Half. The committee and Security Task force will come to order. The task force is meeting to examine the security of the visa free throws and the Visa Waiver Program. I recognize myself for an opening statement. I want to start by welcoming back our expert withins to the capital. Thank you for being here and doing double duty. I look forward to following up on some of the broader themes of t. I want to thak chairman mccall for organizing this. They were not only successful in producing legislative change but also eye opening in what it revealed. The work done on both sides of the aisle, raised awareness about gaps and screening and information sharing, both at home and with our foreigns. This includes the Visa Waiver Program improvement that enabouted major vwp. I hope this task force will be as successful in its investigation and in its final recommendations. I also look forward to working with ms. Watson coleman from new jersey. I thank you for the time you spent. I really am looking forward to this. This is a critical time for our nations security. The task force focused on jihadist fighters to come west. Now we see that number dropping as these fighters seek to expand farther than iraq and syria. The threat against the west continues to rise as the fighters leave. The socalled caliphate. As fbi director comey said are there are going to come hundreds and hundreds of dangerous people. It will be like weve never seen better. Those chilling words should work as a wakeup call. Two british nationals and a survegs sit zern, with hundreds of american fighters and thousands of fighters seeking to return to their home country, we must be able to prevent them from gaining entry into the United States by abusing our immigration system. Isis has already planned, conducted or inspired more than 180 plots against the west, including did 2015 attacks in paris and others. The majority of these attackers were european citizens with valid passports. As secretary kelly recently said the u. S. Is the prime terrorism target. That is why we are here today, to ensure our defenses are strong and to protect the homeland as it continues to be targeted. While there are numerous benefits like tourism, trade, and business, we should never cease to examine our processes in terms of potential gaps. We must always thrive to stay one step ahead. That is what we learned from the wake of september 11. This, of course, prompted an overhaul of our Security Systems as well as the creation of our department of Homeland Security. But our work is not yet done. We still have a lot to learn and a lot to adapt to. Despite the reforms undertaken in the wake of 9 11 there are gaps and weaknesses in our system. One of the killers legally entered the country on a k1 fiance visa. There are remaining gaps in vetting and screening applicants and information sharing with other countries, which are both voightal. I look forward to hearing what the department of Homeland Security are doing everything to see that applicants are receiving sufficient vetting. I thank you for being here and thank you for your service and the many men and women who serve the state department. The gentlemen lady. Im delighted to be here and share this important task with you. I am pleased to join in holding todays hearings on denying terrorist entry into the United States. I welcome the opportunity to work with you and our colleagues on the task force to understand how the federal government can continue to strengthen our nations security and holds our american values. Since the terrorist attacks of september 11, 2001, congress has established a department h shurt and directed the implementation of wide ranging new programs and policies to help prevent terrorist travel to this country. For example, u. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has employed crews to our headquarters. U. S. Customs and Border Protection recognizes the authorization esa to screen travellers before theyre permitted to board a plane to the u. S. These agents conduct are you current vetting to check against any new are derogatory information. These are just a few examples of the security initiatives that have been implemented in the aftermath of 9 11 on an on going bass is as other vuler in bilts have been identified. More work needs to be done to make sure we stay hoefd those who seek not to do use harm. In the interest of all americans and in keeping with our principles of a nation of immigrants. Using rote rick that alienates us is counterproductive to the security of the United States. Banning certain groups of people from entering this country based on their face either explicitly or otherwise. Playing on each others feersz and prejudices is downright unamerican. As a country we can do better. I hope that on this task force, we will do better. America is always at its strongest when we stand together in sposh of our common good and our share values. I appreciated hearing from our government witnesses yesterday in the classified setting about the good work the department of Homeland Security and state are doing to fifth enhance our security. I hope to hear from these Witnesses Today about what more can be done to identify and toward terrorist travel on an individualized basis and how congress can support their efforts. I also hope to hear from our Government Office of accountability. I look forward to a very productive hearing today and working alongside my colleagues