vimarsana.com

And will you, mr. Speaker will you take this opportunity to explain why this was the case. Only the s p can maintain this settlement put in place. But we had done is build it our House Parliament for scotland that will have more power, more ability for attack straight come aboard to determine benefits for his citizen. Now its time for the s p to Start Talking about grievances and get on with government. They taken on presidencies. We have one more apprenticeship starts in 24 team. Does my right honorable friend agree its time for government to stick with the plans to live in our have the opportunity to take it on . The president is right. We have this target word meant to be trained in this parliament. We will do our bit by funding those programs. We want to do its part by contributing to the apprenticeship levy. But we need Small Businesses like tsa and indeed the public that are to get fully involved in training apprentices to give young people the chance to earn the same time. Jeremy corbin [shouting] thank you, mr. Speaker. Three years since the government did not take policy of taxFree Childcare. Could the Prime Minister tell us what the holdup is . We are introducing the taxFree Childcare along with the 13 hours of childcare of everyone with a three and 4yearold with a billion pound commitment with the start of the 30 hours coming in the private skiing this year. Mr. Speaker come the treasure website described it as a longterm plan. It was supposed to be announced to an 2013. Its apparently going to be introduced until next year. Of the Prime Minister tell us why they took dirty hours per childcare for three and 4yearold is not therefore one in three working parents who want their children to be cared for in preschool . First of all, on the tax relief and childcare, we lost a court case against the existing providers. The taxFree Childcare will come in. For the 30 hours a sense that therell be some schemes this year and full implementation next year which is inline with what was that in our manifesto. Hes helping me promote government policy. When i became Prime Minister we only have 10 hours of childcare and its gone up to 12 and 15 and now 30. These are all the things you can do if you have a Strong Economy with a sound plan connected in your deficit down, economies growing. We are able to talk about them. The National Audit Office Report confirms that one third of families promised 30 hours Free Childcare now wont receive it. This is a broken promise. The report also warns that many childcare providers are not offering due to insufficient funding. There are 41003yearolds missing out on free Early Education as a result of this. But they intervene and ensure those children get this urban life that they deserve . We want all of these children to have the start they deserve. Many read some of the things it says. To depart in a successfully and clement did the Free Childcare for three and 4yearolds with almost universal take a pita which should be congratulated in the secretary of state had them a significant process with free entitlement. Parents and children are benefiting from these entitlements. Stakeholders are positive. All of these things we are able to do because weve got a strong and sound economy. What a contrast to the be if we listen to the gentleman. I regularly to subscribe. He was a great finance minister to left this economy in ruins. Acropolis now. Mr. Speaker, that is not much help to the 41,000 children who are not benefiting from a tear promised by the government. Looking further on in the educational life of children, according to the governments own figures, half a million children in primary schools and classes over at anyone, 15,000 are in classes of over 40. We all know the importance of preschool and early years of education to give all of our children a decent guardian life. Yet half a million are living in poverty and many are in oversize classes. Isnt it time for a serious Government Intervention to sort this problem out . May bring them uptodate on the figures. Introducing these extra hours per childcare is a huge operation for childcare providers. The report said only 15 of disadvantage toyearolds were accessing the free child care offered. The latest information shows 70 of those. You mentioned the number of teachers in overcrowded classes. First of all, 13,100 more teachers than there were in 2010 because theyve invested and teach first. And we have made sure that teaching is a worthwhile career. I want to answer him because there is 453 fewer schools that are all are over capacity compared to 2010. So that is progress. 36,500 fewer pupils in schools that are overcrowded. We protected education, protected the money and the schools, introduced the premiums come in the first the new and recognized from the most poor backgrounds at our School System is growing. There are fewer overcrowded schools all because we got the Strong Economy and the right bodies in place. Mr. Speaker, the problem is class sizes are growing. The problem is the crisis of teacher shortages as well. Ive been talking us ensure the Prime Ministers and others have. I have one whom i quote it had been teaching for 10 years and am currently head of the technology at a Successful School with increasing numbers of teachers leaving the profession, with the government accept that there is a crisis effort for rent and also retention of teachers in this crucial profession . The inaccurate 13,000 more