Mullin Faces Tough Confirmation Hearing In Rand Paul-Led Senate Homeland Security Committee

[0:00] Department of Homeland Security will come to order and I'm assuming we'll [0:08] commence when he arrives. I think he's in the hall doing media. [0:18] Good morning everyone. I entered the Senate the same year that representative [1:22] Gabby Giffords was shot. I knew then that the state of political rhetoric was [1:27] encouraging violence. I think it's imperative now more than ever that the [1:32] leaders in our country disavow violence and lead by example. Through the years [1:38] I've personally been exposed multiple times to political violence. I was in the [1:42] right field batting cage when the crazed shooter unleashed nearly 200 shots at [1:47] our congressional baseball practice. I'll never forget Steve Scalise valiantly [1:52] dragging trying to drag his body away as the gunman continued. Later that year a [1:57] trump-hating felon attacked me from behind in my yard. I was just straightening up [2:03] from picking up a tree limb. I was wearing noise cancellation headphones. Never saw [2:08] him coming. Running pell-mell down the hill. I was struck in the back. The first [2:15] of the blow sent us through the air nearly ten feet down the hill until his [2:19] shoulder impaled me as we hit the ground. Six of my ribs were broken. Three of the [2:24] ribs were completely separated such that for weeks the ends of the ribs would [2:29] grind upon each other. My lung was damaged. For weeks I could inhale but not [2:35] have the rib strength to exhale. I developed two pneumonias. The pain was [2:41] such that I could only sit up in bed by tying a rope to the foot of the bed and [2:45] pulling myself up. But even then the pain was that of a thousand knives. Over the [2:51] year of recovery I began to cough up blood. I underwent removal of part of my [2:55] lung. Complications led to an infection in the space between my lung and chest [3:00] wall. I spent a week in the hospital having the infection lavaged every six [3:04] hours through a chest tube. Recently Senator Mullin, if you have time to listen, you [3:12] were confronted by constituents that were angry because you voted against my [3:15] amendment to stop all funding for refugee welfare programs. Instead of explaining [3:21] your vote to continue these welfare programs for refugees, you decided to [3:25] transfer the blame. You told the media that I was a freaking snake and that you [3:30] completely understood why I had been assaulted. I was shocked that you would [3:36] justify and celebrate this violent assault. That caused me so much pain and my [3:41] family so much pain. I just wonder if someone who applauds violence against their [3:46] political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled to [3:50] accept limits to the proper use of force. You might argue you were mad and upset [3:56] about being confronted by your constituents. But Senator Mullin, your [4:01] constituents are justifiably upset with you. By now most of America knows that the [4:06] Somali welfare fraud in Minnesota stole over nine billion dollars. But instead of [4:11] defending your vote, you took to continue the vote to continue these refugee [4:16] welfare programs, you chose to lash out at me. You went on to brag that you had [4:22] already told me to my face that you completely understood and approved of the [4:26] assault. Well that's a lie. You got a chance today you can either continue to lie or [4:31] you can correct the record. You have never had the courage to look me in the eye and [4:36] tell me that the assault was justified. So today you'll have your chance. Today I'll [4:41] give you that chance to clear the record. Tell it to my face if that's what you [4:45] believe. Tell it to me today. Tell the world why you believe I deserve to be [4:49] assaulted from behind, have six ribs broken and a damaged lung. Tell me to my [4:53] face why you think I deserved it. And while you're at it, explain to the [4:58] American public why they should trust a man with anger issues to set the proper [5:02] example for ICE and Border Patrol agents. Explain to the American public how a man who [5:08] has no regrets about brawling in a Senate committee can set a proper example for [5:14] over 250,000 men and women who work at the Department of Homeland Security. [5:18] Senator Peters, you're recognized for your opening comment. [5:22] Senator Peters, thank you, Chairman Paul. Thank you, Senator Mullen for being [5:27] here today. Congratulations on your nomination. I certainly appreciate your [5:31] willingness to meet with me as well as my staff as we consider your nomination to [5:36] serve as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. I'd also like to [5:40] welcome your family who is joining us today and to thank all of them for their [5:46] commitment to public service. We do it as a family, as you know. [5:50] The Department of Homeland Security is a complicated organization with [5:54] challenging operational dynamics. As everyone is well aware, many [6:00] components within DHS are currently operating without funding. But let's be [6:05] clear, Democrats are committed to funding TSA, FEMA, the cybersecurity and [6:10] infrastructure security agency and the Coast Guard while we negotiate much [6:15] needed ICE reforms. We tried to pass those bills by unanimous consent [6:20] multiple times over the past two weeks. Unfortunately, Republicans have blocked [6:25] those bills each and every time. Yesterday, the White House sent a letter laying out [6:31] their latest offer. But the devil is always in the details. Administrative action is not [6:37] enough. We need to pass real reforms into law. If Republicans really do agree with [6:43] us that TSA and other personnel need to be paid, then they should join us and pass the [6:49] bills to pay them today. We can do that while we continue to negotiate needed ICE [6:54] reforms. But let me be clear, these are very straightforward reforms that we're [6:58] asking for. We just want ICE to follow the same rules that our local police and our [7:04] local communities follow every day. But DHS has faced the management challenges [7:10] since the start of the Trump administration. And over the past year, many of [7:14] those challenges have unfortunately only increased. As soon as President Trump was [7:19] sworn in, he made deep cuts to counterterrorism offices and programs, forced out or [7:25] reassigned key personnel, and redirected the focus of limited remaining [7:31] counterterrorism and counterterrorism resources away from the serious threats that we face, [7:36] and towards targeting the president's perceived political enemies. The administration has [7:42] also gutted our nation's main cyber security agency. Once again, forcing out or reassigning [7:48] highly talented personnel, slashing budgets, and limiting the agency's work to help private [7:54] companies address significant cyber attacks, and protect Americans from criminal hackers and [8:01] support secure elections. The administration has also taken an axe to FEMA, cutting staff and [8:07] freezing or delaying critical grant funding for everything from emergency food and shelter [8:12] after a disaster, to flood mitigation programs, and security grants to non-profits, including [8:19] houses of worship. All these cuts and reassignments have been made at the expense of vital missions, [8:25] including the core terrorism prevention and response mission the department was created to [8:31] address. In doing so, the Trump administration has broken trust between law enforcement and the [8:37] communities they are intended to protect. A break that will have a generational impact on public [8:43] safety and security. And now, after President Trump's reckless war of choice against Iran, the threats to [8:50] our nation have never been higher. In my home state of Michigan, just last week, we saw both a major medical [8:56] device manufacturer get hacked by an Iranian-backed group, and a horrific violent attack on Temple Israel, [9:04] a metro Detroit area synagogue. President Trump's unilateral and unchecked executive actions have put [9:11] Americans at risk. And we need a steady, qualified leader at the Department of Homeland Security to address [9:18] these serious threats. How the Homeland Security Secretary responds to a crisis sends signals to everyone, from the [9:26] department's own personnel, to the American people, and to the entire world. It's not the role of the [9:33] secretary to be a cable news commentator in the wake of a crisis. The secretary's role is to lead, lead the [9:40] response, and work to ensure the department that they are leading isn't actually the cause of the crisis. A secretary who jumps to [9:49] conclusions without the facts, as we saw in the case of Renee Good and Alex Preddy's killings, only worsens the [9:56] situation, and actually makes us less safe. This is a role where temperament matters, where judgment matters, and where [10:05] experience matters. We have seen under Secretary Noem's leadership how shortcomings in these traits can compound the [10:13] challenges that already come with leading a large and complex department. And now, more than ever, we need a DHS Secretary who is a [10:23] steady hand, who will provide thoughtful leadership, follow the facts, tell the truth, and hold agency officials [10:32] accountable when they need to be held accountable. We need a DHS Secretary who is committed to the rule of law, and who will [10:38] protect and cooperate with independent oversight, whether that's from the Inspector General or from members of Congress. And we need a DHS Secretary who is [10:48] free from distractions and conflicts of interest that only undercut the department's work, and also break trust with the [10:55] American people. Senator Mullen, I appreciate you being here today to answer our questions about these concerns and your [11:01] experience and qualifications for the job. And while I'm interested in hearing more about your vision for leading the [11:07] department, I do have reservations about your readiness to take on such a significant role at such a critical time. [11:18] I hope you will provide us with the substantive answers today and a candid recognition of where this [11:25] administration has fallen short on safeguarding our homeland security as you seek to lead the department as our nation [11:32] faces ongoing security threats and war with Iran. [11:40] Senator Mullen is to be introduced today by Senator Lankford. Senator Lankford, you were recognized for your [11:45] introduction of our witness. [11:47] Senator Lankford, thank you. Mark Wayne, proud that you're here. I get the honor of getting a chance to be able to [11:51] recognize and introduce my friend, Mark Wayne Mullen, my fellow senator from the state of Oklahoma, and somebody that I've [11:57] seen work incredibly hard to be ready for every single task you've ever taken on, and to be able to not only do it, but do it [12:02] well. There are a lot of folks that think they know you. I actually get to know you, and I have had the [12:08] opportunity to be able to serve beside you for now over a decade and have seen your tenacity in your work [12:13] effort. Folks may not know that the first time we really got to know each other, ironically enough, was around a [12:19] natural disaster, a FEMA event. It was Briarwood Elementary in 2013 when a tornado came right through the heart of [12:29] Oklahoma. You had literally just been elected a few weeks before that and had [12:34] just taken the oath of office. The Oklahoma delegation all gathered together at the very [12:39] tragic event, their Briarwood Elementary, and while we were meeting with the [12:43] principal and meeting with teachers and families and walking through the debris [12:46] field that was that elementary school, we turned around to be able to look for [12:51] Mark Wayne, and for a minute we couldn't find him, because in one of the debris [12:55] piles, there was water shooting out of the middle of it, and his plumber instinct [12:59] said, I got to go find that and figure out how to solve that. And so while everyone else was [13:04] shaking hands and meeting people, he was digging through the debris field to find a way to be able [13:09] to shut off the water that was shooting through the middle of that destroyed [13:12] elementary school. And I remember smiling and thinking, he's a guy that doesn't mind getting his hands [13:17] dirty to actually go solve the problem. Where there's a problem he can solve, he's going to do [13:21] whatever it takes to actually solve it. Mark Wayne grew up in a very small town in far [13:28] eastern Oklahoma, ironically named Westville, in the easternmost part of Oklahoma. Just 1,300 people [13:35] call Westville home. He grew up in a family of modest means. I think that would be safe to be able to say. [13:42] The youngest of seven children in a family that just didn't have much. His dad ran a very small [13:47] plumbing company that then Mark Wayne took on and grew into being one of the largest [13:52] plumbing companies in the entire state. He married his high school sweetheart, one of the [13:58] smartest things he ever did, at just 20 years old. And he and Christy have developed a family that is a [14:05] beautiful family of three children they had naturally, and three children they chose that they [14:11] adopted and took them in. It is a remarkable family and a remarkable success that you have [14:18] actually led through a lot of hard work and a lot of love and tenacity. He is a [14:23] person of faith that is not afraid to be able to talk about his faith in [14:26] Jesus Christ. But he's also a person who has deep respect for all people. [14:30] Mark Wayne has served in Congress for 14 years, 11 years in the House of [14:34] Representatives, three here in the Senate. He's passed legislation that he will now be [14:39] charged with actually implementing it in the order that was actually passed. [14:42] He served on the appropriations committee here. He served on armed [14:45] services. He's served on the help committee here. And he's done an [14:49] incredible job in the work that he's done with Indian affairs. He is [14:53] somebody who has the rare gift of bringing people together on both sides [14:57] of the aisle. And the one thing I would say to every single person on this [15:00] Diaz, regardless of your Republican or Democrat, if you want to sit down and [15:04] talk about an issue, he's glad to be able to talk about it and to be able to work [15:08] it out and has very good relationships in the House and in the Senate. [15:14] And he is not afraid to ask questions when he doesn't know the answer [15:18] and to be able to research things. He and I have often talked about [15:21] being up late, both of us working on researching through an issue [15:25] to try to be able to learn more about it. Because the crazy thing [15:28] about being in Congress is you don't know everything. You got to do [15:31] the work. And Mark Wayne is not afraid to do the work. [15:34] Over the past year and a few months, we've seen incredible progress on our [15:39] southern border. Our southern border 18 months ago, I think we forget [15:45] what it looked like. 12,000 people a day illegally crossing our border, [15:52] just being waved in. No vetting, no background checks, 12,000 people a day. [15:58] That is not happening anymore. Our numbers are down on the southwest border [16:04] 96 percent. So you walk into an agency that has finally restored some order [16:11] to our southern border. But there's a lot of work still to do with FEMA, [16:15] with other areas of homeland security and a very large agency with 250,000 [16:20] people that are actually under your leadership there. So I am confident that [16:25] you'll be able to take those things on. Not only am I confident, the [16:31] National Border Patrol Council has already sent a letter in strong [16:34] support here. And, Mr. Chairman, I'd like to ask [16:38] unanimous consent to insert to the record the National Border Patrol [16:41] Council, their letter of support. Leadership of the Cherokee [16:44] Nation, their strong support. And then my fellow senator Katie Britt has [16:48] an opening statement, who I'd like to also submit for the record with [16:51] unanimous consent. Without objection. [16:53] Thank you. This is a person that actually lives what we [16:56] affectionately call in Oklahoma, the Oklahoma standard. [17:00] That when hard things actually occur, you step up and you serve [17:04] your neighbor. And you find ways to be able to help people to do [17:07] the hard things that have to be done. So, Mark Wayne, I [17:11] appreciate your leadership. I appreciate your willingness to be [17:13] able to step up in a season where DHS needs a leader to be able to [17:16] step into that role and to be able to help our nation in so many [17:19] different complicated areas. Especially at a time when right now we [17:22] can't even get funding to DHS. We've got to be able to have good [17:26] solid leadership there. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [17:28] It's the practice of this committee to swear in witnesses. [17:33] Will the nominee please stand and raise your right hand? [17:35] Do you swear that the testimony we'll give before this committee [17:41] will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? [17:44] So help you God. Senator Mullen, you are recognized for your opening [17:46] statement. [17:51] I think before I can start my opening statement, I have to [17:56] address the remarks the chairman made calling me a liar. [17:59] Sir, I think there's everybody in this room knows that I'm very [18:02] blunt and direct to the point. And if I have something to say, I'll [18:05] say it directly to your face. If you recall back in my house days, [18:09] we actually did have this conversation because of remarks [18:11] that I've made. You were in a room, I simply addressed that I said [18:17] I could understand because of the behavior you were having, that [18:21] I could understand why the neighbor did what he did. [18:24] As far as my terms of the snake in the grass, sir, I work around [18:28] this room to try to fix problems. I've worked with many people in [18:31] this room. Seems like you fight Republicans more than you work [18:34] with us. I did address those remarks. I did explain your gimmicks by [18:39] the amendment you put forth. And as far as me saying that I invoke [18:44] violence, I don't. I don't think anybody should be hit by surprise. [18:47] I don't like that. But if I do have something to say, [18:51] everybody in this room knows I'll come straight to you. [18:54] I'll say it publicly and I'll say it privately, but I'll never [18:57] say it behind your back. So for you to say, I'm a liar, sir, [19:01] that's not accurate. And I got proof to say that because you've [19:05] spent millions of dollars in my campaigns against me because [19:08] we just don't get along. However, sir, that doesn't keep me [19:12] at all from doing my job. I can have different opinions with [19:17] everybody in this room. But as Secretary of Homeland, I'll be [19:20] protecting everybody, including Kentucky, as much as I will my [19:23] own backguard in Oklahoma. It's bigger than the partisan [19:26] bickering that we have. It's bigger than the political [19:29] differences we have. The truth is, I have a job to do. [19:33] And I don't like to fail at anything at all. So I can set it [19:39] aside if you're willing to set it aside. Let me earn your respect. [19:43] Let me earn the job. I won't fail you. I won't back down from a [19:49] challenge. And I'll also admit when I'm wrong. I'm not perfect. [19:53] I don't claim to be perfect. I make mistakes just like anybody [19:58] else. But mistakes, if you own them, you can learn from them. [20:02] And you can move ahead. And I'll make that commitment to you. [20:06] Ranking Member Peters, Chairman Paul, I do thank you for this [20:12] opportunity. It is a humbling experience. A kid from Westville, [20:17] Oklahoma, that grew up with a dad that worked hard. He set the [20:22] work example for all of us. And all my families and my siblings, [20:31] we all work hard. And I'm proud of the family we have. But to say [20:34] that a kid with a bad speech impediment would one day sit up here [20:37] in front of you and be nominated to be the Secretary of Homeland, [20:42] it was humbly enough to be selected by Oklahoma to be their [20:47] U.S. representative when I didn't know how to tie a tie. [20:51] And 10 years later to be able to be called a United States [20:54] senator and serve with all you guys. And I respect every one of [20:58] you guys. I do. Regardless if I have an opinion about you or [21:01] not, you were elected by your state and I respect that. I may [21:04] disagree with you, but I respect it. Because we all make decisions [21:07] based on two things. The way you're raised which never [21:10] changes and our life experiences with constantly change. [21:13] For me to be able to have the love of my life behind me, [21:19] somebody I literally fell in love with in third grade, I knew [21:22] I was going to marry in eighth grade. She didn't know that [21:31] yet. We had to work through that process. But at 18 years [21:36] old and I was 19, she agreed to marry me. I didn't have [21:41] anything. I was on a wrestling scholarship living in a dorm. [21:44] She was cheering at Northeastern State University. I think [21:48] she fell in love with my truck because my truck was pretty [21:50] cool. But the truth is we didn't know what we did. [21:56] know what we didn't know. But we did know we loved each other. [21:59] And I haven't been perfect. I apologize to her quite often [22:02] and send her flowers all the time. But I still am humbled by [22:05] the fact that we've got to enjoy this walk together. We've had [22:07] God on our side and her right beside me. And to our six [22:12] children who's been on this adventure with me, what an [22:14] adventure it's been. We have a saying in our family, you're [22:18] never going to change anything you're willing to tolerate. [22:20] That's how we live our life and that's how we move forward. [22:24] And regardless of what's in front of us, we always take it [22:33] on as a family. I'm not scared of a challenge. I am scared of [22:38] failure. And so I will work hard each day. I'll work hard to [22:46] make the 280,000 employees at DHS with the 22 agencies that's [22:51] underneath me proud. I'll show them somebody that no one will [22:56] outwork. I'll work beside them every single day to not just [23:02] secure a homeland, to bring peace of mind and confidence to [23:06] the agency. My goal in six months is that we're not in the [23:12] lead story every single day. My goal is for people to [23:17] understand we're out there, we're protecting them and we're [23:20] working with them. My goal is to make every one of you guys proud. [23:24] My goal, for those that don't support me, regret not supporting [23:29] me. But we have to get DHS funded. We have to. My friends, we [23:38] have to set the partisan side down. And we have to realize that [23:44] we're putting our homeland and the peace of mind at risk for the [23:49] American people. Sometimes it's political theater, sometimes it's [23:54] true differences. But what we do know is that we're playing with [23:58] fire. We have 280,000 DHS employees right now that are on [24:02] day 30 without pay. And they're still showing up every single [24:06] day to do their job. That is a dedicated group of people. And we [24:14] should all be proud of them. We should all be working together. [24:18] We should all be trying to fund them. So I pray, seriously, I [24:23] pray that we can get past this. That once this hearing is over [24:27] and once we go through this process, I get it. I get some of it's [24:31] got to be political theater. I understand it. I've had to really [24:34] pray about my attitude. But I will say, once it's over, I hope we [24:41] can work together and get them funded. So when I walk in, if I'm [24:44] fortunate enough to be confirmed, if I walk in as secretary, that [24:51] these guys are ready to go to work day one. So God bless you. [24:55] Thank you so much for this opportunity. I look forward to [24:58] your questions. [24:59] It's the standard practice of this committee for the [25:03] chairman to ask the nominees the following question. Do you [25:06] agree without reservation to comply with any request or [25:09] summons to appear or testify before any duly constituted [25:12] committee of Congress if you're confirmed? [25:14] I do. [25:15] We'll now proceed to seven minutes of questioning. [25:20] The record should show and I think will show a lack of [25:27] contrition, no apology and no regrets for your support. [25:34] You completely understand the violence that was perpetrated on [25:37] me. You're unrepentant. [25:40] The only thing you quibble about is whether I met you somehow when [25:42] you were in the house. I don't think we ever met when you were [25:45] in the house. And this idea that the only thing you're upset [25:48] about is not that you were for violence. What you're upset about [25:52] is that I called you a liar because you said it to my face. [25:55] It's really more about this machismo that you have. [25:59] When in Oklahoma the media ask you about the refugee welfare [26:05] programs, the programs you voted to continue funding, it was [26:08] this whole idea that you were going to transfer because you [26:11] were uncomfortable, you were anger, low impulse control, you [26:15] know, causes you to then go after and decide that you're going [26:18] to go after me as well. And so you say you completely [26:21] understood that I was assaulted from behind, had six ribs [26:24] broken and part of my lung removed. And that was just [26:27] fine. That's something that you, I guess, approve of as far as [26:31] resolution of political problems. When I talked to you [26:34] privately on the phone, there was no apology. You just said, [26:38] well, we can let our political difference, you know, go by. [26:41] And you said a few minutes ago, we can just set it aside. [26:44] Well, political differences we can. But when you say that you [26:49] agree with a felon, a Trump-hating felon who attacked me, [26:53] somehow you think I'm just going to set that aside. [26:56] Oh, it's no big deal. You know, I lay in pain for two months, [27:00] had six ribs broken, three of them separated, grinding upon bone [27:04] on bone for months, had part of my lung removed. And you think [27:07] that's great and to be extolled. I mean, the sheer lack of any [27:12] kind of self-awareness that you're going to be leading thousands [27:16] of men and women who will be, have the use of force. And there's [27:19] been great questions in our country about how that will be [27:21] used. And you think a violent attack is just fine. So I guess [27:26] my first question is, do you think that justifying that kind [27:29] of violence sets a good example for the men and women of ICE [27:32] and Border Patrol? [27:34] Mr. Chairman, first of all, I didn't know the exceeding [27:38] your damage. When a phone call was made, I made it to you [27:41] and I tried to talk to you. You didn't engage at all. [27:44] In fact, you said, get your paperwork in. It's got to be [27:47] three days in between. [27:48] You offered no apology. [27:50] Sir. [27:51] And you offer no apology today. And no regrets. [27:56] Haven't heard the word apologize, haven't heard the word [27:59] regret, haven't heard I misspoke and it was heated and I [28:02] made a mistake. I haven't heard any of those words. [28:04] Sir, actually it wasn't heated and I'm not apologizing [28:07] for pointing out your character. [28:08] Good, good. So you're jolly well fine and you want the [28:11] American public and the people up here to vote that may or may [28:14] not vote for you to know that you supported the felonious [28:17] violent attack on me from behind. [28:19] I did not say I supported it. I said I understood it. [28:23] There's a difference. [28:24] So