00:00Thank you, Secretary Markus.
00:04So for committee members, we will start the first round of questions.
00:08Our intent is, as we traditionally have when the Secretary is here, two rounds for questions.
00:15But I have a lot of members that want to be here, and this is a very challenging time
00:22for everybody's schedule, so I'm going to be very strict on the time, the seven minutes
00:27on the first round for everybody, if everybody would try to adhere to that in respect to
00:31our colleagues who all want to ask questions.
00:35We will then take a break before the second round to give the Secretary some time, to
00:41roughly ten minutes.
00:42We're going to try around 90 minutes, so whatever comes first, and we'll play it by ear.
00:46But my intent is to do that.
00:48Then it's just five minutes, whoops, there we go, on a motorcycle, and then there's five
00:52minutes in the second round.
00:56And once again, I'm going to be more aggressive than I usually am because of the interest
01:01in this committee to make sure that we stay to the time.
01:04And I will start by leading by example and staying within my time.
01:08Secretary Markus, I am focused on ensuring that the DHS and DOJ have the authorities
01:17needed to counter the evolving threat posed by unmanned aerial systems or drones operated
01:25by bad actors.
01:26Your department's current UAS authorities are set to lapse on May 11th of 2024, leaving
01:33upcoming major events like the Indy 500 and the New York City fireworks on July 4th unprotected,
01:41unprotected from this growing drone threat.
01:45So my question for you, sir, is what would losing this authority mean to our combined
01:51efforts to protect the homeland?
01:54Mr. Chairman, the loss of our authority to counter unmanned aerial systems would leave
02:02us less secure and less safe.
02:06The proliferation of unmanned aerial systems for adverse uses has only grown.
02:12The capability of those systems has only increased with respect to speed, distance covered, payload
02:22carried, and we need that system quite, quite compellingly.
02:31Secretary Fenton, I'll continue, as you're well aware, to be a scourge on our communities
02:37all around the country.
02:38Far too many families, including in my home state of Michigan, are losing loved ones to
02:43this epidemic, and we certainly must increase our efforts to combat it.
02:49And while I appreciate the DHS's operations, such as Blue Lotus and Operation Apollo, I
02:55believe they've resulted in seizures of over 5,500 pounds of illicit fentanyl in the first
03:02two months of FY24 alone.
03:05Clearly more needs to be done.
03:07So my question for you, Secretary, looking at DHS's FY25 budget request, I'm concerned
03:13that the Department is relying on Congress to pass a supplemental appropriation to advance
03:20the fight against fentanyl and synthetic opioids.
03:24So my question is, how will you ensure that DHS has the resources it needs to address
03:28this challenge if Congress fails to take action, as it unfortunately has in the past?
03:34Mr. Chairman, we do the most with what we have.
03:40We engage in strategic operations.
03:43We maximize the use of non-intrusive inspection technology.
03:48We deploy forward operating labs.
03:50We use our transnational criminal organizations to work with international partners.
03:56The men and women of the Department of Homeland Security do so much with the limited resources
04:01they have.
04:02But let me assure you, Mr. Chairman, that these Senate's bipartisan legislation would
04:08have provided us with vitally needed additional resources to combat fentanyl, a scourge like
04:15no other that I have seen, even throughout my 12 years as a federal prosecutor, prosecuting
04:20narcotics trafficking organizations and drugs ranging from cocaine to black tar heroin.
04:27Sir, Secretary, last year I released a report on watchlisting and screening practices of
04:34individuals at our nation's airports and ports of entry.
04:38This report included concrete recommendations that DHS should implement to enhance our national
04:44security while also upholding travelers' dignity and rights.
04:49It recommended DHS reform the redress process, track screening activities in a holistic manner
04:57to assess their impact, and establish a watchlisting and screening advisory council.
05:03My question for you, Secretary, is what actions has DHS taken so far to begin to address these
05:09three recommendations in the report?
05:12Mr. Chairman, we very much appreciate the report that was published and we are certainly
05:17acting upon it.
05:19It is our highest purpose to ensure the safety and security of the American public and to
05:24do so while complying with civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy rights.
05:29We in the Department of Homeland Security are looking internally at our own practices,
05:34CBP, TSA, and the other agencies involved with the offices of civil rights, civil liberties,
05:41and privacy.
05:42And we are also working with other departments and agencies with respect to the recommendations
05:47and the important recommendations that the report issued.
05:50Well, thank you, Mr. Secretary.
05:53I still have remaining time and I'm going to set an example, I'm going to stop early
05:58on remaining time.
06:00And I do need to leave temporarily to attend an Armed Services Committee hearing that's
06:06going on now.
06:07So I will be turning the gavel over to Chair Emeritus Senator Carper in my absence and
06:14recognize right now Ranking Member Paul for his comments.
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