Transcripts For CSPAN Key Capitol Hill Hearings 20140911

When we visit the memory of 9 11, we thread on sacred ground. 13 years ago the world watched on a clear Tuesday Morning as we suffered loss we could not possibly have imagined and witnessed heroism we will never forget. Today, we come together once more in reverence to those sacred memories, to help consecrate those Sacred Places where so many lives were lost and so many were saved. Were honored to have the secretary of the interior here, representative hoyer, president of the firefighters, my fire chief from california, so many distinguished guests who have sacrificed so much for our country, including max cleeland. Its so nice to be here with senator casey and representative shuster, the representatives of one of the areas so affected and with our speaker, mr. Boehner. Thank you for making this occasion possible, mr. Speaker, and with leader reid. Leader mcconnell. I think we will all agree that as many ceremonies that we may participate in, this is singular in terms of how deeply rooted our sorrow is and how broad our respect is for our heroes. Again, in the very center of our democracy in this capitol, we bestow these congressional gold medals to our memorials in new york, in pennsylvania and across the potomac as the sign of the neverending commitment of the heroes of that day today we present those medals to the president , Joseph Daniels of the National September 11 memorial and museum in new york in recognition of the men and women who rushed up the stairs and into the smoke among many other acts of heroism. To gordon, president of families of flight 93 and recognition of passenger and crew who passengers and crew who charged up the aisle. To james, president of the Pentagon Memorial Fund in recognition of those serving our country. With these medals, we honor the heroism of the First Responders and ordinary citizens. We celebrate them in that capacity but also we remember them as husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, families and friends. We remember the perseverance of the loved ones they left behind and the advocacy of the 9 11 families who turned their grief into action to make our nation safer. As senator casey referenced. President lincoln once cautioned of the silent artillery of time wearing away our memories. We pray that the years might ease the pain of the bereefed but never let time berieved but never let time lessen. Because of their acts and deeds of millions of americans, we found hope in the face of despair, strength in the wake of fear, unity in the shadow of loss. Today, we renew our vow time shall not dim the memory of our Fallen Heroes. Their courage add luster to these awards, for we know their deeds will shine forever. Let their lives be a blessing to their beloved. Let them inspire greater compassion and humanity, let us resolve in their name that this date marked by terror will belong to bravery. God has truly blessed america with our Fallen Heroes of 9 11. May god continue to bless the United States of america. Thank you. \[applause] ladies and gentlemen, the republican leader of the United States senate, the honorable mitch mcconnell. [applause] none of us will forget where we were that morning or the horrible things we saw. The explosions that melted steel and shattered symbols of our prosperity and our might. Tools of commerce and transport used for brutal and homicidal ends, the people, the loss, the despair, these things we have never been able to forget. And yet thats not all we saw on that saddest of september mornings. Amid the horror and the tragedy there was something else, something more powerful. In the heart of a great city, strangers rushed to help strangers sprinting toward smoke and chaos, ignoring the danger to themselves. We heard stories of heroes returning once more to the swirling tempest of paper and glass, searching for others to help. At the edge of the nations capitol, colleagues became comrades reaching amid the flames and confusion. And high above the clouds, stories of bravery and revolt, courage that did more than just save buildings like this one or the ideals it represents but countless lives. These are the 9 11 Fallen Heroes. First responders, civilians, passengers and crew and so many others. They did not ask to be heroes. They did not wake that day with dreams of glory. But when history intervened, they acted. And unlike the hijackers who plotted to take lives, those heroes sacrificed to save them. The thousands of men and women who perished on september 11 did not die in vain. Their memories served and still serves as a Unifying Force for our nation. Whether by the inspiration of our their bravery or the brutal way their lives were taken, their memories stirred americans to even more acts of selflessness from joining rescue efforts to raising their hands in defense of freedom. In manhattan and shanksville and at the pentagon, weve erected memorials to honor them. And today with these three medals we commemorate every man, every woman who perished that day with the highest civilian award that congress can bestow. To the families gathered here, i know the wounds can never truly be healed, but never forget that your country stands with you and that we will never stop honoring the memory of the heroes we remember today. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the majority leader of the United States senate, the honorable harry reid. [applause] senator mcconnell mentioned we all remember where we were that morning. I remember. I was assistant leader. Leader daschle called a Leadership Meeting we had every tuesday at 9 00 in the morning. I was the first to come to that room, s211, and john came in, senator from louisiana, said turn on the tv. Something is going on in new york. We flipped on the tv and we said, what happened . Plane must have been misguided in the building. And we thought it was just a news story. This it wouldnt amount to much. And so people started coming in for the meeting. Conference table there in that room, s211, and senator daschle started the meeting. Within just a short period of time, matter of five minutes, six minutes, couple people came into the room, took him out of the room and he came back immediately and said we got to evacuate this room, the building. Theres a plane headed for us. As i walked out of that, ill never forget as i walked out of the room, look out the window, we could see the smoke billoing from the pentagon. Billowing from the pentagon. Thats the day ill never forget. We were all very anxious and afraid that day, concerned about what we didnt know, afraid of what we did know. The day ended with everyone coming back senators coming back to the capitol, democrats, republicans and assembled on the capitol steps. Without anyone giving speeches, we were there just to dignify the occasion, letting everyone know how much we cared about what we thought had happened. And barbara mikulski, who has such a powerful voice in that small stature she has. She said, well sing god bless america, the same song we heard today. That brought back such memories. And we did. Those of us that cant sing sang. Those that could sing sang. And it was something well always remember. Ill always remember. Images of that morning will always stay with me. The shock, the horror, the uncertain i felt that day will be forever etched in my heart. Today as we bestow the congressional medal of honor on the Fallen Heroes of september 11, those memories will be with us. But even in the midst of heartwrenching memories, were reminded of the heroism that day. Ours is a nation started, settled and strengthened by heroes. Those who answer the call of duty and those who are called without notice has happened. There were so many who answered that call of duty that day. Those souls who answered the call that morning left us with a legacy of bravery we cannot fully fathom, explain. No monument can express our true appreciation. No memorial can convey the magnitude of their courage. Our forever gratitude is the only tribute that will suffice. So what we must do is remember their suffice sacrifice, the ultimate price they paid for our freedom. I believe the heroism and sacrifice we witnessed on september 11, 2001, will forever be in our hearts, in our minds and in our nations history. Thank you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the speaker of the United States house of representatives, the honorable john boehner. [applause] in a few minutes, well have the presentation of the gold medals. First, let me thank my colleagues for their words and for their leadership. Now, when Congress Approves a gold medal, the work is just beginning. Each medal has its own Design Committee and in this case there were three Design Committees. The medals were then struck at the u. S. Mint in philadelphia, just blocks from independence hall. All in all, theyve done remarkable work and were truly grateful for their efforts. On behalf of the American People, we will now entrust these medals to the memorials, all of which are worthy of the people that we honor today. Here to receive the medals, Joseph Daniels, president and c. E. O. Of the National September 11 memorial and museum in new york city. Gordon felt, president of the families of flight 93. And jim, president of the 9 11 memorial fund. Please join me here on the stage. \[applause] [applause] ladies and gentlemen, president and c. E. O. Of the National September 11 memorial and museum in new york, mr. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, president and c. E. O. Of the National September 11 memorial and museum in new york, mr. Joseph c. Daniels. Good morning. Its truly an honor to be here today along with jim from the Pentagon Memorial Fund and gordon felt from the flight 93 National Memorial in pennsylvania, among members of the cabinet, the joint chiefs, family members of the fallen and our First Responders to accept this medal created in memory of those whose lives were taken too soon in the terrorist attacks of september 11, 2001. On behalf of the 9 11 memorial and museums board of directors and staff, im truly thankful to the members of congress, many of whom are also here today, and who saw the significance of this medal and championed its production. It is also tremendously gratifying to see the number of senators and representatives that have taken the time to come visit the memorial and museum in new york. I do encourage those who have not yet made that visit to come as well, and you are always welcome. Were also fortunate that several of the memorials Board Members who are also 9 11 family members, including lee, who lost his son, firefighter lee, paula grant berry, who lost her husband, david berry, and monica ican, who also lost her husband, Michael Patrick ican, were part of the design group for this incredible medal, making it a true expression of tribute and of hope from those who were affected the most. The 9 11 memorial, since it was dedicated on the 10th anniversary of the attacks, has welcomed over 15 million visitors, and in less than four months since opening, the museum has already welcomed more than 900,000 visitors. Those numbers are important because they are a true indication of the collective and worldwide will to never forget. We are honored as an institution to place this congressional gold medal in the 9 11 Memorial Museum for our visitors from all 50 states and over 175 Different Countries to see. Several members of congress are working to ensure the history of this memorial and museum represent receive ongoing operating support. I know that along with my colleagues from the pentagon and flight 93 memorials, im tremendously gratified and grateful to see the millions of americans who are keeping our commitment to remember those killed in the attacks strong. And that we keep in the forefront of our minds and hearts what we saw on 9 11 and in its aftermath, that when the circumstances require, we can and will come together with limitless compassion. In that spirit, i thank you, again, for this wonderful tribute. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, president of the Pentagon Memorial Fund, mr. James laychak. [applause] thank you, everyone. Id like to recognize speaker boehner, leader pelosi, leader mcconnell, senator House Majority Senate Majority leader reid, representative shuster, senator casey, senator warner, senator mccain, congressman moran, joe daniels, gordon felt. And id like to recognize the 9 11 families, survivors and First Responders here today as well as the representatives of the Pentagon Memorial Fund. And the Pentagon Memorial Fund Board Members. Thank you, speaker boehner, for hosting the ceremony. The staff has done an outstanding job. Id also like to thank senator warner for allowing and asking the Pentagon Memorial Fund for our recommendations for individuals to serve as advisors to the u. S. Mint on the design of the gold medal for the pentagon site. Id like to especially thank our advisors, 9 11 family member, my sisterinlaw, laurie laychak, pentagon survivor and family member, kathy dilber and special agent chris coons, Arlington County fire chief jim schwartz for your valuable time and insight that has brought us all here today. 13 years ago, my brother was killed in the pentagon on 9 11, and the family members and our nation made a promise we would never forget. These congressional medals reflect that promise and will help ensure that future generations that visit the three attack sites understand the significance of that promise. The p. M. F. Was formed by 9 11 family members in three to help raise the funds needed to in 2003 to help raise the funds needed to build the memorial to ensure theres always a place to remember, reflect and renew. Dedicated in 2008, the pentagon memorial is a place of solace, where friends and families can always go to remember their loved ones. Today we are pleased to be working with the department of defense and the state of virginia for plans for a Visitors Education Center that will ensure those that did not know their loved ones or do not know about 9 11 have a place to reflect on the events of that day. Theyll also have the opportunity to learn about survivors and heroes in the pentagon and theyll learn about the response of our government and countries around the world on september 12 when nato invoked article 5 and 23 allied countries helped offer defend the United States. It is in this united and cooperative support that is important today as well as on september 11. We believe through these stories of loss, heroism, community and unity, future visitors will leave the pentagon memorial visitor Education Center with a renewed sense of hope. We look forward to prominently displaying the Fallen Heroes gold medal at the pentagon visitor Education Center as a symbol of our nations commitment to never forget and our renewed hope for the future. Thank you for this great honor. Thank you very much. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the president of the families of flight 93, mr. Gordon w. Felt. [applause] good morning. Ladies and gentlemen, honored guests, speaker boehner, majority leader reid, leader mcconnell, leader pelosi, senator casey, congressman shuster, secretary jewell and those here today that may have been working in this very building 13 years ago, it is an honor to stand before you today to accept the congressional gold medal of honor on behalf of the passengers and crewmembers of united flight 93. The gravity of todays ceremony and location have greatly appreciated by the families of flight 93. On september 11, 2001, the symbolic foundations of our nation came under attack and much was lost. Chaos, uncertainty and terror threatened to break our spirit as the scourge of unprecedented evil descended upon our nation. Yet, as the world observed one of americas darkest moments and our corresponding response, stories of heroism, extraordinary resolve and american resilience shown brightly, First Responders did not run from but rather toward. Individuals that lived through these attacks selflessly worked together to survive, and our loved ones on united flight 93, armed with the knowledge that the nation, our nation was under attack, took fate into their hands and fought. In doing so they lost their lives, though in the process most likely saved this very building in which we stand today. Were it not for the people honored today with the presentation of these congressional gold medals of honor, our course of human events would be far different. Their loss, their sacrifice rekindle the spirit in all freedomloving peoples of the world that we cannot afford to lose. Our job moving forward from september 11, 2001, for these past 13 years and into the future is to remember, remember the individuals, remember their collective actions and remember who we became that fateful morning. On behalf of the families of flight 93, i thank you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please stand as the chaplain of the United States senate, dr. Barry black, gives the benediction. Let us pray. O god, our refuge and strength, were grateful for this opportunity to honor the Fallen Heroes of 9 11. Thank you, dear god, for people proved in liberating strife, who more than self their country loved and mercy more than life. Comfort those who still feel the pain of grief and loss as you teach us to number our days that we may have hearts of wisdom. May exemplary heroism remind us that eternal vigilance remains the high price for freedom. In this dangerous and unstable world, keep us united as one nation under girded by your providence with liberty and justice for all. We pray in your great name, amen. Amen. Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated and remain seated for the departure of the official party. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending todays ceremony. Have a great day. