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Safeguarding Our Symbol of Democracy: U.S. Capitol Police's Management Plan for 2017 and Beyond, Hearing Before the Committee on House Administration, United States House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, May 17, 2016
This is from the May 17, 2016 hearing "Safeguarding Our Symbol of Democracy: U.S. Capitol Police's Management Plan for 2017 and Beyond," before the U.S. House Committee on House Administration. From the prepared statement of Matthew R. Verderosa: "The threats and risks we face today are dynamic and sophisticated, creating a greater need to focus on national security. Coordinating with the Capitol Police Board and consulting our committees of jurisdiction, including the Committee on House Administration, the USCP [United States Capitol Police] has developed a four year strategy that provides for growth of the Department to fulfill three new mission sets, in an effort to further enhance the successful long-term protection of the Capitol Complex. [...] Members and staff will see several enhancements as a result of these three initiatives. There will be visible security screening at House Garage entry points and a more significant presence outside Capitol Complex entry points, including an integration of a greater presence of canine teams. For visitors, those wishing to enter the House Chamber during major events will undergo additional screening through enhanced portal scanners, further keeping potential threats away from the Hall of the House of Representatives. [...] While some additional resources will be necessary in out-years to complete these initiatives and to provide stationary posts, I am confident in the Department's ability to meet these new mission sets and we will continue to examine all areas for additional savings and potential reapportionment of personnel. Making tough, sometimes unpopular decisions, is one of the necessary tasks Chiefs of Police have to perform and this decision is, in my opinion, the most appropriate way to meet the mission and provides the least amount of impact on the institution." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Matthew R. Verderosa.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Future of Hydraulic Fracturing on Federally Managed Lands: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources of the Committee on Natural Resources, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, July 15, 2015
This is the July 15, 2015 hearing "The Future of Hydraulic Fracturing on Federally Managed Lands" held before the House Committee on Natural Resources. From the opening statement of the Honorable John Fleming: "Well, let's look at the facts. When the final rule was released, the BLM [U.S. Bureau of Land Management] acknowledged that 99.3 percent of all well completions on Federal or tribal land occurred in states with hydraulic fracturing regulations. What is more telling is how the BLM has never identified a single jurisdiction that lacks sufficient regulatory protections in which hydraulic fracturing occurs on Federal lands. Furthermore, the EPA's recent study finding that there had been no 'widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water resources in the United States,' clearly demonstrates that states have been successful in regulating hydraulic fracturing and ensuring the protection of drinking water resources. These facts highlight that states were proactive in regulating the process of hydraulic fracturing, and that they have been successful in doing so. I would say that the BLM's final rule on hydraulic fracturing is nothing more than a frivolous regulatory exercise, if not for the severe and unfortunate consequences the rule carries. In an attempt to address concerns from states and tribes about possible duplicative efforts, the BLM established a variance provision. This subsection permits states or tribes to seek the application of their rules on Federal land if those rules 'are demonstrated to be equal to or more protective' than the BLM's." Statements, Letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Tom Fitzsimmons, Lloyd Hetrick, Neil Kornze, James M. Olguin, and Hannah Wiseman.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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U.S.-India Relations: Democratic Partners of Economic Opportunity, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, March 15, 2016
This is from the March 15, 2016 hearing, "U.S.-India Relations: Democratic Partners of Economic Opportunity" before the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the opening statement of Matt Salmon: "The U.S.-India relationship can be characterized simply as one of enormous potential. It is in the interest of this subcommittee and the United States to see democratic societies prosper, and it is because of this view that India is a natural partner for the United States. The 1.3-billion-person nation has become the focus of U.S. trade and business opportunity. People-to-people connections between the two countries undergrid and bolster this relationship. As a growing military power, India is also a critical global security partner with the potential to help avert military confrontation and conflict in the Indo-Pacific region. Indeed, both the United States and India recognize the potential partnerships between the world's fastest-growing large economy and the world's most powerful economy. In light of this, we should expect that bilateral trade has much more room to grow. We convene this hearing today to discuss the U.S.-India economic relationship. Trade in goods and services has ballooned between 2005 and 2015. Both countries have prioritized the economic relationship, aiming to reach $500 billion in bilateral trade in goods and services by 2024, a fivefold increase from the 2014 level. To achieve this, it is greatly important that India continue substantive economic reform by opening its markets, but substantive challenges remain, including speculation about India's domestic growth products, prospects, limits to market accessibility, and concerns about intellectual property rights protection." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Alyssa Ayres, Sadanand Dhume, and Richard M. Rossow.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Strategic Importance of Building a Stronger U.S.-Caribbean Partnership, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, July 14, 2016
