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• H. Rept. 117-327: COVID-19 EIDL Fraud Statute of Limitations Act of 2022, Report to Accompany H.R. 7334, May 17, 2022

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  From the Document: "The Committee on Small Business, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 7334) to extend the statute of limitations for fraud by borrowers under certain COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] economic injury disaster loan programs of the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass. [...] The purpose of H.R. 7334, the 'COVID-19 EIDL Fraud Statute of Limitations Act of 2022', is to establish a statute of limitations of ten years for COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) fraud cases."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022-05-17
• H. Rept. 117-334: Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act of 2021, Report Together with Minority vi ews to Accompany H.R. 2988, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, May 17, 2022

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  From the Document: "The Committee on Oversight and Reform, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 2988) to amend title 5, United States Code, to modify and enhance protections for Federal Government whistleblowers, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment and recommends that the bill as amended do pass. [...] The Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act of 2021, H.R. 2988, would create new federal whistleblower protections, including strengthened protections against retaliatory investigations and protections for disclosures to Congress; expand and clarify existing protections, including protections against the disclosure of a whistleblower's identity; establish new procedures to ensure that employees receive timely relief for their retaliation claims; and extend protections to noncareer Senior Executive Service employees, Public Health Service officers or applicants, and the Commissioned Officer Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022-05-17
• H. Rept. 117-335: Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022, Report to Accompany H.R. 6943, May 18, 2022

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  From the Document: "The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 6943) to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize public safety officer death benefits to officers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or acute stress disorder, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment and recommends that the bill as amended do pass. [...] H.R. 6943, the ''Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022,'' expands the eligibility of certain officers or their surviving family for death and disability benefits as provided for by the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) program to include coverage for public safety officers who die by suicide or are disabled as a result of traumatic experiences."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022-05-18
• S. Rept. 117-109: Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act of 2021, Report to Accompany S. 3309, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, May 17, 2022

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  From the Document: "The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to which was referred the bill (S. 3309) to require SelectUSA to coordinate with State-level economic development organizations to increase foreign direct investment in semiconductor-related manufacturing and production, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment (in the nature of a substitute) and recommends that the bill (as amended) do pass. [...] The purpose of S. 3309, the Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act of 2021, is to direct the Executive Director of the SelectUSA program of the Department of Commerce (Executive Director) to gather and analyze information for a report to Congress about leveraging foreign direct investment (FDI) to bolster domestic supply chains for semiconductors."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022-05-17
• Oversight of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties of the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, September 24, 2020

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  This is the September 24, 2020 hearing on "Oversight of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties of the Committee on the Judiciary. From the Opening Statement of Steve Cohen: "With the authority to enforce this nation's civil rights laws, the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division is supposed to be the guardian of our most cherished and fundamental rights: the rights to be treated equally, the right to cast a vote in a free and fair election regardless of race, the right to obtain a job, a home, or an education free from discrimination, and the right to exist in a society where the police respect your constitutional rights and your rights as a human being. [...] It pains me to say that despite its righteous history and traditional role, the Civil Rights Division, appears under the Trump administration, to have abandoned its historical mandate to protect voting rights, more interested in protecting other newfound important rights that sometimes trample on other people's rights. Since the start of this administration, the Civil Rights Division has filed zero new Voting Rights Act cases until this past May, and none that enforce the rights of Black and Latino voters. It has also abruptly changed positions in several existing voting rights cases including a case against a racially discriminatory voter ID law in Texas and a challenge to a purge of Ohio's voter rolls. As bad as this is, it is not the only change for the worse we have seen in the Civil Rights Division since the start of the current administration. [...] The division must answer for its inaction or, in some cases, its active opposition to civil rights enforcement. With the guidance of our witnesses today it must chart a new course, going forward." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Catherine E. Lhamon, Sherrilyn Ifill, Thomas A. Saenz, Hiram Sasser, Sharon M. McGowan, Sam Mabrouk, Michael Waldman, and Jonathan M. Smith.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• Free Speech Under Attack: Book Bans and Academic Censorship, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, Second Session, April 7, 2022

