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Speeches and Testimony

Statement By Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff Announcing A Change To The Nation's Threat Level For The Aviation Sector

10 August 2006
The Department of Homeland Security is taking immediate steps to increase security measures in the aviation sector in coordination with heightened security precautions in the United Kingdom. Over the last few hours, British authorities have arrested a significant number of extremists engaged in a substantial plot to destroy multiple passenger aircraft flying from the United Kingdom to the United States. Currently, there is no indication, however, of plotting within the United States. We believe that these arrests have significantly disrupted the threat, but we cannot be sure that the threat has been entirely eliminated or the plot completely thwarted.

Remarks By Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, United States Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, FBI Director Robert Mueller And Assistant Secretary For TSA Kip Hawley

10 August 2006
SECRETARY CHERTOFF: Good morning. We'd like to provide you with the latest information that we have on recent events in the United Kingdom, and an update on the actions that we are taking to protect our citizens and to keep air travel safe and secure. We want to be as open as possible with the public about the facts; at the same time, it's important, I'm sure you'll understand, that we preserve confidentiality of matters that are necessary in order to complete this investigation. And we also have to respect the demands of the British legal process, which puts certain restrictions on what can be said about ongoing cases.

Statement by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on The Bombings in Mumbai

11 July 2006
The Department of Homeland Security is closely monitoring the bombings in Mumbai, India, as is the rest of the federal government. At this time, there is no specific or credible intelligence suggesting an imminent threat to the homeland or our transit systems. There are no plans to raise the nation’s threat level as a result of this atrocious act. We will work with individual transit agencies that may choose to increase their vigilance, as a matter of prudence, at this time. More generally, we continue to strengthen mass transit security throughout the country.

The Problems of Mishandled Baggage in Our Aviation System

03 May 2006
May 3, 2006 Good morning Mr. Chairman, Congressman Costello, and distinguished Members of the Subcommittee. I am pleased to have the opportunity to appear before you today on behalf of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to discuss the problems of mishandled baggage in our aviation system and TSA’s efforts to reduce them.
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