 01:08:49.030
^is number one priority and also

01:08:49.770 --> 01:08:52.200
^the skill and the talent of our nuclear repair force

01:08:52.200 --> 01:08:54.550
^in both our public yards and our private yards.

01:08:54.710 --> 01:08:57.933
^I know that the Navy is looking now at how,

01:08:57.970 --> 01:08:59.840
^I mean we look at how to properly balance

01:08:59.840 --> 01:09:02.650
^across our public yards and I know we're looking

01:09:02.650 --> 01:09:04.170
^at how to potentially use the private yards.

01:09:04.170 --> 01:09:07.034
^If I may, I'd like to take the remainder of that question

01:09:07.034 --> 01:09:09.350
^for the record, and get back to you for more detail.

01:09:09.350 --> 01:09:10.883
^- Be happy to do that.

01:09:11.149 --> 01:09:13.960
^My second question is still focused on Groton

01:09:13.960 --> 01:09:16.855
^and New London and I'll bring in Secretary Niemeyer

01:09:16.855 --> 01:09:17.760
^for this one.

01:09:17.760 --> 01:09:22.022
^This is a really good study that was done by

01:09:22.022 --> 01:09:27.022
^the Navy regarding the housing situation

01:09:27.880 --> 01:09:30.540
^in Southeastern Connecticut and so

01:09:31.390 --> 01:09:35.563
^wanted to just get your thoughts on how

01:09:36.720 --> 01:09:38.350
^the Navy and Department of Defense

01:09:38.350 --> 01:09:41.930
^continue to work with us in Southeastern Connecticut

01:09:41.930 --> 01:09:44.910
^to solve what is going to, you know, not be a crisis

01:09:44.910 --> 01:09:47.240
^but a challenge moving forward because

01:09:47.519 --> 01:09:50.400
^as you're aware, Navy's gonna start production

01:09:50.400 --> 01:09:52.730
^on Columbia in 2021 and is considering

01:09:52.730 --> 01:09:55.810
^adding a third Virginia class and so you're gonna have

01:09:55.810 --> 01:09:57.380
^two boats under construction

01:09:57.380 --> 01:09:59.930
^and each boat is gonna have a pre-commissioning crew

01:09:59.930 --> 01:10:01.053
^of about 250.

01:10:02.280 --> 01:10:03.770
^That's conservatively, we're talking about

01:10:03.770 --> 01:10:05.870
^an additional 500 families not to mention

01:10:05.870 --> 01:10:08.226
^all the junior sailors that are coming in.

01:10:08.226 --> 01:10:10.950
^At the same time the DD is ramping up production

01:10:10.950 --> 01:10:14.680
^so you're requiring more and more workforce housing

01:10:14.680 --> 01:10:16.453
^so this report is a good start.

01:10:16.920 --> 01:10:18.710
^But I wanted to ask you about

01:10:19.015 --> 01:10:22.880
^plans to do a broader analysis of the impacts

01:10:23.030 --> 01:10:24.730
^expected over the next few decades

01:10:24.740 --> 01:10:27.410
^in Southeastern Connecticut and wanted to

01:10:27.410 --> 01:10:29.390
^ask for your commitment to work with us,

01:10:29.390 --> 01:10:32.630
^to try to come up with some really good plans

01:10:32.630 --> 01:10:34.440
^to make sure that we have adequate housing

01:10:34.440 --> 01:10:37.420
^for all of the Navy personnel that are gonna be on site.

01:10:37.420 --> 01:10:40.400
^I understand your book is not to make sure the DB

01:10:40.400 --> 01:10:43.790
^has private sector housing but their ramp up is

01:10:43.790 --> 01:10:46.350
^going to affect the availability of affordable housing

01:10:46.350 --> 01:10:48.643
^for Navy personnel as well.

01:10:49.350 --> 01:10:50.183
^- Yes, Senator, thank you.

01:10:50.183 --> 01:10:53.763
^Given that my nephew works at AB I'm also interested.

01:10:54.460 --> 01:10:56.323
^But no, you have my commitment.

01:10:56.520 --> 01:10:57.850
^I was actually on the phone yesterday with

01:10:57.850 --> 01:11:00.004
^the executive officer for the base,

01:11:00.004 --> 01:11:02.480
^talking just about housing so yes,

01:11:02.480 --> 01:11:03.617
^you have our commitment as we move forward

01:11:03.617 --> 01:11:06.120
^and make sure that we're working together

01:11:06.120 --> 01:11:08.480
^to make sure we can help solve what

01:11:08.770 --> 01:11:11.483
^is potentially a housing challenge here in the future.

01:11:12.090 --> 01:11:13.383
^- Secretary Niemeyer.

01:11:13.450 --> 01:11:16.663
^- Yep, so what we also have at the OSD level,

01:11:16.820 --> 01:11:18.770
^we have the Office of Economic Adjustment

01:11:18.770 --> 01:11:21.190
^that allows us to work with communities

01:11:21.190 --> 01:11:23.540
^and states to look at collectively

01:11:23.540 --> 01:11:25.683
^what does an increase in DOD activity,

01:11:25.890 --> 01:11:28.230
^potentially what can we do to mitigate

01:11:28.230 --> 01:11:29.840
^the impacts to work with the community

01:11:29.840 --> 01:11:32.190
^to see what improvements can be made

01:11:32.190 --> 01:11:34.110
^and look forward to using that office

01:11:34.340 --> 01:11:36.410
^to work with you on assessing what

01:11:36.570 --> 01:11:38.640
^potentially can be done inside these connections.

