Pallia in a secure a deal will come to order lifted to have a workforce of 60,000 employees with Security Operations of 450 airports and railroads and masstransit systems. I now recognize myself. Today we are meeting to discuss the role of keeping Transportation Systems and before we begin of a bite to welcome to thank the administrator for joining us this morning the range of important topics we have just been briefed in a classified setting by the d. A. Justice director general about specifics owner abilities of security and quite frankly i think i speak for all of us when they say we find that everything disturbing. We have to do more to confront the threat and i want to work with you to remedy the situation as soon as possible i am hopeful tsa is successful to implement those recommendations that should improve that effectiveness while all members of the committee share concerns i do want to remind the members the information shared must remain classified. Today 16 years past be horrendous attack that claimed the lives of 3,000 people of september 11 but only nine days pass the latest terror attack hitting downtown york instead of a truck but other than an airplane is a reminder those threats are real so before he was killed the isis leader called those wolf attacks to kill them before any means necessary by killing innocent people to destroy our way of life. Theyre only one flight away to be successful to keep the homelands safe tsa needs the tools and resources to carry out its mission however winner stan this is no easy task there are 60,000 tsa employees helping to safeguard airports throughout the United States the aviation sector is the crown jewel. Americas enemies only have to be right once but we have to be right 100 percent. Those people traveling in the country to implement policies and procedures to instill confidence fortunately the committee is dedicated to working together with tsa to get the job done. Over the last several years we help to strengthen the Aviation Security that was signed into law legislation included bills with the last point of departure airports to require an Emergency Response for the tsa personnel on a regular basis. Also passing legislation directing them to open a strategic Investment Plan to provide to the private sector with a realistic road map these are steps in the right direction with that big is briefing we have a lot more to do. In 2015 we learned from the ida chess Inspector General that the screening record was abysmal. So it is very dangerous to the American People and although some changes have been made we cannot be satisfied until they are properly addressed. Working with the private sector we need to find ways to meet our security needs. These partnerships produce Innovative Technologies including the use of biometrics with facial recognition to make the hard to pass through those screeners at the airport and also strengthen the ability to keep up with the emerging threats and as we discussed the technology will be key here family traveling americans but those that could be a victim from airplane being blown up in the sky. Howl they go about to try is always changing and in late july in australian their resin attack with material that could have been used with that explosive device to blow up the airplane also looking for laptops and other Electronic Devices for bombs to be detonated on airlines. This is an one of the most serious threats we face it must we addressed semaphored to discussing with you to confront these issues head on. Mr. Chairman thank you very much first of all, i will express my condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the heinous terrorist attack in new york city last week and thanks to the brave First Responders to came to be a there our thoughts and prayers are with them all. I also want to express my condolences to of those killed in the of horrific shootings in taxes at the First Baptist church and other Community Devastated by a mass shooting once again in a place of worship. I sent the chairman of a letter this week asking to have my bill as a standalone bill. It establishes a program to authorize nonprofit organizations including faith based communities with that insulation of security equipment protecting against attacks. I appreciate the prior cooperation that the next scheduled markup of this important legislation. Following up on a german from last week to reschedule without further delay to postpone the full Committee Hearing with the Disaster Preparedness rescheduled for november 1st for our fellow americans and puerto rico and the u. S. Regimens insure they provide desperately needed emergency relief as it has for those by recent hurricanes in texas. Thanks for holding this important hearing. And thinks the chairman for holding this hearing we appreciate the task you have with the Transportation System. The fact theyre banning devices from all passenger planes earlier earlier this year shows the seriousness and while september 11 attack was 16 years ago these threats are causal the emerging. The Job Administration must invest in Aviation Security and instead it appears hell bent on squandering on a border what it does not make the nation more secure. Meanwhile 1. 2 billion from the tsa operations with the deficit reduction at 1. To 8 billion could go along way to secure our aviation vulnerability. Those letter currently pushing a tax package of at least 1. 