Kathleen Rice

We must also recognize that border security is a much broader and more nuanced topic than what the current debate has allowed for.

We need to be able to do all of this from staffing up CBP to enhancing screening protocols without unnecessarily burdening lawful travel or infringing upon an individual's right to privacy.

Many of the screening and vetting protocols that Congress has implemented over the past 2 decades stem from lessons learned after the 9/11 terror attacks.

I think it is important that we remain as a country with a welcoming message to the international community.

The proposals and actions carried out by DHS to date have proven inadequate, harmful, and deadly.

Last summer, the Department of Homeland Security, under the leadership of Secretary Nielsen, implemented a zero tolerance policy which resulted in the separation of thousands of families.

Despite knowing beforehand that this policy would immediately lead to family separations, DHS... was completely unprepared.

There has to be a better way.

We have laws and procedures in place to protect migrant children and families seeking asylum.

This means that the reunification of family members was either an afterthought of this administration, or simply not prioritized at all.

I think it is important that we not conflate these two issues. Family separation is a completely separate issue from human trafficking.

I surmise that the reason why she did not come prepared is because she did not want to give accurate information because if she did, it would show once and for all that the statements the President makes about what's going on at the border…

This was not the law, OK? This was a policy that the attorney general of this country announced.

The disturbing trend is when people in positions of power like Kirstjen Nielsen repeat those lies knowing that they're false, especially when they do it after taking an oath and testifying before a congressional committee.

Well, she's been deliberately misleading the public since, for over a year, since then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the zero-tolerance policy back in, I believe, early last year.

It was a policy announced by the attorney general of this country that families were going to be separated.

If she is that clueless about things that are happening at the border, she doesn't deserve to be in that position, anyway.

That is a policy. You should admit it.

I think 2016 should have established that once and for all.

Everything that I have heard today... I hope has established, in all of our minds, the need to address this issue from a non-partisan stance...

Over the past couple of weeks I have heard some people refer to H.R. 1 as a Federal takeover of our elections.

The punishment for people who retaliate against whistleblowers isn't strong enough is basically what you are saying?

There is always a benefit of the doubt given to the people who retaliate against whistleblowers.

It is time that we finally listen to the intelligence community and create a comprehensive strategy to counter the mounting threats facing our supply chains.

President Trump appears to have placed his own business interests above our National security.