Transcripts For CSPAN2 Secretary Kelly Travel Ban Injunctions Hobbling Homeland Security... 20170613

[inaudible conversations] good morning. This hearing will come to order. I would ask consent that my written Opening Statement be entered into the record. Without objection. I want to welcome secretary kelly. This is a hearing on the department of Homeland Securitys fiscal year 2018 budget. This is the third time that the secretary has appeared before this committee, the second time as secretary of the department. And, again, we welcome you and appreciate your service to this country, many, many years of it. In lieu of my written Opening Statement, i just want to make a couple comments. Im, by vocation, im an accountant, so ive gone through budget meetingsing many, many times meetings many, many times. First, i want to just talk about the history of the budget of the department of Homeland Security. Were not quite ready for the chart. When you take a look at total Budget Authority when the department was first stood up, the first fiscal year was 2004, and the departments budget was this is total budgetary authority, mandatory and discretionary, 36. 5 billion. Now, had that budget just grown by inflation, todays request would be a little under 50 billion, 48. 25 billion. Instead, total Budget Authority is 70. 6 billion, about a 93 increase. Now, from my standpoint that represents on a bipartisan fashion president bush, president obama and nowpresident trump realize that the threat environment that america faces has become more severe. Its growing, its evolving, its metastasizing x the Department Needs more resources to try and keep this homeland safe. And so as much as im concerned about the longterm budget situation in this country, the 20 trillion were already in debt, we cannot be penny wise and pound foolish. I mean, i dont think theres identify seen an accurate assessment of how much Economic Loss we suffered because of 9 11. We have to do everything we possibly can, and lets face it, the defense of this nation and our homeland is the top priority of government. So i want to be completely supportive of the is secretarys request. Tough budget times, but we need to allocate the resources to keep this nation and our homeland safe. Next point id want to make is just the dramatic change weve had in terms of total apprehension. We have a little chart here. What ive done, because we really only have three months worth of history under the new administration, ive just gone back and had my staff prepare a threemonth moving averageof apprehensions along the southwest border. And its incredibly revealing. Prior to the last three months, on average we were apprehending a little more than 122,000 individuals coming into this country illegal he, 122,000. The last three months total, it was just under 56,000. In other words, were 45, about 46 of the previous four or five years average. Thats a pretty remark basketball result. Ive been, you know, since taking over this chairmanship and on this committee been looking at the problem of illegal entry into our southwest border. Ive been saying repeated hi the first thing we need to do is be committed to securing our border and then eliminate the incentives for illegal immigration. I would say lack of enforcement of our immigration laws has been a huge incentive for people to come to this country. Under a new administration and new secretary, weve obviously committed to securing our border. And i was a little concerned when people were taking credit for this reduction. I think after three months, well see what happens after four months. I think just that signal alone that we are committed to securing this border and were going to enforce our laws has had a powerful effect, and i think were seeing the results right now. Again, i commend the secretary for standing strong against severe criticism and actually enforcing the laws of this nation. With that, ill turn it over to our Ranking Member, senator mccaskill. Thank you, mr. Chairman. And thank you, secretary kelly, for being here. Of you appeared for the first time a couple of months ago after being confirmed, and look at the developments where you have had to be all hands on deck for serious issues facing the national and Homeland Security. On may 11th you met with the Airline Industry executives about your concern about large electronic bans in terms of international travel. On may 12th we had a Ransomware Cyber attack that struck more than 200,000 computers in 150 countries shutting down auto production in france, Police Departments in india and closing doctors offices in britain. And then, of course, tragically on may 22nd a terror suicide bomber killed 22 innocent children and adults in manchester, england, and this past weekend terrorists killed seven in london. These are just a few examples of why we are counting on you and why we respect the job that you have to do every day and how difficult it truly is. The importance of your work also speaks to the critical responsibility this committee has in providing oversight. Ive never, ever, ever known of a Government Agency that worked better with less oversight. Asking hard questions is, of course, the way you do aggressive oversight, and im really particularly pleased that youre not afraid to answer tough questions. Its kind of who you are. Youve been that way throughout your career. In fact, i noticed to the speech you gave to the coast guards cadets, ill quote you tell the truth to your seniors each though its uncomfort, even though they may not want to hear that. Tell the truth. I know youll continue to speak truth the power, and i look forward to your honest assessment of what we can do to help you in that regard. While none of the three terrorists who did the attack over the past weekend would have been impacted by the president s proposed travel ban, a lot of discussion in the United Kingdom is now about the government, the conservative partys cuts in Police Resources over the last decade. And how many fewer resources there were actually on the ground to try to prevent those terrorist attacks. Im concerned that the president s budget plans to cut critical tsa programs at a time that we cannot afford to let up on these security measures. A large portion of this cut is taken from the viper teams, the visible, intermodal preventioning prevention and Response Teams that provide critical assistance with securing airports, subways and bus terminal, some of the most attractive soft targets for terrorists in our country. The president aims to cut them down to just 18 from 31 to cover the entire country. The urban Area Security initiative which has been a lifeline for major urban areas that have so many soft targets because of the large populations, those also have been cut. Additionally, the police the president s budget is going to completely eliminate the Law Enforcement officer Reimbursement Program which provides assistance to local Law Enforcement agencies who help secure our airports. Hundreds of airports across the country take part in this program and particularly for smaller airports this assistance is critically important. The president s budget will also slash other dhs programs that provide critical curt to our transportation security to our transportation systems. The Grant Program will be cut in half, the Port Security Grant Program will be cut in half. The president is calling for complete eliminate elimination of the terrorist Grant Program. These priorities are not getting the attention they deserve. I think we may be focused on a shapeny object shiny object which has come to be known as the travel ban when instead we need to be focused on how many people we have, in your terminology, general, boots on the ground in terms of being able to identify, track and prevent these terrorist attacks. Were being asked to Fund Additional Border Patrol agents and air and marine officers, but theres no provision for cbp officers. And difference in terminology is very important because as you know, secretary kelly, the majority of drugs and contraband come through our country in the ports of entry, and the officers are the ones responsible for finding and stopping them. We cannot neglect our ports of entry as we try to increase resources in terms of Border Patrol and i. C. E. Agents. So im glad youre here today, secretary kelly. There are a lot of important issues before us. I have a lot of questions, i know the rest of the committee does too, and i cant tell you how much it means to all of us that youre willing to come here and answer our questions. I hope the rest of the administration follows your example, because i think youre setting a very good one. Thanks, senator mccaskill. It is the tradition of the committee to swear in our witnesses, so if youll please rise and raise your right hand. Do you swear that the testimony you will give before this committee will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you god . I do. Please be seated. Secretary john f. Kelly is the fifth secretary of Homeland Security. Prior to joining dhs, general kelly served as commander of the u. S. Southern command where he worked closely with u. S. Law enforcement and dhs personnel a coordinated effort to combat the flow of drugs, people and other threats against the homeland from across the southern border. Secretary kellys career has included Extensive Service in the marine corps where he served as senior military assistant to two secretaries of defense, gates and panetta. Less than a year after his retirement from service, secretary kelly returned to serve the American People as secretary of Homeland Security. General kelly is a retired fourstar general, a gold star parent. America could not be more appreciative and more fortunate to have you serving in this capacity, and we thank you for your service and look forward the to your testimony. Every day the men and women of the department of Homeland Security protect americans from the threats we face. And so it is a great pleasure to appear before you today to talk about the tremendous men and women of the department and the Critical Missions they carry out in services of our america every day and night, 24 7 365. I believe as anyone who fully understands the fundamental role of our government also believes that the federal governments responsibility every day begins and ends with the protection of the homeland and the security of our people. No other mission is as important. No other consideration more pressing. None. The president s fiscal year 2018 budget request for the department will make it possible for us to continue and expand in many ways on our ability to protect our nation and its people. The world is a different place today. We can no longer think in terms of defense over there; but, rather, must think in terms of the security overall of the homeland across the numerous domains of a potential attack and defense. The department of Homeland Security is making a difference in fighting the home game while the department of defense fights the away game. And together with and because of the dedication and effective interagency integration with the dni, cia, nctc, fbi, nsa, atf and over a million state and local and tribal enforcement professionals, America Today is safe, secure and prepared in a way that most could not have envisioned the day before 9 11. But the plots to attack the nation are numerous, the perpetrators relentless. We fully we need a fullyfunded budget that matches our mission, no more continuing resolutions. And i think this budget does that. The president s fy2018 budget requests 44. 1 billion in discretion their funding for the department of Homeland Security. It also requests 7. 