teachers in our schools then when i became Prime Minister. Perhaps he can ask lameness. How is that going to help his partys proposal to put the basic rates of tax starting in scotland. That will make classroom teachers, nursery teachers, all paying more tax. But we are doing is helping teachers by saying you could learn 11,000 pounds before you pay any income tax at all. I dont think recruiting teachers is simply about money. Its also having a good goal system which we have in place in our country. They wont help if we listen to labor about peoples taxes. The Prime Minister, mr. Speaker is in denial it appears. They all confirmed there is a shortage and a crisis of teachers. It is obviously fundamental to the chances of children. When 70 of teachers warned they are now having to use agencies start to stop their classrooms, isnt it government intervene and look at the real cost of this, which is damage to childrens education, but also 1. 3 billion pounds spent last year on agency teachers. We have this Agency Working situation in the National Health service and also education. Are we moving into an area where weekend turned britain . Weve got to look at the facts rather than topdown people working so hard to teach children in our schools. The fact that these teachers are Better Qualified than ever, 96. 6 of teachers in statefunded schools have a degree or higher qualification. Those are the facts. I would argue going into teaching and now teach first is the most for graduates come as something ever happen under a labor government. Youve got to know that youve got a good School System with more academies, more free schools, higher qualification, making sure with governor gray and discipline in our classroom, all of which is improved. All that is the possibility of a strong and growing economy to fund the schools. [shouting] thank you, mr. Speaker. Nicholas poe in my constituency is one of several closures this year. Both of whose Carbon Emissions are higher than ours are building brandnew, mega stations and much of that which we are going to import. Its very hard, mr. Speaker, for me to explain the logic of this to my constituents. Could the Prime Minister has the context of next years energy crisis. My honorable friend raises the question. Theres big change because we want to see an increase in renewable capacity and if room with the french president this week. He is right to security of supply must be our number one priority and that is why we announced to bring forward the capacity market to provide this extra boost to existing stations in this good and deep help itself. I would say to him and everyone across the house, all these decisions we take about Energy Health consequences of people. He mentioned cervone and German Electricity prices are 40 higher than in the u. K. The level of subsidies makes up 30 of german bills. Ours is less than half the level and redo have to think through these decisions for the consequences for energy consumers. [shouting] mr. Speaker, we all hover right to be discriminated on the basis of orientation, for her ethnicity. The paternity leave entitlements, workers at the right to paid holidays and a holidays and the breadth of work for no more than 48 hours each week, all of these are guaranteed through the European Union. They are members of the European Union. The point i made this in recent years what weve done, including under this government is added to the right people have, including maternity and paternity rights. The emphasis in europe now needs to be making sure that we expand our Single Market and make it more successful for businesses, recognizing social benefit matter as well, but principally they are a matter of the house. Millions of u. K. Citizens live elsewhere in the European Union. European decisions about the environment reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions. Relations between Member States have been softened and perfectly dialogue and agreement where its truly a huge improvement on confrontations. Will the Prime Minister concentrate on the positive argument for e. U. Membership and protect the approach of projects here. By arguments about the stronger and the European Union and better off than the reformed European Union are all positive arguments. I would add that things like pollution crosses borders and make sense to work together. The fundamental point he makes, he had died are both poor store children. We should never forget when we sit around a table that 70 years ago this country is murdering each other on the continent of europe. For all the frustrations that the situation, believe me there are many, we should never forget the fact that we talk, work together, resolve disputes around the table. Thank you, mr. s weaker. Those who foster children have our faults of poor. Last friday i visited the foster and bush since the establishment of 2003 of over 1250 children. Would my right honorable friend join me in thanking the team and what he also agreed to look into how the currently complex funding arrangement could be considerably simplified to ease the transition of children into adulthood . My honorable friend makes an important point which was started to address in the last parliament because 182 girls were automatically eject did for a Foster Parent homes. We all know his parents is very important to give people the support they need. That is why we changed the law of the last Parliament Said they are under a duty to support people who choose to remain with Foster Parents beyond the age of 18. We put in place what is called a stay put arrangement where providing 44 Million Pounds over three years and the first year of the rollout, almost half of those eligible have decided to do so. This is a real event that an arrangement. The thank you, mr. Chairman. I do hope i do hope it meets my massive high x dictations. Mr. Speaker, in september last year, 16yearold mohammed was stabbed to death in my constituency. His mother discovered last week he will not be prosecuted the man who was arrested for his murder. 