Committee what this is just under two hours. [inaudible] good morning. Testimony from gregory and commander north American Aerospace temp command and richardson. Evacuate nonessential personnel. This involves both of your commands to various degrees and resources in support to respond. National security as principal command. The first priorities outlined in the National Defense strategy is defending the homeland, thats posed by the people china. As we see threats from other competitors, unconfident the common defense evolved. The defense policy guidance this challenge and when asked for an update and how it will transform the department from of the urgency estimates over the past year with the chinese surveillance balloons and other unidentified phenomena in this case. These events raise concerns they may have an awareness and it must be secured to protect citizens technologies to provide protection. Id be no caps and what additional tools and resources are needed to overcome them. The u. S. Law enforcement for cartels engaged Human Trafficking success Security Cooperation and the harm he had navy and working supporting the home and security. Turning to southern command, there going challenges from china and russia in latin america. The political and economic instability present a situation adversaries are white. China in particular is expanding the structure and 5g expanding network. Im interested in your assessment challenge with your latin america. The outcomes support transnational they are contravening to Overdose Deaths each year. The nations and other in these efforts and resources. You know security throughout his contribute to the flow of migrants. Economic instability among violence and corruption continues to be a major source and security in the region especially the northern triangle, guatemala and el salvador. Id like to know your views what can be done to help and prove the situation. Thank you to our witnesses and i look forward to your testimony and as a reminder, there will be a closed session following this hearing. Thank you and i want to thank our witnesses for being with us here. She clearly china and russia for these vulnerabilities at home and the western hemisphere in the 2022 National Defense strategy defense is a top priority a year end a half ago the Biden Administration has not matched that goal. Year after year the Biden Administration declined to punch the request for the radars for proper air defense and they remain unable to protect against small drones. This presents a clear and significant vulnerability. Wargames to ignore resilience problems that arise in a potential conflict. The Biden Administration is to learn from its mistakes. Last year surveillance chinese blimp labs for last years defenses and a senior at Biden Administration officials responded congressional oversight ossified informationweek. They declined to production this defense value they finally did so with this committee mandating it and presided over distinguished chair. The spy balloon was a failure of the most pressing, defense crisis is the one of the southwest border. And the supply texaco using chinese precursor chemicals and mexicos criminal cartel, the crisis can only worsen. The cartels are unprecedented in trafficking operation across our open border and it is lucrative charging thousands and it is severe and so is the risk of terrorist infiltration. Cnn reported Human Smuggling Network with ties to isis helped more than a dozen individuals enter our country illegally. In october, two iranians on the Security Threat list were caught as they cross the border from mexico. General, i recognize agencies responsibility of the southwest border and the dod is one of them. Explain the contributions included. We have challenges concerns about the chinese but in central and south america the Chinese Communist party using this playbook that predatory threats to influence government. Simultaneously it enhances its military presence and limits access. Its happening right here and we cannot ignore it. Two quick examples two underscore making latin america dependent for Communications Technology something tried to do an hour entry incentives economic influence camping. I look forward to hearing how they directly impact stability of the region the threat they pose during National Security. How important is it . There other influences, maduro asserted provocative extraterritorial claim sovereignty over a large portion of the neighboring nation of iona. This is so close is struggling troubling is the mismatch the requirements and resources received. We need to find ways to exert influence. For example, lets explore Strategic Capital i look forward general assessment of the most pressing resources and immediate to learn what congress can do to help. I note your name rhymes with cuba, is that right . We expect both of you to live up to these. Thank you. Distinguished members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. It is my honor to represent the men and women of the Aerospace Defense command. As we, Canadian Military and personnel are dependent, against events for multiple doctors and all domains. Only been in command a few weeks, it is clear the United States and canada and network of partners based extraordinarily complex strategic environment. Editors advanced kinetic systems designed for civilian and military infrastructure in north america and threshold. Competitors probably advanced these capabilities targeting our infrastructure and networks. Threats present in all domains and they include the arctic region. He remains a challenge and modernizes and grows the modern submarine of Hypersonic Weapons presenting challenges for Homeland Defense. While capabilities are a capability, its an immediate nationstate concern. Significant capacity to strike inside north america with air and sea lost conventional weapons. Despite having lost and forces in ukraine pressing in systems that can threaten the United States and advanced submarines, hypersonic vehicles, icbms as well as cyber and undersea capabilities as well as development of systems for Nuclear Power cruise missile. Meanwhile north korea continues frederick while test launching longrange expanding ties with china and russia. Currently lack and capable district north america with longrange missiles investing in the capability and iran supports militant groups in the middle east and maintains Worldwide Network of operational surrogates. The most prevalent growing threats include cyber small Unmanned Aerial Systems employed until the u. S. And canada against military infrastructure in ways not possible a few years ago. defense well beyond north america. Both commands are working in congress to improve awareness to detect, track and defeat threats ranging small Unmanned Aerial Systems. North america is an endeavor that requires to campaign against threats and all domains among these approaches that requires exchange of information conventional Operations Forces and Intelligence Community in interagency and international partners. The importance of this cannot be overstated and a support the departments work to advance the joint command and control concepts as we seek to share information as quickly as possible with operators and decisionmakers around the world. A 90 day assessment through the Department Joint force and congress to execute a task and make recommendations on where commands could or should do more. Look forward to sharing findings on how they will best see the mission of, defense. The challenges are real but there should be no doubt about the result to deter aggression and if necessary, defeat threats to our citizens. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you this morning and am happy to answer your questions. Distinguished members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to be with you today. Im honored to represent the dedicated men and women to discuss the challenges we share with our neighbors in the caribbean. National Security Strategy recognizes the link between this security and our own security. We are harnessing the power of partnership from team usa in support of democracy leveraging all instruments of national power. The clumsy, information, military and economics are partnering nations addressing the challenges that impact our collective security. Our shared neighborhood remains in crosscutting and challenges that are homeland. A call to action. In almost two and half years ive made it my priority to meet partners where they are and listen and understand what affects us all. Partners in the western hemisphere with whom we are bonded by trade and valued, democratic traditions and family ties increasingly impacted by coercion. Im learned our presence matters. The peoples republic of china and democracy in the national secret, intellectual property and Research Related to agriculture and healthcare. The scope and scale is unprecedented. An initiative aimed at power and influence at the expense of the world democracies. The potential to fuel the world. Theyve already and is already extracting and exploiting. Predatory investment practices construction of these facilities and summer activities for a few of the activities that jeopardize the safety of the region. Russia remains an acute threat and bolstering regimes and cuba, nicaragua and venezuela. China, russia and iran increase their presence