Jon Tester

I just want to know what your thoughts are on accountability with telework.

I have introduced legislation to add the loss of a child as a condition that allows an individual to receive time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Well, I think what would solve the problem is if you could get the backlog reduced to a reasonable number.

As you may or may not know, the Veterans Administration (VA) is dealing with a lot of issues that revolve around mental health with the veterans who are returning from theater, especially Iraq and Afghanistan.

It is critically important to sustaining the activities out there.

In the last two Congresses, this Committee approved legislation offered by former Chairman Lieberman to correct a retirement issue now facing approximately 100 Secret Service agents and officers.

To say this drives me a little bit crazy is an understatement.

I appreciate that very much because there is a lack of professionals out in the field.

I know that Senator Bennet also sends his regrets that he could not be here, but he has filed a statement for the record on your behalf.

There's some challenges on our Northern border. There's no ifs, ands, or butts about that.

This is an issue, by the way, that there should be no politics. Oftentimes there is, but there should not be.

It is based on relationships, yes.

As long as stuff works, it works.

I think that you are working in an area that is-- it's not very commonplace on the borders.

I want to talk a little bit about military radar that I have been trying to get on the Northern border for some time now, because I think it would help identify low flying aircraft.

That whole immigration debate that the senate had here a month ago or so, visa overstays were a big issue, has to do with about 40 percent of the undocumented folks who are in this country right now.

At the end of the day, nothing was done, which is particularly concerning to me considering there is a fair amount of money that we put at this stuff.

We have to continue to work in that area and become better.

So the reality of this is overtime pay, ultimately.

Simply because my guys go to where the trouble spots are.

It is about Federal, State, local and Canadian partners working closely and collaboratively.

I think it is really important. You can not access the resources that are out there, if you can not talk to them basically.

When I was in the State legislature, interoperability was a big issue, because it did not exist for the most part.

Well, thank you, Debbie. I appreciate all of your testimony.

There's certainly a way to promote smart and effective border security without compromising economic opportunity.