Transcripts For CSPAN3 TSA Nominee Testifies At Confirmation Hearing 20170622

Workplace morale among tsa agents. This is 90 minutes. Good morning. Today well consider the nomination of admiral david picoski to become the next administrator of the tsa. Having spent 32 years in the coast guard after graduating from the Coast Guard Academy in 1977, admiral picosk sichlt a well qualified nominee to become the next tsa administrator. His leadership experience ranges from serving as the commander of the coast guards pacific area in Coast Guard Defense forces west where he was in charge of all coast card operations in the western hemisphere to becoming the 26th vice commandant of the u. S. Coast guard in 2009 where he served as second in command, the chief operating officer and the component Acquisition Executive of the coast guard. Admirals nomination to become tsa administrator comes at an important time. Security threats remain a persistent challenge for both aviation and Service Administration and were tasked with protecting the modes and ensuring the movement of people and commerce. Since the creation by this committee in response to the 9 11 attacks, the ts sachlt subject to extensive scrutiny by congress, public and media. The tsa is criticized for issues like the ease with which testers from the Homeland Security and the Government Accountability offense have been able to smuggle contra band through screening checkpoints as persistent problems with large acquisitions. In spite of the challenges, the previous tsa administrator made significant positive changes to the agency. Some of which include shortening wait times during last summers travel season, improving technology at checkpoints and creation of a trade aing academf workers. He hope he can apply his extensive leadership skills to solve the challenge thats remain should he be confirmed. The Congress Committee has been active on Aviation Security. Last congress the committee passed the most comprehensive reforms to ts na in the decade from 2016 which addressed the challenges posed by unauthorized access to secure areas of airports, expanded access to tsa precheck and attempted to optimize check point operations. Earlier this year, however, the Congress Committee held an oversight heerg which dhs and the Inspector General testified that challenges still remain with regard to many of these issues. Inspector general ross testimony said there are vulnerabilities regard together vetting of employees, ensthurg employees have access to areas and the trouble of lost ar access badges. I hope that you can make progress if addressing the persistent problems raise bid Inspector General ross. As he committees the work with tsa to improve Aviation Security, its important to incorporate the perspectives of stake holders. The Congress Committee held a hearing to highlight stake holder perspectives. One of major themes is the need for a risk base approach to security as well as better collaboration between tsa and industry to promote innovation. The agency is drawing considerable attention for exploring the possible expansion of the ban on personal Electronic Devices such as laptop compute oernz flights the United States from certain last point of departure airports. Security while the secretary of home land security signaled that such a move may be unnecessary this is a good example of an issue where stake holder collaboration is critical to the development of solutions and implementation of security proet kolz. My hope is that admiral pekosk thachlt worked to create a culture at tsa that embraces innovative approaches to security. A long standing challenge for tsa has been adopting a cross cutting risk based approach to security across all modes. In april the Committee Held a markup on the surface and Maritime Transportation security act which i introduced with Ranking Member nelson. Our bill would direct tsa to conduct an analysis across all modes of deployment, require the tsa a portionst bunt on the basis and establish a Surface Transportation Advisory Committee similar to the aviation stake holder vizry committee. The bill is report the favorably with bipartisan support and we continue to work to ensure the eventual enact ment. I was able to meet with you last week in advance of this hearing. I believe that if confirmed he will provide important strategic and cultural couldnt neutral to the tsa in the same manner as his distinguished predecessor. I strongly support his nomination and i hope we can move quickly to confirm him. With that, i turn to senator nelson. Thank you, mr. Chairman. And i join in by reference agree with your comments and, therefore, ill insert my comments in the record. I just want to thank the admiral for his 33 years with the coast guard which is a very professional team and members of this committee are very proud of the coast guard. And since he had the whole west coast that, includes down to American Samoa all the way up to the baring sea and the arctic area where the coast guard basically takes care of all of that area. One thing that we might look at in this ever changing scene of technology and the threats to the Transportation Safety is that wherever people bunch up, thats a soft target. And we found, unfortunately, wi brussels and london that that is outside the secured areas. And some place i was the other day i think it was at Grand Central station. As people were getting ready to form the tlline to go through t gates to get on the train when the train arrived and they dont let you go in until the train has arrived. I was thinking at the time, i mean, this is a bunch of americans all massed up together. And this is stuff that youve got to worry about. Because its all part of our Transportation Safety. Surface transportation and the security of that surface transportation has been underfunded and unfocused. And the fwhal were looking at aims to fix that by enhancing risk based security. Retiring training to address the threats on our highways, closing gaps in Port Security and providing funding to improve security at our rail stations and our sea ports. Now the bill does something very, very important. That is it adds 200 canine teams. And that is not only a powerful technological thing because nobody is able to reproduce the sensitive sniffing of a dog. But it also provides a very psychological deterence as well. And on the faa extension which passed a year ago, it included bipartisan provisions to better guard against terrorism threats and improve security screening. I will just say in conclusion that i think the people that had advised the president were not giving the best advice when they recommended cutting the dog teams in the president s proposed budget. Once youre in the position, admiral, you need to make what you know to be true. Were trying to increase the number of canine teams called viper teams. So i thank you, mr. Chairman. Lets hear from the witness. Thank you, senator nelson. Were welcome to David Pekoski from maryland. He is here to be assistant secretary of tsa. So admiral, please proceed with your remarks and we look forward to the conclusion of those asking you a few questions. So please proceed. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Good morning chairman and Ranking Member and the distinguished members of this committee. It is a privilege to appear before you to day as the president s nominee to lead the tsa. I am honored to been nominated by President Trump for this position and if confirmed, i look forward to the opportunity to work with secretary kelly, deputy secretary duke and the entire team of the department of Homeland Security. My first comments are in strong support of the tsa. They all work to ensure the security of our system and works tirelessly to earn the trust and respect of the american people. Their work is critical to the security of our aviation and surface Transportation Systems and they have in my opinion done an outstanding job if protecting us from an ever present and very dynamic threat. It is my privilege to join them as the administrator and bring my leadership, skills and experience to the effort of securing our home land. Tsa could not accomplish the mission were it not for the strong partnerships they have in the state and local agencies and the airline industry, Government Services industry, airport owners and operators and international partners. Throughout my professional career, i have seen firsthand the importance and enormous value of strong partnerships and professional relationships. This is the extended tsa team and it will be my privilege to join them as well in our collective goal of ensuring transportation security in the United States. I had the high honor of serving our country in the coast guard most of my adult life. Im forever grateful to my coast guard colleagues in my leadership. I have extensive experience in Counterterrorism Operations and leading a large operating federal agency that uses risk base manage ment. I was on the coast guard commandant side on 9 11 when the attacks on our home land occurred. Ill