Markwayne Mullin testifies at Senate confirmation hearing for DHS secretary

[0:18] The hearing to consider the nomination of Mark Wayne Mullen to be Secretary of Department of [0:23] Homeland Security will come to order. I'm assuming it will commence when he arrives. [0:39] I think he's in the hall doing media. Good morning, everyone. I entered the Senate the [1:43] same year that Representative Gabby Giffords was shot. I knew then that the state of political [1:49] rhetoric was encouraging violence. I think it's imperative now, more than ever, that the leaders [1:55] in our country disavow violence and lead by example. Through the years, I've personally [2:01] been exposed multiple times to political violence. I was in the right field batting cage when the [2:07] crazed shooter unleashed nearly 200 shots at our congressional baseball practice. I'll never forget [2:13] Steve Scalise valiantly trying to drag his body away as the gunman continued. Later that year, [2:21] a Trump-hating felon attacked me from behind in my yard. I was just straightening up from picking [2:27] up a tree limb. I was wearing noise cancellation headphones, never saw him coming, running [2:33] pelvises. I was in a car with a gun in my hand. I was in a car with a gun in my hand. I was in a [2:33] car with a gun in my hand. I was in a car with a gun in my hand. I was in a car with a gun in my hand. I was in a car with a gun in my hand. I was in a car with a gun in my hand. I was in a car with a gun in my hand. I was in a car with a gun in my hand. I was in a car with a gun in my hand. I was in a car with a gun in my hand. I was in a car with a gun in my hand. I was in a car with a gun in my hand. I was in a car with a gun in my hand. I was in a car with a gun in my hand. I was in a car with a gun in my hand. I was in a car with a gun in my hand. I was in a car with a gun in my hand. I was in a car with a gun in my hand. I was in a car with a gun in my hand. I was in a car with a gun in [3:06] tying a rope to the foot of the bed and pulling myself up. [3:09] But even then, the pain was that of a thousand knives. [3:13] Over the year of recovery, I began to cough up blood. [3:16] I underwent removal of part of my lung. [3:19] Complications led to an infection in the space [3:21] between my lung and chest wall. [3:23] I spent a week in the hospital having the infection [3:25] lavaged every six hours through a chest tube. [3:29] Recently, Senator Mullen, if you have time to listen, [3:34] you were confronted by constituents that were angry [3:37] because you voted against my amendment [3:39] to stop all funding for refugee welfare programs. [3:43] Instead of explaining your vote to continue [3:45] these welfare programs for refugees, [3:48] you decided to transfer the blame. [3:50] You told the media that I was a freaking snake [3:53] and that you completely understood [3:54] why I had been assaulted. [3:58] I was shocked that you would justify [4:00] and celebrate this violent assault. [4:02] That caused me so much pain and my family so much pain. [4:06] I just wonder if someone who applauds violence [4:09] against their political opponents [4:10] is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled [4:13] to accept limits to the proper use of force. [4:17] You might argue you were mad and upset [4:19] about being confronted by your constituents. [4:23] But Senator Mullen, your constituents [4:24] are justifiably upset with you. [4:27] By now, most of America knows that the Somali welfare fraud [4:30] in Minnesota stole over $9 billion. [4:33] But instead of defending your vote, [4:35] you took the vote to continue [4:38] these refugee welfare programs, [4:40] you chose to lash out at me. [4:43] You went on to brag. [4:44] That you had already told me, to my face, [4:46] that you completely understood and approved of the assault. [4:50] Well, that's a lie. [4:51] You got a chance today. [4:52] You can either continue to lie [4:54] or you can correct the record. [4:56] You have never had the courage to look me in the eye [4:59] and tell me that the assault was justified. [5:01] So today you'll have your chance. [5:03] Today I'll give you that chance to clear the record. [5:05] Tell it to my face. [5:07] If that's what you believe, tell it to me today. [5:09] Tell the world why you believe [5:11] I deserve to be assaulted from behind, [5:14] six ribs broken and a damaged lung. [5:16] Tell me to my face why you think I deserved it. [5:19] And while you're at it, explain to the American public [5:22] why they should trust a man with anger issues [5:24] to set the proper example for ICE and Border Patrol agents. [5:29] Explain to the American public how a man who has no regrets [5:33] about brawling in a Senate committee [5:35] can set a proper example for over 250,000 men and women [5:38] who work at the Department of Homeland Security. [5:42] Senator Peters, you're recognized for your opening comment. [5:46] Well, thank you, Chairman Paul. [5:48] Thank you, Senator Mullen, for being here today. [5:50] Congratulations on your nomination. [5:53] And I certainly appreciate your willingness to meet with me [5:55] as well as my staff as we consider your nomination [5:58] to serve as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. [6:02] I'd also like to welcome your family who is joining us today [6:06] and to thank all of them for their commitment [6:09] to public service. [6:10] We do it as a family, as you know. [6:13] The Department of Homeland Security [6:14] is a complicated organization with challenges, [6:18] challenging operational dynamics. [6:20] As everyone is well aware, many components within DHS [6:24] are currently operating without funding. [6:27] But let's be clear, Democrats are [6:29] committed to funding TSA, FEMA, the Cybersecurity [6:33] and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Coast Guard [6:36] while we negotiate much needed ICE reforms. [6:41] We tried to pass those bills by unanimous consent [6:43] multiple times over the past two weeks. [6:46] Unfortunately, Republicans have blocked [6:48] those bills each and every time. [6:51] Yesterday, the White House sent a letter laying out [6:54] their latest offer, but the devil is always in the details. [6:58] Administrative action is not enough. [7:00] We need to pass real reforms into law. [7:04] If Republicans really do agree with us [7:06] that TSA and other personnel need to be paid, [7:09] then they should join us and pass the bills to pay them [7:13] today. [7:13] We can do that while we continue to negotiate needed ICE [7:17] reforms. [7:18] But let me be clear. [7:19] These are very straightforward reforms [7:21] that we're asking for. [7:22] We just want ICE to follow the same rules [7:25] that our local police and our local communities [7:28] follow every day. [7:30] But DHS has faced management challenges [7:33] since the start of the Trump administration. [7:35] And over the past year, many of those challenges [7:38] have unfortunately only increased. [7:41] As soon as President Trump was sworn in, [7:43] he made deep cuts to counterterrorism offices [7:46] and programs, forced out or reassigned key personnel, [7:50] and redirected the focus of limited remaining [7:53] counterterrorism resources away from the serious threats [7:57] that we face and towards targeting [7:59] the president's perceived political enemies. [8:03] The administration has also gutted our nation's main [8:06] cybersecurity agency, once again forcing out or reassigning [8:11] highly talented personnel, slashing budgets, [8:15] and limiting the agency's work to help private companies [8:17] address significant cyber attacks, and protect America, [8:21] including Americans from criminal hackers, [8:24] and support secure elections. [8:27] The administration has also taken an axe to FEMA, [8:30] cutting staff and freezing or delaying critical grant funding [8:33] for everything from emergency food and shelter [8:36] after a disaster, to flood mitigation programs, [8:40] and security grants to nonprofits, [8:42] including houses of worship. [8:45] All these cuts and reassignments have [8:46] been made at the expense of vital missions, [8:49] including the core terrorism prevention and response [8:52] department was created to address. [8:55] In doing so, the Trump administration [8:57] has broken trust between law enforcement [8:59] and the communities they are intended [9:01] to protect, a break that will have a generational impact [9:05] on public safety and security. [9:09] And now, after President Trump's reckless war of choice [9:11] against Iran, the threats to our nation have never been higher. [9:15] In my home state of Michigan, just last week, [9:18] we saw both a major medical device manufacturer get hacked [9:22] by an Iranian-backed group, and a horrific, violent attack [9:26] on Temple Israel, a metro Detroit area synagogue. [9:31] President Trump's unilateral and unchecked executive actions [9:33] have put Americans at risk. [9:36] And we need a steady, qualified leader [9:38] at the Department of Homeland Security [9:40] to address these serious threats. [9:43] How the Homeland Security Secretary's response [9:45] to a crisis sends signals to everyone, [9:48] from the department's own personnel, [9:51] to the American people, and to the entire [9:54] world. [9:55] It's not the role of the secretary [9:56] to be a cable news commentator in the wake of a crisis. [10:01] The secretary's role is to lead, lead the response, [10:04] and work to ensure the department that they are [10:06] leading isn't actually the cause of the crisis. [10:10] A secretary who jumps to conclusions [10:12] without the facts, as we saw in the case of Renee Goode [10:15] and Alex Preddy's killings, only worsens the situation [10:19] and actually makes us less safe. [10:22] This is a role where temperament matters, [10:25] where judgment matters, and where experience matters. [10:31] We have seen, under Secretary Noem's leadership, [10:33] how shortcomings in these traits can compound the challenges [10:36] that already come with leading a large and complex department. [10:41] And now, more than ever, we need a DHS secretary [10:45] who is a steady hand, who will provide thoughtful leadership, [10:50] follow the facts, tell the truth, [10:53] and hold agency officials accountable when they [10:56] need to be held accountable. [10:57] We need a DHS secretary who is committed [10:59] to the rule of law and who will protect and cooperate [11:02] with independent oversight, whether that's [11:05] from the inspector general or from members of Congress. [11:09] And we need a DHS secretary who is [11:11] free from distractions and conflicts of interest [11:15] that only undercut the department's work [11:18] and also break trust with the American people. [11:22] Senator Mullen, I appreciate you being here today [11:24] to answer our questions about these concerns [11:26] and your experience and qualifications. [11:28] And while I'm interested in hearing more about your vision [11:30] for leading the department, I do have reservations [11:32] about your readiness to take on such a significant role [11:33] at such a critical time. [11:34] I hope you will provide us with the substantive answers today [11:35] and a candid recognition of where this administration [11:36] has fallen short on safeguarding our homeland security [11:37] as you seek to lead the department as our nation faces [11:38] ongoing security threats and war. [11:39] Thank you. [11:40] Thank you. [11:41] Thank you. [11:43] Thank you. [11:44] Thank you. [11:45] Thank you. [11:46] Thank you. [11:47] Thank you. [11:48] Thank you. [11:49] Thank you. [11:50] Thank you. [11:51] Thank you. [11:52] Thank you. [11:53] Thank you. [11:54] Thank you. [11:55] Thank you. [11:56] Thank you. [11:57] Thank you. [11:58] Thank you. [11:59] Thank you. [12:00] Thank you. [12:02] Thank you. [12:03] With Iran. [12:04] Senator Mullen is to be introduced today [12:05] by Senator Lankford. [12:06] Senator Lankford, you are recognized [12:07] for your introduction or witness [12:08] before. [12:10] Thank you. [12:11] I'm proud that you're here. [12:12] I get the honor and getting a chance to be able [12:13] to recognize and introduce my friend, Mark Wayne Mullen, [12:17] my fellow Senator from the state of Oklahoma [12:19] and somebody that I've seen work incredibly hard [12:21] to be ready for every single task you've ever taken on [12:23] and to be able to only do it, but [12:26] do it well. [12:27] There are a lot of folks that think they know [12:28] you actually get to know you and I have had [12:32] opportunity to be able to serve beside you for now over a decade and have seen [12:36] your tenacity in your work effort. Folks may not know that the first time we [12:39] really got to know each other, ironically enough, was around a natural disaster, a [12:44] FEMA event. It was Briarwood Elementary in 2013 when a tornado came right [12:51] through the heart of Oklahoma. You had literally just been elected a few weeks [12:55] before that and had just taken the oath of office. The Oklahoma delegation all [13:00] gathered together at the very tragic event there at Briarwood Elementary and [13:04] while we were meeting with the principal and meeting with teachers and families [13:08] and walking through the debris field that was that elementary school, we [13:12] turned around to be able to look for Mark Wayne and for a minute we couldn't [13:15] find him because in one of the debris piles there was water shooting out of [13:20] the middle of it and his plumber instinct said, I got to go find that and [13:24] figure out how to solve that. And so while everyone else was shaking hands [13:28] and meeting people, he was digging through the [13:30] debris pile to find Mark Wayne. [13:30] He was digging through the debris field to find a way to be able to shut off the [13:33] water that was shooting through the middle of that destroyed elementary [13:36] school. And I remember smiling and thinking, he's a guy that doesn't mind [13:40] getting his hands dirty to actually go solve the problem. Where there's a [13:43] problem he can solve, he's going to do whatever it takes to actually solve it. [13:48] Mark Wayne grew up in a very small town in far eastern Oklahoma, ironically [13:53] named Westville, in the easternmost part of Oklahoma. Just 1,300 people call [13:58] Westville home. He grew up in a family of modest people. He grew up in a family of [14:03] modest means. I think that'd be safe to be able to say. The youngest of seven children [14:07] in a family that just didn't have much. His dad ran a very small plumbing company [14:12] that then Mark Wayne took on and grew into being one of the largest plumbing [14:15] companies in the entire state. He married his high school sweetheart, one of the [14:21] smartest things he ever did at just 20 years old. And he and Christy have [14:26] developed a family that is a beautiful family of three children they had [14:30] naturally and three children they chose that they adopted. [14:34] And took them in. It is a remarkable family and a remarkable success that you [14:41] have actually led through a lot of hard work and a lot of love and tenacity. He [14:46] is a person of faith that is not afraid to be able to talk about his faith in [14:49] Jesus Christ. He's also a person who has deep respect for all people. Mark Wayne [14:54] has served in Congress for 14 years, 11 years in the House of Representatives, [14:57] three here in the Senate. He's passed legislation that he will now be charged [15:02] with actually implementing it in the order that was actually issued by the [15:04] Senate. He's served on the Appropriations Committee here, he served on [15:08] Armed Services, he's served on the HELP Committee here, and he's done an [15:12] incredible job in the work that he's done with Indian Affairs. He is somebody [15:16] who has the rare gift of bringing people together on both sides of the aisle. And [15:21] the one thing I would say to every single person on this dais, regardless [15:24] of your Republican or Democrat, if you want to sit down and talk about an issue, [15:28] he's glad to be able to talk about it and to be able to work it out. And has [15:33] very good relationships in the House, in the Senate, in the House, and in the House. [15:36] And he is not afraid to ask questions when he doesn't know the answer and to be [15:41] able to research things. He and I have often talked about being up late, both of [15:46] us, working on researching through an issue to try to be able to learn more [15:49] about it. Because the crazy thing about being in Congress is you don't know [15:53] everything. You got to do the work. And Mark Wayne is not afraid to do the work. [15:58] Over the past year and a few months, we've seen incredible progress on our [16:05] southern border. [16:08] Over 18 months ago, I think we forget what it looked like. 12,000 people a day illegally [16:14] crossing our border, just being waved in. No vetting, no background checks, 12,000 people [16:22] a day. That is not happening anymore. Our numbers are down on the southwest border 96 [16:29] percent. So you walk into an agency that has finally restored some order to our southern [16:35] border. But there's a lot of work still to do with FEMA, with other areas of homeland [16:40] security, and a very large agency with 250,000 people that are actually under your leadership [16:46] there. So I am confident that you'll be able to take those things on. [16:50] Not only am I confident, the National Border Patrol Council has already sent a letter in [16:55] strong support here. And Mr. Chairman, I'd like to ask UNAM's consent to insert to the [17:01] record the National Border Patrol Council, their letter of support, leadership of the [17:05] Cherokee Nation, their strong support. And then my fellow Senator, K.J. [17:10] Britt, as an opening statement, who I'd like to also submit for the record with UNAM's [17:15] consent. Without objection. Thank you. This is a person that actually lives what we affectionately [17:20] call in Oklahoma the Oklahoma Standard. That when hard things actually occur, you step [17:26] up and you serve your neighbor. And you find ways to be able to help people to do the hard [17:31] things that have to be done. So Mark Wayne, I appreciate your leadership. I appreciate [17:35] your willingness to be able to step up in a season where DHS needs a leader to be able [17:39] to step into that role and to be able to help our nation in so many different complicated [17:43] areas. [17:43] Especially at a time when right now we can't even get funding to DHS. We've got to be able [17:49] to have good, solid leadership there. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [17:54] It's the practice of this committee to swear in witnesses. Will the nominee please stand [17:58] and raise your right hand. Do you swear that the testimony you will give before this committee [18:05] will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? So help you God. Senator Mullen, [18:14] you are recognized for your opening statement. I think before I can start my opening statement, [18:18] I have to address the remarks the chairman made, calling me a liar. Sir, I think there's [18:24] a lot of people in this room that I know, that I've been talking to for several years, [18:29] and that I'm not a liar. I think everybody in this room knows that I'm very blunt and [18:33] direct to the point. And if I have something to say, I'll say it directly to your face. [18:37] If you recall back in my house days, we actually did have this conversation because of the [18:42] remarks that I made. You're in a room. I simply addressed that I said I could understand because [18:49] of the behavior you were having, that I could understand why the neighbor did what he did. [18:54] As far as my terms of the snake in the grass, sir? I work around this room to try to fix [18:56] Seems like you fight Republicans more than you work with us. [18:59] I did address those remarks. [19:01] I did explain your gimmicks by the amendment you put forth. [19:05] And as far as me saying that I invoke violence, I don't. [19:09] I don't think anybody should be hit by surprise. [19:11] I don't like that. [19:12] But if I do have something to say, everybody in this room knows I'll come straight to you. [19:18] I'll say it publicly and I'll say it privately, but I'll never say it behind your back. [19:22] So for you to say, I'm a liar, sir, that's not accurate. [19:26] And I got proof to say that because you have spent millions of dollars in my campaigns against me. [19:32] Because we just don't get along. [19:34] However, sir, that doesn't keep me at all from doing my job. [19:39] I can have different opinions with everybody in this room. [19:41] But as Secretary of Homeland, I'll be protecting everybody, including Kentucky, as much as I will my own back yard in Oklahoma. [19:48] It's bigger than the partisan bickering that we have. [19:52] It's bigger than the political differences we have. [19:54] The truth is, I have a job to do. [19:57] And I don't like to fail at anything, at all. [20:01] So I can set it aside, if you're willing to set it aside. [20:05] Let me earn your respect. [20:07] Let me earn the job. [20:09] I won't fail you. [20:11] I won't back down from a challenge. [20:13] And I'll also admit when I'm wrong. [20:15] I'm not perfect. [20:16] I don't claim to be perfect. [20:18] I make mistakes just like anybody else. [20:21] But mistakes, if you own them, you can learn from them. [20:25] And you can move ahead. [20:27] And I'll make that commitment to you. [20:29] Ranking Member Peters, Chairman Paul, [20:34] I do thank you for your support. [20:35] I thank you for this opportunity. [20:37] It is a humbling experience. [20:39] A kid from Westville, Oklahoma, [20:42] that grew up with a dad that worked hard. [20:49] He set the work example for all of us. [20:52] And all my families, and my siblings, we all work hard. [20:56] And I'm proud of the family we have. [20:58] But to say that a kid with a bad speech impediment [21:00] would one day sit up here in front of you, [21:03] and be nominated to be the Secretary of Homeland? [21:06] It was humbling enough to be selected by Oklahoma [21:10] to be their U.S. Representative [21:11] when I didn't even know how to tie a tie. [21:14] And 10 years later, to be able to be called [21:16] a United States Senator and serve with all you guys. [21:19] And I respect every one of you guys. [21:21] I do, regardless if I have an opinion about you or not. [21:24] You were elected by your state, and I respect that. [21:27] I may disagree with you, but I respect it. [21:28] Because we all make decisions based on two things, [21:31] that we are raised, which never