[inaudible conversations] id like to call this hearing to order. This hearing will be a little bit different. It is perhaps the first congressional hearing held during the extenuating circumstances of the pandemic. We have a sparse crowd and expanded bias the committees hearings to the guidelines put forth by the rules committee and attending physician. Id like to thank our members and staff for their patience and understanding as we work through the logistics in holding this hearing a part of the eversight of Intelligence Community. Members will be joining us on a rotating basis throughout the morning. And again this afternoon, as we move to a closed session. Their absence now is not a reflection of the importance they place on this matter. We have asked members to watch as much of the hearings as they can from their offices, only coming into the hearing room to ask questions. Id also like to thank the press corps for your accommodation of the restrictions were facing as we seek to fu
Americans. It has sickened over 1 million americans and it is impacted every one of us. My deepest sympathies are with those we lost, and i salute the efforts of those on the front lines including the dedicated Intelligence Community professionals reporting for duty and carrying out their mission. These are truly trying times and your courage, honor and sacrifice will not be forgotten. Id like to begin by thanking President Trump for his Incredible Opportunity for me to serve our nation and for his confidence in me. I would also like to thank former u. S. Attorney general John Ashcroft for his gracious and humbling statement. I am forever grateful for your faith in me. I also want to recognize and thank senator cornyn for his kind words, and my fellow texans for their support. It is been the privilege of my life to represent the constituents of texas was Congressional District. Finally and most Important League theres no way i could be with you today without the encouragement and suppo
Areas on the Youtube Channel or Facebook Page and it is awfully strange times to use Live Streaming to create the stage of curious i want to thank you for keeping the conversation alive. To view a closedcaptioned version please watch the youtube page. He will speak tonight about 20 minutes after that after the ik to do questions and those that have submitted yield at the Bottom Center of the screen. You can also vote on which questions the speakers answer by clicking the air annex to the questions. We cannot guarantee he will be able to answer every question but we will try to get to as many as possible and 20 minutes isnt a long time so you better get to work. Bearing witness the new york editor and prizewinner with the true story of the deep state in production with our friends at the farmland trust on climate change, Clifford Thompson on race and family as well as frank, welcome, helen [inaudible] video or podcas podcast forms ie Digital Media library so in short you can look around
Good afternoon, everyone. Notwithstanding the change in the schedule, were going to start on time, the new time. So, on behalf of myself and bob wise, who is my supremely and talented collegial codirector of the nyu law schools legislative and regulatory process clinic, i wanted to welcome you here today to the fourthyear of the form. Forum. We are joined by another nyu law entity. A nonpartisan, multidisciplinary director, and the rachel called brenner, who is here, has been invaluable in helping pull together the programs this afternoon. This forum would not be possible without the generous support of a Renowned International law firm. It gives me great pleasure to partnere peter ross, a in the chicago office, who knows a lot about what we are talking about today. He served his district for six terms, from 2002019. He chaired the house ways and means subcommittee on oversight, where he championed efforts that were supported on a bipartisan basis to overhaul the irss civil Asset Forfe
The schedule we are going to start on time. The new time. On behalf of myself and bob bauer who is my supremely wise, talented and collegial codirector of the nyu law schools legislative and regulatory process clinic i wanted to welcome you here today to the fourth o year of the for. We are joined this year by another nyu law entity, the reef center on law and security, a nonpartisan multidisciplinary institute and the director, rachel, who is here has been invaluable in helping pull together the program for this afternoon. This b forum would not be possie without the generous support of sibley austin, a Renowned International law firm and so it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you, peter who is a partner in the chicago office. He knows a lot about what we are talking about today. He served his district in illinois in the u. S. House of representatives for six terms, from 20072019. During that time he held a number of very significant positions. One of those most pertinent to wh