never forget that day and the day thats immediately followed. I was privileged to remain as the executive assistant when the tsa and department of Homeland Security were established. In the summer of 2004 i served adds the lead federal official for mayor time security at our first two National Political conventions since 9 11, the Democratic National convention in boston and the republican National Convention in new york city. Both were National Special security events and our security operation as cross all federal, state, and local agencies were very successful. Strong partnerships among Public Safety agencies are absolutely critical and are very high priority for me. I served as the assistant commandant of coast guard headquarters and regularly participated in discussions with the National Security Council Staff and the operations dputives the other military services. As commander of the pacific area, i was responsible for all coast guard operations on the west coast of the United States, alaska, and hawaii. Given the vast expanse of the pacific and our National Strategy of increasing emphasis on operations in the pacific theater, our work closely with the coast guards of russia, china, south korea, japan, and canada. Im a strong supporter of International Engage ment and International Standard setting both can contribute substantially to the security of the United States. As the coast guard i served as the vice service chief, chief operating officer and coast guard Acquisition Executive responsible to train, equip, and organize a Coast Guard Force of 50,000 people. I was the executive champion for the coast guard innovation program. The most established programs in government. Should i be confirmed as administrator, innovation is one of my key focus areas. I think its critical and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of tsa operations. Following my Coast Guard Service i joined a mid Market Company in the Government Services industry. My experience in the private sector was very valuable i learned how government can be a better consumer of private sector expertise and support. My experience in the coast guard is directly relevant to the position of tsa administrator. Today we face a multitude of threats persistent. We know that certain terrorist organizations remain focused on commercial aviation and disrupting the freedoms we enjoy as an open society. Staying ahead of the threats and ensuring that appropriate measures are place will be our most significant challenge. It will be my honor to serve in what i consider the most challenging jobs in government. My overarching goal is to leave the tsa in an ever stronger position as a provider of security for our Transportation Systems, especially aviation with a strong and growing level of Public Confidence in the Agencies Mission performance. I will articulate a clear vision for tsa to ensure all of our efforts attribute to the achieve ment. I want to confirm for as long as the praenz the secretary wish me to remain in this position. I think leadership continuity at ts sachlt very important. If confirmed, i would be the 13th administrator in 16 years when you include those in acting capacity. Im always reminded of a quote of hamilton when he was the first sec of treasury issued instructions to the predecessors of the coast guard. He issued the instructions in 1791. He said in part, they will always keep in mind that countrymen are freemen and as such are impatient of everything that bears the least mark of a domineering spirit. They will, therefore, refrain with the most guarded circumstance um inspection from whatever has a semblance of insult. I think that sage advice from our countrys founding father as pliz to all federinvolved in la enforcement. It is something to guide me if i had the opportunity to lead the tsa. Tsa is the face of the federal government to millions of air travelers every day. The travelers rightfully expect efficient screening with a minimal delay by government officials who treat them with respect. I will work diligently with the entire tsa workforce to ensure they continue to meet the standard. We must balance demands of security with the imperatives of liberty guaranteed in our constitution. In closing, i thank secretary trump and kelly for their confidence for me ability to lead tsa and the distinguished members of this committee, i thank you for your courtesies during this confirmation process. And for the opportunity to appear before you today. I look forward to answering your questions. Thank you, sir. Thank you, admiral. And we appreciate very much your willingness to serve in what is a critically important position. We look forward to working with you. Let me start by asking a question about the Precheck Program at tsa which in which i and i assume a number of the members of the panel participate. But its a valuable risk based security measure that provides expedited check point screenings. Last year we include a provision to strengthen the faltering efforts to expand the precheck application program. Since enactment, tsa has not implemented key elements required under the law such as soliciting multiple private sector enroll ment options or identifying a specific time frame and Long Term Strategy for approving private sector marketing. So question, admiral, do you believe its important to expand precheck enroll ment opportunities for the traveling public so more trusted travellers are flying our skies in the tsa can therefore focus on screening high risk travelers . Mr. Chairman, yes, i do. Im also a precheck participant. I think its a terrific program. About five million travelers are enrolled in precheck. When you add in the other programs you get up to about eight million people. But thats only maybe 18 or 20 of the traveling public which is way too low in my opinion. I would if confirmed, i want to take a close look at the recommendation thats the committee made and passed into law. And do everything we can to make enrollment easier for people, encourage enrollment and make sure that the incentives are clear and evident for travelers. So thats the follow up. Will you commit to fulfilling the directives from Congress Regarding this program in a timely manner. Then update our committee on how tsa will expand precheck under your leadership. Yes, sir. I commit to doing that. Threats are continued to evolve in soft targets such as train stations. If confirmed, how you would seek to address the security challenges without impeding the flow of passenger ands commerce . And were reminded every day now of the risks in the transportation mode and the aviation mode. From my perspective, i would absolutely bring that risk based approach to weighing how resources are allocated among the different modes of transportation. When i look at the risk in any particular transportation mode i look at three things. I look at the threat of the vulnerability and the consequence should an incident occur. I can seat vulnerability and the consequence on the surface transportation side. I dont yet have the intelligence briefing thats would help me evaluate the threat. But i intend to do that very quickly if confirmed. And im a user of mass trans it. I just think we need to reassure ourselves of a vai very dynamic and very moving threat, picture and make sure that were applying resources in the right locations. Passenger volumes rose by 15 f confirmed, what you would do to increase the retension rates at tsa . This is one of my top priorities. The tsa workforce at the front lines are the front line of our organization. They interact with the American Public day in and day out. I think that would be very appropriate providing training and some sense of what a career path in tsa would look like, career path in other elements of home land security very important. The bottom line from my per spktive havispkt perspective having worked with a workforce in a coast guard of similar size, its important for top leadership to be president went that workforce to understand what challenges they have in accomplishing the job and to support them in good procedures, seek the input, provide appropriate technology out there. But really understand the challenges that that front line workforce is facing. Finally, i would say that in attrition rate that approaches 12 for the full time workforce cost az lot of money. Costs a lot of money. You lose that experience base going forward. So job retension is a top priority of mine. Great. Recent threats to kmcommerci resulted in a ban of electronic dye devices for people traveling from select areasst United States. This ban and the debate about whether to demonstrate the need to work with our aviation partners and deploy advance technology to combat the latest threats. Unfortunately, currently takes tsa many years to test, evaluate, procure and deploy new technologies. How will you priority deploying the latest Security Technology quickly and infectively and will you work with congress to bring any ideas to the table from your private sector experience regarding ways that tsa