Being forced to choose a number of bad options. It is not like we have a good thing or bad thing. Those choices were made a long time ago. It is between good and good. Needed and needed. Best structure to balance readiness and modernization is a tough thing. What elements of the structure recommendould you retaining if you have the Budget Authority to do so . Is a mission of great concern. What others have similarly impactful consequences . The greater shortfalls we have related to the requirements every year are isr and fighter squadrons. Those are the two things we cannot meet the demands on more frequently than anything else. In the isr category, i would include command control platforms. Isr is clearly the first category that i would maintain capability in. As we do best more, we will not meet them by a wider margin. We have to be careful about the vesting our fight too much because we are at a requirement today. We are going to go seven squadrons below the requirement with this budget. Anything further just pushes us farther away from what we have agreed added apartment is required to meet the standing command of our commanders. To a general ag few months ago and he was telling me he was a Wing Commander during desert storm i believe and how many planes we had. Another general anathema deplaned we could provide now if we had similar needs. It is drastic like 10 now compared to what we had then. Force isay the air getting smaller, think people need to understand it will be the smallest it has been since it had since its inception. Secretary, you made the comment of sequestration as a problem. It is a huge problem. It is the law of the land. While we have a short reprieve with this budget that was arrived at in december, it becomes back in full force in 2016. I think it is incumbent upon us to use those numbers because that until there is a change, that will be the law of the land and i think probably everybody on this committee realizes the dangers we are facing because of it. I think the American People need to know that the air force will be the smallest it has ever been. The navy is going back to the size it was in world war i. The army and the marines are going back to the smallest it been since world war ii. Downarines are going 175,000. That is the trajectory we are on right now. These are dire situations we are dealing with. I am not sure the American People really understand how serious it is. So much of the time but we talked about cutbacks, it has been we slow the growth rate. These are real cuts, yearoveryear over year. Thank you for the work you are doing. Ms. Sanchez. Thank you. I have two questions. The first is the secretary james , welcome back by the way. Maintaining the military flexibility to adequately size the Nuclear Force is crucial to ensure that we have an optimal nuclear deterrent. I hope you agree. I do. What is the impact of the air force not having started the impairment the empire mental assessment that will allow in the valuation of a reduction of silos as part of the military decision on optimal nuclear for structure for the neustar treaty. Does the air force plan to initiate that Environmental Assessment and if so, why or why not . Of the new treaty contains a variety of numbers that we have to hit in terms of our total Nuclear Capability over a certain. Of time. Period of time. There are choices that could be the bomber force or the submarine force or a combination. The department of defense has been looking at this for some time. I think within a couple of weeks, two or three weeks, we will have a better feeling of where this is headed. At the moment, we have not started an Environmental Assessment. We have gotten different bodies of law about what to do on that assessment. Within the department of defense, we have been in discussion about what to do about that. I think within the next few weeks we will have a better path forward and more information to share. If he could go back and work with your people and get some answers as you are you going to do it . When you think you will, etc. . I would appreciate it because that is one of the areas i watch. Given all the problems that we have had and what we really need to do, we really need to assess what is going on. We need to figure out what we really need in order to continue that deterrent that we are capable of having. About theestion is Space Launch Program which i mentioned earlier. The issue of rising costs and the air force continues to be of great concern to many of us. I have always believed that one of the ways to get more talent and get smarter about this and to get more competitive on this we have had a one source situation for a long time. Competition which is why in 2012, undersecretary of defense under the secretary of defense aggressively reintroduced a competitive environment. In 2012, the air force briefed my office and the subcommittee that it would be opening 14 opportunities for new entrants into the National Security space launces. The air force has indicated it plans to reduce this to only seven so it has cut it by 50 . No air force mission available for competition in fiscal year 2015. Why did you do this . Does itadicts contradicts the air forces commitment to reintroduce the competitive procurement ross s process . What will be the impact on sustaining competition . I am a californian. There are several companies who are working to compete against the sole source. You guys just issued another solesource to that company. I am not against that company but i believe with competition we can bring down the cost of these launches significantly. Maybe to 50 or 25 of what it is costing now. If you could please speak to that. Mentionedmy visits i that i have been out to Colorado Springs and i did spend some time with the Space Command out there. I agree with everything you said on competition. Im a big believer in competition. I suspect some of the same questions you have been asking and we all believe in competition, why does it take as long as it is taken . Here is how i would describe the current state of play on the program. Over time it has been a very successful program. Over time it has cost our country way more than any of us wouldve wish or dream. In recent years, costs have been coming down. The are becoming more under control. Even though we dont have that competition yet, i suspect the threat of competition has helped us to bring down these costs. Good news for the taxpayer and lets see if we can speed it up. Why does it take as long as it takes . These launches, there are a variety of satellites to get launched and it is technically complex. There are different degrees of happiness. Gheaheaviness. There are different payloads. Some have consequences if they do not go well. That is one type of satellite launch. There are other satellite launches which, although they are important and dont want anything to go wrong either, you can take a little more of a risk with new entrants and peoples web not quite demonstrated as much as the team has been doing it a long time. Is thes happened here launches that are going to go forward in the most immediate and years of the fiveyear plan, these are the really heavy duty militarily significant launches. That is the contract you talked about where those launches will be done by the original team of the ula. The other launches where we hope these new entrants will qualify those launches were deferred a bit. They will happen but later in the fiveyear plan. The reason for that is a bit of good news. Which areites referred to in the secondary launches and the existing satellites are doing better than we thought possible. The is a good news for taxpayer. We dont need to get those satellites up in orbit as quickly. That is why they got deferred. It was more that reason than money. They are going to happen and i do want those new entrants qualified as soon as possible for all the same reasons that you pointed out. This takes quite a bit of money to be a new entrant in that field. When you close down those it thosepieces, companies have a harder time to outlast what you are doing by deferring some of this. I hope you understand that when i look at the costs, you may think the numbers have come down with this original launch team but i can go back and show you on a graph of just how much of this has caused the taxpayer when i could see a French Company that does it for half the price. Not suggesting that this is not the core value that we should hold it here but we do that has proven and will continue to prove if we open up those possibilities. The more competition we have just by having two companies, will bring down that cost to the american taxpayers. I will continue with you on this thing. Can i clarify one thing . Years, there five are eight qualifying launches, newoon assuming we get entrants qualified. Several of those will be competing. 