I thank the gentleman from California for offering this very important amendment. When you look at what is going on in Central Valley, my hometown, and you hear stories--and I see for myself because I was there this past week--cities…

Can you assure me that your mission area will cooperate with completing this third party study?

Is our infrastructure currently capable of surviving a major cyber incident while sustaining critical functions?

In representing one of the largest dairy districts, or the largest dairy district, in the country and actually being a dairy farmer myself, this question is important to me.

In June 2013, the GAO released a report entitled, 'Farm Programs: USDA Needs to Do More to Prevent Improper Payments to Deceased Individuals.'

And how can this committee be helpful in providing you the resources you need to develop and implement new technologies to keep our energy infrastructure secure?

Thank you, Chairman. Appreciate you taking some time for us today.

Yes. That is something that we struggled with just this past week in my district.

As far as developing technology at speed of computers--I mean, we are always talking about the next fastest computer--how much of a role does the speed of a computer play on a person's ability to hack our system?

There are applications for products that are already on the market that we have made a lower priority than the applications for the products that are not currently on the market.

We want and need to see this to continue.

So last year, just using our financial assistance program alone, we added an additional $25 million into California to go into the drought-stressed areas.