Oral Testimony of TSA Administrator Kip Hawley
Before the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security
Subcommittee on transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection
OCTOBER 16, 2007
Good afternoon, Chairwoman Jackson Lee and members of the subcommittee. It is a great pleasure to be here today to talk with you about how TSA is doing in its mission to improve aviation security. It is also a pleasure to be here to share the panel with Cathy Berrick from GAO and Frank Hatfield from the FAA.
I didn't refer to it in my submitted remarks about the ongoing, very close work that we do with the FAA, but I look forward to discussing the nature of that partnership. It is one that is very close at all levels, and I would like to publicly thank Frank Hatfield and his team for the outstanding leadership and cooperation and coordination that we do together.
I would also like to thank the committee for its continued support for our mission and your leadership in the area of improving aviation security. I particularly appreciate this committee's detailed understanding of TSA's operational needs and the committee's focus on practical solutions to complex problems.
The challenges of implementing all the provisions of the 9/11 Act are formidable, but TSA is committed to achieve the objectives of this committee, the Congress and the 9/11 commission. With all that we do, we must keep our focus on the highest priority items, priorities informed and driven by the current threat environment. Since last June, we have witnessed disrupted attacks in London, Denmark, and Germany, as well as a completed attack on Glasgow's airport in Scotland. There is no reason to think that we are exempt from that kind of attack planning.
The national intelligence estimate indicates that over the next three years, the threat will continue, with terrorists attempting transportation sector attacks on a grand scale. We must use our security measures that are unpredictable, agile and adaptable to put us one step ahead of evolving threats.
As I have said in previous meetings with this committee, TSA has added layers of security and additional technology to our airport operations. We have continued to provide more training and real threat testing of our front-line officers. Federal Air Marshals move invisibly to protect Americans wherever they fly around the globe, and VIPR [Visible Intermodal Protection Response ] teams are deployed every week in support of our shared mission with our stakeholders.
That is our focus every day. It is on that base of daily operations that we address the new requirements from the 9/11 legislation.
When I was before this committee recently, we talked about Secure Flight. I promised that we would complete the re-baselining of the program, build-in privacy protections, and publish the rule. We have done these things and we are ready to go.
The rule for Secure Flight has been published, and after a public hearing in September that was available live on the Internet, the comment period is open now. It closes next week and we expect to get the final rule out in Spring 2008. Should the Congress choose to fully fund the program in fiscal year 2008, we can begin testing in 2008.
I am mindful that despite the progress TSA has made across the board, much is left to do. I look forward to our work together to further strengthen security throughout our transportation network.
I look forward to the chance to discuss these issues with you. Thank you.
