Good morning, everybody. Thanks for turning the microphone on, it works better i am told. Some chair leahy some members committee, and that is having a significant hearing on Voting Rights act, and i was just there and spoke, but i thank everybody for coming here to whats the first hearing on the full Senate Appropriations committee for the 117th congress. I think its very appropriate were having a hearing on infrastructure. I also thank a number of members, both republicans and democrats, who are here because these are issues that affect all of us. There is no other committee within the senate whose jurisdiction touches every aspect of our government, of american lives, and same can be said of our infrastructure. And thats why senator shelby and i have worked so closely together over the years. There are days when they say infrastructure meant only bridges or highway, roads and rail. But a narrower view of infrastructure to just this reflects a willful ignorance of the real needs faci
Order. This morning the committee will receive testimony from general walters, ucon, and general lions, transcon. Thank you both for the decades of military service and please extend our appreciation to the men and women serving under your command. General lions, this is likely your last hearing before the committee. On behalf of my colleagues, i want to thank you and your family for a lifetime of service and dedication to the nation which continues with your son, now a cadet at west point. The tradition goes forward. Thank you. The security challenges in th ucon area grow bigger each year. Russia is engaged in an ongoing hybrid Warfare Campaign just below the threshold of conflict that would provoke a military response including disinformation campaigns, targeting democratic processes, and the continued use of proxy groups to further russian interests in numerous countries around the world. Combatting the threat requires a whole of government effort. Ill be interested to hear your vie
President as he watched a play at fords eastern. Watch tonight at 8 00 p. M. Eastern and enjoy American History tv every weekend on cspan3. Next, testimony on the conflict between russia and ukraine. Cybersecurity threats. And the Biden Administration decision to increase troop levels in germany. Army and air force generals testify. Rhode island senator jack reed chairs the hearing. Let me call the hearing to order. This morning the committee will receive testimony from general walters, ucon, and general lions, transcon. Thank you both for the decades of military service and please extend our appreciation to the men and women serving under your command. General lions, this is likely your last hearing before the committee. On behalf of my colleagues, i want to thank you and your family for a lifetime of service and dedication to the nation which continues with your son, now a cadet at west point. The tradition goes forward. Thank you. The security challenges in th ucon area grow bigger
Good morning, everybody. Thanks for turning the microphone on, it works better i am told. Some of us will be coming in and out. Some members, myself included, also serve on the judiciary committee, and that is having a significant hearing on Voting Rights act, and i was just there and spoke, but i thank everybody for coming here to whats the first hearing on the full Senate Appropriations committee for the 117th congress. I think its very appropriate were having a hearing on infrastructure. I also thank a number of members, both republicans and democrats, who are here because these are issues that affect all of us. There is no other committee within the senate whose jurisdiction touches every aspect of our government, of american lives, and same can be said of our infrastructure. And thats why senator shelby and i have worked so closely together over the years. There are days when they say infrastructure meant only bridges or highway, roads and rail. But a narrower view of infrastructu
Thats been done to my back over the years. Also, i would like to add that [inaudible] but i tried to call in each time. I think that on the budget, that i hope that everyone looks at the money that was saved with the giants and the warriors not playing, all the Police Presence utilized for that. I hope that money has been considered thats not being used. And also, i wanted to speak about that i did have concern about justification of the budget being for diversity for hiring as a talking point. Im not sure if theres a true legitimate effort with that being done, and i also wanted to thank president cohen for addressing keeping reports by the chief in d. P. A. Brief. Its much more time to go through several items and we wont be here until 1 00 in the morning. Thank you. Clerk and president cohen, that is the end of Public Comment. President cohen all right. Thank you very much. Lets move onto item 8, please. Clerk line item eight, discussion and possible action to approve Draft Departme