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Reviewing the Department of Homeland Security's Intelligence Enterprise
"The attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11) spurred Congress to create the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Its purpose, in part, was to help unify 'the many participants in the counterterrorism effort and their knowledge in a network-based information sharing system that transcends traditional government boundaries,' which would become one of the key recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Commission). In pursuit of this goal, the DHS Intelligence Enterprise (IE) gradually evolved out of the relevant offices and functions of the 22 previously independent entities that eventually formed DHS. Although the IE has made progress unifying the U.S. government's efforts to prevent terrorist attacks against the homeland, a 2014 RAND Corporation report accurately surmised that, despite an 'intense focus on information sharing, the ability to fairly and accurately measure the value of these -- sometimes expensive -- efforts remains limited.' Partly as a result, the Majority Staff of the House Homeland Security Committee conducted a review of terrorism-related intelligence sharing throughout the DHS IE[.]"
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2016-12
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Worldwide Threats to the Homeland: ISIS and the New Wave of Terror, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security, United States House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, July 14, 2016
This testimony compilation is from the July 14, 2016 hearing, "Worldwide Threats to the Homeland: ISIS and the New Wave of Terror," before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security. "This hearing will examine current threats to the U.S. homeland, especially from radical Islamist terrorists, and will review the efforts of the federal government to counter other emerging threats. Witnesses will likely discuss the danger of foreign-inspired homegrown extremists, the role of global terrorist organizations in their radicalization, and efforts to prevent terrorist infiltration into the United States. The hearing will also examine continued and emerging threats to cybersecurity and our critical infrastructure." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Jeh C. Johnson, Nicholas J. Rasmussen, and James B. Comey.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2016-07-14
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Streamlining the Department of Homeland Security's Overhead Will Make the Homeland Safer
"The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security (Committee) has long been committed to ensuring that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) runs as efficiently as possible. Given the Department's immense real property portfolio, and the enormous costs associated with it, a comprehensive, detailed review is certainly warranted. As such, beginning in July 2014, the Committee launched an in-depth investigation into DHS field efficiencies. As part of the investigation, Committee staff has reviewed relevant DHS testimony and real property data, examined more than twenty Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Office of the Inspector General (OIG) reports, and met with former government officials, industry executives, and various other stakeholder groups. Additionally, the Committee has received regular briefings from DHS and met with other Federal stakeholders, including the General Services Administration (GSA), GAO and the DHS OIG. In December of 2014, as part of the investigation, Committee staff conducted site visits to both Philadelphia and New York City to see DHS real estate holdings in these cities. In addition to those site visits, Committee staff has also incorporated field efficiencies examinations into its other visits to DHS components in the field."
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2016-08
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Misconduct at TSA Threatens the Security of the Flying Public
"The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created in the immediate aftermath of
9/11. Today, it has roughly 60,000 employees working at about 450 airports. For years, news
media outlets have reported on serious instances of misconduct by TSA employees across
the country, ranging from assaulting passengers to participating in large-scale criminal
conspiracies. Although TSA has taken some steps to address employee misconduct,
sadly, these stories continue to be in the news and in the mind of the public. Given these
seemingly continuous scandals, the House Homeland Security Committee conducted an
investigation to review TSA's efforts to identify, adjudicate, and address misconduct."
