Transcripts For CSPAN3 Extremism And Terrorist Threats 20150

Understanding of this truly devastating problem. That concludes our hearing. Thank you. We are live on capitol hill this morning in the Canon House Office building where up next counterterrorism and intelligence officials from the departments of Homeland Security, justice, state and the National Counterterrorism center will testify before the House Homeland Security committee about the threat of far win and domestic terrorists who the United States. Its expected to get under way in just a moment. Live coverage here on cspan3. While we have a moment the Associated Press reporting today that the president is asking congress to formally authorize war against Islamic State militants, offering a draft resolution that says the Islamic State poses a grave threat. The president is sending congress a proposed threepage authorization for military force. The president would limit authorization to three years with no restriction where u. S. Forces could pursue the threat. By the way, the entire document is available for viewing on our website. Go to cspan. Org, check the home page. Again waiting for the start of this House Committee hearing on the threat of foreign and domestic terrorists to the United States. Getting under way in just a moment. The u. S. House begins legislative work today at noon eastern with debate and votes on the Keystone Xl Oil pipeline bill. Theres a preview from a reporter who joined us on washington journal this morning. And talks about these issues. Mice barron lopez lets start if theres the expectation that this document will come today . Yes, it could come as early as today. Thats the latest of what weve heard. So give us some details. What has come out as far as the document itself. Specifically what is it going to lay out . Mmhmm. Well the document is you know, the authorization to use military force and against isis and theres some language a little bit that has come out that some lawmakers were talking about yesterday as we were briefed by white house officials this Morning House democrats are expected to be briefed on the document, as well. And so theres kind of a phrase that is getting a lot of attention. Its no enduring offensive ground troops. And enduring is the key word there. Because with that language, the white house is hoping that you know, if they could have more republican support so that way it will be easier to get this authorized through both chambers. As far as reaction to this document, who is going to be harder to sway, republicans or democrats . Well, it will be interesting to see a lot of republicans yesterday were saying since they havent seen the full language its going to be hard. One senator john mccain from arizona was saying, it would be interesting to see exactly what they mean about enduring. Then the white house is hoping that with that having enduring that they could still get some democrats even though a few of them it may be difficult to sell with others. Is there a sense from congress once this document does reach capitol hill how long before hearings start on it . You know the sense that a lot of us were getting yesterday was its very important, its very, very seriously. Clearly attached with the death of Kayla Mueller which was confirmed yesterday, its a very serious tone on the hill and its something that they want to be addressing very quickly. So you also get the sense that the death of Kayla Mueller has changed the effect of this document . It was a little bit hard to get that. That was a question that was addressed to senator john cornyn the majority whip in the senate, and you know, he just side that it definitely spoke of bipartisan desire to work with the president , and that there needs to be a cooperative decision in both chambers. On this. Kayla mueller, Laura Barron Lopez joining us to talk about this document authorization for war against isis. Before we let you go also, one of the things aside from this was the status of a vote on costone xl. Whats the status as it stands right now . So today, actually the house will be voting on a Senate Passed version of a bill that would approve the pipeline. After that passes and its expected to pass the house today, that will be sent on to president obama, who is expected to veto it. And so what happens after that . What happens after that is theres still the ongoing process at the state department right now, and that is that the state Department Just wrapped up its National Interest determination on the pipeline and so really its on secretary of state john kerrys hands to decide when he wants to send his recommendation over to the president on whether this pipeline should be approved or rejected. But, a lot of environmental groups are pretty optimistic given the recent comments that the president has made, saying that the pipeline isnt as big of a deal as people are making it out to be, and that it wouldnt be that it would be a nominal benefit to u. S. Consumers, but it really hoping that hes leaning towards rejecting it. Thats Laura Barron Lopez of the hill talking about not only the keystone xl vote, but authorization against isis. Thanks for your time. Thank you so much. Again the vote on the Senate Version of the keystone xl pipeline bill going to take place in the house today. You can watch the house live as they get under way with legislative business at noon eastern on our companion network cspan. Here we are live on capitol hill, in the Canon House Office building. As members from the departments of Homeland Security, justice, state and National Counterterrorism center will be testifying before the House Homeland Security committee this morning on counterterrorism, and the threat of foreign and domestic threats to the United States. Its expected to get under way. The Ranking Member is in the room. We are still waiting for the presiding officer, presiding member to arrive. As soon as that happens this will get under way live here on cspan3. Still waiting for the start of this hearing on the threat of foreign and domestic terrorists to the United States. The House Homeland Security committee is holding this hearing this morning. This from the Associated Press. If the Islamic State militants are not stopped, president obama says they could pose a threat to the u. S. Homeland. He makes that assertion in his request to congress to formally authorize military force against the group, which is imposing violent rule in parts of iraq and syria and has killed u. S. And allied hostages. The president plans to speak about his request this afternoon from the white house. Again, the resolution that would authorize the u. S. Military force against the Islamic State would not authorize longterm large scale Ground Combat operations like those that were seen in iraq and afghanistan in recent years. The president says those battles should be left to local forces rather than the u. S. Military. He says hes, instead asking for the flexibility to conduct Ground Combat operations in other more limited circumstances like rescue efforts or the use of special Operations Forces against Islamic State leaders. You can see the president s full proposal on the aumf, the authorization of the use of military force. His proposal is available on our website. Go to cspan. Org, and check the home page. The committee on Homeland Security will come to order. Committee is meeting today to hear testimony on violent islamist extremism, and the threat of foreign fighters and homegrown terror. I now recognize myself for an opening statement. Today at the first hearing of the House Committee on Homeland Security in the 114th congress id like to take a moment of silence to remember all those who lost their lives at the hands of isis especially americans James Foley Steven Sotloff and most recently Kayla Mueller. These victims are the reason why we are here today. We must keep these barbaric terrorists out of the homeland to protect the American People. This hearing will also assess the urgent and growing threat of terrorist recruiting and inspiring americans. We need to accurately define the threat. And that is violent islamist extremism. And recognize that it is spreading like wildfire around the globe. These fanatics want nothing less than destruction of our way of life, and now their ability to match words with deeds is growing at an astonishing rate. In recent years, their safe havens have proliferated and their ranks have swelled. In many ways, we are no longer talking about terrorist groups. We are talking about terrorist armies. Isis now controls a territory the size of belgium, governs millions of people draws on billions of dollars in revenue and commands tens of thousands of foot soldiers. And they are brutal. Their latest act of barbarism was on full display with a horrific murder of the jordanian pilot. This evolving islamic terrorist landscape has given rise to the dual threats of foreign fighters, returning to the United States and home grown terrorism. The recent terror attack in paris and other attacks and plots in belgium germany, the uk australia canada and here in the United States, are proof that the threat has surged and that the enemy is dead set on attacking the west. This map behind me shows a surge in isis linked terrorist plots over the last year alone. As mr. Rasmussen notes in his testimony, more than 20,000 fighters from over 90 countries have made their way to the battlefield to join Al Qaeda Isis and other extremist groups making this the largest convergence of islamist terrorists in world history. That number continues to grow despite months of air strike ss. Up to 5,000 of these fighters are westerners, many of whom are able to travel into the United States without obtaining a visa. And more than 150 american citizens have attempted to or succeeded in getting to the battlefield, and we know that some of them have already returned to our shores. You can see this flow depicted in the graphic behind me. But extremists do not need to travel overseas in order to become a threat to our homeland. Though hollywoodlike prop gone today videos and social media and through that means islamist terror groups are inciting their followers and potential recruits to wage war at home. Both isis, and Yemenbased Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula have called for westerners including americans to wage individual jihad in their home countries, and its working. Isis social media also gives step by step instructions on how to get to the fight and how to return. Following the attacks in paris last month our European Partners have been busy uncovering new terrorist cells and disrupting imminent plots. Also just recently here at home the fbi arrested an ohiobased isis sympathizer who was intending to attack the United States capitol with pipe bombs. Im worried about our ability to combat this threat abroad, but also here at home. I wrote to the president recently, and raised concerns that we still have no lead agency in charge of countering domestic radicalization, and no line item for it in the budgets in key departments and agencies. Im also concerned that the few programs we do have in place are far too small to confront a threat that has grown so quickly. Today i hope to hear how the Administration Assesses the danger posed by foreign fighters, particularly westerners, and the threat of homegrown terrorism here in the United States. More importantly, i hope we will hear about how the administration is responding, and how plans to ramp up its response to those challenges. This morning, i would like to welcome all of our witnesses, but especially mr. Rasmussen, with the National Counterterrorism center in his first appearance before congress after being confirmed as director. And we look forward to his testimony. As part of our committees focus on this Critical National security issue, the Ranking Member and myself are establishing a task force on combatting terrorist and foreign fighter travel. The sixmonth task force will review u. S. Government efforts focusing on dhs to disrupt terrorist travel into our country, and to combat the foreign fighter threat. It will ultimately provide recommendations to the committee on how we can improve u. S. Security against these dangers. I must say im very disappointed that the state department chose not to send a witness here today. The threats we are discussing are serious. And the state department plays a key role in combatting them. I recently sent a letter to the white house expressing my concerns over the departments desire to resettle tens of thousands of Syrian Refugees here in the United States. I am worried that isis could exploit this effort in order to deploy operatives to america via a federally funded jihadi pipeline. Before closing id like to again reiterate what i said at our organizational meeting last month, mr. Thompson, we look forward to working with you to accomplish our shared goal of protecting the homeland. And with that the chair now recognizes the Ranking Member. Thank you, mr. Chairman. For your comments, as well as for holding todays hearing. Id like to also welcome director rasmussen for his first appearance before this committee as the director of the National Counterterrorism center. As well id also thank the rest of the panel for testifying about the federal governments effort to identify and deter foreign fighters and the governments efforts to counter violent extremism. Id like to express my condolences at the beginning to the family of the 26yearold Kayla Mueller an american aid worker who was taken hostage by the Islamic State of iraq. U. S. Officials have confirmed she was killed by the terrorist group. Mr. Chairman ms. Muellers death and other recent terrorist attacks across the world over