that means you really didn't approve of it. Just completely [28:27] understand it. What do you think most people would interpret [28:30] completely understand to be support for or a condemnation of the [28:35] violence? [28:36] Sir, as I said, we can have our differences. [28:40] It's not going to keep me from doing my job as Secretary of [28:42] Homeland Security. [28:43] I'm going to secure Kentucky and take care of Kentucky as much as [28:46] I am. [28:47] If this were a one off, it would be one thing. [28:49] If you just disliked me so much that you approved of violence [28:52] against me, people could just write it off or maybe they hate [28:55] each other. [28:56] But really there's a pattern of this. [29:00] Let's go ahead and roll the tape. [29:01] You know where to find me. Any place, any time, cowboy. [29:08] Sir, this is a time, this is a place. [29:12] If you want to run your mouth, we can be two consenting adults. [29:15] We can finish it here. [29:16] Okay, that's fine. Perfect. [29:17] You want to do it now? [29:18] I'd love to do it right now. [29:19] Well, stand your butt up then. [29:20] You stand your butt up. [29:21] Oh, hold it. Oh, stop it. [29:23] Is that your solution? [29:24] No, no, sit down. [29:26] No, no, you're a United States Senator. [29:29] Actively. [29:30] Sit down, please. [29:31] All right. [29:32] Can I respond? [29:33] Hold it. [29:34] If he got up too, would you have gone at it right there in the hearing room? [29:38] I would have probably jumped over the dais at that point. [29:40] You have to be called out on. [29:42] If not, this guy continues to get away with this stuff. [29:44] And it's just, you know, it's silly. [29:46] It's stupid. [29:47] But every now and then you need to get punched in the face. [29:49] Well, go back to the 1800s and 1700s. [29:52] They used to have canings. [29:54] And duels. [29:55] And they used to have duels. [29:56] And duels. [29:57] And there was a way that men used to settle their differences. [29:59] I ignored him four times to be part of that. [30:01] And people say, yes, you're supposed to ignore it. [30:03] Well, you know, I'm not a very good Christian. [30:06] I try to be a good Christian. [30:07] And I know people say you're supposed to turn the other cheek. [30:09] I prefer the David method. [30:11] But we need to move from an almost fight. [30:13] By the way, I'm not afraid of biting. [30:15] I will bite. [30:16] Biting? [30:17] I'll bite, honey. [30:18] Yeah. [30:19] I'm in a fight. [30:20] I'm going to bite. [30:21] I'll do anything. [30:22] I mean, I'm not above it. [30:23] And I don't care where I bite, by the way. [30:24] It just is going to be a bite. [30:25] In hindsight, any regrets? [30:26] No, I really don't. [30:27] So no regrets. [30:30] In fact, even after your anger had cooled, you were still bragging that if he'd only been [30:35] brave enough to stand up, you'd have jumped over the dais and taught him a lesson. [30:38] Because that's how men should settle their differences. [30:41] Do you think fighting as a resolution for political difference is a good example for the men and women of ICE and Border Patrol? [30:47] As you can notice over my shoulder here is my good friend Sean O'Brien. [30:53] Both of us have had conversations. [30:55] Both of us have shaken hands. [30:57] And both of us have agreed we could have done things different. [31:01] Sean is someone that has become a close friend. [31:03] We talk all the time. [31:04] I've been on his podcast. [31:05] We've talked through this. [31:06] That's how you handle your differences. [31:09] Not like this, Chairman. [31:10] I'm glad you guys are friends now and that you've reconciled. [31:15] But really, it doesn't get to the real point whether or not you think violence is the way we settle things. [31:20] In the days after the fight, you said, and I quote, [31:24] sometimes people just need to be punched in the face. [31:27] Is that still your opinion that political disputes can sometimes and often only be resolved by violence? [31:35] No. [31:36] I don't always agree with that. [31:38] I don't believe in political violence. [31:39] I've made that very clear. [31:41] But sometimes people do need, theoretically speaking, sir, I get it. [31:46] It's about character assassination for you. [31:48] That's the way this game is played. [31:49] I understand it. [31:50] And you are making this about you, which is fine. [31:52] But that doesn't keep me as secretary of Homeland Security. [31:54] It's character assassination when you were the one lauding the assault. [31:57] Who do you think started that character assassination? [32:00] I'm just repeating what you have done in character assassination. [32:04] I'm repeating your support for the assault. [32:07] So that's somehow something I started? [32:09] No, sir. [32:10] What I'm saying is you're adding a lot to it. [32:12] In the days after the fight, you did many interviews in which you justified the violence as historically justified by precedents, such as caning and dueling. [32:23] Is it today your opinion that the caning of Charles Sumner was not only justified but argues still for resolving our political differences with violence? [32:32] What I was simply pointing out is some of the rules that still apply to this body. [32:37] For instance, dueling with two consenting adults is still there. [32:42] I was pointing out what is still... [32:43] It's been illegal for 170 years. [32:46] There's no precedent for legal dueling. [32:50] Even then they fled the country. [32:52] Do you realize that the man that beat Charles Sumner with a cane, he beat him until he was unconscious. [32:57] You know why no senators intervened? [32:59] Because his friend held a gun on the other senators and he kept beating him and beating him until he crushed his skull. [33:05] That's what you're insinuating as the president of the Senate and that's what you live by. [33:10] That is a very, very dangerous sentiment. [33:13] After a half a dozen victory lap interviews where you pointed out that the union guy was just lucky that fear kept him from standing up, [33:26] Dana Bash asked you if you have any regrets about bringing violence to a Senate committee and you replied that you have no regrets. [33:33] Today you said you have no regrets about being happy, being completely understanding why I was attacked from behind. [33:41] You had no regrets about, you know, instigating a brawl in a Senate committee hearing. [33:45] Are those still your opinions? [33:47] Mr. Chairman, you're going to have your opinion. [33:50] I'm going to have mine. [33:51] As Secretary of Homeland Security, I'm going to bring peace of mind and security to this country. [33:57] And I'm going to stay laser focused on that. [33:59] Senator Peters. [34:01] Senator Mellon, you have made several public statements suggesting that you were involved in special security forces or combat operations overseas. [34:17] In 2023, you said in a Senate Republican conference podcast, and I say, I'll quote, [34:24] There's another side of my bio that I don't ever talk about, nor will I. [34:31] I had to go do something overseas. [34:35] On March 2nd of this year, you told Fox News interview, quote, [34:39] War is ugly. [34:40] It smells bad. [34:42] If anybody has ever been there and been able to smell the war that's happening around you and taste it and feel it in your nostrils and hear it, it's something you will never forget. [34:55] On March 3rd, in a podcast interview, you stated, quote, I did special assignments outside of DOD, now DOW. [35:04] I never wore the uniform or the flag on my shoulder, but I might have been in the same area. [35:10] Your statements in public interviews and your responses to the committee are, quite frankly, are confusing, and they are inconsistent. [35:17] And I'd like you to clear this up. [35:19] You're under oath. [35:20] We can clear it all up right now. [35:22] And first, I'd like to ask unanimous consent to enter into the record my letter to you on March 11th and your addendum to the committee of March 12th regarding any overseas special assignments. [35:32] Without objection. [35:33] So my question for you, sir, is before your time in Congress, other than on vacations with your family, have you ever traveled to a foreign country? [35:42] No. [35:45] You've never traveled to a foreign country? [35:47] Outside of vacation or mission work? [35:49] No. [35:50] No. [35:53] Okay. [35:54] Have you... [35:56] Your FBI report does show some travel. [36:01] I think it was to Georgia and Azerbaijan. [36:03] You marked that that was not for tourists? [36:05] Are you referring to August of 2021, when we went to go get the Americans out of Afghanistan? [36:14] I'm just... [36:15] That's what that travel was for, which we did clarify that. [36:17] Okay. [36:18] So you have traveled. [36:19] So you've traveled to Azerbaijan and Georgia. [36:22] That was in your FBI report, although you just said you've never traveled. [36:25] Sir, we were... [36:27] I thought you were referring to a different time. [36:30] But in 2021, it was well documented. [36:32] Okay. [36:33] In fact, it was all over the news. [36:34] And I actually did say that. [36:36] And we put that down on the report. [36:39] But that was... [36:40] That was us, which was all over the news, trying to go with an extremely experienced team. [36:46] Okay. [36:47] I've got other questions. [36:48] Thank you. [36:49] So you have traveled overseas, despite your previous comment. [36:52] Were you ever... [36:53] Excuse me. [36:54] Ever an employee, volunteer, or otherwise involved with the Department of Defense, State Department, [37:00] or other U.S. agency or contractor for any of those departments? [37:03] No. [37:04] And, Senator, I think there's a misunderstanding here that I could clear up if you want me [37:07] to clear up for you. [37:08] Please. [37:09] Okay. [37:10] So, which this is a... [37:12] This is official trip. [37:13] And it is classified. [37:15] But in 2015, I was asked to train with a very small contingency and go to a certain area, [37:27] which was scheduled for 2016. [37:29] During that time, I was asked to go through...had to meet certain training qualifications. [37:37] Certain qualifications. [37:38] Had to go through SEER training. [37:39] The training and stuff was kind of fun. [37:42] The SEER training was absolutely awful. [37:44] And...and I spoke in general about my experiences. [37:48] But I've never spoke specifically on details, on dates, or on the mission. [37:56] And that was official. [37:58] And there was nothing in the report to the committee. [38:01] Actually, it said you do not have to claim any official trips. [38:04] And like I said, that was an official trip that is classified. [38:07] This is an official trip while you were a member of Congress? [38:10] Yes. [38:11] 2015, 2016, I was a member of Congress. [38:14] Some of it may be public, but it would be very small. [38:19] Most of it, because of my recollection, which we're going back 10 years, [38:23] I think there's only people...only four people read in on it. [38:25] So where...where was that trip? [38:27] I just said it's classified, sir. [38:28] It's classified. [38:29] So the letter that we sent to you said that we need to have information of any of these activities... [38:36] It said not official trips. [38:39] Your paperwork was very clear, excluding any official trips. [38:43] This was an official trip as a member. [38:45] Well, we have more questions we're going to have to ask. [38:50] In the FBI report, I asked, is there anything in that report that is classified? [38:55] That you are involved in any kind of classified operation at all? [38:59] And there's none. [39:00] It was also excluding...it also said excluding official duties. [39:07] It says that. [39:08] And you guys had the paperwork in front of you, and it always says excluding official duties. [39:12] We had this committee come to us and ask the same questions. [39:16] We talked about doing mission work. [39:18] We talked about doing mentorship. [39:21] But they said official duties that was in your official capacity does not have to be talked about. [39:27] So where did you smell war? [39:31] Sir, I just said that this was classified. [39:34] And the dates, locations, and admission, I've never spoke specifically details about. [39:41] Well, we can get that information. [39:42] That's fine. [39:43] You're welcome to get it. [39:44] We will want to find out more information about that. [39:46] That's perfectly okay. [39:47] It's important to have the truth here, and that you're portraying yourself in a truthful way. [39:51] Sir, I'm not portraying myself in any way other than you're asking the question. [39:55] I said I would try to clear it up for you. [39:57] We'll continue to work on that. [39:58] Thank you. [39:59] After DHS officers shot and killed two American citizens this past January, [40:04] you joined top administrative officials in publicly blaming and disparaging the victims. [40:11] Following the killing of Renee Goode, Secretary Noem called her a domestic terrorist. [40:16] You, sir, you called Alex Petty, quote, a deranged individual that came in to cause max damage. [40:24] Could we expect those kinds of quick responses if you are confirmed as secretary? [40:31] Would you be basically, well, you did. [40:33] You responded as secretary Noem. [40:34] Are we going to just expect that same behavior all over again? [40:36] No, senator. [40:37] I have a deep amount of respect for you. [40:39] We've had our differences, but I do respect you. [40:42] I think I said this privately when we had a conversation. [40:46] Those words probably should have been retracted. [40:48] I shouldn't have said that. [40:49] And as secretary, I wouldn't. [40:50] The investigation is ongoing. [40:51] And there is, like I said, there's sometimes going to make a mistake and I own it. [40:56] That one, I went out there too fast. [40:59] I was responding immediately without the facts. [41:02] That's my fault. [41:03] That won't happen as secretary. [41:04] So you regret that statement? [41:05] I already said that. [41:06] Yes, sir. [41:07] Would you want to apologize to the family of Alex Petty? [41:10] Well, sir, I just said I regret those statements. [41:14] Is that the same as an apology? [41:15] I haven't seen the investigation. [41:17] We'll let the investigation go through. [41:19] And if I'm proven wrong, then I will absolutely. [41:21] How would you characterize your relationship with President Trump? [41:28] He's a friend. [41:32] How frequently have you spoken with him in the past year? [41:34] Often. [41:36] Most of the time about my family. [41:38] If you want to explain the friendship, I'll tell you. [41:40] My wife will tell you the same thing. [41:41] When someone loves your kids when they're going through a difficult time, like we have, the [41:48] amount of outpouring of support from the president and the friendship we saw going back to 2020 [41:54] was quite remarkable. [41:56] And so I speak to the president from a friend level more than I do a policy level. [42:00] Okay. [42:01] I have more questions, but my time is up. [42:02] Thank you, Senator. [42:03] We'll be doing it in a second round. [42:04] Okay. [42:05] Thank you. [42:06] Senator Moreno. [42:08] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [42:09] And thank you, Senator Johnson, Senator Langford, for let me skip the line. [42:13] I have to unfortunately go to Dover for the dignified transfer. [42:16] So I appreciate taking the time. [42:20] Thank you. [42:21] It's not often that I get to ask questions for somebody who I've known for a long time, [42:28] meaning in politics, two and a half years is a long time. [42:31] I've gotten to know you as a friend, as a colleague. [42:34] I've seen you interact as a dad. [42:36] I've seen you interact as a husband. [42:38] And I just want the American people to know you're a good man. [42:41] Thank you. [42:42] That doesn't always go through all the political shenanigans. [42:47] And maybe you're not going to replace Shakespeare as the next greatest orator on earth. [42:53] You talk from the heart. [42:55] And that's okay. [42:56] You are who you are. [42:57] And I think that's what you don't apologize for is just being yourself. [43:00] And sometimes we're imperfect. [43:03] We don't do the 20-person focus group every time you say a word. [43:08] And I think that's what people like about you, Mark Wayne. [43:10] So I appreciate you being here. [43:12] I honestly just have one question for you. [43:15] Do you pledge to support and defend the United States of America nearly as much as you would protect and defend your family? [43:22] Without doubt, sir. [43:25] Yes. [43:26] So I'm going to ruin everything for the audience. [43:28] You will be confirmed. [43:31] You will have the job. [43:34] And you're going to make this country safer and better. [43:36] And for that, I thank you. [43:37] And thank your family for supporting you. [43:38] So I will use the rest of my time now to make a little case to the American people. [43:44] We have 260,000 families that have not received a paycheck in over a month. [43:54] 260,000 American citizen families who have not received a paycheck in over a month. [44:06] None of those people are in charge of policy. [44:11] There's not one of those families that makes policy decisions for the most part. [44:16] That's on the people here. [44:19] There isn't a single human being on this dais that has missed a paycheck. [44:23] Every single one of us has gotten a paycheck the last 30 days and before that. [44:29] And yet we sit here and we do political theater. [44:33] And I said to my colleague, Senator Britt, the other day that in my 14 months here, I only felt ashamed of this chamber once. [44:44] And that was last Thursday. [44:45] When you saw the ultimate political theater, colleagues going, let's fund TSA. [44:51] How about the Coast Guard? [44:52] Oh, that's a different person that's going to talk about that. [44:54] How about FEMA? [44:55] It's a different person that's going to talk about that. [44:57] You can't have it both ways, by the way. [44:59] You can't have Democrats saying, I can't believe the Trump administration is cutting government employee numbers. [45:05] By the way, over 300,000, we haven't missed a beat. [45:08] And yet at the same time, not pay people who are actually showing up for it. [45:13] That seems decently incongruous. [45:15] We can't say President Trump isn't defending the homeland. [45:18] Well, he is absolutely doing that every single day. [45:20] And yet we're allowing these agencies to not be funded. [45:24] And I have tried really hard to learn how this place works. [45:30] This is all very new to me. [45:31] And I remember many, many Democrats saying to me, we have the constitutional duty to fund agencies. [45:40] to fund agencies through appropriations. [45:44] And then we have a separate piece where we argue policy differences. [45:49] But we should never marry both together. [45:52] Because when you marry both together, you don't hurt us. [45:55] You don't hurt the people here in D.C. [45:57] You hurt the men and women who are going to work every day to defend this country. [46:01] And that's a disgrace. [46:03] I actually don't know how you would sleep at night knowing that you're hurting families like that. [46:09] People who can't make their rent payments, can't make their mortgage payments. [46:12] Their cars are being repossessed. [46:14] They're having to tell their kids they can't send them to dance recitals because they did everything right in life except got a job with the Department of Homeland Security. [46:22] So that a politician can make a 30-second video online and then use it to fundraise for the next election? [46:29] That's disgusting. [46:30] So let me just say this. [46:33] What are we not talking about? [46:36] You know, the ranking member said, oh, look, we said we'd fund. [46:39] He's not paying attention right now. [46:40] It's just fine. [46:41] We said we're going to fund FEMA. [46:45] If you guys are done talking, I'll continue if you like. [46:48] Are you done? [46:55] Okay. [46:56] Thank you. [46:57] It's extraordinarily disrespectful. [46:58] All right. [46:59] So moving on. [47:00] You're going to fund all these agencies. [47:01] Here's ones that you haven't funded. [47:03] USCIS. [47:04] Near and dear to my heart. [47:05] Near and dear to my heart. [47:08] That's how I became a U.S. citizen. [47:11] We've defunded the agency that allows legal immigrants into this country? [47:16] That is insane. [47:19] Never hear the Democrats talk about that. [47:21] 3,300 employees. [47:22] Just go to work every day trying to process legal immigrants. [47:24] They don't need a paycheck. [47:25] I'm going to skip the second one. [47:28] Go to the third one. [47:29] Biological nuclear threat prevention. [47:31] That seems important. [47:32] That seems like an agency we should fund. [47:36] 200 employees. [47:37] Not getting a paycheck. [47:38] That's okay with the Democrats. [47:39] The next one. [47:41] 60,000 employees for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. [47:47] People who are inspecting packages they work with. [47:49] Your Teamsters work with customs. [47:51] They're not getting paid. [47:54] How do you look at those people in the face and know that you're doing that? [47:57] Now let's talk about immigration and customs enforcement. [48:00] 7,000 special agents that are stopping transnational [48:04] criminal organizations, drug smugglers, and human traffickers. [48:09] Are you on the Democrat side asking not to fund that? [48:14] Because ultimately what this is about is defunding ICE and law enforcement. [48:19] Are you suggesting that we not fund an organization that attacks transnational organizations? [48:27] Be specific. [48:28] Be specific when you say you don't want to fund ICE. [48:32] I want you to say the words, we do not want to fund 7,000 special agents that are in charge [48:39] of stopping transnational criminal organizations, drug smugglers, and human traffickers. [48:44] This job isn't complicated. [48:49] The American people send us here to get things done. [48:53] And yet for the third time in six months we've shut down this government with total impunity. [49:00] They will go home and just make social media videos and try to blame Republicans. [49:10] It is a disgrace. [49:11] It's even more of a disgrace honestly that you talked about the respect that [49:16] Senator Mullen shares. [49:17] You guys have side conversations. [49:19] Don't listen. [49:20] And that's fine. [49:21] You don't have to. [49:22] But what I'm going to do now is I'm going to leave. [49:24] I'm going to go pay respects to three soldiers who died so that we can have the liberties that [49:29] we enjoy here. [49:30] And you guys continue with political theater, personal attacks, whatever you can do. [49:35] I know that is a good man. [49:36] I will vote for you. [49:37] Our Republican colleagues will vote for you. [49:39] You will get confirmed. [49:40] You will do a great job. [49:41] And you will make this country proud, Mark Wayne. [49:44] Thank you. [49:45] And thank you for standing by a great American person. [49:48] Senator Hassan. [49:49] Oh, thank you, Mr. Chair. [49:52] Before I start with my remarks and my questions, just with regard to Senator Marino, who has [49:59] left the dais, the American people should know this. [50:04] ICE is right now funded with more money than it's had in past budgets. [50:09] And the partial limited shutdown that we have right now has nothing to do with ICE. [50:16] Meanwhile, Democrats have consistently over the last week moved to fund the rest of the [50:22] Department of Homeland Security, and the Republicans have blocked that funding. [50:28] So let's just be clear about what's happening here. [50:32] Now, I want to congratulate Senator Mullen and Christie for the nomination. [50:39] I know your family is very proud, and I know how much you love them. [50:44] I also want to thank Chairman Paul for speaking so openly about a really difficult thing, which [50:51] is the actual physical impact of violence, and in this case, political violence. [50:56] It is a hard thing to do, but it is a really important thing to do at this time in our country's [51:01] history. [51:02] So thank you, Chairman. [51:03] The Department of Homeland Security was created in the wake of the September 11 terrorist [51:09] attacks with a clear mission to keep our country safe, secure, and free. [51:14] The Department's work includes counterterrorism operations, disaster recovery, physical and cyber [51:19] protection of critical infrastructure and immigration enforcement. [51:23] The stakes for the success of the Department of Homeland Security could not be higher. [51:30] And that's also why granite staters and Americans of all stripes have been deeply concerned about [51:36] what they've seen from the Department of Homeland Security under this administration. [51:40] People have been rightfully outraged about the lawlessness from the Department's leadership, [51:47] which has not only resulted in the death of two American citizens, but has also led to the hollowing [51:53] out of agencies like FEMA. [51:56] So to Senator Mullen and my colleagues, what happens here in this room today is not nearly as important [52:06] as what happens at our border, on our streets, in our communities, and in our businesses tomorrow, [52:13] and every day thereafter. [52:15] So, Senator Mullen, I'm going to start with a question I have asked every one of the president's [52:21] nominees. [52:22] If directed by the president to take an action that would break the law, would you follow the law [52:27] or follow the president's direction? [52:28] Senator, thank you for the questions and thank you for the concerns. [52:33] First of all, I've enjoyed working with you on several different issues. [52:38] We've had very blunt conversations. [52:40] To answer your question, the president would never ask me to do that. [52:44] Well, certainly, everyday Americans who have served on juries would disagree with you about that. [52:49] And the example he has set calls into question that answer. [52:53] Senator. [52:54] I have limited time, as you well know. [52:56] Go ahead. [52:57] In the past 14 months, Secretary Noem has fundamentally broken the American People's Trust [53:02] and the Department of Homeland Security. [53:04] The top priority of whoever leads this department next must be to rebuild this trust. [53:11] If confirmed to lead the department, how will you be different from Secretary Noem? [53:19] Senator, I think I've said this in a private conversation, too. [53:22] I love Senator Noem's family. [53:25] And I consider him friends. [53:27] But everybody has different leadership styles. [53:30] And throughout my businesses, when I would have to transfer one manager to the next, or [53:35] one executive to another area, and I'd bring in a different one, they all have different [53:39] management styles. [53:40] My management style is empowering people. [53:42] And as I said in my opening statement, I want to protect the homeland. [53:46] I want to bring peace of mind. [53:47] I want to bring confidence back to the agency. [53:49] I'm not going to be the smartest guy in any room I walk into. [53:52] But I know how to get talent, and I know how to bring those people together. [53:56] Let me interrupt you again. [53:57] I'm sorry, sir. [53:58] That's okay. [53:59] Because our time is limited. [54:00] But let's be really clear. [54:01] What Secretary Noem did was give the green light to lawless behavior. [54:04] Are you going to give the green light to lawless behavior? [54:08] I will operate within the parameters, and the policies, and the laws that you guys set [54:12] for me. [54:13] And the Constitution of the United States. [54:14] And I don't get it. [54:15] Of course the Constitution of the United States. [54:16] The Fourth Amendment, among other things. [54:17] Of course the Constitution of the United States. [54:18] I'll swear to uphold that when I get sworn in. [54:21] But to be very clear, I don't get to choose the