50 of what i was told just a year and a half ago. Thank you. Ms. Forbes. Thank you. General, it is my understanding from previous discussions we have had that these cuts in all of the budget uncertainty is taking a bit of a impact on your morale and durability for pretension. It is that accurate . Not really seen a problem with retention to this point. I am worried about a problem with retention over time, especially as the uncertainty continues. That is why we need a firm way forward. A number we can count on and then aimed towards the air force and make it the best they can be. I agree because all the bass all the platforms come down to personnel sometimes. Let metell you tell you an item that is major concern to me. We read this week that a cadet at the air force was forced to take a bible verse off a private whiteboard in his room. The facts that i have received from the air force these are not hypotheticals this cadet had no intention to offend anyone or any group. The private white wards have long been used to display items reflecting their personality and from which they draw personal inspiration. They have long been used for citing inspirational quotes. This is perhaps the most offensive, the air force said this was a teaching moment that the cadets action in putting the bible verse was an appropriate based on Leadership Principles. Otheradets family, the cadets who are putting up bible verses and verses from the koran, cannot stand in front of you today but i can. Can you tell me any other inspirational quotes that cadets have been forced to remove from the personal whiteboards other than verses from the bible . I want to point out this to you office,you come into my i chair the subcommittee. I have our national motto, in god we trust. The Ranking Member of this committee has the same motto over his door. Mr. Miller, who chairs the v. A. Committee has it up in his office. Mr. Conaway has it up in his office. Mr. Whitman who chairs the readiness subcommittee has it up in his office. Dr. Fleming has it in his office. The chairman of the Government Reform Committee has it in his office. The speaker of the house in his office. Here is the question i asked today give us that teaching moment of how that is any different than this cadet putting his own personal verse on his own personal whiteboard. Number two, how is that offensive to Leadership Principles . I will start. I read in the press and well and i did have a chance to talk to General Johnson yesterday to say what is going on with this. I want to share with you what she shared with me in terms of how this incident actually unfolded. I will get to that in a second. Worse, i want to read the policy of our air force about the religious freedoms. Leaders of all levels must balance constitutional protection for individuals three exercise of religion and other personal beliefs and its prohibition against governmental establishment of religion. They must avoid the apparent use of their position i only have one minute and 15 seconds. Can you answer the question for me what other quotes have cadets been forced to pull off of their whiteboards that were not bible forces verses. I dont know. Apparently, a cadet went to this other cadet and said this makes me uncomfortable. That cadet voluntarily took it down. That is not true. What your Liaison Officer has given me the entire air force chain of command in that particular situation that is what he said. Is whatforce commander, i am given by fax from your office, went to that cadet and then they say when all of them come to them, he voluntarily did it. Can you imagine a young cadet what he is forced with the entire chain of command coming in and telling him that is an appropriate . That is what your folks deciding to me that it was inappropriate days based on Leadership Principles. We need to stand up for these cadets rights too. Freedom of religion and their exercise of that whether they are getting it from the bible is to make sure no person on the planet is offended is to say that cadet onto have the right to put that verse up there. Or is all of us wrong . Come from General Johnson so i apologize. I have not seen the paper that you are looking at. What i explained is the way that the general i hope you guys will come back to us and for once, the airport start standing up to these cadets and their rights instead of just constantly allng, if anybody at opposes it, we are going to make them take these things down. May have briefly answer the question . I have been a commander at the air force academy. We remove hundreds of those clothes because they are in the hallway. They are used for professional and personal messaging. What you said is true. Every cadet has the right to free religious expression but if somebody else comes and says that it bothers them and they had that discussion, i would complement both of them. We have a get the facts straight. Time, ityou had extra is different if they have a oneonone discussion. That is not what happened. The chain of command came to this cadet. I am going by what your office has given the facts to me. The second thing is if you cannot have it both ways. You cannot say you force people to have these quotes off yet this was voluntarily done. If you asked this cadet and the other cadet, they do not believe it was voluntarily done. I yield back. Mr. Larson. I am on theelsh, subcommittee and i imagine as we have the the last couple of years, we will have a debate about Nuclear Weapons in europe. Can you discuss some of the costs of the deployed Nuclear Weapons in europe and can you discuss what is the contingency plan if one or more nato countries do not Procure Nuclear aircraft after their own 2020s. Are retired in . It takes money to maintain and takes money to upgrade and keep secure and to provide security just like any other part of our nuclear enterprise. It is not an insignificant cost. The actual costs are classified. Nations, if they choose not to upgrade their own Nuclear Aircraft capabilities, than other nato nations that had that capability from an operational perspective will pick up the load. We do have the capacity to pick up the load. You discuss whether the request includes funds to make the 35 gfs capable . The department has been committed to making the app 35 capable. Can maket believe they that affordable for their own aircraft without our support to making the airplane cable. Capable. There is money in the fiveyear plan to move us in that direction. Which direction . To ensure the aircraft to me made dual capable when it needs to be. The 35 or nato countries . The f 35s. We may be say that called upon to paper other countries to upgrade their aircraft . I was referring to the other nato countries who fly or will fly the f35. They are responsible for paying the cost on their own. With regard to the kc10, im glad to see the pegasus is moving forward. We are pleased about that in washington state. On the 10, what other options would you have if congress either prohibited the retirement of that plane you might know we are famous for telling you what all the aircraft you cannot retire and then making you pay for that. Hopefully we can move beyond that this year. If Congress Prohibited retiring the plane, what options would you have to execute if we did prohibit that retirement . I will start but i know the tivo also jump in. I know the chief will also jump in. If we have to go to the sequestration level, it will be retired. The kc35s were looked at very closely. There wouldve been far too many of those to come out in order to come up with the same cost savings. A 2. 6 billion savings for us over the fiveyear plan if they were to come out. There are no good options. Every decision that we are making will hurt. Wherever we take that 2. 3 billion is going to come out of another Mission Capability like the ones we described. It will impact our capability capacity. One last question on this opportunity and growth initiative. What makesite sure it different than just putting dollars into to readiness account and not calling it the opportunity initiative. Can you help me understand the difference between this initiative and the funding of the air force . Inthis 26 billion fund which the air force would have 7 million is contingent upon coming up with some offset savings. The president s budget plan has proposals on how to do that. Not there,ets were the money could not be provided. Back. Nk you i yield mr. Wilson. Thank you for being here today. I want to join with congressman forbes. I hope you will make every effort to promote and preserve religious freedom for our service members. It is important to me. My dad served in the air force in india and china. I know of the capabilities and confidence of our military and i am grateful to be very grateful uncle of a person serving in the air force today. I just know of your capabilities. The primary u. S. National security launch of the satellites uses a russianmade engine. Reported that this engine is rumored that russia could cut off supplying it to the u. S. In response the economic sanctions. I understand we have a twoyear stockpile on these engines, but i also know the air force is committed to a fiveyear procurement of the vehicle. There are at least three american launch vehicles that utilize americanmade engines that offer the full range of capabilities without relying on russian components. I believe it is on the interest of our National Security that we should shift to americanmade engines. What is your counsel on this . I do want to take a look at that. If there is good news here we do have this to your supply so we have a little bit of breathing room. What i know about this Engine Association is that we have had a fairly longstanding the relationship but it is something we need to keep our eye on. I appreciate you looking into hopebecause we have all for a positive relationship with the Russian Federation that there are consequences to aggression in ukraine, aggression in georgia. Welsh, and understand the air force has decided not to fund a combat avionics enforcement sweep for the f16s. But the f 35 expected to be fully operational until the mid20 20s, are you concerned about the air force suffering from a significantly capability gap . How isnally, without it, the air force planning to counter the growing sophistication of many countries integrated air Defense Systems. . Integrated air Defense Systems that we are concerned about today. To 25. , that will expand we have to have a fleet that could operate with capabilities that operates within and removes those threats if we should have to do that. That is the f35. In ouring that we have modernization accounts, we went through. We cut about 50 of our planned Modernization Programs because of the impact of the sequester level funding. What we have done is funded the things that are absolutely required to make aircraft viable in the near arm near term in the near or midterm. Everything we have is off the books for now. We will revisit this every year as we look at what the threat is doing and what we have to have to keep airplanes viable against the threats. We simply dont have the money to do it all. Appreciate you following through on this and to advance. What, i was so offended by congressman forbes said. We can take Political Correctness to extraordinary conclusion. When i see you today, when i see those ribbons, i am inspired. It is an inspiration your service. There are many places in our country that if they saw you in uniform, they would be repulsed. We have to stand up for what is right. We need for you to stand up for freedom, theous standards of our country that has made this country great and provided for the greatest extension of freedom and democracy in the history of the world. With the victory in the cold war. We should not be ashamed and we should be standing up for positive religious principles and pushback on Political Correctness. I yield. Thank you. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you for your testimony. As one of the cochairs of the air force and longrange bombing caucus, i look forward to working with you in the future. I appreciate your commitment to the rebalance in the asiapacific region. I noticed that secretary james says she visited air force bases all over the nation. I am wondering if she has been to our significant air force base in guam . Not yet but i am looking forward to it. Is forirst question either one of you regarding the longrange strike bomber. The lrs will be vital in providing a bomber presence in the pacific as we work to update an aging b52 fleet. The budget proposes an increase for the lrs two 914 million. Is that enough given the existing aging bombing fleet . How critical is a bomber presence . Yes that is the right amount of funding for this year. It is a longterm program but that is the right amount of money. I think a bomber presence, the existence of our bombers is extremely important. Persistence, flexibility that it gives our National Leaders time after time in history has help to deter aggression and control situations that otherwise might have escalated. General, do you feel the same way the United States is used bomber presents to send messages since the berlin blockade. The b52 is a symbol american power. Last year we used both to send a message to north korea. We think it is incredibly important. I have a couple of questions what will make this quick. Guam, we meet with airmen who fly the b52s. They do a great job with the crypt with a quick responses. I am concerned about the b52 radar capability. I understand that the current ourr is experience a 2030 hour mean time. What is the plan and how can we mitigate the current risk the air crew is experience being with this 30yearold radar . There was a plan in place for a radar program. That went the same decorate direction of the other plan. It fell on the cutting room floor because the budget cut. We cant afford it. Thank you. Eitherd question stand global hawks operating out of qualm has performed a number of critical message and mrs. Missions in the pacific. Can you provide us with an update about global hawks use in the pacific including plans for toanded basic locations allied nations . Is this increase in funds this isnt sufficient to reduce gaps, especially in the asiapacific region . Everything i know about the global hawks which are based in guam is that they are doing a great job in a variety of missions. They are helpful in the humanitarian Assistance Program that we helped in the philippines after the major typhoon. Firm yet but ig enter stand the republic of korea, we are getting close. General . The global hawks is imminent. We hope that is the case in korea. We will have the first appointment of the global hawk to japan. I think we are doing more with our partners. The aircraft is performing really well. To start will be used the center transition from the u2 onto the global hawk for some sensors in the camera that is used as a portrait he validation in the middle east. The problem with that movement Going Forward will be if the law remains the law, that funding will not be there to fund those upgrades. I want to reiterate my second question about the b52s. I am sorry to see that we are not going to be able to do something about the problem they have. I thank you both. I yield back. Mr. Turner. I want to begin by associating myself with mr. Forbes comments about the issues he has raised with religious freedom. You have received several questions about the issue of disarming United States is particular capabilities. There is a New York Times article that alleges that rush is violating the treaty with issues concerned with disarming the United States. Secretary james. I have air force base in my district. Over 12,000 people were furloughed. We understand you are doing a budget that is forcing you into that decision and its a tough constraints, the reality is the cuts you are doing is that is devastating to the air force. They affect morale incapability they affect more out and capability. I wanted to take a minute or so do tell us how sequestration is devastating to the air force. We cannot go out to the rest of congress and say we should not be doing this. If we cannot have the leadership of the military articulate it, tell us how this is affecting the air force negatively . A return to sequestration would have big consequences on readiness. Not only will be not be able to get up to the minimum levels that we say are necessary. We would not be able to take it beyond to be able to practice the myriad of tasks which we need both which we need to be able to do. Afghanistan was a noncontested. It was permissive. Nobody was jamming address at us. In the pacific, we would have other kinds of things coming at us. Not enough of all pilots have been not to practice it. We would lose more people an aircraft if we got into a situation without having those additional funds for readiness. We would have to retire all those additional aircraft. That goes to real capability to be able to get the job done. You heard the chief say we are already below what the Combatant Commanders say they want. We are below the requirements. They want to be able to do their job with the least amount of risk. We go beyond both. That puts the whole strategy at risk. I give the rest of my time to mr. Bishop. I want to thank you for reaffirming the Nuclear Triad and the commitment to landbased icbm capabilities. I want to thank you for following the law. That is something of which to be congratulated. There was a section the prohibited you from doing Environmental Impact on commissioning a wing. I appreciate that. In your response to ms. Sanchezs question, i have three pacific specific questions. You anticipate reducing the fleet of 450 missiles . Will any of those silos be put in warm status . You think you can make environment passage . I dont have the numbers memorized the we are shooting for the neustar dimers new start numbers. The warmth a status is something within the new effect next few weeks we will have more to say about. The third question . Jubilee be have the authority to do an environmental statement without congress changing the law that prohibits it . There are different interpretations out to say that i am holding. I am holding until i get more guidance. For what . Unless i get more guidance i think this will become more clear which way we will go. I would like to followup answer when you have something more specific to those numbers when it becomes available. In followup, can i ask the question that if i am offended by your budget, will you take it down . I yield back. Please answer back to him as soon as you get the information on those three specific questions . I will. Here. Nk you for being general welsh, i want to thank you for your visit. It was great to have your wife join you too. It meant a great deal to the community that values so much its presence as well as to the many very able and talented people serving. I heard a lot of feedback about how grateful people work for you both taking the time to come and visit. And for us to be able to highlight the remarkable work that is being done. Secretary james, it is great to have you on board. We would love to invite you to come when your schedule allows for it. Iwelcome. As you both have noted, these are such challenging times marked by increasingly capable enemies in an era of very taught financial resources. As the department of defense is adapting to these new realities, we in congress have to scrutinize the changes that you are proposing a we welcome your analysis. Of the tradeoffs you have made as you try to find a way forward. Theuld like to focus on need to make continued investment in research and Development Efforts in order to maintain our technological edge given the very Dynamic Security environment that we live in. Coming from massachusetts, it is something where we really take great pride in being part of it isecause we see that because of the investment that are being made in defenserelated r d that our servicemembers are better protected, have sacked have access to lifesaving technology, we as a country have technological advantages. These advances serve as multipliers in the field and they can lead to significant cost savings. In the world will be do have to modernize constantly, the air force has to be wellpositioned to build and sustain an environment that promotes innovation. It is the reality of our time. Such an environment will make sure that we are able to rapidly deliver the latest technological advances and these help the cost cut costs. While the department of defense and congress have partnered to undertake extensive acquisition Reform Efforts over the last past