We probably get 72 per delegate votes that they next president of the United States. [applause] [applause] today the National Urban leg released their annual state of black america report. Says africanamericans are moving backwards on issues of equality and calls for 1 trillion in spending over five years on education, Small Business and Youth Employment programs. The National Urban league resident marc morial discuss the reported museum in washington. This is 50 minutes. [inaudible conversations] good morning. Ladies and gentlemen i want to welcome you the 2015th state of black america launch event. Education jobs and justice. Im amber pain they been urging editor of nbc universals inclusive site for politics culture social issues. We tell stories by four and about the black community. And hello to everybody watching this historic right cast on line. We want to invite you to join the conversation on social media by using the hashtag locked out and we are coming to you live from the studio at the museum in washington d. C. And here to welcome us is the former president of Colgate University awardwinning author and political scientist the president and ceo of the museum, mr. Jeffries herbst. [applause] good morning. Welcome to the studio and welcome to the museum. The new cm explains promotes and defends the five freedoms of the First Amendment and the right of free expression. We do so through a building which welcomes 800,000 people each year to 15 galleries paris set of programs that contain stakeholders to discuss important issues around our foundational freedoms and an Educational Program which reaches close to 3 million schoolchildren through digital outreach. In our building you will see the long history of struggles for freedom in the United States and how the struggles have depended on the rights of assembly, speech, press, expression, religion and petition. Critical to our building has been the long struggle in the United States for civil rights. We tell the story of what has been accomplished and we will also tell the story of what still needs to be done. In that regard it has been our pleasure to partner with the National Urban league and marc morial on this important launch of the 40th edition of the state of latin america. This is i spend an important but this year it provides the opportunity to see what has been done and what still must be done. Certainly we are part of that effort and we look forward to using our commitment and our ability to explain our foundational freedom to be part of the struggle of inclusivity and equality in the United States. I am delighted to be part of this program today. I am honored that the National Urban leaguer has chosen the newseum to launch the state of black america and im pleased to welcome me today and hope to see you often. Thank you and again welcome to the newseum. [applause] thank you so much mr. Herbst it. So this important event today would not be possible without the support of the National Urban leg longtime partner at t. Representing at t here today is jim cicconi the Senior Executive Vice President for external and legislative affairs. Mr. Cicconi is also the chair of the education focused at t foundation. Lets welcome mr. Cicconi. [applause] thank you amber. Good morning everybody. Its an honor for at t and for me personally to be here with you today. Thank you to the National Urban leg for all you have done to out civil rights equality and opportunity were so many decades. Your success is a shining light to us all. Americas better more just society because of what you have done. You know the urban league and at t work on a lot of issues together and work with companies and organizations but rarely is there a situation which are two organizations goals are as closely aligned as they are today. There is one constant in the state of the black america report. The importance of spreading opportunity and empowerment. Thats for at t wants to help. At ts businesses to spread access to one of the most important tools for empowerment highspeed internet service. Broadband is one of americas great equalizers. Its a powerful tool to help people reach their potential. At at t we see the promise of technology to help address many of the disparities detailed in this years state of black america report. It will take more than technology to address these issues. We must lead by example and supporting justice. Our view social justice is far too important to be only matter of individuals. It must be an endeavor for corporations. Looking at results of a National Urban leg state of black america report all of us are seeing steep challenges. There is no magic wallet that by working together with the urban leg we hope to continue to make progress to address these Critical Issues and that is just so we intend to do. Thank you very much. [applause] thank you mr. Cicconi and thank you to at t for a year due to support the work of the national. And the cbl k. Is proud to join at t Interactive One and the newseum 2 the first of its kind live right cast to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the state of black america. Over the last four decades the state of black america has become a national touchstone for the social, economic status of the nations africanamerican and minority communities. Serving as a barometer for the progress of people of color relative to white america. Here to share the findings of the report in and to discuss the implications for the nation is the president and ceo of the National Urban leg, mr. Marc morial. Lets welcome him to the stage. [applause] thank you. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen good morning to you that want to thank you for being here today and thank you to at t as well as to the newseum for hosting this today. Of course i am marc morial residency of the National Urban leaguer and urban leaguer movement. As we have discussed this year is the 40th anniversary of the state of black america. It was introduced by the legendary Vernon Jordan who is the executive director of the National Urban leaguer from 1971 to 1981. Vernon jordan spent his entire childhood living under dehumanizing segregation of jim crow era georgia. Unable to imagine that one day, yes one day a black man with the elected president of the United States. In his early years and as a young lawyer he was immersed in the struggle for civil rights. One of his first cases was a successful challenge to the university of georgias discriminatory admissions policy. The years of Vernon Jordans tenure at the National Urban league in the 1970s for a period when the United States was coping with the repercussions of the sweeping changes of the silver rights era of the 1960s. As vernon put it, we were dealing with the rubble of the walls we tore down in the 1960s and despite the turbulence of the era, the poverty, the crime, the racial violence, president gerald ford made not one mention of the plight of africanamericans in his 1976 state of the union address. Vernon jordan was appalled and the state state of black america was born. Mr. Jordan is regretfully unable to join us in person today but he graciously sat down with us and shared his memories of the past and insights into the present. Take a look. When i think back on my tenyear term of the urban