I mean, the rule of law is critical to the relationship, and I am just shocked that President Lopez Obrador is operating in this manner.

I am deeply concerned by these reports, that such a program would not only constitute a misuse of the ESF, but it would circumvent Congress's role in approving such an action.

The budget is far short of what you have been authorized.

There are deep concerns there. We have got, potentially, Chinese companies working with the Mexican Military to take adverse actions on U.S. assets.

I don't think it is right to put American taxpayers on the hook for defending themselves in these cases when you know that there is a high odd--high odds of losing.

I think that modernization of the Department will help us address those challenges.

I think the specter of this being presented is a false choice. And the specter that you present does not have to be that.

It damages the confidence of taxpayers in America.

I will weigh in a little bit further and if you will accommodate me.

Thank you, Chairman, Van Hollen, and thank you for holding this hearing today.

It is going to be more complicated considerably by the way it is moving.

It is clear to me that it is not going to get any less complicated. It is going to be more complicated considerably by the way it is moving.

I think the specter of this being presented is a false choice. And the specter that you present does not have to be that.

We need to make sure that the equipment market is more diverse, and more competitive, and less costly.

It has become--beyond comprehension that they could have allowed the Chief Risk Officer position to remain vacant for 8 months during the period leading up to this collapse.

It is putting our Nation at a point of weaker, weaker economic security, weaker national security.

Anything that increases the cost of producing energy right now... is putting our Nation at a point of weaker, weaker economic security, weaker national security.

I will weigh in a little bit further and if you will accommodate me.

It damages the confidence of taxpayers in America.

I think more clarity here would be appreciated.

I would like to just start out with a point of concern that I have regarding USAID funding to Palestinian organizations that foment hate, that celebrate terrorism.

It is going to be more complicated considerably by the way it is moving.

The new budget lays out another $2.5 trillion of spending increases and going to the Treasury Green Book that you just mentioned a few minutes earlier, another $4.7 trillion of tax increases as well.

I could not agree with you more about the criticality of telecommunications infrastructure, particularly given the difficulties that we have had with Huawei, ZTE, and others that are trying to invade the entire 5G infrastructure system.

It has become--beyond comprehension that they could have allowed the Chief Risk Officer position to remain vacant for 8 months during the period leading up to this collapse.