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2016-07
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Value of DHS' Vulnerability Assessments in Protecting Our Nation's Critical Infrastructure, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies of the Committee on Homeland Security, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, July 12, 2016
This testimony compilation is from the July 12, 2016 hearing on "Value of DHS' Vulnerability Assessments in Protecting Our Nation's Critical Infrastructure" before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security. From the Committee website, "The purpose of this hearing is to examine threats to the nation's critical infrastructure, including threats from terrorists and nation state actors. The Subcommittee will examine the capabilities of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Office of Cybersecurity and Communications (CS&C) and Office of Infrastructure Protection (IP) in offering voluntary assessments to owners and operators of critical infrastructure to evaluate risks and to defend against attacks. Over the past several years, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has brought into question the value of DHS' vulnerability assessments and its ability to mitigate potential duplication or gaps. The Subcommittee will examine several of the recommendations made by GAO and how DHS has addressed those concerns. Additionally, the Subcommittee will examine the benefit being provided to owners and operators from the vulnerability assessments and how DHS is communicating the value of its critical infrastructure protection and cybersecurity programs to owners and operators of critical infrastructure." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Chris P. Currie, Andy Ozment, Caitlin Durkovich, and Marcus L. Brown.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2016-07-12
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Checkpoint of the Future: Evaluating TSA's Innovation Task Force Initiative, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Transportation and Protective Security of the Committee on Homeland Security, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, April 27, 2017
This testimony compilation is from the April 27, 2017 hearing, "Checkpoint of the Future: Evaluating TSA's Innovation Task Force Initiative" before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Transportation and Protective Security of the Committee on Homeland Security. The purpose of this hearing was to "examine the work of the Transportation Security Administration's Innovation Task Force initiative which seeks to demonstrate new and innovative security technologies at our nation's airports. The Subcommittee will also hear from two of TSA's partners in this initiative: Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Steve Karoly, Roosevelt Council, Jr., and Jeanne M. Olivier.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2017-04-27
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Defeating a Sophisticated and Dangerous Adversary: Are the New Border Security Task Forces the Right Approach? Hearing before the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security of the House Committee on Homeland Security, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, April 4, 2017
This is a testimony compilation of the April 4, 2017 hearing on "Defeating a Sophisticated and Dangerous Adversary: Are the New Border Security Task Forces the Right Approach?" held before the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security of the House Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Martha McSally: "Now that we better understand the lengths to which the cartels will go to make the billions of dollars that they net every year, I want to shift our focus to the Department of Homeland Security's collective response and potential solutions for this immense task. I believe we should begin with the development of a counter-network approach that looks at disrupting every level of cartel operations. From the low-level scout on an Arizona hill-top guiding drug loads away from Border Patrol agents, to the local plaza boss taxing the movement of drugs and people through his area, to the cartel kingpins at the very top of the Sinaloa cartel." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Karl Schultz, Paul Beeson, Janice Ayala, and Rebecca Gambler.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2017-04-04
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Transportation Security Administration's FY2017 Budget Request, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Transportation Security of the Committee on Homeland Security, United States House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, March 2, 2016
This testimony compilation is from the March 2, 2016 hearing on "Transportation Security Administration's FY2017 Budget Request" held before the House Subcommittee on Transportation Security. From the opening statement of John Katko: "Terrorists remain committed to attacking the West, and every day these groups are recruiting new soldiers to their cause. As 9/11 fades from the memory of many Americans, it is incumbent upon Congress to look at tragic recent events and recognize just how committed our adversaries remain to attacking us. The harsh reality is that there are formidable new threats to the safety and security of the traveling public, and it is incumbent upon this Committee to ensure that the Transportation Security Administration has the resources it needs to protect the American people against those threats. [...] Today, we will look at how the resources requested in the President's budget will mitigate these threats." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Peter V. Neffenger.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2016-03-02
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Transferring Guantanamo Bay Detainees to the Homeland: Implications for States and Local Communities, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency of the Committee on Homeland Security, United States House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, April 28, 2016
This testimony compilation is from the April 28, 2016 hearing on "Transferring Guantanamo Bay Detainees" held before the House Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency. From the opening statement of Scott Perry: "But it's time to set the record straight: the Administration has failed to seek very necessary input from state and local law enforcement on its plan. The reason is simple: law enforcement professionals strongly oppose any plan that could endanger the citizens they're sworn to protect. [...] We also have legal questions - such as whether these terrorists could be eligible for certain forms of relief from removal, release from immigration detention, or constitutional rights. The Department of Justice believes that existing statutory safeguards are sufficient and courts historically have ruled that detainees held under the laws of war who are brought to the US are outside the reach of immigration laws. But make no mistake…their lawyers will test every avenue, and slow justice even further." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Nikki R. Haley, Michael Bouchard, Todd Thompson, and Ken Gude.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2016-04-28
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Going Dark, Going Forward: A Primer on the Encryption Debate
"Public engagement on encryption issues surged following the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, particularly when it was suspected that the attackers used encrypted communications before, and possibly during, the attacks in order to evade detection--a phenomenon known as 'going dark.' While encryption provides important benefits to society and the individual, it also makes it more difficult for law enforcement and intelligence professionals to keep us safe. Some have framed the debate surrounding encryption as a battle between privacy and security. Our extensive discussions with stakeholders, however, have led us to conclude that the issue is really about security versus security: encryption protects critical infrastructure, trade secrets, financial transactions, and personal communications and information. Yet encryption also limits law enforcement's ability to track criminals, collect evidence, prevent attacks, and ensure public safety. Initially, lawmakers and some among law enforcement personnel believed the solution was simple: statutorily authorize law enforcement access to obtain encrypted data with a court order. Unfortunately, this proposal was riddled with unintended consequences, particularly if redesigning encryption tools to incorporate vulnerabilities--creating what some refer to as 'backdoors'--actually weakened data security. Indeed those vulnerabilities would naturally be exploited by the bad guys -- and not just benefit the good guys."
