Transcripts For CSPAN2 Acting Deputy TSA Administrator Testifies Before Senate Commerce Committee 20240714

And welcome to this hearing on detecting the nation, Transportation Systems. We reflect on a summer day in american history, 18 years ago that terrorists turned a address the agencys progress towards implementing modernization the committee will exercise oversight to existing security programs. Notably the passenger screening teams in february administrator pekoske briefed the committee on disturbing testing results from the ig and promised to revamp k9 training. Tsa is committed to making the federal federal air Marshals Program more intelligent space. Improving todays Frontline Security programs is important but tsa must adapt to changing threats and technologies. Emerging Technology Including biometrics, perhaps we will hear about that today. Understand tsa has a biometrics roadmap but we certainly need to do this in light of concerns involving privacy, Data Protection and civil liberties. I look forward to a robust discussion today on the vital role the tsa plays. Madam Ranking Member you are now recognized for opening remarks. Thank you mr. Chairman let me welcome deputy administrator cogswell joining us this morning and thank you for all the work that tsa does in keeping us safe everyday. On this somber day we remember the tragic and devastating events of 18 years ago an adversary motivated motivated by nothing short of and evil attack on our nation and the horrifying loss of life was unimaginable. Establishing the Transportation Security Administration was among several steps that Congress Took to help ensure the attack would never be repeated. The committee worked hard to complete the work on the faa reactors a snack of 2018 also including the first conference of wrap her station that tsa since the agency was created shortly after september 11 attacks. Therefore this is on the oversight of the agency as it continues its Critical Mission and implements the mandate included in the tsa authorization formally known as the tsa modernization act. As you know last your tsa modernization act post focused on security by addressing such issues as training and deployment of k9 for screening of passengers and cargo reinforcing efforts on Insider Threats in expediting testing and deployment of screening technologies and various organizations to ensure the effective leadership at the agency. I also want to note i appreciate the work of the northwest pacific laboratories who have worked through security in developing what we call up the tsa salute but nonetheless this overhead has given quite a security layer and yesterday i had the chance to talk with acting their cogswell about the next generation of technology which well be deploying at airports but with individual travelers and their Cargo Containers the Pacific Northwest laboratory continues to stay ahead on cuttingedge technology and we appreciate the work of our r d labs in helping us maintain security. I also appreciate your candor regarding your recent diversion of tsa resources to the southern border. I spoke to you about a letter that was sent by my colleague senator wicker and die about the diversion of those resources. My guess is we will have a chance to ask you in this mornings hearing about that. The request indicated the time there could be additional 800 that would be deployed with the ultimate goal of 175 to support the cbt operations so i look forward to asking about those questions this morning. As my colleague said we are here to review what we can do to make sure that tsa remains a strong and viable force. I remain very interested in the k9 unit success and the further deployment of that as one of the Fastest Growing airports if not the Fastest Growing airport in the nation, seatac. The challenges of moving people and making sure we are all secure is a very very important daily tasks tassel thank you for being here to address these issues. Thank you senator cantwell. Members and guests should know that senators on the floor will be observing a moment of silence at 11 00 this morning and in connection with that this committee will also be observing that moment of silence at the stroke of 11 just before votes begin. So be mindful of that and ms. Cogswell we are delighted to have you and we are interested in hearing your opening statement. Thank you for being here. Good morning chairman wicker Ranking Member cantwell and members of the committee thank you for inviting me to testify about the work the Transportation Security Administration does to keep our nations Transportation System secure. We appreciate the support of congress and are their grateful for the productive relationship we have with this committee as well as the authority provided in the modernization act of 2018 the first rasterization of the agency part on september 11, 2001 nearly 3000 people died as the result of the worst act of terrorism ever committed on american soil. From this tragedy we renewed our dedication that defined her nation. 9 11 changed us all. We devote never again to face such an attack. Congress created the tsa just two months afterwards. 18 years a pass since the tragic events of september 11 and while Many Americans including some of tsas current employees are too young to have a recollection of that day aviation and other modes of transportation remained highly soughtafter targets by terrorists whose methods of attack remain more decentralized and opportunistic than ever before the tsa must meet the challenge of pervasive and constantly evolving threats in physical and cyber rounds. Tsa passman most important asset in the fight is its people. Im extremely proud of the 60,000 dedicated professionals who make of tsas workforce. Everyday they demonstrate their core values of integrity respect and a significant portion of our workforce including transportation security offers federal air marshal transportation security inspectors k9 handlers intelligence personnel and support staff worked without pay for 35 days during the partial government shutdown. It is incredibly trying period employees dedicated to true professionalism and commitment to the mission despite suffering significant financial and personal challenges. We are grateful that members of congress continue to look for ways to protect our workforce and event of appropriations and stand ready to work with you on this effort. Tsa was an important year for the direction of tsa not only to Congress Passed in the presence signed the tsa modernization act but tsa developed a strategy through 2026 and to guide the execution. During 2019 we focused on the implementation. Tsa has completed more than 46 of the 180 requirements mandated in the act and 53 of those met the specific deadline. Completed requirements range from global aviation review to air Cargo Division establishing a Surface Transportation Security Advisory Committee. When it minister pekoske described the efforts to rapidly advance tsas acquisition tomography screening system and credential authentication technology. It allow tsa to margot identify professional threats and less invasive mourad invented ways in the most effective of our screening processes in the passenger experience. Thanks for the support of congress tsa awarded a contract for 300 machines in 500 cat machines and is beginning to climb point me traditionally consistent with the tsa modernization act requirement for. Check in 2019 we successfully conducted pilots to two airports for significantly higher throughput for clear check only lanes. We are encouraged by results of a new option that we are testing that enables passengers to enroll via a mobile tablet at the airport near the checkpoint. We know the importance of assessing risk as we carry out her mission to consistent with the modernization act requirement. Our federal air marshals and integrated riskbased intelligencedriven rules through prioritized Mission Deployment strategy focused on highrisk travelers and revise International Risk assessment models. Similarly tsa is taken a number of strategic actions to address the risks associated with Insider Threats including the establishment of the subcommittee on to improve air corps or per worker and tropic tsa plans to produce a roadmap to mitigate insider rest. Tsa recognizes the strategic success depends on our workforce. The commission a Blue Ribbon Panel comprised of public and private sector leaders with experiment extensive expertise to conduct a full review of