Led to the deaths of Christopher Steven and shaun smith and the remaining personnel escaped a ietzsche facility known as the annex. The it culminated in an attack that killed tyrone davis and glenn dougherty. What i read is the now official position of the u. S. Government filed in u. S. District court by the department of justice and a motion to detain the one defendant who has been captured and will stand trial. 20 or more men, the weapons of war arsons and sustained attacks, precision mortars terrorist groups. It is interesting note the word terrorist so rarely used after benghazi by people in position of powers used in the very word charging the very defendant accused of killing our four fellow americans. Conspiracy to provide material to terrorist resulting in death. Thats the charge. Thats the official charge, the official position of the United States government. But in the days after the attack in benghazi, the word terrorist was edited out and changed. Now the administration uses the word attack. Days following the it they changed the word attack. Its another thing to have it right initially and then edit it and change so that it is wrong. I remain keenly aware that there are those on both sides of the aisle that have concluded that all answers have been answered. There is nothing else to do, no more witnesses to talk to, no more people interview. Benghazi should have been looked in the first place. I disagree. I do not think we should move on until there is a complete understanding of how the security environment described by our own government and Court Documents was allowed to exist. I dont think we should move on until we understand why we were told special precautions have been taken prior to the anniversary of 911. What precautions were taken . Where . By whom . Why were we told the benghazi facility was secure . Why were we told there was a Strong Security presence in benghazi when we now know its false . It wasnt true at the time it was said. We should not move on until theres a complete understanding of why request for additional security were denied by whom they were denied and why an ambassador trusted to represent us in a dangerous land wasnt trusted to know what security he needed to do his job. Its been two years. And we know the request for initial equipment were denied. We dont now understand why those requested were denied and we should not move on there is a complete understanding of why and why the official position of our government is so different today than it was in the days and the weeks after benghazi. The facts havent changed. Teved hasnt changed but the way our government character rises benghazi its changed a lot. This hearing will continue our committees efforts to insure the recommendations made after the attacks in benghazi are actually implemented andly pledge again a process worthy of the memory of the four that were killed and worthy of the respect of our fellow citizens. But i also pledge that were going keep asking questions until we have a complete understanding of what happened. Until that end we will have hearings in january, if february, in march and until and that means access to all the documents and that means access to all the witnesses with knowledge. This committee will be the last best hope for answering the questions surrounding the attacks in benghazi. We may actually wind up answering some of the questions more than once. We may risk answering a question twice. That seems like a really small investment compared with what others have given and are currently giving to our country. That i would recognize the gentleman from maryland. Thank you very much, mr. Chairman for holding todays hearing as well as our previous hearing three months ago. When this topic which was congressman. This demonstrate the continued commitment by democrats and republicans to make our embassy safe. As i have often said this is our watch. This is not about today or tomorrow. This is about generations yet unborn. And so we all take this assignment very seriously. Over the course of 18 months of exhaustive investigations, first by the independent accountability review board and then by seven Congressional Committees. Weve learned many answers to questions about what happened in benghazi and what changes are needed to improve security at our diplomatic facilities overseas. But as we have also seen when it comes to benghazi, too many people are unaware that questions have been answers or are unwilling to accept the answers they hear. Our benghazi on the record asked and answered website centralizes in one place these answers. Nce we met last, the House Select Committee on intelligence publically released its bipartisan unanimously adopted report. As our Intelligence Committee colleagues explain and i quote, this report and the nearly two years of intensive investigation it reflects is nonet serve as the definitive house statement on the Intelligence Committees activities before, during, and after tragic events that have caused the death of four brave americans. And the quote, these bipartisan findings join the previous conclusions of the republicanled House Armed Services committee about the militarys readiness and responses on the night of the attacks. Our committees, democratic members have urged us to accept these findings and we do not think there is a reason for this know reinvestigate the facts. Complete the war already completed by our democratic colleagues and squander millions of hard working dollars that come from our working taxpayers. The chairman has decided to use this hearing to focus on constructive reform instead of trading the same ground that other committees have already investigated. Investigated in a way that perhaps one would investigate something if they were looking at it under high powered microscope. We urge him to keep that focus on these instructive efforts and not be lured off this path by partisan politics. Were bigger than that. And we are better than that. And i