laws that I enforce. [54:26] You guys pass the laws. [54:28] I enforce those laws. [54:29] Right. [54:30] And the reason why we haven't had... [54:31] But shooting a protester who is exercising his First Amendment speech and carrying a lawfully [54:37] licensed gun is not a lawful behavior. [54:40] Now let's move on to another issue. [54:43] Granite Staters pushed back hard against ICE's plan to build a detention center in Merrimack, [54:49] New Hampshire. [54:50] And despite poor communication from the department, eventually Secretary Noem canceled the plans [54:56] for this facility. [54:57] Senator, will you ensure that the Merrimack plan remains off the table, or will you consider [55:02] restarting it? [55:03] Ma'am, I haven't seen the facts behind it. [55:06] As I stated when we spoke in your office, I will work with you on this. [55:10] We want to be good partners in your state and in your community. [55:14] I don't know the strategic purpose of it. [55:16] I don't know what has happened. [55:17] So it's hard for me to state something that I haven't got briefed on. [55:21] But I have made this very clear to you in private and here, too. [55:24] I will work with the community leaders and make sure that we're delivering for the American [55:29] people what the president set out. [55:30] I appreciate that. [55:31] In follow-up conversations with my office, ICE refused to comment on opening new facilities [55:37] elsewhere in New Hampshire. [55:38] They've said they won't do it in Merrimack, New Hampshire. [55:40] But will you commit to me that ICE will not open any new facilities in New Hampshire or [55:45] elsewhere in the country without the support of the local community? [55:49] Ma'am, I will work with the local community and I'll work with you in your office. [55:55] I won't be able to speak to that until I understand the risk and the reason behind delivering the [56:01] mission that's set in front of us. [56:03] We've got to protect the homeland and we're going to do that. [56:06] But, obviously, we want to work with community leaders. [56:08] We want to be good partners. [56:09] And we're going to work in your state as hard to make sure we build relationships and work in that manner. [56:16] Well, look, I will be here for a second round of questions because I have a lot more. [56:21] But let me just point this out. [56:23] Americans want to secure their country. [56:26] I agree. [56:27] We all love this country. [56:28] We all know we need to be safe, secure, and we all want to be free together. [56:31] The people of New Hampshire will take into consideration a request by ICE and the federal [56:38] government to do its part. [56:41] But transparency and local control and respect of local people throughout New Hampshire and [56:49] throughout the country is an essential piece of our democracy. [56:52] And what I've been hearing from ICE and from other DHS folks is, well, the pushback's too [56:57] hard. [56:58] You either can make the case for these facilities and explain how you're going to support the [57:02] local community and deal with the fact that they'll lose property tax dollars, for instance, [57:07] or if you can't make the case, it shouldn't be built. [57:10] So I really would encourage the department and all of us to remember that this is a government [57:17] of buying for the people. [57:18] And if you can't make the case for the people, you shouldn't be doing it. [57:20] Thank you. [57:21] Senator Johnson. [57:27] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [57:28] This is Mark Wayne. [57:30] I'm going to use my time completely different than how I was going to when I walked into [57:36] this hearing. [57:37] I can't top what Senator Marino, the comments he made about how unconscionable it is that [57:45] we're not funding and we're not providing paychecks to those 260,000 men and women that [57:52] you will be soon leading. [57:58] Other than working with no labels, we don't serve on the same committees, have never gone on [58:03] the same committees as well, but I'm sure you're not in the same position. [58:08] We are going to be a little bit open. [58:10] We're going to be a little bit open. [58:11] We're going to have a lot of code out together. [58:13] And that's oftentimes how you get to know our colleagues. [58:15] So I don't know you as well as some of the other people on the dais here. [58:19] Certainly within conference, we've seen each other interact. [58:21] We share a couple of things in common. [58:22] I think we're both pretty passionate about our love for this country, about trying to fix the [58:29] enormous messes left behind by President Biden, Democrats. [58:34] I'm not going to say that I'm [58:37] going to say I'm going to say [58:40] that I'm going to say that I [58:43] wear emotions on our sleeves. [58:45] But I will say that I've been [58:47] here 15 years, I've been through [58:49] a lot of confirmation hearings, [58:51] I've listened to a lot of [58:52] nominees, I've heard a lot of [58:55] introductions. [58:56] If one of your first decisions [58:58] as a nominee was to pick the [59:00] person to introduce you, you [59:01] couldn't have done a better [59:02] job. [59:03] The introduction from Senator [59:05] Lankford was probably one of [59:07] the most important things. [59:09] I'm looking behind you at the [59:10] people who have come here to [59:11] support you, your former [59:13] colleagues in the house, [59:14] Chairman Smith, a former [59:15] Speaker of the house, Senator [59:17] Britt. [59:19] But I see Josh Gottheim there, [59:20] he's not a Republican member of [59:21] the house, he's a Democrat. [59:22] I've seen you interact with him [59:26] trying to get some permitting [59:27] reform. [59:28] Please briefly, because I want [59:31] you to tell another story here [59:32] yet, but just talk a little bit [59:33] about your relationship with [59:34] Josh and other members of the [59:36] house. [59:37] You know, Josh and I, we may [59:42] always agree on every issue, but [59:43] he's a friend. [59:47] And our relationship started [59:49] back in 2017 when he thought I [59:51] was a staff member running a [59:53] workout group, because I've [59:54] been running a bipartisan [59:56] workout group that started [59:57] actually with speaker Kevin [59:58] McCarthy and Jason Smith 13 [59:59] years ago. [1:00:00] And I still do that to this day. [1:00:02] When he came in in 17, Joe [1:00:03] Kennedy, who is also a friend [1:00:04] of mine, he approached him [1:00:06] when I was on the house floor [1:00:07] and asked him why is the [1:00:09] trainer in the gym on the house [1:00:11] voting. [1:00:12] And to which Joe Kennedy laughed [1:00:14] and said that he's a member [1:00:16] from Oklahoma. [1:00:17] And after that, we just, we [1:00:18] became friends. [1:00:20] In fact, our daughters are [1:00:21] writing a book together about [1:00:23] bipartisanship. [1:00:24] But when Josh asked me to join a [1:00:38] bipartisan group called no labels, [1:00:39] that's when we really started [1:00:40] seeing that there's a lot of [1:00:41] common ground that we can work [1:00:42] together. [1:00:43] Yeah, as I said in my opening [1:00:44] statement that we all make [1:00:45] decisions based on how we're [1:00:46] raised and in our life [1:00:47] experiences. [1:00:48] Josh and I was raised different [1:00:50] just like everybody on this [1:00:51] diocese raised different than [1:00:52] me. [1:00:53] And we've had different life [1:00:54] experiences. [1:00:55] But we all believe in that [1:00:57] flag right there behind you. [1:00:59] And what I say is, as long as [1:01:00] you love that flag as much as I [1:01:02] do and you're willing to die [1:01:03] for that flag like I am, we [1:01:05] can work together. [1:01:07] We can set the differences [1:01:09] aside and we can work together. [1:01:12] And Josh represents that too. [1:01:15] Just for him being here, you [1:01:17] guys know, he's got a lot of [1:01:20] primary in New Jersey. [1:01:23] He's not a senator, has six [1:01:25] years. [1:01:26] He has, he's up every two years [1:01:28] and he's here. [1:01:29] That's a friend that says, hey, [1:01:32] my political differences are [1:01:34] beside I still like you. [1:01:36] I cannot tell you how many [1:01:37] members on the Democrat Party [1:01:39] which I love and respect and [1:01:40] I understand the politics have [1:01:41] came up to me since this [1:01:42] nomination say, hey, I love [1:01:44] you, but, but I'm running for [1:01:46] this office, but I'm running [1:01:47] for this office, but I'm up [1:01:49] for reelection. [1:01:50] He killed in my state. [1:01:51] He killed in my state. [1:01:52] In most cases I would support [1:01:53] you. [1:01:54] But, but. [1:01:55] And it drives me crazy, but when [1:01:58] you see a real friend like [1:01:59] that, run through fire for the [1:02:00] guy. [1:02:02] So again, this is a [1:02:03] nomination hearing. [1:02:04] And from my standpoint when [1:02:05] you're trying to select [1:02:06] somebody to, to run an [1:02:07] operation, you want somebody [1:02:08] with integrity. [1:02:09] Somebody with that passion [1:02:11] toward the mission, keeping [1:02:12] this, this nation safe. [1:02:13] This, this, you know, having [1:02:14] this love for this country. [1:02:15] It's also, I think, incredibly [1:02:16] important that when you're [1:02:17] serving the administration, [1:02:18] you have a good relationship [1:02:19] with the president. [1:02:20] It doesn't work so well. [1:02:21] I know you've got a good [1:02:22] relationship with the [1:02:23] president. [1:02:24] And you told me a story and I [1:02:25] want you to repeat that [1:02:27] story of your son who was [1:02:29] grievously injured and a [1:02:30] visit that the president [1:02:31] made to that hospital. [1:02:32] I want you to tell the story. [1:02:33] Because I think it's important [1:02:34] that people understand why you [1:02:35] are a lawyer to president [1:02:36] Trump. [1:02:37] I'd like them to hear a [1:02:39] different side of president [1:02:40] Trump as well. [1:02:41] But I think also that will [1:02:42] serve you well as his [1:02:43] secretary of Homeland [1:02:45] Security. [1:02:46] But just tell that story. [1:02:47] Ron, I'm going to try to [1:02:48] get through it without [1:02:49] crying then. [1:02:50] It's not about president [1:02:51] Trump. [1:02:52] It's about my son. [1:02:53] So my son was a really [1:02:54] world-class athlete. [1:02:55] He was a really [1:02:56] world-class athlete. [1:02:57] He was a really [1:03:06] athlete. [1:03:07] He was a really [1:03:08] world-class athlete. [1:03:11] And January 17th of 2020, [1:03:13] which, mind you, was an [1:03:14] election year. [1:03:15] He had a really serious [1:03:17] brain injury. [1:03:18] Woke up 26 hours later and [1:03:19] he was a different kid. [1:03:20] We almost lost him for 26 [1:03:23] hours. [1:03:24] He had an extremely low [1:03:25] pulse. [1:03:26] There was a time that they [1:03:28] thought that they lost his [1:03:29] pulse altogether. [1:03:30] And when he woke up, he was [1:03:31] just different. [1:03:32] I mean, here he had a [1:03:33] world-class athlete that [1:03:34] wrestled him. [1:03:35] And when he woke up, he [1:03:37] was just different. [1:03:38] I mean, here he had a [1:03:39] world-class athlete that [1:03:41] wrestled all over the world [1:03:42] since he was 12 years old. [1:03:43] And he couldn't touch his [1:03:44] nose. [1:03:45] He couldn't walk without [1:03:46] shuffling his feet. [1:03:47] He had short-term memory [1:03:48] loss. [1:03:49] He couldn't control his [1:03:50] muscles. [1:03:51] Couldn't add 5 plus 3. [1:03:52] He was in high school at [1:03:53] that time. [1:03:54] Had to learn how to read, [1:03:55] walk, everything. [1:03:56] And the president found [1:03:57] out about it and he gave me [1:03:58] a call immediately. [1:03:59] And one thing the president [1:04:00] joked about was, like, he [1:04:01] said, he said, let me get [1:04:02] this straight. [1:04:04] He doesn't know who you and [1:04:05] Christy are, but he knew [1:04:06] who I was, because the [1:04:07] only question he got right [1:04:08] is who the president was. [1:04:09] And he said, Trump, with his [1:04:10] cocky grin on his face. [1:04:12] But the president didn't [1:04:13] understand the severity of [1:04:14] it, but he heard it in my [1:04:15] voice and immediately he [1:04:16] went to work. [1:04:17] I told him we had to get to [1:04:18] Bakersfield, California to [1:04:19] the center for neural [1:04:20] skills, which is one of the [1:04:21] best neural rehabilitation [1:04:23] places in the world. [1:04:25] And the president offered to [1:04:26] send his plane, his [1:04:27] personal plane. [1:04:28] The president of the United [1:04:29] States. [1:04:30] And I said, sir, we can't [1:04:31] fly. [1:04:32] We've got to drive. [1:04:33] We get there and he called [1:04:35] almost every day for two [1:04:36] weeks checking on Jim. [1:04:37] And then he says, I'm going [1:04:38] to come see him. [1:04:39] And now this is the middle of [1:04:40] the election. [1:04:41] This is Bakersfield, [1:04:42] California. [1:04:43] Really not an area he's got [1:04:44] to go campaign. [1:04:45] And he took the time to come [1:04:46] up there and see Jim. [1:04:48] And the center told us that [1:04:51] the short-term memory loss [1:04:52] would something would trigger [1:04:53] it. [1:04:54] Some big event would [1:04:55] eventually trigger where he [1:04:56] would start retaining stuff. [1:04:57] Until then he was still [1:04:58] having issues. [1:04:59] And the president arrived. [1:05:02] And of course there was [1:05:03] cameras and everybody around. [1:05:04] And of course no other [1:05:05] media ever talked about it. [1:05:08] Which was funny because the [1:05:09] president called him on stage [1:05:10] and talked to him. [1:05:11] And then we went to the back [1:05:12] and the president didn't [1:05:13] talk to me. [1:05:14] He didn't know I was in the [1:05:15] room. [1:05:16] He didn't care if I was in the [1:05:17] room. [1:05:18] Here's a guy that's been over [1:05:19] in his ties about as long as [1:05:20] my son because my son, it [1:05:21] stunted his growth and so he's [1:05:22] five foot three the rest of [1:05:23] his life. [1:05:24] And his team came to him [1:05:25] twice and said, sir, we've [1:05:26] got to go. [1:05:27] We've got to go. [1:05:28] And on the third time they [1:05:29] came over to him he looked [1:05:30] at him and he says, hey, I [1:05:31] guarantee you that plane [1:05:32] won't leave without me. [1:05:33] And for the next 15 minutes [1:05:34] he did nothing but love on my [1:05:36] son. [1:05:37] That one incident jogged his [1:05:48] memory. [1:05:49] And from then on he started [1:05:51] retaining things. [1:05:52] And Jim's attitude went from [1:05:53] this, you know, we're going [1:05:54] to get through it to this. [1:05:55] I'm going to get through it. [1:05:56] And every week, if not most [1:05:57] days, the president would [1:05:58] call and ask how he could [1:06:00] help. [1:06:01] Ask how's his buddy doing. [1:06:02] How's Jim doing. [1:06:03] And every week, if not most [1:06:04] days, the president would [1:06:05] call and ask how he could [1:06:06] help. [1:06:07] Ask how's his buddy doing. [1:06:08] He didn't do it for [1:06:10] publicity. [1:06:12] He didn't do it for any show. [1:06:14] He was running one of the [1:06:15] toughest elections he had [1:06:16] been in. [1:06:17] And the guy was still that [1:06:18] concerned about my son. [1:06:20] When we got released for a [1:06:21] little bit, we had to go [1:06:22] back. [1:06:23] When we got released a little [1:06:24] bit, the president said, [1:06:25] come to Mar-a-Lago and see [1:06:26] me. [1:06:28] We go down there and it was [1:06:29] amazing. [1:06:30] And when we're leaving, dang [1:06:31] it. [1:06:32] I hate getting emotional. [1:06:37] See, if I talk about my kids, [1:06:38] I get emotional. [1:06:39] Other than that, you can't [1:06:40] make me cry. [1:06:41] But my kids. [1:06:42] That's actually a good thing. [1:06:43] Yeah. [1:06:44] So anyways, he grabbed my son [1:06:45] and he said, he said, do you [1:06:46] know why I love your dad? [1:06:47] Do you know why I love your [1:06:48] dad? [1:06:49] Chrissy tells the story better [1:06:50] than I do. [1:06:51] And he goes, no, sir. [1:06:52] He goes, because he loves you. [1:06:53] Because of you. [1:06:54] Because of you. [1:06:56] Man. [1:06:57] That's. [1:06:58] He didn't do it for any other [1:06:59] reason. [1:07:00] I mean, here's the president [1:07:01] of the United States and he [1:07:02] did it just because he cared. [1:07:03] And so when you want to say [1:07:04] why he's a friend. [1:07:05] Yeah. [1:07:06] We were acquaintances before [1:07:07] that. [1:07:08] We've been friends ever since. [1:07:09] The American people need [1:07:10] to hear that. [1:07:11] Thank you. [1:07:12] Thank you. [1:07:13] Senator Blumenthal. [1:07:14] Thanks, Mr. Chairman. [1:07:15] Welcome, Senator Mullen. [1:07:18] Thank you for being here [1:07:21] today. [1:07:22] And thank you to your family [1:07:23] for your service and theirs. [1:07:25] I hope that you are [1:07:28] here. [1:07:29] I hope that you will be as [1:07:33] emotional about the children [1:07:36] who are presently detained at [1:07:39] Delhi and other camps in the [1:07:42] United States of America, [1:07:44] where they have been subjected [1:07:46] to conditions that would [1:07:48] outrage and have angered many [1:07:51] Americans. [1:07:52] We're here because of a lawless [1:07:56] and reckless agency that has [1:07:59] broken into homes without [1:08:01] judicial approval, shot United [1:08:03] States citizens, detained them [1:08:06] without any cause, and sometimes [1:08:10] killed them. [1:08:11] And I am looking for real [1:08:14] substantive reform in that [1:08:16] agency, as you and I have [1:08:17] discussed when you came to [1:08:18] talk to me. [1:08:20] A break with the past. [1:08:23] With former Secretary Noem and [1:08:25] with the White House. [1:08:27] Steve Miller and others who have [1:08:30] used Kristi Noem in effect as a [1:08:34] puppet implement lawless policy. [1:08:37] I welcome that you have stated you [1:08:41] regret your statement after the [1:08:42] killing of Alex Preddy. [1:08:44] You said on Fox News, quote, [1:08:46] unfortunately an individual, a [1:08:47] deranged individual that came to [1:08:48] cause max damage with a loaded [1:08:49] pistol with an extra mag that [1:08:51] was completely loaded and shot [1:08:53] and killed. [1:08:54] And you regret that statement, do [1:08:56] you not? [1:08:57] I've already said that, sir, [1:08:58] yes. [1:08:59] And what about what you said [1:09:01] about Renee Good after she was [1:09:02] shot and killed? [1:09:04] You appeared on CNN and you [1:09:05] were asked whether you believe [1:09:06] the shooting was justified and [1:09:09] you replied, quote, absolutely. [1:09:10] Do you regret that statement as [1:09:11] well? [1:09:12] Senator, it's very clear that an [1:09:13] officer had to make a split [1:09:14] decision in that case as the [1:09:15] car was running towards him and [1:09:16] did strike him. [1:09:17] At that point, that car becomes a [1:09:21] lethal weapon. [1:09:22] And an officer that was, there [1:09:23] was another officer obviously [1:09:24] giving her verbal commands. [1:09:25] So are you saying, and I [1:09:27] apologize for interrupting you, [1:09:28] but you're saying you do not [1:09:29] regret that statement. [1:09:30] I'm saying that the officer [1:09:31] was not a threat. [1:09:32] You're saying you do not regret [1:09:33] that statement. [1:09:34] You're saying you do not regret [1:09:35] that statement. [1:09:36] And you replied, quote, [1:09:37] absolutely. [1:09:38] Do you regret that statement as [1:09:39] well? [1:09:40] Senator, it's very clear that an [1:09:42] officer had to make a split [1:09:43] decision in that case as the [1:09:44] car was running towards him and [1:09:45] did strike him. [1:09:46] At that point, that car becomes a [1:09:47] lethal weapon. [1:09:48] I don't think the [1:09:49] investigation is going on. [1:09:50] But what we've seen... [1:09:51] There is no investigation, [1:09:52] Senator. [1:09:53] In fact, that was my next [1:09:54] question to you. [1:09:55] Senator, I... [1:09:56] Don't you think there should [1:09:57] be an investigation? [1:09:58] My understanding is that [1:09:59] there is. [1:10:00] I will find out once, if I'm [1:10:02] able to get confirmed. [1:10:03] But there's... [1:10:04] Well, in fact, the [1:10:05] Department of Homeland [1:10:06] Security and the Trump [1:10:07] Administration has blocked [1:10:09] state and local [1:10:12] investigation of the killing [1:10:13] of Renee Good. [1:10:14] And I hope that you will [1:10:16] permit that statement. [1:10:18] That investigation will [1:10:19] permit that investigation to [1:10:20] go forward. [1:10:21] Senator, state and local [1:10:22] investigation doesn't [1:10:24] investigate federal. [1:10:25] FBI does that through DOJ. [1:10:27] And I believe the... [1:10:28] I believe the FBI is looking [1:10:29] at this case. [1:10:30] And I do want to say something [1:10:31] to you. [1:10:32] You said about the terrible [1:10:33] conditions that this [1:10:34] administration is putting in [1:10:35] kids. [1:10:36] But what you left out is that [1:10:37] they've actually recovered over [1:10:39] 160,000 kids that were [1:10:41] trafficked or lost during the [1:10:42] Biden administration. [1:10:43] What is inhumane is the 12 to [1:10:45] 13,000 individuals coming [1:10:46] across the border every single [1:10:47] day and we're not having [1:10:49] tracked the kids. [1:10:50] At one time, the number is up [1:10:51] to 385,000. [1:10:52] That's sad. [1:10:53] Senator Mullen. [1:10:54] Because you said that you were [1:10:55] going to be, and I'm quoting you, [1:10:56] blunt and direct and to the point. [1:10:58] So I regret that you don't [1:11:00] retract that statement about [1:11:02] Renee Good. [1:11:03] But I want to ask you about a [1:11:04] statement that was made [1:11:06] regarding the pretty killing [1:11:08] by Steve Miller in the White [1:11:10] House. [1:11:11] He said, quote, that pretty was a [1:11:28] domestic terrorist who, quote, [1:11:30] tried to assassinate federal law [1:11:31] enforcement. [1:11:32] Don't you think it was [1:11:33] irresponsible and reckless for [1:11:34] Stephen Miller to post that [1:11:36] claim on X without any evidence [1:11:38] just as you have retracted your [1:11:40] statement? [1:11:41] Senator, I believe that [1:11:42] question is better asked to [1:11:43] Stephen Miller, not myself. [1:11:45] I can't speak for him. [1:11:46] Well, Stephen Miller also said, [1:11:49] again, on Fox News, quote, [1:11:52] under President Trump's [1:11:53] leadership, we are looking to [1:11:54] set a goal of a minimum of [1:11:56] 3,000 arrests for ICE every [1:11:58] day. [1:11:59] If you're confirmed, are you [1:12:00] going to be directing ICE to [1:12:02] arrest 3,000 people a day? [1:12:04] Sir, once again, can't speak [1:12:07] for Stephen Miller, but I can [1:12:09] say the president has tapped [1:12:11] me to be the secretary of [1:12:13] homeland and I will lead that [1:12:14] department. [1:12:15] And I'll lead it. [1:12:16] So will you continue that [1:12:18] arrest quota of 3,000 people [1:12:19] a day? [1:12:20] No quota has been set for me, [1:12:21] sir. [1:12:22] Well, in effect, it's a [1:12:23] quota if the White House [1:12:24] directs the DHS secretary to [1:12:26] arrest 3,000 people a day. [1:12:28] The president of the United [1:12:29] States sets the policies. [1:12:30] And I'll be working with the [1:12:31] president. [1:12:32] If you have a question for [1:12:33] Stephen Miller, please ask him. [1:12:34] Well, I really regret that [1:12:35] you are going to stick to those [1:12:36] same policies and practices and [1:12:39] condone the statements of the [1:12:41] White House that are so [1:12:42] demeaning to someone who was a [1:12:44] victim of lawlessness and [1:12:46] recklessness by an ICE [1:12:47] officer. [1:12:48] Senator, I didn't say that. [1:12:50] Well, let me ask you then a [1:12:51] different question. [1:12:52] ICE has been breaking into [1:12:54] people's homes without any [1:12:55] judicial warrant. [1:12:57] The sanctity of our homes is [1:13:00] absolutely critical. [1:13:01] I think you'd agree with that [1:13:02] point. [1:13:04] And it is the law that a [1:13:06] judicial warrant is required to [1:13:08] forcibly enter someone's home. [1:13:10] Kristi Noem acknowledged in her [1:13:13] testimony in response to my [1:13:14] questions that at least 28 [1:13:16] break-ins have occurred. [1:13:17] My ranking member leadership on [1:13:19] the subcommittee of the [1:13:21] subcommittee of the [1:13:24] permanent investigation has [1:13:25] produced a report that shows [1:13:27] probably many more such break-ins [1:13:28] have occurred. [1:13:30] The result of a memo last May [1:13:33] from the acting director, Todd [1:13:36] Lyons, and it's behind me now, [1:13:40] that instructed ICE agents to [1:13:41] break into homes. [1:13:42] I understand that during your [1:13:44] staff interview last week, you [1:13:45] said that there was an [1:13:46] investigation. [1:13:47] You said that there was an [1:13:48] investigation. [1:13:49] You said that there was an [1:13:50] investigation. [1:13:51] You said that there was an [1:13:52] investigation. [1:13:54] You said that there was an [1:13:55] investigation. [1:13:56] You said that there would be no [1:13:58] more such break-ins to people's [1:13:59] homes. [1:14:01] Without a judicial warrant. [1:14:02] If confirmed, will you commit [1:14:03] to me, and the chair and [1:14:04] member, ranking member of this [1:14:05] committee, and the American [1:14:07] people, that ICE will no longer [1:14:09] instruct agents to break into [1:14:11] people's homes without a [1:14:12] judicial warrant. [1:14:13] Sir, you're using the word [1:14:14] break-in to people's houses [1:14:15] very loosely. [1:14:16] However, I have made it very [1:14:17] clear to the staff that I [1:14:18] have made it very clear to the [1:14:19] staff. [1:14:20] I have made it very clear to the [1:14:21] and I think when you and I spoke [1:14:24] that a judicial warrant will be [1:14:25] used to go into houses and a [1:14:27] place of businesses unless we're [1:14:28] pursuing someone that enters in [1:14:29] that place. [1:14:30] I have not mixed words with that [1:14:31] and I haven't changed my [1:14:32] opinion about that. [1:14:33] A whistleblower testified to [1:14:35] our hearing that in fact ICE [1:14:36] agents have been instructed as [1:14:37] part of their training. [1:14:38] That's part of their training. [1:14:39] That's part of their [1:14:40] training. [1:14:41] That's part of their [1:14:42] training. [1:14:43] That's part of their [1:14:44] training. [1:14:45] That's part of their [1:14:46] training. [1:14:48] That's part of their [1:14:49] training. [1:14:50] Forcibly enter. [1:14:51] I know you don't like the word [1:14:52] break-in but forcibly enter is [1:14:53] breaking into somebody's home [1:14:55] bashing down the door terrorizing [1:14:56] children. [1:14:57] Instructed them to adopt this [1:14:58] policy. [1:14:59] Will you commit that no longer [1:15:01] will ICE agents or CBP agents [1:15:05] be instructed to forcibly enter [1:15:07] people's homes without a [1:15:08] judicial warrant. [1:15:10] Sir, I've already answered [1:15:11] this question for you. [1:15:12] I said we will not enter a [1:15:13] home or a place of business [1:15:14] without a judicial warrant. [1:15:15] Sir, I've already answered [1:15:16] this question for you. [1:15:17] I said we will not enter a [1:15:18] home or a place of business [1:15:19] without a judicial warrant. [1:15:20] Unless we're pursuing the [1:15:22] individual that runs into a [1:15:23] place of business or a [1:15:24] house. [1:15:25] Senator Lanker. [1:15:26] Thank you. [1:15:27] Thank you. [1:15:28] Mark Wayne, right now is [1:15:29] FEMA currently funded? [1:15:30] No, sir. [1:15:31] Is CISA currently funded [1:15:34] dealing with cyber security? [1:15:35] No, sir. [1:15:38] How