this was a very viable presentation by the white house put it helped me a lot because when i go to the table and expressed the concerns of our members, my limitations prevent me from giving full enthusiasm for certain ideas that our members have. they made it very clear how interested they were uncertain considerations that now appear in the spread is a -- in the president possible. others say that if we cannot do them under reconciliation, then it will be something that they want to be acted upon and other legislation. i wish the other members were here because i think this was very productive. the attendance was great. that is always good. the interaction was lively and positive and takes a closer. . .

>> it is not something we want to drag out, because the decisions are made, the choice has to be made. as i am talking to members, obviously we all believe that the status quo is unaffordable. we all believe that it is unaffordable for families, for individuals, for businesses, for our economy, and also for the

federal budget. we understand that from a cost standpoint, we cannot afford the status quo. as a matter of values for our country, as senator kennedy said, this is not just about provisions of the bill, it is about the character of our country and the fact that we want all americans to have access to quality, affordable health care is about you that our caucus shares, so they want to move forward with the bill. we ask what is the message, obviously we share the vision. the question is, what are some of the individual concerns? my messages to individually addressed the concerns they have about cost and affordability. i took extensive notes from the first round of this, so i have a pretty good idea of what some of the members who at first voted yes but had some hesitation about costs -- that has been addressed in the bill.

are those who did not vote with us but were looking for some cost measures. it is stronger in terms of the savings in the out years, so that is helpful to us. the vision that we share, that is the easy part. that gives us an opportunity. we have to address member by member the concerns that the race. -- concerns that they raise. >> can you address how it changes the top line numbers like the cost and the savings? >> we have goals that we want to achieve. i would not be liberty to share any of that we do, because cbo is very constraining in putting information in the public domain. i do not think it will be long before we will have that

information. at least that is my hope, if we are going to be able -- i do not think the american people cannot wait much longer on health care reform, but you will be the first to know. >> on earmarks, was there any pressure to take a tougher stance, especially on corporate earmarks? >> this earmarked discussion has been an ongoing one for us. we are talking about what we have done on the earmarked situation. we have had significant reductions, by nearly half, and president transparency, requiring members air marks -- unprecedented transparency,

earmarks designated for profit must compete. we decided to go further. we put in a one-year moratorium in 2007. it did not have a anything to do with that. it had to do with the time of the year. members are making the request for earmarks, and we thought it would be important to let them know that they probably should not make a request for an earmarked for a business. that does not mean that we do not respect some of what they have done. most of the earmarks, probably 99.99% of them are in the bill.

many of them come from the department of defense that on certain small businesses to get an earmarked because it is a fresh thing, but they cannot get it in the budget. these companies cannot compete with the big defense contractors, so they come to us and say can we get this in. instead, we are going to have an innovation account at dod where the small businesses can come to compete for contracts, if that is what it is, but we would have strict guidelines to the fact that it has to be that, something fresh and new, that they do not have to compete with the big ones. i spent a lot of time on national security issues and how we meet the needs of protecting the american people. we divide some of these things into needs and leaves.

-- needs and leads. this is in that realm of innovation that we think is a better way to go than what we have now. the first part of your question, we have a range of opinion on your marks -- on your marks. -- on earmarks. >> sunday, your chance to talk

to karl rove, live on "book tv." the current fox news contributor will take your phone calls, e- mail's, and tweets and his new memoir. later, race relations in america with an interview but congressman john lewis. this year's tucson festival of books. by the entire schedule at booktv.org. >> obama and his socialistic ideas of the government and the car companies and banks, this is a life lesson in progress right now for conservatives. >> sunday, the founder and president of the clare boothe luce policy institute, sunday night on "q&a".

>> topics at today's white house briefing include the timeline for passing health care legislation. bert -- press secretary robert gibbs talks with reporters for about 45 minutes. >> i should have gone nicholson put on the back of the jersey and given it to him. he is happy about that. i will likely make good on my wager tomorrow. >> are we still betting on march 18 deadline? we have a week. is this really going to happen? >> whether you travel with the president over the past few days or whether you saw his remarks, his great interest is

in getting this done as quickly as possible. we have been working on this for more than a year. the president again said last night it is time for congress to act and for congress to vote. that is what the president wants. that is what majority leader reed wants. we are working toward that. cbo is evaluating different aspects of the legislation. our hope is to get this done as soon as possible. if it takes a couple of extra days, it will take a couple of extra days. i am saying that the president wants, as does everybody here, wants to get this done as soon as possible. >> on the emigration meeting today, is there some political -- 1 add yet another priority

that does not have a lot of bipartisan support on it? the priority has said to be jobs. >> our main priority is jobs, and i am getting the economy focus on creating those jobs in the short term, and laying the foundation for long-term economic growth. the president had a very productive meeting, and many democrats and republicans left the meeting and comprehensive energy legislation dealing positive. today the president will meet with senator schumer and senator gramm, a democrat and republican, to see where they are in building that bipartisan coalition. i think you hit the nail on the head by saying this is not something that will pass without strong bipartisan support. the president is anxious to get an update from them on the progress they have made on seeking and gaining that bipartisan support.

that meeting is a little later in the afternoon. >> [unintelligible] working on cut legislation to build reform. >> the two primary sponsors working on this legislation, center schumer and senator gramm, the president is eager to hear from both of them today about the progress they have made, aspects that are working on in their legislation. where the introducing a bill, more than outline the specifics of this proposal or that proposal, as was mentioned a minute ago, the only way we get this through the house and senate is with bipartisan

support. so the president is going to ask each of them today the progress they have made on lighting up that bipartisan support. that is the way the american people want us to deal with their problems, and that is the update the president is anxious to get. >> speaking of bipartisanship, what is the white house reaction to the breakdown, what does it mean for the chances of getting it passed this year on a substance level? >> obviously, senator dodd has done a tremendous amount of work on financial reform. legislation has passed the house. first, talks broke down with senator shelby leaving the process, and now center corker

-- senator corker is going to continue to talk to senator dodd. senator dodd is going to put out a piece of legislation that can be marked up prior to the upcoming recess so that we can move this process forward. our strong hope is that instituting rules for the road, insuring that we do not face the type of crisis we did a few years ago, insuring that we do not have protection for car melts against payday lending. those are all important to the president on a substance level and important to the american people. the president will continue to work as senator dodd said he would on getting the support necessary to get this through capitol hill. i don't think anybody wants to leave congress this year, more

than two years after the economic collapse, without putting into effect new rules that would prevent the same type of reckless activities that got us in the mess to begin with. i don't think people want to leave congress of doubt that having been done. >> what does the fact that this has broken down mean to them? >> i think we are still likely again to get something that gets marked up and move this process forward onto the floor, where i assume there'll be a myriad of amendments on different aspects of legislation. the president has outlined the priorities that are strong this for him, as the secretary of the treasury has as well. -- that our strongest for him. we are still optimistic that this will get done this year. i think it is going to be up to those that do not want to see

rules in place to prevent what happened. if you are not supportive of those new rules, you'll get a chance to explain that opposition to the american people. i think given what the american people have lived through as a result of that economic collapse, i don't believe in the want to go home and face voters next november not having done something as it relates to those rules. >> the president has talked waterbed about wanting an up or down vote for healthcare reform -- the president has talked quite a bit about wanting an up or down vote for health care reform. so that the senate bill could be adopted without ever actually having a vote taken in the house of representatives, the slaughter rule. >> i am not familiar with that. i would have to check with

somebody. >> the larger question is, would it be ok with the president for what needs to happen without their ever actually being a vote? >> i have not looked at that. >> in the house earlier today, dr. peter [unintelligible] said that over the last two years, the funding has flat line. there are only limited slots for new patients. they are not taking new patients due to lack of funding and are forced to turn away new applications. there has been a slight increase in funding in the president's budget, but it is less than the rate -- less than the rate of inflation, which is what they say it has a flat line.

when he was running for president, at satellite he said he supported an increase of $1 billion a year. >> i have not seen the specific comments that you reference. the president has been as big supporter of this program, and has been very complimentary of former president bush's leadership in getting this type of program through congress. the president obviously is committed to that. i would have to take a look at the exact figures and get back to you on what the exact bunning dollars are. -- exact funding dollars are.

i do not have the budget in front of me, but i am happy to take a look at it. i would prefer to look at the budget. >> in the last few days, the president has used his road show to push health-care reform. as the white house seen any benefit from that so far? have they seen numbers from people on the ground that they are starting to buy this? >> people are starting to -- i think the insurance rate increases that people have seen over the course of the past four to six weeks i think have crystallized this debate in away -- en a way that broke through and really localized

what people are facing. we understood that as it looked like health care reform might not happen, we got a sense of what happens if we do not get meaningful health care reform. we are going to see the type of rate increases that patients have gotten in the mail, when their insurers take their insurance rates and increase them exponentially. i think members are hearing from constituents who are getting those letters. you are seeing media coverage of those increases in a way that has really crystallized for many people the problem. you heard the mantra of let's not do this now, let's start over. as i have said here a lot, these

insurance companies are not starting over. they are not pushing pause on the health insurance increase of 40% or 39%, when health care inflation is going up 45%. they are not starting over. they are exponentially increasing what individuals in that market are facing. i think it has had a very positive effect for moving and providing some momentum for health care reform. >> is the president still planning to launch his asian trip on time? >> ifill at -- if we have any changes in schedule, we will certainly let you know. the president believes is an extremely important trip. it is an important region of the world, and these are important partners. indonesia is the largest muslim country in the world. obviously it has seen the

impacts of horrific terrorist activities. australia is a country we enjoy a trade surplus with, something the president is anxious to highlight, as well as a strong supporter of hours in providing support for afghanistan. it is too important partners in a very important region of the world, and the president looks forward to making the trek. >> he seemed to back off on march 18 deadline by saying it could be a day or two, but does the president still want this thing passed before he gets on the plane? >> again, if it takes a couple of days extra, we will be happy to have it passed then. even if he has already taken off. i do not have any updates for you right now on the trip, except to say the president is

going on that trip. cracks in remax and -- >> henry waxman has a plan to get the boat passed without trying to change the provisions. if stupak and co. vote against it, so be it. is that your understanding, and is that the strategy going forward? >> i do not know if they have spoken with congressman waxman about that. >> nancy pelosi said today that we, meaning the house, will spend at least a week on it among ourselves. a week from today is the 18th. are you concerned that seems to be in much of a rush? >> i do not think she is in much of a rush. everyone who has involved in this for more than a year is plenty energize to get this done. >> has the president expressed concern that if it does not get

past or signed into law by the 26 and people go home for recess, that it will be another august all over again? >> i think you saw the support for health-care reform if you look at the polling in august increase. i do not think that is the fear. >> indonesia has been portrayed as more of a vacation trip that a policy and diplomacy trip. how much of it is a vacation trip? >> it is not a vacation at all. i have not seen the criticism you are referring to. >> no one is criticizing, they are simply saying that part of what he is doing is taking the family to show where he grew up for four years. >> as i mentioned earlier, it is the largest muslim country in the world. the president will build of the speech he gave in cairo. he will attend a democracy conference in indonesia that

will highlight counter- terrorism. that is the focus of the trip. it is not anything else. >> is there anything about the trip that could not be delayed? is there something that you have to do in that we, or could you put it off a couple of weeks? >> the trip will not be put off a couple of weeks. president will be traveling to indonesia and to australia. >> the president does not have a concern about leaving here if it has not been completed? >> i appreciate all the hypothetical, but we are trying to get health care done, and we are going to go on an important trip. >> on the financial reform, is there a concern that the same thing that happened that you could lose the trust of corker?

is there concern, if not does his own bill own billdodd does his own bill -- >> is senator corker can agree to some adjustments in his position in order to sign on to a bipartisan bill, this is a better question for senator corker in terms of what he is willing to meet people part of the way on. >> were you concerned with the delay tactic? >> i think many of us read yesterday's newspaper about carving out payday lending from consumer financial protections. i do not think many people in the white house or the treasury department of that was a great idea.