diplomatically and militarily in the region and these undermine democracies and challenge their credibility. China and russia exploit the presence of Transnational Criminal Organizations and amplify destabilizing governments. The topic weapons, drugs and people and commodities counterfeit goods judy to the surge of functional related deaths here at home. The good news is working with partners leading to the best defense all available levers to strengthen partnership with the 28 likeminded democracies in the hemisphere to understand the power of working together to counter these shared threats. United states remains preferred most trusted Security Partner in the region. We trust investment and Security Cooperation programs to train and equip our partners in military security versus and joint exercise programs to build interoperability and Development Employment of emerging technology. We maximize resources allocated by the States International military education and Training Programs for military financing and building interoperability and counterbalance military engagement and investment. The National Defense strategy states immense benefits from a stable, peaceful and democratic western hemisphere and reduces Security Threats to the homeland. Continuing to innovate and adapt putting deterrence interaction everyday. Committed to working across allies and partners, combatant command, joint force and nonfederal agencies and u. S. Congress. His safety, security and prosperity in the western hemisphere. This is the work promised as part of team usa and Team Democracy and resourcing this team. And the power of our United States conference i look forward to your question. After all, in the record. [applause] let me say gaseous we have had unmanned vehicles, cost cod developed procedures for commanders dealing with these . They could show up minutes for the would penetrate the space. A system deal with them . Shortly after command, i realize the challenge of the large increase something that would drive in command because of a number. The services do have authorities but will remains to be done to ensure resources are equipped and standardized operating procedures to address the threats and what remains to be done to use capability second safely without interfering with our airspace structure. At this time there is not a designated role but at the end of the 90 days i will show ways that it could and should play that role. That would involve other agencies such as the department of justice and fbi, Homeland Security. Working at the agency level. They have authorities now and we would need to bring them together so we bring each capability together against these incursion threats. On march 10 we sent in the agency and there is the secretary of defense 200 million for security for the common, could you give us your sense of the implications the United States and the region . Thank you for the question certainly the u. S. Outcomes have a lot of wide range or whatever is required for the department of defense so over the conducted commissions theyve been widely publicized the actions that would take place for disease across the globe in the situation has been deteriorating so the announcement will in the political initiations the past couple days so the political solution working and hopefully that continues on a positive path but if not, contingency plans are ready to respond. Pointed out mayo by china and russia, one of the leading edges of China Economic ports and getting underway there willingness or eagerness to acquire more interest and i understand they passed legislation to authorize United States to buy the shares. The chinese speed is out, without be a problem . That would be a problem in the american prosperity of partnership for Economic Prosperity and where they hosted the heads of state and this would be and invest in Critical Infrastructure for the American Development bank and the finance corporation so to purchase those shares is been established in 1959 in the region. We dont move, the chinese will. Exactly right. Lets just say venezuelan president nicholas mindoro established control over the contested region in this lien and the region accounts for two thirds of the territory, how has this impacted the security of the region and the fact that venezuela has armored carriers . And activities that are taking against this democracy with an unjustified claim. And so our support for guyana were shown that from the u. S. Government, and through all the instruments of national power, the diplomacy, the military and certainly do you have directions from the white house, from their superiors in the department as to what we should do . So as we work my engagements and what we do with Security Cooperation, we have a very robust plan with guyana and we continued on that on ths been coordinated with our u. S. Government. Can you briefly describe the plant . It consists of visits by folks within my command, and the engagements that we do, the exercises, the subject matter exchanges. We continue with all of those, not trying to exacerbate the situation but continued on path with our regular engagement that a been scheduled, and we have not halted any of that. Is the International Community assisting us in that regard . The International Community is very much assisting, and i was a our allies, part of a western hemisphere framework that we cited u. S. South, with a allies that work in the region, the uk, canada, the netherlands and also france. So as a Work Together to coordinate our activity they also have activities and engagement they do in the region and are doing in guyana of those also coordinated. Thank you very much. Let me switch the general guillot. Deployment of National Guard troops on the border. I think maybe a lot of americans dont understand how often we do this. But its worsen considerably. The program is that the lead agency but it has deployed troops there in in in 18e previous 21 years. Theyre called temporary deployments but its beginning to look like permanent. There is a difference in the way we do deploy and notify these units, is there not, in the sense that if its a temporary deployment, thicket 180 days notice in advance. If its a regular employment it is a year and half. So could you discuss that with us . Is my understanding correct . Unison is correct. The primary difference that we see in Northern Command is we are in sport as you mentioned so, therefore, we wait for the request from the lead agency, in this case customs and Border Protection, and request for assistance that is reviewed and then has boldly been approved by the department of defense at that point we can start trying to match to the joint staff and the National Guard, the Quick Connect to support that based on the needs that are in that request for assistance. As you alluded to would it be helpful if we treated it as a permanent deployment . Senator, i think more than treating it as a permanent deployment would be early notification of the requirements dixons those changed that allows us to tailor the National Guard force to meet the changing requirements of the customer Border Protection. Where as if we had a permanent force we might have permanently the wrong type of unit to support. However, to your point, what we established and we must maintain is having a permanent commandandcontrol structure over there so we have continuity and predictability and how we present the forces and work with the customs and Border Protection. Do we need to give you different authority in that regard, or is it just a matter of the department . Senator, im sorry. Senator, with the authorities we need come to thing that we would most benefit from as you alluded to is time, time to pick and train and prepare the National Guard units that are going to down there and support the cbp. To both of you, tell us what you need, will try to get it for you. Thank you, sir. Thank you very much, senator wicker. Senator king it. Thank you, mr. Chairman. In my notes since you been talking ive written the word gap about five times some going to talk about gaps. General guillot, do you have a sensor gap at norad . We learn more from fails and we do from successes. What did we learn from the balloon incursion about the adequacy of our sensors, which is essentially the basis of norad . Senator, was learned a great deal. To the gaps, what we have we had some gaps in the lyric approach we wanted to build to detect with tomato winners from satellite data to traditional air. One of the problems is low altitude, is speedy thats right although it unto the serpent and even the undersea. We were able to address many of those on initiatives that were started by my predecessor, general vanherck by changing the sensitivity of the radars that we do have. And that has allowed us to have better domain awareness in that regime that you mentioned. However, there are some gaps that will be manifesting in the near future. Those are currently scheduled to be addressed by the over the horizon radar, ivey hbts s s h is a hypersonic and Ballistic Missile tracking base system. Those capabilities are essential to fill gaps that are growing because of the increase capability of the absurd. I would suggest that is an urgent need, given expense we had but also given the incredible militarization of the arctic coast by russia. And the development of technology, although sinks