decade, i am concerned the unique type of rapid acquisition required to meet the needs of the air forces information technology, cyber missions, these pose unique challenges to the department of defenses acquisition system. What is the air force doing to address a specialized cyber acquisition needs and what other services longterm plans to make sure the air force is in a position to rapidly assess needs and field systems to meet the renewed requirements . I will begin with the philosophical comment. I agree that we have to focus on more rapidly delivering capability to the field. Urgencyhis during the of the wartime environment and i dont want to see it totally a total return to the ways of the past are all of our programs take a long time to get going. We have pockets of this within the department. These pockets have to compete for those resources as long as well as everything else. I am interested in working on this issue and trying to get our levels back to up where it is acceptable. Given the timeframe that some of this now requires, why the time you have gone to certain places, it is already obsolete so it does not serve us as a country. The secretary has also started a new conversation with industry at the ceosecretary level to look at issues like this and youre out how we can do a better job by talking to people who do a great job of it in private industry today. Military,orld in the we have not had Great Success in developing systems. She will have people advising her poorly on the best way to look at these challenges and come up with a better approach. We have a lot of people working very hard. We have not been successful which means we have to saint change the process. I would agree with that. I have seen some talented people who are hamstrung by the process. I encourage you to continue working very diligently on making sure we bring the need of reform. Thank you. Welcome. I want to associate with mr. Forbes comments. I worry that we have in a school that is training leaders, that we have individuals who are so insecure and uncertain of they cannothat coexist with the Free Expression of religious views. Madam secretary, in all likelihood you will be the last the secretary of the air force of this administration. 2017 is coming on us. I appreciate your mission. We finally have reached that point. We have the person that we can hold responsible for whether this air force succeeds or not on this very important issue. Support for your that initiative. All of the things you are dealing with sequestration, uncertainty and budget, on the nonsense that we put you guys through the air force has the furthest ago. To go. Of last page out novembers fire report that shows the planned deadlines for a variety of things that the air force needed to get done in order to get to readiness. Not one of them have been met. Every one of those deadlines have been moved to 2014 or further. All of those deadlines reported to making getting the air forces readiness on time. Can you give us your current status on where the air force is . Are you continuing the effort . I am having meetings on this. It is a top priority for me. Thank you for pointing out that we are where we are and it is a daunting challenge. I have heard the comparison that we probably have the furthest the go of all the military services. We are both on it and we are both depressing and very aware of the deadlines. The other thing is watching the experience of others and it has become apparent that sometimes you may not feel you are 100 ready to go to that. Maybe it is better to try even if you dont make it when youre at 80 because the following year, you will make it. You will learn. I am watching that very closely as well. Is i havesay to you had several meetings on this already. I am trying to be on top of it. General welsh, how far down this chain of command you think this has been communicated . When i was the commander of u. S. Air forces in europe, i was doing biweekly vtcs with every Wing Commander to talk about readiness. We dont have the tools to do it right. I have seen the same sheet that you have set so i have nothing to add to it. Thank you for those comments about the efforts of others. The marine corps has gotten one euro transactions gotten one year of transactions. Ito appreciate that that from getting ready to do it to just doing it in the issues that you will learn. To be able to tell the American People the entity that spends more taxpayer dollars than any has audited its books and presented that statement to the taxpayers. You may know where and every nickel has gone but you cannot prove it. That is very important. I want to reiterate this is a rhetorical question. A a young airman approached chaplain and said, youre wearing the cross rogers uniform. That makes me uncomfortable. I yield back. Thank you. Mr. Barber. For being here this morning. We all have some very serious concerns about decisions or proposals of lease that you have made in response to sequestration and other budget restrictions. I am very concerned. I think my colleagues here are very concerned about the future that we have to protect the nation to secure our borders and to support our allies. I do want to thank you, madam secretary, and congratulate you for taking on this important assignment and for being so handson so early. I mentioned to you before we we started how impressed we are with you Getting Started and meeting in person with the air force personnel who are involved. General welsh, i want to thank you for your service that you have given the nation. The incredible number of years and also to recognize and also to recognize an thank you for bringing your wife and daughter here today. Thatare a good reminder while you served in the uniform, they served too. Their sacrifices are incredible. As a young man growing up in the air force family, i saw firsthand the sacrifices that my mother and my sister and myself made to support my dad. I have a particular affection for that base. I was there when the cuban missile crisis struck in i remember the base was locked down. The air force was right on the front line of the defense of the nation and i hope it will continue to do so. I am concerned about the a10,. Severalning, we had room,ilots in the colonel whoretired was a pilot. Remindstheir presence us this is not a partisan issue. We have 31 colleagues here in the house and senate, both parties represented what far from the beginning to say, let us take another look at this decision of proposal on the a10. I hope we will continue to look at that. I want to also point out that the concerns that have been raised here today about the American Publics awareness or lack of awareness of what the sequestration numbers are doing to our National Defense is something we all need to be concerned about. We need to educate our colleagues in the house. We need to educate the American Public that do not understand that the path we are on is a very grave problem and danger to our country. Morningo ask you this about the a10. When i talked to the Army Personnel who i also represent, they tell me when that warthog is overhead, that is the best day they had. We all agree that providing Close Air Support to our Ground Troops is Critical Mission that the air force should maintain. I have heard the argument that the air force is made has made that the advancements of guided missiles has provided effective closed air support. They are critical elements of this mission that fighters simply cannot make. If you both could respond to these questions. Retired, what is the air forces plan to support dangersnd troops during within 100 meters and what plan are the u. S. Troops going to have when engaging the enemy on the battlefield with moving targets below 1500 feet . This is what the a10 does best. I will start. Thank you for your comments about me trying to be on top of things early on. I also try to do a bit of my own Due Diligence on the matter of the a10 because i did hear this patient the specialty capability and it does some of these missions in a unique way. What i have learned drink briefings and the pentagon briefings in the pentagon, i have seen the a10 and demonstration. I talked to f16 pilots who have also done the a10 mission. What i have learned is that although it is a great aircraft and it does do Close Air Support closely, these other aircraft can do it as well. 80 of what we have done in afghanistan has been by aircraft other than a10. 