i appreciate the subcommittee's willingness to take a hard look at the security vulnerabilities associated with how the transportation security administration is administering the pre-check program. as a frequent flier, i've long believed that tsa should have a trusted traveler program where individuals are identified as low-risk travelers and are provided by expedited airport screening. when tsa was established in 2001, congress granted 's the stay authority to establish a trusted traveler program. however, as many of you may

>>reporter: the transportation security administration says it's an important security tool at airports and transport hubs across the country. critics call it a billion dollar bust. >> there's no evidence it works. >>reporter: under the spot program screening passengers agents watch for dozens of specific behaviors looking for combinations that show stress or fear of discovery. we need to know if it works and if they're pulling people aside on the basis of race or religious affiliation. >> behavior detection officers can earn 53 to $83,000 a year. among the responsibilities engage in voluntary encounters and casual conversations. analyze and assess behaviors and refer people for additional screening by law enforcement when appropriate. the program started in 2007. about 3,000 of the officers worked in more than 170 locations. >> the lawsuit filed today says there's not a single provable instance of a security threat being determined because of this. it's very hard to prove a negative the we can't prove how many times someone with the intent to do harm has come to an airport, seen the sc

. >> next come a hearing on the future of the transportation security administration's pre-check program which allows expedited screening at airport for preapproved passengers. c-span cameras were there for the 90 minute portion of the hearing open to the public. >> i hope that that is not a bad omen. you know? >> okay. >> the committee on security homeland security subcommittee on transportation will come to order. i now recognize myself for an opening statement. i would like to thank our witnesses for their participation in this hearing. we know that your time is valuable and we appreciate you taking time to be here today to discuss the future of this program. i would like to talk about victims that were attacked last night. transportation security officers have the important responsibility of securing our nation's aviation systems and once again we have seen the law enforcement personnel act swiftly and bravely to protect passengers from a security threat and i commend them all for that. i commend the law enforcement personnel in new new orleans as well as where their service and dedi

amy: the transportation security administration tsa, has defended its conduct, saying it is taking a n sense" approach. the tsa said "no single behavior will cause a traveler to beat referred to additional screening or will result in a call to a law enforcement officer." the tsa also denied claims of racial-profiling saying quote "officers are trained and audited to ensure referrals for additional screening are based only on observable behaviors and not race or ethnicity." is there a scientific basis for the list of behaviors they are screening for? cora: there is a small minority of researchers who believe you can use the micro facial indicators or body language indicators to decide if somebody is being deceptive or has a plo t, something up their sleeve. but the government accountability office did a meta-review of scientific literature related to this program and found that humans were the consensus seems to be that humans are really bad at determining just by these kinds of behavioral indicators whether someone is lying. they did not find that there was science to back up that you

worth the transportation security administration stepped in and said we couldn't have that informatione tsa says it's security sensitive. but police reports from dfw airports show crew uniforms go missing, too. even a federal flight deck officer's credentials and badge, which allow a pilot to carry a gun on a plane. >> every airport employee that receives a badge is required to report if that badge is either lost or stolen. at that point, it's immediately deactivated. >> reporter: still, some security officials fear bad guys with stolen i.d.s could sneak in an open perimeter gate or hop a fence and may be less likely to stabbed out on the tarmac. atlanta airport officials say missing badges do not pose a significant security threat. because i.d.s have employee photos and require a p.i.n. to get in. the tsa says it's conducting a nationwide review of security at those employee entrances, looking for ways to make them more secure, which may include i.d. checks at the door to help protect the more than 600 million who fly each year. scott friedman, nbc news, dallas. >>> over the last few

from the transportation department, the transportation security administration, and so on down the lineu can see where the different agencies moved from. guest: right, and they all had different demands. when the coast guard was at transportation they they are working with immigration functions. they had done all along. we remember about the crossings from cuba to florida in the 80's and 90's. the coast guard was all in charge of that. instead of it being a transportation issue, they are under homeland security area --. the have some additional rules and abilities to enforce different laws so they can put customs guy on that boat or an immigration guy on that vote. -- boat. is it good or bad to have them under the same umbrella? they are all under the same umbrella. there is no getting around that. the dod is many years older. it took a while to know before the components of the dod. the navy and marines are under the same umbrella. host: we are talking about dhs and the history of funding its personnel. steve is in wisconsin on the line for republicans. good morning. caller: my questio