added together create a significant risk i hope you can come to us with what you need because this is something we need to do in a hurry. We cant wait five years to develop this capacity. We also have an icebreaker gap in terms of our ability to operate in the arctic as he arctic ocean opens up its become as images more militarized by the russians and a much more important body of water. Its like weve said he discovered the mediterranean sea. Talk to me about icebreakers. We only have one and half icebreakers, heavy icebreakers in the arctic. Thats correct, senator, and that is, we are severely outnumbered. We appreciate the coast guard. I would say 421 is outnumbered. Thats approximate number the russians have. And the chinese declaring themselves in your arctic nation. I notice when the chinese to clothe themselves and your arctic nation, my position is that maine is a near caribbean state. [laughing] i share your view, sir. We do appreciate that the coast guard is procuring more icebreakers but even with those will be severely outnumbered, and that this limit our freedom of maneuver in that region. Its basically like not hitting the road to get to where you need to get. General richardson, lets talk about another gap, drugs. Since weve been sitting here about ten americans have died of Drug Overdose just since we began this meeting 45 minutes ago. One a day is one person a y is dying in my home state of maine. Do you have the capacity to interdict drug shipments coming in by sea that we know of . Ive asked this question every year for about the past ten years and am afraid i know the answer. Senator, so in u. S. Southcom we have detection Monitoring Mission and that is to gain the intelligence for speedy i shouldnt say you have the capacity. Do we, does a country. You have could traffic capacity for intelligence and a defecation. My concern is once we know about the dangers shipment, then do we have the capacity to interdict it . So we passed that intelligence over to Law Enforcement or partner nations added to bent on whose close enough to do that. Answer in terms of the capacity we anticipate we are able to, know is out there, interdict about 10 of the known problem. And with the resourcing and capabilities that we currently are given. Have emphasized that figure to our colleagues. We can interdict 10 of what we know of. Thats inexcusable. I dont mean to say its inexcusable to you but one of the problems that strikes me is when everybody is in charge, nobody is in charge. You got yourself, dea, dhs, Intelligence Community. And the problem is americans are dying. In about every ten days we have september 11. 3000 people people die in this country every ten days, and use the the word in your testimony, assault. Thats what it is. Its an assault over united oves a kind of domestic Law Enforcement problem when its an assault since most of it is coming from outside of our country. So i hope that you will work with your colleagues perhaps for mccaskey group to get after this problem of interdiction. And if we dont have capacity, if we dont have enough coast guard cutters or do you just doesnt have the capacity, tell us. Tell us because we cant solve a problem if we dont know what it is. We know the general shape of the problem but you are in a position to tell us whats missing and what you can do in order to help protect this country. Senator, i would offer that we cant interdict our way out of this problem. Weve got to be able to go after the networks. Weve got to be able to go after the drug labs we got to be able to follow the money, and the Money Laundering which is fueling this a very rich environment that the Transnational Criminal Organization speedy i grieve your way to talk about the demand side. In treatment and prevention. I told agree with that but this is a discrete problem that i think we do have some capacity to deal with. Final question. This isnt about a gap, what is your overall assessment of the chinese incursion into latin america . Specifically, they have been doing this for some time doing Infrastructure Projects in other parts of the world. Theres some development of buyers remorse that the chinese have performed as they were expected, that the debt colonialism is becoming a problem. Is that occurring in latin america, in your view. Was absolutely senator, and my concern as a Combatant Commander for the region and 22 of 31 countries in the region have signed on to the belt and road initiative. But its all investment, a lot of investment in Critical Infrastructure where the bigmoney projects are. Thats deep water port, 5g space, safe city, smarts the technology to be able to spy on the populations. And so its with these Stateowned Enterprises from the prc, and my concern is being able to use those for military application if required and its an all of the Critical Infrastructure. Thank you. Senator fischer place. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I thank you both for being here today. General guillot, the pressure our discussion thats on the challenges of detecting, characterizing and tracking potential threats to our homeland. And most americans are fully aware of of the incident with the chinese balloon, but northcom has other responsibilities as well, especially with protecting the homeland from the more advanced threats that are out there which would include ballistic and cruise missiles. Why is having that improved domain awareness, which is the ability to detect and track the threats and also to provide a clear threat picture of whats out there and to be able to discriminate what youre seeing . Why is that so important to defending our homeland . Senator, its important because it gives us time, time to inform leaders to make decisions and enact defeat mechanisms to defeat these threats that are coming in. You mentioned the discrimination capability as the threat becomes more advanced and they can put at decoys. We could needlessly shoot interceptors at objects that not a threat, but having the discrimination where to make sure we can actually shoot and kill the warhead that would be a threat. And the other thing i would quickly say, senator, is the capability are growing so much by the adversary that domain awareness you mention needs to push out further away from our shores, detect earlier, characterizing earlier as you mention swing more time to employ the defense capabilities that we have. Are we moving quickly enough . Senator, right on, right on the edge. I think that we are moving quickly and appreciate all the support from this body and the services, but we cant pause at all because the adversaries and multiple adversaries, not just one, are growing very, very quickly and it really is at an alarming rate. I am concerned about what we are seeing in the president s budget request for fy 20205. Administration decreases spending for the glide phase interceptor program, and its stating its going to be delivered in 2035, yet in the ndaa of fy 24 in section 1666, that requires the Missile Defense agency to achieve an initial Operational Capability of that program by december 31, 2029. How to respond to my concern . Senator, my response is that i view hypersonics as perhaps the most destabilizing threat that we have out there because of the fast speed, and more than that the maneuverability and unpredictability on what it will impact as opposed to a Ballistic Missile which is fairly predictable. Ive worked very closely in my short time with ndaa. Please with some of the efforts they are doing to intercept in the glide phase and then also using existing systems such as the sm sex to adapt against that threat. And also very pleased with the ndaa is doing with the hbtss, the satellite capability to detect and track hypersonics. Just yesterday we heard from a Senior Analyst with the national air and space intelligence center. He told congress court, china now a world leading hypersonic arsenal. So given the pace we are seeing with russia and with china if they advance their Hypersonic Weapons programs, should the department accelerate the development of those hypersonic Defense Systems . Really when it is technically feasible to do so. Senator, i support moving all of our capabilities against the strategic threat you mentioned as far left as possible based on the growing and consistently going capabilities of her avaricious. Thank you. General richardson, thank you for all the work that you have done and your service to this country. When we talk about china and the belt and road initiatives, you answered senator kaine on that, but when youre looking at the longerterm strategies that china has in the buying that they continue to do in your area of responsibility, how serious a threat is that . I look at it as a series threat because of the ability of the state owned, controlled by the government companies. If i just take the panama canal and the five state owned enterprise along either side of the panama canal, and thats a very important strategic line of communication. And so there are a lot of large implications there in terms of in all the Critical Infrastructure, the water por, the 5g space, safe city, smart city technology. So very concerning. Thank you. And thank you, general guillot, you made comments i think was yesterday before the house committee, or two days ago before the House Armed Services committee, about seeing the possibility of seeing in the very near future chinese aircraft in closeness to our homeland. I thank you for bringing that to our attention. Thank you, senator fischer. Senator hirono, please. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you both for being here. General guillot, i remain concerned about the dods missiledefense posture, and that dods us not have a plan to address the current and future missiledefense needs of hawaii. Its an issue i have brought up with just about anybody who comes to testify from the dod. In in the 2024 ndaa directs a n or the Missile Defense of the wife which indopacom is leading. General, your predecessor tony last year that northcom is responsible for protecting hawaii against Ballistic Missile threats from north korea but, of course, we also need to concern ourselves with the missile threats, cruise missiles and hypersonics. Have you been coordinating with indopacom regarding the development of the missiledefense plan . Senator, i have. We work very closely with indopacom on all defense of our entire homeland. I also agree with the characterization that general vanherck did on our specific role in that. So i have some concerns that there are so many different commands involved in the missiledefense of hawaii. Missiledefense in general. So we have you. We have, indopacom, space come, stratcom, missiledefense agency. You have some concerns about how all of your core needing and come up with the kind of plant that we need for missiledefense . Senator, i think that we communicate very well with each other. I think that we all understand the priorities and so i havent seen any place where having multiple agencies responsible for a common area presented femur challenge but im very acutely aware of the potential and i watch for that very closely. The ndaa as a mention to rex a plan from indopacom, so that plan is going to be presented to us i hope my next month, which is the timeframe for that plan. I assume that plan will reflect the coordinated input from all of you. General richardson, china is building a deep water port in peru that is expected to open this the firm and will be the first south american port controlled by china. This is just one example of chinas growing influence in latin america through economic ties, controlling Critical Minerals and establishing port and space facilities. This presents a unique risk to u. S. National security and global order. General, what changes are you seeing in the region as result of the growing influence of the prc and what steps are you taking to counter chinas influence in latin america . So thank you, senator, and we have double down with the increase of funding last you from the United States congress, us and southcom and africom received some defense funny the way to Security Cooperations, programs and that also with flexible authorities come so that was extremely helpful. And it allows us to be very responsive in terms of being able to help our partner nations, to counter the influence of china. And so what to thank you for that. Our ability to be able to respond and be responsive, these heads of state are general and the seat for one term for years so the working on a stopwatch, not a calendar and there cant show progress within months, not years. Really appreciate that resourcing. So you mentioned that we have provide additional resources. You think that we doing enough to counter . Because china is from my perspective it were at a specialist course in the indopacific area. We know what their influences are in with the Pacific Island nation, for example. Another in latin america. Are we doing enough to really address all of the kind of longterm focus that china has the route so, senator, through all of the instruments of power of team usa and bring you those together and synchronizing and integrating better, the chairman brought up the American Partnership for Economic Prosperity and the iddm in this program that through the initial program to invest in the western hemisphere is huge. And its just the start i would recommend that that is something very similar, this program come to the economic recovery act of 1948, which was so instrumental in terms of the economic recovery. And they see that the economic recovery for the region due to the impacts of covid, what it did to the economys of the region, and know the Transnational Criminal Organizations taking advantage of this. So this is a first start with this 11 heads of state from latin america that were here in washington in november of 23 for this program that was holding out billions of dollars for Critical Infrastructure investment by the user government. So were on a very dashing u. S. Government. With our latin american leaders with this economic investment. I would say National Security on the economic security. We can do more and through this program if we can build this out we would be on a good path with our partners in our shared neighborhood so close to her homeland. Well, that aspect of working with our latin American Allies i think is really critical because thats what were doing in the area. If i could ask one more question related to some questions from senator king . Keep it short, ill keep it short. You mention that regarding that the interdiction of drugs, that it requires us to Pay Attention to some other aspects such as going after these criminal forces. Is there an Intergovernmental Task force of some sort that you are all working together, the weekly dod, doj, coast guard to counter the drug threat . We are working together. I would say that we need to, that needs to be more focused, more resourcing on this particular grouping to get after the problem sets. And i would say from the moneylaundering to the drug labs and following where, not just the small semisubmersible that has, thats loaded with counternarcotics, but actually getting to where its produced in getting in there. So the work weve done in colombia has been very effective. But the amounts are only increasing, and so weve got to figure out, weve got to follow this money and we got to get after these tcos as a holistic, more filled out robust program. Thank you. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Senator rounds has yielded to senator budd. Store but, please. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, senator rounds for yielding. General guillot thank you both for being here by the way. Its my understanding been a lot of incursions along our southern border. How many drone incursions have had . And what are they doing . Senator, the number of incursions with something that was alarming to me, as i took command last month. I dont know the actual number. I dont think anybody does but its in the thousands. I have talked to customs and Border Protection who are responsible for the uas incursions, and in the border along with doj. And they put the number at thousands. Over what timeframe is that in the thousand . I would say probably over a month, we could probably have over 1000 a month. General, do they in your view represent a Homeland Defense threat . Senator, they alarm me from being the person responsible for Homeland Defense. I havent seen any of the manifest in a threat to the love of National Defense but i see the potential only growing. General, continue on with a different topic. You consider the f15 strike eagle to be capable aircraft . Are the particular characteristics for the f15 that make it ideal for Homeland Defense . Senator, i think the f15 strike eagle is a phenomenal aircraft. What makes it applicable in our theater is the same thing that makes it applicable around the world is persistently. Its in many ways unmatched error to grant any many ways its on matched pair to her. It a phenomenal radar, electrically scanned which allows it to pick out low, slow moving and also low radar crosssection such as a drone of the threats like cruise missiles. The strike eagle is a fantastic aircraft. Thank you. So in its fiscal fiscal t the air force plans to divest 26 f15 strike eagle at the same time that is less than expected f35s, f15 and other fighters so scott be very concerned. Not just for Homeland Defense and the descriptions that you should moment ago, but including potential conflict with china. And also for responses to crises in other geographic combatant commands. So if you would agree to keep your eye on that and share with us concerns as they arise related to the f15. I will, senator. Thank you. Changing topics, general richardson and general guillot, both, you mention tcos just a minute ago, general richardson to like the mexican cartels often of not just drugs and lethal fentanyl, that they move people. So many of these activities proceed without interruption in both of your areas of responsibility. Section 1068 of the fiscal year 2024 ndaa requires the secretary of defense to submit a plan for coordinating with defense partners in north and south america, and supporting an Agency Departments and agencies to counter Human Trafficking including Human Trafficking by these tcos. Even giving consulted on developing that plan . General richardson, start with you. Senator, rework migration every day in that United States southern command, and for this past year with the trilateral agreement that the United States government signed with panama and colombia. So we are very aware of the migration. If i i may, just be on genl awareness, secretary of defense is a card to