01:11:38.640 --> 01:11:39.790
^- We're ready, as you know.

01:11:39.790 --> 01:11:41.981
^The state has made unprecedented investments

01:11:41.981 --> 01:11:45.720
^in the subbase and we're gonna do whatever

01:11:45.720 --> 01:11:47.660
^is necessary to make sure that we have

01:11:48.085 --> 01:11:51.225
^what our Navy workforce

01:11:51.225 --> 01:11:54.490
^and our private sector workforce needs

01:11:54.490 --> 01:11:56.790
^but doing that in coordination with

01:11:57.700 --> 01:11:59.360
^both of you and others is helpful,

01:11:59.360 --> 01:12:01.560
^so thank you Mr. Chairman and welcome to the committee.

01:12:01.560 --> 01:12:03.230
^- One thing Senator Murphy I do appreciate

01:12:03.230 --> 01:12:04.340
^the opportunity to testify before

01:12:04.340 --> 01:12:05.340
^the next generation.

01:12:05.580 --> 01:12:07.883
^My 17 year old son would be asleep by now,

01:12:08.270 --> 01:12:09.377
^so it's a testament--

01:12:09.730 --> 01:12:11.402
^- [Chris] I'm gonna ask him how I did

01:12:11.402 --> 01:12:13.190
^when I'm done here, so...

01:12:13.380 --> 01:12:14.213
^Thanks guys.

01:12:14.770 --> 01:12:16.970
^- [John] Senator from Alaska, Ms. Murkowski.

01:12:17.440 --> 01:12:20.270
^- Thank you Mr. Chairman and congratulations to you.

01:12:20.270 --> 01:12:22.770
^I think you and your ranking member will learn

01:12:22.770 --> 01:12:26.560
^that when my priorities come up,

01:12:26.560 --> 01:12:28.630
^they always start with an A and it's not Arkansas,

01:12:28.630 --> 01:12:30.363
^no offense, but it's Arctic,

01:12:30.500 --> 01:12:34.970
^and my friend from Hawaii has learned that

01:12:35.290 --> 01:12:38.290
^this big Pacific ocean has warm spots

01:12:38.290 --> 01:12:40.340
^and colder spots but

01:12:40.523 --> 01:12:42.303
^from the defense perspective,

01:12:42.310 --> 01:12:46.070
^it is clearly an area of interest

01:12:46.070 --> 01:12:49.280
^so I want to start my questions

01:12:49.410 --> 01:12:51.363
^directed to you Secretary Niemeyer.

01:12:52.000 --> 01:12:54.973
^And this relates to our Arctic strategy.

01:12:55.610 --> 01:12:59.870
^Last May, Deputy Secretary of Defense Work

01:12:59.870 --> 01:13:02.360
^spoke about that Arctic not being a central

01:13:02.800 --> 01:13:06.653
^concern in the 2014 national defense strategy.

01:13:06.940 --> 01:13:09.510
^We now have the newly published 2018

01:13:09.590 --> 01:13:11.533
^National Defense Strategy summary.

01:13:11.700 --> 01:13:14.230
^It also does not specifically highlight

01:13:14.230 --> 01:13:18.563
^the Arctic region nor address the Arctic infrastructure.

01:13:18.920 --> 01:13:23.180
^So, I'd like it if you can provide me just a brief update

01:13:23.180 --> 01:13:27.030
^on the Department of Defense's vision

01:13:27.030 --> 01:13:29.940
^for posture and infrastructure in the Arctic region

01:13:29.940 --> 01:13:31.830
^and I'll ask specifically when I'm talking

01:13:31.830 --> 01:13:35.088
^about infrastructure, it's more than just installation.

01:13:35.088 --> 01:13:38.060
^I think it was just a couple days ago

01:13:38.060 --> 01:13:41.689
^I read an article about Russia's plans

01:13:41.689 --> 01:13:46.300
^to lay transarctic fiber cable

01:13:46.660 --> 01:13:49.730
^that will link the military installations

01:13:49.890 --> 01:13:53.070
^starting in Western Russia, bordering Norway,

01:13:53.070 --> 01:13:55.570
^across the Arctic to Pacific

01:13:55.590 --> 01:13:57.960
^and supposedly it's gonna allow them

01:13:57.960 --> 01:14:01.620
^real time monitoring of the operational situation

01:14:01.620 --> 01:14:02.713
^in the Arctic.

01:14:03.260 --> 01:14:06.450
^As you know, we're pretty limited in the US Arctic

01:14:06.450 --> 01:14:09.213
^when it comes to infrastructure in general.

01:14:09.330 --> 01:14:13.220
^We're making some good developments with fiber

01:14:13.450 --> 01:14:16.960
^but should we be prioritizing linking

01:14:16.960 --> 01:14:19.640
^our installations with high speed fiber so

01:14:20.840 --> 01:14:22.570
^we don't have too much time to talk about it

01:14:22.570 --> 01:14:23.940
^but if you can give me your views,

01:14:23.940 --> 01:14:25.040
^that would be appreciated.

01:14:25.040 --> 01:14:27.140
^- Yes ma'am, I'll keep it short and sweet.

01:14:27.140 --> 01:14:29.562
^The questions about an Arctic policy,

01:14:29.562 --> 01:14:31.630
^that's a little bit beyond my capability

01:14:31.630 --> 01:14:34.483
^versus the DOD position on the installation's energy guy.

01:14:34.600 --> 01:14:37.503
^I will say that from our perspective in our world,

01:14:37.680 --> 01:14:40.250
^Alaska is the center of the known universe right now.

01:14:40.250 --> 01:14:41.690
^- [Lisa] Ah music to my ears.

