. >> thank you, mr. chairman. >> thank you, senator inhofe. >> thank you, mr. chairman. admiral, general, thank you so much for your service. admiral, what is the current status of china's hypersonic eapons projects? >> well, they have demonstrated the technology in tests that they were visible to the world earlier this year. how fast that they can actually put that into an operational capability sun known. but it could take several years to do that. >> do you think they currently have the ability to strike u.s. assets? in the continental u.s.? >> say it again, sir. >> do you think through the hypersonic weapons projects, you mentioned it will take several years to get it done. do you think they presently have the ability to strike the continental u.s.? >> well, i think they have the ability to look at and to understand and through satellite imagery and everything else to have views of the united states. whether or not they have -- what they're going to ultimately do with hypersonic capability as it relates to their long range deterrent, i don't know. >> how would you ch

senator inhofe. >> thank you, mr. chairman, we all know and talked about this the world is getting more dangerous in the pacific. they continue to engage in actions including military exercises, nuclear and missile tests and the development of a rogue mobile missile system. china declares identification zones and makes moves to blockade ships and claim sovereignty over vast tracks of the south china sea. despite the growing danger, the massive cuts to our national security budget, making the jobs of the admiral and the general more difficult. while the chinese defense budget rose 12%, secretary hagel tells his command america's dominance in the seas, skies and space can no longer be taken granted. first time i have heard that. diversion of resources from the defense to the president's domestic agenda. over the last five years and that has consequences in our society, less capable and less dominant forces make it more difficult for our men and women in uniform to handle crises. less capable u.s. military makes it more

mr. coburn: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from oklahoma. mr. coburn: i thank senator blunt. i did not get to hear all of senator inhofe's comments but as an oklahoman, we couldn't have a finer company or a finer corporate citizen than the greene family in terms of their chains of stores around the country and in what they've do done. the reason they're successful is because they actually care, nurture and support every one of their employees. and they work on some principles that they -- they truly believe in, and it's really been the key to their success. they're never open on the sabbath. they believe you pay somebody a livable wage. they're big in the community. as a matter of fact, some of the largest contributors to organizations that are funded in the charitable realm that go down deep to actually help people. so they come with pure motives. the senator from missouri mentioned thomas jefferson. here's what he said in 1809. "no provision in our constitution ought to be dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against