on this task force and with you, mr. Chairman. I thank you for holding today ear hearing and thank the witnesses for joining us and i yield back. The chair recognizes the chairman of the full committee. Thank you. In june 2000 three of the 9 11 hi jacke ehijackers came into t. Sadly, we know the rest of the story. In the years following the 9 11 attacks, the United States government went to Great Lengths to identify gaps in our vetting systems and in how our agencies share intelligence. The department of shurt was created by the bush administration. Now we face a new and growing threat to the homeland. Second kelly described us as a nation under attack, facing the highest Terror Threat level in years. Due to our Brave Service Men and women, isis and al qaeda have incurred great losses in syria and iraq. Yet, as territory under their control shrinks, we are seeing an exodus of foreign fighters returning to their homelands. 10,000 of which are in europe. Our committee has taken a serious look at foreign fighters. Last congress we pulled together a Bipartisan Task force to examine did threat posed to the United States by foreign fighters, especially those traveling in and out of europe. Through this extensive sixmonth review, legislation was passed to address their recommendations, those which became law is the act requiring the president to review all and the National Strategic to combat terrorist travel act which requires the administration to combat the threat posed by extremists and keeping them from entering our country undetected. Similarly, the Visa Waiver Program improvement and travis travel act ramped up the Visa Waiver Program by improved intelligence slarg through hspd6 agreements and keep terrorists from entering the United States undoe tekted. It also includes major provisions that will make it harder for terror suspects to cross borders including enhanced counterterrorism screening of travellers and measures to crack down on passport fraud. This will address the readiness of the home lapd in light of the foreign fighter, does. I was pleased to name wisconsin congressman as chair to this commission. As a middle east issue expert i know hes tackle these important issues with seriousness and dedication. Together with the other Seven Members of this Bipartisan Task force, i know this will be equally necessary. I look forward to hearing from the witnesses. With that, mr. Chairman, i yield back. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Opening statements may be submitted for the record. We are honored to be joined by a distinguished panel of witnesses. Michael dougherty, mr. John wagner, u. S. Customs and department protection. Mr. Clark settles at immigration and Customs Enforcement at the department of Homeland Security. Deputy secretary for Visa Services at the department of state and ms. Rebecca gambler at the Government Accountability office. Thank you for being here today. The witnesss full written statements will appear in the record. The chair recognizes mr. Dougherty for five minutes to make an opening statement. Just turn on your mike there. I did that five times my first week here. Thanks. Dont worry about it. Distinguished committee members, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today with my colleagues. The Visa Waiver Program or the vwp was created by congress in 1986 to allow people to enter the United States without receiving a visa but only after security clearances were performed. In addition to promoting travel to the United States, it relieved them from having to conduct interviews. Its evolved since that time. Its been modified five times. Today the program can properly will used as a means to secure our security posture, modernizing screening and vetting proses sess. Processes. As the committee is aware, secretary kelly has realized that blocking terrorists is a top priority of our department and were committed to working closely with congress and our agency to inform partners to protect our homeland. Currently 38 countries are approved to participate, which allows their nationals to travel to the United States for up to 90 days. Travellers are required to complete an online politics. Looking at the esta application, cvp conducts automated vetting to assess whether the vird is eligible to travel or could pose a risk to the United States or to the public at large. To participate in the vwp, countries must share information on terrorists and serious criminals, stolen passports and engage in effective traveller and my grant streeng. Vwp countries have to report that loss or sheft no later than 24 hours after they become aware of it and theyve contributed over 50 million such records to interpol, accounting for 70 of the interpol holdings. The bottom line is that to join or continue in the vw pnks, a country cannot represent a threat to the United States and must be work as a partner to prevent terrorist travel. The committee has contributed to the strengthening of the Visa Waiver Program through its leadership and developing the vwp. Id like to take a moment to highlight several important changes that have resulted from dh ss implementation of the act. Weve increased the sharing of identity information. Several countries have increased the frequency of lost and stolen pass ports being reported to interpol. All vwp countries now are issuing and using for travel to the United States fraud resistant electronic passports that meet or compete