4 billion to finance the cost of emergencies and major disasters in the Disaster Relief fund. When youre talking about numbers like these, its easy to lose sight of whats behind each dollar. But when you get right down to it, there are hard working men and women who have dedicated their careers and. In many ways risked their lives to protect the American People. Every dollar invested in the tools, infrastructure, equipment and training they need to get the job done is an investment in prosperity, freedom and the rule of law. Above all, it is investment in the security of the American People. As far as i am concerned, recent events show you cannot invest too much in security. The terrorist attacks on innocent civilians in kabul, cairo, south asia, manchester, now london are horrific reminders of the dangers we face globally. They also illustrate the need to do everything we can to keep our people safe. That means Getting Better about verifying identity, making sure people are who they say they are and working with our International Partners to raise their awareness and raise their defenses and force them to do so, if need be, to at least operate at the levels that we work at. Domestically, one of the most important enhancements to this effort is the real id initiative, an enhancement passed into law 12 years ago by United States congress, one which most of our states and territories have taken seriously and have already adopted. Many others are working hard at compliance. In those 12 years, someone elected or appointed positions who have the fundamental and sacred responsibility to safeguard the nation have chosen to drag their feet or even ignore the law passed by congress. I will not. Real id will make americans safer. It really is. Real id will soon be enforced at our airports, land ports of entry and all federal facilities, and theres a critically important 9 11 Commission Recommendation that others have been willing to ignore for which i will insure is implemented on schedule with no extension for states that are not taking the effort seriously. For those states and territories that cannot or will not make the january 2018 deadline, they should encourage now their citizens to acquire other forms of id compliant with the real id law. Like passports available, of course, from the state department. We need to prevent bad actors regardless of religion, race or nationality from entering our country. In recent years we have witnessed an unprecedented spike in terrorist travel. There are more terrorist hot spots and foot soldiers now than almost any time in modern history. In sir ya and iraq syria and iraq, for instance, we have thousands of jihadist fighters that have converged from more than 120 countries. As our superb military machine leading many other likeminded partners, as they succeed on the battlefield in iraq and syria, these jihadi fighters are returning home to europe, south asia, southeast asia, australia and even the western hemisphere. And who knows what theyre up to, but we can guess. They are heading to what they think are safe havens to continue their plotting and otherwise advance their toxic ideology of hate, death and intolerance wherever theyre allowed to hide. We expect that some will look to travel to the United States to carry out attacks. With this context in mind, the president has issued clear direction in the form of an executive order to the entire executive branch to prevent the entry of aliens who seek to do us harm. But the Current Court injunction, of course, prevents us from taking steps to improve the security of the homeland until we see how that court action plays out. While some discuss, debate and argue the name, title or label that best describes the president s e. O. , professional men and women like me are actually in the business of implementing the president s intent to secure or the nation, and we are doing that. Well let the chattering class and critics talk about the name. I just hope the Congress Sees the wisdom in what the president is trying to do to protect the American People and its people and that the congress are willing to work with those of us in the business of securing the nation. And its been my experience in less than four months on the job that the congress is, in fact, committed to that. The courts injunction has prevented us from implementing a temporary ban on travel by aliens from six countries that are in states of civil war, are state sponsors or terrorism and are basically failed states. Theyre the same countries identified by the congress in Previous Administration in 2015 as nations of great concern. At the time the expectation was that those in the business of securing the nation lawfully would focus additional attention on these nations and others in similar circumstances for supplementary and accurate vetting. It has nothing today with religion or skin color or the way they live their lives, but all about security for the United States and nothing else. These are countries that are either unable or unwilling to help us validate the identities and backgrounds of persons within their borders. I can tell you right now because of the injunctions, i am not fully confident that were doing the best all that we can to weed out potential wrongdoers from these locations. The injunction also prevent me from actually hooking into the information that we need from each country to conduct proper screening not just from the six countries identified in the executive order, but from every country across the globe. It also prevents me from conducting a review under the executive order with the goal of improving the the security of our refugee program. Bottom line, identify been enjoined ive been joined from doing these things that i know would make america safe, and i anxiously await the court to complete its actions one way or another so i can get to work. The men and women of dhs will do everything we can and always, always, always within the law to keep the American People safe. But the delay has prerented us from doing that prevented us from doing that what i and those most familiar with the reality of the threats we face believe we need to do to protect our homeland. Again, sir, i appreciate opportunity the appear before the committee today, and i thank you for your continued support and the committees continued support for the great men and women of the department and the mission we take so seriously. I remain committed to working with congress in protecting the American People. I have made changes within the Organization Since ive been Department Head to do exactly that, to increase responsiveness, availability of witnesses, weve done all of that in a big way. Im glad to answer any questions you may have, sir. Thank you. Thank you, secretary kelly. I really appreciate the attendance by my colleagues. I know everybodys got tight schedules, so im going to defer my questioning so people have their opportunities. Ill start out with senator mccaskill. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I appreciate the note you ended on, secretary kelly, and im while i condemn the leak and the person who leaked it, we now have in the Public Domain verified information that the russians made an aggressive attempt to access not only a vendor of voter software in this country, but also a number of states. The voter file databases in the months prior to our election. I mean, in any other circumstances this would be an earthquake, but because of Everything Else thats going on, i dont think enough attention has been given to something that is your responsibility as the secretary of Homeland Security, and that is Critical Infrastructure including the election systems. I have asked for a number of pieces of information. This is one area where we have not gotten a ponce yet. I do appreciate a response yet. I do agreement that you all are not frozen us out. Many of my colleagues are being frozen out across the government. Im deeply grateful for that. I am anxious to get more information about what we know about these attempts, whether or not they accessed the tabulation, its clear they were trying to get into voter files. And i dont think they were going there to try to just hang out. Imagine the disruption we spend a lot of time in this country talking about voter id. Imagine the disruption of thousands of people showed up to vote and their names are no longer on the voter files . What would with we do . How would we address that in terms of fairness if open can and free elections . I guess my question to you is are you deferring the investigation of this to the fbi, or is the department activg the attempts to penetrate the voter files in this country immediately before the election by the russian government . Thank you, senator. You know me, im not going to dodge any question relative to anything that anyone in the United States congress asks. I would say though up front, i would not be in a because of the allegations and the things that have been allegedly released are so highly classified, i wouldnt want to kind of confirm anything or deny anything in there. Happy to to come over or send people to come over to talk to you to the level that they can about what actually took place, and i believe, certainly, members of Congress Deserve that given the levels of classification. But i share your concern. I dont disagree with anything you said relative to the sappingtity of our voting sanctity of our voting process. Clearly, it should be an interagency investigation, and that is taking place. Dhs will be part of that. As you know, just prior to his leaving jeh johnson went out and declared that the vote aring infrastructure was, in fact, Critical Infrastructure. Ive had a large amount of pushback on that from states. Some members many members of congress. It was done before i took over. Were looking at that, trying to help the states understand what that means, and its voluntary entirely. Were here to help, so to speak. But i am meeting with the state Homeland Security professionals, i think, next week here in the city. And im going to put that question to em. Should we back off on that . I dont believe we should, but should we back off on that . Do you see us as partners and helpers in this to help, you know, down inside the states and help you make sure that your systems are protected. But there is nothing more fundamental to our democracy than voting. Well, you know, in following up with that i just hope that you convey, i mean, it would be one thing for the states to say we dont want the federal government to be i like that our elections are decentralized. Right. I dont think the federal government should be telling each state how to run their elections or what vendors to use. On the other hand, this was russia. Right. This was russia. This was not, you know, some hacker in, at a university trying to screw around with one individual state. This was an international attempt to impact the elections of the United States of america. So it really would be, i think, distressing if the United States would then pull back from the ability to help states protect these voter files. And you all are going to be in the best position to be able to do that. So is someone from the Department Work anything the investigation . We are over this intrusion into our data files, our voter data files . Yes. We are involved. Okay. The other area i wanted to talk about and give you a chance to respond to the things i said in my Opening Statement about cutting funding for the Viper Program and for the Law Enforcement officer Reimbursement Program, the urban area grants that are so important to large cities in this country in terms of protecting soft targeting for terrorism. Could you address those cuts, and if you would be okay with the fact that we would maybe want to restore those cuts . Id like to comment, for sure. The first thing i kind of referenced it a little bit in my Opening Statement we are, as a nation in a different place entirely from Law Enforcement and local Protection Point of view, were in a different place today than we were 15 years ago when 9 11 first took place. I mean, whether its new york city and largest nonfederal Law Enforcement organization in the country, the new York City Police department, or small towns and counties with very few professionals, this kind of thinking, this kind of antiterrorism, counterterrorism is in the dna. We have, certainly, and should have right after 9 11 for years afterwards, i think to tune now of 45 billion in 15 years, helped states whether it was acquire equipment, hire people. Dod has a program where they give excess equipment away, you know all of that. So were in a different place today. New York City Police department, i was just up there last week and sat with them for several hours getting their concept of how they protect the city from a or terrorism point of view, and i dont think theres anyone better in the world. So in a world id love to Perfect World id love to fund everything, but 15 years on we are in a different place locally and federally in terms of protecting the homeland. Again, in a Perfect World id love to fund everything. Okay. Well, i understand the point youre making, although i will say that i dont think any of us would think that the threat of a terrorist attack the is less today than it was 15 years ago. And i can speak for many of these communities that are struggling with enough officers now. St. Louis is a good example where of we have a serious crime prop problem x in order to have the resources they need to cover the airport, to do some of the things that this money allows them to do is really important. So im hoping we can Work Together and figure that out. Senator, if i could just respond. I wouldnt disagree at all. The threat since 9 11 is, i think, is certain types of threats are much more than they were during 9 11, much more metastasized. Some of it local, some of it from outside the country. Im with you a thousand percent. But the one fundamental difference is we have different state, local and federal focus on this and training and equipment. We do. Yes, maam. Senator tester. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Once again, thank you for being here, secretary kelly. I think that you have bipartisan support on this committee because of your track record. And you are in front of the subcommittee on Homeland Security here a few weeks back, and i appreciate your testimony this. Since then it was reported that the president s soninlaw, jared kushner, attempted to establish secret back Channel Communications with the kremlin through Russian Ambassador sergei kislyak. You were asked about these back Channel Communications with russia on tv, and you, you supported kushner. The white house has been mum about these communications. I believe these communications did to occur. Whether this was any classified or not that went through, i think this is a big deal because were talking about russia. I looked up your age, and i thought we might be similar in age, and to your credit, youre a little bit older than me, but you look younger, okay, mr. Secretary in. [laughter] but you remember russia in the height of the cold war. I dont trust them any more today than i did when i was a first grader in school. And to have somebody this close to the president setting up back channels before they were in office through a, through a Russian Embassy is very disturbing to me if, in fact, this happened. And so have you spoken to mr. Kushner about this issue . I have not. Okay. So has anybody spoken to him about this issue. In your department to to find out if this happened . We just heard the Ranking Member talk about potential impacts on elections, weve talked about potential money flowing to the trump business enterprise. Theres all sorts of smoke here that we need to get to the bottom of. And to im curious about that. I hope no one in my departments spoken to him, that would be inappropriate. Im the bear action with the white house interaction with the white house, as a general rule. He doesnt work, like many of the white house staff, do not work directly well, if i could back Channel Communications, i mean, i have back Channel Communications myself through religious leaders in the United States to leaders in, say, latin america. Its one thing if i call the president of a country and tell him, you know, have a conversation with him, its different if it comes from another direction. Its just the reality of the way things work. I would just offer to you, sir, that that we have to make the assumption yeah. And i will yep. That Jared Kushners a great american, hes a decent american. He has a security clearance at highest level, as i understand it didnt then though, did he . I believe he should have had. Now, if he was trying to open back Channel Communications to pass information through that back channel to get to putin or anyone else over there to say, hey, look, were concerned about about yeah. Or this is what you might want to consider doing, because if its official, its a whole different dynamic. I got ya. But the question is, there was no red flags that come up for you at all on this . Not at the time. I didnt know about it. Since its been reported, back channels are the normal, are in the course of normal interactions with other countries, very, very common. Can you tell me if its also normal to go to an embassy of a country that has been our foe for, since world war ii and do this kind of is that normal . I dont know if that was the case, but if that is the case, im not so sure its normal. But certainly, it would be one way to communicate through the back channel. So if i were to do that, you guys would think thats okay . Ive got a security clearance. If i were to walk over to an embassy and say, hey, look, i want to have a back channel communication, and by the way, even though it appears that nobody in the United States will know what im talking about, and this is why i did it, its okay because im not senator i mean, really . If you went over whether you met them here in the bidding or went to the embassy, the Russian Embassy. Let me tell you something, as a senator from the great state of montana and a member of these committees, this is b. S. What youre doing, and you better stop it yeah. Thats essentially a back channel communication. Well, i would just say this i appreciate your faith in the system. Im going to tell you that whether classified information was delivered or not, i find this unacceptable. I just do. To have somebody who is a soninlaw to the president that goes in and sets up with russia the country i was told to hide under the desk when the Nuclear Bombs came when i was in first grade, i just think if we dont get to the bottom of whats going on and whats happening, weve talked about the russians, weve talked about money, theres all sorts of stuff going on here x. Be as claire i mean, as the Ranking Member said, theres so much going on here that we dont know which direction to have the investigation happen. And i, if it needs to be you, youve got the e credentials, by the way, and youve got the respect, i believe, on this committee and probably in congress to really find out what the hells going on. Because it doesnt make, it doesnt make me sleep better at night. And if it doesnt make me sleep better at night, your eyes are probably wide open on this. Am i just you know, senator, i think, again, i think we have to make the assumption that dont you think we should insure that that assumption is correct . Oh, sure. But nobodys doing that. I think theres numerous investigations that are looking into this. I mean, i think its part of the bob mueller investigation, i think theres a number of congressional committees looking into it. Okay. Another topic, i just want to echo what the Ranking Member said. There have been folks that have been frozen out by different agencies. I think thats inappropriate whether youre on that committee or a member of congress, oversight is a big job. I appreciate you not doing that, and i hope that policy continues. I would assume that thats going to be the case, correct . Yes, sir x. If i could comment yes. As i was going through the process of confirmation, those senators that gave me and house members that gave me the courtesy of an office call prior to hearing, the one single thing i heard repeatedly was how nonresponsive this department, my department, our department was. Was. Prior to to. I would tell you since ive been running the show to the degree that i think im running it, weve got over 37 appearances in congressional hearings, 57 witnesses, 973 hill engagements. That is, that is prior to that it was a tiny fraction. In fact, i was just talking to senator grassley who was the biggest critic of my department relative to to congressional engagement. And i was on an open phone with him and his staff and asked him how we were doing, and he gave me nothing but high marks. We will call the staff and say hey, weve got and we are on it but he will be seven weeks or even perhaps months before we get it to you. If need be will send a letter or i will call the members and say this is a big one, and quantities sets of people to work on this. It will be a while but we are on it. I think in every case thus far, certainly the last 90 days, 60 days anyways, were getting high marks. Thank you, mr. Secretary and i look forward to seeing you in montana. Senator peters. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, secretary kelly for being here. Id like to once again thank you for your trip to detroit. I think it was very, well received by the community and appreciate you taking the effort to come up to my state. Secretary kelly, im particularly concerned about some of the proposed cuts to several fema preparedness Grant Programs that are in the president budget. A First Responders in michigan use the urban Area Security initiative and state Homeland Security Program Funding to support lifesaving efforts including bomb search and rescue equipment, simulation drills, maintenance of local Early Warning and Emergency Response centers. The proposed 25 cost share matching requirement for local governments would prevent a number of these efforts because quite frankly many of these dont have the money available for that cost share. I know you think its important that theres skin and again. You can use that term frankly that our local communities have some cash as it in these matching programs by given the fact we are facing a lone wolf attacks and a lot of changes in how our domestic Homeland Security folks have to deal with situations, do you believe, how are they able to make the appropriate investments to make sure that their quit for these types of attacks cracks are there alternatives or ways in which we could perhaps i just at the you in the budget . Referencing a couple of my previous comments in the sharing as well as in the past, our local Law Enforcement, city state, county, big city, small city, on a different place today than it work right after 9 11 and we all know that. Theyre just much better what to do. Their head is in the game. They have skin in the game. The grants over the years have 2 caused that to happen because weve given additional funding to the various municipalities to improve themselves. We are at the point now where much of that effort is already accomplished and we are in a sustain the pace. That is to say, state and local governments now need to sustain what we have helped them, the point to which an equipment and always help them get to. That combined with unlimited resources it would think you mentioned global attacks. And lone wolf, and you know this, i beg your forgiveness, demeter lecture, not lecture but to go to load terms of my response. The thing were facing with a lone wolf attacks is a different dynamic. It is absolutely, new york city is at risk. Detroit is at risk. If some tiny little town in a bowl of arkansas is at risk. Every small town, they count is at risk from this lone wolf stuff. I dont know as hard as i thought about if theres a way to prevent it, predicted, get her arms around other than local cops and sheriffs getting into peoples business legally. Outreach and all of that but my point is, an unlimited amount of money parceled out to every big city, small municipality in america might prevent and lone wolf attack. I dont know if it will but might. Of course we dont have an unlimited amount of money. We make these decisions in many ways based on formulas that we receive from the congress. We plugin numbers and try to sum out evaluate what might be a logical target. Not necessarily for the lone wolf because theyre everywhere but a logical target or target that might be at high risk, say new york city could that another municipality, particularly from external terrorist. I understand that at appreciate the fact that this is a big challenge we dont have unlimited amounts of money but it want to just chil have a lite bit of the assessment that other communities are adequately prepared for. We have come a long way as you mention, we come along wit and provided provided those resources but im hearing theres still unmet needs they think a pretty critical, resources are tight for them as well. We still have a ways to go soulfully we can revisit some of those matching programs to make sure that those communities that may be at the highest risk but also have fairly challenging budget situation in that community, that we are able to work something out. Would appreciate having further discussion in that area. The first travel ban executive order required the secretary of Homeland Security to submit a report in 30 days that provides a list of countries that do not provide adequate information for vetting, within 30 days of the date of this order. Its mighty stink the District Court in seattle did not stay that aspect of the order. The second executive order required the exact same report within 2 20 days of its effectie date. As you know aside from sections two and six the remainder of the revised executive order is not affected by any subsequent injunctions. That means as of today basics, 2017, the report required by the First Executive order is overdue by over 60 days, more than twice as much time as required and reporting card by the second executive order is overdue by about 30 days. Did you begin the report reviewing screening procedures that the initial executive order required . Weve been very, very, very cautious, extra cautious in getting anywhere near where the court might consider where not following their construction. I would have to get back to on exactly what we are on the reports. One of the things regards of where the court has told us not to do, we look at things we could do. As an example thinking about other countries but not studying it and looking at vetting procedures, additional dating, extreme vetting but not studying it. Some of them are very procedure will be obvious, some of the countries are obvious but if you dont mind i like to get back to on the question. I appreciate because it seems to me Court Injunction will not limit you from doing your own internal reviews of policies and procedures. Actually i have lawyers telling me that we are too close on some of these issues, not necessary once youve addressed but of some of the issues and its best just to show extra good faith and not get too close to it. I appreciate further discussion on that as well. Thank you, mr. Secretary. Senator hassan. Thank you, mr. Chair and Ranking Member, good morning, secretary kelly, and thank you for being here. Like all of my colleagues i appreciate your willingness to