Transcripts For CSPAN2 Senate Sergeant At Arms No Intent To Impede Media Access To Lawmakers 20170630

Good morning. The subcommittee will come to order. This is our third fiscal year 2010 Budget Committee hearings for the lets the Branch Appropriations subcommittee. We have with us today the honorable frank larkin, Senate Sergeant at arms, and chief matthew verderosa, chief of the u. S. Capitol police. Thank you both for being here today, and welcome chief verderosa to your first hearing before this subcommittee. We will try to make it as painful as we possibly can. Thank you. Busy was originally pay for the morning of june 14, that same morning and and decide whos going open fire on members of congress while they held a practice for the congressional baseball game in alexandria, virginia. Because of the quick action of Capitol Police officers, special agents crystal griner and david bailey were unprotected detail for House Majority whip steve scalise, that that was not more tragic. Because of their heroism, there were no fatalities when there could have been many lives lost. We are so thankful for their courage and continue to wish them well as they work toward full recovery from their injuries. It made quite a difference that they. We are also thankful that representative scalise has been upgraded to fair condition and continues to improve. I understand, just this past weekend, former staffer matt mika was discharged from the hospital and has returned home. Our thoughts and prayers are with them both as they continue the Journey Towards full recovery. The entire Congressional Community was deeply affected by the shooting, realizing that it could have been any of us practicing that day, any one of us targeted. The sergeant at arms and Capitol Police each have unique missions, and now more than ever, they carry significant importance. Threats, both internal and external, are ever present and emergent in the environment in which we operate. Both of your agencies work diligently to protect members of congress, our staff, and the over 4 million visitors to the Capitol Campus each year. It is a delicate balance to management this is an office space, a museum, a tour spot all at once. I did manage all those realities requires its own delicate task. We truly appreciate the dedication of the men and women of your agencies to enable us, the congress, to do our work, thank you. As i have mentioned at our first two hearings this year, we are again faced with a budget environment that will require a very difficult and important discussion on how to move forward in the coming fiscal year. The value gained from your requested increases must be weighed against our duty to be fiscally responsible. We will need to make wise choices about our priorities. So were looking for to any input you can give us help us make those decisions. The sergeant at arms request for fy 2018 is 204. 6 million, an increase of approximately 7. 2 million above the fiscal year 2017 enacted level. The request includes 73. 1 million for salaries and benefits, and a request of 131. 6 million for expenses. The majority of the requested increase supports cybersecurity initiatives to prevent and protect against internal and external threats alike. The nature of these evolving intrusions have recently received increased attention and scrutiny, and it is important that we take the necessary steps to prevent the compromise of our senate networks. The Capitol Police requests a total of 426. 6 million, an increase of 33. 3 million above the fiscal year 2017 enacted level. Of the funding requested, 351 million is for salaries and benefits to cover fixed Cost Increases for pay and benefits of the existing staff, and an additional 72 sworn officers and 48 civilians, for a total force of 1,943 sworn officers and 420 civilians. You can check the other snubs to make sure i get it correctly. The request for the expenses account is 75. 2 million, an increase of 7 million above the fiscal year 2017 enacted level. This increase supports lifecycle replacement of detection and screening equipment, as well as training and uniforms for officers. Much of your requested increase comes from expanding Mission Requirements and i look forward to hearing more about those needs today, as well as any Additional Needs you have identified given the recent incident. And now, id like to turn to my Ranking Member, senator murphy, for any opening remarks he may like to make. Thank yothank you very much,n lankford. Id like to welcome our witnesses today. I want to join senator lankford and expressing my gratitude to the Capitol Police force for their heroism on the ballfield in alexandria. As a member of the democratic baseball team, this is one of these events that represents what is right with washington despite a lot of things that are wrong with this place, which makes the attack even more tragic. So let me again send my best to special agents crystal griner, david bailey and henry. We are so thankful for their skilled response come to the training that you provided them. Great news for that special agent crystal griner is now out of hospital as well. We provide our thoughts to congressman scalise, to matt. On the subcommittee we are in this really special and unique position to make sure that both the Capitol Police and the sergeant at arms have the resources that they need to help keep us safe and to deal with everchanging threats. Chief verderosa, your budget request would continue to ensure that with top notch security by campus undergrounds and are ready to work with you to support your efforts. I also look for to discussing how we might provide