This is the July 14, 2016 hearing on "The Strategic Importance of Building a Stronger U.S.-Caribbean Partnership," held before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the opening statement of Jeff Duncan: "Today, we need to highlight a very important region in our hemisphere that unfortunately often gets overlooked. […] [The Caribbean] islands, home to many beautiful and popular travel destinations, often come up in conversation for the average American only in the context of tourism and planning a future vacation. However, while these are certainly important strengths for the region, the Caribbean has much more to offer which U.S. businesses, universities, and local communities should consider when planning future investment, academic research, or where to develop stronger economic ties. One of the primary tools of U.S. engagement with CARICOM [Caribbean Community] countries is the Caribbean Basin Initiative, or CBI, which was created in 1983 […] and has subsequently expanded to provide 17 countries and dependent territories with duty-free access to U.S. market for most goods. This engagement has led to a 44-percent increase in U.S. exports to the Caribbean over the past 10 years. […] I believe it is critical to work with our neighbors to mutually promote economic growth through trade liberalization, respect for the rule of law, and adherence to free market principles in order to achieve prosperity that is sustainable for the region. […] Today, there are many trade energy opportunities for U.S. and CARICOM. However, I remain concerned about the growing security challenges in the region." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Eric Farnsworth, Sally Yearwood, and Richard Bernal.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Firearms Lost: GSA's Administration of the Surplus Firearm Donation Program, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Government Operations of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, March 2, 2016
This is the March 2, 2016 hearing on "Firearms Lost: GSA's Administration of the Surplus Firearms Donation Program" held before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Government Operations of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The purpose of this hearing is to review the GSA program which provides surplus firearms to state and local law enforcement agencies. Investigations by the Inspector General provided alarming practices of disturbing mismanagement surrounding firearms. This hearing will establish new practices and checks to ensure that firearms are not vulnerable and possibly put into the wrong hands. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Carol Ochoa, William Sisk, and Steve Ekin.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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U.S. Department of State Counterterrorism Bureau: FY 2017 Budget, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives, Second Session, May 17, 2016
This is the May 17, 2016 hearing on "U.S. Department of State Counterterrorism Bureau: FY 2017 Budget," held before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade of the Committee on Foreign Affairs House of Representatives. From the opening statement of Ted Poe: "The purpose of this hearing is to examine the budget for the Department of State Counterterrorism Bureau, Fiscal Year 2017. [...] The purpose of this is to determine the Counterterrorism Bureau's budget. Terrorism is on the rise throughout the world in different places, especially with ISIS. In any event, the administration has asked for a reduction in the Counterterrorism Bureau budget even though that to me is counterproductive in the sense that terrorism is on the rise. On the other hand, my concern is about evaluations that have or have not been made by the success of what the Counterterrorism Bureau is doing or not doing. Personally, I am not satisfied that the evaluation of how the money is being spent and what we are doing is working. So the purpose of this hearing is to examine both of those, whether the budget should be cut or raised and whether the evaluations are being produced and what are the results of those evaluations." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Justin Siberell.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Future of Iranian Terror and Its Threat to the U.S. Homeland, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, February 11, 2016
This is the February 11, 2016 hearing on "Future of Iranian Terror and Its Threat to the U.S. Homeland" held before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Ranking Member Brian Higgins: "Over the past 2 years negotiations, debates, and intelligence reports over Iran's nuclear program have largely overshadowed the regime's status as the most dangerous state sponsor of terror in the world. With nuclear negotiations dominating the discussion, fewer and fewer conversations are being had regarding Iranian's creation, funding, and continuing support for Hezbollah. As Congress continues to move legislation, provide resources, and maintain our vigilance over the chaos that has erupted in Syria's civil war, Iran continues to support the Assad regime. Iran is continuing to support a regime that has massacred hundreds of thousands of its own people." [...] "There is no doubt that Iran's terrorist ties extend beyond the Middle East, to the Western Hemisphere, where in conjunction with Hezbollah, it has engaged in fundraising, illicit financing schemes, and several devastating terrorist attacks. We cannot afford to become complacent. These activities constitute a real and continuing threat to our National security." [...] "It is imperative that we continue to check Iranian influence around the globe, and thwart future attacks." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Tzvi Kahn, Ilan Berman, and Bilal Y. Saab.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Boko Haram: The Islamist Insurgency in West Africa, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, February 24, 2016