have this conversation with us. Last week i visited our cbp base covering New Hampshires northern border with canada. The men and women at the station are working overtime and on a shoestring budget to secure our northern border including intercepting human traffickers and preventing narcotics smuggling. I think theyre doing an incredible job with truly limited resources but they really need more support. While cbp is getting a huge boost in the funding in this budget, we know that this funding isnt going to be used to short the northern border. And it isnt just cbps northern border forces, they are not the only ones getting shorted in this but as some of the other members have indicated, tsa in charge of protecting our aviation borders and stopping terrorists from taking down our Aviation System is facing a sizable cut to some of its key programs. And renewed a dish and threats. The coast guard protects our nations largest border, but despite its aging maritime assets, rundown and, frankly, outdated facilities, the coast guard is also getting cut. This budget tells me that your priority is to secure the southern border and the fighting off all of the threats is secondary. I support securing the southern border and reducing narcotics trafficking, but this budget presents i think a false choice. We can and should secure the southern border and also secure our other land, sea and air borders as well. So what is your plan for making sure that our northern border forces, tsa and the coast guard did the funding increases they so desperately need . The good news is from my perspective it would have learned in the last going on for months is we have to great partners in this effort to secure our borders, candidate to the north and mexico to the south. The bad news for mexico in the southwest border is largely because of our drug demand, in incredibly Efficient Network has developed that stretches frankly from around the world, goes to the western hemisphere, caribbean, of the Central American isthmus, ask who into the United States. So thats where the overwhelming amount of drugs, illegal aliens, special interest aliens, through. Because of that work work. Not because next is not a partner, not because theyre not great fund friends but because there unfortunately astride a network or a landmass or geographical feature that the drug traffickers have decided thats how theyre coming. Secretary kelly, im well aware of that pic am also well aware of how able nimble evolving and created these cartels and networks are. And so it just seems to me a totally false choice to leave a border infighting and open relatively open. It may disrupt things on the southwest border for a time, but it doesnt do us any good is there other ports of entry. You talk to the coast guard right now and they are not able to intervene in some of the narcotics traffic on or see because its a little have the resources even when they know that they are there. That would be a very important aspect of our war on this drug epidemic we have. You are right on the northern border versus southern port of a right of the southern border is the problem. If we were to seal the southern border, and i believe we can get, i know we will get control of our southern border. That doesnt mean seal that the control it, go from where we were several months ago to almost no control to some pretty good control, they will, given the drug demand in the United States, they will figure other ways to get through. Have to watch that and react to. We also to keep people in the northern part of our country safe. And so one of the things, thats not a very reassuring answer to the people of New Hampshire or the other northern border states. I want to move on to another issue that we discussed the last time you were here. I asked you about an innovative way to protect the dhs systems from Cyber Attacks and the possible applications the pentagon Pilots Program to use hackers to prove the pentagons networks for vulnerabilities. The Pilot Program was called hack the pentagon and its been very successful. In a few weeks the program ran the pentagon collected 130 at present i discovered vulnerabilities. Since since then the pentagon has expanded the program and gsa has announced an effort to launch a similar program. A little over a week ago senator portman and i along with others on this committee introduced a hack dhs act. The bill would instruct d ajax toolkit by the program to allow hackers to probe dhs is systems for vulnerabilities and report them to dhs. In return dhs would pay the hackers are small sum of money for each folder delete the discover and report it as my friend senator harris said, we will fight hackers with hackers. As you can see a lot is happen since your last year. At the leicester and you promised to look into whether the pentagons Pilot Program would be a fit for dhs. I was asking today you take a hard look at this bill. Theres been a similar bill introduced today in the house by representatives lou ann taylor. We could just commit to taking a hard look at those bills and see what the department thinks of the . Absolutely we will and probably we will not wait to see if this law passes. Okay. Thank you. Lastly, i just want, dont want to reiterate, i guess that to her point. I do to reiterate everything senator peters said but i will just let you know as a former governor who is interested with lots of volunteer First Responder forces, parttime Police Departments, and ongoing efforts to keep our state and do our part for our countrys National Security safe, too, the elimination or severe cuts to critical state aid and Grant Programs for everything from airPort Security of the kinds of security efforts to fight homegrown terrorism, you have to train ongoing. You need ongoing resources. We have an enemy who is evolving, and the notion that just because weve made improvements since 9 11 we can absorb this kind of drastic cut i think is just a really false notion. And i would tell you that having talked with my homegrown land security people in New Hampshire about the new Death Threats we are facing, the cuts here are really troubling. And lastly fma, mr. Chair, i would just encourage, maybe we can talk offline about the presence of your commission to understand the first interim report is mutually bit we just havent heard anything about. I know youre on the commission and id love to talk later about speederspeedy if i could have a, this should kevin to respond. Myself, rex tillerson, you may been, not a seamless with the mexicans a couple weeks ago, they are on board with our attempts to not only safeguard the southwest border, their northern border, but also get at the data and problem. Secretary tillerson, secretary prices myself and the head of ondcp who ive spoken to and i like to think changed his attitude to what his job is going forward, well get together and put some real Energy Behind the demand reduction to include the opioids. I think a big part, i think youll agree, i think we spoke about this is this overmedicated society that we suffer from in the United States. Just suggest people ar all haveo do is put something up the nose and the mouth or in their arm to solve the problems. One of the things thats going to be really important and really concerning obvious is the administrations support for limiting things like Medicaid Expansion and requirements Insurance Companies treat addiction. Which gets at the over medication and the overprescribing issue so i look forward to talking with you more about it. Thank you. I will again just point at based on the baseline budget 2004, 36. 5 billion have grown by inflation about 48 billion for us that its about 70. 22 billion more growth in spending for this department because those evolving threats. I just want to point it was really is in terms of the increase in spending over the last, whatever that is, 13 years. I appreciate that, mr. Chair. My concern is that we are only as strong as her weakest link. Again, we dont want to be penny wise and pound foolish but we have dramatically increase the resources of this department. Senator paul . Secretary kelly, thanks for your testimony. The last time you hear we talked about u. S. Citizens come across the border and being threatened with nonentry or detention if they did not divulge the contents of their phone. All of the content of the phone and response was i just dont believe were doing it. We asked some questions in writing and were still waiting on response that its been about six weeks or so. I thought i would list for a couple of the public episodes of this happening. This year a nasa engineer and use citize it as it was pulled e from chile. They demanded the pan for his phone and handed him a form to explain how cbp at the right to copy the contents of his phone. All of the content of his own. He recalled the form indicate his participation was mandatory and a threatened detention and procedure if it did not comply. The phone ironically was already a government phone. It was a nasa phone that we were wanted to search. To citizens were stopped who return from canada, nbc getting investigation at 25 Different Cases of u. S. Sentences citizens being told to turn over the phones, unlock them. A u. S. Citizen was taken off of a flight in ellicott handcuffed and released after only two good agent looked through his phone for 15 minutes. A u. S. Citizen journalist was also had the phone take a guess my question is, is your answer still i just dont believe were doing it . My answer is we dont do it routinely unless theres a reason why. So thats a change. We do it whether they are citizens and noncitizens coming in. I think its of the million or so people come into the country, half of 1 is checked. Typically the officer, and always according to the law. Typically the officers who are engaged in the frontline defense at the ports of entry, in the questioning of individuals from whatever has kept them off will cause them to a certain conversations, go down certain avenues of, not interrogation but again conversations, in the event of some indicator that perhaps the individual is returning from sex tours are Something Like that. We did catch a fair number people in that regard but again, senator, very seldom done and always for a reason and always within the law. So they answered out is not i just dont believe were doing it, it is we are doing it, not that often . Right. The policy there being threatened with though is detention. How long would they be detained if they dont give you the pen to the . Its a really short beta type it into jelly called secondary where theres follow up questions. Once a decision might be made to put them into some illegal justice system, thats speedy but to you still, you just fine with the policy that are virtually takes someone phoned the city cant come back in theres a reason why they do it. No. It is arbitrary list the rules as how you do. What are the rules . In our country going to look at my phone you call a judge in my country. So this wouldnt necessarily be american jurisprudence if youre just saying we might have some internal rules. Have you publish what you rules are . At the ports of entry where there are a citizen or noncitizens the officers have procedures to follow but certainly writes to checked baggage and industries look into electronics. There are procedures. Whether there published or not, specific enough to publish i dont know but i can get back to. Wed like to see that it would also like to see the form that threatens them with detention and or seizure if they dont comply. Sure here. I can tell im not happy with the policy and i wish it were different. We have actual introduce legislation to try to stop you from doing this and to make you go to a court the way we do in our country. Typically we go to court and you ask a judge get to present evidence. You have to specify an individual and you have to have a reason for doing it. [talking over each other] that law would also be with us from looking bags and things like that smokers i think theres a difference and i think thats the whole point is that looking at someones com infamoy for an immediate threat to the country, to the people, to the plane, et cetera, i think we have decided thats within the scope of your jurisdiction people to get someones phone is much of a personal and much more extensive look into their life. We just dont think you should be, it sort of horrifies us to think that you can come back in your country people are not talking, there are deeper giving advice to not take your phone abroad because when you come back on your country will not let you come home and less you let them look at your entire life. That doesnt seem like a fair tradeoff to be able to travel or for safety. I think theres a point which we give up so much of our liberty to travel that has it been worth it . We can live in a secure state if we clamp down and we have the freedom to travel, you know, we give up all of our privacy to travel. I just dont think thats necessary. I think there could also be two different standards frankly. There can be once data for somebody whos coming to the first time from afghanistan whos got one name in the background. I with you. We need to do more scrutiny of people coming to our country. But if an american citizen leaks and comes back i pay for goodness sakes the art to still be protected by the bill of rights when they come home. Senator hoeven. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, mr. Secretary for being here and for your good and very important work. Where are we are well you i guess in terms of this extreme vetting process as far as having the procedures in place that you want antiquity as regards to the six countries included in the president el . Im sorry, where speed is where are you in the process of establishing your extreme vetting procedure when you want to have them set up, and take as regards to the eo . Because again might want to get crosswise with the course in interlochen we been pretty, weve been very reserved and effort i will tell you that there are two aspects of this, some of it i control, some of the estate of robert control to the state department is recently issued a number of additional questions as an example their offices will ask those who want to visit the United States on visas. Thats a little bit of a easier thing because typically those people are coming out of countries come well, it would present the passport as an example. Theres always been certain questions in place that they would aspect now there will be some additional questions about where they lived and they could be access to their Electronic Devices but thats outside the country. In the case of refugees, i think the senator knows that many, many cases, the refugees that we deal with have no paperwork that we can rely. They have no passports pigmented take their word for it. The u. N. , as hard as they try, and i was, the last time i was here, one of the recent hearings talked about my interaction with the u. N. They are in the same position we are although theyre not in the position of allowing people to come to a given country. They themselves as they do their initial refugee screening, they dont discreetly. They do refugee registration, what your name, where are you from . All of that taken on good faith. Then it comes to us. In the past we have i think exercise entirely too much good faith. And i think the things that were looking at is okay, if you dont have a passport, no proof of who you are, then we need to know some additional fax and figures about, how do supporters of any given country . Do you have any way to prove that you work for a living . And we can try to prove who you are. What village, can you give us point of contact in a given country that we can call . That kind of thing. But in many, many cases, many of these refugees dont have any of that. So it would be very, very hard for me in good faith to then move them into the United States to establish a home here. But we are, i believe what will give us an advantage is one who started it do with them on their social media accounts, their telephone, registration, that kind of thing. What about the visa waiver countries question mentioned earlier as we, on isis in the middle east, that are individuals who have been in middle east and returning to other western european and other countries with which we have visa waiver in place. What procedures, extra procedures, precautions are you taking to protect them from coming to the United States . As i think the senator knows there are 38 visa waiver countries. As you might imagine i know you realize this, they are countries that have more or less what we have. They have a working relationship with the United States, to say the least. They have a u. S. Embassy locally to handle our affairs and look out for us. They had kind of an fbi and, in and Intelligence Community and all the rest with databases that allow us to tap into what they do. Thats Getting Better by the way and ive commitments from many countries around the world because of the laptop ban that we implement did in ten airports about midmarch. But the point is were in pretty good shape, very good shape in those countries. We have confidence in their systems and how to interact with our system. Not every country though, say in europe, is a visa waiver contradicts some of them have not come even though their western countries come first world, they dont have what we think they need. We set the bar very high and they had in those countries certainly 38 have met that bar. But that said, again a long pole in the tent is as jim comey would say, the database is only good if youre on it. Not to get into, i dont want to be to open about this in an open hearing but some of the more recent terrorists in england or uk may not have been on any of those list so that had to decide to come youre, youre exactly right, had they come to the United States, they would have certainly been able to buy a ticket and fly to the United States. Their baggage and everything would have been subject to the normal protocols, so my sense would be they would be they wouldnt be getting on a plane with a bomb. If the guide her and tried to do something about that, but if they got here, then it would possibly be problematic. But the point is theres a certain point why dont think we either have a Visa Waiver Program or not. I can tell you the 38 countries that are on it are committed to it. We are all committed to making it better. Right now im comfortable with where we are on it. We have to react to that, and take extra precautions, right . We do. In regard to send a hassan, regarding the northern border, one of those tools you have, and we talked about this both on Homeland Committee appropriations as well as of this committee is unmanned aerial systems, uas. Kevin, youre acting cbp director who by the way its absolutely fantastic, was out in grand forks to win 92 miles of border responsible all the way from lexi for all the way throughout most of montana. The ues is a great tool. Your colocated, look at new facility, working with him. I would ask for your strong support point in that effort. And also with the Technology Part we have their at the grand Forks Air Force base, it is really a unique opportunity to develop that ues tool which helped you on the northern border and the southern border. Again i want to commend him and commend him to you and s3 askedr support for his good efforts. Thats a tool that can address some of the concerns that she raised. I agree with you. Take that the comments about kevin. He is really a firstround draft choice. I cant wait to get them confirmed. I agree. Thank you. Thank you for all you doing. Senator harris. Thank you. Secretary kelly, as a followup you mentioned that you have in your career have actual conversation with Foreign Governments, correct . At, people i could rely on to pass information to foreign leaders. And was that in your current capacity as a member of the president s cabinet . I was in my capacity when i was in uniform. And did you ever i wouldnt hesitate to do it now. And did you initiate any of those conversations such that you initiated that they would take place inside the embassy of a Foreign Government . I have gone to embassies both in my current assignment as well as pass assignments, or met with members of the diplomatic corps from other countries. Have you initiated back channel conversations that would speedy can i finish . I have had i that conversation with members of foreign, foreign diplomats in various places, and talk to them about my perception of what they could do better in response to things that United States government would like to see them do. Thank you. Secretary kelly, included in the president s budget is a provision that says quote the sector of Homeland Security they condition a grant or cooperative agreement awarded by the department of Homeland Security to a state or political subdivision of the state for purpose related to immigration, National Secure become Law Enforcement or presenting, preparing for upper deck to guess or respond to acceptors in the specific to the budget authorizes the secretary to condition grants on complaint with any lawful request by dhs to detain an alien for a period not to exceed 48 hours that are you familiar with that . Fairly familiar with the, yes. Grants that are subject to new conditions would include the urban Area Security initiative, a dhs grant that provided california last you with 124 million to help urban areas prevent, mitigate, and respond to acts of terrorism. This grant supports more than 100 and carpeted jurisdictions in 12 counties in the bay area of california alone. It supports them to buy equipment, net systems and conduct training so that localities can prevent, mitigate a response to acts of terrorism. Are you aware that . Thats a good thing. Another dhs grant is the state to let you go to Grant Program that provided california 60. 2 million last you to support state, local and tribal efforts to prevent terrorism. And to prepare the nation for threats and hazards posed the greatest risk to security in the United States. Is that correct . I wish i had the same document i can read from as you do. Are usually with this Grant Program in your department . I am familiar. Are you aware there are a number of federal courts that impose civil liability on local governments for complying with i. C. E. Detain orders that were not supported by probable cause . Mi aware that . Yes. I am. In order then to comply with the 48 hour i. C. E. Detain or a with no probable cause, wouldnt that forced the jurisdiction to choose whether to comply with a federal court ruling or forfeit vital Public Safety funds that are administered by your department . Im not a lawyer but i think that federal lawyers federal law is federal and state law state law. We have a different view of the impact of some of the state rollings, but imagine if you will that you and local Law Enforcement leader presented with a choice of either complying with federal law that means you may be expose your department in your jurisdiction to civil liability, or forfeiting dhs funds that are designed and intended to help you fight terrorism at a local level. Wouldnt you agree that puts his Law Enforcement leaders income its almost how it is supposed to just . Had you not cut me off i wouldve said the same thing you just said. Probably not as eloquent but i wouldve said the same thing you said. I appreciate they fix their into appreciate that they their legal advice from the state and locals, and below the radar we work with every police and shares department in this country to the degree that they can and are comfortable with. What you mean below the radar . They have two choices and they are excuse me. They are accountable to their jurisdiction, to the bodies that made the pointed or elected them. And they have to make choices. What do you mean below the radar . We talk to them on the telephone, and speedy what are you instructing them to do when presented with those . Whatever they can do within the law, interpretation, where we are willing to work with them. Are you aware that let me finish once before you interrupt me. With all due respect spee spy with all due respect, senator. Are you instructing local Law Enforcement leaders that they cant overlook a dhs detainer requested are not exposed to criminal liability . We talk to them about whatever theyre comfortable with, whatever they think they can do with the interpretation of their local attorney generals as an example, local lawyers speedy so went speedy let me finish what. Actually. Im asking the question. But im trying to answer the questions. When they tell you as i know local Police Officers am pleased chiefs are being told that it would expose their municipality to civil liability if they comply with the detainer requests, are you telling them that you will not withhold the dhs federal funding that they rely on. Before starting answer would you let me finish . If its responsive to the question, of course. We talk to them on the phone and tell them whatever theyre comfortable with, whatever they can do within the interpretation of their local lawyers or legal advisors. We will work with them. So are you willing to then not withhold federal funding when police achieves tell you that they cannot comply with the detainer request because he been told by their lawyer that they will expose their jurisdiction or their department to civil liability . I am willing to work with in any way i can within the law, federal and local law, whatever theyre comfortable with. I dont make threats to people, center. Thank you. My time is a. By the way theres a very simple fix for this predicament and its a huge predicament. Lets pass a law to give those local Law Enforcement officials Liability Protection against those civil suits as part of pat toomey sanctuary city law. Becca clear up this whole difference. Its a Pretty Simple fix which i would support. And i would support any fix that without withhold funding for local Law Enforcement to meet the demand that they face around combating terrorism in the local just taken. This could be a bipartisan