The all-volunteer force has sustained us well for over a quarter of a century. The dedication of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines has been an inspiration to me, and I will never lose sight of the sacrifices that they make on a daily basis, and the debt that we owe them.

The challenges of recruiting, retaining, and motivating the force is all-important. I am not, however, pessimistic. Together we can do what must be done, and with your support, we'll be successful. Improving the military health care system is also a key priority. Our military today is the smallest it has been in a generation and with less health care capacity than in the past. However, new approaches for caring for the large number of retirees in our history must be identified. There should be no question of our commitment to those who have served before us; providing them with the health care they need and deserve is a priority.

As with all things relating to people in uniform, this is an area of shared responsibility between the Congress and the Department of Defense.

I expect and look forward to working closely with this Committee and others in Congress to meet the challenge.

Finally, I would note that the world has radically changed since World War II when the personnel systems that we have today were put into effect. Advances in technology, changing demographics, and dual-career families are but a few of the realities we must face. I believe that we need to look again at our personnel systems for both officers and enlisted personnel to ensure that we have the correct structure to efficiently staff our forces and get the job done for the American people. I expect to work with the Service Secretaries, Service Chiefs, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to address these issues, and will actively seek the counsel of our congressional oversight committees as we consider where we are today and where we must go in the future.

Again, Mr. Chairman, thank you for allowing me to come before the Committee this morning. I am honored to be considered for this important post; and, if confirmed, I pledge to you and all those who labor for our common defense, my best efforts towards our common goal. Thank you very much, sir.

[The prepared statement of Secretary Rostker follows:]

PREPARED STATEMENT BY HON. BERNARD ROSTKER

Thank you Mr. Chairman and distinguished members of the Committee. I am honored to come before you as the President's nominee to be Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. I thank the President and Secretary Cohen for their trust and confidence. If confirmed, I look forward to working with the Congress, with Deputy Secretary of Defense, Rudy de Leon, and with Secretary Cohen, as well as the civilian and uniformed leadership of the Armed Services to help guide the Department of Defense as we move into a new century and a new millennium. This is the fourth time I have had the honor to come before this Committee for confirmation to a senior position in support of our national defense. In 1979 this Committee confirmed me to be the Director of Selective Service. In 1994 with the support of this Committee, I took on the responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, and a year and half ago the Committee again gave its support for me to become the Under Secretary of the Army. In addition to these latter two positions, I have had additional duty as the Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense for Gulf War Illnesses. In a way, all of these jobs have served to train me for the position the President has nominated me for, and for which you are considering me today. I am very grateful for the sup

port and encouragement you, Senator Warner, Senator Levin, and all members and staff of the Committee have given me.

In the "Advance Questions" from the Committee, I was asked "What are the major challenges confronting the next Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness?" The areas I highlighted are challenges for us all and can only be met by the Department and the Committee working together. First, we must continue to ensure we are READY for all possible requirements for military action any place around the world. Total force integration is the corner stone of this readiness. The truly remarkable performance of our Guard and Reserve Forces, not only during the Gulf War, but since Desert Storm has sustained our ability to effectively deploy to any corner of the globe. Within all the Services, we have never been more integrated, and we are not finished building a single indivisible force of those in uniform-active and reserve-as well as with our civilian workforce, and with those who support us in the private sector. When we go to war, we all go to war.

The All-Volunteer Force has served us well for over a quarter century providing the focus and resources to build the most educated highest skilled and most professional military in the world. The dedication of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines has been an inspiration to me, and I will never lose sight of the sacrifices they make on a daily basis and the debt we owe them. The challenge of recruiting, and retaining such a force as this is all important. I am not, however, pessimistic. Together we are doing what must be done, and with your support we will be successful.

Improving the Military Health Care System is also a key priority. With our military that has become smaller with less health care capacity then in the past, new approaches to caring for the largest number of retirees in our history must be identified. There should be no question as to our commitment to those that have served before us. Providing them with the health care they need and deserve is essential. As with all things relating to people in uniform, this is an area where we share responsibility with Congress. I expect and look forward to working closely with this Committee and others in the Congress in meeting this challenge.

Finally, the world has radically changed since World War II when the current personnel systems were put into place. Advances in technology, changing demographics and an increase in dual career families are but a few of the realities we must assess. I believe that we need to look again at our personnel management system-for both officers and enlisted personnel-to ensure that we have the correct structure to efficiently staff our forces and get the job done for the American people. I expect to work with the Service Secretaries, Service Chiefs and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to address this issue and will actively seek the counsel of our congressional oversight committees as we consider where we are today, and where we must go in the future.