can improve efforts . I would Work Congress and bring my private sector experience to the table n the private sector and have a number of ways i think that Government Agencies can be much more responsive and get better value for the investment in private sector work. The tsa as stood up an Innovation Task force that looked at various technologies to put in place at the screening locations. This showing real promise from what i understand. I would bring that experience to tsa and throw my full support behind it. Also im looking for input from the tsa workforce and stake holders of tsa as to how we can improve our processes. We receive a lot of good recommendations and basically use a methodology to beta test them. And i would look to bring some similar system like that in place in tsa if confirmed to get input from the workforce and from stake holders and how we can Better Process for people through the xraeng points. Thank you, admiral. Senator nelson . Mr. Chairman, i think senator booker has an appointment that he needs to make. So let me defer to him for the questioning. Thank you very much. Im concerned in the 9 11 report they talk about the ushlg ency around Rail Security in our country. I havent seen a plan coming out of tsa about allocating assets to rail safety and Rail Security. There is a series after tacks carried out in new york and new jersey including an incident involving pipebombs near amtrak and new jersey transit, train station and elizabeth, new jersey. There were incredible Law Enforcement leaders at that time. They could harm passengers. It was a great tribute to Law Enforcement. But the incidents underscore how vulnerable manufacture our surface Transportation Systems are with these threats. I dont believe that were even complying with some of the directives that came out of the 9 11 report. It seems often were fighting the last terrorist attack or the last incident as opposed to looking about forward. And we see what is happening in europe. Where a number of the attacks are focused on a rail transportation and the incident in brussels obviously continues to highlight the need to address surface transportation security. So can you describe to me some of the ways that tsa under your leadership can address these security threats of surface transportation with my concerns around the safety of rail transportation in our country . Yes, sir. If confirmed, i would put a lot of effort in tsa to look at the intelligence around the rail threat in particular. Tsa has an exceptional intelligence and analysis operation. Its very well coordinated with the Intelligence Community overall. And from my perspective, the continue tell je intel jun Intelligence Community has done a good job keeping the United States safe. So i would place a lot of emphasis into looking at the threat for rail. In addition to that, great communication with the rail operators and local Law Enforcement around the key rail transportation zones. Can you see from their per inspect whaf they see. They have their own sources of information. Certainly valuable experience that we can all benefit from. This is very much a collaborative effort. But i would place a lot of emphasis on really focusing intelligence to make sure that we have taken a good hard look at this and understand the risk. Okay. And then just specifically the 9 11 report. It was actually way back in 2007. I wasnt here then. But Congress Passed legislation retiring the tsa and other agencies to implement the recommendations of the 9 11 commission. What is frustrating is some of the recommendations have languished since 20007 like the training for front line, transit and freight employees. So this was an area of significant frustration for me when i came to the United States senate to see specific requirements from congress not being fulfilled. And so can you commit to implementing the 9 11 requirements no requirements in order to ensure that we have front line employees protecting our transportation system, even the allocation of tsa resources. Its so dramatically weighted towards air travel which is critical and important. But even the 9 11 commission indicated the concerns with surface transportation and it seems to me but again, there was requirements for reporting of a plan. But it seems to me with should have a better investment in resources. I guess what im looking for is just a commitment on implementing the specific the 9 11 requirements and the congressional legislation passed in 2007. Yes, sir, you have my commitment to do. That i will be happy to report back to if you confirmed on the status shortly after i get into office. Im grateful. Really quickly, Port Security is obviously something thats very important to the state of new jersey and as far as tsas mission. The other you would also commit to ensuring that major sea ports like the port authority, the port of new york, new jersey, will have the resources and support to ensure secure movement of freight . Yes, sir. Tsa works closely with the coast guard of which im very, very familiar. And when i was the first commander, i had operations over the port of new york and new jersey. I will commit to taking a very close and hard look at that to make sure the tsa and coast guard coordination is what he with expect it to be. Zbh right. No need to respond. Im hoping that aspects like the viper team, bomb sniffing, something we have support are really critical. I just want to thank you for your willingness to continue to serve your country. Its an extraordinary commitment that Many Americans make. They dont get the cardio that they deserve. Im grateful your putting yourself up to this position and answering questions like these. Thank you, senator booker. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I move first of all, i appreciate very much the time you spent with me and with other members of this Committee Prior to this hearing. And, you know, everyone knows how significant this is. I shared with you some personal experiences ive had with the coast guard with, what they have done, their expertise and the area that you are going to be involved in. I found myself going from coast guard station to coast guard station. I knew what the missions were. And its so much more than just search and rescue. I think it will be worth while to run over a few things that the coast guard has been doing. Because before it was popular, they were involved in this field. And so what the coast guard has been doing in terms of its mission and how you personally were involved in that. And then following that up, on specifically what you were doing on 9 11 and so forth. Lets start with the coast guard in general. As a Training Ground for this job. Senator, thank you for the question. I think the coast guard is actually a perfect Training Ground for this job. If you look at the similarities between what the coast guard does and what tsa does, it is striking how similar the organizations are. Both are up to scale. 50,000 plus individuals throughout the country as you mentioned at smaller stations. Tsos and the federal Security Director staff all throughout the nation. And certainly both in the department of Transportation Department of Homeland Security, rather. Originated in the department of transportation. I think, too, that both organizations rely heavily on intelligence information to kind of get ahead of senator booker was mentioning to get ahead of the next threat to that were there and ready to meet it should it occur. I think really from those aspects similar with the organization, its a really good fit. I respect very much the work that our individuals should i be confirmed in tsa perform day in and day out. What i think is needed though is more investment in them as individuals in their training and also in leadership overall within the organization. Tsa is 16 years old. Coast guard is 226 years old. And what i bring from the coast guard is a perspective of what a culture looks like that can be Rapid Response to a changing dynamic threat that can empower people at the lowest levels of the organization that are facing the American Public and really are the ones that make the decisions that mean success or failure for the mission overall. With respect to the public hearing okay. With respect to the public area of security, tsa as i understand it has an initiative to look at public area of security overall. Has a framework in place to do that. And its putting the resources and time to ensure better coordination and to ensure standardization across the country at some basic level of performance. I think there has been good work done in that regard as well. Yeah. I was going to ask you to elaborate a little on 9 11, what you were doing at that time. Yes, sir. We have several meetings in the morning. Literally in the middle of one of the meetings, we got the first reports that flash add cross the tv monitor. And then from there on it was a full up response trying to assess the impact of what was going on. A couple hours after the first attacks, of course, we heard and saw the impact on the