Mike McCaul

Frankly, I want to hear today in our question and answers how TSA plans to address it head-on quickly, expeditiously, and respond to the assessment made by GAO.

we have called on the Department of Homeland Security to produce a comprehensive strategy to secure the border.

we are open to a new, more robust standard if it supplements operational control and if it better describes the level of security at the border.

Using apprehensions as a measure of progress tells us an incomplete story, really.

How can we possibly measure whether the border is secure or not?

I think our enhanced enforcement efforts and the introduction of significant consequences, such as prosecution for multiple crossers and smugglers, have made a tremendous difference.

I think the thing that keeps me up the night the most would be the idea of weapons-grade uranium being smuggled from a place like Iran to Venezuela.

I would very much like to get that briefing.

We must adequately secure the border in order to facilitate trade.

I appreciate your comments.

I think one of the things we always talk about--'What keeps you up at night?'--and one of the fears I have is Iran's influence in the Western hemisphere.

In my judgment, the technology piece has not been completed yet, and when it is I think we'll be able to say we have operational control of the border.

A key to security is the maintenance and expansion of infrastructure.

in Texas we're not giving up one square inch to these thugs.

CBP should afford its C-TPAT partners with due process by investigating security breaches before taking hasty, immediate actions with such serious consequences.

What is missing is a strategy to secure the border, both at and between the ports of entry.

The best ideas don't come out of Washington. They come from the local areas.

Our Federal agents have a never-ending job of preventing this onslaught.

Make no mistake; the cartels running drugs across the Southwest Border are highly sophisticated criminal organizations.

I believe that increasing the accuracy of the data CBP receives, treating partners like true partners, and providing CBP with additional technology and personnel will further your goal of increasing security and accelerating the flow of…

unless we eliminate the ability to come between the ports of entry undetected, you know, and unvetted, we are at risk and will continue to be.

We must separate travelers and cargo through trusted shipper and traveler programs.

America's free flow of trade is threatened, however, because our ports of entry remain a battleground in our fight to protect the homeland.

I commend you for your leadership and continued efforts to increase the security of our country while expediting the flow of trade.

The free flow of trade and commerce through our port of entry is vital to our Nation's economy.