appreciate you, plch for our discussions where you have agreed by the end of the year to give us a scope as to exactly what well be looking at. And hopefully we will come to the conclusion about what we do agree on so that we can focus on those things that we still need to investigation. I also appreciate the fact that you agreed to meet with me and the speaker tomorrow with regard to rules of the committee that you and i agree that its nice have structure because it helps us to deal with issues that may come up. And i do i do really appreciate that. Immediately after the benghazi attack the independent review board constructed a blistering examination of what went wrong and identify 29 recommendations for reform. Secondtary clin don accepted every single one of them. And the they said the department wasted no time addressing the recommendations in the court. During our first hearing can three months ago, assistant secretary starr testified that the department had closed 29 of the ren men dations. Since then the department has continued making steady progress. Im pleased to hear that it has three more recommendations and continues to make progress on the remaining four. The department has now delivered fire Safety Equipment to all but one high threat post. And it is affirmed compliance with fire, safety and equipment requirements in safe havens, in overseas facilities. The department has now delivered fire Safety Equipment but one hybrid. The a. R. B found that the lack of adequate Safety Equipment may have sbribted to the tragic consequences at night. Glad that they have made this recommendation. To address the staffing shortcomings identified by the arb. The stars testimony in the case but the new positions are fully nded and that his Department Intense to complete all new hires by 2015. The department has also joint ed threats for isk management course. I actually look forward to hearing more from mr. Star on the work that remains to be done. We also are joined today by Inspector General. In a september 2013 report his office made seven security recommendations that overlapped a large degree what the arb and six of these recommendations are now closed. And ncern remain including insure that the Department Bureaus are communicating effectively and Decision Making authority is centralized and clear. Egarding the a. R. B. Process, they will exa ma minute following the east africa bombings. They concluded that the a. R. B. Process and i quote, o operate as intended intelly and without bias. This investor general recommended. Its my understanding that the discussions on those recommendations are ongoing. As i close. One of these recommendations was to institutionalized responsibility for a. R. B. Implementation. A. R. B. Recommendations represented a significant departure from the previous norm in that secretary clinton took charge directly for the implementation process. The Inspector General voted that the high level of ice korean. I modeled and im interested from hearing from mr. Star. D to that end i yield back first witness will be honorable gregory b. Star the security of the department of state. Second witness will be the honor steve lenic. Welcome to both of you and my apologies for you having to wait. You will be recognized for their fiveminute open and with that secretary starr. Thank you, chairman, Ranking Member cummings and distinguished committee members. Thank you for inviting me again to update you on the departments progress and i apply meanting the a. R. B. I would like to acknowledge steve lynnic. Inspector lynnic works closely with the Diplomatic Security on many issues. Although i am focused on the benghazi a. R. B. , i hope i would be able to improve security around the world. The tax of keeping u. S. Personnel overseas is dynamic and an ever evolving fro says. We improve our practices and proket our people. The a. R. B. Process is an important tool towards that goal and today we are safer and more secure because of the recommendations of the Benghazi Panel and other a. R. Bmples. Or project is measurable and sustain and importantly many of the less sons learned are further incorporated of the policy of the 29 recommendations we have closed 25. That will be three that we closed since september. We are committed to finishing that work. Yet to do so on the final four recommendations and will not lose sight of continuing and building on the security and procedural l security. I would like to highlight what weve done. These specific tangible changes. We have more Diplomatic Security and department of personnel on the ground on our facilities today. We have increased the skills and competencies by increasing the training time in the high threat force. We have expanded the force affair course beyond high threat course because we recognize that the value of these skills extend to all form personnel. These are tchails people can take with them to make us saufer and make them saufer in ever post that theyred a of. A there are a broader more problematic changes. One is the lunch of a validation process. Our shortstop for that is v. P. 2. They ask hard questions to balance the risk and the benefits at our high yist threat post. The as a result a clear eyed Risk Assessment whether the u. S. Should operate in those and if so, how do we operate. The process determined that you are snnl interest require us to put a ding rouse coat. And prioritizes presources to do so. Undereps we have taken to score it serves an important point. We live in a world thats more unstable and dangerous location. Our Foreign Policy demands that we o send people to work in those plays that are pearl louse. We cannot eliminate ricks. The threats evolved. As a trult work of securitying our facilities and safeguarding our people is never complete. We are committed to implementing the a. R. B. s recommendations. But we are looking forward to feeting the new threats as they develop. Our best assets in this effort are our people. Highly trained