Good afternoon. This hearing will come to order. I want to thank our witnesses for your service to our country. 13 people lost their lives, 30 people were injured. It underscores what we are dealing with here in terms of a threat environment. This is my ninth annual threat hearing that i have either chaired or participated in. I often say im not the most uplifting character. Those i could say that in nine years, i have seen tremendous progress being made and we have reduced these threats and all is well. Unfortunately, we face the same threats. If anything, the threats are growing. Nine years ago, we were talking about the blind use of drive drones or the use of social media. We face the same threats. They are evolving. Terrorist groups are metastasizing. They are spreading around the world. , it has happened is grown more complex and difficult. You have tremendous responsibilities on your shoulders. Really, i will turn it over to my Ranking Member and we will get to witness testimony.
Perhaps if my colleagues had taken a more active approach to resolving their concerns, we would have avoided this situation in which additional capabilities were needed to respond to the elevated threat this emergency situation that has been posted by iran. Mr. Speaker, there has long been a consensus in this body that irans malign activities in the middle east are a threat to the United States national security. And to our partners. In the past three years alone, we have passed legislation responding to irans support for terrorism, growing Ballistic Missile arsenal, and human rights abuses. The Iranian Regime has not backed down from these malign activities and it is my sincere hope that this body will not back down from its resolve to counter irans destabilizing agenda. Unfortunately this resolution and the other joint resolutions of disapproval for the 22 sales are very much a step in the wrong direction. And with that, mr. Speaker, i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro
Committee on Homeland Security will come to order. Committees meeting today to examine the most serious threats confronting our homeland. Before i recognize myself for an opening statement, i would like to take a moment to welcome the newest member of our committee, don bacon. Don served nearly 30 years in the air force and is experienced in cybersecurity and Airborne Reconnaissance will prove greatly beneficial to this committee. Thank you, sir, for being here. Thank you, chairman. I now recognize myself for an opening statement. I would like to thank each of the witnesses, acting secretary elaine duke, fbi director christopher wray, and ctc director nick rasmussen, for joining us today. You represent thousands of patriotic men and women who go to work every day to insure the safety of their fellow americans. Everyone on this committee is extremely grateful for your service and director rasmussen, for over two decades, you have helped navigate an unprecedented landscape in combat terr
Place where his professional journey began, at carnegie where he served as an intern. After graduating from west and and ive known and admired nick for many years and we served together at the state department when nick worked for mister ross as a special middle east coordinators office. Nick went on to serve as one of the very few senior Us Government officials to serve virtually continuously since 9 11 in fighting terrorism around the world, first at the white house and then at nctc. Over the last three years, hes led and molded hundreds of colleagues from across 17 different federal agencies into a remarkably strong and cohesive team. At a moment when their increasing tendency, i think to disparage sometimes and to politicize the work of earlier Public Service, im especially glad to have the chance to highlight and honor the Public Service of Nick Rasmussen because nick has been the very best in Government Service so i hope youll join me in a warm welcome for Nick Rasmussen. [applau
Committee on Homeland Security will come to order. Committee is meeting today to exam the most serious threats confronting our homeland. Before i recognize myself for an opening statement, i would like to take a moment to welcome the newest member of our committee, don bacon. Don served nearly 30 years in the air force and is experienced in cybersecurity and Airborne Reconnaissance will prove greatly beneficial to this committee. Thank you, sir, for being here. Thank you, chairman. I now recognize myself for an opening statement. I would like to thank each of the witnesses, acting secretary elaine duke, fbi director christopher wray, ctc director nick rasmussen, for joining us today. You represent thousands of patriotic men and women who go to work every day to insure the safety of their fellow americans. Everyone on this committee is extremely grateful for your service and director rasmussen, for over two decades, you have helped navigate an unprecedented landscape in combat terrorism