Coronavirus. The committee on Homeland Security will come to order. The committee is meeting today to receive testimony on Administration Budget request for the department of Homeland Security. Without objection, the chair is authorized to declare the committee in recess at any point. Acting secretary wolf is here today on the extraordinary troubling circumstances. Americans are rightfully concerned about this coronavirus, and spread its way across cost group called and claimed the lives of thousands and including at least six years home. Working to the government for leadership and guidance. And fourthly the Trump Administration, has not been equal to the task so far. In the place of this potential pandemic, the president is downplayed as threats, overstated help close scientists are to developing a vaccine, and muzzling experts in his own administration who disagree with him. It is a crisis unfolds, the president has continued to hold political rallies including a recent one that he called the coronavirus a hoax. Perpetrated by democrats. Even for a president who is a casual relationship with the truth, this is not only an outrageous thing but also incredibly dangerous. The president must not start his responsibilities. A person is him to step up in a time of crisis. Like president ial robert nations history. That means acknowledging the threat and having health and security of the American People political considerations, and the stock market and allowing doctors and scientists, and other qualified experts to offer candid assessments of the situation and direct the fellow response. As for the department of Homeland Security, our main concern about the lack of leadership and persistent vacancies and especially during this critical time. Mr. Wolf is the fit person tent set through this in three years of Trump Administration. It is been 328 days since the department of Homeland Security have had the Senate Confirm second secretary. Its not in a certain mr. Wolf appointment is valid. The federal court ruled in recent days that the acting deputy secretary appointed as the director, was on lawful calling into question his position of the department. Unfortunately, the president appears to prefer chaos to order and political expediency to the government. Make a mistake, and going vacancies and lack of leadership have consequences. Especially at a time with this. For example, since 911, the federal government has invested heavily in developing doctrine to the fine roles and responsibilities for incidents response. And no one in the administration seems to be familiar with that. As americans face a potential coronavirus pandemic, the administration appears to be flatfooted and scrambling to figure out who is in charge. Meanwhile the president s proposed budget prioritizes his Immigration Campaign promises at the expense of our four homeland expense activity in response abilities include agencies and programs that are in trouble to the coronavirus response. I remain committed to ensuring the department receives the funding it needs to carry out its mission on behalf of American People. Similar members of both parties rejected the president recent lowball coronavirus emergency supplemental request. Apparently, the president is having to expend an unlimited amount of u. S. Tax papers money on useless border wall and faced with the prospect of global pandemics, he would have nickel and dime did our response. This is unacceptable. Now is certainly not the time to leave federal agencies engaged in the response resources in the coming days, we will send the president providing the funding necessary to fight the coronavirus. Before close i want to address the challenges associated with the departments refusal to cooperate with the committees oversight efforts. Hundreds of Trump Administration the department has failed to provide the documents requested by this committee as part of this constitutionally mandated oversight deficit. Even under subpoena. When the company does receive documents, they are incomplete, or heavily redacted. So as to render their useless. The behavior of this party, gives the impression that it is seeking to evade oversight or have something to hide. That is not true. If we cannot trust the Trump Administration to be transparent with regular congressional oversight, heavily trusted to be honest with the emergent people in time of crisis. And the best time for the president and his administration, to be the leaders of the American People need and deserve. Counting on administration to secure the nation, and on congress to hold you accountable. Please note that we will uphold our responsibility, mr. Acting secretary. I sincerely hope the president and his administration old theres pretty mature now it recognizes the member, of the committee to this gentle man mrg statement. Thank you. We look over to hearing from you predict this past year has been a challenging one for dhs pretty last year, this country has seen over a million men women and children that swamped our immigration system in a matter of months. Strange resources. But the men and women of dhs has responded to the crisis dedication and professionalism. Congress was sold and but we finally provided resources to address the problem. And it was a crisis. If one year ago, and lastly, my democrat colleagues tweeted there is no National Emergency in the water. Because of his administration bold actions, we are no longer saying the record breaking levels migration at the southern borders so far this year. Im deeply disappointed that for political