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2016-06
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State of Emergency: The Disaster of Cutting Preparedness Grants, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, United Sates House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, March 15, 2016
This testimony compilation is from the March 15, 2016 hearing "State of Emergency: The Disaster of Cutting Preparedness Grants" before the Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications held on March 15, 2016. From the opening statement of Chairman Donovan: "As Chairman of the subcommittee on emergency preparedness, response, and communications, one of my fundamental responsibilities is to ensure our nation's first responders have the tools that they need to protect this country and God forbid, respond to the next terrorist attack. That is why my first hearing is focusing on the dangerous cuts to homeland security grants proposed in the president's fiscal year 2017 budget request. The president's budget cuts more than five hundred million dollars from programs that support states, cities, ports, transit systems, and fire services. This funding helps provide the training and equipment so critical to enabling our first responders to meet threats as varied as active shooters scenarios, mass causality events from a nuclear, chemical, or biological attack, and bomb plots targeting civilians in high traffic areas. "Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Bill de Blasio, Jim Butterworth, Rhoda Mae Kerr, George Turner, Mike Sena, and W. Greg Kierce.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2016-03-15
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Role of Cyber Insurance in Risk Management, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies of the Committee on Homeland Security, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, March 22, 2016
This testimony compilation is from the March 22, 2016 hearing on "Role of Cyber Insurance in Risk Management" before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security. From the Opening Statement of John Ratcliffe, "The House Homeland Security Committee, Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies meets today to hear from key stakeholders about the role of cyber insurance in managing risk. Just yesterday the Bipartisan Policy Center came out with a publication on the room for growth in this market and the barriers that it faces. Specifically, we hope to hear about the potential for cyber insurance to be used to drive companies of all sizes to improve their resiliency against cyber attacks and develop a more effective risk management strategy, leading to a safer Internet for all Americans. The cyber insurance market is in its infancy. But it's easy to envision its vast potential. Just as the process of obtaining home insurance can incentivize homeowners to invest in strong locks, smoke detectors, and security alarms, the same could be true for companies seeking to obtain cyber insurance. It is for that reason that I look forward to hearing from the witnesses today on the current state of the cyber insurance market, and what can be done to develop, improve, and expand the availability of cyber insurance in the future." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Matthew McCabe, Adam W. Hamm, Daniel Nutkis, and Tom Finan.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2016-03-22
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DHS in Today's Dangerous World: Examining the Department's Budget and Readiness to Counter Homeland Threats, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security, United States House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, March 16, 2016
This testimony compilation is from the March 16, 2016 hearing "DHS in Today's Dangerous World: Examining the Department's Budget and Readiness to Counter Homeland Threats," before the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security. From the prepared statement of Committee Chairman Michael McCaul: Almost fifteen years after 9/11, the war against Islamist terror has entered a dark phase. New battlefields have emerged across the world, and our enemies are on the offensive. They are recruiting through retweets and crowd-sourcing their attacks. And they have brought the conflict to our doorsteps in new and dangerous ways. Only months ago in San Bernardino, we witnessed the horrible violence terrorists can inflict on our communities. Yet we were reminded in the wake of that tragedy that such radicalism is no match for our resolve. The American people will not submit to the intimidation of jihadists, and we will not allow their repressive worldview to infect our free society. [...] If we do not win this war on offense, then our security falls to our defense. And much of that rests on your shoulders, Mr. Secretary. We've arrested more than 80 ISIS supporters in the United States, and homegrown terror cases are being investigated in every state. The danger is real. [...] Finally, I am concerned about the steep cuts--more than $500 million--in this year's DHS budget for the Urban Area Security Initiative and State Homeland Security Grant Programs that help first responders. Once again, the terror threat level is higher than it has ever been during my time in Congress. State and local responders are the country's first line of defense, and we need them to be vigilant, trained, and equipped to stop acts of terror. Why on earth, then, would we slash their grant funding? Today we are hoping for a good explanation, because I can tell you that right now our first responders don't need us to cut their budgets. They need us to have their backs." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Michael McCaul and Jeh C Johnson.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2016-03-16
