chairman. >> thank you, senator risch. i'll introduce our witnesses and we'll go right to the testimony. our first panel, i will limit the introduction for for spam and will do the second panel when we reach that point, we'll hear from the honorable janet sanderson, deputy assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs. the honorable daniel benjamin, courtney for catechism at the department of state, and ms. christa capozzola, deputy assistant administrator in the bureau for democracy, conflict and humanitarian assistance at usaid. for purposes of movement from left to right, ambassador benjamin will go. i think we'll start with you. >> chairman casey, ranking member risch, thank you very much for inviting me to appear before you today. as you will hear in a few moments from my colleague, ambassador sanderson, the situation in yemen in terms of politics and economics is quite tenuous. the presence of al qaeda in the arabian peninsula, aqap, means that this volatile situation has a direct bearing on our national secu

less cementer risch from idaho. we have a f common share experiences governors, and it'so wonderful to draw on that.xperie i also have to mention that thee presiding officer in the senates senator shaheen is former governor else will come and so exrience, we have tha at common share anperience here on both sides of the aisle, and it's an honor ane it's a pleasure to be here with you and talk about this matter that is very importantace the particularly as we face the neee ceiling.nc this issue of dealing with a par balanced budget is of paramountr importance for our entireex country coming in your lead isn't exactly right. we served together as governorsh as a matter of fact, the truth is i would call you because your were elected governor before ist was and ask you about some ofg i the things you were working onay in nebraska and our state's share manyco things in common. one you mentioned on theyment unemployment rate cut the unemployment rate is 3.3%. and again, i attribute that to building a good pro-business, pr

risch: thank you very much. i am honored to be here with the other former governors. we -- there are a handful of us on each side who have had the honor and privilege of serving their states as the chief executive, and so it is a real honor to be heemplet and i bring that experience with me and i think every one of us brings that experience with us. i not only bring that experience but i did almost three decades in the idaho state senate balancing a budget, and indeed i was in the leadership having to do what the leadership does here in bringing the two sides together because we have a budget requirement in the state of idaho, just as virtually every other state does. and does that create some angst when you're the chief executive or when you are a he in the legislative process trying to balance? of course it z i'm sure that the presiding officer wound up with the same thing in her great state as she tried to balance the budget because no matter how much money you have, it is never enough. as you've pointed out, senator johanns, that it is a matter of priority. this i

risch for members of the committee, on behalf of the -- on the united transportation union i'd like to thank you for the opportunity to address the committee today. due to leave kuwait represent thousands of trends and rail employees. each and every day members of the front line of travel to keep the transportation network secure. members are committed to work with employers and the government to improve the lines of defense against those who wish the nation harm. offer to work with the nation's railroad on the security training and had a positive discussion on possible joint partnerships. a primary concern to the members is the lack of blocks for doors and windows on the locomotive cabs. we believe it should be required all locomotives be quote with locks for the doors and windows to prevent unauthorized entry to the operating compartment. when windows and doors are locked the locomotive cab needs to be air-conditioned certainly in cold weather operating crews will close the windows and doors however in hot weather without air-conditioning operating they're forced to open the doors an

risch for members of the committee, on behalf of the -- on the united transportation union i'd like to thank you for the opportunity to address the committee today. due to leave kuwait represent thousands of trends and rail employees. each and every day members of the front line of travel to keep the transportation network secure. members are committed to work with employers and the government to improve the lines of defense against those who wish the nation harm. offer to work with the nation's railroad on the security training and had a positive discussion on possible joint partnerships. a primary concern to the members is the lack of blocks for doors and windows on the locomotive cabs. we believe it should be required all locomotives be quote with locks for the doors and windows to prevent unauthorized entry to the operating compartment. when windows and doors are locked the locomotive cab needs to be air-conditioned certainly in cold weather operating crews will close the windows and doors however in hot weather without air-conditioning operating they're forced to open the doors an

risch for members of the committee, on behalf of the -- on the united transportation union i'd like toy day members of the front line of travel to keep the transportation network secure. members are committed to work with employers and the government to improve the lines of defense against those who wish the nation harm. offer to work with the nation's railroad on the security training and had a positive discussion on possible joint partnerships. a primary concern to the members is the lack of blocks for doors and windows on the locomotive cabs. we believe it should be required all locomotives be quote with locks for the doors and windows to prevent unauthorized entry to the operating compartment. when windows and doors are locked the locomotive cab needs to be air-conditioned certainly in cold weather operating crews will close the windows and doors however in hot weather without air-conditioning operating they're forced to open the doors and windows compromising their personal safety and that of others. currently there is more federal standards equipping the locomotive with air-condi