some targeted increases to make adjustments to the array of growing threats. Mr. Larkin, from Cyber Attacks on federal agencies to russian hacking, cyberspace right now is the modern battlefield and that makes it even more critical that the senate i. T. Security systems, and frank with all the ways in which members interact with technology that our protection are robust and resilient given these threats. Finally, mr. Chairman, i just wanted note that the legislative branch is not exempt from the larger budget debate. Our bill funds not only your two security focus organizations but also other critical agencies to our work including our watchdog, gao. Just like when you parody, tends to balance the needs of the legislative Branch Appropriations bill, we also need parity and common sense in the budget deal for fiscal year 2018. So that includes fully supporting your agencies but also making sure that other priorities that are vital to our work are protected in our bill. This is a really important hearing to have. We look forward to talking to you in open session and then being able to have a private conversation as well. Look forward to your testimony. And t a dewatered by eating numbers that come in as well, well continue to vessels or guests that are here that will move to a closed session he merely following the open portion of this hearing, at all of our relevant Security Issues we will deal with in a closed session and also like to request all those giving testament to this that we were reserved some of the more security items for the closed session as well. And we can have a frank discussion at that spot. Mr. Larkin, we will be honored to receive your testimony at this time. Mr. Chairman, senator murphy. Thank you. Again its was a pleasure to appear before this committee and offer some thoughts. I would request that the committee except my formal testimony for the record that captures the breadth and depth of the challenges and the tasks accomplished by the Senate Sergeant at arms in the past year, which with measures of performance and impact we been able to achieve. Without objection. I will receive both of your written statements as well for the record. And mr. Chairman, as you called out the budget request is for modest increase of 3. 7 . Again, a lot of that is due to the cost of living but yet its programmatic increases, ally primary to Cyber Defense and we can get into that more indepth. The sergeant at arms is a very large diverse organization, multifaceted backstops all parts of the senate institution. And with a large regard to the legislative branch as a whole. Our goal was sutures safe and secure a private free of distractions for members of staff to do the nations business. And unable to accomplish that by the Council Leadership that have behind me right now. My deputy, my chief of staff, my executive assistant and fortified by my assistant sergeant at arms for protective operations in continuity programs. Our cio, our central office, capital ops, my general counsel keeps me out of the drink more times than not. And my money guy. The sergeant at arms is responsible for the safety and security of the senate. As you pointed out come Emergency Preparedness and continuity operations, information technology, Telecommunications Support access control, transportation of parking, printing of graphics, secure to come handling and delivery, the subdomains, chamber operations, state Office Support and readiness, furniture construction repair and furnishing of offices. Human resources, employee assistance, contracting and finance support, training and education, tv recording studio, media galleries, senate pages and interim programs, photo studio and finally haircare. I can, its a diverse organization, a lot of responsibility, a lot of moving parts. The silent team of highly competent professionals behind me and beyond this hearing worked behind the scenes every day for the institution. I have folks on the job from one week to over 40 years. What a legacy of Service Within our organization for this senate. They are innovative, constantly learning forward leaning, responsive and very much customer focused. We are the problem solvers for the senate. We work in Close Partnership with the sector of the Senate Julie Adams and her deputy mary jones. Our two organizations have committed themselves to a nonpartisan support of the senate and our organizations are seamless in the way we backstop the institution, and begin to minimize the distractions on members and staff. So again, we can do the legislative business of the nation. We also work closely with our legislative branch partners, how sergeant at arms, the chief Administrative Officer, specifically as we join forces with our i. T. Initiatives and Cyber Defense. The architect of the capitol, very important partner, and again to my left chief verderosa supported by his assistant. The chief leads an exemplary force of men and women dedicated to protecting the legislative branch as evident not only on a daily basis as we move about this campus, but highlighted two weeks ago i should mention, mr. Chairman, by the heroic acts of bravery by two u. S. Cp officers on the alexandria ballfield. The two Priority Areas for me or physical security and safety of the senate and legislative branch, followed by cyber. Again as you pointed out, the Digital Domain is one that is persistent. Requires are constant attention. Ill get into that in more depth later. We are in a threat environment. Shooting two weeks ago perpetrated by a lone assailant highlights the potential for threat offcampus and in member home districts. Active shooter threats