Of policy each of you play a Critical Role and youve got to work to the. So do we. Were always happy to have you with us. Youve done a whole lot of work in this area, were grateful for that and be looking to you for further help. Again thanks to everyone for coming. As dr. Coburn knows were going to start voting in a little bit. And were going to do one of those deals that we perfected where voting starts, maybe hell go vote the first time, and when hes voted hell come back and ill go vote and then well just swap back and forth. Hopefully well be able to keep going and make it all work and be done in a punctual way. But its important were happy that you here. Let me just now turn to dr. Coburn just to thank him for insisting that we have this hearing and make this a priority. Thank you, mr. Chairman. First of all welcome to all of you. This is an interesting area for us to be talking about. Sitting on the intelligence committee, our threats are greater, not less, in terms of risk. And getting it right is important. One of the commitments i made to congresswoman janice hahn from l. A. , she has the l. A. Port, which is our busiest and biggest and probably greatest vulnerability in terms of port that we would have this hearing and do the oversight thats necessary to try to improve what were doing. So, mr. Chairman id like unanimous consent to put her testimony in the record she the house is out this week, and we wouldnt have scheduled that this hearing at this time had we known that. But we did. And im happy that were having the hearing so id ask unanimous consent to have her testimony included in the record. Id also note that the house has passed the legislation that the senate hadnt even taken up or considered the gaps act, and what we need to do is address today to find out where our weaknesses are. What we need to improve and as senator carper mentioned the 100 scanning obviously isnt viable, or may not be viable, but we need to have a better approach than 2 to 4 scanning that were seeing today. We know that a successful attack on one of our ports would be devastating. Rand corporation gave an example it could have a trillion dollar effect on our economy. That is a high possibility. We cannot stop every attack thats going to come to this country. But we can certainly make it much more difficult and markedly decrease the likelihood. Everybody knows the history. Of how we came together after 9 11. We created Port SecurityGrant Program. We mandated 100 cargo screening. And 9 11 Commission Recommended that, as well. We also created the card which has had some significant difficulties, and is still not implemented. So my goal for this hearing is to review all the initiatives that were initially set out assess how well theyre working. And whether or not theyre working. And determine if our ports are as secure from the potential terrorist attack as we can make them feesbly and economically. I would say we spent 4. 9 million on the Port Security program with no measures whether or not we improved our security. Theres no records so we dont know. Weve spent 2. 1 billion on cpp Cargo Programs on a scanning mandate that we are told will never be met. Theres 5 billion we spent we have no assessment of what weve gotten for that money. The program was intended to create an i. D. Card for transportation workers to enter secure areas including ports well talk about and some of my questions will relate to some of the problems associated with that. In general i think its unclear and hopefully this hearing will help us, to know how much improvement weve actually made in securing our ports. So i number one want to thank each of you for being here, preparing the testimony which ive read, and being available and i apologize that were going to have votes but we will be well keep this moving as fast as we can. We have four votes starting at 11 00 and with that mr. Chairman, thank you, as well. Mr. Top banana. Ive been called worse things. Well make this work. We appreciate. Let me briefly introduce our witnesses. Colleen mclean deputy transportation secretary. Also served as dhs assistant General Council for enforcement she began here career with u. S. Customs service where she served i believe as deputy associate chief council is that right . Rear admiral paul thomas joins us from the coast guard where hes assistant commandant for policies specialist in marine Safety Security and environmental protection. Graduate of the coast guard academy, and of the Massachusetts Institute of technology. Where im proud to say that one of our boys attended. When i went to ohio state i could barely spell m. I. T. The idea of ever having a kid that goes there i could not imagine. Congratulations on that. Thanks for your service. I want to ask kevin to pronounce your last name for me, kevin. Mcaleenan. With the emphasis on the leen . You put an a in front of the c it works better. There you go. And acting Deputy Commissioner at the u. S. Customs and Border Protection. Served as acting assistant commissioner of the cdp office of fuel operations leading the agencys Port Security and trade facilitation operations. Brian kamoi appointed as the assistant administrator for Grant Programs at fema in april of 2013. Before that he served as senior director for preparedness policy on the White House National security staff, from 2009 to 