5 trillion helping the wealthy and wellconnected it defies common sense in addition to resources necessary for the agency to do its job effectively they must address that has been plagued since its creation. So to have low morale 303 o with 305 agencies in 2016 with of high turnover rate. That is 70 percent of the workforce but yet they are denied full collective bargaining rights and opportunity to raise issues with the independent thirdparty. Additionally they are subject to a pay and performance system that does not detract with those General Services for federal workers. So to move that foreword to see those necessary changes there is the parity to receive the critical protections. Democrats assume they have the resources to maintain the workforce that it needs with the vital mission. And things to the administrator for joining us today. And looking up that close oversight Going Forward. I yield back. On august 10th the retired vice admiral was sworn in as the seventh tsa administrator after serving 30 years. Thank you for your service and for being here today. Your full statement will appear in the record the chairman now recognizes the chairman. To the distinguished members of the committee reflecting on those tragic events of new york city last weekend in texas this past sunday and joining you to offer condolences to the families and our thoughts and prayers to all those injured. So thank you for inviting me here today for my first time and to support the committee and its members with the passage of the department of a Homeland Security authorization act of 2017 grateful for the long standing relationship that tsa enjoys with the committee every four to building on this relationship. Although only on the job of short time i am impressed with the dedication and commitment of men and women who provide protection to millions of people every single day 365 days a year. It is vital to the nation security. It has come of all way. Is still facing a determined adversary. The threat to International Aviation is i and they are intent on attacking our systems successfully meeting them whether or revolution famous rays the security baseline by staying ahead of threats and deploying with industry and Public Safety. It with more complex threats more quickly and consistently and efficiently. Making sure it receives the best leadership available and closely connected to the mission and to raise the baseline, tsa is working with partners across the board and in june from all commercial flights to the neck states ended september investigated news security measures fourth read some of the cargo aircraft. We are grateful for many partners for their support of these efforts over the past several months. This includes exploring the pursuit of checkpoints to show a 3d imaging and as important as these advancements are the Security Professionals are vital to accomplish the Mission Working behind the scenes to those of the Airport Security checkpoints with onboard aircraft and our partners with surface Transportation System owners and operators. To carry out our activities ready to invest in though work force. To communicate to employees every chance that i have that the work is critically important and the number one priority with the recent terror attacks in texas and overseas are a compelling reminder to remain vigilant and continue building to the Stakeholder Communications with collaboration with the open by nature system. Regarding those views to help them with security i value and appreciate the oversight provided by department of homeless security Inspector General and i pledge is my years as administrator to be open and transparent and responsive to every member of this committee. My key priority will equate to improve security performance. I appreciate and will build upon those relationships tsa has with the airport and airline and the owners and operators with Public Safety partners throughout the United States and international with the organizations and partners. This concludes my statement i am honored to serve and i look forward to your questions. Going back to the 93 World Trade Center bomber the plot to blow up 12 airlines simultaneously, he escapes, with the basic plot of the 9 11 attacks. They still have not stopped. They are relentless. Even though they have been demoralized to a large extent by whatever means necessary, could lead shake mamas dream is alive and well unfortunately. But it also tries to bring down the airlines with a laptop as the explosive device we just had a briefing with the Inspector General i am not allowed to go into detail but he did publicly state identified folder abilities at every member found disturbing. I dont think the American People can afford to wait for kobe have talked about ct this Technology Goes from two dimensional at threedimensional and highlights and identifies contraband devices. We have this as a Pilot Program in only two airports but my question is how soon can this technology be employed and those of the identified as the highest threat . Those are a significant enhancement over the current checkpoints for you are correct in the United States right now because it is a system to bring those carryon bags with the transportation and Security Officers. We could deploy the technology throughout the system that what happened as a result so to see those images it is three diesel with that success for further inspection is greatly improved. Were not at the point with the computer tomography but overthrew the course of the next several months that technology does exist it is being tested and could be deployed. Also add this technology is already in place in the check back system. That is what is confusing to us if it is already in use . I a understand that algorithm has to be updated but it seems to me that given the negative gut level we are in with an aviation, why can we move as quickly as possible to Deploy Technology with the last point of departure . So the reason it is in the checked baggage area only until recently we