Transcripts For CSPAN2 Key Capitol Hill Hearings 20140414

Seen and much of what ambassador samad has shared with us as far. A great enthusiasm leading up to the vote and on election day despite significant threats, personal threats and amidst great personal risk that so many afghans came out and voted in those elections on saturday is really inspiring and we certainly observed that enthusiasm into places that our observers were able to get out and observed on election day. The turnout that is being reported at this point is somewhere around 7 million votes cast. I think we will see that number be refined a little bit as the results sheets come, and actually from the polling stations and into kabul to the National Tallying Center and it was just a few weeks ago where we were sitting around talking about her hats we distributed to many ballots around the country and the fact that one of the issues that we are now talking about is that there were shortages of ballots in places because of enthusiasm and because of voters coming out is exactly the opposite of the discussion we thought we would be having after election day so again a very positive, positive sign. As you mentioned the incidence of violence in the past in the leadup to the 2009 president ial elections in the leadup to the 2010 parliamentary elections were much higher and on election day specifically violence were much more widespread. That was not the case on saturday. The Afghan National Security Forces performed their jobs admirably on election day and Going Forward there are really two tracks now ,com,com ma two things that i want to talk about in the process. As you mentioned election day is just one part of the process. There was no lead up to election day where we saw a very robust campaign. This was an election, the first president ial election in the country where we didnt have an incumbent and where a number of candidates were contesting it so there was great enthusiasm. And election day we saw that and Public Opinion polls leading up to election day there were a number of polls done where somewhere around 70 was a pretty consistent number said they were going to participate and they intended to participate in the election. We expected that there would be a higher turnout. I dont think we expected that it would necessarily be around 7 million so the fact that if that indeed turns out to be the case as to how many people went out to vote that is a real statement in that statement to the taliban and to obviously try to disrupt the process that democracy is the path of power in afghanistan and its a really important message. So what happens over the next couple of weeks is critically important to weeks and potentially months, important to the process. Now that people have gone out to vote on election day the hard task now is determining who won the election and who won the elections in terms of the provincial Council Races but also to place. So that process has two primary tracks. One is that the result, account has been completed throughout the country. The results forums should now be coming into kabul to a National Tally center there where the independent Election Commission will oversee the tallying of the votes that were cast on saturday through a double standard, double bind process and then at some point here in the next few days we will actually start to see preliminary results being released from the commission. The results process in the past has been one of the most contentious parts of the process so while we can all agree that on election day what we saw was generally very positive there is a lot more work to do and its very very important that the commission conduct its work diligently, transparently communicate not just with the International Community and the local media but with the campaigns. Its going to be critical that the campaigns exercise some patience and respect the commissions process that they have in place to determine who won that election and to make sure that the votes that were cast on saturday, that the result reflects exactly the votes that were cast on saturday. In addition to the results in the tabulation process and i should say it included in the results tabulation processes the court deemed process. The independent election system has defined some number of triggers by which a polling station is suspicious and whether or not that polling station should be further investigated. So there will be some number of polling stations that will meet that criteria and they commission will be responsible for going back and looking at those polling stations to determine what exactly happened if there was any malfeasance or not. That will be you know a very critical process. It will be important for the commission to be transparent and to share information and to tell the candidate campaigns cant do the local and International Community exactly what they are doing and what the implications of that could be. So in addition to the results tabulation process, the independent Commission Complaints will tabulate. The complaints are still coming in and i believe that process will continue until april 27. The number of complaints is still i think somewhat unknown although the estimate of the number of complaints that have been submitted thus far is around 20003 the commission will be responsible for categorizing those complaints into three categories. Category 8 complaints been the complaint that could affect the outcome of the race. Those will be the priority complaints that the commission will look into. Those will be the most important complaints that are lodged in those will be the complaint that will be most important for the independent Complaints Commission to communicate exactly what is the complaint, for what is being done and what the decisions are when they do come to the decisions. So those two processes are extremely critical to the election outcome and as has been the case in the past, they take some time. It will require patience particularly among the candidates as to respect the process, to respect the role, the independence of the Election Commission, the independence of the Complaints Commission. There are two scenarios where those processes could the even more important. One of those scenarios is that one candidate could potentially be close to 50 and if that were the case, and the actions throughout the results tabulation process and the decisions throughout the complaints adjudication process that could affect whether or not one candidate gets over the threshold to avoid a second runoff which is 50 . The other scenario is that the second and third candidates could be very close and under that scenario again you no, the quarantine polling stations or specific complaints that have been lodged could affect whether or not one candidate or the other is participating in a Runoff Election should no candidate reach 50 plus one. So in those two scenarios the results tabulation process is critically important in the complaints adjudication process is critically him for it regardless in those two scenarios they will be absolutely critical to determine who if anyone will be participating in a Runoff Election and who will be the eventually, who will eventually be the next president of afghanistan. Thanks jeb. Lisa can we pull it back little bit and talk about the implications to the us and also the region if you could get a little bit into pakistan. I know you dont have much time but we would love to hear your thoughts on this. Thank you and then well open it up for questions. Thanks caroline and thanks to psa the partnership for a secure america and scott mackey and asap for hosting this event. Im happy this event is taking place today. Originally when scott was discussing it we were thinking about holding it last week but i think today its much more timely. We have good news basically to report. You know the taliban to try its best to disrupt this process. You had the major attacks on the hotel in kabul which looked like they were directly targeted at the International Observation mission that was staying there cant cut the attack on the independent Election Commission. There were attacks on election day, smaller level attacks but clearly they tried to disrupt the electoral process and they fail. We saw this in the high voter turnout. Most reports are saying possibly around 60 which is twice as much as the turnout was in 2009 so what does this say . This says that the afghans want democracy. They dont want what the taliban has to offer. I think in this way, this is a blow to the taliban and as ambassador samad said it puts a dent in their narrative. I am not saying that the taliban is going to disappear and peace will break out in afghanistan tomorrow but this will put pressure on the taliban and it has been a blow to them. So these elections should also restore a sense of optimism among americans and it should remind us why the u. S. Went to war in afghanistan in the first place and what is at stake for u. S. National security interests and what could happen if we withdraw troops too quickly. Unfortunately american Popular Support for the war has dipped considerably. Some of the latest polling says its below 20 and they think this is due in large part because of the western media biased toward reporting on violence and the bad news coming out of the country but i think its also a result of president karzai and his continuous criticism of american policies there despite the massive amounts of assistance in blood and treasure that the u. S. Has spent there. But its also i think the white house has been reluctant to talk about the war and really spell out for the American People whats at stake. So i think all of these things