"This QDR (Quadrennial Defense Review) and this budget builds upon superb support you (Senate Armed Services Committee) and this department have provided our troops and their families for much of the last eight years. Stretched and strained by nearly constant combat – many of them on their fifth, sixth and seventh deployments – our men and women are without question and almost inexplicably the most resilient and battle-ready force in our history. "
(February 02, 2010, Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing, Washington, D.C.)
"Winning our current wars means investment in our hard-won irregular warfare expertise, a core competency that should be institutionalized and supported in the coming years. And we are certainly moving in that direction. But we must also maintain conventional advantages. We still face traditional threats from regional powers who possess robust, regular and, in some cases, nuclear capabilities. These cannot be ignored. "
(February 02, 2010, Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing, Washington, D.C. )
"... we are asking Congress to fully fund our FY-10 supplemental and the FY-11 overseas contingency operations requests. It’s also why Secretary Gates and I want a six-percent increase for Special Operations Command. The budget also includes development of a next-generation ground combat vehicle, two more Army combat aviation brigades, greater unmanned aircraft capability, and nearly three billion for the V-22 Osprey program.
"
(February 02, 2010, Chairman's Corner Blog: Breaking Down the Budget)