this committee's willingness to take a hard look at the vulnerabilities of how the transportation security administration is administering the pre-check program. as a frequent flyer at long believed that tsa should have a trusted traveler program or individuals identified as low risk are provided expedited airport security screenings. when the tsa was established in 2001 congress granted the tsa the authority to establish a trusted traveler program. it took years for the tsa to get over its initial reluctance about modifying its screening operations to admit trusted travelers. john textile -- john pistole observes credit -- deserves credit. it makes sense to provide expedited screenings to passengers who have voluntarily submitted by graphical information and fingerprints and have been fully vetted. today there are one million known low risk travelers in the pre-check program. that is a good start, but given that 2 million people fly every day, tsa needs to continue working to bring more americans into the pre-check program. that is the focus of today's hearing. it is not on the vetted population that ar

i appreciate the subcommittee's willingness to take a hard look at the security vulnerabilities associated with how the transportation security administration is administering the pre-check program. as a frequent flier, i've long believed that tsa should have a trusted traveler program where individuals are identified as low-risk travelers and are provided by expedited airport screening. when tsa was established in 2001, congress granted 's the stay authority to establish a trusted traveler program. however, as many of you may recall, it took years for tsa to get over its initial reluctance about modifying its screening operations for vetted trusted travelers. former tsa administrator john pistol deserves great credit for recognizing the potential for a trusted traveler program and integrating the pre-check program into tsa's risk based airport screening operations. it just makes good sense to provide expedited screening who-to-passengers who have submitted biographical information and fingerprints to those who have been vetted. today there are one million known low-risk travelers in the pre-check program. that's a good start but given that

forwarded on to secretary of state's office so that's the same data frankly that the transportation security administration for the tsa, it is good enough for me. >> you are automatically registered to vote if you are an american citizen and you're getting one of these ids in your state. >> not quite, not quite. it is not automatic registration. so what will happen is the potential eligible voter will receive a mailer from secretary of state's office. they have three weeks to opt out. they can sign the letter send it back to secretary of state's office saying they're not interested in being registered to vote. the other reality is that in oregon and any other state in the nation, voters can opt out of the voter registration system at any time. >> so you don't see it happening automatically for folks that don't return that one letter they get. >> if they don't return the letter opting out, they will be registered to vote. but as i mentioned, they can opt out any time from voter registration system. the new motor voter bill is about making government work better, providing citizens with customer service they

from the transportation department, the transportation security administration, and so on down the lineyou can see where the different agencies moved from. guest: right, and they all had different demands. when the coast guard was at transportation they they are working with immigration functions. they had done all along. we remember about the crossings from cuba to florida in the 80's and 90's. the coast guard was all in charge of that. instead of it being a transportation issue, they are under homeland security area --. the have some additional rules and abilities to enforce different laws so they can put customs guy on that boat or an immigration guy on that vote. -- boat. is it good or bad to have them under the same umbrella? they are all under the same umbrella. there is no getting around that. the dod is many years older. it took a while to know before the components of the dod. the navy and marines are under the same umbrella. host: we are talking about dhs and the history of funding its personnel. steve is in wisconsin on the line for republicans. good morning. caller: my quest

the massachusetts bay transportation authority to the boston housing authority have a one-month video storage policy in place. in addition under its current memorandum of agreement with the federal transportation security administration regarding the use of consolidated camera surveillance systems at logan international airport, the massachusetts port authority also has expressly agreed to retain captured images for 30 days. that's at the request of a federal agency. we retain that for 30 days. moreover, local educational institutions such as tufts university university of massachusetts, have also implemented 30-day retention policies for the campus security cameras. in addition, i have a number of kindergartens in my district that retain because of the security interests of those children, they have a 30-day policy. you know, i have to tell you, and we've -- i've said this before, you know, my local store 24 has a better surveillance system than we have at the white house. that's a sad -- that's a sad statement of affairs. and that's been the -- that's been because of a number of directors going back beyond your own service. so, there's a lot of questions to be answered here. i'm going to let the rest of my statemen

worth, the transportation security administration said we couldn't have the numbers. it is security-sensitive information and they don't want to see how many are missing at each airport. reports we obtained from dallas ft. worth showed more than just ids disappear. they have reported lost and stolen uniform shirts and a fedex pilot's uniforms and a flight deck officer's credentials and badge that allow a pilot to carry a gun on a plane. they are quick to point out stolen ids would not allow them to walk into a secure area. >> every employee that receives a badge is required to report if that badge is lost or stolen. it's deactivated in that security system. >> some security officials still fear bad guys can use stolen ids and uniforms to cause other problems even without getting through the doors. experts say someone wearing an id badge might have a better of sneaking in an open gate or hopping a fence. someone wearing an id badge on the tarmac may be less likely to stand out. >> any time you can acquire uniforms and badges and embassy of authority, it's a huge proble

