And welcome to this hearing on detecting the nation, Transportation Systems. We reflect on a summer day in american history, 18 years ago that terrorists turned a address the agencys progress towards implementing modernization the committee will exercise oversight to existing security programs. Notably the passenger screening teams in february administrator pekoske briefed the committee on disturbing testing results from the ig and promised to revamp k9 training. Tsa is committed to making the federal federal air Marshals Program more intelligent space. Improving todays Frontline Security programs is important but tsa must adapt to changing threats and technologies. Emerging Technology Including biometrics, perhaps we will hear about that today. Understand tsa has a biometrics roadmap but we certainly need to do this in light of concerns involving privacy, Data Protection and civil liberties. I look forward to a robust discussion today on the vital role the tsa plays. Madam Ranking Member you are now recognized for opening remarks. Thank you mr. Chairman let me welcome deputy administrator cogswell joining us this morning and thank you for all the work that tsa does in keeping us safe everyday. On this somber day we remember the tragic and devastating events of 18 years ago an adversary motivated motivated by nothing short of and evil attack on our nation and the horrifying loss of life was unimaginable. Establishing the Transportation Security Administration was among several steps that Congress Took to help ensure the attack would never be repeated. The committee worked hard to complete the work on the faa reactors a snack of 2018 also including the first conference of wrap her station that tsa since the agency was created shortly after september 11 attacks. Therefore this is on the oversight of the agency as it continues its Critical Mission and implements the mandate included in the tsa authorization formally known as the tsa modernization act. As you know last your tsa modernization act post focused on security by addressing such issues as training and deployment of k9 for screening of passengers and cargo reinforcing efforts on Insider Threats in expediting testing and deployment of screening technologies and various organizations to ensure the effective leadership at the agency. I also want to note i appreciate the work of the northwest pacific laboratories who have worked through security in developing what we call up the tsa salute but nonetheless this overhead has given quite a security layer and yesterday i had the chance to talk with acting their cogswell about the next generation of technology which well be deploying at airports but with individual travelers and their Cargo Containers the Pacific Northwest laboratory continues to stay ahead on cuttingedge technology and we appreciate the work of our r d labs in helping us maintain security. I also appreciate your candor regarding your recent diversion of tsa resources to the southern border. I spoke to you about a letter that was sent by my colleague senator wicker and die about the diversion of those resources. My guess is we will have a chance to ask you in this mornings hearing about that. The request indicated the time there could be additional 800 that would be deployed with the ultimate goal of 175 to support the cbt operations so i look forward to asking about those questions this morning. As my colleague said we are here to review what we can do to make sure that tsa remains a strong and viable force. I remain very interested in the k9 unit success and the further deployment of that as one of the Fastest Growing airports if not the Fastest Growing airport in the nation, seatac. The challenges of moving people and making sure we are all secure is a very very important daily tasks tassel thank you for being here to address these issues. Thank you senator cantwell. Members and guests should know that senators on the floor will be observing a moment of silence at 11 00 this morning and in connection with that this committee will also be observing that moment of silence at the stroke of 11 just before votes begin. So be mindful of that and ms. Cogswell we are delighted to have you and we are interested in hearing your opening statement. Thank you for being here. Good morning chairman wicker Ranking Member cantwell and members of the committee thank you for inviting me to testify about the work the Transportation Security Administration does to keep our nations Transportation System secure. We appreciate the support of congress and are their grateful for the productive relationship we have with this committee as well as the authority provided in the modernization act of 2018 the first rasterization of the agency part on september 11, 2001 nearly 3000 people died as the result of the worst act of terrorism ever committed on american soil. From this tragedy we renewed our dedication that defined her nation. 9 11 changed us all. We devote never again to face such an attack. Congress created the tsa just two months afterwards. 