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  This is the April 7, 2022 hearing on "Free Speech Under Attack: Book Bans and Academic Censorship," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Committee on Oversight and Reform.. From the Opening Statement of Jamie Raskin: "In 2021, the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom reported the highest numbers of censorious challenges to library books in its 20 years of tracking this data, 729 efforts to censor nearly 1,600 books. And in Texas, just one of these attempts to censor books implemented by a state legislator, has initiated the systematic review of at least 850 books in every school district in the state. There are over 1,000 school districts and 8,000 public schools in the Lone Star state. This challenge will require tens of thousands of teachers, librarians, and administrators to spend hundreds of thousands of hours reviewing the books to implement a regime of censorship at a time when school resources are already stretched thin and states across the country are facing teacher and staff shortages. The vast majority of books being targeted are not mandatory or part of the curriculum. They are books of choice. Students can pull them off the shelves if they want to and check them out, or they can ignore them entirely. [...] Obviously it is a legitimate subject for parents, teachers, principals, and school boards to discuss which books are the best and most age-appropriate curricular choices for different age groups and grades. This is what educators do, and the best ones include families, parents, and experts in the decision-making process all across the country. But that normal curricular and library selection process is completely different from whipping people up into a moral panic over the use of this or that word or passage in a book and then demanding its removal from the school library." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Shreya Mehta, Olivia Pituch, Christina Ellis, Samantha Hull, Mindy Freeman, Jonathan W. Pidluzny, Jessica Berg, and Ruby Bridges.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• S. Rept. 117-113: Air America Act of 2021, Report to Accompany S. 407, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, May 19, 2022

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  From the Purpose and Summary: "S. 407, the Air America Act of 2022, would qualify the service of employees of Air America, Inc., between 1950 and 1976 as creditable for retirement benefits under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). Employees of Air America served the U.S. government in a covert capacity to help achieve foreign policy objectives during this time period, throughout the Cold War, Korean War, and Vietnam War. The employees lost access to retirement in 1985 when the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) made a change to the Federal Personnel Manual impacting federal contractors, which is how Air America operated publicly. The bill provides a two-year window for Air America employees or their survivors to apply for retirement benefits, including retroactive benefits."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022-05-19
• S. Rept. 117-111: COVID-19 Home Safety Act of 2021, Report to Accompany S. 116, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, May 18, 2022

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  From the Document: "The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to which was referred the bill (S. 116) to require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to study the effect of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic on injuries and deaths associated with consumer products, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment and recommends that the bill (as amended) do pass.[...] The purpose of the bill is to require the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to submit to Congress and make publicly available, within 3 months of the bill's enactment and every 3 months thereafter while the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency continues, a report on the effect of the COVID-19 public health emergency on injuries and deaths from consumer products. The CPSC must also collaborate with public media outlets to distribute resource information for increasing home safety during the COVID-19 public health emergency, based on the contents of the report."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022-05-18
• Aviation Security Challenges: Is TSA Ready for the Threats of Today? Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, July 29, 2015

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  This is the July 29, 2015 hearing on "Aviation Security Challenges: Is TSA Ready for the Threats of Today?" held before the House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Michael T. McCaul: "Two weeks ago, a terrorist struck in America's heartland-inspired by a hateful ideology-and killed 5 American soldiers on U.S. soil. Fourteen years after 9/11, not only are we still under threat from Islamist terrorists, but they have gone on the offensive globally and expanded their footprint. Radicalism is on the rise, and the war is being brought to our doorsteps at terrifying speed. We have long known that our aviation sector is the crown jewel of terrorist targets, so as we stare down these real and growing threats, Congress and the American people need confidence in our defenses. In the past few months, TSA has given us concern rather than confidence. Terrorists have to be right only once, and we have to be right 100% of the time. As millions of travelers from all over the world pass through our Nation's airports, the American people must know and trust that the procedures and policies put in place make us safer. In June, we learned through leaked reports from the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General, that TSA's passenger screening was wrong 96% of the time, and that 73 aviation workers had potential ties to terrorism. These findings shatter public confidence. A reported 96% failure rate to detect explosives is completely unacceptable." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Peter V. Neffenger.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2016
• Flying Under the Radar: Securing Washington, D.C., Airspace, Hearing Before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, April 29, 2015