submit a plan for chordate with the defense partners. Are you working on that plan . I am a specific to work on that plane for the department of defense, the osd and the joint staff will be working on that. Thank you. General guillot . The same answer. When not working correctly. We were in support of the department. You know, thats not you, but to the department of defense and the secretary, thats disappointing. So i like to followup with both of you and the department on this to make sure that that begins giving up limited so we can begin stopping the illegal flow of deadly fentanyl and other drugs and the tragic trafficking of humans. You know, thats big business for the cartels and its continuing to instability in countries across our hemisphere. So what efforts beyond that plan since that is not yet been developed, what efforts are already underway with you or your parties to address Human Trafficking, general richardson . Thank you, senator and im not aware that the report is not, the report could very well be, the well along its way. We are just not actively working on it from our levels. And a lot of times the joint staff and the osd will work those things to allow us to continue to execute our daily missions. But we are working very closely because i have the very end in my aor which is a huge Human Trafficking area. And youre exactly right in terms of the Transnational Criminal Organizations have only gotten more powerful. Over 300 billion annual revenue business. The traffic humans, drugs, gold, lithium, all kinds of counterfeit goods. And so only getting more powerful. And so the work that we do that Colombian Military and operations set to go after the criminal networks that are doing these criminal activities as well as the Panama Center front and Border Forces that are going after the criminal networks in panama. In interest of time, general, i i will you but i would love to continue discussions perhaps offline about your efforts in regards to Human Trafficking in north. Thank you, thank you senator budd. Thank you. Great to see both of you. General richardson, yesterday we were talking a little bit about 80, and the situation on the ground being chaotic, gangs running rampant in their capital. And this week the Prime Minister of haiti announced he would resign if and can you pause the agreement is in 1000 Police Officers a totally new government, government would be put into place. Southcom has successfully airlifted Embassy Staff out of the country, but a number of Americans Still remain in haiti and some may be looking to leave. Some are concerned that the u. S. Has not initiated a noncombatant evacuation order, and neo, to get americans out of haiti. General, have event has to operate an evacuation . So, senator, as part of the wide range of contingency plans that tenant has we are ready for a neil activation is required, and have other plans ready to go as we always do, and keep those plans refreshed over and over. So we are ready at time for any type of crisis. Are you doing, so you say youre ready now but are there any additional preparations in the event that this becomes a necessity . I think that two missions of increasing the security at the embassy and a little bit of my capability as well, expanding that, is the platform that we would use if we need to expand from there. And so we put in all of the necessary measures that are necessary for any of the plans to be activated. So it would be true to say theres Mission Planning currently underway in case you have to do this . Senator, we always do Mission Planning in the military, so absolutely. Well, thank you. Thank you, general. General guillot, i just on monday morning i got back from a trip to the arctic where i was able to see firsthand some of the efforts by the navy to pursue our arctic strategic objectives. And the arctic is a real area of concern and a good example of the intersection between defense policies, climate, and strategic partnerships. Melting i. C. E. Is making the arctic more accessible to everyone including russia and china. Its rich with oil minerals, fishing, other natural resources, and we have to ensure that a free and peaceful arctic benefits the United States and our partners and allies. Russia seeks to use arctic as a staging ground for power projection. In addition to its being a critical defense and deterrent for the homeland. But they also seek to control the region. We have made Real Progress in combating russian influence in the arctic over the last year with finland and sweden joining nato. Now every country with a border on the arctic is part of nato with the exception of russia. We must not miss this opportunity to advance our interest in the arctic while russias focusing on their illegal and brutal invasion of ukraine. General guillot, id like to do more detail what you think the u. S. And nato strategy should look like in the arctic. Senator, first thanks for visiting our forces of the dream a skip, as you alluded to. Its an extremely i. C. E. Camp operations that demonstrate our capability up there with the submarines and lc 130 130 al the other aircraft and forces. As far as what we could do or should do with nato in the arctic, you described exercises that were doing, ill call the alaska site or the 10 00 approach. Weve also had some success working with the nato and european command on the 2 00 in the northeast approach, just last week for the first time in over two years, the russian sent two bear bombers down along that average to what we call the g. I. Uk gap of greenland, iceland and the united kingdom, perching the canadian and u. S. States their defense identification zones. I have seen this activity in over two years. We were able to track them the entire time, thanks to the Radar Network and information sharing between countries within eucom, norway is what i will point out, and Northern Command. So we are to track this activity did you, what range we able to intercept them . Senator, we didnt have to intercept and because we had aircraft flying to the point we would intercept them before they crossed the identification zone. And the russians turned round prior to reaching that zone. Soviet aircraft both canadian and u. S. Fighters postured along the line which i think is probably disheartening to the russians to fly all the way to find out that we are waiting for the. Have you seen that is due to nato cooperation. The russians are pretty good operating in the arctic or have you seen the dances by the cheney . What ive seen, senator, is willingness and desire by the chinese to act up there. Weve seen that in the maritime. Weve seen them under the cloud of a technical or scientific research, but we think it certainly most desha multimission to include military. And then expect i expect to see an activity in the alaska part of the arctic as soon as this year potentially. Its a very big concern by. Thank you, general. Thank you, senator. Senator rounds, please. Thank you, mr. Chairman. General guillot, general richardson, first of all thank you to you and your teams for your service to our country. I would like to follow up just look at with what senator kelly begin talking about with regard to haiti. So general richardson, it seems to me that it rather surprises me that the main of the been in advance notice requesting additional or followup with regard to the possibility of a neooperation in haiti. Wouldnt that seem to be kind of an advisory that would be appropriate if you receive something, at least from the administration, indicating it is a possibility and wouldnt that maybe give you the opportunity to notify those individuals responsible for providing you with the resources necessary to do your duty to be ready to go . I mean, it doesnt seem me can be on high alert all the time. Could you expand on it that a little bit, please . Senator, i didnt mean to give the perception that we are not ready for that nobodys asked us to be ready or anything like that. We have been discussing that in talking about that, and ive been talking with our joint staff, our chairman and her secretary of defense over the past two weeks about all of the range the plans that we might have to do an evacuation, and neo, a mass migration, all of those things. So those nations of extracting some nonessential personnel from so its not just a matter of being ready to fight tonight as much as yeah, we are aware and we are doing some preplanning just in case the call is made . Absolutely. We are ready to go. We have all of our plans ready to go. Okay, thank you. And also i noted with regard to discussions earlier here about the Transnational Criminal Organizations come the drug cartels and so forth south of our border. Both of you have some responsibilities with regard to whether its in other parts of the norad command or so. Just a reminder once again that under the ndaa weve already authorized use of our cyber teams to be able to find that in defense to know who these people are, where the bank, how they can make and hopefully we will not just authorized but now we will find that part of the operation so that we can assist those countries who want our expertise in find finding e about these organizations that that is available to them, simply that is available to you for your use. Let me also, general guillot, the potential investments a Fighter Aircraft by the air force that are concerned about how the