I want to thank you for your service. You have one of the most challenging jobs in our government, and you perform it with great skill, so thank you.

Along with my colleagues--Mr. Grimm, a former FBI agent; Mr. Pascrell, the cochair of the Law Enforcement Caucus; and Mr. King, the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee-- I'm offering this bipartisan amendment to increase funding…

the FBI and all Federal law enforcement agencies need to do far more to deal with this problem.

The territories are treated unequally under many Federal programs, and the cover over program helps to compensate for this fact.

I respectfully urge extension of two tax provisions that expired in 2011 and that are of great importance to Puerto Rico's economy.

I respectfully submit that there is ample justification to extend this provision for an additional period of years or better yet to make it permanent.

In order to reduce drug-related violence in Puerto Rico and the USVI, and to make the territories a less attractive transshipment point for drug trafficking organizations seeking to supply the U.S. market, Puerto Rico Governor Luis…

Therefore, I respectfully ask the committee to work with me to ensure that total funding for the National Guard Counterdrug Support Program is increased, and in particular to ensure that Puerto Rico receives its fair share of whatever…

Puerto Rico has nearly the same number of annual murders that Texas does, even though Texas is home to 25 million people.

I have worked hard to raise awareness in the Federal Government about drug-related violence in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Today I'm introducing the Puerto Rico SNAP Restoration Act. In 1971, Congress enacted legislation to partially include Puerto Rico in what is today called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and what was then called the…

Over 110 people have died in immigration custody since 2003. Too many others have been subject to rape, abuse, or medical neglect.

I must respectfully say that I find the premise of today's hearing to be misguided and, frankly, appalling.

That assertion does not even pass the laugh test. But nobody should find it amusing.

I am also asking the subcommittee to provide an additional $3 million above the President's request to enable the Coral Reef Conservation Program to continue its support for competitive applied research necessary to protect our coral reefs.

I would like to submit also that there is a very, very important role that government plays when you are talking about the safety.

We need to do everything we can to seal Puerto Rico on the way in, as well as on the way out.

If we do that, violence will come down. I guarantee it.