amended the original relies upon data received. the provision was beneath self executed noting such the coast guard the coast guard continues to work for this change to the rule making process. the gao report in 2011 identified a weakness in the field. in response we issued policies. highlighting that a quick flash of the twik was not acceptable.

at the date we have implemented. we have continued to work with tsa and state and local agencies to continue to improv the programs. >> thank you. and earlier announced we will now recognize the gentleman from maryland. >> thank you very much. today the oversight committee and infrastructure committee convened to measure to secure the nation's transportation networks. the tsa must achieve a delicate balance. tsa must be -- posed. we also expect it to be responsive to the needs of the public and demand ofs congress. 6 since the terrible events of

september 11, 2001. including an attempted bombing in twine of northwest airlines flight and the attempted bombing of 2010 of a cargo jet. in our nation's 450 airport gs. more recently they have developed the program to

expedite screening for low risk travelers. as the agency develops new screening techniques. today hearing will also review over reventials. 2007 and 2008 to review the rollout.

in my estimate they have paid approximately $280 million to implement the program. tsa must also secure that twiks are not issued to ineligibleable applicants. secure areas of us vessels. there are many risks that approach from the waterside that twik was never intended to address.

and none of the foreign mariners are calling on the u.s. ports.

6. >> with that, i yield back and i want to thank you for your courtesy. >> i want to thank you. >> thank you so much. i am honored to co-chair this hearing with you. sorry for a little bit of a delay. this is a very important thaegs we have joint responsibility ove

over. since that time, tsa has grown from 16,000 screeners and a smam amount of different transportation security activities which we join. which is a smaller beginning. and unfortunately tmp sa has mushroomed to 65,000 of which there are 14,000 administrative personnel. 10,000 out in the field. we never intended to mushroom to this sis.

we might be able to endure that kind of expenditure, but instead as the committee reported today reviews, we have a number of programs that are so far behind the transportation worker identification card, spent hundreds of thousands of dollars. we cannot talk about all of it here.

we had no administrative or almost a year. it is difficult enough of an agency like tsa. i have other concerns having monitored this as closely as anyone in congress. we are still at risk. i have had my staff follow that.

they have sat and they sat and we were paying rent on them. and then the nerve to cause us to delay and i may ask if we can't get the information subpoenaed. so folks can come up and haul the stuff allay.

as we were -- as our investigators were appear ong the scene. told the committee he would reform. it is important that we get to the bottom of it. we have got stop paying that price before we pay a huge price.

i have the advantage of knowing your bios but i know mine. i spent three decades in security. i can't protect all cars but i can make the crook steal the car beside mine.

they are mobile, they are responsive. if we do not have a layered security system that has a sufficient force to at least be like the hull of a ship, one in which we know there will be a few leaks but for the most part, water tight. sometimes they have us pull something outd. sometimes they do a secondary. i will supply all of them.

for example, joe, he is a u.s. ma blues. he was forced to remove his trousers because his shirt stays beneath them were scaring a tsa employee. >> she gets pawed every time we travel.

>> i wear a medical device and could not go through the medical radiation. as a result i get an enhanced pat down every time. lastly, i am wendy. i wear -- i have worn an artificial leg since i was four. i am now 61. even to the point of having my breath checked instead of my leg.

>> first question for you is do you think that is a fair ratio or do you think you are a bloated bureaucratic organization that has a lot of people working on a lot of systems that have procurements that don't work? >> thank you for recognizing the hard working people. >> i travel to a number of places. houston, tsakalidis. i can tell you that i periodically count and for four active check points in san diego, there will be as many as 35 people in blue standing there.

wouldn't you agree that the number of people would be extremely high? you have not created efficiency? >> certainly i don't agree with you. tsa is working hard. >> let's go through the numbers quickly. i am on overtime. this are four times as many employees as before? >> i don't believe -- >> 16,000 in your initial authorization. by 2005 you were below 65,. in the last five years when you have more than doubled in numbers have the american people seen shorter lines? yes or no. >> i do believe the american people have seen shorter lines.

>> with that i would like you to check your figures. the fact is they have not. you are taking longer and using more people. >> tsa recently completed a tsa was responsible for recent tests. let me ask both of you this. will it be feasible for facilities to install readers

that can quickly and reliable read quick cards? seems like we ought to be able to get this done. messing around with it for a while. >> that will be very informative to answer that very question. the objective of not including congress.

a final rule was on the full imp lemt tags across industry. >> when the readers were installed properly and the people were trained that they did work properly they did not impede the flow of commerce? >> it was reported that its employees were successful in accessing those using counterfeit twics.

is that correct? >> that is correct. >> and that said, what has that said has the coast guard take on the address the finding? do you think the use of raerds will help? >> we have done over 200,000 of the spot checks. being at those particular facilities.

serply the facility owners. they are interested in those who may have criminal intent which is one of the slices of information that twic provides. >> twic is the only part -- that is very significant. the coast guard will remain the most important element of that regime. ten of the 12 suffered significant prabs and were taken out of problems. is that right?

>> the coast guard does not have any fully operating agency operating centers those these were required to be established by october 2009? extensive cuts have been proposed and this budget will conclude the acquisition of the fast response cutter at a number of substantially below the approved program of record. finally this is my question.

can you comment particularly in the maritime security arena in light of the budget constraints. we have always complained about the coast guard not having enough money. particularly since 911 with regard to the budget cuts. >> i was the federal on scene coordinator and the president corrected that we driple our response effort. we were able to do the same

during the earthquake in haiti. and we did the same during return katrina. the challenges is what if we have multiple threats. what if we have a hurricane and a threat to national security. we are at risk because we don't have the resources. >> thank you, gentlemen. since my last hearing which was with the appropriations sub committee, i was -- i was not a member and not a member of that sub committee but allowed to ask questions as we have extended to other

others. >> we recommend that system. >> the funny thing about that, i have to put this in. tsa found out that i would be a witness. they sent mr. pistol an e-mail so when he asks a question, take a long time answering it so you eat up his time. the problem is that they, again, sometimes you think it is the gang that can't shoot straight. reserving my time if you would answer briefly. one of my concerns, of course,

is the transportation worker identification card. we spent over half a billion dollars. is that correct? yes or no? >> approximately $374 million. >> i have a higher number. >> you may be including grants. >> i would consider that as expenditure money spent. we will say in the neighborhood of a half a billion. and the card is supposed to allow us to identify who goes into our ports.

that law was passed after 2001 right? >> 2002 were after 2001, thank you. the cards that are active, 2.1 million of them, we still do not have all of the components that were required under the law including i ris and others as far as bime trick kablt. >> we have the kablt of including an iris on the chip of the card. >> but you do not have a standard for iris? >> that's right.

>> i was told it might be this summer? is that what you heard? >> no, sir. i have not gotten a time. >> you don't know a time and they told us this summer. we are going into the ninth year. it is great that we produced the cards. but then i read that you are still in