[captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2013] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] today the House OversightCommittee Examining the ghazi attacks. Then the Foreign Relation Committee holding a confrontation confirmation hearing and a look at schedule changes due to go into effect october 1. Hearinge Oversight Committee hearing testimony. Reviewountability chairman and admiral mike mullen both testified. Hours. Just over two the committee will come to order. The Oversight Committee exists to secure two fundamentals. Americans have the right to know the money washington takes from them is well spent. Americans deserve an effective government that works for them. Our duty is to protect these rights. Our responsibility is to hold government accountable to for what they know is important for how they decide. Our job is to work in partnership with watchdogs to deliver the facts to the American People and bring reform to the bureaucracy. This is our mission. Consent to unanimous read into the record statements from two witnesses that will not , family of the victims of the attack. Kate, a letter from quigley. Says members of the house four americans including my brother was killed. I am unable to do so but submit for consideration the following questions concerning the events that led to my brothers death in because i am not aware of the answers, these questions have been provided. First, my understanding is it took eight hours for the rescue team in tripoli to travel 200 miles to reach their destination in benghazi. There were no dedicated transportation assets in place. The team received no help getting through barriers like the benghazi airport and checkpoint in the city. If this is correct, why was it so given the urgency of the mission, recognizing the difficulty. I never ask those conditions had ask, if thoses conditions hadbeen different, would the outcome have been less tragic . Glenn lived his life to the fullest and took pride in teaching others how to be their best. Ieserving with many respected, protecting the freedoms we enjoy as americans and doing something he loved. He is an American Hero to those who did not know. For those of us who did, he is a best friend who leaves behind a giant hole in our hearts. My thanks go out to those in congress and the administration who strive to learn what mistakes were made that made the night so that u. S. Personnel can be better protected in the future. Secondly, a letter signed from chris stevensons family. He died the service of his country. He died doing what he loved most. Working to build bridges of understanding and Mutual Respect between the people of the United States and people of the middle east and north africa. He was loved by many more libyans than those who hated him for being an american. A few dozen fanatics penetrated his compound but more than 30,000 people in benghazi demonstrated in protest over his death. He embodied the traits that have always endeared americans to the world. A commitment to democratic principles and respect for others regardless of race, religion, and culture. He regarded and like each person he met as in individual and respected their views, whether or not he agreed. One of his friends told us a tale that reflects his success on a small scale. Picnicking in libya and, they met a local family. Chris immediately greeted them and suggested they be photographed together. The young son of a patriarch family, refused to participate. Chris continued chatting with the others. When it was time to leave, the initially suspicious son presented chris with a bouquet of flowers. Saying, this is because you were so respectful to my father, he said. Chris was not willing to be the kind of diplomat who would strut around in fortified compound. He amazed and impressed the libyans by walking the streets with a lightest of escorts, sitting in sidewalk caf . S, chatting with passersby. There was a risk to being accessible. He knew it and accept it. But he would never have accepted was the idea that his death would be used for political purposes. There were security shortcomings, no doubt, both internal and outside investigations have identified and publicly disclosed them. Steps are being taken to prevent their reoccurrence. He would not have wanted to be remembered as a victim. He knew and accepted he was working under dangerous circumstances. He did so, just as so many of our diplomats do every day. He believed the work was vitally important and would have wanted the critical work he was doing to build bridges of Mutual Understanding and respect, the kind of work that made him literally thousands of friends and admirers across the broader middle east to continue. Rather than engage in endless recrimination, his family is working to continue to build bridges he successfully began. One year ago this week, in response to a tremendous outpouring of support from around the world, we launched J Christopher Stevens fund. The mission is to support activities that build bridges between the people of the United States and those of the broader middle east. This was the mission to which chris dedicated his life. We are grateful to each contribution received from friends and family, from the government of libya and from people near and far removed moved by chris and his story. We will launch a number of innovative programs and initiatives. The focus is on young people here in america and across the middle east and north africa. Chris served in the peace corps in morocco. His death was felt by the family. Last year, in response to numerous queries, we encouraged returned volunteers to fan out across america and speak with you about their experience abroad. We are now working with the peace corps to expand their reach into schools and communities across the country. The center for middle east studies