>> are there any other republicans you think would come on board? >> i think the better question is to republicans, why would you filibuster financial regulatory reform? why would you when lobbyists are being hired hand over fist to kill financial reform, why do you seem to side with high- priced lobbyists instead of putting strong rules in place to prevent what happened before? i cannot imagine that is a fight they really want to have. >> if there is no bipartisan support of a bill that comes out of that committee, is that ok with the white house? >> i think senator dodd has spent a lot of time with the ranking manager, -- the ranking member, senator shelby. he spent a lot of time with

senator corker, and now senator corporate has decided he cannot be part of that process. senator dodd and senator corker will continue to talk about these problems, but this is a better question for senator corker about what is it that he has to see to come on board. i think republicans in the senate are born to have to ask themselves why they would stand in the wake of financial reform. >> do you think it is appropriate that the house find a way not to pass this -- >> i have not read what jake was talking about. i have not seen it and do not have any comment on it.

>> how would you respond to some republicans to say that the use of reconciliation on health care has raised a poisoned atmosphere? >> it is the same old tired spin they were using last week in the week before. it is helpfully contrived answers if the answers to justify delaying tactics. >> you said the president wants to hear what they have been doing to build a bipartisan coalition. what has the president been doing to build a bipartisan coalition, and what is his responsibility to bring some other republicans on board? >> the president worked in the senate in 2005 and 2006 with a

bipartisan coalition to seek comprehensive immigration reform. he is supportive of comprehensive reform. he is anxious to talk to center schumer and senator gramm and some of the colleagues he worked with that they are in contact with each and every day. where are they now on reform? where are the republicans who were for reform in 2005 and 2006 and 2007 and 2008? where are they now in 2010? >> is he personally working on it, or is he leaving it to his allies on the hill? >> we have certainly had meetings here. he is meeting with activists on these issues. >> and the scheduling of the trip, or you wear of indy -- any contingency planning to move it back even if they are too?

indeed even today are too? >> if the house were to pass a bill, with the president sign it right away? >> this gets into parliamentary issues that may well be decided by the parliamentarian on capitol hill, not by the president of the united states. >> if the bill arrived here, would he sign it? >> i do not see why he would not. >> did the president react in any way to what she'd justice roberts said yesterday about using his state of the union speech to take a swipe at the supreme court decision? >> i think the president responded to the supreme court decision at that state of the union address. we are heading into an election cycle, and president

fundamentally disagrees with that decision. as i would say to the vast majority of the american people, and i don't think the president thought it was anything but perfectly acceptable. they are there, but he and the american people disagree with the decision that they made. we are actively working with congress to close any of the loopholes that have been open, to ensure that special interests do not have a greater hold on our electoral system. >> do you know if chief justice roberts and the president spoke to one another since that? >> the state of the union has become a political pep rally and he said he wonders why we are there, we cannot respond to it. >> if i am not mistaken, many of

you showed footage of justice alito responding to it. >> he asked about sheba justice roberts. did the president disagree with chief justice roberts said it is not taking on a pep rally there? >> it is an agenda to lay out his agenda for the year and to update the american people on the work that the congress and the president do. >> i do not know why they feel uncomfortable. they made the decision. and guess i do not understand the criticism of feeling uncomfortable. president disagreed, and polls show 80% of the country disagree with that decision. the president would have said that in that room had they been sitting in that row are not been there at all.

the president just disagrees, quite frankly, with the decision that they may. >> of the does not think the state of the union has become just a political rally. >> it did not seem like a pep rally to me. let me just try to get through a few more. >> some are worried that -- >> i think the question was if the bill was here. what i said earlier was that i think likely the parliamentarian will make some rulings about how they go and where they go, and we will wait for those rulings. >> it is the white house

concerned that during the confirmation hearings [unintelligible] >> i think the justice department has said that they take responsibility for that not having been included, and i think they address that in the statement yesterday. >> why did he not answer this? >> that is a question for the attorney-general. >> is their chance of providing a stand-alone protection agency? >> we will see what happens monday when senator dodd rolls out a piece of legislation. i think what is important is not simply where in the address of an agency that would protect consumers, but what is the scope, what is the independence,

what is their ability to set their own budget and make rules? that is what we will evaluate. if the president believes that, the legislation that leaves the committee does not meet those standards, we will seek to strengthen the bill in the senate. i do not want to get ahead of where the bill might place it. >> what side deals additionally with the white house like to see removed from the senate bill in addition to the ones already outlined by the president on the website? there are ones in connecticut, vermont, and new hampshire. would those be in the three that we would be most directed to? >> and know that the legislation that the president put on the internet removed many of the special provisions that initially were in the

legislation, and we have made it clear to the senate that the president's position in the final legislation should not contain provisions that favor a single state or a single differently in the numbers. across the board, -- which ones did you mention? >> new hampshire, connecticut, in burma -- and vermont. >> massachusetts and vermont i am told are not in there. the medicare advantage stuff for new york and florida is not in there. there is a provision for michigan that is not in there. as i said earlier, there are additional things like all in

montana and connecticut that we have less to take out. >> how is that being communicated. some leadership aides and senators involved were unaware of it. >> i don't know if they talked about it specifically at those two meetings, but i will check. >> i have a survey here in front of me about employers and what they expect to have happen as they deal with health care. these are employers at hot -- that provide help insurance. 69% say in a survey they expect their costs to go up, and a third or more of them expect a decrease in the amount of employer provided health care. i am curious if those who are providing health care now, looking at reform legislation,

their costs will go up, and in some cases the insurance they are able to provide will decrease. what should american people conclude from that? >> we would certainly have to evaluate the individual businesses and the circumstances that are involved. i would say that as we set up an exchange that provides choice and competition, one of the provisions the president added also was a great authority to look at what is happening -- rate authority to look at what is happening individual market and other places to ensure that as insurance companies are looking at their customer base right now, they are not increasing the cost of their insurance at a way that is not justifiable. that is what the secretary of

health and human services has asked major insurance -- major insurers to provide actuarial data to demonstrate exactly what would justify those price increases. >> is there a misunderstanding about reform? 69% fear that their own costs will go up as a result of what health reform will meet for them. they fear their administrative costs will go up. >> there are strong provisions in health care reform that would require a lot less paperwork, a lot more premium dollars going to cover health care and not through a series of selection maneuvers. try to figure out who to cover and not cover and whose rates to jack up and how to game the system a little bit. i think there are strong

provisions in the legislation that would prevent that. i do not know what they are basing some of that off of. >> one of the thinks that appears to have happen, the chamber of commerce is growing in his lobbying efforts and raising money and exercising more aggressive political voice in the entire process. is the white house concerned about the chamber and doesn't see -- does it seeks an this as an outgrowth of the citizens united? >> our disagreement with the decision is not directed at one entity's use of loopholes. it is directed at anybody's use of enhanced loopholes.

whether this is an organization that is normally allied with republicans or democrats, the president fundamentally disagrees with the decision that provides more power in our elections to be money and special interests, regardless of what some of the political spectrum. i think the dismiss the chamber argument a minute ago. >> i do not have the update whitney. -- with me. >> i do not have anything additional on that. >> the question about the timing of the energy and immigration meetings this week. its financial regulatory reform about to take another step, and you are having updates on two major pieces of legislation.

why this week? are you triaging what is possible for the rest of the year? >> two things we have already discussed our big priorities for the president's after we get health care reform done. first, financial reform, as we have talked about, and that is moving its way through the process. secondly, we talked about the citizens united case. we have important elections coming up, and the question is are the special interests going to play a bigger role in those with their contributions than they normally would? obviously, there are a series of legislative activities around, tax credits for small business and hiring, small business lending, and different job creation programs that the

president is focused on. emigration is something the president has supported for quite some time, and energy has made it through the house. my guess is there will be a clamoring for an energy bill when gas prices go up as they normally do when we get closer toward driving in the summer. i think the president is trying to get an update on each of these issues to see what the pathway for is. >> does the president wants to see something done on energy or immigration sometime this year? >> absolutely. what i said to the very first question, it has to be more than the president wants to get something done. the president is going to ask as

he did in the energy meeting and as he will when he meets with senator schumer and gramm to see what progress they have made in aligning their colleagues for the type of reform that all three support. that is what is going to be key to moving any of these issues forward. >> senator gramm said to me a couple of days ago that he felt the onus was really on the president, and he wanted an update from the president, and the president needed to step it up. how can the president stepped up, and he also said it is hard to line up -- is the have any intention of stepping forward on this? >> the president is going to get an update specifically on the provisions on id cards. my guess is we are more than one more republican away from immigration reform.