changes, [21:34] and our life experiences with constantly change. [21:38] For me, to be able to have the love of my life behind me, [21:43] somebody I literally fell in love with in third grade, [21:52] I knew I was gonna marry her in eighth grade. [21:54] She didn't know that yet. [21:55] We had to work through that process. [21:58] But at 18 years old, and I was 19, she agreed to marry me. [22:04] I didn't have anything. [22:05] I was on a wrestling scholarship, living in a dorm. [22:08] She was cheering at Northeastern State University. [22:12] I think she fell in love with my truck, [22:13] because my truck was pretty cool. [22:15] But the truth is, we didn't know what we didn't know, [22:20] but we did know we loved each other. [22:22] And I haven't been perfect, and I apologize to her [22:24] quite often and send her flowers all the time. [22:28] But I'm humbled by the fact that we've got to enjoy [22:30] this walk together. [22:31] We've had God on our side, and her right beside me. [22:34] And to our six children who's been on this adventure with me, [22:38] what an adventure it's been. [22:40] We have a saying in our family, [22:41] you're never gonna change anything [22:42] you're willing to tolerate. [22:44] That's how we live our life, and that's how we move forward. [22:48] And regardless of what's in front of us, [22:55] we always take it on as a family. [22:58] And I'm not scared of a challenge. [23:01] I am scared of failure. [23:04] And so I will work hard. [23:05] Each day. [23:08] I'll work hard to make the 280,000 employees at DHS [23:13] with the 22 agencies that's underneath me proud. [23:16] They'll show, I'll show them somebody [23:18] that no one will outwork. [23:21] I'll work beside them every single day [23:24] to not just secure a homeland, [23:26] to bring peace of mind and confidence to the agency. [23:31] My goal in six months is that we're not [23:34] in the lead story every single day. [23:39] My goal is for people to understand [23:40] we're out there, we're protecting them, [23:43] and we're working with them. [23:45] My goal is to make every one of you guys proud. [23:48] My goal, for those that don't support me, [23:50] regret not supporting me. [23:54] But we have to get DHS funded. [23:58] We have to. [24:00] My friends, we have to set the partisan side down. [24:05] And we have to realize that we're putting our homeland [24:10] and the peace of mind at risk for the American people. [24:15] Sometimes it's political theater, [24:16] sometimes it's true differences. [24:19] But what we do know is that we're playing a game. [24:20] We're playing with fire. [24:22] We have 280,000 DHS employees right now [24:25] that are on day 30 without pay, [24:28] and they're still showing up every single day [24:31] to do their job. [24:34] That is a dedicated group of people. [24:38] And we should all be proud of them. [24:40] We should all be working together. [24:41] We should all be trying to fund them. [24:44] So I pray, seriously, I pray that we can get past this. [24:49] That once this hearing is over [24:50] and once we go through this process, I get it. [24:54] I get some of it's gotta be political theater. [24:56] I understand it. [24:57] I've had to really pray about my attitude. [25:01] But I will say, once it's over, [25:05] I hope we can work together and get them funded. [25:06] So when I walk in, if I'm fortunate enough to be confirmed, [25:11] if I walk in as secretary, [25:16] that these guys are ready to go to work day one. [25:18] So God bless you. [25:19] Thank you so much for this opportunity. [25:21] And I look forward to your questions. [25:25] It's the standard practice of this committee [25:27] for the chairman to ask nominees the following question. [25:30] Do you agree without reservation to comply [25:32] with any request or summons to appear or testimony? [25:35] And if so, would you like to testify [25:36] before any duly constituted committee of Congress [25:38] if you're confirmed? [25:42] I do. [25:42] We will now proceed to seven minutes of questioning. [25:49] The record should show, and I think will show, [25:52] a lack of contrition, no apology and no regrets. [25:56] For your support, you completely understand the violence [26:01] that was perpetrated on me. [26:03] You're unrepentant. [26:04] The only thing you quibble about is whether I met you [26:06] somehow when you were in the house. [26:07] I don't think we ever met when you were in the house. [26:09] And this idea that the only thing you're upset about [26:12] is not that you were for violence. [26:14] What you're upset about is that I called you a liar [26:17] because you said it to my face. [26:18] It's really more about this machismo that you have. [26:24] When in Oklahoma, the media ask you [26:27] about the refugee welfare programs, the programs you [26:30] voted to continue funding, it was this whole idea [26:33] that you were going to transfer because you were uncomfortable. [26:36] Your anger, low impulse control, you know, [26:38] causes you to then go after and decide that you're going [26:41] to go after me as well. [26:43] And so you say you completely understood that I was assaulted [26:47] from behind, had six ribs broken and part of my lung removed. [26:50] And that was just fine. [26:51] That's something that you, I guess, approve of [26:54] as far as resolution of political problems. [26:57] When I talked to you privately on the phone, [26:59] there was no apology. [27:01] You just said, well, we can let our political difference [27:05] go by and you said a few minutes ago, [27:07] we can just set it aside. [27:09] Well, political differences we can, but when you say, [27:12] that you agree with a felon, a Trump hating felon [27:16] who attacked me, somehow you think I'm just going [27:18] to set that aside. [27:19] Oh, it's no big deal. [27:21] You know, I lay in pain for two months, had six ribs broken, [27:24] three of them separated, grinding upon bone on bone [27:28] for months, had part of my lung removed. [27:30] And you think that's great and to be extolled. [27:32] I mean, the sheer lack of any kind of self-awareness [27:37] that you're going to be leading thousands of men and women [27:40] who will be, [27:42] it's a force and there's been great questions in our country [27:44] about how that will be used. [27:45] And you think a violent attack is just fine. [27:49] So I guess my first question is, [27:51] do you think that justifying that kind of violence [27:54] sets a good example for the men and women of ICE [27:56] and border patrol? [27:59] Mr. Chairman, first of all, [28:01] I didn't know the exceeding your damage. [28:03] When the phone call was made, [28:04] I made it to you and I tried to talk to you. [28:07] You didn't engage at all. [28:08] In fact, you said, get your paperwork in. [28:10] It's gotta be at three works, three days in between. [28:11] You offered no apology. Sir? [28:14] And you offer no apology today and no regrets. [28:19] Haven't heard the word apologize, [28:20] haven't heard the word regret, [28:22] haven't heard I misspoke and it was heated [28:24] and I made a mistake. [28:25] I haven't heard any of those words. [28:27] Sir, actually it wasn't heated [28:29] and I'm not apologizing for pointing out your character. [28:31] Good, good. [28:32] So you're jolly well fine and you want the American public [28:35] and the people up here to vote [28:37] that may or may not vote for you [28:38] to know that you supported the felonious violent attack [28:42] on me from behind. [28:43] I did not say I supported it. [28:45] I said I understood it. [28:47] There's a difference. [28:48] By calling you, by calling you. [28:49] And so that means you really didn't approve of it, [28:51] just completely understand it. [28:52] What do you think most people would interpret, [28:54] completely understand to be, [28:56] support for or a condemnation of the violence? [29:01] Sir, as I said, we can have our differences. [29:03] It's not gonna keep me from doing my job [29:05] as Secretary of Homeland Security. [29:07] I'm gonna secure Kentucky and take care of Kentucky [29:09] as much as I am of the homeland. [29:11] If this were a one-off, it would be one thing. [29:13] If you just disliked me so much that you approved a violence, [29:14] I would be happy to support you. [29:15] I would be happy to support you. If you just disliked me so much that you approved a violence, [29:16] I would be happy to support you. If you just disliked me so much that you approved a violence, [29:16] against me, people could just write it off [29:18] or maybe they hate each other. [29:21] But really, there's a pattern of this. [29:23] Let's go ahead and roll the tape. [29:41] I'd love to do it. [29:43] Stand your butt up there. [29:44] You stand your butt up. [29:44] No, no, stop it. [29:46] No, no, sit down. [29:49] Sit down. [29:50] No, no, you're a United States Senator. [29:52] Actual. [29:53] Okay, sit down, please. [29:54] All right. [29:55] And now you're smarter. [29:56] Hold it, hold it. [29:58] If he got up too, would you have gone at it right there? [30:01] I wouldn't have prayed to uncover the dais at that point. [30:04] You have to be called out on it. [30:05] Not that this guy continues to get away with this stuff. [30:07] And it's just, you know, it's silly, it's stupid, [30:11] but every now and then you get punched in the face. [30:13] Well, it goes back to the 1800s and 1700s. [30:15] They used to have canes. [30:17] And tools. [30:17] They used to have tools. [30:18] And tools. [30:19] Right. [30:20] And there's a way that man used to settle their differences. [30:22] I ignored him four times, be part of that. [30:24] And people say, yes, you're supposed to ignore it. [30:26] Well, you know, I'm not a very good Christian. [30:29] I try to be a good Christian. [30:30] And I know people say you're supposed to turn the other cheek. [30:33] I prefer the dated method. [30:34] Well, we need to move from an almost- [30:36] By the way, I'm not afraid of biting. [30:38] I will bite. [30:39] Biting? [30:40] Well, I mean, yeah, I'm in a fight. [30:42] I'm going to bite. [30:42] I'll do anything. [30:43] I'm not a brother. [30:44] And I don't care where I bite at. [30:47] In hindsight, any regrets? [30:49] No, I really don't. [30:52] So no regrets. [30:54] In fact, even after your anger had cooled, [30:56] you were still bragging that if he'd only [30:58] been brave enough to stand up, you'd [31:00] have jumped over the dais and taught him a lesson. [31:02] Because that's how men should settle their differences. [31:05] Do you think fighting as a resolution [31:07] for political differences is a good example for the men [31:09] and women of ICE and Border Patrol? [31:12] As you can notice over my shoulder here [31:14] is my good friend, Sean O'Brien. [31:17] Both of us have had conversations. [31:19] Both of us have shaken hands. [31:20] And both of us agreed we could have done things different. [31:23] Sean is someone that has become a close friend. [31:25] We talk all the time. [31:27] I've been on his podcast. [31:28] We've talked through this. [31:30] That's how you handle your differences. [31:32] Not like this, Chairman. [31:35] I'm glad you guys are friends now [31:37] and that you've reconciled. [31:39] But really, it doesn't get to the real point. [31:41] Whether or not you think violence [31:42] is the way we settle things. [31:45] In the days after the fight, you said, and I quote, [31:47] sometimes people just need to be punched in the face. [31:50] Is that still your opinion, that political disputes can [31:53] sometimes and often only be resolved by violence? [31:58] No, I don't always agree with that. [32:01] I don't believe in political violence. [32:03] I've made that very clear. [32:05] But sometimes people do need, theoretically speaking, [32:08] that's, sir, I get it. [32:10] It's about character assassination for you. [32:11] That's the way this game is played. [32:13] I understand it. [32:13] And you are making this about you, which is fine. [32:16] But that doesn't keep me as secretary of Homeland Security. [32:18] It's character assassination when you were the one [32:19] lauding the assault. [32:21] Who do you think started that character assassination? [32:23] I'm just repeating what you have done [32:26] in character assassination. [32:27] I'm repeating your support for the assault. [32:31] So that's somehow something I started? [32:33] No, sir. [32:34] What I'm saying is you're adding a lot to it. [32:37] In the days after the fight, you did many interviews [32:39] in which you justified the violence as historically [32:42] justified by precedents, such as caning [32:45] and dueling. [32:46] Is it today your opinion that the caning of Charles Sumner [32:50] was not only justified but argues still [32:53] for resolving our political differences with violence? [32:56] What I was simply pointing out is some of the rules that still [32:58] apply to this body. [33:01] For instance, dueling with two consenting adults [33:04] is still there. [33:06] I was pointing out what is still acceptable. [33:07] It's been illegal for 170 years. [33:10] There's no precedent for legal dueling. [33:13] Even then, they fled the country. [33:15] Do you realize that the man that beat Charles Sumner [33:18] with a cane, he beat him till he was unconscious. [33:21] You know why no senators intervened? [33:22] Because his friend held a gun on the other senators, [33:25] and he kept beating him and beating him [33:27] until he crushed his skull. [33:28] That's what you're insinuating is the precedent of the Senate, [33:31] and that's what you live by. [33:33] That is a very, very dangerous sentiment. [33:42] After a half a dozen victory lap interviews [33:44] where you pointed out that the union guy was just [33:46] lucky that fear kept him from standing up, Dana Bash asked you [33:51] if you have any regrets. [33:51] You said you have no regrets about bringing violence [33:52] to a Senate committee, and you replied [33:54] that you have no regrets. [33:56] Today, you've said you have no regrets about being happy, [33:59] being completely understanding why I was attacked from behind. [34:04] You had no regrets about instigating a brawl [34:08] in a Senate committee hearing. [34:09] Are those still your opinions? [34:12] Mr. Chairman, you're going to have your opinion. [34:14] I'm going to have mine. [34:15] As the Secretary of Homeland Security, [34:17] I'm going to bring peace of mind and security to this country, [34:21] and I'm going to stay laser focused on that. [34:23] Senator Peters. [34:24] Senator Mullen, you have made several public statements [34:32] suggesting that you were involved in special security [34:35] forces or combat operations overseas. [34:40] In 2023, you said in a Senate Republican Conference podcast, [34:45] and I'll quote, there's another side of my bio [34:50] that I don't ever talk about, nor will I. [34:54] I had to go do something overseas. [34:58] On March 2nd of this year, you told Fox News interview, quote, [35:02] war is ugly. [35:04] It smells bad. [35:05] If anybody has ever been there and been [35:07] able to smell the war that's happening around you [35:10] and taste it and feel it in your nostrils and hear it, [35:15] it's something you will never forget. [35:18] On March 3rd, in a podcast interview, you stated, quote, [35:22] I did special assignments outside of DoD, now DoW. [35:27] I never wore the uniform or the flag on my shoulder, [35:31] but I might have been in the same area. [35:33] Your statements in public interviews and your responses [35:36] to the committee are, quite frankly, are confusing, [35:39] and they are inconsistent. [35:41] And I'd like you to clear this up. [35:42] You're under oath. [35:43] We can clear it all up right now. [35:46] And first, I'd like to ask unanimous consent [35:47] to enter into the record my letter to you on March 11th [35:50] and your addendum to the committee of March 12th [35:53] regarding any overseas special assignments. [35:55] Without objection. [35:56] So my question for you, sir, is before your time in Congress, [36:00] other than on vacations, [36:02] with your family, have you ever traveled to a foreign country? [36:07] No. [36:09] You've never traveled to a foreign country? [36:11] Outside of vacation or mission work, no. [36:15] OK. [36:16] Have you, your FBI report does show some travel. [36:24] I think it was to Georgia and Azerbaijan. [36:26] You marked that that was not for tourists. [36:31] Are you referring to August of 2021st, [36:34] when we went to go get the Americans out of Afghanistan? [36:37] I'm just saying. [36:38] That's what that travel was for, which we did clarify that. [36:41] So you have traveled. [36:42] So you've traveled to? [36:43] Yes. [36:43] You've traveled to Azerbaijan and Georgia. [36:45] That was in your FBI report, although you just said you've never traveled. [36:49] Sir, we were, I thought you were referring to a different time. [36:53] But in 2021, it was well documented. [36:56] In fact, it was all over the news. [36:57] And I actually did say that. [36:59] And we put that down on the report. [37:02] But that was, that was us, which was all over the news, [37:06] trying to go with an extremely experienced team. [37:10] I've got other questions. [37:10] Thank you. [37:11] But so you have traveled overseas, despite your previous comment. [37:14] Were you ever, excuse me, ever an employee, volunteer, [37:18] or otherwise involved with the Department of Defense, [37:22] State Department, or other U.S. agency or contractor for any of those departments? [37:26] No. [37:27] And Senator, I think there's a misunderstanding here that I could clear up, [37:30] if you want me to clear up for you. [37:31] Please. [37:32] Okay. [37:33] So, which this is a, this is official trip, and it is classified. [37:38] But in 2015, I was asked to train with a very, [37:45] very small contingency and go to a certain area which was scheduled for 2016. [37:52] During that time, I was asked to go through, [37:57] had to meet certain training qualifications, certain qualifications, [38:01] had to go through SEER training. [38:02] The training and stuff was kind of fun. [38:05] The SEER training was absolutely awful. [38:07] And, and I have spoken general about my experiences, [38:12] but I've never spoke specifically on details. [38:16] On dates or on the mission. [38:20] And that was official. [38:21] And there was nothing in the report to the committee. [38:24] Actually, it said, you do not have to claim any official trips. [38:28] And like I said, that was an official trip that is classified. [38:31] This is an official trip while you were a member of Congress? [38:34] Yes, 2015, 2016, I was a member of Congress. [38:38] Some of it may be public, but it would be very small. [38:42] Most of it, because of my recollection, which we're going back 10 years, [38:46] I think there was only people, only four people read in on it. [38:49] So, [38:49] where was that trip? [38:50] I just said it's classified, sir. [38:53] It's classified. [38:53] So, the letter that we sent to you said that we need to have information of any of these activities. [39:00] It said not official trips. [39:02] Your paperwork was very clear, excluding any official trips. [39:06] This was an official trip as a member. [39:09] Well, we have more questions we're going to have to ask. [39:12] I, when, in the FBI report, I asked, is there anything in that report that is classified? [39:19] That you were involved in any kind of classification? [39:20] There's no classified operation at all, and there's none. [39:24] It was also excluding, it also said excluding official duties. [39:30] It says that, and you guys had the paperwork in front of you, and it always says excluding official duties. [39:36] We had this committee come to us and ask the same questions. [39:40] We talked about doing mission work. [39:42] We talked about doing mentorship. [39:45] But they said official duties that was in your official capacity does not have to be talked about. [39:51] So, where did you smell war? [39:53] Sir, I just said that this was classified, and the dates, locations, and admission, I've never spoke specifically details about. [40:04] Well, we can get that information from you, Mr. Chairman. [40:06] That's fine. [40:07] You're welcome to get it. [40:08] We will want to find out more information about that. [40:10] That's perfectly okay, Senator. [40:11] It's important to have the truth here, and that you're portraying yourself in a truthful way. [40:14] Sir, I'm not portraying myself in any way other than you're asking the question. [40:18] I said I would try to clear it up for you. [40:20] We'll continue to work on that. [40:22] Thank you. [40:23] So, the U.S. [40:25] H.S. [40:26] Officer shot and killed two American citizens this past January. [40:29] You joined top administrative officials in publicly blaming and disparaging the victims. [40:36] Following the killing of Renee Good, Secretary Noem called her a domestic terrorist. [40:41] You, sir, you called Alex Preti, quote, a deranged individual that came in to cause Max damage. [40:49] Could we expect those kinds of quick responses? [40:52] confirmed as secretary? Would you be basically, well, you did. You responded as secretary. No, [40:57] but we're going to just expect that same behavior all over again? No, Senator. I have a deep amount [41:01] of respect for you. We've had our differences, but I do respect you. I think I said this privately [41:06] when we had a conversation. Those words probably should have been retracted. I shouldn't have said [41:12] that, and Secretary, I wouldn't. The investigation is ongoing, and there is, like I said, there's [41:17] sometimes going to make a mistake, and I own it. That one, I went out there too fast. I was [41:22] responding immediately without the facts. That's my fault. That won't happen as secretary. So you [41:27] regret that statement? I already said that. Yes, sir. Would you want to apologize to the family of [41:32] Alex Preddy? Well, sir, I just said I regret those statements. Is that the same as an apology? [41:39] I haven't seen the investigation. We'll let the investigation go through, and if I'm proven wrong, [41:43] then I will absolutely. How would you characterize your relationship with President Trump? [41:50] He's a friend. How frequently have you spoken with him in the past year? [41:58] Often. Most. [41:59] Most of the time about my family. If you want to explain the friendship, I'll tell you. My wife [42:03] will tell you the same thing. When someone loves your kids when they're going through a difficult [42:07] time, like we have, the amount of outpouring of support from the president and the friendship [42:14] we saw going back to 2000 or 2020 was quite remarkable. And so I speak to the president [42:20] from a friend level more than I do a policy level. Okay. I have more questions, but my time is up. [42:26] Thank you, Senator. We'll be doing it in a second round. Okay. Thank you. Senator Moreno. [42:30] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you, Senator Johnson, Senator Lankford. Let me skip the line. [42:36] I have to, unfortunately, go to Dover for the dignified transfer, so I appreciate taking the [42:41] time. It's not often that I get to ask questions for somebody who I've known for a long time, [42:51] meaning in politics, two and a half years is a long time. I've gotten to know you as a friend, [42:55] as a colleague. I've seen you interact as a dad. I've seen you interact as a husband. [43:00] And I just want the American people to know you're a good man. Thank you. That doesn't always [43:06] go through all the political shenanigans. And maybe you're not going to replace Shakespeare [43:14] as the next greatest orator on earth. You talk from the heart. And that's okay. You are who you [43:20] are. And I think that's what you don't apologize for, is just being yourself. And sometimes we're [43:25] imperfect. We don't do the 20-person focus group every time you say a word. We don't do the 20-person [43:31] word. And I think that's what people like about you, Mark Wayne. So I appreciate you being here. [43:35] I honestly just have one question for you. Do you pledge to support and defend the United States of [43:41] America nearly as much as you would protect and defend your family? Without doubt, sir, yes. [43:49] So I'm going to ruin everything for the audience. You will be confirmed. You will have the job. [43:56] And you're going to make this country safer and better. And for that, I thank you and thank your [44:00] family for supporting you. So I will use the rest of my time now to... [44:05] Make a little case to the American people. We have 260,000 families that have not received a [44:15] paycheck in over a month. 