John McCain

I want to hear from our witnesses about what we can do to address this issue, not just address the symptom of the problem.

Far too many of the aircraft we deploy in support of the Border Patrol are not fitted with cameras or sensors that have been proven effective.

I want to commend eight of our colleagues--especially Senator John McCain, a Member of our Committee--who have worked tirelessly, and I think fearlessly, to craft the bill on which we are discussing today.

Well, we have recommended--and I think it is language in the bill--that you consult with the army people who went through the whole evolution of this radar and how to use it most effectively.

These officers represent a worthwhile investment for the country, helping to secure our borders even as they facilitate the trade and travel that our economy so badly needs.

Achieving the goal of persistent surveillance set by the bill we are examining today, then, will be challenging and costly.

I have seen it in operation in Iraq. It seems to me that this is an incredible technology tool.

I think it would be appropriate, I would say to Senator Johnson, for this to be part of the amending process.

Now, what is preventing the use of UAVs along the Southern border to be used in high-traffic areas 24 hours a day?

How do I assure the people of my State that the border is under effective control?

I believe that the bill we are examining today represents a significant step toward achieving that goal.

Well, seeing is the first step in getting border control, please.

Would you supply for the record what is necessary to have VADER coverage for the border?

I think the residents of those places do not feel nervous.

I need to assure the people of my State and this country that we are not going to revisit this issue again 10, 15, or 20 years from now.

They want a secure border, and they have that right.

I respectfully disagree with your rosy assessment, and I believe it needs to be written into law.

I wish more of our colleagues could have the opportunity or seize the opportunity as you did, and I thank you for doing that.

It would be helpful if we could get from you for the record the specific areas where your ability to carry out the border security mission has been impaired, because, obviously, that is of incredible importance and significance.

Based on what I have seen, I believe there is no one-size-fits-all solution for securing our border.

We need the metrics and we need them very badly if we are going to consider overall immigration reform.

I have been down on the border for the last 30 years and there have been significant improvements, but we really do not know how significant they are.

I am encouraged. And there is a very good spirit here in this Committee.

$4.5 billion is a lot of money, and there is also a provision in the bill that if after 5 years we do not have this effective control, another $2 billion will be spent.

I support the efforts to modernize our immigration laws.