human capitol policies and delivery at tsa. We have used the result of efforts. The establishment of the National Advisory counsel to develop a number of Workforce Initiative including twotier Performance Systems model officer Recognition Programs and a tsa progression program. Tsas fame and recognition of the tenth anniversary of the september 11 attacks is honoring the memory and protecting the nation. We are confident their vigilance elaboration with domestic and International Partners in the support of congress who all return mutual goal is not on our watch. Chairman wicker Ranking Member cantwell and members of this committee thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today and i look towards your questions. Thank you very much for your testimony. Let me start by asking about something that i dont think we saw in your. Testimony and thats the Screening Partnership program. In the modernization act including included a number of provisions to enhance the Screening Partnership program such as allowing Airport Operators to participate in the evaluation of the spp. When will tsa finished developing this process and are you currently breathing these assessments to every airport director . Thank you very much for the question. A number of requirements enabled individual airport to choose to use contracted private entities before Screening Services while still matching the quality and type of screening provided by a similar entity to tsa. We have brought on board the majority of those requirements specifically and the largest one being ensuring use of the full cross recovery that the federal government uses to evaluate the individual performance entity. At this point we have already reported three new contracts this year under the new requirements. The fourth one is expected before the end of september and we have several more scheduled for completion in early 2020. Are you breathing every airport director about this . Every airport directors closely tied into the process by which we solicit requirements and proceed through the actual analysis. Okay. Its our understanding that tsa will be turning away travelers that dont have real i. D. Compliance and i. D. Cards on october 1 of next year. How is that going and do you have contingency plans for obviously the people who will be caught by surprise . As you correctly noted october 1, 2020s the final implementation date for the real i. D. Act is implemented through regulation. Critically important to recall the rational reason for the act in the first place are the recommendations coming from the 9 11 commission noting that with most spy perpetrators of the attack. The stage where in incredibly close good nation with dhs and every location around the country. We are working to get signed out we recently started an individual travel they will be notified of the document they are presenting at the time they come to our travel back in a check or whether their identity documents will meet the requirements next year. We want to make sure everyone has a maximum amount of time they can in order to obtain a real i. D. Compliant document or other forms of identification such as the passport for military dedication. Ive got my drivers license here. Are all the states compliance with the drivers licenses that are being issued as of the state . 50 of 56 are currently compliant. The six remaining are scheduled to be completed in the next year. Some of those are states. Thats very good and it seems to me that those 56 jurisdictions comply that will take care of almost everybody. We sure hope so. Is tsa. Check helping to make the lines shorter for everybody else . Thank you very much for that question. In fact we see a profound change in airports where significant population are. Check members. In terms of the overall airports. As of right now we have about 20 million individuals who are in the program having no traveler number and that includes 9 million directly involved with. Check another 9 million who are members of the Global Entry Program and an additional other populations through the process we used to bring in other additional populations through very highly controlled processes. At this point we see nationwide about 20 of all travelers each day are. Check. A quite good number. We want to see it continue to grow. Does that help the other 80 . It does. Theres a requirement non. Check passengers must remove their liquids. If you are. Check this is relaxed. Tell us about that and what is the status of tsas deployment of computed tomography screening machines and what is your anticipated timeline on allowing all passengers not just. Check to keep liquids and laptops in their bags during screenings . As you know the one of the primary differences between the most visible differences between standard screening in. Check screening is the ability to leave your laptop within your bag and to leave your shoes on and a light jacket. You dont have to take off clothing in order to get through the screening equipment. As you have noted one of the pieces we see that will help us get to the next stage is that computed tomography or ct machine. Those machines because of their greater ability to gather Additional Data provide a significantly enhanced ability to see with them that carryon bag to look for items that might be a threat inning we have to have less vestige or less passengers have to pull out from their bags. Laptops are the ones well proceed with first. We are working very carefully with the make years of equipment to look or what algorithms we can put in place to enhance beyond that will get us to liquids. Im intruding on senator cantwells time to what is your timeline . We are working to develop the algorithm to truly tell with the type of liquid it is. Ai. Thank you senator cantwell. Saying thank you chairman and administer cogswell i think we are at 135,000 people a day and almost 50 million a year. I noticed seatac says it was built in 1949 to accommodate 1 Million People so the fact that we are accommodating 50 Million People chose the stress and strain on the system and as we discussed yesterday moving cargo is what we do in the northwest as well. These security measures are of utmost importance to us and continuing to do a good job with added security layer in a fashion so i wanted to ask you about the new rules for developing the k9 units and for thirdparty explosive sections. When will we see those and whether what other nations as a reaper sank fully trained teams available for deployment and also i wanted to ask you about the diversion to the southern border, how many ts people were diverted and what were the impacts on lines in airports across the country . The program you are noting is we refer to it as thirdparty k9. Republish the regulations last december and immediately began training teams. At this point in time we have more than 171 teams in 30 entities performing screenings. Those private screenings requirements of those private screening entities already operating today. Extend, expect to see continued growth in volume in that space. We have had a lot of interest in it. As to your question about the southwest border on the k9 point is tsa pursuing other initiatives or do you think youll be more aggressive in pursuing the thirdparty streams . In addition to the aspect around the thirdparty candidate we are looking at the next review, next enhancement of technology that could be available for use in screening of cargo appeared similar to the same types of equipment that we use in checked bags today and they are moving to the checkpoint we think there is much greater capability for pallet sized much larger sized cargo training environment. Its safe to say that seatac will be aggressively using k9s in tsa will be continuing its own efforts as well as whatever seatac does on its own absolutely. This is an area that we think is right for complete evolution and we are very pleased that partnership is dedicated to that mission. Okay now, to the border. To the border. We have been detailing personnel to support cbp early in the summer. The high water point of the total number of people that be had down at the southern border at any given time is about 350. Today we are down to around 100 80 post congresses approval of the supplemental as well as the decrease we have seen in the number of migrants appearing at the border. They are all volunteers. They chose to support that mission. We are currently grateful for their choice to perform in serving that