can get the size of the machine down to the point that it could fit at the checkpoint. But now we have a prototype in phoenix and boston and it exist. We need to do work of those algorithms and they can lower the weight time as well. That can occur after they are deployed but the algorithm is second. Why not the other way around . You could but the challenge is reducing the input through the machine with a Conveyor Belt to brings those bags. I look forward to working closely with you. Perhaps this is the biggest threat we face with large scale attacks. I look forward to working with you to see how rapidly we can deploy this technology and the appropriators to make sure the money is available to get the technology out to the airports him last point of departure that we had gone to on many occasions but quite frankly is finding that those highsecurity areas. Welcome to the job. I know youll understand that threats an accord to working with you. The ct capability would be a significant improvement probably the most you could make in that location. In the efforts there is the path to get to ct deployment. I fake in line with what you have a just said with the ongoing interest that this committee has had about how long it takes to get new technology and it continues to be a problem. I am saying this to say thatt a new technology being deployed, think we be remiss if we didnt pursue that. To that question, we were told a few years ago that were spending around 9 per passenger at airports on security. Per passenger. Do you have any idea what were spending on trains, buses, or cruise lines for passengers . No, sorry dont. At the airport we provide the security on board cruise lines and other places is provided by the owners and operators. So we have nothing to do a security for trains. We have responsibility for security but the operatives provide the security, unlike the airport tsa provides a security. We provide guidelines for what those transportation modes should do for security. See her say we have nothing to do with it other than provide the guidelines . We dont provide oversight see what theyre doing. We do provide oversight of the guidelines, and we have regular dialogue with their service transportation. With some is not meeting the standard what you do . We go back and have a conversation of where the shortfall is. Our experiences they are very quick to remedy the observations we make. So how do you rank surface Transportation Systems . Pass, fail, marginal . I was just up and kneejerk new jersey and new york, i would mark it as pass. Does amtrak provide you with something and they review and say its okay . How do you do that . We develop guidelines as to how we would provide security. Then the Owner Operator has a perspective we talk about the outcomes would like to achieve they come back understanding that outcome and how they can best achieve it for them we agree on a way forward. If you have any written reviews of Passenger Rail systems in this country can do provide that information . Yes. Are you aware theres airports who invested monies and modifying their airports pursuant to tsas direction to accommodate equipment that is not been reimbursed over ten years later . Understanding is that would be reimbursed off of that expense. Theyve submitted a claim weve reviewed those once they complete our review their back with airports in 14 out of 19 agreed they were out for review. The challenge is having the funding to pay for the investment they have made. Said tsas direction they have made the improvement spent taxpayers money in over ten years later were still back and forth trying to get the airports their money . Thats my understanding. Can you provide us the status of those . There are 19 total. Can you provide that . The last item. In 2007 Congress Passed a bill, i authored about publish regulations requiring transit systems to provide frontline workers with security train and develop and implement security plans. Over a decade later tsa has yet to issue these regulations. To know why they havent . I recognize its been a long time. Theres requirement for training, betting and security plans. Two of those are in the process one is in the proposal of rulemaking. The third is queued up beyond fiscal 19. Fiscal 19 question at 12 years after Congress Passed the law . Yes. Thats in line with how we do technology another thing, i know you inherited this but at some point some of this should be done in a more timely manner. I would encourage you to get a sense of how many issues are outstanding and how to bring closure to them. Otherwise the public will continue to lack the confidence in the systems that they use to go back and forth in this country. I o back. Thank you. Welcome administrator. You have a challenge. This agency run is broken and that needs your attention. One ask about the fast tracking of passengers in airports. We have the precheck which tsa has been working hard to make people aware of, they can do an upfront screening and go to an expedited line. Theres been a practice of fast tracking when lines are delayed at the normal checkpoint the pope people how to put them into that check line randomly. Is confusing people. What can you do to maintain the brand for precheck that people want to participate in. I understand why that would be a disincentive for people to pay the fee. We no longer move people randomly from the standard lane to precheck. If theres a k9 in the checkpoint from they sweeps passengers without a reaction then we feel weve done some vetting away move those passengers into precheck. We talked about the need for explosive detection canines reading and training experts. I have a bill that i plan to introduce next week that will have tsa experts in research researchers, trainers to create a standard. I want to ask your commitments work with me with a sense of urgency this needs. You have my commitment. I think in a nine programs strongly support our work. The chair recognizes mr. Key. To get back to the 3d technology. You said hypothetically that could be done, but their prototypes out there. When youre saying hypothetically you could do that now, you send the technology doesnt exist has been utilized elsewhere . The technology exists. Im going to visit the airport next week. So what did you mean hypothetically . Is not hypothetical because of technology. It is due to funding. Thats interesting. So you could use more funding to keep people safer . There are other options for that funding. The public is charged a certain amount money. 