260,000 American citizen families who have not received a paycheck in over [44:29] a month. None of those people are in charge of policy. There's not one of those families [44:36] that makes policy decisions for the most part. That's on the people here. There isn't a single [44:43] human being on this dais that has missed a paycheck. Every single one of us has gotten a [44:49] paycheck the last 30 days and before that. And yet we sit here and we do political theater. And I said [44:57] to my colleague, Senator Britt, the other day that in my 14 months here, I only felt ashamed of this [45:05] chamber once. And that was last Thursday. When you saw the ultimate political theater, colleagues [45:13] going, let's fund TSA. How about the Coast Guard? Oh, that's a different person that's going to talk [45:17] about that. How about... [45:18] You can't have it both ways, by the way. You can't have Democrats saying, I can't believe the Trump [45:26] administration is cutting government employee numbers. By the way, over 300,000, we haven't [45:31] missed a beat. And yet at the same time, not pay people who are actually showing up for it. That [45:36] seems decently incongruous. We can't say President Trump isn't defending the homeland. Well, he is [45:41] absolutely doing that every single day. And yet we're allowing these agencies to not be funded. [45:47] And I have... [45:50] I have tried really hard to learn how this place works. This is all very new to me. And I remember [45:56] many, many Democrats saying to me, we have the constitutional duty to fund agencies through [46:05] appropriations. And then we have a separate piece where we argue policy differences, but we should [46:13] never marry both together. Because when you marry both together, you don't hurt us. You don't hurt [46:19] the people here in D.C. You hurt the men and women who are in the government. And I think that's [46:22] a disgrace. I actually don't know how you would sleep at night knowing that you're hurting families [46:32] like that. People can't make their rent payments, can't make their mortgage payments. Their cars are [46:36] being repossessed. They're having to tell their kids they can't send them to dance recitals because [46:41] they did everything right in life except got a job with the Department of Homeland Security so that a [46:46] politician can make a 30-second video online and then use it to fundraise for the next election. [46:52] That's disgusting. [46:53] So let me just say this. What are we not talking about? The ranking member said, oh, look, we said [47:02] we'd fund. He's not paying attention right now, which is fine. We said we're going to fund FEMA. [47:08] When you guys are done talking, I'll continue if you like. Are you done? Okay. Thank you. It's [47:19] extraordinarily disrespectful. All right. So moving on. You said you're going to fund all [47:23] these agencies. Here's ones that you haven't funded. USCIS. Near and dear to my heart. Near [47:30] and dear to my heart. That's how I became a U.S. citizen. [47:33] We've defunded the agency that allows legal immigrants into this country. That is insane. [47:42] Never hear the Democrats talk about that. 3,300 employees just go to work every day [47:45] trying to process legal immigrants. They don't need the paycheck. I'm going to skip the second [47:50] one. Go to the third one. Biological nuclear threat prevention. That seems important. [47:56] That seems like an agency we should fund. 200 employees not getting a paycheck. That's okay [48:01] with the Democrats. The next one, 60,000 employees for U.S. [48:08] Customs and Border Patrol. People who are inspecting packages they work with. Your teamsters [48:13] work with Customs. They're not getting paid. How do you look at those people in the face and know [48:19] that you're doing that? Now let's talk about Immigration Customs Enforcement. 7,000 special [48:24] agents that are stopping transnational criminal organizations, drug smugglers, and human [48:31] traffickers. Are you and the Democrat side asking not to fund that? Because ultimately what this is [48:41] about is we want to fund ICE and law enforcement. Are you suggesting that we not fund an [48:48] organization that attacks transnational organizations? Be specific. Be specific when you [48:55] say you don't want to fund ICE. I want you to say the words, we do not want to fund 7,000 special [49:02] agents that are in charge of stopping transnational criminal organizations, drug smugglers, and human [49:11] traffickers. This job isn't complicated. The American people send us here to get things done. [49:17] And yet for the third time in six months we shut down this government with total impunity. They will [49:26] go home and just make social media videos and try to blame Republicans. It is a disgrace. It's even [49:35] more of a disgrace, honestly, that you talked about the respect that Senator Mullen shares. You [49:40] guys have side conversations, don't listen, and that's fine. You don't have to. But what I'm going [49:46] to do now is I'm going to leave. I'm going to go pay respects to three soldiers who died so that we [49:52] can all enjoy here. And you guys continue with political theater, personal attacks, whatever you [49:56] can do. I know that is a good man. I will vote for you. Our Republican colleagues will vote for you. [50:02] You will get confirmed. You will do a great job. And you will make this country proud, Mark Wayne. [50:06] Thank you. And thank you for standing by a great American person. Senator Hasen. [50:13] Oh, thank you, Mr. Chair. Before I start with my remarks and my questions, [50:19] just with regard to Senator Marino, who has left the dais, [50:23] the American people should know this. ICE is right now funded with more money than it's had [50:30] in past budgets. And the partial limited shutdown that we have right now has nothing to do with ICE. [50:39] Meanwhile, Democrats have consistently over the last week moved to fund the rest of the Department [50:45] of Homeland Security, and the Republicans have blocked that funding. So let's just be clear [50:52] about what's happening here. Now, [50:55] I want to congratulate Senator Mullen and Christy for the nomination. I know your family is very proud, and I know how much you love them. [51:07] I also want to thank Chairman Paul for speaking so openly about a really difficult thing, which is the actual physical impact of violence, and in this case, political violence. [51:19] It is a hard thing to do, but it is a really important thing to do at this time in our country's history. So thank you, Chairman. [51:25] The Department of Homeland Security is a very important part of our country's history. So thank you, Chairman. [51:26] The Department of Homeland Security is a very important part of our country's history. So thank you, Chairman. [51:27] The Department of Homeland Security was created in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks with a clear mission to keep our country safe, secure, and free. [51:37] The Department's work includes counterterrorism operations, disaster recovery, physical and cyber protection of critical infrastructure, and immigration enforcement. [51:46] The stakes for the success of the Department of Homeland Security could not be higher. [51:52] And that's also why Granite Staters and Americans of all stripes [51:57] have been deeply concerned about what they've seen from the Department of Homeland Security under this administration. [52:04] People have been rightfully outraged about the lawlessness from the Department's leadership, [52:10] which has not only resulted in the death of two American citizens, but has also led to the hollowing out of agencies like FEMA. [52:19] So to Senator Mullen and my colleagues, what happens here in this room today [52:26] is not nearly as important. [52:28] As what happens at our border, on our streets, in our communities, and in our businesses tomorrow and every day thereafter. [52:40] So Senator Mullen, I'm going to start with a question I have asked every one of the President's nominees. [52:45] If directed by the President to take an action that would break the law, would you follow the law or follow the President's direction? [52:52] Senator, thank you for the questions and thank you for the concerns. [52:56] First of all, I've enjoyed working with you on several different issues. [53:00] We've had very blunt conversations. [53:03] To answer your question, the President would never ask me to do that. [53:07] Well, certainly everyday Americans who have served on juries would disagree with you about that. [53:12] And the example he has set calls into question that answer. [53:16] I have limited time, as you well know. [53:19] In the past 14 months, Secretary Noem has fundamentally broken the American people's trust in the Department of Homeland Security. [53:27] The top priority of whoever leads this department, [53:30] next, must be to rebuild this trust. [53:34] If confirmed to lead the department, how will you be different from Secretary Noem? [53:42] Senator, I think I've said this in a private conversation too, I love Senator Noem's family. [53:49] And I consider them friends. [53:51] But everybody has different leadership styles. [53:53] And throughout my businesses, when I would have to transfer one manager to the next, [53:58] or one executive to another area, and now you bring in a different one, [54:01] they all have different management styles. [54:03] My management style is empowering people. [54:05] And as I said in my opening statement, I want to protect the homeland, [54:09] I want to bring peace of mind, and I want to bring confidence back to the agency. [54:13] I'm not going to be the smartest guy in any room I walk into. [54:16] But I know how to get talent, and I know how to bring those people together. [54:19] Let me interrupt you again. I'm sorry, sir, because our time is limited. [54:22] But let's be really clear, what Secretary Noem did was give the green light to lawless behavior. [54:27] Are you going to give the green light to lawless behavior? [54:30] I will operate within the parameters and the policies and the laws that you guys set for me. [54:34] And the Constitution of the United States. [54:36] Of course the Constitution of the United States. [54:37] The Fourth Amendment, among other things. [54:39] Of course the Constitution of the United States. [54:40] I'll swear to uphold that when I get sworn in. [54:43] But be very clear, I don't get to choose the laws that I enforce. [54:48] You guys pass the laws. I enforce those laws. [54:51] But shooting a protester who is exercising his First Amendment speech [54:57] and carrying a lawfully licensed gun, [55:01] is not a lawful behavior. [55:03] Now let's move on to another issue. [55:06] Granite Staters pushed back hard [55:09] against ICE's plan to build a detention center in Merrimack, New Hampshire. [55:13] And despite poor communication from the department, [55:16] eventually Secretary Noem canceled the plans for this facility. [55:20] Senator, will you ensure that the Merrimack plan remains off the table? [55:24] Or will you consider restarting it? [55:26] Ma'am, I haven't seen the facts behind it. [55:29] As I stated when we spoke in your office, [55:31] I will work with you on this. [55:33] We want to be good partners in your state and in your community. [55:36] I don't know the strategic purpose of it. [55:38] I don't know what has happened. [55:40] So it's hard for me to state something that I haven't got briefed on. [55:43] But I have made this very clear to you in private and here too. [55:47] I will work with the community leaders and make sure that we're delivering [55:50] for the American people what the President set out. [55:53] I appreciate that. [55:54] In follow-up conversations with my office, [55:56] ICE refused to comment on opening new facilities elsewhere in New Hampshire. [56:00] They've said they won't do it in Merrimack, New Hampshire. [56:03] But will you commit to me that ICE will not open any new facilities in New Hampshire [56:08] or elsewhere in the country without the support of the local community? [56:12] Ma'am, I will work with the local community, [56:15] and I'll work with you in your office. [56:17] I won't be able to speak to that until I understand the risk [56:21] and the reason behind delivering the mission that's set in front of us. [56:25] We've got to protect the homeland, and we're going to do that. [56:28] But obviously, [56:29] we want to work with community leaders. [56:31] We want to be good partners, [56:32] and we're going to work in your state as hard to make sure [56:35] we build relationships and work in that manner. [56:39] Well, look, I will be here for a second round of questions [56:44] because I have a lot more. [56:45] But let me just point this out. [56:47] Americans want to secure their country. [56:49] I agree. [56:50] We all love this country. [56:51] We all know we need to be safe, secure, [56:53] and we all want to be free together. [56:55] The people of New Hampshire will take into consideration [56:59] a request by ICE and the federal government to do its part. [57:03] But transparency and local control and respect of local people [57:11] throughout New Hampshire and throughout the country [57:14] is an essential piece of our democracy. [57:16] And what I've been hearing from ICE and from other DHS folks is, [57:20] well, the pushback's too hard. [57:22] You either can make the case for these facilities [57:24] and explain how you're going to support the local community [57:27] and deal with the fact that they'll lose property tax dollars, [57:30] for instance, or if you can't make the case, [57:32] it shouldn't be built. [57:34] So I really would encourage the department and all of us [57:38] to remember that this is a government of by and for the people, [57:41] and if you can't make the case to the people, [57:42] you shouldn't be doing it. [57:43] Thank you. [57:44] Senator Johnson. [57:50] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [57:51] Mr. Mark Wayne, I'm going to use my time completely different [57:56] than how I was going to when I walked into this hearing. [58:00] I can't top what Senator Marino, [58:03] the comments he made about how unconscionable [58:06] it is that we're not funding and we're not providing paychecks [58:10] to those 260,000 men and women that you will be soon leading. [58:15] We, other than working with no labels, [58:21] we don't serve on the same committees, [58:24] have never gone on CODEL together, [58:26] and that's oftentimes how you get to know our colleagues. [58:30] So I don't know you as well as some of the other people on the dais here. [58:35] Certainly within conference, you know, [58:38] we've seen each other interact. [58:42] We share a couple things in common. [58:44] I think we're both pretty passionate [58:46] about our love for this country, [58:47] about trying to fix the enormous messes [58:51] left behind by President Biden and Democrats. [58:55] We wear our emotions on our sleeves. [59:00] But I will say that I've been here 15 years. [59:05] I've been through a lot of confirmation hearings. [59:07] I've listened to a lot of nominees. [59:09] I've heard a lot of introductions. [59:11] If one of your first decisions as a nominee [59:13] was to pick the person to introduce you, [59:15] you couldn't have done a better job. [59:17] I mean, the introduction from Senator Lankford [59:19] was probably one of the most genuine [59:21] and heartfelt I've ever heard. [59:22] And I will say your opening statement [59:25] was probably one of the more genuine [59:27] and heartfelt testimonies I've ever heard, [59:29] if not the most. [59:30] I'm looking behind you at the people [59:32] who have come here to support you, [59:33] your former colleagues in the House, [59:35] Chairman Smith, a former Speaker of the House, [59:39] Senator Britt. [59:40] But I see Josh Gottheimer there. [59:43] He's not a Republican member of the House. [59:45] He's a Democrat. [59:46] I've seen you interact with him [59:48] trying to get some permitting reform. [59:50] Please, briefly, because I want you [59:54] to tell another story here. [59:55] Yeah, but just talk a little bit [59:56] about your relationship with Josh [59:58] and other members of the House. [1:00:01] You know, Josh and I, [1:00:04] we may not always agree on every issue, [1:00:06] but he's a friend. [1:00:07] And our relationship started back in 2017 [1:00:13] when he thought I was a staff member [1:00:16] running a workout group, [1:00:17] because I've been running [1:00:18] a bipartisan workout group [1:00:20] that started actually with Speaker Kevin McCarthy [1:00:23] and Jason Smith 13 years ago. [1:00:25] And I still do that to this day. [1:00:27] When he came in in 17, [1:00:29] Joe Kennedy, who is also a friend of mine, [1:00:31] he approached me when I was on the House floor [1:00:33] and asked me, [1:00:34] why is the trainer in the gym [1:00:37] on the House voting? [1:00:38] And to which Joe Kennedy laughed and said, [1:00:43] he's a member from Oklahoma. [1:00:45] And after that, we became friends. [1:00:48] In fact, our daughters are writing a book together [1:00:51] about bipartisanship. [1:00:54] But when Josh asked me to join [1:00:56] a bipartisan group called No Labels, [1:00:59] that's when we really started seeing [1:01:01] that there's a lot of common ground [1:01:03] that we can work together. [1:01:05] Yeah, as I said in my opening statement, [1:01:07] that we all make decisions based on how we're raised [1:01:09] and our life experiences. [1:01:12] And Josh and I was raised different, [1:01:14] just like everybody on this dais [1:01:15] is raised different than me, [1:01:16] and we've had different life experiences. [1:01:18] But we all believe in that flag [1:01:20] right there behind you. [1:01:22] And what I say is, [1:01:23] as long as you love that flag [1:01:25] as much as I do, [1:01:26] and you're willing to die for that flag like I am, [1:01:28] we can work together. [1:01:31] We can set the differences aside [1:01:32] and we can work together. [1:01:35] And Josh represents that too. [1:01:38] Just for him being here, [1:01:41] you guys know, [1:01:42] he's got a primary in New Jersey. [1:01:46] He's not a senator who has six years. [1:01:48] He has, he's up every two years, [1:01:51] and he's here. [1:01:52] That's a friend that says, [1:01:55] hey, my political differences are beside, [1:01:58] I still like you. [1:01:59] I cannot tell you how many members [1:02:01] on the Democrat Party, [1:02:02] which I love and respect, [1:02:03] and I understand the politics, [1:02:04] have came up to me since this nomination [1:02:06] and said, hey, I love you, [1:02:07] but, but I'm running for this office. [1:02:10] But I'm running for this office. [1:02:12] But I'm up for reelection. [1:02:13] I'd be killed in my state. [1:02:15] In most cases, I would support you. [1:02:17] But, but, and it drives me crazy, [1:02:21] but when you see a real friend like that, [1:02:23] run through fire for the guy. [1:02:25] So again, this is a nomination hearing, [1:02:27] and from my standpoint, [1:02:28] when you're trying to select somebody [1:02:30] to run an operation, [1:02:32] you want somebody with integrity, [1:02:35] somebody with that passion toward the mission, [1:02:38] keeping this nation safe, [1:02:40] having this love for this country. [1:02:42] It's also, I think, incredibly important [1:02:44] that when you're serving in the administration, [1:02:46] you have a good relationship with the president. [1:02:48] It doesn't work so well. [1:02:49] I know you've got a good relationship [1:02:50] with the president, [1:02:51] and you told me a story, [1:02:52] and I want you to repeat that story [1:02:55] of your son who was grievously injured [1:02:58] and a visit that the president of the United States [1:03:00] made to that hospital. [1:03:02] I want you to tell the story, [1:03:03] because I think it's important [1:03:04] that people understand [1:03:06] why you are a lawyer to President Trump. [1:03:10] I'd like them to hear a different side [1:03:11] of President Trump as well. [1:03:13] But I think also that'll serve you well [1:03:15] as his Secretary of Homeland Security. [1:03:17] But just tell that story. [1:03:18] Ron, I'm going to try to get through it [1:03:19] without crying then. [1:03:21] It's not about President Trump. [1:03:29] It's about my son. [1:03:30] So my son was a really world-class athlete, [1:03:34] and January 17th of 2020, [1:03:37] which, mind you, was an election year, [1:03:39] he had a really strong, [1:03:40] really serious brain injury. [1:03:42] Woke up 26 hours later, [1:03:44] and he's a different kid. [1:03:46] We almost lost