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TSA Testimony on Aviation Security

Speeches & Testimony

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

ORAL STATEMENT OF
GALE D. ROSSIDES
ACTING ADMINISTRATOR

BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 31, 2009

Good morning Chairman Price, Ranking Member Rogers, and distinguished members of the Subcommittee. Thank you for the opportunity to appear today to testify on the Transportation Security Administration’s efforts to improve aviation security.

As we are pressed for time, I will keep this brief, and request that my written testimony be included in the official hearing record.

I am appearing before you today to discuss aviation security while serving in an acting capacity, which is required in order to maintain a high level of security during the transition period between Administrations. In the Department of Homeland Security, continuity of our mission was assured by designating the career position of Deputy Administrator at TSA as Acting Assistant Secretary. As such, I am honored to serve in these positions and to appear before you today.

I would like to begin by thanking the members of the Subcommittee for their leadership, oversight, and support of our evolving initiatives, which are continually enhancing transportation security. By providing us with our 2009 appropriation at the beginning of the fiscal year, we have been able to sustain progress on our planned enhancements through the transition. In addition, I especially want to thank the Subcommittee for the resources that were provided to TSA in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. We are working to ensure the prompt expenditure of these funds, which will further accelerate the deployment of TSA’s explosives detection capabilities in airports throughout the country.

The Committee’s efforts over these seven short years since TSA was created have enabled us to grow from a small cadre of employees to a dedicated workforce of over 50,000 protecting every domestic commercial airport, strengthening security in all transportation modes, and doing so through strong stakeholder engagement in the United States and around the world.

We have continually improved our people, processes, technologies, and partnerships, and have achieved some noteworthy milestones during this transition period.

• First, I am pleased to announce that on January 27, 2009, Secure Flight began operational cutover of the first carrier, and we now have four carriers participating. TSA truly appreciates the cooperation of these volunteer air carriers. Our experience thus far has been a good one and has validated the program choices we made. This initial operating capability is a major milestone in the history of our agency and is a credit to all in both branches of our government who made this security enhancement a reality. I addition to my staff, I’d like to specifically thank the DHS Screening Coordination Office, and especially Cathy Berrick and the GAO staff for their superb work with us in this program. Our goal for the Secure Flight program is to assume responsibility for watch list matching of passengers for all domestic commercial flights by late Spring 2010, and all international commercial flights by the end of 2010.
• Second, in February we were to have met the mandate to screen 50 percent of cargo transported on passenger aircraft. I am pleased to inform the Committee that based on the carriers’ reports, a conservative analysis of the data indicates that the milestone has been met.
• Third, on March 26, we issued our one millionth Transportation Worker Identification Credential. And to address the surge we expect in the final and largest two sectors that are to come into compliance—Los Angeles/Long Beach and Houston—we have set up additional enrollment centers.

Finally, I will close by thanking this Committee for the support of our workforce transformation efforts over the last several years. These accomplishments have been remarkable and can be represented by the role our Transportation Security Officers [TSOs], Inspectors, and Federal Air Marshals [FAMs] played in the Presidential Inauguration.

• Three hundred TSOs served in support of the United States Secret Service and provided screening expertise at checkpoints along the parade route and for the Inauguration.
• FAMs, TSOs, and Inspectors served on VIPR [Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response] teams, and more than 30 TSA canine teams were deployed.
• TSA personnel at the Transportation Security Operations Center provided an around-the-clock watch in partnership with the FAA, Department of Defense, and other DHS and state and local agencies to coordinate and monitor activities.
• FAMs provided significant coverage of all commercial flights in and out of the National Capital Region.

It is my honor to serve alongside the men and women of TSA, who are in my opinion, everyday heroes.

I could report even more, but in the interest of time, will end my remarks. Thank you and I am happy to answer your questions.