1. 28 billion has been put back for what the public gives for deficit reduction. You could use 1. 2 billion. With that really help you in terms of getting rid of the hypothetical . Yes, sir. We compete for funding just like everybody else does. Could you use the money . How far with echo . It would go a long way. So we could be safer clearly in your opinion, were not doing it because of the money that were taken away the passenger funded money in the president budget decreases it. I wouldnt disagree with the fact that additional money. Are you satisfied that it keeps us safe given the Technology Available to us now. I was not involved when the budget was developed. Your satisfied were safer with that budget when he just said that money been taken away from the passenger portion could make us safer because a 3d scanning . Thats not satisfactory to me. We were [inaudible] the path for ct development. That was a program reviewed for investment. So now would you favor taken that money back. We had the funds available. Were talking about ten alien dollars plus for a wall. We have the money. So youre saying were not safe, we have Technology Available to make a safer but its money thats keeping us unclear that . I dont believe i said americans werent safe. Safer. Additional investment would make travelers safer. Is the fifo program a good program . Why is it being cut . Its a tradeoff with other priorities. This was already there, that includes canine patrol on those teams. They keeps a safer but were not funding that either. When you look at the budget heres a question to think abo about, can you use that funding to provide more Security Officers at a checkpoint . I think theres a tradeoff with the wall. We know and we cant get into it what was discussed before at a classified hearing. But we know a present danger thats not so we have a present danger right now, we have the technology and resources that were not doing it because of funding. Were taken away for Budget Reduction what people pay themselves to do it were paying for a wall, i yield back. Thank you. Ive called on congress and the Obama Administration to complete an exit entry system which the 9 11 Commission Said was an essential investment. Checking the arrival and departure for visitors to the United States is an important part of our immigration control. Without this its impossible to know for visitors have left the country or overstayed their visa. Using only biographic information is not enough because it doesnt prove the person leaving is the same person who entered. An Automated System has been required for years and has been ignored to be implemented. Please we have a president whose priority is ensuring the safety of the American People. President trump has laid out a series of priorities that include the speedy completion of the system for all travelers to the United States. Although these are primarily under the jurisdiction of u. S. Customs and Border Protection, tsa is important in protecting the United States. How is tsa working to utilize Biometric Technology . Our desires still sees biometrics as passengers approach the checkpoint. You provide your track support drivers license. We like to get to biometric. And have the same biometric that u. S. Customs use. We tested out some Biometric Technology in the checkpoint. Something were very interested in. House tsa making sure things are properly shared . We meet on a regular basis. Were both in the same airports and im confident well find a way. For decades the castro regime ruled with an iron fist over the nation of cuba. I believe concession should not be made until they give their people basic freedoms that we take for granted everyday. Under the obama and misse administration commercial Flight Travel resumed over largely unaware of the daytoday operations of airports including screening and training. The cuban government controls its a significant vulnerability. What steps are being taken to address security risks at cuban airports and commercial flights . To raise the bar some measures have been implemented. Others on october 26. Tsa inspectors have visited all 280 points of airports and found that all countries complied including cuba. While they were checking for the july compliance they check for the october 26 compliance. Cuba is one of the first countries to come in full compliance. On the basis of overall Global Standards in their efforts to get there and achieve those, we found them compliant. The chair recognizes ms. Watson from new jersey. Thank you. I live in new jersey. Im concerned about the Transportation Systems and Passenger Rail. We had recent attacks that we know that al qaeda has tried to instruct people on how to attack these kind of places. We talked about Aviation Security and was being done but i want to talk about surface transportation. Does the tsa have the authority it needs to ensure our nation surface Transportation