the massachusetts bay transportation authority to the boston housing authority have a one-month video storage policy in place. in addition under its current memorandum of agreement with the federal transportation security administration regarding the use of consolidated camera surveillance systems at logan international airport, the massachusetts port authority also has expressly agreed to retain captured images for 30 days. that's at the request of a federal agency. we retain that for 30 days. moreover, local educational institutions sufficient as tufts university, university of massachusetts, have also implemented 30-day retention policies for the campus security cameras. in addition, i have a number of kindergartens in my district that retain because of the security interests of those children, they have a 30-day policy. you know, i have to tell you, and we've -- i've said this before you know, my local store 24 has a better surveillance system than we have at the white house. that's a sad -- that's a sad statement of affairs. and that's been the -- that's been because of a number of directors going back beyond your own service. so, there's a lot of questions to be answered here. i'm going to let the rest of my st

the massachusetts bay transportation authority to the boston housing authority have a one-month video storage policy in place. in addition, under its current memorandum of agreement with the federal transportation security administration regarding the use of consolidated camera surveillance systems at logan international airport, the massachusetts port authority also has expressly agreed to retain captured images for 30 days. that's at the request of a federal agency. we retain that for 30 days. moreover, local educational institutions such as tusk university university of massachusetts, have also implemented 30-day retention policies for the campus security cameras. in addition, i have a number of kindergartens in my district that retain because of the security interests of those children they have a 30-day policy. you know, i have to tell you -- and i've said this before, you know my local store 24 has a better surveillance system has we have at the white house. that's a sad -- that's a sad statement of affairs. and that's been the -- that's been because of a number of directors going back beyond your own service. so there's a lot of questions to be answered here. i'm going to let the rest of my statement go. i appr

worth, the transportation security administration stepped in and said we couldn't have those numbers.curity-sensitive information and they don't want to say how many badges are missing at each airport, but police reports we obtained from dallas-ft. worth international show more than just i.d.s disappear. employees have reported lost or stolen university shirts and an entire fedex pilot's uniform and credentials and badge which allow a pilot to carry a gun on a plane. experts are quick to point out stolen i.d.s alone would not necessarily allow someone to walk right in to a secure area. >> every year a port employee that receives a badge is required to report if that badge is lost or stolen. at that point it's immediately deactivated in that computer system, but some security officials still fear bad guys could use stolen i.d.s to cause other problems even without getting through the secure doors. experts say someone wearing an i.d. badge might have a better way of hopping a fence. in fact, someone wearing an i.d. badge on the tarmac might be less likely to stand out. any time you can

the massachusetts transportation authority to the boston housing authority have a one-month video storage policy in place. in addition under its current memorandum of agreement with the federal transportation security administration regarding the use of consolidated camera surveillance systems at logan international airport has expressly agreed to retain and capture images for 30 days. that's at the request of a federal agency. we retain it for 30 days. moreover local educational institutions such as tufts university university of massachusetts have also implemented a 30-day retention policy for the campus security cameras. in addition i have a number of kindergartens in my district that retain because of the security interests of those children. they have a 30-day policy could -- and i have to tell you and i have said this before you know my local store 24 has a better surveillance system than we have at the white house. that's a sad statement of affairs and that has been because of a number of directors going back beyond your own service. there are a lot of questions to be answered here and i'm going to let the rest of my statement go. i appreciate the chairman's indulgence and i yield back the balance of my ti

, aviation security for necessary expenses of the transportation and security administrationroviding aviation security services pursuant to the act public law 107-71-115 49 u.s.c. 401, $5090,00 not to exceed $7 -- >> mr. speaker. the clerk: any award -- the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will suspend. for what purpose does the gentleman from kentucky seek recognition? >> i withdraw my objection. the speaker pro tempore: is the gentleman asking unanimous consent to dispense with the item? >> i have asked for unanimous consent to dispense with the reading. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the senate amendment is considered read. the clerk will report the motion offered by the gentleman from idaho. the clerk: mr. simpson moves that the house receive from its disagreement to the amendment to the senate and concur therein. >> i move to lay the senate amendment on the table. the speaker pro tempore: the question is on the motion to table the senate amendment. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair the noes have it. the gentleman from kentu

ascending on the airport where officials say 63-year-old richard white stormed through two security checkpoints. sheriffs officials say they sprayed two transportation security administrationsp spray and slashed a third tsa officer with a machete. the sheriff's deputy opened fire shooting white three times. white was taken to hospital where authorities say he underwent surgery. officials say the reasons for his rampage is still unclear. take a listen. >> we have no information at the present time, and, of course, this is early in the investigation, of any connection between the perpetrator and anyone here at the airport. and we don't know whether or not this individual was a member of the traveling public. we suspect not. he has been a taxi driver. he's recently received a chauffeur's license, has little or no criminal history. some disturbing the peace charges, and a couple of traffic attachments. >> we're told that none of the injuries suffered by the tsa officer was life threatening, but the incident in new orleans turns the spotlight once again on to airport security. airport employees work day in and day out without being screened at all. cnn's drew griffin reports, t