84 of old patsy no one held to account. The home office by the local police for that and i present resent the accusation. With the Prime Minister have the resources to investigate . The honorable gentleman is his first question to this incredibly important issue which is in our country. The good news is knifed cronus comedown 14 since 2010. He makes an important point about the level of executions. Something like 11,000 prosecutions. The rate is similar as for other areas that clearly everything we can do to help the police and the Prosecution Service to increase the rate at restitution is worthwhile. We need to give the police the resources we need and we are to educate young people on the dangers of knife crime and make sure those who commit these crimes are properly punished. Whereas the fellow . [shouting] he is not here. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Way my tear from the right honorable gentleman. Thank you, mr. s weaker. For five or six people, migrants have hundreds of thousands tired and the immigration. This may be a germanic underestimate. We only know the truth of the matter is they really say that im at dave. While the Prime Minister to release the statistics immediately so they can understand the truth about European Union integration . Im glad weve got the single transferable question. Therefore my honorable friend. The reason why these numbers dont tally as of course you can get a National Insurance number for a shortterm visit and people who are here can apply for them. These numbers are quite complex. They have given greater information and i will make sure that continues to be the case. Thank you, mr. Speaker. The proposed changes to the trading are causing great concern to many retailers, shop workers, families, yet before the election, but Prime Minister has no plans to change the trading laws. When did he change his mind or is assigned to scrap the great reddish compromise so that the election was out of the way . I thought i was right to bring forth these proposals because they are genuinely new proposals. Good that we are devolving to local authorities to make this decision. Secondly, crucially and im sure the numbers will be interested in mess that we will be introducing new protections not only for new workers on sunday as, but all workers on sundays. I think the house should prepare for this idea and not based because constituents are able to shop online all day every day including sunday. Ill be evidence shows this will be welcomed by customers, will create more jobs than i think we have nothing to be scared of moving into this new arrangement. [shouting] thank you, mr. Speaker. I visited the Young Enterprise trade when the local stop school, including the entrepreneurial skills. Will my right honorable friend join me in wishing good luck to all of the teams and does he agree with me the initiatives such as this are a key transpiring the next generation of entrepreneurs . By honorable friend makes an important point that not enough was done to encourage and surprise a notch premiership. We know so many jobs in the future will come from start of business is an Small Businesses and rapidly growing startups. In our schools we should be promoting not only to teaching but through exercises including starting businesses for young people but by giving them solid growth. The yesterday five Quarter Energy sees the trade. Their goal was the instruction of gas for quality under the north sea. Google has failed to provide support to secure Foreign Direct Investment compared to its dcg secures supply, it would also provide the stock to grow our industry and all of that. Will the Prime Minister looked into this appalling opportunity and urgently change course and develop a meaningful Industrial Energy structure their british industry workers and playing it so badly needs . I will certainly look at the kc raises because we back all Energy Projects that create jobs and growth in our country. We have the very act of industrial strategy for that. I know hes disappointed, but i was say that is an extra billion pound Capital Investment and even after that, there is no sign yet that Carbon Capture and storage can be even close to competitive to Nuclear Power or offshore wind. Look carefully at the kc mentions. Prichard batman. A large proportion of the fish cockfight reddish vessels landed in the u. K. Are exported to e. U. Countries. A great many of our fishermen of the European Countries in a reformed regime led by the British Government. Does my right honorable friend agree that those that exploit them in the communities they support are better off in a reformed European Union. I agree with my honorable friend and pay tribute for the huge work he did to reform the common fisheries policy from what was a very poor policy to one working much better for fishermen. When it comes to fishing and farming, the key issue is making sure europes markets remained open that we demand and produce and its vital in the debate in the months ahead. Misters weaker, more than 1,601,600 families, when workers are forced to leave the city due to the cost of hospitals discharged when yu our families have to close future benefit. Can the Prime Minister specifically say why of the 2. 