to the cancer may concern for both chief verderosa and i picked persistent Cyber Attacks and our efforts to protect data and privacy is very high on our radar. Asymmetric threats that as weve seen have converted items and weapons of destruction using vehicles and other things to create mass harm and confusion. Complex attacks on vulnerable public gallery, gatherings in areas of commerce. Where constantly be challenged now by technical evolution as we see with unmanned or Remote Control type apparatus. We have the overarching chemical and biological threats, of which this institution has in the past been subjected to and as cause significant disruption. And finally we cant take our eye off of Insider Threat. Again, its a reality of todays environment and yet we have to Pay Attention to it. We have a proactive forward leaning posture to detect computer and disrupt threats before the attacks. And thats again when were putting a lot of our wait. Rapid response at assessment to Critical Incidents early containment and mitigation is key. We achieve that fewer active engagements with our Law Enforcement partners and our intelligence community. Partners. Its key that with strong relationships that we engage in joint training. We validate Interoperable Communications for crisis management. We do effective Event Planning and coordination and we use our resources to get the biggest bang for the buck. We always need to question our facts and assumptions when were looking at this complex nature of this campus, and our ability to protect it and secure it. We were always looking for efficiencies, innovative ways to become more effective with our resources, and i think the chief would agree with me, lying defense does not work in this dynamically challenging and changing environment. We ha have to lean forward. We have to be proactive. Ultimately its about guaranteeing legislative branch operations, and uninterrupted legislative processes. That concludes my opening remarks subject to your questions. Chief verderosa . Chairman lankford, Ranking Member murphy, and members of the committee on wanted to be here today and i appreciate the opportunity to present the United States Capitol Police budget request for fiscal year 2018. Unjointed today by some members of my executive team and executive Management Team including chief of operations consistent chief, chief Administrative Officer Richard Braddock and chief financial, general counsel gretchen, and inspector general. Also in attendance today is the u. S. Cp fop later chairman. Labor chairman. I would like to thank the committee for its generous and unwavering support of United States Capitol Police and providing the necessary funding and support our personal and, for our personal and operations. As with seen over the past several months our officers are well prepared and highly trained to deal with any circumstances that they may encounter. What first may be reaching main fact be a threat so the stage and wellbeing of the capitol complex or members of congress. This point is example five with the incident on june 14 in alexandria, virginia. Extensive training and Quick Response by special agents crystal griner and david bailey saved lives. Id like to commend the publicly for the heroic and professional response protecting the members of congress and senators and others that day during a practice session for the Congressional Charity baseball game. We have often discussed the departments needs to remain agile while also continuing to enhance our capabilities and i believe that in your private which we operate it will be necessary to provide increased coverage for member events going forward. In doing so we appreciate the congress continued support of our mission and its recognition of the need to provide Additional Resources as we get if i knew an increasing threats. Accordingly we develop our fiscal year 2018 budget request of 426. 6 million with a focus on continue to equip, train, prepare our work force to protect United States capital and the congress there to ensure the remain safe and secure. Due to the global threat of private and the terrorist attacks, the type visitors organizations, targeting targeting attacks at public venues we have worked in close coronation with the Capitol Police board and chairmans mark and other board to determine that additional screening based needs must be employed to continue to keep the capitol complex safe. As a result our fiscal year 2018 request includes funding for an additional 72 sworn officers and 48 civilians for the purpose of adding prescreening capabilities as part of a multiyou plan to bolster the overall security of the capitol complex as well as enhancing and completing the house garage security effort. Lastly, our request also addresses investments in training, recruiting and outfitting new employees, replacing key equipment and systems that have become obsolete and restoring annual levels, reduce in previous fiscal used to meet the vital department needs. Our commitment to the nation and her steadfast dedication to ensuring the safety and security of members, staff and the millions of visitors who come to the capital is our top priority. This would not be possible without the dedicated men and women in the department. I continue to be impressed with their overall performance, professionals and affidavit i i very proud of the troops and if you understand their mission. We will continue to work closely with you to ensure that we meet the needs and expectations of the congress as well as our mission an in a reasonable and responsible manner. Once again thank you for the opportunity to appear