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  This is the April 29, 2015 hearing on "Flying Under the Radar: Securing Washington, D.C., Airspace," held before the House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. From the witness statement of Paul D. Irving: "We are currently working closely with our partners in Federal law enforcement, the Departments of Defense, Transportation, and Homeland Security to maintain robust airspace security within the challenging confines of the urban environment of the national capital region, in particular, working with our partners to ensure the most efficient and robust early detection, tracking and warning systems, ensuring there is consistent and constant interagency communication and early warning communicated in realtime, improving and ensuring immediate and ongoing communications and alerts to members and staff during a security incident, and honing the countermeasures and policies consistent with those countermeasures. Since the event, I've ordered the Chief of the Capitol Police to utilize the House notification system to alert members, staff and, to the extent possible, visitors in as timely a manner as possible to alert regarding all life, safety, and potentially threatening events that affect the Capitol community. The incident on April 15 reminds us all the greatest asset of the Capitol, its very openness and accessibility, can, at times, be one of our greatest challenges. However, every incident allows us to refine our capabilities, enhance our training, and be better prepared for every eventuality." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Paul D. Irving, William E. Gortney, Robert G. Salesses, Michael P. Huerta, Joseph P. Clancy, Robert D. MacLean, and Kim C. Dine.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2015
• Examining Critical Security Measures, Communications, and Response at Our Nation's Airports, Field Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Transportation Security of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, October 26, 2015

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  This is the October 26, 2015 hearing on "Examining Critical Security Measures, Communications, and Response at Our Nation's Airports," held before the House of Representatives subcommittee on Transportation Security of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement pf John Katko: "The subcommittee is meeting today to hear testimony on the security measures, communications, and response at our Nation's airports, and I will now recognize myself for an opening statement. If security at our Nation's airports was flawless, there would be no need for today's hearing. But the fact of the matter is that our Nation's airports are far from flawless as far as security goes. The subcommittee is convening this field hearing today to assess the state of security preparedness among our Nation's airports. Today, we will hear the critically-important perspective of the individuals who face security challenges on the front line each and every day in New York State and elsewhere throughout our country. The American people expect the best from the entities entrusted with their safety. It is this subcommittee's intention to continue working tirelessly to ensure the security of the traveling public. I am humbled and honored to have the opportunity both to represent the people of central New York and to chair this critically-important subcommittee." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Jeremy P. Martelle and Marisa Maola

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2016
• Transportation Security: Are Our Airports Safe?, Hearing Before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, May 13, 2015

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  This is the May 13, 2015 hearing on "Transportation Security: Are Our Airports Safe?" held before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. From the opening statement of Jason Chaffetz: "We have an important hearing today dealing with the TSA. Airport security is pivotal to our Nation's safety and security. We appreciate the thousands and thousands of men and women who serve at the TSA. I think they work hard. They are dedicated. They are committed. They don't know what they are going to see. We have an inordinate amount of guns that are still trying to be taken through airports, weapons of all kinds. It's a very difficult situation with literally tens and tens of thousands of security badges that are out there. We need to continue to have a good, vibrant discussion in this country about the safety and security of our airports and how to do that. And one of the things I like to say, and I've said it many times, and I'm sure I'll continue to say it is, we're different in this Nation in that we are self-critical. We do take a good, hard look at our security parameters and challenge the notion that the standard status quo is acceptable." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John Roth, Jennifer Grover, and Rafi Ron.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2015
• Disrupter Series: Self-Driving Cars, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, November 15, 2016

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  This is the November 15, 2016 hearing on "Disrupter Series: Self-Driving Cars" held before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. From the opening statement of Committee Chairman Fred Upton: "Today our Disrupter Series continues as we examine self-driving cars. Keeping Americans safe on the road has been a top priority for the committee. Being from the auto state, I know just how dedicated the auto industry and Michigan's premier research institutions are to developing a roadway system that is accident and defect free. This work is critical - especially when considering that traffic fatalities are on the rise for the first time in more than a decade. In Michigan, there were nearly 1,000 fatalities last year alone. And I am told that, nationwide, the fatality numbers are up again in the first half of this year. Today's hearing on self-driving cars gives us an opportunity to examine how the innovation in Michigan and across the country can literally save lives." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Mark Rosekind, Mitch Bainwol, Kirk Steudle, Laura MacCleery, Ann Wilson, and Gary Shapiro.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2017
• Transforming America's Air Travel, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Space, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, June 11, 2015

