** Location Change ** A Look Ahead: House Committee on Homeland Security
Note: The location of the Subcommittee hearing on Wednesday, September 14 has changed to 210 Cannon House Office Building.
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Peter T. King (R-NY), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced the following upcoming Committee events:
Tuesday, September 13
Subcommittee Hearing: Ten Years after 9/11: Can Terrorists Still Exploit our Visa System?
10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 13, in 311 Cannon House Office Building
Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security
Rep. Candice Miller (R-MI), Chairman
INVITED WITNESSES INCLUDE:
Mr. Thomas Winkowski
Assistant Commissioner
Office of Field Operations
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Department of Homeland Security
Mr. Edward Ramotowski
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Consular Affairs
U.S. Department of State
Mr. John Cohen
Deputy Counter-Terrorism Coordinator
Department of Homeland Security
Mr. Peter T. Edge
Deputy Associate Director
Homeland Security Investigations
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
Mr. Richard Stana
Director
Homeland Security and Justice
Government Accountability Office
Chairman Miller on the hearing: “Visa security is an integral part of our effort to secure our nation’s borders. As we know, at least four of the 9/11 hijackers had either violated the terms of their visas or were in an overstay status. This was a missed opportunity to prevent some of the terrorists from carrying out the attacks of September 11, 2001. Ten years later, I want to examine the progress we have made to secure the visa process so that terrorists cannot use legitimate means to enter the country. What is especially troubling is that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) does not have a good handle on the status of hundreds of thousands who overstay their visa. The 9/11 Commission Report recommended and Congress mandated an exit verification process to ensure that those who visit the country on a visa actually depart. This is an unfilled recommendation, one that the Bipartisan Policy Center Report Card points to as potentially dangerous, and the department should articulate a clear plan to implement a robust visa exit process.”
Wednesday, September 14
Subcommittee Markup: Transportation Security Administration Authorization Act of 2011
10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 14 in 311 Cannon House Office Building
Subcommittee on Transportation Security
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), Chairman
A Subcommittee Print to authorize the programs of the Transportation Security Administration relating to the provision of transportation security, and for other purposes, entitled the “Transportation Security Administration Authorization Act of 2011.”
• An Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute expected to be offered by Mr. Rogers.
2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 14, 210 Cannon House Office Building
Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence
Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-PA), Chairman
INVITED WITNESSES INCLUDE:
Mr. Mark Sullivan
Director
United States Secret Service
Chairman Meehan on the hearing: "At this hearing, the Subcommittee will examine the Secret Service's protective and investigative missions. In addition, the Subcommittee will hear from Director Sullivan on the challenges posed by the 2012 presidential election and numerous National Special Security Events (NSSEs) in the upcoming year."
Friday, September 16
9:30 a.m. on Friday, September 16, at General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport (Terminal E – Departure Level), Boston, MA 02128
Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Management
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), Chairman
INVITED WITNESSES INCLUDE:
Mr. Stephen M. Lord
Director
Homeland Security and Justice Issues
Government Accountability Office
Mr. Chris McLaughlin
Assistant Administrator for Security Operations
Transportation Security Administration
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Admiral (Ret.) George Naccara
Federal Security Director
Transportation Security Administration
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Mr. Edward C. Freni
Director of Aviation
Massachusetts Port Authority
Mr. Michael Concannon
Major
State Police Troop F Boston Logan International Airport
Chairman McCaul on the field hearing: “Ten years ago terrorists infiltrated our airport security systems in a coordinated attack that killed thousands of people. Since then we have spent billions of dollars to mitigate the threat. However, the 9/11 Commission's tenth anniversary report card concludes '…we are still vulnerable to aviation security threats.' This hearing will examine the perimeter security employed at the nation's airports, as well as new security measures being tested at Logan International Airport in Boston."
***See www.homeland.house.gov for updates.
***Coverage note: All Committee on Homeland Security hearings are webcast live at www.homeland.house.gov/live-video-feed.
###