How to effectively counter the serious potential adverse impact of terror content and misinformation is certainly a complex problem.

I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. An objection is heard. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Connecticut.

We are witnessing a new technological age with Artificial Intelligence or 'AI.'

Just last week, Riviera Beach--a small city in Florida--agreed to pay a $600,000 ransom demand after hackers crippled city computer systems.

Technology such as Artificial Intelligence is one tool social media companies use to help identify, monitor, and remove such terrorist content.

It is time for the Federal Government to do more.

I know recognize the Chairman of the full committee, Mr. Thompson, for 5 minutes.

Congress has a responsibility not only to track the progression of these emerging technological breakthroughs, but to understand how they affect our security.

As a former mayor myself, I understand the problems cities have, and mayors more specifically.

Unfortunately, the sophistication of hackers is outpacing the speed at which State and local governments can implement IT modernization programs.

But our challenge is, do we set parameters of guidelines with the money so that at the end of the day we can measure how successful the goal has become?

I want to thank Chairman Richmond for holding today's hearing on an especially timely topic, the cybersecurity challenges in the State and local governments.

In March, a white supremacist terrorist in Christchurch, New Zealand, exploited social media platforms to live-stream violent images across the world--millions of times over.

For its part, Congress appropriated $380 million--a down payment--to fund grants to State and local election officials to replace unsecure election equipment.

These bad actors range from unaffiliated cyber criminals to sophisticated state actors--including Iran--and their interest in breaching State and local networks is only growing.

I don't think it's any secret that I disagree with many of the Trump administration's policies affecting the border.

I support Congressional oversight of the evolving use of these resources by the Trump administration for what appears to be an immigration-based agenda.

I call metering a violation of U.S. asylum law; our laws do not place a limit on the number of people who can apply for asylum.