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  This is the June 11, 2015 hearing "Transforming America's Air Travel," held before the Subcommittee on Space of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. From the opening statement of subcommittee chairman Brian Babin: "This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, also known as NACA. Founded in 1915 to supervise and direct the scientific study of the problems of flight with a view to their practical solution, NACA was ultimately incorporated into NASA when Congress passed the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958. That same year, Congress also established the Federal Aviation Administration's predecessor, the Federal Aviation Agency. NACA's legacy of civilian aeronautics and aviation research and development is now carried out by NASA and FAA. The aeronautics research carried out by these agencies is vital to our nation's prosperity. Aviation accounts for $1.5 trillion in economic activity and a $78.3 billion positive trade balance. Civil and general aviation is responsible for 11.8 million jobs in the U.S. and generates 5.4 percent of our gross domestic product. Put simply, aviation is one of the pillars of our economy. And while we currently enjoy the benefits of our nation's early investments in aeronautics R&D [research and development], other nations are now attempting to challenge our leadership. This is particularly troubling when the largest growth sector is not here in the United States but in Asia. In order to maintain our leadership, we must strategically prioritize our government investments, provide a competitive environment for industry, and coordinate and clearly define public and private sector efforts to maximize efficiencies and minimize duplication that may crowd out investment." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Jaiwon Shin, Dennis Filler, William Leber, R. John Hansman, and Greg Hyslop.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2016
• Securing Our Skies: Oversight of Aviation Credentials: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Transportation and Public Assets of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, February 3, 2016

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  This is the February 3, 2016 hearing titled, "Securing Our Skies: Oversight of Aviation Credentials," held before the House Subcommittee on Transportation and Public Assets of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. From the opening statement of John Mica, "We have an important responsibility in transportation oversight, and that's to make certain that the laws and all of the caveats that we set forth for public agencies, particularly for security and safety, are complied with by agencies. And the purpose of this hearing is 15 years after 9/11 we want to look at credentialing, we want to look at vetting of employees, and we want to look at what poses the biggest risk as far as security to our Nation's aviation system." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Darby LaJoye, John Roth, Margaret Gilligan, and Kathleen M. Carroll.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2017
• Impact of Autonomous Vehicles on the Future of Insurance, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance of the Committee on Financial Services, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, Second Session, May 23, 2018

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  This is the May 23, 2018 hearing titled "The Impact of Autonomous Vehicles on the Future of Insurance," held before the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance of the Committee on Financial Services. From the opening statement of Sean Duffy: "Now, while the focus of today's hearing will be on insurance, other committees have already been looking at the issue, and I suspect Judiciary may look at AVs [autonomous vehicles] from a product liability perspective as opposed to our insurance perspective. Reality is catching up with movies like Blade Runner, Demolition Man, Minority Report. We have seen the capabilities of fully autonomous vehicles being tested in cities like San Francisco, Miami, Pittsburgh, and more. Auto insurance policies have already been impacted by AVs. For instance, we already have level two and level three AVs on the road wherein vehicles assist the driver in accelerating, decelerating, and steering." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Ian Adams, David Carlson, Ryan D. Gammelgard, and Jack Gillis.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2018
• Preventing Another MH370: Setting International Standards for Airline Flight Tracking, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Transportation and Public Assets of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, Februrary 25, 2015

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  This is the February 25, 2015 hearing titled "Preventing Another Malaysia Air 370 (MH370): Setting International Standards for Airline Flight Tracking" From opening statement of the Honorable John L. Mica, "At today's hearing we are going to look at recent work between international and domestic entities to close the tracking gap, as well as discuss future advancements in technology that will result in real-time tracking that can immediately alert authorities to any abnormalities during the flight of a commercial passenger aircraft. […]We are going to address today the shoot-down of another passenger aircraft. But if we don't take steps to know where an aircraft is at all times and properly route them against danger, not just know where they are when they are lost, there will be consequences; and I predict that there will be additional shoot-downs of passenger aircraft because we don't have these systems in place. A required and working global aeronautical distress and safety system standard is long overdue. Last year, after Malaysia Air 370, we had a hearing in the Transportation Committee. A number of issues were brought up that we had to address. One that I cited back then and brought attention to the committee and the Congress was the need for action in getting, again, tracking capability of passenger aircraft. This, I might remind everyone, is 2015, and the technology exists, the capability exists. What we are lacking is a standard for all of these operating passenger aircrafts across the globe." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Hon. Michael A. Lawson, Hon. Christopher A. Hart, and Kevin Hiatt.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2015
• Hearing on National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 and Oversight of Previously Authorized Programs, Before the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, April 21, 2021