international standards. Enhanced restrictions on travel for people who have traveled countries of certain concern or dual nationals of particular countries. Monitoring and process to make sure theyre Meeting Program requirements. These assessments are performed in cooperation with the state department and other interagency partners as well as the Intelligence Community and the governments of vwp countries themselves. Be assured that the department engaged in regular monitoring of all vwp countries to take appropriate action. As second kelly recently indicated, they have to ensure the vwp is prepared to care for the soldiers returning from battles. Theyll continue to look at way toss work with this committee, to secure the security of the program. Thank you again for the opportunity to appear before you today. I look forward to answering any of your questions. Thank you, sir. Mr. Wagner, youre recognized for five minutes. Thank you chairman gallagher and Ranking Member watsoncombman. Thank you for the opportunity to speak toes about Border Protections role. Our agency works around the clock. Weve developed mechanic nichlgs that far in advance ooch arrival on u. S. Soil as possible. To provide a sense of scale, last year we expected over 200 million. Its about 27,000 each day. Just inbound. Visitors make up about 50 of these arrival numbers. They generally split into two categories. Visa and visa waiver. Countries that need a visa go to the u. S. Embassy. That will be described in more detail. Cvp has developed an on line politics process, esta for short. They must have approved esta and built a Communications System with the company to support it. For the first half of this fiscal year weve approved about 6. 9 million cvp took steps to apply the new restrictions for individuals. So far this fiscal year weve denied them to about 13,000 people due to travel restrictions and others because of dual nationality. A host of Law Enforcement and intelligence databases assure travellers remain eligible. Cvp may revoke or work closely with department of state too have the visa revoked. Over 1800 visas have revoked as a result of this. 450 h 50 of these were to do with security concerns. By law, airlines provide cvp with advanced passenger manifest information in access to their reservation systems. They review this stat along with crossing information, intelligence reports and Law Enforcement databases to identify any potential risk factors. When risk factors are identified, well build seven mechanisms to address that. Preclearance operations, Advisor Program and our liaison grumgs. Preclearance. We have a 15 locations in six countries. This is uniform. Cvp officers have legal authoriti authorities. This is our highest level of capability overseas. If found ineligible to fly to the United States, they have the authority to deny entry on foreign soil. In fiscal year 16, 18 poib 3 million travellers were processed through prekreerns locations, total 15 of our u. S. Bound travellers. 6400 inadmissible travellers were prevented from boarding. We have the advisor are program and the joint Security Program. We have plain clothesed officers, using advance information from our National Targeting Center officers work in partnership with the host governments and the airlines to address any National Security risks and immigration issues. Fts any concerns remain after interview of the passenger, we can issue a noboard and refer the traveller back to the u. S. Embassy. Last year we recommended over 45000 noboards to the airlines. For the iap officers we have liaison groups that work with the airlines to issue no board recommendations in casings of National SecurityService Concerns or immigration questions. Once passengers arrive in the United States all people are expected by the officers. The experience and intuition of each officer is invaluable. Cvp officers review travel documents, review the results of the prearrival vetting, collect biometrics if required. If theres any questions about their admissibility, agriculture concerns, the persons referred into secondary inspection for more thorough examination. We strife to improve our vuler in thank you again for the opportunity. I look forward to answering any of your questions. Thank you mr. Wagner. Mr. Settles, youre recognized for five minutes. Chairman gallagher, Ranking Member colemanwatson and distinguished committee members. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss enhancing usa visa security and prevent the travel of terrorists. Visa security is a central component shared by both the department of state and the department of shurt, which includes hsi. And u. S. Customs and Border Protection cvp. We strive particular focus on those emanating from yornd americas fisz borders. Im honored to highlight the Security Programs. Hsi special agents investigate transnational crime by conducting a wide range of criminal investigations in coordination with our foreign and domestic partnering agencies. Targeting the Illegal Movement of people, merchandise, monetary instruments into, within, and out of the United States, the agency has extremely broad authorities and jurisdiction over the investigation of crimes with a nexus to u. S. Borders and ports of entry. The three operational priorities are border security, Public Safety and National Security. In an effort to augment and expand visa Security Operations hsi is honored to manage the program in