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Stopping the Next Attack: How to Keep Our City Streets from Becoming the Battleground, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security, United States House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, September 21, 2016
This testimony compilation is from the September 21, 2016 hearing, "Stopping the Next Attack: How to Keep Our City Streets from Becoming the Battleground" before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security. From the Committee website: "The purpose of the hearing is to highlight the importance of strengthening preparedness, prevention, and response efforts, from the perspective of local law enforcement officials, and their experiences in preventing terrorist or lone wolf attacks in their communities. Their perspective will provide valuable best practices and lessons learned about how to build a more resilient nation." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John Miller, Art Acevedo, Michael J. Bouchard, and Jerry L. Demings.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2016-09-21
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Serial No. 114-63: Keeping Pace with Trade, Travel, and Security: How Does CBP Prioritize and Improve Staffing and Infrastructure?, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, April 19, 2016
This document is from the April 19, 2016 hearing titled "Keeping Pace with Trade, Travel, and Security: How Does CBP Prioritize and Improve Staffing and Infrastructure?" held before the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Martha McSally: "U.S. Customs and Border Protection's job is to make sure passengers and cargo that power our economy keep moving while keeping bad things and bad people out of the country. These missions require 2 basic prerequisites: An appropriate number of well-trained Customs and Border Protection Officers to process travelers and trade, and a modernized infrastructure to accommodate and channel the traffic so that it moves across the border quickly and safely. However, CBP is seriously understaffed, despite Congress' recent infusion of dollars to hire an additional 2,000 officers. Land ports of entry across the country are in dire need of expansion and renovation to keep pace with increasing demand and security requirements." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Eugene Schied, Linda Jacksta, John P. Wagner, Michael Gelber, and Anthony M. Reardon.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2016-04-19
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Future of FEMA: Recommendations of Former Administrators, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications of the Committee on Homeland Security, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, February 28, 2017
This testimony compilation is from the February 28, 2017 hearing, "Future of FEMA: Recommendations of Former Administrators" before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Dan Donovan: "Today's hearing is the second in a series of hearings on the future of FEMA and an effort to help set the next Administrator up for success. Earlier this month, the Subcommittee received testimony from FEMA's stakeholders to hear first-hand about the critical relationship between FEMA and first responders at the state and local level. FEMA's success is directly related to the relationships the agency has with state and local partners to promote a culture of preparedness within communities. Part one of this series of hearings reinforced the need for an experienced emergency manager to lead FEMA. Today's distinguished and weather-tested witnesses know better than anyone the significant transformation FEMA has made in achieving and maintaining national preparedness and response capabilities over the past 12 years. Both administrators were responsible for implementing about 350 individual requirements enacted by Congress in the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act. With the tools Congress gave them, they took steps to ensure FEMA developed and implemented the complex National Preparedness System made up of federal, state, local, private, and non-profit emergency management partners. Significant resources have been invested at all levels of government to reach the current level of national preparedness. As we move forward, those in positions of authority have an obligation to build on the critical progress that has been made. This Subcommittee has consistently followed FEMA's progress. Without strong leadership in place, FEMA would not have achieved the level of transformation currently in place.". Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: W. Craig Fugate and R. David Paulison.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2017-02-28
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Oversight of Federal Efforts to Address Electromagnetic Risks, United States House of Representatives, Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, May 17, 2016
This testimony compilation is from the May 17, 2016, hearing, "Oversight of Federal Efforts to Address Electromagnetic Risks" before the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Scott Perry: " America's energy infrastructure is the heart that pumps the American economy. Long term power outages resulting from an attack on our critical infrastructure could cripple our nation's economy and put Americans' health and safety in jeopardy. Because the nation's critical infrastructure is so vital to Americans' way of life, the Federal government has recognized the necessity of securing our infrastructure from an array of risks, including the threat of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack. The most serious EMP risk would come in the form of an EMP resulting from a nuclear detonation at high altitude. Such an attack could cause long-term damage to the power grid. While many believe the likelihood of such an attack is low, the damage and economic aftershocks that would follow demand that we address these risks. We cannot discount that other nation-states, such as North Korea, or sophisticated terror groups might want to utilize an EMP to wreak havoc on our economy. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Scott Perry, Chris P. Currie, Brandon Wales, Joseph McClelland, and Judson Freed.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2016-05-17