him. [1:03:49] For 26 hours, he had extremely low pulse. [1:03:54] There was a time that they thought [1:03:56] that they lost his pulse altogether. [1:04:00] And when he woke up, he was just different. [1:04:02] I mean, here you had a world-class athlete [1:04:03] that wrestled all over the world [1:04:04] since he was 12 years old, [1:04:05] and he couldn't touch his nose. [1:04:07] He couldn't walk without shuffling his feet. [1:04:09] He had short-term memory loss. [1:04:11] He couldn't control his muscles. [1:04:13] He couldn't add five plus three. [1:04:15] He was in high school at that time. [1:04:17] Had to learn how to read, walk, everything. [1:04:19] And the president found out about it, [1:04:20] and he gave me a call immediately. [1:04:22] And one thing that the president joked about [1:04:24] was he said, [1:04:26] he said, let me get this straight. [1:04:27] He doesn't know who you and Christie are, [1:04:28] but he knew who I was [1:04:29] because the only question he got right [1:04:30] is who the president was. [1:04:31] And he said, Trump, [1:04:32] with this cocky grin on his face. [1:04:34] But the president didn't understand [1:04:36] the severity of it, [1:04:37] but he heard it in my voice, [1:04:38] and immediately he went to work. [1:04:40] I told him we had to get [1:04:41] to Bakersfield, California, [1:04:42] to the Center for Neural Skills, [1:04:43] which is one of the best [1:04:45] neural rehabilitation places in the world. [1:04:48] And the president offered to send his plane, [1:04:51] his personal plane. [1:04:52] This is the president of the United States. [1:04:53] And I said, sir, we can't fly. [1:04:55] We've got to drive. [1:04:56] We get there, [1:04:57] and he called almost every day [1:04:58] for two weeks checking on Jim. [1:04:59] And then he says, I'm going to come see. [1:05:01] And now this is the middle of the election. [1:05:04] This is Bakersfield, California. [1:05:06] Really not an area he's got to go campaign. [1:05:08] And he took the time to come up there [1:05:10] and see Jim. [1:05:12] And the center told us [1:05:14] that the short-term memory loss, [1:05:16] something would trigger it. [1:05:17] Some big event would eventually trigger [1:05:18] where he would start retaining stuff. [1:05:20] Until then, he was still having issues. [1:05:22] And the president arrived. [1:05:25] And of course, there was cameras [1:05:26] and everybody around. [1:05:27] And of course, no one in the media [1:05:28] ever talked about it, [1:05:30] which was funny, [1:05:31] because the president called him on stage [1:05:32] and talked to him. [1:05:33] And then we went to the back, [1:05:34] and the president didn't talk to me. [1:05:36] He didn't know I was in. [1:05:37] I mean, he didn't care if I was in the room. [1:05:38] Here's a guy that's been over in his ties [1:05:40] about as long as my son [1:05:41] because my son's so old [1:05:42] and it stunted his growth. [1:05:44] And so he's 5'3 the rest of his life. [1:05:46] And his team came to him twice [1:05:48] and said, sir, we got to go. [1:05:49] We got to go. [1:05:50] On the third time they came over to him, [1:05:52] he looked at him and he says, [1:05:53] hey, I guarantee you [1:05:54] that plane won't leave without me. [1:05:57] And for the next 15 minutes, [1:05:58] he did nothing but love on my son. [1:06:00] That one incident jogged his memory. [1:06:13] And from then on, [1:06:15] he started retaining things. [1:06:16] And Jim's attitude went from this, [1:06:19] you know, we're going to get through it, [1:06:20] to this, I'm going to get through it. [1:06:22] And every week, if not most days, [1:06:24] the president would call [1:06:25] and ask how he could help. [1:06:27] Ask how's his buddy doing? [1:06:30] How's Jim doing? [1:06:32] He didn't do it for publicity. [1:06:34] He didn't do it for any show. [1:06:37] He was running in one of the toughest elections [1:06:39] he had been in. [1:06:40] And the guy was still that concerned [1:06:42] about my son. [1:06:44] When we got released for a little bit, [1:06:46] we had to go back. [1:06:47] When we got released a little bit, [1:06:48] the president said, [1:06:49] come to Mar-a-Lago and see me. [1:06:50] We go down there and it was amazing. [1:06:53] And when we're leaving, [1:06:54] dang it, I hate getting emotional. [1:07:00] See, if I talk about my kids, [1:07:02] I get emotional. [1:07:03] Other than that, you can't make me cry. [1:07:04] But my kids do make me emotional. [1:07:06] That's actually a good thing. [1:07:07] Yeah. [1:07:08] So, anyways, he grabbed my son [1:07:09] and he said, [1:07:10] do you know why I love your dad? [1:07:11] Do you know why I love your dad? [1:07:13] Chrissy tells the story better than I do. [1:07:14] And he goes, no, sir. [1:07:15] He goes, because he loves you. [1:07:17] Because of you. [1:07:18] Because of you. [1:07:19] Man, that's, [1:07:23] he didn't do it for any other reason. [1:07:24] I mean, here's the president of the United States [1:07:26] and he did it just because he cared. [1:07:28] And so when you want to say why he's a friend, [1:07:31] yeah, we were acquaintances before that. [1:07:33] We've been friends ever since. [1:07:35] The American people need to hear that. [1:07:36] Thank you. [1:07:37] Thank you. [1:07:38] Senator Blumenthal. [1:07:41] Thanks, Mr. Chairman. [1:07:42] Welcome, Senator Mullen. [1:07:45] Thank you for being here today [1:07:47] and thank you to your family [1:07:50] for your service and theirs. [1:07:54] I hope that you will be as emotional [1:07:59] about the children who are presently detained [1:08:01] at Dilley and other camps [1:08:04] in the United States of America [1:08:07] where they have been subjected to conditions [1:08:10] that would outrage [1:08:12] and have angered many Americans. [1:08:15] We're here because of a lawless [1:08:20] and reckless agency that has broken into homes [1:08:23] without judicial approval, [1:08:25] shot United States citizens, [1:08:27] detained them without any cause [1:08:30] and sometimes killed them. [1:08:34] And I am looking for real substantive evidence [1:08:38] to reform in that agency, [1:08:40] as you and I have discussed [1:08:41] when you came to talk to me. [1:08:43] A break with the past, [1:08:45] with former Secretary Noem [1:08:49] and with the White House, [1:08:51] Steve Miller and others [1:08:53] who have used Kristi Noem [1:08:55] in effect as a puppet implement, [1:08:57] lawless policy. [1:09:01] I welcome that you have stated [1:09:04] you regret your statement [1:09:05] after the killing of Alex Preddy. [1:09:07] You said on Fox News, quote, [1:09:10] unfortunately, an individual, [1:09:12] a deranged individual [1:09:13] that came to cause max damage [1:09:15] with a loaded pistol [1:09:17] with an extra mag [1:09:19] that was completely loaded [1:09:20] and shot and killed. [1:09:23] And you regret that statement, [1:09:24] do you not? [1:09:27] I've already said that, sir, yes. [1:09:29] And what about what you said [1:09:30] about Renee Good [1:09:32] after she was shot and killed? [1:09:34] You appeared on CNN [1:09:35] and you were asked [1:09:37] whether you believe [1:09:38] the shooting was justified [1:09:40] and you replied, quote, absolutely. [1:09:42] Do you regret that statement as well? [1:09:45] Senator, [1:09:46] it's very clear [1:09:48] that an officer [1:09:49] had to make a split decision [1:09:50] in that case [1:09:51] as a car was running towards him [1:09:53] and did strike him. [1:09:55] At that point, [1:09:56] that car becomes a lethal weapon [1:09:59] and an officer that was, [1:10:02] there was another officer [1:10:03] obviously giving her verbal commands. [1:10:06] So are you saying, [1:10:07] and I apologize for interrupting you, [1:10:08] but you're saying [1:10:09] you do not regret that statement? [1:10:11] I'm saying that the investigation [1:10:12] is going on, [1:10:13] but what we've seen... [1:10:14] There is no investigation, Senator. [1:10:16] In fact, [1:10:17] that was my next question to you. [1:10:18] Don't you think [1:10:19] there should be an investigation? [1:10:20] My understanding is [1:10:21] that there is. [1:10:22] I will find out [1:10:23] once, [1:10:24] if I'm able to get confirmed. [1:10:26] But there's... [1:10:27] Well, in fact, [1:10:28] the Department of Homeland Security [1:10:31] and the Trump administration [1:10:32] has blocked [1:10:34] state and local investigation [1:10:36] of the killing of Renee Good. [1:10:38] And I hope that you will [1:10:40] permit that investigation [1:10:42] to go forward. [1:10:43] Senator, [1:10:44] state and local investigation [1:10:46] doesn't expect, [1:10:47] doesn't investigate federal. [1:10:50] FBI does that through DOJ. [1:10:52] And I believe the, [1:10:53] I believe the FBI [1:10:54] is looking at this case. [1:10:55] And I do want to say [1:10:56] something to you. [1:10:57] You said about [1:10:58] the terrible conditions [1:10:59] that this administration [1:11:01] is putting in kids. [1:11:02] But what you left out [1:11:03] is that they've actually [1:11:04] recovered over 160,000 kids [1:11:07] that were trafficked or lost [1:11:08] during the Biden administration. [1:11:09] What is inhumane [1:11:11] is the 12 to 13,000 individuals [1:11:14] coming across the border [1:11:15] every single day [1:11:16] and we're not having [1:11:17] to retract the kids. [1:11:18] At one time, [1:11:19] the numbers up to 385,000. [1:11:20] Let me just move on, [1:11:21] Senator Mullen. [1:11:22] That's sad. [1:11:23] Because you said [1:11:24] that you were going to be, [1:11:25] and I'm quoting you, [1:11:27] blunt and direct and to the point. [1:11:29] So I regret that you don't [1:11:31] retract that statement [1:11:33] about Renee Good. [1:11:34] But I want to ask you [1:11:35] about a statement [1:11:36] that was made regarding [1:11:38] the Pretty killing [1:11:40] by Steve Miller [1:11:41] in the White House. [1:11:43] He said, quote, [1:11:45] that Pretty was a [1:11:46] domestic terrorist [1:11:47] who, quote, [1:11:48] tried to assassinate [1:11:50] federal law enforcement. [1:11:52] Don't you think it was [1:11:54] irresponsible and reckless [1:11:55] for Steven Miller [1:11:56] to post that claim on X [1:11:59] without any evidence, [1:12:00] just as you have [1:12:01] retracted your statement? [1:12:03] Senator, I believe [1:12:04] that question is better asked [1:12:05] to Steven Miller, not myself. [1:12:07] I can't speak for him. [1:12:08] Well, Steven Miller also said, [1:12:11] again on Fox News, quote, [1:12:15] under President Trump's leadership, [1:12:16] we are looking to set a goal [1:12:18] of a minimum of 30,000 kids [1:12:20] with three thousand arrests [1:12:21] for ICE every day. [1:12:23] If you're confirmed, [1:12:24] are you going to be directing [1:12:25] ICE to arrest [1:12:26] three thousand people a day? [1:12:28] Sir, once again, [1:12:30] can't speak for Senator [1:12:31] or for Steven Miller, [1:12:32] but I can say [1:12:33] the President has tapped me [1:12:35] to be the Secretary of Homeland [1:12:37] and I will lead that department [1:12:39] and I'll lead it. [1:12:40] So will you continue [1:12:41] that arrest quota [1:12:42] of three thousand people a day? [1:12:43] No quota has been set for me, sir. [1:12:45] Well, in effect, [1:12:46] it's a quota [1:12:47] if the White House directs [1:12:48] the DHS Secretary. [1:12:50] The President of the United States [1:12:51] sets the policies [1:12:53] and I'll be working [1:12:54] with the President. [1:12:55] If you have a question [1:12:56] for Steven Miller, [1:12:57] please ask him. [1:12:58] Well, I really regret [1:12:59] that you are going to stick [1:13:00] to those same policies [1:13:01] and practices [1:13:02] and condone the statements [1:13:03] of the White House [1:13:04] that are so demeaning [1:13:06] to someone who was a victim [1:13:07] of lawlessness [1:13:09] and recklessness [1:13:10] by an ICE officer. [1:13:13] Senator, I didn't say that. [1:13:14] Well, let me ask you then [1:13:16] a different question. [1:13:18] ICE has been breaking [1:13:21] into people's homes. [1:13:22] Without any judicial warrant, [1:13:25] the sanctity of our homes [1:13:28] is absolutely critical. [1:13:31] I think you'd agree [1:13:32] with that point. [1:13:33] And it is the law [1:13:35] that a judicial warrant [1:13:36] is required [1:13:37] to forcibly enter [1:13:40] someone's home. [1:13:41] Kristi Noem acknowledged [1:13:44] in her testimony [1:13:45] in response to my questions [1:13:46] that at least 28 break-ins [1:13:49] have occurred. [1:13:50] My ranking member leadership [1:13:54] on the subcommittee [1:13:55] for permanent investigation [1:13:57] has produced a report [1:13:59] that shows probably many more [1:14:02] such break-ins have occurred. [1:14:03] The result of a memo [1:14:05] last May from the acting director, [1:14:08] Todd Lyons, [1:14:10] and it's behind me now, [1:14:12] that instructed ICE agents [1:14:14] to break into homes. [1:14:15] I understand that [1:14:18] during your staff interview [1:14:19] last week, [1:14:20] you said that there would be [1:14:21] no more such break-ins [1:14:23] to people's homes [1:14:25] without a judicial warrant. [1:14:28] If confirmed, [1:14:30] will you commit to me [1:14:31] and the chair and ranking member [1:14:33] of this committee [1:14:34] and the American people [1:14:35] that ICE will no longer [1:14:37] instruct agents [1:14:39] to break into people's homes [1:14:42] without a judicial warrant? [1:14:44] Sir, [1:14:45] you're using the word [1:14:46] break-in to people's houses [1:14:47] very loosely. [1:14:48] However, [1:14:49] I have made it very clear [1:14:50] to the staff [1:14:51] and I think when you and I spoke [1:14:53] that a judicial warrant [1:14:55] will be used to go into houses [1:14:57] and a place of businesses [1:14:58] unless we're pursuing [1:15:00] someone that enters in that place. [1:15:02] I have not mixed words with that [1:15:04] and I haven't changed [1:15:05] my opinion about that. [1:15:06] A whistleblower testified [1:15:07] to our hearing [1:15:10] that in fact, [1:15:11] ICE agents have been instructed [1:15:13] as part of their training [1:15:16] to forcibly enter, [1:15:17] I know you don't like [1:15:18] the word break-in, [1:15:19] but forcibly enter [1:15:20] is breaking into somebody's home, [1:15:22] bashing down the door, [1:15:23] terrorizing children, [1:15:25] instructed them [1:15:28] to adopt this policy. [1:15:30] Will you commit [1:15:31] that no longer [1:15:33] will ICE agents [1:15:35] or CBP agents [1:15:36] be instructed [1:15:38] to forcibly enter [1:15:39] people's homes [1:15:40] without a judicial warrant? [1:15:41] Sir, [1:15:42] I've already answered [1:15:43] this question for you. [1:15:44] I said we will not enter a home [1:15:45] or a place of business [1:15:46] without a judicial warrant [1:15:47] unless we're pursuing [1:15:48] the individual [1:15:49] that runs into [1:15:50] a place of business [1:15:51] or a house. [1:15:52] Senator Lankford. [1:15:53] Thank you. [1:15:54] Thank you. [1:15:57] Mark Wayne, [1:15:58] right now is FEMA [1:16:00] currently funded? [1:16:01] No, sir. [1:16:02] Is CISA currently funded [1:16:03] dealing with cybersecurity? [1:16:04] No, sir. [1:16:05] How about TSA? [1:16:06] No, sir. [1:16:07] Service? [1:16:08] No, sir. [1:16:09] Coast Guard? [1:16:10] No, sir. [1:16:11] Customs and Border Protection? [1:16:12] No, sir. [1:16:13] The Weapons [1:16:14] and Mass Destruction Office? [1:16:15] No, sir. [1:16:17] Customs professionals? [1:16:18] No, sir. [1:16:19] This is something [1:16:20] we got to get resolved. [1:16:21] We can complain [1:16:23] all we want to [1:16:24] about where things are, [1:16:25] but we have an argument [1:16:28] and a disagreement [1:16:29] on policy areas [1:16:30] and a quarter million [1:16:31] federal employees [1:16:32] and their families [1:16:33] are the ones [1:16:34] that are suffering [1:16:35] because of our argument. [1:16:38] There's a way to solve this. [1:16:39] We've talked about it a lot. [1:16:40] We should just stay here [1:16:41] until we're done. [1:16:42] Just keep arguing it out [1:16:44] until we've actually [1:16:45] solved the problem. [1:16:46] But instead, [1:16:48] we broke last weekend. [1:16:51] Everybody flew home [1:16:52] right past the TSA agents [1:16:53] that are not getting paid [1:16:54] while we flew home. [1:16:55] Why didn't we stay [1:16:56] to be able to try [1:16:59] to get things resolved? [1:17:01] That's my encouragement, [1:17:02] has been my encouragement [1:17:03] all along. [1:17:04] We shouldn't walk away [1:17:05] from a disagreement [1:17:07] when there are families [1:17:08] all over the country [1:17:10] that are the ones [1:17:11] suffering for it. [1:17:12] Unfortunately, [1:17:14] the state of Oklahoma [1:17:15] is pretty familiar [1:17:16] with natural disasters. [1:17:17] As you know well, [1:17:18] you and I have been [1:17:19] in multiple different [1:17:20] natural disaster scenes. [1:17:21] There's a lot of work [1:17:22] that's happened [1:17:23] at the border so far. [1:17:24] The border has moved [1:17:25] from 12,000 people a day [1:17:27] illegally crossing the border [1:17:28] and being released [1:17:29] into the country [1:17:30] unvetted, unchecked, [1:17:31] to now a handful of people [1:17:33] even attempt to cross [1:17:34] our southern border [1:17:35] and those that are arrested [1:17:36] and detained, [1:17:37] as is the law. [1:17:39] FEMA is still [1:17:41] an undone project. [1:17:42] And I'm not blaming that on Christy. [1:17:44] There's a lot to get done on it. [1:17:46] But you're going to walk in [1:17:47] with a project going on [1:17:48] with FEMA right now. [1:17:49] Love to get your ideas [1:17:50] and your thoughts. [1:17:51] And I'm sure [1:17:52] you're very familiar [1:17:53] with this area [1:17:54] and have great experience on it. [1:17:55] What are your thoughts [1:17:56] on how to be able [1:17:57] to get FEMA [1:17:58] into a better place [1:17:59] so that people aren't waiting [1:18:01] forever for a response? [1:18:02] FEMA was never designed [1:18:03] to be the first responder. [1:18:04] That's the states. [1:18:06] FEMA was designed [1:18:07] to be the assistance [1:18:08] to the states [1:18:09] when the disaster [1:18:10] reaches certain levels, [1:18:11] which we need [1:18:12] to discuss those too [1:18:13] because I think [1:18:14] some of the levels [1:18:15] are unrealistic, [1:18:16] especially with [1:18:17] Senator Hassan and I [1:18:18] have talked about this, [1:18:19] that sometimes [1:18:20] in rural areas [1:18:22] they don't think [1:18:23] they're not able [1:18:24] to meet those thresholds. [1:18:26] But working [1:18:27] with the state, [1:18:28] allowing the state [1:18:29] to have their [1:18:30] emergency response, [1:18:31] FEMA simply [1:18:32] helping write checks [1:18:33] and assuring [1:18:34] that they have [1:18:35] the capability [1:18:36] and the manpower [1:18:37] if need be. [1:18:38] But for the FEMA [1:18:39] to walk in [1:18:40] like FBI walking [1:18:41] on a crime scene [1:18:42] and taking over, [1:18:43] no one's going [1:18:44] to care more [1:18:45] about their backyard [1:18:46] than the people [1:18:47] that live there [1:18:48] in that state. [1:18:49] And I think [1:18:50] there's a lot [1:18:51] of good ideas. [1:18:52] I've heard, [1:18:53] there's a lot [1:18:54] of good ideas [1:18:55] on how to make [1:18:56] FEMA work better. [1:18:57] It's got a great mission [1:18:58] and I think people [1:18:59] at FEMA want [1:19:00] to do their job [1:19:01] but we can be more [1:19:02] effective [1:19:03] and be more direct [1:19:04] and speed it up. [1:19:05] Taking years [1:19:06] to get reimbursed [1:19:07] is not acceptable. [1:19:08] Taking, [1:19:09] honestly, [1:19:10] months [1:19:11] to get reimbursed [1:19:12] is not acceptable. [1:19:13] See, [1:19:14] small municipalities, [1:19:15] they can't afford it. [1:19:16] They don't have [1:19:17] that tax base to do it. [1:19:18] And they're already [1:19:19] going through [1:19:20] a struggling time [1:19:21] which means [1:19:22] they're probably losing [1:19:23] their jobs. [1:19:24] So, [1:19:25] we've got a lot [1:19:26] of work there. [1:19:27] I do believe [1:19:28] that the definition [1:19:29] of insanity [1:19:30] is doing the same thing [1:19:31] over and over again [1:19:32] expecting different results. [1:19:33] That means we're going [1:19:34] to look at each one [1:19:35] of the 22 agencies [1:19:36] that fall underneath DHS [1:19:37] and say, [1:19:38] how can we deliver [1:19:40] the mission better [1:19:41] for the American people? [1:19:42] That's great. [1:19:43] That'd be a huge help [1:19:44] to everybody. [1:19:45] Talking about [1:19:46] the length of time [1:19:47] it takes to get a response, [1:19:48] you've been a part of, [1:19:49] as I have, [1:19:50] on the nonprofit [1:19:51] security grants [1:19:52] that are out there. [1:19:53] We have some locations [1:19:54] in Michigan. [1:19:55] The synagogues [1:19:56] and temples [1:19:57] have been one of those [1:19:58] very high risk locations [1:19:59] that are out there. [1:20:00] Last week [1:20:01] in Michigan [1:20:02] we had another situation [1:20:04] where an absolute terrorist [1:20:05] drove a vehicle [1:20:06] packed with explosives [1:20:07] into a Jewish daycare [1:20:08] intending to kill [1:20:09] as many Jewish children [1:20:10] as he possibly could. [1:20:11] I mean, [1:20:12] that was his intent [1:20:13] was to be able [1:20:14] to do that. [1:20:15] That location [1:20:16] happened to be [1:20:17] one of the locations [1:20:18] where there's also been [1:20:19] this nonprofit [1:20:20] security grant [1:20:21] to help harden [1:20:22] that facility. [1:20:23] We have multiple [1:20:24] challenges here. [1:20:25] One of them is [1:20:26] when the decision [1:20:27] is made [1:20:28] they make a request [1:20:29] to go through [1:20:30] the paperwork, [1:20:31] get approval [1:20:32] to be one of those locations [1:20:33] that we say, [1:20:34] hey, [1:20:35] we need to harden [1:20:36] this location. [1:20:37] Once the approval [1:20:38] is done, [1:20:39] it may take months [1:20:40] to over a year [1:20:41] just for the dollars [1:20:42] to actually come on it [1:20:43] because there's more [1:20:44] bureaucratic hoops [1:20:45] to go through. [1:20:46] So as you're dealing [1:20:47] with things like contracts [1:20:48] that are out there [1:20:49] and the way decisions [1:20:50] are made or FEMA, [1:20:51] that's one of the areas [1:20:52] I would encourage you [1:20:53] to take a look at. [1:20:54] The other issue [1:20:55] where approval's [1:20:56] been done [1:20:58] and everyone's saying, [1:20:59] great, [1:21:00] can we get to work? [1:21:01] And the federal