partnership with cvp, the department of state, the Intelligence Community and other agencies and holdings. The primary purpose is to identify terrorists, criminals and other individuals who pose a threat or otherwise ineligible for a visa, thereby pushing the borders out as far as we possibly can. Vees Security Program operations are currently conducted in 25 countries. Its scheduled to expand to two visa issuing posts in fiscal year 2017 and plans to expand as resources allow ever year there after. We understand that one of our most important priorities is protect and prevent threats. Hsis operations in pair wlel the visa Security Program also deploy highly Trained Personnel to 66 officers in 49 countries. The hsi special agents deployed worldwide utilize available investigative resource and personal interviews and collaboration between usa agencies in order to disrupt the travel of suspect individuals during the visa application process. Experience has shown the department that there is no technological tool available that can substitute for having highly trained and experienced investigators deployed overseas to conduct and form interviews, enhance the information we have of terrorist and others krilg networks and share that information with our foreign partners. The Security Program is supported by the threat recognition and intelligence operation team. Patriot. Patriot is an interagency endeavor with the national targeting system. Through patriot system, the esp conducts automated screening. Prior the visa applicants interview and adjudication. Utilizing Law Enforcement open source and classified systems. Patriot analysts then provide personnel with the most enhanced Information Available well in advance of the visa applicants interview. Following this, collaboration with Foreign Government partners have participation in the interview hsi deployed special agents provide a recommendation on visa eligibility to the department of state. In fy 2016, more than 2. 2 million visa applicants were approved. We also facilitated the legitimate trade of 442 visa applicants. Honor members, if i may, i would like to recognize we celebrate police week, a time to honor all Police Officers who lost their lives, to include a fellow hsi brother, special agent jeremy scott mcguire, who lost his life in the line of duty last year and whose name we will be honoring and adding to the memorial. I want to say rest in peace, scott. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today and for your continued support. I would be pleased to answer any questions. Thank you. Thank you mr. Settles. Mr. Ramma towski. Apologize if i mispronounced it before. Distinguished members of the committee. I am pleased to assure you that the department of state takes our commitment to protect americas borders and citizens very seriously. Toward this end, we constantly analyze and upset our screening and clearance procedures. Mr. Chairman, the u. S. Visa system is a layered interagency effort focused first and fore most on National Security. Beginning with a petition to deadjust or a visa application committed to a consular section abroad, during the interview, prior to travel, upon arrival until the United States and while the traveller is within the United States, the department of state works together with our national Law Enforcement and intelligence partners to protect our borders. The vast majority of visa applicants and all immigrant visa applicants are interviewed in person by a consular officer. Each consular officer completes a Training Program which has an emphasis on boarder security, Fraud Prevention, interagency coordination and interviewing techniques. In addition to that, 122 assistant Regional Security officer investigators at 107 diplomatic posts worldwide work with consular officers to bring antiterrorism expertise to the visa process. Automatic visa applicants with vetted against databases that contain millions of records. On terrorists, criminal, or other grounds. We collect ten fingerprint scans from nearly all these applicants and screen them against the dhs and fbi databases of known and suspected terrorists, wanted persons, Immigration Law violators and criminals. All these applicants are screened against photos of known or suspected terrorists and prior visa applicants. When an interview raises any concerns that the applicant may be a threat to National Security or the interagency screening process shows potentially derogatory information, the visa processing is stopped and it goes up for review. Its conducted by larmt agencies as well as their department of state. As my colleague noted, the department of Homeland Securitys patriot system and the visa Security Program provide additional protections at certain of our overseas posts. Special agents asigned to 29 baemgs and consulates in high threat locations provide on site vetting, visa applications as well as other Law Enforcement support and training to consular officers. Security reviews do not stop when the visa is issued. It currently matched with records of existing visas and use our authority to revoke those visas when warnlted. We receive over two million polit politics. This includes nearly 11,000 visas revoked. Notice of these revocations is shared across the interagency in near realtime. Executive order 13780 on protecting the nation from terrorist attacks by foreign nationals, and the president ial memorandum articulate the effort to upgreat