Click here to download video from today’s hearing.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee today, Commander of U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr. stressed the importance of air frames headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Nebraska, to our national security. The RC-135 and WC-135 aircraft are critical to our nation’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions around the globe. The admiral’s call for continued support for these platforms came in response to questions from U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.).

“The men and women of Offutt Air Force Base work hard operating platforms that play a critical role in supporting our security, whether it’s monitoring nuclear activity or conducting intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions around the globe. As a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I am deeply committed to bolstering support for these priorities. I was happy to hear Admiral Harris say that the systems are in high demand and stress the need for continued investment in these aircraft,” said Senator Fischer.

A partial transcript of Senator Fischer’s exchange with Admiral Harris is below.

Admiral Harris: “The Air Force’s RC135 and the Navy’s EP3 are critical to signal intelligence collection against our potential advisories and advisories in the region…”

Admiral Harris continued: “I don’t have enough, because there aren’t enough to go around…I think all the combatant commanders would tell you that none of us have all that we want.”

Senator Fischer: “Do you see demand increasing?”

Admiral Harris: “I do see demand increasing, clearly.”