about TSA? [1:15:39] No, sir. [1:15:40] Secret service? [1:15:41] No, sir. [1:15:42] Coast Guard? [1:15:43] No, sir. [1:15:44] Customs and border [1:15:45] protection? [1:15:46] No, sir. [1:15:47] The weapons of mass [1:15:48] destruction office? [1:15:49] No, sir. [1:15:50] Customs and border [1:15:51] protection? [1:15:52] No, sir. [1:15:53] Customs professionals? [1:15:54] No, sir. [1:15:55] Customs professionals? [1:15:56] No, sir. [1:15:57] This is something we've got [1:15:58] to get resolved. [1:16:00] We can complain all we want [1:16:01] to about where things are, but [1:16:05] we have an argument and a [1:16:06] disagreement on policy areas [1:16:07] and a quarter million federal [1:16:09] employees and their families [1:16:10] are the ones that are [1:16:11] suffering because of our [1:16:12] argument. [1:16:13] There's a way to solve this. [1:16:16] We've talked about it a lot. [1:16:17] We should just stay here until [1:16:18] we're done. [1:16:19] Just keep arguing it out until [1:16:20] we've actually solved the [1:16:21] problem. [1:16:22] But instead, we broke last [1:16:23] weekend. [1:16:26] Everybody flew home right past [1:16:28] the TSA agents that are not [1:16:29] getting paid while we flew [1:16:30] home. [1:16:31] Why didn't we stay? [1:16:32] To be able to try to get [1:16:33] things resolved. [1:16:37] That's my encouragement. [1:16:38] Has been my encouragement [1:16:39] all along. [1:16:41] We shouldn't walk away from a [1:16:42] disagreement when there are [1:16:43] families all over the [1:16:44] country that are the ones [1:16:45] suffering for it. [1:16:47] Unfortunately, the state of [1:16:48] Oklahoma is pretty [1:16:49] familiar with natural [1:16:50] disasters, as you know [1:16:52] well. [1:16:53] you and I have been in [1:16:54] multiple different natural [1:16:55] disaster scenes. [1:16:56] There's a lot of work that's [1:16:57] happened at the border so [1:16:58] far. [1:16:59] The border has moved from [1:17:00] 12,000 people a day [1:17:02] illegally crossing the border [1:17:03] and being released into the [1:17:04] country, unvetted, unchecked, [1:17:05] to now a handful of people [1:17:06] even attempt to cross our [1:17:07] southern border and those [1:17:08] that are arrested and [1:17:09] detained. [1:17:10] As is the law. [1:17:11] FEMA is still an undone [1:17:12] project. [1:17:13] And I'm not blaming that on [1:17:14] Christy. [1:17:15] There's a lot to get done on [1:17:16] it. [1:17:19] But you're going to walk in with [1:17:20] a lot to get done on it. [1:17:22] You're going to walk in with [1:17:23] a project going on with [1:17:25] FEMA right now. [1:17:26] I'd love to get your ideas [1:17:27] and your thoughts. [1:17:28] You're very familiar with [1:17:29] this area and have great [1:17:30] experience on it. [1:17:31] What are your thoughts on how [1:17:32] to be able to get FEMA into [1:17:33] a better place so that [1:17:34] people aren't waiting [1:17:35] forever for a response? [1:17:36] FEMA was never designed to [1:17:38] be the first responder. [1:17:40] That's the states. [1:17:41] FEMA was designed to be the [1:17:42] assistance to the states [1:17:43] when the disaster reaches [1:17:44] certain levels. [1:17:45] Which we need to discuss [1:17:46] those too because I think [1:17:47] some of the levels are [1:17:48] unrealistic, especially [1:17:49] when the disaster reaches [1:17:50] certain levels. [1:17:51] Senator Hassan and I have [1:17:52] talked about this, that [1:17:53] sometimes in rural areas [1:17:54] they're not able to meet [1:17:56] those thresholds. [1:17:58] But working with the state, [1:18:00] allowing the state to have [1:18:01] their emergency response. [1:18:02] FEMA is simply helping [1:18:03] write checks and assuring [1:18:04] that they have the [1:18:05] capability and the manpower [1:18:06] if need be. [1:18:07] But for the FEMA to walk in [1:18:09] like FBI walking on a crime [1:18:12] scene and taking over, no one's [1:18:14] going to care more about their [1:18:15] backyard than the people that [1:18:16] live there in that state. [1:18:18] And I think there's a lot of [1:18:19] good ideas. [1:18:20] I've heard at meeting with so [1:18:21] many of you there were so [1:18:22] many great ideas on how to [1:18:24] make FEMA work better. [1:18:25] It's got a great mission. [1:18:26] And I think people at FEMA [1:18:27] want to do their job. [1:18:28] But we can be more [1:18:29] effective and be more [1:18:30] effective and be more [1:18:31] effective and be more [1:18:32] effective and be more [1:18:33] effective and be more [1:18:34] effective. [1:18:35] And speed it up. [1:18:36] Taking years to get [1:18:37] reimbursed is not acceptable. [1:18:38] Taking honestly months to [1:18:40] take to get reimbursed is not [1:18:42] acceptable. [1:18:43] These small [1:18:44] municipalities, they can't [1:18:45] afford it. [1:18:46] They don't have that tax [1:18:47] base to do it. [1:18:48] And they're already going [1:18:49] through a struggling time [1:18:50] which means they're [1:18:51] probably losing tax revenue [1:18:52] especially if it hits their [1:18:53] town. [1:18:54] So we've got a lot of work [1:18:55] there. [1:18:56] I do believe that the [1:18:57] definition of insanity is [1:18:58] not acceptable. [1:18:59] And they're already going [1:19:00] through a struggling time [1:19:01] which means they're [1:19:02] probably losing tax revenue [1:19:03] especially if it hits their [1:19:04] town. [1:19:05] The definition of insanity is [1:19:06] doing the same thing over [1:19:07] and over again expecting [1:19:08] different results. [1:19:09] That means we're going to [1:19:10] look at each one of the 22 [1:19:12] agencies that fall underneath [1:19:13] DHS and say how can we [1:19:14] deliver the mission better [1:19:15] for the American people. [1:19:16] That's great. [1:19:17] That would be a huge help [1:19:18] to everybody. [1:19:19] Talking about the length of [1:19:20] time it takes to get a [1:19:21] response. [1:19:22] You've been a part of as I [1:19:23] have on the nonprofit [1:19:24] security grants that are [1:19:26] out there. [1:19:27] We have some locations that [1:19:28] are higher risk than [1:19:29] others. [1:19:30] Synagogues and temples have [1:19:31] been one of those very [1:19:32] high risk locations that are [1:19:33] out there. [1:19:34] Last week in Michigan we had [1:19:37] another situation where a [1:19:39] absolute terrorist drove a [1:19:40] vehicle packed with [1:19:41] explosives into a Jewish [1:19:42] daycare intending to kill as [1:19:43] many Jewish children as he [1:19:44] possibly could. [1:19:45] That was his intent was to be [1:19:46] able to do that. [1:19:47] That location happened to be [1:19:48] one of the locations where [1:19:49] there's also been this [1:19:50] nonprofit security grant to [1:19:51] help harden that facility. [1:19:52] We have multiple challenges here. [1:19:54] One of them is when the [1:19:55] decision is made they make a [1:19:57] request to go through the [1:19:58] paperwork get approval to be [1:20:00] one of those locations that [1:20:02] we say hey we need to harden [1:20:03] this location. [1:20:04] Once the approval is done it [1:20:06] may take months to over a [1:20:07] year just for the dollars to [1:20:08] actually come on it because [1:20:09] there's more bureaucratic [1:20:10] hoops to go through. [1:20:11] So as you're dealing with [1:20:13] things like contracts that are [1:20:14] out there and the way decisions [1:20:15] are made or FEMA that's one of [1:20:16] the areas I would encourage you [1:20:17] to take a look at and I know [1:20:18] you're very passionate about. [1:20:19] How do you fix the issue where [1:20:20] approval has been done and [1:20:21] everyone's saying great can we [1:20:22] get to work and the federal [1:20:23] government says no you can't [1:20:24] actually get to work. [1:20:25] You got to wait some more before [1:20:27] the actual work can actually begun [1:20:29] to be do that. [1:20:30] How does that get fixed? [1:20:31] We got to streamline the [1:20:32] process and cut out the [1:20:34] redundancies. [1:20:35] The amount of paperwork [1:20:36] that senator from Michigan and [1:20:37] I had a long conversation [1:20:38] about this. [1:20:39] The amount of paperwork to [1:20:40] just once you're approved to [1:20:41] get the funds to get the [1:20:42] funding done and the way [1:20:43] decisions are made or FEMA. [1:20:44] That's one of the areas I [1:20:45] would encourage you to take [1:20:46] a look at and I know you're [1:20:47] very passionate about. [1:20:48] How do you fix the issue [1:20:49] where approval has been done [1:20:50] and everyone's saying great [1:20:51] can we get to work and the [1:20:52] federal government says no you [1:20:53] can't actually get to work. [1:20:54] You're approved to get the [1:20:55] funding flowing and then the [1:20:56] paperwork that's followed up [1:20:57] on it is way too [1:20:59] encumbered. [1:21:00] And there's a better way to do [1:21:02] this. [1:21:03] Some of these policies I have to [1:21:05] work with you guys on. [1:21:06] Some of these grants were [1:21:07] written with checks and [1:21:08] balances which we all got to [1:21:09] be very cautious on how we [1:21:12] spend the taxpayer dollars. [1:21:13] Things that I can change. [1:21:15] Things that I can cut out on [1:21:16] the redundancy part of it I [1:21:18] will work with. [1:21:19] Things that as a senator and I [1:21:20] talked about. [1:21:21] Things that it might be [1:21:23] take you to make changes on. [1:21:25] We'll bring it to your [1:21:26] attention. [1:21:27] I will work with you. [1:21:28] And we'll see we'll see how [1:21:30] we can make it better. [1:21:31] Great. [1:21:33] As you know Oklahoma's been [1:21:34] one of the leaders in [1:21:35] counter drone. [1:21:36] This is a big issue. [1:21:37] Yes. [1:21:38] For us as a country. [1:21:39] Every high school football [1:21:40] game every college football [1:21:41] game every gathering of [1:21:42] people for every festival and [1:21:43] gathering across the country [1:21:44] has now become a risk [1:21:45] location for drones and [1:21:46] drone mitigation. [1:21:47] FBI can't be everywhere. [1:21:48] We don't want them to be [1:21:49] everywhere. [1:21:50] We do have to figure out [1:21:51] some process. [1:21:52] So as you begin to think [1:21:53] about this issue it's a [1:21:54] tough one to deal with but [1:21:55] it's a basic national [1:21:56] security issue as well. [1:21:57] It's going to land on your [1:21:58] desk pretty quickly. [1:21:59] Especially with the [1:22:00] Olympics coming. [1:22:01] With FIFA coming. [1:22:02] All those things that are [1:22:03] happening. [1:22:04] We've got to be able to [1:22:05] figure out how to do [1:22:06] counter drone and to be [1:22:07] able to not just [1:22:08] identify there it is but [1:22:09] also mitigate the risk. [1:22:10] What are your initial [1:22:11] thoughts? [1:22:12] Well, I have a question [1:22:13] I'd love to speak about [1:22:14] that. [1:22:15] With funding talking to some [1:22:16] of our agency heads. [1:22:17] With a lack of funding [1:22:18] right now we have people [1:22:19] quitting. [1:22:20] Because they've got to go [1:22:21] to work. [1:22:22] Meeting these demands are [1:22:23] even going to be tougher. [1:22:24] So we just talk about [1:22:25] FIFA for instance. [1:22:26] And then you talk about [1:22:27] 2028 which is going to be [1:22:28] the busiest year of DHS in [1:22:29] history. [1:22:30] Because we have the [1:22:31] Olympics and we have the [1:22:32] presidential election [1:22:33] going on. [1:22:34] It will take four months [1:22:36] once funding is going to [1:22:37] take four months. [1:22:38] Once funding is going to [1:22:39] be the busiest year of [1:22:40] DHS. [1:22:41] It will take four months [1:22:43] once funding comes in to [1:22:44] start replacing those that [1:22:45] we've lost for training [1:22:46] before and get them out in [1:22:47] the field. [1:22:48] We don't have four months [1:22:49] with FIFA. [1:22:50] But that's what and how do [1:22:51] we expect these people to [1:22:52] stay on the job and work? [1:22:53] We're losing [1:22:54] institutional knowledge. [1:22:55] We're losing people we've [1:22:56] already trained. [1:22:57] And it's going to be [1:22:58] difficult to deliver this [1:22:59] mission. [1:23:00] The way that I understand [1:23:01] is we're behind in UAS [1:23:02] and we're behind in FIFA [1:23:04] right now on actually [1:23:06] delivering the mission [1:23:07] that we have to. [1:23:08] We're also behind in [1:23:09] reimbursing local [1:23:10] communities that's also [1:23:12] working with us. [1:23:13] That's going to have to [1:23:14] take a tremendous amount [1:23:16] of focus and partnership. [1:23:19] And we like I said in my [1:23:21] opening statement failure is [1:23:22] not an option. [1:23:23] So we've got to deliver. [1:23:24] But sometimes when you have [1:23:25] to rush like this, [1:23:26] especially trying to get [1:23:27] people on the job because [1:23:28] we just quit funding them [1:23:29] for the third time in less [1:23:30] than a year and we expect [1:23:31] these people to keep [1:23:32] working. [1:23:33] It puts the mission at risk. [1:23:36] And we have a lot of work to [1:23:37] do here. [1:23:38] Yeah. [1:23:39] Thanks for stepping up. [1:23:40] Christy, thank you. [1:23:41] It's a strain on the family [1:23:42] and everything else right [1:23:43] now. [1:23:44] So thanks y'all for stepping [1:23:45] into this role. [1:23:46] Look forward to supporting [1:23:47] your nomination. [1:23:48] Thank you. [1:23:49] Senator Kim. [1:23:50] Thank you chairman. [1:23:51] Senator Mullin, thanks for [1:23:55] coming out here. [1:23:56] I wanted to just start. [1:23:57] Secretary Noem said in a [1:23:59] cabinet meeting about almost [1:24:00] exactly a year ago today that [1:24:02] we should be eliminating [1:24:03] FEMA. [1:24:04] Can you commit to us here that [1:24:05] you don't support that [1:24:06] approach and you wouldn't [1:24:07] attempt to eliminate FEMA? [1:24:08] As I said, I think it [1:24:09] needs to be restructured and [1:24:10] not eliminated. [1:24:11] I think there is going to [1:24:12] be bipartisan support for [1:24:14] reforms. [1:24:15] I think we all understand [1:24:16] that. [1:24:17] We certainly saw a lot of [1:24:18] problems when it came to [1:24:19] Superstorm Sandy. [1:24:20] I asked secretary noem to [1:24:21] work with us. [1:24:22] And we all understand that [1:24:23] and we certainly saw a lot [1:24:24] of problems when it came to [1:24:25] Superstorm Sandy. [1:24:26] I asked secretary noem to [1:24:27] work with us. [1:24:28] Especially as they were [1:24:29] going about their FEMA [1:24:30] review council. [1:24:31] I'll be honest with you. [1:24:32] That never materialized. [1:24:33] We did not see the kind of [1:24:35] engagement here that we're [1:24:36] ready to have. [1:24:37] We have a bipartisan group [1:24:38] of senators that want to [1:24:40] come up with reforms. [1:24:41] Is that something you can [1:24:42] commit to working with us [1:24:43] on? [1:24:44] Senator, I think all of us [1:24:46] that's been either in the [1:24:47] House or in the Senate [1:24:48] always complain about the [1:24:50] outreach of agencies. [1:24:52] I will make a commitment to [1:24:54] you that I'm going to have [1:24:55] the best. [1:24:56] We're going to take it. [1:24:57] It's going to take a couple [1:24:58] months to stand it up. [1:24:59] But we're going to have a [1:25:00] alleged affairs shop that [1:25:01] you're going to know who the [1:25:02] person is. [1:25:03] We're going to work with you. [1:25:04] But most importantly, I [1:25:05] think everybody on this [1:25:06] dais has my personal cell [1:25:08] phone. [1:25:09] That cell phone isn't going [1:25:10] to change. [1:25:11] And if you if you call me, [1:25:12] you're going to get a [1:25:13] response. [1:25:14] If you text me, we're going [1:25:15] to get a response. [1:25:16] So when we're when we have [1:25:17] this FEMA review council [1:25:18] report finally come out. [1:25:19] Is that something you'll [1:25:20] come to us first and engage [1:25:21] with us on rather than [1:25:22] just implementing straight [1:25:23] out from the executive branch [1:25:25] on your own. [1:25:26] Senator, I'm pretty sure [1:25:27] that you guys set the [1:25:29] policies and the mission for [1:25:30] FEMA. [1:25:31] So for any serious changes, it [1:25:32] may take actually policy [1:25:34] changes. [1:25:35] And I will be in your office [1:25:36] talking to you about it. [1:25:37] I appreciate that. [1:25:38] But we've seen a lot of [1:25:39] significant problems happen. [1:25:40] For instance, we saw about [1:25:41] 2,400 staff cuts at FEMA. [1:25:42] And again, we're not talking [1:25:43] about the reforms, but we're [1:25:44] talking about those that are [1:25:45] trying to respond to these [1:25:46] disasters every single day. [1:25:47] So I wanted to ask if you're [1:25:49] confirmed if you will stop [1:25:51] these dangerous staff cuts [1:25:52] that have reduced FEMA's [1:25:53] disaster readiness. [1:25:54] Senator, I'm not trying to [1:25:55] play politics, but what's [1:25:56] been the biggest disaster [1:25:57] is not funding them three [1:25:58] times in a year. [1:25:59] However, you know, some of [1:26:00] these agencies under the [1:26:02] current administration, [1:26:03] not some, all of them got [1:26:04] very bloated. [1:26:05] And I'm not trying to [1:26:06] play politics. [1:26:07] But what's been the [1:26:08] biggest disaster is not [1:26:09] funding them three times in [1:26:10] a year. [1:26:11] However, you know, some of [1:26:12] some of them got very [1:26:14] bloated with over, with [1:26:16] having too many employees. [1:26:17] You think there's still [1:26:18] too many staff at FEMA? [1:26:19] Senator, I can't answer [1:26:20] that. [1:26:21] When I get there, we'll be [1:26:22] adequately staffed to respond [1:26:24] to our nation's disasters. [1:26:26] But it's going to take some [1:26:27] time to get there because [1:26:28] like I said, people are [1:26:29] quitting today because [1:26:30] they're not getting paid for [1:26:31] the third time in a year. [1:26:33] And we can't allow that to [1:26:34] take place. [1:26:35] I agree. [1:26:36] And I hope that we can move [1:26:37] forward on that. [1:26:38] But one thing that has [1:26:39] demonstrated a lack of [1:26:40] priority by this [1:26:41] administration is the fact that [1:26:42] we've never actually had a [1:26:43] full nominee for FEMA. [1:26:45] So I just wanted to ask, do [1:26:46] you agree that we need an [1:26:47] actual nominee to be a full [1:26:49] FEMA administrator that has [1:26:51] real experience in [1:26:52] emergency management? [1:26:53] Absolutely. [1:26:54] We're already looking at some [1:26:56] in the case that we do get [1:26:58] confirmed, which I'm hopeful [1:26:59] we do. [1:27:00] We are making that a priority [1:27:02] in each one of our agencies. [1:27:03] But, you know, the [1:27:04] confirmation also has to go [1:27:05] through you. [1:27:06] I get it. [1:27:07] But at least we can get a [1:27:08] nominee before us. [1:27:09] And I think that that's [1:27:10] something I hope to take away [1:27:11] that that is your commitment [1:27:12] you'll make. [1:27:13] Honestly, by the experience [1:27:14] that I've had, which has been [1:27:15] an interesting experience. [1:27:16] It's a lot to ask someone. [1:27:17] And they've got to be fully [1:27:18] committed. [1:27:19] If they go through this [1:27:20] process, it's tough. [1:27:21] So I would ask you, if I do do [1:27:23] this, give them a fair shake. [1:27:24] For me, a lot of you guys [1:27:25] aren't giving me a fair shake [1:27:26] to even earn your support. [1:27:27] So if I bring somebody else [1:27:28] into you, maybe you'll give [1:27:29] them a fair shake and you'll [1:27:30] actually work with them. [1:27:31] Because I'm going to find [1:27:32] somebody that is capable of [1:27:33] doing the job. [1:27:34] That's smarter than me at [1:27:35] doing the job. [1:27:36] That has experience doing the [1:27:37] job. [1:27:38] But when they come to your [1:27:39] office and ask for your [1:27:40] support, don't tell them [1:27:41] it's politics. [1:27:42] Don't tell them it's [1:27:43] politics. [1:27:44] Don't tell them it's [1:27:45] politics. [1:27:46] Don't tell them it's [1:27:47] politics. [1:27:48] That's smarter than me at [1:27:49] large. [1:27:50] Look, what we saw before, for [1:27:51] instance, secretary noem had [1:27:52] this policy that required her [1:27:53] approval for anything that [1:27:55] was going out the door, grants [1:27:56] funding, over $100,000. [1:27:58] And I'll be honest with you, [1:27:59] you know, I'm going to be [1:28:00] honest with you, I'm going to [1:28:01] say, if you're going to be [1:28:02] a fair shake, you're going to [1:28:03] support, don't tell them it's [1:28:04] politics. [1:28:05] Don't say I can't. [1:28:06] Don't say that, hey, I [1:28:07] supported the previous one, [1:28:08] but you know, I got burned on [1:28:09] that one, so I can't support [1:28:10] you. [1:28:11] We'll trust, but see, just give [1:28:12] them a fair opportunity. [1:28:13] And you might actually like [1:28:14] the person we choose. [1:28:15] And look, it's not just [1:28:16] about the person, it's [1:28:17] $100,000. [1:28:18] And I'll be honest with you, [1:28:19] it was disastrous. [1:28:20] It held up so much of the [1:28:21] funding to FEMA and other [1:28:23] parts of DHS. [1:28:24] You know, Senator Peters and I [1:28:26] did a review of this. [1:28:27] Over a thousand FEMA [1:28:29] contracts, grants and [1:28:30] disaster assistance awards [1:28:31] were delayed. [1:28:32] So I wanted to ask you if we [1:28:34] can commit, if you can commit [1:28:36] to revoking this $100,000 [1:28:38] policy by secretary noem. [1:28:39] Sir, we talked in your [1:28:40] office about that. [1:28:41] Absolutely. [1:28:42] That's called [1:28:43] micromanaging. [1:28:44] And I don't know if the [1:28:45] secretary put that in or [1:28:46] someone else did. [1:28:47] I'm not a micromanager. [1:28:48] We put people in. [1:28:49] We empower them to make [1:28:50] decisions. [1:28:51] What is required to come to [1:28:52] my level will make [1:28:53] decisions. [1:28:54] We will have a very clear [1:28:55] line of communication with [1:28:56] every one of our agency's [1:28:57] heads on their authority [1:28:59] that is given to you, that [1:29:00] you gave to them within [1:29:01] their parameters. [1:29:02] And we'll discuss. [1:29:03] But we're also going to be [1:29:04] very responsible for the [1:29:05] taxpayer dollars. [1:29:06] But it's unrealistic to some [1:29:07] degree. [1:29:09] It's just adding so much red [1:29:10] tape though. [1:29:11] Yes, I agree. [1:29:12] Especially when it came to [1:29:13] disaster response. [1:29:14] I agree. [1:29:15] The Texas floods. [1:29:16] I want to switch gears here. [1:29:17] This is something you [1:29:18] remember we talked about. [1:29:19] But you know we have this [1:29:20] effort right now. [1:29:21] ICE has purchased a [1:29:22] warehouse in Roxbury, New [1:29:23] Jersey. [1:29:24] It's a facility the size of [1:29:25] eight football fields to [1:29:26] house over 1,500 detainees. [1:29:27] Never once did an ICE [1:29:29] official go and talk to the [1:29:30] local mayor. [1:29:31] It's a facility the size of [1:29:32] eight football fields to [1:29:33] house over 1,500 [1:29:35] and talk to the local [1:29:36] mayor. [1:29:37] Talk to the local law [1:29:38] enforcement. [1:29:39] Assess the situation [1:29:40] alongside the locals. [1:29:41] I just wanted to ask you [1:29:42] is that fair that DHS is [1:29:44] imposing these types of [1:29:45] large-scale detention [1:29:46] facilities without local [1:29:48] engagement and input? [1:29:49] Sir, being from small [1:29:50] rural Oklahoma, it's a big [1:29:52] impact. [1:29:53] And the community should be [1:29:55] visited with. [1:29:56] Especially when you start [1:29:57] taking a warehouse off. [1:29:58] It takes it off the tax [1:29:59] roll which could make a [1:30:00] huge impact. [1:30:01] And you've got to deal with [1:30:02] impact aid if they're [1:30:03] eligible for it. [1:30:04] And then you've got to talk [1:30:06] about infrastructure. [1:30:07] One thing I do know is [1:30:08] construction. [1:30:09] When you start talking about [1:30:10] infrastructure on these [1:30:11] places, the warehouse [1:30:12] sprinkler system is much [1:30:14] smaller than when you are [1:30:16] housing individuals there. [1:30:17] And if you say, I think [1:30:19] you said the town is 60,000 [1:30:21] people. [1:30:22] And I believe you said this [1:30:23] was smaller than that. [1:30:24] Is it smaller than that? [1:30:25] About 22,000 people. [1:30:26] Okay. [1:30:27] And the detention center. [1:30:28] Of which the detainees and [1:30:29] the staff there would [1:30:30] constitute about 10% of the [1:30:31] population of that town. [1:30:32] Yeah. [1:30:33] And realistically, it's not [1:30:35] most municipalities don't [1:30:36] have the capacity in their [1:30:39] infrastructure for waste and [1:30:40] water. [1:30:41] So it's important that we're [1:30:42] talking to the communities. [1:30:43] And if we're having [1:30:45] additional needs, we can work [1:30:46] with the cities. [1:30:47] We can work with the [1:30:48] municipalities. [1:30:49] But we should always [1:30:50] communicate with them. [1:30:51] I agree with that. [1:30:52] And this town has only 42 [1:30:53] foot police officers, a [1:30:54] volunteer fire department. [1:30:55] Does that sound like the kind [1:30:56] of town that has the [1:30:57] resources to take on a [1:30:58] warehouse of this magnitude? [1:31:00] Sir, I don't know the [1:31:01] circumstances behind this [1:31:02] other than what you and I [1:31:03] talked about. [1:31:04] I committed to you when I [1:31:05] visited with you in your [1:31:06] office. [1:31:07] We'll talk. [1:31:08] I even said let's you and I [1:31:09] get on the phone with the [1:31:10] mayor. [1:31:11] If I'm confirmed, I'll make a [1:31:12] trip out there and see it [1:31:14] for myself. [1:31:15] Because it's a big concern [1:31:16] of yours and we want to [1:31:17] address those concerns. [1:31:18] And if it's, listen, if it's [1:31:19] not practical, but I also [1:31:20] said it's got to be, there [1:31:21] may be a specific reason why [1:31:22] it's there. [1:31:23] If I can't explain that to [1:31:24] you, then that's a [1:31:25] different story. [1:31:26] But if there's a specific [1:31:27] reason I can explain it to [1:31:28] you to make it make sense, [1:31:29] let's talk about it. [1:31:30] But if not, then maybe we [1:31:31] can be better partners. [1:31:32] I'm glad that you commit to [1:31:33] talking about it. [1:31:34] There are some documents I [1:31:35] asked ICE to send us [1:31:36] about their evaluations of [1:31:37] the warehouse. [1:31:38] We have still yet to get [1:31:39] it. [1:31:40] Will you commit that that is [1:31:41] something that we can [1:31:42] get? [1:31:43] Will you commit that is [1:31:44] something that we can [1:31:45] get? [1:31:46] If the documents are [1:31:47] available, yes, but I've [1:31:48] also offered something much [1:31:49] better. [1:31:50] I'll go with you [1:31:51] personally and look at it. [1:31:52] That's something that the [1:31:53] local community will [1:31:54] appreciate and I hope that [1:31:55] you will reassess this with [1:31:56] us. [1:31:57] As I said in my opening [1:31:58] statements, we want to [1:31:59] protect the homeland, but [1:32:00] we also want peace of mind [1:32:01] and bring back confidence [1:32:02] to the Department of [1:32:03] Homeland Security. [1:32:04] And all this means that [1:32:05] we've got to work on that. [1:32:06] And I will work on that. [1:32:07] Senator Scott. [1:32:08] Senator Mullen, [1:32:09] congratulations. [1:32:10] Senator Scott. [1:32:11] Senator Mullen, [1:32:12] congratulations. [1:32:13] Thank you. [1:32:14] Senator Mullen, [1:32:17] congratulations on your [1:32:18] nomination. [1:32:19] This is a great honor that [1:32:20] you have and you have a [1:32:21] great