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Floor Speech

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Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise to express my support for Ms. Melissa Dalton's nomination to be Under Secretary of the Air Force.

Ms. Dalton is an exceptionally qualified leader with a long and distinguished career in service to the United States. She has more than two decades of experience in defense and intelligence policy, including an extensive background in Department of Defense strategy, policy, operations, processes, and workforce issues. Ms. Dalton currently serves as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs and served previously by performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities.

The Armed Services Committee held a nomination hearing for Ms. Dalton 4 months ago, on January 23, and it is critical that we approve her nomination now.

If confirmed, Ms. Dalton will face a number of pressing challenges for the Air Force. The service has operated at a high tempo for the past two decades, supporting around-the-clock operations in the Middle East and around the world. This mission has strained Air Force personnel and aged the combat aircraft fleet more quickly than anticipated. This high ``op-tempo'' also challenged Air Force leaders to adequately invest in modernization efforts. With China posing new, unprecedented challenges to our airpower in the Indo-Pacific and with emerging technologies like hypersonic weapons and uncrewed aerial systems, or UAS, creating new threats around the world, the Air Force must adapt quickly to stay ahead.

In particular, the Air Force must continue to strengthen and improve its acquisition system. In order to field new capabilities to match the speed of technological change, the next Under Secretary will need to take steps to ensure that the Air Force has a secure and reliable industrial base and a trained and qualified workforce. At her confirmation hearing, Ms. Dalton pledged her immediate, unwavering attention to these issues. This was an important commitment and one that I support.

If confirmed, Ms. Dalton will help lead the Air Force at a critical moment as we continue our long-term strategic competition with China and Russia. This will require thoughtful, resolute leadership with a deep understanding of the issues. Throughout her career, Ms. Dalton has developed and implemented just these sorts of leading-edge defense policies, and she reemphasized her commitment to them during her confirmation hearing.

Ms. Dalton is an outstanding nominee to serve as Under Secretary of the Air Force, and I am proud to support her nomination.

I urge my colleagues to vote yes and confirm this great leader.
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