Systems will be secure . Yes, you have the authority to regulate and offer directives. Do you have the capacity to do the things you have the authority to do. Thats an area look at closely. I spent some time in the area last week i met with other operators. I want to ensure that were properly researched resource for. Its an issue very important to me and the other was i come from. Im planning to have a field hearing to discuss this. I like to discuss this with you. I want to talk about the morale and placement of tsa in the network of good morale and bad morale. It has been traditionally low. What is your plan to address this low morale issue . Morale is not where we would like it to be. The most recent survey overall numbers went up by several points. The trendline is now positive. I want to spend time understanding the morale issue but ill share with you what were planning to put in place. One is investing in the leadership of transportation officers on the front line. I think its important we provide the skills when they come into leadership positions so they can properly take care folks in their charge. One of the most important area, i think we need to train our transportation officers to be expert at jobs theyre asked to do. Theyre very difficult jobs under a lot of pressure. My impression is were doing a next line job. Dedicated to the mission. Its our job to provide them the training and support they need to be successful. Employee morale is a high issue for me. I would submit that as morale improves so does security. Surge up to make sure you have the resources you need that as many security procedures and needs are being met to keep us all safe. For that reason i also support not draining the aviation fees back into the general fund. You have a tremendous need we have a responsibility. Im also interested in you and your willingness to commit to reviewing all the policies and procedures that lead to more secure jobs. I have respect for your frontline employees. Encounter them every time of flying. Their courteous. My husband who carries a bag stuffed with everything from his childhood to this time in his life often gets taken aside. I appreciate that because i recognize that is a measure of double checking. Even though he looks real illicit. Your people are conscientious in doing that. There are policies and procedures that may impede successful retention as well as upward mobility for your employees. We commit to having a serious review of those . Yes. I appreciate your comments about the tsa workforce. I genuinely appreciate the hard work that they do. One thing that were working on and i do want to shorten the cycle times for tsa decisions, a career path for the frontline officers. And required gates of Training Provided as a go to the next level and is a prerequisite for promotion. Id be happy to have further discussion with you on. Thank you. While i was waiting to talk i was looking online and noticed eight minutes ago the Trump Administration reverse some of president obamas policy regarding cuba were you aware of that . No sir. It will scale back travel. If you can digest the order i appreciate you getting back. As i may have mentioned previously i got back from a congressional delegation not too long ago. We went to look at airports and Airport Security. One thing we heard from people in germany and amsterdam set Security Officials routinely think airports that meet standards are not living up to the standards, theyre not adhering to the standards have you heard that before . I have not heard that. I can attest that their good standards. What a set of my keynote is that as a Global Community we need to implement them consistently across the globe. How do we do that . Primarily we have acquired for thats United States near paying commissions. Amongst those countries were aligned to aggressively implement the standards. We represent most of their traffic in the world. Will continue to press that. I had the opportunity to sit down with the secretary general and it is greatly improving the priority of security. Originally Safety Organization i was heartened by the staff commitment to keep pursuing security and being aggressive about it. Using the far more positive it about it in your foreign counterparts do. They are absolutely expressing concerns about many countries especially those flying into the airports that may not be adhering to the minimum standards. Some airports that meet the standards are shocking. I dont necessarily agree with you that the standards are robust. Is the airports in the caribbean and middle east. I will spend part of the day with my counterpart on a trip to europe so i will have a discussion with them. Also all the European Union airports now mandate 100 employee screening. Even in the country of jordan they mandate that. Separate entrances dont seem to be huge burden to go through a checkpoint. He had differences in the u. S. Is amazing. I want to know your opinion, is it that much more difficult in the United States have 100 of employee screened . I share your concern with insider threat. Thats a significant challenge facing us, that in personal Electronic Devices and cargo. I want more information about what is possible with respect insider threat. Their studies that savior randomly screen experts youre as effective as screening 100 . I havent had a chance to get deep into that. Ive been in the secure areas of airports and on the tarmac. Its an area we need to look at. Atlanta seems to have gone to for employee screening. The havent missed a beat. Weve had guns being smuggled routinely, major Drug Trafficking cases over the country involving insiders. Flight attendants carry drugs into checkpoints because theyre not