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  This is the April 21, 2021 hearing on "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 and Oversight of Previously Authorized Programs," held before the U.S. House Committee on Armed Services. From the Statement of Melissa G. Dalton: "Today, the United States faces a complex global threat environment characterized by increasingly sophisticated and militarily capable strategic competitors, destabilizing regional dynamics, and accelerating technological changes that pose significant dangers. The U.S. capabilities that we will discuss today offer critical advantages that are essential to deterring adversaries so that we can protect the American people, our homeland, and our allies and partners. As Secretary Austin has stated, nuclear deterrence is the Department's highest priority mission. Our nuclear forces remain essential to ensure no adversary believes it can ever employ nuclear weapons for any reason, under any circumstances, without risking devastating consequences. As the Department undergoes a set of strategic reviews that will include its nuclear policy and posture, DOD [Department of Defense] is committed to maintaining a safe, secure, survivable, and effective nuclear deterrent that accounts for the challenges posed by Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. These reviews will account for adversary nuclear forces and doctrine, possible strategy posture and policy adjustments, program execution risk, arms control opportunities, and strategic stability and nuclear risk reduction, all with the goal of maintaining a strong and stable deterrent. Importantly, the views of allies will inform these reviews." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Melissa G. Dalton, James H. Dickson, and Charles A. Richard.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• S. Rept. 117-114: Deepfake Task Force Act, Report to Accompany S. 2559, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, May 24, 2022

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  From the Background and the Need for Legislation: "Deepfakes are highly realistic images and sounds that are created through artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Deepfake creators can use deepfake technology to manipulate media and replace an actual person's image or voice with artificial likenesses or voices. As the software underpinning these technologies becomes easier to acquire and use, the dissemination of deepfake content across trusted media platforms has the potential to undermine national security and erode public trust in our democracy, among other nefarious impacts. The threat that deepfakes could pose if used in misinformation campaigns is well known and well-documented. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has noted that '[s]tate adversaries or politically motivated individuals could release falsified videos of elected officials or other public figures making incendiary comments or behaving inappropriately. Doing so could, in turn, erode public trust, negatively affect public discourse, or even sway an election.'"

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022-05-24
• S. Rept. 117-116: End Human Trafficking in Government Contracts Act of 2022, Report to Accompany S. 3470, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, May 24, 2022

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  From the Purpose and Summary: "S. 3470, the 'End Human Trafficking in Government Contracts Act of 2022', requires that if an agency receives an inspector general report substantiating an allegation that a contract recipient of that agency is engaged in a trafficking crime, that such matter be referred to the agency's suspension and debarment official for action. The bill also requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to submit to Congress a report on the implementation of the 'Ending Trafficking in Government Contracting Act', passed in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2013."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022-05-24
• H. Rept. 117-337: Securing the Checkpoint Property Screening System (S-CPSS) Act of 2022, Report to Accompany H.R. 6827

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  From the Purpose and Summary: "H.R. 6827, the 'Securing the Checkpoint Property Screening System (S-CPSS) Act of 2022,' seeks to accelerate the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) procurement and deployment of computed tomography (CT) equipment at airport checkpoints by authorizing $1.6 billion to be appropriated for the Checkpoint Property Screening System (CPSS) program through fiscal year (FY) 2026. The procurement and deployment of CT equipment at the scale authorized by the bill will enhance the detection capability of carry-on baggage screening at TSA security checkpoints. An important feature of this measure is the $82.1 million authorized for participation in the CPSS program by small businesses that have displayed an ability to develop or produce advanced checkpoint property screening technology. This provision is in furtherance of TSA's January 2020 strategy to diversify the security technology marketplace, which included 12 initiatives to increase small business participation, that was required under the 'TSA Modernization Act' (Pub. L. [Public Law] 115-254)."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022-05-24
• S. Rept. 117-118: Homeland Security Acquisition Professional Career Program Act, Report to Accompany H.R. 367, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, May 24, 2022