here today before you and i would be pleased to answer any questions you may have. Thank you both for that. Chief verderosa, let me start with you and will have a brief question and then move to close session. You made a request for 72 additional sworn officers. That would bring the force of 1943 total officers. Can you talk briefly about why the request is needed and the additional task, if there are additional locations and such . Certainly. The requests for the additional personnel is very specific to a specific tasking that will close the loop on some vulnerabilities in terms, that been existing for number of years on the house side. I look at policing and security at the campus in a totality. So whats not so much specifically where were just pushing people to the house side. This completes our perimeter and this provides a level of security that we believe is necessary to finish something that has been started over the past fiscal years. Then you also made some requests on nonsworn officers forcibly positions. Tell me the palace and youre trying to accomplish. Absolutely, sir. The 48 civilian billets would be for the purpose of taking our specifically our command center, communications, firearms instructors, and theres one or two other positions that are currently occupied by sworn personnel. Traditionally have focused on sworn presence. Thats not to say that civilians cannot do those can perform those tasks. By asking for the civilians we can more quickly place those sworn officers that are being displaced back into the field when we get a quicker turnaround as opposed to hiring new civilians. New civilians takes time to select, train and then deploy which takes basically about a year to do so. By doing it through civil unionization of really the final aspects committed to consider them operational offices are in dispositions, traditionally been in positions out of the field. We can get more utility from those officers faster by civilianize as opposed to hiring 48 new officers. For enough. Mr. Larkin, we talked a lot about cybersecurity come will talk more about in the close session to the British Parliament just had a hacking expense for them where there are quite a few different addresses that in dipping hagberg are working to the process of those individuals. As you look at this into preparation for us, would you think our level of preparedness is and what needs to be done generally int and in the conducr specifics a closed session . [inaudible] microphone. The fact of the matter is that we are in a constant blocking and tackling drill. This is a knife fight that is not going to end anytime soon. As you have alluded, their incidents around the world and certainly here within the United States that highlighted every day. This institution is not immune from that. We work very hard. We had a capability that i would say is very good we are constantly looking at our capabilities and our line of defense as far as dealing with this threat. Also our ability to respond to an incident once we detect it. And that is key. Our ability to quickly identify an abnormality and then to contain it and effectively prepare is key to minimizing the damage that potentially could come from an attack that successfully penetrate our network. I will say that our efforts require the support of this committee. Because much of our technology and capability comes with a price. Its a matter come again, as senator murphy other two its what is that powerpoint. How are we common the appliance the common central against the real world threat and are we in the right place. Thats a discussion that needs to be between not only my organization but this committee. And that a of comfort is achieved that we are protecting data privacy and other factors associate with our Digital Domain. So thats the process management and innovation. Theres a request of 1. 6 million for that. Tell me a little bit more about that office. Again, we are always looking come were parting with industry and we have to in addition to other Government Agencies that are challenged by this threat. Its so that we can see the latest technologies and capabilities that are being designed, developed and put into motion to deal with this threat. This particular unit is looking out ahead to the next ridge line over the next ridgeline, anticipating the inbound technologies that potentially could help us so that we can have a degree of planning and Situational Awareness of what we potentially could leverage in order to again raise that confidence by the were defending our networks the best way we can. Thank you. Senator murphy. Take you very much, mr. Chairman. Mr. Larkin, can you talk a little bit about developing capacities to protect from internal threats with respect to Cyber Protection . This is obviously increasing concern. Theres history of some of these problems occurring within the senate itself there we can talk more about this in close session but talk a little bit about your focus on internal threats and making sure that offices are protected from individuals who may have found a way inside to take information from servers that are shared. Senator murphy, i welcome that i should because its a little bit of a thorny subject and we talked about Insider Threats, special in an institution like this where you have 99. 