20 by the a10 and the rest by other aircraft. If you say we do away, how would we do these missions, it would be covered by other autograph which would require training by other pilots to be able to get good at those particular areas. We feel it could be covered. The time has expired. Secretary james, thank you for coming to Colorado Springs last week. You both know that the air force academy is in my district and like revisiting the forbes, i am very disturbed about what happened with this cadet. I believe it was a suppression of his religious rights. I am going to ask you in a minute about funding cuts at the air force academy and i want to defend the academy. Get to that, let me talk about a different issue concerning this is purely of local interest of the folks who live around there. The flight paths and there have been some concern about changes in the flight patterns. Ive expressed my concern to you and you said you would work with me and the local residents. I appreciate that. On the funding issue, the air force academy is cutting 10 majors and 100 positions because of budget considerations. I dont see that happening at the u. S. Naval academy, at west point, at the merchant marine academy. Why is this what appears to be a discrepancy in how the Service Academies are treating budget cuts . Question. Ou for the this is an important topic. One of the questions i asked General Johnson was to take an objective look at the air force academy. After she figured out exactly what the programs were and how they were organized, i asked her to to form a small group and design what the air force academy would look like if she was building it today. Program wise, what with the content be, what would the Sports Program be . After she watched the way it is today, at the end of her first year, i wanted to sit down with her and tell her if it is different and the way we would design it today . Where should we change . Which isreated a paper her view and the view of the group she is working with of what is absolutely required for our young men and women to go through the academy so we produce the best possible service men. She is looking at everything from core content, majors offered, all of those things and some of this is caught up in that effort. It is not all funding. Thank you. With theerent subject, 52nd airlift squadron losing unit is the related 302nd. They have the airborne Firefighting Mission which is important in the west for fighting wildfires, being able to dump thousands of gallons of water and retardant on a wildfire. Will those cuts in the 52nd airlift squadron hurt the capability of the 302nd which is an associated unit of being able to carry out his mission its mission . I will have to get back to you on the specifics. You that the general is not interested in cutting mass capability anywhere in the u. S. We are looking to expand it. I cannot imagine we will impact that dramatically. That is a reassuring answer. I look forward to getting further specifics from you. Lastly, i want to call to your attention the unfortunate, tragic at 16 crash last year f16 crash last year. Are you familiar with the progress of ejection seats over the years now . Fit the that do not best best fit the current needs . What is the air force going to do to get a newer, better generation of ejection seats . There is a study underway now about the problems of the performance of the airplane versus Technological Developments in the seat. It meets all the requirements we set for the seat. The problem with that incident when he was killed, he was ejected at a very high rate of speed. No seat and we have today would protect you. The question that we have is if we could develop one so it could handle ejection at a higher speed. We have a study underway. Thank you. I have a series of questions but first let me congratulate you, secretary the questions and i think i probably will take these for the record because i have another i want to take up. Cruise missile. Whats the status of the longrange lrso . What is the cost of it and what s the cost of the new bomber eyond the 913 million in the fiscal year 15 budget and could he new lrso serve the same purposes as the bomber . If not, why not . K for the record unless youd like to go at it. Nsa budget the n was part of the d. O. D. Budget deductions or increases would you recommend . The air force is now studying next generation of the the rationale for having the fewer fleet . For the i. C. B. M. What is the total all inclusive cost of the i. C. B. M. Program . And then, when was the most egent comprehensive review or study of the try a d nuclear study. Is wise and e it useful to conduct such a study . Theink well take these for record since theyre comprehensive. But this is the question for now. Massed at the border and ukraine wrist. Of the the sta us ir force in reaction to this situation . Deployedssman, we have t right now. Uania we plussed it up with six and flying nes ombat patrol over the three baltic nations and six f ixteens to an aviation attachment and there will be six more so there will be 12 flying following that in c130 deployment to another base in poland. Thats what we have done isrg with flying the normal activity. Thank you. Back. Ield thank you, mr. Whitman. Chairman. You, mr. Secretary and general welsh to k you for your service our nation. General welsh i traveled to the timesc demand a number of and as ive talked to our ombatant commanders and staff and talked about the challenges and one thing that comes up chinese tly is the theft and specifically a two a d. Give me from the air forces perspective about hat you have as being able to counter that where you see the air force capability needing the make sure we can address a two a d and what the chinese capability is a threat tomeans as our forces. Correct me if im wrong congress i can. The intent is to get after ur future approach to a d three. This a two all it means is the enemys able better and better and their ability to shoot us is getting longer and longer range. As a we counter that military force and how do we do well be r because fighting it together. We have been doing exercises and anding on different command control arrangements and doing technology excursions to figure how we better link radars with air force aircraft and what kind of data links will require share. E able to we have an airborne layer and a effort rn layer of this and applies equally in the pacific as it would in the gulf indian ocean. Its just about range and information sharing and connectivity. Were trying to do everything we can to move this forward in a and steadied way. Very good. Are you comfortable with our readiness to be able to counter that threat . Congressman im not our current state of readiness to do anything. Air force is 38 fully combat ready. Secretary james, i wants to about f35 sustainability. There is concerns about and sustainability of the f35 platform itself. Ooking forward there is concerns, too, that lockheed has the contract to make sure the going ns and Services Forward are there for the f35. About a oncern, too, 5hour lag time on sorties for aircraft. S withs look at the challenges aircraft but that making sure that in this environment we are making the right decisions and have the capability of that costs and asmanage things tend to get out of we lem as costs go up and see were back in the same f22. Tion we were with the did you give me your perspective affordability and sustain ability for the f35 and where with that and making sure its sustainable. I believe were heading in direction. It is an enormously expensive major and complex and leap ahead in terms of technology and capability n my have eleven weeks not only i gotten the briefings in the pentagon and ive been to to see some of the testing and training were doing pilots and met with our Program Manager a number of ceo of r. Kendall, and block hed to report on what i to try to speed up certain things. I would say to you, its going its right direction but going to take persistent leadership and focus at all the levels. Nt weve got the right people on the right jobs and that focus happening. Hip is we got to watchdog it every single day and the affordability and over time is huge and one that will require a lot of thought. Theres im sure Creative Strategies we have to work on. Piece of a critical the modernization of our fighter and the problem is we have put here and the difficulty is if it continues to bove budge and it doesnt get delivered on time that exacerbates an already challenging situation thats on, not just by budgets needs Critical Mission that are aout there across our service branches. O i want to make sure were doing everything we can to address sustainability and affordability. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I yield back. They called the votes. Usually the first vote takes a long time. In ell try to get as much that we can before we break for votes. Miss davis. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you very much for your professional. I want to talk about personnel issues. Ones we he toughest face. And i know this is something youre familiar with, secretary james. The air force is supporting d. O. D. s efforts to slow the of growth in every all military compensation. A were able to really sustain number of increases over the last number of years and i think that field very strongly we want to support the men and woman who serve our country and families. Et were faced with this dilemma. Its tough. Could you talk us through your x tent you and the think it may or may not effect ecruitment retention in the future. Were dealing with perhaps allowances housing and looking at possible increase prices and the air force is sort of going ahead might describe as a piecemeal fashion without waiting for the commission to with their recommendations. Help us understand your thinking n this and really how we can look at those changes that youre suggesting in light of ther things that we might not be able to do if we dont move that. D and do so you said it, as part of the package of the tough choices the were made and compensation changes are dody, military. Or all it was a tough judgment but a ated to can we do this for few years . I dont think anybody wants to thing in nd of perpetuity. We of it was are competitive now yes or no in thing a tkpwrat with the private sector and i think people said yes, we are. The further judgment call theto do with would we plow savings back into important readiness and modernization and of course were very much committed to that. Other thing is as you heard the chief say were not seeing retention problems at the moment. Matter fact, were offering incentives to encourage at least airman to leave the service. At the moment retention is very high. Again, were getting high quality recruits and having to turn people away door. E front our numbers are good. It was the judgment call. Could we slow this growth and watchdog it now because we cant out of control. Were taking this obviously a year at a time and i think the hard one, but, yes, we can. Walsh . Eral i guess i would look at it as the United States congress blowing smoke at anybody here has been exceptional years at ast 1215 taking care of pay enentitlem t and pay for the military and youve all