solution. Civil Liability Protection against civil suits for local Law Enforcement are not caught between a rock and hard place in a very difficult situation. Lets work on that together. Im sure secretary kelly would enjoy working with us on that as well. Senator carper. Thanks. Mr. Secretary, thanks for joining us today. Its good to see you. When i first heard the words of Saint Elizabeth i thought why would we spend that much money on creating a campus. I feel a consulted him for the department of Homeland Security, and over time i became convinced that one of the ways to actually enable the leadership of this department to manage their department and to improve their performance and, frankly, improve the morale of the employees is actually pursue, implement the plan to create this campus. When jay became a sick to hear the same misgivings i read ahead about the proposal. Would you take a moment and tell us whether you had a chance to get a feel for this at how your department is so farflung, and what do you think we ought to do and how does th the administratn budget actually take us in that direction, or not . You know we are, i cant count the number of locations around the city, various parts, every part of Homeland Security is just spread out over all of Hells Half Acre here. To bring all or most of it or some of it together makes a lot of sense just on the point of view of time management. And money. We spend a huge amount of money renting choice downtown real estate here in the city. We could avoid much of that. I think we would realize if and when Saint Elizabeth open, billions of dollars in savings over five or ten years. But the other issue is time management. It takes me half an hour to get from where, i sent most of the time, to meet with cbp or isa whatever and obviously half an hour to get back. Sometimes i do that too, three times a day. It kills either my time management or their time management. I do the best i cannot in convince the people that work for me. But it would be an advantage to be more or less in one place at Saint Elizabeth seems to be the locale, and, but, frankly, as ive gotten smart on that particular location they are some worker issues that we need to sort out and we can do that in terms of transportation, access to mecca, that kind of thing. What over all it would be a cost savings as well as a time savings if we were to consolidate much of the headquarters effort in one location, Saint Elizabeth. There are two pieces of funding. One is for rg is in the other is for the department of Homeland Security. One is for infrastructure and what is for a fit out. One of them is i think the gsa pieces funded in the 18 budget. The dhs funding is not there, so id like to followup on that and talk with appropriate us, some of whom are on this committee i believe. I want to go back down to the southern border. We see some substantial increases in funding for cbp, for i. C. E. , money for detention centers, money for a wall. Theres also money for what i call force multipliers. Im a big believer in force multipliers. Im not a big believe we need 2000mile wall come someplace where it will make sense of the idea of investing these force multipliers have been demonstrated to be effective is good. You and i talked often about root causes, and the root causes of why the people continue to come from honduras, guatemala has a lot to do with our insatiable demand for drugs. They come to us, we send the money and guns and reset something called the alliance for prosperity a couple years ago. Actually those the country set it up and we came in and as you know well know your desecration, to try to emulate what was accomplished in colombia. Do you have a sense for how things are going in those three countries with respect to the goals that they set themselves under the alliance for prosperity . A great question and really a great story here is not perfect but a great story. Based on the conference that congress and Previous Administration put into the three Northern Tier to countries in helping them out, recognizing that the first of all have a problem, much of it is generated by our insatiable appetite for drugs, that those countries are nearly healed state. Much as columbia was 20 years ago and is in today. So the miracle can happen. Columbia did it. And, frankly, at the time columbia was put together by the United Congress with a lot of resistance in other places and as you know i think senator, put some american money i think four cents on the dollar but ultimately theres a miracle the chaplain in colombia. When people tell me they cant happen, in Central America, i i can look at colombia. So that said, the alliance for prosperity, the three countries putting their own money into it, then to the congress, the obama administration, Vice President biden was a huge help in this as you know, got some additional u. S. Funding put against it, controlled in the right way. So whats happened in Central America since we worked on the alliance for prosperity, violence is down. Honduras, el salvador, guatemala used be the three most dangerous countries in the planet, more dangerous than afghanistan and iraq was at the time. They have cut their murder rates by either a third or more. Still horrific but cut it a third or more all with human rights in mind, all with the rule of law in mind. They have a long way to cope with their economy is our starting to grow. Theyve gotten his surround the corruption. For if i get when i took socom, everything was going into wrong in colombia cental america. Just read a report this morning with it either stabilize, i getting worse or Getting Better. Thats huge. I think you know in addition to my adoration back choking mitigations in some respects to the leadership down there to religious organizations and ngos, so that i dont make it official but they know where i am and where going on these issues. We also asked them to ask their citizens do not waste the money and head north, to not get on the terribly Dangerous Network that i described before, stay where they are. Because if they com country this no longer illegal alien friendly environment. It is a very legal alien as a stupid nose, 1. 1. 1 Million People here, but a solo very friendly environment of illegal and is, the waste of money, dont go onto Dangerous Networks. What were doing we put together frankly dhs, the Energy Behind it or although its not my job, we passed it off to the state department pics of next week in miami we are bringing together as cosponsors of the conference on the northern countries, Northern Tier to countries, icicle, great country, great partner and the United States cosponsoring we have observers coming in, canada, spain, costa rica, panama, colombia, may be for real for two Day Conference pick that would be led by the Vice President. Ill be there, senator, secretary tillerson as well as commerce and treasure will be there. The point is the first day will bring together investors to do the best we can to stimulate whats going on in those three countries, economically, then the next day will be security issues, try to get at the Human Trafficking and the drug trafficking. Just last week i was done in haiti meeting with the new leadership on another issue, suggested maybe the haitian president , board for one of those days are least i can be of type appearance. What trying to do is help them solve their problems at home economically cameo type weve helped them go in the right direction on security and with a little luck and a little come with a little luck we might actually be able to help them. But if we dont reduce the drug in and in the United States for heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, this is all a complete waste of time. I would say to my colleagues, the secretaries i ask great question can i thought he a great answer. And i think you have made the case for continued support for the life for prosperity. Just like in colombia the lines each of response would risk countries. We didnt just say in colombia come in and solve your problems are we so you solve them come you can do appear we can know. We said the same thing with these three countries and you make a case. And i do about i dont leave our schedule us to go to participate unfortunately but my thoughts and prayers will be with you on your efforts in this regard. Thanks so much. Just a moment of clarification Ricky Minchin 200. So theres no confusion, this budget is literally requesting 74 miles of fencing. 60 new miles of fencing, 14 replacements and ecosector. I was just down the its amazing how many holes have been cut into the san diego wall and been repaired. The 60 new miles, 32 miles of that is in rio grande sector. New fence, new wall is part of the levee system. Just talk about 74 miles over 17002000mile. Its a pretty reasonable request. Senator heitkamp. Thank you, mr. Chairman. And again welcome, mr. Secretary. Of course you know what my question is going to be. How soon are we going to see the northern border report as mandated by federal law . Ill get back to you today. I dont know but let me take it compulsory system, let me take it for the. Im sorry. Its obviously we had hoped we would see it in june. I think we had some reason to believe its going to be delayed. But it makes my broader point, which is we need a Strategic Plan in terms of Border Security. One thing that we hear about is fencing, and i spent a lot of time on the southern border. I believe that barriers can be enormously effective as they have it in the san diego area. But again we know that most drugs, least the Previous Administration would tell us that most of the drugs that were talking about a coming through at the points of entry. And not walking across the border in remote locations. What additional strategies do you have to do additional screenings . Wheres the investment in more personnel, more screenings, more technology at the points of entry . [inaudible] im sorry. In the sense that part of the border strategy, theres no doubt, and i know a lot about this for my last job in particular but theres no doubt that heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine primarily come through the border in vehicles, primarily. Marijuana is in some cases pumped around to the desert but for most part the three big killers in the United States come in. If kevin am just a tremendous professional and dedicated, my hopes is that the Senate Confirms him, but hes already in april that makes it very, very valuable. Ive asked him to look at the technology after next, in terms of looking into, looking into vehicles, tractortrailers, things like that, to look at the voids as they are called so we can decide which vehicles gets searched, broken day. And to increase the number of vehicles. The other way to do that we already do in canada. Where doing it in mexico and that is to work across the border with the mexicans or the canadians in terms of facilitating movement of transportation, you know, looking at vehicles before theyre locked and sealed on their way north. As a multifaceted approach, but if i could come and i will just end with, but if youre trying to do this on our border, we kind of already lost. The place to take the tonnage is out are working with the mexicans, which we are, to help them locate the hair when, the poppy fields which they can destroy working with the mexicans to identify, and we are, and they are to swing the methamphetamine labs. Just teresa concerned, we obviously have in the past had pretty good relationships with the country of mexico. We in a Regional Election the ruling party coming very close. In fact, not getting a majority. The last thing we need is to not have strong and great relations with the country of mexico. And so i would just ask you and urge you, given your experience in the region, to encourage this administration to look at the entire relationship, whether its a trade relationship, whether its a Border Security relationship, or whether its just respectful talk. That does us no good. I want to just everyday. I want to cover a couple quick points. I have beekeepers who cant get, i dont know what happened, i didnt do it, secretary. I didnt hurt your shoulder. I have beekeepers who cant get Seasonal Workers in and it just seems like the delays are getting longer and longer for the h2 b visas and h2a thesis. And Seasonal Workers cant wait. How long do you think is the proper time frame to get it answered whether we can get workers in the country . Only doing to meet the requirements of the law but to expedite especially for seasonal aggregate . Bae workers, i know we already have large numbers that come in and have been coming in over the years but looking on the d side, h2b, working with labor, this is all about in the current administration, is all about american jobs versus people who come in to do the work. Except ive doctored to get in. If the administration wants to send me beekeepers and doctors and oldest of americans who want those jobs will be glad to do that in my stable we got to recognize that in the meantime especially as relates to positions, its