The lack of federal leadership and interagency coordination has been this disappointing to all of us. We protect our frontline aviation workers and our passengers if this is not there . That is why chairman thompson and i recently sent a letter to the leadership of the Transportation Committee to the heads of dhs and dot calling for an Interagency Task force. I am very concerned about the different requirements for temperature checks, health , a lot of different requirements and confusion. Is not good for the traveling public. It creates risks for passengers and aviation workers. We have to follow and trust the expectation. Our decisions will ultimately affect millions of travelers. Social distancing measures were most visible when stayathome orders were issued across the country. They have been credited with helping slow this virus. Areal distancing measures visible at security checkpoints and boarding gates. We have seen aircraft for love unmasked passengers. They have been forced to travel in those conditions. They are doing this with very limited resources. We must make sure that the measures we put into place are effective. We have seen contact between frontline employees. The Civil Liberties of the flying public must be communicated. Temperature checks should be subject to notice and comment by the public. I understand that tsa is considering installing cameras with facial recognition software. Before we roll this out in airports, we have a lot of work to do. This committee has already done a great deal of overset on this issue. There are still many issues over concerns of Data Collection and protection and use of public. It is not in anyones interest to see the department push out new facial recognition technology. Without having the necessary protections in place. They use thermal Imaging Technology to find threats. History reminds us that the last time tsa employed image , congress had to step in. A deadline tod stop the use of scanners that did not protect passengers privacy. In avatar use. I want to hear from our aviation partners. The public has a right. Last but not least, i want to hear from our stakeholders. No Aviation Industry without the workers. Safeng workers healthy and will ensure that this industry and its employees make it through. Resilient but it tods all of us to make sure keep the public safe. Thank you. It is good to see all of you. I am pleased that the subcommittee is meeting today. I am disappointed that members are not able to meet in person. Other committees have allowed protocols to allow members, this is not. The is not in keeping with guidance of the house rules committee. Turning to the topic of todays hearing, i want to commend the men and women of the tsa for continuing to do their jobs. More than 50 tsa personnel have tested positive for the virus. Tragically, five tsa personnel have lost their lives. This is one of the parts of the economy that has been devastated by covid19. Tsa was screening prior to the viruses outbreak. I can tell you from personal experience, i assume you have seen the same, when this whole thing started and i started traveling back to washington, there was maybe 12 feet on the plane. It has since grown. , the plane wase full. Is due to the fact that the airline i travel long as one nonstop flight per day. We are beginning to see slivers of hope that air travel is starting to increase. With this recovery, transportation stakeholders are responding to new challenges and ordered travelers save. What will the screening process look like . What changes need to occur for passengers to feel safe . What more can be done to protect passengers from a potential second wave of coronavirus . These questions and more continue to circulate in the aviation community. We are thinking about how best to implement the solutions. I really do want to thank each one of the witnesses today. We are in an dented times. When i first started traveling it looked like a ghost town. I was often the only car to be dropped off at the airport. I that to see this is picking up somewhat. I do want to hear from our witnesses. Need to get our economy back working again. Thank you again. I yield back. Thank you. I want to thank the Ranking Member. Thank you. Could you please explain our agreement on Committee Procedures during these proceedings . Thank you. Let me begin by reading the rules and practices. Members will be expected to adhere to those rules. Of the committee and the house. Operate inee will accordance. We will expect members to participate. What you do today makes us require some modifications to ensure that members can fully participate in these proceedings. Thank you. Could you elaborate on how members may be recognized during the proceedings . First, to simplify the order of questioning. [no audio] establishing a quorum or foreboding. Members should make every asset effort to remain visual on the screen. If you have issues with your stream, you can continue with audio. At the beginning of the hearing, members are on mute. Members will be expected to butte themselves. Do not beat yourself up for speaking, the clerk has been directed to mute the members to avoid background noise. Should a member wish to be recognized to make a motion, they must seek recognition at the right time. Before we proceed i have a question for staff. Your video went away. And youre speaking with the for a while. Do we need to repeat all of this stuff for the record . Is there any staff member on the call . If you can just read the last paragraph for more time. A membere events that does not butte themselves after speaking, the clerk has been directed to butte members to avoid