01:14:41.690 --> 01:14:43.590
^- We have a missile field we're putting in,

01:14:43.590 --> 01:14:45.350
^the fourth missile field, the Greeley.

01:14:45.350 --> 01:14:47.450
^We have a billion dollar long range radar

01:14:47.450 --> 01:14:49.120
^that we're getting installed.

01:14:49.120 --> 01:14:51.330
^We have a back up power supply in this year's budget

01:14:51.330 --> 01:14:52.780
^to go ahead and support that.

01:14:53.040 --> 01:14:54.740
^Eielson's getting two F-35 squadrons.

01:14:54.740 --> 01:14:57.033
^I'm actually going up to Alaska in June,

01:14:57.190 --> 01:14:58.830
^specifically because I want to make sure

01:14:58.830 --> 01:15:00.370
^that these projects are on track.

01:15:00.370 --> 01:15:02.319
^They're absolutely critical to our nation's defense.

01:15:02.319 --> 01:15:05.390
^So I can't really attest to the fact that

01:15:05.390 --> 01:15:07.420
^I do know that the National Defense Strategy

01:15:07.420 --> 01:15:09.950
^says that our homeland's along our sanctuary,

01:15:09.950 --> 01:15:11.623
^Alaska's part of our homeland.

01:15:12.110 --> 01:15:14.310
^I do know that it is very high in my priorities

01:15:14.310 --> 01:15:16.210
^to make sure that we are delivering capabilities

01:15:16.210 --> 01:15:17.560
^within the state of Alaska.

01:15:17.570 --> 01:15:19.730
^We're also working on innovative potential

01:15:19.730 --> 01:15:23.070
^power solutions to include what we can do for

01:15:23.070 --> 01:15:26.591
^more dedicated power sources for our critical assets there.

01:15:26.591 --> 01:15:28.400
^We've been studying that area

01:15:28.400 --> 01:15:31.054
^for small modular reactors for years.

01:15:31.054 --> 01:15:33.440
^We do believe that there is a potential for us

01:15:33.440 --> 01:15:34.280
^to be able to take advantage of

01:15:34.280 --> 01:15:35.880
^the emerging technologies there.

01:15:35.930 --> 01:15:38.430
^So Alaska's always in our thoughts

01:15:38.430 --> 01:15:40.080
^as far as what we're working day to day

01:15:40.080 --> 01:15:41.113
^within my portfolio.

01:15:41.470 --> 01:15:43.788
^- Well I'd like for the conversation about

01:15:43.788 --> 01:15:46.330
^just that broader view because I think

01:15:46.330 --> 01:15:48.870
^we recognize that we can put in that hard infrastructure

01:15:48.870 --> 01:15:52.640
^but you also have to have the reliable power

01:15:52.660 --> 01:15:55.890
^in a cold place and so the exploration

01:15:55.890 --> 01:15:58.130
^into this idea of what we might be able to do

01:15:58.130 --> 01:16:01.543
^with SMR's or the micro reactors but also

01:16:01.543 --> 01:16:05.953
^from the broadband capacity perspective,

01:16:06.310 --> 01:16:08.620
^you need to have reliability as well

01:16:08.620 --> 01:16:12.950
^and so these are key strategic investments

01:16:12.950 --> 01:16:15.913
^that we'd like to have further focus and conversation.

01:16:16.160 --> 01:16:20.220
^General Green, thank you for noting what we

01:16:20.220 --> 01:16:21.710
^were able to do in the CR,

01:16:21.710 --> 01:16:26.120
^making sure that the approaching arrival

01:16:26.120 --> 01:16:28.100
^of the F-35's, that that is going to be

01:16:28.100 --> 01:16:30.773
^staying on time, on track.

01:16:30.952 --> 01:16:35.180
^We are very keen in our focus on, as you say

01:16:35.180 --> 01:16:38.080
^Secretary Niemeyer, making sure that that moves forward

01:16:39.940 --> 01:16:43.293
^without complications.

01:16:43.420 --> 01:16:44.453
^Two things.

01:16:45.960 --> 01:16:50.650
^We've heard that with the prospect for steel tariffs

01:16:53.139 --> 01:16:56.893
^that this might impact the cost of the projects

01:16:56.900 --> 01:16:59.070
^related to the beddown.

01:16:59.320 --> 01:17:01.420
^Do you expect any reprogramming

01:17:01.922 --> 01:17:04.027
^will be necessary within the budget

01:17:04.027 --> 01:17:09.027
^or having to involve us in that aspect of it?

01:17:09.640 --> 01:17:11.420
^- Ma'am, we're watching that closely

01:17:11.420 --> 01:17:12.880
^along with our friends and we have not

01:17:12.880 --> 01:17:15.522
^seen an indication yet that that's gonna be required.

01:17:15.522 --> 01:17:16.720
^- Good, good, appreciate that.

01:17:16.720 --> 01:17:19.850
^And then with respect to the beddown itself,

01:17:19.850 --> 01:17:22.280
^I continue to hear concerns from folks

01:17:22.280 --> 01:17:24.263
^in the community up there,

01:17:24.467 --> 01:17:27.060
^the builders particularly, that the risk

01:17:27.060 --> 01:17:30.800
^of constructing off-base housing is higher

01:17:30.810 --> 01:17:33.510
^without the assurances from the Air Force

01:17:33.510 --> 01:17:36.810
^that you're not gonna move forward with new

01:17:36.810 --> 01:17:39.150
^privatized housing on base that would then

01:17:39.150 --> 01:17:42.580
^compete with the off-base construction.