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2014] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] a ceremony will be held to celebrate the best commemorate the september 11 attacks. That will be shown on cspan 3. President obama address the nation tonight to lay out his counterterrorism strategy against islamic dilettantes. That is next on cspan. Then we will hear from the security secretary jeh johnson. Later, a congressional hearing on the militant group the threat the militant group isis poses to the midwest. Few comments we have received from viewers. Say i wanted to just wanted to say i thought it was really balanced and gave me good insight into some of the things that have puzzled me over the last few weeks. Thank you for a brilliant show this morning. Nk you very much good by thank you very much. Bye. There are so many channels available. Going forward, you have all three channels available to all people. I hope cspan radio has expanded. Ore i hope cspan continues. Thank you. I have been watching cspan 3 this weekend. It is one show after the other the berlin wall, the panama canal. There have been a number of them. Im missing many of them. Enjoyable to watch invariant or omitted and entertaining. Thethose of us who find Historical Information very interesting, it is really the waste to be. Cspans ase other well. 3 has been so wonderful. Continue to let us know we think about the programs youre watching. Call us at the number on the screen or email us. Join the cspan conversation, like us on facebook, follow us on twitter. President obama is authorizing u. S. Airstrikes in syria and will expand the bombing in iraq against islamic militants that recently beheaded two american journalists. The president spoke from the white house. My fellow americans, tonight, i want to speak to you about what the United States will do with our friends and allies to degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist group known as isil. As commanderinchief, my highest priority is the security of the American People. Over the last several years, we have consistently taken the fight to terrorists who threaten our country. We took out Osama Bin Laden and much of al qaedas leadership in afghanistan and pakistan. Weve targeted al qaedas affiliate in yemen, and recently eliminated the Top Commander of its affiliate in somalia. Weve done so while bringing more than 140,000 american troops home from iraq, and drawing down our forces in afghanistan, where our combat mission will end later this year. Thanks to our military and counterterrorism professionals, america is safer. Still, we continue to face a terrorist threat. We cannot erase every trace of evil from the world, and small groups of killers have the capacity to do great harm. That was the case before 9 11, and that remains true today. Thats why we must remain vigilant as threats emerge. At this moment, the greatest threats come from the middle east and north africa, where radical groups exploit grievances for their own gain. And one of those groups is isil, which calls itself the Islamic State. Now lets make two things clear. Isil is not islamic. No religion condones the killing of innocents, and the vast majority of isils victims have been muslim. And isil is certainly not a state. It was formerly al qaedas affiliate in iraq and has taken advantage of sectarian strife and syrias civil war to gain territory on both sides of the iraqsyrian border. It is recognized by no government, nor the people it subjugates. Isil is a terrorist organization, pure and simple. And it has no vision other than the slaughter of all who stand in its way. In a region that has known so much bloodshed, these terrorists are unique in their brutality. They execute captured prisoners. They kill children. They enslave, rape, and force women into marriage. They threatened a religious minority with genocide. In acts of barbarism, they took the lives of two american journalists, jim foley and steven sotloff. So isil poses a threat to the people of iraq and syria and the broader middle east, including american citizens, personnel, and facilities. If left unchecked, these terrorists could pose a growing threat beyond that region, including to the United States. While we have not yet detected specific plotting against our homeland, isil leaders have threatened america and our allies. Our Intelligence Community believes that thousands of foreigners, including europeans and some americans, have joined them in syria and iraq. Trained and battlehardened, these fighters could try to return to their home countries and carry out deadly attacks. I know Many Americans are concerned about these threats. Tonight, i want you to know that the United States of america is meeting them with strength and resolve. Last month, i ordered our military to take targeted action against isil to stop its advances. Since then, we have conducted more than 150 successful airstrikes in iraq. These strikes have protected american personnel and facilities, killed isil fighters, destroyed weapons, and given space for iraqi and Kurdish Forces to reclaim key territory. These strikes have helped save the lives of thousands of innocent men, women, and children. But this is not our fight alone. American power can make a decisive difference, but we cannot do for iraqis what they must do for themselves, nor can we take the place of arab partners in securing their region. Thats why ive insisted that additional u. S. Action depended upon iraqis forming an inclusive government, which they have now done in recent days. So tonight, with a new Iraqi Government in place, and following consultations with allies abroad and congress at home, i can announce that america will lead a Broad Coalition to roll back this terrorist threat. Our objective is clear. We will degrade, and ultimately destroy, isil through a comprehensive and sustained counterterrorism strategy. First, we will conduct a Systematic Campaign of airstrikes against these terrorists. Working with the Iraqi Government, we will expand our efforts beyond protecting our own people and humanitarian missions, so that were hitting isil targets as iraqi forces go on offense. Moreover, i have made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, wherever they are. That means i will not hesitate to take action against isil in syria, as well as iraq. This is a core principle of my presidency. If you threaten america, you will find no safe haven. Second, we will increase our support to forces fighting these terrorists on the ground. In june, i deployed several hundred American Service members to iraq to assess how we can best support Iraqi Security forces. Now that those teams have completed their work and iraq has formed a government, we will send an additional 475 Service Members to iraq. As i have said before, these American Forces will not have a combat mission. We will not get dragged into another ground war in iraq, but they are needed to support iraqi and Kurdish Forces with training, intelligence and equipment. We will also support iraqs efforts to stand up National Guard units to help sunni communities secure their own freedom from isil control. Across the border, in syria, we have ramped up our military assistance to the syrian opposition. Tonight, i again call on congress to give us additional authorities and resources to train and equip these fighters. In the fight against isil, we cannot rely on an assad regime that terrorizes its people, a regime that will never regain the legitimacy it has lost. Instead, we must strengthen the opposition as the best counterweight to extremists like isil, while pursuing the political solution necessary to solve syrias crisis once and for all. Third, we will continue to draw on our substantial counterterrorism capabilities to prevent isil attacks. Working with our partners, we will redouble our efforts to cut off its funding, improve our intelligence, strengthen our defenses, counter its warped ideology, and stem the flow of foreign fighters into and out of the middle east. And in two weeks, i will chair a meeting of the u. N. Security council to further mobilize the International Community around this effort. Fourth, we will continue providing humanitarian assistance to innocent civilians who have been displaced by this terrorist organization. This includes sunni and shia muslims who are at grave risk, as well as tens of thousands of christians and other religious minorities. We cannot allow these communities to be driven from their ancient homelands. This is our strategy. And in each of these four parts of our strategy, america will be joined by a Broad Coalition of partners. Already, allies are flying planes with us over iraq, sending arms and assistance to Iraqi Security forces and the syrian opposition, sharing intelligence, and providing billions of dollars in humanitarian aid. Secretary kerry was in iraq today meeting with the new government and supporting their efforts to promote unity, and in the coming days he will travel across the middle east and europe to enlist more partners in this fight, especially arab nations who can help mobilize sunni communities in iraq and syria to drive these terrorists from their lands. This is American Leadership at its best. We stand with people who fight for their own freedom, and we rally other nations on behalf of our Common Security and common humanity. My administration has also secured bipartisan support for this approach here at home. I have the authority to address the threat from isil. But i believe we are strongest as a nation when the president and Congress Work together. So i welcome congressional support for this effort in order to show the world that americans are united in confronting this danger. Now, it will take time to eradicate a cancer like isil. And any time we take military action, there are risks involved, especially to the servicemen and women who carry out these missions. But i want the American People to understand how this effort will be different from the wars in iraq and afghanistan. It will not involve american combat troops fighting on foreign soil. This Counterterrorism Campaign will be waged through a steady, relentless effort to take out isil wherever they exist, using our air power and our support for Partner Forces on the ground. This strategy of taking out terrorists who threaten us, while supporting partners on the front lines, is one that we have successfully pursued in yemen and somalia for years. And it is consistent with the approach i outlined earlier this year to use force against anyone who threatens americas core interests but to mobilize partners wherever possible to address broader challenges to international order. My fellow americans, we live in a time of great change. Tomorrow marks 13 years since our country was attacked. Next week marks 6 years since our economy suffered its worst setback since the great depression. Yet despite these shocks, through the pain we have felt and the grueling work required