Foreign Service officers and security personnel are out on the field every day. They deserve the credit and thanks for work that they do on our behind. Its our job to do everything we can to reduce the risk they face. The assist assistant secretary, i am demoit keep your people as safe as possible. I know the economy as well as the inspectors generals air. Keeping our people as safe as possible. With that plch, id be eap to answer questions about the implementation of the a. R. B. Thank you. Mr. Lennox. Few mbers of the committee for you are the opportunity to review and we have conducted on ecurity related matters. The o. I. G. Has redoubled its efforts related to security. Issue an expectation and targets a report called security matters. Each one. And my comments today i will address the a. R. By prosays and discuss findings based on our other security related work. In september. They plushed the report of the accountability review process. The process at which they will continue and supported, staffed. The special rue will track the implementation with our recommendations. Improve security. Training and intelligent sharing by the departments principles. The lack of follow through explains in part why a number of a. R. B recommendations. Y conclusions that they work best and others take full ownership of the implementation process. Made 20 formal recommendations. In spay. I notified the. And i provide intended to enhance the effectiveness of the a. R. Be process. In my later suggestions remains im resolved. So that the department had made evident in addressing some of the security concerns. During fiscal year 2015, we will bh conducting a formal follow revupe with our clines with our own recommendations. In addition to the a. R. Be review process. O. I. G. Has issued a variety of vorts. I take this opportunity to. Ighlight four years of concern o. I. G. Reports demonstrate that the Department Says it didnt. Nd fulling tons priority it cannot adequate plan, budget for or implement a solution. In 2012, o. I. G. Conducted a series of audits of porse locations in europe, latin america and africa which pro side six that required immediate atex. A number of these throats were a high threat. They were no in complain be the departments Security Standards. The fail your meet minimum cam bound requirement. E moster agree jans problems is identified the use of wause hour space for uses. You do not comply with standards and put the personnel at grease risk. Oh i. G. Has found that number of post. All that means is in addition the bureau of Diplomatic Security was. Obtaining waivers ax and exceptions. The president has reported that it is mediated the condition of the time. Swr another the bureau of Diplomatic Security isnt she they dont adequately coordinate. I have to do it in hopes of concern. S. Over seas local enforcement. They typically are posted we ide or just inside and says no oneed a and has the security. Actually performing the vetting procedure specified. One bad actor with the right position and access can seriously endanger the safety and security of personnel over sees. They continue to be a top priority for my office. I want to thank my staff and continue to this effort. And in the coming mones in an effort to mitt gade wrist and i void the attacks that is in ben gazzyy. Thank you again for the tetch to testify today. I look forward your questions. But plirm for your service to our country. And the Inspector General from lenic and all Inspector Generals for all agency, would it be but ct to say that yen i they could effectively manage an account for its decision. And the way Inspector Generals do that. And youve just mentioned some of those is that correct . Yes, and we look at perhaps in operations as well. So youre like the internal watch do dog or internal Police Department for an agency and for the state department specifically. Yeah. But you were not appointed by the secretary of state. And when were you appointed . I was appointed in september of 2013. So that means that actually you have independent. Yes, we independent. Before that you actually as i understand like myself who are a federal propertiesors. I was for 16 years. And in your finding that you urns took of the a. R. Be its my understanding that you feel and this is yoting your moat important filinging was that tft at the oversight of thea they must be at the higher lomes. Enter is that correct . Thats crefpblgter. At least with the. And in your opinion is that where this implementation of the voice. That remained an unresolved recommendation. We did revisions. And so the recommendation and o that recommendation was made by. And mila why she doesnt scream anything in this dment. The secretary of state wore the higher levels. That is correct. And so. They have pro side that to you. Yes. But we have not an liced it yet. Whats talk about unresovers or tock. When the energy makes ren men dations and sbrinksspods their findings. They are in. Unresolved. Can you share with those what unresoveled means. So there are really two bucks. Theres open remember menization. m men reck dation. They can with resolved or maybe yes sot. That will be open and resolved. It will not be closed until the that it t proves to us we dont have rezzlation on that. So it remains open as well, approximately how many open and unresolved recommendations are there . In the a. R. B. Report . Yeah, at this time. Like i said a couple of them. That might change. We are also doing a ve view. And to see whether or not they have been complained with is that scom mon praise says. We dont ulls see eye to eye. Its very row sourls. The department would come back and say heres documentation showing that we imply mental. We fully do a complete job in day. And he would bh hurt. T is not snag we dgreektsly. E or where we fell that and do you also when you go back and do the complain review, do you also look at recommendations that have been close. Yes, we rook at all of the recommendations from so