01:17:42.580 --> 01:17:45.432
^So, this is something that I may raise again

01:17:45.432 --> 01:17:47.730
^with the secretary when she comes before

01:17:47.730 --> 01:17:50.930
^the defense subcommittee but I hope that you

01:17:50.930 --> 01:17:53.440
^could convey my interest in providing

01:17:53.440 --> 01:17:55.620
^the community builders the assurances

01:17:55.620 --> 01:17:56.820
^that they're hoping for.

01:17:56.860 --> 01:18:00.210
^It seems that the discussions are

01:18:00.393 --> 01:18:01.730
^a little bit better right now.

01:18:01.730 --> 01:18:04.100
^I'm gonna be up there next Friday

01:18:04.100 --> 01:18:06.260
^for our annual salute to the military.

01:18:06.260 --> 01:18:07.840
^That, again, gives me an opportunity

01:18:07.840 --> 01:18:10.380
^to be intersecting with not only the folks

01:18:10.380 --> 01:18:12.390
^on the civilian side, but our military

01:18:12.691 --> 01:18:16.540
^in these discussions, so I'm hopeful

01:18:16.710 --> 01:18:19.580
^that we're gonna be in a good place

01:18:19.600 --> 01:18:22.950
^but any assurances that you can give the community

01:18:23.220 --> 01:18:26.220
^about the Air Force intent on the housing side

01:18:26.220 --> 01:18:27.770
^I think is greatly appreciated.

01:18:28.140 --> 01:18:31.010
^- Yes ma'am, we have not begun any discussions

01:18:31.010 --> 01:18:33.080
^about increasing housing privatization there

01:18:33.080 --> 01:18:34.300
^to my knowledge.

01:18:34.300 --> 01:18:36.460
^So I will go back and ask the question again,

01:18:36.460 --> 01:18:39.453
^but I'm not sure where this keeps coming from.

01:18:39.720 --> 01:18:41.713
^- Okay, good, well I appreciate that.

01:18:41.840 --> 01:18:44.500
^Mr. Chairman, I have two more quick questions

01:18:44.500 --> 01:18:48.100
^that I'd just like to raise for their awareness

01:18:48.100 --> 01:18:49.700
^and we can do follow up.

01:18:49.700 --> 01:18:53.570
^One is Galena forward operating location

01:18:53.570 --> 01:18:55.640
^and this, again, is for you General Green.

01:18:55.640 --> 01:18:58.000
^A few weeks ago, I was up in Galena

01:18:58.400 --> 01:19:02.793
^which hosted the former Galena forward operating location.

01:19:03.060 --> 01:19:05.380
^It has site, the Air Force has some

01:19:05.380 --> 01:19:08.453
^site restoration obligations.

01:19:08.490 --> 01:19:10.780
^The RAB was out there just after my visit,

01:19:10.780 --> 01:19:12.900
^so I'm hoping that we can get some kind of

01:19:12.900 --> 01:19:16.343
^a brief on what came from those conversations,

01:19:16.510 --> 01:19:18.437
^just so I can understand where the Air Force

01:19:18.437 --> 01:19:20.390
^and the community are coming from and if we're all

01:19:20.390 --> 01:19:21.313
^on the same page.

01:19:22.050 --> 01:19:22.883
^- Yes ma'am we can get you a brief on that

01:19:22.883 --> 01:19:25.080
^and we certainly work hard to stay aligned

01:19:25.080 --> 01:19:26.030
^with the community.

01:19:26.350 --> 01:19:28.480
^- I appreciate that and I know they do as well.

01:19:28.480 --> 01:19:31.373
^And then final question, General Bingham,

01:19:31.538 --> 01:19:34.890
^this is related to the Fort Greeley school,

01:19:34.890 --> 01:19:36.793
^you may be familiar with it.

01:19:37.020 --> 01:19:39.490
^But this is something that is

01:19:39.570 --> 01:19:43.233
^an issue that just seems to defy resolution.

01:19:45.470 --> 01:19:48.740
^The rural school district inherited the building

01:19:48.740 --> 01:19:50.800
^which was constructed by the federal government

01:19:50.800 --> 01:19:53.113
^to educate the kids there at Fort Greeley.

01:19:53.254 --> 01:19:56.000
^The district can't afford to maintain the school.

01:19:56.000 --> 01:19:56.860
^They've moved out.

01:19:56.860 --> 01:19:59.230
^The Army's proposed to send the school district

01:19:59.230 --> 01:20:01.183
^the bill for demolishing the building.

01:20:01.310 --> 01:20:03.590
^The school district can't afford it,

01:20:03.590 --> 01:20:06.132
^they can't deal with the disposal of the asbestos.

01:20:06.132 --> 01:20:09.547
^So, we've been in extensive discussions

01:20:09.547 --> 01:20:12.473
^with the Army, they just haven't gone anywhere.

01:20:12.760 --> 01:20:16.450
^But I don't see where it's in anyone's best interest

01:20:16.450 --> 01:20:19.980
^to put these small rural school districts

01:20:19.980 --> 01:20:22.440
^in financial peril, so I'm just hoping that

01:20:22.440 --> 01:20:24.540
^we're gonna be able to come to

01:20:24.660 --> 01:20:27.200
^a more amicable solution and look forward

01:20:27.200 --> 01:20:28.950
^to working with your teams on this.

01:20:29.410 --> 01:20:30.850
^- Thank you Senator Murkowski,

01:20:30.850 --> 01:20:33.320
^and I remember last year when you asked me

01:20:33.320 --> 01:20:35.010
^that question and I remember saying

01:20:35.010 --> 01:20:37.003
^that we wanted to be good neighbors.