5 highvalue homes from public land without building a single home . That decisions made in your planning or for York City Council and local plan. But i would say, one of the things that we did in the last parliament specifically designed to help was to change the change of use provision so empty offices could be used to build flats and houses for local people, which is happening in new york and will help to make sure the city continues to thrive. Will my right honorable friend agreed to meet me when laurie come a brilliant young farmer whose business is put at risk because the rpa hasnt paid his basic payment. Will he also confirmed the figures that they keep putting out our fictional identity agreed with the secretary that it is the e. U. s commissions followed for making the cap so complicated . What i say to my honorable friend the system is complicated and we need to make sure the agency does the very best that it can. To date, 70,000 farmers have received their payments, which is not 81 of all claims paid. But theres always room for improvement. We should look at all the default areas and how they are coping with this problem. In terms of the issue more broadly, it is very important we maintain the access that our farmers had without tariffs, without tax to produce the cleanest and best food anywhere in the world and exported uninhibited to 500 Million People in european Single Market is. [shouting] yesterday, the chair of the board, mr. Richard gere the house of commons to meet with members of parliament as well as you, mr. Speaker. Will the Prime Minister followed the example set by the United States, canada, germany and japan and the chinese authorities to express this can turn about the counterterrorism laws introduced. I wasnt aware of the visit by richard gere. I will look closely at what he said and get back to the honorable lady about the issues he raised. [shouting] thank you, mr. Speaker. In 2004 come thousand four consisting of some of my constituent was murdered and was secured through joint enterprise. The recent ruling in the Supreme Court caused many of the victims families a great deal. Will my right honorable friend enabled these to discuss their concerns with ministers and understand what the ruling might mean in cases like those. Through my honorable friend, can i extend my constituency to my constituents. We should remember the famous above those that lost loved ones who are worried about the judgment of what it might mean for them. Im happy to facilitate a meeting between him and let the justice ministers to discuss it. It should be clear that judge may prefer to narrow category of joint enterprise cases and it would be wrong to suggest everyone can make it under joint enterprise was grounds for appeal. I will fix the meeting he calls for. People in the midlands are absolutely furious to learn that governments aborted a contract to make british medals to some french company. Imagine this. Youve open a distinguished Service Order and assess fabricate i visited lens and adult manufacturers. They are the best in the world. We should go back, calling the minister and get the scandal sorted out. [shouting] the other point i would make to the honorable gentleman im sure all of those in wales would want to contest the fact that they make a fine mist in the United Kingdom and im sure the competition between them and Irving Janis Berry intends. I wasnt aware of this issue, but im always in favor where we can make something of britain, we should make something of britain. The recent investigation carried out by my local experiment at a facility during the 60s and 70s. Can i ask the Prime Minister to ensure a thorough investigation into the situation now undertaken . Im very happy to give my honorable friend that assurance. They are very serious allegations. It is vital the full facts are considered. By understanding that they are working together as a process under the safeguarding children borne in mind that this procedure is. I would encourage anyone who knows any thing to come forward and give their evidence to that court. Miniscandal. Thank you, mr. Speaker. The ceasefire is russia continuing to attack inside si bobbles and let islamic terrorists continue to pass into syria across the turkish order. What is the British Government doing to ensure the ceasefire is properly monitored and in particular to produce serious tension between russia and our nato ally, turkey. I wouldnt put too much optimism into the mix right now but this is progress and we should work on it. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Two weeks ago i visited the refugee camp and the surrounding area on the jordanian Syrian Border to assess health care services. I was struck by the remarkable generosity of the jordanian people. However, the local system is a quite significant pressure. Would the Prime Minister me with me to discuss further what britain can do to enhance Healthcare Services both for the Syrian Refugees and the wider church in community . Im happy to meet with my honorable friend to discuss this but it is an extraordinary sight because of the scale of the endeavor underway. I think britain can be proud of what weve done in terms of the direct aid weve given and also the london conference that raised 11 billion. I know hes gotten lost in interest on what we can do to make sure facilities are delivered quickly including using military facilities. I think there may be opportunities for that but we need to make sure the Emergency Response from ngos and the United Nations is as fast as it can be when crises like this happen in the future. As the Prime Minister struggles with certain elements in thi his party over europe doe ever think back on it inspirational Prime Minister wilson who made similar difficulties but to stood up to the rebels in his own party and secured a yes vote for staying in europe . Will be joined with me because Harold Wilsons is next week and could we celebrate it across all parties, a great innovative Prime Minister . [shouting] i do feel a natural sympathy for anyone whos had this job irrespective of which side of the house we are on. I think he did do some very important things for our country. I know the honorable gentleman has a particular connection to him. I wish his family well on this important centenary, and im sure we approach things in different ways but one thing we would have agreed about is britains future is better off in a reformed European Union. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Im sure the whole house will join me in expressing our condolences to neil and jennifer burkett, the parents of the two year old who died on valentines day of meningitis b. Since the death 815,000 people have signed a petition calling for the government to vaccinate more children against meningitis b. Im proud the uk is the first country to have a Vaccination Program for meningitis b. Could my right honorable friend make sure the cover looks at what more can be done to prevent more children from dying from this horrible disease to . On behalf of the whole house let me extend my sympathies and condolences to the parents and all those who have children suffering from this terrible disease. Shes right we were the first country in the world to have this Vaccination Program. The program was based on the advice of the joint committee on vaccination and immunization the recommended targeting the vaccine to protect infants at highest risk. The incident of highest risk does occur in babies of five months, and of the 276 children contracting meningitis b. Last year, over 100 were under one year of age. She makes important points. We need to look at all the evidence as to the expert bodies that advise as recognizing britain has taken important steps by being the first coach to vaccinate in this way. Order. [inaudible conversations] here on cspan2 relieve the british house of commons as members move onto other business. You have been watching Prime Ministers question time aired live wednesdays when parliament is in session. A quick reminder you can see this week session again sunday night at nine each and pacific on cspan. For more information go to cspan. Org and click on series to get every program we have erred from the british house of commons since october of 1989. We invite your comments via twitter using hashtag pmqs. Booktv has 48 hours of nonfiction books and authors every weekend. Is some of the programs to watch for this weekend. The first sentence of the book is the history of american conservatism is a story of disappointment and betrayal. He discusses the history of republican politics in his book why the right went wrong. Is interviewed by juan williams, cohost of the five. Coming up sunday, in depth live with jane mayer. Her most recent book is dark money. Hidden history of the billionaires behind the rise of the radical right. Join in conversation, we will take a phone calls, tweets and emails from noon until 3 p. M. Eastern. Watch booktv all weekend and the weekend on cspan2. Television for serious readers. U. S. Customs and Border Protection commissioner Gil Kerlikowske testified about his agencies 2017 budget request. He was asked about the influx of unaccompanied minors at the border implementing the Visa Waiver Program and drug trafficking. This House Appropriations subcommittee hearing is one hour 45 minutes. Im going to call the hearing to order. Today we welcome gil kerlikows kerlikowske, his third appearance before the subcommittee. Commissioner, welcome. We appreciate you being here and your service to dhs and the nation. Thank you for that. Fiscal year 2017 budget for customs and Border Protection is 13. 9 billion. An increase of 686 million about fiscal year 2016. Unfortunately, giving the the departmentwide budget have created a 2 billion gap that requires the subcommittee to make hard choices. Therefore, the increase to cbp may not be affordable as its evaluated by the totality of this budget. We discussed this between the two of us yesterday, or the other day. Commissioner, as you know i discussed this with you. We are really concerned about cbps hiring problems. They have to be fixed. To secure index but i trade the budget request funds for 23,861 cbp officers on which include 2000 officers funded in 2014. Commissioner, takes you for your start 20,000 cbp 2000 cbp officers is way too long. I know you plan to send the request authorizes asking them to pass legislation, increasing the number of cbp officers. But why would they increase costs knowing that wait times dont deserve cbp, because cbp as a likely to add these officers on board four years . 