background. [1:32:22] So I know you'll work your [1:32:23] butt off in the job like you [1:32:24] do everything else. [1:32:25] President Trump was [1:32:26] elected to secure our [1:32:28] border, crack down on [1:32:29] sanctuary cities, and keep [1:32:30] our country safe. [1:32:31] I want to thank the [1:32:32] President for his [1:32:33] leadership and Secretary [1:32:34] Noem's help. [1:32:35] Incredible progress has [1:32:36] been made. [1:32:37] Our streets are safer, our [1:32:38] borders respected, and the [1:32:39] jobs we've created are [1:32:40] going to people in this [1:32:41] country legally. [1:32:42] Now, as a result of the [1:32:44] Democrats' partial shutdown, [1:32:45] in the fourth week, TSA [1:32:46] agents are not getting paid. [1:32:48] Everybody in the Senate is [1:32:49] getting paid. [1:32:50] I've had a bill since I got [1:32:51] up here. [1:32:52] If we don't pass budgets, we [1:32:53] shouldn't get paid. [1:32:54] I've had one of my [1:32:55] Democrat colleagues say, oh, [1:32:56] I've got a mortgage. [1:32:58] I have to get paid. [1:32:59] Well, think about all these [1:33:00] people. [1:33:02] TSA agents are not getting [1:33:03] paid. [1:33:04] Airlines or airport lines are [1:33:05] in gridlock. [1:33:06] We've got FEMA grants [1:33:07] stalling. [1:33:08] Coast Guard counterterrorism [1:33:09] operations are shrinking [1:33:10] amid rising Iranian threats [1:33:11] to our homeland. [1:33:12] My understanding is ICE [1:33:14] agents are getting paid, but [1:33:15] not ICE leadership is [1:33:16] necessarily getting paid. [1:33:17] Last week, two terrorists [1:33:18] boldly and hatefully [1:33:19] attacked our citizens right [1:33:20] here on our home soil, [1:33:21] killing at least one person. [1:33:22] The president's decision [1:33:23] to stop the nuclear weapons [1:33:24] and the ballistic missiles [1:33:25] was a reason. [1:33:26] What he's doing is making [1:33:27] sure we don't get these [1:33:28] attacks on our soil. [1:33:29] It was only as a result of [1:33:30] brave actions of a class [1:33:31] of future military [1:33:32] officers, citizens, and [1:33:33] law enforcement that [1:33:34] stopped these [1:33:35] tragedies. [1:33:36] We don't get these [1:33:37] attacks on our soil. [1:33:38] It was only a result of [1:33:39] brave actions of a class [1:33:40] of future military [1:33:41] enforcement that stopped [1:33:42] these tragedies. [1:33:43] They could have been [1:33:44] massacres. [1:33:45] Still, even as Americans [1:33:46] are losing their lives, [1:33:47] my Democrat colleagues are [1:33:48] refusing to fund DHS and [1:33:49] give them what they need [1:33:50] to uncover and stop plots [1:33:51] like these to protect the [1:33:52] lives of our families and [1:33:53] neighbors. [1:33:54] It seems like that's our job [1:33:55] up here. [1:33:56] So, Senator Mullen, how do [1:33:57] you view Senate Democrats [1:33:58] recklessly holding DHS [1:33:59] funds hostage at the [1:34:00] expense of our national [1:34:01] security interests amid [1:34:02] threats from Iran and its [1:34:03] proxies? [1:34:04] Senator, it's [1:34:05] unconscionable. [1:34:08] How can you sit there with a [1:34:09] straight face and say that [1:34:11] we're trying to take care of [1:34:12] the American worker when [1:34:13] you're choosing to not pay [1:34:15] 260,000 people and you're [1:34:17] affecting their families? [1:34:18] We've heard the stories of [1:34:19] families having to stand in [1:34:21] charitable lines for basic [1:34:23] needs or getting a loan. [1:34:25] And like I said, this isn't the [1:34:27] first time. [1:34:28] We're a month into this. [1:34:29] They just came out of a [1:34:30] 43-day shutdown that they [1:34:31] were probably just [1:34:32] recovering from. [1:34:33] And yet, we're still going to [1:34:34] sit there with a straight [1:34:35] face and say it's not about [1:34:37] politics? [1:34:38] So, in sanctuary cities, [1:34:39] local authorities can [1:34:40] decline ice detainers, [1:34:41] which means that criminals [1:34:42] are released back into the [1:34:43] community rather than [1:34:44] transferred safely into [1:34:45] ice custody. [1:34:46] So, in sanctuary cities, [1:34:49] local authorities can [1:34:50] decline ice detainers, [1:34:51] which means that criminals [1:34:52] are released back into the [1:34:53] community rather than [1:34:54] transferred safely into [1:34:55] ice custody. [1:34:56] First off, I can't imagine [1:34:59] anybody elected that wants [1:35:02] criminals back in their [1:35:03] community. [1:35:04] But that's happening. [1:35:05] This creates opportunities [1:35:06] for illegal fugitives to [1:35:07] relocate or reoffend, like in [1:35:09] the tragic murder of Kate's [1:35:10] Stanley. [1:35:11] It also forces DHS officers to [1:35:14] go into neighborhoods to [1:35:15] root out violent criminals, [1:35:16] which is way more dangerous [1:35:17] for everybody. [1:35:18] Not only does this cost the [1:35:19] taxpayer more, but it also [1:35:20] increases the risk for [1:35:21] everybody involved, including [1:35:23] bystanders, DHS officers, [1:35:25] and potential future [1:35:26] victims. [1:35:27] We're seeing this play out [1:35:28] right now, just a few miles [1:35:29] away, where local officials in [1:35:30] Fairfax, Virginia, are [1:35:32] refusing to turn over an [1:35:33] illegal immigrant who was [1:35:34] arrested for groping 12 [1:35:35] underage students. [1:35:36] And the local elected want [1:35:37] to put that person back out [1:35:38] in the community. [1:35:40] That's not even here legally. [1:35:41] Instead of turning him over [1:35:42] to ICE, Fairfax County [1:35:43] prosecutors are trying to get [1:35:44] him released. [1:35:45] This is just one example of [1:35:46] how sanctuary city policies [1:35:47] choose to put illegal [1:35:48] aliens over American [1:35:49] citizens. [1:35:50] How do you plan to deal with [1:35:52] sanctuary cities like Los [1:35:53] Angeles and Chicago to remove [1:35:54] criminal illegal aliens? [1:35:55] Sir, it's been a difficult [1:35:57] conversation that's been had [1:35:59] with these sanctuary cities. [1:36:00] As I said going on, we don't [1:36:01] get to choose which laws we [1:36:02] enforce. [1:36:05] As elected officials, you [1:36:06] shouldn't choose which laws [1:36:07] you enforce. [1:36:08] We're not asking them to go out [1:36:25] there and enforce immigration. [1:36:26] We're just saying be good [1:36:27] partners with us. [1:36:28] If we've got to serve judicial [1:36:29] warrants, let us go serve [1:36:30] the judicial warrants. [1:36:31] If you pull over somebody that's [1:36:32] wanted, that's in the country [1:36:33] illegally, and it's a [1:36:35] municipality, we're saying just [1:36:36] hold them. [1:36:37] At least let us do a [1:36:38] job. [1:36:39] And working with the [1:36:40] municipalities are going to be [1:36:41] vitally important, but also [1:36:42] you've got to take a look at [1:36:44] if they're not willing to [1:36:45] enforce federal law and work [1:36:47] with us, then where's the [1:36:50] taxpayer dollars going to? [1:36:52] And ideally, I would like to [1:36:54] go in there and talk to the [1:36:55] mayors. [1:36:56] I'd like to go in there and [1:36:57] talk to the sheriffs, talk to [1:36:58] the police chiefs. [1:36:59] Say what is your concerns? [1:37:00] How can we get past this? [1:37:01] Because the president has made [1:37:03] it very clear he wants to [1:37:04] protect the streets for every [1:37:06] American. [1:37:07] He wants to restore law and [1:37:08] order to every city. [1:37:11] I don't think that should be [1:37:12] controversial. [1:37:14] But some people have for [1:37:16] political purposes or maybe [1:37:18] they didn't like the tactics. [1:37:19] Either way, I find it really [1:37:21] hard to believe that law [1:37:22] enforcement in those [1:37:23] communities don't want to do [1:37:24] their job. [1:37:25] So maybe we sit down and we [1:37:27] just work it out. [1:37:28] It's like I tell my wife all [1:37:29] the time. [1:37:30] Sometimes when she gets mad at [1:37:31] me, and I'm right, she's [1:37:32] wrong, by the way, but [1:37:33] sometimes when she gets mad at [1:37:34] me, I have to apologize. [1:37:35] Because I simply say, that [1:37:36] was a joke, by the way, for [1:37:37] everybody that's married. [1:37:38] But I have to apologize and [1:37:39] sometimes I tell her, I said, [1:37:40] honey, it's a [1:37:41] misunderstanding. [1:37:42] We still love each other. [1:37:43] We still want the best for [1:37:44] our family. [1:37:46] And these law enforcement, and [1:37:47] I would even say these [1:37:48] mayors, they still love their [1:37:49] community. [1:37:50] They still love their [1:37:51] cities. [1:37:52] They still love this country. [1:37:53] So maybe it's a [1:37:54] misunderstanding we can work [1:37:55] by. [1:37:56] And I'm going to start with [1:37:57] that. [1:37:58] That's what I'm going to start [1:37:59] with. [1:38:00] If we have to do something [1:38:01] different, then we will. [1:38:02] But that's where I'm going to [1:38:03] start at. [1:38:04] It's a misunderstanding, but [1:38:05] we're going to force the [1:38:06] nation laws and make sure we [1:38:07] protect everybody in their [1:38:08] city and hopefully work with [1:38:09] them and never work against [1:38:10] them. [1:38:11] Senator Mullen, do you, as [1:38:12] secretary of Homeland [1:38:14] Security, do you have any [1:38:15] ability to ban funding to [1:38:16] sanctuary cities that ignore [1:38:17] the federal laws meant to [1:38:18] make citizens' lives safer, [1:38:19] but then turn around and ask [1:38:20] for federal money for added [1:38:21] protection? [1:38:22] Sir, that would be a last [1:38:23] option. [1:38:24] But at the end of the [1:38:25] time, we're going to do [1:38:26] something different. [1:38:27] That's what I'm going to [1:38:28] start with. [1:38:30] That's where I'm going to [1:38:31] start with the federal [1:38:33] administration. [1:38:34] I think that's a good [1:38:35] decision. [1:38:36] But at the end of the day, [1:38:37] taxpayer dollars have to be [1:38:38] used for the right purposes. [1:38:41] And if people are refusing to [1:38:43] enforce the nation's laws, I [1:38:46] think it's really hard to [1:38:47] justify why we're sending them [1:38:48] taxpayer dollars that are [1:38:50] coming out of Oklahoma or [1:38:51] coming out of Florida or [1:38:53] coming out of Kansas or [1:38:54] Arkansas when they're making [1:38:57] that decision. [1:38:58] But I will say that is not [1:38:59] going to be my first or [1:39:00] second or even third [1:39:01] approach. [1:39:02] But that would be my last [1:39:03] resort. [1:39:04] Congratulations on the [1:39:06] nomination. [1:39:07] Good luck. [1:39:08] Thank you. [1:39:11] Senator Fetterman. [1:39:14] Thank you, Mr. [1:39:15] Chairman. [1:39:19] So, hello, Senator Mullen. [1:39:24] Thank you for coming in [1:39:25] today. [1:39:26] So, Americans don't like chaos. [1:39:30] You know? [1:39:31] We, America definitely didn't [1:39:34] like the kinds of chaos during [1:39:36] the Biden administration at [1:39:37] the border. [1:39:38] You know, as a Democrat, I was [1:39:41] alarmed that there were up to [1:39:44] 300,000 encounters at our [1:39:48] border once a month. [1:39:49] Once a month. [1:39:50] And that puts that in [1:39:51] perspective. [1:39:52] That's the size of Pittsburgh [1:39:53] showing up at our border. [1:39:54] And that's not sustainable. [1:39:55] And that's not manageable. [1:39:56] And it's making it possible [1:39:57] for us to assimilate. [1:39:58] And now if you care about [1:40:00] immigration, as I deeply do, [1:40:01] you can't possibly provide the [1:40:02] American dream for people [1:40:03] when the size of Pittsburgh [1:40:05] showing up at our border once [1:40:06] a month. [1:40:07] That needs to be brought under [1:40:08] control. [1:40:09] And that happened. [1:40:10] That happened. [1:40:11] I signed up that as a [1:40:12] Democrat. [1:40:13] The second part. [1:40:14] The second part. [1:40:15] The second part. [1:40:16] Is rounding up all of the [1:40:17] criminals and deport them. [1:40:19] You know? [1:40:20] I can't imagine why we can't [1:40:21] agree with that as well, too. [1:40:23] That's another thing that I [1:40:24] would say that I signed up. [1:40:25] One name that often doesn't [1:40:26] come from my side is [1:40:27] Lakin Riley. [1:40:28] I agree for Rene Good. [1:40:30] And I agree for Alex [1:40:31] Petty. [1:40:32] But I also deeply, deeply [1:40:46] grieve for Lakin Riley and [1:40:47] their family. [1:40:48] And now all three were failures [1:40:50] of our government there in [1:40:51] that circumstances. [1:40:52] And as I was proud to be the [1:40:54] co-sponsor of the Lakin Riley [1:40:55] bill. [1:40:56] Because we have to address [1:40:57] that. [1:40:58] And I was proud to be the [1:41:00] co-sponsor of the Lakin Riley [1:41:01] bill. [1:41:02] And I agree with that. [1:41:03] Two things must be true here. [1:41:05] We need to have a secure [1:41:06] border. [1:41:07] And we have to round up and [1:41:10] deport every single criminal [1:41:12] in our nation. [1:41:13] I can't imagine why that's [1:41:14] critical or controversial for [1:41:17] anybody. [1:41:18] You know? [1:41:19] So that's I'm trying to find a [1:41:20] way forward. [1:41:21] And now you and I have had [1:41:24] conversations on this and [1:41:25] that's your commitment to [1:41:26] focus on those things. [1:41:27] I believe that's effective. [1:41:28] Accurate? [1:41:29] Correct? [1:41:30] Yes, sir. [1:41:32] And now another another [1:41:36] thing. [1:41:37] I know there's a lot of hard [1:41:39] personal feelings here. [1:41:41] And absolutely. [1:41:42] I would I it's it's terrible [1:41:45] what's happened in political [1:41:46] violence. [1:41:47] I mean, it's it's rampant. [1:41:49] So now. [1:41:50] You know, it's a lot of [1:41:52] things. [1:41:53] You know, it's a lot of [1:41:54] things. [1:41:55] It's a lot of things. [1:41:56] You know, it's a lot of [1:41:57] things now. [1:41:58] But also. [1:41:59] Also. [1:42:00] President O'Brien's here not [1:42:02] for round two. [1:42:03] He's here because he fully [1:42:04] supports your your. [1:42:05] Correct. [1:42:06] Yeah. [1:42:07] Round three. [1:42:08] Okay. [1:42:09] Yeah. [1:42:10] You know, it's a lot of [1:42:12] things. [1:42:13] You know, when I was in the [1:42:14] hospital and things were [1:42:15] touch and go. [1:42:16] You know, I know there were [1:42:17] unkind things said about me, [1:42:19] but I can just say that it's [1:42:20] better to just let it all go [1:42:21] and to find a way forward. [1:42:22] That's the time that we're in [1:42:23] right now in our country on [1:42:25] that. [1:42:27] Now, people might describe you [1:42:28] in those kinds of moments, [1:42:30] but I'm going to describe [1:42:31] you. [1:42:32] We got a chance to get to know [1:42:33] better. [1:42:34] When we joined a code out to [1:42:35] Turks and Caicos. [1:42:36] Correct. [1:42:37] Yes, sir. [1:42:38] Yeah. [1:42:39] And we did that. [1:42:40] We did that because Americans [1:42:41] Americans were looking at over [1:42:43] a decade in prison because [1:42:45] they had a couple of random [1:42:46] bullets in their luggage. [1:42:47] And those Americans ran the [1:42:49] gamut of a black grandmother [1:42:51] from Florida. [1:42:52] I believe Florida. [1:42:53] And pencil. [1:42:55] And pencil. [1:42:56] And pencil. [1:42:57] And pencil. [1:42:58] And pencil. [1:42:59] And pencil. [1:43:00] And pencil. [1:43:01] And pencil. [1:43:02] And pencil. [1:43:03] And pencil. [1:43:04] And pencil. [1:43:05] And pencil. [1:43:06] And pencil. [1:43:07] And pencil. [1:43:08] And pencil. [1:43:09] And pencil. [1:43:10] And I did. [1:43:11] And I was able to. [1:43:12] To welcome him at the [1:43:13] airport when he returned [1:43:14] there. [1:43:15] So that was about a [1:43:16] commitment to working [1:43:17] together. [1:43:18] Imagine just because a [1:43:19] couple of random bullets [1:43:20] accidentally they were [1:43:21] looking at over a decade in [1:43:22] prison. [1:43:23] Now we work together and now [1:43:25] not one single American really [1:43:27] faced that kinds of thing. [1:43:28] So that's about committed to [1:43:29] working together. [1:43:30] So now. [1:43:31] Now also also as a [1:43:33] Democrat. [1:43:34] You know that I made me the [1:43:36] only Democrat that refused to [1:43:38] shutting our DHS down. [1:43:40] You know. [1:43:41] Some people might say that that [1:43:43] doesn't mean I have any less [1:43:44] commitment to reform ice. [1:43:46] That's just categorically not [1:43:47] true. [1:43:48] But it's a it's a strange [1:43:49] devotion. [1:43:50] I don't understand why you [1:43:51] would shut the entire agency [1:43:53] down just because you want [1:43:55] those kind of reforms on ice [1:43:56] that has absolutely no impact [1:43:57] on ice and doesn't force any [1:43:58] of those things. [1:43:59] I refuse to do that and I [1:44:01] refuse to punish those union [1:44:02] members that are working and [1:44:03] now especially parts of that [1:44:04] it's true. [1:44:05] It's like the cyber security [1:44:06] agencies part of DHS. [1:44:07] Yes sir. [1:44:08] Yeah. [1:44:09] And that's currently that's [1:44:10] on the shutdown. [1:44:11] And now two of the top [1:44:14] agents of cyber attacks come [1:44:15] from Iran and China. [1:44:17] They must be elated to know that [1:44:20] that part it's all shut down. [1:44:21] Because that's part of the [1:44:22] shutdown that does not bring [1:44:23] any reform to ice. [1:44:24] You know that I want any less [1:44:26] than other Democrats you know [1:44:27] here. [1:44:28] I just the difference is I [1:44:29] refuse to punish and make our [1:44:31] nation less secure part of [1:44:32] that. [1:44:33] So for me I came here and I [1:44:34] committed to come here with [1:44:35] a lot of the shutdown. [1:44:36] And now two of the top [1:44:37] agents of cyber attacks come [1:44:38] from Iran and China. [1:44:39] They must be elated to know [1:44:40] that that part it's all [1:44:41] shut down. [1:44:42] It's not going to be about [1:44:44] gotcha moments for me. [1:44:45] It's about just saying my [1:44:46] experience with you has been [1:44:49] consistent kindness and [1:44:50] professionalism. [1:44:51] You know the first time I [1:44:52] met it was you and your wife [1:44:53] behind you. [1:44:54] When I was here at the [1:44:56] orientation here in the [1:44:57] Senate. [1:44:58] And even before you got the [1:44:59] call for the big job. [1:45:00] You know we were even [1:45:01] discussing about you and [1:45:02] your wife behind you. [1:45:03] When I was here at the [1:45:04] orientation here in the [1:45:05] Senate. [1:45:06] And even before you got the [1:45:07] call for the big job. [1:45:08] You know we were even [1:45:09] discussing about your [1:45:10] getting together and having [1:45:11] dinner as family. [1:45:12] So that's an ongoing [1:45:13] relationship. [1:45:14] Because that's also part of [1:45:15] the fact here in this in [1:45:16] this town you got to get [1:45:17] along and find a way to [1:45:19] work together. [1:45:20] And now we have to come at [1:45:21] it and just let things go in [1:45:22] the past for that. [1:45:23] Finding a way forward. [1:45:24] That's my responsibility to [1:45:25] represent Pennsylvania. [1:45:26] And now for you. [1:45:27] I just want to thank you for [1:45:28] showing up. [1:45:29] And now I'm going to engage [1:45:30] with you. [1:45:31] And now I'm going to engage [1:45:32] in Pennsylvania. [1:45:33] And now for you. [1:45:34] I just want to thank you for [1:45:35] showing up. [1:45:36] And now I'm going to engage [1:45:37] and I'm going to remain [1:45:40] with an open mind [1:45:41] throughout all this as I [1:45:42] made to my friend here. [1:45:44] And I'm going to do that. [1:45:46] So thank you for bringing [1:45:47] your family here too. [1:45:48] And I look forward to [1:45:49] hearing for the rest of my [1:45:50] colleagues views on you. [1:45:52] Thank you Senator. [1:45:53] Senator Ernst. [1:45:54] Thank you Mr. Chair. [1:45:57] Thank you Christy for being [1:45:59] here as well. [1:46:00] Senator Mullen I have to say [1:46:03] I'm just going to be blunt [1:46:05] very honest with you. [1:46:07] I hope that the president is [1:46:09] watching. [1:46:10] I am going to say to the [1:46:11] president I am really upset [1:46:13] that he has made your [1:46:14] nomination. [1:46:15] Why? [1:46:16] Because I will be losing from [1:46:18] the senate one of the best [1:46:20] friends that I have here. [1:46:22] Truly. [1:46:23] But in that same accord I am so [1:46:26] grateful to the president for [1:46:28] making your nomination to [1:46:29] Department of Homeland [1:46:30] Security. [1:46:31] So we've had a lot of [1:46:35] discussion here. [1:46:36] I know just as Senator [1:46:38] Fetterman said there are a lot [1:46:41] of differences and opinions [1:46:43] on the politics surrounding [1:46:45] DHS. [1:46:47] And Senator Fetterman mentioned [1:46:49] that he grieves for all of [1:46:51] those that we have lost. [1:46:53] Those protestors. [1:46:55] We grieve the loss of young [1:46:56] women, young men that we have [1:46:57] seen at the hands of those [1:46:59] that have migrated illegally into [1:47:04] the United States of America. [1:47:06] We grieve them all. [1:47:08] And I think we can acknowledge [1:47:09] that. [1:47:10] And it's important that we do [1:47:11] that. [1:47:12] We're in really trying times [1:47:14] right now. [1:47:15] And one of the things that I [1:47:16] want to focus on right now is [1:47:18] the bipartisanship that you have [1:47:33] had with so many members in the [1:47:35] House, in the Senate, the [1:47:36] relationships that you have [1:47:38] outside of this body. [1:47:40] Because I think it's really [1:47:41] important. [1:47:42] Because we get in the political [1:47:44] fights all the time. [1:47:46] very sexy. [1:47:47] But I think we need a lot more [1:47:50] of it. [1:47:51] So Josh Gottheimer was here [1:47:54] today. [1:47:55] I respect him so much. [1:47:57] And the fact that you remain [1:47:58] friends today is incredibly [1:48:00] important. [1:48:01] I noticed you also gave Joe [1:48:03] Kennedy a shout out. [1:48:05] So I sent him a picture I took [1:48:07] of you from the dais. [1:48:09] Because I know Joe really well [1:48:11] as well. [1:48:12] There are so many relationships [1:48:14] that we have in this body. [1:48:15] And I wish more people would [1:48:17] see. [1:48:18] That we have those [1:48:19] relationships. [1:48:20] We carry them in our hearts. [1:48:22] It means we are better people [1:48:24] because we open our minds to [1:48:25] listen. [1:48:26] And to that point I want to [1:48:28] thank you Mr. O'Brien for [1:48:29] being here as well. [1:48:30] Because what started out as a [1:48:32] very big difference between [1:48:35] you and Mr. O'Brien. [1:48:37] You found a way to both of you [1:48:39] come together to share thoughts [1:48:41] and ideas and turn something [1:48:43] really good out of that [1:48:46] discourse. [1:48:47] And I think more people need to [1:48:49] learn how to do that. [1:48:50] And so to all my friends [1:48:52] sitting here in the dais and [1:48:54] those that are watching is that [1:48:56] this is how America works. [1:48:58] Where we're able to take [1:49:00] differences and come together [1:49:02] and not just shout at one [1:49:03] another. [1:49:04] But come together and figure out a [1:49:09] way forward. [1:49:10] That's what makes this country [1:49:12] such an incredibly brilliant [1:49:14] country. [1:49:15] Is that we can recognize those [1:49:17] differences. [1:49:18] So I want to talk a little bit [1:49:21] about a trip that we took last [1:49:25] year. [1:49:27] So many folks know that you serve [1:49:29] on armed services. [1:49:30] I serve on armed services. [1:49:31] We do congressional delegation [1:49:33] visits. [1:49:34] And a little over a year ago or [1:49:35] about a year ago. [1:49:36] Senator Mullen led a [1:49:38] congressional delegation visit [1:49:40] into a country that had not [1:49:42] been visited by an official [1:49:44] delegation trip in 15 years. [1:49:46] Along on that trip I was also [1:49:48] there. [1:49:49] Chairman Smith was on this trip as [1:49:51] well. [1:49:52] As well as well as well as [1:49:55] well as well as well as [1:49:56] well as well as well as [1:49:58] well as well as well as [1:50:00] Democrat Jimmy Panetta of [1:50:03] California. [1:50:04] We went to Syria. [1:50:06] We sat down with the president [1:50:07] there. [1:50:09] Al Shara for his first official [1:50:11] visit from the United States of [1:50:12] America. [1:50:14] Now a lot of people will say he [1:50:15] was a member of Al Qaeda. [1:50:16] What are you doing sitting down [1:50:17] with somebody that was a member [1:50:18] of Al Qaeda. [1:50:21] It's the same reason we sit down [1:50:22] with people that we have [1:50:23] differences with. [1:50:24] Is to find a way forward. [1:50:26] And we have to find a way [1:50:27] forward. [1:50:28] And we have to find a way [1:50:31] forward. [1:50:32] And we have to find a way [1:50:35] forward. [1:50:36] So senator Mullen I would like [1:50:38] you to talk a little bit about [1:50:39] that trip and why you believed [1:50:40] it was important that we do [1:50:41] that. [1:50:42] Thank you. [1:50:43] Thank you senator. [1:50:44] You're right. [1:50:45] The president of Syria wasn't [1:50:46] really somebody we should have [1:50:48] a lot of common ground with. [1:50:49] And we actually talked about [1:50:50] that. [1:50:51] Him and I talked about that. [1:50:52] Had a very blunt relationship [1:50:53] about it. [1:50:54] But the fact is our world is [1:50:55] different. [1:50:56] And there's different leaders [1:50:57] for different countries. [1:50:58] And there's different [1:50:59] leaders for different [1:51:00] countries. [1:51:01] And there's different [1:51:02] leaders for different [1:51:03] countries. [1:51:04] different places. [1:51:05] And you have to understand [1:51:06] the region and the area [1:51:07] they're in. [1:51:08] We're not in the business of [1:51:09] necessarily picking the [1:51:10] leaders. [1:51:12] But when we do hopefully [1:51:13] there's a way that we can [1:51:14] work it out. [1:51:15] And if you remember the [1:51:16] president at the time he [1:51:17] said. [1:51:18] He said when I was younger I [1:51:19] was fed a lot of propaganda. [1:51:20] And I'm paraphrasing this. [1:51:21] He says but when I was in [1:51:22] American prison in Iraq he [1:51:23] started looking at things [1:51:24] different. [1:51:25] He said when I was younger I [1:51:28] was fed a lot of [1:51:29] propaganda. [1:51:30] And I'm paraphrasing this. [1:51:31] He says but when I was [1:51:32] in American prison in Iraq he [1:51:33] started looking at things [1:51:34] different. [1:51:36] And then he also went on to [1:51:40] say yes I was affiliated with [1:51:41] al Qaeda but it's much like [1:51:42] you guys being affiliated with [1:51:43] Russia. [1:51:44] It was interesting to me knowing [1:51:45] how you went through the [1:51:46] history. [1:51:47] He said it's much like you [1:51:48] guys being affiliated with [1:51:49] Russia and China and world [1:51:51] war two and look where you're [1:51:52] at today. [1:51:53] Sometimes in war when we're [1:51:54] fighting for our country I [1:51:55] left Iraq and came back and [1:51:56] fought for Syria because [1:51:57] that's my home. [1:51:58] That's we had the most [1:51:59] diverse population in the [1:52:01] history of the world in [1:52:02] Damascus. [1:52:03] And I don't want the foreign [1:52:07] influence. [1:52:08] And after I got out I realized [1:52:10] my fight is for my country. [1:52:12] Not for this necessarily [1:52:13] organization. [1:52:14] But for me to get resources [1:52:15] for me to get fighters for me [1:52:16] to build a fight for my [1:52:17] country. [1:52:18] And hopefully even though he [1:52:19] said openly I never planned [1:52:20] on being president of the [1:52:21] country. [1:52:22] I was just wanting to get my [1:52:23] home back. [1:52:24] I find myself here. [1:52:25] And