01:20:37.350 --> 01:20:40.870
^We wholeheartedly too, appreciate the school district

01:20:40.870 --> 01:20:43.250
^educating our children there at Fort Greeley

01:20:43.250 --> 01:20:46.460
^and so to that end, we've done a couple of things

01:20:46.460 --> 01:20:48.713
^though since we last talked about this.

01:20:49.320 --> 01:20:52.210
^We've been working with the school district

01:20:52.210 --> 01:20:54.880
^at the request of the garrison to extend the lease

01:20:54.880 --> 01:20:58.090
^to provide us additional time to help work through

01:20:58.090 --> 01:20:59.743
^an amicable solution.

01:21:00.400 --> 01:21:02.850
^We, in the Army, have offered to defray costs

01:21:02.850 --> 01:21:04.910
^associated with the landfill there

01:21:05.210 --> 01:21:07.990
^and I'm wondering though if we might continue to work

01:21:07.990 --> 01:21:10.680
^with you and your team to perhaps look

01:21:10.680 --> 01:21:14.480
^at a legislative solution for local educational

01:21:14.480 --> 01:21:17.763
^agencies for this type of unique situation.

01:21:18.160 --> 01:21:22.010
^- We are happy to explore solutions that will

01:21:22.010 --> 01:21:24.460
^work for the community, for the school district

01:21:24.760 --> 01:21:26.003
^and for Army.

01:21:26.893 --> 01:21:27.726
^- [Gwendolyn] Thank you.

01:21:27.726 --> 01:21:28.700
^- Thank you, and thank you Mr. Chairman.

01:21:28.700 --> 01:21:31.690
^I promise next round, I will not go over my

01:21:31.690 --> 01:21:33.740
^allotted time by four minutes, thank you.

01:21:34.590 --> 01:21:38.060
^- That's fine and we appreciate your leadership

01:21:38.060 --> 01:21:41.600
^on the Arctic and the Homeland Security subcommittee.

01:21:41.600 --> 01:21:44.640
^We were able to, with your leadership,

01:21:44.640 --> 01:21:47.580
^to push forward the ice breakers and hopefully--

01:21:47.580 --> 01:21:49.700
^- [Lisa] We are so, so appreciative.

01:21:49.700 --> 01:21:51.763
^- It is so very needed.

01:21:51.890 --> 01:21:53.493
^And again, we appreciate your leadership on it.

01:21:53.493 --> 01:21:55.173
^- Thank you.
Very much.

01:21:55.460 --> 01:21:57.540
^- I've just got a couple more things real quick

01:21:57.540 --> 01:22:00.573
^and I think Senator Schatz does also.

01:22:03.900 --> 01:22:06.050
^Major General Green, let me ask you a question

01:22:06.050 --> 01:22:07.810
^concerning Little Rock Air Force Base

01:22:07.810 --> 01:22:10.210
^which certainly, you know, is important

01:22:10.260 --> 01:22:12.340
^to the state of Arkansas but it's also

01:22:12.340 --> 01:22:15.170
^very important to the state, not only to the state

01:22:15.170 --> 01:22:18.033
^but to the country because of its mission.

01:22:18.370 --> 01:22:19.480
^As you know, we've had

01:22:22.326 --> 01:22:25.970
^an airport runway situation going on since 2014

01:22:27.590 --> 01:22:32.090
^that got into the middle of it and it wasn't going well

01:22:32.090 --> 01:22:34.190
^and essentially now we're in the situation

01:22:34.190 --> 01:22:37.263
^where we're almost starting over again.

01:22:37.670 --> 01:22:40.700
^I think the contract will be awarded

01:22:42.640 --> 01:22:46.863
^for redesign in September, environmental assessment.

01:22:47.180 --> 01:22:48.663
^A couple things.

01:22:49.990 --> 01:22:52.343
^We've been frustrated with it,

01:22:52.980 --> 01:22:54.960
^with the movement of the project,

01:22:54.960 --> 01:22:58.960
^again, since 2014, so let us help you

01:22:58.960 --> 01:23:02.660
^if you run into environmental issues

01:23:02.660 --> 01:23:03.710
^as far as the

01:23:06.090 --> 01:23:09.513
^anything that has to do with assessments,

01:23:11.670 --> 01:23:15.233
^redoing those, let us help you with those.

01:23:15.410 --> 01:23:17.760
^Hopefully there's not gonna be a bunch of that.

01:23:18.259 --> 01:23:20.290
^The other thing that we'd like is

01:23:21.900 --> 01:23:24.840
^at some point fairly soon to know what we anticipate

01:23:24.840 --> 01:23:27.740
^the cost and then also

01:23:30.201 --> 01:23:31.551
^how it's gonna be paid for.

01:23:31.913 --> 01:23:35.423
^Those are fairly basic things so,

01:23:35.600 --> 01:23:38.060
^again, like I say, if you'll just commit

01:23:38.060 --> 01:23:41.590
^to kind of shepherding that and making sure

01:23:41.590 --> 01:23:43.370
^that we stay on track and do the things

01:23:43.370 --> 01:23:45.770
^we need to do, we would greatly appreciate that.

01:23:46.658 --> 01:23:47.910
^- Yes sir, that's an easy commitment to make.

01:23:47.910 --> 01:23:50.130
^We are all paying a great deal of attention

01:23:50.130 --> 01:23:51.343
^to that runway.

01:23:51.790 --> 01:23:53.860
^It's been on my radar since I was at

01:23:54.060 --> 01:23:57.483
^Air Mobility Command back in 2011.

