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1 (2007)

handle is hein.cbhear/fdsysafrj0001 and id is 1 raw text is: AUT-ENTICATED US. GOVERNMENT INFORMATION GP DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008 WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2007 U.S. SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, Washington, DC. The subcommittee met at 10:34 a.m., in room SH-216, Hart Sen- ate Office Building, Hon. Daniel K. Inouye (chairman) presiding. Present: Senators Inouye, Byrd, Leahy, Dorgan, Feinstein, Mi- kulski, Kohl, Murray, Stevens, Cochran, Specter, Domenici, Shelby, and Gregg. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY STATEMENT OF HON. ROBERT M. GATES, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ACCOMPANIED BY HON. TINA JONAS, COMPTROLLER STATEMENT OF SENATOR DANIEL K. INOUYE Senator INOUYE. Before we proceed, I must announce that the leadership has scheduled four bills for consideration and the voting will commence at 11:30. So, reluctantly I must insist upon the 5- minute rule. Otherwise some Senators will not be heard. I would like to welcome you, Mr. Secretary and General Pace. I will abbreviate my statement and put the full statement in the record. Your budget request of $481 billion is the highest we have ever had, so it would appear logical that the request would be sufficient to meet all needs. However, we have found several serious short- falls. For example, a critical shortfall in the healthcare system; the Air Force planned termination of the C-17 fails to take into consid- eration the need for more aircraft due to overuse in Iraq; the Na- tional Guard and Reserves have testified that equipment levels are shockingly low; and I think events in Kansas recently dem- onstrated that. So we see that funding problems still exist, Mr. Secretary. My colleagues have also raised a question of recent changes to our de- ployment plans of our National Guard and active duty forces. Healthcare experts are now raising questions about the impact of lengthy tours on the mental health of these men. So, Mr. Secretary, General Pace, we appreciate your attendance here. (1)