I have supported the National Guard's presence along the U.S.-Mexico border because I believe it has been a critical component for CBP's mission to protect and secure our borders.

I support the partnership between the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense aimed at providing aerial surveillance support for U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the Southern Border.

I appreciate the work that you do. But let me just give you an example and we can short-circuit this again.

Have you had input in the overall strategy? You are not answering the question.

My question: Have you been asked to provide input in that overall strategy?

I want to begin by thanking Congresswoman Jackson Lee and Congressmen McCaul and Cuellar for their support in our fight to keep the C-130s at the 136th Airlift Wing in Ft.

You know, we Members of Congress voted millions of dollars in cuts that we, as Members of Congress, cut.

As of April 2012, Border Patrol headquarters officials were working to develop border security goals and measures, but they have not given you a target time frame as to when they will be implementing that.

I think Members of Congress want to see those Border Patrol at the border instead of having them wrack up millions of dollars of overtime at headquarters.

I have always said we have done a good job with the men and women in green, but we need the men and women in blue.

I would look forward working with you and look at alternatives as we go up there.