at the university of california berkeley where chris studied as an undergraduate endowed by the J Christopher Stevens fund. Our purpose is to encourage and inspire students in middle eastern and north african scholarship. Where he spent his teen years, the Unified School District board of education has voted to name the High School Library the ambassador Christopher Stevens memorial library. He was inspired by the high honorable. Later this year, together, with the coalition for public and private partners, we will launch the Virtual Exchange initiative. This initiative will embrace the power of technology to fuel the largest ever increase in people to people exchanges between the United States and the broader middle east. That is increasing the number and diversity of youth who have a meaningful, crosscultural experience, as part of their formative education and reaching over one million youth i 2020. Later this year, the university of California Hastings College of law, from which chris graduated in 1989, will host the ambassador J Christopher Stevens symposium. The event will emphasize law and public policy, as used in the practice to advance global understanding and peace principles, to which chris was committed. There have been more awards bestowed and honors given to chriss memory, excuse me, then ever would have been thought possible. We have received letters from thousands of people all around the world who were touched by chriss example. His openness touched a chord in their hearts. Chris would have wanted to be remembered for that. Thank you, the family for chris stevens. They will both be placed in the record without objection. Briefly, in my Opening Statement, today, we want to both do our job as constitutional officers, and, be very cognizant of the wishes of the family. We will here on the second panel from additional family members, and like the first, they both want answers to questions, and they want chriss memory to be one of his diplomacy and his service. They do not want this to be a political football. The committees primary obligation as the Oversight Reform Committee is to do oversight leading to meaningful reform. Last week marked the 12th anniversary of the september 11 attacks on the United States. It marked the oneyear anniversary of a terrorist attack in benghazi. The attack cost americans their lives. Christopher stevens, sean smith, and two American Security former u. S. Navy seals. Today, we honor their memories and Heroic Service to our nation. We recognize also the family members of the fallen who are with us today are those who truly experience the loss firsthand. Last october, secretary Hillary Clinton convened the accountability review board, as required by law, to examine the facts and circumstances surrounding the hideous attacks and the report findings and recommendations. The report was delivered to congress september 18, 2012. The arb made important findings and also raised serious additional questions. First, the structure, along with the state department culture, raises questions about the extent to which it can be independent. Although it is a meaningful document, this committee has not been able to receive Background Information or were there recorded notes sufficient to allow for a true review for the review. As we convene this hearing, the committee down the hall has authored significant reforms in the form of legislation. Part of what we will do here today is to continue fueling the discovery process for that purpose. In preparation for todays hearing, the staff has prepared approximately a 100 page report entitled benghazi attacks, it update, interim report on the accountability review. I ask unanimous consent it out be placed in the record. Ok. It raises important questions on the review board rockettes. Today, our Panel Includes distinguished former government officials who know firsthand how important the process is and who dedicated their lives to this public service. We thank you for being here today. Any criticism of the accountability review process or the law passed by congress in 1986 that created it, should be cast on congress and the process they were asked to do and not to the individuals who headed this. I believe to the extent the arb was traditionally used, it has done its job. Our criticism today is, was it the appropriate investigation . Was it complete . Did it have processes necessary to do a thorough review . Did it have the authority to go beyond the state department . Was the record such that it could be reviewed and reviewed again, as many tragic and large investigations will . We all understand if the attack 12 years ago, on 9 11, 2001, had been reviewed through the accountability review process, it would not have been sufficient for the American People. Our investigation today is to look at what could be done and was done and what was learned. I want to thank the ambassador and admiral personally for their work. They made suggestions. All of them have been accepted. Acceptance and implementation can be different. In particular, one of the questions that will not be answered today but undoubtedly will be asked is, if four individuals were held accountable and, in testimony, at least one was recommended for firing, why is it none lost a days pay and all are back on the job . That is a question for the Current Administration and not one for the panel. Additionally, we are joined by director sullivan. Their review is a second review. It is broader in nature than benghazi. It is important. Because, one thing american learned from the attacks on 9 11, 2012, is that, in fact, the system failed the people in that compound in benghazi. Without a doubt, there are problems within how decisions are made for the security of our various Diplomatic Security is around the world. I look forward particularly, in that director sullivan