combined have led to this dismal view in the u. S. About afghanistan. But the point is with these elections we have an opportunity to reframe the debate and we can focus on what is right about the u. S. Mission in afghanistan and what has been accomplished. And i think this is a good time for the white house to be clear that it is willing to lead at least 10,000 forces after 2014 in the country, assuming that the new president or perhaps even a minister in the Karzai Administration as ambassador samad says signs the psa. Our u. S. Commander has said at least 10,000 forces are necessary to backstop, train and advise the Afghan Forces and i think the white house has favored a smaller u. S. Footprint which may appeal to american domestic but it really carries the risk of failing to meet the minimal requirements of the afghan courses. So its vital that the u. S. Partner with the afghans to prevent taliban resurgence were many reasons. First, this election and continued u. S. Engagement with the country is particularly important for women and ethnic minorities unlike when the taliban ruled the country and prevented women going to school alone participating in the economic and political life of the country. One of the election candidates had a woman on his ticket as the Vice President ial candidate and early results are showing that 30 of voters were women so this is a remarkable accomplishment for women. Second, preventing taliban resurgence is fundamental to combating the global terrorist threat. We have seen the impact of the u. S. Completely withdrawing forces from iraq where al qaeda has made a comeback over the last year and i think this should serve as a warning to the u. S. On the risk of leaving afghanistan too soon. I would simply say if we can afford to have 30,000 u. S. Troops stationed in korea 60 years after the war ended their, surely we can afford to keep 10,000 troops in the country from which the 9 11 attacks originated. Third, we must consider the blowback effects of the taliban resurgence on pakistan a nucleararmed state. And i think ambassador samad is correct when he says that this election also puts pressure on pakistan to reconsider some of its policies and i think certainly there are people in pakistan who realize the increasing threat from the Pakistani Taliban which of course coordinates with the Afghan Taliban, and more and more people in pakistan are realizing that the blowback impact of supporting the Afghan Taliban for so many years is certainly hurting pakistan now. And so hopefully this election will help push the needle in pakistan more toward a policy of cracking down on the taliban on its side of the border in helping with the reconciliation process in afghanistan. Fourth, if the taliban reestablishes its influence in afghanistan not only does it offer the opportunity to provide al qaeda safe haven but also the many other terrorist groups that operate from the region and share the same kind of ideology and here im talking about the Islamic Movement of uzbekistan which poses a threat to the Central Asian nations groups like last car you type a and mujahideen that focus on attacking india and even china is growing increasingly concerned that afghanistan could become a safe haven for uyghur separatists and in early march terrorist attacked civilians at a Railway Station in the city of in china leading 29 dead and 140 injured trying to blame the attack on the uyghur extremists and quickly followed up saying that beijing will work with the International Community to fight terrorism in afghanistan. So clearly what happens with the taliban in afghanistan has farreaching consequences not only for the u. S. But for all the regional countries. So there are several factors that will determine whether afghanistan will indeed become a stable democracy in the coming years. The credibility of these elections was critical and here i think we have some good news but also the issue of how soon the u. S. Withdraws its forces from the country also plays a role in whether or not afghanistan will be successful. I would simply say the afghans have risked their lives to show they are committed to democracy in their country and we should fully back them by leaving a substantial residual force present in continuing to fund and train the afghan Security Forces. Now is not the time for the u. S. To give up on the afghan mission. Instead we should use this opportunity to reintegrate our commitment to the country. Thank you. Thanks lisa. I do want to open it up for questions from the audience. I think that you have cards and they somehow need to be delivered to me. Maybe i will ask the first question while those are being collected. Does that make sense . And then we will open it up for your questions. Thank you so much for your comments and im just going to throw a question out for just a Quick Response and then i do want to open it up. So what happens if this is becomes a long process and we have a second round and things are not decided for many months . What would be your advice to the white house, members of congress , about how they should be talking about it, that how they should be approaching it. What is the role . What is the message of the u. S. During a sensitive time in afghanistan . Ambassador samad can i start with you for your quick thoughts on advice for u. S. Policymakers on this . Thank you. I think it would e. In case there is a prolonged process, and no definitive result, it is incumbent i think on the International Community as a whole and on the u. S. In particular to the patient. I do not foresee a very prolonged and arduous process but it possibly exists and i would say that for all the reasons that the two other panelists gave, whether electoral or strategic or policy driven, there is no need to rush. There is no need to make decisions just purely because of domestic issues and pressures. Afghanistan as history has shown , especially the history of you know the postsoviet period has shown when the soviets left afghanistan that the country was sort of left to its own devices and ended up becoming a failed state and ended up becoming a hotbed for terrorism and so on and so forth and we all know the story. Definitely given the conditions that existed in the region as a whole what is happening in the east and what is happening with other nonstate actors we definitely cannot afford to rest your judgment and make a decision that is in haste. Jeb or lisa do you have anything you want to add to that . Jeb do you want to start . Sure. It wasnt that long ago where we dealt with that exact scenario in 2009 and in 2010. In 2000 in the parliament was eventually ceded almost a year after election day. I think we all hope that wont be the case again but the message i think needs to be very clear that you know ultimately its for the Afghan People to decide whether or not the electoral process meets their standards and whether or not they can respect the outcome of that process. It is really important that space be provided to the independent Election Commission and the independent election Complaints Commission to conduct their work independently and impartially, which as you probably know in the past has been the question. There was great focus on the behalf of the Karzai Administration in 2009 on alleged foreign interference of the process of the worst thing we could do is fall into that trap again whether that is a reality or send the perception certainly we want to avoid that. I just want to quickly add that yes, the u. S. Should be patient. Theres a lot at stake here but the reality is there are some constraints when it comes to the bilateral Security Agreement and whether or not the u. S. Leaves any troops post 2014. I think the u. S. Has shown about as much flexibility as a can on this issue and the real question is whether the nato countries can show the same kind of flexibility. They are going to they are not going to commit any troops until the u. S. Signed the psa with afghanistan and they are under constraints in terms of needing time for planning and logistics. So yes we should be patient but at the same time combat if afghans want to see a true presence posts 2014 i think there are some constraints in that regard and if it goes much beyond the summer than i think we are in some real trouble in terms of the u. S. Ability and politically with the white house , the desire to leave troops after 2014. Thanks lisa. I have a question from the audience and i think im going to turn this to you ambassador samad which is could you comment on the quality of the top president ial contenders . What do you foresee in terms of their platforms, their vision moving forward . Well we started out with 11, went through the first round of electoral qualification testing. They had to meet certain criteria and they did. Then over time, to three of them decided to drop and we were left with eight and finally the common understanding was that there are three contenders the former world bank anthropologist professor at Johns Hopkins technocrat, turned technocrat post2001 minister of finance and in charge of the security transition that took place with the International Community. Then you have doctor of dula a former majority and the antisoviet period, a young man in the antitaliban movement, part of the acid faction as a civilian assistant and advisor and then turned minister minister of Foreign Affairs in 2001 and then left the government in 2006 and became the Opposition Leader and decided not to go into the runoff. Then you have the foreign minister of National Security advisor so on and so forth that came from the former camp from rome and was associated with hamid karzai since then and considered as the person who is probably