01:23:57.900 --> 01:24:00.180
^We've been watching this so it's of great importance

01:24:00.180 --> 01:24:02.890
^to the nation as well as to Little Rock Air Force Base.

01:24:02.890 --> 01:24:05.080
^- Good, thank you very much and we do appreciate

01:24:05.080 --> 01:24:08.053
^your service and you are gonna be missed.

01:24:08.230 --> 01:24:10.198
^That's a great compliment coming from

01:24:10.198 --> 01:24:14.800
^an old University of Arkansas Razorback fan

01:24:14.800 --> 01:24:16.603
^to a Texas A&M Aggie.

01:24:16.980 --> 01:24:18.643
^- [Timothy] Yes sir, I realize that.

01:24:19.780 --> 01:24:22.160
^- But like I say, thank you so much for your service

01:24:22.160 --> 01:24:23.260
^and all you represent.

01:24:23.700 --> 01:24:26.740
^The other thing is I'd like to ask about

01:24:29.710 --> 01:24:30.543
^hold on

01:24:48.080 --> 01:24:48.913
^accountability.

01:24:49.530 --> 01:24:53.950
^And you mentioned Vice Admiral Smith,

01:24:53.950 --> 01:24:56.480
^you know you certainly hadn't got the money

01:24:56.480 --> 01:24:59.323
^that you liked but you got twice as much as you've had.

01:24:59.760 --> 01:25:02.040
^When we look at the projects that are going out,

01:25:02.040 --> 01:25:04.720
^we've got all of these projects that are exceeding

01:25:04.720 --> 01:25:07.723
^100 million dollars, big projects.

01:25:10.460 --> 01:25:12.960
^We've got the increase in the economy

01:25:13.310 --> 01:25:15.550
^with the market fluctuating that way

01:25:15.920 --> 01:25:18.130
^which makes a huge difference as you go forward

01:25:18.130 --> 01:25:21.480
^with these projects so I guess my question is

01:25:22.320 --> 01:25:25.160
^what are you doing, what tools do we need to give you

01:25:25.160 --> 01:25:26.890
^if we need to give you some more

01:25:27.290 --> 01:25:30.290
^in regarding maximizing the ability to get

01:25:30.290 --> 01:25:33.993
^the best prices, how do we hold our contractors accountable?

01:25:34.045 --> 01:25:36.800
^Those kind of situations, so

01:25:37.570 --> 01:25:39.490
^again, if you'd like to jump in,

01:25:39.490 --> 01:25:42.953
^we can start with you Mr. Secretary.

01:25:43.190 --> 01:25:46.770
^- Yes, sir, unfortunately the Little Rock runway's

01:25:46.770 --> 01:25:49.000
^a perfect case where we probably should have done

01:25:49.000 --> 01:25:50.333
^a better job overall.

01:25:50.452 --> 01:25:53.820
^I think just the frustration there, even at my level,

01:25:53.820 --> 01:25:55.600
^about how that project was carried out

01:25:55.600 --> 01:25:57.400
^and why we didn't do a better job working

01:25:57.400 --> 01:26:00.220
^with the requirements, working with the program manager,

01:26:00.220 --> 01:26:02.013
^making sure we had a contractor on board

01:26:02.013 --> 01:26:03.233
^that could do the work.

01:26:03.280 --> 01:26:06.640
^But that's endemic of some of the concerns we have

01:26:06.640 --> 01:26:09.643
^right now in some of our execution across the board.

01:26:09.980 --> 01:26:11.910
^We do have a commitment to the secretary of defense

01:26:11.910 --> 01:26:14.470
^to deliver military construction projects on time

01:26:14.470 --> 01:26:15.393
^and under target.

01:26:15.570 --> 01:26:17.620
^That's probably the best thing we can do.

01:26:17.630 --> 01:26:20.563
^Your continued oversight on that is good.

01:26:21.010 --> 01:26:23.300
^I'm not sure we need any additional authorities right now.

01:26:23.300 --> 01:26:25.230
^Our flexibility, I think we just need to be able

01:26:25.230 --> 01:26:28.572
^to do a better job of working with our construction agents,

01:26:28.572 --> 01:26:31.860
^making sure our requirements match

01:26:32.120 --> 01:26:34.400
^what we ultimately build and that we're working

01:26:34.400 --> 01:26:35.810
^with the contractor community

01:26:35.810 --> 01:26:37.190
^to resolve any concerns there.

01:26:37.190 --> 01:26:38.600
^My concern here is right now

01:26:38.760 --> 01:26:40.050
^we have contracting officers,

01:26:40.050 --> 01:26:41.890
^in some cases who are running projects

01:26:41.890 --> 01:26:43.970
^versus the program managers, the engineers,

01:26:43.970 --> 01:26:45.873
^and we've got to get a handle on that.

01:26:46.350 --> 01:26:47.990
^We've talked to the committee about this before,

01:26:47.990 --> 01:26:49.370
^you've put some good language in the past

01:26:49.370 --> 01:26:50.253
^to help us there.

01:26:50.330 --> 01:26:52.510
^Continuing with some oversight there,

01:26:52.510 --> 01:26:53.933
^I think would be very beneficial for us

01:26:53.933 --> 01:26:55.650
^so we have to come and explain ourselves,

01:26:55.650 --> 01:26:56.763
^I think ultimately is good for the American people

01:26:56.763 --> 01:26:59.063
^to make sure we're spending dollars prudently.

01:26:59.625 --> 01:27:02.510
^- We appreciate that and certainly anything we

01:27:02.510 --> 01:27:05.713
^can do, language wise, or whatever to be helpful.