he was very open. [1:52:26] He says I have made mistakes. [1:52:27] And I said I've made [1:52:28] mistakes too. [1:52:29] And I said we're not [1:52:30] perfect but if we can work [1:52:31] together to be a trust but [1:52:32] verified. [1:52:33] He says I want a [1:52:34] relationship with the United [1:52:35] States. [1:52:36] I want to have that [1:52:37] relationship. [1:52:38] That's not common for [1:52:39] somebody with al Qaeda ties. [1:52:40] That's somebody that says [1:52:41] yes my past is my past but [1:52:42] I'm looking to the future. [1:52:43] And I think we all have [1:52:44] past. [1:52:45] And past we can learn from. [1:52:46] We learn from successes and [1:52:47] failures in our past. [1:52:48] But if we can grab the [1:52:49] past that we made a mistake [1:52:50] on and say yeah that's a [1:52:51] mistake. [1:52:52] I'm not going to make it [1:52:53] again. [1:52:54] That's a lesson. [1:52:55] That's where wisdom comes [1:52:56] from. [1:52:57] If you can also learn from [1:52:58] your successes then that's [1:52:59] also where wisdom comes [1:53:00] from. [1:53:01] And that's considered someone [1:53:02] that has the potential to [1:53:03] be a leader. [1:53:04] And I would rather work with [1:53:05] those leaders like that [1:53:06] than to continue to see the [1:53:07] civil war that was going on [1:53:09] and in some cases still [1:53:10] going on in Syria. [1:53:11] Yes. [1:53:12] And thank you. [1:53:13] And I think that's a [1:53:14] good point. [1:53:15] I think that's a good point [1:53:16] for you. [1:53:17] Thank you. [1:53:18] And I just use this because [1:53:19] my time has expired just to [1:53:20] demonstrate how we all have [1:53:23] such significant [1:53:24] differences. [1:53:25] We can come from different [1:53:26] backgrounds. [1:53:27] But I've been on a lot of [1:53:28] congressional delegation [1:53:29] visits folks. [1:53:30] A lot in the 12 years that [1:53:31] I've been here. [1:53:32] But to watch senator Mullen [1:53:34] lead this delegation and to [1:53:35] be able to speak to someone [1:53:36] that is far different than [1:53:38] we are and bring our [1:53:40] countries that closer [1:53:41] together. [1:53:42] I know that he will do [1:53:43] something. [1:53:44] That's a good point. [1:53:45] I know that he will do that. [1:53:47] With every one of us serving [1:53:48] in Congress. [1:53:49] I know you will represent us [1:53:50] very well. [1:53:52] You will represent the [1:53:53] administration very well. [1:53:54] You will make our country [1:53:55] safer. [1:53:56] So thank you senator Mullen. [1:53:57] Thank you Christy very much [1:53:58] for your friendship as well. [1:53:59] Thank you Mr. Chair. [1:54:00] Senator Schlocken. [1:54:01] Thank you. [1:54:02] Thanks for being here. [1:54:03] Thanks for our conversation [1:54:04] yesterday. [1:54:05] I want to just actually add [1:54:07] on to what senator Langford [1:54:08] were saying and just focus [1:54:09] on the attacks of the [1:54:10] we had at a temple that's very [1:54:11] close to my heart in Michigan, [1:54:13] a place I know well. [1:54:15] Last week we had an anti-semitic [1:54:17] attack meant to terrorize not [1:54:19] just that synagogue but the [1:54:20] entire Jewish community. [1:54:21] And I think the light is [1:54:23] really blinking red. [1:54:24] And that is the feeling for [1:54:25] the Jewish community. [1:54:26] And just that synagogue and [1:54:27] just that synagogue and the [1:54:28] entire Jewish community. [1:54:29] And I think the light is [1:54:31] really blinking red. [1:54:32] And that is the feeling for the [1:54:43] Jewish community. [1:54:44] And just as an objective [1:54:46] statement, the Jewish community [1:54:49] is ten times more likely to be [1:54:51] the victim of a hate crime than [1:54:54] all other religious groups [1:54:55] combined. [1:54:56] That's not a political statement. [1:54:57] That's a factual statement from [1:54:59] FBI data. [1:55:00] And we talked about the need to [1:55:01] work together. [1:55:02] The Jewish community you [1:55:03] is spending about a billion dollars a year privately securing their own institutions. [1:55:11] No religious group should have to spend that amount of money that could be going to lots of [1:55:15] other things on their own security in the United States of America. So I would just ask your help [1:55:21] in reforming the nonprofit security grant program so it's agile, so you don't have to like win the [1:55:28] grant and then still do 100 pieces of paper, maybe even looking at a rapid reaction fund, [1:55:34] but certainly asking for some sort of task force. You know, I'm thinking about the community in [1:55:39] Australia that went to the Australian government, the Jewish community, and said we're seeing just [1:55:44] a real uptick in threats. We're terrified. And then we have Bondi Beach and a very horrible thing. [1:55:50] So can we just agree in public again in a bipartisan basis to sit together to reform this program [1:55:56] and figure out how we manage to the threat? Because we're not hitting it right now. [1:56:02] Senator, you have a wealth of knowledge from your service in the intel community, [1:56:07] and you will know this issue probably better than me. And so I would welcome the opportunity [1:56:12] to sit down and talk to you, figure out what we need to do. I know this is very personal to you, [1:56:16] and that's great. We may have some differences on some political views, but this isn't one. [1:56:22] You and I will be, you know, laser focused and get this resolved if it's possible. But yes, [1:56:28] I would absolutely welcome an opportunity to work with you on this. [1:56:31] Great. I appreciate that. I think, you know, in general, you, your position or your future position [1:56:39] as Secretary of Homeland Security sits at like the fulcrum of these big issues we're having as a [1:56:45] country. Just big cultural issues. The use of law enforcement in our streets and where our rights [1:56:52] begin and end, and then our elections, our democracy. And given the importance of that, [1:56:59] I think it's important that we state really clearly where you are on those two issues. You know, [1:57:06] I think first and foremost on the use of ICE. You know, my state voted for Donald Trump in 2024. [1:57:14] A lot of people supported the president's immigration agenda, but then they watched with their own [1:57:21] eyes, not filtered through a news source. They watched with their own eyes. American citizens [1:57:26] killed in their streets for protesting. They saw children caught in the crossfire and being tear gassed. [1:57:34] They saw people randomly being pulled out of their cars and walking down the streets because they [1:57:40] happened to look like they could be an immigrant and checked for their papers, which for many of us has [1:57:45] a real history. They have seen people go in law enforcement go into people's homes without a judicial [1:57:52] warrant for a country that was invented because we were being oppressed by a foreign force that demanded [1:57:59] entry into our homes. So you say you don't want ICE in the news. You say you want to rebuild trust. [1:58:05] Your predecessor was fired because she couldn't manage that. And, you know, people had to go in [1:58:10] and bring the temperature down. Can you, without other words, just state clearly what you'd be willing [1:58:17] to do to fundamentally reform ICE and put into law to do so since that trust is gone? [1:58:26] Ma'am, as you know, I can't make the law. You guys make that for me. [1:58:30] You're going to be the secretary. Yes, I agree, but I can't make the law. [1:58:32] I can work within the parameters. No, but tell us what you'd be willing [1:58:35] to put into law. So, let's, I, right now, the law that I work [1:58:41] into is a year as a decision. We'll work through that. But I do believe there is a better approach. [1:58:46] And I think working with municipalities, I would love to see ICE become a transport more than the [1:58:53] front line. If we get back, if we can get back into just simply working with law enforcement, [1:58:57] we're going to them and we're picking up these criminals from their jail. One, we're going to [1:59:02] reimburse them for having the person there. And a partnership is vitally important. I don't think [1:59:07] there needs to be a law to change that. I think I can work within what is there. But there's a, there's an [1:59:13] approach that can happen. But we got to have partners. [1:59:16] Yeah, I understand. I understand. But I just, I would just, we're not going to agree [1:59:20] to this here. But I would just say, the ability, you know, the trust is gone and not just with [1:59:26] Democrats. That's why we're here. That's why your predecessor was fired. And there, there needs [1:59:31] to be fundamental reform of this law enforcement agency. And I think that the public writ large [1:59:36] is crying out for that. Let me turn to elections. No, no, no, no. Let me turn to elections. [1:59:41] The, the Department of Homeland Security has the mandate since the Obama era for [1:59:47] securing our election infrastructure. Um, that's an important job. And you'll be [1:59:53] secretary. Um, the president has continued to say that he won the 2020 election, even though [2:00:03] there's been 60 court cases saying the opposite. He has said he wants to federalize the elections. [2:00:08] He has said name check cities, including Detroit. He has said voting machines are inaccurate. He has [2:00:15] said in the state of the union. I was on the Senate floor, paraphrase that if he doesn't, if his [2:00:21] side doesn't win in November, then the elections were rigged, which is exactly what he said eight [2:00:25] months before the 2020 election. Um, you have your own history. You did not certify the 2020 election. [2:00:32] Um, there are people at the Department of Homeland Security, three people individually, specifically, [2:00:37] who are well-known election deniers now running election security functions. Who won the 2020 election? [2:00:45] Ma'am, we know that President Joe Biden was sworn into office. He was a president for the last four [2:00:51] years. But I do believe, I believe my job as Department of Homeland Security secretary [2:00:56] will be to make sure that we assure that the elections are, uh, are fair and people can trust them. [2:01:03] Does the federal government run the elections process or do states? [2:01:07] It's very clear in the constitution that, um, the, the, the states control state elections. [2:01:12] And, uh, and then there is some federal oversight that's on it, but the federal government can set [2:01:17] some standards. So if you're talking about the Save American Act, uh, uh, requiring you, [2:01:21] which is within the constitution, by the way, requiring individuals to be citizens of the United [2:01:25] States, I don't think it's too much to ask somebody to prove they're a citizen of the United States. [2:01:28] That's not what we're talking about. I'm talking about administering the elections. [2:01:31] If you are secretary of homeland security, do you feel you have the authority to put uniformed [2:01:37] military officers in the United States to be there if there was a specific threat for them to be there, [2:01:47] not for intimidation? So even though we didn't need it during World War II, we didn't need it during [2:01:51] Vietnam or the war on terror, we never had to put uniformed military there. Now you feel that there's [2:01:57] going to be a reason that there's going to be an armed threat to the United States that you need to [2:02:01] potentially be there? I said, I can't sit there and guarantee hypothetically what threat would be [2:02:06] not. I'm not putting military. That's not within my credit. Uniformed, sorry, uniformed officers. [2:02:10] But if there is a threat, a specific threat, say it's in a Jewish community and there is a threat [2:02:15] that's specific to that, to that polling area, then we will work with local law enforcement. There'll be, [2:02:21] there'll be a reason for us to be there and it'll be known why we're there. I think the reason you're here [2:02:26] and not Kristi Noem is because Americans trust their local law enforcement now way more than they [2:02:32] trust ICE. So I would just say if we ever get to the point where you are being asked to put armed [2:02:38] ICE officers at polling locations, we have lost the plot as a country. We have fundamentally lost it. [2:02:44] And until I hear someone tell me that this man, President Trump, will actually allow us to have a [2:02:51] free and fair election. There is zero trust here. And I cannot trust that he won't try and steal it. [2:02:57] Again, I yield back. Senator Moody. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And congratulations on your nomination. [2:03:07] Congratulations to your family. I can't think of a better person at this moment in time to lead such an [2:03:15] important agency. Talking about Americans trusting their local law enforcement. I think that is true. [2:03:25] I think that's one of the reasons, as the attorney general in Florida, I worked so closely with our [2:03:32] law enforcement, our local law enforcement, to make sure we were triaging our resources and going after [2:03:41] really bad people that wanted to harm our community in a way to make our state safer. And part of doing [2:03:46] that is we supported them. We made sure that they had resources. They had the support behind them. They knew [2:03:56] that we had their backs. I'm proud that Florida was one of, was the first state to have every single [2:04:02] county sign up to work with the federal government. Because we were dealing with an unprecedented [2:04:08] situation following the last administration where you had people working with radicals in that [2:04:13] administration to destroy the border, roll out a welcome mat to everyone, and has left our nation [2:04:22] reeling from an unprecedented surge of people we don't know who are here, many of which before they even got [2:04:29] here had committed crimes and have committed crimes since. The way to recover and shore up our communities [2:04:39] is to work with, in partnership, local law enforcement who have an expertise in their communities. And it is [2:04:48] disheartening to me, not just as a former attorney general or as a former prosecutor, but as the wife of a law [2:04:54] enforcement officer and someone that worked very closely with them, it wrecks me to hear them refer to law [2:05:02] enforcement in general, especially some of the men and women that serve currently in the department of home [2:05:07] land security as breaking into people's homes and shooting Americans. And I think we can all acknowledge [2:05:19] that we want law enforcement to meet professional standards, to act with the public safety in mind, to [2:05:28] comply with the law. But we do not have to disparage an entire profession of men and women who put their [2:05:38] lives on the line for you and for everyone in this room and said that they were going to dedicate their [2:05:46] professional careers to stand on that line and put their safety behind yours. When President Trump got [2:05:54] in office, so many of these states on the democratic side said, I will never work with that man to come in [2:06:00] and correct and rid the communities of people that are going to do it harm. We won't. In Minnesota, [2:06:07] the first thing they said, I will never help that person. I won't lift a finger, the attorney general [2:06:11] said. So in Florida, where you have 67 out of 67 counties signing up, tell me what I can do to help [2:06:18] you. In Minnesota, they had like seven of 87. Does that surprise anyone? No, because their state leaders [2:06:24] said, we will not help you. We will not go after the most dangerous in our communities. Have at it. See how it [2:06:30] goes. We won't lift a finger. And when when the administration says we are dealing with an [2:06:38] unprecedented situation, 11 to 20 million people that's never happened in the history of our country, [2:06:43] how do we do this? We need to make sure we're focusing on triaging and getting people out that we [2:06:50] know may do harm to our communities. They're like, what are you talking about? You can't have quotas. [2:06:56] They won't talk about the quotas where they said we're put to border patrol, push more and more and more and [2:07:00] however you need to do it. Don't tell us how we can stop this influx or this surge. [2:07:06] Tell us how we can push more and they won't talk about that. And they want to tell you about focusing [2:07:11] on children that are here, that are now here. Yes, you need to do that. As somebody that has pushed [2:07:17] to protecting children and fought against trafficking with law enforcement's help, yes, you need to do that. [2:07:22] But I loved how you said, let's talk about the tens of thousands of children that the federal government [2:07:27] helped traffic under the Biden administration that we lost. And when they were made aware of it, [2:07:32] they ignored it. You will now have to take over an agency that is charged with cleaning up [2:07:40] a disaster, a danger. The Biden administration did that. I cannot think of a better person, someone who [2:07:53] acts passionately and fiercely fights for the people he loves and someone who loves this country and [2:08:01] thinks of other people before himself. I am telling you, in Congress, there are all kinds of personality [2:08:08] types. But this man came up to me time and time again as the newest United States Senator and said, [2:08:13] what can I do to help you? How can we make this place work? How can we get this done? And I cannot, [2:08:21] I look over the course of your life, you left school when your father got sick to go help your family [2:08:26] business. That's the kind of person you are, the kind of person that stands up for every person in this [2:08:33] office. That's the kind of person passionate, fierce, a fighter, loyal. That's who I want now, [2:08:41] protecting this country at the head of the Department of Homeland Security. You said in your testimony, [2:08:48] I'll fight for your family just as I fight for mine. Tell me about that personality trait and how you [2:08:55] think that will help the Department of Homeland Security. In this unprecedented time where the last [2:09:01] administration, the last president of the United States, abandoned his role to secure this country. [2:09:08] Tell me how you bring this, the personality and your character traits to this role. [2:09:12] It's the way I was raised. It's the way my, it's the way my dad raised us, the way my mom raised us, [2:09:21] the way they were raised. We love this country. I mean, think about it. I'm getting to live the American [2:09:27] dream. You're telling me a kid from Westville, Oklahoma with a speech impediment would ever be able to be [2:09:31] here. That only happens in America, only in America. And we all probably have the same type of dreams [2:09:37] because none of us have royal blood. Maybe some of your parents might have served in public office [2:09:40] or not. Mine most certainly did not. And the fact that I'm here, my goodness. That's why people want to [2:09:50] come to our country, because they want the American dream. And I want everybody to have the same [2:09:54] opportunity that I have. But we have to secure the homeland. We have to make sure that they feel safe [2:10:00] stepping out and being in the public eye. We've got to make sure that people can have a peace of mind [2:10:05] and trust our government. And right now there's a mistrust in our government. I think we have an [2:10:11] opportunity to maybe work on that. I'm mad at when I say that I hope in six months we're not. I can't [2:10:16] guarantee it because the news choose what they're going to run. But I hope that I'm not on the news [2:10:21] every six months or six months from now every day. I hope DHS is just able to be laser focused on doing [2:10:27] their job and it isn't controversial about taking care of the homeland. I hope people have confidence [2:10:32] in our agency again. And I'm going to work every day to restore that. And you'll bring that same [2:10:39] passion and zeal and protective instinct to protect every family and every community working with local law [2:10:46] enforcement because they know how to approach in a safe manner their communities. Nobody will take care of [2:10:52] their backyard better than the individual. Senator Gallego. Hey chairman. Oh neighbor how you doing? [2:11:01] Hey brother. Good to see you. So some very specific questions. What is the primary mission of [2:11:08] homeland security investigations? From the IG or from us? I'm sorry for from homeland security department. [2:11:16] There's HSI is within homeland security. What is their primary mission? Well it's not a trick question [2:11:22] either. No I understand that. And every agency sir we are we have specific missions that we are targeted to [2:11:30] to look at our aspect of protecting the homeland in different directions have different paths. [2:11:36] And in different agencies region wide there are 22 of them there. We all need to be in the same boat. [2:11:41] We're all in the same direction working for one common goal. And as I said that's protect the homeland. [2:11:46] And bring peace of mind and secure the confidence of the American people. Okay so HSI and I've had [2:11:55] being from Arizona we're very familiar with CP ice and HSI. HSI specifically is very important because [2:12:01] they specialize in dealing with human trafficking, human smuggling, you know counterfeit bank fraud things [2:12:07] of that nature. Actually a lot of friends have worked for them forever. The reason I bring this up is [2:12:11] because there is confirmed reports that the secretary of homeland security has ordered HSI agents pull them [2:12:20] off what I just told you were very important missions to go to Arizona and investigate the 2020 election [2:12:28] results. Right? That's a very big concern of mine because these agents should be doing the work [2:12:33] they're doing. A lot of them already are you know field ice agents instead of actually doing these [2:12:36] long-term long-term investigations. But now they're not even doing the you know ice enforcement. [2:12:44] They're literally going back and looking into conspiracy theories. So you know for my experience and [2:12:51] seeing you both on the house and the senate you know do you believe that Joe Biden won Arizona in the 2020 [2:12:57] presidential election? The reason I ask because again you're potentially deploying HSI agents to Arizona to [2:13:03] check a result using our taxpayer dollars to follow up on a conspiracy theory. Sir I'm not familiar with [2:13:09] what the former secretary did here and nor I'm here to debate what happened in 2020. I do know that [2:13:15] there's an opportunity to look at 2020 and make sure that anything that went wrong we can fix moving [2:13:22] forward because what we wanted to make sure is that and in the next election be it the midterms or in [2:13:27] 2028 the American people trust our election system. Trust is vitally vitally important. So I want to [2:13:35] always look at past mistakes and past successes because I've addressed this multiple times and I [2:13:42] know everybody's busy here and I know you you didn't get to hear me earlier but senator I think we can [2:13:49] always do better and I want to do that just like you and I you know we've worked on immigration issues [2:13:56] before but because we both know we can do it better. But you're talking about perspective I'm talking [2:14:00] about going back and the fact that we're using homeland security funds investigators that should be using [2:14:05] their time and and and value more to check onto something that by the way had multiple independent [2:14:12] audits even one run by the senate republican and senate house state house representatives that passed [2:14:19] accuracy tests hand counts 14 court cases that were confirmed that Biden won in my state and so when I [2:14:25] have personal friends that are HSI agents friends that I know are telling me they are now being diverted [2:14:30] from their duties and what they're doing is they're instead of investigating child sex trafficking child [2:14:35] abusers drug traffickers which I don't disagree we have not been doing uh the best set and certainly [2:14:41] I think a lot of that you know was under the Biden administration did not do that sufficiently but now [2:14:46] instead of uh it not being done now we have the opposite where some of these best trained people [2:14:51] are being ordered by somebody somebody within the chain of command the white house where I get to [2:14:55] quest later to go investigate this false um this this false conspiracy theory right and like as much as [2:15:01] you know for me a concern of mine because you know I do know you very personally and we got into work [2:15:05] together I think you're you know upstanding guy and I reject this idea that you're not qualified for [2:15:10] for this job 100 but when it comes to something as existential as this that's when I have to start [2:15:15] questioning like you know are you going to be in charge of a department that's going to say you [2:15:19] know what HSI should not be used for this as a matter of fact no part no one in department of [2:15:24] Homeland Security should be used to do and uh and investigate an election conspiracy so that's you [2:15:30] know what I want to communicate on this like I really urge you just to end the investigation there's [2:15:35] no reason why we need to be go really getting back to 2020 there certainly isn't any reason why we [2:15:40] should be using these highly trained professionals that should be going after some horrible people [2:15:45] to be investigating conspiracy theories that have been litigated multiple multiple multiple times [2:15:50] and put them back where where they were you know moving on from there my other concern is something [2:15:56] that I I saw you know with uh the previous secretary and something you know I've seen in myself in [2:16:04] my time in the marines is that a chain of command is very important I don't believe there was a real [2:16:10] chain of command that was in uh the secretary of homeland security and when I say that it's because [2:16:16] I think Stephen Miller was the person was actually calling the shots there and you could see the [2:16:21] results of what occurred you had men and women in ice and CBP that felt that they were unaccountable [2:16:27] talking to actual ice and CBP agents from Arizona they got deployed to uh to Minnesota they don't know who [2:16:35] really was in their chain of command they didn't have operational orders a lot of them did not [2:16:39] understand you know how to actually engage with the public uh at all and when there was a point of [2:16:47] who is responsible for making decisions they could not figure out if it was Miller or if it was [2:16:53] secretary Noem and her deputies uh they couldn't figure out if there were quotas versus there are quotas now [2:16:58] we know that there are quotas you know this is the problem is like I want to make sure that if you're there [2:17:03] you're in charge and not Stephen Miller sir uh the president has nominated me to be secretary of [2:17:11] homeland and I'll take full responsibility for that uh chain of command is important I believe in [2:17:15] powering people to make decisions and uh but I will still be uh talking to the president on a regular [2:17:21] basis and any policy that uh that is within my um within my realm of authority that you guys give us uh if [2:17:31] the president wants us to to look at it we'll look at it because I serve at his discretion yeah one thing [2:17:37] I don't know if it's been mentioned here you'd probably would be what the only second um Native [2:17:42] American uh in the history of the country to be a cabinet member which I appreciate you know that I [2:17:47] also do a lot of work with our Native American communities of 22 fairly recognized tribes uh