Transcripts For CSPAN3 Homeland Security Secretary Nominatio

Transcripts For CSPAN3 Homeland Security Secretary Nomination 20171111

This hearing will come to order. Of course you will. Good morning. We are meeting today to consider the nomination of kristen m. Nielsen to be it next secretary of it United States department of Homeland Security. I want to welcome ms. Nielsen, her family. Id certainly want to call out mrs. Karen kelly. General kellys wife. Shes here also showing her support for the nominee. And i know ms. Nielsen will introduce her family in her Opening Statement. Americas facing enormous challenges. Our National Debt exceeds 20 trillion and theres no serious effort being made by either party to eliminate deficits expected to exceed over 1 trillion. Our enemies are on the rise. The Iranian Nuclear agreement did modify irans behavior for the worst. They remain determined to target with Nuclear Weapons and the threat of islamist terrorism has evolved, metasticized and spread all over the world, if the clnco our homeland. The challenges are equally daunting. We have just experienced unprecedented destruction caused by three hur had canes and multiple wild fires. Dhs and fema are already stretched thin, responding to these disasters. As the use of the internet spreads and increases, so do the threat posed by it social mediaf had if spired acts of terrorism. This committee has held more than 20 hearings laying out the sad reality that our borders are far from secure. Elicit drugs flow virtually unabated and we are more vulnerable than we should be to external forces. U unfortunately enemies from within may currently pose our greatest danger. Five years ago on august fifth 2012 evil struck in oak creek, wisconsin when six worshippers we senselessly slaughtered at a sikh temple. Since then the it has sickenly and depressingly grown. December 15th, 2012, 26 killed, two wounded at an Elementary School in sandy hook, connecticut. April 15th, 2013, three killed, 2 h 264 wounded in a bombing at the boston marathon. December 16th, 12 killed, eight wuned. April 2nd, three killed, 12 wounded. Five years after an Even Deadlier shooting that took 13 lives. April 13th, 2014, three killed at a Jewish Community center in overline park, kansas. May 23rd, six killed 14 wounded near it camps of the university of california. May 17th, 2015 nine killed, 18 wounded in the motorcycle fight, gang fight at a restaurant in waco, texas. June 17th, 2015, nine killed, one wounded at the Emmanuel Church in south carolina. July 15th, five killed, two wounded at a military recruiting center in chattanooga, tennessee. Nine killed, nine wounded at the Umpqua Community college in rosebering, oregon. Three killed, in my opinion wounded outside a clinic in colorado springs, colorado. December 2nd, 2015, 14 killed, 24 wounded at a Christmas Party in san bernardino, california. June 12th, 2016, 49 killed. At least 68 wounded at the Pulse Night Club in orlando, florida. If i ever killed near parking garage in dallas, texas. July 17th, 2016, three Police Officers killed and three more wounded at a Shopping Plaza in baton rouge, louisiana. January 6th, 2017, frooive kill six wounded at airport in fort lauderdale, florida. 58 killed, 546 wunlded at a music concert in las vegas, nevada. October 31st, 8 killed, 12 wounded along a bicycle path in new york city. November fifth, 2017 just this last sunday 26 killed and at least 20 wounded in the First Baptist church in southerland springs, texas. During that list i just called out the deaths of 262 americans. More than 1,000 wounded. Id like to just take a moment of silence to reflect and remember those victims and their families. Later sunday evening my 34yearold daughter asked me it questions were all asking ourselves. What is happening . Why is this happening . What can we do about it . Toes are the questions the next department of Homeland Security secretary will be asked to address. It will not be an easy task. The department of Homeland Security employs approximately 2 hn 40,000 people and manages a budget of 56 million. Its a department created by fusing 22 separate agencies with diverrerse missions. The result is a Department Struggling to use work force relative to other federal agencies. Fortunately when ms. Nielsen served under secretary kelly she witnessed first hand how quickly and dramatically morale can be improved. In my conversation with general kelly, he called ms. Nielsen a superstar. Hes also sent this committee a letter of indorsement. Weve also received a letter from former dhs secretary tom ridge, as well as a letter from 40 former white house and officials. Ms. Nielsen, i thank you for your past service and your willingness to serve again and look forward to your testimony. With that ill send it over to our Ranking Member. I appreciate this hearing and thank the nominee for her willingness to serve. To provide advice and consent for the president s nominee for senior positions in our government. On october 16th, President Trump nominated ms. Nielsen to lead the department of Homeland Security. Recent events have only reif had forced the need to have strong permanent leadership. American citizens in texas, florida, puerto rico and other regions have had had their lives and livelihoods upended by hurricanes. Our out west raging wild fires