reasons, they want to acknowledge simple fact that President Trump is succeeding for others and ministrations have failed. The present budget fully funded the successful order strategy double down the wall. However the Department Faces more challenges in the year ahead. Security, cybersecurity and the coronavirus responsible test dhs resources and management. Im concerned about slashing fema Grant Programs and other programs. Removal of the secret service from dhs. Another chairman and i agree in this. Those cuts directly impede efforts to secure our country while it is great with the 2021 budget request, i believe the Congress Also with dhs. We owe it to the department to provide direction and regular comprehension reauthorization we cannot expect the department to function with haphazard direction and funding authorizations from 2002. I understand that the majority enters mark of a bill. You and i both of calls to the floor, the authorization i hope that is what this committee considered in april. We may have different approaches and a proposal but we want the same thing. It we want this department to function correctly. I look forward to discussing this with this in the coronavirus outbreak of our hearts go out to those who have lost their loved ones and those who are currently undergoing treatment. This pandemic is a global event and im concerned not only with our preparedness, the global response. I remain concerned that the county officials knowingly withheld this information for both public and International Health communities in those critical state during this outbreak. Im sure the early days of this outbreak will be under intense scrutiny. My deepest concern at the moment is the levels of preparedness at the state and local levels. I hope to hear from the secretary today and from witnesses over the next week about their efforts to prepare the community celeste requires the house to act in a swift action. Hopefully the house at this moment will act quickly. Thank you again mr. Secretary for joining us and i yelled back. Thank you very much. A reminder the Opening Statements may be submitted for the record. I would welcome our witness acting secretary of Homeland Security general. Mr. Walt has been acting secretary since november of 2019. He is the confirmed undersecretary of the department of office of strategy and policy. Previously he served as the acting undersecretary and chief of staff to the secretary of Homeland Security and without objection the witnesses. Men will be inserted in the record in nine now recognized acting secretary mr. Wolf. Thank you and if i share with you my oral testimony i wanted to address an issue this morning and share some Additional Information regarding involving situation in Washington State. Late last night the department was made aware of the situation involving a dhs employee and out of the abundance of caution the following recommended procedure ordered a dhs facility in king county washington. Mr. Wolf closed today and directed the employees in order to reduce the threats of Community Spread of the coronavirus. At this time the affected offices will remain closed at 414 days and all employees have been directed to self quarantine for 14 days. You made this decision to close the office because an employee had visited a Family Member of the life facility in kirkland, washington and before note that facility was impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. So the plane did not report to work when they fell ill. We are taking these steps out of an abundance of caution. Lead by example. Employees in the family with every precaution and follow the guidance of Public Health officials to stay home from work when they fell ill. And quarantine themselves. Penn reported to their employer and other officials. If this involved, many of the Homeland Security including myself, will be thinking about and praying for the employees and all families affected by the coronavirus. I speak for everyone i think when i think the families were taking advice and healthcare officials. As an employer, is our utmost response ability to protect our workforce. In addition to the travel restrictions. Dhs continually engages the workforce. And again from the headquarter level, we will begin sending all employee messages on january 22nd, regarding coronavirus regarding the procedures they need to take as it continues to enfold. And we will continue to do so predict the Rapid Response team at the dhs headquarters are working with the state and local officials regarding this particular incident and i will be sure to keep the committee updated as this unfolds pretty thank you allowing me to do that. Thank you. To discuss the department of Homeland Security to present the present fiscal 21 budget. My priorities are making sure that the department is resilient and prepared to address as well as those of tomorrow. Fiscal year 21, presents but it is not a reflection of those priorities, but the tasks to achieving them. The subcommittee knows that the department of Homeland Security stands air land and see in cyber domains. Two and 40000 strong. Stand much of the nation 24 hours a day 365 days a year. They take are a unique goal and part of our nation safe and secure while keeping it prosperous and by facilitating travel. Afton said Economic Security is Homeland Security in the department Critical Role in this mission. The president s budget ensures that the workforce has the resources needed to execute these critical responsibilities. And it was 49. 8 billion discretionary funding 5. 