01:27:08.380 --> 01:27:12.530
^Vice Admiral Smith, like I say, you've got additional

01:27:12.530 --> 01:27:14.363
^funds to go round.

01:27:15.100 --> 01:27:17.000
^What are some of the things that...

01:27:18.190 --> 01:27:19.573
^Better forecasting?

01:27:20.050 --> 01:27:22.633
^How do we prevent overruns and things like that?

01:27:22.900 --> 01:27:25.483
^- So in the pressurized environment,

01:27:25.780 --> 01:27:28.760
^we've been shortchanging ourselves in planning and design

01:27:29.170 --> 01:27:30.500
^and not been putting enough money into that,

01:27:30.500 --> 01:27:33.663
^so part of this is we've increased up to 8%,

01:27:33.972 --> 01:27:36.893
^from 5% to 8% of the project now for planning and design.

01:27:37.020 --> 01:27:38.770
^So we're gonna do a better job up front.

01:27:38.770 --> 01:27:39.880
^The other thing we've done,

01:27:39.880 --> 01:27:41.390
^we stole from the acquisition community,

01:27:41.390 --> 01:27:43.740
^we weren't doing this on the construction side,

01:27:43.740 --> 01:27:46.180
^is as it planes going on, both Navy installations

01:27:46.180 --> 01:27:48.030
^command and Navy facilities command

01:27:48.110 --> 01:27:49.140
^are gonna do gate reviews.

01:27:49.140 --> 01:27:51.540
^So as the project goes forward and develops,

01:27:51.540 --> 01:27:53.790
^the commanders and their teams and both those

01:27:53.818 --> 01:27:56.810
^organizations are gonna review the projects

01:27:56.810 --> 01:27:59.340
^to make sure they're progressing properly

01:27:59.390 --> 01:28:01.310
^so we don't find surprises in the backside,

01:28:01.310 --> 01:28:03.400
^which is where we have not been very good

01:28:03.400 --> 01:28:04.233
^in the past.

01:28:04.620 --> 01:28:05.993
^- Very good, anybody else?

01:28:10.240 --> 01:28:11.143
^Evidently not.

01:28:13.650 --> 01:28:14.483
^Senator Schatz.

01:28:16.110 --> 01:28:18.363
^- Thank you, let's start with Mr. Niemeyer.

01:28:18.660 --> 01:28:22.960
^Can we expect the fiscal year 2019 budget amendment

01:28:22.960 --> 01:28:27.203
^with MILCON request to reflect the current budget agreement?

01:28:31.500 --> 01:28:33.130
^- I'll have to check with the (mumbles),

01:28:33.130 --> 01:28:35.380
^I don't know if we have any particular budget

01:28:35.697 --> 01:28:36.863
^numbers in place right now.

01:28:36.940 --> 01:28:38.070
^Or plans for those.

01:28:38.070 --> 01:28:40.630
^- Okay I want to talk to you a little bit about energy.

01:28:40.630 --> 01:28:44.773
^I know the department is investing in energy resiliency,

01:28:46.180 --> 01:28:49.210
^sort of on base, in installations.

01:28:49.210 --> 01:28:51.710
^I'm wondering what the thinking is outside of

01:28:51.710 --> 01:28:53.550
^the fence line, especially to the extent

01:28:53.550 --> 01:28:57.290
^the installations are in the United States

01:29:00.648 --> 01:29:02.173
^or on the commercial grid.

01:29:02.210 --> 01:29:04.100
^Seems to me we have to worry about outside

01:29:04.100 --> 01:29:05.910
^of the fence line too so what's your thinking

01:29:05.910 --> 01:29:06.853
^along those lines?

01:29:06.910 --> 01:29:08.333
^- Yes sir, completely agree.

01:29:08.680 --> 01:29:10.640
^First of all, we're really proud what's going on

01:29:10.640 --> 01:29:12.490
^in Hawaii right now working with HICO

01:29:13.910 --> 01:29:15.350
^and collaboratively working together

01:29:15.350 --> 01:29:16.600
^to address any security--

01:29:16.812 --> 01:29:17.803
^- [Brian] I was hoping that you'd say that.

01:29:17.803 --> 01:29:20.460
^- I think it's gonna end up being a fantastic

01:29:20.460 --> 01:29:23.060
^example of how we can work together with local utility

01:29:23.060 --> 01:29:25.590
^to address the concerns in Hawaii and Oahu

01:29:25.590 --> 01:29:27.930
^in addition to providing security that we need

01:29:27.930 --> 01:29:29.980
^to power our critical missions out there.

01:29:31.667 --> 01:29:34.880
^On a larger scale, you did hit upon a fantastic point.

01:29:34.880 --> 01:29:37.780
^We do have specific requirements for the country

01:29:38.570 --> 01:29:41.220
^where we only allow for MILCON inside the fence line.

01:29:41.220 --> 01:29:43.520
^There might be a need for a transmission line,

01:29:43.520 --> 01:29:45.620
^or maybe two or three miles to get us to a substation

01:29:45.620 --> 01:29:47.160
^that might give us a significant amount

01:29:47.160 --> 01:29:48.483
^of redundant capability.

01:29:48.610 --> 01:29:51.103
^Right now, our ability to do that is limited.

01:29:51.150 --> 01:29:52.793
^- [Brian] By statute.

01:29:52.793 --> 01:29:53.810
^- By statute.

01:29:53.810 --> 01:29:55.960
^And correctly so, I think we need to come back

01:29:55.960 --> 01:29:58.200
^to Congress to explain why we want to do this.

