Christmas has always been my favorite holiday of the year. It’s a special time to spend with family, eat good food and exchange gifts with the ones you love. It is also the season when dreams come true. Ask any child, no matter their age! Diana joins me in wishing you a Merry Christmas; we hope the joy of this season stays with you – not just today and tomorrow – but throughout the coming year.

I am troubled by a recent oversight alert that found U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) paid a private contractor millions of dollars to help hire 7,500 Border Patrol agents and officers, but the contractor only hired two in 10 months. I sent a letter to CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan to make sure the agency is taking the necessary steps in response to this alert. We need well-trained CBP agents and officers on the job to make sure people and contraband are not entering our country illegally. It is disappointing that millions of tax dollars that were supposed to be spent to achieve this important goal have yielded little in return.