America about the efforts to improve the safety of airports and planes and what the federal government can do. Security wille now come to order. Thank you, Ranking Member and the panel of witnesses for joining us today. We are here to discuss proposals for how to restore our nations been so system that has devastated by covid19. We have seen passenger volume in the last few months go as low as 5 of normal. Today it is close to 15 to 20 of normal, but that is not good enough to keep the Aviation Industry in business. It is not good enough to help this nation. Know, this pandemic is unprecedented. The lack of federal leadership and interaction, coordination is very concerning to all of us. We ask the question, how can we project our frontline aviation workers and our passengers if consultation and coordination is not there. That is why Sherman Thompson and i recently sent a letter with the leadership of the Transportation Committee to the heads of dhs and tot calling for preferred and dot calling for preferred Interagency Task force to take a holistic approach to supporting our nations Aviation Industry. I am concerned about the requirements for mass Temperature Checks, Health Assessments across the Aviation Industry. A lot of different requirements, a lot of confusion. The is not good for traveling public. It creates risk for passengers and aviation workers. Trusteeto follow and expertise and recommendations of our Public Health officials. They have to be the ones front and center when it comes to public policy. Our decisions ultimately will affect millions of travelers at nearly 11 Million People whose jobs depend on a healthy aviation sector. I repeat, 11 million workers wil who depend on the Aviation Industry. Among the published cdc guidelines are social distancing measures. Stayathome orders were issued across the country and they have been credited with helping to slow the spread of this deadly virus. Social distancing measures are visible at security checkpoints and at boarding gates. However, on board, many aircraft, different images have emerged, and social media folks have crowded airfare aircraft, full of unmasked passengers. Americans are rightly surprised and troubled to see passengers forced to travel in those by allons when accounts the demand for travel is still very low. Even now we hear from airlines that limiting passenger load factors or limiting middle seats is not necessary. They are with very limited resources. That is why we must take we must make sure that the measures we put into place are effective and innovative. I look forward to hearing from witnesses who represent different parts of the industry and have different perspectives on Temperature Checks, Health Assessments, of questioners, and Contact Tracing. The complexities of air travel under covid19 have also sparked an interest in technological solutions. We have seen contact between frontline employees and passengers, critical to limit the transmission of the virus. Of equal importance is to make sure that medicine is not worse than the disease. The impact of these technologies and procedures on the privacy, civil rights, and Civil Liberties of the flying public must be communicated clearly as well. Further, any such protocols such as Temperature Checks should be subject to notice and comment by arepublic before they widespread deployed. I am stand that psa is considering installing cameras with facial Recognition Software on tsas Credential Authentication Technology or cap machines or cat machines. Before we install that kind of technology in airports, tsa has a lot of work to do. This committee has done a great deal of oversight on this issue, but there are still many concerns over Data Collection, data protection, and use of publics identity could somebody mute themselves out there . Any ones interest to see the department push out facial Recognition Technology without having the necessary protection in place. Another technology under consideration is the detection at range, which uses thermo Imaging Technology to detect metal and nonmetallic threats. However, history reminds us that the last time tsa deployed Image Technology, specifically the advanced Image Technology at checkpoints today, congress had to step in. Congress issued a deadline to stop the use of scanners that did not protect the passengers privacy, which resulted in avatar used today. Ultimately, i am looking for solutions and i want to hear from our aviation partners, and the public has a right to an state that highlights the issues that are made. I want to hear from our stakeholders, how they are protecting frontline workers. There is no Aviation Industry without the workers. Keeping workers healthy and safe, supporting them during the pandemic, will ensure that this industry and its employees make it through. Our Aviation Industry is resilient but needs all of us to Work Together to ensure the safety, security, and health of the public. And i look forward to a discussion today, and i would like to recognize the Ranking Member for an Opening Statement. The chair recognizes Ranking Member of the subcommittee, the gentlewoman from arizona, ms. Lesko, for an Opening Statement. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Hello to chairman thompson and Ranking Member rogers. Good to speak with you as well. I am pleased that the subcommittee is meeting today to perform oversight that is critical to both the health of our nation and our nations i am disappointed, however, that members are not allowed to meet in person. I for 1 am here in washington d. C. , and am on to other committees where we are allowed to go in person even if other members choose to go remotely. My understanding is that the committee does not allow that. While other committees have developed protocols to allow members to safely meet in committee, this committee has not. This is not in keeping with the guidance of the house rules committee. I hope that soon we can move forward in a manner that allows members to be physically present further worker constituents to do so. Turning to the topic of todays hearing, i want to commend the men and women of the tsa for continuing to do their jobs. Afely throughout the pandemic even as their agency became the hardest hit department. Tsa personnel have tested positive for the virus, and tragically, five tsa personnel have lost their lives. That sincerely want to say i pray for the families, for their comfort from their loss. The Aviation Industry is one of many sectors of the economy that has been devastated by the impact of covid19. Air travelemic peak, drops below 100,000 passengers per day, a level not seen in the history of tsa, and far below the average 2. 5 million travelers today that tsa was screening prior to the virus outbreak. I can tell you from personal experience, when this whole thing kind of started and i started traveling back to washington, d. C. , there was. Aybe 12 people on the plane it has since grown. When i came last, the plane was pretty full, not totally full, but it was getting better. That is also due to the fact that my airline i travel on cut down to one nonstop flight per day. Reemergesion fully from the worst of the pandemic, we are beginning to see hope that air travel is starting to increase. With his recovery, tsa and transportation stakeholders are responding to new challenges in order to keep travelers safe and get america flying again. This process presents stakeholders and this subcommittee with important questions, including what will the tsa screening process look like . What changes need to occur for passengers to be and feel safe . And what more can be done to protect passengers from a potential second wave of coronavirus or a future pandemic . These questions and more continue to circulate within the Aviation Community, and it is my hope to hear feedback from our Stakeholder Panel today. Having recently received a briefing from tsas administrator, i am eager to ear the stakeholders on how to implement new solutions to passenger screening and safety, the aviation sector is truly on the front lines in the fight to protect Public Health and ensure the Free Movement of people. And that fuel americas economy. I really do want to thank each one of the witnesses today. We are in unprecedented times. When i first started traveling, it looks like a ghost town, like we were on some kind of movie did not exist anymore. I was often the only car pulling up to be dropped off at the airport, and so i am glad to see that it is picking up somewhat. But i do want to hear from witnesses what their recommendations are, because we honestly need to get our economy back working again. So thank you again. And i yield back. Rep. Correa thank you, can you hear me ok . I want to thank the Ranking Member. For that i would like to yield to the Ranking Member for the purpose of public policy. Thank you. Could you please explain the procedures for remote proceedings . Rep. Correa let me explain House Committee rules and processes. They will apply during these meetings. Members will be expected to adhere to those rules of the committee and the house. The committee will operate in accordance with House Resolution 965, and the subsequent guidance from rules committee w no respect the rights of all members participate. Committee will respect the rights of all members to participate. The technology we use today will members to proceed. Rep. Lesko thank you. Rep. Correa first, to simplify the order of questioning, i will establishing a quorum before voting. Members should make every effort to remain visible on the screen throughout the proceedings. If a member experiences issues with their video stream, they may proceed with solely audio to ensure connection. Provided they have been identified previously. At the beginning of this hearing, members are on mute. Members may unmute themselves in order to be recognized for the purposes of their fiveminute questioning of the witnesses. Speaking,clusion of members will be expected to then mute themselves again to prevent excess background noise. In the event that a member does not mute themselves after speaking, the clerk has been directed to mute the members to avoid background noise. Should a member wish to be recognized to make a motion, they must unmute themselves and seek recognition at the right time. Rep. Lesko thank you, mr. Chairman. Before we proceed, i have a question for the staff. Mr. Chairman, i dont know if you knew it, but your video went away and youre speaking went away for a while, at least on my end. So do we need to repeat all the stuff for the record that you said that he said when we lost connection with him . Member, any staff anybody on this call . Mr. Chairman, if you could just leav reader last paragraph one more time. Rep. Correa if a member does not mute themselves after speaking, the clerk has been directed to mute members to reduce background noise. They must seek recognition at the right time. To the staff, you might want to email all of these rules out if you have not already, because it was not the last paragraph that went out. I can go back and