function. The types of activities they perform include providing transportation from capability to hospitals making sure theres a security layer and returning to the tension facility but other areas help supply in personal belongings when someone arrives in other aspects in that sense. As we continue to move forward we make very clear decisions after going through the setup of the program that we would not endanger transportation security. Or greatly disadvantage any one location. They specifically designed the volumes of people and locations to have minimal impact. So you are saying minimal impact or no impact . He mentioned to me exempted all the highvolume airports from being impacted. So you took volunteers in places where you are saying they basically had little or no impact. Is that what you are saying . Yes. Talking about people who work at or check points we specifically designed it for those locations where we could do so recognizing what the volumes were at that location. Other places we look were federal air marshals. We selected individuals recognizing it would be in the near term some decrease in the number of viper missions that were run at Service Locations where a decrease in our lower priority swipe so we been able to manage that amount to minimize impact. Thank you mr. Chairman. Thank you. Senators fischer. Deputy administrator as you noted in her testimony and glad to see that the tsa has established the Surface Transportation Security Advisory Committee and i was proud to work on the legislation that established it. Now that it has established what processes are in place to ensure that tsa seriously considers and implements the recommendations provided by those Advisory Committee members . We are incredibly fortunate that we have had a long and productive relationship with many members in the surface transportation sphere. This legislation was a significant benefit to us because the lettuce formalize the process and create a cheer revenue that allows us to take formal recommendations. We have operated in the Aviation Security Advisory Committee. We believe there is enormous value in having a venue such as this where we can ask specific questions, ask for specific advice in areas and receive it or moleh through that mechanism so thank you very much for your support. Thank you. Also the tsa modernization act requires that you conduct a surface transportation security assessment and implement a riskbased strategy based on that assessment. You then have to obviously develop a budget, resource allocations that are really going to look at that riskbased strategy that comes about. Earlier this year the administrator spoke at a House Committee meeting on god and said that the assessment was going to be completed probably by a sober of this year. Do you think you are going to meet that deadline and can you provide this committee right now with any kind of insight on what we can expect to see in that assessment . We are working hard to complete that requirement and we believe we will be in time to meet the deadline. Overall the important piece of deans assessment is ensuring we have correct inadequately looked at all the threats all of the vulnerabilities and risk associated coming out of any particular sector of the security environment for surface transportation. At this time i think the most important part from our perspective is the ability to call much greater attention to surface transportation. This is an area where very good people at work for a long time to improve surface transportation security. I cant tell you the number of people i have met dedicated to this mission. The ability to call attention to their great work, see how far they have come and see where they need help to go farther is a great place to be. You dont think theres a classified section to this assessment that the committee will have access to . At this time i dont know that we are planning a classified attachment powers were happy to provide a classified reefing to you or your team should you want it as well as the regular briefings that we do to further go in step with the further threat. I think would be very helpful and also important that this committee be able to have those classified readings. I also think it would be really helpful if you would have a written attachment that we would be able to review and a classified setting so that we cat i think a fuller understanding of the risks that are out there and what is needed and what would he a responsibility of this committee to try and meet those needs in the future. Thank you very much for that. I will take it back and we will look forward to meeting a requirement. Thank you very much. Also in december of 2018 the gao issued a report on pipeline security programs and made 10 recommendations all of which dhs has concurred with. Can you provide an update on where tsa is at and implementing those gao recommendations on pipelines . They are making strong progress against all of the recommendations. Most important for perspective is looking at how we are reenergizing and revitalizing competencies and knowledge of our workforce. Through our recent changes and again thank you for the tsa modernization act requirement we now have a dedicated section for surface transportation. In that we have combined to pull together our compliance staff, our inspectors had we are further developing a core cadre who are specialized and have much greater expertise in those pipelines as well as pursuing additional expertise and cyber. At this stage we completed the first 24 going through that additional training and are looking forward from that. Are using a good working relationship with the other agencies involved . We are. In particular simpson and ferc have been solid partners closely working with us through the department of energy and predict where we do dedicated briefings with the various members. I also want to say i cant say enough about the great relationships we have with the members of the industry. They are extremely laser focused on security aspects. Thank you. Thank you mr. Chairman. Thank you senator fisher. Senator blumenthal. Thank you mr. Chairman. Thank you for your service. What is the statutory authorization for converting tsa employees . I believe in the original creation language for the department of Homeland Security but theres a secondary provision within tsa legislation directly that allows us to authorize use of personnel in support of our overarching mission. As other examples of where we do this today is in hurricane or a financial disaster responses as well as the july 4 activities here on the mall. Are currently tsa employees diverted to the hurricane response for . We have 120 ready on stand by ready to go based on where the incident occurs in the United States but were able to observe it locally. Let me ask you what you commit to provide us with some kind of notice in the event that does not tsa employees are diverted among the 180 better now they are . We will. I want to ask about the september 11 security fee. We were called at this hearing and will be recalling on the floor very shortly that horrific tragedy that spurred the creation of the tsa and lead to vast improvements in our nations Airport Security in paying for these improvements as you know congress established the user fee that passengers pay on their tickets. Its known as the september 11 security fee. The fee was initially intended to go only to improving our nations aviation Transportation System security. In 2013 Congress Passed a measure and is part of the major budget this september 11 security fee was raised from five thousand but congress required fees to go towards reducing the deficit. Mind you this measure was nonsensical. Senator markey and i s. Force into the funding for screeners and the threat elimination restoration act known as faster. This legislation would eliminate the diversion of funds to pay for totally and related Government Spending and ensure that passengers security fees go only to Aviation Security and prevent congress from again raising these funds in the future. My question to you is what you support giving tsa access to these funds . Should congress return to full amount generated by the september 11 Security Fund to its purpose of securing our nations Transportation System . Thank you very much for that question. While there is no official administration on the legislation we very much share your interest in ensuring a continual consistent Funding Source for