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  From the Purpose and Summary: "H.R. 367, the Homeland Security Acquisition Professional Career Program Act, would establish an acquisition career development program within DHS. The program would designate the relevant occupational series, grades, and number of positions eligible for the program; provide specialized training to participants; and seek to recruit candidates with military service, diverse work experience outside the Federal Government, or from institutions of higher education with established acquisition specialties and courses of study, historically Black colleges and universities, and Hispanic-serving institutions. The bill requires DHS annually to report to Congress on acquisition professional retention rates and other aspects of the program."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022-05-24
• Keeping Our Service Members and Their Families Safe and Ready: The Military's Prevention and Response to Domestic Violence, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Military Personnel of the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, May 25, 2021

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  This is the May 25, 2021 hearing on "Keeping Our Service Members and Their Families Safe and Ready: The Military's Prevention and Response to Domestic Violence," held before the Subcommittee on Military Personnel of the Committee on Armed Services. From the opening statement of Jackie Speier: "The first step in curing any ill is to define a problem. And for over 20 years, Congress has asked the Department of Defense [DOD] to do just that, but it has not done it. The problem remains undefined. In fact, earlier this month the GAO [Government Accountability Office] released a study that found that despite a statutory requirement since 1999, DOD has not collected comprehensive data on the number of allegations of domestic violence, a subcategory of different types of domestic abuse that constitute offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and related actions taken by commanders. And even though we know the data is inaccurate, we know that over 40,000 incidents met DOD criteria for domestic abuse between 2015 and 2019, and that 74 percent of these incidents were physical abuse. How many more were never counted by the Department? How many were never reported? For more than 20 years, no one can say." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Patricia Barron, Steve Lewis, Andrew A. Cruz, Crystal Griffen, Lisa Eaffaldano, Brenda Farrell, Amy Logan, and Jessica Strong.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• U.S. Surface Transportation: Technology Driving the Future, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Research & Technology, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, June 12, 2015

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  This is the June 12, 2015 hearing "U.S. Surface Transportation: Technology Driving the Future" held before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. From the opening statement of subcommittee chairwoman Barbara Comstock: "Later today we will hear more about one such exciting technology from one of our witnesses on the topic of autonomous cars. But while we may be several years away from the world of driverless cars, another important technology that can save lives already exists today. By law, positive train control, or PTC, technology is required on 60,000 miles of railroad track by the end of this year. The benefits can't come soon enough, as evidenced by last month's Amtrak derailment outside Philadelphia. Positive train control technology, we heard in the Transportation Committee recently, would've stopped the train from taking that 50 mile an hour turn at a speed of 106 miles per hour, and, obviously, would've changed the devastating results in that case. While Amtrak is on schedule to meet the deadline to implement PTC for its Northeast Corridor by the end of the year, there are other railroads that have told us to date that they can't make that deadline. Closer to home, our nation's metro system suffers from outstanding safety issues that require continuous vigilance by Congress, as well as the full support of the federal government for technological upgrades that would benefit many of us here in the room today." Statements, letters, and other materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Gregory D. Winfree, Michael Meyer, Brian Smith, and Jeffrey J. Owens.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2015
• COVID-19: Going Back to School Safely, Hearing of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session on Examining COVID-19, Focusing on Going Back to School Safely, June 10, 2020

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  This is the June 10, 2020 hearing on "COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]: Going Back to School Safely," held before the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. From the opening statement of Patty Murray: "[W]e are here today to discuss something else this country owes all young people and children and that is a quality of public education even in the middle of a global pandemic. COVID-19 has upended schools in ways that are truly unprecedented, creating chaos for educators and support staff, parents, and of course our students. [...] At a minimum, public health experts say before reopening classrooms, states should be able to provide widespread testing and contact tracing to follow-up in every single case of the virus. The Federal Government should also start planning now for the distribution of a safe and effective vaccine, which will be critical for schools ultimately returning to normal. But until we have a safe and effective vaccine, I am glad to see so many states and school leaders engaged in detailed scenario planning. Because before families send their children back to the classrooms, educators return to teach, they need to know schools have thought through every possible scenario." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Penny Schwinn, Matthew Blomstedt, Susana Cordova, and John B. King Jr.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• Department of Defense Information Technology, Cybersecurity, and Information Assurance for Fiscal Year 2022: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 and Oversight of Previously Authorized Programs, Hearing before the Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems of the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, June 29, 2021