the closest to hamid karzai and probably someone who has his blessing. I think that the preliminary assessments made over the past 48 hours show that our chef gunny and of dula seem to be heading the pac, that brazil is trailing and he may not be able to go into the second round. Im speculating that this is based on preliminary results that we see and there will be a runoff and either there will be a runoff all the way to the end board that in between there will be a political arrangement, and the coalition will be built and the a government of National Unity will be formed and they will agree on sharing power. Now, the other question is with president karzai in office and wanting, seeming to want to exercise some level of influence in the future and have a say about afghan policy in the future, whether he will be given , how much space he will be given and in what area and whether he will be satisfied or not. But regardless of whether karzai is satisfied or not what is important as we had a first round in the Afghan People had a chance to go to the polling stations and deliver their ballots and that there is now momentum towards the responsibility and the burden of proof now is on the shoulders of the commission. The independent Election Commission and the Complaints Commission as well as all other related mechanisms that exist. They have to do their job as openly and is transparently and fairly as possible in order to make sure that the trust the Afghan People have shown in the risk that they took on saturday has some type of result that is acceptable. Nobody is looking for perfection here. Nobody is looking for totally fraud list election. We are looking at an election that would have enough credibility and acceptance with the afghans and as a result the International Community. I okay, thank you. Lisa im going to turn a couple of questions over to you. Two Big Questions and lets see if you can have a go at it. The first question is that Foreign Affairs recently published an article about where someone made the case that they ansf was a big threat to the afghan state because of the risk of a coup. How likely do you think that scenario is . Thats the first question. The second is on a totally unrelated matter but i do want to get through a bunch of these and that is on pakistan. The sharif government has said that they will they are taking a stance of noninterference. We saw at least in the press some reporting that there was cooperation with border closures and other matters taken by the pakistanis. But how concerned are you about pakistan continuing to try to influence in unconstructive ways throughout this process and beyond . Lets leave it there and if anyone wants to comment after lisa i do want to get more questions in. Yeah i think the issue of the ansf and with there be some kind of a coup, i think unless i am less worried about this now. The question six months ago was if you had a really divisive election breaking down long ethnic lines a lot of bitterness and animosity, been the worry is that would reflect within the afghan Security Forces and you could have a rupturing of the unity of the afghan Security Forces. But we are not seeing that happen. In fact i would argue that we are seeing the opposite, that the ansf has shown that it can protect the Afghan People. It was imperfect. There was violence but it was not as bad as people had feared and so far, there seems to be a civil discourse and people are dealing with the issues in a very civil manner. There will be election complaints and in there will be allegation of fraud but again it doesnt look like its anywhere on the level of what we signed saw in 2009. And bear was a dialogue now. Of course there has been some reporting that it was the Afghan Taliban that actually convinced that Pakistan Taliban to go into negotiations with the palestine government so that this military operation would not happen and would not disrupt their ability to keep fighting in afghanistan. So clearly, you know, the i would not say i have seen any fundamental shift among the Pakistan Military crackdown on the taliban. However, i do think that this election will make them, you know, think twice and consider there policies moving forward. And it is one more reason. First it is the blow back. They know that if they taliban come back in a big way in afghanistan that will have a blow back impact on militants fighting the pakistani state. Second, as we have said, the Afghan People have spoken. They have shown there support for democracy, that they dont want what the taliban has to offer. And this will have to factor into pakistan a planning for the future. Great. Thank you so much. A question on the economy. Maybe you feel free to jump in at any moment. The question is, what are the prospects for sustained Economic Growth . We have turned a corner here with the election camorra least were at the beginning. We have talked about the on sustainability of the state and the nsf and the need for continued funding. What are the prospects for the afghan economy to become a little more selfsufficient . Thank you. It is a good question. There has been so much focus over the past year or two over the security transition and the political transition that were in the midst of that there has not been enough attention paid to the economic transition that afghan has to undergo and is undergoing. And i would you could very clearly feel that people are anxious, that businesses Small Businesses and not talking about just larger ones, but smaller businesses, momandpop type business is hurting as a result. And that uncertainty, that sense of not knowing what might happen as an impact on Economic Life of the country. Now, if we have a Successful Transition and we have new leaders in the country stays called, which is what most people now predict, then the Business Cycle is going to be happy and youre going to see again at the normal sort of development that has been taking place in afghanistan which has been very positive overall. Now, business in afghanistan is the economy overall in afghanistan has relied to quite an extent on foreign aid money and the large amount of assistance that has come into the country. That is going to shrink. We all know that. Afghan afghans are ready to adjust. Hopefully they will be able to come up with new ideas. They are looking forward to enough stability and enough security in the country to be able to implement all those big projects that the country relies on so much whether its in the mining sector. As we all know, its very promising. Whether it is in agriculture and agribusiness, whether it is turning afghanistan into up for trade and transit in that region of the world building infrastructure, so one and so forth. The prospects can be very bright. It all depends on political stability and security. Thank you. Another question here from the audience. What sort of Bipartisan Coalition is there in congress to support a unified front backing afghanistan . Is anyone aware here of a congressional effort to support this . Is there anyone in the audience to knows . This may be a task force someone to actually start mobilizing people. I am going to turn want to ask a question to jed. At this point we have to be patient with the processes that are taking place in afghanistan over the next weeks and months. How concerned are you about sort of the independent organization being used in political ways . How much of a concern is this . I think its a real concern. And, you know, thus far, you know, we have not seen indications that they wont act independently and that they will be impartial. If history is any indication, you know, in 2009 that was one of the key concerns about the independent Election Commission was their impartiality. Particularly in the two scenarios that i spoke about earlier, you know, if one of those were to become true, you know, the independence is critical. The impartial work of the commissions will be critical. So, you know, i think it is our real concern. At this point have not been indications that the commissions will act independently. But, you know, the closer the results are the more pressure those commissions are going to be under. You know, you ask what the message should be. You know, what the u. S. Can do. One of the key things that can be done is to support those commissions, support the independence and impartiality of those commissions. You know, when and if that pressure is ratcheted up. And i am going to ask another question. More questions from the audience . We only have a couple more minutes, but we welcome them. If theyre is a disputed outcome or i disputed highly contentious second round d. C. , ambassador, the International Community or the u. S. Plane would you think that there would be oval for the u. S. Of the International Community in providing a kind of facilitating role among candid its . Help them reach a deal among each other or do you see that kind of facilitation dangerous . The negotiations among afghans. I did not see that possibility in 2014. I feel that the 2009 experience on all sides has left everyone somewhat sensitive and worried about perceptions. And so i believe that none of the afghan teams and candid its in tickets or political heavyweights will come forth and ask for a u. S. Or any other country. But what i do see is maybe maybe, and there are very strict conditions. If things are about to get out and that there may be oval for the u. S. To play as an arbiter. And so that would be probably of last resort type of international engagement. Okay. At think we have run out of time. I want to thank the partnership for secure america and the alliance in support of the Afghan People. Thank you so much to our