Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 - Oral Testimony of TSA Administrator Kip Hawley
Before the U.S. Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
October 16, 2007
Good morning Chairman Inouye, Vice-Chairman Stevens, and distinguished Members of the Committee. I am pleased to discuss TSA's efforts to implement provisions of the new law – Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act. I am also pleased to join Cathy Berrick of the GAO on the panel this morning.
First, I would like to thank this Committee for its continued support for TSA's mission and for your leadership in writing of the provisions of the 9/11 Implementation Act. 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 achieving the objectives of this Committee, the Congress, and the 9/11 Commission.
With all that we have to do, we must keep our focus on the highest priority items — priorities informed and driven by the current threat environment.
Just since 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 know their focus is on using items easily available off grocery and hardware store shelves. That means we cannot rely on a checklist mentality—searching bags for a static list of specific, prohibited objects or becoming stuck in a predicable—and therefore vulnerable—routine.
We must use security measures that are unpredictable, agile and adaptable, that 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 for our front line officers.
- Federal Air Marshals move invisibly to protect Americans wherever they fly around the globe.
- VIPR teams [Visible Intermodal Protection Response] deploy every week somewhere in the U.S. to support state and local security efforts everywhere in transportation.
Strategically and operationally, we work with intelligence and our partners in law enforcement and the private sector to deter and disrupt plots before an attack.
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.
In prior hearings, we have discussed TWIC and Secure Flight. We have discussed the challenges and opportunities of both programs.
After a great deal of work to strengthen the foundations and build privacy protections into both programs, I am pleased to report that TWIC and Secure Flight on track and moving forward.
When I appeared before this Committee in April, I said the TWIC card was on its way.
Today, TWIC is up and running.
Over the next five years, approximately 1 million individuals will use a TWIC card, interoperable at 3,200 facilities and aboard 10,000 vessels.
Enrollments for TWIC are underway as we speak in Wilmington, Delaware. Already we have had more than a thousand pre-enrollments online. The pace will accelerate through the end of calendar 2007 and continue at full speed through 2008.
When I spoke to you last January, we had a very direct conversation 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 those 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 early 2008.
Should the Congress choose to fully fund the program in FY2008, we can begin testing in 2008.
I am mindful that despite the progress TSA has made across the board that much is still left to do. I look forward to our work together to further strengthen security throughout our transportation network.
Thank you for the opportunity to appear today and I would be happy to answer any questions.