in Arizona [2:17:52] and the the one concern I also have is that when it comes to building some of these installations on [2:17:58] the border there has been very very little to no tribal consultation especially with some of our [2:18:03] border um tribes the total nation where we are building uh walls in areas that doesn't not just [2:18:11] doesn't have much much like you have ESL so I have problems with English once in a while too um the uh [2:18:19] there's a border wall that is going through tribal land that is in very sacred land that is not crossed [2:18:24] uh and used significantly by by human smugglers you know it's important that DHS actually speak to [2:18:30] these communities they actually have programs that they do where they actually are are working with DHS [2:18:35] and local law enforcement to stop illegal uh smuggling called shadow of program that DHS supports but this [2:18:41] last administration um in DHS did not talk to them whatsoever did not talk about you know did not even [2:18:47] give the the vague idea of tribal consultation and now they're just building into some areas that has you [2:18:53] know unfortunately some burials of some of their uh the people from their tribe and so I think it's [2:18:58] important that we reestablish tribal sovereignty and I hope because of your background you'll [2:19:02] understand appreciate that I respect tribal sovereignty and there's a lot of technology now we [2:19:07] do have a job to secure the border but we will work with with tribal nations because there's there's other [2:19:14] ways to have a physical barrier where you can have technology there too and I don't think anybody would [2:19:18] complain about that but yes you know my background we have worked on tribal issues a lot and I appreciate [2:19:23] your passion and I have a lot of good friends in Arizona with tribes that have uh that we've been [2:19:29] on have good relationships with and these tribal nations would absolutely work with you as long [2:19:33] as absolutely they they felt that they were the respect uh and also respect for the land because [2:19:38] yeah we have a history of that Mr. Chairman I'm up I can we're going to come back around if you have a question [2:19:42] uh Senator Holling thank you Mr. Chairman Senator Mullen welcome to the committee I see you have uh some [2:19:50] supporters with you today Chairman Smith good to see you my friend Sean O'Brien is here I want the [2:19:55] record to reflect that my money was always on O'Brien I just want that noted I want it noted for the record [2:20:03] uh Senator Mullen let me ask you this uh in in your own words could you tell us just uh in capsule form [2:20:09] what what is it that DHS what's the mission of DHS as you understand it as you would put it as you would [2:20:14] explain it quite simply it's simple to protect the homeland very good to protect the homeland okay [2:20:22] let me ask you this 10 days ago there was a shooting at old dominion university that left one person dead [2:20:28] two people critically injured the gunman had potential terrorist ties is this a good time for [2:20:33] the department of homeland security to be shut down and unfunded it's the worst time and and keep in [2:20:40] mind we just came up a 43-day shutdown and this is a third time in a year and uh it's it's devastating to [2:20:46] the morale of the men and women we have tasked to keep care take care of all of us all the homeland [2:20:52] regardless if it's a blue state or it's a red state we have to look at it all the same and they [2:20:56] have that mission mindset but they don't have the pay to follow it up a few days before that two [2:21:02] individuals attempted to detonate bombs in new york city in a way that would cause mass civilian [2:21:06] casualties both of those individuals have potential terrorist connections in light of that is it a good [2:21:12] time for dhs to be shut down sir i think with the current conditions this is the worst time we could [2:21:19] possibly do it a few days before that in austin texas three people were fatally shot outside of a bar [2:21:25] there when a gunman opened fire in the early hours of a sunday morning that gunman also had potential [2:21:30] terrorist ties and yet dhs is shut down just a week ago a gunman loaded his truck with incendiary [2:21:37] devices and rammed it into the temple israel synagogue outside detroit michigan as i'm sure you know [2:21:42] 40 law enforcement officers 40 had to get emergency medical attention it's it's a miracle by the grace [2:21:48] of god nobody was killed except for the gunman but 40 individuals had to get medical attention and yet dhs [2:21:55] is still shut down uh let me just ask you this um law enforcement dangers i think i've got a poster [2:22:01] that'll go up behind me here in the last year alone we have seen an 8 000 increase in death threats [2:22:09] to law enforcement a 1300 increase in assaults a 124 increase in vehicular attacks attacks using a [2:22:20] vehicle against a cbp law enforcement now in light of this is it a good time for dhs to be shut down [2:22:28] sir it's it's a horrible time um let's talk about children let's talk about the dangers to children [2:22:34] the national center for missing and exploited children estimates that there are 20.5 million reports [2:22:41] of suspected online and child exploitation that includes almost 20 million reports of child [2:22:47] pornography for 546 300 reports of online enticement of children for sexual acts and 27 000 reports of [2:22:56] child sex trafficking is it a good time for dhs to be shut down no sir um let me ask you if you've seen [2:23:03] this poster that i'm about to put behind me have you ever seen this before senator i don't believe so [2:23:12] there's there's no reason you should have i was introduced to this material by tim tebow heisman [2:23:17] trophy winner who now spends a lot of his time help trying to help child uh work with child victims of [2:23:22] sex abuse this poster reflects every individual ip address in the united states in about a one month [2:23:29] period that was sharing distributing posting or trading child sex abuse material or child pornography of [2:23:37] some form you want to guess how many points there are on that map it makes me sick i have no idea 338 [2:23:44] 000 that's just a one month period now can you see any blue dots on that map cinder mullen yes sir [2:23:50] yeah there's very very you got better eyes than i do i mean there's like very few of them i'd be [2:23:54] surprised if anybody in the audience could see them the blue dots are the number of investigations that [2:23:58] are open look at the red dots 338 000 look at the blue dots you can hardly see them why would that be [2:24:05] because in the best of times the department of homeland security has only 10 hsi agents who are [2:24:11] fully dedicated to doing this that's all congress has given you 10. right now none of those are funded [2:24:17] is this a good time for the department of homeland security to be shut down i think any parent can look [2:24:23] at that and it makes you sick uh especially with teenage daughters like myself that's scary we have to [2:24:30] focus on this it's very scary that's exactly right i'm glad to hear you say that the biden administration [2:24:37] and your predecessor in this role the hounder of mayorkas lost track of 450 000 children who were [2:24:46] trafficked across our border over a four-year period 450 000 children it's the biggest child trafficking ring [2:24:53] that was set up under the last administration in the history of this country the president has been doing [2:24:59] a tremendous job they found in the last year over 145 000 of them that that leaves almost 300 000 who [2:25:06] are still missing and yet the department of homeland security is unfunded and shut down let me just ask [2:25:12] you again does it seem like a good time for that no sir let's talk a little bit about the challenges [2:25:18] that are being faced by people across the country uh who are who are facing natural disasters as we have in [2:25:24] my home state of missouri we had major tornadoes ripped through missouri last spring all across the [2:25:31] state particularly concentrated in the eastern part of the state the st louis area southeast missouri we [2:25:36] have thousands of thousands of people who are without power who lost their homes many who were injured [2:25:42] we have had much disaster aid approved by fema but we're still waiting for some of that aid to get to us [2:25:48] and now fema is shut down so i've got thousands of people in missouri who are awaiting the aid that [2:25:55] the president has approved by the way and that fema has approved but that's in the process of coming [2:26:00] to the state i've got probably hundreds of people who are not able to go back to their homes and who are [2:26:05] applying for individual assistance that hasn't yet been processed by fema and now they're being told [2:26:11] well sorry there's nothing we can do because fema shut down does this seem like a good time for dhs and fema [2:26:17] to be shut down no sir in any airport in the country right now if you go and look you will find [2:26:27] hours backups of four and five hours you'll find tsa agents you alluded to this earlier senator over [2:26:33] ten percent of tsa agents now are not able to come to the job why because they make on average forty [2:26:37] five thousand dollars a year they can't they can't afford their rent they can't afford to buy groceries [2:26:42] for their kids they'd miss now two paychecks this is endangering the security of our flyers it's [2:26:47] endangering the security of our airports this is a terrible time for dhs to be shut down here's my [2:26:52] point whether we're talking about children who are missing whether we're talking about the situation [2:26:56] against our law enforcement officers whether we're talking about the dangers to the homeland we're [2:27:00] involved in a major conflict overseas this nation's homeland needs to be secured and yet my my friends [2:27:06] across the aisle have shut down the department of homeland security they have defunded every agency [2:27:12] we just talked about and i just want to ask them how long is it going to take how long are these [2:27:17] children going to have to wait in exploitation how many more are going to have to go missing how many [2:27:21] tsa agents are going to be able to afford to put food on the table for their children how long are the [2:27:26] people of st louis and southeast missouri going to have to wait to get back into their homes before [2:27:30] we can finally have a vote to reopen the department of homeland security it is long past time i welcome [2:27:36] your nomination you're going to be a terrific leader of homeland security i can't wait to see you there [2:27:40] but it's time for this congress to do its job and fund dhs and protect the homeland of the united [2:27:46] states of america thank you mr chairman all right thanks everybody uh we are going to do another round [2:27:53] of questions i want to let anybody ask a question that wants to ask a question but i really don't [2:27:57] want to give everybody seven more minutes i want to kind of keep it depressing questions we'll start on [2:28:02] the republican side does somebody have a pressing question they didn't get to ask would like to ask oh you [2:28:06] back um anybody else senator ernst yes thank you um so again senator mullen i truly appreciate you being [2:28:19] here and i do want to ask some questions i do want to follow up so many people have have pointed out the [2:28:26] various departments uh that exist and are not being funded under dhs so we have a really really [2:28:34] significant anniversary coming up this year so most people will think it's our nation's 250th which is [2:28:44] extraordinary but the other significant anniversary that has impacted so many of us especially those of [2:28:51] us that have served in uniform significant anniversary the 25th year of september 11th 2001. so right now [2:29:06] we are currently in our 32nd day of the department of homeland security being shut down we have men and [2:29:15] women serving in tsa in fema in the coast guard secret service in the cyber security and infrastructure [2:29:28] security agency all of them under dhs not being funded now i just heard in the first round of questions [2:29:39] one of my colleagues on the left say this has nothing to do with ice they are funded if it has nothing to [2:29:50] do with ice why are we not funding these agencies that protect americans especially as we're coming up on [2:30:02] the 25th anniversary of september 11th this fall it's a significant anniversary i hope never to repeat it [2:30:13] but the fact of the matter is that there is a greater possibility of september 11th happening all over [2:30:21] again because we are not properly funding the men and women that protect our homeland so i don't want to [2:30:32] hear folks say it has nothing to do with ice because i do believe when we get into the politics of this [2:30:39] it is about ice it is about ice so i would love for my friends on the left to acknowledge it's about ice [2:30:49] but acknowledge that protecting our homeland is much more important than the politics of this can we so [2:31:00] yes question senator mullen do you think it's time to set aside the partisan politics and partisan games [2:31:09] and fund dhs as a whole so that the department can be fully functioning to protect americans especially [2:31:19] as we are approaching this fall the 25th anniversary on one of the greatest attacks that we have ever [2:31:26] seen on our homeland yes senator i i i i look at this as the political theater that we're playing games [2:31:35] with and we're risking people's lives and we're disturbing people's lives as i stated earlier we [2:31:41] have 260 280 000 employees in dhs that's still on the job still working still keeping us safe [2:31:49] without pay i don't know how i'm good conscious you could sit there and think that's okay it is not [2:31:57] okay and i look forward to your leadership at department of homeland security thank you senator [2:32:03] mullen i yield back senator peters yeah i have a couple questions uh for you uh senator mullen but before [2:32:10] that i just want to clarify uh what we're hearing about funding uh for uh for homeland security i think the [2:32:17] the political theater uh has been on the republican side because there is really no debate with any of [2:32:24] my democratic colleagues that we need to fully fund fema that we need to fully fund the coast guard we [2:32:31] need to philly uh fully fund uh uh cissa to fund all of those other areas the tsa folks all should be fully [2:32:39] funded but unfortunately my republican colleagues who control the floor you are in the majority you [2:32:46] determine which bills go on the floor and which ones are up for a vote the way we can do that so we [2:32:53] don't have a floor vote is we can go and move by unanimous consent and move a bill and say is there [2:32:59] anybody that objects to this bill and if they don't object it immediately is passed that's the procedure so [2:33:07] folks at home watching this we have bills that will immediately pass and could pass today we have put on the [2:33:14] floor bills to fully fund tsa and my republican colleagues have objected i heard all this support [2:33:23] for tsa today so i hope you tell your colleagues don't object to the tsa funding bill please don't do [2:33:30] that we could pass it today god that would be great but we heard a lot of theater all this stuff fema [2:33:40] pass it today pass it today coast guard pass it today cissa cyber security pass it today so as [2:33:48] as the nominee for homeland security i would hope you would tell your colleagues boy this is really [2:33:53] important don't object to the bill that allows us to pay for this now granted the cvp and ice are not in [2:34:04] there because we are around negotiating about making sure that there are guard rails in place so that [2:34:10] local or that federal agents have to abide by the same rules as local police you know when i go home [2:34:16] and i say that everybody says really they don't have to do that now like no but republicans are going [2:34:21] to hold tsa hostage they're going to hold coast guard hostage they're going to hold fema sissa they're [2:34:27] going to hold it all hostage because they don't want to give any ground on making sure we just have [2:34:32] common sense guidelines we have a solution for that pass the bills for all of these other agencies pass [2:34:38] them that can happen today we've tried for the last two weeks and my republican colleagues object [2:34:43] don't object anymore and then let's focus on trying to come together and i appreciate your comments [2:34:49] about how we come together let's come together and figure out how we put common sense guidelines [2:34:54] in place for federal agents that are operating in our communities you've expressed an interest in [2:34:59] doing that today and i take you at your word for that so let's do that but let's not make tsa the [2:35:05] a hostage in this whole thing let's pass the bills we can do it so i've heard it i heard hsi funding from [2:35:12] one of my colleagues here i want to be clear hsi is funded because both cbp and ice are fully funded [2:35:20] because of the big bill that passed last year so that funding isn't even in jeopardy what's in jeopardy [2:35:26] we can fix today all the things that are not being funded we can fund today and every single democrat is for [2:35:31] it there's only one republican it only takes one republican to object and apparently that keeps [2:35:36] happening i'd talk to that one republican say stop objecting to this if you truly all believe in that [2:35:41] stop objecting to it hsi is getting money now because of the big bill but what's the problem with [2:35:47] hsi and i agree with my colleague with child exploitation i'm going to be at the top of the list [2:35:53] when it comes to making sure we're doing as much as we can to stop that but unfortunately this [2:35:59] administration has actually transferred all those hsi people to immigration enforcement they're not even [2:36:05] doing what they were supposed to be doing so i would hope if you are confirmed you will bring those [2:36:10] folks back to their role that my colleague says is so important which i agree with but why did the [2:36:16] administration send them off to immigration work then apparently administration doesn't think is as [2:36:21] important as my colleague and i just want to uh wrap up here uh questions that we had related to uh to [2:36:30] your to your bio and the biography is important and it's important that we fully understand how you're [2:36:36] presenting yourself and if there are any ambiguities we want to work that out uh on march 11th i sent you [2:36:43] a letter asking for information about any activity related to any special assignment which you talked about [2:36:48] here today that you have been uh involved in there was no exception for official travel or any of that it [2:36:55] was we just asked any of these special assignments that you have talked about you responded to the [2:37:00] committee in that letter by saying my voluntary work included special assignments outside of dod was that [2:37:06] i offered support and mentorship from a christian perspective to both afghans that supported our efforts [2:37:12] uh and other personnel uh that served in war zones you stated your special assignments occurred intermittently [2:37:18] between 2006 and 11. my letter did not exclude official travel and it also gave you explicit instructions [2:37:27] in that letter for providing classified information how we could do that and do it in a way that protects [2:37:34] that classified information uh you didn't provide any of that and today is the first time that i'm hearing [2:37:40] about your classified activities from 2015 to 16 quite frankly as we've had these conversations you have [2:37:47] not been forthcoming with me or this committee the story always seems to evolve to kind of change [2:37:56] and as you know candor honesty transparency are absolutely critical particularly at this time to try to build [2:38:02] trust as the secretary of homeland security so we have to clear this up we feel pretty strongly we have to [2:38:09] understand exactly what this is especially with all your public comments that have raised a lot of [2:38:13] questions uh we've checked uh the skiff is available we're going to go in the with we would love to [2:38:18] have you come to the skiff and tell us exactly uh what you're talking about i think that'll put my [2:38:23] colleagues uh mind to peace would you be willing to go to the skiff this afternoon and tell us the classified [2:38:29] uh activities you're talking about sir um i think this committee made it very clear with the paperwork they gave me [2:38:35] that i do not have to disclose my person or not my uh my official travel that was part of the documents [2:38:43] it and it went over two or three times i complied with exactly what the committee said and there is no [2:38:49] statement for or no area for mission work and mentorship that was a volunteer basis that i did on my own [2:38:54] time and it was very specific over and over again that you don't have to claim official travel we we want to [2:39:01] know what this what the supposed uh classified work was we we have real questions about it i asked the fbi [2:39:09] yesterday i said uh and if someone had appeared in any classified document any document would that [2:39:16] be in this report and they said yes i said well i don't see anything for for senator mullen why is that [2:39:21] they said nothing showed up we query the department of state the department of defense [2:39:25] uh other intel folks so you're in no classified document that the federal government has according [2:39:31] to the fbi and yet you're telling me you did all this classified work i i don't i don't understand how [2:39:36] that wrecking sir i didn't say all i was very clear with what i said um i get what you're trying to [2:39:42] get here get to here that's fine but i complied with everything the document said and it was official [2:39:47] travel and it was a classified trip well let me let me just chime in on this um i've agreed this is the [2:39:55] the fastest hearing anyone's ever had this will be the fastest vote anyone's ever had and that's [2:39:59] despite my uh qualms uh and problems with your nomination and i'm willing to do that but when the [2:40:06] fbi came to my office i asked them if you had done any kind of work for the cia the dod or any other [2:40:12] i haven't let me finish any of these kind of agencies or any kind of classified work and they said [2:40:17] the way it works is you would have a separate folder if you've been involved in classified missions [2:40:22] somewhere and we get to see the fold and then we wouldn't talk about it we would look at it [2:40:27] privately and we would know what you're referring to so it's confusing to us because there may have [2:40:32] been some papers that said your official trips were excluded i don't know which ones were and weren't [2:40:37] but you've now mentioned today that you have activities you've done and so i think it would be [2:40:41] easy and i'm still willing to have the vote tomorrow but i can cancel the vote tomorrow i'm still [2:40:46] willing to have the vote get this done and and and and get it over with but i think that um just to [2:40:52] make clear and it doesn't sound like it's a secret you're too concerned about divulging if you would [2:40:58] to spend an hour and go to this together for 30 minutes and just tell um both the ranking member and [2:41:04] the other and it would be private and it won't be revealed i think it would get this over with and [2:41:07] we wouldn't have a complaint about going ahead with a vote tomorrow i have no issue with that if you [2:41:12] guys get cleared on it because i wait my understanding was is there's only four people [2:41:16] right in it and it was a special program inside the house uh just like i wasn't on intel at the [2:41:22] time i'm not saying i was uh but i have no issue with that at all i would welcome being being brought [2:41:28] up it's very unique and it was that would be on you we're not going to try to figure out who the four [2:41:33] people are and whether we can be of approval to it and uh i don't if you're doing something that [2:41:38] important uh really it probably ought to be revealed and discussed sir senator i don't or chairman um [2:41:45] it's not on me to i don't have the authority to do that um but this is and this is why i said i was [2:41:51] very very um clear i'm sorry that i never talked specific dates or or uh or locations on this uh and [2:42:00] so i have i have zero issue with talking about it um but do it this afternoon i i don't have [2:42:07] clearance to talk about this this afternoon i i don't it's not me to release this is a legislative [2:42:13] program this is a program that congress assigned you to yes this was within my official duties who [2:42:20] assigned it to you sir that's not for me to talk to you about on this i'm sorry this is a classified [2:42:25] this isn't a classified i'm sorry i don't i'm not trying to be ugly you know how classified [2:42:29] situations which agency which agency classified it it was it wasn't an agency it was it was done here [2:42:37] well in the house on the time the house classified it i'm assuming i don't i wasn't on i wasn't on intel [2:42:45] we're just not really aware of house how the house classifies i have i have no idea i know every time [2:42:50] we spoke about this we had to go to the skiff um and visit about it but i mean i know there was a [2:42:56] there was a paper that i had to sign before it even started um and i may be wrong there may be [2:43:02] more than four but i know there was only it was only me and three other people that ever [2:43:05] discussed secret that we can't know about it i would think that there'd be some paperwork in this [2:43:10] gift that they should show us saying this is so top secret and this was made i i have no problem [2:43:15] welcome to go to the house this started in 2015 it ended in and mid 20 little late in 2016. i have [2:43:21] i have nothing to hide on this this is too easy i would really enjoy sitting there and have a [2:43:26] conversation with you because i don't want you to have a question or question my character on this [2:43:29] so that's that's very simple for me but i can't make that authorization you guys know that well it's [2:43:36] a little difficult for us to go ask about a program that has no name and we have nobody that we know to [2:43:41] talk to about it so i don't know how we would begin doing this without your cooperation but i'm willing to [2:43:46] i'm willing to hold the vote tomorrow but you brought this up that you're on a super secret [2:43:51] mission they can't know i did not say super secret sir i said it was classified only four [2:43:56] only four people know well i only know if there was four people there was maybe people more people [2:44:01] that understood it but i know there was only three people plus me that was ever in the meeting [2:44:05] and so as far as i'm concerned only uh four people was read in on this so i don't come you were on [2:44:10] the intel committee no not at the time no sir i was on the intel committee after that what what committee [2:44:17] were you on at the time you got to think about 10 years ago uh energy and commerce so it was an [2:44:27] energy and commerce top secret ever effort senator i i know i what i'm what i'm getting upset about [2:44:36] a little bit here is that your your tone that you're saying that in a condescending way i did what [2:44:40] i was asked i'm trying to find out who we would talk to sir i don't i was i told you exactly what [2:44:46] happened here i was not required to disclose this on any official travel your documents are very very clear on [2:44:52] that so i don't know what