league, the state of black america is one of the things that i am the most proud of. The 1970s was the aftermath of what happened in the 1960s when we defined the rights of black people. The 1970s were about making real the rights that had been defined. Let me give you an example. In the 1960s we conferred and defined their right to check into a motel or a hotel. The 1970s were about providing the wherewithal to check out. The right to check in is meaningless if you dont have what it takes to check out, and so that meant a good education so you can get a good job and so the implementation of the definition and the conferring of rights in the 1960s was a primary goal of the 1970s. 1975 was an interesting year. President gerald ford was running the country. He was a good man. He was a friend of mine, but in the area that i most cared about he was not very aggressive and we werent getting much leadership on the issue that they urban leg was interested in them that is the urban leaguer and that is the equal opportunity of black americans. I was relatively new having succeeded and we had lost martin in the late whitney young. The naacp was not doing so well. I was sort of the youngest guy on the scene and it was important to fill this gap and i thought that was my job and i thought institutionally it was what the urban league ought to be doing. One of the programs that we initiated was the state of black america. Its interesting that in the state of the union but dress by president ford, he didnt say anything about equal opportunity or the plight of black people. We came out the state same month with the state of black america and we, it was sufficiently potent. It was sufficiently well researched that the New York Times wrote an editorial about it and essentially said that we had done the nation and the Political Parties a service by issuing the state of black america which is now 40 years old. Local urban leagues started issuing the state of black america in their local cities, the state of black people in xyz cities and that got duplicated. Where im proud of is my successes successors who in my judgment had the good judgment to continue with it, because it was not only in the interest of the National Urban league and its programs, it was in my judgment in the interest of the nation because politicians, ministers, professors, academics, they used this data to make their points in their lectures and their speeches. It was good data. I remember a lecture night in 2008 wednesday announced that obama was going to be the next president of the United States and i found myself sitting there watching the television with tears just dreaming down my eyes it dawned on me that my tears were not really my tears if they were the tears of my grandparents and my parents. They were the tears of all those black people whod toted that cotton and lifted that theyll. The notion that obama was going to be president or any black president was stunning. I feel good and gratified about the continuance of a program that i was privileged to start. Its in its 40th year and that tells you something about the substance of the urban leaguer, about the consistency of its leadership. So im very pleased about it. [applause] thank you Vernon Jordan. And now ladies and gentlemen we werent able to include everything burning jordan said in that interview. When he was talking about president obamas presidency, he mentioned his steadfast earliest political memory. It was listening to Eugene Thomas on the radio in 1943. When he was just eight years old he remembers calvert saying i have two platforms. Imagine the distance his life has been added here is what the New York Times had a to say in that editorial that vernon mentioned. In all aspects of life that could be measured statistically, the gains that were made in the 1960s have been decimated. And in tangible terms those relating to the demands demands for quality occurs on the nations conscience by its leaders all gears have been thrown into reverse. All ears have been thrown into reverse. Black america is moving backwards. The similarities of the United States of 1976 and the United States in 2016 are profoundly striking. We are now as we were then a nation struggling to overcome them worst economic downturn since the great depression. All gears have been thrown into reverse. We are now as we were then, facing growing pressure. 2 human needs programs for the poor to demonize and characterize as lazy slackers. All of ears have been thrown into reverse. We are now as we were then, responding to hostility and violence triggered by challenges to the status quo whether responding to busing programs to integrate Public Schools are resistant to common place and Police Brutality today. All gears have been thrown into reverse. Have Racial Justice and Race Relations improved over the last eight years . As our president wraps up his final months as the nations first africanamerican commanderinchief, we begin to assess the Progress Black americans made under his administration. How well has the nation recovered from the worst economic crisis that is seen in generations . How much closer are we to the very important goal of universal Health Care Coverage . Is the Affordable Care active obamacare gotten us . Has president obama said in his recent commencement address at Howard University my election did not create a postracial society. Mr. President you are right, the 2016 National League Equality Index tells an all too familiar story of persistent Racial Disparity in american life. Your presidency has however made a difference, a profound difference and we are proud of it yet we cannot eliminate americas longstanding challenges around racial inequity but your presidency has given a new energy. In 1787, africanamericans were designated to be threefifths of a person. Under a Constitutional Convention compromise between northern and southern states, americas Founding Fathers agreed to count and slaved americans as threefifths of a person. Thats 60 . Looking for a way to measure how far black americans have risen from being considered just 60 of their white counterparts, back in 2004 we introduced as a new element of the state of black america the Equality Index so how far have we come . In 2016 that number is 72. 2 . And Equality Index of 100 would indicate that conditions for white and black americans are equal. We calculate the Equality Index based on data in five key areas, economics, health, education, social justice and civic engage meant. Now the Overall Index might not change much from yeartoyear. Last years index was just two tenths of a percentage point lower at 72 . But there can be significant ships within each of those key areas and we take a deep a closer look at the conditions within select groups of cities. Economically for example the most equal match your area with regard to unemployment is Providence Rhode island with an index of 65 . That means the gap between the wide in the black unemployment rates was the smallest in the cities we measured. It does not necessarily mean that conditions there are for the best for africanamericans. Its also which has the same black unemployment. As providence ranked dirty night on our list because the white unemployment. There is only 4. 