Senator Tim Sheehy

here. So I'm very concerned, Ben. I know that many of my former, sorry, many of my comrades in the Senate are equally concerned on both sides of the aisle, I might add. Senator Tim Kaine from Virginia has been a great voice of reason, too, in this saying we need to make sure our Navy's ready. So we've got a lot of work to do.

here. So I'm very concerned, Ben. I know that many of my former, sorry, many of my comrades in the Senate are equally concerned on both sides of the aisle, I might add. Senator Tim Kaine from Virginia has been a great voice of reason, too, in this saying we need to make sure our Navy's ready. So we've got a lot of work to do.

I think Pete's up to the job and the president has very clearly said it's time for us to get ready.

I think Pete's up to the job and the president has very clearly said it's time for us to get ready.

I think Pete's up to the job and the president has very clearly said it's time for us to get ready.

You're absolutely right. And that's something that Americans don't like to think of ourselves as a military empire of projecting force around the world. We like to think of ourselves as, hey, we want to mind our own business here at home and we'll deal with a problem if it comes to us. And that's certainly a noble cause. And I think for the most part, we all agree with that.

You're absolutely right. And that's something that Americans don't like to think of ourselves as a military empire of projecting force around the world. We like to think of ourselves as, hey, we want to mind our own business here at home and we'll deal with a problem if it comes to us. And that's certainly a noble cause. And I think for the most part, we all agree with that.

You're absolutely right. And that's something that Americans don't like to think of ourselves as a military empire of projecting force around the world. We like to think of ourselves as, hey, we want to mind our own business here at home and we'll deal with a problem if it comes to us. And that's certainly a noble cause. And I think for the most part, we all agree with that.

But the truth is, unfortunately, we have to be ready to defend our interests globally. And frankly, that goes back to the beginning in our Constitution. Our founding fathers in our Constitution stated very clearly that we are constitutionally required to provide and maintain a Navy. And the reason why is because building a Navy takes time.

But the truth is, unfortunately, we have to be ready to defend our interests globally. And frankly, that goes back to the beginning in our Constitution. Our founding fathers in our Constitution stated very clearly that we are constitutionally required to provide and maintain a Navy. And the reason why is because building a Navy takes time.

But the truth is, unfortunately, we have to be ready to defend our interests globally. And frankly, that goes back to the beginning in our Constitution. Our founding fathers in our Constitution stated very clearly that we are constitutionally required to provide and maintain a Navy. And the reason why is because building a Navy takes time.

It's expensive, it's hard, and the skills around a Navy take years to develop. And an Army is, of course, an equally important capability to have, But especially at that time, our founders were concerned about a standing army in America becoming used as a force of tyranny by a runaway government.

It's expensive, it's hard, and the skills around a Navy take years to develop. And an Army is, of course, an equally important capability to have, But especially at that time, our founders were concerned about a standing army in America becoming used as a force of tyranny by a runaway government.

It's expensive, it's hard, and the skills around a Navy take years to develop. And an Army is, of course, an equally important capability to have, But especially at that time, our founders were concerned about a standing army in America becoming used as a force of tyranny by a runaway government.

Whereas the Navy was understood that as a mercantile republic, we had to have open sea lanes available to keep our businesses running, to keep our economy strong. And as you correctly pointed out, 250 years on, very little has changed.

Whereas the Navy was understood that as a mercantile republic, we had to have open sea lanes available to keep our businesses running, to keep our economy strong. And as you correctly pointed out, 250 years on, very little has changed.

Whereas the Navy was understood that as a mercantile republic, we had to have open sea lanes available to keep our businesses running, to keep our economy strong. And as you correctly pointed out, 250 years on, very little has changed.

The technology is different, the products are different, but the reality is we have to be able to move products into and out of our marketplace, and so does the rest of the world. And right now, frankly, for the last eight years, the entire global economy has rested on the bedrock of freedom of navigation that sits on the backs of the U.S. Navy. So we have to be ready to defend those interests.

The technology is different, the products are different, but the reality is we have to be able to move products into and out of our marketplace, and so does the rest of the world. And right now, frankly, for the last eight years, the entire global economy has rested on the bedrock of freedom of navigation that sits on the backs of the U.S. Navy. So we have to be ready to defend those interests.

The technology is different, the products are different, but the reality is we have to be able to move products into and out of our marketplace, and so does the rest of the world. And right now, frankly, for the last eight years, the entire global economy has rested on the bedrock of freedom of navigation that sits on the backs of the U.S. Navy. So we have to be ready to defend those interests.