Again, Mr. Chairman, thank you for allowing me to come before the Committee this morning. I am honored to be considered for this important post and if confirmed, I pledge to you and all those who labor for our common defense, my best efforts towards our common goal.

Thank you, and I am pleased to answer any questions you might have.
Chairman WARNER. Thank you very much.

Ms. Creedon.

STATEMENT OF MADELYN R. CREEDON

Ms. CREEDON. Good morning, Mr. Chairman, Senator Levin. It truly is a pleasure to be here this morning, although I must confess there is a piece of me that actually feels far more comfortable sitting in the chairs along the wall with my friends and colleagues, and that's both walls.

My service here on the committee has meant a tremendous amount to me, and I count on many dear friends on both sides of the aisle.

It is an honor to be here this morning as the President's nominee to be the Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs in the newlycreated National Nuclear Security Administration at the Department of Energy, and by the President's and Secretary Richardson's confidence in me for this position.

If confirmed, I look forward to the opportunity to continue my government service in this new organization under Secretary Richardson's leadership, and with the help of this committee. On the other hand, it will be very hard for me to leave the staff here. Working on the staff of the Armed Services Committee has been a unique privilege and an opportunity for which I will always be thankful.

This committee is unique in the Senate in its bipartisan approach to business, never losing sight of the fact that first and foremost the task of this committee is to ensure that the United States remains strong and secure.

The position for which I have been nominated, the Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs, faces many daunting challenges. If confirmed, I will approach this position with the same principles of dedication and purpose that I have learned in this committee. The Office of Defense programs faces many organizational, programmatic and monetary challenges in carrying out its mission of maintaining a safe, reliable and secure nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear weapons testing through its stockpile stewardship program.

Foremost among these challenges is ensuring that the DOE complex, both the labs and the plants can attract, hire and retain the best and the brightest scientists, engineers and technicians. Admiral Henry Chiles, former commander-in-chief of the Strategic Command, conducted a rigorous review of the DOE defense programs, and concluded that the people are the key to the long term success of the program.

To attract and retain the people, the program must provide an exciting place to work and the opportunity to do cutting edge science. New computational capabilities that are being developed and new experimental tools will help in this effort. Fundamentally, the DOE cannot compete with the private sector pay scales. As a result, it must provide something better, a unique and challenging place to work and unique and challenging work.

The Office of Defense Programs will carry out its mission using the tools developed in the stockpile stewardship program. The stockpile stewardship program is designed to identify any current problems, anticipate future problems, fix those problems, and then, in essence, verify the validity of the fix. This program was started 5 years ago and is firmly in place, with some notable successes.

It is a challenging program. Maintaining the stockpile without nuclear weapons testing has never before been done. To be successful, the program must have the full support of the administration and the Congress.

Secretary Richardson has taken some significant steps to keep the program on track, including requesting additional funds in the fiscal year 2001 budget request, and including much needed funds for the Department's Oak Ridge facility in the supplemental budget request.

If confirmed, I will continue this program with the help of Congress.

In the near term there are some significant challenges facing the office of Defense Programs, not the least of which is the National

Ignition Facility, which must be re-baselined and must have a new schedule and funding profile established.

Three new operating contracts must be awarded in the coming 8 months. Infrastructure requirements must be identified, coordinated and a plan developed to meet those requirements. Security and cyber-security shortfalls must be addressed. Sound project management mechanisms must be put in place. DOD and DOE must work jointly to establish requirements and workload schedules. Last but not at all the least, all the work must be done safely, securely and in a way that will protect public health and safety and the environment.

If confirmed, I will commit to working with this committee, the other committees in Congress, the new administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration, and with Secretary Richardson to address successfully these issues.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman WARNER. Thank you very much.

I'll ask each of you the following standard questions that this committee submits to our nominees.

Have you adhered to the applicable laws and regulations governing conflict of interest?

Mr. DAHLBERG. Yes, sir.

Secretary RoSTKER. Yes, sir.

Ms. CREEDON. Yes, sir.

Chairman WARNER. Have you assumed any duties or undertaken any actions which would appear to presume the outcome of the confirmation process by this committee and the Senate as a whole? Mr. DAHLBERG. No.