2014 look where we are now. Likewise the Border Patrol as losing more agents than it can higher. Currently cbp is 1002 under 68 agents a low the mandated for. The budget takes advantage of this by decreasing the mandate for agents by 300. Unfortunately, the reduction isnt supported by any analysis proving that Border Security will not be compromised as a result. Commissioner, as you understand the import National Security role these agents play, but we are concerned that cbp isnt able to sustain the existing workforce, let alone the mandated floor levels of the agents. These are urgent problems which must be fixed. Now, well have to discuss how you plan to correct this. The request also includes the Contingency Fund for potential surge in unaccompanied children. Look forward to an update of the current estimates of the uac. Other increases include 55 million for tactical communications, 47 million for vehicles, 26 million for era stats, and relocatable powers and many other small increases i look forward to working with you over the next few weeks to determine the priority of these programs. The request proposes a realignment for appropriation structures to be more mission focused. While i know it was challenging, it is an effort that i supported for several years. I want to commend you and your team for making the effort. Lastly, sovereign nations control measure borders have sustained the integrity of the immigration system. These objectives are your duty and i expect nothing less from you and from the men and women of cbp. Let me turn to my distinguished Ranking Member ms. Roybalallard for remarks she may wish to make. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Good morning, commissioner kerlikowske, and welcome. The discretionary budget request for u. S. Customs and Border Protection in fiscal year 2017 is 11. 3 billion, an increase of 609 million above the fiscal year 2016 level. About half of that increase, however, is attributable to the proposed transfer of the office of biometric Identity Management from nppd to cbp. You have served as commissioner now for nearly two years, and cbp has made Good Progress in a number of areas under your leadership, including the establishment of joint task forcewest to support the southern border and approaches campaign; the assumption of criminal Investigative Authority for allegations of misconduct and use of force incidents involving cbp personnel; the expansion of the Preclearance Program, which helps address threats before they reach our borders; a new use of force policy and the establishment of a use of force center of excellence; business transformation efforts that are reducing wait times for passengers and expediting the flow of commerce; Good Progress toward a more rigorous, technologybased methodology for determining Situational Awareness at the border; a more riskbased approach to Border Security; and enhanced capacity to target highrisk individuals and cargo, including a new Counter Network program focused on disrupting transnational criminal organizations. I think you have a lot to be proud of, even if there are still significant challenges that remain. One of those challenges has been the struggle to hire new agents and officers and manage attrition, particularly for Border Patrol agents. As a result, the numbers of Border Patrol agents and cbp officers are significantly below the target levels. Other ongoing challenges include humanely managing the influx of unaccompanied children and families fleeing violence in the northern triangle. I look forward to a productive conversation on these and other issues. Once again, i appreciate your joining us. All right. Commissioner, well hear from you and what your comments are. We all have copies of what you submitted to us and, of course, they will be in the record. You may proceed. Chairman carter, Ranking Member roybalallard, members of the subcommittee, good morning. During this past year i certainly have the firsthand opportunity to travel not only throughout the country and visit with thousands of our personnel but also to meet with our International Partners in customs and Border Protection, particularly in south america, mexico and canada. These are countries we share common goals with and strengthen both our countries security but also our economic growth. I highlighted this because with all of our responsibilities to protect the United States from the entry of dangerous people and materials, we also have to facilitate the flow of lawful International Travel and commerce. These goals are the same for many other countries. While im reminded of the diversity of our operational environments, the complexity of our mission at a commitment of our dedicated personnel. Thanks to the Critical Resources that this committee has given to cbp, weve not only enhanced order operations, would also lay the foundation for the changes will increase cbp to be more operationally agile, effective and efficient. Many of these changes are focused on improving the hiring and retention of frontline personnel. I think we have made forward progress on the look forward to working with the committee on this. Our budget request of 13. 