have forced thousands of families from their homes. Record breaking floods have ravaged communities across my home state of mopohad. And last week new york suffered the most deadly terror attack since 9 11. The American People come together and they crave leadership that brings it together. Brings us together. Dhs plays a Critical Role in insuring that federal government provides that leadership and supports that effort. If confirmed as secretary, ms. Nielsen will lead it Third Largest department in the federal government, over see over 240,000 employees and contractors and coordinate 22 separate components including immigration and customs enforcement, transportation security administration. The federal Emergency Management agency, the coast garuard and t secret service. While i was already aware of her work ethic as well as expertise in Cyber Security and preparedness. I appreciated the chance to bring other qualities in our meeting yesterday. My hope is today pfs hearing w expose some of the challenges. For example i look forward to learning how she plans to lead to capabilities, despite the cuts included in the president s budget. I want to know what steps shell take through our ports of if tree, despite of the failure to address it need for more port officers, Border Patrol officers that serve at our ports of entree. I would like to hear how ms. Nielsen will apply Lessons Learned to improve the oversight of dhs contracting practices in crisis situations. I also hope that ms. Nielsen will share her priorities for counteracting violent extreme and protecting our infrastructure from foreign actors. I want to learn about it Management Experience and philosophy that ms. Nielsen plans to bring to dhs. Its judgment, Management Experience and philosophy that she will have the most important duties. Because of course she will try to surround herself with Department Heads and other high ranking officials that will do the day to day operation of the department. No one that served has had had perfect knowledge of the depth and breadth of issues facing the department. I certainly think shes very knowledgeable and has great depth of the policies and issues facing the department. But it secretary must also have a leadership and Communications Skills to lead a complex and sprawling enterprise on day one. I hope ms. Nielsen will discuss her strategies for promoting collaboration in other federal partners. I also want to know how shell if sure that whistleblowers can come forward to the Inspector General to report waste, fraud and abuse wouithout fear of retaliation. I hope to receive the public commitment that dhs will comply with all members of this committee, including several of mine tat remain outstanding. Nielsens predecessor was willing to speak frankly, even with had his message would not be particularly well reseevled. It was the thing i found most qualifying of general kelly for the position tat he held and the position he currently holds. Under his leadership dhs was willing to answer requests from information from both it minority and majority and was far more responsive than many other departments. We have the ability to continue oversight of the department. And id like it department of Homeland Security is comprised of thousands of talented and dedicated americans who work every day to keep us safe. They develop and implement countersecurity policy, they defend our border, administer Immigration Laws, and Critical Infrastructure and execute Disaster Preparedness and response. We must insure they have what they need to succeed in their mission and i look forward to working with ms. Nielsen in that effort should be confirmed as the sikszxth secretary of homel security. We have two distinguished colleagues in support of ms. Nielsen. Im going to yield if its okay to senator rubio who hatds to answer the child tax credit. Senator rubio. Thank you. To the Ranking Member and members of the committee. Im honored to welcome a fellow flor idian as the president s nominee to be secretary of Homeland Security. She grew up in clear water and among her many professional experiences begain in the u. S. Senate where she served on the staff of former florida senator, connie mack and worked on foreign affairs. Issues these are not only important to our home state of florida but critical patters for the National Security of our country. She as a long and distinguished career that span more than two decades. She is an internationally recognized expert in resiliency and risk management, Cyber Security and an Emergency Management. We have before us a nominee to serve in this critical position to understand the wide range of Homeland Security related challenges and the ever evolving threat we american face including combatting elicit Drug Trafficking and insuring safe air travel. She recently served as the chief of staff under then secretary kelly and during that time i it opportunity to get to know her better on a number of Homeland Security issues. Id like to read a short excerpt from a letter from general kelly who could not be here with us because hes currently traveling with the president in asia. He wrote in part the following the too it committee. You have read of her accomplishments and polished resume. You have heard her accolades to success and duty. What truly setsz her apart is if teg rety