2013. Stephen sadler has been the assistant administrator for intelligence and analysis at the Transportation Security Administration since october 2011. Hes joined tsa in 2003 and held several leadership positions. Breyer to that he spent 25 years in the commercial maritime industry. And finally last but not least, Steven Caldwell nice to see you. Joins us from gao where he is the direct director of issues issues on the homeland and security justice team. Mr. Caldwell has over 30 years of experience at gao and has worked on numerous reports on security and supply chain security. Thank you all your entire statements will be made a part of the record and feel free to summarize as you go. Try to stay within about what did we say five minutes . Five minutes if you could, go way over that well have to rein you in. Thank you for joining us. Ellen why dont you go ahead. Good morning, chairman carper, Ranking Member coburn. I am a career Civil Servant and testifying before congress for the first time. As this has long been on my career bucket list i appreciate this opportunity along with my colleagues to testify on a matter of singular importance to the department. Port security. Since 2007 and the passage of the safe port act we now have several key strategic documents that shape and guide our efforts on Port Security. The National Strategy on Global Supply chain security. The Global Nuclear detection architecture. And the soon to be released 2014 dhs quadrennial Homeland Security review. Dhs is focused on enhancing Port Security through prevention, protection, and resilience. Pursuant to a risk based approach. While strengthening the Global Supply chain system, including the Maritime Transportation network, we are ever mindful that it is critical to do so by promoting the efficient and secure movement of legitimate goods. Guided by the principles in these overarching documents, dhss approach embraces five elements for a layered system of maritime port and cargo security. One, understanding the risk to better defend and protect against radiological and nuclear risks. Two, obtaining advanced information and using advanced targeting techniques. Three, increased collaboration with other federal agencies foreign governments, and private stakeholders. Four implementing strong, domestic security regimes. And five promoting proposedness by sustaining Grant Programs. Within this strategic context dhs can point to several Key Developments in the past seven years. Risk assessments to aid us in understanding the threat environment and prioritization of resources. Significant progress with international and private partners to incorporate Risk Management principles, and leverage trusted trader programs. The assessment of more than 1500 foreign ports 200 alone in 2013 under the international Port Security program. Establishment of 360 comprehensive Port Security plans by port operators. And grant awards to achieve Interoperable Communications installation of surveillance cameras, at port facilities and funding for other similar fiscal security equipment and projects. Looking forward we face challenges of increased trade from the expansion of the panama canal, and increased activity in the arctic. With increasing trade, and shifting trade patterns we must also confront aging infrastructure for a broad range of dhs assets. From coast guard cutters to xray and radiation and Nuclear Detection inspection systems. In forging the path for progress, dhs will concentrate on improving Information Collection targeting and des semination expanding global capacity to secure the supply chain, and addressing risk across all modes of transportation. With a continued focus on enhancing the capabilities of our components, and our partners to address current and future challenges to securing our ports, dhs will continue to dedicate substantial attention and resources to implementing a layered Risk Management approach to security across all transportation pathways in an efficient and Cost Effective way. And building essential partnerships at home and abroad. Thank you again for the opportunity to testify about dhss progress on enhancements to Port Security. I will be happy to entertain any questions. Good. Thanks and were going to have some. So thank you. Thanks for your testimony. Admiral thomas, please proceed. Thank you chairman carper, dr. Coburn, and thank you both for your continued support of our coast guard and the opportunity to discuss this really important topic with you this morning. The coast guard in coordination with the other department of Homeland Security components interagency and the industry implements a layered Maritime Security system. Our goal is simple we want to deteblgt interdict and mitigate threats as far from our shores as possible. We accomplish this through the layered system thats depicted on the slide before you and displayed to the left to my left. As you can see on the slide, Maritime Security of u. S. Ports does not start and finish in the u. S. Rather, the opposite is true. The security of our ports begins in foreign ports at foreign facilities and terminals. This is the first layer of our integrated system. The coast guards international Port Security program conducts assessments of foreign ports, to ensure ensure they meet International Security standards and to build the capacity of our trading