00:00 Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Secretary.
00:03 When we look at the number of individuals that are detained by ICE,
00:09 roughly on average, there's been about 39,000 detained this year.
00:13 My question goes to the FY '24 appropriations bill that was passed a few weeks ago
00:19 and the funding level that was submitted there and passed for detention.
00:25 Is that something that we need to continue, in your opinion, for FY '25
00:31 to allow you to be able to detain the number of individuals you need to?
00:36 Yes, Senator.
00:37 Thank you very much.
00:39 When you look at encounters, obviously, coming across the border,
00:43 we know there's been a lot of discussion about known gotaways and people that we've seen,
00:48 but we don't know who they are, where they're going, or what their intentions are.
00:52 The FBI director warned that he is increasingly concerned that terrorists may seek
00:59 that opportunity to enter the U.S.
01:03 He's concerned about what that does in the interior of our homeland.
01:06 I know that that's something that you probably pay close attention to as well.
01:10 Is that something that you agree with?
01:13 Just when we look at what's happening in the interior, it just increases threats across the homeland.
01:19 We are, indeed, very concerned about it.
01:23 The safety and security of the American people is our highest priority.
01:28 The bipartisan legislation would have provided us with additional staffing
01:32 that would have strengthened the security of the southern border.
01:34 Yeah, and I really, look, I am a big believer we've got to do our job right now,
01:39 and so as I look at FY '25, it is my goal to make sure that we get these dollars
01:43 in the exact right place possible.
01:45 I would love to see Congress start to do our job on time.
01:50 I think that the American people deserve it, and I think every time we drag our feet,
01:54 they're the ones that pay the price.
01:56 You know, the last time that we actually passed all 12 bills on time was 1997.
02:03 I think it's not only fiscally irresponsible, I think it's morally irresponsible.
02:07 I think you need to know what your budget is, and I think when you look at something like a supplemental,
02:12 you have to actually have base funding first.
02:15 My goal right now is to make sure that in FY '25, we stretch every dollar,
02:19 we put it where it matters, we put it where it can help you and help the courageous men and women
02:25 that work in the Department of Homeland Security do their jobs.
02:27 I am laser-focused on that, and in that, I really do appreciate the work that CBP and ICE have done
02:35 in their seizures. I think they've grown when it comes to fentanyl and other illicit drugs.
02:40 They continue to seize more and more, which obviously, we know that that means that's less that can get into our homeland.
02:48 However, I know we can't simply seize our way out of it, and so I would love to know from you,
02:53 where would be best to direct dollars?
02:57 You know, what are you doing to actually disrupt and dismantle that transnational criminal organizations
03:03 and kind of the flow of that, and is there a place, maybe more HSI agents and others
03:09 that would help disrupt that even more?
03:13 Ranking Member Britt, more personnel is certainly one element of the answer.
03:18 More HSI agents, more support personnel for the agents, more Customs and Border Protection officers and agents.
03:29 Okay.
03:30 More funding for technology.
03:32 I am listing the different things that the bipartisan legislation would have delivered.
03:38 Okay.
03:40 When we look at the Coast Guard, I strongly support the Coast Guard, and I'm proud that Mobile is the home of the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center,
03:49 and I'm very proud of the offshore patrol cutter being built in Alabama.
03:54 However, that's just one of the pieces of a very large Coast Guard shipbuilding strategy.
03:59 I'm concerned with many other Coast Guard acquisition programs, which seem to be plagued with various issues.
04:05 I am especially concerned about the status of the Waterways Commerce Cutter Program and the Polar Security Cutter Program,
04:13 which have been faced with significant delays in recent years.
04:16 I know that you've heard a number of my colleagues speak about this on both sides of the aisle.
04:21 And just taking a look at it, you look at the Waterways Commerce Cutter,
04:26 which was intended by Congress to be a small business shipbuilding program.
04:31 It's faced legal challenges and other significant contracting challenges in recent months.
04:37 And as the daughter of two small business owners, I think it is important to me that our entire defense base,
04:43 particularly as it pertains to shipbuilding, that they're giving consideration and given every fair opportunity to compete.
04:52 And I think that that's what we need when we look at things that have just come down.
04:56 And the naval intelligence that was just declassified looking at the shipbuilding of China,
05:01 saying they can shipbuild 232 times faster than we can.
05:05 I think that as many people as we have encouraging that, particularly from a small business perspective, I think that's better for America.
05:13 So, Mr. Secretary, will you commit to engaging your Coast Guard leadership and looking into the current state of play
05:20 when it comes to the Waterways Commerce Cutter Program and what options should be considered,
05:25 even if it means re-competing the program to ensure the Coast Guard receives the shipbuilding assets they need
05:32 in a timely manner and cost-effective schedule?
05:36 Thank you, Member Britt. I certainly will engage with the Coast Guard.
05:39 Thank you.
05:39 And look at this program and be in touch with you.
05:43 I really appreciate that.
05:44 And one last thing.
05:45 When we look at the alleged killer of Lakin Riley, who entered the United States illegally in 2022
05:52 and then was released under DHS under a grant of parole, I'm sure your department has taken a look at that.
06:00 And can you explain what specific either humanitarian reason or reason of significant public benefit,
06:07 as you all know, one of those two things had to be used to authorize his release into the country.
06:14 Can you explain that for this panel as well?
06:17 Thank you, Member Britt. There was no derogatory information of which we were aware in our holdings
06:26 to compel the detention of this individual.
06:29 It's a tragic circumstance. Our hearts break.
06:32 I know all our hearts break for the family of Ms. Riley.
06:36 And we expect that the individual will be prosecuted correctly to the fullest extent of the law.
06:42 Thank you so much, Mr. Secretary. I appreciate that.
06:44 (bong)
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