This is the February 24, 2016 hearing on "Boko Haram" held before the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade. From the opening statement of Ted Poe: "Throughout 2014, the terrorist group successfully seized huge amounts of territory in northeastern Nigeria. Most of us are not familiar with how big Nigeria is, but Boko Haram is holding territory roughly the size of Belgium. To take in more territory, Boko Haram killed by the thousands, in 2014, Boko Haram killed nearly 7,000 people - murdered is a better word than killed - making them the deadliest terror group in the world, even surpassing ISIS [Islamic State of Iraq and Syria]. [...] The United States has started to do more to help Nigeria combat Boko Haram since the election of Nigerian President Buhari in May 2015. [...] We must do more to support our African partners to stamp out this Islamic radical menace once and for all. The fighting against Boko Haram is essential to U.S. national security interests. In ISIS, we have already seen what happens when we underestimate a terrorist group. Boko Haram may not have the capability to attack the United States today, but neither did al-Qaeda in the years prior to 9/11." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Jennifer G. Cooke, Alice Hunt Friend, and Daveed Gartenstein-Ross.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Libya's Terrorist Descent: Causes and Solutions, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, September 27, 2016
This is the September 27, 2016 hearing on "Libya's Terrorist Descent: Causes and Solutions" held before the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade. From the opening statement of Paul Cook: "Since the U.S.-led NATO intervention in 2011, Libya has completely spiraled out of control and has become a regional and international security threat. Five years ago, the regime of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi helped us fight against international terrorism. This is not to say that Gaddafi was a good guy. He was a ruthless dictator who sponsored terrorism in the 1980s. But Gaddafi eventually realized that he was the target of terrorists himself and he changed course to side with us against the cancer of terrorism. By 2008, U.S. military leaders were calling Libya a top U.S. ally in combating transnational terrorism. Fast forward to today, and Libya is a virtual incubator of terrorist groups, hosting all stripes of jihadi organizations including ISIS [Islamic State of Iraq and Syria] and al-Qaeda. Unfortunately, it was U.S. policy that transformed Libya into the complete failure that it is today. 2011 we decided to intervene in Libya and establish no-fly zones to aid Libyan rebels plotting against Gaddafi. Under the safety of the no-fly zone we imposed, Islamic terrorist groups long subdued under Gaddafi's regime sprung up, amassed weapons, training and military experience. Gaddafi was ultimately killed in October 2011. Within days, NATO and U.S. forces packed up and left Libya to its own devices. It appears that our own Libyan policy at the time was to remove Gaddafi. There was little planning regarding what to do the day after. Gaddafi's ouster unleashed chaos in the country. Long-simmering political, regional and ethnic divisions suddenly emerged and set Libya on a path toward disaster." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Federica Saini Fasanotti, Thomas Joscelyn, and Benjamin Fishman.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Terrorism, Missiles, and Corruption: The Risks of Economic Engagement with Iran, Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, May 12, 2016
This is the May 12, 2016 hearing on "Terrorism, Missiles, and Corruption: The Risks of Economic Management with Iran," held before the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the opening statement of Edward Royce: "When the Obama administration was strong-arming Senate Democrats to save its Iran deal, many promises were made. Central to the White House storyline was the President's claim that sanctions on Iran for terrorism, sanctions on Iran for human rights and ballistic missiles 'will continue to be fully enforced.' [...] But unfortunately, the administration's words have not matched its actions. [...] Iran will keep pushing until the Obama administration stops rolling over. Congressional pressure may have knocked the administration off their plans--for now--to allow Iran access to the U.S. dollar, which is the world's top currency, but the administration refuses to rule out a future move. And in the meantime, it is actively working other angles to push new investment into the Iranian economy. [...] Other administration officials go so far as to say that Iranian economic growth is in our national security interest. That is a tough case to make when you consider that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been labeled Iran's 'most powerful economic actor,' and it was labeled so by the U.S. Treasury Department. That is the terrorist IRGC that they are talking about. [...] That is why my legislation to prohibit the administration from allowing the U.S. dollar to be used to facilitate trade transactions with Iran and which upholds Iran's designation as a 'primary money laundering concern' is so key. Until [Iran] stops funding terror, until it stops the illicit weapons program, it should be treated like the global menace it is." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Juan C. Zarate, Mark Dubowitz, and Elizabeth Rosenberg.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Financially Rewarding Terrorism in the West Bank, Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, July 6, 2016