9 of the folks that work your and support this institution actually committed to its success. But i think that would be putting our head in a sand if we did not polish ourselves to look for Insider Threats especially the history of Insider Threat and the damage its done to other organizations within our government, let alone the public, the private and Public Sector arenas. We are incorporating capabilities that come one come on not only policybased but also softwarebased. Policybased in the sense of less taxes to the sensitive information, visit appropriate access . That can be achieved not only through authorities but also sophisticated levels of credentialing. The ability to monitor who was operating within the particular data area, visit appropriate . Are the harvesting data inappropriately . Are they moving data to replace that shouldnt, you know, that data shouldnt be making a transit. There are a number of ways that we can be alluded to inappropriate behavior. The other piece of this is also a very deep and i think focus training and education effort that we have been undertaken and currently, you know, continue to push with member offices and training their staffs. And again being alert to individuals who may have a temporary presence in their office, who just by virtue of the fact that theyre working there for the summer or for a short period of time make it access to, you know, that offices system and subsequent to the senate system. Is the axis appropriate . Are we betting these folks are probably . Are we, and again without interfering with privacy and certainly writes of a particular individual, are we alerting for instance, my agency and others when we sense that something is not right. Thats a lot of what, the conversation were having with individual officers, that very often systems administrators, the Administrative Officer, the chief of staff and so forth will be approached and they will say i got an issue here, im not sure what i have. Can you help me out with it . Very often that starts us down a path of confirming or denying whether they have a problem. Thank you for that answer and your focus on the issue. Chief verderosa, i wanted to ask you a question may be out of the box. End of 20 futures act which is a piece of legislation we passed at the end of last year, we include support for something called crisis intervention teams, which are communitybased policing model designs to really understand the challenges that individuals with Mental Illness pose to Law Enforcement. In the unique ways in which to respond to that threat, which often is not the immediate deployment of physical force, have you come youre asking for a lot of new money on training, very appropriate, but can you talk a little bit about how you approach this new model that a lot of Different Police departments are deploying to and individuals with Mental Illness who may present a threat . Absolutely, sir. We do subscribe to crisis intervention team, the concept. We attend the metropolitan Police Crisis intervention officer program pixel its a 40th our program. We been up all since 2014. They were very proactive in this area and we feel theres great value. The metropolitan police has parted with the d. C. Department of Behavioral Health to develop this and is based on the memphis model we really do have Community Engagement and we go and look at resources that are available. With the goal of trying to divert whenever possible and get appropriate services that are available for people suffering from mental health. Obviously theres great risk when theres a confrontation or interface with Law Enforcement. The goal is to one come be able to identify the needs of the individuals and to be able to provide them with the most appropriate services. If charges are appropriate there are also things we can do that enable us to even within the criminal Justice System ensure that the needs are met, the safety is insured, the individually face out on the street. This training does safeguard officer it provides them with knowledge to be able to better understand any of the types of threats and the stem the people dealing with comprising with essential skills essential skills for it helps protect the community and enhance, leverages the core social services that are available in the community. To date we have got come by the end of this calendar year we should have about 75 officers that will be trained. We look in the future to be able to institute that program inhouse as opposed to partnering however, we partner quite often with our partner Law Enforcement agencies to leverage the training ability and interest aspects of the different kinds of training. Obviously we are not counselors but we can verbally deescalate situations with the person who is in need. We can determine emergency hospitalization. We work very closely with the comprehensive Emergency Psychiatric Program here in d. C. Come which is for both involuntary and voluntary commitments. Its all in edges of protecting up on officers protecting the individuals pick so were very wellversed. I thank you for your commitment. One last question. You have a unique array of challenges presented to you right now. There are a lot of people on this campus. Just yesterday there were it seemed a dozen different protest that were happening in different places throughout. People are very engaged in the democratic process and so youve got a lot of people who want to be in our space. But as you know many of us were alarmed when a few weeks ago there was a directive set out to press inside these buildings that they were no longer able to film interaction with members of the city. I may post this may be to you, mr. Larkin, at either one of you can match it. Can you just walk us through what led to that directive being handed down and what the current disposition is today . My understanding is that theres no change in policy, that credentialed press are allowed to film interaction with