screened. In dallas, fort worth we had an employee checking to see where federal air marshals are flying. He offered to bring anything on board including bombs. I dont subscribe to your fact that riskbased screening is working. In that case they knew where the screeners were, they just sent their counterparts to other entries that were insecure. I would respectfully us a respond within ten days what your thoughts are asked whether nonemployee screening is something we should pursuing a more robust. Thank you mr. Chairman. I want to align myself with the comments of my colleague from new jersey. New york is one of the most extensive Transportation Systems in the world. Im glad to hear that the priority for you. I like to join with my colleague to speak with you Going Forward as to the result of your analysis. The other thing is doing well as placing focus on the morale of the employees. In the time ive been here its a persistent problem the guy who sits in your chair and holds your position. You can understand why. They get. Her resources and pure accolades. Glad to hear youre focusing on the morale. One thing if you speak to employees they want to make sure that you have their back. A lot of that has to do with do you feel like you can tell the president for anyone in the administration that you need certain things, that policies are put into place are maybe not best for the national or domestic security of our country . To that . This is something that everyone has to go through go through some kind of confirmation process, where you required to take and loyalty oath to the president or administration . No. I did go through a process with two senate committees. So what would you tell employees . If youre doing this analysis and looking at these issues, if something came up short to feel you have the ability to say that publicly and ask for more resources from either congress or the administration through administrative action . My job is to advocate for transportation security and our employees have in the right number of tools. I advocate for that is the budgets are being built. Working on fiscal 19 budget. Trying to be their strongest advocate to make sure we get the resources to door jobs. Im never going to get all of the resources, their tradeoffs made within budget limits. My job is to make sure those tradeoffs if they need to be made are done considering the requirements we have. Your workforce is the first line of defense. So glad you recognize that. How long have you been in the position . Almost three months. To feel like its a lifetime . No. What are your two or three Biggest Challenges as you see them in the short time he been the. The first would be bringing in more technology to the checkpoint environment. Its clear that needs to be done. To try to do it as urgently as we can. If i were an officer working on the frontline, youre going to do a better job and plus, that reinforces the agency and government will invest in the tools so its on the system of innovation and the other is on the workforce. That is our last line of defense we are people who do a lot of editing for passengers, we have inspectors around the world to inspect compliance and we have federal air marshals to secure aircraft in flight. I want to focus and make sure they have the tools, training and support they need. My goal is to be out of d. C. As often as im in d. C. Ive exceeded that the first few months because i want to get out and introduce myself. When i do get out which is once a week or more i hold town halls with our employees. And its on me to get back to them with a resolution. Your predecessor try to increase morale i dont know if you spoken to him he put a focus on training giving additional ongoing training and i dont know if you continued that. It didnt change, actually enhanced it. He instituted a tsa academy were all employees winter for two weeks. We continued the mapped out a career path for frontline employees that shows the training they will receive from us to make them eligible for promotion to different levels. That hasnt been done in the past. Thats been a challenge of putting it forward to publish it. So that our employees can look and say this is my career path from entrylevel to becoming a supervisor at the checkpoint. Heres the resident nonresident training tsa will provide me. Thank you. Thank you mr. Chairman. Thank you for your service to our country. Baggage Screening Technology utilizes 3d imaging and through the precheck of the non precheck line all bags are checked in this manner. Correct. In the non precheck line the human being is told to remove their shoes, is that correct . Yes. If a threat is detected and baggage that goes through the screen and that bag is physically checked by tsa operator. Yes. In a similar manner, a human being if theres some sort of density or threat of that human then that person is checked in a similar manner. Correct for the precheck passengers are they required to remove their shoes . No. The bag is checked in a similar manner spot precheck dont have to divest themselves of Electronic Devices. They can keep them in the banks. In a precheck passenger goes through the metal detector. Correct. Will it detect a ceramic or plastic knife . Its to detect metal. Will it have it all plastic container like a mace device . No. And im sure youre aware that 9 11 hijackers used knives and mace to hijack the plane. Would you say that the final line of defense of protecting our citizenry from inflight hijacking threat is the federal air Marshals Service in the flight deck officer program. Would you consider thats the final line of defense . Yes sir. Theres a frontline to that and thats the vetting that gets folks into precheck in the