the past few months have magnified the nature of the evolving threat from the terrorist groups and state actors. The heinous actions by isil, including the beheading of a japanese journalist and the terrorist groups burning of a jordanian pilot further illustrates the abhorrent nature of this terrorist group. Last month the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff indicated that the radical ideology of isil is caused other terrorist groups to rebrand themselves and emulate isil. Top u. S. Officials have made public statements that foreign fighters linked to isil may pose a direct threat to this country. Moreover, those inspired by the ideology of isil al qaeda and other groups are of concern. As we look to these threats, we cannot take a myopic view. Each attack from terrorist groups have reemphasized the global reach of terrorist activity. For instance, there was a crippling cyber attack in november on Sony Pictures entertainment network. In december, in sydney, australia, we witnessed a terrorist attack on a cafe where at the end of a 16hour standoff, two innocent people lay dead. Then in january in paris there was a series of executionstyle murders of 12 members Charlie Hebdos creative team. Al qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has taken credit for this attack. This serves as a reminder that the terrorist threats we face are evolving quickly. This committees responsibility is to hold hearings, and receive classified information that lets us know the nature of the threats, and how the federal government is dealing with the threat. In spite of this mr. Chairman, the republican majority continues to play political games with funding the department of Homeland Security. Mr. Chairman i, too, feel that it is meaningless to have a strategy if the ends are not paired with the means to achieve them. It is my hope that you will make the point to your colleagues, and leadership, who are holding the funding for key agency and the federal government that americans look to to detect, deter and respond to a terrorist hostages. Unfortunately, the department of Homeland Security is operating under the threat of a shutdown and it is only funded by a continuing resolution for the next 17 days. It is important that my republican colleagues act responsibly, stop playing politics and pass a clean dhs funding bill. Without a fully funded department of Canon House Office<\/a> building where up next counterterrorism and intelligence officials from the departments of Homeland Security<\/a>, justice, state and the National Counterterrorism<\/a> center will testify before the House Homeland Security<\/a> committee about the threat of far win and domestic terrorists who the United States<\/a>. Its expected to get under way in just a moment. Live coverage here on cspan3. While we have a moment the Associated Press<\/a> reporting today that the president is asking congress to formally authorize war against Islamic State<\/a> militants, offering a draft resolution that says the Islamic State<\/a> poses a grave threat. The president is sending congress a proposed threepage authorization for military force. The president would limit authorization to three years with no restriction where u. S. Forces could pursue the threat. By the way, the entire document is available for viewing on our website. Go to cspan. Org, check the home page. Again waiting for the start of this House Committee<\/a> hearing on the threat of foreign and domestic terrorists to the United States<\/a>. Getting under way in just a moment. The u. S. House begins legislative work today at noon eastern with debate and votes on the Keystone Xl Oil<\/a> pipeline bill. Theres a preview from a reporter who joined us on washington journal this morning. And talks about these issues. Mice barron lopez lets start if theres the expectation that this document will come today . Yes, it could come as early as today. Thats the latest of what weve heard. So give us some details. What has come out as far as the document itself. Specifically what is it going to lay out . Mmhmm. Well the document is you know, the authorization to use military force and against isis and theres some language a little bit that has come out that some lawmakers were talking about yesterday as we were briefed by white house officials this Morning House<\/a> democrats are expected to be briefed on the document, as well. And so theres kind of a phrase that is getting a lot of attention. Its no enduring offensive ground troops. And enduring is the key word there. Because with that language, the white house is hoping that you know, if they could have more republican support so that way it will be easier to get this authorized through both chambers. As far as reaction to this document, who is going to be harder to sway, republicans or democrats . Well, it will be interesting to see a lot of republicans yesterday were saying since they havent seen the full language its going to be hard. One senator john mccain from arizona was saying, it would be interesting to see exactly what they mean about enduring. Then the white house is hoping that with that having enduring that they could still get some democrats even though a few of them it may be difficult to sell with others. Is there a sense from congress once this document does reach capitol hill how long before hearings start on it . You know the sense that a lot of us were getting yesterday was its very important, its very, very seriously. Clearly attached with the death of Kayla Mueller<\/a> which was confirmed yesterday, its a very serious tone on the hill and its something that they want to be addressing very quickly. So you also get the sense that the death of Kayla Mueller<\/a> has changed the effect of this document . It was a little bit hard to get that. That was a question that was addressed to senator john cornyn the majority whip in the senate, and you know, he just side that it definitely spoke of bipartisan desire to work with the president , and that there needs to be a cooperative decision in both chambers. On this. Kayla mueller, Laura Barron Lopez<\/a> joining us to talk about this document authorization for war against isis. Before we let you go also, one of the things aside from this was the status of a vote on costone xl. Whats the status as it stands right now . So today, actually the house will be voting on a Senate Passed<\/a> version of a bill that would approve the pipeline. After that passes and its expected to pass the house today, that will be sent on to president obama, who is expected to veto it. And so what happens after that . What happens after that is theres still the ongoing process at the state department right now, and that is that the state Department Just<\/a> wrapped up its National Interest<\/a> determination on the pipeline and so really its on secretary of state john kerrys hands to decide when he wants to send his recommendation over to the president on whether this pipeline should be approved or rejected. But, a lot of environmental groups are pretty optimistic given the recent comments that the president has made, saying that the pipeline isnt as big of a deal as people are making it out to be, and that it wouldnt be that it would be a nominal benefit to u. S. Consumers, but it really hoping that hes leaning towards rejecting it. Thats Laura Barron Lopez<\/a> of the hill talking about not only the keystone xl vote, but authorization against isis. Thanks for your time. Thank you so much. Again the vote on the Senate Version<\/a> of the keystone xl pipeline bill going to take place in the house today. You can watch the house live as they get under way with legislative business at noon eastern on our companion network cspan. Here we are live on capitol hill, in the Canon House Office<\/a> building. As members from the departments of Homeland Security<\/a>, justice, state and National Counterterrorism<\/a> center will be testifying before the House Homeland Security<\/a> committee this morning on counterterrorism, and the threat of foreign and domestic threats to the United States<\/a>. Its expected to get under way. The Ranking Member<\/a> is in the room. We are still waiting for the presiding officer, presiding member to arrive. As soon as that happens this will get under way live here on cspan3. Still waiting for the start of this hearing on the threat of foreign and domestic terrorists to the United States<\/a>. The House Homeland Security<\/a> committee is holding this hearing this morning. This from the Associated Press<\/a>. If the Islamic State<\/a> militants are not stopped, president obama says they could pose a threat to the u. S. Homeland. He makes that assertion in his request to congress to formally authorize military force against the group, which is imposing violent rule in parts of iraq and syria and has killed u. S. And allied hostages. The president plans to speak about his request this afternoon from the white house. Again, the resolution that would authorize the u. S. Military force against the Islamic State<\/a> would not authorize longterm large scale Ground Combat<\/a> operations like those that were seen in iraq and afghanistan in recent years. The president says those battles should be left to local forces rather than the u. S. Military. He says hes, instead asking for the flexibility to conduct Ground Combat<\/a> operations in other more limited circumstances like rescue efforts or the use of special Operations Forces<\/a> against Islamic State<\/a> leaders. You can see the president s full proposal on the aumf, the authorization of the use of military force. His proposal is available on our website. Go to cspan. Org, and check the home page. The committee on Homeland Security<\/a> will come to order. Committee is meeting today to hear testimony on violent islamist extremism, and the threat of foreign fighters and homegrown terror. I now recognize myself for an opening statement. Today at the first hearing of the House Committee<\/a> on Homeland Security<\/a> in the 114th congress id like to take a moment of silence to remember all those who lost their lives at the hands of isis especially americans James Foley Steven Sotloff<\/a> and most recently Kayla Mueller<\/a>. These victims are the reason why we are here today. We must keep these barbaric terrorists out of the homeland to protect the American People<\/a>. This hearing will also assess the urgent and growing threat of terrorist recruiting and inspiring americans. We need to accurately define the threat. And that is violent islamist extremism. And recognize that it is spreading like wildfire around the globe. These fanatics want nothing less than destruction of our way of life, and now their ability to match words with deeds is growing at an astonishing rate. In recent years, their safe havens have proliferated and their ranks have swelled. In many ways, we are no longer talking about terrorist groups. We are talking about terrorist armies. Isis now controls a territory the size of belgium, governs millions of people draws on billions of dollars in revenue and commands tens of thousands of foot soldiers. And they are brutal. Their latest act of barbarism was on full display with a horrific murder of the jordanian pilot. This evolving islamic terrorist landscape has given rise to the dual threats of foreign fighters, returning to the United States<\/a> and home grown terrorism. The recent terror attack in paris and other attacks and plots in belgium germany, the uk australia canada and here in the United States<\/a>, are proof that the threat has surged and that the enemy is dead set on attacking the west. This map behind me shows a surge in isis linked terrorist plots over the last year alone. As mr. Rasmussen notes in his testimony, more than 20,000 fighters from over 90 countries have made their way to the battlefield to join Al Qaeda Isis<\/a> and other extremist groups making this the largest convergence of islamist terrorists in world history. That number continues to grow despite months of air strike ss. Up to 5,000 of these fighters are westerners, many of whom are able to travel into the United States<\/a> without obtaining a visa. And more than 150 american citizens have attempted to or succeeded in getting to the battlefield, and we know that some of them have already returned to our shores. You can see this flow depicted in the graphic behind me. But extremists do not need to travel overseas in order to become a threat to our homeland. Though hollywoodlike prop gone today videos and social media and through that means islamist terror groups are inciting their followers and potential recruits to wage war at home. Both isis, and Yemenbased Al Qaeda<\/a> in the Arabian Peninsula<\/a> have called for westerners including americans to wage individual jihad in their home countries, and its working. Isis social media also gives step by step instructions on how to get to the fight and how to return. Following the attacks in paris last month our European Partners<\/a> have been busy uncovering new terrorist cells and disrupting imminent plots. Also just recently here at home the fbi arrested an ohiobased isis sympathizer who was intending to attack the United States<\/a> capitol with pipe bombs. Im worried about our ability to combat this threat abroad, but also here at home. I wrote to the president recently, and raised concerns that we still have no lead agency in charge of countering domestic radicalization, and no line item for it in the budgets in key departments and agencies. Im also concerned that the few programs we do have in place are far too small to confront a threat that has grown so quickly. Today i hope to hear how the Administration Assesses<\/a> the danger posed by foreign fighters, particularly westerners, and