2 making the gap between the black and white race much larger. Now unemployment and joblessness is just one of the many injustices they keep too many of our cities locked out. I realize that standing here and reciting numbers is not the best way to illustrate the refound impact of economic and social justice in this nation. But ladies and gentlemen behind the statistics are real people, men, women, families, children and they are affected in dramatic ways. Now we right the wrongs of history. Now we must right the wrongs in our education system. Now we must right the wrongs in our economy. Now we must right the wrongs of mass incarceration and unequal justice. [applause] at the glory wont be hours without a plan. Its not the man, its the plan its not the woman, its the plan. Its not their rap, we need a roadmap. And my predecessor john jacob, 25 years ago at the 15th state of black america said america cant compete if it continues to warehouse a significant proportion of our workforce in poverty and ignorance. And she cannot compete without investing in Human Capital and human resources. His idea was simple and profound it was to replicate the most successful Antipoverty Initiative in modern american history, the european Marshall Plan. His urban Marshall Plan and to reduce the 1990s was meant to be the completion of what he called our unfinished revolution for democracy and human rights. We dont finish of revolution by thinking about it very at the urban league is not a think tank. And we dont finish a revolution i just talked in about it. He urban league is not a talk tank. The urban league is a dude tank and what we need to do is say our cities big and small north and south east and west from coast to coast, we must save our cities. [applause] and we must develop our economic infrastructure and pull people out of poverty from welfare worlds to payrolls and we can commit the nation support to her struggling urban Communities Just as we did for postwar europe. That this recovery has bypass them. Your voice and my voice of the urban league to be squarely behind their interest and tell the workers said in our work is not complete complete the universal Early Childhood education and that they are less likely to read p to trade the special education or into the criminaljustice system and will graduate high school and own homes with the return on investment is estimated at 12 after inflation. So our young people deserve an opportunity to work those who work in summer jobs to Better School and far less likely to get in trouble with the lot end was impact in st. Louis is rising to the talent setting up a job challenge for what was destroyed following Michael Brown death. I had the honor after groundbreaking. We have pointed to percent africanamerican and female Companies Working on the building today and we will continue that commitment to show the community the best and brightest in we are committed to making a difference of our own process working with those who make that same difference. [applause] great work by the teams. Led by michael in st. Louis it is an example of what this kind of investment can do. A federal living wage of 15 per hour adjusted for inflation. Not only with an increase of the minimumwage to lift themselves out of poverty to shape the wide income gap putting millions into the economy it results in 2,800 in new Consumer Spending and databases. And the Infrastructure Fund community in Youth Centers library and Water Systems and urban transportation every dollar spent on infrastructure produces 2 in Economic Growth indeed the policy institute estimated to the 250 a dual investment to buy 400 million by the 3 million new jobs in one year only like the micro business financing plan with businesses owned by with it and people of color. [applause] those of all new jobs created to leave large firms with new technology of patent creation. The urban League Movement has served nearly 50,000 smallbusiness owners over the last five years to create or save nearly 6,000 jobs of 350 million of new contracts of financing. This year we were so proud to announce the creation of the new argentine your center. Year believe will be receiving an award with the National Urban league the Baltimore Urban League working with the support of commerce with the support of the city heat of baltimore established in this location and new entreprenuership that has a very simple purpose to help Small Business with the focus with people of color to increase their revenue and to build the wealth that this community justly deserves. We look forward under the leadership of j. Howard henderson. Down for the full list of the recommendations for the Marshall Plan to the state of black america but i want to focus on one more investment which is the work force and job trading with the focus on reentry. Sentencing reform will likely result in a former offenders reentry the work force for job training. And in need of Educational Counseling employment focused Training Programs have been tremendously successful in the urban league has led the way. Those initiatives have returns for workers that far exceed the cost of those programs. And i want to highlight one such program that our affiliate in Atlanta Georgia where incredible results are being produced. Take a look. I was sentenced ted years with research. This is what his life was like convicted of Armed Robbery classified as a felon at the age of 42 the education and career were not a top priority. I became the man of the household. So that i turn to crime to lead to robbing peoples houses to pulling guns on people. After serving two years he decided it was time to change weld meeting with his probation officer he noticed of flyer for the urban league of atlanta. They help me create a resonate. They helped him to turn his life around. And then with the mentors. And just could not get a job likely be to put him to work to me we want to be your do what you want to do. He worked and successfully landed a job with a Restaurant Delivery company. In 2015 he was a lottery at the spirit of the League Awards and studying biology with a career in dentistry. That is all because of where i have then. He hopes his transition will inspire other felons you want to change their lives. The you can wake up and be happy to have every single day. Atlanta. [applause] incredible work. You have to love him and how many are out there . That is the work no life should be thrown away. Are those affiliates of the urban League Movement. With dozens of the other nation as we release the state of black america. Thanks to each and every one of you so to yield in return with the nation we are working to rebuild. Warrants that could not bring any truer. It is our hope that this document will pierce neglect and i hope it will reread closely that what influence Decision Makers to open their eyes to the plight of black americans whose campaigns largely exhibit to grapple with black citizens. I urge the black people to educate themselves and register to vote in the upcoming primary this could be the most crucial issue in recent history with the implications the massive assault to demand that every black vote has the interest so that was the message in 76 for the expresident so those disparities and to have though will to forge a better tomorrow. With that Marshall Plan