panelists, lisa, jed, omar. Thank you very much, and thanks to everyone for coming. [applause] [inaudible conversations] the first thing i would do is not let the largest cable and tv company by the secondlargest cabletv company. That is where i would start. My job here on the Judiciary Committee is to, you know, at these hearings is to raise my concerns and mr. Cohen seems like to my release seems like he is a really smart guy, really great guy, im sure. I can say about him, he turns, you know, sort of what he got. But my job was asked some tough questions on behalf you see, they have 107 obvious lobbyists on capitol hill. They are swarming capitol hill, their lobbyists. But i have 100,000 i have 100,000 people, more than 100,000 people write me their objections. And so the first thing that i would do is stop this deal. I would not let this go through. I would its not up to me. Its up to the fcc in the doj. Senator frank and weighs in on the proposed comcast Time Warner Cable merger tonight on the communicators at 8 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan2. And with this set in recess this week we are highlighting book tv programs in prime time here on cspan2. Tonight the world of banking and finance starting at 830 with Meghan Mcconnell and her book the upside down, while failing well is the key to success. And then our interview with michael lewis, the author of flash boys, a wall street revolt. Stephen haber and charles chimeras talk about their book, fragile by design, the political origins of banking crises and scarce credit. That is book tv in prime time all this week on cspan2. Tomorrow morning and the next washington journal political attacks reporter rachael beta will look at congressional efforts to fix the tax code and will hear from Rebecca Wilkens of citizens for tax justice and William Mcbride of the Tax Foundation about the fairness and equity of the u. S. Tax system and what might need to be done to reform it. Plus your phone calls, facebook comments, to reach all on washington journal live tomorrow morning at 7 00 a. M. Eastern on cspan. Last month the acting director of the White House Office of National Drug control policy testified on the president s 2015 budget request. Michael botticelli also discussed his offices efforts to deal with drug abuse and trafficking in the u. S. The hearing was held by a House Appropriations subcommittee. It ran an hour 15 minutes. [inaudible conversations] the subcommittee will come to order. Today we will hear from the chief of police, the chief also accompanied by an assistant chief denim valerie malloy, excuse me. And we would like to congratulate him on his appointment. You bet. Thank you. Chief, we applaud the fact that apartment has come pleated the longawaited and overdue radio modernization process. On behalf of the entire committee to it like to give special thanks to mr. Richard braddock the we understand is ill today, as are you. Thank you for being here. We wanted thank mr. Braddock for his dedication and determination in seen this project. Chief, i would like to publicly thank you and all the members for your constant diligence providing for the security of members of congress, congressional staff, the u. S. Campeau complex. We recognize how hard your folks work, how much they do for and how much their service means not just us but frankly to the entire country in keeping a secure. Please on behalf of the entire committee except are very sincere thanks. Thank you, sir. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Good afternoon. As always, we appreciate you coming to testify. It is good to see you. Thank you for being here. You know, the subcommittee in all capital complex know about the Capitol Police operation, one of our most important, if not the most important. Youre really at the epicenter of everything that happens in the capitol complex. Theres always a delicate balance between access and security. Were. The people are particularly its hand to making sure that that balance is struck in the right way. Very sequestration process that we have gone through and now we are still coming out of, our constituents were more directly impacted. Because your agency in comparison to others. I mean, it was the most visible impact and most direct impact that our constituents here in the capitol complex i felt as a result of cuts your agency. You obviously are the first line not only of defense but also the first that the public interacts with. Your agency contributes to the culture and the environment of our workplace and also the environment and culture of the place that people live in. Our offices for members and staff, being the first and last impression that our constituents have. To that and theyre really want to underscore how important it is given that there have been some incidents of challenges their offices had been bouncing First Amendment rights with security. And now youre working through those issues and helping individual officers do with that its obviously the apartments job to make sure that we create a safe environment for guests to come and interact. Awesome nature that people have the right to express themselves which is their constitutional right. Now like to your little bit about what conveys that balance. As far as that goes we have got lots of feedback from our visitors, staff, constituents, members on the lack of access the we have. Given that the Capitol Police is back to near pre sequester levels in at 414i would really like to hear from you on what considerations are giving to improving access. I think there is a very significant exploitation. In know, if you are going basically back up to the funding level your web before this a question that is and should be the expectation. A lot of that lies with a sergeant at arms, but we want to hear what your plans are and how youre working with them to do that. I also want to congratulate you on bringing me in trouble ability system, radio Modernization Project in for a landing. There were bumps along the way, which i began managing and handed over to a succession of other chairs. We know we still have king store down the system, bringing it in for a landing finally after 13 years since 9 11 is really important. Obviously making sure that officers can communicate with one another and with other agencies is critical. On the financial side the Capitol Police administrative division, in the budget and accounting areas. Im not going to rehash all that. There were many in they were complex and there were an embarrassment. So secure an update on your financial and and where you are and how close your to a clean audit if you are not already have one. Strengthen the Financial Management of the apartment. Finally let me close by saying that they face many challenges including the incident that highlights the uncertainty that we face each and every day here in the capital. The shootings that occurred in october and obviously that was a travesty that all of us wish had gone differently. Many of the details, still being worked out. Valid why we invest in training in radius and physical infrastructure. The navy are shooting him how the department works. Discrepancies between the house and senate and the police on what was the appropriate action to take and how to act accordingly based on what each member wanted. And the shooting did not impact the capitol complex specifically there was no way to know. We obviously have those challenges to sort through as well. We all need to be singing of the same song she when its a danger. We appreciate the work that you do and all of your officers in the civilian work force as well. Thank you so much. If you could summarize the testimony. Thank you, sir. Good afternoon, chairman, ranking member, members of the committee. I am honored to be here today and appreciate their virginity. I am joined here today by assistant chief malloy, chief of operations. As was mentioned, our chief Administrative Officer is ill today. We also have some members of the executive management here as well as low as a representative from inspector generals office. I consider the United States Capitol Police to be Americas Police department, the premier federal of orphanages in the works to ensure that the laws of the process can function without disruption. Now, our mission is to protect the facilities we all work in and around to protect you and your fellow members, your staff, Capital Community in the millions of visitors to come here to be part of the democratic process and a regular basis. We have protected the process. Reconsider all the people and the facilities we protect and know is that a process that we secure as one community. Although were professionals dedicated to Public Service and safety, the employees of the department can strengthen encouragement from the recognition. Now aware that the fiscal situation of the federal grant requires when manager cells and our future responsible. Therefore i believe it is ours possibility to severe budget requests in an accurate, reasonable, responsible and based on critical performance necessary, identified any emerging threats. Our fiscal year 2015 budget request focuses on those necessary for the apartment to address the security of the congress so that it may conduct its Constitutional Responsibilities in an open and safe manner. Our fiscal year 2015 request 1775 of the 1800s one authorized positions and 370 of are authorized for under 43 civilian positions. These are the Staffing Levels hundred during of what 2014. Our offices provide a safe environment with facilities on capitol hill. In fiscal year 2013 department recalled over including the capitol visitors. Outside the cab pickup brown saved by connecting one and a hundred and 