With that in mind, starting on my immediate right. Senator Joseph R Biden junior of delaware. [applause] please, we save time for the candidates to speak. Former Arizona Governor bruce babbitt. [applause] jesse jackson. [applause] Massachusetts Governor michael dukakis. [cheers] junior of albert gore tennessee. [cheers] misery covers been richard gephardt. And illinois senator paul simon. ] may have remind the audience these men are restricted to a minute and a half of time and if you apply the they will have less time to express their views. Director canal, farm of km a radio in shenandoah. George riley managing editor of director ofnews kagan ss radio in sioux city. The official timers are john delight and phyllis sherman. The ground rules for the audience for this nonce partisan nonpartisan debate, no carefree no campaign her yet, no applause until the end of the debate, interruptions by resulting your candidate being deprived of that much time. We ask you please remain seated durin
I call this joint hearing of the subcommittee of the house of Armed Services committee to order. We are here in honor of memory of the seven uss fitzgerald. Enate sailors and the 10 uss John S Mccain sailors. We are very grateful we have a mother here with us today. We send to you our give his sympathies and profound sorrow for your loss and appreciation for your sons service to our nation. I want to welcome our members to todays hearing. Recognizeespecially that we have with us the committee chairman, donald mac thornberry. He has been the leader of our ongoing efforts to mitigate our military Readiness Challenges and i want to thank him for his leadership and for being here today to hear about the challenges in limited by the tragic collisions in the pacific. To send a warm welcome to congresswoman Elizabeth Este from connecticut and congressman rodney davis from illinois. That ananimous consent member not a member of the committee be a lot to participate in todays hearing after all
We are very grateful we have a mother here with us today. We send to you our give his sympathies and profound sorr for your loss and appreciation for your sons service to our nation. I want welcome our members to todays hearing. I want tespecially recognize that we have with us the committee chairman, donald mac thornberry. He has been the leader of our ongoing effortto mitigate our military Readiness Challenges and i want to thank him for his leadership and for being here today to heaabout the challenges in limited by the tragic collisions in the pacific. I also want to send a warm welcome to congresswoman Elizabeth Este from connecticut and congressman rodney davis from illinois. I ask unanimous consent th a member not a member of the committee be a lot to participate in todays hearing after all subCommittee Members and then full Committee Members have had an opportunity ask questions. Is there an objection . Without objection, such members will be recognized the appropriate time for
Suvayan. And the uss john mccain sailors. Were very grateful that today, we have ms. Rachel echols with us, we send you our deepest simp sympathie sympathies. And i want to especially recognize, we have with us the committee chairman, chairman thornberry. The leader of efforts to mitigate the military Readiness Challenges. And i thank him for being here today. I also want to send a warm welcome to congresswoman elizabeth estes. And full Committee Members have had an opportunity to ask questions. Is there an objection . As we begin todays unkplaclassd hearing, i have no doubt that our navy remains the most powerful in the world. But these recent tragic events only reinforce our committees concern about the challenges the navy faces. Im especially concerned about the shortfalls in the structure and whether the tempo of a reduced 277ship navy may have contributed to these events. I also believe that the first responsibility of the National Government is to provide for the National Securit
The presiding officer the senate will come to order. The chaplain will lead the senate in prayer. The chaplain let us pray. Almighty god, from whom comes all holy desires, we thank you for all those who give their lives to serve you and country. May they realize that they are doing your work on earth when they strive faithfully to follow your precepts. Use our lawmakers to bring comfort, renewal, and empowerment to our nation and world. Take them along yet untrodden paths, through perils unknown, to your desired destination. May they live in peace and contentment, resting in the knowledge that you are directing their steps. We pray in your merciful name. Amen. The presiding officer please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The presiding officer the clerk will read a communication to the sena