18 years a pass since the tragic events of september 11 and while Many Americans including some of tsas current employees are too young to have a recollection of that day aviation and other modes of transportation remained highly soughtafter targets by terrorists whose methods of attack remain more decentralized and opportunistic than ever before the tsa must meet the challenge of pervasive and constantly evolving threats in physical and cyber rounds. Tsa passman most important asset in the fight is its people. Im extremely proud of the 60,000 dedicated professionals who make of tsas workforce. Everyday they demonstrate their core values of integrity respect and a significant portion of our workforce including transportation security offers federal air marshal transportation security inspectors k9 handlers intelligence personnel and support staff worked without pay for 35 days during the partial government shutdown. It is incredibly trying period employees dedicated to true professionalism and commitment to the mission despite suffering significant financial and personal challenges. We are grateful that members of congress continue to look for ways to protect our workforce and event of appropriations and stand ready to work with you on this effort. Tsa was an important year for the direction of tsa not only to Congress Passed in the presence signed the tsa modernization act but tsa developed a strategy through 2026 and to guide the execution. During 2019 we focused on the implementation. Tsa has completed more than 46 of the 180 requirements mandated in the act and 53 of those met the specific deadline. Completed requirements range from global aviation review to air Cargo Division establishing a Surface Transportation Security Advisory Committee. When it minister pekoske described the efforts to rapidly advance tsas acquisition tomography screening system and credential authentication technology. It allow tsa to margot identify professional threats and less invasive mourad invented ways in the most effective of our screening processes in the passenger experience. Thanks for the support of congress tsa awarded a contract for 300 machines in 500 cat machines and is beginning to climb point me traditionally consistent with the tsa modernization act requirement for. Check in 2019 we successfully conducted pilots to two airports for significantly higher throughput for clear check only lanes. We are encouraged by results of a new option that we are testing that enables passengers to enroll via a mobile tablet at the airport near the checkpoint. We know the importance of assessing risk as we carry out her mission to consistent with the modernization act requirement. Our federal air marshals and integrated riskbased intelligencedriven rules through prioritized Mission Deployment strategy focused on highrisk travelers and revise International Risk assessment models. Similarly tsa is taken a number of strategic actions to address the risks associated with Insider Threats including the establishment of the subcommittee on to improve air corps or per worker and tropic tsa plans to produce a roadmap to mitigate insider rest. Tsa recognizes the strategic success depends on our workforce. The commission a Blue Ribbon Panel comprised of public and private sector leaders with experiment extensive expertise to conduct a full review of human capitol policies and delivery at tsa. We have used the result of efforts. The establishment of the National Advisory counsel to develop a number of Workforce Initiative including twotier Performance Systems model officer Recognition Programs and a tsa progression program. Tsas fame and recognition of the tenth anniversary of the september 11 attacks is honoring the memory and protecting the nation. We are confident their vigilance elaboration with domestic and International Partners in the support of congress who all return mutual goal is not on our watch. Chairman wicker Ranking Member cantwell and members of this committee thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today and i look towards your questions. Thank you very much for your testimony. Let me start by asking about something that i dont think we saw in your. Testimony and thats the Screening Partnership program. In the modernization act including included a number of provisions to enhance the Screening Partnership program such as allowing Airport Operators to participate in the evaluation of the spp. When will tsa finished developing this process and are you currently breathing these assessments to every airport director . Thank you very much for the question. A number of requirements enabled individual airport to choose to use contracted private entities before Screening Services while still matching the quality and type of screening provided by a similar entity to tsa. We have brought on board the majority of those requirements specifically and the largest one being ensuring use of the full cross recovery that the federal government uses to evaluate the individual performance entity. At this point we have already reported three new contracts this year under the new requirements. The fourth one is expected before the end of september and we have several more scheduled for completion in early 2020. Are you breathing every airport director about this . Every airport directors closely tied into the process by which we solicit requirements and proceed through the actual analysis. Okay. Its our understanding that tsa will be turning away travelers that dont have real i. D. Compliance and i. D. Cards on october 1 of next year. How is that going and do you have contingency plans for obviously the people who will be caught by surprise . As you correctly noted october 1, 2020s the final implementation date for the real i. D. Act is implemented through regulation. Critically important to recall the rational reason for the act in the first place are the recommendations coming from the 9 11 commission noting that with most spy perpetrators of the attack. The stage where in incredibly close good nation with dhs and every location around the country. We are working to get signed out we recently started an individual travel they will be notified of the document they are presenting at the time they come to our travel back in a check or whether their identity documents will meet the requirements next year. We want to make sure everyone has a maximum amount of time they can in order to obtain a real i. D. Compliant document or other forms of identification such as the passport for military dedication. Ive got my drivers license here. Are all the states compliance with the drivers licenses that are being issued as of the state . 