This is a hearing titled "Financially Rewarding Terrorism in the West Bank" held on July 6, 2016 before the Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the opening statement of Chairman Edward Royce: "The title of this hearing is 'Financially Rewarding Terrorism in the West Bank.' And as everyone here knows, last week, a 13-year-old IsraeliAmerican girl was stabbed to death by a Palestinian terrorist while she slept in her bed. Sadly, Hallel Ariel's murder is only the latest attack in Israel, because since [sic] October there have been 250 instances of Israelis being chased down, shot, or stabbed. Forty have died, including former U.S. Army Officer Taylor Force, who was stabbed in March along an oceanfront boardwalk. While this spree of attacks continues, international diplomats continue to meet for a probable push at the United Nations this fall to impose the 'parameters' of peace on Israel and the Palestinian Authority. But what on earth suggests that Israel has a willing partner in peace at this time? Last fall, this committee held a hearing to expose the Palestinian Authority's complicity in inciting violence. Israel is contending with a deep-seated hatred, nurtured by Palestinian leaders over many years in mosques, in schools, in newspapers, nurtured on television, on radio. As one witness told the committee, ''Incitement' is the term we usually use, but 'hatred' is what we mean…teaching generations of Palestinian children to hate Jews by demonizing and dehumanizing them.'" Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: David Pollock, Yigal Carmon, and Robert Wexler.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Israel Imperiled: Threats to the Jewish State, Joint Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade and the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, April 19, 2015
This is the April 19, 2015 hearing on "Israel Imperiled: Threats to the Jewish State" held before the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade and the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa. From the opening statement of Ted Poe: "The state of Israel has always been surrounded by threats since its existence--threats by nations and terror groups that hate Israel because it is a Jewish state. The goal of these haters has been to eliminate the state of Israel, an aggression started as soon as Israel became an established state. Arab armies amassed on its borders to destroy it. But yet, Israel has continued to exist in the face of suicide bombers and terrorist onslaughts like no country in history. Most recently, 16 people in a bus were wounded yesterday in a bus bombing in Jerusalem, reminiscent of the wave of Palestinian suicide bombings that claimed so many lives a decade ago. In recent years, the threats to Israel have increased and become even more dangerous. The volatile situation in Syria and its transformation into a full blown terrorist haven directly threatens Israel's security." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Michael Rubin, Jonathan Schanzer, David Makovsky, and Tamara Cofman Wittes.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Promoting and Incentivizing Cybersecurity Best Practices, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, July 28, 2015
This is the July 28, 2015 hearing on "Promoting and Incentivizing Cybersecurity Best Practices," held before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of John Ratcliffe: "The Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies will come to order. The subcommittee is meeting today to examine the potential benefits of expanding the Support Antiterrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act, referred to as the SAFETY Act, to clarify that on a voluntary basis cybersecurity products and services can be reviewed and certified to receive enhanced liability protections for large-scale cyber incidents. Right now, our cyber defenses are weak, and, because addressing cybersecurity vulnerabilities is costly, we need to find ways to promote and incentivize investment in cybersecurity. We need to incentivize companies to have a robust cyber-risk management plan in place. Through this hearing, we want to hear from our expert witnesses if the SAFETY Act Office at the Department of Homeland Security could be leveraged to promote and incentivize cybersecurity best practices within its existing framework." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Brian E. Finch, Raymond B. Biagini, and Andrea M. Matwyshyn.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Countering Adversarial Propaganda: Charting an Effective Course in the Contested Information Environment, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, October 22, 2015
This is the October 22, 2015 hearing "Countering Adversarial Propaganda: Charting an Effective Course in the Contested Information Environment" held before the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives. From the opening statement of Joe Wilson: "This hearing will focus on the challenges faced by the Department of Defense [DOD] and the Federal Government when dealing with the insidious propaganda and social media messaging coming from groups like Daesh, and sadly, from countries like Russia, China, and others. Not only do they recruit members, raise money, and sway the opinion of potential allies with this propaganda, but they sow doubt and dissension as a means of preventing or discouraging U.S. military action to protect American families." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Matthew C. Armstrong, Christopher K. Haas, Michael D. Lumpkin, and Charles L. Moore.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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U.S-Saudi Arabia Counterterrorism Relationship, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, May 24, 2016
This is a hearing titled "The U.S. Saudi Arabia Counterrorism Relationship" held on May 24, 2016 before the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the opening statement of Chairman Ted Poe: "Today, the United States and Saudi Arabia work together on maintaining security in the Middle East. Despite the differences between the two countries, we both face the same terrorist enemies that seek our destruction in the post 9/11 era. Our counterterrorism cooperation with Saudi Arabia has increased. According to the Department of Treasury, the kingdom has made improvements in enforcing stringent banking rules that help stem the flow of money to terrorist groups through Saudi financial institutions. Saudi Arabia is the co-chair of the Counter-ISIL Finance Group, and this group seeks to cut off ISIS from the international finance system. Saudi Arabia has launched aggressive military campaigns in Syria and Yemen, and while the kingdom has taken important steps since 9/11 to counter terrorism, it has some room to improve. I think we must separate the individuals that live in Saudi Arabia and what they do to support financially terrorism, and the Government of Saudi Arabia. While the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has adopted strict laws prohibiting terrorist finance, there continue to be press reports about Saudi charities and individual donors funding ISIS, al-Qaeda, and foreign fighters." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Tim Roemer, Simon Henderson, Karen Elliot, and Daniel Byman.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Counterterrorism Strategy Against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant: Are We on the Right Path? Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities of the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, June 24, 2015