9 billion reflects some of the progress that weve made and supports our continued investments in personnel and technology and initiatives that are going to strengthen our security and streamline our business process. Detecting and preventing travel to the United States by a foreign terrorist fighter is our highest priority. We recently made additional enhancements to the Electronic System for traveler authorization. We started immediately enforcing the restrictions in accordance with the visa waiver improvement and terrorist travel prevention act of 2015, and we canceled 17,000 travel approvals immediately. We are expanding preclearance operations. I would like to express my thanks to the subcommittee for the statutory changes that significantly improve the reimbursement mechanism to find cbps preclearance operation. Its a critical capability for detecting and addressing threats long before they ever arrive at our borders. Furthermore, with the funding provided by the committee and the consolidated appropriations act of 2016, we are initiating a Counter Network operations our national targeting center. This enhances our comprehensive understanding of emerging threats not only for foreign fighters but also for drugs and Human Trafficking and it advances our ability to disrupt the networks from the targeting center, many of you visited. Along the southwest border we monitor and respond to the flow of unaccompanied children and families. The numbers in fiscal year 15 decline from the spike in 14 but we did see an increase in the numbers this past fall and we remain concerned about seasonal increases later this year and in fiscal year 2017. The budget request 12. 5 million increase in resources for cbp to provide for safety and security of children and families who are temporarily in our custody in addition Contingency Fund of up to 23 million to support up to 75,000 children to ensure that we can respond to the potential surge. Along with all of the border environments, our land air and sea continued investments in technology, surveillance technology, other Operational Assets really increase our Situational Awareness. The cornerstone of our approached identified, disrupt and interdict illegal activities is key. Recapitalize in some of the most essential equipment that was mentioned, radios and vehicles, increases our ability to respond quickly and to keep our for one officers and agents safe. We continue to improve to secure and goods to the ports of entry. Thats a function critical to our economic competitiveness. The budget request enables us to continue frontline hiring efforts, incorporate new technologies into our travel and trade processes including biometric exit, and expand our publicprivate partnerships, decompose over efforts to optimize resources, ease the flow of low risk of lawful trade and travel, and free agents and officers to focus on highrisk cargo and highrisk people. In all our operations across the nation and globe we continue to to the highest levels of transparency and accountability. This past you in the midnew use of force policies. We continue to detect, to test camera technologies to find solutions that can meet the wide variety of operational terrains in climates where our agents and officers work. Thank you for the opportunity testified. Thank you for your support, and i have to answer your questions. Thank you, commissioner. We begin with the questioning of want to recognize hal rogers, chairman of the appropriations committee, for statement he wishes to make. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Commissioner kerlikowske, good to see you again. Thank you for being here to discuss your budget for cbp. I greatly enjoyed our association and working together in your earlier chapter in your life when you were director of the office of National Drug control policy, the drug czar. And, of course, your experience back home and the police of that wonderful city. But in the drug czar role who graciously took time away from your busy schedule to visit my appellation district to learn more about our challenges facing Prescription Drug abuse. So you bring a unique perspective i think to your job at cbp. As the Prescription Drug epidemic has exploded onto the national scene, now giving way to heroin, controlling the influx of this dangers of drug and the violence that it fuels in our border communities and elsewhere around the country is a top priority for you and for us. So i look forward to hearing about your efforts to reduce the supply of opioids in the country. Over 60,000 employees, cbp is one of the Worlds Largest Law Enforcement agencies, if not the largest. You are tasked with protecting the United States through a number of critical missions, including preventing the illegal entry of terrorists, weapons, narcotics from the air, sea and land. On a typical day, im told, cbp welcomes nearly 1 million visitors. Screens more than 67,000 cargo containers, arrests more than 1100 individuals, and seizes nearly six tons of illegal drugs. Thats a days work. Your busy to say the least. And before going into the merits of your budget request, id like to express my sincere gratitude to the men and women under your charge, including yourself, who serve our great nation, many of whom put third put themselves in harms way on a daily basis to keep the homeland safe and secure. Your fiscal 17 budget request, 13. 