background noise. And must unmute themselves seek recognition at the right time. You might want to email all of these rules out if you have not already. It was not the last paragraph that one out. I can go back and read the whole thing. Me. Dont need it for i just dont know if it needs to be done officially or not. I can move on. Thank you. Member expect if they encounter technical issues . That just happened . You are prophetic. I will move to the next available member of the same party and will recognize that member at the next appropriate time spot. A members time be interrupted by a technical issue, i will recognize that member at the next spot. That i should encounter technical issues, the vice chair of the committee is available. Thank you. Thank you. Expectould members decor the core of um . Members are reminded that they are only allowed to attend a Virtual Event at a time. Hearingully accept that before entering another proceeding. Members are rum martin reminded that they are to follow rules of the quorum and have should should have a professional a political background when they are participating. Thank you. What should members expect if a witness loses connectivity . In the event a witness loses connectivity, i will preserve addresses as staff the technical issue. You are muted. Go ahead. Cannot hear you. I think what is happening is im doing it and the staff is doing it. Hopefully you can hear me now. If ashould members expect boat is called during a remote event. 965 requireslution members to be visibly present. They should seek recognition from the chair. To ensure their vote is recorded. I will hold the vote open for a time to address the technical issue. Thank you. I yield back. Thank you. With that i ask unanimous consent for the subcommittee under the covered time designated by the speaker on House Resolution 965. Without objection, so ordered. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from mississippi for an Opening Statement. [no audio] cannot hear you. I think we have it. Thank you. We welcome stakeholders perspectives. On resuming our travel in the era of covid19. Importantly, all of their dedicated employees. It includes civil rights and Civil Liberties. There is heightened concern in the wake of coronavirus. Covid19 has not only inflicted on president lossoflife on our country, it has devastated Industries Including the aviation sector. Our nations Aviation System has been the front line to stop the spread of this pandemic. Officers interact with passengers, crewmembers, and other airport workers. They put themselves at risk each and every day. 468 employees have recovered. Five have died. As chairman of this committee, i have advocated tirelessly on behalf of the frontline workforce and demanded that they be issued appropriate protective equipment like gloves and masks. We must make every effort to ensure all aviation workers are kept safe from this virus. S mechanics. To not keep them safe would have serious negative connotations. Mentioned earlier, the impact of covid19 has been devastating to the sector. Down 48 from this exact moment last year. Given this reality, the federal government must establish health to restore Public Confidence in travel. Significantquire collaboration on the part of agencies like tsa and the white house. The American People and the traveling public deserve better. Tot is why i call on d. O. T. Establish an Interagency Task force. To support the successful recovery of the Aviation Industry. We will identify individuals who may have covid19. I find this news alarming, given that there is evidence that Health Screenings are effective since people can spread covid19 a symptomatically. Civil mention there are rights and civil liberty concerns around tsa conducted amateur checks. I am particularly concerned about dhs collecting and using and safeguarding Sensitive Health information of the traveling public, airport workers, and airline crewmembers. Given that covid19 disproportionately impacts certain communities, including the africanamerican and elderly. Protocols must be designed to guard against the potential discrimination of travelers. All of the issues i just raise highlight that a program must undergo the notice and comment of regulatory process to have the proper rollout of temperature checks at our nations airports. Aviatione of the industry in the covid19 arrow will include a number of have just as i outlined. As the chairman of this committee, im committed to aviationith esa and stakeholders to ensure the sector ultimately six the. Despite these challenges. I will be interested in hearing from todays witnesses on how we collectively do so. I yield back the balance of my time. Thank you. Recognize theo Ranking Member of the full committee for an Opening Statement. Thank you. I am pleased the subcommittee is meeting to hear stakeholder perspectives on safely resuming air travel. Im perplexed on why the aclu is here and not the airports. Yesterday, two large committees met for markups. Minority members also were allowed to use committee rooms. The house will be back next week voting in person yet this committee chooses not to meet in person. The minority looks forward to working in the majority to allow members to be physically present in the future. Todays hearing comes at a time when thousands of aircraft remain grounded. Passenger volume has dipped 85 below average. Ensuring that travelers have confidence is vital to the industry. Stakeholders must work with relevant Government Entities to restore trust in air travel. Liness been on the front throughout this pandemic. We are grateful to the thousands of tsa officers that protect