This is the June 24, 2015 hearing "The Counterterrorism Strategy Against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant: Are We on the Right Path?" held before the House Committee on Armed Services. From the opening statement of subcommittee chairman Joe Wilson: "The President himself has acknowledged that we do not have a complete strategy to combat the threat. Defense Secretary Carter has acknowledged that the military is reviewing how to increase the effectiveness of our campaign and that an additional 450 troops would deploy to Iraq to expand the advise and assist mission. When I last visited Iraq in February of this year along with Rep-resentative Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, Elise Stefanik of New York, and Brad Ashford of Nebraska, there was talk that the Iraqi Army would begin taking back Mosul by the summer which now is leaving nearly 1 million people subjugated. Today, sadly, we see this is not the case. While often characterized as a terrorist organization, ISIL/Daesh fights and behaves like an army. They remain well-funded and resourced, and we saw recently in Ramadi that they do not necessarily need overwhelming numbers to win on the battlefield, only an ability to strike fear in the hearts of those they encounter. Today we will seek answers to very simple but serious issues of national importance." Statements, letters, and other materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Micahel Eisenstadt, Brian Fishman, Frederick W. Kagan, and Linda Robinson.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Countering Extremism and the Threat of ISIS in Southeast Asia, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, April 13, 2016
This is the April 13, 2016 hearing on "Countering Extremism and the Threat of ISIS in Southeast Asia" held before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. From the opening statement of Matt Salmon: "In recent months, violent attacks in Europe and expanding jihadist networks in Northern Africa have provided tragic and senseless reminders of the threat that terrorism and extremism pose to the world. As we discuss the global fight against the threat of terrorism, we don't first think of Southeast Asia. But this vibrant region, home to nearly 40 percent of the world's Muslim population, is also a crucial part of the global war on terror. Southeast Asia captures less U.S. media attention than other headline-grabbing flash points, but the region's efforts to combat extremism are vital to maintaining stability in some of the world's most successful Muslim majority states and ultimately to protecting the security of our homeland. Today, we will discuss Southeast Asia's efforts to counter the threat of violent extremism, many of them successful, as well as possible opportunities for improvement. In this hearing, we will focus on the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia, but Southeast Asia as a whole is at particular risk for extremist activity." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: W. Patrick Murphy, Marie Richards, and Gloria Steele.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Safeguarding Our Nation's Surface Transportation Systems Against Evolving Terrorist Threats, Joint Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, September 17, 2015
This is the September 17, 2015 hearing on "Safeguarding Our Nation's Surface Transportation Systems Against Evolving Terrorist Threats," held before the House of Representatives subcommittee on Transportation Security and the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence of the 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. Before we begin, I would like to express my pride and admiration for the four Americans that, through unrivaled acts of courage and bravery, were able to thwart a terrorist attack aboard a Paris-bound train on August 21, 2015. The heroic actions of these four men-Mark Moogalian, a teacher originally from Midlothian, Virginia; Anthony Sadler, a senior at Sacramento State University; Air Force Airman First Class Spencer Stone; and Oregon Army National Guard Specialist Alek Skarlatos-saved countless lives. They really represent the best of what America has to offer. However, it is our responsibility to the American people to do all that we can to defend them against such heinous acts, and the American people should not be put in a position requiring them to defend their lives while riding a train, subway, or bus to vacation, commute to work, or simply to run an errand. Since September 11, 2001, many people have come to think of a terrorist attack against the United States as one which is an elaborate scheme against a hardened target. Increasingly, however, the terrorists and their sympathizers are choosing soft targets. The Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris, the military recruiting centers attack in Chattanooga, and now the train attack in Paris are just a few of such examples." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Eddie Mayenschein, Jennifer Grover, Raymond Diaz, and Polly Hanson.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Could America Do More? An Examination of U.S. Efforts to Stop the Financing of Terror, Hearing Before the Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Financing of the Committee on Financial Services, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, September 9, 2015