descended on the airport where officials say 63-year-old richard white stormed you through two security checkpoints. sheriff's officials say he sprayed two transportation security administrationcers with wasp spray and slashed a third tsa officer with a machete. the sheriff's deputy then opened fire shooting white three times. white of taken to hospital where authorities say he underwent surgery. >>> several sticky points have put the -- sticking suspense have put the talk in iran until next week. the deadline for a framework agreement is next month. nic robertson with more from the talks from switzerland. >> reporter: not long after calling a recess secretary kerry had a short meeting with the iranian foreign minister. that lasted about 15 minutes. what we're hearing is on saturday success kerry will meet with the german french and british foreign ministers, part of the p5+1 to brief them. the state department saying it's a good moment to bring them up to speed with what has been happening. secretary kerry says he expects the delegations to be back here next week to continue the talks. this is just a recess but is an indication that these have been tough talks. there's been

the national league of cities conference. homeland security secretary jeh johnson opened up the session with remarks on terrorism and immigration. transportation undersecretary for policy peter rogoff, energy secretary and the epa's administrator followed with a panel-like discussion on each of their respective agencies' budgets and priorities. sally jewel spoke last and stressed the need for children to learn and play in the great outdoors. >>> good afternoon. again, welcome, everyone. [ applause ] we welcome you to this afternoon's general session. thank you to jimmy robbins for entertaining the crowd. and the city of nashville for bringing him to washington. thank you so much. let's give him a round of applause. [ applause ] this morning we were honored to be a part of a historic event for the national league of cities and its members. i believe this afternoon's session will be memorable in its own right. and very informative as well. we will hear from several representatives from the administration, as well as a thought-provoking panel discussion on infrastructure and climate change. it is now my pleasure to introduce our first speaker this afternoon. secretary of homeland security jeh johnson. [ applause ] >> i know from

the undersecretary for border and transportation security shall be responsible for the following. and he gives eight items. number five is establishing national immigration enforcement policies and priorities. does that not clearly give the administrationhe authority to do what they did? >> i think it does with one qualification. i agree with professor foley that that's not limitless. the secretary must exercise that power consistently with any specific statutory constraints. but again no such constraints have been credibly identified. >> do you have any -- you were an attorney also i think for immigration. do you have any ballpark figure on how many followdollars it would cost the taxpayers to hire enough attorneys and to go through the proceedings to try to stop those people or send those people out of the country? >> i'm sorry sir. i don't have a number on that. there have been studies, though. there's no doubt the number was cost prohibitive. it would be impossible to do that. >> millions of dollars. >> many many millions. i'm sorry. i want to take that back. i shouldn't say many millions because i don't know the number but it's astronomical. >> astronomical is close to many millions. in the same ballpark. president's reagan and bu

the undersecretary for border and transportation security, shall be responsible for the following. and it gives eight items. and number five is establishing national immigration enforcement policies and priorities. does that not clearly give the administrationthe authority to do what they did? >> i think it does. with one qualification. i agree with professor foley, that that's not limitless. they have to -- the secretary must exercise that power consistently with any specific statutory constraints. again, no such constraints have been credibly identified. >> do you have any -- you were an attorney also i think for immigration here. do you have any ballpark figure on how many dollars it would cost the taxpayers to hire enough attorneys and go through the proceedings to try to -- stop those people, send those people out of the country? >> i'm sorry sir. i don't have a number on that. there have been studies, though. and there's no doubt that the number is -- was cost prohibitive. it would be impossible. >> millions of dollars. >> yeah, many many billions. >> could it -- >> i'm sorry, i want to take that back. i shouldn't say many billions because i really don't know the number. but it's astronomical. >> astronomical is as close to many milli

the undersecretary for border and transportation security shall be responsible for the following. and he gives eight items. number five is establishing national immigration enforcement policies and priorities. does that not clearly give the administrationauthority to do what they did? >> i think it does with one qualification. i agree with professor foley that that's not limitless. the secretary must exercise that power consistently with any specific statutory constraints. but again no such constraints have been credibly identified. >> do you have any -- you were an attorney also i think for immigration. do you have any ballpark figure on how many followdollars it would cost the taxpayers to hire enough attorneys and to go through the proceedings to try to stop those people or send those people out of the country? >> i'm sorry sir. i don't have a number on that. there have been studies, though. there's no doubt the number was cost prohibitive. it would be impossible to do that. >> millions of dollars. >> many many millions. i'm sorry. i want to take that back. i shouldn't say many millions because i don't know the number but it's astronomical. >> astronomical is close to many millions. in the same ballpark. president's reagan and bush