to represent a direction with a concrete proposal beyond those talking points and namecalling and president obama has gotten us but now we need to bring it home and so this recovery is complete. That is the state of black america. [applause] keep it going. [applause] what did you think . [applause] we dont finish a revolution just by thinking about it. There is a lot to digest and i appreciate that behind the statistics and Real Solutions presented today. Id today watching the state of america web series. We covered topics for a raise them privileges of the state of black women criminaljustice reform the state of black america at 40 and black votes matter. Please visit state of black america. Org and share it but also to our sponsors and our partner and to comcast. This is an amazing building. It includes thoughtprovoking essays now want to thank you for joining us here today keep the conversation going on and social media use the locked out have a great day. [applause] [inaudible conversations] [applause] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] madam secretary we get 72 of our delegate votes to the next president of the United States. [inaudible conversations] the subcommittee is looking at the risks involved to initiate air service to cuba recognize myself. U. S. And cuban officials have more than 100 daily roundtrip flights from the United States to the country of cuba. With minimal consultation and countless attempts to evade information of the requirements to Schedule Service to cuba have been stonewalled. Despite the components of the of component prior to that hearing i read that yesterday the deputy secretary beside a memorandum with the cuban government that has implications for the department of Homeland Security. Day Administration Like a transparency is unacceptable leading me to believe that they are hiding something or negligent of the security concerns associated with the policy. Immediately citing the agreement they open the application process for air carriers to bid for regularly scheduled service to the International Airport. After the 54 year freeze the administration attempts to make these airports to the United States as early as late summer. Including our closest allies and trading partners including canada and mexico. China was 1. 3 billion people and with those statures with 127 times but it everything a march 17 and by late summer and of the security situation is bleak. And with that no explosive trace detection equipment at their airports. The bomb said the dogs are poorly trained at best and rbd street dogs. Only if heaviness of the abbey theater in nine airports would not have standards. We have no idea how they work or how well. With the security trading if airport officials receive data are unaware of their vetted to links of terrorism. And then to offer training to the cuban government initially to predict that with the introduction of commercial air service to allow the cuban authorities to be unprepared or end able to handle not allowing u. S. Airline airlines to perform that basic function for more complex functions like Airline Security operations instead the employees may be the ones doing all the tasks. The director of the Defense Intelligence agency, cuba remains critical counterintelligence threat. But the Administration Says that the country that was just removed to the state sponsor of terrorism a big repeatedly derided the values or principles and historically flights to and from cuba for terrorist hijackers to went awol to the airport for order to attempt to hijack a plane balance for miami those over hijacked there are other examples that i could go one. These have occurred far too many times raise serious concerns about the ability and willingness of cuban officials to take it seriously the Washington Post published an article with individuals from afghanistan traveling to cuba that travel agents are surprised that are acquired of the black market. In to be inserted into the record. And then to verify if it is what they purport to be. Were here today not to elaborate with cuba but to take a serious look as our job at the National Security implications of a policy pushed through at breakneck speed. With little regard for the safety of American People. That we recognize and miss rice for her statement. Thanks to the tsa of the state department to discuss this decision to discuss commercial air travel between u. S. And cuba. And then that led to the agreement. Under the terms that was announced at some point this year to be allied to operate more than scheduled flights each day and before that can happen tsa and other relevant agencies. Of how they would assess right now if they have concerns of the capabilities im looking forward to see how theyre working with the air carriers and to further enhance security when those mechanisms are in place to know who was on board how to obtain Accurate Information and how do they intend to verify travel documents to determine if a certain individual can enter the u. S. Certain things need to be addressed and it clearly has the potential but also with the unique security challenges so i hope that helps to clarify those challenges and how we overcome them i yield back the balance of my time. I believe that last points of departure it is to the homelands security. Earlier leading a congressional delegation oversleep overseas i had the opportunity to visit egypt with the security measures in place at the cairo airport. The egyptians are making progress but was still concerned as employees are not fully vented with the watch list but that is the last point before the United States now the administration is rushing to open service to cuba and designate 10 new airports as last points of departure and i fear the security situation is much worse than cairo and although there only five direct flights each week like a jet the administrations proposal calls for up to 110 daily flights between United States and cuba. To the latest security situation the administrations plan to open direct commercial air service to cuba in my ejectment has been unnecessarily rushed there are serious security concerns that seem to take a back seat although cuba has taken steps in years but is still led by a communist dictator whose ruthless against his own people in a brutally suppressed with more democratic governments also looking to soften the hateful rhetoric to the United States or to compel the government to loosen the tyrannical grip and by rewarding bad behavior to give no indication of acting in good faith to have the best interest of United States or for our citizens accordingly we must do all we can to ensure the safety and security of americans that choose to visit the islands insofar i remain unconvinced the administration has done its Due Diligence although the Administration May want to put American Security a risk that United States congress will not in with that i yield back. And now recognize the Ranking Member of the full committee for any statements he may have. Thank you very much for convening this hearing. I welcome our witnesses also to this hearing and earlier this year the administration and cuban government had an arrangement with those security measures have a great responsibility to ensure that Transportation Security Administration