to bounce back, america is better positioned today to seize the future than any other nation on earth. Our Technology Companies and universities are unmatched. Our manufacturing and Auto Industries are thriving. Energy independence is closer than its been in decades. For all the work that remains, our businesses are in the longest uninterrupted stretch of job creation in our history. Despite all the divisions and discord within our democracy, i see the grit and determination and common goodness of the American People every single day, and that makes me more confident than ever about our countrys future. Abroad, American Leadership is the one constant in an uncertain world. It is america that has the capacity and the will to mobilize the world against terrorists. It is america that has rallied the world against russian aggression, and in support of the ukrainian peoples right to determine their own destiny. It is america , our scientists, our doctors, our knowhow, that can help contain and cure the outbreak of ebola. It is america that helped remove and destroy syrias declared chemical weapons so they cannot pose a threat to the syrian people, or the world, again. And it is america that is helping muslim communities around the world not just in the fight against terrorism, but in the fight for opportunity, tolerance, and a more hopeful future. America, our endless blessings bestow an enduring burden. But as americans, we welcome our responsibility to lead. From europe to asia, from the far reaches of africa to wartorn capitals of the middle east, we stand for freedom, for justice, for dignity. These are values that have guided our nation since its founding. Tonight, i ask for your support in carrying that leadership forward. I do so as a commanderinchief who could not be prouder of our men and women in uniform, pilots who bravely fly in the face of danger above the middle east and servicemembers who support our partners on the ground. When we helped prevent the massacre of civilians trapped on a distant mountain, heres what one of them said. We owe our american friends our lives. Our children will always remember that there was someone who felt our struggle and made a long journey to protect innocent people. That is the difference we make in the world. And our own safety, our own security, depends upon our willingness to do what it takes to defend this nation, and uphold the values that we stand for timeless ideals that will endure long after those who offer only hate and destruction have been vanquished from the earth. May god bless our troops, and may god bless the United States of america. Heres some congressional reaction to the president speech. New york congressman peter thets is disappointed president still intends to withdraw u. S. Troops from afghanistan. Llum saysoman mcco American Leadership is essential to stop isil terror. President obama has my support for u. S. Airstrikes. Here is representative hudson of north carolina. Im disappointed the president didnt clearly articulate the large strategy that ultimately defeat isis. You could join the conversation on twitter and facebook. Hype it we are excited to announce it is launch week for contest. Nt cam years team isis the broadest ever the three branches and you. Actionpolicy, law, or under either the three branches of the federal government has affected you and your life or your community. The competition is open to students in grades six through 12. Students may work alone or in groups of up to three. There is a video documentary supporting their a topic. To 150sh prize will go students and the 53 teachers. The grand prize winner with the best overall entry will win 5,000. The deadline for entry this year is january 20, 2015. Winners will be announced in march. Ntcam. Org forde more information on the three branches and you. Johnsonand security jeh talks about his departments Counterterrorism Initiative coming closing the fight against isis, a homegrown terrorist, and cyberattacks. He secretary johnson spoke at a council on Foreign Relations event held in new york city. [applause] thank you very much. Im very pleased to be here. I see a lot of good friends out there. Friends and neighbors, literally. Peggy, liz. Ruben is here somewhere, a former law colleague. Steve schlesinger. My fire escape faced his living room. It is great to be here with such good friends. Richard, thank you for inviting me. Im here to speak to you about the important subject of Homeland Security. I learn by attendance at meetings here that this is a terrific organization for the i became a member in july 2001. A suicide join, i learned that this was a terrific organization for the receipt of information and the bipartisan exchange of ideas concerning americas foreignpolicy and National Security. Im sorry that in recent years i have not been able to visit much. I have been busy in washington. In little more than two months after i joined in july 2001, it was my 44th birthday. I remember that birthday far more vividly than any other before or since she read it changed my life. It was a tuesday. The weather that day was dutiful. Temperature in the 60s or no 70s. Humidity, not a cloud in the sky. Perfect weather day. I decided to drive from my home in new jersey to midtown manhattan. I look forward to coming home and celebrated my birthday, september 11, with my wife and two children. All that changed at 8 46 a. M. The Beautiful Day turned into one of the darkest days in American History. Like millions of others, there are images and the moments i remember about that day that will never fade with time. The image of black smoke billowing from the towers of the World Trade Center against a Crystal Clear blue sky is burned into my memory. When the south tower collapsed at 9 59 a. M. , it is the one moment i could not believe my own eyes. I kept thinking that building, which had been a fixture on the manhattan skyline, was going to emerge from the cloud of dust. Ira member thinking, by the time i got to my car and drove across the George Washington bridge, Manhattan Island had been transformed into a war zone. Out of that tragic day, the department of Homeland Security was born. My personal commitment to the mission of Homeland Security was born. Today, dhs is the thirdlargest department in our government. With 240,000 employees, and a total Budget Authority of 60 billion. The department has a broad and diverse set of missions. It is responsible for, among other things, counterterrorism the administration and enforcement of immigration laws. Border security. The security of our land and sea ports. Action against nuclear, chemical, and biological threats. Protection of National Leaders and critical infrastructure. Training a federal Law Enforcement personnel. Emergency preparedness grants to state and local authorities. The agencies and components that make up dhs include customs and border protection, which by itself is the largest federal Law Enforcement agency. U. S. Immigration and customs enforcement. Citizenship and immigration services. The coast guard. Fema. The secret service. Counterterrorism must remain the cornerstone of department of Homeland Securitys mission to read during my years as general counsel of the defense department, i was pleased to be a witness to many counterterrorism successes. Maybe the leaders of al qaeda from 2001 are dead or captured. If september 11, 2001 was my worst day as an american, may 1, 2011, was my destiny as a public servant. The day we found Osama Bin Laden. There is still a terrorist threat. The terrorist threat is different today from what it was in 2001. It is more decentralized and complex. Not only is their core al qaeda in afghanistan and pakistan. There is a qaeda in the arabian peninsula. Al qaeda, alshabaab. Somalia. Syria. The newest affiliate of al qaeda in the indian subcontinent. There are groups like boko haram in nigeria which share its ideology. Isil, previously known as al qaeda in iraq, is vying to be the preeminent terrorist organization on the world stage. At present, we have no credible information that isil is planning to attack the homeland of the u. S. That is not, by any means, the end of the story. Isil is a dangerous organization. They have the elements of the terrorist organization and insurgent army. They have seized large amounts of territory in iraq and syria, which they can utilize for safe havens, command, and control. It engages in 3040 attacks per month. It has an estimated 10,000 fighters. It takes an money from oil sales and ransom payments. Its public messaging and social media is as slick as any i have seen from a terrorist organization. We know isil is prepared to kill innocent americans they encounter because they are american. In a public and depraved manner. S an enemy. He u. S. A the leaders have said, they will be in quote direct confrontation with the u. S. Tonight president obama will deliver a speech in which he will outline the response to isil. Our military has launched over 100 airstrikes against isil in iraq to protect personnel, infrastructure, and support humanitarian activities. After 13 years of war since 9 11, the decision to take on a new fight against the enemy was not an easy one. The president recognizes the serious threat posed by isil. The president looks like tonight, the u. S. Is resolute in our efforts to degrade and ultimately destroy isil as part of a Broad International coalition, including nato allies and partners in the region. Reflecting the global communitys condemnation of the group and its tactics. We are pleased to see the formation of the new government in iraq, with whom we intend to work