i appreciate that the president -- i am pretty sure he will be effective in talking to many of our friends on immigration reform. i am not lumping it all on to senator gramm. we can all the many republicans that have been for immigration reform at different parts in their career. the question is where are they? senator gramm is certainly well positioned to take their temperature and see what it will take for them to make progress on this issue. i think he will get an update on the id cards today and he will be interested in hearing from both of them on the nature of their proposal and whether that is their proposal that can garner increased bipartisan

support. >> the think immigration -- is the president this link directly with health care and the economy? [unintelligible] >> i do not know how directly it is linked to all those issues. as you mentioned, former president bush was a supporter of comprehensive immigration reform, and we made progress on that issue. again, i think the president is anxious to hear from others as to where they are. >> what specifically did the president discussed on health care with the congressional

black caucus. >> i think is going to discuss an outline of a proposal he put forward the reason that he believes the time is how to get it done, and asked not only for their support but for them to talk to their fellow members and build support in the house to get this done. >> there were concerns about the lack of a public auction. when is the president going to be open to hear about them? >> the president has outlined a proposal. different aspects of the proposal are being scored by cbo and evaluated by others. the legislation does not include a notoption. it does include -- it does not include a public option. i think you heard the president clearly last night. it is time to put the debate and the discussion to rest and vote.

he's going to arrest them to come to the table and support moving forward on this in a vote. >> a follow-up on the cbc. according to reports, is there tension between the congressional black caucus and the president, and does the cbc have the ear of the president? >> i have read the same stories you have. >> the stories have been circulating for a while. >> the president used to be a member of the congressional black caucus. i think the president's has first and foremost use every bit of his power and everything -- done everything he possibly could to help change the economic circumstances of this country.

he has done everything in his power to do what he can to get our economy moving again and put people back to work. to take the steps necessary to try to replace the jobs, some of the jobs we have lost, and build a foundation for jobs in the future. we talked about education. i think the president has worked on, throughout his time here, issues of great importance to the congressional black caucus and too many in the democratic party since being elected. >> on that no, many in the civil rights community are concerned that this president's and after

the meeting he had with civil- rights leaders, he was emphatic thing i do not have an urban agenda. >> i was shoveling my driveway during that meeting. i do not know that answer. i doubt seriously that the president said that. putting people back to work, keeping their health care costs low, improving our schools, in every way, shape, or form, that is an agenda that helps urban america, it helps rural america. the president has been very proactive on an agenda that helps members of the congressional black caucus. >> on emigration, after the meeting today, what is going to

be hopeful for the marines waiting for him to do something? they said they voted for him because they believed in him. now it has been a long time. it does not work, because the families are being pulled apart now more than before. >> we'll have a read out after the meeting. i will try to include something from the president on that. the president believes that the system we have right now is unworkable and unsustainable, that we have to have a comprehensive solution to a problem that we have dealt with for many years. his commitment to that is unchanged.

if we can see a path to getting this done in congress with bipartisan support, i can assure you the president is anxious to get this and many other things done. >> why is the president' meeting today in the white house with the racially segregated congressional black caucus, which rejected the membership applications of democrat congressman pete stark of california and steve cohen of tennessee because of their white skin? >> the president was a member of the congressional black caucus and looks forward -- >> does he approve of racial segregation like this or not? >> the president is not in charge of the membership of the cdc. >> but he does he disagree with

it? >> he is anxious to meet with their members. >> that is a very charming in days returning evasion. >> i appreciate the compliment. i think given that charm, i am going to skip out on your second part. thank you. [laughter] >> also at the white house today, members of the congressional black caucus met with president obama and spoke with reporters afterward about job creation efforts and other economic issues. this is about 10 minutes. >> our concern is the unemployment rate and the chronically unemployed communities which we all represent. we talked about the desperation we are feeling throughout the country. we talked about specific proposals we have been presenting to the president's such as direct job creation,

such as work force training, such as apprenticeship training programs to be tied to any infrastructure projects that we put forth. we also talked about how to target our federal resources to create dollars in areas of high unemployment. we talked about sectors of our economy they create jobs quickly, such as the health-care sector, weatherization, infrastructure and other areas where rican create jobs immediately. finally, we talked about the importance of finding new jobs. we know we can create summer jobs for over 1 million young people at minimal cost, and we want to do that. we need to do that quickly. many young people are helping to pay the bills and buying food for their families. summer is upon us, and we want to try to move forward with the

jobs bill for our use. the president was very responsive. we talked about what may or may not be doable, and we intend to look forward to turn this employment situation around and help with our economic recovery efforts. it has worked for some but not for all, so we want to make sure that economic recovery efforts and job creation leaves no one behind. thank you very much. >> [inaudible] >> the president has an agenda for the country. he has an office of urban affairs. he understands the chronically unemployed, the long term unemployment rate could get worse if we do not create jobs and create them quickly. we were very confident before and after the meeting that we have an agenda that we will move forward.

we understand is going to be tough, and that is why the cbc wanted to come over and talk about our plans because we have been working with and will continue to work with the president to put forth an agenda that is going to work. we met with the president today, as we have been meeting throughout the year on specific issues, to really talk about a common agenda. that is an agenda for our country and for our own community specifically. the president has always had our year. -- has always had our ear. if you are hearing grumbling, i do not know where you are hearing it from. the majority of caucus members are here, and we will continue to work on our legislative agenda and to fight for those who have been marginalized and

for those who need our help. things are desperate out there, as you know. the president is very concerned about summer youth jobs, and indicated his support for the summer youth job initiative and programs. we are working together on a package for summer youth jobs. we also talked about other efforts that could be immediate. we talked about how to make the weatherization initiative work a little bit better. we talked about the involvement of women on minority businesses. we are hearing from many in our district that the minority and women owned business provisions are not being enforced as they should, and the president indicated he would look into that. there are some immediate efforts that we think can take place that he responded to very appropriately.

the department of labour established a data formula where it targets federal funding based on micro data areas. where you have poverty rates of 15% and unemployment rates of 10% or higher. grants were distributed based on that formula, and it is addressing areas of high unemployment. >> what did you hear today from the president that you had not heard before? as we have been working with him since before he was president. he was a former member of the congressional black caucus. we talked specifically today about our agendas, our legislative agenda is to create jobs, and his agenda to create jobs, and are coordinated effort so that we can do everything we

can to turn this economy around. members of the cbc asked many questions, and he as many questions. he was very generous with his time. we talked about jobs and we talked a little bit about health care and some about education. that is in it, and we will talk to you individually. everyone asked questions that we could get to on our list, and we did talk about historically black colleges and universities and the commitment on his part to make sure that these historically black colleges and universities and minority service institutions were funded fully. thank you very much. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2010] . .

the witness to consider a joint strike fighter program. before we start this hearing, i want to remind the department of defense that formal statements of witnesses before the committee argued 48 hours before the hearing. we meet this requirement very clear and our formal communications with the department and it is important that that rule be met. " we understand there are circumstances beyond the control of individual witnesses that are the cause frequently so we are not using this hearing to single out any member of this panel. we have had this problem in a number of recent hearings and i simply ask that our witnesses and representatives of the department of defense to take this message back to the department. welcome general victor e.

renuart, jr. and general douglas m. fraser. renuart is nearing the completion of his tour of duty and he is planning on retiring later this year and this could be his last appearance before this committee. we give him there for a special welcome and a special thank you for his long service. general fraser is appearing before us for the first time as the southcom commander. thank you for your many years of dedicated service to the nation. we want to offer you our best wishes, general renuart as you conclude your long career. we would also ask both of you to

convey our gratitude to the men and women who serve in your commands and to their families for their commitment and their sacrifice in carrying out the missions of the commands in which they now serve and have previously served. u.s. northern command was created following the terrorist attacks of 9/11. it is charged with two primary missions, the defense of the u.s. and providing a defense support to civil authorities and circumstances with the u.s. military is needed to respond to natural or man-made disasters. the commander of the north and command is dole headed. as the commander of no red -- norad provides warning and control and maritime warning for north america. as indicated in our letter of invitation, we hope that general

renuart described the synergies between these and related -- into related commands. mexico is also in the northern command of responsibility and given the continued high level of drug-related violence in mexico and the attendant risks to southern border region, we hope that the general renuart will update him -- update us on his view of the current situation relative to mexico. finally, general renuart is the combatant commanders responsible for the operation of the ground- based defense system. that has interceptors' deployed in alaska and california to defend our nation from long- range missile attack. how that system has been of considerable interest to this committee and we look forward to discussing today. turning to the southern command area, general fraser and his

deputy commander have spent much of the last two months responding to the devastating human tragedies in haiti and more recently to a lesser extent in chile. the scope and scale of these tragedies remains difficult to imagine. the stories that have emerged have captured all of our hearts and have card -- and have called our people to action. we applaud the work of tens of thousands of soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who responded quickly, and provided much- needed emergency relief to the people of haiti. beyond haiti and chile, general fraser, the other challenges we face in this hemisphere remain complex. the drug trade in south and central america continues to boom and the illicit southward flow of guns and money continues to foster violence, corruption

and political instability. the region is not without its bad political actors, too. president chavez continues to undermine u.s. interests in the region and to do everything possible to maintain his own power and allied himself more closely with countries of concern like iran. president chavez's activities coupled with the guns and violence of the gun trade are cause for great concern. the southern command does have a good news story, as well. the colombian government continues to consolidate the gains of columbia by expanding security and government services for the purchase of -- to the farthest reaches of columbia. later this year, the colombians will head to the polls to elect a new president following a constitutional court decision that prevented the current president's from running for a third term. we thank you for being here and

look for two to estimate. >> i want to thank you in joining our hearing. i want to make it clear that the success of your command's daily operations and the fact that we did not hear about you every day in the news is a credit to you. it means that americans are safe along our northern and southern approaches. i.t. why both for your long years of service and for the surface of all the creature -- courageous soldiers under your command. general renuart, as was mentioned, this is her last appearance. we thank you for your years of dedicated service to this nation. there is no doubt that northern command and norad play a vital role in the safety of our homeland whether it is

dispatching jets to unidentified aircraft and aerospace or helpine. the resources and capabilities that you bring to the table are and audible. since the creation, norcom experienced a growing pains, to a new combat command. i am interested in hearing what steps you are taking to better operate and the environment today, particularly those outlined in the recent defense review. i look forward to hearing how the command as per -- improving coordination and communication and interrupt for ability between local, state, and federal authorities so that we avoid the confusion of the timber/-- september, 11. i am particularly concerned about how the northern command corvette to the department of homeland security and the

government of mexico along and the growing threat of a drug cartel. the increasingly capable even the drug cartels threaten not only our border states like arizona but the entire country. i believe there is no more important issue than protection of the homeland another forward to your testimony. it has been a trial by fire for general fraser. he were confirmed less than one year ago and we have experienced tour of the worst earthquakes on record in less than two months. i want to congratulate your team on the exceptional work you have done in supporting the international relief effort in providing assistance to those countries in the aftermath of those earthquakes. we have a number of interests