first place. Our assumption is that those passengers represent less risk. Understood. We just determine there certainly possibility given Current Technology and new snow across the country. Many millions of precheck passengers could potentially pose a threat. Yes sir. Theres never hundred guarantee. The final line of defense, the federal air Marshals Service has not hired new here air marshal since 2011, correct . I think they have hired in the last couple of years. To know what the numbers are . I do not. Can you provide that please . Im also advise that the air Marshals Service does not have a complete and timely data report to the extent of which they have completed their annual training. Do you have data reflecting if they are maintaining their training. My understanding is that we track their currency with annual training but i dont know theres a database that does that. Are you satisfied that the federal air Marshals Service and as well the flight deck officer program which allow pilots and other members to take part in special training courses in selfdefense and close range target instruction. Are you satisfied with that level of training . Would you share what your plans are to be set up . Ive been through part of the training that theyre provided. Its excellent overall. The number of people enrolled has grown over the course of time. Its a Beneficial Program for inflight security coupled with our federal air marshals theres a reasonable possibility that will be on a flight with those passengers. Thank you for your attention to that matter. Ill back. Recognized jonah from california. Thank you for holding this most important hearing. And i want to thank you for your comments and testimony. Before the hearing reach out to the john wayne airport, the only International Airport in orange county, california. I was pleased to learn the airport enjoys a productive relationship with tsa and i think you and tsa for continuing to commit to security and passengers in orange county. Thank you. I wanted to follow up on some comments with ms. Rice and watson and tsa personnel and morale. The more i learn about the job tsa is entrusted with the more i think of them as First Responders. The job they have is very serious one. The burden is tremendous. And failure is unacceptable. Im concerned about retention rates, morale. What is your retention rate like . It varies by airport based on cost of living and airport sites. The average is about 12 for fulltime employees. So 12 say an 88 move on . 12 attrition rate. But it varies by airport. You talk about the academy of training is that enough given we continue to face threats that are evolving technologically . To continuing training so theyre up to par with whats going on . There is training at the airport and instructor training at the airport. Thats coupled with a tsa academy. As we build out the roadmap there will be opportunities to go back to georgia for training. How long does the average tsa Employee Stay . I dont know. I ask because if you figure out how to get the morale up which is appreciating and having folks recognize the importance of tsa personnel which is the function of ongoing training in salary and other things, but the longer there there the more expert they become at recognizing pics that are not normal and being able to investigate. Id like to work with you and making sure your personal and professional so that they feel like a Police Officer or firefighter would feel. Our job is important and we have to take it that way. You can have folk showing up and say go another eight hours. The port of l. A. Manages a high volume of traffic some features both exchange cargo terminals. Last week when we had the field hearing, one of the witnesses he had from the ilwu expressed concerns eve the transportation worker identification credential program, said it was ineffective expensive and posed significant hardships on americans who work on the waterfront and had problem width enrollment delayeds, due process concerns from employees who have to appeal a tsa interim denial and the the workers have to prove theres no disqualifying convictions. Is evaluating twic apry fort or you. The program has been in place a good number of years. Used to have a twic card, and i looked nor throughput data for twiy enrollment and proceeds as quickly as most of the to other credentialing programs unless theres anomaly. Ill look how long it take to resolve the issues about most on the burdens to provide documentation to support a potential twiy enrollee to support their contention they should have one, falls on them. Thick there are great are problems than just that, the enrollment process. Knee the congress they enacted the essential transportation worker credential assessment act, requiring the tsa to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the benefits and costs of the twic card too much you know what that status of that and is if the assessment going to be completed timeline established by, which is march 2018. I dont know what the assessment is but ill get back to you. If we could get something in write, that would be fantastic. Want to echo concerns about the during briefing we had this morning. The disturbing briefing we had this morning. Came to part of it. I had an experience about a month ago, was flying home to california, and i was in an airport that was pretty empty. Dont think we saw a passenger go through tsa for about 20 minutes, and allowed me to sit there, stand there and talk to some of the tsa agents, and they said would you take one issue to congress . Here we are, with the people that are tasked with stopping explosives from going through on to a plane, which could prevent a terrorist attack, yet the