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Examining the Mission, Structure, and Reorganization Effort of the National Protection and Programs Directorate, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies of the Committee on Homeland Security, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, October 7, 2015
This testimony compilation is from the October 7, 2015 hearing on "Examining the Mission, Structure, and Reorganization Effort of the National Protection and Programs Directorate," before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security. From the Opening Statement of John Ratcliffe, "Prior to any reorganization of NPPD [National Protection and Programs Directorate], Congress needs to first determine whether or not the proposal would establish a clear operational mission for the Directorate, streamline the organizational structure, and can be effectively carried out by a qualified workforce. We also have questions on how the proposed changes would help make acquisition efforts for the cybersecurity mission more effective and efficient. And perhaps most importantly, this Committee needs to know how the realignment would help build confidence in both the public and private sectors that DHS is dedicated to focusing on its emerging cybersecurity mission. Growing cyber threats are presenting new homeland security challenges every day; and as such, this Committee needs to ensure that DHS is optimally organized to successfully combat these emerging threats. As a nation, we seem to finally be grasping the magnitude of the potential consequences of a major cyber attack, particularly as serious cyber breaches have already become part of our daily lives. As we have seen this year with the damaging breach to the Office of Personnel Management and other similar breaches, cyber subversions are only increasing in number. We have seen cyber attacks destroy private companies' computers and data breaches that exfiltrate corporate information, employee data, emails, intellectual property. It is vitally important that we are prepared to combat this evolving threat." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Suzanne Spaulding, Phyllis Schneck, Ronald J. Clark, and Chris P. Currie.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2015-10-07
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Safeguarding Our Nation's Surface Transportation Systems Against Evolving Terrorist Threats, Hearing Before the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Transportation Security, and Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, September 17, 2015
This testimony compilation is from the September 17, 2015 hearing on "Safeguarding Our Nation's Surface Transportation Systems Against Evolving Terrorist Threats," before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security. From the Opening Statement of John Katko, "The purpose of today's hearing is to assess our ability and readiness to detect and disrupt threats to our nation's critical surface transportation systems." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Eddie Mayenschein, Jennifer Grover, Raymond Diaz, and Polly Hanson.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2015-09-17
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Making DHS More Efficient: Industry Recommendations to Improve Homeland Security, Hearing Before the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, September 18, 2015
This testimony compilation is from the September 18, 2015 hearing on "Making DHS More Efficient: Industry Recommendations to Improve Homeland Security," before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security. From the Opening Statement of Scott Perry, "Today's hearing provides us with an important opportunity to examine how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can improve its management using proven, private sector best practices. In the early years after the creation of DHS, Department officials understandably were focused on preventing another major attack on the homeland; however, from the outset, DHS faced significant challenges, including consolidating 22 preexisting component agencies, reporting to a multitude of Congressional committees, and working diligently to strike the balance between national security and protecting privacy and civil liberties. Furthermore, a longstanding failure to adhere to strong management practices led to high profile failures, such as wasting a billion dollars on the failed Secure Border Initiative Network (SBI-Net) and mothballed 'puffer machines' that eventually were pulled from airports. Such mismanagement eroded public confidence in DHS and continues to hinder it today." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Marc Pearl, Harry Totonis, and Elaine Duke.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2015-09-18
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Beyond Bin Laden's Caves and Couriers to a New Generation of Terrorists: Confronting the Challenges in a Post 9/11 World, Hearing Before the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Homeland Security, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, September 8, 2015