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  This is the June 29, 2021 hearing on "Department of Defense Information Technology, Cybersecurity, and Information Assurance for Fiscal Year 2022," held before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems of the Committee on Armed Services. From the opening statement of Donald Norcross: "So I want to welcome everyone to today's hearing on the Department of Defense information technology, cybersecurity, and information assurance. This is the subcommittee's first hearing on the Department's current IT [information technology] efforts and the requested investments for fiscal year 2022. Since this subcommittee was formed at the start of the 117th Congress, our members have been eager and encouraged to see the Department of Defense approach its information technologies with a prioritization that has been lacking in the past. Of the many lessons from the pandemic, we have seen clearly that technology can revolutionize how we conduct our business, whether that is in Congress, or in the Department of Defense. However, it also requires that the infrastructure which enables our technology is prioritized and secured in a commensurate way." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John Sherman.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Fiscal Year 2022 Rotary Wing Aviation Budget Request: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 and Oversight of Previously Authorized Programs, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces of the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, June 30, 2021

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  This is the June 30, 2021 hearing on "Fiscal Year 2022 Rotary Wing Aviation Budget Request," held before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces of the Committee on Armed Services. From the opening statement of Donald Norcross: "We obviously have a large and distinguished panel of witnesses here today, and I thank them for being on time, even though not all of us were, and making the time to have this discussion on what is incredibly important, the services' rotary wing aviation program, and the process, certainly the challenges we need to be aware of before we mark up the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. Rotary wing aircraft serves diverse and unique purposes across the military branches, and each service is currently in different stages of modernization of its helicopter fleets. Successful modernization and sustainment of rotary wing aircraft will lay a solid foundation for the futures of the joint force." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Douglas Bush, Darlene Costello, and Frederick "Jay" Stefany.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Chief Human Capital Officers at 20: What is Needed to Empower CHCOs to Ensure HR Practices Support Agencies' Mission Success, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, Second Session, March 2, 2022

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  This is the March 2, 2022 hearing on "Chief Human Capital Officers at 20: What is Needed to Empower CHCOs [Federal Chief Human Capital Officers] to Ensure HR [human resources] Practices Support Agencies' Mission Success," held before the Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. From the opening statement of Kyrsten Sinema: "A more effective and efficient Federal Government starts with a better Federal workforce. It does not matter how much we spend or how many laws we pass; if we do not have the right people in the right jobs, our Federal Government will not be successful in providing the services that my constituents in Arizona count on every day. CHCOs play a critical role in this effort. They oversee day-to-day workforce management to ensure the right employees are hired, trained, managed, promoted, and retained. The Chief Human Capital Officer role was created in the Homeland Security Act (HSA) of 2002 to elevate human capital efforts within agencies. After 20 years, it is important to explore what works about the CHCO role, what additional authorities they need to be successful and innovative, what gets in the way of their success, and how Congress can set up CHCOs for success." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Michael J. Rigas, Angela Bailey, Teresa W. Gerton, and Steven V. Lenkart.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• Transportation Security Administration's Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Request, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Transportation Security of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, March 2, 2016

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  This is the March 2, 2016 hearing on "Transportation Security Administration's Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Request," held before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Transportation Security of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of John Katko: "The Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Transportation Security, will come to order. The subcommittee is meeting today to determine and examine the fiscal year 2017 budget of the Transportation Security Administration. I now recognize myself for an opening statement. 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 and that it spends those resources in an appropriate manner. At the very beginning of my tenure at Chairman last year, we witnessed a marked increase in the public visibility of access control and employee vetting gaps at airports across the country with the revelation that aviation workers were involved in weapons and drug smuggling, and abusing their access to secure and sterile areas of airports. Then, in June, we learned of disturbing covert testing results from the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general on the effectiveness of passenger screening checkpoints. Further, we saw tragedy with the downing of a Metrojet flight over the Sinai Peninsula which by most accounts was caused by a bomb likely planted by ISIS." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Peter V. Neffenger.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2016
• Assessing TSA's Management and Implementation of the Screening Partnership Program, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Transportation Security of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, November 17, 2015

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  This is from the November 17, 2016 hearing "Assessing TSA's Management and Implementation of the Screening Partnership Program" held before the House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Transportation Security. From the Committee on Homeland Security website, "This hearing will examine the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) management and implementation of the Screening Partnership Program (SPP), and will highlight the conclusions of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on TSA federal cost estimate methodology." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Jennifer Grover and Carolyn Dorgham.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2017