morial morale is low and we have not a had an increase in pay. I want to mention that because i promised the tsa agent i ran into that i would bring this back and certainly ask about it, and i wonder if that would help the what were seeing to improve not just morale but to make sure were getting people in these positions who are being very thorough and making sure were not missing any possible threatening situations from coming through the airport. Yes, certainly think it would help. In part of the road map for Career Development has pay gates in and it shows when you enter, what youre paid, not adjusted for cola because that changes by away but what the basic way and is what your pay increase gauge would be. Thats a common issue that i have heard as well, that you join tsa, youre a tso and have not had a pay raise where most other employees, whether its private sector or government, get a longevity increase. What we try to do this career path, road map to keep key paces to achievement of certain training goals. When you finally go off to tsa academy in the first 180 days of magic upon graduation from that came program you get a pay raise. And. This you got promoted to a lead transportation security officer, somebody who is in charge of that particular check lane, you get another pay raise and be map those out on a percentage basis. Somebody could see if i entered at the entry level pay, what pay hypothetically within four or five years might i be able to achieve if i got the training and was good performer. So map out what the pay increase would be and also what kind of Skill Development and training and Leadership Development we would provide. Thank you. I yield back. The Ranking Member is recognized. Thank you, mr. Chairman. A couple of things, mr. Administrator, whistleblower protection. There is a reason why we dont offer the same protection for our tsa work force as other fellow employees . Sir, i dont know that we dont. I thought we did provide whistleblower protection. Certainly from my perspective, withle blowers should be protect from retaliation. Absolutely. If you would, check that out. And get back to us. Theres some misunderstanding of the language, and and employees feel like they cant do the right thing for fear reprisal. The chairman talked about scanners and some of us have looked at the air cargo situation as one of the ways to move that, and i think theres a demonstration, perhaps on the way somewhere with that in light of what happened in australia, and we are trying to pursue legislation that would move that along, and we have some ideas about it, and ive introduced air cargo security improvement act of 2017, and like for you to look at it and get some views back to us on whether you think ct scanning makes sense, and is the right thing, and all of that. Yes, sir. Too know that the way you check air cargo can vary and be effective in, for example, the use of k9s to check palate of air cargo, the challenge with Ct Technology is the aperture is not large enough to get some pallets through so it would require a breakdown of a pallet so we are looking at other means that Cargo Carriers can use to achieve the same security outcome. Okay, thank you. Youll get back to us. Yes, sir. Were also working with customs and Border Protection on the air cargo advanced screening process, and we have some emergency amendment and security directived issued we respect to air cargo and information to clear cargo coming into the United States. Okay, thank you. Yield back. Thank you, admiral for your testimony here today. Congratulations on your position and your first testimony before the committee. The Ranking Member and i will be sending a letter to the secretary voicing our concerns over the Inspector Generals report, and addressing our path moving forward, particularly with re spoke to technology. Member maize have additional questions and pursuant to the rules they hearing will be held open for ten days and without objection, committee stands adjourned. I [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] conversation conversation. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] on saturday, watch the wisconsining into festival at noon, eastern, featuring doug stanton and david maraess regarding the tet offensive, and im the programs director of the miami book fair. Miami book fair takes place in downtown miami on the campus of miamidade college. We have 525 authors regular genre. Joint booktvphone the miami book fire, live from miamidade college, saturday and sunday, november 18th and 19th on cspan2. This week on q a, we look at the lives of the eight jewish justices who served on the supreme court. Our guest is david do dowen, aur of jew disies to the supreme court. A theme of my book is the declining antisemitism within the american legal system from the time brandeis to ruth bader ginsburg, and when from his vantage point, hoover had the audacity to norm nate cardoso and wrote a letter to hoover, how dare you inflict the court with another hebrew. The house ways and means fitsee finished up work on the house gaap tax return skill the senate release its its own version. Here are a couple of head been. The new york times. Senate tax bill delays corporate tack cut that trump called essential, reporting the Senate Proposal restores several popular tax breaks eliminated in the house bill. The house bill parsed in the wastes and means on party lines on thursday afternoon. The wall street journal writing the Senate Tax Plan differs from house on individual rates, timing of corporate rate cut and the contrasts in the come beating bills, pointing to the challenge the g. O. P. Faces in advancing the overhaul through congress which they aim to do by year en