in the department of komen security and other relevant agencies are doing their Due Diligence to ensure that the flights departing from cuba to the United States are secure although not last points of departure the recent bombings of planes from mogadishu and one was killed tragically killing everyone on board serves as a reminder that they do wish to do us harm with commercial air fare there over 300 airports around the world that serve as less points of departure that fly directly to the United States this standard is always tsa to perform that investigation in mitigation necessary to ensure that these flights are not able to be targeted and as i and stand it the Agency Efforts to inspect and repair the airport is no different than inspection efforts and regulatory schemes that are in place at other airports of departure to that leads you to believe nothing has been done to assess these airports before they schedule commercial service to the United States tsa informs us they are valuating airports even as we speak there must have a level of security on par with the International Civil aviation standards. Tsa has the power to implement regulatory schemes to compel airlines to perform additional security measures i look forward to hearing from assistant secretary from the office of global strategy is what his team is doing to ensure security and additional mitigation measures he plans to implement the oscillatory to hearing from the Deputy Assistant who will talk about the role of prevention in document detection efforts. Thank you for appearing today to speak on the aspect of d. H. Justin these matters the secretary has a hard stop due to other engagements it will be hard because he just had votes called so i hope you are with us for a while i yield back. Do to votes on the floor we stand in recess probably about half an hour. [inaudible conversations] the. Thanks for coming back from that break we just can control the wishes of the voting process. Opening statements may be submitted to the record were pleased to have five witnesses with us today are focused on the department of Homeland Security to currently serve as the tsa representative for the caribbean region including cuba this is the administrator for goebbels strategies deputy executive assistant commissioner for Customs Border production protection and assistance secretary of komen security immigration in trade policy they give for being here today. Afternoon members of the subcommittee and an assistant secretary of security border immigration trade policy of behalf of my colleagues that sit beside me today if things for the opportunity to discuss the departments role of Aviation Security as it pertains to commercial air service in cuba i will provide a brief Opening Statement as well as my colleagues and we look forward to answering questions you may have a will discuss the role generally that i would get to the issue more specific to cuba with the help and support of congress we have worked to have a more robust strategy while facilitating travel and commerce across the borders and as repeated incidents have reminded us to the debt above the northern sinai the aviation sector is a target for attack by terrorist criminals and other bad actors. To meet the challenge to the strategy relies on the following core elements. First for u. S. Lots egest is required to assess security at all four airports and live as last point of departure pursuant to though what has people on the ground working with authorities and others to assess all aspects only after gsa determines that offers Flight Service to the United States and it continues to inspect and monitor to have the authority to take action at of not being met tsa kansas ben service entirely or give directives for mandatory implementation bottomline it keeps a close eye on for a service of the United States only those other permitted to fly most foreign nationals must possess of valid visa unless they participate in the Visa Waiver Program otherwise it must apply through the program so they collected permission from passengers and air carriers to identify for security purposes all travel to the United States did desiccator Flight Program including the nofly last ones travel is booked the center gathers information from the air carriers to assess risk of all passengers identified a enforcement issue day jus will coordinate with the groups to prevent the person from boarding the flight finally they are subject to further screening before entering the United States this applies to all International Aviation and also with equal force to the schedule commercial aviation to cuba and specifically vhs is working closely with the state department at United States to work with our bilateral relationship playing a key role to work for orderly flows of lawenforcement Maritime Safety and migration among other issues and most recently dhl signed a memorandum of understanding and customs to focus of lawenforcement corps Senior Leaders including deputy secretary as part of the ongoing dialogue cochaired with the deal just delegation from the coast guard and vice isis. All are in place for International Flights will be applied with equal force these measures are already in place and have offered services between the two countries and furthermore tsa is working to finalize an arrangement to a federal air marshal stibium placed for scheduled commercial flights and working closely with partners of commercial air carriers to ensure the security of commercial flights to and from cuba and will continue to Work Together in consultation with this committee for ongoing efforts was safe efficient travel to and from the United States banks for the opportunity to testify in accordance regressions you may have. The Principal Deputy secretary from the u. S. State department. Thank you chairman and Ranking Member distinguished members of the committee we welcome this opportunity to testify on behalf of the department of state with the process and russia now to have that arrangement between Guinness States with the transportation between the two countries the longstanding practice to lead their delegations with bilateral aviation agreement arrangements in consultation with department of transportation and commerce and others that is appropriate shortly after the president s 2014 announcement that the United States would take a number of steps to work towards normalizing relations of cuba and after coordinating with relevant agencies we approach the government to wrote prose those technical discussions to restore commercial air service for many years all air travel has been through a Charter Service id adequately served that will level of travel between the United States and cuba during strained relations with the administration named to expand travel with the contacts between the United States and cuba by standing people to people ties we can more effectively help the aspirations of the cuban people for a better life the administration concluded restoring scheduled air Services Necessary to accomplish those objectives the cuban government accepted that proposal after discussion of the modality to restore scheduled air service and the department informed industry about our plans and received the full and enthusiastic support for this effort