Carlos Gimenez

Thank you so much, Chairwoman Watson Coleman, for holding this hearing today.

It is critical that we also recognize the growing strategic importance of the Arctic to U.S. interests.

I am interested to hear from Admiral Fagan on how she will position the service to counter this challenging threat environment.

I am pleased that there is funding in the fiscal year 2023 President's budget request for long lead materials for the Coast Guard's third polar security cutter.

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing has replaced piracy as the leading global maritime security threat.

The Coast Guard is vitally important to facilitating lawful trade and travel and protecting the marine transportation system.

I commend Administrator Pekoske for the flexible work force and lead policies that he implemented during the COVID-19 National emergency.

I applaud the men and women of TSA for their continued dedication to securing the Nation's transportation system.

I thank TSA Administrator Dave Pekoske for being here to discuss the fiscal year 2023 President's budget request for the agency.

I look forward to hearing from TSA on their hiring and retention plan to ensure that the required number of screeners are in place at airports Nation-wide.

I am very, very proud of what we do in Florida.

I am pleased that the President's budget finally requests funding for pay raises for TSA's front-line workers.

I think that the issue of election integrity would be put to bed.

It's time that we reinvigorate our nuclear recycling R&D in the United States.

I think that that would be a logical step. Then so if that is the case, why is the administration fighting the return back to Mexico policy?

Isn't it a fact that by doing that, you have actually--the Biden administration and your administration of the Biden administration's policies have actually contributed to this five-fold increase in the number of people that we have…

I have been to the border three times and spoken to a number of Customs and Border Protection agents, and every single one of them has said in order for them to do their job, they needed that wall to be constructed, they needed the…

I am telling you it is going to happen, OK? So, you know, we need to be prepared for it, and we need to stop it in any way possible.

We don't have to shoot missiles at them, OK? So, I mean, I want to get that off the table, OK?

It is just not a question, really. I really want to push forward with this committee looking at what we are doing as a Nation to, you know, we can detect them.

Mr. Chairman, I think that we need to probe further into this about what we are doing about are we funding sufficient research in order to obtain offensive capability, a defensive capability which is offensive in nature, we are basically…

I really do believe that it is a matter of when, not if, some--a major event is going to be happening either at the border, or is going to be happening at one of our airports, or one of our transportation hubs through the use of these…

I'm particularly concerned that transnational criminal organizations are using drones to move migrants and narcotics across the border.

I am particularly concerned that transnational criminal organizations are using drones to move migrants and narcotics across the border.

The evolving threat of drones used by unknown or maligned actors present a challenge in keeping our country's transportation systems, critical infrastructure, and borders secure.