in central and south america but none so important as a neighbor in need. i am proud of your efforts and the men and women serving on the u.s.s. comfort who i am sure take for granted how critical they are to the lives of our wounded warriors and to the innocent victims of natural calamity around the world. i look forward to hearing how southern command is dealing with the unexpected costs of dealing with these catastrophes and the status report on the military to military reports and the region. i believe it is key to enhancing security by helping the region decrease drug and human trafficking, all of which threaten both regional and global stability. i look forward to your testimony. thank you, mr. chairman. >> thank you. but mr. but general renuart. -- let me start with general

renuart. >> good morning. as you are so kind to mention, this may be my last appearance before the committee point i want to thank all of the members of the community for the sustained support to provide to our command and to the men and women serving in the military. it is good to represent the men and women of both of our commands and talk about the developments over the last year and to mention some things where we can continue to grow and approved. we have to thank the men and women who served each day and wear the uniform as they defend our homeland. it is also important that we recognize the contributions of our senior enlisted leaders and i am pleased to have with me my command senior seated behind me. he is the first national guard senior enlisted leader selected for u.s. northern command. i would say that is a

competitive selection across active, reserve, and guard officers. we are pleased to have come a part of the team. i am also pleased to sit next to my good friend, the general fraser. our commands have partnered substantially across a broad variety of areas, first to fight the terrorism in the region, the movement of drugs coming to support law enforcement to ensure that illicit trade in trafficking is reduced. we have also partnered to support the seven command to provide military support in these humanitarian support efforts in the wake of the devastating earthquakes. we are pleased to be a part of the team. i have two principal missions and you have mentioned those. it is important to ensure that across a broad spectrum of issues from air sovereignty to maritime home time defense -- maritime defense and to support

federal agencies both the natural and man-made disasters as well as large-scale events like the vancouver olympics. our commands have created the synergy between each other that is inseparable. from morning to consequent management, that spectrum of activity is a symbol of what these two demands of grown to be. i am pleased to talk about those both today. it is important to note that members of the combined national response in many of these areas. we did not do it alone. the dot should not be the lead in many of these areas but -- de the dod is not the lead in many of these areas but a key partner. it is also important to note that with excellent relationships with our international partners. mexico is certainly in a

difficult struggle and is continuing to countering the drug organizations and we work very closely with the mexican military and their inter agency partners to ensure that the lessons we've learned and other places around the world are shared so we can give a strengthened capacity to the mexican government to allow them to succeed. they face significant challenges. we will continue to work aggressively with them and i look forward to discussing that with you. as for our canadian teammates, they stand shoulder by shoulder with us on the battlefields of afghanistan and also in this hemisphere, we work together. they partner with us from drug- trafficking to other issues and we provide support to them for special events. i mentioned the vancouver olympics. i want to thank the committee for the support you provided for the western hemisphere institute

for security. this is an important element to both of our commands. it allows us to establish relationships with senior leaders from other countries and it has allowed us to bridge into some of these tough topics will talk about later in the hearing. we both feel that it is critical to our ability to upper -- to operate within the region. it allows them to speak openly and to understand and maintain that academic freedom that we value and our institutions. our command has tried hard to insure our readiness and effectiveness are the best they can be. protecting our families, nation, communities. that is the most important and we have and we take that very seriously. as i complete my service to the nation, i want to tell you that this past three years has been extraordinary experience, much

more complex than i would have imagined. it created challenges that we are meeting and successfully achieving every day. i have to close by saying thank you to my family. for over 39 years, my wife has quietly endorsed moves, changes, challenges, from desert storm to appear today in the homeland. i want to go on the record to say thank you to her for her support and to my two sons who are serving in their own way. thank you. >> thank you. thank you for bringing your second-in-command with you. general fraser. >> thank you. i am honored to have this opportunity to appear before you today and provide my assessment of the southern command and our

assigned area of responsibility. i am joined this morning by my wife. i want to echo what general renuart has said. her dedication and support has been immense throughout. i appreciate that continued support. it is also my privilege to share this table with my good friend and mentor, renuart. for appearance together represents are close alignment and relationship between our two groups. i want to thank the members of this committee for your continued strong support of the united states and southern command and your outstanding soldiers and the civilian personnel whom i am privileged to leave. i have personally seen with these outstanding men and women are capable of doing during the response to the earthquake that struck haiti. the devastation was tremendous. latest estimates indicate over

to under 20,000 people were killed. and 300,000 people injured and 2 million people displaced. the u.s. responded swiftly and aggressively. it comprised of federal, state, civilian and military aid showing a joint and into-agency team work under usaid is the lead federal agent. several dod and government assets were in the vicinity of haiti. the deputy commander of the southern command was visiting haiti when the earthquake happened. he remains in place providing superb leadership to the task force. within 24 hours of the earthquake of a the coast guard cutter was off the coast of port-au-prince and a c-130 was on the ground support relief efforts. we begin serving the international airport.

navy aircraft from our joint location conducted reconnaissance. members of the southern command landed in began initial assessments but the first u.s. urban search and rescue team from fairfax county virginia arrived and established an air bridge. the aircraft carrier carl vincent and the uss baton were ordered to make best possible speed to haiti. joint interagency responders, all of these agencies were working to support the people in government of haiti before the first 24 hours had elapsed. over the span of the next three weeks, the size and scope of the military response grew to a peak of just over 22,000 personnel

involved in the release efforts including an airport brigade combat team, the hospital ship, a second unit, engineering, planning, communications, and medical experts. the court did with the embassy and the united nations and other international organizations to determine where the capabilities of the military could be rapidly brought to bear to support the government of haiti. supported by u.s. transportation command, in absences joint command, are force has dramatically expanded the air force capacity and open the sea port to allow for vital in flow of supplies. forces distributed to 0.6 million liters of water, 2.2 million meals and 149,000 pounds of medical supplies. we used to did 70 million pounds

of bulk food. -- we distributed 270 pounds of bulk food. -- 270 million pounds of bulk food. the men and women who deployed to haiti have performed magnificently and of the very embodiment of the teamwork across the department of defense. they have been outstanding representatives of our military with their professionalism, sense of urgency, focus, and compassion. they continue to make this extremely proud. i would not have been able to perform this mission to the level of success which is -- we achieved without the support of the other commanders and the joint staff and the office of the secretary of defense. general renuart provided and viable systems. we could not have accomplished so much so quickly without the personnel of his command.

less than two months after the catastrophe in haiti, tragedy struck again in the region when an 8.8 earthquake shook chi le. seven command offered to assist in whatever manner the government needed. within one day of the earthquake, for distributed -- and we sent satellite phones. we are supporting them with transport aircraft, a field hospital and a survey team. as the embassy cornets with the government of chile to determine additional support need, we stand by. we have recently been focused on responding to natural disasters, we continue to address other challenges in the region. illicit trafficking, gangs and the potential for the spread of weapons of mass destruction or

did weapons of mass destruction remain issues. a hot and players from outside the region continue to broaden region of books and positions. addressing the challenges of our region requires an approach that involves the department of defense but to that end, the southern command works not only to strengthen partner to ability and capacity but to also build important cooperative security relationships throughout the region with our partners. the most part, our military to military relations throughout

the region remains strong. finally, i would like to think this committee for your continued strong support for the western hemisphere institute for support emerging for security and for the hard work of my fellow board members who sit on this committee. as a customer once said, i can attest to the critical, especially focused on human rights. but a close by saying the tragedy in haiti is a stark reminder severe challenges we can face. the culture of cooperation and transparency we have developed, the relationships we have built are entering and consistent throughout the region. the infant since -- the emphasis we put on partnering in the past few years have all paid a particularly high return on the investment and operation unified response. this was the largest in the form -- disaster relief ever conducted in the region. it is important to recognize that general king attended the

brazilian staff college. the relationship had started a long time ago and paid huge dividends during unified response. thank you for your interest and your support of southern command. i look forward to answering your questions. " thank you. 3çd hears that general renuart isçd going to have her husband back full time soon. let me ask you some questions first. one of the major objectives in the creation of the northern command was to create a dedicated command the support civil authorities. the department of defense is now setting up a cyber command under strategic command which appears

that will provide direct support to civil authorities and cyberspace both in defense of the government and in defense of commercial networks. is there a role for northern command inside cedras' security? >> there absolutely is a role. we have developed a strong relationship with u.s. strategic command as hon cyber comes up. our role is many of our mission partners operate outside the traditional environment. our partnership with the department of homeland security, as they provide security to the .gov domains, we are building a

close relationship and we determine the requirements that must be met to provide security. >> general renuart, the administration has a policy of requiring realistic testing of missile defense systems. there is a new missile defense master test plan designed to collect data necessary to provide confidence in the operational effectiveness of all of our missile defense systems including the ground-based recourse defense system. to you agree it is necessary to have realistic operational testing? to you believe it will provide the basis for having confidence in the capabilities and reliability of the system over its service life? >> i do support that and i do

believe it will give us good data to support the systems. we work closely with the missile defense agencies on this. >> last year, secretary gates kept the system -- capped the system at a 30 operational ground-based interceptors to make significant improvements. congress approved that plan. and you agree with sector defends dates -- secretary of defense gates with this decision? >> i do believe it provides us that ability. i am confident in the capabilities of the systems. i think the approach identified by the secretary will allow us to grow a broader system of the ability against potential threats. >> the president knows the new plan for direct has been

immensely recommended by secretary gates in the joint chiefs of staff. that plan includes a number of elements that are intended to enhance defense of the united states against potential long- range iranian missiles. development of an improved version of the standard missile. and to you agree that this approach being planned will improve our capability against long-range missiles from iran caused by >> i absolutely agree. i think we will continue to see the testing and development of the systems as they mature. initial information looks very promising. >> there was a recentgmd flight

test at the end of january or the system failed to achieve an intercept. can you tell us why it failed? >> i am not a true expert at this but my understanding is the operational integration between the radar and the intercept the vehicle itself had a software glitch which prevented information from reaching the interceptor in an important phase of that flight test. i know that we're working very carefully to correct the software issue. we look forward to the review which will be the next test coming out shortly. >> we understand there were two issues. if he would submit for the record rather that his record and if so with the second problem was. >> if i could, could i take that.

we will that that's the 72 back to the committee. >> the colombian constitutional court last month ruled that the president would not be permitted to run for a third term. has there been a fallout from that? is there enough time to have an appropriate election in this fairly short period of time? are things calm and are their concerns? >> i do not have any concerns. i think there is adequate time to hold the election. the process has been calling on while the supreme court was deliberating on the decision. i think there is adequate time. there are a number of candidates who are actively running and so i am confident that colombia will be able to run a fair and equitable election. >> relative to cuba, as i

understand it, we have almost no military contact with cuba. the only ongoing contact is low- level monthly fence talks. there is also a case by case corp. in the anti-drug efforts, particularly at sea. there is notice if there are fast those going through cuban waters. i am wondering, assuming that there is no prohibition and we do not think there is a prohibition of that type of contact, is there any value and increased u.s. military contact with the to the military? >> there is a tactical level

interaction. the coast guard has a liaison in havana. our of understanding, and i will go back and check this, is that relations are prohibited until the government of cuba elected democratically elected official and does not include either fidel castro or his brother as part of that government. that is our understanding from an engagement with military. we look to engage with every military organization within the region. we continually do that with all of our partners. if legislation is presented, we would welcome that opportunity. >> of and double check because we did not read it that way.

we welcome your testimony. in terms of the situation with haiti, i believe you mentioned that there are some redeployments that are going on and will continue. there are some enablers that the seven command will need and dumped some capabilities that you believe in haiti. can you describe that briefly? >> we are still in the discussion of that and planning. it is an evolving situation. the focus on the ground is helping to make sure to shelter and sanitation and security needs are met. especially for the numbers of displaced people. that is the evolving situation right now. we're looking to support the international efforts with the right types of capabilities. i do not have that definition much now of what that would be.