the agency dedicated to improving security in terms of technology and pay personnel. There can be no Consistent Force of hunting if those fees that are charged to travelers for Aviation Security and in effect to a bait and switch to divert them elsewhere, correct . It is more difficult, yes. More difficult than eventually it will detract from your effort to secure a nations airports and other transportation facilities, correct . So far it is meant a potential leveling off of our Funding Source. Then would you provide this agency with a provision on this legislation . Well see to work closely with the process that the administration to obtain a formal administration position. On another topic as you know on july 17, 2019 American Airlines allegedly tampered with the Computer System at Miami International airport indicating a vulnerability to Insider Threats. Helpful marble is our nations Aviation System to this threat . Insider threats are one of the significant threat streams we regularly look at and something that we are actively working with their International Partners as well as a domestic partners including both in government and industry. This is an area that we believe needs to have a multifaceted approach. Not only do we rely on background checks Access Control that we also look to ensure a culture acrosstheboard were individuals if they see something that doesnt look right and doesnt make since they are immediately reporting it so it can be quickly attended to. While we want all of these pieces to Work Together takes each and every one of us every day to have that. Thank you very much in thank you mr. Chairman. Thank you. According to our Committee Procedures senator peter sis next followed by senator lee. Thank you mr. Chairman. Today as we remember the tragic events of september 1118 years ago out of that tragedy came the 9 11 commission in its report examine what happened and made a number of recommendations to remedy the failures that led up to that tragic event. One of the last 9 11 recommendations that have been not adopted in most of them adopted, was the streamlining of congressional oversight which continues to be a challenge for the department and the department of Homeland Security is pulled into over 90 congressional committees in the house and senate. My question to you is how would you evaluate congressional oversight of tsa in tsas ability to be responsive to over 90 congressional committees in the house and senate . Thank you very much for the question. As you highlighted compared to other agencies we have additional requirements and a larger number of committees from home we respond. Tsa we have pretty good relationships with almost every oversight entity that we work with. We try hard to look for ways to do joint ratings to consolidate interests in a way that helps overall drive efficiency on art and in responsiveness toward overall congressional oversight. With consolidated oversight be helpful . I think the administrations position is very much in line with what you are suggesting. I think we are willing to work with congress on how to make sure the resulting actions whatever they may be are used for congressional oversight as well as helping streamline our requirements. I continue to hear from some of my constituents in very diverse areas in michigan about some very lengthy interesting screenings they get every single time they travel. They are pulled aside and certainly maintaining a safe and secure environment is paramount. We have to keep us all safe you also have to protect civil rights of lawabiding travelers. Its a very delicate balance of the department of Homeland Security has to balance that with keeping a sacred is important for us to be conscious of whats happening. I want to acknowledge first i know its difficult to track information related to wait times as for his screenings come the length of screenings the demographics of passengers that are being pulled aside as well as secondary screening complaint data but my question to you is do you believe theres room for expanding the collection of data and sharing it with appropriate congressional committees and Civil Society groups so we get a better handle as to what is exactly happening at these inspections cites . One of the requirements of the tsa as you i police know is in order for us to be able to report weight times across all locations so we are actively working along with the airports to reach that goal. In many locations we are demonstrating some of that process today. As to some of your other questions i would say we are incredibly welcoming of input feedback across the communities. We have a coalition that looks at multicultural issues, disability issues, others who need assistance or may have difficulty under check points. We regularly meet with them including a meeting in washington as well as around the country so wed be happy to come to your district to me with any of your local constituents as well. That community has provided invaluable information. Their individual stories and pieces of information have been able us to do some explanation behind why we do certain things but its also enabled us to change your methodologies and how we teach our officers to conduct certain checks and recognition of what people have experienced. That information is valuable to us. Sayok one of the processes you have to address people experiencing difficulties as the dhs process as you know. My constituents are dissatisfied with that process id like to have your assessment as to possible ways we can expand or strengthen in terms of making a more userfriendly and making it one that works as intended. We continue to look to change the language in the letters to be as informative as possible. Quite often what we find is the number one issue people write in about is the belief that they are on a watch list. Quite often that is not the reason they received additional screening. Sometimes that explanation can be convoluted and i think we can continue to improve on how we try to explain the different factors that can result in someone having additional screenings. Its something thats not intuitive to a large portion of the traveling public and we recognize that. An example of how we try to address that as we have videos up on our web page to tell people this is what you should expect when you come for a screening. We have also tried as many possible ways to find how we can interact with individuals in addition to formal letters to get to the root cause, what they might be seeing, what they are perceiving. There instances where we can link up that person with a passenger screening specialists as they come to the airport that will provide additional explanations to process them through. Thank you. Thank you. Senator lee. Thank you mr. Chairman and thank you for being here today to answer questions. Since 2014 the department of Homeland Security and in particular the office of Inspector General at the department of Homeland Security has been called where covertly auditing inspecting the securityrelated aspects of tsa and have done so as im aware about four times. The igs findings have revealed very alarming rates of failure due to human and technologybased failures. Most recently in february of this year the ig conducted covert testing of procedures to safeguard the socalled secure areas of airports finding both humanbased and technologybased vulnerabilities at various points and the ig made a series of six recommendations in response to presumption of those values but as of two months ago each of the six recommendations made by the a. G. , by the ig were still open. What can you tell us about the current status of the igs recommendations and when can we expect those will be closed . We have concurred with all of the recommendations that that are actively working to address them. A number of these recommendations are ones highlighting areas that we also believe a plane to the larger discussion worth having around Insider Threat and need to do more Insider Threat. Not only are a wreath rapidly responding to those requirements we are also looking at how it informs our wider recognition. We would be happy to provide you some additional discussion and perhaps in a different setting us to some the details of the requirement. See faq. Overall we have seen this in the last few years. How do you feel about the overall charge a tree and how its going . Overall we believe its critically important that not only the Inspector General but