the threat of homegrown terrorism here in the United States<\/a>. More importantly, i hope we will hear about how the administration is responding, and how plans to ramp up its response to those challenges. This morning, i would like to welcome all of our witnesses, but especially mr. Rasmussen, with the National Counterterrorism<\/a> center in his first appearance before congress after being confirmed as director. And we look forward to his testimony. As part of our committees focus on this Critical National<\/a> security issue, the Ranking Member<\/a> and myself are establishing a task force on combatting terrorist and foreign fighter travel. The sixmonth task force will review u. S. Government efforts focusing on dhs to disrupt terrorist travel into our country, and to combat the foreign fighter threat. It will ultimately provide recommendations to the committee on how we can improve u. S. Security against these dangers. I must say im very disappointed that the state department chose not to send a witness here today. The threats we are discussing are serious. And the state department plays a key role in combatting them. I recently sent a letter to the white house expressing my concerns over the departments desire to resettle tens of thousands of Syrian Refugees<\/a> here in the United States<\/a>. I am worried that isis could exploit this effort in order to deploy operatives to america via a federally funded jihadi pipeline. Before closing id like to again reiterate what i said at our organizational meeting last month, mr. Thompson, we look forward to working with you to accomplish our shared goal of protecting the homeland. And with that the chair now recognizes the Ranking Member<\/a>. Thank you, mr. Chairman. For your comments, as well as for holding todays hearing. Id like to also welcome director rasmussen for his first appearance before this committee as the director of the National Counterterrorism<\/a> center. As well id also thank the rest of the panel for testifying about the federal governments effort to identify and deter foreign fighters and the governments efforts to counter violent extremism. Id like to express my condolences at the beginning to the family of the 26yearold Kayla Mueller<\/a> an american aid worker who was taken hostage by the Islamic State<\/a> of iraq. U. S. Officials have confirmed she was killed by the terrorist group. Mr. Chairman ms. Muellers death and other recent terrorist attacks across the world over the past few months have magnified the nature of the evolving threat from the terrorist groups and state actors. The heinous actions by isil, including the beheading of a japanese journalist and the terrorist groups burning of a jordanian pilot further illustrates the abhorrent nature of this terrorist group. Last month the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff indicated that the radical ideology of isil is caused other terrorist groups to rebrand themselves and emulate isil. Top u. S. Officials have made public statements that foreign fighters linked to isil may pose a direct threat to this country. Moreover, those inspired by the ideology of isil al qaeda and other groups are of concern. As we look to these threats, we cannot take a myopic view. Each attack from terrorist groups have reemphasized the global reach of terrorist activity. For instance, there was a crippling cyber attack in november on Sony Pictures<\/a> entertainment network. In december, in sydney, australia, we witnessed a terrorist attack on a cafe where at the end of a 16hour standoff, two innocent people lay dead. Then in january in paris there was a series of executionstyle murders of 12 members Charlie Hebdos<\/a> creative team. Al qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula<\/a> has taken credit for this attack. This serves as a reminder that the terrorist threats we face are evolving quickly. This committees responsibility is to hold hearings, and receive classified information that lets us know the nature of the threats, and how the federal government is dealing with the threat. In spite of this mr. Chairman, the republican majority continues to play political games with funding the department of Homeland Security<\/a>. Mr. Chairman i, too, feel that it is meaningless to have a strategy if the ends are not paired with the means to achieve them. It is my hope that you will make the point to your colleagues, and leadership, who are holding the funding for key agency and the federal government that americans look to to detect, deter and respond to a terrorist hostages. Unfortunately, the department of Homeland Security<\/a> is operating under the threat of a shutdown and it is only funded by a continuing resolution for the next 17 days. It is important that my republican colleagues act responsibly, stop playing politics and pass a clean dhs funding bill. Without a fully funded department of Homeland Security<\/a> some of our key methods of identifying terrorists and preventing terrorist travel will be at risk. Are we really ready to stand before the American People<\/a> . Those who trust and value that we recognize their needs, and declare for the sake of partisanship were going to make our nation more vulnerable by not funding dhs. Mr. Chairman, i hope not. We have significant challenges before us. Youve outlined in your testimony those challenges. But if we dont have a fully funded department, one that cant operate on continuing resolution, we put this country its people, at risk. And so whatever it takes for us to deal with this threat first of all, we have a department that has the resources to address the threat. So i look forward to the testimony of our witnesses. But i also look forward to an effort where we can get the department of Homeland Security<\/a> treated like every other department of government having a budget that carries us till the end of the fiscal year. With that i yield back. I thank the Ranking Member<\/a>. Pleased to have three distinguished witnesses before us today to discuss this important topic. First, the honorable francis taylor. Became the undersecretary for intelligence and analysis at the u. S. Department of Homeland Security<\/a> in april 2014. Hes held a variety of senior level positions over his 35year career in government service. Most recently undersecretary taylor served as the assistant secretary of state for Diplomatic Security<\/a> and director of foreign missions. Thank you, sir, for being here today. Next we have the honorable nicholas rasmussen, sworn in as director of the National Counterterrorism<\/a> center in december of 2014. He previously served as nctcs Deputy Director<\/a> since june of 2012 prior to returning to nctc he served with the National Security<\/a> Council Staff<\/a> as special assistant to the president , and senior director for counterterrorism. Thank you, sir. And last but not least, michael steinbach, appointed as the assistant director of the fbis Counterterrorism Division<\/a> by director comey in july of 2014. He joined the fbi in 1995, held a variety of positions at fbi headquarters in the field and overseas during his tenyear career with the bureau. Most recently served as Deputy Assistant<\/a> director of the counterterrorism position. The witnesses full statements will appear in the record. The chair now recognizes undersecretary taylor for his opening statement. Chairman mccaul, Ranking Member<\/a> thompson, and distinguished members of the committee im pleased to be here today with my colleagues from the fbi and nctc to discuss the foreign fighter threat and our current efforts to disrupt terrorist travel. I would be remiss if i did not highlight one of the biggest threats to the security of our homeland, the lack of a funding for the department of Homeland Security<\/a>. Given the myriad of threats facing the homeland, it is imperative that Congress Pass<\/a> a full year dhs appropriations bill for 2015. As long as the department operates under a cr theres a whole series of activities vital to Homeland Security<\/a> and Public Safety<\/a> that the Department Just<\/a> cannot do. The men and women of dhs need a partner in congress to fund their efforts. Time is running out, and i urge congress to pass a fullyear appropriations bill for this department as soon as possible. The foreign fighter threat continues to be a Security Threat<\/a> to the United States<\/a> and our allies. Events in australia, canada, and most recently in france and belgium underscore that the foreign fighter threat is no longer a problem restricted to foreign conflict zones such as Northern Syria<\/a> and western iraq. At present we are unaware of any specific credible, or imminent threat to the homeland. However, recent events have demonstrated the need for increased vigilance both at home and abroad. That said the foreign fighter threat is constantly evolving. As well as developing new tactics in recruitment that we have not previously seen before. The Islamic State<\/a> of iraq commonly referred to as isil exhibits a very sophisticated propaganda capability. Isils use of multimedia content has enhanced the appeal of its terrorist organization. This propaganda encourages supporters to carry out attacks and such attacks could be conducted without specific direction from isil. With little or no warning. To address this very threat, counterviolence extremism in the homeland, and to guard against the domestic lone offender secretary johnson has directed the dhs to build on our partnerships with our state local, and local Law Enforcement<\/a> partners in ways that enhance its Community Relationships<\/a> and builds resilience to violent extremism. The secretary recently appointed a cve coordinator to oversee the various cve programs and efforts across our department. Additionally since september 2014, secretary johnson has personally participated in direct engagement efforts with critical stakeholders in chicago, columbus, ohio, minneapolis, los angeles, and boston. To discuss how dhs can best support local efforts to counter violent extremism and address the foreign terrorist fighters. Dhs cve efforts are designed to share information with communities and local officials to raise vigilance on behavioral indicators that may link to radicalization to violence. The dhs program also focuses on empowering communities, and local Law Enforcement<\/a> to develop intervention and prevention efforts at the local level. The white house plans to host a cve summit on february 18th, 2015, it will focus on both domestic and international cve efforts. Prior to the summit dhs will host an event for domestic stake holders on february 17th at the white house, while a second affiliated event specifically for International Partners<\/a> will be hosted by the department of state on february the 19th. Let me now turn to the specific efforts dhs is undertaking to identify address and minimize the foreign fighter threat to the United States<\/a> and to our allies. Beginning in july 2014 dhs required enhanced screening and screening at selected overseas airports with direct flights to the United States<\/a>. Weeks later dhs added additional airports to this list with the United Kingdom<\/a> and other countries following similar enhancements to their required Aviation Security<\/a> operations. Tsa has been directed by secretary johnson also conducting an immediate shortterm review to determine if additional security convenienting measures are necessary at both domestic and overseas last point of departure airports. Dhs is also exploring the possibility of expanding preclearance operation at foreign airports with flights to the United States<\/a>. Currently cvp has preclearance operations at 15 airports in six countries. And where appropriate cvp intends to enter into negotiations to expand air preclearance operations at new locations. The department continues to work closely with our European Partners<\/a> through the useu name record agreement passenger name records information to dhs by airlines that are subject to the eu Data Protection<\/a> laws. In addition dhs uses close partnerships with countries in the Visa Waiver Program<\/a>, and the five country minister ialial to improve respective abilities to identify illicit travel. Just this past november the secretary increased the data fields that are collected from visa waiver country countries where visa where visas not required for entry into the United States<\/a>, and to provide additional passport data, contact information, and other potential names or aliases in the travel applications submitted under the Electronic System<\/a> for travel authorization before they can travel to the u. S. Dhs is increasing efforts to track those who enter and leave syria and may later seek to travel to the United States<\/a> without a state department issued visa. The terrorist threat is dynamic, and those who operate individual as a part of terrorist organizations will continue to challenge our security measures and our safety. Mr. Chairman id like to end my statement there and i look forward to the questions from the committee. I thank the secretary. The chair now recognizes director rasmussen for his opening statement. Thank you, chairman mccaul Ranking Member<\/a> thompson and members of the committee. I really do appreciate the opportunity to be here today to discuss the threat posed by foreign fighters and homegrown terror in our efforts as a government to counter it. As frank taylor said im also pleased to join my colleagues and close partners from Homeland Security<\/a> and the federal bureau of investigation. We work closely and cooperatively every day as a part of a True Community<\/a> of counterterrorism professionals and im really grateful for that partnership that we share. This morning i will briefly describe