This testimony compilation is from the September 18, 2015 hearing on "Beyond Bin Laden's Caves and Couriers to a New Generation of Terrorists: Confronting the Challenges in a Post 9/11 World," before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security. From the House Committee on Homeland Security website, "This hearing will revisit important lessons we learned in the post 9/11 world, assess our country's readiness to confront the viral spread of terror, and explore what the resolve of our 9/11 heroes can teach us about prevailing against those who seek to do America harm."Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Rudolph "Rudy" W. Giuliani, William J. Bratton, Daniel A. Nigro, Lee A. Ielpi, and Gregory A. Thomas.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2015-09-08
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Moving the Line of Scrimmage: Re-Examining the Defense-in-Depth Strategy, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security of the Committee on Homeland Security, United States House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, September 13, 2016
This testimony compilation is from the September 13, 2016 hearing, "Moving the Line of Scrimmage: Re-Examining the Defense-in-Depth Strategy" before the House Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security. From the statement of Mark Morgan: "As America's unified border agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) protects the United States against terrorist threats and prevents the illegal entry of people and dangerous materials into the United States, while facilitating lawful travel and trade. USBP [United States Border Patrol] works with our CBP, interagency, state, local, tribal, territorial, and international partners to patrol the more than 6,000 miles of land border between the POEs that we share with Mexico and Canada and 2,000 miles of coastal waters surrounding the Florida Peninsula and the island of Puerto Rico. Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. Government facilitated an unprecedented deployment of personnel, technology, and infrastructure to secure our Nation's borders. The resource base built over the past two decades has enabled USBP to develop and implement a Strategic Plan and enforcement posture tailored to meet the challenges of securing a 21st century border against a variety of different threats and adversaries. Today, our Strategic Plan is based on risk: identifying high-risk areas and flows and targeting our response to meet those threats. [...] Immigration checkpoints are also a critical element of USBP's layered approach to combat illegal cross-border activity and are the primary focus of my testimony. Border Patrol checkpoints are strategically located on routes of egress from the border and thereby additionally deters an attempted illegal entry." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Mark Morgan, Peggy Davis, Gary Brasher, Elyse Golob, and Christian Ramirez.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2016-09-13
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State and Local Perspectives on Federal Information Sharing, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence of the Committee on Homeland Security, United States House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, September 8, 2016
This testimony compilation is from the September 8, 2016 hearing, "State and Local Perspectives on Federal Information Sharing," before the House Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence. From the opening statement of Subcommittee Chairman Peter King: "While carrying out critical security and public safety missions, U.S. law enforcement is facing an increased threat environment. Since September 11, 2001, there have been 166 plots within the United States linked to Islamist terror groups with the vast majority occurring since 2009. In May, FBI Director Comey stated that the Bureau has over 800 open cases related to individuals in the U.S. with links to ISIS [Islamic State of Iraq and Syria]. The terror group has called for attacks against law enforcement directly. In January 2015, a statement from the now deceased spokesman for ISIS, Abu Mohammad al-Adnani, called on supporters to 'rise up and kill intelligence officers, police officers, soldiers, and civilians.' [...] Also troubling is the increase in domestic threats against law enforcement. In some tragic instances, these threats have turned into violence. The National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund website reports there have been 11 shooting ambush attacks on law enforcement in 2016 to date." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Richard Beary, Mike Sena, and Cedric Alexander.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2016-09-08
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Ensuring Safe and Effective Housing Programs in the Wake of Disasters, Hearing before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Second Session, January 29, 2008 [webcast]
