It is to facilitate those while keeping a list of drugs and people. Air and marine is the supporting element which provides air and Situational Awareness. All three of these critical border lie heavily on technology to accomplish their mission. It is a Crucial Force multiplier and part of a multilayered approach. It was used for at least 20 years now. Instead of focusing solely on the gadgets in the gizmos in the many repeated failures weve had either gets important to think strategically about the decisionmaking process. Better to use the allocated funding in the long term. Today i want to take a hard look at the role that technology plays in helping to predict deter the text and finally interdict the activity. It is the ideal goal of the nations security effort. Its difficult to measure. For security processes they made a may decide its not worth the risk. Essentially deterrence is predicated on two things. The perception that it is a costly endeavor and the likelihood of success is low. If we cannot deter illegal behavior by communicating the message then we have to shift to detection, and surveillance. That is where the role of Technology Becomes indispensable. Terrain the presence of roads and other infrastructure and Security Posture in any given area should inform the tools that we use to detect the monitor. A consistent basis these are critical for what is commonly referred to as Situational Awareness. A basic requirement if the goal is to gain operational patrol. Motion sensors, and other surveillance equipment has become necessary. They have provided constant monitoring of difficult to access areas Aviation Assets such as unmanned vehicles equipped with advanced radar capabilities have refined our understanding of the significant threat and help to reap position the assets as they shift. I understand Border Patrol and cdp continue to use uavs. But they have the potential to operate with that. I look forward to the progress up date. A secure border is the outcome of that the American People demand. With this in mind they have asked one consequence of question. What would it take to gain this Situational Awareness up until now the answers we have received have been limited or unsupported similar to that of the Defense Department they been insufficient at best. Congress congress expects the Border Patrol office to be able to quickly identify and justify the technological needs required to secure the border. So far they had been involved in an effort called the capability gap analysis process. It is a scenario based exercise. In our Border Security defenses and hopefully inform the technological budget process. Putting more technology on the border will increase the opportunity to do that. That caused so much death and pain for our fellow american citizens. Thank you for being here. I look forward to the witness testimony. We now recognize the Ranking Member the gentleman from california. Her opening statement. I am pleased to join you for todays hearing examining the customs and border protections with the use of technology. Ranking member cant join us today. Due to some other commitments so im happy to step in over the past several years we have Seen Technology use to improve Situational Awareness and enhance security and to improve the commerce across borders. While secretary kelly and many lawmakers in Congress Talk about the value of technology to better secure borders we remain concerned that we are not utilizing technology to its fullest benefits. We know the new Trump Administration has prioritize physical barriers to secure the border. President trump ran for office with a promise to build the wall. To stop undocumented immigrants into curb drug smuggling. Experts before this committee have told us that a border wall well not accomplish either of these goals earlier this month the Appropriations Committee approved 1. 6 billion for the construction for the canute continued construction of this wall. It may not work. Im hearing stories of many of our Border Agents not been able to talk to each other using their existing equipment ive heard some of these folks tell me that they can see each other two to 300 yards away but they cant use some of their walkietalkies. To me that is a sad testament to the situation that we have. With reference to existing technology. With limited resources for technology on the border its important that customs and border get it right when it comes to procuring, testing and deploying Test Technology along the border. The department of Homeland Security has the attempted to deploy that. With mixed results at best. Identifying and inquiring the right mix of Border Security technology isnt easy but we gotta get it right. A million here. It translates to a billion billionaire and billionaire. And those dollars we can only spend once. Its a very precious taxpayer dollar. We know that the Border Crossers and it changes from day to day. With our technology and tactics need to evolve along with those changes. This is another reason why the border while in my opinion is that a solution to our Border Security challenges. We had two oceans they are. Very different they are varied as well. With the ending shift to physical barriers of technology i remained concerned about our Border Security and technology deployment. I would like to hear today them justify why wholesale plans would be more effective than deploying strategic technological assets along the border. Numerous times. We need a multilayered defense system. I also hope to hear from our witness today about their examination of the metrics to measure the performance of border technologies and whether the procurement and acquisition are sound or still need to be improved. Also in light of the massive acquisition resources that would be needed to be dedicated to constructing physical while i would like to know how they will manage existing Technology Contracts as it shifts to focus on personnel to man the new wall. I hope we can have a frank discussion with our witnesses about how they can best position the ongoing Border Security program for success in this environment of scarce resources. I think the witnesses for joining us here today and i youll back my time time. Opening statements may be submitted for the record. Mr. Todd 01 is the executive assistant commissioner for the office of Field Operations. Mr. Once served in various roles. And most recently as a director of Field Operations. They begin a career with the Border Patrol in 1986. Prior to becoming acting medici. He was the chief operations director. They served as acting director for u. S. Customs and border protection. He began his career with cdp in 1985 where he served as an agent and a pilot. The Homeland Security and Homeland Security and justice team. The Border Security integration. The witnesses and the full written this. Good morning. Esteemed members of the subcommittee. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today alongside my colleagues from the u. S. Border patrol and air Marine Operations to discuss the role of Field Operations. With Illegal Drugs and other dangerous materials. Before my appointment is that executive operations of Field Operations in february 2015. Most recently as the director of Field Operations for the greatest Greater Los Angeles area. I know firsthand how valuable it is. That potentially pose a threat to the United States. Used in conjunction with that. Advanced Detection Technology at the ports of entry. Other dangerous materials before they cross our borders. They have a wide variety of tactics and techniques. They regularly find drugs on those. Within packaged foods. And checked luggage in the Construction Materials transported on commercial trucks. This past weekend they discovered and seized 100 10047 pounds of cocaine. They intercepted three internal carriers of heroin and methamphetamine. They are traveling together and have entered through that pedestrian lights. Leads. And yesterday in brownsville. They seized a hundred 18 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in tires of a passenger vehicle. They are three reallife examples of threats they face every day. To counter the full range. They incorporate advanced technology to have robust cargo. Including the use of inspection equipment. The technologies deployed into our to our nations land, sea and entry. As well as a variety of portable and handheld technologies. These systems enable them to examine that. Without physically opening or unloading them. It is a force multiplier. Expediting the legitimate trade and travel. It is a critical contributor to Enforcement Actions and ports of entry. In 2016 large scale systems were used. Resulting in more than 2600 seizures in over 359,000 seized narcotics. They have also deployed nuclear and radiological detection equipment. And personal radiation detectors nationwide. Using radiation they are able to scan 100 percent of male and consignment parcels. Nearly 100 percent of all of that. In conjunction with the many other initiatives advancement in cargo they increased the ability to predict those Illegal Drugs and other dangerous materials and continues to be a cornerstone of the multilayered Border Security strategy. Take you for the opportunity to testify today. Im happy to answer any of your questions. Can you make sure your microphone is on. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today on behalf of the men and women of the u. S. Border patrol to discuss the use of technology our Border Patrol operations along the southwest border are continuously challenged by evolving tactics and National Organizations and individuals. The Border Patrol uses a thicket opportunities. To protect changes and threat levels. The support of the subcommittee. It continues to deploy those. To increase that ability along the southwest border in our ability to effectively and safely respond as appropriate to potential threats. With enhanced detections Border Patrol agents can improve their situation remotely. With the best. Otherwise unknown along the way. As a result these investments increase the Border Patrol visibility on the border. The operation capabilities in the safety of our Frontline Law enforcement personnel. As many on the subcommittee now the terrain along the border between the United States and mexico is extremely diverse consisting of deserts, mountains and areas. They deploy a combination of fixed mobile and relocatable Technology Assets. To maintain Situational Awareness. Integrated fixed towers. They provide a long range. They detect and track items of interest. With video and geospatial locations. Remote Video Surveillance systems are another fixed Technology Asset used by the Border Patrol to provide assistance in select areas along the southwest and northern borders. These systems which use cameras, radio and microwave transmitters send it to a control room. And they identify and classify and track. It is used in conjunction with fixed assets and provides the Border Patrol flexibility and agility to adapt to the changing border conditions and threats. The technical arrow stats. They are acquired as part of the reuse program. In our ability to track illegal Border Patrol. Mobile surveillance enables them to position that where it is needed at a specific moment. And extend our observational abilities. In addition to use of Surveillance Technology collaboration and information sharing with our Law Enforcement partners is a key component a building Situational Awareness and response capabilities around our southwest border. We work closely with our partners especially air and Marine Operations as well as multiple dhs Rural International state and local agencies. Technology is critical to the Border Securitys operation. A tailored blend of fixed, mobile and portable systems. And they work in construction. Including partnerships and tactical infrastructure. It increases the effectiveness in addressing the seasonal and periodic traffic patterns. To maximize omitted manpower. In the distinguished members of the subcommittee. In closing i would like to thank the men and women for their hard work and dedication to duty. 365 days per year. I look forward to answering the questions. The chair now recognizes you for five minutes. In the distinguished members of the subcommittee. It is an honor to appear before you today to discuss the technology used. In securing our nations borders. They secure the United States from the transnational threats. From reckoned weapons and drugs. Without that core competencies. They continue to see the National Task scene. First as a Border Patrol agent and then as an heir and addiction pilot. A significant increase in the deployment of technology to aid and security of our borders. In fulfilling our lawenforcement mission. Drought these accorded an integrated capabilities including aviation, marine and integrated groundbased centers. Towards or across the borders of the United States. Our technology the partners across cdp and the department of Homeland Security. In the operational assistance to our ground personnel. The capabilities. Are enhanced. These assets are equipped with a range of advanced systems. With the interdiction capability. With a high endurance capabilities greatly increase the effectiveness. Encountering illicit crossBorder Technology. They use advanced surveillance with the long range radar comprised of groundbased delivery. Across our entire program. When the 4300 arrests. In 5500 apprehensions. If the fiscal year 16. They lent the capabilities to a variety of federal partners including the u. S. Coast guard into the United States navy. By conducting counter operations in the southeast coastal and source in transit zones. We are the leading provider of airborne detection and minor team. For the south. We also provide that direct assistance. The interdiction capability. Within the nations interior. The Ranking Member. Indistinguishable members of the subcommittee. Thank you for this opportunity to testify today and i look forward to answering your questions. I appreciate the opportunity to testify at todays hearing to discuss gaos work on the work. Various technologies along u. S. Borders. They had employed up friday of assets in its opportunity to give the landbased surveillance. They had reported on the management and oversight of these surveillance technologies under the former secure Border Initiative in the departments more recent plans. My remarks today will summarize the pass reports as well as some preliminary observations from our her ongoing work for this subcommittee. And these technologies have aided the Border Security efforts. As of july 2017 they had completed deployment of selected technologies. All the plant remote video systems. With the plant innervated all the plants systems to texas and california. To Border Security efforts. In some of this Technology Programs. Weve also previously reviewed the schedules and the like style cost estimates. With the other programs and we compared these schedules and estimates to best practices. Overall the estimates for the program reflected some but not all best practices and we found that they could pay for their action to the reliability of those. By more fully applying those. They have taken steps towa