the threat we face from foreign fighters, highlight the role that extremist use of social media has played in that process, and conclude with efforts nct kroochlt and our partners across the federal government are taking to counter that threat. And ill begin with the foreign fighter picture. As you know, one of the most pressing concerns for the Intelligence Community<\/a> is the ongoing throw of foreign fighters to syria, importantly the threat they could pose upon return to their home country of home origin. The battlefields in iraq and syria clearly provide foreign fighters with combat experience with training in weapons and explosives, and with access to Terror Networks<\/a> that may be ultimately planning targets attacks which target the west. The rate of foreign fighter travel that weve seen in recent years is unprecedented. It exceeds the rate of travel and travelers who went to afghanistan, pakistan, iraq, yemen or somalia other prominent conflict zones but it exceeds the rate of travel to those conflict zones that weve seen at any point in the last 20 years. The United States<\/a> and our allies are increasingly concerned with the more than 20,000 foreign fighters we assess have traveled to syria from over 90 Different Countries<\/a> of origin. We assess that at least 3,400 of these fighters are from western countries and that number includes also over 150 u. S. Persons whove either traveled to the conflict zone or attempted to do so. And thats something we can speak about in more detail later in the session. I want to be cautious here that because its very difficult to be precise with these numbers because they come from a wide variety of sources that vary in quality. Id rather focus on the trend lines which are clear, and which are concerning. In addition to the foreign fighters whove already traveled it is clear that the number of those seeking to go to iraq and syria is going up. And furthermore the majority of those who are getting there getting to the conflict zone right now, are fighting or looking to fight for isil on the battlefield in syria and iraq. Its also a complicating factor that the individuals drawn to fight in foreign conflict zones do not fit any one stereotype or profile. They come from various backgrounds, which highlights the need for comprehensive messaging strategies and early engagement with a variety of communities in order to dissuade vulnerable individuals from trying to travel to conflict zones. The volume and diversity of recruits flowing to and from the conflict makes disruption particularly challenging. There is no single pipeline for foreign fighter travel into and out of syria. Violent extremists take different routes, including land, air and sea. Most routes do involve transit from turkey because of its geographic proximity to the Syrian Border<\/a> areas where most of these groups operate. Now this sense of shared threat has prompted even closer cooperation across u. S. Federal agencies, and importantly with our International Partners<\/a>, particularly in europe. This is resulting in the development of stricter counterterrorism laws overseas increased efforts at Border Security<\/a> among our European Partners<\/a>, and importantly, more willingness to share threat information among partner nations. And while these good efforts are under way and are making progress, significant work remains, particularly in ensuring that our foreign partners are able and willing to identify and stop foreign fighters when they transit their borders. Both to prevent those fighters from entering and then to stop fighters from leaving, their home countries to travel abroad. Now ill turn quickly to the use of social media by extremists and especially by isil and the way in which this group uses social media to attract a diverse set of aspiring foreign fighters. Now the chairman and the Ranking Member<\/a> both mentioned in an opening remarks the brutal behavior that weve seen of isil in recent weeks. The world witnessed the brutal burning of a jordanian pilot held hostage by the group and weve seen the cruel beheadings of u. S. And japanese hostages. Isils media capabilities are robust and effective. Moreover, their ability to generate timely propaganda continues to grow. I would argue that isil has proven far more adept than al qaeda ever was or more adept than any of the core of al qaedas affiliate groups, more adept at using these new social media tools to reach a broader audience. Just since january 1 of this year more than 250 official isil products have been published online. And the group has shown the capacity to use these products to speak to a full spectrum of potential audiences. Local sunni arab populations inside iraq and syria who theyre trying to coopt and exercise dominion over. Individuals in coalition countries. And even populations around the world, including English Speaking<\/a> audiences here and across the globe. As youd expect isil uses the most popular of social media platforms to disseminate this messaging. Youtube, facebook, twitter. And they know how to ensure that once their media releases are posted that they reach far and wide almost instantaneously with reposting, and regeneration of followon links and translations into an evergrowing number of additional languages. Now in terms of content weve all seen that it includes these horrible, horrific images in which hostages have been murdered or isils adversaries on the battlefield have been executed in summary fashion. But weve also seen social media images of a bucolic Family Friendly<\/a> welcoming light under isils rule in their selfdeclared caliphate. As isil tries to paint a picture to entice disenfranchised individuals seeking ideological, religious or personal fulfillment, and not just a battlefield or a martyrdom experience. Isil also generates releases that cater to a younger population very familiar with popular culture. These releases often reference western branding including Popular Video<\/a> games. In an attempt to appeal to thrill ekers and youth looking for fulfillment. Now the threat we face is not just from foreign fighters or terrorist groups including isil and al qaeda. Individual inspired by these and other groups are simply by extremist propaganda can be motivated to action and as frank said that can come with little or no warning. Many of these socalled homegrown violent extremists are lone actors who can potentially operate undetected and who can plan and execute a simple attack without providing us warning. As a community we closely monitor violent extremist activity including when that activity appears and occurs in the United States<\/a>. And were looking for signs that last years attacks in canada and elsewhere, may embolden other hbes to conduct additional attacks. We believe isils red rick may have played a role in this attacks, particularly in target selection in terms of targeting government officials or military personnel. We are working with our partners across multiple disciplines in the community to increase our knowledge of foreign fighters to counter extremism. Nctc has taken a broad centerwide effort to track foreign fighters traveling to syria. We work in the first instance to resolve specific identities of these potential fighters to uncover any potential derogatory information that we have in Intelligence Community<\/a> holdings. Were also working closely with foreign partners to combat threats emanating from syria. Were looking hard to develop investigative leads for our Partner Agencies<\/a> to pursue. Including identifying foreign fighters entering syria, who may have potential access or connections to individuals in the homeland so that they can be watch listed. In the growing number of individuals going abroad as foreign fighters only emphasizes the importance of prevention. Any hope of enduring security or defeating organizations like isil rests in our ability to diminish their appeal and dissuade individuals from joining them in the first place. To this end we continue to refine and expand the preventive side of terrorism and counterterrorism. Weve seen a steady proliferation of more proactive and more engaged Community Awareness<\/a> efforts across the United States<\/a> with the goal of giving communities information and tools they need to identify extremism in their midst and to do something about it before it manifests in violence. My organization, nctc in direct and daily collaboration with dhs, the Justice Department<\/a>, and fbi, has led the creation of cve tools to build Community Resilience<\/a> across the country. In working closely with these partners were doing this work all across the country, and id like to point to just one quick example. Youll recall the case last year in which three young teenage girls allegedly attempted to travel from denver to syria by way of Frankfurt Germany<\/a> where their travel was disruchted by Law Enforcement<\/a>. Now in the aftermath of that incident we, working to the with dhs, dhs fbi and the department of justice, sent our officers on multiple occasions to meet and talk to the greater Denver Community<\/a> to raise Awareness Among<\/a> community and Law Enforcement<\/a> partners about the terrorist recruitment threat. We developed a briefing working with our partners, that is now tailored to address the specific effort to identify to identify and recruit foreign fighters for syria and iraq. Weve received a very Strong Demand<\/a> signal for more such outreach from communities like denver. We continue to try to expand our tool kit of cve related tools. With our dhs colleagues we have created and we regularly deliver a Community Resilience<\/a> exercise program, a tabletop exercise that brings together Law Enforcement<\/a>, Community Leaders<\/a> to run through a hypothetical scenario and talk about response. And we realized we cant institutionalize a prevention approach without scaling up these efforts and that goes to something you said in your openingopen ing statement senator mccaul. Were working to try to create more programs to train individuals to ensure that communities across the country are able to lead cve approaches locally in their own communities. And this approach syncs up nicely with the efforts of the white house nctc, dhs and fbi to facilitate the local development and implementation of intervention frameworks in cities all across the country. Ill stop there mr. Chairman. Thank you. Mr. Ranking member. Thank you. We just have many members here to ask questions and there will be plenty of time to talk about that but we appreciate you being here today. Thank you director. Chair now recognizes assistant director steinbach for his opening statement. Good morning, chairman mccaul, Ranking Member<\/a> thompson, members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss the dynamic threat of foreign fighters traveling in support of the Islamic State<\/a> of iraq, commonly known as isil. And the continued threat to the United States<\/a> posed by homegrown violent extremists. These threats remain among the highest priorities for the fbi, and the Intelligence Community<\/a> as a whole. However, it is a blending of the homegrown violent extremism with foreign fighter ideology which is todays latest adaptation of the threat. Conflicts in syria and iraq are currently the most attractive overseas theaters for westernbased extremists who want to engage in violence. We estimate upwards of 150 americans have traveled or attempted to travel to syria to join extremist groups. While this number is small in comparison to the number of european travelers we must also consider the influence groups like isil have on individuals located in the United States<\/a> who are inspired to commit acts of violence. It is this influence which i refer to as the blended threat. Isil has proven ruthless in its campaign, in its Violent Campaign<\/a> to rule and has become yet the latest terror group attracting likeminded western extremists. Yet from a homeland perspective, it is isils widespread reach through the internet and social media, which is the most concerning as isil has proven dangerously competent like no other group before it at employing such tools in furtherance of its nefarious strategy. Isil uses highquality traditional media platforms, as well as a multitude of social media campaigns, to propagate its extremist ideas. Like al qaeda and other Foreign Terrorist Organization<\/a>s, isil has effectively used the internet to communicate to both radicalize and recruit, unlike other groups isil has gone one step further and demonstrates an effectiveness to spot and assess potential recruits. Social media in particular has provided isil with the technical platform for widespread recruitment, operational direction, and consequently has helped bridge the gap between foreign fighters and home grown extremists. As a communication tool the internet remains a critical mode for terror groups to exploit. One recent example just occurred this past week. A group of five individuals was arrested for knowingly and willingly conspiring and attempting to provide Material Support<\/a> and resources to a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization<\/a>s active in syria and iraq. Much of their conspiracy occurred via the internet. Following on other groups doctrines, isil, too has advocated for lone attacks. Last month isil released a video via social media reiterating the groups encouragement of lone wolf offender attacks in western countries. Specifically advocating for attacks against soldiers Law Enforcement<\/a>, and intelligence members. Several incidents have occurred in the United States<\/a> and europe over the past few months which indicate this call to arms has resonated amongst isil, supporters, and sympathizers. In one