air National Guard who showed a significant portion for the burden of Homeland Defense, how they will be able to continue to support you in that capacity while also fulfilling their obligations under the National Defense strategy. I bring this up because the resourcing of the air National Guard received, that the resourcing that the air National Guard receives appears to be incongruent with their mission assignments, which include both the Aerospace Control over Defense Strategy using the same resources, and then also support the joint force in that National Defense strategy. Im just curious, are you involved in any planning or discussions with secretary kendall and general low as they discuss the plan for longterm air force Fighter Force structure . If not i would encourage you involvement. Could you share a little bit about your communications with them . Yes, senator. First, thanks for the outcast and contributions of our National Guard. We cannot conduct our air Defense Mission without them. Theyre not only the cornerstone, they provide 20 different aca sites that you mentioned, 24 7 cubicle to respond to. Because of the important i have talked direct with the the f staff of the air force about the commitment of the air force to that mission and that also what is going to happen with the future as we draw down some capabilities and bring on new capability to include the collaborative combat aircraft, next air dominance. The general fully supports our mission and understands the no fill nature of our mission, and then he invited me to be a part of the future discussions on how to incorporate these cubital. Actually, because we had to be able to incorporate the air guard and heft of the resources to do that successfully. General richardson, we discussed chinas going footprint and influence throughout southcom and how important it is to u. S. Remain engaged in the region. One of the main tools you have at your disposal as we discussed in my office is section 333 of title ten, which lets the dod helped build the security capacity of friendly nations. Unfortunately, section 33333 requires you to navigate a ponderous bureaucracy in both the Department Defense of the department of state before you can make use of this authority. It is not agile and it clearly is not very quick. Ironically, that Chinese Communist party is not bogged down by the same bureaucratic inertia. How important is section 333 authority to your mission, and how can it be improved . It is my main lever insecurity operations after cooperations, senator, us of the 333 triple three as we call it and the ability to be able to i have triple three package right now that is navigating all of the wickets that he needs to go through for a counter prc effort on port scanners, for example. And the stealing of data that the prc does and the people to put a u. S. U. S. Company in there to be able to do the scanning for an ad out cargo is extremely important. Because again, its about the data, as of the 333 and flexible authorities and being responsive is extremely important, and so i appreciate the help and assistance on those authority. Thank you. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, senator round. Senator peters, please. Thank you, mr. Chairman. General guillot and general richardson, thank you for your service and to all the minute when his along with you. We appreciate that. General guillot, you mentioned the importance of the challenges washes a significant chums with is an arctic in in a previous question and how we need to seek ways to address that come make additional investments in the arctic resilient platforms as well as old coldweather tr, which is essential for our troops. I keep portion of conus, coldweather training is completed every winter during Northern Strike at the national all the main War Fighting Center in michigan. We are blessed with coldweather during the winters and it provides a great training opportunity. So the question for you, general, is that while the some attorney portion of Northern Strike is extensive, we believe that the exercises winter iteration of the training that we conduct their has some great expansion opportunities to provide Cost Effective coldweather training for men and women who may be tasked to serve up there. So my question for you is how can we grow conus arctic training through exercises like Northern Strike to support the priorities of our national Security Strategy . Senator, i would be a strong proponent of doing exactly as you stated. One of the concerns i have as i visited alaska about a week into my command, to assess many of the areas that you just discussed, was that the forces up there extremely welltrained and equipped with the right equipment to operate in the arctic, but the backfill forces are probably very welltrained but theyre not equipped and they havent trained in that obama. So anything we could do for the supplementing forces or the backfill forces that would go into the arctic, train them in either in the arctic environment or in something as you described that would replicate that, will be very important not only to give them those skills to identify what other pieces of kit and equipment that we need to develop an issue so they can seamlessly operate in the strategic and five. Very good. Thank you. General richardson, as you know the National Guard state Partnership Program links are state National Guard units with global partners. The program certainly has been invaluable i believe in strengthening our relationship with partner nations including southcoms 29 active participants. As part of the state Partnership Program u. S. Embassies ideally have a Bilateral Affairs officer as working as a conduit between the state as well as the partner country. But despite what i believe is a critical role, these ballots, these ballots unfortunately often say, sit vacant, forcing the cocom commanders to use their assigned billets to pay for these. So my question for you, general, is first off, what role do Bilateral Affairs officer split in successfully implement a these state Partnership Programs . How can we address the gaps that exist in the billets to ensure their field and we can get the maximum utility out of these partnership . Thank you, senator. I would say the spp program i have a large spp program amongst all the geographic combatant commands and we are very grateful for the program. Its a huge enabler. Weve got to keep those slots filled with his officers. They organize and synchronize the activities of the National Guard spp program with an Operations Investments i have been used southcoms or is a Critical Mass to have to keep those field. And with the theater Maintenance Partnership initiative, which is a program that will go out to put nine centers of excellence in the region, and this is partly with the partner nation, militaries and their military academies with Program Instruction to teach and train maintenance and the culture of maintenance, but is a tactical of the program although we have to level into the ministries of defense where you can anticipate logistics and teach logistics and that culture of maintenance to keep equipment ready and increase the writing is a capability for these partner nations. Appreciate that. A a question i have for you as well, general richardson, is at my understanding is that right now that the Chinese Military is training about five times more latin american and caribbean military officers then the United States. I have some concerns that these chinese professional military education exchanges may have an outsized impact on our allies, particularly in southcom. So my question for you is what are the risks associate with continue to let chinese education exchanges to outpace what we are providing . And how can congress support your command in countering this challenge . So the prc is using our playbook against us in terms of these exchanges and these all expense paid training exchanges for for a year to two years to china. And we are able to provide to the program for professional military education, but the difference that it makes when they come to our schools in the united United States, for example, when you dont speak the language or speaking the language, and i would say there are several, three ministers of defense and about 15 sheets of the defense that event to our United States schools. Chiefs testing youve artie build the trust. I dont have to build the trust over a year with these leaders. So if they bring to our u. S. Schools i was a we need to continue to sustain that and even increase our program. Thank you, general. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, senator peters. Senator scott, please. Thank you, chairman. Before i begin my remarks and questions each of you whichs something that what majority. Chuck schumer singh on a senate floor right now. The majority leader on the is calling for a new Israeli Government. This is coercion. Its dangerous, its undemocratic. If Chuck Schumer doesnt like netanyahu, it doesnt matter. We should respect the Israeli Government should be respected by the american government. Americans should stand strong with israels elected leadership, not threatening it as a fight terrorism. I personally hope, i hope israel destroys, kills every hamas terrorist there is. First of all thanks to both of you for your service. Somewhat to see if you think the four as a couple of questions. Protect your nationals could interest means the military must be made to focus on the cold hard facts and not only what our adversaries are doing but what theyre capable of doing. The violence and unrest in haiti is heartbreaking. It is a symptom of political unrest that is only continues to grow under this administration. Baudouin has the Biden Administration taken an active role in destabilizing the region by appeasing cuba, venezuela nicaragua that it appears white us is totally unprepared to do with the consequences of the political unrest these regimes create and support. The policy of the United States could not be that which is what everyone in totally intercountry totally unvetted anytime theres trouble around the world. That is what President Biden is done at the border with the lead people pouring across and after the botched withdraw from afghanistan with 90,000 unfitted people coming in. Now dont does this administration open up the floodgates of people who dont know anything about to come, anything about what would bleated to come to our country, President Biden democrats added level of government then give these individuals cash, phones, lawyers and Everything Else paid for by the u. S. Taxpayer. The entire Biden Administration can be summed up as this. Biden kreis maga for illegal immigration here, a piece of evil regimes the forces evict people to pay for the unrest, community in crisis ms border crossings that result. It doesnt work and cant be oriented to the chaos in haiti. Its also worth noting all of this work is to the benefit of her abbasids like china, russia and iran. Our enemies thrive on her chaos. These evil regimes are working every to expand a foothold in the western hemisphere and decrease stability for the proxies to threaten the use and destabilize the region. For southcom we see iran infiltrating the region and communist chinese initiatives like belt and road to spread their influence and saddle for countries like america with massive debt. For north, we see russia and communist chinese use unclench war for special Cyber Attacks going after a supply chain to take advantage of the open border. We are even seeing our adversaries undermined u. S. Security boss expanding the place in the arctic. I have a couple questions. General richardson, lets start with haiti. The people of haiti have reached the breaking point. Florida families with the levitation against interstate our compassion. But there would about how this instability in the region to battle include haiti but all of southcom theater could cause a Mass Immigration of it in my sticker i spoke with the coast guard elastic or i would like you from your what is your plan to address the possible fms migration if it which may not only affect florida but also our bases within the creeping . What are the options available to us with the dod assets and capabilities . So in terms of a mass migration, we did, we have our contingency plan at u. S. Southcom and we did a trained walk last summer on naval station guantanamo bay. And that was with all of the interagency to walk through all the processes and ensure all the steps that are necessary to take place are actually in place. Everything is refreshed, the equipment, everything is ready to go. And so as we work through all of our contingency plans, i assure you that u. S. Southcom and department of defense are ready to go. Second question for general richardson. I worked on and a lot of us worked on getting a dual use a number for Homestead Air force base in fiscal year 23 ndaa. This base allows us to project power and mr. Were enemies china reisch and the rent is proxies are present and active. I asked air force leadership about the future posted and having a pilot flying mission of the base. General brownish of his committed to having a platform operate posted. Can you talk with the Strategic Value of the base and why we needed . So Homestead Air reserve base actually is a great staging platform. When i was in northcom in my previous job as army north command we stayed out of homestead, florida, responded to the bahamas for the damage that was done by hurricane dorian. We launched our mission, special operations can buy theater special Operations Command is at Homestead Air reserve base, so being able to then we staged r missions that we conducted into haiti this past week from hosted. Homestead. And so the ability for the department of defense to have homestead as a staging base in south florida to be able to jump to respond to you mentoring assistance and Disaster Response type activities is very hugely helpful. Thank both of you. Thank you, senator scott. Senator kaine, please. Thank you, mr. Chair a thanks to our witness for your great service. General guillot, i want to begin with you. My colleagues and i on this committee have recently discussed installation security from with respect to drum threats at bases in the United States. Recognizing that were in an unclassified setting, what can you tell me about how northcom is addressing this issue and with what partners are you working with challenge . Senator, northcom as part of my 90 day assessment, to tell the truth, the counter uas mission has dominated that so far in the first month. Of course i knew was an issue coming from another combatant command where we faced the that threat in a very different way because of the environment. What i wasnt prepared for the number of incursions that i see. I have gone into the events at joint base langleyeustis, and amusing that as the centerpiece of my negative assessment to see where no rent and northcom can and should do more as this merging capability outstrips the operational framework that we have to address it. And can you talk about other partners that you would with . Because obviously there sort of a Law Enforcement component of this here so else is working with you on this problem . Yes, sir, absolutely. So primarily to problem of Homeland Security and department of justice along the border have the primary responsibility. Thats who im working with there. In the interior its the services that have the responsibility for defending their bases pixel. To working with each individual service and then also against department of Homeland Security and department of energy for specific Critical Infrastructure locations. Those are the primary ones that it were to it. Thank you for that. Now question of both of you about fms. The importance of fms was mentioned by general guillot last week. You mention it in written statement. General richardson you and i talked about a little bit last week when we were together. The fms programs that dont increase interoperability and strengthen partnerships, but can help reduce partners reliance upon strategic competitors as well. What are you hearing from their counterparts about fms rexx on it what you particularly direct that to general richardson come recognizing general guillot short tenure this been dominated by other issues. But general richardson, could you talk about the . So estimates as a critical enabler and odyssey with being able to have our equipment have uptodate equipment and then having u. S. Equipment and being interoperable and that sort of thing is an imperative. And so what secretary austin and the chairman dent instituted to speed up the processes within fms over the past two years have taken place but i would say weve got to streamline that to the interagency because its not just the department of defense that has the stake in that and that approves things. And so we got to see what that process a little bit better and speed it up. We talked last week in my office about the potential synergy between the state Partnership Program that senator peters was discussing in the theater Maintenance Partnership initiative. Could you talk a little bit about that and whether it could support or complement the fms priorities that we have . Well, it actually, i mean thats a whole reason for. We have u. S. Equipment in these countries, and so maintenance was hard for our u. S. Military and its hard for our partner nations as well. Programming there is a ton and the National Guard so it makes it an easy way to teach and train with the Capacity Building as well. Last question, one of the best advantages we have in your region is the peace and security agenda. You have made this a priority in your trouble, can you become impact the initiatives are having . A huge impact so thank you for the question great the Security Council 13254 peace and security so every visit i do in the country we have a womens peace and security event. We have animalistic professional leadership program, many women and leaders in our military formation in the region so that goes nicely with our different programs. The diversity and ability to increase readiness within their forces and realized that and they continue on that path. Thank you very much and i back thanks, mr. Chairman everybody is important. One guarding the back door and how important that is. We see the change in the government and canada in the direction they are going which should be reported for all of us. Do you see any change in terms of how they are helping us . The first day of my command left the chief of the fence and called springs we talk about canadas to that and that is a dead committed all will to have two finish share and the first day will will read and when