government [1:21:02] says no, [1:21:03] no, [1:21:04] you can't actually [1:21:05] get to work. [1:21:06] You gotta wait some more [1:21:07] before the actual work [1:21:08] can actually begun [1:21:09] to do that. [1:21:10] How does that get fixed? [1:21:11] We gotta streamline [1:21:12] the process [1:21:13] and cut out the redundancies. [1:21:14] The amount of paperwork, [1:21:15] Senator from Michigan [1:21:16] and I had a long [1:21:17] conversation about this, [1:21:18] the amount of paperwork [1:21:19] to just, [1:21:20] once you're approved, [1:21:21] to get the funding flowing [1:21:22] and then the paperwork [1:21:23] that's followed up on it [1:21:24] is way too [1:21:25] hard to do this. [1:21:26] Some of these policies, [1:21:27] I have to work [1:21:28] with you guys on. [1:21:29] Some of these grants [1:21:30] were written [1:21:31] with checks and balances [1:21:32] which we all gotta be [1:21:33] very cautious [1:21:34] on how we spend [1:21:35] the taxpayer dollars. [1:21:36] Things that I can change, [1:21:37] things that I can cut out [1:21:38] on the redundancy part of it, [1:21:39] I will work with. [1:21:40] Things that, [1:21:41] as the Senator and I [1:21:42] talked about, [1:21:43] things that, [1:21:44] that it may take you [1:21:45] to make changes on, [1:21:46] we'll bring it [1:21:47] to your attention. [1:21:48] I will work with you [1:21:49] and we'll see, [1:21:50] we'll see how [1:21:51] we can make it better. [1:21:52] Great. [1:21:53] Thank you, [1:21:54] Senator. [1:21:55] All right. [1:21:56] As you know, [1:21:57] Oklahoma's been one [1:21:58] of the leaders [1:21:59] in counter drone. [1:22:00] This is a big issue. [1:22:01] Yes. [1:22:02] Of course as a country. [1:22:03] Every high school [1:22:04] football game, [1:22:05] every college football game, [1:22:06] every gathering of people [1:22:07] for every festival [1:22:08] and gathering [1:22:09] across the country [1:22:10] has now become [1:22:11] a risk location [1:22:12] for drones [1:22:13] and drone mitigation. [1:22:14] FBI can't be everywhere. [1:22:15] We don't want them [1:22:16] to be everywhere. [1:22:17] We do have to figure out [1:22:18] some process. [1:22:19] So as you begin [1:22:20] to think about this issue, [1:22:21] it's a, [1:22:23] it's a tough one [1:22:24] to deal with [1:22:25] but it is a basic [1:22:26] that's gonna land [1:22:27] on your desk [1:22:28] pretty quickly [1:22:29] especially with the Olympics [1:22:30] coming, [1:22:31] with FIFA coming, [1:22:32] all those things [1:22:33] that are happening. [1:22:34] We gotta be able [1:22:35] to figure out [1:22:36] how to do counter drone [1:22:37] and to be able [1:22:38] to not just identify [1:22:39] there it is [1:22:40] but to also mitigate the risk. [1:22:41] What are your initial thoughts? [1:22:42] Well, [1:22:43] I'd love, [1:22:44] yes, [1:22:45] and I'd love [1:22:46] to speak about that. [1:22:47] With funding, [1:22:48] talking to one, [1:22:49] some of our agency heads, [1:22:50] with a lack of funding [1:22:51] right now, [1:22:52] we have people quitting [1:22:53] because they gotta go to work. [1:22:54] Meeting these demands [1:22:55] are even gonna be tougher. [1:22:56] We talk about 2028 [1:22:57] which is gonna be [1:22:58] the busiest year [1:22:59] of DHS in history [1:23:00] because we have [1:23:01] the Olympics [1:23:02] and we have [1:23:03] the presidential election [1:23:04] going on. [1:23:05] It'll take four months [1:23:06] once funding comes in [1:23:07] to start replacing [1:23:08] those that we've lost [1:23:09] for training [1:23:10] before we can get them [1:23:11] out in the field. [1:23:12] We don't have four months [1:23:13] with FIFA. [1:23:14] But that's what, [1:23:15] and how do we expect [1:23:16] these people [1:23:17] to stay on the job [1:23:18] and work? [1:23:19] We're losing [1:23:20] institutional knowledge. [1:23:21] We're losing people [1:23:22] we've already trained [1:23:23] and it's going to be difficult [1:23:24] to deliver this mission. [1:23:25] The way that I understand [1:23:26] it, [1:23:27] we're behind in FIFA [1:23:28] right now [1:23:29] on actually delivering [1:23:30] the mission [1:23:31] that we have to. [1:23:32] We're also behind [1:23:33] in reimbursing [1:23:34] local communities [1:23:35] that's also working [1:23:36] with us. [1:23:37] That's gonna have to take [1:23:38] a tremendous amount [1:23:39] of focus [1:23:40] and partnership [1:23:41] and we, [1:23:42] like I said [1:23:43] in my opening statement, [1:23:44] failure's not an option [1:23:45] so we've got to deliver. [1:23:46] But sometimes [1:23:47] when you have to rush [1:23:48] like this, [1:23:49] especially trying [1:23:50] to get people on the job [1:23:51] because we just [1:23:52] quit funding them [1:23:53] for the third time [1:23:54] in less than a year [1:23:55] and we're still [1:23:56] working on this [1:23:57] and we expect [1:23:58] these people [1:23:59] to keep working, [1:24:00] it puts the mission [1:24:01] at risk [1:24:02] and we have [1:24:03] a lot of work [1:24:04] to do here. [1:24:05] Yeah, [1:24:06] thanks for stepping up. [1:24:07] Christy, [1:24:08] thank you. [1:24:09] It's a strain [1:24:10] on the family [1:24:11] and everything else [1:24:12] right now. [1:24:13] So, [1:24:14] thanks y'all [1:24:18] for stepping into this role. [1:24:19] Look forward [1:24:20] to supporting [1:24:21] your nomination. [1:24:22] Thank you. [1:24:23] Senator Kim. [1:24:24] Thank you, [1:24:25] Chairman. [1:24:26] Senator Mullen, [1:24:27] thanks for coming [1:24:28] out here. [1:24:29] I just want [1:24:30] to ask you [1:24:31] about FEMA. [1:24:32] Can you commit [1:24:33] to us here [1:24:34] that you don't support [1:24:36] that approach [1:24:37] and you wouldn't attempt [1:24:38] to eliminate FEMA? [1:24:39] As I said, [1:24:40] I think it needs [1:24:41] to be restructured [1:24:42] and not eliminated. [1:24:43] I think there's [1:24:44] going to be [1:24:45] bipartisan support [1:24:46] for reforms. [1:24:47] I think we all [1:24:48] understand that [1:24:49] and we certainly [1:24:50] saw a lot of problems [1:24:51] when it came [1:24:52] to Superstorm Sandy. [1:24:53] I asked Secretary Noem [1:24:54] to work with us, [1:24:55] especially as they [1:24:56] were going about [1:24:57] their FEMA review council. [1:24:58] I'll be honest [1:24:59] with you, [1:25:00] we have a bipartisan [1:25:01] group of senators [1:25:02] that want to come [1:25:03] up with reforms. [1:25:04] Is that something [1:25:05] you can commit [1:25:06] to working with us on? [1:25:07] Senator, [1:25:08] I think all of us [1:25:09] that's been either [1:25:10] in the House [1:25:11] or in the Senate [1:25:12] always complain [1:25:13] about the outreach [1:25:14] of agencies. [1:25:15] I will make [1:25:16] a commitment to you [1:25:17] that I'm going [1:25:18] to have the best. [1:25:19] It's going to take [1:25:20] a couple months [1:25:21] to stand it up, [1:25:22] but we're going [1:25:23] to have a ledge [1:25:24] affairs shop [1:25:25] that you're going [1:25:26] to know who the person is. [1:25:27] We're going to work [1:25:28] with you. [1:25:29] I think everybody [1:25:30] on this dais [1:25:31] has my personal cell phone. [1:25:32] That cell phone [1:25:33] isn't going to change. [1:25:34] And if you call me, [1:25:35] you're going [1:25:36] to get a response. [1:25:37] If you text me, [1:25:38] we're going [1:25:39] to get a response. [1:25:40] So when we have [1:25:41] this FEMA review council [1:25:42] report finally come out, [1:25:43] is that something [1:25:44] you'll come to us first [1:25:45] and engage with us on [1:25:46] rather than just [1:25:47] implementing straight out [1:25:48] from the executive branch [1:25:49] on your own? [1:25:50] Senator, [1:25:51] I'm pretty sure [1:25:52] that you guys [1:25:53] set the policies [1:25:54] and the mission [1:25:55] for FEMA, [1:25:56] so for any serious changes [1:25:57] it may take [1:25:58] a little bit of time [1:25:59] to figure out [1:26:00] what the plan is [1:26:01] and I will be [1:26:02] in your office [1:26:03] talking to you about it. [1:26:04] I appreciate that, [1:26:05] but we've seen [1:26:06] a lot of significant [1:26:07] problems happen. [1:26:08] For instance, [1:26:09] we saw about 2,400 [1:26:10] staff cuts at FEMA. [1:26:11] And again, [1:26:12] we're not talking [1:26:13] about the reforms, [1:26:14] but we're talking [1:26:15] about those that are [1:26:16] trying to respond [1:26:17] to these disasters [1:26:18] every single day. [1:26:19] So I wanted to ask [1:26:20] if you're confirmed [1:26:21] if you will stop [1:26:22] these dangerous staff cuts [1:26:24] that have reduced [1:26:25] FEMA's disaster readiness. [1:26:26] Senator, [1:26:27] I'm not trying [1:26:28] to play politics, [1:26:29] however, [1:26:30] you know, [1:26:31] some of these agencies [1:26:32] under the current [1:26:33] administration, [1:26:34] not some, [1:26:35] all of them [1:26:36] got very bloated [1:26:37] with having [1:26:38] too many employees [1:26:39] in one place. [1:26:40] You think there's still [1:26:41] too many staff at FEMA? [1:26:42] Senator, [1:26:43] I can't answer that. [1:26:44] When I get there, [1:26:45] we'll be adequately staffed [1:26:46] to respond [1:26:47] to our nation's disasters, [1:26:49] but it's going to take [1:26:50] some time to get there [1:26:51] because like I said, [1:26:52] people are quitting today [1:26:53] because they're not [1:26:54] getting paid [1:26:55] for the third time [1:26:56] in a year [1:26:57] and we can't allow [1:26:58] that to take place. [1:26:59] We can move forward [1:27:00] on that, [1:27:01] but one thing [1:27:02] that has demonstrated [1:27:03] a lack of priority [1:27:04] by this administration [1:27:05] is the fact that [1:27:06] we never actually had [1:27:07] a full nominee [1:27:08] for FEMA. [1:27:09] So, [1:27:10] I just wanted to ask, [1:27:11] do you agree [1:27:12] that we need [1:27:13] an actual nominee [1:27:14] to be a full [1:27:15] FEMA administrator [1:27:16] that has real experience [1:27:17] in emergency management? [1:27:18] Absolutely. [1:27:19] We're already [1:27:20] looking at some [1:27:21] in the case [1:27:22] that we do get confirmed, [1:27:23] which I'm hopeful [1:27:24] we do. [1:27:25] We are making [1:27:26] that a priority [1:27:27] in each one [1:27:28] of our agencies, [1:27:29] and the administration [1:27:30] also has to go [1:27:31] through you [1:27:32] and we know how [1:27:33] I get it, [1:27:34] but at least we can [1:27:35] get a nominee [1:27:36] before us, [1:27:37] and I think that that's [1:27:38] something I hope [1:27:39] to take away [1:27:40] that that is a commitment [1:27:41] you'll make. [1:27:42] Honestly, [1:27:43] by the experience [1:27:44] that I've had, [1:27:45] which has been [1:27:46] an interesting experience, [1:27:47] it's a lot to ask someone [1:27:48] and they got to be [1:27:49] fully committed. [1:27:50] If they go through [1:27:51] this process, [1:27:52] it's tough. [1:27:53] So, [1:27:54] I would ask you [1:27:55] if I do do this, [1:27:56] give them a fair shake. [1:27:57] For me, [1:27:58] a lot of you guys [1:27:59] who listen to you, [1:28:00] maybe you'll give them [1:28:01] a fair shake [1:28:02] and you'll actually [1:28:03] work with them [1:28:04] because I'm going [1:28:05] to find somebody [1:28:06] that is capable [1:28:07] of doing the job, [1:28:08] that's smarter at me [1:28:09] at doing the job, [1:28:10] that has experience [1:28:11] doing the job, [1:28:12] but when they come [1:28:13] to your office [1:28:14] and ask for your support, [1:28:15] don't tell them [1:28:16] it's politics. [1:28:17] Don't say I can't. [1:28:18] Don't say that, [1:28:19] hey, I supported [1:28:20] the previous one, [1:28:21] but I got burned [1:28:22] on that one [1:28:23] so I can't support you. [1:28:24] We'll trust, [1:28:25] but see, [1:28:26] just give them [1:28:27] a fair opportunity [1:28:28] and you might actually [1:28:29] be able to do it. [1:28:30] And look, [1:28:31] what we saw before, [1:28:32] for instance, [1:28:33] Secretary Noem [1:28:34] had this policy [1:28:35] that required [1:28:36] her approval [1:28:37] for anything [1:28:38] that was going [1:28:39] out the door, [1:28:40] grants, funding, [1:28:41] went over $100,000. [1:28:42] And I'll be honest [1:28:43] with you, [1:28:44] it was disastrous. [1:28:45] It held up so much [1:28:46] of the funding [1:28:47] to FEMA [1:28:48] and other parts [1:28:49] of DHS. [1:28:50] Senator Peters [1:28:51] and I did a review [1:28:52] of this. [1:28:53] Over 1,000 [1:28:54] FEMA contracts, [1:28:55] grants, [1:28:56] and disaster assistance [1:28:57] awards were delayed [1:28:58] so I wanted to ask you [1:28:59] what are you going [1:29:00] to do [1:29:01] in terms of [1:29:02] revoking this [1:29:03] $100,000 policy [1:29:04] by Secretary Noem? [1:29:05] Sir, [1:29:06] we talked in your office [1:29:07] about that [1:29:08] and absolutely. [1:29:09] That's called micromanaging [1:29:10] and I don't know [1:29:11] if Secretary put that in [1:29:12] or someone else did. [1:29:13] I'm not a micromanager. [1:29:14] We put people in. [1:29:15] We empower them [1:29:16] to make decisions. [1:29:17] What is required [1:29:18] to come into my level, [1:29:19] we'll make decisions. [1:29:20] We will have [1:29:21] a very clear line [1:29:22] of communication [1:29:23] with every one [1:29:24] of our agency's heads [1:29:25] on their authority [1:29:26] that is given to you [1:29:27] that you gave to them [1:29:28] within their parameters [1:29:29] but it's unrealistic [1:29:32] to some degree. [1:29:33] It's just adding [1:29:34] so much red tape though. [1:29:35] Yes, I agree. [1:29:36] Especially when it came [1:29:37] to disaster response [1:29:38] that with the Texas floods. [1:29:39] I want to switch gears here. [1:29:41] This is something [1:29:42] you remember [1:29:43] we talked about [1:29:44] but we have this effort [1:29:45] right now. [1:29:46] ICE has purchased [1:29:47] a warehouse [1:29:48] in Roxbury, New Jersey. [1:29:49] It's a facility [1:29:50] the size of eight [1:29:51] football fields [1:29:52] to house over [1:29:53] 1,500 detainees. [1:29:54] Never once [1:29:55] did an ICE official [1:29:57] go and talk [1:29:58] to the local mayor [1:29:59] or talk to [1:30:00] the local law enforcement, [1:30:01] assess the situation [1:30:02] alongside the locals. [1:30:03] So I just wanted [1:30:04] to ask you, [1:30:05] is that fair [1:30:06] that DHS [1:30:07] is imposing [1:30:08] these types [1:30:09] of large-scale [1:30:10] detention facilities [1:30:11] without local engagement [1:30:12] and input? [1:30:13] Sir, being from [1:30:14] small rural Oklahoma, [1:30:15] it's a big impact [1:30:16] and the community [1:30:17] should be visited with, [1:30:18] especially when [1:30:19] you start taking [1:30:20] a warehouse off. [1:30:21] It takes it off [1:30:22] the tax roll [1:30:23] which could make [1:30:24] a huge impact [1:30:25] and you got to deal [1:30:26] with impact aid [1:30:27] if they're eligible for it [1:30:28] but you got to talk [1:30:29] about infrastructure. [1:30:30] You know, [1:30:31] one thing I do know [1:30:32] is construction. [1:30:33] When you start talking [1:30:34] about infrastructure [1:30:35] on these places, [1:30:36] a warehouse sprinkler system [1:30:37] is much smaller [1:30:38] than when you are [1:30:39] housing individuals there [1:30:40] and if you say, [1:30:42] I think you said [1:30:43] the town is 60,000 people [1:30:44] and I believe [1:30:45] you said this was... [1:30:46] Smaller than that. [1:30:47] Is it smaller than that? [1:30:48] About 22,000 people [1:30:49] of which the detainees [1:30:50] and the staff there [1:30:51] would constitute [1:30:52] about 10% [1:30:53] of the population [1:30:54] of that town. [1:30:55] Yeah, [1:30:56] and realistically [1:30:57] it's not, [1:30:58] most municipalities [1:30:59] don't have the capacity [1:31:01] in their infrastructure [1:31:02] for waste and water [1:31:03] so it's important [1:31:04] that we're talking [1:31:05] to the communities [1:31:06] and if we're having [1:31:07] additional needs, [1:31:09] we can work [1:31:10] with the cities, [1:31:11] we can work [1:31:12] with the municipalities [1:31:13] but we should always [1:31:14] communicate with them. [1:31:15] I agree with that [1:31:16] and this town [1:31:17] has only 42 police officers, [1:31:18] a volunteer fire department. [1:31:19] Does that sound [1:31:20] like the kind of town [1:31:21] that has the resources [1:31:22] to take on [1:31:23] a warehouse of this magnitude? [1:31:24] Sir, [1:31:25] I don't know [1:31:26] the circumstances [1:31:27] behind this [1:31:28] but I can tell you [1:31:29] when I visit with you [1:31:30] in your office, [1:31:31] we'll talk. [1:31:32] I even said, [1:31:33] let's, [1:31:34] you and I [1:31:35] get on the phone [1:31:36] with the mayor [1:31:37] if I'm confirmed. [1:31:38] I'll make a trip out there [1:31:39] and see it for myself [1:31:40] because it's a big concern [1:31:41] of yours [1:31:42] and we want to address [1:31:43] those concerns [1:31:44] and if it's, [1:31:45] listen, [1:31:46] if it's not practical [1:31:47] but I also said [1:31:48] it's got to be, [1:31:49] there may be [1:31:50] a specific reason [1:31:51] why it's there. [1:31:52] If I can't explain [1:31:53] that to you [1:31:54] then that's [1:31:55] a different story [1:31:56] but if there's [1:31:57] a specific reason [1:31:58] but if not [1:31:59] then maybe we can be [1:32:00] better partners [1:32:01] moving forward. [1:32:02] I'm glad [1:32:03] that you commit [1:32:04] to talking about it. [1:32:05] There are some documents [1:32:06] I asked ICE [1:32:07] to send us [1:32:08] about their evaluations [1:32:09] of the warehouse. [1:32:10] We have still [1:32:11] yet to get it. [1:32:12] Will you commit [1:32:13] that that is something [1:32:14] that we can get [1:32:15] once you see it? [1:32:16] If the documents [1:32:17] are available, [1:32:18] yes, [1:32:19] but I've also offered [1:32:20] something much better. [1:32:21] I'll go with you [1:32:22] personally [1:32:23] and look at it. [1:32:24] That's something [1:32:25] that the local community [1:32:26] will appreciate [1:32:27] and I hope that you will [1:32:28] do that [1:32:29] and bring back confidence [1:32:30] to the Department [1:32:31] of Homeland Security [1:32:32] and all this means [1:32:33] that we got to [1:32:34] work on that [1:32:35] and I will work on that. [1:32:37] Senator Scott. [1:32:38] Senator Mullen, [1:32:39] congratulations [1:32:40] on your nomination. [1:32:41] This is a great honor [1:32:42] that you have [1:32:43] and you have [1:32:44] a great background [1:32:45] so I know [1:32:46] you'll work your butt off [1:32:47] in the job [1:32:48] like you do [1:32:50] everything else. [1:32:51] President Trump [1:32:52] was elected [1:32:53] to secure a border, [1:32:54] crack down on sanctuary cities [1:32:55] and keep our country safe. [1:32:56] I want to thank [1:32:57] the President [1:32:58] for his leadership [1:32:59] and Secretary Noem's help. [1:33:00] Our border is respected [1:33:02] and the jobs [1:33:03] we've created [1:33:04] are going to people [1:33:05] in this country legally. [1:33:06] Now as a result [1:33:07] of the Democrats [1:33:08] partial shutdown [1:33:09] in the fourth week [1:33:10] TSA agents [1:33:11] are not getting paid. [1:33:13] Everybody in the Senate [1:33:14] is getting paid. [1:33:15] I've had a bill [1:33:16] since I got up here [1:33:17] if we don't pass budgets [1:33:18] we shouldn't get paid. [1:33:19] I've had one of my [1:33:20] Democrat colleagues say [1:33:21] oh I've got a mortgage [1:33:22] I have to get paid. [1:33:23] Well think about [1:33:24] all these people. [1:33:25] TSA agents [1:33:26] are not getting paid. [1:33:27] Airlines or [1:33:28] airport lines [1:33:29] are in gridlock. [1:33:30] We've got FEMA grants [1:33:31] on our tourism. [1:33:32] Operations are shrinking [1:33:33] amid rising [1:33:34] Iranian threats [1:33:35] to our homeland. [1:33:36] My understanding [1:33:37] is ICE agents [1:33:38] are getting paid [1:33:39] but not ICE leadership [1:33:40] is necessarily getting paid. [1:33:41] Last week [1:33:42] two terrorists [1:33:43] boldly and hatefully [1:33:44] attacked our citizens [1:33:45] right here [1:33:46] on our home soil [1:33:47] killing at least one person. [1:33:48] The President's decision [1:33:49] to stop [1:33:50] the nuclear weapons [1:33:51] and the ballistic missiles [1:33:52] was a reason [1:33:53] what he's doing [1:33:54] is making sure [1:33:55] we don't get [1:33:56] these attacks [1:33:57] on our soil. [1:33:58] It was only [1:33:59] as a result [1:34:00] of brave actions [1:34:01] that we were able [1:34:02] to protect [1:34:03] our citizens [1:34:04] and our families [1:34:05] and our neighbors. [1:34:06] It seems like [1:34:08] that's our job [1:34:09] up here. [1:34:10] So Senator Mullen [1:34:11] how do you view [1:34:12] Senate Democrats [1:34:13] recklessly holding [1:34:14] DHS funds hostage [1:34:15] at the expense [1:34:16] of our national [1:34:17] security interests [1:34:18] amid threats [1:34:19] from Iran [1:34:20] and its proxies? [1:34:21] Senator [1:34:22] it's unconscionable. [1:34:23] How [1:34:24] are [1:34:25] our [1:34:26] citizens [1:34:27] holding [1:34:28] DHS funds [1:34:30] hostage [1:34:31] at the expense [1:34:32] of our national security? [1:34:33] How are [1:34:34] our [1:34:35] citizens holding [1:34:36] DHS funds hostage [1:34:37] at the expense [1:34:38] of our national security? [1:34:39] Senator Mullen [1:34:40] how are [1:34:41] our [1:34:43] citizens holding [1:34:44] DHS funds hostage [1:34:45] at the expense [1:34:46] of our national security? [1:34:47] Senator Mullen [1:34:48] how are [1:34:49] how can you sit [1:34:50] there with a straight face [1:34:51] and say [1:34:52] that [1:34:53] we're trying [1:34:54] to take care [1:34:55] of the American worker [1:34:56] when you're choosing [1:34:57] to [1:34:58] to not pay [1:34:59] 260,000 [1:35:00] people [1:35:01] and you're affecting [1:35:02] every day shut down [1:35:03] what they were probably [1:35:04] just recovering from [1:35:05] and yet we're still going [1:35:06] to sit there [1:35:07] with a straight face [1:35:08] and say it's [1:35:09] it's not about politics? [1:35:10] So [1:35:13] in sanctuary cities [1:35:14] local authorities [1:35:15] can decline ICE detainers [1:35:16] which means that [1:35:17] criminals are released [1:35:18] back into the community [1:35:19] rather than transferred [1:35:20] safely into ICE custody. [1:35:21] First off [1:35:22] I can't imagine [1:35:23] anybody elected [1:35:24] that wants [1:35:25] criminals back [1:35:26] in their community [1:35:28] but that's happening. [1:35:29] This creates