ourselves do tests on her processes. We look at not only how are we performing against the standard we set ourselves originally, how we were set up to meet threats, are we meeting the threats we were set up for but as the threats change how are we looking at the new threats the ones we werent designed originally to me. I would encourage you to do so and as you can imagine there is a significant deprivation of a persons privacy and liberty when a person is stopped along the way and the overwhelming majority of the people we are stopping and inconveniencing the people whose privacy is being violated or the innocent people. In order to do that we need to make sure whatever we are doing is working and is done in the most minimally invasive means possible. Tsa has recently been collaborating with u. S. Customs and Border Protection over the n technology. Can you tell me about what the tsas timeline is for the Widespread Adoption of facial Recognition Technology and id also like to know what the tsa does to collect this information. As a collected for any purpose other than as a verification for persons i. D. . Does it now or will it in the future be keeping that data for any longer than is necessary to perform the task at hand for how long do they keep it . So we are conducting two types of pilots. The first one as you noted his customs and Border Protection. The way the process works is based on how many people who we think is going to be flying on an individual day based on who the carriers tallest abbad tickets cbp helps. Position a gallery of photos whose passports are on file. As they approached the checkpoint where able to do a match against a smaller number so we are not screening against margins of data. We are looking for you to match you for the second pilot we are doing to start recently out of Mccarran Airport in las vegas for that one using our credential Identification Technology looks at matching you to the facial image on your drivers license or other document. Under those circumstances we retain long enough to view the match for additional auditing and we are not storing it. What happens if it stays in vegas . Until 2016, new psos often completed their training requirements at or near their home airports. Its my understanding that tsos now received training in a centralized tsa academy located at the federal Law Enforcement Training Center in georgia. Since this has happened, has tsa had any budget savings as a result of that . C as you correctly note we changed are processed and we have changed it again in this past year. What we have done is as this tso comes on board they are at their home airport for a period of time about six months and then they go off to the federal Training Center. This helps us go through process and procedure to bring them on board continue to ensure that they are a good fit for the position that we are tracking them for prior to undergoing the twoweek training. What we have seen coming out of the training is not as much of budgetary savings per se as a consistency of training and camaraderie of. As people meet and retain those relationships across multiple airports. Enables them to know what another airport is doing against the same problem as well as with their home airport does. I see my time has expired. Thank you very much. Thank you senator lee. Senator udall. Thank you mr. Chairman and thank you very much for your testimony and your service. I was in congress when we created the tsa after the 9 11 attacks that killed nearly 3000 americans. Al qaeda and other terrorist groups continue to threaten our Aviation System. 18 years later along with senators cantwell and woman falling concerned that tsa employees are being pulled off the job for political purposes to address a manufactured crisis on our southern border. You mentioned in a response letter to congress in june that tsa plan to increase the number of fulltime equivalent allocated to airports by 2000 personnel and authorized a 20 increase in overtime. How much did this relocation of personnel to the southern border cost tsa . We have at this moment in time about 180 individuals across multiple job types, the federal air marshal transportation Security Officers counsel, lawyers and support staff to help at the southwest border to help our Sister Agency cbp. The highest month we had was about 350 so we are significantly decrease and continue to see a decrease post a supplemental provided by congress as well as the decrease in overall migration trends. Can you give us an estimation , its that would cost . We absolutely will get back to you. You cant do that right now . I can do the math in my head. Two weeks ago we learned tsa funds were being reprogrammed to immigration and Customs Enforcement to pay for migrant detention beds and transportation costs. These funds are being diverted from the Aviation Security and operations and support counsel among others. Do you believe tsa operations will be negatively impacted by this reprogramming and what are the immediate impacts of tsa operations from this reprogramming . We carefully selected the areas of programming to ensure it would not have any permanent effect. It is delaying certain types affect to be that we might have otherwise done in the Fourth Quarter but even there we do to minimize. Most of what we are looking for automatically recur next year so funding will resume then. Since many of these funds go toward training and supplies are you preparing for longterm disruptions of these programs . Sir we very carefully monitored to ensure we believe we will not undergo continued impacts. Shifting to facial recognition with very few rules of the road for facial recognition right now im concerned that the drive for efficiency will lead to expansive collection of Sensitive Data by government agencies. How can we be sure that slightly faster lines at Security Check is in the expensive eckers security screening or of our own citizens privacy . The way we have set up our program today and biometrics, we have not only attempted to complete all of the requisite impact assessments would also put a significant material to describe to people what we are collecting how we are collecting it and how this information will be used and how long we will hold of. In particular the way we are conducting a pilot today we collect an image but only as long as we need to to conduct a match either against the photo already on file for cbp such as a passport photo or a match against the credential you are presenting at that moment in time. You are serving in an acting capacity, is that correct . That is. Your boss above you is in an acting capacity, is that correct . That is correct. Deeply that hurts congressional accountability with this kind of pattern across the government . I will say we all recognize the importance of having Senate Confirmed positions in all of the Important Roles they traditionally perform within dsh and tsa. I will say as a secondary note if you have to be in the situation having the strong leaders we have in acting secretary mcaleenan and pekoske given their long history in career experience have been very valuable. Theres no question in my mind if something occurs they know exactly out how to immediately respond. My worry is that with these acting Senate Confirmations we get ourselves in the situation where democracy the rule being sent from the top is you are there and you can be gone the next day and that is a very dangerous rule for democracy. I would hope to see you in a confirmed capacity at some date. Thank you and thank you mr. Chairman. Spat thank you very much. Senator but earnest next end at the end of her questioning we will observe a moment of silence in memory of the victims of 9 11 thank you mr. Chairman and ms. Cogswell thank you for being here. I will tell you the inconsistency that has happened with the vetting that takes place at the airport we look at the southern border and we have thousands of people on a weekly basis. We do not know who they are. Wed do not know what they are bringing into this country. Many times they are bringing in human beings, trafficking of women and children. We would never allow that passing through an airport. But yet it happens every day at the southern border so i think its completely appropriate that a just and tsa agents are there in the southern border to help provide some controls and appropriate vetting. Editor lee touched on this. In recent years as you mentioned both the gao and the ig have identified some