seen the curves. The cost have an airman has gone year to 90,000 because estment cost you have done a fantastic job of taking care of our people. But that curve is growing like now. We cannot sustain it. The government cant sustain it. Path we canut it on sustain. Ere not taking about taking money out of peoples pockets but were slowing growth. Everyone understands with the commissioner report out next year and having a look is a great benefit. If we ask airman and their families they dont want to see i wonder when you when you query in evaluations or whatever cools and i know all the services use some. Giving them i of the cost picture of these cuts versus other things that they would not be ble to do in terms of even training or readiness. Ow are you kind of really working with them to have them prioritize as well whats best for them . So, first i would just say as i have done my beginnings of my and walk e air force around work spaces, i do town alls everywhere i go and talk to airman, the number one boy, l bring up to me, during that point of sequestration i couldnt do my those ings like. This are the things we would call in this committee readiness types of issues. They typically havent brought up believe or not the compensation issues until i it in a town hall and of course as you say, everybody is interested and everybody i met a person yet that wont rather be paid more than a little bit less. Feel that way too. Interesting whrbgs they bring up whats on their minds it tends their work environment. Expired. As thank you. Thank you, mr. Chairman. To welcome our panel today. Had a you and i recently sitdown conversation and it did liberty. Religious i joined my colleagues here as were all concerned about. Major pieces of that s that were worried this idea in the law that good order and discipline is now for ing the excuse Political Correctness. That very thats first tram mr. S the amendment righ amendment rights. This in the air force far more than the other everybody cysts. Ou heard about the recent incidents with a cadet. We have another report. That two weeks ago its been reported that gunter at max well air force came to gideons distribute bibles. Tkpweudians have been military ng bibles at bases since fdr, world war ii turned away. As of this time, two weeks really this situation has been en resolved and not able to do for decades now. Reaction. Have your so, im not familiar with that one at all. Back on those et specifics. My overall reaction is this is policy i i apology f i got too wordy but its a balancing exact. Its balancing Free Expression with the needs of the military. Madame secretary, this is centuries since the days of george washington. We had chaplins. Served in the military. This was not an issue then. An issue been recently. Things that have been done have been long held where military members have themselves,o express we have a wide swath in the First Amendment in this. What has changed the military and behaviors in the air force thats the reason why weve had religious people long before nation. But whats changed it appears the behavior of the military services. General . To, congressman. My wife and i when we worked at in the midce academy 80s we ran the counter christ retreat program for catholic and christian cadets. I know all kinds of people at air force academy then and now who would disagree with your ssessment of there being a problem with religious kugs at the air force academy. For interrupting. Let me ask you this in response to. That so youre saying that and e are more religious expressing their religious beliefs more now than then . Saying you have to get the facts right on everyone f these cases and try and stay unemotional you know what happened. I would not believe an article for starters. S you feel like mr. Starpbz is lying . Where ow there are cases hes not had his fact right in articles. Oh uld happy he i dont have the time togo there all that. To do is ld ask you provide written answers and where tions and examples mr. Starpbz or others have been reporting this inaccurate . To do what ever youd like. ll tell you what weve been doing, the single biggest forties straeugs is the perception that somehow there is religious kugs inside the air force. It is not true. We have incidence like everybody does. Investigate everyone of them. We have asked every chaplin in know of orce in they these cases and they say no. Im telling you, sir there is a in the middle again, im running out of time here. Have spoken with your chaplin and i think he has some of the concerns i do and i would invite you to talk with him. Familiar with frc stepbd all sir . Yes. Ill bring him to sit with you. I would love for to you do that. Re you clear with clear and public danger yes, sir many items have been listed james and i retary talked about Staff Sergeant and the air force position has changed with him as well. Again, these problems are worse not better. Gentlemens time expired. There are four minutes left on the vote. Yet. People have not voted for mr. E have time inyard and then there are two votes. For e time we get there this vote we should be getting ready for the next vote and i that we can get everybody returns very quickly having the ask their to question. Mr. Enyard. Its unfortunate so many here. Madame secretary and general appointed r having so and being honored to select some to the aforce academy, hey have our very best and pwraoeuest of our nation and it the folks there encompass the very browed diversity of our great nation. Wont you agree with me on that . You. K you know, also having served for more than a few years in the military, the air force academy a very students is confined and close environment, true . Hat also thank you. My w, during enyart,please give a verbal rather than a nod because it wont reflect in the record. Chairman. You, mr. The air force academy as you constrained very and very close environment for the cadets is it not . Yes, sir, it is. In my previous career before i decided to come to congress, i had the honor of commanding soldiers and airman. Of that number i had 35 chaplins chaplin mand and 15 candidates, so 50 folks who spiritual needs of the 13,000 soldiers and airmen. T appears to me among our religious freedoms theyre guaranteed by our constitution the freedom to practice religion but the to practice if one so chooses. And in fact also, i believe that its one of our freedoms not to by rotsdz less advertised one of another faith if one has a different faith or no faith at all. Agree with me, general, thats your understanding of the constitution also . The way i would explain this to airmen you have every right to practice your faith freely. If someone asks tell them everything about it. If they dont ask, dont assume they want or need to know. Thank you, general. Really like to see this issue laid to rest so we can issues h more important in terms of strategy and tactics. The National Commission on the structure of the air force has a concept called continuum of service. Served in the has active duty and army reserve and guard im interested in continuing service. Greater ve a much flexibility to leave and reenter throughout their careers which enable more effective and of an nt utilization integrated total force. I know that some of those contained in law but others are more a culture and regulatory and approximately f issue policy issue for the air force. Would you support that for the airmen . Yes, sir. Hard in that Direction Congress and the d. O. D. Hould modify the laws and regulations that create these limitations. The do you believe that by doing allow the ld air force to more fully apitalize on the costs of training these airmen . Sir, i think anything that keeps common sense in the kugs and relieves burdens in the way would be sense helpful. I welcome to you scott a base next friday. Ill take this answer off the but i or in writing, would like to get an update on kc 46 Alpha Program and the new tankers and how the fiscal are impacting the and ery of those aircraft particularly interested since is base houses he fuelling wing which flies 135s id like to know where scott falls in the process and we continue insure that Great Mission at Scott Air Force base. Rapblcourage you to quickly to the floor. Well stand adjourned until the end of the votes. Adjourned this hearing will now come back to order. Recognize mr. Mcintyre for five minutes. Thank you so much mr. Chairman. Madame secretary i know we spoke briefly as i came back from votes. Me just say as a carolina graduate speaking to a duke i know were excited about the a. C. C. Tournament and march madness. To you on your selection as selection of the secretary of the air force and of you and your serve tony street the country. Let me mention briefly before i specific question about something in North Carolina. Been just say a lot has said a lot about religious freedom. Who spoke h mike earlier. On the for eight years Naval Academy board on behalf of this full committee and never to run into these kinds of issues or intimidation factor that some have referred to about concern of religious freedom. And i think probably what would if you and general walsh, would you be willing to detailed explanation in the next ten days of the event hat occurred regarding this incident. Because all ive seen is news reports. From you what r the official version is and what policy is and how the policy was applied in this situation so a better n have understanding in light of the concerns. Want our men and woman to have that freedom of expression. To supply e willing that we absolutely will. To. S concerned let us provide that. To receiving. Ward that an important issue that has concern on a bipartisan in North Carolina in particular we all raised questions about the possibility that the ir force has indicated it may air field. The 448th i want to give credit and quote