case an ohiobased man was arrested in january after he obtained a weapon and stated his intent his intent to conduct an attack on the u. S. Capital in washington, d. C. As was mentioned here earlier. The individual posted statements video and other content in getting his support for isil and he planned his attack based on his support. Like wise in australia, canada france reflect the power of this radicalized message and reemphasize our need to remain vigilant since these are just as feasible in the United States<\/a>. We should also understand community and world events as viewed through the eyes of the committed individual may trigger action. As we have seen with highly publicized events such as the attack on military personnel at the tomb of the unknown soldier in canada and the hostage situation at the cafe in australia, these acts of terror will attract Media Attention<\/a> and may inspire copy cat attacks. Isil is not the only high profile terrorist organization of concern. Al qaeda and the Arabian Peninsula<\/a> poses a threat to the homeland and u. S. Interests abroad. Their online mag sign inspire advocates for lone wolves to conduct attacks on western targets by utilizing simple and inexpensive tactics and methods. On december 24th, they released the 13th edition of the magazine which provides instructions for building an ied. Lastly, social media has allowed groups such as isil to use the internet even more effectively at spotting and assesses potential recruits. With the widespread distribution of social media terrorists can identify sympathetic individuals of all ages in the United States<\/a>, spot assess, recruit and radicalize. The foreign terrorist has direct access into the United States<\/a> like never before. As a result, its imperative that the fbi and all Law Enforcement<\/a> organizations understand the latest communication tools and are equipped to identify and prevent terror attacks in the homeland. We live in a technologically driven society and just as private industry adapted to communication, so have the terrorists. Unfortunately changing forms of communication on the internet and through social media are quickly outpacing laws and technology designed to allow for the lawful intercept of communication content. This real and growing gap the fbi refers to as going dark must be urgently addressed as the risks associated with going dark are grave in criminal matters as well as National Security<\/a> matters. We must continue to build partnerships and work with internet providers and social Media Companies<\/a> to ensure appropriate, lawful collection is possible. Most companies not required by statute to development lawful intercept. As a result, services are developed and deployed without any ability for Law Enforcement<\/a> to collect. The fbi in partnership with the department of Homeland Security<\/a> is utilizing all investigative techniques and methods to combat the threat these individuals pose to the United States<\/a>. In conjunction with our domestic and foreign partners we collect and analyze intelligence as it pertains to on going threats posed by isil and other Foreign Terrorist Organization<\/a>. In partnership with our many federal, state and local agencies assigned to the joint Terrorism Task<\/a> forces around the country, we remain vigilant to ensure the safety of the american public. Be assured the fbi continues to pursue efficiencies and information sharing processes to stay ahead of the threat to the homeland. Chairman, Ranking Member<\/a> thompson and committee members, i thank you for this opportunity to testify concerning the foreign fighter threat and home grown threat posed to the homeland. Im happy to answer any questions at this time. Thank you, director. The chair recognizes himself for five minutes. The American People<\/a> have seen americans, the american journalists beheaded by the executioner, isis executioner. It was a wakeup call for the United States<\/a>. In the jordanian pilot, one o of the most horrific videos i have ever seen and a very sophisticated hollywood movie production style lit on flames. They are barbarians. And i think the barbarians are at the gate. We want to keep them outside the gate of the United States<\/a>. Im concerned that some have already returned. So my first question is, we know there are 50,000 isis strong. Foreign fighters have gone from 15 to 20,000. We know that 5,000 of these foreign fighters have western passports that could get them entrance into the United States<\/a>. And as the director mentioned there are hundreds of americans who have traveled to the region to fight with isis. We know that some of them have returned. Thats a classified number. But my first question is for those who have returned to the United States<\/a>, what assurance can you give the American People<\/a>, what confidence do we have first that we know all the people who have joined the fight and returned . And what are we doing about it to ensure they do not attack here in the United States<\/a> . Ill start but ill ask mike to pitch in on the bureaus efforts here. In talking about the numbers, mr. Chairman, youre right to raise questions about our overall level of confidence. As i tried to say in my remarks, we know what we know, but that comes from a wide variety of sources. Theres likely more information out there that we have not been able to collect either from foreign partners or other intelligence means. Its possible that there are greater numbers of foreign fighters and potentially even greater numbers of individuals from western countries who have traveled to the conflict zones. Ill let mike speak to the question of what we can say about individuals who traveled to the conflict zone and come back, but it is obviously the highest possible priority for the intelligence. Community to track their movements. Mr. Stein beck . Certainly i would not be truthful if i told you we know about all the returnees. Theres a number we dont know about. The numbers of foreign fighters that have returned from syria, from the conflict zone, every single one of those is an fbi investigation run on the joint Terrorism Task<\/a> force. Regardless of the information that we started with we go to build the case to disrupt, whether that disrupts is in the form of deportation, whether that disrupts in the form of prosecution. Every single one of those known foreign fighters is an fbi investigation and we seek to determine the root cause of their travel, what they did in syria and ultimately if it was in support of a Foreign Terrorist Organization<\/a> such as isil. We look for prosecution or some other disruption. In my briefings in having served as a federal prosecutor as well, certainly understand that. I want to commend the fbi for its efforts in this very difficult task to monitor. And youre right, you dont know know what you dont know. Our human intelligence on the ground is not sufficient to properly identify these individuals and hopefully the administration will move forward to do that. General taylor, travel, Homeland Security<\/a> a lot of it is about travel keeping people off airplanes, or these foreign fighters in syria with isis off airplanes. Theres been some concern that our European Partners<\/a> have not been fully cooperative. A good example is the brothers in the paris attacks. Went to yemen, were on a nofly list, we share that information with them. Im concerned about turkey in terms of their cooperation because lets face it, these foreign fighters are like a highway going through in and out of turkey as demonstrated by the female terrorist in the Grocery Store<\/a> who left paris, went to istanbul and into turkey. What are we doing to ramp up these efforts with our European Partners<\/a> and with turkey . Thank you, mr. Chairman. Certainly as you indicate, one of our major ongoing concerns is foreign terrorist fighter on an Airline Coming<\/a> to the u. S. And as i indicated in my remarks, we have taken action since july to ramp up security of our aircraft at those locations around europe and in the middle east and elsewhere where we assess theres a potential for those individuals to try to exploit airplane travel to to get to the u. S. In addition the secretary has directed additional requirements under the Visa Waiver Program<\/a> to strengthen the amount of data that we have to assess against the our Community Records<\/a> within both dhs and within the intelligence communities so we can spot and assess those who may be involved in nefarious activity. I would say were all concerned that we only know what we know. And ramping up our work with our European Partners<\/a> and other partners around the world o has certainly increased since the attacks in paris. I was just in london last week with the min starl. Theres a clear understanding that sharing of information on these individuals across our partners is a critical to the ability to detect. We now have and id ask nick to speak to it within the capacity to track these individuals that wer getting data on from across the world that gives us a better confidence that if someone were to try to circumvent our Security Systems<\/a> we would at least be able to know who they were and what they were trying to accomplish. Thats not a perfect system yet, we continue to add it to it today. I just saw a report this morning so it continues to grow, but the cooperation with our European Partners<\/a> has been significantly enhanced in the course of the last six months. I think since paris its been enhanced. They could answer the coordination and cooperation with these databases. Canada with privacy concerns as well. I hope we can work that out so we have a Free Exchange<\/a> of intelligence and information to keep these terrorists off airplanes, stop the travel and stop them from coming into the United States<\/a>. My tame time is just about expired. One last question. Im very concerned and i sent a letter to susan rice about these refugees both in syria and turkey. Ive been over there and i have seen them. Most of them are women and children, but there are male actors that concern me. I think it would be a mistake to bring in. The refugees that could potentially be radicalized. Were not only trying to keep these guys foreign fighters out, but under this it would be a federally sanctioned welcome party, if you will, to potential terrorists in the United States<\/a>. Can the three of you, and i know this is a very maybe u awkward question to does you, but all three of you, do you agree with that policy we should bring in these refugees into the United States<\/a> . Sir im not in a position to agree with the policy thats really under the secretary of state and his response do you think it would pose a threat or danger to americans . We are concerned about any group of people coming to the United States<\/a> who may be coming to the United States<\/a> for nefarious purposes. Therefore, under our responsibilities, want to make sure that if we are asked to vet individuals from any part of the world to come to the United States<\/a> that we have applied the most rigorous screening thats available within the u. S. Government. I think we have learned that lesson in the past and so any task were given from a departmental point of view with our Intelligence Community<\/a> partners will be as thorough as we can make it to make sure. My time the director would that bring in Syrian Refugees<\/a> pose a greater risk to americans . Well have to go through the Intelligence Holdings<\/a> and be careful to try and identify connections to foreign terrorist groups. Thank you. The chair recognizes the Ranking Member<\/a>. Following on the chairmans questioning before they are allowed to come. Yes, sir, it is. Is that your understanding . Yes, National Counterterrorism<\/a> Center Provides<\/a> the information that allows the screening agencies to decide and make the decisions on entry or exit. You have to have information to vet so the concern in syria is we dont have systems in place on the ground to collect information to vet. That would be the concern is we would be vetting databases dont hold the information on those individuals. Thats the concern. Thank you. This is to general taylor and to you, director steinbeck. The National Security<\/a> released a report finding that u. S. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies are currently operating without an enterprise wide concept at the federal level. This inhibits the federal governments ability to conduct Domestic Intelligence<\/a> activities in support of counterterrorism. Do you agree with that assumption . Sir i have had a conversation with the leadership. We dont agree with that assumption. We believe the Enterprise Partnership<\/a> that we have with the fbi is as strong and effective as it can be today. Especially adding the information thats available through the nctc. So we do not agree. Things can be better. We work at making it better every day, but the lack of an enterprise approach i dont think is a Fair Assessment<\/a> of where we are today. Director steinbeck . That strategy piece is outdated. It was a good attempt, but they looked at information that was four or five years old, so no i dont agree. Had they looked at whats goings on now, they would have likely come to a different conclusion. Have you shared that with the Business Executives<\/a> . Yes, we have. Thank you. General taylor you have outlined in quite detail what the impact of not being funded after february 27 would be. Were talking about the threat to foreign fighters in home grown terror. Can you in short order indicate to this committee what kinds of impact without money the department would be faced . Certainly, sir. Not a total list, but for example, nearly 2. 