has firsthand knowledge of primary protection of an individual, such as ambassador or president of the United States. He also understands compounds and facilities, both preplanned and ad hoc, such as the hotel the president might be staying in, have to be taken as they are but made to work. That for me says a lot about the nature of the world. They need not be looked at in any great additional detail. They are in fact set back. They are in fact fortresses. The only thing that happens is for the rules and procedures to be followed for them to be secure. E va majority of consula, offices, facilities, and the like throughout the world are not compliant. Our investigation has shown a great many exceptions occur every day. If you will, waivers, to what is supposed to be. Often, this comes in the form of defining a facility in a way that is different from what it actually is. A Multicountry Office has a different standard than a consulate or embassy. Principal officers are there and the risk of attack are high, they must be looked at in that sense. I for one believe this report closes the chapter on the service of the ambassador and admiral, because i believe their service, although limited to the rules, has been honorable, and they have done the best they could under the rules that Congress Gave them in 2000 1986. With that, i will ask unanimous consent that my entire Opening Statement be placed on the record because i used so much time for the earlier reading. I yield back. Thank you. Want to begin by wrecking recognizingmrs. Patricia smith. They are here to testify about their sons. Who were killed in benghazi. Sean smith and tyrone woods. Nobody can fully comprehend the anguish and suffering. I know from my own experience that losing someone so young and so promising is one of the most difficult things we ever experienced in life. Sadly, there are mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, sisters and brothers, who are also grieving after the shootings this week at the Washington Navy yard, less than one mile from the very room we are in. Our hearts go out to those families, as well. Although ambassador stephenss family was not able to attend today, and they sent a written statement, and i am very pleased and i thank you for not only reading their statements into the record, but making sure they are part of the record. I look forward to hearing the testimony and hope we can learn more about who these very brave individuals were. I want to learn about their hopes and dreams. And their service to our country. Our believe our goal should be to honor them as heroes in todays hearing. That is exactly what they were. They believed in this nation and devoted their lives to protecting it. There are other ways our nation should honor the men. First, we must hunt down those responsible and bring them to justice. Progress on this front may not always be visible to the public, but as our nation demonstrated in the relentless, worldwide, 10year pursuit of osama bin laden, the United States does not forget. We never forget. I believe i speak for the entire committee when i say our commitment to the goal is bipartisan and unwavering. Another way to honor the memories is to obtain information about what happened in benghazi. A report earlier this week was issued that provided new information. Unfortunately, he chose not to work with any Democratic Committee members. Today, i offer my own report. I would like to provide to the committee and the witnesses. As the report explains, our goal was to provide detailed information to some of the specific questions being raised relating to the attack. Our report is based on a review of tens of thousands of pages of classified and unclassified documents. Andtranscribed interviews. One deposition. Provides details about the terrifying events in embassies, and consulates around the world put u. S. Personnel on hair trigger alert for days. These included events not only in benghazi, but elsewhere also. The crowd marched, and preached nd set fires ad breachedcompounds. Another critical way we should honor the memories of these heroes is by implementing the recommendations and reforms put forward to improve the security of our diplomatic and military forces around the world. This is so important. This is a committee on oversight and government reform. Reform is so vital, particularly at this moment. We can all agree on a bipartisan basis we can implement these recommendations as effectively and efficiently as possible. On this point, the ambassador explained to the committee during his deposition that because of his own personal and professional bond with ambassador stephens, he viewed his service on the accountability review board as a debt of honor. He said, chris gave me two wonderful years of his life in supporting the very difficult circumstances. Also said i wrote him and i owe him and the families of the others who died the best possible report we can put together. However, the ambassador also said he was deeply concerned that although previous reports were excellent in their recommendations, ladies and gentlemen, we cannot let that happen under our watch. This is our watch. We are in charge now. We must never let a report like this sit on shelves collecting dust and then 10 or 12 years from now, we go through the same process again. We are better than that. I would like to make one final point. Let me go back to admiral mullen. I want to thank both of you for your service. The chairman said, this is not an attack on you all. It is concerned about the report and things like that. I know you gave a phenomenal amount of your time. I want to thank both of you. I dont want to just thank you for today. I wanted to thank you for what you have done your entire lives. Your entire lives. Giving your blood, sweat, tears, to make life better for us so we can