there was three rounds of technical discussion march september and december 2015 the delegation composed of officials of five agencies state commerce and the tsa and a partner Treasury Office of asset control simultaneously amending the regulations and jiri 2015 to allow u. S. Carriers to offer scheduled service between the United States and cuba at the third round of consultations United States and cuba finalized attacks of the memorandum of understanding in february february 2016. Added four more nonbinding treatment delineating the terms between the two countries with respect to scheduled service to provide for u. S. Carriers to operate 28 daily roundtrip frequencies into each of those other cities with the International Airport for gore also provides for Charter Services to continue to operate without limitation but the reaction of the carriers they are eager to offer scheduled service to cuba and the universally welcome and have submitted application to the department of transportation to operate flights on its pacific routes to havana and other cuban cities in the case of a van applications for u. S. Carriers far exceed the limit of 20 frequencies per day the deity is conducting a frequency allocation proceeding to determine which u. S. Carriers will receive frequencies based on public interest. We believe they will support the objectives for authorized travel between United States and cuba and will generate new Business Opportunities for these industry to help create american jobs and i can anticipate a couple of questions with regard to the use of the informal arrangement at this time the reason we had limited negotiating objective with bilateral negotiation to aim for the open skies model was based upon the and standing of how much the traffic would bear in terms of demand with the ongoing restrictions on travel and trade between the United States and cuba throughout the negotiations u. S. Negotiators carefully articulated to the counterparts the aspect of regulations affecting cuba and what has changed it does not affect current travel restrictions or persons subject you jurisdictions and was still be authorized by a license under one of the 12 categories while negotiating they reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen their cooperation on aviation safety and Security Matters in reaffirm their commitment of International Conventions to iraq in conformity with standards inappropriate recommended practices established by the International Organizations representative presented in the delegation and provided valuable of vice on the ongoing cooperation of the cuban government to strengthen Aviation Security. Thanks for the opportunity. I a understand you have a hard stop at 330 . I would like to wonder that i dont want to create an International Incident with a japanese colleague. Members will provide you with questions in writing we appreciate your responses within a 10 day period. Also unanimous consent the gentleman from pennsylvania is allowed to set and participate without objection so ordered another recognize myself. I doubt i can get through everything but i appreciate brief and concise answers. What is your title tsa representative based in the bahamas working with cuba and the bahamas. And highcapacity are you able to look to those airports . I dont review them i am not an inspector my goal and job is to work with a Foreign Government of cuba in this case to ensure that they be to all the security requirements that currently exist. I share best practices and Lessons Learned one very important aspect is to insure one of the inspectors have identified a deficiency if any i work closely to ensure that it is corrected. Have you visited the 10 lpd airports. Currently there are only seven i have visited all seven. With those you have visited can you give is the general findings . Were general observations . Fantoni how many have explosive trace detection equipment . Last time was in a closed session and i spoke frankly what we had and did not have in cuba in this open session i am reluctant to get into what equipment they have. For the record youre saying we were providing is ssi information . Yes, sir,. That we will have to do this to a secured hearing . Okay gesso the record is clear. Respect to the canine discussion is your position that is also ssi . Yes, sir, it is a level of security so yes. Retrospect to body scanners that is as well . And the training that we discussed cuba and airport personnel that is also in your opinion . There is nothing to discuss. Do you know, how they train personnel . No server. You have any idea of background checks are done on cuban employees to ski and documents are bags into the airports . I do not is anybody in the government know that . With the for an Assessment Program is under the authority of u. S. Code. Do you understand if there is any training for airport personnel . Requires personnel worked at the airport are trained and undergo background investigations and are cleared our inspectors have ascertained that cuba does meet those standards including background checks. You mentioned that document verification and he spoke about that capabilities or lack thereof do you consider those answers that it assigned to the ss i as well . Yes, sir,. Somebody mentioned the federal air service. Is your testimony there is no flights unless the federal air Marshal Service does like they do elsewhere . What is that time frame. Is under negotiation. No flights until then . Correct. When do expect them to begin. Is a question for the department of transportation would you anticipate . We dont know. Those were handling this inquiry i apologize i did not under state and that the tissue did not to alleviate that when we spoke so forgive me for raising those questions but you will designate which ones are ssi but it is it fair to say you had significant concerns of some security aspects of those airports . The concerns that i have shared with you is over a fiveyear period i did have concerns at the beginning which i do not have now. You dont have any right now . Right now what has been assessed in inspected by the inspectors meets our standards. But my question is your personal observation. I shared concerns from early on which is quite different than the situation we have today. So your testimony is no more concerns . Debate meet the standards required. That is not the question. As long as they meet the standards and there is anything i can do to improve security i will do so. Host the concerns of the security aspect in your personal opinion . My same answer applies the concerns that i have are minor compared to what youre looking at five years ago. The answer the question. They meet the standards sir. Anybody can answer this why the rush to open 10 airports which is a large number with a country we had very little relationship over five decades why the rush why not start with a few to see how it goes . Para bad is the question resurrected to the dot state department with regard to the broader u. S. Policy of opening commercial aviation with cuba. You have an opinion . I dont. Anybody else . They have been operating for some time as charters there are some less point of departure airports they are composed security standards. 100 more flights per day . I think that is the department of transportation question. Assuming that is what it is is it fair to say that infrastructure will put stress on those of for structure capabilities . I would not speculate on the cuban air for it infrastructure with the flights from europe involving major carriers are flying to cuba every day as well as regional traffic and is heavily trafficked so i would note that there currently meeting the standards in major operators are costabile to fly in and out of cuba as well. Have you observed them yourself . Direct no sir that you then to the Havana Airport . Will that put a stress on that airport for passenger travel . Theyre working on terminal three with the International Flights that number has not been determined that will be worked out so if there is a crunch remains to be seen. Do you have any observations . Only that i have observed is the fact they lacked a couple of buses so when it was really had trouble getting off the aircraft. No other concerns . No server no sir. I want to assure you it is not a criminal inquiry. That the tone that the questions have taken so far i believe it is information gathering that all of you clearly feel that you have information to see how the process is set up in one of the questions the you could answer has there ben as statement on behalf of the cuban government to deal with the increase of tourism flights and crew ships now that there is a new relationship . The investment of the cruise ship industry i am not familiar refs. I am talking about is the infrastructure can handle this as a government dash to put money into the infrastructure to handle the increase of flights if it comes to that . They have a project underway at terminal three for International Flights other then u. S. Flights whether or not they plan to dive for each those remains to be seen. There are seven airports in cuba although we what were talking about . Currently seven lpd only six are active at this time for the charter flights. With the inspection of the six airports are they operating differently than any other airports around the world . No the program a standardized we have the country of 150 inspectors who work around the world who follow very clearly articulated system a very regular process around the world. To our regularly will they into the . To look at a regular basis talking about the tsa inspectors are there before and make sure everything is going smoothly and then afterwards to major operations are running smoothly in normally and in accordance with the agreement. So how secure is flying to and from cuba vs. Any other in the world . Would be very comfortable myself to meet International Standards. Talking before about the most recent issue of inspire magazine can you talk rethink cuba sits in a larger threat pitcher that we are concerned about and other airports abroad . That magazine is still guided but it articulates the focus for the targeting aviation with the aircraft in somalia or brussels to indicator focus on africa and middle east to be a future concern for aviation. Not to say it could that be a focus in the future but is tsa ensuring all the databases available here and other countries and airports are accessible to the cuban government our eye off the ball and the big advantage is reno who was coming our way through secure flights with the master crew list and the passenger manifest and a clearer idea who was coming our way if they are on a watch west so on top of the physical security undertaken at last point of departure we had a very good idea of the identity and the people coming into our country. Asking about todays sanders possibilities opening travel to cut security or anything have you been asked to cut corners to make sure it is done in a timely manner . Not at all. Nothing further. With your reference to criminal inquiry there is the reason because when we met previously never once did he say it was ssi a nature and now if did they make any mention that was sensitive that is important because of the reformation and offered serious concerns of the airports throughout cuba so let me finish please. They had a very robust discussion and i also encountered at least two weeks back and forth to get him to come here today my staff spent a good part of one full week just trying to put out of a subpoena to produce him and then when you get here for the very first time we hear this stuff that he talked about in the open setting was considered to be ssi if you do that earlier we would have to have that tone today. Wide you have that town anyway . Just ask the question were all professionals there is no reason to adopt with all due respect you can adopt whatever tone you want if you want to get the answers were not prosecutors any more were not. But we have a duty to our country to make sure we have proper oversight. Then dont play politics and ask a question. There is no politics were trying to get the answers. It sounds like were playing politics. Youre taking my time the bottom line is were trying to get to the bottom of very grave concerns about the opening of these airports we respecting fully to have him tell us if we had no idea he would claim it is ss i which is the nature so i will apologize for my tone but the interest of our country is at stake to beecher the airlines are safe. There was an article recently in the Washington Post talking but individuals trying to use false cuban documents to get into cuba then the United States and there is serious concern am not saying you are malfeasance but just trying to get the facts that need you to a tissue with ito and i will apologize but understand the interest of this country to keep the airline safe to open travel to a former communist country there are Major Concerns of these activities make sure we got our eyes and cross our teas. Then lets not make it us versus them there is no market on nationalsecurity there is no one that has a priority to keep the country safe and if you want to get to the bottom of proper analysis Going Forward before we open travel as part of the normalization of relationships bin do in a private setting where we can get the information instead of putting on a show asking questions people can answer that is all i am asking for take the policy out of a clearly politicized issue to get to the heart of the matter. We were attempting to do that today. I will preface my remarks by apologizing for raton have you been to cuba . Raise your hand. I have this is the most ludicrous thing i have never heard of we will open a commercial travel when i visited i was excited we had dinner with an 83 yearold in the 23 yearold expected the 83 yearold but i was interested with the 23 old had to say i was appalled that person believed the United States of america dropped the atomic on japan after they surrendered. Honestly cannot believe that i was appalled so i will ask what is the commercial service how many passengers to anticipate having come and go back and forth . With a scheduled commercial services you are referencing is department estimate. Let me to you again about my trip to cuba they hate capitalism and everything we stand for i learned that in my trip there i can tell you that they hate america and not as as americans but america and we represent they blame us for all of their economic problems. Everything everyone that i had the opportunity to speak with felt the same way i took great offense to that i love america i think it is the greatest country ever in the history of the world for the life of me i cannot understand we had the opportunity to visit with a journalist does the regime still take Political Prisoners . Yes they are by not keeping them as long anymore. There you go. What do you think will happen . Your personal opinion what do you think will happen when we open up travel between these two countries their economy starts to do better well thats the press the current regime . Day you think that will suppress them do you think that may empower them even more than now . Im interested to know anyone . Please. All i can say is we as representatives of the department of Homeland Security are focused on the security of air transit. Sanders than that of not asking you as a representative but as an american. Im here to testify as an american citizen. That is what i was asking i am focusing on the department of plant security commercial aviation between cuba and United States. So help me out to understand the difference between the International Requirements to go through security and Ameritech Tsa policies and requirements. Wh International Aviation tsa enforces and inspects the airports to ensure International Standards so that is one piece that insurers the security of the airports themselves but they both have role. Are they the same . The difference between tsa standards is performance based of what should happen what tsa does when reassess how will those standards are carried out if it is more prescriptive. I will ask this ru has comfortable with someone coming out of cuba as someone coming out of america . I believe we have a gold standard. Yes or no . Yes, sir, i am very comfortable to travel international. Said the u. S. Gone through security in the cuba so you are confident they have been vetted . A meet International Standards. I will say this again you need to go there i have been there. I am not in favor at all but it is the worst thing we can do. Mr. Chairman i apologize for my tone and i yield back. Ag mr. Chairman i will do my best to leave politics out but we have to a knowledge to my friend and colleague from across the aisle that with the stroke of a than obama did announce a dramatic shift of u. S. Policy this time towards cuba and we are left to adjust teradata part i appreciate you being here to be tasked to implement and enforce the new trade and travel regulations as a result of these policy changes so i appreciate you being here today to provide clarity regardless of tone we have a responsibility for oversight to protect the American People as they travel so to that point i want to understand the facts so that embargo prohibits Lending Technology to cuba . That is my and a standing we cannot provide training or equipment. And the u. S. Embargo prohibits the cuban government to have these high quality screenings equipment from the United States. That is maya understanding as well. And there is some question whether cuba has or lacks the equipment that is necessary to conduct an important aspect of screening like explosive detection equipment and bomb sniffing dogs . I think it is further evidence the cuban government only has to full body scanners located in havana . I cannot discuss in this opens setting the capabilities better there right now but that technology focuses on one element that is people process and technology. We know that they cannot obtain or purchase from america so if the administration looks to authorize last points of departure and there is a discussion if it is five or six but if they lack the equipment to the tune we believe that they made then how does tsa plan to use certified that they have the equipment and personnel to detect potential threats to the United States . We send inspectors on an annual basis milli get people process and technology against International Standards. Will stop you and heard you say that before that they meet International Standards right . Will tsa certified the standards of the cuban government for airport safety . You are sending inspectors down will they give a certification . They will give the assessment to meet International Standards so service can proceed. According to the state Department Cubans continue to favor landbased injury particular through mexico what is the current policy for cubans to enter the United States without proper documentation. For the cuban adjustment act there is any National Security the option to have them detained. But will the policy of the United States me if they arrive at the airport . The same policy. I am from a border state of texas do you have an opinion what you expect to see with asylum declarations based on the shift in policy . We are seeing the numbers increase from last year. You are now recognize. Thanks for indulging me. With the april 12 letter i sent to Aviation Security passed up the annual visit to cuban officials to the u. S. And the airports that have been occurring since 2010 in response dhl said the exchange of Technical Information and best Practices Exchange of Technical Information of my concern and curiosity is what we are giving to them but not getting from them with cubas history as Counter Intelligence date that is extremely concerning to me. As government hosta out to the United States and of the u. S. Adversaries including china and north korea they both have listening post better the largest on the planet by d. H. Just sharing our information with cuba when they know they will very likely just give it to our adversaries so what precisely specifically is Technical Information that we share with the cubans would about Security Operations or equipment is any of this classified confidential sensitive lawenforcement sensitive for official use only and what assurance do we have the disinformation hasnt already been leaked to the adversaries . Let me start by saying the visits with the cuban government representatives we do that annually and part of the reason is we have free access into cuba to required assessments without those visits i am not sure we have this access to his important we take them to different airports normally in the south or the east to give them an opportunity to observe our checkpoints and how we operate we dont share any information with them the sharing of best practices basically. If i were to ask you if we are sharing has said twoway street with the terminology exchange is to share would be be able to tell me what United States has gone from that visit that it wouldnt know already . One of the key elements is secure flight information the passenger manifest coming from cuba so that information from those public charters this is information we are getting that has been acted upon. I feel that we have the great reciprocal agreement we should get something if they want something so we should be getting something we cannot otherwise get so what is a net for the United States if we give up power information like best practices ive never worked in the systems but what can we be using . As a member of that committee we have a shared goal of passengers around the world that is shared with the cubans and other members bomb talking about best practices