pentagon building. I can remember driving home that night. I live in Northern Virginia at the time. I drove right by the pentagon and to see the pentagon with smoke coming out of a structure was incredibly impactful for me. You really got to see and feel exactly what happened. I learned a lot by watching admiral loy and secretary monetta respond to that incident. I think they demonstrated what i would hope to be able to demonstrate is in a crisis when youre called on and you have to respond and you have to be really at the top of your profession in doing it, both of those gentlemen worked. The reason i brought up that, i also had personal experience in southern tip of texas and down there and theres one of your stations. There is a terrorist attack and the very thing that ubl doing in your job. Theyre the first ones to respond. And ive been down there and actually seen them. My time expired. I just lend a word of caution. They use an incident where a little old lady is being frisked or something, you know what is going to happen. So youre going to get ready for a meeting that is not your best friend. Theyre not now but they wont be later on as it progresses. Look forward to working with you. Thank you, likewise. Senator . Thank you. Admiral, good to see you again. Thank you for taking the time. Let me just say this. I was here during 9 11. I was working in the u. S. Attorneys office. That has shaped my interactions as a prosecutor not only here locally but in the state of nevada. And how we should be responding and our concerns with terrorist activity not just in our states but around the world. So i appreciate your comments. I wanted to jump back to the budget. We talked a little bit about that. Im concerned about the impact those are going to have on the mission of the tsa if confirmed. I want to talk a little bit about that. As a matter of policy, can you talk a little bit about your perspective on canine units and how valuable those are to the mission of the tsa . I know were including some funding to increase the canine units. Equally important is theyre very effective in deterring activity when the canines are present. Very easy to see. And i think it deters behavior. It may signal a detection officer to notice some response in the part of an individual in a public area where a canine is operating. In the coast guard, we have canine teams. A very small number. We had canine teams. We found them to be very infective for the work that we did. Its a very good investment for tsa. Its a very good investment for the country. The challenge with canine teams it is takes a long time to train them. Takes a year to train the handler and the dog. Once theyre trained, theyre a team for many years. Im a huge fan and well place continued emphasis on that. I appreciate you saying that. I have concerns with respect to the budget cuts. Were cutting tsa agents for the exit lane staffing. Can you address that . How will you if those cuts go through, is that going to impact your mission and how will you fill that gap . Senator, thank you. I saw the budget as the bunt was released about it administration back in may. If confirmed, i will get together with the tsa budget operation and really understand the rational behind some of those budget actions. Well work with you to make judge ments you need. I hope you would commit to be an advocate for your staff and resources you nid against any ill adviced spending cuts, particularly those that are unfortunately used to build a border wall or reinforce and take away from the mission of the tsa. I hope you can commit to it at least an advocate for that. Yeah. That say key aspect of my job. My job is to advocate for what is best for tsa. Admiral, can you talk just a little bit about how you see the relationship and the responsibilities at the federal level versus those at the local airports and how you envision that relationship moving forward. How do you plan on developing that relationship and what do you think it will look like . Senator, thank you for the question. I plan to invest a lot of time in developing relationships within tsa with the tsa workforce. I will spend a good deal of time with the stake holders aviation and surface. So i want to know the partners. I know what issues they have and can consider that. And i think its important to have really good relationships in advance. If there is an incident or something happens and people tend to get at odds, having a relationship in advance is important. I would invest significant time in the early part of my tenure n. If confirmed. Thank you. And then finally, we had this discussion. Your tsa officers, they have discretion. I would hope youd be committed to adopting written policies and procedures and help guiding that discretion for the tsa officers. I appreciated the discretion the organization gave my. I had guidelines that i need to follow. You have to make instant decisions and i want the workforce to know if confirmed they have a discretion within the guidelines can make the decision thez need to make. Thank you, admiral. The extension bill included legislation that i authored known as the screen fast act. The bill establishes a Pilot Program at category x parts arments for the purpose of implementing screening checkpoints to improve security. It was moving forward with the Pilot Programs to implementation of a new Security Check point at Denver National airport. Checkpoint lane with screening technology, using Biometric Technology that had the potential to automate the travel document checking process. Obviously, these are exciting possibilities and could mean a significant make a significant difference in terms of the through put of airports. Can you continually implement the outlines and at Denver National airport and other airport as cross the country. You have that commitment. Im very excited about those Pilot Programs. If confirmed, one thing i would want to take a look sat what does the check point of the future look like . They would involve those ideas. That would be to be a north star for the future of the organization. And you could align your personnel strategies, Acquisition Strategies and Innovation Strategies to get to that goal. I agree with you 100 , sir, that the more we can invent technology, just try things out. I think we should be willing to try some things out f they dont work as envisioned, then we look at something else. Trying them out is important. There are a lot of airports around the country that have great facilities that allow the testing projects, Pilot Programs to occur. Speaking of Denver National airport and the work theyre doing, obviously if you travel, there in the great hall where they do the screening, you got the upper level here where can you kind of sit and stand and take pictures looking down at everybody going through the checkpoints and take a look at who is doing what when it comes to security screening. Can you take pictures of the monitors as the xray machines do their work. They recognize in light of other tragic events around the globe that the need to make some security changes at the airport. And so theyre working on advance secure and secure technologies and talking about moving the restructuring the main terminal building to move the security locations. I like your commitment to work with other airports to ensure that checkpoints are adequately funded. The transition process is smooth and on schedule with minimal disruption. You that commitment. A plaud the initiative in looking at it. Thank you. There is funding for the Law Enforcement Office Program which provides reimbursement for the effort thats they put toward funding to compliment tsa security presence. Airports in colorado like Colorado Springs airport have expressed concerns that cuts could hurt their ability to have local Law Enforcement partnerships with the federal government to keep these places safe and security. So if confirmed, would will review the proposal to eliminate funding for the lao office . Senator, if confirmed, ill certainly examine the proposal to eliminate funding. Sec kelly testified on this just recently and i just echo the comments that when the grants were first established, they were never intended to be grants forever. It was intended to provide a boost when the program was first starting up. So i understand the rational for whats in the budget. I will take a close look at it. Thank you. Thank you. Just a couple questions here so we can get on to our members to ask. Tell me, i mentioned in my opening remarks that the administrations proposed budget cuts the viper team. Since you are appointed by the administration, how are you going to get around this other than us increasing the viper teams in the legislation . Sir, the Budget Proposal as i understand it reduces the viper teams from 31 to 8. So there is still viper teams present. I have worked with viper teams in the past. I understand the value that they provide not just to Aviation Transportation security but also to surface transportation security. I will work very hard to understand if