1 billion for Disaster Relief funding. And consistent with years past, our Budget Priorities remain caring out borders and enforcing immigration laws during cyberspace and Critical Infrastructure, transportation and american preparedness. Recognizing that the threat to the homeland is more dynamic than ever before. Department also continues to help manage the u. S. Governments response to the coronavirus. And clear the lead federal agency of this response is and remains the department of health and Human Services. Dhs remains focused on assisting travelers arriving in land, or air, maritime ports of entry and the administration took early action to prohibit Foreign National travel to china from entering the United States. The same restrictions now by the Foreign National traveling from iran. Everyday the men and women of dhs, taking sure that these travel restrictions are properly enforced. Also ensuring that allamerican citizens of recent travel to china or iran are funneled through 11 airports in the department have stood up and continues to do this and enhance medical screening. This is on behalf of cdc and others. The department is also closely monitoring cases of the buyers that have appeared here in our hemisphere. On friday, the first date, the first case was confirmed in mexico with five additional cases reported cents. This end unfortunately, misguided reporting california suspended the migrant protection particles and hours later of private internees, made an entrance of over 2000 illegal aliens calling cdp and mexican officials, temporarily closed. Thankfully the court entered a temporary stay, and i will say an uncertain future. From experience some of the journey to the u. S. Border migrants in very poor conditions and the bus arrived with their passports, medical histories and no travel benefits. This demonstration will continue to closely monitor the virus globally as well as our hemisphere and will adjust our proactive things is necessary. The Department Must continue to grow in the cyber scopes grow predilections security is a priority. To secure systems. The present budget invest 1. 7 billion in Cyber SecurityInfrastructure Security Agency to strengthen our cyber and our mission. Security relations order also remains a primary focus for the department. In the budget includes 2 million for the construction of 2 miles from border wall construction as well as funding is for advanced technology and staffing. While securing our borders is final, we are required to enforce the law as written. It remains a priority to the department protect our citizens by identifying detainees and removing criminal aliens from a country in the budget includes over 3m to make sure lawenforcement officers resource they need to successfully execute the law predict and today, in the wake of 911, the counter terrorism, is our core mission. In the present has increased funding for by 500 percent fertile of 96,000,021 budget. This funding is critical to identify an average individuals in preventing violence. The modernizing the fleet from the United States customers but provides 550 million to fund the construction of the Second Security cutter which supports our National Interest in the polar region. While physical capabilities and technologies are important the departments asset remains our workforce. The budget the present budget provides funding for 500 new cybersecurity applies across the department. And cdc 750 new Border Patrol agents in hundred 26 part staff, as well as funding to sustain the 300 Border Patrol processing coordinators the congress provided. Ice, the budget calls for 2800 new Law Enforcement officers, possibly 420 new ice attorneys and nearly 1400 support staff. Scsa the funding sustained over 47000 transportation Security Officers ensuring that we continue to match face with a passenger volume growth. These priorities are only a few included in the budget. In dhs, the committee knows that has one of the most diverse missions and all of government. Possibly amazed by the dedication of our professionals. If i ask your support in providing them the resources that they need to keep the Homeland Security to the president s 21 budget request. I think you for opportunity to address you today. Thank you. I remind you that you have five minutes. I now recognize myself for questions. One is responsibilities mr. Secretary that we have, is the oversight of the department. For the 14 months that the committee has been trying to get information from the department about the deaths of two children in cdp custody, as well as a separation of children from the parents among other topics. On january 4th, 2019, i sent a letter to the department requesting any documents related to the care of children in cdp custody including documents relating to the death of jacqueline and the mess. The department produced some documents including publicly available documents but clearly did not comply with the request. On november 20th, the committee issued and narrowly tailored subpoena and documents relating to the kids who died. Because you are separated from the parents among other topics. Last week, more than year after the first request, the department produced medical records and clearly, the medical records were in responsive to my first letter as well as the committees subpoena. Why were the medical records produced to the Committee Just last week one year after the request. Thank you. I fully respect the rule oversight. We talked about this when we first met in november. You continue to have mike commitment for any and all documents. Regar