closely. We will look forward to the new government addressing the Diverse Communities of iraq and leaders across the political spectrum coming together to take a united stand against isil. From a Homeland Security perspective, here is what we are doing. We are addressing the threats generally emanating from terrorist groups overseas. We have enhanced aviation security. In july, i directed enhanced screening at airports with direct flights to the u. S. We added six more airports to the list. Two weeks ago, we added another airport and an additional screening of carryon luggage. The United Kingdom has followed with similar screens. We are pursuing preclearance at overseas airports with flights to the u. S. This means inspection by a u. S. Customs officer before the passenger gets on the plane to the u. S. We have preclearance at airports in dublin, the uae, canada, and the caribbean. It is a Homeland Security imperative to build more. I would much rather defend our end zone from the 50 yard line than our yard line. Department of Homeland Security Intelligence Community is making efforts to track syrian foreign fighters who come from or seek to enter this country. There are more than 12,000 foreign fighters that have traveled to syria including more than 1000 europeans. We estimate that more than 100 americans have attempted to travel to syria to join he fight there one way or another. We are concerned that they might not just join isil, they might be recruited to leave syria and conduct attacks. The fbi has arrested a number of individuals who have tried to travel from the u. S. To syria to support terrorist activities there. We are working with european and other governments to build better information sharing to track syrian foreign fighters. When i get together with my european counterparts, this topic is almost always item one on the agenda. The importance is reflected by the fact that it will be a singular topic of discussion at a summit the president will chair in two weeks. This is only the second time a u. S. President has personally chaired a Security Council summit. We are making enhanced efforts to track those who leave syria. There are a number of Visa Waiver Programs with large numbers of citizens who are syrian foreign fighters. We have strong information sharing relationships with these countries. With their help, we will build this capability. We need to ensure we are doing all we can to identify those who, by their travel patterns, attempt to hide their association with terrorist groups. When they enter our Visa Waiver Program, they enter into safeguards. We have reviewed the safeguards to make sure they are adequate. We are assessing whether there are additional safeguards that can be implemented to identify foreign fighters. All 38 nations in the Visa Waiver Program have an interest in this. We are encouraging more countries to join the u. S. In using tools like advanced passenger information and passenger name record collection, which will help identify terrorist travel patterns. Within the u. S. Government, cia director brennan and i along with others in the Intelligence Community are enhancing the ability to share intelligence with each other about suspicious individuals. We are on guard for the domestic terrorist threat lurking in our own society. The independent actor or lone wolf. Those who did not train at a terrorist camp or join the ranks of an organization overseas, but who are inspired by social media , literature or extremist ideology. We got an example of this type of actor last year at the boston marathon. In many respects, this is the hardest terrorist threat to detect and the one i worry about the most. To address the domestic lone wolf threat, i have directed that dhs build on our partnerships with state and local Law Enforcement. Local police and Fire Departments are the First Responders to any crisis in our homeland. The local police, more than the federal government, have their pulse on the community from which a domestic terrorist may come. To address the homegrown terrorist lurking in our midst, we must emphasize the need for help from the public. If you see something, Say Something is more than a slogan. We are sending a private sector advisory identifying for Retail Businesses material that can be used as explosive precursors that a retailer should look for from somebody who buys a lot of them. Within dhs, we have programs to engage in outreach to communities which themselves are able to reach young men who may turn to violence. I have directed we step up these programs and i personally participate in them. In june, i met with a Syrian American community in chicago suburb. Later this month, i will meet with a Somali Community in ohio. In october, the white house will host a summit on efforts to prevent violent extremism and address the full lifecycle posed by the foreign fighter risk. The good news for this country, i believe, is over the last 13 years, we have vastly improved the nation possibility to detect and disrupt plots overseas before they reach the homeland. Here at home, federal Law Enforcement does an excellent job, time and again, of investigating, prosecuting, and arresting individuals before they commit terrorist acts. The bad news is we continue to face real terrorist enemies and threats. The nature of the Homeland Security mission is such that no news is good news. No news means no bombs, crashes, explosions. No deaths. No destruction. Meanws does not and cannot complacency. No news is often the result of the hard work and dedication of people with our government who prevent bad things you never hear about. In this, we ask for the help and understanding of the American Public. We need the help of Community Organizations in a position to touch those disaffected from society. In need of something or someone to believe in. To stress that groups such as isil are not the answer. Despite the public media and proclamation to be the Islamic State in iraq, it is neither islamic nor a state. Contrary to the misguided belief of some, it is not defending islam or innocent muslims. Most of the People Killed by isil are muslims. It is a stateless group of kidnappers and killers, terrorists who control territory. There is no religion, including islam, and there is no god, including allah, that would condone isils tactics. We ask the American Public to understand the continued need for a certain level of Homeland Security in their daily lives. At airports, government buildings, public laces and large gatherings. We ask the American Public to understand the vital role our intelligence collection agencies play in keeping the homeland safe. I am a daily consumer of the intelligence products generated by the cia, nsa, and other agencies. I can attest to the value they have any ability to detect and guard against the latest terrorist plots. For our part, those of us in government need to remember our history. Tomorrow, we will remember those killed on september 11. We will honor the police and firemen and civilians who gave their lives that day. Tomorrow, and every september 11, must serve as a reminder that if we let our guard down, the Homeland Security of this nation can be shattered in an instant. For those of us in government, it is important to know another aspect of our history. In the name of National Security, our government should not overreact or react out of fear, anger, or prejudice. Our American History is riddled with unfortunate examples in which our government, in the name of National Security, has gone too far. Long before the nation honored Martin Luther king with a National Holiday and street name for him in virtually every major city, he was the target of government surveillance and harassment. Professor hamilton, retired from columbia university, is one of the most respected political scientists in the u. S. And a member of this council. In the 1960s, he coauthored the book black power and was suspected of being a dangerous subversive. More recently, we engaged in interrogation tactics contrary to who we are. In the name of National Security, i can build you a perfectly safe city but it will be a prison. I can install more invasive screening devices, ask more intrusive questions, demand more answers, and make everybody suspicious of each other. But it will cost us who we are as a nation of people who respect the law, cherish privacy, and who are not afraid. In the final analysis, these are the things that constitute our greatest strengths. Thank you all for listening. [applause] thank you for that fine speech. We are going to have a brief conversation. After which, we will open it up to the members for questions. I want to ask you a bit about the management challenges of your department. Something over 100 agencies put together. I think it is about 100 congressional committees oversee you. 108 committees and subcommittees report to us. How does one manage this organization with so many Diverse People talk about banks being too big and complex. How does one manage an organization with so many different lines of business . You have to look at where all the diverse mission sets existed before the creation of the department. Our 22 components were spread across the department of defense, the department of agriculture, treasury, and a host of others. Supervised by numerous cabinet secretaries. Secretaries. That was all consolidated in 2003. In my nine months as secretary, i have seen the extraordinary cohesion that can be achieved by having different components together in one Department Around one conference table. For example, this past summer with the situation in the rio grande