50,000 over 27 off site vehicle inspections. I revel for your time today. We will continue work with you to make sure their work a reasonable responsible manner. The thank you for your support. Appreciate the opportunity to appear for you today and answer any questions you may have at this point. Thank you very much. Lets start back here with an issue that ms. Wasserman shoals raised. Thank you all your a lot of points of access. Obviously as you pointed out in her testimony, we have been able to address at least some of the personnel problems that were associated with sequesters. Can you give us an idea of where we are, what if anything is going to be reopened, what your timeand your concerns. First let me say that we are extremely aware of the problems and to the building. Well understand that. As you know we have more vision than we have officers. We dont have enough officers to cover every single coast every time. The plan we immediately put into place has been personnel in our command center. As you know, pretty robust command center. We are using those cameras to provide realtime information and tracking. We used to track the information. Now we are keeping that data and charting in out. It is resulting in an instant notification to supervisors in the field who then notify the number of different First Responders to minors as a responders. So they can respond to any door and direct people to another door that is open, open up an additional, and gays in prescreening which help people get through quickly. As the Operational Plan we have going on right now. As it relates to funding as you know, closures have approximately 16 million. In the low 20s. And its been a challenge of the years. So currently on the same levels. It also, thanks to your efforts which we greatly appreciate, has provided some time to take our officers offline. Pier challenges that we have fans. In fact, probably most. We do not have the ability to significantly reduce our footprint because of the number of fixed boats. So a starkly as well as currently we have had to use overtime to a taken offline to do significant Training Command important training which frankly we have had to defer the last couple of years. We have a plan that we are implementing this year thanks to the funding you have provided. Complete training from officers, complete active Shooter Training this year. Six other officers are going to go through training and screening. So those are two pieces of key training and are really, really important to our officers. As you know, training is on the last areas at any Police Department wants to cut. So thanks to the funding the you have provided to us we are able to address that. Now, we also know that we need to continue to better manage everything. Even though we decreased we are tracking that better every day. We directed every day, our commanders, the third day shift report to see who is working, how many people working, where theyre working so that we can put the people that we need working to reduce overtime. By you plan to open any points that have been closed . Well, we are still looking. We would not be able to open additional doors not spending additional overtime. We are continuing to explore all avenues. Aggressive enforcement putting officers and supervisors there were any to be. We are constantly monitoring that. Fiscal year 2014 budget let you that 41 people to the back up to 1775. Would you give us a quick overview of how much time it takes to find those people, train them. Well, we are not at that number. The team as you mentioned. I appreciate that characterization. I view the United States Capitol Police as Americas Police. As you mentioned. These officers are the First Impression that people see. They are Americas Police department for a number of reasons. Protect the people and the place of the process that has made this country what it is. So our officers are the first phase that people see, that uc, frankly people from around the world see when they first come here. Theyre also the last people. So there lustily the face of Law Enforcement in the United States we are very proud of that, but we need to make sure that is true. And need to conduct themselves accordingly. Our mission and your needs as well. To that end we hired a new Human Resources director when i came on. As part of our Strategic Plan we have revamped. Obviously we want to hire the best and brightest. We want people that want to stay here and not using this as a place to go somewhere else. We want them to understand what we are all about. So we set up an Assessment Center process over the last couple of months. We brought people from around the country to come to the United States capitol. It was very exciting. Out of almost 7,000 applicants for about four weeks, between 6007 other applicants. Very exciting. We brought in the top several hundred. Many of our command staff. The process Assessment Center. Physical testing and academic testing. There also winter an overview of who we are and what we do. What kind of agency we are, now we understand, we need their expectation and they need our expectation. It was very, very exciting to meet these men and one in the camera actually from across the United States just to be part of this process. So we are filling those bonds the specifics your question over the process. And we are very excited about that. Were going to out we have a process white now. Eat we are hopeful that we will be able to meet and fill all the spots. Obviously with any agency our size there is always attrition. Okay. Thanks, chief. Thank you, mr. Chairman. The overtime question, you know, i dont want to be a contrarian. The sequester sort of did your job for you than you would have had to do anyway. I think is safe to say they you would not have likely primarily chosen to close stores and shut off Access Points as a solution to reducing overtime. Maybe a couple, but entire amount of overtime arguably it cuts down on productivity. And this a question for you and your agency has launched the past. You should not be agent for making hard decisions that you would have had to make and that allow this question to have done the job for you. It is not okay to just cut overtime through closing of assets. So the question i have more specifically is come unto you have something called space over time . And an unscheduled overtime and training overtime. What is the difference between those three kinds of overtime . 23 million. Most of the request is for space activities. And then if you ordered if we directed you as a committee to open more Access Points would that cost be added to overtime . You mentioned it would, but you obviously have to continue to deal with the steps toward. Where would push comes to shove if you had to make that trust . I appreciate. We are and will continue to add aggressively manage the overtime the other thing i want to say specifically is about access point. It directing people and i can appreciate you more closely managing it and through the command center, and thats great, but youre looking for trouble spots and trying to address it in real time. Directing people to the other doors isnt a solution to the fact that their access point is close to should be open in my opinion. Based overtime is basically over time that is used for core mission. Scheduled events. That is generally what base overtime is. Unscheduled protests, special sessions. Trailer time is literally over time that we use to back door officers that need to take offline significant turning. So that is kind of how that breaks down. We understand there is a need to , and we will continue to address it. What people think of, the need for overtime, to be more like the unscheduled overtime rather than core mission. Your core mission, you should have the ability to put officers in place for a length of time within the normal hours ideally. I realize thats challenging. But its the base over time that really was the focus of the committee when you have the i guess this schedule is expected and training. The base over time. A couple of others. I mentioned in the Opening Statements that your department has some pretty significant perris for getting your fiscal challenges. This is a fiscal disaster. The previous a administration did not know where money was. Ami, bills, payroll. Can you give us an update on where you are now . Yes, maam. As we said to me is not here. Give him great kudos. The great work that he did. I mean to me just its still a work. We are getting our third opinion were very proud of that. We have closed 18 recommendations thus far this year. We have a more air in the process of closing. So we think that were continuing to make great progress in that area and become more robust. I only have one more quick question and then on be done. A couple of weeks the airline was something happened. A vote had been called. I was off campus. In an effort to get to the capital within the 15 minute time limit allowed for the first vote. At to get a taxi. The car could not people love valet quick enough. I was on the senate side. I attempted to come through the gate, you know. A regular car, they let us draw on the senate side with no problem. There would not allow us to come through on the senate side. And they did not come through. The vehicle there and on the senate side. And so if you could im not sure if youre familiar with that difference in policy, but house members need to get into the capitol complex a matter what vehicle share and one of voters on. If you could address and and maybe it was just something that happened to me that date, someone a was an officer that did not know the policy. If not, if thats the policy in relation be changed. Just one