read the whole rep. Lesko i dont need it for me, i just dont know if it needs to be done officially or not. I can move on. Thank you, mr. Chairman. What could a member expected should they encounter technical issues during a remote event which is kind of funny, because it just happened. Rep. Correa ms. Lesko, you are prophetic. In the event that someone is not recognized for questioning, i will move to the next available member of the same party and will recognize that member at the next appropriate time slot, provided they have returned to the proceeding. Should a members time be interrupted by technical issues, i will recognize that member at the next appropriate spot for the remainder of the time once their issues have been resolved. In the event that i should encounter technical issues, vice chair of the committee, if available, or the next Senior Member of the majority, shall assume the duties of the chair until i am able to return to the proceedings. Thank you. Rep. Lesko all right, thank you. Mr. Chairman, what should members respect regarding decorum during a remote event . Rep. Correa thank you. Members are reminded that they are only allowed to attend one Virtual Event at a time. Should they need to attend another committees proceedings, please fully exit the hearings for entering another proceeding. Finally, all members are reminded that they are expected to observe standing rules of a committee decorum for appropriate attire and should have a professional and a political background when they are participating in any remote event. Rep. Lesko thank you. And what should members expect if a witness loses conductivity . Rep. Correa in the event a witness loses conductivity during testimony and questioning, i will preserve their time as staff addresses the technical issue. I may need to reset the witness to for the reconnect. Debbie, you are muted. Go ahead. Cannot hear you. I think what is happening is i am doing it and the staff is doing it. Hopefully you can hear me now. Mr. Chairman, finally, what should members expect if a vote is called during a remote event . Rep. Correa thank you. House resolution 965 requires members to be visibly present to have their vote recorded during a remote event. Members who join a proceeding after a vote is called who are not called upon for their vote should seek recognition from the chair to ensure that their vote is recorded, and should a member lose conductivity during a roll call vote connectivity during a roll call vote, i will hold the vote open for a period of time to address the issue and give them the opportunity to have their vote recorded. Rep. Lesko thank you, mr. Chairman, and i yield back. Rep. Correa with that, ask unanimous consent to waive eight sub a sub two for the recovered period designated by the speaker on the House Resolution 965. Without objection, so ordered. Thethe chair now recognizes chairperson of the full committee, the gentleman from mississippi, mr. Thompson, for an Opening Statement. Mr. Thompson . Mr. Thompson, cannot hear you, sir. Ok, i think we got it this time. For holding todays hearings. Holding the safety envision mayor travel in the era of covid19. Consists of so much more than tsa. Municipals airports, authorities, airlines, and dedicated all of the employees. Additionally, it includes civil rights and Civil Liberties, organizations, focus on travel andravelers rights in the wake of heightened concerns during coronavirus. Not only inflicted unprecedented loss of life on our country, but it has devastated Industries Including the aviation sector. Our nations Aviation System has been the front line of efforts to stop the spread of this pandemic from the beginning. Transportation Security Offices constantly interact with passengers, crew members, and airport workers, putting themselves at risk each and every day. Date 651 to tsa, to tsa employees have tested positive for the virus. Of which 468 employees have recovered and sadly, five have died. And as chairman of this committee, i had been advocated tirelessly i have advocated tiredly on behalf of the tsa workforce and has demanded they be issued appropriate equipment like gloves and masks to do their important work. They come after all, are on the front lines of aviation they, after all, are on the front lines of aviation, public globaly, during the publi pandemic. We must do everything to ensure that the public is kept safe from this virus. This includes airport workers, flight crewmembers, and mechanics. Keep these employees safe, not only of the workers but also risking further spread of the virus. Like i mentioned earlier, the impact of covid19 has been devastating to the sector. According to tsa, air travel is down 84 from this exact moment last year. Given this reality, the federal thernment must establish right health, safety, and Security Standards to protect airport workers and restore Public Confidence in travel. This will require significant coordination and collaboration on the part of agencies like tsa, the faa, and the white , coordination and collaboration that currently does not exist. Instead, we see a patchwork of standards and requirements throughout the aviation sector that the American People and the publicn traveling deserve better. That is why i call for the dhhs to ensure that all efforts and Public Policies are coordinated into highest levels in a holistic matter to ensure the recovery of the Aviation Industry. Recent news supports that the dhhs may be preparing to commence a Temperature Check program where tsa will be tasked with checking