and refine our screening and vetting processes to keep this country safe. These actions range from efforts to harmonized screening and vetting standards to focussing on ways to improve our ability to report criminal aliens. Additionally, the department instructed posts worldwide to develop criteria for providing sets that warrant increased scrutiny. Weve likewise heightened vetding for any visa applicant who was ever present in any isiscontrolled territory. Mr. Chairman and distinguished members of the committee, the department of states highest priority is the safety of our fellow citizens at home and overseas. Every decision is a National Security decision. We constantly work to strengthen our system. I encourage you to vichtd our consular bases when abroad. I look forward to your questions. Miss camble, youre recognized for five minutes. Good afternoon. I appreciate the opportunity to testify at todays hearing to discuss ga os work to screen and inspect travellers seeking to come to the United States. Each year millions enter the United States legally. Some enter the country under the Visa Waiver Program. Under this Program Nationals from 38 countries can apply for admission to the United States as temporary visitors for up to 90 days without having a visa. Others agencies efforts to screen travellers and manage and oversee the visa process. My remarks reflect our findings and recommendations related to these programs and efrtsds. First, with regard to cbps screening efforts, they screen travellers coming to the United States and seeks to identify potentially highrisks travellers at the earlieriest point in the cycle. Help identify and interdict high risk travellers before they board u. S. Bound flights. These programs are preclearance, the joint Security Programs, and the regional carrier liaison groups. Preclearance locations operate at foreign airports and serve as u. S. Points of entry. Travellers are inspected and determinations are made prior to an individual boardsing a plane to the United States. Under the joint Security Programs, officers posted at foreign airport, to help prevent terrorists and other highrisk individuals from boarding u. S. Boujd flights. Regional carrier liaison groups are located and operate at doecht airports and among other things, assist air carriers with questions about u. S. Admissibility requirements and documents. In fiscal year 2015 these programs identified, interdicted approximately 22,000 highrisk air travellers. We found that while cvp has data and statistics on knees programs, the effectiveness of the programs has not been evaluated, including having baselines to assess wre the programs are meeting their goals. Better measure the effectiveness of these programs and dhs concurred. Second, with regard to the visa Security Program, we reported our efforts to expand the program and address challenges and its operations. Under this program, i. C. E. Has security reviews of applications and other things. In our report program we identified various management and oversight challenges such as limited guidance regarding interactions between ice officials and consulate officers, lack of data to accurately evaluate the program and variation from post to post in the training of consular officers by i. C. E. Agents. We found out that i. C. E. Did not track the information they spent on nonvisa Security Program visas. We plan to report on the results of our work later this year. Third, with regard to the Visa Waiver Program last year we reported in particular that will all 38 countries had entered into three agreements required under the program to, one, report lost and stolen passports, two, share identity or information about known and suspected terrorists. However, not all countries had shared such information. In august 2015, dhs staeblgd a new requirement for a visa waiver countries to implement the latter two agreements. However, dhs did not establish a time frame. We recommended a time frame be used. And dhs concurred with our recommendation. In closing, our work on dh ss efforts to screen travellers and manage the visa security and Waiver Program has identified ways to improve. Dhs has actions plands are under way to address a number of our recommendations and well continue to monitor their efforts. This concludes my oral statement and im happy to answer any questions you have. Thank you. I guess sort of going off one of the last points you make, would you agree with the assessment is that one third of dwpb countries are not in cliens and what hams when a country is lacking in compliance or lacking in the full requirements . The report agreed with recommendations the gao has made on the remarks made here are at this point in time is the countries in the Visa Waiver Program are in compliance. There are many ways that dhs can engage those Program Countries to get further compliance, we engage them in many ways. Our assessments are ordinarily take place by going to those countries and looking for them to macon chancements that we know that they can make. So the department is interested in making sure that all countries are current. That is our position right now. The countries within the Visa Waiver Program are compliant with the agreements we expect from them. How often are the reviews conducted . Ordinarily theyre every two years, but if we find somebody is not quite up to speed, we can accelerate that and engage in more dialogue with them. Is there