Opening Statement of Governor Kristi Noem for Nomination as
Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security
Good morning, Chairman Paul, Ranking Member Peters, and distinguished members of
the committee. I
am honored to appear before you today as the nominee for Secretary
of Homeland Security. I want to
thank President-Elect Donald J. Trump for his
confidence in my leadership, and the people of South
Dakota for their
fantastic support throughout my time in public service. I would also like to express my
sincere gratitude to Senator Cramer. He has been an invaluable source of wisdom throughout this process
as he accompanied me to many meetings. I’d also like to express my gratitude to the Majority Leader of
this esteemed body, Senator Thune. He has been an advisor as well as a friend to me over the years. I am
so grateful for the generous support of these two individuals and their willingness to be here this morning
to introduce me to the Committee.
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.
Securing our homeland is a serious, sacred trust that must be relentlessly pursued and can never be taken
for granted. Being safe within our borders is an American right, yet Americans feel less safe than they
have in decades. For the first time in 30 years, more
than 40% of Americans are afraid to walk alone at
night within a mile of their home.
President-Elect Trump is going to change that.
I have seen firsthand the challenges and opportunities facing our great nation. In the 20
years since the
Department of Homeland Security was formed, the nature of the threats to our homeland has grown and
evolved. This Department was created in response to
the failures across government that led to the
September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. That
reality is not lost on me, especially in the wake of the recent
terrorist attacks over New
Year’s.
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 have addressed important issues
like cybersecurity, human
trafficking, drug interdiction, and natural disasters – the same challenges facing
so many of you here and the people you represent back at home. I have secured our state and
supported
the rule of law. If confirmed as the 8th Secretary, that is the same approach I
will take to leading the
Department of Homeland Security.
As we face the evolving threats of the 21st century, the mission and success of DHS is more critical
than
ever. We must be vigilant, proactive, and innovative to protect the homeland. The
challenges before us
are significant. We must secure our borders against illegal
trafficking and immigration. And we must
safeguard our critical infrastructure against
cyberattacks, respond to natural disasters, and combat
terrorism.
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. They are responsible for
apprehending,
detaining, and deporting illegal immigrants. Getting criminal aliens off the streets and out
of
the country will help make American communities safe again. The bravery and dedication of
the
Border Patrol and ICE are unmatched, and I will restore dignity to their work.
The rising threat of cyberattacks also demands our utmost attention. Our critical
infrastructure, from
energy grids to financial systems, is under constant attack by foreign
adversaries and criminal actors. 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.
President-Elect Trump has been a tremendous friend to law enforcement, and I will do
the same in the
role of Secretary. As Governor, I have worked closely with law enforcement to
make South Dakota safer.
I have overseen hundreds of state troopers in the South
Dakota Highway Patrol. On several occasions,
I’ve convened groups of law
enforcement from across our state to address policies that will make our
people safer.
In fact, while some in this country were attacking law enforcement, we took the opposite approach. We
recruited law
enforcement officers to move to South Dakota, a state that respects their service and
sacrifice. And we revamped our law enforcement training to provide the first ever
state-led tribal-focused
training opportunity.
We must remain vigilant against terrorism and against others who wish to do harm to our Country and its
great people. I will ensure that our intelligence and law enforcement agencies are working together, hand-
in-hand, fully equipped
to detect, prevent, and respond to threats from radical ideologies or foreign
adversaries.
This requires resources, coordination, and collaboration across all levels of government. Once again, I
will seek your wisdom and your input in the months ahead. For the sake of the people we both represent,
we must get this right.
I recognize that homeland security is not only about prevention but also about
resilience. When disasters
strike, as we know they will, the Department of Homeland Security must be ready
to respond swiftly,
efficiently, and effectively to protect the lives and property of Americans. As
governor, I have worked
with FEMA in response to a dozen natural disasters in South
Dakota. These have included historic floods,
tornados, blizzards, wildfires, a derecho,
and even a global pandemic. As Secretary, I will enhance our
emergency preparedness
and strengthen FEMA’s capabilities. We will ensure that no community is left
behind and
that life-saving services like electricity and water are quickly restored.
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.
I am committed to working with this committee, with Congress, and with the dedicated men and
women
of the Department of Homeland Security to fulfill our mission. Together, we can
ensure that the United
States remains a beacon of freedom, safety, and security for
generations to come.
Thank you for the opportunity and honor to appear before you today. I look forward to your
questions. I
hope to earn your trust and, hopefully, your vote as we embark on this
critical work together.