very serious security vulnerabilities that exist with the screeners and i used to terms screeners because that is their legislative and statutory of name and their job description. You have had some true flaws in here and i think the Red Team Test network failed with weapons getting pasture screeners 95 of the time by the red teams. That shows a lack of attention to detail, a lack of focus on the job. I also know when we started looking at this issue back in 2012 when tsa was having massive drop bombs with screeners violating passengers personal privacy with invasive patdowns, sneaking drugs through air warts and a whole host of other criminal behavior ranging from theft to bribery to child pornography. Within the rank of those tsa members, screeners, not officers in agents but screeners i understand that you all have taken some steps to try to address these issues. You have worked with the fbi to identify criminal behavior so i would like for you to talk a little bit more about what you are doing it a granule granular level to be certain youre not higher in individuals and at one point you were advertising for people to come work with the tsa per talk about how that has changed or if you are still employing such a goody how many total hours of training are you now giving to the screeners. At one point they were getting 40 hours of training and then were being put into a uniform that would allow people to believe they were an officer when they are not an officer. And how many hours of training are being given to the k9s . Yes maam. A large number of questions and i will endeavor to recall all of them but i apologize if i miss one. Or with the incredibly Important Role of Insider Threats from the perspective of a tsa employee as well as a worker in the aviation community. We work in close proximity with the fbi and other Law Enforcement to identify where we believe criminal activity is as you noted moving drugs or other materials or where we believe someone might be at risk of not using the right level of culture preparedness in inherent in what the approach. This is an area we strongly participate on the investigatory side but also in terms of our culture and training. As you highlighted this is an area with we had extreme extents of focus but as we look at how we are recruiting we want to make sure we are getting individuals not only that meet rigorous security requirements but also understand what the job is, why its important and are dedicated to the mission. Critical for us is to help them understand what the job is and ensure they know what they are signing up for. Someone who thats doesnt want to spend a lot of time with people on a regular basis is not going to enjoy working on her checkpoint when thousands of people come through every single day. Want to ensure we are getting individuals to have that strong character that we need and also are best suited for that kind of interaction. We also have changed up and created a tso career progression model. We have an initial training when they start on board. They are wearing a different uniform at that point so they are distinguished from others. They then go to the federal Law Enforcement Training Center in georgia for a twoweek intensive period and. How many hours of training . Two full weeks, 80 hours. They then continue to meet requirements for training ongoing through the next several years as they progress. Mentoring, new employees as they come onto the checkpoint. Last. About the ability to identify prohibited items as they are coming through the checkpoint, this is job one for us. This the most important thing we do. We look at it is twofold, one is the training of our staff but the second is ensuring that we have the best Technology Available to support them and that they know how to use it effectively. This is one of the reasons we are very focused on the new computer tomography machines. For passenger carryon materials. We do look at a densely cluttered bag, and you are looking at a number of them in a short order, it is more difficult. Our Current Technology for the ct machines. They will give us greater visibility and ability to rotate it and the ability to use automated target recognition. Algorithms that look for not just a gun, but pieces of a gun. This is so we can identify it even if it doesnt look exactly right. It is critically important for us as we go forward. Thank you senator blackman. Ladies and gentlemen at this. , in memory of the 3000 souls that were lost on 911, and in honor and recognition of those who stepped forward, we are going to observe a moment of silent. Im going to ask that members and staff stand for this moment of. [silence] our guests are invited to stand we put us for this moment of. [silence] thank you very much, you may be seated. Senator boone is recognized, some of us will be going to vote and coming back but we will continue to stagger our questions and accommodate members and our distinguished witnesses. Thank you mr. Chairman. Last year, thanks to the hard work of this committee, the Congress Passed an act of 2018, reauthorizing the agency for the first as of 2001. It was founded in response to the tragic attacks that occurred 18 years ago on this date. The bill included several provisions aimed at deploying more advanced screening technologies increase protections. Secured portions of the airport, and minimizing security line wait times all to benefit the experience of the traveling public while keeping our airports and skies safe from harm. Building on improvements made by the faa extension safety and security act of 2016, the bill also requires dsa to increase the accessibility of a pre check program. This included a Provision Requiring the agency to enter into a and agreement we put private sector entities to expand project enrollment options, as you start to finish online or mobile enrollment capabilities. Increasing enrollment options, is important in real estate like south dakota where it is currently limited to two physical load limitations. Locations. Could you speak to we do expect for this to be operational . Thank you very much, i appreciate very much the Critical Role you played. I would just like to know that we are currently already testing a mobile environment enrollment methodology. It is at the checkpoint. Where an individual as i go to the hard part for the regular scheduled flight, at the time we are able to throw a tablet complete and enrollment. Critical for us is to try updates environment because it provides us true flexibility to match that equipment to other people are at the time they are actually tri billing. Making it just nice process rather than something in addition to something we put a regular scheduled trip. Also bringing on board a second vendor to help increase the number of sites of enrollment. How complicated is the mobile on line tablet in terms of filling that out. You actually have a person helping people the process. If theyre not understanding how to do the image of their document, there is someone right there to help them take the fingerprints etc. Right there at the airport. Yes sina again, there are folks who were far away from airports and places like south dakota, have any previous. Let me ask you this first. Senator peters and i introduce the secured traveler act earlier this year was expedites for Law Enforcement officers who have already gone substantial background checks. The bill is recorded on the committee on july 24th. At any previous actions taken by tsa regarding paycheck by another agency. Yes, part of our traveler program, who have received a number are individuals who clarence says we are able to directly verify because they are for example we put another federal agency who has entered into an agreement we put us. Critical for us is that ability to manage relationships. If we know if an individual is terminated from a position, that they are no longer eligible for that program. We can provide to you, a list of all of the different entities we do this today. Tsa expanded Law Enforcement offers server reimbursement programs and help smaller airports. This program has greatly helped smaller airports like south dakota. Could you speak to how this Program Continues to improve Airport Security process across the country particularly in smaller airports. We are externally important fortunate to have really good relationships across the board we put state and local counterparts as well as Law Enforcement specifically dedicated to individual transportation