6 billion in funding pr new grants including 103 billion in Homeland Security<\/a> grants and 680 million in foreign fighters assistance grants cannot be approved under the current continuing resolution. 90 million in new upgrades for remote and mobile Video Surveillance<\/a> along the rio grand to enhance our detection capability there. 142 million in secret service protective activities as we get to the election cycle. Theres a long list of things were procolluded from doing and investing in without a full funding bill from the congress. One of the things that a lot of us are confronted with as well as our constituents is we all have federal buildings in our communities. After the situation in paris the secretary the facilities. Would the lack of money for the department create a Security Risk<\/a> at some of those buildings . Sir, i cant speak specifically we are continuing to enhance our security efforts at facilities across the country. Federal fifties that were charged with protecting. The specifics on whether or not fps would be able to continue that, i would have to take that as a question and get. Back to you. I think we need to hear it since we have quite a few of those facilities. I yield back. The chair recognizes the gentleman from texas, mr. Smith. Ill yield my time to my colleague from texas, mr. Herd. Id like to thank the gentleman from texas and you here today, i appreciate you all coming here. I know the difficulty of the task that youre charged with having spent nine years an an undercover officer chasing al qaeda and taliban and places like that. Organizations like that i know the difficulty and i know that the people in the men and women in your organizations are operating as if its september 12th, 2001. When you go back to your organizations, thank them for their hard work on behalf of us. When i was in pakistan, afghanistan, the bad guys would would what efforts who is coordinating the effort to counter that ideology on social media and these other elements. 20 is cutting off the head of the snake. 80 is addressing the concerns. Who is leading that . What are you guys doing in each one of your agencies to counter that . Ill start and welcome help. From my partners up here. In terms of the isil strategy that the president has laid out for our effort to degrade and defeat isil, state department has our lead for our overseas environment to counter violent extremism. The range of activities that have included a number of overseas summit meetings and other gatherings designed to coordinate inside the middle east to make sure that our partners in the coalition are doing their part to counter the narrative. Here at home we have, as i described in my testimony, i think we have an Effective Partnership<\/a> among the four agencies and departments with responsibility for countering violent extremism. Dhs, the fbi, department of justice and nctc we Work Together<\/a> almost seamlessly on a range of initiatives leveraging the capabilities that each of our departments have. And i say that because the Law Enforcement<\/a> community that has the reach into local Law Enforcement<\/a>. So fbi has that advantage. Homeland security has the reach into a network of Community Organizations<\/a> and other Homeland Security<\/a> oriented populations in our major metropolitan areas that gives them reach into. It tries to provide support and content generation to help us with this effort at outreach in the domestic environment. It really is i would not argue to you that were there yet on that score. The president s summit will give us a chance to give that an important boost. Just one note on context. A part of this message has to be pushed down at the local level just like parents have to watch their children on the internet social media for pedophiles and criminals. We have it to have that same message. You have to have interaction. If you look at other cases, we see a lack of understanding by parents and guardians to whats going on. That tool needs to be monitored. Its a powerful tool. It provides quite a bit of reach. Thats a part of it at the local level. Thank you. Next question is two parts. Again, when i was in. The Intelligence Community<\/a> and operating an alias i frequently traveled to a lot of countries. I would go somewhere else because it was a lot easier. The concept of broken travel. What are you doing in order to monitor the broken travel of folks that may end up going to syria but dont go directly there . The other issue is what new. Intelligence capabilities do we need in syria in order for you to better do your job back here. Let me speak first, sir, to the nature of how we monitor broken travel. It is a concern. People can book a flight to an end destination and stop at an end point and go other places. We understand that phenomenon. Were able to use our travel data to better spot those instances when they occur. As i mentioned earlier taking that information and bouncing it against the other holdings within the community to better understand the phenomenon, its not perfect yet. It continues to refine, but it is an issue that we now understand you raise a good point about the challenge of collecting intelligence in syria right now. Without going into too much detail, its a challenging collection environment for all of our agencies because we are not present on the ground there. We dont have the footprint wed have in many places around the world with the military and intelligence presence. And so were forced to be more creative, more innovative, more entrepreneurial in trying to close that gap. All of the intelligence agencies have prioritized this at the absolute top of our priority. List in terms of devoting resource, energy and effort to do so. I would not argue that we have closed the gap in terms of our understanding of whats going on in the ground in syria. In many cases the information we have about foreign fighters traveling it to the conflict zone stops when they get will. We dont have nearly enough insight into what happens when they are on the ground in syria. Thats a gap were trying to close. I want to thank our witnesses for your testimony today. Id like to turn to discussion that we have been involved with this morning about tracking those individuals who have been in the conflict zone in iraq or syria fighting withistst who have western passports. Its my understanding that we have somewhat our arms around being able to track those with u. S. Passports, but as we have alluded to this morning were talking about maybe a hundred or so people with u. S. Passports. But it could be in the thousands for people with western passports that are fighting in syria and yet those individuals that could travel potentially then back to European Countries<\/a> and could come to the United States<\/a> particularly those from visa waiver countries and what im hearing, what i have heard in past testimony that its difficult because there are certain governments particularly in the eu that are reluctant to share threat information on the citizens due to privacy concerns. I was just in munich this past weekend at the security conference. Met with britains secretary of defense and he confirmed that that is a concern not so much for the uk because their privacy laws are different so that kind of information sharing is not restricted from Great Britain<\/a> but more an issue with continental European Countries<\/a>. So has this been the experience of nctc and what are we doing to close that gap . Thats a significant blind spot for us. In talking about sharing of information, particularly from our European Partners<\/a>, i think its useful to think of it happening in two different ways. One is kind of structured sharing of travel information of the sort that under secretary taylor mentioned before. We want that kind of sharing from our European Partners<\/a> because it would help with our screening. The other kind of sharing thats worth mentioning and where we have seen a fairly dramatic improvement with our European Partners<\/a> over the last couple years is Intelligence Service<\/a> to Intelligence Service<\/a> sharing on individuals of specific terrorism concern. And we have been on a bit of an partnership we need to Work Together<\/a> on this threat. Were well past that now. Any capital you go to or partner you engage with jumps into that conversation right away and is quite open in sharing what they know, including often about their own citizens and what that allows us to do is potentially pop late our terrorist identities environment with information about specific individuals that can aid our screening process. So i dont want o to to paint an entirely dire picture of our European Partners<\/a> working this area because i would argue it has been almost unprecedentedly a good news story. Much room for improvement and europe is certainly across the continent there are areas we could get more cooperative sharing arrangements. I did want to distinguish between the two types of sharing because theres a bulk data sharing discussion that is sometimes more difficult for our European Partners<\/a>. Then theres more. Granule specific sharing on individuals who we have intelligence reporting where there are quite responsive. What i want to get to is the question should we be insisting trying to work with nato partners to change their privacy laws or can Congress Play<\/a> a role in helping to to ease privacy concerns concerns. For example, do you believe that the judicial redress announced last week is part of the review would help alleviate these challenges . Sir, i would say that the privacy concerns in europe are significant and not just in this area of sharing terrorism information but in all aspects of how private information is shared for business, for government and elsewhere. The chairman referred to it earlier. There are now new laws and several countries particularly in the five is about enhancing that sharing. Theres a discussion at the eu this week about euprn, which we are encouraged by and hope that the European Parliament<\/a> will move forward to pass a europeanwide pnr requirement that allows for that data to be collected across europe and shared. That will be a big step, but we also think if that doesnt work then we can work bilaterally with individual countries to share data. The important thing for us is using every tool in. Our tool kit to get the information shared between us and our partners and back and forth. Theres not one set of processes that are going to do that, but were going to use every tool in the tool kit to make sure those relationships work and work effectively. I would add one thing to your point on engage. Ing European Parliament<\/a>s. Anything we can collectively do to send the message if information is shared, we use it for the purposes that we have asked for it and we handle it responsibly. In accordance with the terms on which its given to us. If that can provide reassurance to European Partners<\/a> and increase the flow of information, then all to the good. I appreciate your answer. I would say i still think this is until we get this seamless and were get. Ing all the information we need its a blind spot and its a problem and we need to work on this. Thank you. The gentleman from South Carolina<\/a> is recognized. Thank you, mr. Chairman, for a very timely hearing. I would ask we schedule a classified briefing with some of these Intelligence Community<\/a> to get a little different input. Its a good idea. Thank you. So director, al qaeda they are still alive and well right . They are still a threat to Global Freedom<\/a> . Yes, sir, they pose a significant terrorist threat. I would say al qaeda, isis, al qaeda in all of its elements boko haram all these terrorist groups are still active, right . Yes, sir. So we shouldnt take our eye off the ball with just focusing on isis and think of this globally and not get hung up on the 50 shades of terrorism. Talk about terrorism about terrorism. These groups are a let all over the globe. So let me lay out a scenario that actually happened. Back in late may to europe right before we arrived in. Brussels a foreign fighter had traveled to syria about a year, maybe 18 months, radicalized, came back through turkey through germany into. Brussels, shot up a jewish museum, killed three people, i dont know if that person died or not, that was right before we arrived. It was very real to the belgiums. It was very real to the french because this foreign fighter fled through france and was captured trying to catch a boat or a plane to north africa. Had he gotten out of europe, he would have disappeared. This was a foreign fighter that took advantage of the region, the open borders in europe. From what i remember from talking with the folks at that time is germany had information about this individual who traveled through germany but failed to share in a timely manner with either the belgium or french authorities. And so im concerned, mr. Chairman, you brought up the point of the waiver, im concerned of the open border region and visa waiver and the ability to flow to this country. Most are concerned about the open borders and the ability to get back to europe, travel to the south of france and hop over from portugal or spain and disappear. Or maybe rejoin the fight with boekko haram or travel and continue these evil acts. And so in a post snowden environment where i believe the reason germany was slow to inform the french or the belgium was because of intelligence sharing and what was being revealed at the time about the United States<\/a> spying on chancellor chancellor chancellor merkel. Let me ask you, are we communicate uing with our allies in the region the global allies in this war on terror and how do you see that communication being hampered in the post snowden era . Either one lets talk to mr. Taylor first. I think our communication is robust with our allies across the world on this particular issue. Its not perfect. Certainly the challenges within the zone in terms of free travel once an individual gets in and is able to move is understood by the them. The data exchanged between the countries to better remedy that particular circumstance that you described. Its not perfect yet, but i think they recognize the security deficit thats created at this point in time and are looking at ways in which they can eliminate that. But i would tell you that the multilateral engage. Mentment in share uing of data is daily and consistent and robust. In 41 seconds. Youre right to point to an overlay or overhang from the period of disclosures that included the snowden disclosures. But i would argue since that period, we have seen an increased sense of shared threat among our European Partners<\/a> because of the attacks like the brussels attack and what we saw in paris and belgium recently. So that i would argue theres a bit of a pendulum swing to this process that is trending in a direction of more sharing and willingness to share information. I would argue an intelligence channels thats not an meet thing to happen in the last two week weeks. Thats been a pretty consistent refrain over the past couple years. The politics are difficult for European Partners<\/a> but as professional intelligence organizations working with each other i would argue a lot goes on that we could be comfortable and useful to us. The i thank the gentleman. Communication is key in this realm. You have acknowledged that. Mr. Chairman, i appreciate the lenience and i yield back. Thank the gentleman for his insight as always. Gentleman from new york. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Just on two aspects of this. One is the nature of terrorist attacks have changed profound lyly. Al qaeda and al qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula<\/a> has relied traditionally on complex plots involving explosions in airliners. Now in september of 2014 an isis leader told wouldbe recruits not to bother coming to iraq or syria but to launch attacks in their home countries. Isis has call eded for attacks on soft targets in the westby in means available includeing using a car to describe at pedestrians pedestrians. The other issue is technology. As mr. Stooen steinbeck, technology moves faster than legislation. A lot faster. You characterize the fbi as labeling this going dark. Its increasingly difficult to monitor the communications within terrorist networks. Proliferation of often encrypted, coded information to prevent unauthorized use from skype to gaming forums to other new technology has made surveillance tremendous technologically demanding in some cases virtually impossible. The latest operating system came with a default encryption and googles android is soon to follow. Companies do not have access to passwords and thus cant capture their messages. Now from a consumer standpoint, thats a very good thing. But those who are malicious, the malignancy of terror it takes away a major tool that Law Enforcement<\/a> uses to thwart terrorist activity in its planning stages. So could you comment on that and what it is, if anything we can be doing . There was a time when publicly owned Telephone Companies<\/a> were all too willing to cooperate with Law Enforcement<\/a> agencies for wiretaps and those kinds of things. Thats no longer the case. This poses a major major challenge to western Law Enforcement<\/a> officials. Sir i agree with you, the threat is evolving. So i think sometimes we focus on the other end versus the threat. Whether its a complex attack such as paris or a more. Simple use of a vehicle as we saw in jerusalem. We need to focus on the threat and the commonality in many of these threat streams is the internet is social media. It needs to start with an education. Theres probably a little bit of a backlash from snowden but also the tv version, what they think is doable and how simple it is and the reality of lawful intercept, theres a very structured process in place thats reviewed by a judicial either on the criminal side or the phi is a court. There needs to be an education piece that were not looking to snoop where we shouldnt be allowed to snoop. We have to have the lawful ability to intercept. Whether youre talking about an ongoing criminal matter a dangerous criminal matter or youre talking about a terrorist communications overseas or in the United States<\/a>. It needs to start with a public message for all of us to explain exactly what it is. Then we need to go back and provide legislative tools much like there were with california lee ya that applied not just to a small number of providers but apply to the majority of those providers who serve as communication platforms. I think thats initially needs to be resolved and head on immediately. I know from the fbis per spigotive we are engaging with International Association<\/a> of chiefs of police the major sheriffs and the chiefs to explain our position and. Show them that were not crying wolf. This is a problem in a closed session. We can show you the numbers of how we are going dark. Its a grave concern. Without that lawful tool we risk an attack. Thank you for raising that important issue. I think its going to provide a mode of communication for not only criminals, but potential terrorists to to communicate without any ability of us to intercept that. The chair recognizes the gentleman from pennsylvania. Thank you mr. Chairman. Mr. Taylor a man named a jihadist from florida was allowed back into the country and wandered around here for about six months in between visits to syria. Now the he eventually met his demise as a suicide bomb erer in syria, but as far as i know, we didnt even know that he made two previous trips. So this individual is obviously somebody that we would be interested in and poses a threat to our security. How did your agency what did we miss . Youre correct that this individual who later committed a Suicide Attack<\/a> in syria did return to the United States<\/a> from syria without our knowledge and i think was not under fbi investigation and was only after his Suicide Attack<\/a> that we learned of his activity. I think that incident really reenforced our understanding of the need to have better intelligence on what was going on in syria. How did we miss him . What have you done in your agency to make sure that doesnt happen again. What has changed . What has changed is a better example of how they move in. Terms of sharing intelligence, understanding the intelligence is coming out in the Communications Patterns<\/a> that are going on that perhaps werent as robust. Any concrete steps that you can describe right now that you have changed based on missing him and to make sure it doesnt happen again . I think i would share that with the fbi in in terms of what the fbi has done in addition to what dhs has done. What have you done . Sir, we have extensively changed our methodology for tracking travel to these sorts of locations and in work,ing with our intelligence partners to better identify the linkages between potential americans. With all due respect s that information classified . Yes, sir. Can we do set up an off site . I appreciate it. Moving on, im just cure cows to get an understanding of how you characterize this threat. By what name does your agency refer to as a global jihadi movement. Just trying to get your view from an agency perspective. How do you describe that threat . Radical extremism. Global extremists. Sir, i dont care what you call it. Its a threat to u. S. Citizens so people trying to conduct Violent Attacks<\/a> whether its global extremism, its a threat. I dont care about labeling. I worry about their intent. I agree with you, but you cant fix a problem if you refuse to label it. I think its more than just global extremism. Theres a particular global extremism and thats why i characterize it as jihady. The fact that none of you want to characterize that, that concerns me because thats not identifying the problem. Moving on in the interest of time, the uae, saudi arabia and egypt considered the Muslim Brotherhood<\/a> as a terrorism organization. In the interest of pursuing foreign fighters, if that comes into your consideration radicalization and how its perpetrated in this country. Do you look at that particular organization or another one for that matter, those folks wonder around and may not be involved in radicalization based on the fact that some nations have considered them a terrorist organization. Does that work into determining radicalization . Do you have any knowledge of radicalization or participation by either of those two organizations . I consider it a concern. Where it began. Absolutely. At the core there are concerns about their ideology and radicalization. So do you do investigations . Have any investigations led you to those organizations at all . Regarding radicalization . There are historical investigations that at the root, the individual was radicalized by Muslim Brotherhood<\/a> entities. We dont focus on the group. The individual has to have an intent. And thats where we focus the effort. Where it comings from is important for us, but its not where i can hang my hat. Just to the gentlemans point, there are report thas refer to it as a sunni extremism. Its important to define that. It defies me why the administration wont call it that but i will support these three witnesses who in their u reporting i think called the threat what it is. The chair recognizes the gentleman from massachusetts. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you for your service. I want to go back to your very first remarks that you began this hearing with. You were talking about your concerns with the budget in Homeland Security<\/a>. Theres a dangerous game of chicken thats going on right now where in. Reaction to the president S Immigration<\/a> efforts the reaction has been threatened withhold inging of the very funding that protects our Homeland Security<\/a>. I dont think in the minds of the public they think there will be an absolute cutting of those funds because that would be so radical a reaction. I dont think they think that is feasible. However, my point is the reaction of going from these stopgap budgets, from month to month, that presents real limits on what you can do. I want to focus on the fact forget about the threat of just the cutting off of those funds. Right now the way youre functioning is a threat to your ability to deal with our security. Could you talk to that important point . Certainly, sir. Secretary johnson has spoke. En to that point. As we have spoken during our testimony that the threat that we face is evolving and changing. He needs the flexibility to adjust tactics and techniques as this threat evolves under the Current Issues<\/a> with the continuing resolution he does not have that flexibility. I would add one other thing. Before this committee and before the authorizing committees or the intelligence committees as i came on board one of the major issues discussed was the issue of morale. We have 220,000 employees in our department who every day come to work to try to secure this country. And it sends a terrible signal in my view to them and their responsibility when the congress is not fully funded the effort that they are charged with accomplishing. So not only from an ability to react to the changing nature of the threat, we have a challenge in our department in ensuring our people understand that we support them and that they are going to i dont want it lost as were talking about all these things today that we should be doing that youre limited right now youre limited in being able to address those things because of this stopgap or continuing resolution approach that just keeps going on. Along those lines, one of the programs that im interested in, particularly the director talked about in general was a program with los angeles minneapolis and boston. Some of the money is going to fund that and its joint with homeland and with the Justice Department<\/a> in general. Its the effort dealing with the National Strategy<\/a> on empowering local partners to prevent violent extremism. To me thats a critical point Going Forward<\/a> too. I see it right in my own home state in boston in our ability to deal with that. Director, could you comment on that and any other witnesses . Sure, and the three cities that you mentioned sir, are pilot cities in an effort to try to test and see what were doing in an effort to counter violent extremism in our communities here in the United States<\/a> is, in fact, a workable solution, working with state and local partners and is something scaleable and we can use it across a larger number of cities. The three pilot cities are going to be featured at the upcoming cve summit that the white house is convening in just a couple weeks. There will be an obvious opportunity there to show other communities the benefits of participating in an effort to pull all of the different tools of a Community Together<\/a> not just the federal tools as the director said. This largely has to be a locally Led Initiative<\/a> by the government. This committee has done much work in light of the Boston Marathon<\/a> bombing in showing the Multiplier Effect<\/a> of dealing with our local and state and county resources and assets in there. So thats why its important. Very quickly, one other point with the passenger name record information. Its been 2013 in the European Parliament<\/a>. Its great to hear a corporation with the u. S. And allies is going great, but they are not talking to each other. And without that we have a problem. Can you see any changes