opportunities [1:35:30] for illegal fugitives [1:35:31] to relocate [1:35:32] or reoffend [1:35:33] like in the tragic murder [1:35:34] of Stanley. [1:35:35] It also forces [1:35:36] DHS officers [1:35:37] to go into neighborhoods [1:35:38] to root out violent criminals [1:35:39] which is way [1:35:40] more dangerous [1:35:41] for everybody. [1:35:42] Not only does this cost [1:35:43] the taxpayer more [1:35:44] but also increases [1:35:45] the risk [1:35:46] for everybody involved [1:35:47] including bystanders [1:35:48] DHS officers [1:35:49] and potential future victims. [1:35:50] We're seeing this play out [1:35:51] right now [1:35:52] just a few miles away [1:35:53] where local officials [1:35:54] in Fairfax, Virginia [1:35:55] are refusing [1:35:56] to turn over [1:35:57] an illegal immigrant [1:35:58] who was arrested [1:35:59] for groping 12 [1:36:00] underage students [1:36:03] and the local elective [1:36:04] want to put that person [1:36:05] back out [1:36:06] of their community [1:36:07] that's not even here legally. [1:36:08] Instead of turning [1:36:09] him over to ICE [1:36:10] Fairfax County prosecutors [1:36:11] are trying [1:36:12] to get him released. [1:36:13] This is just one example [1:36:14] of how sanctuary city policies [1:36:15] choose to put [1:36:16] illegal aliens [1:36:17] over American citizens. [1:36:18] How do you plan [1:36:19] to deal with [1:36:20] sanctuary cities [1:36:21] like Los Angeles [1:36:22] and Chicago [1:36:23] to remove [1:36:24] criminal illegal aliens? [1:36:25] Sir, [1:36:27] it's been a difficult [1:36:28] conversation [1:36:29] that's been had [1:36:30] with these sanctuary cities. [1:36:31] As I said [1:36:32] going on [1:36:33] we don't get [1:36:34] to choose [1:36:36] which local [1:36:37] should choose [1:36:38] which laws we enforce. [1:36:39] As elected officials [1:36:40] you shouldn't choose [1:36:41] which laws you enforce. [1:36:42] We're not asking [1:36:43] them to go out there [1:36:44] and enforce immigration. [1:36:45] We're just saying [1:36:46] be good partners with us. [1:36:47] If we've got to serve [1:36:48] judicial warrants [1:36:49] let us go serve [1:36:50] judicial warrants. [1:36:51] If you pull over [1:36:52] somebody that's wanted [1:36:53] that's in the country [1:36:54] illegally [1:36:55] and it's an [1:36:56] municipality [1:36:57] we're saying [1:36:58] just hold them. [1:36:59] At least let us [1:37:00] do a background check [1:37:01] on them [1:37:02] and see who they are. [1:37:03] If in working [1:37:04] with the municipalities [1:37:05] are going to be [1:37:06] finally important [1:37:07] if they're not willing [1:37:09] to enforce [1:37:10] federal law [1:37:11] and work with us [1:37:12] then [1:37:13] where's the taxpayer [1:37:14] dollars going to? [1:37:15] And ideally [1:37:16] I would like [1:37:17] to go in there [1:37:18] and talk to the mayors. [1:37:19] I'd like to go in there [1:37:20] and talk to the sheriffs [1:37:21] talk to the police chiefs. [1:37:22] Say what is your concerns? [1:37:23] How can we get past this? [1:37:24] Because [1:37:25] the president [1:37:26] has made it very clear [1:37:27] he wants to protect [1:37:28] the streets [1:37:29] for every American. [1:37:30] He wants to restore [1:37:31] law and order [1:37:32] to every city. [1:37:33] I don't think [1:37:34] that should be controversial. [1:37:35] But [1:37:37] some people [1:37:38] have [1:37:39] for political purposes [1:37:40] or maybe [1:37:41] they didn't like [1:37:42] the tactics. [1:37:43] Either way [1:37:44] I find it really hard [1:37:45] to believe [1:37:46] that law enforcement [1:37:47] in those communities [1:37:48] don't want to do their job. [1:37:49] So maybe we sit down [1:37:50] and we just [1:37:51] work it out. [1:37:52] It's like I tell my wife [1:37:53] all the time [1:37:54] sometimes when she gets mad [1:37:55] at me [1:37:56] and I'm right [1:37:57] she's wrong by the way [1:37:58] but sometimes [1:37:59] when she gets mad at me [1:38:00] I have to apologize [1:38:01] because I simply say [1:38:02] that was a joke [1:38:03] by the way [1:38:04] for everybody that's married [1:38:05] but I have to apologize [1:38:06] and sometimes [1:38:08] I tell her [1:38:09] I said honey [1:38:11] we still love each other [1:38:12] we still want the best [1:38:13] for our family [1:38:14] and these law enforcement [1:38:15] and I would even say [1:38:16] these mayors [1:38:17] they still love their community [1:38:18] they still love their cities [1:38:19] they still love this country [1:38:20] so maybe it's a misunderstanding [1:38:21] we can work by [1:38:22] and I'm going to start [1:38:23] with that. [1:38:24] That's what I'm going [1:38:25] to start with. [1:38:26] If we have to do [1:38:27] something different [1:38:28] then we will [1:38:29] but that's where [1:38:30] I'm going to start at. [1:38:31] It's a misunderstanding [1:38:32] but we're going to force [1:38:33] the nation laws [1:38:34] and make sure we protect [1:38:35] everybody in their city [1:38:36] and hopefully work with them [1:38:37] and never work against them. [1:38:38] Senator Mullen [1:38:39] as Secretary of Homeland Security [1:38:40] do you have any ability [1:38:41] to ask for federal money [1:38:42] for added protection [1:38:43] for cities that ignore [1:38:44] the federal laws [1:38:45] meant to make citizens [1:38:46] lives safer [1:38:47] but then turn around [1:38:48] and ask for federal money [1:38:49] for added protection? [1:38:50] Sir [1:38:51] that would be [1:38:53] a last option [1:38:54] but at the end of the day [1:38:56] taxpayer dollars [1:38:57] have to be used [1:38:59] for [1:39:00] for [1:39:01] the right purposes [1:39:02] and if people are [1:39:03] refusing [1:39:04] to [1:39:05] enforce [1:39:06] the nation's laws [1:39:07] then I think [1:39:08] it's really hard [1:39:09] to justify [1:39:10] why we're sending them [1:39:12] taxpayer dollars [1:39:13] that are coming out [1:39:14] of Oklahoma [1:39:15] or coming out [1:39:16] of Florida [1:39:17] or coming out [1:39:18] of Kansas [1:39:19] or Arkansas [1:39:20] when they're making [1:39:21] that decision [1:39:22] but I will say [1:39:23] that is not going to be [1:39:24] my first or second [1:39:25] or even third approach [1:39:26] but that would be [1:39:27] my last resort. [1:39:29] Congratulations [1:39:30] on your nomination [1:39:31] good luck. [1:39:34] Thank you. [1:39:37] Senator Fetterman. [1:39:41] Thank you Mr. Chairman. [1:39:44] So hello [1:39:46] Senator Mullen [1:39:48] thank you for coming in today. [1:39:50] So Americans don't like chaos. [1:39:53] You know [1:39:54] we [1:39:55] America definitely [1:39:56] didn't like [1:39:57] the kinds of chaos [1:39:58] during the Biden administration [1:40:00] at the border. [1:40:01] You know as [1:40:02] as a Democrat [1:40:03] I was [1:40:04] I was alarmed [1:40:06] that there were up to [1:40:07] 300,000 [1:40:09] encounters [1:40:10] at our border [1:40:11] once a month [1:40:12] once a month [1:40:13] and that [1:40:14] puts that in perspective [1:40:15] that's the size of Pittsburgh [1:40:17] showing up at our border [1:40:18] and that's not sustainable [1:40:20] and that's not [1:40:21] manageable [1:40:23] and it's making [1:40:24] it possible [1:40:25] for us [1:40:26] assimilate [1:40:27] and now if you care [1:40:28] about immigration [1:40:29] as I deeply do [1:40:30] you can't possibly provide [1:40:31] the American dream [1:40:32] for people [1:40:33] when [1:40:34] the size of Pittsburgh [1:40:35] showing up [1:40:36] at our border [1:40:37] once a month [1:40:38] that need to be [1:40:39] brought under control [1:40:41] and that happened [1:40:42] that happened [1:40:43] I signed up that [1:40:44] as a Democrat [1:40:45] the second part [1:40:46] the second part [1:40:47] is [1:40:48] rounding up [1:40:49] all of the criminals [1:40:50] and deport them [1:40:51] you know [1:40:53] I can't imagine [1:40:54] why we can't agree [1:40:55] with that as well too [1:40:56] that's another thing [1:40:57] that I would sign [1:40:58] that I signed up [1:41:00] one name [1:41:01] that often doesn't come [1:41:02] from my side [1:41:03] is [1:41:04] Lake and Riley [1:41:05] I agree for [1:41:06] Renee Good [1:41:07] and I agree for [1:41:08] Alex Petty [1:41:09] but I also deeply [1:41:10] deeply [1:41:11] grieve [1:41:12] for Lake and Riley [1:41:13] and their family [1:41:14] and now all three [1:41:15] were failures [1:41:16] of our government [1:41:17] there [1:41:18] in that circumstances [1:41:19] and [1:41:20] as [1:41:21] I was proud [1:41:22] to be the [1:41:23] co-sponsor [1:41:24] of the Lake and Riley bill [1:41:25] because we have to address that [1:41:26] two things [1:41:27] one [1:41:28] we need to [1:41:29] be true [1:41:30] here [1:41:32] we need to have [1:41:33] a secure border [1:41:34] and we have to [1:41:35] round up [1:41:36] and deport [1:41:37] every single criminal [1:41:38] in our [1:41:39] in our nation [1:41:40] I can't imagine [1:41:41] why that's critical [1:41:42] or [1:41:43] controversial [1:41:44] for anybody [1:41:45] you know [1:41:46] so that's [1:41:47] I'm trying to find [1:41:48] a way forward [1:41:49] and now [1:41:50] you and I [1:41:51] have had [1:41:52] conversations on this [1:41:53] and that's your commitment [1:41:55] to focus on those things [1:41:56] I believe that's effective [1:41:57] accurate [1:41:58] correct [1:41:59] and I believe that's [1:42:00] what's happening [1:42:01] I know [1:42:02] there's a lot of [1:42:03] hard personal feelings here [1:42:04] and absolutely [1:42:05] I would [1:42:06] I [1:42:07] it's [1:42:08] it's terrible [1:42:09] what's happened [1:42:10] and political violence [1:42:11] I mean it's [1:42:12] it's rampant [1:42:13] so now [1:42:14] but also [1:42:15] also [1:42:16] President O'Brien's here [1:42:17] not for round two [1:42:18] he's here [1:42:19] because he fully supports [1:42:20] your [1:42:22] your [1:42:23] correct [1:42:24] yeah [1:42:26] round three [1:42:27] okay [1:42:28] yeah [1:42:29] so it's about [1:42:30] it's about letting it go [1:42:31] and moving on [1:42:32] and I've done that too [1:42:33] when I was in the hospital [1:42:34] and things were touch and go [1:42:36] you know [1:42:37] I know there were [1:42:38] unkind things [1:42:39] said about me [1:42:40] but I can just [1:42:41] say that [1:42:42] it's better [1:42:43] to just let it all go [1:42:44] and to find a way forward [1:42:45] that's the time [1:42:46] that we're in [1:42:47] right now [1:42:48] in our country [1:42:49] on that [1:42:50] now people might describe you [1:42:52] in [1:42:53] those kinds of moments [1:42:54] but I'm going to describe you [1:42:56] we got a chance [1:42:57] to get to know better [1:42:58] when we [1:42:59] joined [1:43:00] the [1:43:01] CODEL [1:43:02] to Turks and Caicos [1:43:03] correct [1:43:05] yes sir [1:43:06] yeah [1:43:07] and we did that [1:43:08] we did that [1:43:09] because [1:43:10] Americans [1:43:11] Americans [1:43:12] were looking at [1:43:13] over a decade [1:43:14] in prison [1:43:15] because they had a couple [1:43:16] random bullets [1:43:17] in their luggage [1:43:18] and those Americans [1:43:19] ran the gamut [1:43:20] of [1:43:21] a black [1:43:22] grandmother [1:43:23] from Florida [1:43:24] I believe [1:43:25] Florida [1:43:26] and [1:43:27] Pennsylvania [1:43:28] that live in [1:43:29] western Pennsylvania [1:43:30] that I did [1:43:31] and I was able to [1:43:32] report [1:43:33] when he returned there [1:43:34] so that was about [1:43:35] a commitment [1:43:36] to working together [1:43:37] imagine [1:43:38] just because [1:43:39] a couple random bullets [1:43:40] accidentally [1:43:41] they were looking at [1:43:42] over [1:43:43] a decade [1:43:44] in prison [1:43:45] now we work together [1:43:46] and now [1:43:47] not one single American [1:43:48] really faced [1:43:49] that kinds of thing [1:43:50] so [1:43:51] that's about [1:43:52] committed to working together [1:43:53] so now [1:43:54] now also [1:43:55] also as a democrat [1:43:56] you know [1:43:58] that I made me [1:43:59] the only democrat [1:44:00] that refused [1:44:01] to shutting [1:44:02] DHS down [1:44:03] you know [1:44:04] some people might say [1:44:05] that that doesn't mean [1:44:06] I have any less [1:44:07] commitment [1:44:08] to reform ICE [1:44:09] that's just [1:44:10] categorically not true [1:44:11] but it's a [1:44:12] it's a strange devotion [1:44:13] I don't understand [1:44:14] why you would shut [1:44:15] the entire agency [1:44:16] down [1:44:17] just because you want [1:44:18] those kind of reforms [1:44:19] on ICE [1:44:20] that has absolutely [1:44:21] no impact on ICE [1:44:22] and doesn't force [1:44:23] any of those things [1:44:24] I refuse to do that [1:44:25] and I refuse to punish [1:44:26] those [1:44:27] union members [1:44:28] that are working [1:44:29] and now especially [1:44:30] parts of that [1:44:31] it's true [1:44:32] it's like [1:44:33] the cyber security [1:44:34] agencies part of DHS [1:44:35] yes sir [1:44:37] yeah [1:44:38] and that's currently [1:44:39] that's on the shutdown [1:44:40] and now two of the top [1:44:42] agents of cyber attacks [1:44:44] come from Iran [1:44:46] and China [1:44:47] they must be elated [1:44:49] to know that [1:44:50] that part [1:44:51] it's all shut down [1:44:52] because that's part [1:44:53] of this shutdown [1:44:54] that does not bring [1:44:55] any reform to ICE [1:44:56] you know [1:44:57] that I want [1:44:58] any less than [1:44:59] other democrats [1:45:00] you know [1:45:01] here [1:45:02] I just [1:45:03] the difference is [1:45:04] it's a nationless [1:45:05] secure part of that [1:45:07] so [1:45:08] for me [1:45:09] I came here [1:45:10] and I committed [1:45:11] to come here [1:45:12] with an open mind [1:45:13] and I'm going to continue [1:45:14] to do that [1:45:15] and it's not going [1:45:16] to be about [1:45:17] gotcha moments [1:45:18] for me [1:45:19] it's about just saying [1:45:20] my experience [1:45:21] with you [1:45:22] has been consistent [1:45:23] kindness [1:45:24] and professionalism [1:45:25] you know [1:45:26] the first time I met [1:45:27] it was you [1:45:28] and your wife [1:45:29] behind you [1:45:30] when I was here [1:45:31] at the orientation [1:45:32] here in the senate [1:45:33] you know [1:45:34] we were even discussing [1:45:35] about getting together [1:45:36] and having dinner [1:45:37] as family [1:45:38] so that's an ongoing [1:45:39] relationship [1:45:40] because that's also [1:45:41] part of the fact [1:45:42] here in this [1:45:43] in this town [1:45:44] you got to get along [1:45:45] and find a way [1:45:46] to work together [1:45:47] and now we have [1:45:48] to come at it [1:45:49] and just let things go [1:45:50] in the past [1:45:51] for that [1:45:52] finding a way forward [1:45:53] that's my responsibility [1:45:54] to represent [1:45:55] Pennsylvania [1:45:56] and now [1:45:57] for you [1:45:58] I just want [1:45:59] to thank you [1:46:00] for showing up [1:46:01] and now [1:46:02] I'm going to engage [1:46:03] and I'm going to remain [1:46:04] with an open mind [1:46:05] throughout all this [1:46:06] as I made [1:46:07] to my friend here [1:46:08] and I'm going to do that [1:46:09] so thank you [1:46:10] for bringing your family [1:46:11] here too [1:46:12] and I look forward [1:46:13] to hearing [1:46:14] for the rest [1:46:15] of my colleagues [1:46:17] views on you [1:46:18] thank you senator [1:46:19] Senator Ernst [1:46:20] thank you Mr. Chair [1:46:21] thank you Christy [1:46:22] for being here [1:46:23] as well [1:46:24] Senator Mullen [1:46:25] I have to say [1:46:26] I'm just going [1:46:27] to be blunt [1:46:28] very honest [1:46:29] with you [1:46:30] I hope [1:46:31] that the president [1:46:32] is watching [1:46:33] I am going [1:46:34] to say [1:46:35] to the president [1:46:36] I am really upset [1:46:37] that he has made [1:46:38] your nomination [1:46:39] why [1:46:40] because [1:46:41] I will be losing [1:46:42] from the Senate [1:46:43] one of the best friends [1:46:44] that I have here [1:46:45] truly [1:46:47] but in that [1:46:48] in that same accord [1:46:49] I am so grateful [1:46:50] to the president [1:46:51] for making [1:46:52] your nomination [1:46:53] to Department [1:46:54] of Homeland Security [1:46:55] so [1:46:56] we've had [1:46:57] a lot of discussion [1:46:58] here [1:46:59] I know [1:47:00] just as [1:47:01] Senator Federman [1:47:02] said [1:47:03] there are a lot [1:47:04] of differences [1:47:05] of opinions [1:47:06] on the politics [1:47:07] surrounding [1:47:08] DHS [1:47:09] and [1:47:10] Senator [1:47:11] Federman [1:47:12] mentioned [1:47:13] that he grieves [1:47:14] for all of those [1:47:15] that we have lost [1:47:16] those protesters [1:47:17] we grieve [1:47:18] the loss [1:47:19] of [1:47:20] young women [1:47:21] young men [1:47:22] that we have seen [1:47:24] at the hands [1:47:25] of those [1:47:26] that have migrated [1:47:27] illegally [1:47:28] into the United States [1:47:29] of America [1:47:30] we grieve [1:47:31] them all [1:47:32] and I think [1:47:33] we can acknowledge [1:47:34] that [1:47:35] it's important [1:47:36] that we do that [1:47:37] we're [1:47:38] in really [1:47:39] trying times [1:47:40] right now [1:47:41] and [1:47:42] one of the things [1:47:43] that I want to focus on [1:47:44] right now [1:47:45] is [1:47:46] the bipartisanship [1:47:48] that you have had [1:47:49] with so many members [1:47:50] in the House [1:47:52] in the Senate [1:47:53] the relationships [1:47:54] that you have [1:47:55] outside [1:47:56] of this body [1:47:57] it [1:47:58] because [1:47:59] I think [1:48:00] it's really important [1:48:01] because [1:48:02] we get in the political fights [1:48:03] all the time [1:48:04] we're trying to score points [1:48:06] back and forth [1:48:07] bipartisanship [1:48:08] is not very sexy [1:48:10] but [1:48:11] I think we need [1:48:12] a lot more of it [1:48:14] so [1:48:15] Josh Gottheimer [1:48:16] was here [1:48:17] today [1:48:18] I respect him [1:48:19] so much [1:48:20] and the fact that [1:48:21] you remain friends [1:48:22] today [1:48:23] is incredibly important [1:48:24] I noticed [1:48:25] you also gave [1:48:26] Joe Kennedy [1:48:27] a shout out [1:48:28] so [1:48:29] I sent him a picture [1:48:30] I took of you [1:48:31] from the dais [1:48:32] because I know Joe [1:48:33] really well [1:48:34] as well [1:48:35] there are so many [1:48:36] relationships [1:48:37] that we have [1:48:38] in this body [1:48:39] and I wish more people [1:48:40] would see [1:48:41] that we have [1:48:42] those relationships [1:48:43] we carry them [1:48:44] in our hearts [1:48:45] it means [1:48:46] we are better people [1:48:47] because we open [1:48:48] our minds [1:48:49] to listen [1:48:50] and to that point [1:48:51] I want to thank you [1:48:52] Mr. O'Brien [1:48:53] for being here [1:48:54] as well [1:48:55] because [1:48:56] what started out [1:48:57] as a very big difference [1:48:58] between you [1:48:59] and Mr. O'Brien [1:49:00] you found a way [1:49:01] to both of you [1:49:02] come together [1:49:03] and share thoughts [1:49:04] and ideas [1:49:05] and turn something [1:49:06] really good [1:49:07] out of [1:49:08] that discourse [1:49:09] and I think [1:49:10] more people [1:49:11] need to learn [1:49:12] how to do that [1:49:13] and so [1:49:14] to all my friends [1:49:15] sitting here [1:49:16] in the dais [1:49:17] and those [1:49:18] that are watching [1:49:19] is that [1:49:20] this is how [1:49:21] America [1:49:22] works [1:49:23] where we're able [1:49:24] to take [1:49:25] differences [1:49:26] and come together [1:49:27] and not just [1:49:28] shout at one another [1:49:29] but come together [1:49:30] and figure out [1:49:31] a way [1:49:32] forward [1:49:33] that's what makes [1:49:34] this country [1:49:35] such an incredibly [1:49:36] brilliant [1:49:37] country [1:49:39] is that we can [1:49:40] recognize those [1:49:41] differences [1:49:42] um [1:49:43] so I want to talk [1:49:44] a little bit [1:49:45] about [1:49:46] um [1:49:47] a trip [1:49:48] that we took [1:49:49] last year [1:49:51] so [1:49:52] many [1:49:53] folks know [1:49:54] that you serve [1:49:55] on armed services [1:49:56] I serve on armed services [1:49:57] we do [1:49:58] congressional delegation [1:49:59] visits [1:50:00] and [1:50:01] a little over [1:50:02] a year ago [1:50:03] or about a year ago [1:50:04] uh [1:50:05] we took [1:50:06] a congressional [1:50:07] delegation [1:50:08] visit [1:50:09] into a country [1:50:10] that had not [1:50:11] been visited [1:50:12] by an official [1:50:13] delegation [1:50:14] trip [1:50:15] in 15 [1:50:16] years [1:50:17] along on that trip [1:50:19] I [1:50:20] was also there [1:50:21] uh [1:50:22] Chairman Smith [1:50:23] was on this trip [1:50:24] as well [1:50:25] as well as [1:50:26] Democrat [1:50:27] Jimmy Panetta [1:50:28] of California [1:50:30] we went to [1:50:32] Syria [1:50:33] we sat down [1:50:34] with the President [1:50:35] there [1:50:36] Alshara [1:50:37] for his [1:50:38] visit [1:50:40] from the United States [1:50:41] of America [1:50:44] now a lot of people [1:50:45] will say [1:50:46] he was a member [1:50:47] of Al Qaeda [1:50:48] what are you doing [1:50:49] sitting down [1:50:50] with somebody [1:50:51] that was a member [1:50:52] of Al Qaeda [1:50:54] it's the same reason [1:50:55] we sit down [1:50:56] with people [1:50:57] that we have [1:50:58] differences with [1:50:59] is to find [1:51:00] a way [1:51:01] forward [1:51:02] so [1:51:03] Senator Mullen [1:51:04] um [1:51:05] I would like you [1:51:06] to talk a little bit [1:51:07] about that trip [1:51:08] and why you believed [1:51:11] it was important [1:51:12] that we do that [1:51:13] thank you [1:51:14] I think [1:51:15] the President [1:51:16] of Syria [1:51:17] wasn't [1:51:18] really somebody [1:51:19] we should have [1:51:20] a lot of common [1:51:21] ground with [1:51:22] and we actually [1:51:23] talked about that [1:51:24] him and I [1:51:25] talked about that [1:51:26] had a very blunt [1:51:27] relationship about it [1:51:28] but the fact is [1:51:29] our world is different [1:51:30] and [1:51:31] there's different leaders [1:51:32] for different countries [1:51:33] and different places [1:51:34] and you have to understand [1:51:35] the region [1:51:36] and the area they're in [1:51:37] we're not in the business [1:51:38] of necessarily [1:51:39] picking the leaders [1:51:40] but when we do [1:51:41] hopefully there's a way [1:51:42] that we can [1:51:43] work it out [1:51:45] and so [1:51:46] when I was younger [1:51:47] I was fed [1:51:48] a lot of propaganda [1:51:49] and I'm paraphrasing this [1:51:50] he says [1:51:51] but [1:51:52] when I was in [1:51:53] American prison [1:51:55] in Iraq [1:51:56] um [1:51:57] he started looking [1:51:58] at things different [1:51:59] um [1:52:00] and [1:52:01] uh [1:52:02] and then he also [1:52:03] went on to say [1:52:04] yes I was [1:52:05] I was affiliated [1:52:06] with Al-Qaeda [1:52:07] but it's much like [1:52:08] you guys being [1:52:09] affiliated with Russia [1:52:10] it was interesting to me [1:52:11] knowing how you [1:52:12] went through the history [1:52:13] he said it's much like [1:52:14] you guys being affiliated [1:52:15] with Russia [1:52:16] um [1:52:17] sometimes [1:52:18] in war [1:52:19] when we're fighting [1:52:20] for our country [1:52:21] I left Iraq [1:52:22] and came back [1:52:23] and fought for Syria [1:52:24] because that's my home [1:52:25] that's [1:52:26] we have the most [1:52:27] diverse population [1:52:28] in the history [1:52:29] of the world [1:52:30] in Damascus [1:52:31] and [1:52:32] and I don't want [1:52:33] the foreign influence [1:52:34] and after I got out [1:52:35] I realized [1:52:36] my fight [1:52:37] is for my country [1:52:38] not for this [1:52:39] necessarily organization [1:52:40] but for me [1:52:41] to get resources [1:52:42] for me to get fighters [1:52:43] for me to be able [1:52:44] to fight for my country [1:52:45] he was just [1:52:46] he was focused [1:52:47] on being President [1:52:48] of the country [1:52:49] I was just wanting [1:52:50] to get my home back [1:52:51] I find myself here [1:52:52] and he was very open [1:52:53] he says [1:52:54] I have made mistakes [1:52:55] I said I've made mistakes too [1:52:56] and I said [1:52:57] we're not perfect [1:52:58] but if we can work together [1:52:59] to be a trust [1:53:00] but verified [1:53:01] he says [1:53:02] I want a relationship [1:53:03] with the United States [1:53:04] I want to have that relationship [1:53:05] that's not common [1:53:06] for somebody [1:53:07] with Al-Qaeda ties [1:53:08] that's somebody [1:53:09] that says [1:53:10] yes my past [1:53:11] is my past [1:53:12] but I'm looking [1:53:13] to the future [1:53:14] our past. But if we can grab the past that we made a mistake on and say, yeah, that's a mistake. I'm [1:53:20] not going to make it again. That's a lesson. That's where wisdom comes from. If you can also [1:53:23] learn from your successes, then that's also where wisdom comes from. And that's considered someone [1:53:28] that has a potential to be a leader. And I would rather work with those leaders like that than to [1:53:35] continue to see the civil war that was going on and in some cases still going on in Syria. [1:53:40] Yes. And thank you. And I just use this because my time has expired just to demonstrate [1:53:45] how we all have such significant differences. We can come from different backgrounds, [1:53:50] but I've been on a lot of congressional delegation visits, folks, a lot in the 12 years that I've [1:53:57] been here. But to watch Senator Mullen lead this delegation and to be able to speak to someone that [1:54:04] is far different than we are and bring our countries that closer together, I know that [1:54:09] he will do that. [1:54:10] With every one of us serving in Congress, I know you will represent us very well. You will [1:54:16] represent the administration very well. You will make our country safer. So thank you, Senator [1:54:22] Mullen. Thank you, Christy, very much for your friendship as well. Thank you, Mr. Chair. [1:54:27] Senator Slotkin. [1:54:29] Thank you. Thanks for being here. Thanks for our conversation yesterday. I want to just [1:54:34] actually add on to what Senator Langford were saying and just focus on the attack we had [1:54:39] at a temple. [1:54:41] That's very close to my heart in Michigan, a place I know well. Last week, we had an [1:54:47] anti-Semitic attack meant to terrorize not just that synagogue, but the entire Jewish [1:54:53] community. And I think the light is really blinking red. And that is the feeling for [1:55:01] the Jewish community. And just as an objective statement, the Jewish community is 10 times [1:55:08] more likely to be the victim of a hate crime than all of us. And I think that's a very [1:55:11] important thing to bear in mind as well. [1:55:12] So I just want to be clear. And I think that's an objective statement. And I think the light [1:55:14] is really blinking red. And I think the light is really blinking red. I think the light [1:55:14] is really blinking red. I think the light is really blinking red. And I think the light [1:55:16] of hate is really blinking red. I think the light is really blinking red. And when you [1:55:17] look at this whole thing from the perspective of the Jewish community, I'm not saying those [1:55:19] are all good. That's not a political statement. That's a factual statement from FBI data. [1:55:20] And we talked about the need to work together. The Jewish community is spending about a [1:55:26] billion dollars a year privately securing their own institutions. No religious group should [1:55:34] have to spend that amount of money. That could be going to lots of other things on their [1:55:37] own security in the United States of America. So it's very important. So thank you. [1:55:39] Thank you. [1:55:42] So I would just ask your help in reforming [1:55:46] the nonprofit security grant program so it's agile, [1:55:49] so you don't have to win the grant [1:55:51] and then still do 100 pieces of paper, [1:55:54] maybe even looking at a rapid reaction fund, [1:55:57] but certainly asking for some sort of task force. [1:56:00] You know, I'm thinking about the community in Australia [1:56:03] that went to the Australian government, [1:56:05] the Jewish community, and said, [1:56:06] we're seeing just a real uptick in threats, we're terrified, [1:56:10] and then we have Bondi Beach and a very horrible thing. [1:56:13] So can we just agree in public again in a bipartisan basis [1:56:17] to sit together to reform this program [1:56:19] and figure out how we manage to the threat [1:56:23] because we're not hitting it right now. [1:56:25] Senator, you have a wealth of knowledge [1:56:27] from your service in the intel community, [1:56:30] and you will know this issue probably better than me. [1:56:33] And so I would welcome the opportunity to sit down [1:56:36] and talk to you, figure out what we need to do. [1:56:37] I know this is very personal to you, and that's great. [1:56:41] We may have some differences on some political views, [1:56:44] but this isn't one. [1:56:45] You and I will be, you know, laser focused [1:56:47] and get this resolved if it's possible. [1:56:50] But yes, I would absolutely welcome an opportunity [1:56:52] to work with you on this. [1:56:53] Great, I appreciate that. [1:56:55] I think, you know, in general, your position [1:57:00] or your future position as Secretary of Homeland Security [1:57:03] sits at like the fulcrum of these big issues [1:57:07] we're having as a country, just big cultural issues. [1:57:11] The use of law enforcement in our streets [1:57:14] and where our rights begin and end, [1:57:16] and then our elections, our democracy. [1:57:19] And given the importance of that, [1:57:22] I think it's important that we state really clearly [1:57:25] where you are on those two issues. [1:57:28] You know, I think first and foremost on the use of ICE. [1:57:34] You know, my state voted for Donald Trump in 2024. [1:57:38] A lot of people supported the president's immigration agenda, [1:57:42] but then they watched with their own eyes, [1:57:44] not filtered through a map, but they watched with their own eyes, not filtered through a map, [1:57:45] not filtered through a news source. [1:57:46] They watched with their own eyes [1:57:48] American citizens killed in their streets for protesting. [1:57:52] They saw children caught in the crossfire [1:57:55] and being tear gassed. [1:57:57] They saw people randomly being pulled out of their cars [1:58:01] and walking down the streets [1:58:02] because they happened to look like they could be an immigrant [1:58:05] and checked for their papers, [1:58:06] which for many of us has a real history. [1:58:11] They have seen people go in, law enforcement go [1:58:13] into people's homes without a judicial warrant. [1:58:16] For a country that was invented [1:58:18] because we were being oppressed by a foreign force [1:58:21] that demanded entry into our homes. [1:58:24] So you say you don't want ICE in the news. [1:58:26] You say you want to rebuild trust. [1:58:28] Your predecessor was fired because she couldn't manage that. [1:58:30] And you know, people had to go in [1:58:33] and bring the temperature down. [1:58:35] Can you, without other words, just state clearly [1:58:39] what you'd be willing to do to fundamentally reform ICE [1:58:44] and put into law to do so? [1:58:46] Since that trust is gone. [1:58:49] Ma'am, as you know, I can't make the law. [1:58:51] You guys make that for me. [1:58:52] But you're going to be the secretary. [1:58:54] I agree, but I can't make the law. [1:58:55] I can work within the parameters. [1:58:57] Tell us what you'd be willing to put into law. [1:58:59] So let's, right now, the law that I work into [1:59:04] is a year as a decision. [1:59:06] We'll work through that. [1:59:07] But I do believe there is a better approach. [1:59:09] And I think working with municipalities, [1:59:12] I would love to see ICE become a transport [1:59:15] more than the front line. [1:59:17] We can get back into just simply working [1:59:19] with law enforcement. [1:59:20] We're going to them and we're picking up these criminals [1:59:23] from their jail. [1:59:24] One, we're going to reimburse them [1:59:25] for having the person there. [1:59:27] And partnership is vitally important. [1:59:30] I don't think there needs to be a law to change that. [1:59:32] I think I can work within what is there. [1:59:35] But there's an approach that can happen, [1:59:38] but we've got to have partners. [1:59:39] Yeah, I understand. [1:59:40] I understand. [1:59:41] But I would just, we're not going to agree to this here, [1:59:43] but I would just say the ability, you know, the trust, [1:59:45] we're not going to agree to this here, [1:59:46] but I would just say the ability, you know, [1:59:47] the trust is gone and not just with Democrats. [1:59:50] That's why we're here. [1:59:51] That's why your predecessor was fired. [1:59:53] And there needs to be fundamental reform [1:59:55] of this law enforcement agency. [1:59:57] And I think that the public writ large [1:59:59] is crying out for that. [2:00:01] Let me turn to elections. [2:00:02] Senator Kennedy. [2:00:03] No, no, no, let me turn to elections. [2:00:04] The Department of Homeland Security has the mandate [2:00:08] since the Obama era for securing [2:00:10] our election infrastructure. [2:00:14] That's an important job and you'll be secretary. [2:00:20] President has continued to say [2:00:23] that he won the 2020 election, [2:00:25] even though there's been 60 court cases saying the opposite. [2:00:28] He has said he wants to federalize the elections. [2:00:31] He has said name check cities, including Detroit. [2:00:35] He has said voting machines are inaccurate. [2:00:38] He has said in the State of the Union, [2:00:40] I was on the Senate floor, [2:00:42] paraphrase that if he doesn't, [2:00:43] if his side doesn't win in November, [2:00:45] then the elections were rigged, [2:00:46] which is exactly what he said [2:00:47] eight months before the 2020 election. [2:00:51] You have your own history. [2:00:52] You did not certify the 2020 election. [2:00:56] There are people at the Department of Homeland Security, [2:00:58] three people specifically, [2:01:00] who are well-known election deniers [2:01:02] now running election security functions. [2:01:05] Who won the 2020 election? [2:01:09] Ma'am, we know that President Joe Biden [2:01:11] was sworn into office. [2:01:12] He was the president for the last four years. [2:01:14] But I do believe, I believe my job [2:01:17] as Department of Homeland Security secretary [2:01:19] will be to make sure that we assure that the elections are, [2:01:23] are fair and people can trust them. [2:01:25] Does the federal government run the elections process [2:01:28] or do states? [2:01:29] It's very clear in the Constitution [2:01:31] that the states control state elections [2:01:35] and then there is some federal oversight that's on it. [2:01:38] But the federal government can set some standards. [2:01:40] So if you're talking about the Save American Act [2:01:42] requiring you, which is within the Constitution, by the way, [2:01:46] requiring individuals to be citizens of the United States, [2:01:48] I don't think it's too much to ask somebody [2:01:50] to prove they're a citizen of the United States [2:01:51] to vote in a federal election. [2:01:52] That's not what we're talking about. I'm talking about it. [2:01:53] administering the elections, if you are Secretary of Homeland Security, do you feel you have the [2:01:58] authority to put uniformed officers at polling locations in 2026? Ma'am, we said this in your [2:02:05] office. The only reason why my officers would be there if there was a specific threat for them to [2:02:09] be there, not for intimidation. So even though we didn't need it during World War II, we didn't need [2:02:13] it during Vietnam or the war on terror, we never had to put uniformed military there. Now you feel [2:02:20] that there's going to be a reason that there's going to be an armed threat to the United States [2:02:23] that you need to potentially be there? No, ma'am. I said I can't sit there and guarantee hypothetically [2:02:27] what threat would be and not. I'm not putting military. That's not within my... Uniformed, [2:02:31] sorry, uniformed officers. Yes, but if there is a threat, a specific threat, say it's in a Jewish [2:02:36] community, and there is a threat that's specific to that polling area, then we will work with local [2:02:43] law enforcement. There'll be a reason for us to be there, and it'll be known why we're there. [2:02:47] I think the reason you're here and not, [2:02:50] Kristi Noem, is because Americans trust their local law enforcement now way more than they trust ICE. [2:02:56] So I would just say if we ever get to the point where you are being asked to put armed ICE officers [2:03:02] at polling locations, we have lost the plot as a country. We have fundamentally lost it. And until [2:03:07] I hear someone tell me that this man, President Trump, will actually allow us to have a free and [2:03:14] fair election, there is zero trust here, and I cannot trust that he won't try and steal it. [2:03:19] Okay. [2:03:20] Again, I yield back. [2:03:23] Senator Moody. [2:03:26] Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and congratulations on your nomination. Congratulations to your family. [2:03:32] I can't think of a better person at this moment in time to lead such an important agency. [2:03:43] Talking about Americans trusting their local law enforcement, I think that is true. [2:03:50] I think that's one of the reasons, as the Attorney General in Florida, I worked so closely with our [2:03:55] law enforcement, our local law enforcement, to make sure we were triaging our [2:04:01] state's resources and going after really bad people that wanted to harm our community in a way to [2:04:07] make our state safer. And part of doing that is we supported them. We made sure that they had [2:04:14] resources. They had the support behind them. They knew that we had their backs. I'm proud that [2:04:22] Florida was the first state to have every single county sign up to work with the federal government [2:04:29] because we were dealing with an unprecedented situation following the last administration where you had people working with [2:04:35] radicals in that administration to destroy the border, roll out a welcome map to everyone and [2:04:42] has left our nation reeling from an unprecedented surge of people we don't know who are here, [2:04:51] many of which before they even got here had committed crimes and have committed crimes since. [2:04:55] The way to recover and shore up our communities is to work with, in partnership, local law [2:05:04] enforcement who have an expertise in their communities. [2:05:08] And it is— [2:05:10] disheartening to me not just as a former Attorney General or as a former [2:05:14] prosecutor but as the wife of a law enforcement officer and someone that [2:05:18] worked very closely with them it wrecks me to hear them refer to law [2:05:24] enforcement in general especially some of the men and women that serve [2:05:28] currently in the Department of Homeland Security as breaking into people's homes [2:05:34] and shooting Americans and I think we can all acknowledge that we want law [2:05:44] enforcement to meet professional standards to act with the public safety [2:05:50] in mind to comply with the law but we do not have to disparage an entire [2:05:59] profession of men and women who put their lives on the line for you and for [2:06:05] everyone in this room and said that they were going to dedicate their [2:06:09] professional careers to stand on that line and put their safety behind yours [2:06:13] when President Trump got in office so many of these states on the Democratic [2:06:19] side said I will never work with that man [2:06:22] to come in and correct and rid the communities of people that are going to [2:06:26] do it harm we won't in Minnesota the first thing they said I will never help [2:06:31] that person I won't lift a finger the Attorney General said so in Florida [2:06:35] where you have 67 out of 67 counties signing up tell me what I can do to help [2:06:40] you in Minnesota they had like seven of 87 does that surprise anyone [2:06:45] no because their state leader said we will not help you we will not go after [2:06:50] the most dangerous of our communities have at it see how it goes we won't lift [2:06:55] a finger and when when the administration says we are dealing with an unprecedented situation 11 to [2:07:03] 20 million people that's never happened in the history of our country how do we do this we need [2:07:09] to make sure we're focusing on on triaging and getting people out that we know may do harm to [2:07:14] our communities they're like what are you talking about you can't have quotas they won't talk about [2:07:19] the quotas where they said we're put to border patrol push more and more and more and more in [2:07:24] however you need to do it don't tell us how we can stop this influx or the surge tell us how we [2:07:29] can push more in they won't talk about that and they want to tell you about focusing on children [2:07:35] that are here that are that are now here yes you need to do that as somebody that has pushed to [2:07:40] protecting children and fought against trafficking with law enforcement's help yes you need to do [2:07:44] that but i loved how you said let's talk about the tens of thousands of children that the federal [2:07:49] government helped traffic under the biden administration that we lost and when they were [2:07:54] made aware of it they again [2:07:55] ignored it. You will now have to take over an agency that is charged with cleaning up [2:08:03] a disaster, a danger. The Biden administration did that. I cannot think of a better person, [2:08:14] someone who acts passionately and fiercely fights for the people he loves and someone [2:08:23] who loves this country and thinks of other people before himself. I am telling you in [2:08:28] Congress there are all kinds of personality types, but this man came up to me time and [2:08:34] time again as the newest United States Senator and said, what can I do to help you? How can [2:08:39] we make this place work? How can we get this done? And I cannot, I look over the course [2:08:44] of your life. You left school when your father got sick to go help your family business. [2:08:51] That's the kind of person you are. The kind of person that stands up for every person [2:08:55] in this office. That's the kind of person, passionate, fierce, a fighter. [2:09:00] Loyal. That's who I want now, protecting this country at the head of the Department [2:09:06] of Homeland Security. You said in your testimony, I'll fight for your family just as I fight [2:09:13] for mine. Tell me about that personality trait and how you think that will help the Department [2:09:19] of Homeland Security in this unprecedented time where the last administration, the last [2:09:25] president of the United States, abandoned his role to secure this country. Tell me how [2:09:31] you bring this, the personality and your character traits to this role. [2:09:35] It's the way I was raised. It's the way my dad raised us, the way my mom raised us, [2:09:44] the way they were raised. We love this country. I mean, think about it. I'm getting to live [2:09:49] the American dream. You're telling me a kid from Westville, Oklahoma, with a speech impediment [2:09:53] would ever be able to be here? That only happens in America. Only in America. And we all probably [2:09:59] have the same type of dreams because none of us have royal blood. Maybe some of your [2:10:02] parents might have served in public office or not. Mine most certainly did not. And the [2:10:07] fact that I'm here. [2:10:08] My goodness. That's why people want to come to our country because they want the American [2:10:15] dream. And I want everybody to have the same opportunity that I have. But we have to secure [2:10:20] the homeland. We have to make sure that they feel safe stepping out and being the public [2:10:25] eye. We've got to make sure that people can have a peace of mind and trust our government. [2:10:29] And right now there's a mistrust in our government. I think we have an opportunity to maybe work [2:10:34] on that. I'm mad at when I say that I hope in six months, we're not. I can't guarantee [2:10:39] it because the news is on. [2:10:40] choose what they're going to run but i hope that i'm not on the news every six months or six months [2:10:46] from now every day i hope dhs is just able to be laser focused on doing their job and it does isn't [2:10:51] controversial about taking care of the homeland i hope people have confidence in her and in in our [2:10:56] agency again and i'm going to work every day to restore that and you'll bring that same passion [2:11:02] and zeal and protective instinct to protect every family and every community working with local law [2:11:09] enforcement because they know how to approach in a safe manner their communities nobody will take [2:11:15] care of their backyard better than the individual senator gallego thank you chairman hello neighbor [2:11:23] how you doing easy brother good to see you um so some very specific questions what is the primary [2:11:30] mission of homeland security investigations from the ig or from us i'm sorry for from homeland [2:11:38] security department there's hsi is within homeland security what is