This is a webcast of the House Homeland Security Committee hearing "Ensuring Safe and Effective Housing Programs in the Wake of Disasters" held on January 29, 2008. From the opening statement of Bennie G. Thompson: "The purpose of this hearing is to examine the broad range of issues surrounding how our Nation provides housing for disaster victims. Specifically, this hearing will provide Members of the committee with the opportunity to discuss the unprecedented challenges facing Federal, State and local governments in their efforts to house the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, access to safety and effectiveness of current emergency housing programs, and examining the plans being developed to ensure that our Nation will better prepare to meet the future housing needs of disaster victims. Nearly 2 and 1/2 years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck, the people along the Gulf Coast are still coping with its aftermath and struggling to recover. In order for our Nation to truly be resilient, the lessons we have learned from this catastrophe cannot be ignored. One of the most striking lessons we learned was this country was ill-prepared to provide emergency housing to victims of a major catastrophe. To house the number of individuals who lost their homes during Katrina and Rita, FEMA was forced to immediately purchase thousands of travel trailers. By the time the dust settled, FEMA had purchased over 100,000 of these units." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Bennie G. Thompson, Peter T. King, Sheila Jackson Lee, Carlos J. Castillo, Henry Falk, Nelson R. Bregon, David F. Tipson, Michael G. Gerber, Christopher DeRosa, Alcee L. Hastings, and Mark E. Souder.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2008-01-29
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America's Airports: The Threat From Within, House Homeland Security Committee Majority Staff Report
"Approximately 900,000 people work at these airports, and many are able to bypass traditional screening requirements that travelers visiting the airports must endure. While the overwhelming majority of these airport workers take the inherent responsibility seriously, there are increasing concerns that insider threats to aviation security are on the rise. Recent insider threat examples discussed in this report include an attempt to detonate a bomb at an airport, gun and drug smuggling, an expressed willingness to smuggle explosives as well as employees who became involved in terrorist activities overseas. In all of these instances, the employees in question had access to secure areas of the airport. These insider threats, and the lack of adequate access controls at airports nationwide, are of particular concern given the rise of terrorist groups bent on penetrating U.S. airport security to commit terrorist acts and 'lone wolf' attacks being inspired by terrorist groups like ISIS [Islamic State of Iraq and Syria."
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2017-02
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From the Border to Disasters and Beyond: Critical Canine Contributions to the DHS Mission, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency of the Committee on Homeland Security, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, May 18, 2017
This hearing compilation is from the May 18, 2017 hearing, "From the Border to Disasters and Beyond: Critical Canine Contributions to the DHS Mission," held before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Scott Perry: "DHS maintains robust canine programs with teams ranging from patrol units with the US Secret Service, explosive detection units with the Coast Guard and TSA, and Urban Search and Rescue units with FEMA. CBP [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] alone has approximately 1,500 canine teams - the largest overall canine program at DHS, with distinct mission sets including, but not limited to: tactical operations along the border, detection of narcotics, firearms, undeclared currency, and concealed persons attempting illegal entry into the U.S., and detection of undeclared agricultural products with the potential to wreak havoc on U.S. agricultural resources. [...] Canine contributions to the security of our nation are vast - along our borders, at our ports of entry, in our airports, and beyond. I look forward to hearing from our witnesses today on the important contributions of the Department's impressive and broad use of canines." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Damian Montes, Melanie Harvey, Peter Jaquez, Patrick Carrick, and Jennifer Brown.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2017-05-18
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Advancing the Homeland Security Information Sharing Environment: A Review of the National Network of Fusion Centers
From the introduction: "At the beginning of the 115th Congress, Chairman Michael McCaul directed the Majority staff to conduct a review of federal coordination with, and support to, the National Network of Fusion Centers. Building upon prior work completed by the Committee [...] Committee staff conducted a review of the progress made across all levels of government to enhance the flow of counterterrorism information to and from fusion centers. The Committee visited ten fusion centers, and had additional meetings with five others, to hear directly from analysts and operators. [...] Though a comprehensive review of the Committee's analysis and findings is detailed below, Committee staff have noted that since the release of the Committee's 2013 report, significant progress has been made in the overall maturity of the National Network of Fusion Centers. Many fusion centers have expanded capabilities to address all crimes and threats, recognizing that early indicators of terrorism often include criminal activity. The Committee witnessed greater intra-network collaboration, including the exchange of best practices, collaboration on strategic products, and provision of support to other centers during major incidents. Additionally, fusion centers are embracing a multidisciplinary approach to outreach programs to better integrate fire, emergency medical services, and the private sector. [...] The Committee also noted several areas that warrant further attention and enhancement. [...] The Committee also identified several new challenges that, if not addressed, could impact the ability of fusion centers to assess threats and share information."
