00:00I recognize as a gentleman from Georgia, Dr. McCormick.
00:03Thank you, Mr. Chair. First of all, I think it's great that the Democrats are finally concerned about the border.
00:08It's fantastic. I hope more of them join that fight in the future.
00:12It's fantastic, especially after four years of allowing millions upon millions across the border without any concern until now.
00:21When we talk about politicizing the military, I find it also very laughable when, for the first time,
00:26if you were to wear a make the military accountable to the mission again hat, would that be considered political?
00:36I think in many ways that's one of our slogans.
00:39Okay, exactly. Mission accomplishment, when I was a young Marine and an old Marine,
00:43we were always focused on the mission accomplishment.
00:45One of the greatest things you've done is brought us back to our focal point, the ethos of the warrior.
00:51Make America great, again, also I disqualify as political.
00:55That's something that every politician should want to do, let alone any military or non-military person that lives in America.
01:02So I dismiss that as political.
01:06I'm glad that you brought the mission back to all services.
01:09As a matter of fact, when I was down at the University of North Georgia,
01:11and we challenged you to come down to one of the Elite Eight, I was really impressed.
01:16I've always made fun of the Army. No offense to my Army comrades about their PT.
01:21They were bringing it. They made it scientific. They're mission-oriented.
01:25They are absolutely focused, 100 percent, in large part, because of the new leadership of the military,
01:29which I'm really excited about, and I'm looking forward to getting you down there.
01:33One of the interesting things that happened recently is the activation of the National Guard in California.
01:38This had to be done because, quite frankly, California didn't take over its own.
01:43We actually recently sponsored and wrote legislation that would make those states culpable for the finances that are spent on those National Guardsmen
01:54when the governor or the local magistrates don't do what's required to take control of their own problem that was created because of their lack of action.
02:05Do you think that's a good idea, or do you have a better idea for motivating people to do what's right instead of having the president step in?
02:11I think what the president has done here is common sense.
02:17If a governor and a mayor will not protect federal law enforcement officers in the execution of their basic functions,
02:24then the military, whether it's the National Guard or the Marines, is constitutionally or through statute allowed to come in and provide that security.
02:33That's precisely what we've done.
02:34The president, unlike in 2020 in Minnesota when Governor Walz allowed a precinct to burn down, President Trump said that will not happen.
02:43We will get in front of this.
02:44We will not allow this to cascade.
02:46We will protect our law enforcement.
02:49And he's provided that clarity and common sense, and we're proud to be on that mission.
02:52I'm glad the president stepped in where local Democrats have not stepped up to the plate.
02:58One of the things I noticed in my recent experience as a veteran is I had to go down to the DEERS office.
03:02In person, take a half a day off.
03:05Now, luckily, I have staff that can help me arrange those things, but I had to send in a form where my son, just to prove my son's still in college,
03:13instead of emailing it or faxing it or whatever we do in the modern technology that I do at the DMV.
03:18I would hope that you and your leadership would help us as veterans make it a much more friendly 21st century experience.
03:27And I would hope that you would look at that just in your administration.
03:30I appreciate you very much.
03:32Finally, I want to give you an opportunity to talk a little bit about Ukraine.
03:36One of the things I've said all along is the president's one of the most peaceful presidents there is.
03:40When they worry about invasions of foreign countries, this president has avoided war like no other president in modern history.
03:46He has actually been very good at foreign relations despite his lack of previous experience.
03:50Now he has a lot of – and he did the Abraham Accords.
03:53One of the things that I thought would be interesting when we talk about peace from strength,
03:57the United States and Europe combined have a $50 trillion GDP.
04:01Russia has two.
04:03We decimated them, we meaning the Ukrainian forces, with our support, decimated 50% of their armor and about a million casualties just based on the little bit they've given.
04:14Do you think, according to the Supreme Allied Commander, who was testifying here before, that if we gave them wholesale support,
04:22we could end this war very quickly if Russia won't come to the table per President Trump's guidance?
04:26There are multiple ways in which we could help affect the front line and negotiations.
04:33And the department is prepared to support what might be necessary to do so.
04:37But our overall message is – and there's been billions spent already,
04:41and there are presidential drawdown authorities that exist right now that are still going in support of Ukraine.
04:46But our encouragement is that our European allies continue to step up as well.
04:50General Kane, what do you think about Ukraine?
04:51You've got about 10 seconds, sorry.
04:52Well, sir, I think, you know, obviously the killing's got to stop on both sides.
05:00And that's – as all of us, you, thank you for your service as a warfighter.
05:03Gentlemen, this time's expired.
05:04Chair now, I recognize the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Deluzio.
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