valley, unaccompanied children, that required that i continually bring together our senior officials from immigration, customs enforcement, border protection, fema, all around one conference table. Whereas pre2002, they were spread across numerous agencies. It makes, in my view, an extraordinary amount of sense to have that allinone cabinet department. I am responsible for the borders and people crossing the borders, land, sea, and air. Those are the components of dhs. I think it makes sense if i travel around the world and meet with my counterparts, many of them have the same missions i do. It took us until 2002 to put that together. As far as the management, it is for the most part a combination of organizations many of whom predated the department of Homeland Security with their own culture and way of doing business. I dont believe it is necessary for us to try to supplant the culture and give the secret service to behave like the coast guard. But there are things we should have in common. I have directed a unity of Effort Initiative to bring to the department a more Strategic Focus to our budget making and acquisitions, so we avoid duplications of effort. And we want to bring a more Strategic Focus to that earlier on in the process. It is a balance between centralized management and allowing the organizations to have their own culture and mission, pursue their own missions. And a good chief of staff and senior leaders. The story does not get told enough. When i came in, we had no secretary or deputy secretary. There were vacancies in a number of Senate Confirmed president ial appointments. In the last year, the senate has confirmed nine of our appointees. There are two waiting confirmations. If we can get the last session of congress before they go off to the midterms and there were two more just nominated last week or the week before once they get through the senate, we are done. We will have filled all the vacancies. Thank you. You mentioned, after 13 years of war, it is difficult to take on a new fight. Until recently, the American Public speaking as a broad generalization has very limited appetite for further military action in the middle east. Should we be preparing the public for the idea that we are dealing with Something Like a chronic disease . Something like coping with the former soviet union during the cold war . We are going to have to prepare for a long indefinite future to use military force . And we cant phase in and out of an appetite for that . I resist comparisons and analogies to other situations. Isil has shown a certain level of danger. It constitutes a threat to our vital interests as a nation and to americans, and two others in a coalition being assembled as we speak right now, such that the only responsible thing is to take them on before they grow even more dangerous. They have cost the world scores in human lives. Innocent people. This type of threat has to be engaged. We cant avoid it. Has there been it any change in your viewpoint . When you went from your former job in dod to now in terms of appropriate tactics, philosophies . When i Left Department of defense in 2012, i was back in private life for a year. Then i came back rather unexpectedly to be secretary of Homeland Security. That one year off gives me a unique perspective. I had not read intelligence reports for a year. I get to read the New York Times but i had not read intelligence reports. I found it is still a dangerous world but the danger is evolving in ways i described in my remarks. A different kind and character. Not the al qaeda of 2001. A more decentralized threat. It is disappointing. Still a dangerous world and a dangerous world for americans, which is why we have to act. Im not going to touch on immigration, which i know is on peoples minds. I am sure you will get questions from the members. Let me ask you this question, cyber. It is under your i would be interested in, if you would go into how prepared the government is. The private sector. And our financial system. Because of the interconnectivity of the internet, critical infrastructure, we have to be Cyber Security is one of my principal priorities in office. Cyber security involves the security of critical infrastructure. Because of our reliance on cyber on the internet, the interconnectivity of it all. I think that through the president s executive order last year and the Cyber Security framework we set up, to set forth best practices in the private sector, we have made Real Progress on Cyber Security. I am impressed by the level of sophistication in certain private sectors, the financial sector, for example is sophisticated and adept at Cyber Security. Major Financial Institutions are making great strides. Even the most sophisticated Bank Benefits from information sharing with the department of Homeland Security. My department is responsible for coordinating the federal government response. We have something called the National Cyber something an op center where we conduct our operations to secure the. Gov world. I have been impressed with the speed with which they are in contact with the jpmorgans and bank of america. They have relationships with the Cyber Security experts in the private sector. Im impressed with how quickly we get information out and back about cyberattacks. We have cyberattacks on this nation on a daily basis. From a whole spectrum of actors. We have a problem. I wrote an oped, published yesterday, about Cyber Security legislation. There is bipartisan support right now for Cyber Security legislation. I was pleased that the house Homeland Security committee, on a bipartisan basis led by mike mccall, got a bill through the house. Theres activity in the senate. Homeland security committee. Tom coburn is interested in advancing legislation. Diane feinstein is also interested. We have opportunities to codify dhss authority. And the private sectors authority and freedom to share information with the government. I am interested in enhancing my hiring capability to bring in more Cyber Security talent that i can steal away from the Financial Services sector. Weve got a lot of work to do, without doubt. Information sharing of best practices is one of the keys to that. Your comment on legislation anticipated my next question. At the time of the financial crisis, the Federal Reserve and the treasury found they did not have the powers they wished they had. It would be tragic that is my plea. There is, in my judgment, some legal uncertainty, at least in the minds of some, about my authority to respond to a cyber attack. In the private sector or evening the. Gov world. Private sector businesses worry about liability they may face it they share information with us. We need the help of congress to provide clarity there. Everybody talks about Cyber Security. We need to Reach Agreement on it. Im hoping in the dwindling amount of time remaining in this congress, this is something they will take on. Thank you, mr. Secretary. We will turn it over to the members. Reminder. This meeting is on the record. There are invited members of the press here. When you have questions, please wait for the mic. State your name and affiliation. Please, only a single question and concise so as many members as possible can ask questions. For those participating via teleconference, email us at questions cfr. Org. And now, madam . My name is lucy. I am a journalist. Taking up what you said about concern about homegrown terrorists, how do you do with the fact that some terrorists can go to some state where there are very few restrictions, not really enforced, and get the assault weapons . Walk around on the street or an airport. Isnt this a huge hole in your protection when terrorists can get legal weapons and turn them on us . Without directly commenting on various guncontrol ideas out there, that is a hotly debated subject, i am concerned. Put handguns and assault weapons aside. Im concerned with how easy it is for somebody for somebody to buy in an open fashion, materials, explosives, precursors to explosives. Pressure cookers. Which can be used to cause mass destruction. We saw an example in boston last year. We cant and should not prohibit the sale of a pressure cooker. We can sensitize Retail Businesses to be on guard for suspicious behavior by those who buy this kind of stuff. One of the reasons im concerned about domesticbased Mass Violence is the ease with which somebody can assemble things that, in and of themselves, are not dangerous. But you combine that with some of the learning on the internet that groups put out. Im not going to promote anything in particular. It combines for a serious concern. A serious Homeland Security concern. As i mentioned in my remarks, i have decided that we need to make as part of the mission, countering violent extremism at home. Outreach to community groups. I mentioned i was with a Syrian American Community Organization in chicago. I was impressed by the extent to which the people i met in that room had, i think, good sense of the pulse of their community. This is something that we have to address. We see it in multiple forms and fashions repeatedly with different motives. It is obviously something we have to address. The lady back there. Mr. Secretary, in your definition of syria and foreign fighters, in your definition, do you include hezbollah . Who is fighting by the side of the regime in damascus . And in the coalition you have referred to, will russia and iran be part of the coalition . Given particularly their support of assad, fighting isil, his enemy . I would refer you to the remarks of the president tonight. Dont want to get ahead of my boss or anybody