If we are going to deal with drugs entering the United States through the land, then it is really the ports of entry that we need to spend the money on.

The President intends to spend some $8 billion building a wall. And the question really revolves how best to spend our taxpayer resources.

What is happening in these counties is you are bringing in national companies, often based 2,000 to 3,000 miles away.

It is increasingly clear that the number of natural disasters that we have had has put extraordinary stress on FEMA.

Why are you building a disaster industrial complex? Why are you not using local contractors?

Congressman Garamendi outlined one approach in his legislation that he is proposing, along with Senator Wicker, a way to incentivize ships to come under the U.S. flag, to be available to us in time of need.

We ought to stop treating you like an afterthought.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a whole lot of questions here.

There was a gee whiz moment for the U.S. Navy this last 18 months, and that is, oh my God, the Arctic is opening up.

For a couple of billion dollars we could have the heavy icebreakers.

There is nothing about this budget that demonstrates a respect for the growing and critical nature of your missions.

We do need ships. And Texas is a big exporter of natural gas.