those cuts are implemented how tsa would best implement those and coordinate closely with our stake holders. At the end of the day, i support the president s budget. But i want to make sure that as the appropriations process proceeds that members of congress have the information they need to make their own assessment of whats in the budgets. Well then, basically, i hate to put it this way, we have to save from you yourself. We doubled the viper teams on the appropriate legislation and everybody agreed with that. Theyve been doubled and is cutting that. And thats just not going to stand. So i guess its going to have to be us rescuing you to not only double it as what was provided last year but even increase it further. Because theres nothing like a dog as a deterent. Particularly in these areas where people are cueing up outside of security. And i agree with the risk of large congregations of people in any public space and what that presents and i would say that my experience with the viper teams very positive. I do think they have a very good effect on security. Let me ask you about the dhs inspector snen conducted covert testingst passenger screening technologies. And the results are classified but the ig described the results as troubling and disappointing. And according to media reports, tsa airport screeners failed to detect explosives and weapons nearly 95 of the time. So the dshig has announced that he is now engaged in another round of covert testing. So what you would when you get to be administrator do to correct the deficiencies . If confirmed, first thing ill do is read the ig report. I havent been able to read that report. I know the report exists. And i would just say as well that i appreciate the work that the ig is doing. I think thats a very valuable input into tsa operations and i take to heart the ig recommendations. We look closely at the classified section of that report. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Admiral, thank you for your willingness to serve. I think you have a great background. I think youre very well qualified. Like forward to supporting your confirmation. I also appreciate your quote from alex ander hamilton in your written statement. I think that not just applies you to but should apply to all of us, right . Its a very very useful quote. Were thinking about Public Service and the privilege that we all have in serving our fellow americans. I also appreciate just the focus in this hearing on the issues that you talked about in terms of personnel and retension and morale of the workforce. Like a lot of my colleagues, i travel a lot. You know, i live in anchorage and i see the tsa officials literally, you know, a couple times a week and i think overall we have outstanding men and women, you know, at least in my state and in anchorage and fair banks throughout the entire state. I think addressing morale issues as you say your young agency is going to be really important. Any sense on that i know you have to get on the ground and get a sense. Any sense right now how you want to do that . Yes, sir. I think its critically important. And my sense right now and base the coast guard, i think it is critically important that the top leadership of an organization interact with, understand, walk in the shoes of, their front line employees. And its important that those front line employees know you have their back. Youre providing them guidance. You want to seek their input as to how you what kind of guidance should we provide you. You stand behind those individuals. Because as you know, sir, going through check lines, everything is captured on video. And often times, i assume that tsa officers have fold the guidance thats been provided. I just think they need to be properly backed up by their leadership throughout. So for me, it would be showing keen interest in what they are doing. When i was in the coast guard, i spent the majority of my time in the field trying to understand how the mission was performed and what i could do as one of the leaders of the organization to make the folks that we charge with actually performing the mission more effective at performing it. Great. I think thats going to be an important focus. Let me talk about, you know, weve talked about a number of areas in terms of security. I want to highlight three and get a sense from you how you would prioritize these. We have obviously talked about air travel. And senator nelson just mentioned the whole issue of soft targets outside the security perimeter which i think is a big issue. Senator booker talked a lot and chairman talked about mass transit and i share their concerns obviously alaska doesnt have the mass transit that new jersey does but it certainly looks like its potential for soft target that terrorist could take advantage of. One that does impact my state, that id like your views on, is Critical Infrastructure. We have the 800 mile trans Alaska Pipeline thats one of the most important pieces of Energy Infrastructure in the country. So how do you how do you prioritize those three different areas . Air travel, mass transit on the ground, and Critical Infrastructure when youre looking at your Job Responsibilities . Yes, thats the significant challenge. And if confirmed, ooi would app the same principles, and thats what tsa is doing, and thats a riskba risk riskbased approach do you think tsa has given enough attention to infrastructure, not just transportation elements of the responsibilities of tsa . Yes, sir. I dont know the answer to that but thats one of the answers i want to get, if confirmed, to make sure we are. It is looking across the entire transportation system. You have to have an effort to focus on all of that to make the riskbased judgments going forward. I would like your views on that once you get confirmed. Again, i look forward to supporting your confirmation. Let me finish with, dhs is moving forward with the implementation of the real id standards for air travel in 2018 and as states are working their way through compliance, how do you foresee getting ahead and trying to mitigate what are bound to be under some circumstances are already happening passenger confusion and frustration at airport screen checkpoints that are going to result from that law. Yes, sir. If confirmed, i think communication is critical to make sure that folks understand i think the worst thing that can happen is someone shows up to the airport, they try to find the information and couldnt find it somewhere. Good communication is critical. Or that they know they have to come to the airport with certain ids. Yes, sir. Thats what im talking about. So they know what ids are acceptable the the airport. I think having a focus on that is important so we can mitigate you know, bottle neck across the country once that implementation happens. Yes, sir. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you. Senat senator cantwell this is. Thank you mr. Pekoske for your willingness to serve. Seatac has been one of the Fastest Growing hub in the United States for the last three years. It was designated to handle about 25 million passengers but last year handled about 45 million passengers and itll continue to grow. These issues of how we handle security and efficiency are important us to. Weve had many conversations in tsa, seatac tours, all of this, and has committed to adding additional staffing as the season demands. And i hope would you continue to do the same thing. Yes, senator, i would. Thank you. We will definitely be following up with you on details. Okay, my colleague from nevada brought up the k9 units and their effectiveness. To me, post whats happened in International Airports and our own facility, you mentioned deterrence, which i love the fact that these k9 units can be in the outer perimeters of the airport, which is just a great added layer of security. And also they can help make for a more expedient line, which is one of the ways that we handle seatac. Because if youre built for 25 million and youre handling 45 million, you need tools. Theyve been a very viable tool there. One of the ideas that weve been looking at, because i think nationally we need about 300 to 500 more k9 units. And the training does take a long time. Certification takes a long time. What about looking at, would you be willing to look at information and material about doing some of this training and facilities outside of lock land, if it met lockland standards . Yes. As you mentioned, senator, the supply is limited. And so if you have a desire to increase your capacity, you need to look at alternate sources of supply at the same time. Thank you for that. Thats a great commitment. Thats where i am. Just for the record i note that some airports are anxious. Our airport is willing to pay for this. Seatac has seen the cost effectiveness and security aspect of it. Just as they pay for other airport improvements, theyre willing to pay for this one. It is not letting the federal government off of any hook, they are just willing to help deal with the capacity issues. I hope that some of our