01:29:58.200 --> 01:29:59.530
^There's a program called--

01:29:59.530 --> 01:30:02.513
^- But by limited waiver authority,

01:30:02.706 --> 01:30:05.440
^this isn't gonna be dozens of requests.

01:30:05.440 --> 01:30:07.250
^It's gonna be only in those instances where

01:30:07.250 --> 01:30:09.300
^it's technically necessary.

01:30:09.300 --> 01:30:11.440
^- What I like, we have a similar program

01:30:11.440 --> 01:30:12.980
^for transportation improvements where

01:30:12.980 --> 01:30:14.900
^we need to build a road off base.

01:30:14.900 --> 01:30:16.623
^We go to defense access roads,

01:30:16.720 --> 01:30:19.593
^we come to you with the military construction request.

01:30:19.610 --> 01:30:21.950
^Once you appropriate funds, then we transfer those funds

01:30:21.950 --> 01:30:23.650
^over to a local department of transportation.

01:30:23.650 --> 01:30:25.570
^I would love to have a similar authority

01:30:25.570 --> 01:30:27.390
^where we could then come to you.

01:30:27.390 --> 01:30:29.390
^You all can authorize and appropriate it

01:30:29.440 --> 01:30:31.070
^and then we can then work with the utility

01:30:31.070 --> 01:30:33.340
^where we need that last bit of line

01:30:33.340 --> 01:30:36.260
^or that last bit of a substation that's off

01:30:36.280 --> 01:30:38.400
^an installation that gives us energy security.

01:30:38.400 --> 01:30:40.052
^- And the vote is coming up so I'll

01:30:40.052 --> 01:30:42.441
^take the next two for the record

01:30:42.441 --> 01:30:45.410
^and the first question is for Mr. Niemeyer

01:30:45.410 --> 01:30:47.493
^and Major General Coglianese.

01:30:48.130 --> 01:30:51.340
^I continue to worry about the plans

01:30:51.340 --> 01:30:53.750
^to relocate marines to Guam.

01:30:53.750 --> 01:30:56.960
^I think it is fraught with technical, political,

01:30:56.960 --> 01:30:59.240
^logistical funding challenges

01:30:59.690 --> 01:31:02.840
^and I think we've had stars in our eyes about

01:31:02.840 --> 01:31:05.200
^how easy this was gonna be for the last

01:31:06.230 --> 01:31:08.003
^as long as it's been the plan.

01:31:08.060 --> 01:31:10.870
^It's been a relatively, speaking unrealistic plan,

01:31:10.870 --> 01:31:12.830
^I think we're getting closer to being able

01:31:12.830 --> 01:31:14.220
^to execute, I understand that,

01:31:14.220 --> 01:31:17.240
^but there are still pretty big challenges on the plans

01:31:17.350 --> 01:31:22.350
^ranges in CNMI and my question specifically is

01:31:22.920 --> 01:31:25.370
^do you have contingency plans

01:31:25.700 --> 01:31:29.523
^if Tinian and Pagan can't be built.

01:31:29.910 --> 01:31:32.830
^How do we maintain our ability to train

01:31:33.090 --> 01:31:36.940
^if NEPA or local politics or logistics

01:31:36.940 --> 01:31:40.280
^or contractor availability or whatever it may be

01:31:40.544 --> 01:31:43.770
^cause us to have to move the time lines to the right

01:31:43.770 --> 01:31:46.480
^so that's one for the record

01:31:46.480 --> 01:31:50.960
^and then finally, I just wanted to echo the chairman's

01:31:51.510 --> 01:31:54.770
^enthusiasm for the Office of Economic Adjustment

01:31:54.980 --> 01:31:57.580
^and I'll offer question for the record but

01:31:57.580 --> 01:31:59.470
^I know that there's been discussion

01:31:59.470 --> 01:32:01.820
^sort of at both sides of this dais around

01:32:01.820 --> 01:32:03.260
^the Office of Economic Adjustment

01:32:03.260 --> 01:32:05.150
^but from the policymaker's perspective,

01:32:05.150 --> 01:32:08.063
^I think it's at least pretty nearly unanimous.

01:32:08.323 --> 01:32:10.010
^- [Lucian] That you for your support for that office.

01:32:10.010 --> 01:32:10.843
^- Thank you.

01:32:15.300 --> 01:32:17.670
^- Well thank you all so much for being here

01:32:17.670 --> 01:32:20.560
^and I think we had a really good hearing.

01:32:20.560 --> 01:32:22.870
^I know you all are busy, you got lots to do

01:32:22.870 --> 01:32:25.590
^but it's so important to come over

01:32:25.590 --> 01:32:27.170
^and tell us what's going on

01:32:27.566 --> 01:32:30.580
^and also for us to figure out how we can help you,

01:32:30.580 --> 01:32:31.920
^that's really what it's all about,

01:32:31.920 --> 01:32:34.040
^is trying to make the

01:32:35.086 --> 01:32:39.530
^branches that you all represent is efficient as possible

01:32:40.040 --> 01:32:42.490
^and making the life of the men and women

01:32:42.490 --> 01:32:45.710
^that serve in uniform as easy as we can also

01:32:45.740 --> 01:32:48.260
^in the sense of that commitment,

01:32:48.260 --> 01:32:52.053
^so again, we appreciate very, very much.

01:32:52.940 --> 01:32:55.100
^For members of the subcommittee, any questions

01:32:55.100 --> 01:32:57.470
^for the record should be turned into subcommittee staff

01:32:57.470 --> 01:32:58.753
^no later than Friday.