or recommend any changes should this stalemate continue with the Visa Waiver Program<\/a> . Sir, you mean the stalemate within the European Parliament<\/a> in dealing with this. Our Visa Waiver Program<\/a>s are with individual countries. Were looking to strengthen within that bilateral relationship the exchange of information under the Visa Waiver Program<\/a>. So wed love to see the European Parliament<\/a> come through and decide to do this across europe, but that will not desuede us from engaging on the information exchanges that we think we need to provide. I agree with you, but i wanted to hear your comments in that regard because theres been discussion on changing that. I think we compromise our security in doing that. I yield back. Let me just ask the gentleman mentioned boston. We are the Watertown Police<\/a> in town to receive the president ial medal of valor for Public Safety<\/a>. I cant think of an organization more deserving than the Watertown Police<\/a> and the heroic efforts on that fateful day. With that the chair recognizes the gentleman from florida. Thank you for coming you all today. I also pass along my best to the folks that work with yall. They have a real tough job. Democracy is messy on capitol hill. So the circumstances are difficult. So my full respect and appreciation for what yall do. When i think about terrorists coming out of a dangerous part of the world like this and whats going on over there, i always think to turkey. You mentioned it earlier in your comments. On the one hand turkey has a proud history, a secular history. They have how many thousands of terrorists go every year, manufacturing product, back to europe. And a member of nee to to. Youd think they ought to be motivated to get things under control with respect to the highway of terrorists. On the other hand i read about hostage exchanges with isil. Theres been a long history, as you know of problems with the kurds. And also it almost feels like theres ambivalence with respect to the violence on the border on the border with the war going on. It doesnt feel, to me like we can solve this problem over there and therefore, over here without pinning down where turkey really is. If we cant get an ally, who is a member of nato, to help us in the region, im not sure what we could expect from anybody else. Im befuddled on where this is going and how we could ever have success without turkey and im interested to hear what you have to say about that. I think youre absolutely right, sir, that success in the counterisil campaign to try to stem the flow of foreign fighters into and out of the conflict zone requires a functioning, Effective Partnership<\/a> with the turks. All of that. Its also true, though, that turkey will always look at its interests through the prism of their own sense of selfinterest and how they prioritize particular requests that we make for cooperation doesnt always align with our prioritization. And thats just a simple fact. We have a complicated ongoing discussion with the turks about the specific ways in which turkey can contribute to the coalition. I wish my state Department Partners<\/a> were here to talk you through the ways in which they are doing that, but its truly a mixed story. There are areas we receive profoundly effective cooperation from our turkish partners and its tremendously useful and yet from our perspective we think theres more to the relationship that we could get more that we need from the relationship to effectively address our concerns. How do we take the next step or is that purely a state department issue at this point . Sir certainly state department has the lead, but our department has been engaged with the turks on very specific Border Security<\/a> and other discussions to try to push forward more cooperation in that regard. And thats continuing. The turks will be here for the summit, those engagements will continue. But as the director mentioned its a challenge at this it point, but we see lights of cooperation beginning to flow in ways that i think well want to explore Going Forward<\/a> with them. We will push this in Foreign Affairs<\/a> committee as well because it seems as if we speak about a global issue and we dont have a fully committed turkey on one bookend and the other bookend is syria, for gods sakes, what are we really doing here . So i appreciate yalls comments, and i think until you get full cooperation from the turks, its going to be a real uphill battle, in my view. I yield back. I thank the gentleman on this important point. Our nato ally turkey could be a real help with the situation. I think we need to put pressure towards that end. Gentle lady from new york is recognized. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Im not sure who can answer this or all of you or o this, all of you or one of you. Can you expand on the enhancements that are have been made or you are going to be making on the estes system for the better waiver countries to better security our nations homeland and to what extent or where do you get the funding to make sure the enhancements are paid for . Yes maam. In october we added six Additional Data<\/a> elements that were required for all and i dont have the specific ones, i can get them to you that would broaden the Data Elements<\/a> have to been filled in for the application that comes to us before the travel is accomplished. That has allowed us to do more thorough thorough screenings against our data base for those that come in from countries and that has adjusted us by laterally and across our entire program that are now being discussed by our department to continue to extend the security of the Visa Waiver Program<\/a> and not to to give us better confidence and nor confidence here on the the hill and elsewhere and the security that that program is as effective as it can be. And in terms of oversight, how is that we ensure every country that is part of the Visa Waiver Program<\/a> is keeping up with the standards we need to get the information that we need . Well we do biannual reviews on the ground in those countries of every visa waiver country. One of the things were discussing is whether we should do that annually as opposed to biannually and other things we are discussing to strengthening our confidence that what we believe is happening in those countries is indeed happening. And there will be more to come on that in the future as those deliberation continue. Thank you. I yield back mr. Speaker. Thank you. Gentlemen, from georgia mr. Louder milk is recognized. Thank you, mr. Chairman. And to the witnesses here today. I appreciate you being here. Dont know that when in my lifetime ive been more concerned about the internal security of america, not just from our safety and security but our Economic Security<\/a> and son several fronts for different reasons. One of the things that i know has been spoken about here and at other times is the threat of isis. As not only being what i understand the most wellfunded and the best organized terrorist organization possibly in the history, but also their ability to effectively use the international and the internet and social media. But those of us engaged in politics we spend a lot of time studying the effective use of social media. How do you come up and stand out amongst billions of users across the world. And it appears that isis is doing a very good job. They are effectively marketing to our youth which is specially concerning to me those that are vulnerable and feel disenfranchised and using video games as you have mentioned. And so what are we doing are we working with internet and social media providers to help combat the use of the internet and social media to spread their radical islamic idealism that i think is a threat to the feature, are we working with those companies and are they participating . Ill start but ill certainly ask mike to take this on because the bureau is having direct engagement with these providers. Partnership with the Technology Companies<\/a> on whose platforms this propaganda is riding is a central part of any strategy to counter what is going on. The president cbe summit will have a private sector component for precisely that reason to make these Companies Partners<\/a> with us. This partnership has a number of elements. It is in part exposing them to the information about what is happening on platforms that they control so they understand it and if they can understand when terms of Service Violations<\/a> are taking place and they should intervene and take steps to block certain content. But it is also again to deepen a partnership and make sure they understand that we need to be partners with them in going at this more systemically and not in response to a single voetd or you tube video or you tube posting but what kind of relationship between the federal government, Law Enforcement<\/a> and these Companies Make<\/a> sense if we are going to tackle this when it is creating a serious Homeland Security<\/a> vulnerability. And i will add sir, social media, when you look at the volume and the numbers of companies, it is hundreds of companies. So we do have direct engagement in companies that are u. S. Based but when you look at the totality of the terrorist groups, many are small social Media Companies<\/a> that reside off shore who flaunt their lack of cooperation with Law Enforcement<\/a>. So that is the problem. There is a you can go to twitter or many other companies but there is a large number out there that unfortunately it is difficult to get our arms around. So there needs to be thought towards how do we affect the totality of the social media platforms out there. Well obviously the dominant players in social media are american companies. Have they been receptive to work toward you and have you found them to be cooperative . We have had ongoing continual dialogue. In fact we have a team there now on the west coast talking to the companies. They understand our view point. I dont think those who work in those Companies Want<\/a> to see bad things happen. They balance the right to privacy versus their diligence and requirement to keep people safe. But it is a volume thing. So it is not they try to follow the terms of agreement and certainly if they see individuals violating their Service Agreement<\/a> content they shut it down but with the volume it is a problem with them. We continue to work with them to develop process, technology to help us out. But that is just one part of it. Thank you. And i only have a few seconds left. But when i was in the military we got behind the ideology behind an enemy and that is how you formed a strategy for longterm defeat and my concern is we are not identifying this as radical islamic extremist to have a longterm fight or a strategy against the ideology typically on the battlefield the soldiers have a survival instinct that we know that when it comes down to it, they do want to live and in this case this ideology is that death is a reward. And so i would just emphasize the importance as Ronald Reagan<\/a> understood understanding the ideology of extremism. If we dont, well find ourselves responding instead of having a longterm strategy. And with that mr. Chairman, i yield back. Gentlemen quickly, if i can comment to that quickly . Please. I think it is important to note that the subject Matter Experts<\/a>, whether you are talking about organized crime or terrorism, they are subject matter. We spend a lot of Time Training<\/a> towards and hire toward subject Matter Experts<\/a> to understand you have to be a subject Matter Expert<\/a> to engage in this fight. We have robust Training Programs<\/a> that talk about the ideology that talk about the background and the culture, the history of the radicalization and history of terrorism. So those Training Programs<\/a> are in place and they are very important for my folks and im sure the other agencies to work the threat. Thank you, gentlemen. Chair now recognizes the gentlemen from new jersey, mr. Paine. Thank you mr. Chairman and to the Ranking Member<\/a>. You know a lot of this discussion today and over the past month or so has been very interesting to me. Here we are a committee with the responsibility of making sure that the homeland remains safe. But yet and still, everyone talks about making sure that that happens. But there are a group in the congress that are willing to play politics with this countrys security. And, you me, politics is part of what we do. But to pick Homeland Security<\/a> in order to make your point is dangerous. I traveled to my district in new jersey the 10th district a tier one target a Insurance Company<\/a> was targeted about a decade ago for an attack. If you go to jersey city in my district where i went on september 12th and saw the smoldering building from across the river, we cannot play games with the funding for this department because of a policy that you dont agree with in the executive branch. It makes no sense. With that oh and let me say, mr. Chairman i have come down from my district on the train on monday night and in the train station there were dhs Police Officers<\/a> and i went over and spoke to them and thanked them for their service and the things they are doing for this country and they asked me to send","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"archive.org","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","width":"800","height":"600","url":"\/\/ia600206.us.archive.org\/30\/items\/CSPAN3_20150211_150000_Extremism_and_Terrorist_Threats\/CSPAN3_20150211_150000_Extremism_and_Terrorist_Threats.thumbs\/CSPAN3_20150211_150000_Extremism_and_Terrorist_Threats_000001.jpg"}},"autauthor":{"@type":"Organization"},"author":{"sameAs":"archive.org","name":"archive.org"}}],"coverageEndTime":"20240621T12:35:10+00:00"}