>> that me ask both of you on the subject that we spent some time on and we will be considering. that is the possible repeal of don't ask, don't tell. let me ask you your personal views. the general renuart, what are your personal views whether we should continue that policy or if we should repeal it. >> mr. chairman, my personal view is probably very close to what you have heard testified a short time ago. i believe we have all served to the course of our tenure with individuals who were gay or lesbian and were not allowed to talk about that. i think those individuals served honorably. i think the importance of maintaining the standards of discipline is critical to our military. i believe we should not hold

those individuals hostage because of the policy we have. i think it is appropriate that we conduct the detailed study we have been asked to conduct of that we understand the implications and then move forward. >> general fraser? >> my views very much correspond to general renuart. i think it is appropriate that we do to levirate understanding of what the president's intent is in relation to don't ask, don't tell. i support what general renuart said. >> thank you. >> thank you, mr. chairman. all of us have served with people who are of that sexual orientation. they have served honorably. that is not the question. the question which i think you

have entered and i guess i would ask you to repeat is we have to understand the implications of repeal before we make a decision on appeal. would that be an accurate reflection of your view? >> it would be. >> i agree. >> a moratorium would obviously be a defect or repeal of the policy before we understand the implications for battle effectiveness on the men and women in the military. i appreciate your views and i share them. for the congress of the u.s. to take action before we have had a strong review of the policy, would you agree, the best way to proceed? >> just to be clear, it is my view that we should have a

moratorium. i think we should not have a moratorium when we conducted this. as the secretary and service chiefs have indicated, that would cause some confusion in that process. it is better to let the steady go and then make a decision. >> thank you. their efforts to impose a moratorium which would be tantamount to repeal but i would like to move on. general renuart, could you describe to me in terms that americans can understand about how dangerous the situation is on our southern border in relation to the drug cartels and the existential threat to the government of mexico. i am asking you to make a chart the problems of corruption and the possibility that that violence can spill over onto our side of the border. this is an issue that i did not

know why americans have not had the visibility of how great a threat and danger this is to the very existence of the government of mexico and the effect it is having on public opinion in mexico. >> thank you to that question. as you mentioned, this is the principal struggle the government of mexico is undergoing. the president has courageously put his military into the field to take this on where local law enforcement officials have been corrected or intimidated. that is not the role of the mexican military. we are working very closely to share the lessons we learned in places like afghanistan and others to do that. violence in many places has been substantial. we are close to 7000 murders that occurred in 2009. >> 7000 murders? >> 7000. drug-related murders were

generally cartel on cartel. but that spills over into the population. >> murder of individuals who are a part of a mexican drug and enforcement and military and others, that singled them out for assassination including those trained by the u.s. is that true? >> i am not sure about the last payment. i know we have had some people were trained in that were involved. >> who were assassinated. >> i believe there are a small number that were u.s.-trained. your other statement is absolutely correct. these are individuals who are competing for market share and the drug business. cartels are very aggressively taking each other on to build the distribution process and market share. that continues. we are working aggressively

without mexican partners to help build an intra-agency capacity for mexico to deal with this. i am cautious when we talk about the level of threat to the mexicans government because i think the president is strong and he enjoys the support and is aggressively working and growing 18. >> i do not mean to interrupt you. is it not also true that mexican public opinion, because of this level of violence, is beginning to turn in the wrong direction? >> we have seen that the public opinion polls have come down on this regard. although i will say in recent months, i have seen some numbers with the mexican people have continued to express their support for the president's efforts. it is a little bit of the balance. finally, very quickly, with respect to the border area -- >> you also mention corruption. >> absolute.

especially in the local police areas. the local government officials. that element of corruption has become significant. it is the means by which the cartel's create their influence on government, essentially to the them alone and not interfere with the drug trade business. there has been a substantial effort placed by the mexican government to replace corrupt officials in the towns and communities. it takes time to build the soldiers back up. that is still a work in progress. >> for the record, would you provide the committee with recommendations of what you think we need to do, including the success or failures? i understand we are spending about $400 million per year

cooperating with the mexican government. >> that is correct. i can give you a much more detailed look in that area. >> and thank you. i am going to turn to cuba. just in the last week or so, a young man died on hunger strike. after a small experiment with free enterprise, the government has cracked down. they have been even more brutal in their oppression of human- rights and to their presence -- prisons have a large number of political dissidents who have sought to exercise their rights as human beings. is that true?

>> that is true. >> is there also evidence that from time to time, there has been a cover meant facilitating -- a government facility think the drug trade? >> i cannot confirm that. >> has there been any corporation that you know of on the part of the cuban government in trying to retrain -- restrain the drug trade? cook's fifth we have cooperation and i got the expert on this because this is within the u.s. coast guard and as we look at migration and the drug trade within the streets around cuba. >> is there any doubt that castro has been more repressive in the past year or two than they have been? >> i think they have continued to remain fairly strict on the

populace. i cannot quantify with that has been more restrictive. >> let me recommend various human rights organizations writings that testified that the cuban cooperman is more oppressive. i strongly -- the cuban government has been more oppressive. i strongly urge you read that. it could be and lightning. -- it could be and lightning. it could be enlightening.' did you have any information on that or other activities on the part of the venezuelan government? >> i cannot have any direct information on that.

we have continued to watch very closely for any connections between the listed and terrorist organization activity within the region. we have not seen any connections specifically that i can verify that there has been a direct government terrorist connection. >> you have seen evidence of the relationship between farc and the venezuelan government. >> i know that there is evidence of farc -- >> they had the hard drives. when they raided the camp on the venezuelan side of the border. >> the ratid -- >> on the other side. >> there has been some old

evidence but i do not see that evidence. i cannot tell you specifically whether that continues or not. -- >> my time has expired. thank you. >> senator lieberman. >> thank you. thank you to both of you for your service. let me add my personal think you -- let me add my personal thank you for 40 years of service. i wish you the best in the next chapter. your wife will be happy with your retirement. having watched others retire, i would say on her behalf that i hope you get a part-time job. >> i will work on that. >> let me begin with you, general. as chair of the homeland security committee, i am very interested and appreciative of the way in which the northern command has organized a

consolidated the involvement in homeland defense. you bring a unique and critically important skills together with the homeland security department. the department of defense has been standing up three brigades as a response forces to respond to chemical, biological, or nuclear attack on the homeland. i have been very impressed by that. i am appreciative of that. i was on settled a bit in the recent qdr said that it would scrap the second and third of those and replace them in with 10 smaller a homeland response forces to be put into each of the 10 finan regions around the country under the department of

homeland -- 10 fema regions around the country under the department of homeland security. i wanted to ask you as you depart this command how you feel about that change and whether you feel these regional forces can do as good a job at homeland defense has the response management courses? >> thank you. this is an issue that went through a lot of discussion during the defense review. we worked very hard to create those sized forces over the past

few years. we have crafted to of those. the third was to be made operational this year. the concern with the defense review is that these forces may not be as responsive as a force that is deployed and lives out in each of these regions. after much discussion, the secretary has made a decision to adjust to this format a bit. our role in this has been involved in the discussions but to take the concept that this developed and turn it into an operational construct that is effective and acceptable. that is ongoing. i think that there is some work to do still to ensure not only you have trained and equipped

forces they are accessible and agile and deployable enough to meet the expectations and the assumptions that are central to the qdr discussion. is it possible that there will be as effective? i think it is. it depends on the fact that we will make a commitment to train and fund and make these integrated will into a capable force on a large-scale event occurs. we are working hard on that role. we still have work to do before i can give you a definitive answer. >> you phrased it exactly in terms of my concerns which is whether these regional forces will be able to quickly deploy with the range of skills to the site of an attack where we will need something as large as a brigade or two or three to

protect the people and stand up the region again. will the one brigade remain in effect? >> yes but it will grow by about 700 individuals the same critical skills. that will remain. it will be focused on active to the brigade so it is gives you the most rapid access to that force. in addition, we will have to smaller -- two smaller forces that are the command-and- control, logistics' and immediate life-saving capabilities in the region and there. >> and me move on -- let me move

on to the ground system that has been mentioned. the system we're going to now, there is some question about the future of the interceptor. there are supposed to be tests going on. i wanted to ask you as you prepare to retire if you believe we should continue to develop and test the interceptor? for instance, as a hedge against a possible iranian break out and weather, particularly in regard to homeland defense, whether you have studied options for deploying a two-stage interceptor in the u.s. to give

them another layer of the fence? >> the operational test program does continue to include both the two and three stage tests. we have had discussions with the department and missile defense agencies. our support for the adaptive approach is strong. we are confident it has real potential that we have also asked the secretary to not foreclose the capabilities that might be residents and multi staged interceptors. my information is that continues to stay on track. with respect to the phase adaptive approach, i think the information so far looks very positive. a very capable system. we are supportive of that. we think gives us great added depth to our homeland defense

capabilities. we do not want to foreclose any possibilities in the future. >> good to hear. i agree with that totally. general fraser, let me ask you a big picture question. the regional commanders have some of the best views of the regions and which they lead because of the comprehensiveness of their contact with the region. as you step back and look at the southern command, there seems to be an ongoing conflict or competition between the forces of freedom and forces of dictatorship and a socialist economies and free economies. friends of the united states and enemies of the united states. at this moment, where would you say the momentum is?