members of congress as they traditionally have been allowed to do but can you just walk us through how they got to that policy and where we are today . Senator, as you know that some of the political issues that are for, you know, front stage here on this campus and certainly in the eyes of the nation, have generated an increased level of attention from the media. Not surprising. However, that has resulted in, you know, a level of congestion at times in our hallways and stairways that again pose a primarily a safety risk. And incarnation with the rules Committee Sets those standards, the actually, you know, develop the right left boundaries for media behavior and whats allowed and not allowed in this institution. And then we assist with maintaining a degree of order. As we saw the hallways be congested, as we saw members being overwhelmed by media, we sought to again control that primarily from a safety perspective, not to interfere with media access your i think that was mischaracterized. But in the end we have approached the various media galleries and asked for their assistance. We would really like him to take care of this problem, understand the challenges that we have the we are not again trying to get in the way of what theyre trying to do, but yet help us kind of police yourselves with, you know, some organization and some respect for not only the pathways that we have come whether its at the main capital or here in the office buildings, but certainly in regard to how the approach members. At times we had members that have been impeded from getting to their destinations because of the level of congestion, and certainly the degree of pursuit that they have experienced. Ed again which is to find that balance point. This is something i think kind of got out of hand temporarily but quickly i think saw kind of a new level of composure once were able to have a dialogue with the right folks. But again i think the media can help us out with this. But just to confirm, so the policy has not, it has not changed. What we did is revised, they basically went back to the existing policies and the rules committee chose to eliminate them. Thank you. Thank you very much mr. Chairman. Senator kennedy. Gentleman, i think ive made one or two questions. I wanted to thank you both for your service. Mr. Larkin, wanted to ask about the media directed. What did the original directive say . You indicated there was some confusion about it. I believe the initial incident was regarding camera locations, that there was a camera team that was in an inappropriate location. And honestly as i look at it, i think that there was, over the years, and with the change of personnel, not only on the media side but other parts of this institution, kind of got away from what the rule was. Sure. And so when this particular incident involving a camera crw in the wrong place, you know, was observed, then it kind of sets and other things into motion. What im asking is did the original directive prohibit cameras . Yeah, cameras were prohibited in certain areas com make this particular camera team was not supposed to be in the area that they were in. Okay. What other areas where camera teams prohibited from, do you recall . Without getting into the specifics, i mean, there are pages and pages of rule guidance, that diagram this outfit and again i would at this point just be guessing. Well, if the issue arises again, i mean i understand you to go through the rules committee, i would certainly like to know. And i think, as you express can i think we have to be very careful here. Because i think the message that the public received was that the media with cameras could no longer access the peoples representatives at a dont think thats what any of us want. And i think there was a lot of confusion about it, but i would certainly like to know within the rules if another directive like that is being considered, im not on the rules committee but i would sure like to have some advanced warning and offer some input. I just didnt think it was very cool is what im trying to suggest to you. I know its not your call, and im well aware of that, frank, but we just need to be real careful here. Honestly, my opinion i think it goes to communications and getting everybody, you know, in the same place sing the same thing and understanding what the rules are. And again i think that we can come to that balance point, but again theres no intent to impede them from access to members or anything else. Again, we will work hard on i know you will. I want to thank you and the chief for your good work. And especially your colleagues, too. Thank you, senator. Senator van hollen. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you and Ranking Member murphy, and thank both of you first of all for your service. Thank you for what you do to protect our capital, make it as safe as it can be, consistent with the need to have a place thats open for the capital of democracy. And i also want to join my colleagues in extending our gratitude to special agents crystal griner and david bailey for saving lives come into your entire teams. And i to question on cybersecurity as well but im going to defer that come under so we may be able to take that up any more confidential setting, but i have a question for you, chief verderosa, last to the gao published a report on the department of Homeland Security is office of National Capital region coordination. And they recommended that they strengthen their coordination capabilities to the restructuring of the joint federal committee. And specify the roles and responsibilities of all the participating agencies come