partners. So just as you cannot enter u. S. Airspace unless the flight originated from an airport that meets minimum Security Standards, you cannot enter u. S. Sea ports unless that voyage originated from a foreign port that meets the Security Standards as certified by the coast guard. Additionally coast guard led foreign port threat assessments bring together information from Law Enforcement and intelligence communities to assess the level of governance, crime terrorist activities and other factors which may help us determine which threats emanate from those ports. Finally, overseas activities by our colleagues from the customs, Border Protection and other dhs components help ensure the safety and security of cargo an people before they depart foreign ports. If you look at the next several laser on the slide, the international waters, the u. S. Exclusive Economic Zone and u. S. Territorial seas our regulations require that each ship en route to a u. S. Port provide the coast guard at least 96 hours advance notice of arrival. This notice includes information about the vessel the cargo, the crew and passengers. Customs and Border Protection also requires advance notice with information about the cargo, the shipper, the consolidator, the receiving agent among other information. Other federal agencies like centers for Disease Control may also require advance notice of arrival under certain circumstances. All of this information is collected and shared at both a national and port level. Its screened and assessed so that prior to arrival of any vessel the coast guard captain at port has a consolidated comprehensive assessment of all risks associated with that ship. When i say all risks, i mean all risks, everything related to safety, security and the environment. As diverse as Invasive Species and water or cargo, crew members on a watch list, passengers exhibiting signs of illness or damage to the ship that might compromise safety or the environment. The captain of port is able to coordinate a single interagency local, state and federal Risk Mitigation plan for each ship that arrives. For the vast majority of these ships, local coordination is required to plan necessary control, inspection or enforcement actions. In some cases the threat rises to the level that interagency coordination seat the National Level is required and we activate the maritime threat protocols. In some cases the risk will be mitigated by interdicting the ship in the offshore zone n other cases the ship enters the port but is subjected to oversight prior to passenger operations. These boardings are most often led by the coast guard but may include personnel from other Homeland Security components or the agency who can bring special capabilities to bear on a given threat. In all cases the vessel arrives at a port facility that complies with the requirements of Maritime Transportation safety act and the safe port act. These facilities by law have security staff trained to specific standards. They have an Access Control system that includes credentials for each employee. They have approved plans in place to prevent and respond to security incidents and they execute a declaration of security with the foreign ships when appropriate to ensure the security and Communications Protocol at that ship port interface are clear. Beyond the individual port facilities, the Port Community as a whole is prepared and resilient. Capable of port wide prevention preparedness, response activities. Due in large part to the combined impact through investment in our Grant Program, establishment of the area Maritime Security plans. In summary, mr. Chairman, we have used the authorities in the Maritime Transportation security act and the safe port act to implement a Security System that begins in foreign ports, continues in the offshore area as a vessel trits to our waters and remains ever vigilant in our ports that have robust, interagency, local, state and federal coordination to mitigate threats, facilitate commerce and respond to all incidents. Thank you. I look forward to your questions. You took one second too long. Youre off your game today, huh . Yes, sir. Actually thats pretty good. Thats very good. Thanks for that testimony. Kevin, youre up. Please proceed. Good morning chairman carper, Ranking Member coburn. Its a privilege to appear before you again today. Thanks to your continued support along with effective collaboration with federal, international and private sector partners, dhs and u. S. Customs and Border Protection have made significant advancements in maritime cargo security. Cup has secured security partnerships enhanced targeting and Risk Assessment programs and invested in advance technology all essential elements of the multilaird approach to protecting the nation from the entry of dangerous or vie lafb shipments while expediting legitimate and economically viable commerce. Id like to highlight the progress of a few of these efforts for you today. In the first few years after 9 11, cup created several key programs to enhance our ability to assess maritime cargo for risk, examine shipments at the earliest possible point and increase the security of the supply chain. The Customs Trade Partnership against terrorism or ctpat was established in 2001 in the wake of the 9 11 attacks. It provides facilitation benefits to members who adopt tighte