for a closer investigation of the robbery and its significance, we turn to robert wittman, a former agent at the federal bureau of investigation and founder of the fbi's art crime team. his book "priceless, how i went undercover to rescue the world's stolen treasures" comes out next week. and that's good timing for you, mr. wittman, so what jumps out for you about this grand theft in paris, braz en, bold, how would you describe it. >> thank you for inviting me here tonight, jeffrey. when you say good timing, it's never good timing when somebody can steal the culture property of the world and take advantage of that. i think what jumps out at me is the lack of good security at the museum. the fact that the security system was not properly working. the fact that there was no alarms on that window, that would have gone out, you know, just for that part of it. the motion detectors were not work. i think the cctv cameras were pointed on the roof. these are all things that show me that basically that was a crime waiting to happen. >> brown: does it suggest to you that it might be an inside job?

the united states army specialist grant wittman of goldman, colorado. the specialist graduated from high school where he was an athlete, avid soccer player and snowboarder. although one friend was killed in iraq, at the age of 24 he enlisted in the united states army. when his father tried to talk him out of enlisting, specialist grant wittman said he couldn't sit by while others die protecting him. this is a true indication of the kind of courage grant wittman possessed. on march 12, 2010, while assigned to combat, afghanistan specialist -- in afghanistan, specialist grant wit mapp's unit was a-- wittman's unit was attacked by small fir. during engagement, he was combrafle wounded and ultimate -- grateful wounded and ultimately succumbed to his injuries while at walter reed medical center. he is a shining example of the united states army service and sacrifice. as a former member of the united states army and as a retired marine corps officer, my deepest sympathies go out to his family and to all who knew him. mr. speaker, i yield back the balance of m

we have representative wittman who has a interest in that. another was a year earlier. there is a virginia parcel, oil and gas lease sale to under 20, -- 220, which is a few miles off the eastern shore of virginia. this was part of a five-year plan that was issued for 2007- 2012 under the bush administration, and contemplated a lease sale there. the obama administration had announced recently its own intentions to proceed with that lease sale for that are so, this virginia parcel, by 2012, assuming that various due diligence and out. -- panned out. obviously the chesapeake bay is a national treasure and we're concerned -- i am concerned, speaking for myself -- about plans to proceed for this. my question to you in this game changing perspective that i am urging upon you, do you believe that there will be a reevaluation, serious reevaluation, about whether to proceed with this lease sale of the virginia parcel, this oil and gas lease sale 220, which is miles off the eastern shore of virginia? >> congressman sarbanes, i believe that the chesapeake bay is one of those land

introduce the head table guest from your right steve salmon military and diplomatic world news emily wittmanton editors, world war ii navy carrier pilot and 60 year member of the national press club. [applause] gladys comments assistant secretary of the navy. skipping of the podium andrew schneider associate editor for kiplinger washington editors and the chairman of the speaker's committee. skipping for a moment of the speaker we have the group and the national press club board of speakers' committee member who organized today's event. sean, assistant secretary of the navy, john donnelly congressional quarterly national defense correspondent and member of the national press club board of governors. jim newlin of clark and weinstock retired navy public affairs officer and president of the public affairs alumni association and finally secretary of the agriculture tom vilsack and guest of the speaker. [applause] today's speaker started his career for decades ago when he served as a naval officer in the u.s. navy after having graduated from an ivy league law school. less than 20 years later he

wittman: thank you, mr. chairman. i can begin by congratulating the ranking member mckeon and chairman skelton for their fine work on the national defense authorization bill for 2011. mr. chairman, the defense authorization bill provides our department of defense the resources it needs and addresses the committee's priorities in supporting our men and women in uniform, their spouses and families. to enable our service members to continue defending our freedoms abroad, we owe it to them to provide the best available support, training and equipment in this bill -- and this bill reflects our undying commitment to those service members. after traveling to afghanistan and pakistan last month on a congressional delegation, and visiting the troops in the field, i know it's critical that we move the bill forward quickly to prove them that vital support. the funding and support for this ll in the wars in afghanistan and iraq is critical. that support back home is just as critical. i am concerned, though, today about the attemp