colleagues would look at that as well and discuss with tsa. There is no better security than these dogs. No better security that we can get. Their ability to detect explosives, people talk about what happened in brussels, you know, that a k9 unit would have been able to target that activity well in advance. So i cant emphasize enough how much i think we need to make this investment. Thank you for your willingness to do the same. Thank you. Thank you, senator cantwell. Senator blumenthal . Thanks, mr. Chairman. Thanks for your service. Appreciate your being here this morning. One drublitroubling area of thr around the world and certainly at our transportation facilities is the use of everyday implement, vehicles, in causing the kinds of mass attacks that weve come to associate with other forms of weapons. Use of vans, for example, most recently in britain, brussels. I wonder if you could share with us your insights as to how those kind of attacks can be prevented, if they can be, what tsa is doing to research this area of threat and how youre working with other agencies. Sure. Senator, i dont know specifically how tsa is dealing with this kind of threat right now. If confirms i would take a very close look at that. I will make an assumption though, based on what i know about intelligence operations, in my coast guard experience, is that they are looking at threats at large across the board and closely coordinating with federal state and local agencies to gather information. And also through social media so they can get ahead of what might be chatted about in on the world wide web. So i commit to you that i will take a close look that to ensure the intelligence is properly focused, if confirmed. Well, i hope you will. It is obviously an area of great urgency. And we tend to focus on the tsa screeners at the airport. By the way, i want to join in thanking them for their service as i do the coast guard. I thank the tsa screeners at the airports where i go. I have a feeling im in the minority of people they see in expressing my appreciation. Certainly they are very dedicated. They have tough work to do and they perform an enormous service, and you will be providing them with leadership. And i want to say that two years ago i asked your predecessor at his nomination hearing about the task that senator booker raised, the task of our rail and transit network, vulnerability and recommendations of the 9 11 commission, he committed to completing the task of requiring railroads to properly vet and train employees and have plans to avert terrorist attacks at our rail and other transit facilities. Now we have a new administration and now rules unfortunately are still languishing. But making matters worse, the new administration pursued a regulatory freeze and a hiring freeze. Which may have impacts on the ongoing effort to implement these programs. So my question to you is, are you committed to completing these congressional mandates . Yes, sir. Im committed to going back and reexamining what the congressional mandate is so i understand it completely, and getting a very thorough assessment as to where tsa is with respect to meeting those commitments. This is meningococcal thatsomet bound to deal with. I would like to get on your schedule to come back and talk with you about it. I apologize that my schedule presented us from getting together before now. But i would welcome and sit down with you. Let me ask, finally, in the short remaining time i have, last month Homeland Security secretary kelly said in an interview, Television Interview on fox, and im paraphrasing, that passengers are trying to avoid checked bag fees. Cramming their belongs into carryon bags. That makes it hard for the tsa to screen bags. Full quote is people trying to avoid the 25 or 50 or whatever it is to check a bag are are stuffing your carryon bagges to the point well can be cant get any more in there. The more you stuff in there the less tsa professionals are looking what is in those bags through the monitors. They cant tell whats in the bags any who, end of quote. Would you agree with that assessment . I would say guilty as charged. I dot same thing. I watch tt sa screeners try to make sense of what i have in my brief case. Because ive got a lot of things in there. I know its incredibly difficult for them to do it. They do a very good job to discern whats there. Often time they have to go to a supervisor to validate concerns made. But there is an incentive to bring your bag with you, therefore you bring everything you can in that bag. It makes it harder for screeners. I also think if confirmed we ought to look at technology that might enable us to see whats better in those bags, knowing thats what passengers are doing. But there is a very low Tech Solution here. Which is, to eliminate the bag fees. Right. And to eliminate a lot of the incentive for people stuffing everything they own into the bags. Thats kind of obvious. And the only reason it hasnt made it out of there is because airlines are making money off of it. A lot of money. Senator marky and i have written to secretary kelly seeking Additional Information and i hope we can follow up with both you and him on this issue. And i wish you well in your new role. As a connecticut native. Yes, sir. And raised in southington, we would welcome you back. Hope you will come back and visit us. Yes, sir. And the Coast Guard Academy where you spent, i hope, a number of happy years. I did. Except for the first three months, Everything Else was happy. Just kidding. I was assigned back if connecticut for two years. Many members of my family are still in connecticut. Were up there often. So thank you, sir. Great. Let me know when you visit. Thank you. Senator peters . Thank you. Thank you mr. Pekoske for your testimony here today. In recent years, i know a number of airports have been putting substantial investments and some infrastructure in order to deal with safety and but the threats continue to get more complex. Youre getting increased threat in nonsterile areas as well. There is a tremendous need for additional security improvements from an infrastructure standpoint. But ive heard from airport in my state of michigan that when they talk to the faa about funding airPort Security initiatives, faa says it is the ponlt of the tsa. When they talk to tsa, tsa says its the sporesponsibility of t faa. So they find this fingerpointing back and forth frustrating, as i do. Im a member of this committee and also a member of the Homeland Security committee. We will try to work through this and find out how to coordinate better to make the necessary improvements we need to make. Right now im working on legislation that will allow the airports for passenger facility charge and i would like to hear from you, if confirmed, would you ensure the tsa does its part to help the airports with security Infrastructure Projects . Yes, sir. If confirmed, i think one of the first things to do is make sure that people are brought to the table and talk with each other. Bring Security Director to the faa lead in that airport and Airport Authority together to have a conversation as to what others roles are and expectationes. So they can find a line and path forward. What i will commit to you, im not familiar with funding streams associated with that but i will certainly take a look at it, given that you have raised it, sir, and get back foup. Thats my next question, if you have a security forced grant program, something you arent prepared to answer now probably. But if confirms, is that something you would put some effort into it . Yes, sir. I would look into that. Do you support the house proposal that would redirect Airline Security fees which are right now used to offset unrelated government funding . Would you support bring back in it Aviation Security purposes . Sir, i support Adequate Funding for tsa overall. And that funding arrives whether through fees or appropriate funds. As long as they get funding needed to provide security we are charged in law to provide. Im happy. The faa extension included a number of provisions to respond to Insider Threats and improve the screening of airport work s workers. Such as requiring vetting of airport workers as part of the fbis rat back program. Detroit Metropolitan Airport has been proactive in implementing these requirements and have gone further by rebathing all 18,000 employees every year, establishing a thorough and standardized inspection process for all delivery coming into the airport as well. Which is a way to get contraband and dangerous articles into the airport. What improvements do you hope to implement to address the issue of Insider Threats, if confirmed . Yes, sir. Insider threats is a significant issue. I think a lot of good work has been done. One is to increase random screening of airport workers. And not to the point yet of a hundred percent screening. Some airports do do that on their poen bown. But from a tsa standard, to increase random frequency in which those workers are checked. Other thing, i understand from my beefings, from