who is winning? how are we doing in the area of your responsibility? >> overall, we're doing well. we continue to have positive relations with most of the nation's within the region, especially from a military to military standpoint. if we see that very directly. there are only a couple instances where that has been reduced. venezuela is one of those. bolivia is another. overall, those relationships remain good. i see competition as dimension within the region for various ideologies. they're coming from various directions. that competition continues today. i see the view of the united states and growing. there is a 71% approval rating of the u.s. within the general

populace within latin america. i see a positive trend from our relations. >> thank you. 71% may be higher than the appreciation of the united states in america today. i hope we can catch up with them. thank you. >> thank you. let me echo the comments people have made about the service. let me tell you what i am not going to ask you. i will not ask you if we should close gitmo. i want to get into my records my personal feelings. i have studied it. there has never been a case of water boarding and the treatment of people is good down there. it is a secure location. there are approximately 200 terrorists left of the low

hanging fruit is gone. once the terrorists are physically in the u.s., there should be no doubt that these terrorists will gain additional constitutional rights and fall within the jurisdiction of the federal courts. leading up to 9/11 were not the result of gitmo. the repeated attempts to attach to this country or not a result of guantanamo bay. those guys hate us and want to kill everybody in this room. the americans across the country, they understand this. all of these people who are coming up with these great ideas of what we could do to bring the

terrorists to the u.s. for incarceration or trial go to elaborate detail as to how we can do this and what it will cost. there is a simpler answer, leave it open. . . >> i am proud of the men and women of the military to provide that. >> you do not need to elaborate. sergeant major carter has been there several times.

her comment -- she is in charge of the prison system. she said, "go back and tell the people in washington that is a jewel that has been running properly." i do not want to belabor that. that is a decision made by your commander in chief. i do not want to put you in an awkward position. following up on something that has been said by senator lieberman, at general renuart -- you and i talked about this in my office. i was strongly in support of a surge. that would have given us the possibility of knocking something down by 2012, maybe 2015. ironically, that is when we think the iranians are going to have the capability of sending something over. in response to the chairman's question, we have ground-based stuff out there in california and alaska. i am not comfortable when i look

at these maps. i will not ask you how you stand on going back to that position in the czech republic. i would say that since we are looking at the fm32b -- we do not have a date on that. that is for short and medium- range of 2018. i still believe that we should reconsider that. i would only ask you this question. are you at all concerned that we are going to have the sm32b capability soon enough? >> senator, the intelligence question on when the iranians will field a real capability obviously has moved around a bunch. we want to make sure that we are providing sufficient capability to defend our own country.

i believe with the current alaska-based and brandenburg- based systems we can meet that need if we see a proliferation of capabilities from iran. we certainly need to consider expanding that capability. >> since you are going to be bailing out of this -- we talked about that. i certainly wish -- 39 years? >> that is correct. >> it has been a great service. i would ask you, in the remainder of time i have -- now that you are going out and can reflect back, you know and general fraser knows how strongly i feel about our equipment programs and training programs. i feel that some of these programs were not -- the civilians should have been left where it was. that is my own personal opinion. in terms of one size fits all, in training and equipment

programs -- i met the ccif program th, the fms, and all th. between countries, taylor making -- any thoughts you would like to leave us on that subject? >> it is a good program. we can all agree. would it be better? >> this is key and essential to all of our operations around the world. i have spent 13 years in nato. i have spent five and a half years in southeast asia and in the pacific. in every case, those combatant commanders would tell you that the 1206 fms -- all of those building partnership capacity programs are critical to allow us to do just what doug fraser said. they know each other. they have worked together. they have been in school together, created training relationships.

we have to keep those programs intact and support them, and work through the department to department challenges to make them easier to take advantage of. they are critical to success. >> i have spent a disorder that amount of time in some of the african nations. not just there, but in the balkans, i have left with the idea that we made a mistake at one time. we were treating it as if we are doing them a favor by allowing them to come here to our country to train with our people. i became pretty convinced, after a period of time, that we should have lifted -- which we did -- the article of requirement that we had for allowing them to come in. it is to our benefit more than it is to their benefit. once these people come in and train, no matter what facility it is -- the train with our people, get that quality of

training. and allegiance is formed that never leaves. do you think that is right? >> absolutely. my youngest son spent years in senegal, in the peace corps. he will say american out which is critical. >> my time has expired. general fraser, do you agree with our conversation here and our opinions? >> yes. i completely agree. >> thank you, mr. chairman. >> thank you, senator inhoff. senator reid? >> thank you for your service and dedication not only to the american military but to the nation. thank you very much. general renuart, a disturbing phenomenon seems to be the increasing sophistication in armaments of the mexican drug cartels -- assault weapons, anti-tank weapons, sophisticated

night vision devices and communication devices. where are these coming from? >> the very first meeting i had in mexico, the military leadership outlined their concern over what they called u.s. trafficking of weapons into mexico. clearly, there is no doubt there are weapons moving north to south in mexico. we have partnered closely with our law-enforcement friends to help provide information for the mexican military. they have collected the forensics and so we can prosecute. there have been over 40 prosecutions in the last two years of weapons dealers. certainly, we see an involvement in this country with respect to illicit weapons trade. we are seeing that move from other nations around the world as well. i think this is a hemispheric problem. both fraser and i talked about this. it is something we need to continue to work on.

>> do you think we are taking effective steps? what seems to be ironic is that in some of these reported incidents the drug cartels and outgun the military and the police. that is unfortunate. >> yes, sir. in fact, we see 50 caliber weapons. we see rocket-propelled grenades. we see a variety of those things being used. that is increasingly a concern to the mexican military. it has resulted in them being more forthcoming with serial numbers and that sort of thing. it allows our law enforcement to take some action. >> we have to -- i would assume -- do we have to do much more on our side of the border? >> i believe we do. our law enforcement partners are eager to do that, continuing that information sharing between the two nations.

>> on the other side, we are supplying both sides, essentially, in this battle. under the department of state initiative, which provided helicopters and light attack aircraft -- is that being used effectively? >> senator, it is. the mexicans are appreciative that we accelerated that process to help meet the objectives. we delivered the first five of the helicopters this past december. we will deliver two or three more this year, patrol aircraft, computer systems that will allow them to use information to do border security, to communicate better. all of that has been put in place, night vision goggles. the mexicans are also reaching out to us for the training associated with integrating these to be effective. we have made great progress in that regard.

we need to continue that effort. it should not just be a one or to your event. it is a relationship over time. >> is there a danger of some of the border states of mexico becoming uncovered spaces that would invite -- and governeungo spaces that would invite not only drug cartels but terrorists to set up shop? >> i would not characterize it as ungoverned spaces. >> i am not suggesting the mexican government is incompetent. there is just turmoil there. >> there is turmoil. local governments is corrupt in some places. that is the focus of president calderon and his attorney general as well as senior military leaders. that has allowed him to push -- enabled him to push forces out to try to help reduce that.

we have a very good relationship with the mexican border state commanders as well. >> thank you. general fraser, your comments on the flow of weapons and other items not from the united states but from other areas in the hemisphere. >> we find there is a flow. a lot of the flow is headed toward colombia and central america. a lot of the weapons are originating in central america from weapons that were sold there in the '80s. we also see a flow that is coming out of the united states in that direction. >> let me switch back to the cvrne high yield explosive teams you have put together and the consequence management response force. can you give us an update of their deployment and their

effectiveness? >> we actually exercise one of those forces this year from standing start. we mobilized them, deployed them, and put them into action in a very realistic scenario in indiana at the end of last year. comments from the urban search and rescue association professionals in this business where that it is as good as any they have seen. the fairfax unit, for example -- any they have seen in the world. i am happy with the quality and capability of these forces. as we continue to grow this concept, we want to maintain that standard of capability for the people of this country. we will work hard at that. >> let me ask you a general question. that is the status of the equipment for the national guard. they are a major partner in your efforts at north facom.

>> the national guard, on average across the country, is up from 40% equipage to 70%. that is new equipment. the tranquillity is up. we are especially pleased that equipment related to home and support missions is close to 100% in most of the states. >> general fraser, you have many roles, both air, sea, and land. southern command's naval forces -- do they encounter narcotics operations? >> the dod mission is to support the detection and monitoring of the transit of illicit goods, primarily through the military -- through the maritime environment of the eastern pacific. working through the interagency task force south and the interagency group, which support the detection and monitoring in those areas, u.s. navy ships do

that as well as coast guard ships and aircraft. once those are detected, we hand them off to law enforcement organizations. >> we all read recently about the growing uses of submersible vehicles to move drugs. is that a continuing upward trend? >> actually, it has decreased. we saw 68 movements, primarily in the eastern pacific, in 2008. last year, we saw 46. that is just a one-year sample size, but that is the most recent data. that is the first decline we have seen. >> thank you. >> thank you, senator reid. >> mr. chairman, i want to thank you for your opening comments on the connection between iran and venezuela.

i know senator mccain spoke about that, too. we have had the opportunity to speak a lot about that. that is a topic i want to explore today. thank you both for your service. general renuart, 39 years is incredible. thank you to both of your spouse's. we put our spouses through a lot, so i think them. speaking to the growing influence of iran in the region -- i recently had an opportunity to visit columbia hawks and to meet and -- -- to visit colombia. we spoke about the recent attempt -- the assassination attempt on president uribe. they're trying to bring drugs into the united states. do you consider venezuela to be

the biggest destabilizing factor in the region, in terms of our national security interests? >> senator, i do not know if i would take it as far as the biggest destabilizing factor. they are continuing a pursuit of reducing u.s. influence in the region. they are working with various countries and entities to try and enable that. >> let me try it this way. is there a country in latin america that is working against our interests as much as venezuela? >> senator, i would argue that as we look at cuba they are also in that same vein. >> we have seen some recent articles calling it "venecuba." there are a venezuelan officials working within the cuban government.