Secretary ROSTKER. No, sir.

Ms. CREEDON. No, sir.

Chairman WARNER. Will you ensure that, if confirmed by the Senate, that the staff under your direction complies with the deadlines established for requested communications including questions for the record, as submitted by this Congress?

Mr. DAHLBERG. I will.

Secretary ROSTKER. Yes, sir.

Ms. CREEDON. Yes, sir.

Chairman WARNER. Will you cooperate in providing witnesses and briefers in response to congressional requests?

Mr. DAHLBERG. Yes, sir.

Secretary RoSTKER. Yes, sir.

Ms. CREEDON. Yes, sir.

Chairman WARNER. Will those witnesses be protected from reprisal should their testimony in any way conflict with your views or the views of the Department and other senior officials of the Department?

Mr. DAHLBERG. Yes, sir.

Secretary ROSTKER. Yes, sir.

Ms. CREEDON. Yes, sir.

Chairman WARNER. Each of you. That's not only in testimony, but that could be in the briefing sessions and other sessions conducted by the Congress.

Senator Landrieu now asks for recognition. Senator, we're delighted to have you.

STATEMENT OF SENATOR MARY L. LANDRIEU

Senator LANDRIEU. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I appreciate it. I have two meetings at the same time this morning, and I want to congratulate all of our nominees, but particularly I came by to congratulate Madelyn on her nomination and how much I've enjoyed working with her in my subcommittee and how helpful she was to me and what a great advisor she has been to many of us on this committee, and for the outstanding work that she has done. I have a statement for the record, but I will just say that throughout her career she has consistently demonstrated, Mr. Chairman, an evenhandedness and objectivity which she brings to her job that I think is very important. She remains cool and calm under a lot of pressure, which is always a great attribute; and it has allowed her in turn to establish and maintain good relations with Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle.

The regard in which she is held by both parties will enable her to serve the President and Secretary Richardson very well; and even more importantly, it will enable her to serve her country well. So I'd like to submit the rest of my statement for the record, and I apologize for having to slip back out to my other hearing; but I wanted to come and be here with her this morning. Thank you. [The prepared statement of Senator Landrieu follows:]

PREPARED STATEMENT BY SENATOR MARY L. LANDRIEU

Thank you Mr. Chairman. . I join in welcoming the nominees before us today. I am especially honored to introduce Madelyn Creedon to her friends on the Senate Armed Services Committee. President Clinton made an excellent choice in nominating Madelyn to be the Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs, National Nuclear Security Administration at the Department of Energy. I had the privilege of working closely with Madelyn when she served on the minority staff for the Strategic Forces Subcommittee. As a new member of the committee, I must say it was a little daunting to be made ranking member of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee and be faced with policy making decisions on our nuclear weapons. Fortunately, for me, and maybe the whole country, Madelyn was there to guide me through the policies and pitfalls related to our strategic forces. She was also an excellent traveling partner as we crisscrossed the country last year to get a first hand look at the programs and personnel over which our subcommittee has jurisdiction. During our time working together, Madelyn has demonstrated both the knowledge and sensitivity necessary to make this critical position a success. Her insight of the inner workings of the DOE is unsurpassed, as is her understanding for the way in which this body views the importance of security at the Department of Energy. While I will miss her able counsel, I am certain that her service to the country will be a credit to those that nominated and confirmed her.

However, it is also important to note, that her record of success did not begin on the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, she was the Associate Deputy Secretary of Energy for National Security Programs at DOE, General Counsel for the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission, Majority Counsel for the Senate Armed Services Committee under the Chairmanship of Senator Sam Nunn, and finally, trail attorney and Acting Assistant General Counsel with the DOE. Her entire career has prepared her well and it should be no surprise that Secretary Richardson has asked her to fill this important position. She is well suited for the position of Deputy Administrator, and she eminently deserves this promotion. I highly recommend her, and urge the committee to expedite her confirmation. We will all be proud of her, and we will be proud to work with her in the coming years.

Throughout her career, Madelyn has consistently demonstrated an evenhandedness and objectivity. That has allowed her, in turn, to establish and maintain good relations with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle. The regard in which she is held by both parties will enable her to serve the President and Secretary Richardson well. Even more important. It will enable her to serve her country well. Mr. Chairman, it is with great pleasure and confidence that I will cast my vote in support of Madelyn Creedon to serve as Deputy Administrator for Defense Pro