tsa, to get ready for this hearing is they are are trying to reduce the number of checkpoints to Access Points in an airport are fewer in number so you can have greater control over the floi of workers back and forth. Very good. As you know, tsa screening passengers by Observation Program is designed to identify and engage individuals who may be high risk on the basis of their actions or verbal cues that tsa officers are watching. I know it has been an Important Program for protection and insurance of individuals. But i also know there are foengs who believe that this can lead to racial profiling as a whole and ive heard individual complaints from folks, particularly from the large Muslim American community i represent there. Im aware the airport in tel aviv is one of the most secure airports in the world and they have a variety techniques there. It is a balance that we have to make. Im curious as to what your thoughts are, on the screening, Observation Program, could you think its working, and how would you improve it if confirmed . Yes, sir. I dont have enough information to assess whether or not it is working. Some information i would get, if confirmed and i get into the agency and can better understand it, as i understand it from public reports, that bae hafory detection officer function has been embedded with the regular tsa work force as well which to me makes a lot of good sense. You have a lot more eyes looking at passengers as they go through. I appreciate your comment about racial profiling or profiling of any nature. Thats something we just dont do. If you get a report or complaint into that regard you need to look into it quickly to make sure if it did happen that you quickly adjust your procedures and training to make sure it doesnt recur. Unfortunately that will happen on occasion. You just need to look at it quickly and adwres it right up front. Great. Thank you so much. Thank you. Great. Thank you so much. Thank you. Front. Great. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Senator kolb shar is back. Okay. All right. Mr. Pekoske, sank you so much for being here and important work that needs to be done here and with have security briefing. And with lap tops to International Airports as tsa administration you will oversee screening travellers and baggage for 1. 8 million passengers a day for our nations airports. Given military service and experience and operational leadership, what do you think are Biggest Challenges associated with Aviation Security . Senator, the Biggest Challenges in my view is first and foremost the training of the tsa work force and support of tsa work force. If confirmed i would like forward to joining them in this effort. But they need to have guidance that makes good sense and im not saying that they dont have it right now, just something that i would look at because i havent been privy to that at this point in time. And also the discretion to make judgments on their part when they see something that might not fit for them. Thats very much a coast guard model. We Place Authority at the point of delivery in coast guard and give our young petty officers and young officers a lot of discretion as to how they apply guidance we provide. I think thats important. Plus as an individual i kind of like that. I like people to give me lead way into how i do my job. So for me absolute focus and secondly would be focus on the work force tools for the best of the job. Thats through Innovation Task force that i understand tsa has and produced good results. Putting technology in place that will make them more successful in their jobs to give the example of, you know, individual that screens carryon baggage. Look at screens if you get a chance to glimpse around and see the screen, it is very hard to discern good versus bad within that image. So providing better equipment to make sthat job better is important. And we keep testing it and debuting something new. Delta, atlanta with facial recognition and also self check. And i dont mean that, thats probably a good thing. But to find new things. It wit was a big change that leads know efficiency issue. Of course our number one goal security and it could generate an additional 85 billion in travel which and which of course means a lot of jobs. Which areas of tsa operations i think are opportunities to reduce travel or hassle without compromise]ing security. I think one of the key ways would be to bring more people into the trusted Traveler Program whether through precheck or global entry. That would be critical to improving the flow. You have to make sure you process them through the lines expeditiously as well because you cant have a longer cue in precheck line than standard line and expect people to want to do that. So i think that bringing more people into those kinds of programs is really important. The federal highering freeze how would the partial continuation affect our Homeland Security . As i understand tsa budget, the security will be felt on the part of tsa and that helps the operations continue but it does have, you know, ive watched this dynamic in the past in my Coast Guard Service at some point you cant trim support too deeply because you start to effect the ability of the front line forces to get jobs done too. Right. You and i had that discussion about morale. Just last question. We have in minnesota and they use a few in south dakota, many of the guidelines rely on general aviation kplun it to detect and report suspicious activity. For this strategy to be effective, it is important that pilots and personnel know who to contact with security concerns. What steps would you take to work with general Aviation Community to improve security. First off, if confirmed, make sure to know who to call. Thank you, mr. Chair. And admiral, it is very nice to see you again. Thank you for taking the time to come by my office. I appreciated your willingness to do that and our conversation very much. I would add my voice as we talked a little bit about it in that meeting to the request that you will take a look very closely at the impact of baggage fees on the way we do business and the cost to tsa. We have more bags to check and we are really taking a cost through tsa on the perhaps should be born by the airlines. So i would love it if you would continue to look at the impact of baggage fees on our security as well as convenience and operations. We have seen troubling incidents in public areas of nonsterile areas of our airports, los angeles incident in 2013. In which an active shooter killed five people. Sorry, officer was killed and then it was the Fort Lauderdale airport where five people were killed in the baggage claim area. Year ago, suicide explosions occurred in the public areas of Brussels Airport and istanbul at a turk airport, killed 61 people. And youve heard questions from my colleagues about the reductions to viper teams and grants to state and local Law Enforcement in the budget. What i would ask to you think about is that these soft areas of airports are really important. You know, the basic understanding i have of securities is always better to push the threat further away and so i will tell you as a former governor, if the local and state grants go away, you will see personnel reductions at our airports. It is just a fact. Because there just arent state and local budges to the match it. It may have started out as a, you know, a boost to help people get up to speed after the 11 but we are dealing with an evolving threat all the time. The need to change and coordinate across the country in our air traffic system, is really an important one. I would ask you to stand up for that principle that we have a National Interest in protecting the soft areas of our airports and perimeters. And that we really do need to help our local and state folks be partners with that. So i just hope you will commit to looking that closely and standing up for that principle. Yes, senator. I will look at everything you asked me to look at. Tsa held public Area Security summons force so far this year. Designed to look at framework established for public areas security and talk through an individual airport situations how various entities Law Enforcement Public Safety tsa would respond. For instance, why that is really important to continue to exercise. And other thing i mention, senator, is the use of what is called advance screening lanes, which is if you look at screening process, there are certain obvious bottle necks. One of them to me is the, when the individuals look to try to discern whats in your checked bag. Other one is, as passengers try to put their bags on the conveyor belt, some take longer because they are not as familiar or might have Different Things in their bags. So these advance screening lanes which i think are in 16 airports as i recall around the country, allowing that process to move faster as well. That would be very helpful. The other thing i wanted to talk on and i was at another hearing, so i may have missed someone else asking the question, with you i wanted to touch on, as i understand the faa extension bill from last Congress Helped increase vetting of u. S. Airport workers in order to protect against Insider Threats, and you have talked a little bit about that. And we obviously though dont have complete authority over foreign airports. In two recent attacks, one at mogadishu in somalia in 2016 and one in egypt in 2015, foreign airport workers were believed to be complicit in aiding the attack. From your perspective, do you think foreign airports especially those that are points of last departure to the United States are effectively screening their workers in order to root out potential terrorist threats . Senator, great question. And i dont know the answers to that. I havent delved into that. But if confirmed, i will look at that. I know that is something that secretary looked at with respect to the laptop. Thank you very much. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you. Thank you, mr. Chairman. And thank you admiral pekoske for taking this i think daunting challenge, really, on. And i certainly will be supportive and thank you for the visit to my office. When you were in my office we talked about not only your long and very admirable coast guard history, which im very much in awe of, we talked about k9 teams. Something ive become very interested in. In april when we passed legislation to ask tsa to have riskbased, we asked to add kthe teams because they are a reliable source. I do noent if ydont know if yo with this before i came into the room, but im curious over your perspective on k9 teams. And i know from Capitol Police that resources to acquire and whether theres enough k9s to fulfill the desired needs is another issue. Could you just address that issue . I think that would be helpful in terms of all aspects of transportation and in the perimeter when people are getting dropped off to the airport. If you could just talk about that a little bit. Thanks, senator. And thank you for your time in the office. I greatly appreciate the time you spent with me. With respect to k9s, i have experience. The coast guard used a limited number of k9 teams and safety and security teams. From my perspective, they are incredibly effective at detecting whatever it is the k9 is trained to detect. And they are also very effective in deterring. People see a k9, that either causes some behavior that people might notice or causes a person that might be thinking of based on the k9 and i think you are right and it takes as i understand it about a a year to get the k9. Senator cantwell asked me if we would consider other sourceson the sources we use as i understand it down at Lockland Air Force base and thats something im looking at exploring provided they meet the same standard. I agree with you completely, they are very effective what the they do. You touched on this a little bit as i have listened to your testimony. At least my impressions on certain occasion of going through the lines at the airports, that i would imagine the challenge of the morale, you know, tsa agent on the front line right there, has to be pretpre pretty patient. Have you elderly people, kids, people that have never been through a line, people who are mad because their flight is late. Theyve got an attitude. Then youve got everybody else. And maybe theyve been waiting in line for 15 to 20 min and they are tired of it. I am concerned about the morale issue. How do you propose to address that and has there been a deep dive into what the actual Job Satisfaction of a tsa agent is and what improvements could be made . I learned actually over in my Appropriations Committee that believe it or not park Service Personnel dont like their job. We all would think working at a National Park would be something everybody would like to do. So im curious know because i think this is really important issue to be effective. Senator, i couldnt agree with you more. I think is one of the most important things for a potential administrator of tsa to take a look at. I think it is critically important that the work force view, if im confirmed, as someone who understands challenges they face day in or day out. Beyond what a normal passenger going through the line will see. It is a hard job. Have you to be right all the time. I would reemphasize that what they do is so critically important. I think they need to be reminded what that is. They are in many cases the last line of defense for somebody getting through our security process. Gate check is not much of a Security Check at all. They are the ones providing direct security both for aviation and for surface trance f transportation. I want make sure they are appreciated by leadership and have leadership that understands completely what they are dealing with. Good communication and presence i think are important. The final thing i would add is top leadership interest is one thing. But you have to have interest throughout the entire leadership within an organization. First line supervisor has to be completely engaged with our employees and really trying to find out what will make them become more engaged in the work force. Im concerned with the survey of results i see and some reports i see as well. I appreciate that. A final dmcomment, i know you wl be confirmed. After youre confirmed, im sure you will be traveling across the country to many airports. I would encourage you to go, and im sure you will, to go to the smaller rural airports to see the different challenges and also to see how successful they are at meeting the challenges that they have in the smaller regional airports. Thank you very much. Thanks, senator. I look forward to doing that. Thank you. Start in south da cotta and west virginia, right . Checking out smaller airports where all of the parks employees are happy. It is in minnesota that they are not happy, i think. I think thats everybody that we have, admiral. So again, welcome and we appreciate so much your remarks this morning and your responses to our questions and your willingness to serve our country in this very important role. And we hope to be able to move your nomination fairly quickly and so given that, were going to deep the hearing record open until this friday, june 23, and in the next couple of days, if there are more questions for the record, submit it as quickly as possible. If you could respond as quickly as possible we would like to be able to have you on your markup agenda next week. So i think with that, again, thank you. We appreciate your cooperation. Cooperation of all the members of the committee. And with that, this hearing is adjourned. After weeks of negotiations behind closed doors, tomorrow Senate Republicans will unveil their plan for replacing parts of the Affordable Care act. The draft legislation is expected to differ from what House Republicans narrowly passed last month. Once released, itll assessed by the Congressional Budget Office before its brought to senate floor. Without democratic support, republicans can only afford to lose two votes from members within their own party in order for Vice President pence to serve as a potential tiebreaking vote. As always, you can watch live floor debate and senate on cspan 2. Cspans washington journal, live everyday, with news and policy issues that impact you. Coming up thursday morning, california congressman on apprenticeship, especially for the tech industry. Then kentucky congressman massey talks about his bill that would allow people who have a concealed carry permit from others states to carry under d. C. As well. And director of fiscal policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center on the new projection for the u. S. Debt limit. Be sure to watch cspans washington journal live beginning at 7 00 eastern thursday morning. Join the discussion. Sunday on kwa q a i was a reported, covered politics, and i got interested in political power. And conceived of these books, first months us power and cities, urban power, johnson national power, studies in political power. Snths us power cities, urban power, johnson national power, studies in political power. Enths us power cities, urban power, johnson national power, studies in political power. Snths us power cities, urban power, johnson national power, studies in political power. 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It was only when compassion and ambition coincided when he is in the senate. He realizes if he wants to be president , he has to pass civil rights bill. If he really turns to this. But then you say, so was he feeling false . Not at all. Because all his life he haded t particularly poor people of color. Sunday night at 8 00 eastern on cspans q a. In august, parts of the u. S. Will see a Solar Eclipse for the First Time Since late 70s. On wednesday, officials from glass, Transportation Department and National Park service spoke about preparations for the event and how to safely view the eclipse. This is just under an hour. Good afternoon here on the east coast and good morning out west. My name is dwane brown. With nasa Headquarters Office of communications. We are coming tu