50 of 56 are currently compliant. The six remaining are scheduled to be completed in the next year. Some of those are states. Thats very good and it seems to me that those 56 jurisdictions comply that will take care of almost everybody. We sure hope so. Is tsa. Check helping to make the lines shorter for everybody else . Thank you very much for that question. In fact we see a profound change in airports where significant population are. Check members. In terms of the overall airports. As of right now we have about 20 million individuals who are in the program having no traveler number and that includes 9 million directly involved with. Check another 9 million who are members of the Global Entry Program and an additional other populations through the process we used to bring in other additional populations through very highly controlled processes. At this point we see nationwide about 20 of all travelers each day are. Check. A quite good number. We want to see it continue to grow. Does that help the other 80 . It does. Theres a requirement non. Check passengers must remove their liquids. If you are. Check this is relaxed. Tell us about that and what is the status of tsas deployment of computed tomography screening machines and what is your anticipated timeline on allowing all passengers not just. Check to keep liquids and laptops in their bags during screenings . As you know the one of the primary differences between the most visible differences between standard screening in. Check screening is the ability to leave your laptop within your bag and to leave your shoes on and a light jacket. You dont have to take off clothing in order to get through the screening equipment. As you have noted one of the pieces we see that will help us get to the next stage is that computed tomography or ct machine. Those machines because of their greater ability to gather Additional Data provide a significantly enhanced ability to see with them that carryon bag to look for items that might be a threat inning we have to have less vestige or less passengers have to pull out from their bags. Laptops are the ones well proceed with first. We are working very carefully with the make years of equipment to look or what algorithms we can put in place to enhance beyond that will get us to liquids. Im intruding on senator cantwells time to what is your timeline . We are working to develop the algorithm to truly tell with the type of liquid it is. Ai. Thank you senator cantwell. Saying thank you chairman and administer cogswell i think we are at 135,000 people a day and almost 50 million a year. I noticed seatac says it was built in 1949 to accommodate 1 Million People so the fact that we are accommodating 50 Million People chose the stress and strain on the system and as we discussed yesterday moving cargo is what we do in the northwest as well. These security measures are of utmost importance to us and continuing to do a good job with added security layer in a fashion so i wanted to ask you about the new rules for developing the k9 units and for thirdparty explosive sections. When will we see those and whether what other nations as a reaper sank fully trained teams available for deployment and also i wanted to ask you about the diversion to the southern border, how many ts people were diverted and what were the impacts on lines in airports across the country . The program you are noting is we refer to it as thirdparty k9. Republish the regulations last december and immediately began training teams. At this point in time we have more than 171 teams in 30 entities performing screenings. Those private screenings requirements of those private screening entities already operating today. Extend, expect to see continued growth in volume in that space. We have had a lot of interest in it. As to your question about the southwest border on the k9 point is tsa pursuing other initiatives or do you think youll be more aggressive in pursuing the thirdparty streams . In addition to the aspect around the thirdparty candidate we are looking at the next review, next enhancement of technology that could be available for use in screening of cargo appeared similar to the same types of equipment that we use in checked bags today and they are moving to the checkpoint we think there is much greater capability for pallet sized much larger sized cargo training environment. Its safe to say that seatac will be aggressively using k9s in tsa will be continuing its own efforts as well as whatever seatac does on its own absolutely. This is an area that we think is right for complete evolution and we are very pleased that partnership is dedicated to that mission. Okay now, to the border. To the border. We have been detailing personnel to support cbp early in the summer. The high water point of the total number of people that be had down at the southern border at any given time is about 350. Today we are down to around 100 80 post congresses approval of the supplemental as well as the decrease we have seen in the number of migrants appearing at the border. They are all volunteers. They chose to support that mission. We are currently grateful for their choice to perform in serving that function. The types of activities they perform include providing transportation from capability to hospitals making sure theres a security layer and returning to the tension facility but other areas help supply in personal belongings when someone arrives in other aspects in that sense. As we continue to move forward we make very clear decisions after going through the setup of the program that we would not endanger transportation security. Or greatly disadvantage any one location. They specifically designed the volumes of people and locations to have minimal impact. So you are saying minimal im