"Today, we are here to examine whether the Nigerian group known as Boko Haram poses a threat to the United States."
"Our mission is to keep America safe, and we have to do it, obviously within the confines of the budget."
"I agree with everyone here, it is a fractured country. But it is also one that is ripe for an entity like this one."
"We must not paint Nigeria as a nation of terrorists."
"Now we are claiming that an attack on a United Nations building in Nigeria is an attack on United States' interests."
"If we are serious about engaging this threat, and if the United Nations and other entities are our partners, we have to invest in it."
"What are we doing on the diplomatic side to engage the country they operate in to do more so that these things don't occur?"
"I cannot overstate the difficulty an additional budget cut would create on this committee's staff."
"Without them we would not be able to fill vacancies, maintain competitive salaries or continue to offer paid internships."
"These communication problems are not new."
"I hope to learn how we can keep essential personnel and train them in light of severe budget cuts."