a formal process for addressing not passing the test or is it more an informal, hey, this is a problem . Tell me about it. Yeah, right. We are engaged at various levels in different it is governments, from the top down over to Law Enforcement. So we can have an informal communication with them. We can also demarch them if we wish. So i think the process would come through dhs headquarters eventually if things were getting very serious in that we would have to tell them were getting to a point where we need to engage in some stipe of activity such as shortening the period of time under which nationals can come to the United States in order to get compliance from those documents. Is it the belief that theyre not meeting the timeline and if so, what are the obstacles to adhering to that timeline. The report we yishld last year as well as other reports, we found that dnks hs was not consistently submitting to congresst twoyear reports within a timely fashion, so we have made recommendations to the department to take steps to ensure that those reports are submitted in a timely bay. And behaved on our work following up on the recommendations, dh, is staking steps to address that but its remains open at that point. Mr. Ramikows skrvegs ki, who would not be included in that vast majority . How does that process work . Under the ina there are some statutory exemptions which include diplomats and officials, children under the age of 14 and individuals over the age of 79 and individual renewing a visa which expired less than 12 months recently. But even with those exceptions if there is any kind of that the applicant might present a threat we would and do do interviews. Give me your assessment of the overall workload of your consular officers who were asking them to do a very important job and also, what sort of training do they get in the questioning process . Is it a checklist or what does that look like . Well, in terms of workload we handle about 14 million visa cases of all types each year, refusing over two million and issuing about 11. 5 million. The volume varies, of course, by country, by region, and we limit our officers to 120 interviews per day. The training that they get begins when they first join the department of state. They take the basic consular officer Training Course at our Training Center out in arlington, and theyre trained in the Immigration Law, interviewing techniques and Law Enforcement officers from various Partner Agencies speak to these groups and have helped us develop our training materials. They are trained in the culture and language in the country and region to which theyre going. And once theyve arrived at their embassy or consulate duty station, they continue to get inservice training. Most of our posts have a Fraud Prevention unit that is focused on detecting, deterring and defeating fraud of all types. The personnel in that unit worked with did line officers who were conducting the interviews to make sure that the line officers are aware of any recent scams, any fraud trends, things of that sort. And as officers progressed through their careers, they will gets enhanced midlevel training, leadership training and so forth. So its a comprehensive process. 120 seems like a lot. Youre not recognized as the Ranking Member, ms. Watsoncoleman. Thank you. Id like to ask consent that the gentleman from massachusetts what happened to the gentleman from massachusetts . Be aloued to question the witnesses as well. Without objection. And secondly id like to yield mile time at this moment to barigan, who has a time issue. Youre recognized for five minutes. Thank you. I represent the port. I had a chance to visit with cbt down at the port and see what they do, the work they do is so excellent im making sure to secure our ports. Cvp was almost 1400 officers short of its staffing target and likely below what youd indicate was responsible. While the men and women at the office are doing their best under the circumstances, at some Point Security and facilitation suffer. Attrition is a problem and hiring is slow. Youre correct. Theres still about 1400 faefrgs shomplt we have still not fulfilled the original 2000 that congress provided to us about three years ago now. Thankfully our attrition is fairly low. Were at about 3. 4 per year in the cbp officers ranks. But youre correct, the hiring has been slow, were barely keeping pace with the attrition right now. So i know we continue to go through the entire hiring process from the written exam to the polygraph to some of the other requirements and look at where people are failing out of the process and how do we do a better job at recruiting and how do we get right people into this occupation and well take the jobs where we need them. So were having a pretty extensive review of that with our office of Human Resources and looking at ways to shorten the process and get better applicants in. And look at, you know, like we can do with the military and veterans that are coming out of service and how do we how do we make it a lot easier for them to take these occupations . As far as additional officers, you know, we annually submit a workload staffing model report which articulates ours needs. Its all based on the workload, the data, how long it takes to perform each function that we have at the ports of entry. And youre correct, the numbers are still a couple thousand in that but we submit that report to the hill. In the meantime we look