else you want me to say you said you can go find out go find out and then [2:44:57] when i get when you guys say it's good for me to talk to you i'll be happy to talk to you about it [2:45:02] i just i can't talk specifics if you want to talk about in general ideas let's go down and and and [2:45:08] talk in the skiff i'm okay with that but i can't get into the necessary specifics or who made the decision [2:45:14] to do it but i can talk in general and i'll be very very glad to do that with you and even senator [2:45:20] lankford i know is on intel he can come down with us and and visit with us about it i'm no issues with [2:45:26] that at all perfectly clear and and okay with it but it's not for me to release this so if you guys [2:45:34] want to do that we can leave here go down there and talk about this mission involve um exchange of fire [2:45:39] it wasn't it wasn't a mission it was an official travel uh with specific ideals or for specific fact [2:45:48] finding just like any official travel is that they wanted clarification on um and and so i like i said [2:45:58] be happy to talk to you about it if you guys want to it was in a conflict zone sir once again i'm not [2:46:04] talking about specific details or dates because we've revealed that this was this was a classified [2:46:10] situation now i'm not going to talk about any because anything i've talked about in the fact in the past [2:46:14] wasn't referencing any of this but i'm definitely not going to get into it now it's talking about [2:46:18] specific dates or details we would have we would have no way of exploring this unless you were willing [2:46:22] to cooperate on i just i don't know chairman i don't know what else you said what else you want me [2:46:26] to do i said i would go down there and talk about this with you in a skip but i can't give this [2:46:30] specific all this there's no reason to think that somehow we're not qualified to look at classified [2:46:34] information and so the thing is is we would there is a there is a lot of programs out there chairman that [2:46:39] you know is based on a need to know right and and maybe you can talk to senator lankford about this too [2:46:45] senator lankford would you like to talk about i'm glad to jump in this this feels as my mom used to [2:46:50] say a mountain out of a molehill where he is offered over and over and over again to say let's get into [2:46:59] classified setting i just left the worldwide threats hearing where i had to run over to be able to run [2:47:03] back there and meeting with all the folks there there were several questions that i asked there that they [2:47:08] gave me a partial answer and said i'll give you the rest of this answer in a skiff and everybody goes oh okay i [2:47:14] get that because there are some things that are sources methods or actions that we're all keenly [2:47:20] aware of on this and i i don't know what else he could say at this point other than let's get into [2:47:25] skiff and let's actually start with that initial meeting and see how that goes yeah we'll have [2:47:29] initial meetings that's what we asked for uh senator yeah he said he couldn't do that because he wasn't [2:47:34] authorized no i did say that i said i can't give you all the details to it because it's not for me to [2:47:39] release it but i can talk to you in general about it but not in this setting yeah and let's get the [2:47:43] information out and be able to talk it through and be able to find what this is all of us all of us [2:47:47] have been in classified settings let's try to get it done this afternoon i'm available right after this [2:47:51] so if we're senator chairman if you want to we can go leave from here and go straight there yeah let's [2:47:57] try to get our the hearing finished so i really want to let's try no more speeches back and forth on [2:48:02] on all the ice stuff if we can um if you kind of just conclude that we can come back to you in a [2:48:08] minute sure all right um senator has let's try to get off of funding ice and stuff let's just try to [2:48:14] stick to the nomination for now i appreciate that mr chair i do have to uh take a moment because during [2:48:21] my first round of questions i discussed the current impasse we find ourselves um in over ice reforms [2:48:27] and dhs funding and i didn't speak clearly so i just do need to clarify my comments now ice already [2:48:33] has significant funding right now for the president's budget bill from the president's budget bill last [2:48:39] summer which provided the agency with several times more money than its annual budget and gave ice [2:48:46] broad discretion about how to use that money that means that the partial shutdown that we have right now [2:48:52] has nothing to do with weather ice has the usual levels of funding it needs to operate since the [2:48:59] agency already has many times its annual budget it's about instead the need for policy reforms to help [2:49:07] ensure that ice operates using the same kind of standards that state and local law enforcement in [2:49:13] new hampshire and around the country uphold every single day now senator fetterman was right earlier when [2:49:19] he pointed out that this shutdown is impacting other parts of dhs that handle cyber security and [2:49:25] transportation security and other critical functions we need to resolve it right now and as senator peters [2:49:31] just described we have been pushing to do that in the ways that the minority can we need to reach [2:49:38] agreement on ice policy reforms or by funding the rest of the department while we continue to negotiate on [2:49:44] those reforms something i strongly support but unfortunately republicans have blocked the reforms [2:49:50] to ice are critical dhs is supposed to be prioritizing the removal of dangerous and violent criminals [2:49:57] instead we've seen dhs agents assault and even kill american citizens while wearing masks seeming without [2:50:05] accountability so now this is the question it senator if a masked ice or other dhs agent kills an american [2:50:14] citizen should local law enforcement be allowed to investigate and hold that agent accountable [2:50:21] unfortunately local law enforcement isn't supposed to be uh investigating federal that's what doj and [2:50:27] fbi is for now we will communicate uh with local law enforcement but that's not their job fbi it's just [2:50:35] same thing if in most municipalities if there's a fatality shooting there's another agency that oversees them [2:50:43] and in this case it'd be the fbi who is set up inside the doj to investigate those so you've answered no [2:50:49] and your answer would make ice unaccountable and that endangers not just the rule of law but also [2:50:56] the security of all americans i wanted to get to one other question um during the past year dhs leadership [2:51:03] cut cissa's expert workforce by nearly a third meanwhile adversaries and criminal syndicates syndicates [2:51:11] are accelerating their cyber attacks against the united states how do you plan to restore dhs's [2:51:17] cyber security force and better secure our critical infrastructure from cyber attacks man we've got to [2:51:23] recruit the right people but the best and brightest individuals in those areas uh i know the university [2:51:30] of tulsa has a great program um but recruiting individuals that want to do there that want to be [2:51:35] there that want to deliver the mission is vitally important and so we will work to make sure that [2:51:39] that happens so you so you agree we need to add people back into cissa and pursue this critical [2:51:44] function ma'am and they need to be nonpartisan experts with experience and commitment to the safety [2:51:49] and security of our country wherever that leads them no one um and in the homeland should be looking [2:51:55] at this from a bipartisan perspective now if you want me to talk about staffing numbers i don't know what [2:51:59] the mission requires but we'll be staffed adequately if we can find the right people um to to staff our [2:52:07] and to make sure that we're mission capable thank you um mr chair out of respect for your desire to move [2:52:12] things along i will uh submit for the record a question on non-intrusive imaging at the border [2:52:17] it's supposed to be ready to do for every vehicle entering the united states especially to detect [2:52:22] fentanyl um and i'd like your answer on that uh and a couple of other questions as well but i'll submit [2:52:27] those for the record thank you without objection senator lagford thank you uh we talked before about just [2:52:36] trying to get information on time and such um in the transition that happened between the bite [2:52:40] administration and the trump administration uh data fell behind and it fell really behind uh it was [2:52:46] one of my complaints that i had with mayorkus that was sometimes two or three weeks late on releasing [2:52:51] normal data information just how many encounters were happening at the border how many arrests some of [2:52:56] those things on it uh last year it wasn't weeks late it was months and months and months late on getting data [2:53:03] out dhs has a really good story to tell there's a lot of good things that are happening there but my [2:53:09] concern is is that social media and some of the examples are coming out just to tell the story and dhs [2:53:16] is not able to actually tell the story and quite frankly we've asked dhs several times hey give us [2:53:20] more information more data on this one of the things i'd love to know is just that you've been one of us [2:53:26] for a long time in this you know the importance of oversight and what that means on this [2:53:30] to be able to get data to members of congress and to the american people and so quite frankly we can [2:53:35] see the story as well so i'm not asking for a pledge because i already know your heart on that [2:53:40] but want to just be able to open that up on how we can actually get more data and information [2:53:44] our alleged affairs uh department i'm going to stand up and make sure that we're communicating and [2:53:49] getting the information you need it's not going to be fixed overnight but it does frustrate me as a [2:53:54] former member of the house and definitely a current member in the senate that when we make a request [2:54:00] it's not it's not seen now there is a difference between making actual requests because you're [2:54:05] wanting to get to a solution versus harassment badgering people yes there is a tremendous amount [2:54:10] that happens both sides play the games and i'm just not going to play that game i'll work with any [2:54:14] senator i'll work with any committee to make sure that we are getting the information you need to do [2:54:19] your job but just for harassment purposes um don't please i ask you if you want me to do my job and do it [2:54:26] right and be transparent with you don't play games with with me either uh because and if we if you have [2:54:31] real concerns like i said everybody on this committee and uh and really for our colleagues for that matter [2:54:37] have my personal cell phone that number i have no intentions of of changing it unless somebody leaks it [2:54:44] yeah hopefully that wouldn't occur on it one of the quick question on this uh ali marcus when he sat at [2:54:48] that desk before he and i had a lot of conversations about what they called that was labeled the special interest [2:54:54] aliens these these are folks that come from known areas of terrorism but we didn't have any information [2:55:01] on them specifically and so the bite administration just let them in they may say well we know somebody [2:55:05] in your family uh as acts of terrorism but it's not you so they just labeled them special interest [2:55:11] aliens and released them into the country that we know of about 70 000 of those individuals the trump [2:55:19] administration in the last year and a couple of months has picked up 50 000 of those that's part of [2:55:25] this enforcement that's out there to be able to identify folks that i've been ringing the bell on [2:55:30] over and over and over again saying why are we letting people in that we literally say yeah they could [2:55:34] be a terrorist they could not be a terrorist we don't know somebody in their family is but we don't know [2:55:38] them if they are on it so they were just released into the country on that and given that label in fact i was [2:55:43] told we'll keep watching them but when i went to the fbi and asked them directly they were like there's no way we can track 70 [2:55:49] people in the fbi and then we can track 70 000 people so it's been a lot of good work to be able to [2:55:53] try to identify where those people went who they're associating with here in the united states on it [2:55:59] and then removing them from the united states there's still about 20 000 left love to be able to get your [2:56:05] promise to say we're not going to quit we're going to continue to be able to find folks that were just [2:56:09] allowed to come in the country that may be a terrorist and may not be a terrorist we don't know but to be able to [2:56:14] go identify those folks and make sure that american people are protected absolutely yeah thank you [2:56:20] um we're almost done we have two people left who haven't responded this round we've had a lot of [2:56:23] debate over ice funding i hope we can ask just some specific questions to the nominee i can't control [2:56:28] what you ask but that's my hope senator blumenthal thanks mr chairman uh senator mullen uh just months [2:56:37] before the war with iran began uh the trump administration negotiated a back channel agreement a deal with [2:56:48] the islamic republic to deport iranian nationals including asylum seekers dissidents there have been [2:56:57] public reports about it uh cnn on january 26 2026 new york times reported it in a couple of articles [2:57:05] in september uh and december that flights in around that time deported tens of those kinds of iranian [2:57:18] nationals back to iran in as part of this uh secret agreement i want to tell you about one husband and [2:57:26] wife christian converts from islam who were sentenced and absentiated nine and 11 year sentences by the [2:57:33] islamic republic they fled to the united states seeking asylum but they were detained by ice on arrival [2:57:41] the wife was deported she managed to take refuge in turkey the husband i'll call him mr h is still here [2:57:48] but he's facing deportation despite showing scars from the beating he received by a government gang i [2:57:56] have both of their declarations i'd like them to be entered in the record uh there are iranian [2:58:04] american organizations like the iranian american legal defense fund that have further information [2:58:12] i have no doubt that you share my outrage about the treatment of this couple and other [2:58:18] iranian nationals who were deported possibly to torture and death in iran will you agree with me [2:58:28] and commit that we should stop deporting such people ma'am or sir i don't know the specifics behind [2:58:35] this i i think before i can talk about in um hypotheticals i would need to know what the reasons [2:58:42] behind it but i don't want to deport anybody that's here illegally or here legally i mean um and and most [2:58:49] definitely not individuals that are or um have done everything possible uh to be a contributor to [2:58:57] society but in these specific cases i don't know i i'm not familiar with them i don't know if there's [2:59:02] something else in the background that would cause the administration i'm talking in general about [2:59:06] tens of people as many as 55 on one flight 15 or so on another not just this couple but in principle [2:59:15] we should not be sending iranian dissidents and asylum seekers back to iran wouldn't you sir i we do know [2:59:23] that our enemies want to infiltrate us and use our rules and our generosity against us and so i don't [2:59:30] know the specifics of these i don't know their background i don't know what the reasons was [2:59:35] but um i will be happy to look into it let me ask you about another topic um i'm glad that you've [2:59:42] committed that there will not be the kind of review that secretary noem imposed on contracts above a [2:59:48] certain amount uniformly by your office but i'd like your commitment that you will help us investigate [2:59:55] another abuse of authority cory lewandowski apparently was in charge of approving all contracts [3:00:02] one of them was a 220 million dollar contract uh that was related directly to christine noem's [3:00:13] being fired uh they bypassed procurement rules to award that contract to uh a shell company that [3:00:22] was created days before to benefit a republican consulting firm with close ties to secretary noem and [3:00:30] mr lewandowski will you commit to cooperating with our investigation the permanent subcommittee on [3:00:37] investigation making documents and personnel available to congressional and other investigations [3:00:44] into those contracts awarded by secretary noem and mr lewandowski senator i um i've heard these same [3:00:52] reports i know the ig joseph i don't know him personally that's why i say joseph some people call him joe [3:00:58] um is open investigations we will crop cooperate with him and provide all the documents and and [3:01:07] records that are necessary for this committee to do its work that's that's what i'm asking i'll do [3:01:13] everything that's required of me by by law but the ig will be doing the investigation and we'll let um [3:01:21] the ig you know decide what documents he's going to share and maybe you can bring that up with him well in [3:01:27] fact secretary noem obstructed the investigations underway by the ig uh in fact in at least 10 [3:01:37] investigations they were the subject of a letter from the ig are you committing to immediately [3:01:45] begin restoring the department's working relationship with the ig if confirmed absolutely i'll do i will [3:01:51] do everything required of me by law i and in the policies that you guys give me there won't be any [3:01:55] gray area with me uh we want to have a good good relationship with uh with the ig he's got a job to [3:02:01] do and every other agency that's underneath uh dhs and you'll cooperate with the committee in providing [3:02:06] sir i've everything that is required of me to report and anything that you want the ig to do that's [3:02:12] that's between you and the ig uh senator mullins i don't think i need to tell you that the american [3:02:20] people have been appalled and angered by what they've seen in the excessive use of force we've had [3:02:30] hearings before the permanent subcommittee on investigation that have shown aliyah raman a woman [3:02:35] suffering from traumatic brain injury yanked from her car in minneapolis dragged by her arms [3:02:41] leading both of her shoulders to be torn javier ramirez the father of four from california detained [3:02:48] for four days and refused medical treatment for his diabetes we documented these abuses in a report [3:02:55] that we issued and in hearings that we conducted one of them was maramar martinez who was on her way [3:03:04] to donate clothing at a local church when she came across agents in an unmarked car agents sideswiped her [3:03:11] car three masked agents in camouflage stormed out and one of them pulled out his gun and fired at her [3:03:19] at her moving vehicle hitting her five times and the agent then bragged about it he bragged about it in [3:03:27] the text he said i have an mof i won't detail it i fired five rounds and she had seven holes put that in [3:03:41] your book boys shouldn't we be disgusted by an agent that fires at a u.s citizen no criminal record [3:03:52] she was charged senator the charges were dismissed wouldn't you agree with me that that agent should [3:04:00] not be carrying a firearm i'm not familiar with the investigation sir and i don't know if the [3:04:06] investigation is completed uh as secretary i'm sure i'll be briefed on this all right uh time's [3:04:12] expired i know these are important issues but we we just have to move on we're going to finish up with [3:04:16] senator kim and we're going to make a statement that hopefully can be agreeable for a meeting later [3:04:19] senator kim i'll be concise here chairman uh senator there's a couple last things here a couple weeks [3:04:25] ago we had a hearing here and i was engaged with the head of uscis and i raised an issue that happened [3:04:31] in san diego of spouses of military members and veterans they were going in to get interviewed for [3:04:36] a green card and were arrested upon their arrival i just wanted to get your reaction to that you know [3:04:42] is that the kind of behavior you think is acceptable excuse me repeat that again it was uh spouses of [3:04:48] military service members as well as veterans their spouses were going and for the purposes of a green [3:04:54] card interview but were at that point detained and arrested on arrival i've i've heard i haven't [3:05:01] heard about this i've heard of different reports senator and if people are going through the process [3:05:05] and trying to um obtain it legally because we do have naturalizations ceremonies monday through friday [3:05:13] in this country everywhere uh we're going to continue working with those individuals i don't know the [3:05:18] circumstances i don't i'll i'll pass you the details but you know it's something that we can talk [3:05:22] through but just in general here i guess what i'm just trying to get a sense from you is what you [3:05:26] think is appropriate in terms of ice agents being able to operate you know for instance do you think [3:05:31] it is okay for them to operate and arrest people at hospitals sir i will um always support my law [3:05:38] enforcement doing their job um i don't know the circumstances if it's a felony warrant that um that [3:05:46] that the person's at a hospital then they'll go get pick up the felony warranty just like local law [3:05:50] enforcement does the same thing i and so in general i think you need to be more specific on what you're [3:05:56] talking about uh but if you're talking about just doing everyday law enforcement um i think there's a [3:06:03] better approach senator i just want to raise you know i just hear a lot of this from my own community [3:06:08] about concerns of these types of efforts out you know in and around hospitals schools uh churches uh [3:06:16] these are things that i hope we can engage on i know you talked about it with one of my colleagues [3:06:19] about polling sites but these are important discussions and we don't have clarity on what we are [3:06:25] expected to see and it's causing just an enormous amount of concern and challenge within our [3:06:31] communities senator i i don't understand what the concern about enforcing immigration at polling places [3:06:37] anyways because honestly if you're not a citizen you shouldn't be voting anyway so technically there [3:06:41] shouldn't be any legals at the polling spot um and so as i've said before if we're at a polling area [3:06:47] it's because of a specific threat not for immigration yeah look what i will just convey here it's it's not [3:06:52] just about about people who are undocumented i'm hearing from american citizens that are now [3:06:58] feeling like they need to carry their passports around for fear of being stopped on the street you [3:07:05] know there is a chilling effect that is happening that is is wider you know i had to give my father-in-law [3:07:10] specific instructions in case he was stopped upon re-entry back into the united states you know there [3:07:16] is real concern out there and i just wanted to express it to you just a couple last quick things here [3:07:20] uh at the detention facility in new jersey a different one called delaney hall i was there right [3:07:25] after a uh a gentleman was uh died there uh and there was really no documentation really minimal [3:07:32] explanation of his cause of death you know there was was 32 deaths at detention facilities under ice [3:07:38] control last year yet the oversight offices at dhs to do this offices like the office of civil rights and [3:07:45] civil liberties the office of immigration detention oversights they've been gutted and i just wanted to [3:07:50] ask do you uh do you commit to be able to ensure that there is the proper oversight there internally [3:07:57] within dhs working alongside us in congress to ensure that people are being kept at at the dignified [3:08:05] levels that they should according to a law each each facility falls underneath uh different standards of [3:08:11] operation uh that are in statutes we will operate within those statutes um everybody deserves to be [3:08:19] treated with with a dignified hand uh and we will follow those procedures that are that are set for [3:08:26] those facilities particularly i hope to work with you on that uh if you're confirmed because we need to [3:08:30] have make sure we have that oversight as we have not been able to see it and in fact you know some of our [3:08:35] efforts have been impeded because we have not been able to have uh visitation at the some of these sites [3:08:40] and i hope that that's something uh you will support us be able to have one last thing i just wanted to [3:08:45] raise uh with fema there was a number of employees that sent an open letter titled the katrina declaration [3:08:52] this is something that warned about some of the reversals that are being made when it comes to disaster [3:08:56] response and recovery uh your predecessor secretary noem uh she suspended a number of these fema employees [3:09:04] i i just wanted to ask can you commit that if confirmed you will adhere to whistleblower laws and [3:09:09] ensure that these whistleblowers do not face retaliation for their protected disclosure so [3:09:15] there's already laws in place to protect whistleblowers and i've said multiple times i'll work within [3:09:20] the law and the requirements of me uh as secretary and i hope that means that you will ensure that [3:09:25] these whistleblowers do not face uh unlawful uh retaliation for uh what they have done it's against [3:09:33] the law as you said unlawful sir i said i'm going to work within the law um and that's unlawful okay with [3:09:39] that i'll yield back thank you um as i said previously we've scheduled a vote for tomorrow [3:09:43] i'm committed to that there are several members on both sides of the aisle that would like a briefing [3:09:48] in the skiff they have it from one to two if you're willing to do that several members would like just to [3:09:53] walk over and do it and i think that makes it much more likely that we have the vote tomorrow sir i i would [3:09:59] prefer to have the ranking member yourself james and if you want to bring another democrat member that's on [3:10:05] it's it's all or that's on all the all the members need to be able to hear directly and the problem [3:10:10] what appears too many things are siloed and it just looks like resistance that you don't want [3:10:15] everything to come out it would be much more forthcoming if you let any member of the committee [3:10:19] and classified staff into it i think we can get i think okay that's that's fine as long as it's in a [3:10:24] classified setting as long as what yeah that's fine that's fine classified security honor staff and and [3:10:31] staff tssc tssci yes all right um all right thanks everybody for coming today the nominee has filed [3:10:41] responses to biographical and financial questionnaires answered pre-hearing questions submitted by the [3:10:46] committee and had their financial statements reviewed by the office of government ethics [3:10:50] without objection this information will be made part of the hearing record [3:10:53] with the exception of the nominee's financial data which are on file with the committee [3:10:56] to do the quick turnaround between this hearing and the markup tomorrow the hearing will remain open [3:11:00] until 4 p.m today march 18th this hearing is adjourned