Governor Kristi Noem — President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security — delivers her opening statement before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security.

I’m a wife, mother, a grandmother, a farmer, a rancher, a businesswoman, and a governor. I have spent my life in rural America. I understand what it means to work hard every day to build a better future for our kids and our communities. I come before you today with a deep sense of responsibility and humility as the nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security. And also a commitment to the more than 330 million Americans, whom we will serve to work to keep them safe and secure in their homes, their communities and their country. Before I proceed, I want to introduce my husband Bryon, who is here with me today. He is my 24 seven reminder that our dedication to public service is not a solo effort or result. I am so grateful to have him here with me today.

I have led South Dakota for the last 6 years with a focus every day on making our state safer, stronger, and freer. I have focused every day on making the best decisions not just for right now, but for generations to come. I have overseen a state budget of over $7 billion and a state employee workforce of more than 13,000, including more than 7,000 reporting to the Governor.

I firmly believe that we can meet these challenges head-on with resolve, innovation, and collaboration with Federal and state partners. And Senators, I want your input. Border security must remain a top priority. As a nation, we have the right and responsibility to secure our borders against those who would do us harm. And we must create a fair and lawful immigration system that is efficient and effective and that reflects our values. President Trump was elected with a clear mandate to achieve this mission. Two thirds of Americans support his immigration and border policies, including the majority of Hispanic Americans. I was the first Governor to send National Guard troops to Texas when they were being overwhelmed by an unprecedented border crisis. If confirmed as Secretary, I will ensure that our exceptional, extraordinary Border Patrol agents have ALL the tools, resources, and support they need to carry out their mission effectively. The same is true of my commitment to the outstanding men and women of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

As Secretary, I will prioritize a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to cybersecurity. In fact, in the coming days, we have to think and plan bigger, faster, and smarter. I fully acknowledge that we in Washington do not have all the answers. Therefore, I will leverage public-private partnerships and advance cutting-edge, state-of-the-art technologies to protect our nation’s digital landscape. I have a proven track record doing this in South Dakota. I have helped make Dakota State University a global leader in cybersecurity education because we recognize the need to address this emerging threat. I will take this proactive approach if given the opportunity to serve as Secretary.

As Secretary, I will oversee the Secret Service, an agency that is in serious need of reform. We all saw the threats to President-elect Trump last year – and the consequences of failure. That should never happen again. I have worked closely with my own gubernatorial protective detail and am familiar with what works and what doesn’t. And I will bring that experience towards strengthening our Secret Service once again.

https://www.facebook.com/HygoNewsUSA/videos/562664803432883
Gov Kristi Noem opening statement on South Dakota experience, border, cybersecurity & Secret Service