9 billion, which constitutes an increase of 687 million above the current level, i want to commend you on the improvements youve made to the visa security program, although i do have some concerns with the gaps that still remain. I also look forward to the expansion of the Preclearance Program which will push our borders further and further out. Your appearance here today and our testimony on this issue reminds me of this subcommittee in 2003 when we were ushered into existence and i became the first chairman of the subcommittee, and i followed fairly closely since the activities of the department. And its a tough, tough job. Mr. Chairman, you are trying to meld together some 22 federal agencies. I think theres 16 different unions, and like 20 different pay scales. So the work continues and weve got our work to do as well, but youre on the front line. Bears many positive things in your budget request. Im deeply disappointed by the effort to ratchet down Border Security and enforcement of our immigration laws. For example, the budget proposes a reduction of 300 Border Patrol agents, decreasing the statutory four to 21,070, at a time when drug cartels from mexico and elsewhere are flooding our communities, urban and rural unlike with heroin. Weve never seen the like. And yet the budget proposes we cut back on the people fighting that surge and that scourge in n our country. Understand the frustration have rightfully labeled the abuse of opioids as a national epidemic. Eyesight tom friedman, director of the centers for Disease Control this is overdose deaths, heroin and prescription pills are taking more lives than car wrecks in the country. He calls it a national epidemic. And yet we hear from the administration, well, lets cut back on time to fight it. Well, dont be surprised if things are different when we get through with your budget in that regard. We lose 100 americans every day to addiction and abuse, and yet you have a proposed to reduce our first line of defense against the entry of these dangerous, deadly drugs without the benefit of any supporting analysis that Border Patrols mission will not be compromised. As i mentioned youve been in my district. Youve seen firsthand how these drugs are destroying Rural Communities in appalachia and, of course, you can all of the country and you see the same. While you and i agree that reducing demand through treatment and education is critical, we mustnt lose sight of the fact that enforcement remains a critical prong of our holistic strategy on this gorge. The stakes are high and we must do everything in our power to combat this gorge. I look forward to continue to work with you to provide the resources that you need to do just that. Another crisis that is being caused by the drug cartels is the massive influx of unaccompanied alien children and families at our southern border. We have seen a surge in drug cartels and Gang Violence across central and south america fueled by the production and trafficking of drugs. These thugs and murderers are wreaking havoc on millions of people, forcing many to flee to other countries, including the u. S. Recently theres been an unprecedented spike in unaccompanied minors causing our southern border. In the first four months of fiscal 16, Border Patrol has apprehended 20,000 unaccompanied alien children. Thats double the number that were apprehended in the same timeframe last year. Unfortunately, this humanitarian crisis does not appear to be subsiding anytime soon. The reality of which is reflected in your budget submission. Youve requested resource is to support a revised baseline of 75,000 unaccompanied child apprehensions as well as a Contingency Fund, should that number be exceeded. Our committee will analyze this request and my hope is that we can provide the necessary resources for cbp to handle the influx of these children at our borders. In addition, virtually half of the 5. 2 increase into budget request comes from the transfer of 305 million for the office of biometric Identity Management which, as you know, like these, requires authorization from other committees. Unfortunately, the president has sent us a budget after budget after budget that request large increases in funding and also to them by using budget gimmicks like increasing taxes and fees that he knows are dead on arrival here on the hill. Finally, i to be remiss if i didnt mention president obamas executive order on immigration. As you know it is still remains one of the most divisive issues in congress and in the country, and, indeed, at large. The president unilateral action demonstrates that he has no intention of working with congress or respecting our constitutional authority. Unfortunately, you and your agency are caught in the middle of this fight, and it has made passing an annual appropriations bill for department of Homeland Security incredibly difficult. It also makes it impossible to move forward on any meaningful Immigration Reform while the president remains in office. So, mr. Commissioner, thank you for being here today. Thank you for your service to your country. We thank you for reading this agency. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Im going to start off with the questioning here, and the flag raised at our sake, staffing is something you were concerned about. Im concerned about and i want to discuss it. Hiring, well talk first about the Border Patrol and afterward about aviation hiring. I understand the Border Patrol is currently 1002 under 68 pages below the mandated personnel floor of 21,370, a for that is not new. Its been around for a while. So the under execution of agents is not due to hiring up to a new level as it is with customs officers but sustaining existing workforce

© 2025 Vimarsana

vimarsana.com © 2020. All Rights Reserved.