the focus on mexico -- we have this whole central american region that runs -- we have columbiombia on the tip and it runs up to mexico. we have drug-trafficking chains. we squeeze the balloon in one place, they find another way to go. if we shut down the submersibles, they take more air flights. if we stop them at sea, they come overland. i know our ambassador in panama is concerned about the increased traffic through the isthmus there. what is your focus? i assume there is coordination. what is the focus and what is the plan going forward to combat this narcotics trafficking? do you have any concerns that with the projection of influence of iran in the region, the idea that we know that hezbollah and hamas have set up shop in the

region, that there could be a combination between those groups and the narcotics traffickers? >> senator, if i could start with that. from a destabilizing standpoint, the biggest concern i have in the region is illicit crack. i think it is growing as a regional issue throat, and spreading to other parts of the region. brazil is now the second-largest cocaine user in the world. it is the criminal elements of that -- the illicit trafficking that is my biggest concern. what we are looking to do -- our national intelligence community is taking the opportunity to look at illicit trafficking as a regional enterprise, not just what is affecting an individual country. we have the opportunity to understand that enterprise as an enterprise, to try to push on all sides of the balloon rather than just on one part of that balloon, to see if we can start

squeezing a balloon down. that is really the efforts that are ongoing. that is in direct correlation and coordination with the u.s. northern command emergency task force. everybody is working this with law enforcement to try to get a better understanding. >> senator, i agree with general fraser's comment that we have to approach it as an enterprise. that starts in our own cities. 230 cities in our country have seen increases in drug-related gang violence. we need to work that internally. in addition, coronation from supply to demand is critical if you are going to make a difference. our commands work closely and have partnered with mexico from the south and the north to try to arrest some of that flow. the mexicans have been increasingly eager for that

coordinated support from both of us. i think there is a real opportunity. we are both committed to continue working at it. more importantly, we have support from our friends in customs and the dea and other federal agencies. >> i know in traveling to colom bia that they are going to be training some folks from mexico on helicopter operation. that is a good step. general fraser, you and i have discussed in private that i want you to stay focused on iran's projected influence in the region. i am worried that those trafficking chains could be used for other purposes. we had an emergent threat subcommittee meeting chaired by my colleague. to a person, everyone in knowledge that iran is the world's number one sponsor of terror. when i see it, then a shot --

when i see a flood and the jthe president of iran traveling in venezuela, i want to focus on that. let me focus on colombia specifically. we have been trying to pass a free-trade agreement. i think it has implications beyond trade. it has implications on our friendship with colombia. do you see that as being a positive step forward if we could get that ratified? >> i think it would be a very positive step. one of the things with security in the region is the opportunity to have stable economies and vibrant economies. colombia has that. i think a free-trade agreement would enhance that and give an alternative to the illicit traffickers. >> i assume you agree a free- trade agreement with panama would also be productive? >> yes. >> i want you to switch gears a

little. in your opening statement, you referred to russian flights probing american and canadian air space. can you comment on the activities of those russian airplanes? they were probing our air space not specifically. you set up some fighters in response. can you talk to that a little bit? >> very quickly -- we have seen an increase in the last few years of russian long-range training flights approaching our sovereign airspace. in our norad role, we have been conducting the surveillance and response mission for over 52 years. we have trained well-equipped capabilities to monitor our airspace. we attempt to identify any aircraft that is not on a flight plan, not identified, not talking to people on the radio, so that we understand their attentions. we continue to do that.

the russians have long close to our air space in the aleutian chain. nothing is threatening us. there aviator's act professionally. we want to make sure we do not allow any aircraft from any source to enter our airspace without being identified. >> do you have an assessment of their intentions? >> the russians have neglected, if you will, there bomber force for many years, i think because of financial concerns. the influx of energy money has allowed them to refocus some of that. we are seeing more of the training they used to conduct, not at the levels of the cold war days. that characterize as the bulk of what they are doing. >> thank you, mr. chairman. >> thank you, senator. we talked about chile -- there is a report that in the middle of the inauguration ceremony there was a magnitude 7.2 earthquake reported in chile.

it is not as bad as the earlier one, but it is still significantly sized earthquake. >> i thought i would not have time. i snuck around and broke some rules and gave your wife a hug behind your back. i want you to know that. it is good to see you again. general renuart, i have a couple of questions first, and then i will have a couple for general fraser. with the arctic and some of the work going on with climate change, i smelting -- ice melting. there are three commands that manage the arctic. is there an opinion you have in regards to this? my personal review -- i leave it to the military to figure this out. we have to unify it at some

point like we did with africom, the same situation of two or three commands. as we move more into understanding what opportunities, but also challenges -- i think the senator just mentioned one of those with the allusions -- the aleutians. are you starting to think about this? can you give me some thoughts on that? >> i was the farmer buys commander of the pacific air force. as you know, doug fraser was the commander of the air force. i always felt it was important for norad to try to reduce the number of hats we asked him to wear. we continue that effort. we will have some discussions this year, a unified command

discussion to help streamline that process. there is concern that we provide for an active defense capability for alaska. during world war two, the aleutian chain was invaded and held by the japanese. that is something we do not want to repeat. that mission falls in u.s. northern command. we want to partner with pacific command and the chairman of the joint chiefs to better streamline the process. maybe we can take one or two hats off and get back to a manageable amount. >> do you agree -- 30 years is the estimate that all summer will be ice free. thinking now about it is probably to our advantage, rather than thinking 10 years down the line. is that a fair statement? >> absolutely. the arctic -- none of us are

expert to know how much open water for how long. certainly, we are going to see more navigable water in the arctic. it is an area where we have not focused national attention for a period of time. before the last administration left, they published a paper of strategy on the arctic. that is a great start. we need to continue that effort. i think we should partner with the arctic council nations on a common strategy for research and for development, to settle disputes. finally, i know the senate will continue to consider this. the it you and all of the sea treaty is something that is critical -- the u.n. "law of the sea" treaty is something that is critical. we support ratification of that as soon as we can. >> one question that comes up -- tell me if you can -- some are

concerned that by the united states being part of that treaty that we will give up some of our sovereignty. do you believe that statement? >> i do not. united states sovereignty is something we protect dearly. i do not believe we would give that up. >> let me ask you on the missile defense system in alaska -- a great debate last year. should it be 40 or should it be 30? the decision was, through mutual discussion -- this committee did a lot of work to get through the agreement -- of 30. do you still agree with that statement that there should be 30 operational weapons there? >> i think that is the right number. i think the additional missiles that will be constructed are not restricted from being used if they were needed. that gives us some capacity if it were required. >> i want to thank you for that.

i think one of the things you have done is create flexibility that the spending on the -- that depending on the situation you could have and the structure available to handle that. is that a fair statement? >> yes, sir. >> i want to make sure -- in the 2010 budget, there is probably $13 million to continue to deal with face two up there to get it completed. i know through the work of the defense department that it needs closer to $100 million to finish all the work that is necessary to keep the flexibility as the close downfield one, which is a test site. how do you think you will go about making sure those revenues, those resources, continued to make sure the basic infrastructure is available to take care of field one, which is

in deplorable condition? i know those are not the technical words. >> let me provide you some more details, for the record. we worked closely with general riley. he believes we can keep field two on track. let us get back to you with some specifics on that. >> please, do whatever you can to keep them moving along. the mobilization of people and equipment -- when you demobilize is more costly. this is a huge opportunity. the way we rolled it back last year was to give flexibility as you saw fit. i encourage them to move forward. last question -- i do not want to leave you out, general fraser. as more renewable energy is being debated in alaska, one issue is wind turbines.

general renuart, how are you dealing with that and understand it? i know it is very small, but we are starting to hear some concerns that it may interfere with the mission in airspace. are you working with the civilian population to make sure we manage this correctly? are there things we need to look out for as we deal with an energy bill and making sure the military is not forgotten? >> it is a great question. quickly, there is a challenge as we develop windfarms. we also see it with new building construction. that development has interfered with the send-receive capability of our ground-based radar. i sent a letter to secretary gates asking for a formal body to be formed allowing us to review these so a developer has a place to ask these questions. the assistant secretary for

homeland defense could lead that for the department. we are partnering with the faa and others. we need to continue to make this process mature. we have had questions from senator webb and others on similar issues. we know that is a real concern, and we are committed to work that aggressively. >> please keep us informed. that is great. last question. general fraser, i feel i have to ask you a question because i do not want to lead you there. you are a great addition to our alaska team. i know you are doing a great job in southern command. we have had great discussions. i wanted to ask you -- you and i had a conversation about a special unit within your organization that deals with humanitarian concerns. the work to do -- we talked briefly about how it is appropriate for your command but may not be as appropriate for other commands. have you found that component,

that unit, of high value in assisting you with the situations in central america and the southern command section? maybe you could expand on that. >> you're talking human rights? >> yes. >> we have a human rights office that has been in existence for a number of years. it has a human rights initiative in which 34 countries from around the region have all signed up to active programs. it has enabled a lot of significant progress throughout the region. colombia has come up fairly dramatically in their efforts and their focus on this. guatemala has the same. they are very much connected. it is a vibrant office. it is actively pursuing and enabling and enriching human rights discussions throughout the region. >> it is unique to southern command, is that correct? >> southern command is the only

combatant commands that has one of these. it is a resource that is available to the community. >> i want to thank you for our conversation, especially during the earthquake, and the work you have done there, and your troops and all their affiliated services that came to the call. i have heard great description of your capacity to stay up many long nights and sleep on whatever is available in order to keep the command working. i want to thank you and the troops for doing such a good job under a very unique situation, and how fast you mobilized. >> it is a great team effort. thank you. >> good to see you both. generals, thank you very much. >> let me announce that when we begin the second hearing we will follow the same order of recognition that we have been following for the first hearing. we are not going to start a new

or changed order in terms of recognition of senators. everybody can know where they stand. senator collins. >> general, let me thank you for your 39 years of extraordinary service. i assume that now that you are retiring you will be able to get to maine's franco-american festivals to celebrate your heritage. i look forward to being your personal guide at any of those festivals. i want to bring up an issue that is an increasing problem in my state. that is the problem of drug trafficking across the northern border. there has been a great deal of focus and discussion this morning about the problem with the mexican drug cartels.

unfortunately, the violence -- and fortunately the violence at the northern border is not anything like what we have seen at the southern border. that does not mean drug trafficking is not a problem. it is such a problem that last december maine's federal judges met with me to express their alarm about the enormous increase in drug trafficking, particularly of methamphetamine , across the canadian border. they told me that canada is now one of the world's top producers of mateth, and that this dangers drug is increasingly being smuggled across the border in maine. i understand that the violence associated with the mexican drug cartels demands that the majority of the resources be focused on that, but i am concerned about whether there is sufficient focus on the

smuggling of methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs into the state of maine. could you give me more information on what you are doing to counter what you call in your testimony "a serious transnational threat to our country"? >> senator, i look forward to having you house met at a great event in maine in the coming days. that would be wonderful. you have hit on an important element. we tend to focus on drug trafficking south to north. as i talked to my canadian counterparts, both in the military and in the police, they indicate an alarming increase in drug activity, drug-related violence in canada. we have -- as you know, we have our joint task force north which is focused on dod support across borders and the maritime.