elses boss. The way we think of syrian foreign fighters, it is anybody who goes to syria from outside syria to take up a fight. One way or another. Maybe a little more nuanced in the definition, but that is generally my understanding. The gentleman behind you. After 9 11, there was a great concern that our actions not be perceived as a war against islam. After 13 years, we have terrorism has increased. My question is how much of a concern is there that one billion muslims are proceeding actions as a war against islam . Well, we work sidebyside in our counterterrorism effort with a lot of muslim countries. I spent time in the middle east. We need to continually stress that, as i said in my remarks, isil is not islamic. There is no religion that would condone their tactics. I have said several times that in the fight that we take up against certain groups, if they are able to recruit faster than we can take somebody off the battlefield, we are in a losing battle. That is a calculus that can tip the wrong way. I believe that right now, we and others in nato, our friends in the region, are in a position to mobilize International Public opinion, including the muslim world, about the dangers of isil. It is an organization that is dangerous and a threat to the muslim world. I think we are poised to make that case and we are making that case. Much like the coalition that was formed after 9 11. Jeh, you made a great speech. You showed an admirable concern for the impact on our domestic legal system of National Security problems. You have also shown a good awareness of international opinion. Could you Say Something about International Law . I wonder as i read every day about our actions in response to these threats, to what extent is International Law an obstacle, to what extent is it considered a relevant . Good question. Regard law as an obstacle. Somebody in their wisdom and acted a law, developed a body of prior life as general counsel of the defense department, when i gave legal signoff to a military option, i always looked at two things. Domestic Legal Authority and international Legal Authority. I and others in this when iation tend to was acting as a lawyer in this administration, the way we tend to view International Law and domestic law, we ask is there Legal Authority for something rather then, is there anything the law that will stop me . That international , almost without exception, is consistent with basic common sense. Principles of selfdefense, principles of consent, host nation consent. In military operations, pretty much consistent with common sense. Intout getting too deeply , i know thatl life there are some who want to see us develop a body of International Law around principles of humanitarian crisis, when there is a humanitarian crisis residing within a particular country, how do we deal with that, and i think that is something worth looking at, worth considering. , through myecome time in National Security, something of an International Legal practitioner. I spent a lot of time with other lawyers and other departments of ministries of defense and so forth. Evolving principle but i think International Law generally is an enabler, not an obstacle. That gentleman. Thank you. Secretary, i havent heard the word ebola birkin. Spoken. You are responsible for the borders and all that goes with it. What do you think can be done, should be done in terms of protecting the country from one guy or two people coming in on an airplane . Good question. You are correct, i did not refer to ebola. I definitely refer to ebola in my daily job. It is part of the day job. It almost ongs on a daily basis. Know a virus that as you africa. Ng in west there is a certain level of screening that is done of those who are leaving the country, getting on planes at airports there, from the three most affected countries. My understanding is there is no direct flights to the United States. You have to go through three or four different transit points. What i have asked my staff to look at is whether in addition to what we are already doing, there is more that we should do and can do that is reasonable and responsible. To screen people for any signs ,f the disease, of the viruses so that what you have mentioned doesnt happen. We need to evaluate that and we are. Madam, you have been patient. Thank you. Thank you for your service. I just want to pick up on what you were saying about the recruitment process. To what extent do you feel there is when you bring up, this is not islam, to whom are you addressing that . At what leadership level . Maybe i dont read enough international press, but i dont hear leadership voices condemning that kind of violence as nonislamic coming from Islamic States themselves. How do you address that . The message from somebody like me is intended principally for the domestic audience. We have people in this country looking for who feel disaffected, who may be tempted by acts of violence to look for something to glamorize, to radiate. There have been one or two examples in the media that you all know about. I heard somebody the other day say that isil is protecting innocent muslims. Isil is not protecting innocent muslims. We have an audience in this country that can and should be reached about the dangers of this organization. What i can do and what the department can do is outreach to the communities that themselves have the most credibility in this area, to partner with them, to help them within their own communities. As a followup to the ladys stion, what are we doing we know the countries where terrorists reside and money is being collected. What are we doing to lean on those countries to clamp down on money going to the organizations . You to my refer diplomatic colleagues in the administration. I know that is a continual and so i would refer you to my diplomatic colleagues on that one. Ok. Thank you very much. I have another question on ebola. This is an epidemic ravaging three countries. With every case we identify, there is somewhere between 10 and 100 people that person has had contact with. In addition to the work you are doing on airport screening, tell us about the role of your department in working in those countries to try and stem this . Itself shouldnt be focused on the homeland. A capability in the department of Homeland Security. Obviously there is cdc which is heavily engaged in this situation. Hhs in general is very engaged in this. Collaboratively we have a job to do. Of personnelumber on the continent right now addressing this. As i mentioned a moment ago, i think we need to continually evaluating the need for at last point of departure, at airports, before people leave the countries. Thank you. Thank you for your service. This is a difficult and thankless job. You mentioned 9 11 and how moving it was for many of us. President obama commented that his number one National Security concern is a nuclear bomb going off in new york city. We know the terrorists would like to have spectacular impact. Screeningcontainers and scanning requirements, there is technology being tested by the departments to effectively scan 100 percent of cargo coming into the United States. How do you feel about that requirement . I know what your testimony has been on the hill. Given the technology that is being tested, why not do a Pilot Program on some of these potential devices that could protect the homeland . A certain amount of testing has been done. I am familiar with the 100 scanning requirement that was put into law in 2007. For those of you who might not know, there was a law that says that the department shall, shall, scan 100 of the cargo that leaves foreign ports to the United States. To be honest, it is a huge unfunded mandate. Congress told us to go do this. They didnt give us the money to pay for it. There is a provision in that law that every two years permits that the secretary of Homeland Security to waive it. I will tell you what i have said publicly and privately to those who believe in this very strongly. Congressman adler, leader policy, congressman thompson, it is a great idea. There are huge logistical challenges to the United States aternment scanning the cargo foreign ports around the globe with stuff bound for the United States. Though i recently waived the requirement for the law, what i have said is that as long as this law is on the books and it is on the books, we should at least strive in that direction. You need to have a plan. We should strive in that direction. We should raise the percentage and do the best we can with the resources the budget that we have. That is the direction i told our folks to move in. Lets go to the back. Thank you, secretary. Usimmigration, can you tell about your deprecations review . Review . Tations i understand you make recommendations to the president on that. Also, what do you think about the executive decision to delay action on immigration . The president and i along with the department of justice are in continual discussions about the ways in which we can and should fix our broken immigration system. It is a broken system. A reevaluation of our priorities for deportations. What our priority should be needs to be clearer. That is part of our overall review. The president has determined that we should wait until after the midterm elections to announce what we believe we can and should do to fix the system. He reached that decision because and this judgment is in my view absolutely correct this kind of thing should not be introduced in a politically difficult climate like you have in the runup to an election. There have been examples cited of that. In 1994, gun control, the