man. An anxiously, the details coming through. The very politely hustled me over there. [laughter] he was. I to know who he was. He still brought new which was built in nice. Mr. Harris. Thank you very much. Just a couple of brief questions can you explain what the total salary approaches the take in setting the salary numbers . Is is they use a total salary approach. That represents, i think, the total salary which is 1775. I can elaborate more. Okay. Its included in the budget. It provides the greatest Risk Mitigation from identified budget this spirit of the shriners and what that is. Air office of general counsel to from sorry, your office of Human Resources increase of three under 70,000 for labour relations contractor support. Is that above and beyond what you normally spend . No, sir. In our labour area under Human Resources, about nine people short. So thats an effort to shore of Labor Relations efforts while those positions are unfilled. When tackle for the ability of the money you give us to know we are down nine people, as i mentioned. You are down last fiscal year contractor support. Yes, sir. We have some, billy. Down a total of nine last year. All right. It is a large increase. The two main dollars in of fiberoptic contract support and some informations systems. Some special project. Like us said, the 2 million increase in the budget. And that Network Communications madam to 126. One of the areas we are behind in throughout our facilities and campus as it relates to our work. Thats a ramp up to my take it. This is what it takes to catch up. It may even going to that. In just one last, you have of fairly large increase in the budget for medical care and total salaries. I you adding people into that category . Well were doing, that is actually a full years request. In the past several years we have not had them to a full year request. Obviously as you know we will be hiring people. So thats an effort to actually find the contract for a full year. For what . For physicals what physicals for hiring and related medical costs as a release. In the past several years we have not had a full years contract which is why it shows an increase. Frankly is just a years request , contact request. But this fiscal year, last fiscal year, neither one is a full fiscal year request, but you manage to get by with it. We did manage to get by incorrectly. This is just this request. Okay. We have not hired in two years. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Chief, roughly what is the distribution between your allocation of the senate, the house . I do not have those numbers with me, but i would be glad to get into you. Act. Well, the hearing is now and as early now, i can use those things subsequently. How many people are allocated to the House Office Buildings . I can look that up. I can tell you right now, as we speak around a guy in internal staffing review plan to make sure we have people in the right places actually in an effort to continue to reduce overtime. We will probably be adjusting that. This is the second time weve done that since ive been here. Get them to my office. Okay. Thats out of roughly 1800. 1720 right now. 1720. Excuse me. I think the point is still valid were talking 1400 allocated and other areas of campus of and House Office Buildings. Yet thats an accurate figure tally that the but there are four times more house members and seven members, of course. The house complex is a bit larger than the senate. Im just wondering why you would have less than 20 percent allocated to a House Office Buildings . Well, thats one of the reasons why we underwent the staffing cuts. You got all these surveys. On and off this legislative branch subcommittee. Theres always a survey. Steadiness, studying at. You have a whole lot of studies. It seems to me that, you know, saying that we are studying something is a pretty weak response when asked a direct question. Its i cant imagine what you do with all the studies. You been doing studies since the 1990s. Were looking into that, analyzing the Staffing Levels. We must have hundreds of people doing the studies. Anyway, so you can have less than 20 percent allocated to the house side. Lets take those 309 there on the house side. What, five entrances, six sentences to a House Office Buildings. Is it 56 . So thats about 60 to 560 per entrance. Yet we have people backed out at those entrances, particularly in the winter. You feel badly, particularly when we can come in a separate door and go right through. We have impact upon the sidewalk it just seems to me that you might allocate more people to open out the other metal detectors. Normally you will get one metal detector in the closing of the doors off. I dont know why you say that you suggest they go to another entrance. Well, theres no point in going to another entrance if it is as much backed out. Theres only one other interests i mean, its beyond me. So youve got less than 20 . I try to figure out here how many you allocate to the entrances, how many of the 309 we do have allocated to letting people come into the as Office Buildings . It depends on the size. All right. Shall i give you . How many people are allocated to Cannon Building during the two hours when the house business starts . How many . Three offices. Three. Right. So three and youve got five entrances. Thats 15 of the 309 are assigned to the entrances when the public is trying to get in. So weve got what, 290 officers loved. Assigned to the House Office Buildings. It seems like a curious allocation when you were saying this is Americas Police force. You want to put a good face on it. People come in, they wait in rushhour for 15, 20 minutes at times. I have not stood around to count how long it takes for them begin. Theres a long line, and you but its gone on the last few years, particularly since shut the other entrances. You decided that 15 is the proper allocation out of the 309. You make that decision . Well, we worked with committees. The sergeant at arms, is that your decision . Allocate 15 officers out of the 309 assigned to the outside to let people in . We work closely with the Capitol Police to determine the allocation and look at the way lines. And what have you determined . Well, wait lines, generally under three minutes. Three minutes . Average has been less than three minutes. Best just not accurate. There arent three minutes. It back upon to the down the steps on the sidewalk. We can certainly provide you they do the same thing at the rayburn building. Is that the average or the whole day . Thats what rushhour primarily. During rushhour. Three minutes. We can show you are studies that have shown the average wait times. You know, to you have them now . Because this is our only opportunity to ask you. Well, id be happy to see that, but knowledge going to tell me if thats what it says is that these and not accurate assessments. They take a lot longer than three minutes during rush hour. We see them. I know you get the fancy cameras watching them, but if, for example lets just about the size that you have alignments out down the stairs. Youve got maybe 30 people in line at least. Why would you not use some of the remaining 294 people assigned to the House Office Buildings to open up another one of the machines to reduce the line when theyre is a line . That just pretend that there is actually alive and it takes people more than three minutes to get an. What would you do that . Looking at it. Thats i should have elaborated. Facilitate people to get in and prescreen them, pre screenings. If theyre is a nearby open door. So this is how long have you been thinking about doing this . This is what were doing now emersons when you raise those concerns taus obviously we take them very seriously. So there are concerns that are causing years bond. Its not something you would consider running around to be a problem. Well, whether we find it to be a problem when you find it to be a problem is it a problem . Yes. Its a problem for you especially. Im sorry, but this is Americas Police force command out to be in issue whether its a problem for the public. Why wouldnt you love, with the idea . We have. In not doing it yet. We are. Your . Having somebody go out and prescreen . Yes. Were literally monitoring and getting real tired formation of the supervisors in the field. I dont know if its happened in the past, but thats whats happening now. The tracking is better now instead of just sort of monitoring. We used to do random tracking. We would monitor that to see how long it would take. But we ask about it, thats nice data. How about constantly monitoring all the doors and come up with actual times of the weekend started out. You may be detecting a bit of frustration because its been a long time that these hearings of gone on. The answers seem to be insufficient to addressing the causes of our questions. Why you would have less than 20 percent of your police force allocated to the house side for capital, why you would have 15 people allocated to the doors and why you would not open up to the magnetometers and why you need to close the other doors because you dont have enough overtime when youve got 1,720 people which is as many as fairfax county. Actually more. Fairfax county has more than a million population. Actually hundreds of square miles. Its a question, it seemed to me , in terms of the responsiveness of a Capitol Police. Unknown going to get the same answer i was getting back in 1994 actually, which is, what, 20 years ago . There was a study. Make a calculation. Twenty years to found the problem is he could study and all the time. I know now weve had a sequester and weve had more dark clothes. We have a greater concern about i dont see the kind of initiative