this year, we are increasing the number of small but effective operations that we will conduct along the northern border in partnership with both our federal law enforcement, dea and others, and our will canadian mounted police friends. let me get that data with more specifics and i will take that question for the record and get that back to you, specifically as it looks to maine. >> thank you. in your testimony, you indicated that you had taken steps to identify threats similar to the threat posed by major hassan at fort hood. have you specifically directed your personnel to do more training on the science of violent radicalization, particularly islamist radicalization within the ranks? >> as you know, secretary gates directed a fairly detailed study of the hassan case.

out of that were a number of recommendations. the services have the responsibility for organized training and equipment. our job is to insure that facilities are provided the right kinds of information so that their local officials can focus on -- focus their attention on specific events. we have worked closely with our friends in the federal bureau of investigation on information sharing of a nature that would be important to our military facilities. we have increased that kind of activity over the last couple of years, and certainly accelerated the programs after the hassan case. our role is to look at how the services -- we are comfortable that the recommendation out of

the secretary's investigation committee makes sense. we continue to support those. >> do you have anything to add on to that issue? >> no, ma'am. we are in the same position as general renuart. those people who are assigned to our organizations, especially headquarters -- them, we have a specific focus on supporting. >> thank you. finally, i want to associate myself with the comments that senator lieberman made about the change and the new teams that are going to take the place of two of the three consequence management response forces. i am very concerned about whether adequate resources are going to be invested so that we can respond effectively to a weapon of mass destruction. my specific question is how the

new hrf would coordinate, plan, train, and exercise with the regional schema offices. i worked very hard to create a regional response team that would be across agency lines in response to the failed response to hurricane katrina. that kind of coordination is very important if we are going in a different direction. >> again, very quickly -- we have been asked to create the concept of operations that insures that kind of operation is done. i think there will be a resource an element of that which we have to focus on -- there will be a resourcing element of that we have to focus on very clearly. those are under the command of a

governor. on a day-to-day basis, we have to ensure that across the enterprise of consequence management all of those are talking. they are also connected to the federal agencies like fema. this is a bit of work in progress. we all the secretary a concept brief at the end of this month. i think we will have identified the issues you mentioned. >> thank you. thank you, mr. chairman. >> thank you, senator collins. >> good morning, generals. general renuart, did you for taking the time to visit with me yesterday to talk about your plans to retire. i was struck by the old colorado @ etch that a statesman is a dead politician -- the old colorado adage that a statesman is a dead politician. i do not know what your long-

term plans are, but we are looking forward to the benefit of your advice. you do not look senior to me. you are fit. we welcome you as a permanent resident of colorado. >> thank you. >> i am going to lean on you for further insights and advice. would you talk about the national guard commission recommendations, specifically how you have increased guardsmen at the headquarters and how they have been incorporated? we have talked about the opportunity to further enhance the role of the guard, to better understand how we utilize and employ the guard. i want to tip my hat to you at no. for what you have done in that regard, but please elaborate. >> we have 50 full-time national guard positions at our headquarters. 45 of those are filled. we have grown that number overtime. across my headquarters, a substantial percentage of the military -- the active military

have served in a position where they have been associated with either the reserves or the garden. a substantial percentage of my civilians are former members of the national guard or the reserve. we have a good footprint in that regard. the state of colorado has been particularly supportive. we have 25 colorado guardsmen who are part of that full-time support. i just hired a new military assistance for norad. he will come from the colorado national guard. we have built a close relationship. i am pleased with that. we need to look for opportunities to bring our reserve men as actor participants in our headquarters. we have 130 positions that could be filled. we are working closely with both the reserves as well as the national guard bureau to keep those as full as possible. we are proud of our

relationship. a think we have built a closer relationship with the bureau itself than we have had before. >> kudos to you. i think we share a philosophy that the all volunteer force, as powerful and sophisticated as it is, there is a tendency for it to become isolated from society. the reserves and the guard provide that pipeline, if you will, the connection between civilians and those who serve us so ably in the military. let me turn to educational opportunities. general fraser, want you to comment on this as well. i know general renuart has been interested in this. do you think the joint command educational opportunity should be expanded to include degree programs? are those advanced degrees and effective in bringing a level of expertise to the force? if so, could they be enhanced?

>> senator, i think in our traditional paradigms the services, each of them, direct the education programs for their individual people. as we have seen the growth of joint commands, i think there is an opportunity for joint combatant commands to focus educational opportunities on skill sets that are unique to them. in our case, it was homeland security civil support. many of those skills do not traditionally reside in our service-focused education programs. i think there is an opportunity for us to look at this paradigm and look for opportunities to allow combatant commanders to target a small number of unique education programs that will benefit their commands. i think we have to work the personnel system to allow us to take advantage of that. we do this currently with chairman mullen's experts in

afghanistan and pakistan. >> i agree with general renuart. i would probably add another part to that. as we were working to our experience in haiti -- that is to include an interagency part. it is not only the joint peace. it is understanding the other parts of our interagency, our counterparts there, that will have great benefit as we apply a whole government approach to many of the situations we are facing in the future. >> when we talked yesterday about dhs, the mexican border situation and what is unfolding their -- >> a final question, general renuart. since the strikes right at your legacy, talk a little bit about the relationship between the two

commands to see at norad and u.s. northcom. why is it important to have a single commander? >> when the two commands were formed, there was clearly an opportunity there to create a transparent -- a transition between warning of threats that norad has traditionally provided to the operational defense of the homeland, whether it is misfile or maritime homeland defense, into consequence management of natural disasters and man-made events. over the years, the relationship between the commands have become truly interdependent. today, you cannot separate the functions of warning from the functions of defense actions from the functions of consequence management. the structure it takes to operate in that spectrum is consistently tied at every level.

while there is certainly a difference between the by national command of norad and our operations there and the operations of northcom, the opportunity to keep them connected at every level provides great synergy for the nation. in terms of the commander, i believe it would be difficult not to have the same person in command of both of those headquarters because of that synergy. i think we have seen in the last three years a real move to operation alalize that. the results speak for themselves. we are affected in that regard. i am very proud of that. >> thank you for your service. thank you to both of you for taking care of our hemisphere, the american hemisphere and all the opportunities we have here, and to maintain our leadership role. a shout out to the canadiens, who have been such great

partners of ours. we are so fortunate to have them on our northern border, sharing our outlook. you have enhanced and nurtured that outlook. the canadian officers are said to see you go because you have had a great relationship with them. >> it is in my family blood. >> that is right. >> thank you, senator udall. >> thanks to both of of you for your service to our country. as you wind down these 37 years, i know it has been a long time since your commission in 1972. what great leadership. what selfless service you have provided to our country. you are certainly a model to the next generation of leaders in every branch of our service. thanks for your commitment. thanks for your service. personally, thanks for your friendship over the years. you have been a great asset to me as we have travelled through

any number of issues. we appreciate you very much. we are not going to let you retire debt, general fraser. -- we are not going to let you retire yet, general fraser. in terms of southcom operations -- we sustain those partnerships through the western hemisphere institute for security cooperation. i was pleased to see both of you comment on that in your opening statements as well as your written statement. i am pleased to serve on the board, and i have seen first hand the value of the training whisec produces. how does it help you carry out your mission? what does it provide it to nations that sent personnel to it? >> thank you for that question. it is a very important institution for us.

it provides a lot of capability building. it has a real focus on democratic values, on human rights construction. 10% of the course load is specifically focused on human rights. as you mentioned, it is that partnership building -- not only partnership building with members of the united states military but across all the military's who attend those courses. much like we have experienced in haiti, where i have had at least a couple of instances where u.s. officers had gone to school with in one case the canadian counterpart and in another case the brazilian counterpart. they understood each other right away. it really facilitated operations. no matter where we go, a partnership building capacity throughout the region, or specifically in working together on crises, it makes a huge

difference to us. >> the current defense authorization bill contains a provision requiring public disclosure of names of students and instructors, as well as the countries of origin. what effect will this have on foreign countries willingn' wils to send students there and to help southcom carry out its mission? >> i am concerned it will have a negative impact. we discussed with some of our partners -- they would be concerned that some of those names were released. i am concerned even for u.s. military personnel and their families with the release of that. i personally do not support the release of the names. >> thank you. general, as you continue your

third year as the commander of norad and northcom, what do you think are the biggest challenges out there for those respective commands? >> i think as we see in many of the services, recapitalization of our infrastructure is important. the age of our air sovereignty fighting force is growing. we want to continue to monitor closely the development and fielding of new systems that can allow us to maintain the air sovereignty of our nation. the radar sites are aging. we have initiatives in place. continuing to modernize those are things that are very important for the norad role. northcom -- continue to work with our partners. continue to work with mexico in countering illicit trade and traffic. i think those are some of the future challenges. as senator collins and senator

lieberman mentioned, making sure that this management force is well organized and executable for the nation -- we do not know when one of those events will occur. we have to be ready at any moment. >> in november 2007, f15s were grounded due to structural concerns, a number of them under your command. as a result of that, in north com, we had to call on the canadians to fill in for f15's for about three weeks. as our f15 platforms continue to age and make their way toward retirement, are you concerned about available assets and the level of acceptable risk in the conduct of your air sovereignty commission? >> we are concerned. we maintain a force level to keep that mission intact. as you know, the air force is

conducting a fighter force review that will target not only the assignment of this aircraft in places but where we invest money to maintain that fighter force. as new systems come aboard, a think you are going to have a hearing about one of those in a few minutes. i -- i monitor that closely. the baseline force has to be maintained. i am comfortable so far that the department is committed to maintaining that. it is something we monitor as we see adjustments in delivery rates or aging rates of each of our systems. >> you are right. we are going to be talking about the f35 later on this morning. you and i have had an opportunity to visit relatives, the f32. you have seen it firsthand. what effect or impact will a

slippage in the ioc on the f35 have on northcom? >> lee f32 is an excellent weapon system. we have used it on air defense missions in alaska and have found it to be a very capable system. i think the department is committed to continue its development into the modern versions of the airplane that were planned. i am very comfortable that it gives us the capability that is much needed in our air force. with respect to the f35 timing -- if we see that program delayed, it will be of interest to me to insure that we maintain the quality and capability of our existing f15 fleet to maintain air defense. for right now, i do not feel there is an unacceptable level of risk.

i think the two match pretty well. obviously, if something changes we will have to monitor that carefully. >> thank you very much. thanks, mr. chairman. >> thank you, senator chambliss. we are ready to proceed to our second hearing. we thank you both. we are very appreciative of the service you have always provided this nation. your family is great support. general renuart, all the best to you on your upcoming retirement. >> thank you, mr. chairman. >> we are going to take a three minute recess. hos[captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2010] >> house democrati