"This is the September 9, 2015 hearing on 'Could America Do More? An Examination of U.S. Efforts to Stop the Financing of Terror,' held before the U.S. House of Representatives Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Financing of the Committee on Financial Services. From the opening statement of Michael G. Fitzpatrick: 'As part of this task force's vital mission, today's hearing will examine the current state of counterterrorist financing efforts within the Federal Government to ensure that they are meeting their intended purpose and, should they not be, to identify areas which need improvement. Furthermore, it must prepare us to evaluate the degree of cooperation between the various Federal agencies involved in countering terrorist financing and assess whether there should be more involvement between the government and the private sector to increase successful outcomes. Throughout the life of this task force, we have heard from a myriad of experienced professionals who have expressed insight from both the public and the private sectors. There have been several mentions of legislative actions Congress could take to strengthen U.S. anti-money laundering and counterterror finance measures, such as revising the Bank Secrecy Act to allow greater communication and data sharing among banks or amending beneficial ownership and control rules to ensure local and State enforcement personnel have the ability to get information pertinent to any AML/CTF investigation.' Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Daniel Larkin, Scott Modell, and Louise Shelley."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Evaluating the Security of the U.S. Financial Sector, Hearing Before the Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Financing of the Committee on Financial Services, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, June 24, 2015
This is the June 24, 2015 hearing on "Evaluating the Security of the U.S. Financial Sector," held before the U.S. House of Representatives Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Financing of the Committee on Financial Services. From the opening statement of Michael G. Fitzpatrick: "Many groups are constantly seeking to access and exploit the U.S. financial system. The complexity and sheer size of our financial system has created avenues within which criminals may move, hide, and launder their funds. Many of these groups understand our system's weaknesses and gray areas with respect to beneficial ownership and customer due-diligence standards and they exploit it to our detriment. Aside from the threat of actors operating within it, the United States financial system itself should also be considered a target for
terrorists. Over the past several years, there has been a noticeable rise in the number of cyber-related attacks on United States businesses and government agencies, launched by state and non-state actors alike. This is attributed to the fact that such attacks cost very little to carry out, but have potential to cause severe problems and inflict great costs on the victim attempting to carry out the defense. The United States financial sector is too important for this task force to overlook when seeking to address the nexus of terrorism and finance. The continued innovation and evolution by our enemies highlights the importance of this body's role in the fight against terror.
The United States must do better when defending our financial system and addressing the threats operating within it. The risk is too great to ignore." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John W. Carlson, Chip Poncy, and Cyrus R. Vance.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Radicalization: Social Media and the Rise of Terrorism, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on National Security of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, October 28, 2015
This is October 28, 2015 hearing on "Radicalization: Social Media and the Rise of Terrorism," held before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on National Security of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. From the opening statement of Ron DeSantis: "Today, the civilized world faces an unprecedented level of violence fueled by Islamic extremism. Recent reports indicate that over 30,000 people from over 100 different countries have traveled to the conflict zone in Syria and Iraq to wage jihad since 2011. This group includes over 4,500 westerners and over 250 Americans who have attempted or actually joined Islamic supremacist groups. Both Al Qaeda's global network and ISIS, among several other terrorist networks around the world, promote an ideology grounded in Islamic extremism and conquest. As the Congressional Research Service has found, these terrorists use Islamist and ideological and/or religious justification for the belief in the establishment of a global caliphate, a jurisdiction governed by a Muslim civil and religious leader known as a caliph via violent means. As the ideology of militant Islam spreads, the threat to the U.S. and our allies, such as Israel, persists. Terrorist networks like Al Qaeda affiliates and ISIS, as well as extremists, clerics, and others, seek to spread this ideology in order to recruit, engage sympathizers, and criticize the West. Indeed, this propaganda is playing a role in promoting terrorist attacks in the U.S. where many homegrown cases of jihadi terrorism involve the use of social media." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Mark D. Wallace, Walter Purdy, Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, and Alberto M. Fernandez.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Stopping the Money Flow: The War on Terror Finance, Joint Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities of the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, June 9, 2016