news. He raleigh as it says and i think this sum phreu identifies. It proeudz pro sraoeudz air lift, air drop and medical fort bragg. Ast year the 440th moved more han 500,000 pounds of caring bow and 13,000 paratroopers. Working with a combination of reserve ty and personnel. The concern there at the air concern about jobs being lost but also lost capability. D lost the s the new wrote, it if 440th goes who will fill its role. There was a spokes woman who new 130 js would be sent. C130s leave and factor. S the support weve had both air force and air force reserve components there. Serious concern and isen to the level of the attention of both houses of the congress and would like to see your response. Congressman, the unit that would be leaving the intents it the c130 js to move rock, arkansas. The chief would tell you there recruiting forth that unit in that area in his aou unit. And every decision he makes right now hurts. To downsize right now as well. This move would save them about 23 million a year. It would serve them about 600 would because the wing become a group at little rock and the overhead and structure s ordinary there and would allows them to save an agreement he pays to the army. Air force component would leave the Mobility Operations Group to run the ramp to schedule and oversee the air lift that comes of the to do a lot training. A higher percentage of the aircraft to one by come in. Larger airplanes are equired to train on the c seventeens. This is an effort by the air force reserve to save money downsize their people. They have to take cuts as do we. Thank you. My time is expired. At this time i recognize mr. Minutes. For five thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you secretary james for your relatively new secretary of the United States air force and welsh for your service to the country. This year the national released their year gs of their two extensive look air force structure. Of the all thrust fundings was to shift more components and capabilities to guards and reserves. Agree with many of the commissions including its findings that there are certain better suited es for the reserves such as cyber, i. S. R. And Space Mission support. Ratio oflize the final this shift is still under study, you tell me where you believe the air force and the in general can benefit components g these or capabilities to the garden eserves like those recommended by the commission . So congressman i want to what you myself with just said. In philosophy i agree with just said. You our plan does shift responsibility to the guard and reserve as we go forward. Good deal for the mission and the taxpayer. Cyber we of i. S. R. And agree ask we are bolstering that within our plan for the national reserve. So i will say theres much of work, the vast majority of is a fine body of work and about research and us and we agree with ost of it particularly the continuum of service and better integration. Those areas were very much in agreement. Couple of areas where we dont agree at least not yet and the one that i want to to you is the commission calls for additional reductions to the active duty to the tune of about i think 3536,000 and for sure for fy 15 thats more than we think is prudent. What we want to do is continue deliberately analyze mission by mission how can we shift more o the Garden Reserve and over the past year i want to give credit to general welsh and the doing this in or a very collaborative way, thinking it through from an perational perspective and putting as much in the garden done. E as can be general welsh. You mentioned cyber as an example. This is one clearly that we have to look at wheres the right percentage mix. Started with zero in the Garden Reserve recently and gone to 30. How this works thatnumber of the folks in unit work for google. Bring skills to the door that we can use now and support state in some circumstances. Thank you. Discussed and certainly you brought forward earlier this n this houring that we have to make difficult decisions and one of those decisions was the aten. Nly the but i want to commend you to into the Garden Reserves. I want to k that commend the air force than being more forward thinking than the branches but there seems in e this institutionalized terms of maintaining the levels active duty. Whenever we can shift i think here are tremendous opportunities in savings. Airman to airman costs but also thinking the legacy costs. Savings out of retirement, the fact that 20 body on active duty for years in the United States 50 of theirll draw they ay the day after retire plus other benefits and that guard or reserve sreufts 60. Not draw until age there are other differences such as airman to airman koftsz that at. Eed to look i want to commend you. Assault g of sexual which has been an epidemic, very occurred at what Lackland Air Force base. Went to my own air force base, buckley in colorado, and they me on what they were doing in terms of sexual ssaults and way impressed and hoping that occurring air force wide. At this time i recognize miss minutes. Five thank you, mr. Chairman, thank you both for your service. Welsh, last year there that ome heinous websites various a sweep of locations for the air force. Understand it it was mostly Living Spaces nd and maybe their cubicles. Hey gave everyone a ten day otice before doing it which i thought was preposterous but thats was all did. Result there were 32,000 inappropriate items discovered. Pornographic were or sexually harassing or workplace. Hostile at the time when that was vice chief sked the of the air force what action had been taken against those who responsible for posting inappropriate items and he said he would have to get ack to me and he hasnt and its been over a year. Do you know what happened to who had sexually explicit or inappropriate items placed this their personal places not 32 were pornographic things found. Might have been a i understand. That what happened to these people . Happenedf them nothing to them. That was done not as a result of a website or any specific activity. That health and welfare was done getting ection after approval from the secretary because i wanted the air force have a discussion about respect and strength. One star general who is being tried right now for aving possession of pornographic information. Re you saying that those that not have pornographic items were not im not saying. What im saying is that there wasnt a particular thing we were looking for. Were looking for anything we could find to have the discussion. The pornographic items that i were found were found in workplace computers and a couple of examples of that. Were not connected to an individual. They were found during the search. There was action taken against a come of people as a result of those inspections. Ill have to get the details. Could you report back to me. Will. Furthermore, i found there wasnt a sweep of computer issued come paoulters. Was there a sweep of computer issued computers all ere was a sweep of computers, work space. There was . Didnt know. That thank you. General, i dont know if you daily beast tharl was recently published called rape in the nd air force. Have you seen that . I have not. I would commend it to you for reading. Agents story and about the aforce investigation program. It seems to repeat a program at air force academy of taking trainees using them and putting them in jeopardy and then ending their careers when go wrong. In the case that was referenced the airman cle, first class claims she was raped as a result of being a snitch o. S. I. I have two questions that i hope you can answer. How many people are participated program. sinformant and what ranks are the dissipating . At are congresswoman i dont know, well find out the answers and get it back to you. It changes at any given time obviously. How many people have been air force rom the within months of participating i. sinformation Informant Program if i dont know that either. That. L you find out yes give meet raogsal why you ould take air force academy or young recruits who are trainees of put them in a position becoming informants for o. S. I. . You an example. Was selling t who drugs to other cadets. Drugs. Selling when he was found out and apprehended, he talked during investigators o about a connection to a major western u. S. Drug suppliers the d. E. A. Had been trying to get a link to. Talked to the could as ansk if he informant. We did that which led to a number of arrests. Is expired. Im more concerned about cadet airman on airman than d. E. A. In another answer action. Scottecognize congressman for five minutes. Thank you, chairman. I enjoyed having lunch with you and thank you for your comment rescuehe helicopter. You mentioned in your Opening Statement if we followed the meaning if the sequester is not repealed the additional cuts have to be made to the f35 and to other weapons stems are pr to National Security id that is one of the reasons have so many questions about the until the aten sequester would be repealed. Welsh, i knoweral ill see you in georgia later this month. As well rward to that and i know youre an aten pilot not a decision you have taken lightly. I have serious questions about downpeed at which the draw of the aten is going to occur rior to another Weapon System being put in place. Nd the potential for that Weapon System to come in in should the tities sequester not be repealed and it or not, the sequester is the law and getting it repealed is much easier said than done. So potentially we would draw so atens with the desire to replace them with stems and ns potentially not end up with them. Same thing happened with the going to buy were up cutting we end to less than half and were talking about three and a half the on dollars here on atens. Were going toat fly the mission and we know that support our men and woman on the ground, the