extraordinary difficult to recruit physicians to my state. We have Seasonal Workers who we cant, i mean, obviously would love to hire locally but that is becoming increasingly impossible. And so i will probably submit a question for the record. Finally, because a money at a time and want to get enough of this in, if you look at local border enforcement, the critical component in the states like ours is not Just Technology as senator hoeven talked about, but its having a strategy and the plane. At that strategy and plan has to involve local Law Enforcement. You have Border Patrol in north dakota that when they are patrolling the border they are not in way to contact with your people back in your points of entry, back where Border Patrol would muster and deploy. We would know that we have to have that backup. One thing that concerns me, and he goes to the fema grants, goes to this idea that we can cut Grant Programs and still provide those services. Really concerned about reductions in the commitments to local Law Enforcement, not just for Border Security but for safety of the personnel who are on the border. So i would ask you to please pay close attention to this budget as it relates to working with local Law Enforcement, local First Responders. They are force multipliers, and without those resources they are going to cut back on resources and that reduces our readiness. I dont think theres any doubt about it. I will. Thank you, mr. Secretary. I would ask you to take a look at my statebased temporary visa program. I think would solve an awful lot of the problem and then kind of a comment to majority staff, minority staff as well as the secretary we should have an alert for witnesses to be prepared to answer questions on the northern border. We have way too much northern border. Theres not much northern border that is a represented on this committee. Its always an issue. Spirit senator lankford. My northern border is a kansas. Weve had our moments, but were getting along just fine here so let me talk to you about a couple of things as well. What is you and ive spoken even in the past two weeks about real id and some of the extensions in the process and the decisionmaking on that it at the time we talked before i set the deadline is coming up june 6. For that were going to try to get back to it quickly. Theres been a delay on this. There are several issues that are pending up there for states likeminded others that are working for the real id process. For those we are legislators passed issue with real id working through of limitation such. Thats been for automatic that if you are making progress, you are working through of limitation, then this extensions are coming. It seems to have delayed this time. To literally the very last second and we are waiting to determine what the decisionmaking factor on that. So help you understand better so we can take that back. Firstly i would say, i had a lengthy meeting earlier this week, yesterday, on this because actually today was the day that normally i wouldve made the decision to extend or not. I think the senator knows the, i think its the 22nd of july for anything would stop. So i have a little bit of time and i sent my staff back to kind of take a harder look at where, as you know, most dates are either compliant or getting towards complaint. Theres really only one state that is not going to i believe if all of the promises are met will not make it. But have asked my folks to go back and start looking at some of the states that have not been as active as they maybe shouldve been over the last 12 years to implement. Theyve been in contact with the states, the governors, the attorneys general, whoever is in charge. We have for the most part commitments from the states to really get at this issue. But ive asked him to go back one more time, if need be, talk to the states about the extension of what it means. Bottom line, in that meeting they told me, secretary, three months ago we had states that were not even paying attention to this that were getting dangerously close to not being able to implement before the deadline. They of all got the message they said, mr. Secretary, with the exception of one state, they are all in there doing the right thing getting close to it. My sense is, i know i will make a decision next week. Likely will extend for six months sale october and it will take a hard look been. The good news is with a lot of pushing and shoving over the last ten years or so, most states are on board pick i believe all but one would be complaint. Let me give you a couple of insight piece on this. When you talk about me up a little time and basically late july, lets say that at some point dhs comes out and says no, that drivers license will not be extended. And that means that you has to get to a passport which in the summertime takes six weeks minimum to be able to do, plush of a contact people. Lets just hope the military base, or a federal courthouse and to be able to tell anyone coming into a federal courthouse have done something different, he had to get a passport. First you to identify whos coming to the federal courthouse and be able to contact those folks and give him six weeks of leave time to get the paperwork to go to do it. We are out of time. Once you get to june the sixth to know that deadline is coming up, if drivers of doing deliveries, people that are refreshing Convenience Store in a federal boarding, if people that are bringing groceries into the facility onto a military base if they have all have some sort of the passport or something, thats going to take a long time. We are still talking for 60 days for hiring and polygraph issues in you and i spoke. Yes, senator. We will continue to polygraph, but there are other ways to polygraph. Kevin macklin, the designated help it one day be confirmed for directorship of cbp has told us there are other techniques, things like that that maintain the vetting process but are faster. Their other parts of the federal government not to mention the state and local that have polygraph that are a lot less. Theyve got a fill rate in the 30s. The high 60s. My daughter works for the fbi. Or polygraph is a fairly pleasant experience, took an hour and 10 minutes. They asked all the questions and she was out of their contrast to six, seven hours as that is the first time ive ever heard polygraph is a fairly pleasant experience. Let me ask about the entry exit program. As everything till on schedule . Like anything come of the entry at the airport doing well in entry at the ports of injury. Piazza will take some time after, but we are working towards a good what im trying to figure out is by the end of the next year it is nationwide. Early on track to implement that it airports nationwide . Still a long way to go on vehicles and other entry exit points. Airports are comfortable listening as. There is announcement made on temporary protected status for haitians to extend for six months but it basically raised a red flag i said this instead. The situation has changed in haiti that demanded the status years ago may or may not be there. I want to ask him is this an alert for the hondurans, salvadorans, everybody on temporary status that dhs will look at the situation that started temporary protected status and ask at the situation has changed. Senator, it is an alert. With that said, for whatever reason, once someone goes on the status, they traditionally or historically they just automatically renew it. The Central American have been on status over 20 years and they were put on status because of the hurricane that happened over 20 years ago. I can tell you that things are going better in Central America. Much, much better after the last 20 years. In many ways better. No ones ever looked at it. We have to do that. Its the law. In haiti, seven years ago. The program is for a specific event. In haiti it was the earthquake. Haiti had horrible conditions before the earthquake in those conditions are much better after the earthquake. The earthquake was by tps was granted and that is how i have to look at it. That said, i dont want to get too far of the frontier and i certainly wouldnt suggest anything hard to the congress, but we dont know. Two to 400,000 people in the United States and tps that the vast majority behaving themselves and clearly cut jobs and all the rest of it. They are here more or less legally. They were given tps. That may be we may think, you may think a solution to this debate a look at them and say how many do we know are here in his vatican to 1. 1 million Illegal Migrants but the way toward citizenship. That may be a way to solve it. I can look at the haitian situation seven years is a long time but its not so long that some of them all of them might be able to go back. 20 years is kind of hard. Its like to see the salt in another way. According to the law, i dont have the ability to solve it. The word is temporary and those that have been in my position over the years have simply automatically extended it. So the sixmonth and i was down in haiti last week, spoke with the leadership. During the six months coming in to start thinking about travel documents and how you bring these people who are generally better educated, entrepreneurial , would be a think a boost to the haitian economy and social function and by the same token, those that have been allowed to the United States to remain in the United States under tps should start thinking about going back to their homeland. And if they feel as though, and i say this in miami right after the haitian trip, many at this point have different immigration status anyways. They married local men and women so they need to get consult with an immigration of bird to find out if they have status. At the end of that end of that, its temporary unless we change that to too permanent. Got it, thank you. Senator daines thank you, mr. Chairman. Good to see you again. Montana recently passed a law signed by our governor for real i. D. That i think is going to bring us a solution that we faced by the way. We still need an extension to put in place that well offer montanans to ideas. You can get a real i. D. Compliant drivers license or one that is paid a premium but i think we have a path going forward. We will need an extension that the governor has signed the bill. I think we finally have a path forward with the impassive tidier for some time. Ive got to Say Something here, secretary kelly bid this chart you shared showing a reduction in apprehensions across the southwest border and think is one of the most under told stories in the country at the moment, to think that we have seen a 70 drop in illegal southern border crossings under your first few months of leadership and it was accomplished by sending a message to the world and particularly down a bit United States would enforce it laws. Thank you as clear a nation of law and not a nation of men, that you have led with president trump. I think we need to get the message out more. Ive spoken to a lot of my friends and constituents back in montana. That message needs to get out. Congratulations. At the same the horrific attacks in london, breaking news now of a crazed man at Notre Dame Cathedral in the last few hours. Who knows if its a terrorist attack anymore, but the plane as it seems like we are 24 by seven breaking is a terrific attacks around the world. Weve seen in london are Homeland Security will remain our top priority and challenge and i look forward to continuing to work with you to ensure you the resources to keep our nation safe. Secretary kelly commode discussed montanas families. In fact, one of the third of the children in the foster care system are there because of parental matthews. Most of that we believe is coming from mexico. Recently, senator peters joined in introducing the Child Protection Family Support act thats going to help these children. But we also need to continue to fight against the flow of drugs. Cbp is requesting additional 2. 