This is the June 9, 2016 joint hearing on "Stopping the Money Flow: The War on Terror Finance" held before U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities of the Committee on Armed Services. The purpose of this hearing is to highlight the methods by which non-state terrorist groups obtain finances for purposes of their agenda. ISIS [Islamic State of Iraq and Syria] has a combined income of $1 billion in 2014 which has been used to perpetrate a number of attacks throughout the world. This problem presents major threats to U.S. national security as well as the security of many other nations. Targeting income for terrorist groups and cutting off the flow of funds can be pivotal in curbing the threat of terrorism world-wide. This hearing addresses the lack of a comprehensive strategy across the board to combat terrorist financing. Some of the methods listed in this hearing are auditing charitable donations which has not been done extensively since 2009. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Hon. Daniel Glaser, Andrew Keller, Theresa Whelan, and William Woody.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Administration's Plan to Close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility: At What Foreign Policy and National Security Cost?: Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs House of Representatives, One Hudred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, March 23, 2016
This is the March 23, 2016 hearing on "The Administration's Plan to Close the Guantanamo Bar Detention Facility: At What Foreign Policy and National Security Cost?" held before the House of Representatives' Committee on Foreign Affairs. The hearing addresses concerns surrounding the closure of Guantanamo Bay listing significant numbers of previously held detainees who have fled back to the battlefield as an example of why this closure poses a litany of security risks. The purpose of this hearing is to weigh the costs and benefits of closing Guantanamo Bay given the Obama administration's pro-closure stance. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Mr. Lee Wolosky, and Mr. Paul M. Lewis.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Pakistan: Friend or Foe in the Fight Against Terrorism? Joint Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade, and the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, July 12, 2016
This is the July 12, 2016 joint hearing on "Pakistan: Friend or Foe in the Fight Against Terrorism?" held before the U.S. House of Representatives the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, and the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. The purpose of this hearing was to determine the status of Pakistan as an ally to the United States in the fight against terrorism. While it espouses anti-terrorist ideologies in preach, the Pakistani government and military have been implicated in aiding terrorists in practice. Several prominent terrorist groups active within Pakistan have been known to have close ties to high-up military officials, these groups have been unchecked and without military intervention from Pakistan which raises red flags as to how committed the Pakistani military and government is in its fight against terrorism. Pakistan is a strategically crucial state given its proximity to Afghanistan, India, and China. Because of its critical position, the way in which the US goes about working with Pakistan must be carefully calculated. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Hon. Zalmay Khalilzad, Bill Roggio, and Dr. Tricia Bacon.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Crisis of Confidence: Preventing Terrorist Infiltration Through U.S. Refugee and Visa Programs, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, February 3, 2016
This is the February 3, 2016 hearing on the "Crisis of Confidence: Preventing Terrorist Infiltration Through U.S. Refugee and Visa Programs" before the Committee on Homeland Security, U.S. House of Representatives. The purpose of this hearing is made in the opening statement by Representative Michael McCaul: "Today, we are in the highest threat environment since 9/11, yet there is a crisis of confidence in Washington's ability to do what it takes to protect our country. Over the past few weeks, I have traveled around the country to discuss the terror threats we face and how to thwart them. The American people are concerned, and rightfully so. The President believes terrorist groups like ISIS are on the run, but the truth is that they are on the march and gaining ground across the world. Make no mistake: They want to send their foot soldiers to our shores. That is why we are here today. We must be clear-eyed about our enemy's goals and do what it takes to prevent them from exporting their violence to America. This morning, our focus is on our Nation's refugee and visa pro- grams. Terrorists have used these routes to get into our country, exposing security vulnerabilities into our systems." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Francis X. Taylor, Leon Rodriguez, Lev J. Kubiak, and Michele Thoren Bond.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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From Iraq and Syria to Libya and Beyond: The Evolving ISIL Threat, Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, February 10, 2016
This is the February 10, 2016 hearing "From Iraq and Syria to Libya and Beyond: The Evolving ISIL Threat" held before the Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the opening statement of Chairman Edward Royce: "Today we will hear from the administration's point-man on its effort to combat ISIS [Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. He is back before the committee again. Now this is an issue that this committee has raised repeatedly since ISIS first began its attacks and we began calling for air strikes against ISIS. [...] Ambassador McGurk-just back from the front lines with Syrian Kurds-will note some encouraging developments: Ramadi in Iraq was retaken in December, and after some much-needed loosening of the rules of engagement, ISIS-controlled oil installations in Syria have been finally bombed. This is good. But these gains have been too slow to come and too limited. Every day that ISIS makes advances, seemingly unchecked, it draws recruits to plot new attacks abroad, including the United States." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Ambassador Brett McGurk.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Women Fighting for Peace: Lessons for Today's Conflicts, Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, March 22, 2016