you together will. What about the border, you get pushback from the northern border and . That you will have many conversations there . I have. Although customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security have not requested support, its something to watch closely for a number of reasons. One is scheduled for entry our country to the north and frequent discussions with the Intel Community to see if there are any threats coming through. Be able to use panama canal . And not only continues to improve but my concern is the other side the lineup munication the panama canal, i would be extremely concerned about the and we watch it very closely. Above and beyond, would we be able to use it . My concern is using the military application required and the proximity through the panama canal is a concern to me, i have no doubt animals security and ability to do that. Is the expansion of the target the last time i was down there they were doing a lot of work, and whether you keep up with that or not. The prc, senator . Yes. They are building a fourth bridge and track everything that is done with the panama canal and authorities and partners. To take place have you or any of your staff from south america to north america . I visited several times ive been to the binational base in columbia and conduct joints and operation. In terms of the operations conducted comes from resourcing they have panama forces. The market is so important of the american citizens in our country. Im sure you all could have used it in your budget and to work in both and what you do is amazing. We need to help you, we really do not thank you, chairman. Holding this hearing, our nation, appreciate it. I will hit on Russian Forces because as russia continues war in ukraine and china asked with increasing aggression indo pacific, both countries are steps to pose a direct threat to National Security here at home. How could north, adapt this posture proactively respond increasing presence in capabilities of russian and chinese assets off the coast and in north america with. The best way for us to counter is to have presence of our own so the execution of exercising control in all domains is extremely important primarily focusing in the region of alaska. The number of maritime, strong presence both the chinese should have and the same thing on what we call the 2 00 approach on the northeast we have presence there marcus what i think is the best way to counter part of that presence exercise, and multinational and partners showing the result in the most strategic area. Im going to move on again talking about security because this is a big part of our Homeland Security so you talk about north on currently addressing several Security Threat but watching your opinion, the creation of a unified command specifically responsible for these operations to ensure that a comprehensive hes of defense posture against cyber adversaries . My previous response i should have mentioned cyber because it is the most prevalent threat we see on a daily basis maritime in the air. Every day we have the actors putting russia and china attempting to get on the department of Defense Networks, the strength we have to cyber land defeating those threats is keeping us operational. First, to protect systems use to operate and we have four networks we protect and beyond that is anything but the department of Defense Network to make sure all of those are addressed in the third thing we work with the fbi in Strong Partnership and averting met their leadership about how we help other members of the Critical Infrastructure community and if they need eod support, it synchronized through north, to protect. Your question via separate command, i need to look into it but my initial response would the two commands observed, the relationship and support from Cyber Command is normal and i would hesitate to do anything that separates them from their ability to do Operational Cyber and defense of cyber under the same leadership. Its worked well for us so always looking for something i have looked closely because Cyber Command has been a tremendous partner. Thank you, that is valuable and i appreciate it. Ill talk about, the department of defense investments focus on peoples republic of china. You have turned regarding lack of language expertise for countries in this area of responsibility . Sufficiently addressed by this recruitment. I think spanish predominantly and portuguese is brazil mobley have enough but because a law of our linguists will speak vanish as well as other languages as well so it is a matter of making sure we register demand and requirement all the time in this region is important and we have to keep the positions filled. The panama canal and prc investment around it so it is important to have possibly more than spanish and portuguese. My time is up. Thank you very much. We dissipate we will arrive shortly take the opportunity. Congress has been considering this band, the military used begin to share or sell, you tell the impact it would have on your operations. Sharing for yielding spectrum between three part one gigahertz would have a Significant Impact on the home is a cap defense system. Is there a possibility of sharing i know some folks have come back it is something. I would say our mutual review, i havent found a way we can share especially because nothing command 24 7 on alert possibility for defending the homeland law would need full access for the various ebays, landbased that use that range. I would assume would be a period of time where it operates themselves, is not there . As we moderate, have made it clear we need 24 7 access to those trade mark the chinese influence agrees in your area command and focus on one of the one thing is strategic panels be the generation for the General Electric power. You have seen focus trying to identify. Yes. Especially ambassadors and the lithium triangle and it works to extract as well as full and proper. As a non chinese anthonys and begin processing the initiative American Partnership for prosperity in billions of dollars into Critical Infrastructure. I will recognize for additional questions the potential increase in the number chinese nationals come across the southern border is a lot of chinese nationals across the last year flying in and out of china is like getting out of ca different ordeal. I want to ask the minutes about content pushed on social Media Channels and vulnerabilities with the order concerned about espionage, flight information do we have and what activities you like this happening at a rate that doesnt feel natural but the number of chinese nationals across my wonder if you could that select the number of chinese across the border is a big concern of mine. To talk to the agents and leadership and have spoken with the commission of the cpp on the subject. What concerns me most about chinese migrants the ability and a strong robust relationship with the Interagency Committee and the headquarters on the disposition on the threat you described do we have some of this is in a closed setting but will kind of coordination in place here . There are 21000 in the last four months in california alone with the numbers ive seen and there seems to be a coordination getting in and out of peoples republic of china is a different deal what have you heard about these activities and are we aware of efforts the sensitive military location . I had some of the same questions he brought up but what ive been told by our partners is the reason telephone it is the focal. This simply flying into tijuana. I am certain, i think you were alluding to our partners about this, the surges seem to be coordinated and committed control primarily by the cartel to drive minus two areas where it might be a similar analogy to squeeze the balloon, they are primarily through social media and go into other areas so our role as we are in support of the customs and Border Protection monitoring 2500 military members in the army mammalian marine corps and they work closely to pick up where the surges are and the gaps to alert Law Enforcement and Border Protection to make it. Look forward to working with you on that and continue dialogue what is happening. Its a dangerous situation and with my limited time, as far as drone activity the border will presumably donated by the cartels and maybe other actors, what information can you share, are they tracking Border Patrol agents . What is the drone activity, what are they prospects i asked him questions to the commissioner he said overall majority of the activity are spotters trying to find gaps in finding out where we are and where we arent the overall majority. Smaller number narcotics across the board. The drones themselves . Thats right. The last thing, theres a lot of activity same thing to find where that activity is make sure we are prepared to stop. You. Another question plus. To follow, i understand there is a Committee Led by the coast guard, could we followup on upgrading that to a task force to include the other agencies talk about how to better coordinate . The committee needs regularly includes all of the interagency. I would like to talk about the activity. To the witnesses and will need is easy to 17, 1140 we will get people in time to rest and will cooperate. Sustained this nation and set an example that we admire. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations]