Vote vote the presiding officer are there any other senators in the chamber wishing to vote or change their vote . If not, the yeas are 47, the nays are 44. The motion is agreed to. Cloture having been invoked, the senate will resume executive session to consider the vought nomination. A senator mr. President. The presiding officer the senator for arkansas. Mr. Cotton whats happening at this moment in hong kong is a tragedy, a crime, and an affront to the civilized world. In a year in which so much has happened we may look back in the near future and view this moment in hong kong as the single biggest moment of the year. The presiding officer will the senator suspend. The senate will be in order. Members take their conversations off the floor. The senator for arkansas. Mr. Cotton mr. President , whats happening in hong kong right now is a tragedy, as it crime, its an affront to the civilized world. In an eventful year with so much happening every single day, we may look back in the nea
Senator johnson good morning. This hearing of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security, Government Affairs committee, is called to order. This is our annual threats to the homeland hearing. I want to welcome our witnesses. Id like to start, though, by acknowledging the victims of the hurricanes in houston, texas, in florida, throughout the caribbean but in particular puerto rico. Im sure well be discussing that quite a bit. Maybe wasnt contemplated when we first set up this and scheduled this hearing on the other enormous threats, but theres real threats to human life occurring now throughout our nation and well certainly acknowledge that. All those individuals are in our thoughts and prayers. Im sure everybody on this committee joins me in that. We are pleased to welcome the acting secretary of Homeland Security, elaine duke. Director of the federal bureau of investigation, christopher wray. And nicholas rasmussen. We want to thank all of you for your service. These are perilous time
Readiness to get the House Armed Services committee on the continued oversight of the transfer of excess military equipment to civilian Law Enforcement agencies to order. I would like to begin by recognizing the dedicated service of our readiness subcommittee clerk, ms. Jodie bignolia. This will be her last official event of our subcommittee and i want to thank her for her contributions to our actions in the past year. I want to wish her the best of luck as she moves forward in future endeavors. Thank you, jodie. [ applause ] one of the objectives of this subcommittee is to bring attention to matters that impact the overall readiness of the department of defense. This includes programs or activities when face management challenges, present budget implications or could be administrated more efficiently. Whatever the root cause is, it is our goal to provide necessary oversight in order to ensure our armed forces achieve the highest levels of readiness possible. Given the current threats
A law passed in 1997 allows state and local police to buy excess military equipment at a reduced cost. Pentagon officials testified on capitol hill on the program last week about strengthening requirements on who can buy and transport the equipment. Good morning this hears comes to ordinaries, called this hearing of the House Armed Services subcommittee of readiness to get of the House Armed Services committee on the continued oversight of the transfer of excess military equipment to civilians, Law Enforcement agencies to order. I would like to comment the our clerk, this is jodys last official event for our subcommittee and i want to permanently thank her personally thank her for her contributions to our efforts the past year. Wish their the best of look as she moves forward. Thank you, eddy. [applause] one objective of the subcommittee is to this includes programs or activities which face management challenges, present budget implications or could be administered more einitially of w
Thank you. [applause] one of the objectives of this subcommittee is to bring attention to matters that impact the overall readiness of the department of defense. This includes programs or activities which face management challenges, present budget implications, or could be administrated more efficiently. It is our goal to provide necessary oversight in order to ensure our armed forces achieve the highest level of readiness possible. Given the current threat facing our nation and budgetary pressure on the department of defense, accountability is always paramount and every dollar counts. Vigorous oversight can help ensure that mistakes do not happen and when they inevitably do, we learn lessons from missteps for this reason. I am very grateful that we have convened this hearing today on the recent Accountability Office report highlighting deficiencies found with the management and operation of the Law Enforcement support office, l e s o within the logistics agency. They are responsible f