This is the March 22, 2016 hearing "Women Fighting for Peace: Lessons for Today's Conflicts" held before the Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the opening statement of Chairman Edward Royce: "Let me share with you that in terms of this hearing today, this is the third in our series of hearings to examine challenges facing women worldwide. This hearing will examine the effect of women's participation on peace negotiations and other efforts to reduce violence and to reduce the extremism. Unfortunately, we learned just this morning that Betty Bigombe will not be able to join us due to her employer's policy on congressional testimony. We are disappointed by this development, but nevertheless honored to be joined today by an excellent panel, including Monica McWilliams. Ms. McWilliams risked much to end conflict in Northern Ireland, blazing a trail for women peacemakers to come. This is a critically important discussion. From Syria to Afghanistan to Sudan, armed conflicts are becoming increasingly deadly and disruptive. Efforts to negotiate their end are more important than ever. And simply put, when women are at the negotiating table, success is more likely. Research shows that a peace agreement is more likely to be reached, and is 35 percent more likely to last at least 15 years when women are involved." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Monica McWilliams, Hassan Abbas, and Jacqueline O'Neill.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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S. Hrg. 114-361: Improving Interagency Forest Management to Strengthen Tribal Capabilities for Responding to and Preventing Wildfires and S. 3014, a Bill to Improve the Management of Indian Forest Land, and for Other Purposes, Hearing Before the Committee on Indian Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, June 8, 2016
This is the June 8, 2016 hearing on "Improving Interagency Forest Management to Strengthen Tribal Capabilities for Responding to and Preventing Wildfires and S. 3014, a Bill to Improve the Management of Indian Forest Land, and for Other Purposes," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. From the opening statement of the Honorable John Barrasso, U.S. Senator from Wyoming, "As the 2016 wildfire season begins, we take this opportunity to examine current Federal laws and policies in place that strengthen tribal capabilities and capacity for responding to and preventing wildfires on tribal lands. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, last year approximately 4.8 million acres of Federal land managed by the Department of the Interior burned as a result of wildland fires. Of that amount, over a half-million acres of Bureau of Indian Affairs land burned due to wildfires. [...]The Department of the Interior carries out the trust responsibilities to manage and protect Indian forests. The Department of Agriculture, specifically the U.S. Forest Service, is the primary neighbor of Indian lands, with over 4,000 miles of shared boundaries. Over 18 million acres of forests are located on over 305 Indian reservations in 24 States. These forests are vital to many Indian and rural communities. They provide a foundation for job creation, economic development, and cultural preservation. However, one fire can destroy all of that." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Michael Black, James Hubbard, Carole Lankford, and William Nicholson.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Criminal Justice, Excerpted from the 2015 Annual Report of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, October 8, 2015
From the Introduction: "Criminal justice was an area of significant concern during the Commission's 2015 reporting year. Chinese authorities introduced discrete reforms that could improve the criminal justice system's fairness and accuracy. The Commission did not observe statistics establishing the impact of reforms from the past reporting year, such as whether they led to a decrease in death sentences or a higher rate of convictions being overturned on appeal. A May 2015 report by an international human rights non-governmental organization (NGO) found that Chinese authorities have failed to fully enforce certain criminal justice reforms introduced in past years, especially measures that provide for excluding suspects' confessions and written statements obtained through torture. Fundamental structural issues--including the dominance of police in the police-procuratorate-court 'iron triangle' and the overriding influence of the Chinese Communist Party--remained impediments to creating a criminal justice system that comports with standards dictated by both Chinese law and international human rights instruments. Although reform-minded individuals both within and outside the government continued to press for reforms furthering the protection of human rights, their ability to bring about meaningful reform was constrained in a political climate that emphasized perpetuating one-party rule at the expense of individual freedoms."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Congressional-Executive Commission on China: Annual Report 2016, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, October 6, 2016
This is the 2016 Annual Report of the Congressional Executive Commission on China, presented to the One Hundred Fifteenth Congress on October 6, 2016. From the Executive Summary: "December 2016 will mark 15 years since China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). At that time, the Chinese government made commitments that were important not only for China's commercial development in the international marketplace, but also for its development of the rule of law domestically. China-- now ranking as the world's second largest economy--has benefited greatly from the international rules-based system in driving its economic transformation and growth, but the Chinese Communist Party has continued to reject the notion that the rule of law should supersede the Party's role in guiding the functions of the state, impeding China's ability to honor its WTO obligations. As such, China has largely failed to implement the substantive legal reforms anticipated 15 years ago and has persisted in violating international human rights standards and its own domestic laws with lasting harm to both U.S. interests and the Chinese people."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