the traveling public. These officersf have contracted the virus and each member of the committee is saddened by the loss of five tsa personnel to covid19. Air transportation stakeholders have also been hit hard by covid19. As we seek to ensure the health and safety of travelers, i hope to hear more about what policies and procedures have been implemented. I also hope to hear from the witnesses on what additional actions should be taken. I thank the witnesses and yield back the balance of my time. [no audio] i dont think we can hear you. I couldnt hear all of you either. Mr. Rogers, did you finish your statement . Yes, i yielded back. Thank you much. Other members of the committee are reminded that Opening Statements may be submitted for the record. Now i would like to welcome our panel of witnesses. Our first witness is mr. Kevin burke, president and ceo of the air force Council International north america, where hes been since 2014. The trade association representing the governing bodies that operate commercial airports in the u. S. And canada. Our second witness will be miss sarah nelson, the International President of the association of Flight Attendants, representing 50,000 Flight Attendants for 20 airlines. She has served in this capacity and has been a union member since becoming a Flight Attendant in 1996. Giuliani,witness, ms. Serves as senior legislative counsel to the american Civil Liberties union. Ms. Giuliani is part of the National PoliticalAdvocacy Department that has focused on surveillance, privacy, and National Security issues. Aclu, shening the worked in the department of Homeland Security. And our fourth and final witnesses, ms. Victoria emerson barnes, the executive Vice President for Public Affairs and policy at the u. S. Travel association. The association represents over 1100 members, organizations, and supports almost 60 million jobs. Witnessesjection, the . Will be entered in the record. Now im going to ask each witness to summarize their statements in five minutes, beginning with mr. Burke. Thank you for inviting me today. Please excuse my voice. It is allergy time and im doing my best. Im kevin burke, president and associationrade representing airports in the United States and canada. I welcome this opportunity to discuss the current state of americas airports. Since the outbreak of covid19, airports have been focused on providing for the health and safety of passengers and employees, to raise Public Awareness about reducing the spread of covid19, updating public websites, installing signage, and making public announcements about safety. Airports have also implemented numerous mitigation measures. That includes Hand Sanitizer stations and plexiglass barriers at ticket counters and restrooms. Airports are also working to ensure physical distancing. Which is a very large challenge. Airports have increased the frequency of cleaning with an intense focus on touch points. As we continue to navigate these unprecedented times, airports are grateful for the 10 billion in Emergency Support provided through the cares act. It was a lifeline for every commercial airport in this country. The grants are helping airports offset some of the damage. Still facetionwide major financial and operational hurdles. As all of you who travel to and from washington no, americas airports are hurting. With passenger traffic down nearly 90 from this time last year, u. S. Airports face at least 23 billion in operating losses as a result of the covid19 pandemic. Airports that, these face significant operating expenses, cleaning, deploying Hand Sanitizer, installing plexiglass barriers, and encouraging physical airports. Airports are working hard to cut their budgets and plan for the new airport experience once this covid19 pandemic gets out of the way. We want to keep people working at our airports. We continue to coordinate closely with the faa and tsa, customs and Border Protection, and others on recovery efforts, regulatory guidance, and regulatory flexibility. Commend the agency usders for partnering with and other airport members on these initiatives and for their extraordinary accessibility and assistance during this challenging time. My written statement details federal policy solutions to assist airports and aviation as we head toward recovery. I would like to highlight three key points. First, with revenues down significantly, u. S. Airports need another infusion of federal funds during this national emergency. 13 billion is needed to help up with costs in the coming year. Second, u. S. Airports are working with stakeholders to develop and implement new measures to protect Public Health. Aviation touchless security screening process for passengers and their baggage as they move through checkpoints and customs and Border Protection points of entry. To achieve this, we recommend the following. Points, maintain physical distancing, and increased security. We also need a sufficient number , providing for that critical social distancing. More support for existing programs like janitorial reimbursement and explosive detection systems. We also need a new Airport SecurityGrant Program to fund perimeter security, checkpoint redesign, and Emergency Operations centers. We recommend the establishment of a joint Advisory Panel involving dhs, d. O. T. , hhs, the state department, and industry stakeholders for issues related to pandemic planning. Economicare leading engines in your districts and communities and investments in airports have multiplied impacts throughout the region. I look forward to working together to get americans back to work and back traveling again in a system that is safer, stronger