James Lankford

The right thing to do. This is a big issue for us as well, and I appreciate that.

600,000 Federal employees will be eligible to retire by September 2017.

Unfortunately, there are many obstacles we must overcome in order to attract the key demographic millennials into the Federal workforce.

I think that would be very helpful for us to be able to get, because I would say that is something I hear frequently from different groups.

In the delays that are out there, how long does the background check part of it typically take?

It is brave to be able to clear some of the areas and projects and things that are not strategic.

Part of the challenge we have is the removal of individuals that should not have been hired or that are a problem.

But there is not in the Federal workforce.

Our length of time to actually get there is getting longer.

The classification system does need an update.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

All the work that's happening right now on Iran is extremely important to all of us, and compliance with the nuclear agreement the President made.

But right now that's the spot that's actually the traffic cop basically to make sure that we're not overlapping on it, or if at times we're overlapping it's with purpose?

You're using a lot of social media now to try to use--basically, creating the algorithms to anticipate hostile actions and such.

I want to defend on the 50-yard line.

It is not illegal to be able to look at Anwar al-Awlaki's sermons, for instance.

I want to talk briefly on several issues here as well. One is the growth of homegrown violent extremism.

I am absolutely convinced that this community policing model that came out of the 1990s... is how we are going to do a much better job defending the homeland.

I cannot believe that this was not a top Obama Administration priority to begin with.

We do want this just to work. There are a lot of jobs, there are a lot of businesses that are on the line.

What is the best timing in the process for people to be able to come to you as the gatekeeper?

What is a regulation? What is a guidance? Which one do I follow? Which one do I not follow?

I do not want any kid of any faith, of any background, of any--whoever it may be, to have an unsafe environment.

I completely agree with that. That is entirely reasonable to say: It is an expectation that every student is able to be at school in a safe environment for that student, free of bullying and the threats of all those things, and here are…

Every small business employer is right now hiring a consultant to be able to come help explain this to them because they know what they have and they do not know what is coming.