other weapons stems cost more than to fly than the aten does. Cost premiums in time per the been factored in into projected savings and if the ble id like to see analysis of that when you get an rather ity to sooner than later if possible. E also just made significant investmen investments. Do have Life Expectancy left. To another issue with the j stars but i the ciate the analysis on at aten costs and the consideration if we draw them over the period of 24 months what happens if the sequester is not repealed and we dont of the fthraoeufz that we intend to purchase. Longer hold the discussion until can i sit with you and show the you the analysis. To transition, the the ane that will it up is a16. Were drawing down some fsixteens too. We will have less capacity in every mission area. Funderwhat sequesters ed us d i think its unforward that the men and woman in the National Security is expected to take the size of cut, the percentage of cut that has been pushed down to of our secretary rzs have agreed that there are can do to reduce spending. But in the end they ask us to do had been r than we anticipating. The j stars. Mentioned this general earlier. Talizatiization clear clear i want as we to make sure approach the next generation we dont leave a gap in the pull lity as we start to the current ones down as they go depo maintenance. Ow do we plan on maintain the capability until the next generation is ready . A loss of ll be capability. Back to the theme again. F there is not more funding coming from somewhere and im not assumeing there will be, the recap tal r to us saoeuz j stars and downsize reinvest and start it recap lies. Only way we can do there will be risk when you start that in that mission area. Thank you both will have your service and is look forward to continuing these discussions. I want to thank the panel for being here. Specifically i want to thank general welsh. Want to go back. Was david. Cadets he ultimately had to leave the and got nd then went is air force through r. O. T. C. And is an f15 strike eagle pilot today. Parents from you his and from me because i remember david had and were you a strong supporter in and i lly talking to him hink that really goes back to your integrity as a father but ata leader of those students the time and those cadets. That went to sons a Different Service academy, im army beat o say go air force but it was Something Like that. My question though is to secretary james. Champ, thats to not a non Lethal Weapon that the done an developed and extremely job of doing that and would like ir force to deploy that but theyre air form a reusable exam champ on. Use a have the ability to current air frame that is not would e but is one that work for us. And thats the Cruise Missile system that we have we bipartisan support of congress and Congress Wants champ. We want to make sure everyone is on the same page. Elements standing in the way of champ on the attlefield like i said the air force has done an amazing ob of developing this and actually getting it to in a test phase where it worked. It is one that i think weave nonlethal t that capability. It is one that i would love to us develop more of. What im asking is you have the approval you and have and the d for it Combatant Commanders would like it. Demand. Not limited by would you confirm for me that its only limited by by budge it. I would love to but you stupled me. I got to find out about it. The status. That is not the intent of my question. Know. Hould i dont know the status. To you. T back if you would. From what we have its basically 10 million and we can field weapon in 18 months. It would certainly give an typically in the issues resurgent china and russia in regards to issues, it would be one that i would have to an be nice inventory, particularly since Combatant Commanders testified that they would love to have that. And of course i dont want to negative about the air force. Ive been a member of the air force way back when in going of my san antonio, one favorite times, i will tell you, sons that three currently in the United States just go back on aten obviously it is a capable phralt understand the budgetary commitments you have and why you have to do certain not wanting obably to do that. But i want to touch on religious because i remember when y sons two of my sons first went to west point. I dont know who they got it bible, they received a actually ersion that one carried in combat in afghanistan. I d hope that we remember the academy was about faith. To keep our onent adets strong not only academically but all the tenants cadet but faith is important and i recognize that from your service. Continue to stress that that is important to all of us. General, thank you so much for your service and is thank you parents of david pay legal low who is one of your pirates. ]nd c secretary james, congratulatio congratulations. I yield back. Do you haveu begin, time because i know there was appointment. It would be my honor to yield. Recognized. Ow thank you. I appreciate that. You for your service and i wants you to invite to you air force base and very proud of the missions there and appreciate neral, your comment earlier. I wrote it down and tweeted it b2 is our symbol of valor today and were proud that. We look forward to having you come out. Wanted to address atens as well. Believe theyre the most cost efficient platform we have for air support and i do not agree bone is the same as the soldiers on the grounds. Aten. Ant it see the general, you mentioned that you hecked with general did he narrow about what he felt about air lift. I know you have heard about what thinks about the aten and he is quoted as saying that its air support e platform that we have today. Publicly. D that it is the most costefficient. Aten operational cost and light hour is 17,398 b154,215. There is a difference in cost flying hour. Ill welcome to the cost provide fort youll representative scott and id like to see that as well and want to ask you about deals with the wing program. Nt we have invested in these ircraft that we of and that right now the air force has 173 inches under contract and appropriate funding in for nine additional wings 182 wings e total to replaced. Guess my first questiones, how much money has been spent thon replacement . I dont know the exact numbers to dated. We do these up greats on all aircraft. Do it on all fleets air kraflt. Id like to know that. Plan to air force under the current wings contract . Congresswoman until there is approval to any of the things well do whats in the plan. The issue for the aten is not cost per flying hour or the mission. Its about all the missions we to a theatre commander. Saves huge ity numbers of live on a chevy battlefield. Wants ond thing the army us to do is eliminate the men as will to continue the fight attacking and strategic epth, enter diction and stop their ability to move forward. Eliminate the to enemys second armed forces so it at a time mit and place of their choosing. Then of course we do Close Air Support and divert everything to that win when it happens. Aten can do not any of those other missions. Havether airplanes that we doing Close Air Support can. As we look at what we have to across ave to balance the missionaries. Certainly understand that. Were talking 740 million a a 6 nd if there was reduction in air importance ivilians through attrition you could achieve that. Have you looked at attrition, atural attrition of the workforce as a possible way to help keep this unique capability in our fleet . So actually civilian looked at and they are going to be happening head t part of that quarter story. So our workforce will be coming down. Analysis was he achieve the to same savings you would have take additional 10,000 civilians to equate to the same amount of money as the aten. Again, civilians are already coming down. This is 10,000 on top of what we are already planning and most of oeur civilians are not on top. Not helping augment staff. Most of them are depo maintenance. Theyre doing real mission work. Thank you for visiting with us day. I wanted to thank you for coming oak he way to tulsa, skpoebg visiting with the war my district and your words were inspiring and im pleased i was very pleaseed heart you have for the people who fight our countrys battles and you them very well and were grateful for that. I wanted to start general just used to flyknow you airplanes and i wanted to ask you used to . Es f16. Aten and the those aircraft did you have a display . I did in both. In that heads up display was vector . Velocity there was in the f 16. V. O. R. , i. L. S. And avonics in a very robust way. And improves safety. Do you think its important to 50 onics kind of aeuf in aircraft . I do. Do you think its important to have terrain arareness and multifunctionin a in lay for air that fly dangerous scenarios . If its practical and affordable absolutely. Of course, when it comes to hreat indications as c one hirties often fly in difficult playes, threat caters are important. The other thing that i dealt in the navy is the various of displays and and every aircraft that youre in has Different Software and it puts us as in difficult positions where one tiny little item might be different from the others. Which brings me to the kr130 h avonics the Modernization Program which i critical for the fleet. Is this is about safety. Navigation are c met. X that have to be there is a safety piece as well. Been developed with the what i have seen is that it seems like airplanes that have jet engines get the fancy equipment that makes the pilots more safe and airplanes that have propellers do not. Fighters andin flown in propeller aircraft. It seems like it is across forces. I would like to get your take on that. Can you briefly share with me your thoughts . I think that changed with the c130j. Intentionally. Upgrading the aircraft we ad