have a can best work together. The department of Homeland Security accepted the recommendations, and my question to you and you as well, mr. Larkin, if relevant, is given the fact that the Capitol Police and sergeant at arms, are part of that security system, do you feel that those provisions as gao recommendations are being implemented . Did you feel like you are being properly included as part of the team . How are the lines of communications . Whats your assessment . We have a very robust communication with all of our partners in the capital region. Specifically, some members of dhs, dhs central come we are in their communication link. We work very closely taken with a large scale events, National Security events, and, frankly, i say this to my partners all the time, in the 32 plus years that ive been in Law Enforcement ive never seen better coordination between all entities, particularly are really closest partners, secret service, fbi, the service part of dhs. We get tremendous support, information sharing as is good as ive ever seen. Intelligence sharing both classified and unclassified information. I applaud the efforts of our partners in reaching out to us with information. We have a very active threat assessment and investigations division, and i would say that we are equal partners with all of them so i am very pleased with our ability to work closely, communicate with and share information with our dhs partners. I will defer to mr. Larkin. I agree with that. I will highlight to recent incidents come when is issued a couple weeks ago where chief verderosa and i got on the scene very quickly, interactive with the other leadership from the departments involved, the fbi, other, atf, the other responder resources. We all knew each other. We already had that connective tissue, you know, in place. So it was about focusing on what was important and will very quickly able to prioritize how we moved forward in handling that incident. And, because we had no time in this National Capital region with everything that we are challenged with to deal with egos, to deal with people wanting to hold onto information and so forth. We have a very Good Relationship based on trust and confidence. The other is dhs and the way we partner with them on cyber. Again, we are pretty much talking about the physical side of it but we cant wait to talk about the cyber side. We have situations here that develop where we are instantaneous committee patient with dhs. We have to because they have, they have a platform that has tentacles out to other agencies, probably one of the best alerting capabilities that we have that once we detect something amiss come to be able to lift of you instantly know about that. Again it goes to that mitigation of the damage affect. Because if they are hitting us they are probably getting other people. As weve seen with this recent incident this week around the world. Thank you. This concludes the opening session of the open session of the listen branch sub committee. The hearing record will remain open for seven days allowing members to submit statements and questions for the record the committee will now pledgor and immediately reconvene in closed session to review the reduce security needs for the sergeant at arms Capitol Police budgets. This portion o of the will be restricted to members and staff with ts levels clearance only. So i appreciate all of you beig here and being part of this conversation, look for to reconvene in the other location for the closed session. Thank you. This hearing is adjourned. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] south korean president moon visit washington, d. C. , this week. He attended an official state dinner last night in the schedule of west wings meetings. This morning here he is talking with President Trump. And also President Trump of our message to the Korean People who have been suffering that meeting wrapping up just a short time ago. Live picture from the white house rose garden where President Trump on the south korean president will be speaking to media, expected to get underway in just a couple of moments. You will be able to watch it live on our companion network cspan. And president moon will also speak at the center for strategic and International Studies this afternoon and that will also be on cspan live at. Live sunday at noon eastern, author, journalist in history professor herb boyd is a guest on booktvs in depth. I often draw some parallels between detroit and new york in the book. You look at the 1863 draft riots. There is a nice contrast, a nice there between what was happening in new york and what was happening here in detroit. Almost for the same reasons. You talk about the black and Irish Community at each others throats in terms of jobs and housing. So if you go down to the 1943 you could down to 68, 67th come same kind of thing. And almost for the same conditions that created that. His books include autobiography of the people by any means necessary and his latest black detroit. A black lawyers, the black doctors, the black laborers could all live right next to each other and benefit so that the class was going up. We can talk about some benefits of segregation, you know, but certainly that would be one, the opportunity to have contact with people of another class. And, of course, that is the beginning, the melding of the black middle class in detroit. Join our live threehour conversation with your calls, emails, tweets and facebook questions live sunday at noon eastern on book tvs in depth on cspan2. Acting as administrator robert like that was on capitol hill yesterday to brief lawmakers ons