I am concerned every day about the number of people out there, with the great intellectual entrepreneurship of our country, that are coming up with new ideas and new products to create the new jobs for the 21st century.

It is time now for a new, fresh national debate.

We in Maryland feel we are at the epicenter of cybersecurity because we have the National Security headquartered there.

I have been urging my colleagues that before they draw a conclusion and go public with that conclusion, they first learn about the counterterrorism program.

People do have a right to know. People have a right to say their voices. That is why we responded.

There is no attempt here to muzzle, stifle any Senator from asking any line of questions.

Any Senator can ask any question at this hearing that they want to.

We have Senator Leahy from the Judiciary Committee, well versed on the issues of law on cybersecurity.

We need to prevent hackers, nation-states, and criminals from stealing our cyber identities.

We need to make sure we spend the money well.

We need to make sure that the American people know what our programs are, know what we are spending our money for.

I want to acknowledge the work of Senator Durbin and the Ranking Member Cochran on Defense.

I think the intel community, which is primarily particularly a DOD civilian force--you need that flexibility.

We do not want that to happen as we move forward in this cyber domain.

I think given the effort that students, Active Duty servicemembers make to be students, interrupting those benefits would have had terrible consequences.

My interest now is how do we continue to make the beginning educational experience and military experience attractive enough without required military service, mandatory military service?

Thank you for inviting me to participate in this hearing.

Thank you for that.