Summer Lee

I think we need to ramp up and get coordination between military, civilian and government resources.

I think cuts to the Coast Guard budget would be severe.

I think there is much room for the combined witnesses that represent the different organizations to collaborate.

I come from the largest--fourth-largest city in the Nation with a lot of influence in the energy industry...

I think that this is crucial work, and I am very concerned that we are confronting it the way we should.

I have always said that the role of--even in this quiet room, the role of this committee and its counterpart on the other--in the other body, and the Department, and all of you who are sitting here is to ensure with every fiber in our…

Wouldn't that begin to redefine the relationship if we use behavior, we did training, and we begin to dumb down or lower down these dispassionate statistics?

I am glad, I could not be more glad, that crime has fallen in so many American communities.

I, frankly, believe we had an impact. We had an impact by raising the issue, and police departments themselves began to self-police and find better ways.

We want to put people back to work. We want to make sure these funds are utilized to rebuild communities.

I would like to officially make a request to meet with you as soon as possible in my office and also in Houston.

I am going to ask you whether or not you have heard the discussion of the shrimpers, and I did not know if I came in too late to listen about the oystermen.

I thank my colleague. I am an interested neighbor and one who has worked with your constituents just because of my role on the Homeland Security Committee.

Let me just proceed with some line of reasoning.

They may be, in fact, individuals that could encourage the democratic movement in Iran.

I think that is the interpretation.

I have no friendship for the Iranian government. I do believe the people there--there is a body politic who want freedom.

I truly believe your concern should be addressed, and I am a strong supporter making sure that you hire people.

This is a systemic problem. We started with almost--I call 4,000 'zero.'

Absolutely. So resources should not be cut, but we should have a Federal strategy, but also accepting and acknowledging the work that has been done by our local cities.

I just ask this final question, Mr. Chairman. Is this an appropriate time to cut homeland security funding or to enhance homeland security funding for the very points that you have made in your report?

It is a bloodbath walking through the streets of maybe Laredo, El Paso, and that even the law enforcement there, even though you spoke to them, are being overwhelmed.

I think information is valuable.

I don't like the way it is proceeding in terms of reimbursement.

I think my issue coming from that region and feeling that we do better when we move forward to recognize that we can cure what may have happened that caused the horrific incident in the first place.