areas. We find especially in smaller communities, as those areas are quite often limited in the number of Law Enforcement officers but they might have to cover a very large geographic area. So this is ability, for us to reimburse them for their time, enables them to spend more dedicated time perhaps even higher additional people to be able to focus on transportation security. The expansion also required tsa to review regulations and compliance policies and if necessary advise on reduced Administrative Burden on air force. Has tsa as a result of this requirement. We have conducted a review. We consider deregulatory provisions to reduce god. Thank you. Manager. Thank you madam chair, appreciate that a lot. Im going to go back to a previous question on real idea is montana compliant question and more. I will be happy to provided you we put a fullest after the session. Great, you dont know or you dont want to tell me. I cannot recall. Are you fully staffed in tsa . We have been able to hire for the airports, to a loophole that we are expected to any two. One of the things i would say if you know able to transfer 230 million and you are able to transfer people to go in different directions, then we are over finding you. I would just say that. Maybe we are over finding a lot of different agencies. We need to be cognizant of that in the legislative branch moving forward. One of the, previous question, one of the ig reports that were done pointed out that turnover at smaller airports is the problem. Turnover of personnel. You had said in previous question, you agreed we put the ig although i think the ig rejected your action plan. Correct me if im strong. And that this is still an open recommendation. Is that correct . We have provided initial material and they have requested more. But the first solution was rejected by the ig is that correct . I believe they are asking for more material. Have you been able to get them that additional material. I cannot recall. Would love to know that. I am to come from estate where the previous question has a lot of small airports. And i happened uses airports twice a week. So i am intimately familiar. And i at the way, your staff does a really great job. They do an incredible job. They are very accommodating and professional. The problem is in smaller airport, i dont know how you can hire anybody. I dont know what the wage is but its around 15 or 16 bucks, and a lot of these airports, you come in and they are there for four hours in the quebec there there for four hours. What is being done for the pay period i gotta tell you that, repaying teachers about the same theyre underpaid greatly. How are we solving this problem. I think its a pay issue. Why hasnt been bumped up to recruit for people. Thank you so much for caring and concern for our workforce. I share that we put you. We got a problem Mission Control and need to fix it. On our current abilities, we have a lot of ability but here we pay a bonus to loophole for a split shift we are able to actually pay additional beyond what we would be allowed. You are able to but are you . We do. Soy is the ig issue even an issue. I think the larger question is as we go forward and look at what should be the scale goes here larger question. We want to be in a position where we are recognizing the Incredible Knowledge and skills these individuals have and want to ensure that as a stay we put us over a number of years, they continued to see increases in pay. That is where we have had traditionally a budget issue. Okay, if it is the is the budget issue. Why arent you screaming from the rafters about transferring 230 million bucks, is more money than i can imagine, from this budget to the southern border. I dont agree we put the previous question that said the southern border deserves, yes we do need to secure it but that is a different budget. So one of the problems i have here is that you are the head of this agency. If its a budget problem the new cp screaming. I know your boss says we can have the small which is the really bad night i didnt by the way and most of the people know this. But are afraid to speak up about it. Why arent you screaming. I would say the same thing to the department of defense. We are over finding you if you know not screaming at 230 million bucks. We recognize and appreciate the strong support what we are trying to do right now is putting together a series of options of what additional pay would look like. And i would just say and i got a be some way past time, exit lanes are another issue. We shouldnt be letting the president allocate two or 3 million of this republican policy of the wall in the southern border. Thank you. I nothing is lost on any of us today and 911 that we are talking about something that was created because of 911. So we are in great admiration for what you and you all of you organization does for the sake and security of our Transportation System. Senator, and i are the chairman of the Homeland Security appropriations subcommittee and senator tester is Ranking Member of the committee. We are both familiar we put the budgetary issues. I want to talk about the cts because i understand there was a protest of the procurement of the tc his that were awarded to nicks detection and funded in fy 2019. In your statement you mentioned that 300 have been not produced yet. But you have a contract on them. How much of this contest delay the implementation and when or what time are we on for this 300 ct scanners. We are fortunate that in short order the process was resolved. We only lost about 90 days as a result. The award has been completed. We have already identified where the machines are scheduled for and we will begin deployment in full. This fall when he will be deployed. And how are you making the determination where they should be deployed. Will into their ports through a wide variety of lenses, including risk. And we tried a lot of different environments. We have big airports covered and small airports covered. We will make sure we recognize how they all operate. You anticipate they have a been more Technology Improvements even more micro detection capabilities. Is that which you know looking for. Yes maam. In fact we are looking to the next algorithm is part of the next acquisition. As well as an integrated machine we put the automated screening, the roller process that brings in bags to the machines and has not a diverter in the back and when something is identified as problematic. This will enable us to have in greater input and multi flexi flexing. Some more than one passenger can put the materials up at the same time, as well as bag returns. Men returned so that we dont have to have officers moving bins back and forth. I was at an airport may be you wrote where they do have the automatic bag returns. When he comes out on than just refills. Me and see this come on the staffing issue. As the chair on the appropriations committee, and fy 2019, we are able to get funding for 1144 new tsa arsenal. In response to the question earlier, it sounds as though you know able to hire that many within the fiscal year. Is that correct. Correct through all of your different recruitment mechanisms. Yes we go through a process as you know throughout the year, that assesses when we need to have certain number of physicians out to match peak volume and peak season. We closely track the amounts of passengers projected not only at large, not only an airport but down to an additional individual terminal. We ensure that we have enough staff. Across the board if you look at the average we are at about 17 percent on turnover. Its relatively commensurate we put what the department of labor says is consistent for federal agencies hiring at this loophole. We want to look at to bring it down. Some of what we are doing in this method is aimed at ensuring we are addressing some of the areas that people find hardest about this job. Part of it is okay and the pay system part of it is also looking at that training you towards a career. Could you see where you going. The different paths. Every pay retention bonuses. We have the ability but the predominantly place we use it is where we are competitive in terms of entrylevel salary in particular. So places member them weight has gone up in an area we put an extremely low unemployment rate, those are some of the places we look at the retention. Do you pay and recruitment bonus. We do not. You employ an agency to do your recruiting. We do and we have a contract out that helps us