to settle these issues that it seems to me are important issues with our constituents are coming in and theyre waiting as long as they are. I grant a lot of them are lobbyists. Let them freeze out there i suppose. There on the clock. There are billable hours. It just doesnt seem to be a good use of resources. Its a good way that the First Impressions made of the people that are coming to visit us in our office. I appreciate and understand your frustration. Since ive been here we are not just been studying. We reallocate people one time during a largescale shift. Weve tried new shares to be more efficient and effective. We open and adapt. What is a new shift . We have some people on a 410 schedule. Atop that would be more effective and efficient. Four days ten hours. Yes. So were implementing changes. A delicate overtime. It reduces overtime the way we put that together. So each commander was asked to come up with ways to reduce overtime. So we move people around, we tried new chefs. Were undergoing a new analysis, but were not just being stagnant and waiting. And throw the doing another new analysis. Mr. Chairman im going to just summarize in response. Just seems puzzling to me that we have asked about why doors are closing and moralizers long as they are as because we dont have enough money in the overtime budget. Thats what we were told. And it does seem to me at a 1,720 fulltime personnel that we ought not have to be talking about the overtime budget. We get to be talking about the regular budget. Perhaps implementing one of the dozens of studies that have been done over the years to allocate a sufficient number of people with less than 20 . It seemed like an unusually small allocation. And then of that 309 people here got about 15 people allocated. It doesnt seem that requires a steady. Really appreciate the responsibility that have. But your life on the line constituents, they come to our Nations Capital to visit and be a part of our government. And so to you and all the people who support you on the staff, again, a deep reiterated thanks for that. All that over time, the obvious challenges. Could you carve out three things, the increase of funding the you would have to do differently if you were funded at the same level that you are now . The personal issues that weve talked about, your inability to give more officers. What else would you have to change . That explains why the staffing is what is it and ever the years the budget has never been what it would need to be to cover all of the post and assignments with no overtime. Of course, overtime is part of the normal world of policing to a certain extent that the percentage it is a normal part of police. We would have to cut training to answer you specifically which would be greatly troubling and if that didnt do enough we would go backwards in terms of staff levels and that has an affect on overtime. People more than anything would be the top priority. And beyond that, the training, equipment and we have deferred equipment, extended life cycles, not purchased things. We have no new initiatives this year. This budget is flat as it relates to that. You talked about the future of the force, the 21st century challenges that are forthcoming and i think everybody in this room has a deep appreciation for the value of communication. If there is a problem, it is because someone failed to communicate. Can you talk about that in terms of a couple of things. Number one, the transformational power you outlined that says evolving the department to an organization that learns from our experience and shares knowledge within our workforce, first of all and we will go on from there. We are wok working on a plan and there was an outlined provided to you but we want to posh to be a learning organization and learn from other agencies and be more data driven and make sure we are communicating internally and externally and we want to engage in smart policing. All of that helps control the budget and make this campus safe. External communication means you do a lot of local Law Enforcement agencies because you represent so many different places across the United States, obamacare talk about challenges you have as it relates to those type of external communications . We have to ask local agencies for assistance and they a usually happy in that endever and we appreciate that. Here in the National Capital region we work on a daily bases wi with almost all of the federal agencies with the secret servic services. We want to make sure from a budget standpoint you dont have obsticals and if there are ones that come from the lack of funds, we would be interested to know because that communication both rest with our local Law Enforcement and for the other agencies it is critical to function at the highest level. So again, if there are forcing obstuicals we would like to know that. Can you give me the number of those in the department that have been there longer than five years versus less than . I dont know have the numbers is there a program that matches younger, newer officers with those that have been with the department a number observation of years . We just had a mentoring Program Start up. We didnt divide it by time on. We just wanted to reach out to the entire workforce at all levels and we got a lot of positive feedback. That is one of things we know we need to do in terms of mentoring people. Thank you for being here. I yield back. Mr. Fischer. Thank you very much. Thank you chief, dine. I have two questions the first one has to do with the Navy Shooting in 2013. It is my understanding the Senate Capital were on shutdown but the house wasnt despite the house was closer to the navy yard. Can you explain why the house wasnt on lockdown and doesnt that create confusion and there is anything that could have been done to prevent this . And the second thing is i would look an update on the 2001 Discrimination Suit that was filled by lieutenant Sherman Blackman maloy that alleged 200 africanameric africanamerican officers were denied promotions or fired because of race. As far as question number one, you are right. It does create confusion and we will do everything in our power to not let that happen again as long as we are all here. Obviously i confer with the board and that was a dynamic, fluid situation and people who viewed things how they view them. But i agree with you that wasnt an optimum way to handle the campus because we want an across the board message so i agree with you there. Yes, sir. Who decided that just house wouldnt be placed under lockdown . Were the senate and the other more vulfishily vulnerable i will not debate it. I think you are right. We had people are hundreds of Years Experience and people saw things differently. But at the end of the day, we need to come to be on the safe conclusion regardless of what that conclusion is. I guess i agree with you. I dont have a specific update on the legal question. I can have our continue provide anything. My understanding is there is not a lot of movement other than there is less people on the list because some of the suit has dropped away as time has gone on. But i can give you specific offline written update on that. But let me state for the record as i think i did last time, we dont stand for discrimination and that is not what we stand for. We are diverse and we are proud of that. We have outstanding men and women. And i would not stand for this nor would the command staff and that is not the type of agency we are. Did i understand you to say you have a new Human Resource director . About a month before i was hired we hired an outstanding Human Resource director jacky whittaker. Are there any vacanies in the highering of the higher positions and do you keep statistical data on the hiring of women and minorities in the vacancy . Most of them have been filled but we are in the hiring process. We are a diverse agency. We are over 30 africanamerican. 18 female. How do you square up percentage wise in the higher ranks within the department . 37 of your management people that are africanamerican and female . No, sir. Not yet. But we are working in that direction. Okay. You will provide us with a report . Yes, sir, i will have our general counsel correspond. I would think there would be some movement to try to resolve it. From time to time i have members of the Capital Police that come to my office and say they are concerned it hasnt been resolved. And you know, as a member of the subcommittee i want to make sure that we do everything we can to make sure the conditions and terms of the Corporate Police who do such an important job for all of us are done in an environment that is free of discrimination. Absolutely. One of the ongoing concerns i have had particularly as a result of the shooting of our colleague gabby gifords. We were asked to do a number of security improvements and given protocols for security. But we faced mra cuts and of course everybody was faced with a sequester and yeah, we had to reduce our staff by three positions but at the same time we were requested to employ certain security concerns to address security concerns. For example, the assessment of one of my District Officers, which was my flag ship office, it was on the first floor of the Office Building with a glass office looking out into the street. Moving to another location wasnt an option because we could not afford to move. One of the concerns we have had and we have been raising it at each one of our hearings with the sergeant arms and the Capital Police as well is would a fund, which i understand the senate has, allocated for security and the senate has a fund that is allocated for the security of member District Officers. Would a fund similar to that for house members even though the allocation may not be that great at the discretion of the sergeant of arms and the Capital Police, would that not be helpful for providing more security for the members and people . I dont know if i can speak to the funds but i can tell you we take seriously the safety of you and your members obviously and your staff whether it is here or your home offices. We will be glad to do Security Survey as you know. We have trained members that go across the country and do that. They have done an excellent job. The new office that we opened in macon, georgia has excellent security, better than any of the other offices we have and that was based on his recommendation. We were most appreciative of that but it cost money and we have two other District Office and i am sure the other members, not just me, but other members that have District Offices across the country that are exposed to the risk with not adequate resources and if there were a fund that secured people to utilize when there is a risk, i would think, and i continue to raise the issue and i will not beat it to death, but it would make for a better environment securitywise for all of the members. Yes, sir. Mr. Stewart. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Deputies and arms and others. Thank you and your staff for the work you do. It is easy to be courageous when i am wearing the pen, but i have watched them with others and they seem to be just as courtesy. I will say it seems to be the sense of the committee we need open up more access during rush hour. Will you commit you will find way to do that . We will definitely look at and do everything we can to try to relieve those issues. I think that is important. If you cant, i think it would be probably to explain why not and see if we can help you with that. Something very quick, i want to some to something that is going to take a little more time but not many. The incident in october made us many comfortable. It was a tragedy for the family involved and difficult for the officers involved in the shooting and i know you examined what happened there. Can you share lessons you learned from that incident that maybe helpful to avoid that in the future . We would all prefer nothing like that ever happen here. This is one of the top locations of the country for various threats. As far as a target. All of threats. Part of that is still under criminal investigation by the u. S. Attorney office for the use of force aspect we dissect other policies and Perimeter Security concepts and communication issues. Those are problem three areas we have been focusing on without fully elaborating given the nation of what we are dealing with right now. Knowing we cannot talk about that and it would not be proper, do you sense that we are in a better position now to handle a situation like that and maybe have a different outcome . Yes, sir, i do. And recognizing it is a dangerous world and that in high stress situation like that it is unpredictable and the officers do the very best they can and i would not want to indicate i was finding fault with them but we would want to look at that and see if there is lessons to learn. Absolutely the last thing i want to talk about is turnover. Do you know what percentage is still on the force say 25 years later . We do have that data. I dont have it in front of me. I will not say turnover has been a problem for us. Some stay is part of the economy but that is why i said it is important to get the right police officer. We do a lot of Homeland Security and fixed post and we do a lot of intelligence work and we have a protection detail piece so we are a large Police Department that does a little bit of everything kind of like many federal agencies. We need to hire people that understand the type of agencies they are joining so they dont get frustrated 23 years down the road. Turnover isnt much of a problem now. And that would be a reflection you would view your department and agency as having high moral . I would like to think so. We have been working hard in that regard because that means something for us. So for obvious reasons if you are a good company you want to take care of your people and have good moral. We have been having meetings to go over this and been at lunch with the whole executive board in the last couple months. We have setup a problem solving approach with them and dont view each other as advisaries. Thank you for coming. And access, access, access. Mr. Chairman . Thank you. Ms. Schultz. I think you should be given a congrats for being the only person that can bring the country together. Access we agree. I wanted to ask you one more question as a follow up to senator stewarts question on the shooting and i know there is litigation so i will not ask you about details because of the both the Ongoing Investigation and the litigation. But there was a deep concern expressed on the part of some officers that in the midst of that incident and i understand the radio project wasnt online. But they are saying the radios were not able to communicate with the secret service. And that was disturbing. We were always told there were adjustments that could be made so agency to agency like the Capital Police and secret services when an incident was transpiring that was responsible. Prior to the new radios, were the ones use during the october incident were they able to be used to communicate like that . Yes, there is a couple ways. One is through there pmars which is a Police Mutual aid secret service system. And there are two emergency channels. Dc01 and 02 that existed before. Did you hear the concerns about the ability of not being able to communicate with the secret service . I didnt. I know it was very quick, fluid set of circumstances. And it isnt to say that the inter interoperability isnt critical, but when something only last a few minutes there is not always a solution. We have better operability and provided radios to the secret service and we have a ringdown phone now in the command center and better enhanced with the new system. Now is online it should not an issue. I will say it works during a planned event and that is an obvio obvio obvious statement. Crital is when you have a plan that is unfolding that is not planned. It is. What it doesnt mean is you will not have a thousand officers on one channel from 20 different departments talking to each other. And that is the misnomer of it. But we are in a better place than we were before. Thank you to you and your core of officers that serve us. Any other members have additional questions . I do, mr. Chairman. Mr. Morran . Chief, generally speaking were you happy with the conduct and the outcome of the shooting that was referenced by mr. Stewart . I am not never happy when someone dies. The conduct. What was your take . We are still awaiting to criminal review of the specific relate to the officers. We separated out aspects we need to review as an agency. Chief, let me ask another logistical issue that came to attention and a lot of other members. When they are leaving in the evening, there is a backup of lights and my staff has done an analysis here. It probably was quicker than yours might have been commissioned. But they found that the light that cstreet is one and a half minutes even though there is very little traffic, if any, and yet the light to turn on to the southeast expressway is 24 seconds and that is the basic reason why the traffic backs up. The backup problem is the saltation of the signal timing. At one point, washington and 2nd street, it was 29 seconds and that wasnt enough and it has been changed we understand now. But rather than putting an officer out there, perhaps a call to dc if they run the lights just to ask them if they wouldnt portion the lights based on demand and if that would rid the officer out there. We can look into that. And on your initial question i will elaborate. That is a tragic event when anyone dies. So that review of the officers conduct is on ongoing process and i have to say these officers are out there every day putting their lifes on the line and have to take splitsecond decisions. It is easy for us to sit here and second guess them. Even case law doesnt allow for that as it allows. The law is applied number one and our policy second. She was unarmed and there was a baby in the car so perhaps shooting at the car might have been better than shooting at her body. There is a lot of opinions out there but most are wrong and not educated. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Before i gavel to close, bel i would like to ask you since i think the opinion was so uniform to get back to us about what we will do to change that because i dont think that is going away. And we have put additional personal when i know you are yi bringing on but i want to a serious look with direct feedback on what we can do because when everyone is running into it we have a lot of andotal evidence that suggest we have a problem. If you would do that, i would appreciate that. And get well. We hope you get to feeling better and more importantly i want to echo the sentiment on this committee. We appreciate the quality of the men and women that you lead and the quality of the service we receive from them and the wonderful job they do from us and the American People and making sure people can visit safely and conveniently. We know we ask a lot out of you and get an awful lot more. With that, the hearing is adjourned. [inaudible conversations]. To raise concerns of. Mr. Kaelin seems like hes a really smart guy, really great guy, im sure. He earns aiken say about him, he aired sort of what he got. But my job was to ask him tough questions. They have 107 lobbyists on capitol hill