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2017-11
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Denying Terrorists Entry to the United States: Examining Visa Security, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism of the Committee on Homeland Security, United States House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, May 3, 2017
This testimony compilation is from the May 3, 2017 hearing, "Denying Terrorists Entry to the United States: Examining Visa Security," before the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism of the Committee on Homeland Security, United States House of Representatives. From the Committee on Homeland Security website: On September 29, 2015, the House Committee on Homeland Security released the findings of its bipartisan 'Task Force on Combatting Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel'. The task force provided over fifty recommendations for identifying and obstructing terrorist travel, some of which were enacted into law including the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015. The Committee has established a new bipartisan 'Task Force on Denying Terrorists Entry to the United States'. The main, though not exclusive, thrust of the task force will be a review of the Government's implementation of the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act to identify the progress made, the gaps that remain, and potential new gaps that have emerged within the Visa Waiver Program as we approach the two year anniversary of the passage of the legislation. This hearing is the first in a number of hearings and meetings to examine Visa Security and paths of entry into the United States." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Edward Ramotowski, John Wagner, Michael Dougherty, Clark E. Settles, and Rebecca Gambler.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2017-05-03
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[October 26, 2019 Letter to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin K. McAleenan]
From the Letter: "I was disappointed, but unfortunately not surprised, to receive your letter yesterday. I write to set the record straight and to urge you to comply with the Committee's subpoena. Let me be clear - the issuance of a subpoena was neither precipitous nor without warning, and any assertion to the contrary is disingenuous at best. As you know, the Committee has attempted since July 24, 2019, on a bipartisan basis, to secure your participation at its annual hearing examining worldwide terrorism threats to the homeland. The Committee had planned to hold the hearing on September 10, 2019, to coincide with the 9/11 anniversary. The Department declined. On August 28, 2019, Ranking Member Mike Rogers and I sent you a letter urging your participation at the hearing the following month. The Department again declined. After extensive negotiations, the Committee agreed to the Department's request to hold the hearing on October 30, 2019. Then, the very week before the hearing, the Department reneged on its agreement. Further efforts in recent days to urge the Department to reconsider were not constructive. Only after those efforts failed, three months after the Committee began trying to secure your testimony at this important hearing, was a subpoena issued."
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
Thompson, Bennie, 1948-
2019-10-26
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[Letter from Bennie Thompson to Michael C. Stenger Regarding President Trump's Continued Attacks on Four Members of Congress], July 18, 2019
From the Letter: "I am following up on my July 15th letter given President Trump's continued attacks on four Members of Congress. Last night at a campaign rally, the President once again used inflammatory rhetoric about the four Congresswomen, spurring the crowd to chant "send her back" in reference to Somali-born Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-5). In my earlier letter, I urged you, as Chairman, to convene an emergency meeting of the United States Capitol Police Board. I requested that the meeting occur within 48 hours of the letter and that I receive a classified readout of the meeting."
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
Thompson, Bennie, 1948-
2019-07-18