health care law. In the runup to an election what the president has talked about, and i agree with this, is what we do needs to be done in a sustainable way. Wayg this in a sustainable is as important, in my judgment, as what we do and say we are going to do. Have the midterms, we will some announcements. I agree with the president that it is always preferential to have action by congress. There are certain things we cannot do to fix the system within the confines of existing law. Legislation is always the front. There was a comprehensive piece of legislation that passed the senate last year, that was supported by the business , supposedly a majority of the American Public who support comprehensive immigration reform, who support fixing our broken immigration system, but the house has not acted on it and we have a broken system. We are going to do what we can to fix the broken immigration system. We want to do that in a sustainable way. Tomr. Secretary, i want thank you very much for your remarks. [applause] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2014] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] heldceremony will be tomorrow morning to mark the 13th anniversary of the 9 11 attacks. Live coverage from the World Trade Center National Memorial plaza at 8 30 eastern on cspan 3. Weekend, American History tv is live from baltimore for the 200th anniversary of the starspangled banner sunday morning at 8 30. Later on American History tv, we will tour fort mchenry and see how war changed baltimore in 1814. Saturday night at 8 00 on cspan, the president ial leadership scholars program. Sunday afternoon at 3 30, live coverage of the harkin steak fry. Q a. Y evening at 8 00, on cspan 2 saturday night at 10 00, author Ken Silverstein on the secret world of oil. Sunday night at 6 45 eastern on book tv, Kristin Gillibrand on her life and politics and call for women to rise up and make a difference in the world. Find our Television Schedule at cspan. Org. 2026263400, email us or send us a tweet. Like us on facebook, follow us on twitter. Now, a house panel focuses on the threat that the u. S. Could face from the terrorist group isis. Border protection officials are asked about intelligence sharing. This security subcommittee hearing is chaired by congresswoman Candace Miller of michigan. The committee on Homeland Security, the subcommittee on border and maritime are security will come to order. Su today to examine the threat posed by isis foreign fighters ms. Hillary johnson, the acting deputy coordinator for Homeland Security and lateral affairs. I will introduce them a bit more formally shortly. Tomorrow, the 13th anniversary of the most heinous and cowardly attack in the history of our nation. Certainly, a terrorist attack that took the lives of nearly 3000 of our fellow americans. Cowardly attack of our nation that took the lives of nearly 3,000 of our fellow americans. It happened in part because our visa security and Border Security defenses were not very effective. Among the most important weaknesses that the attackers were able to exploit was our porous outer ring of Border Security. In total the 19 hijackers passed through the u. S. Border security 68 times back and forth without being detected. And on that day in september we learned a very hard lesson. As noted by the 9 11 commission, i quote, for terrorists, travel documents are as important as weapons, unquote. I think thats a very, very important statement by them. Its so true. Many more terrorists since have exploited the visa system in one fashion or another, and its an ongoing vul neshlt, heightened by the significant growing threat that the Islamic State of iraq and syria pose to our nation. Our best estimates are that thousands of individuals carrying western passports have joined in the fight in syria and in iraq, including several hundred americans. Two innocent american journalists, james foley and steven sotloff, were brutally bye headed by an isis terrorist who is likely a british citizen. These tlugs have no regard for life and have threatened to attack our homeland. And the United States government must be prepared to prevent such an act from happening. Terrorists with western passports pose an additional risk to the homeland because many are eligible for visafree travel. Terrorists could be just one visafree flight away from arriving in the United States, bringing with them their skills and their training and their ideology and their commitment to killing americans. All these things that theyve learned overseas. Let us remember that zacharias moussaoui, the socalled 20th highjacker actually traveled on the Visa Waiver Program before he enrolled in a minneapolis flight school. Richard reed, the shoe bomber who tried to ignite explosives in a shoe also traveled on the Visawaiver Program and ram za yousef who was one of the main perpetrators in the World Trade Center bombing again used the Visa Waiver Program to enter the country. These attacks occurred before the advent of increased scrutiny on the visa waiver countries. Why i think we are confident that we can identify many threats today through the Electronic System for travel authorization, commonly called esta. Well be talking about esta today which all these waiver applicants have to fill out, its clear that we may have trouble determining if some individuals have traveled to terrorist regions. Although cvp continually vets all applicants, that information is imperfect if we do not have a complete pictured of an individuals travel route, collecting more information upfront could be very, very helpful for us to do just that. Patriot and other Pilot Programs that look at the totality of data on an es ta and visa application are certainly good tools to help close some of our intelligence gaps and make skek connections that we would otherwise miss. However, critical information sharing, especially with our european allies, is critical to help combat the threat of foreign fighters bound for the United States. Unfortunately, europe as a whole has been reluctant to share certain passenger data with the United States and such a gap certainly puts our citizens in the United States at risk. I want to commend our allies in the United Kingdom who have been quick to realize the severity of the threat, especially as many brits are among the isis fighters. We must work with our foreign allies like the United Kingdom and others to quickly identify those radicalized by isis in similar groups and prevent them from traveling to the United States. Like the u. K. , i also think we should be looking at the authority that we have or we may need and that will be a big part of our discussion here this morning to revoke passports of american citizens who go to fight in isis. We need to reduce their ability to travel to the United States, and i think we need to consider what it will take to strip passports from those who provide support to or fight with terrorists. I certainly look forward to hearing from our Witnesses Today on what further changes we have made in our visa Security System to combat the threat of foreign fighters who travel often over land through neighboring turkeys porous border, into syria and into iraq before returning home to europe. It might be hard for Many Americans to comprehend, but for many in europe, traveling to syria is as simple as just getting in their car and driving there. Todays hearing is really about one simple question. Can the United States government adequately detect terrorists travel patterns, identify suspicious movement, and prevent those who would do us harm from coming into the United States. How can we best protect our homeland . Our enemies are intent on attacking our country and are actively seeking to avoid our counter measures. We need to be one step ahead instead of constantly reacting to their latest attack. Defeating terrorists ability to move internationally has long been a focus area for this subcommittee. Terrorists who have plotted horrific attacks against us have crossed the u. S. Border for training or fraudulently obtaining a student or a work visa. There are certainly further opportunities that we can take to prevent attacks and to limit terrorists mobility and thats why we are holding this hearing today. Our visa security process obviously needs to be robust and we must deny terrorists freedom of movement because 13 years ago we unfortunately saw what failure looked like. The chair would now recognize the ranking minority member of this subcommittee, the gentle lady from texas, miss jackson lee for her opening statement. Good morning, let me thank the chair woman for yielding and let me also acknowledge the Ranking Member of the full committee, mr. Thompson and thank him for his leadership as he is joined by the chairman of the full committee, mr. Mccall and the way that they have worked diligently to provide leadership in securing the homeland. As i often remind our colleagues and as often as we are questioned by our constituents, the Homeland Security committee is a pivotal committee that stands in the gap of making sure that the needs of our nation, domestic needs in protecting the homeland are the priority and recognized by the American People as having a department and a committee that is clearly assigned to protect the homeland. 9 11 continues to be a symbol for all of the untoward terrorists across and around the world. They view that as a challenge to them every year as to whether or not they can continue to intimidate the western world and, of course, the United States of america. Our values are contrary to their beliefs, and therefore 9 11 poses for all of us a