at balancing the vacancies with the use of overfooim and the use of technology to help us do that so we are not vulnerable and we do close those securities security gaps. Reuters has reported that secretary tillerson has sent a series of special cables, four in total, to consulates and embassies abroad. In these cables secretary tillerson has directed u. S. Consulates and embassyings to specifically identify population risks that are warrant, quote, increased scrutiny and implement tougher screening procedure for this particular group of people. Applicants who fall into one of the identifiable population groups will be subjected to a higher level of security screening. Have you worked to develop a uniform system for identifying populations who pose a Security Threat . We are actually engaged in that process now with our department agencies, some of which are represented here and others that are not, to do exactly that. You know, the department of state works with and tries to take a whole of government approach to analyzing potential threats against our country, so we are in the process of doing that. The second did direct embassies and consulates to begin that process, to focus on areas that and groups that might present a higher degree of risk and to ensure that those groups get effective screening. Are we doing something to make sure its a uniform process, that theres a uniform standard . Yes, theres definitely a uniform standard foundational base to our vetting process. Which i outlined in my initial comments. Every visa applicant or most visa applicants give electronic fingerprints. Every visa applicant is checked through our facial recognition system, through a series of sophisticated bio graphic if i could just quickly interrupt. Because i have a few secretaries. My understanding was that the instruction was for them to identify gruchgs correct. That could be higher risk, so my question is more of like how do you identify those populations, having a uniform standard . Well, it the degree of risk is going to vary with each particular region and country. Thats why were asking our folks in the field to to identify potential groups that present higher risk p. Certain regions, certain areas certainly do present a higher risk than others and, for example, to respond back to the chairmans question regarding 120 interviews, thats a maximum. We will take all the time we need to drill down and get to the bottom of a of an individual case in order to assure ourselves that that applicant does not present a threat. Thats what were trying to do, to identify and focus our resources on areas that present a greater risk. All right. Thank you. I yield back. Thank you. The chair recognize the gentleman from new york, mr. Katka for five minutes. Before i ask my questions i want to commend you on the task force. Having one of these last terp, what youre looking into is critically important to the security of our country and recognizing the diffusion, if you will, of isil from strictly in syria and iraq but now metastasizing to the rest of the world. Its clear they want to get into the United States and these things youre looking into are very important to keep our Country Security a. V. And i appreciate that. I appreciate that very much. Mr. Wagner, i was troubled not by anything you said but by the statistics. You said you were down about 1300. If you could expound more on what youre finding as the reasons for delays and what we can do to help you expedite that process. Yes. So the numbers are about a thousand from the original 2,000 and due to some of our reimbursable agreements that weve entered into that numbers then bumped up a little bit. Its around 1400 officers. So we try to balance that and try to balance that in places where we can absorb that understaffing, using overtime and other means to be able to do that. What this also means is, you know, sometimes we have to say no to additional requests for service. Were getsing a lot of requests for service, a lot of airports, land border locations coming in, asking us to be able to process more flights and more people, so we try to find creative ways to do that. The process itself, weve made some progress in shortening the length of time it takes to hire people. Weve done some work, what we call consolidated hiring, putting some of those administrative procedures together working with the military to be able to do this. Still, when we look at the different steps in the process and, you know, for people that apply for the job, about half of them dont even fwoit show up o for the written exam and only about 38 of people pass that exam. Then the rest of the screening, the medical review. Polygraph. Knocks identity a lot of people. Weve worked some exceptions to that, i understand. Painful, the process you have set up substantially weeds out a ton of the people . It does. Weve got to gets more sophisticated in recruiting. Theyre great jobs. We want to put the right people in them of course also without reducing our criteria for doing so. Which will hurt us down the road. But theyre very good federal jobs so we have top find the right people willing to take them. Most of those vacancies are on the southwest border. Thank you. Mr. Settles, we spoke previously about the use of buiometricbiom. This d event. Tookay, i think were going begin. The director of forsyth strategy and risk initiatives here at the atlantic council. Its my pleasure to host today a