and dedication to the men and women who risked their lives serving our great country every day. She is undoubtedly qualified to surv as the next secretary of Homeland Security and i emplore the committee for a safe and swift conformation. I ask that this be entered init to the hearing record. No objection. Aside from her impressive qualifications, i know her to be prepared to challenges and devoted to working with us here in congress to inhsure safe and secure homeland. I thank you to welcome this well qualified nominee and i hope they will quickly move forward with their nomination and that they will soon confirm her as the next secretary of Homeland Security. I thank you again. Senator portman. Thank you. I appreciate you giving me the privilege of being able to introduce the nominee today. Kristen nielsen, as was just said by my colleague, rubio. So kbaqualified for this job. We need have somebody with the experience and qualifications she has and we need that right now. I do want to take a moment to acknowledge acting secretary elaine duke for her service. She took over the duties at a challenging time. Kirsten is not a native ohioen like ms. Duke but im eke weal excited to introduce her. We served concurrently in the george w. Bush administration where she was a trusted hand as senior director for preparedness and response. I saw a decade ago a professional dedicated to Public Service in the mission of securing the homeland just as i see that today in her actions more recently at Homeland Security and at the white house and im delighted she is stepping forward to take on this responsibility. I appreciate the opportunity to sit down with her to hear about her priorities. It sounds like you all have done the same thing and its exciting. To have someone with her energy and enthusiasm. Work ethic was mentioned and her qualifications to do this. She has this hill experience we talked about a moment ago. She also has private sector expe experience. Most importantly perhaps, the first secretary nominee with previous experience at dhs. I think thats important given the serious challenges you described. With this experience from the transfirmative years and at it white house, her most recent roles, she will be the kind of capable leader we need in this ever evolving threat environment we find ourselves in. She proved herself in the early stages transition and saw first thand challenges of managing this diverse and sprawling agency and hes right, rarl it management challenge. Shes developed expertise in Homeland Security strategy, Cyber Security, transportation security, emergency resilience. She speaks regularly about it need for resilience. Mr. Chairman, you noted in your opening comments that Committee Received written introductions from secretaries ridge and chair toff. I know they regret 2345not bein here today but these leaders know what this job intills. I would like to briefly read a coup coup couple excerpts from their letters. Shes been involved in Critical Infrastructure profection from the earliest days. Having managed to day to day operations of the department. She has since served as Senior Deputy chief of staff, charged with the policy making process with t secretaries and deputy secretaries. Simply put she is ready to hit the ground runong day one. Thats from secretary ridge. She played a key role in leading the lessons ea s learne effort after katrina. Changing how we deal with response ever since. Sheez rar Homeland Security leader for our times. She understands the 21st century challenges of a borderless cyber domain and worked to address this risk to americas National Security and economic stability. She offers the credentials required in todays environment. Experience, expertise in Homeland Security policy and operations. And public and private sector experience in the Mission Space end quote. Mr. Chairman i echo those strong sentiments. I believe her work ethic and experience is what is needed now. I look forward to asking a few questions myself. I hope we can move this nomination quickly and out to senate so we can get her to work at a critical time. Thank you. Ms. Nielsen, it is the tradition to swear in witnesses. So if you can please stand and raise your right hand. Do you swear it testimony you will give before this committee will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you god . Please be seated. Shes currently it Principal Deputy chief of staff to President Trump and prior to that staff to john kelly in Homeland Security. She served in senior director from 2004 to 2007. She hold as bachelors degree from school of Foreign Service and a jd from the University School of law. Thank you. Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member mckaskal. It is an honor to appear before you today as you consider my nomination to lead the department of Homeland Security. Im humbled and grateful to the president for the trust he has placed in me to lead the great men and women of the department during such a critical time. I want to thank senator rubio and portman for their kind words and introductions. Thank you also to former secretaries for their statements. It was an honor to serve and work with them and i look forward to their continued partnership and stewardship of our Homeland Security inertprise. And i want to thank now

© 2025 Vimarsana