we put the recruiting as well as the processing of the various packaging. When he does not recruit Border Agents only for tsa. Thats been an issue the Border Patrol is trying to get the recruitment periods last question, that of a talk about consistency. First of all is on the numbers that are coming through on the holidays this year are just record numbers. I think observational leap for me, removing a lot of people very rapidly i think you worked hard to work out some of the kings on how to get them through. But there is inconsistency because sometimes i have one of the larger ipads, sometimes i can go through in my purse and sometimes it has to go into the little thing that goes through. What is inconsistency there. Only look at his how cluttered the bag would be. But we ask is our officers to consider how best to ensure throughput while maximizing their ability to detect any prohibited item in a bag. We put them, i mean, is, theyre looking to ensure enough pieces come out to eat that good xray image. Make sense. Last question, im way over. Was batteries. Ill follow up writing. Thank you. Thank you. I just want to begin by emphasizing an issue my friend rays. It is critical on the 18th anniversary of 911. All of tsa Security Funding. It is absolutely imperative. Customs and Border Protection is using facial Recognition Technology at 22 airports. Just last month tsa began using facial recognition tool on travelers and Las Vegas Mccarran international Airport Security checkpoint. Yet there are currently no enforceable rules from tsa governing facial recognition. Passengers today have no enforceable right to say no. Two sharing their biometric information and tsa has no obligation to secure the biometric data they collect. And there is no rule requiring tsa to prevent any racial bias in its use of this technology. Deputy administrator causal, it is essential that tsa puts in place roles and safeguards on facial recognition before your agency further deploys the technology. Will you comment to pausing tsa his use of facial Recognition Technology and acting these rules for the traveling public before further expanding the use of facial recognition. I could go through your pieces for disarmament. There are a series of requirements governing in the Us Government program requiring us to very clearly demonstrate and explain how information is being collected, how it is being used, both of people have the a provision opt out and how they can look at correcting the record. As long as how long that information is contained. We comply we put rules. Do you have rules in place . We do. I would appreciate if you could present those to the committee. All of those rules. This causal, can you confirm that tsa has no plans to compel american citizens to share their biometric information and that americans participation in tsa facial Recognition Program will always take place straightly on a voluntary basis. We do. Excellent. Can you commit the tsa will take all necessary states to secure the biometric data. We will. Will not burden and bias the people of color. We will. Unfortunately the tsa report that was recently submitted to the reauthorization, does little to reassure us that you will use that technology and are responsible fashion. I am concerned that we are in the wild west when it comes to facial recognition tsa in my opinion. It should stop deploying these evasive tools until we are sure that everything is in place in order to satisfy the need to protect information which is backed being gathered about american citizens. Mr. Chairman, the rollcall is on the senate floor and i wish i could say and ask one more set of questions but i just think in the best interest of making sure that i make that rollcall on the centauri will yield my time. Maybe members will vote and come back but i think we are pretty much finished. You and i had an exchange. It was about the real id. I was feeling pretty good about the fact that 48 states are in compliance. We put her drivers license. Then i remembered that sometimes you can renew your drivers lessons for several years. For example, in mississippi, you can renew your drivers license for eight years. It occurs to me that will be a lot more people we put driver licenses from compliant states and jurisdictions who will have older drivers licenses. There still may be quite a disruption y2k type disruption on october 1st 2020. What are we going to do about that. We share your concern that is not the place we want to be. We are doing everything we can to get the word out. You know exactly right that both the combination of people whose licenses are still valid but also individuals who are in those states who issue both real id and non real id compliant licenses today. They may be renewing their license now fully understanding that they are getting a non real id compliant license. How me my estate would do that. Certain states are looking to have flexibility in terms of what some of the requirements are. They may be late the population in particular is looking to have an option where they dont have to produce some of the same loophole of documentations. About birth in the United States for example. Okay. I am still not feeling good about these disruptions. In october of next year. We are working statebystate locality by locality to do our best to get the word out. I will also say in addition to a drivers license, you have options for other types of forms of id. Military unification if you are a member or a current member or former member as passports, also an option so even if you are in a state where you know concerned about your ability to get short time, you may still obtain another forum of documentation you use that to fly. I think we need to heighten awareness about this. Most people dont have a passport. And most people are not in the military or a veteran. So is going to be a drivers license. Nine times out of ten. I think we want to visit we put you on the record about if you dont mind giving us a very thorough answer. About how we can can fly we put this. Seems to me citizens are going to be caught by surprise and outraged. Just about a year from now. If suddenly they cannot board a plane they bought the plane and got there and the suddenly that item thats been golden for years and years, no longer get you on the plane. So lets work on that. Think you have got to mertz make this official. The record will remain open for two weeks. During the time senators are asked to submit questions for the record. Upon receipt, or witnesses requested to submit a written answers to the committee as soon as possible so thank you very much. This is because we do are a great and articulate witness and youve done a great job today. The hearing is now adjourned we put the tanks of the committee. Thank you. [background sounds] [background sounds] [background sounds] like our exclusive interview we put House Speaker nancy pelosi, now online. Cspan2. Org. Org. As she discusses her relationships we put President Trump and Senate Majority leader mitch mcconnell. Right now its not about mcconnell, its hes been very clear. Hes not doing anything because the president doesnt want. Thats where we are. I dont know why our leader would advocate his responsibility. We can the institution in which when he leads, because the president this audit. Watch it now online at cspan2. Org or at 8 00 p. M. Eastern tonight on cspan. Cspan2. The house will be in order. For 40 years cspan2 has been providing unfiltered coverage of congress and the white house and the Supreme Court in Public Policy events in washington dc and around the country. You can make up your own mind. Created by cable in 1979, cspan2 has brought to you by your local cable or satellite provider. Cspan2 your unfiltered view of government. Now policy experts debate both of legal responsibilities social Media Company should have on the 1996 Communications Decency act. Regarding the content users post on their platforms. This is hosted by the American Enterprise institute. His 90 minutes. Good morning, i am jim of the American Enterprise. This is the fantastic if it the youve chosen to attend, watching online, or in cspan2. Section 230. I like start thingssh off we put an interpreter of reading of section 230, 1996 Communications Decency act. Its not a long section, his brief but important. It states follows. No provider or user of an Interactive Computer Service shall be treated as a publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information