9 billion. What will this mean for the interdiction of mass at the border . I hate to say this, probably a drop in the bucket. Necessary. You and i have talked about this, senator, made a few comments this hearing. Weve got to take a much more holistic approach to this demand reduction rehabilitation. Certainly Law Enforcement plays a role in the homeland. The southwest border plays a role. Her partnership with mexico in here to use the example of and the sub one as you say, they are cooperative with us. Recently within the last 60 days, they destroyed through massive methamphetamine labs. By the way, the reason the production of meth has migrated so heavily towards mexico and this is the balloon effect we talk about, when we do something effective, the cartel speaker at a way get around it. The southern border and how effective we are. The United States economy pass legislation 10 years ago, Something Like that and restrict did the precursor chemicals given the availability of precursor chemicals to make meth. Up until that point it was made in a million little places in the United States in tight little laboratories. I used the term loosely they are. Two things. We reduce the availability of the precursors in the cartels as they have become more and more successful and sophisticated to say okay, the United States wants to kill themselves on methamphetamine, we can do it for them. Thats why its migrated. Congressional action in terms of restrict in the precursors and simply the cartels taken it up and marketing it. So that is primarily, in my view the solution to working with mexico. Yes come in the southwest border for sure and increasing the amount we take there. Yes, internal u. S. Law enforcement. But senator, it really is all about demand reduction, that well always have have addicts. Studies tell you that any population, ours included is predisposed to be attacked to do something. An awful lot of these people for my personal experience as a kid, and off a lot of people start doing drugs because its cool, no argument against it and suddenly they are hooked on something fill in the blank and they cant get away from it. We have solved not solved, but they appear to this hearing and talked about this issue of how we have managed to convince people over the years, seatbelt, smoky and come a lot of different things. We never get to zero, but we can get better. The president has dhs state hhs in the lead. So if we could get a comprehensive drug demand strategy put together that just does not want for a snack, taller with professional sports, college sports. The president of the United States, the Senate Everyone else here, we can all of this problem or reduce this problem significantly. Bet your original question, we need the money but its a holistic thing and not just a cbp guide on the border. Senator portman and i and a couple of others in beijing a couple months ago getting u. S. Beef into china. We are talking to north korea as well. Senator Portman Pratap the issue with the Chinese Government to stop the flow of fatima which you can buy in the dark web, so this holistic approach is certainly the right approach amounted to work with the one not. I want to shift gears and talk about cyber. As the budget request reflects diverse and National Security with massive protection programs. The current cyberthreats we need to also stay ahead of these emerging threats we see everywhere. Back in february i introduced a bill providing the scientific knowledge he directorate and authority to leverage the many resources within the private sector and capabilities. Despite the proposed cut secretary, how will they support cyberr d and fiscally team . First of all, id like to say a couple of words about the effort right now. On the morning that the now where was unleashed on europe and i went to the white house situation room and as we watched it up on its way around the world infecting hundreds of thousands of systems and we had fbi, dhs and everybody. We had already when it first started, we dhs had made notification to those private and public entities that we deal with constantly and said put the word out. But the alert out. Other parts including dhs are two different takes on the thing. Whats it doing . Whats it made of . Im very proud to say that everyone in the room was constantly deferring to what is next. What do we do next. This includes an essay with dhs. Not that dhs professionals did it all, but we were the central focus of the. I am very proud to say that through the efforts of my predecessors in the United States congress and others, that now where team to the United States but was contained to a handful of systems and contained within those systems. Its as if it never came across the ocean so to speak and we helped the nations overseas container. That said, we need to get better because the threat is changing and morphine and this administration on the back and said that my department of Homeland Security on increasing the protection better than they are now particularly as they interact and redo heavily interact with microsoft, people like that. One team, one fight and can only get better. Thank you, secretary kelly. 20 thank you when the president has to serve in this capacity that you said yes. And grateful for your leadership and the early results. Thank you. Senator daines comic about closing questions, secretary kelly that im concerned about funding for the coast guard. I asked out how much i was hoping the department of defense made a fair amount of funding that they contribute half a billion dollars. Take a look since 2009 the funding the budget was 9. 6 billion. About 10. 6 billion. 10 increase with the kind of threats we are facing, can you give me any kind of comfort that that is adequate . I cant. The coast guard first of all is an amazing organization. He came into my view in southern demand. Ive seen them sprinkled around the world in the persian gulf, places like that, but it came to demand about how good they are. Obviously one of the five military services in my opinion in exactly the place, dhs. But the marriage of missions they execute and the authorities they have just make them valueadded to say the least. But its not enough. The biggest problem with the coast guard, the compound was sitting here and he says we need to recapitalize. Some brandnew coming on, valuable, essential, but so much of the coast guard is so old that it just went so long. I think we have a plan. I would love to add to that plan. All of this is not to mention weve got to get involved more than we are. We have a couple of broken down old icebreakers that we are looking to buy six, three heavy, three medium to work up there. Weve got to be up there, not to contest anyones claims to simply work out there, particularly as important in terms of the Environmental Protection of that Precious International asset. But its not big enough. Lets Work Together with senator boozeman and a set committee. I share your concern. I was just in islamabad. Your predecessor, secretary chertoff was fair, gave a speech and spoke about the impact the Visa Waiver Program had been there able to expand it to some of their nations. I am highly concerned. Im chairman of the european subcommittee Foreign Relations and im concerned about destabilizing nature of russia. Their pervasive propaganda campaign. If we ignore sensual and southeastern europe. There is a real concern those nations dont join the rest. Secretary chertoff made a very powerful comment about how the Visa Waiver Program and the nations that were granted the visa waiver were going to remain in the west. I personally think that these waiver programs enhance securities. And put in place to qualify. It seems like a heavy lift. Secretary chertoff offered every ounce of help he could have. Can you kind of comment on your view is to expansion because lets face it, everyone of those nations wants. About to expand it to everybody. We set the bar very, very high. In countries that meet that standard, there are, and they share your concern with the eastern European Countries are this kind of aside are, and when i was working in belgian years ago as a colonel, after the wall fell, the enthusiasm of all of those countries falling all over themselves. That has been cooled a little bit for whatever reason. You and i both know the reason. Anything we can do to expand it. Theyre trying to get up to a level of security and satisfy us and there are some countries close, some countries that are not. We should review those metrics. Can we look at those and maintain the security we are looking for . Its kind of a longterm project. Finally, some people may view this as skepticism, but i was just assuming truthfully that even with this injunction in place, the department was able to move forward with the vetting process and really reviewing. He said no, that really has inhibited your records. You may want to jump into this, but can you explain in greater detail how that injunction is hampering your upper moving forward in terms of how we properly back refugees and other people coming from those countries. Just been as conservative as they can be an frankly with respect to congress, i get an awful lot of phone calls about how im not following the law. I learned very early on if theres a perception that were not executing the law but a lot of people get agitated and call. That said, we have moved forward as i mentioned that or the state department, some enhanced questions, et cetera in terms of the normal visa process. In my case, looking very, very hard. Some of this by building is a cultural change. Whether its my people at the sis, we are changing the culture to reflect the reality of security. That is to say rather than the idea bringing as many refugees as we can to meet son number set by the last administration r. Branyan as many pieces as you can. We actually now are changing to say if you want to come to america coming to convince me you are her you are and you come here for a period of time in of time and then you go home and you wont do anything when youre here. In the case of refugees, same thing. I know youre a refugee, but youve got to prove to be who you are and that youll come to the United States for all the right reasons. If you stay youve assimilated to our society. But the kind of things they think the studies worldwide and the studies throughout the regions about what is the best way to do this, i think i restrict it or not. From my standpoint i dont want you restrict did. Maybe senator mccaskill is the same way. Yeah, ive looked briefly at the decisions and i dont see the state department is moving forward in terms of trying to prepare a report. Clearly their lawyers are not seeing what your lawyers are seeing. Specifically in a couple of the orders that its clear youre not restricted restricted in terms of moving forward with what i think your job is regardless a request by the executive to pause. Really what this appeal is about is whether or not he has the right under the executive order to say certain people cannot come here during a period of time they were preparing underlying policy. I dont believe anybody is going to argue with you about the fact you should be preparing policies that keep this country safe. Weve now been paused theres been plenty of time that was envisioned in executive orders for the policies to be done. I would love further conversation with your lawyers are telling you that you cant begin to give us more clarity about what the extra vetting is going to be. Lets look on a bipartisan basis and make sure they are not restrained so they can move forward. The risk of running through too much of the list here, we are doing some things. Enhanced automated screening by uses. Enhanced therapies come enhanced biometrics integration come enhanced data collection. We are doing some things. I could go on if you want. We can follow up. Lets Work Together on this. We have in stock yet were being cautious about not getting in front of the court. I genuflect every day. If youve done it, the whole case is moot. The president can move on a tweet about something mouse. Great committee, bipartisanship, lets Work Together and make sure you do your job. Secretary kelly, from every member of this committee, thank you for your service. Its not a job inv, the thank you for doing it. To all the members of your staff and the department, this hearing record will remain open for 15 days until june 21st at 5 00 p. M. This hearing is adjourned. Thanks. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] if you go back to older field manuals assess whether the terrain is the most significant aspects of battlefield combat. Whether its the runways that have to be up in so you can land on them whether it is the open seas for the hill you are going to climb the mayor and change an errant change right now. The military is concerned about that. They are forecasting what might happen. [inaudible] [applause] is set in the beginning of the meeting and that is that interaction, you know, are not going to be tolerated. Okay, would you please sit down, sir. Would you please sit down. Would you please sit down or go in the hallway . Thank you for leaving. Ill ask both of you the same question. Where not answering his questions . Is there an indication by the president of the United States . Is there or not. What you feel is irrelevant. And today, we released a report titled the cop on the beat. This is regarding the cf. Pb is wholly inadequate role in the wells fargo fraudulent account scandal. We have received numerous records from wells fargo endo cc and the other is that the cf. Pb was asleep at the wheel. The senate going to debate today whether to disapprove of u. S. Arms sales to saudi arabia. Senator rand paul has made a motion to discharge the resolution on the Committee Without committee action. Senators will vote on emotion when they return from their lunch begins at 2 15 p. M. Eastern this afternoon. Live coverage of the senate here on cspan2. The president pro tempore the senate will come to order. The chaplain, dr. Barry black, will lead the senate in prayer. The chaplain let us pray. Eternal god, sovereign of this planet, give us the wisdom to surrender to your will. Lord, guide our lawmakers to