their primary mission [2:11:43] well [2:11:44] not a trick question either no i i i understand that um and every agency sir we are we have [2:11:50] specific missions that we are targeted to to look at our aspect of protecting the homeland in [2:11:56] different directions have different paths um and in different agencies region-wide there are 22 of [2:12:02] them there we all need to be in the same boat we're on the same direction working for one common [2:12:07] goal and as i said let's protect the homeland bring peace of mind and secure the and secure secure the [2:12:13] confidence of the american people okay so so hsi and i've had of being from arizona we're very [2:12:18] familiar with cp ice and hsi hsi specifically is very important because they specialize in dealing [2:12:25] with human trafficking human smuggling uh you know counterfeit uh bank fraud things of that nature [2:12:31] actually have a lot of friends that work for them forever the reason i bring this up is because [2:12:35] there is confirmed reports that the secretary of homeland security has ordered hsi agents pull them [2:12:43] off what i just told you were very important missions to go to arizona and investigate the [2:12:49] 2020 election results right that's a very big concern of mine because these agents should be [2:12:55] doing the work they're doing a lot of them already are you know field ice agents instead of actually [2:12:59] doing these long-term long you know long-term uh investigations but now they're not even doing the [2:13:05] uh you know ice enforcement they're literally going back and looking into conspiracy uh theory [2:13:11] so you know for my experience in the in the in the in the in the in the in the in the in the in the in [2:13:13] and seeing you both on the house and the senate you know do you believe that joe biden won arizona [2:13:19] in the 2020 presidential election the reason i ask because again you're potentially deploying hsi [2:13:24] agents to arizona to check a result using our taxpayer dollars to follow up on a conspiracy [2:13:29] theory sir i'm not familiar with what the former secretary did here and nor i'm here to debate [2:13:36] what happened in 2020 i do know that there's an opportunity to look at 2020 and make sure [2:13:42] that anything that would be arises the officer to decide to take this particular step could be [2:13:43] and and and and and and and and could be and and and and and and and and and and and and [2:13:43] went wrong we can fix moving forward because what we wanted to make sure is that and in the next [2:13:48] election be at the midterms or in 2028 the american people trust our election system trust [2:13:53] is vitally vitally important um so i want to always look at at past uh mistakes and past [2:14:02] successes because i've addressed this uh multiple times and i i know everybody's busy here and i [2:14:06] know you you didn't get to hear me earlier but senator i um i think we can always uh do better [2:14:14] and i want to do that just like you and i you know we've worked on immigration issues before [2:14:19] but because we both know we can do it better but you're talking about perspective i'm talking about [2:14:23] going back and the fact that we're using homeland security funds investigators that should be using [2:14:28] their time and and and value more to check into something that by the way um had multiple [2:14:34] independent audits even one run [2:14:36] by the senate republican and senate um uh house state house representatives that passed accuracy [2:14:42] tests hand counts 14 court cases that were confirmed that biden won in my state and so [2:14:47] when i have personal friends that are hsi agents friends that i i know are telling me they are now [2:14:52] being diverted from their duties and what they're doing is they're they're instead of investigating [2:14:57] child sex trafficking child abusers drug traffickers which i don't disagree we have [2:15:01] not been doing uh the best set and certainly i think a lot of that was under the biden ministry [2:15:06] did not [2:15:06] do that sufficiently but now instead of uh it not being done now we have the opposite where some of [2:15:12] these best trained people are being ordered by somebody somebody within the chain of command the [2:15:17] white house where i get to quest later to go investigate this false um this this false [2:15:22] conspiracy theory right and like as much as you know for me a concern of mine because you know i [2:15:26] do know you very personally and we got into work together i think you're you know outstanding guy [2:15:30] and i reject this idea that you're not qualified for for this job 100 but when it comes to [2:15:35] something as existential as this [2:15:36] like you know are you going to be in charge of the department that's going to say you know what [2:15:43] hsi should not be used for this as a matter of fact no part no one in department of homeland [2:15:47] security should be used to do an ex uh and investigate an election conspiracy so that's [2:15:53] you know what i want to communicate on this like i really urge you just to end the investigation [2:15:57] there's no reason why we need to go really getting back to 2020. there certainly isn't any reason why [2:16:03] we should be using these highly trained professionals that should be going after some [2:16:06] horrible people to be investigating conspiracy theories that have been litigated multiple [2:16:12] multiple multiple times uh and put them back where where they were uh you know moving on from there [2:16:18] my other concern is something that i i saw you know with uh the previous secretary and something [2:16:25] that you know i've seen in myself in my time in the marines is that a chain of command is very [2:16:29] important i don't believe there was a real chain of command that was in uh the secretary of homeland [2:16:38] that is because i think stephen miller was the person who was actually calling the shots there [2:16:43] and you could see the results of what occurred you had men and women in ice and cbp that felt that [2:16:48] they were unaccountable talking to actual ice and cbp agents from arizona they got deployed to [2:16:56] to minnesota they don't know who really was in their chain of command they didn't have [2:17:00] operational orders a lot of them did not understand you know how to actually engage with the public [2:17:07] at all and [2:17:08] when there was a point of who is responsible for making decisions they could not figure out if it [2:17:13] was miller or if it was secretary noam and her deputies uh they couldn't figure out if there [2:17:19] were quotas versus there are quotas now we know that there are quotas you know this is the problem [2:17:24] is like i want to make sure that if you're there you're in charge and not stephen miller sir [2:17:30] the president has nominated me to be secretary of homeland and i'll take full responsibility [2:17:35] for that uh chain of command is important i believe in powering people and i believe in [2:17:38] people to make decisions and uh but i will still be uh talking to the president on a regular basis [2:17:45] and any policy that uh that is within my um within my realm of authority that you guys [2:17:53] give us uh if the president wants us to to look at it we'll look at it because i serve [2:17:58] at his discretion yeah one thing i know that's been mentioned here you'd probably would be what [2:18:02] the only second um native american uh in the history of the country to be a cabinet member [2:18:09] which i appreciate you know that i i also do a lot of work with our native american communities [2:18:12] at 22 fairly recognized tribes uh in arizona and the the one concern i also have is that when it [2:18:18] comes to building some of these installations on the border there has been very very little to no [2:18:23] tribal consultation especially with some of our border um tribes the total nation where we are [2:18:30] building uh walls in areas that doesn't not just doesn't have much much like you um esl so [2:18:39] once in a while too um the uh there's a border wall that is going through tribal land that is [2:18:44] in very sacred land that is not crossed and used significantly by human smugglers you know it's [2:18:51] important that dhs actually speak to these communities they actually have programs that [2:18:55] they do where they actually are are working with dhs and local law enforcement to stop illegal uh [2:19:00] smuggling called shadow of program that dhs supports but this last administration um in [2:19:06] dhs did not talk to them whatsoever they're not talking to them whatsoever they're not talking [2:19:09] about you know did i even give the the vague idea of tribal consultation and now they're just [2:19:13] building into some areas that has you know unfortunately some burials of some of their [2:19:18] uh the people from their tribe and so i think it's important that we reestablish tribal sovereignty [2:19:22] and i hope because of your background you'll understand appreciate that i respect travel [2:19:27] sovereignty and there's a lot of technology now we still have a job to secure the border but we will [2:19:32] work with with tribal nations because there's there's other ways to have a physical barrier [2:19:39] there too and i don't think anybody would complain about that but yes you know my background we have [2:19:44] worked on travel issues a lot and i appreciate your passion and i have a lot of good friends [2:19:49] in arizona with tribes that have uh that we've been on have good relationships with and these [2:19:54] travel nations would absolutely work with you as long as absolutely they they felt that they were [2:19:58] the respect uh and also respect for the land because we have a history of that mr chairman [2:20:04] we're going to come back around if you have a question uh senator holland thank you mr chairman [2:20:09] senator mullen welcome to the [2:20:10] committee i see you have uh some supporters with you today chairman smith good to see you my friend [2:20:16] sean o'brien is here i want the record to reflect that my money was always on o'brien i just want [2:20:24] that noted i want it noted for the record uh senator let me ask you this in in your own words [2:20:29] could you tell us just uh in capsule form what what is it that dhs what's the mission of dhs [2:20:35] as you understand it as you would put it as you would explain it quite simply it's simple to [2:20:42] protect the homeland very good to protect the homeland okay let me ask you this [2:20:46] ten days ago there was a shooting at old dominion university that left one person dead two people [2:20:52] critically injured the gunman had potential terrorist ties is this a good time for the [2:20:56] department of homeland security to be shut down and unfunded it's the worst time and and keep in [2:21:03] mind we just came up a 43-day shutdown and this is the third time in a year and uh it's it's [2:21:08] devastating to the morale of the men and women we have tasked to keep care take care of all of us [2:21:14] all the homeland regardless if it's a blue state or it's a red state [2:21:17] we have to look at it all the same and they have that mission mindset but they don't have the pay [2:21:22] to follow it up a few days before that two individuals attempted to detonate bombs in new [2:21:27] york city in a way that would cause mass civilian casualties both of those individuals have [2:21:31] potential terrorist connections in light of that is it a good time for dhs to be shut down [2:21:38] sir i think with the current conditions this is the worst time we could possibly do it [2:21:43] a few days before that in austin texas three people were fatally shot outside of a bar there [2:21:48] when a gunman opened fire in the early hours of a sunday morning that gunman also had potential [2:21:53] terrorist ties and yet dhs is shut down just a week ago a gunman loaded his truck [2:21:58] with incendiary devices and rammed it into the temple israel synagogue outside detroit [2:22:03] michigan as i'm sure you know 40 law enforcement officers 40 had to get emergency medical attention [2:22:09] it's it's a miracle by the grace of god nobody was killed except for the gunman [2:22:13] but 40 individuals had to get medical attention and yet dhs is still [2:22:18] shut down uh let me just ask you this um law enforcement dangers i think i've got a poster [2:22:24] that'll go up behind me here in the last year alone we have seen an eight thousand percent [2:22:30] increase in death threats to law enforcement a thirteen hundred percent increase in assaults [2:22:37] a one hundred twenty four percent increase in vehicular attacks tax using a vehicle [2:22:44] against a cbp law enforcement now in light of this is it a good time for dhs to be shut down [2:22:50] sir it's it's a [2:22:51] horrible time um let's talk about children let's talk about the dangers to children the national [2:22:58] center for missing and exploited children estimates that there are 20.5 million reports [2:23:04] of suspected online and child exploitation that includes almost 20 million reports of [2:23:10] child pornography for 546 300 reports of online enticement of children for sexual acts [2:23:16] and 27 000 reports of child sex trafficking is it a good time for dhs to be [2:23:22] shut down no sir um let me ask you if you've seen this poster that i'm about to put behind me [2:23:30] have you ever seen this before senator i don't believe so there's there's no reason you should [2:23:35] have i was introduced to this material by tim tebow the heisman trophy winner who now [2:23:40] spent a lot of his time help trying to help child work with child victims of sex abuse [2:23:46] this poster reflects every individual ip address in the united states in about a one month period [2:23:53] that was sharing distributing posting or trading [2:23:56] sex abuse material or child pornography of some form you want to guess how many points there are [2:24:02] on that map it makes me sick i have no idea 338 000 that's just a one month period now can you [2:24:10] see any blue dots on that map cinder mullen yes sir yeah there's very very you got better eyes [2:24:15] than i do i mean there's like very few of them i'd be surprised if anybody in the audience could see [2:24:18] them the blue dots are the number of investigations that are open look at the red dots 338 000 look at [2:24:25] the blue dots you can hardly see them why would that be because in the best of times [2:24:29] the department of homeland security has only 10 hsi agents who are fully dedicated to doing this [2:24:35] that's all congress has given you 10. right now none of those are funded is this a good time for [2:24:41] the department of homeland security to be shut down i think any parent can look at that and it [2:24:47] makes you sick especially with teenage daughters like myself that's scary we have to focus on this [2:24:54] it's very scary that's exactly right i'm glad to hear you say that the biden administration and [2:25:00] predecessor in this role the hound of mayorkas lost track of 450 000 children who were trafficked [2:25:09] across our border over a four-year period 450 000 children it's the biggest child trafficking ring [2:25:16] that was set up under the last administration in the history of this country the president has been [2:25:21] doing a tremendous job they found in the last year over 145 000 of them that that leaves almost 300 [2:25:27] 000 who are still missing [2:25:30] and yet the department of homeland security is unfunded and shut down let me just ask you again [2:25:35] does it seem like a good time for that no sir let's talk a little bit about the challenges [2:25:41] that are being faced by people across the country who are who are facing natural disasters as we [2:25:46] have in my home state of missouri we had major tornadoes ripped through missouri last spring [2:25:53] all across the state particularly concentrated in the eastern part of the state the st louis area [2:25:58] southeast missouri we have thousands of thousands of people [2:26:01] who are in need ofキタ who are without power who lost their homes many who were injured [2:26:05] we've had much disaster aid approved by fema but we're still waiting for some of [2:26:09] that aid to get to us and now fema is shut down so i've got thousands of people in missouri who [2:26:16] are awaiting the aid that the president has approved by the way and that fema has approved [2:26:21] but that's in the process of coming to the state i've got probably hundreds of people who are not [2:26:26] able to go back to their homes and who are applying for individual assistance that hasn't [2:26:30] yet been processed by fema and now they're being told well sorry there's nothing we can do because [2:26:35] fema shut down does this seem like a good time for dhs and fema to be shut down no sir in any airport [2:26:45] in the country right now if you go and look you will find hours backups of four and five hours [2:26:52] you'll find tsa agents you alluded to this earlier senator over 10 of tsa agents now are not able to [2:26:58] come to the job why because they make on average 45 000 a year they can't they can't afford their [2:27:02] rent they can't afford to buy groceries for their kids they've missed now two paychecks this is [2:27:07] endangering the security of our flyers it's endangering the security of our airports this [2:27:12] is a terrible time for dhs to be shut down here's my point whether we're talking about children who [2:27:17] are missing whether we're talking about the situation against our law enforcement officers [2:27:20] whether we're talking about the dangers to the homeland we are involved in a major conflict [2:27:24] overseas this nation's homeland needs to be secured and yet my my friends across the aisle [2:27:30] have shut down the department of homeland security [2:27:32] they have defunded every agency we just talked about and i just want to ask them how long is it [2:27:38] going to take how long are these children going to have to wait in exploitation how many more are [2:27:42] going to have to go missing how many tsa agents are going to be able to afford to put food on the [2:27:46] table for their children how long are the people of st louis and southeast missouri going to have [2:27:51] to wait to get back into their homes before we can finally have a vote to reopen the department [2:27:55] of homeland security it is long past time i welcome your nomination you're going to be a [2:28:00] terrific leader of homeland security i can't wait to see you there [2:28:03] but it's time for this congress to do its job and fund dhs and protect the homeland of the united [2:28:09] states of america thank you mr chairman all right thanks everybody uh we are going to do another [2:28:15] round of questions i want to let anybody ask a question that one stance ask a question but i [2:28:20] really don't want to give everybody seven more minutes i want to kind of keep it to pressing [2:28:24] questions we'll start on the republican side does somebody have a pressing question they didn't get [2:28:27] to ask who would like to ask i'll use back um anybody else senator ernst yes thank you [2:28:38] um so again senator mullen i truly appreciate you being here and i do want to ask some questions i [2:28:45] do want to follow up so many people have have pointed out the various departments [2:28:50] that exist and are not being funded under dhs so we have a really really significant anniversary [2:28:59] coming up this year so most people will think it's our nation's 250th which is [2:29:08] extraordinary but the other significant anniversary that has impacted so many of us [2:29:13] especially those of us that have served in uniform significant anniversary the 25th year [2:29:21] of september 11 2001. so right now we are currently in our 32nd day of the department [2:29:33] of homeland security being shut down we have men and women serving in tsa in fema in the [2:29:45] guard secret service in the cyber security and infrastructure security agency all of them [2:29:54] under dhs not being funded now i just heard in the first round of questions one of my colleagues [2:30:02] on the left say this has nothing to do with ice they are funded if it has nothing to do with ice [2:30:16] why are we not funding these agencies [2:30:21] we are not funding these agencies to protect americans especially as we're coming up on the [2:30:28] 25th anniversary of september 11th this fall it's a significant anniversary i hope never to repeat it [2:30:38] but the fact of the matter is that there is a greater possibility of september 11th happening [2:30:45] all over again because we are not properly funding the men and women that protect our homeland [2:30:52] so i don't want to hear folks say it has nothing to do with ice because i do believe [2:31:00] when we get into the politics of this it is about ice it is about ice so i would love for my friends [2:31:08] on the left to acknowledge it's about ice but acknowledge that protecting our homeland [2:31:15] is much more important than the politics of this can we so yes question senator mullen [2:31:27] do you think it's time to set aside the partisan politics and partisan games and fund dhs as a whole [2:31:35] so that the department can be fully functioning to protect americans especially as we are approaching [2:31:44] this fall the 25th anniversary on one of the greatest attacks that we have ever seen on our [2:31:50] homeland yes senator i i i look at this as a political theater that we're playing games with and [2:31:59] risking people's lives and we're disturbing people's lives as i stated earlier we have 260 280 000 [2:32:06] employees in dhs that's still on the job still working still keeping us safe without pay i don't [2:32:14] know how in good conscience you could sit there and think that's okay it is not okay and i look [2:32:21] forward to your leadership at department of homeland security thank you senator mullen [2:32:26] i yield back senator peters yeah i have a couple questions uh for you [2:32:32] uh senator mullen but before that i just want to clarify uh what we're hearing about funding uh for [2:32:38] uh for homeland security i think the political theater uh has been on the republican side [2:32:44] because there is really no debate with any of my democratic colleagues that we need to [2:32:49] fully fund fema that we need to fully fund the coast guard we need the philly fully fund uh [2:32:57] sisa to fund all of those other areas the tsa folks all should be fully [2:33:02] funded but unfortunately my republican colleagues who control the floor you are [2:33:07] in the majority you determine which bills go on the floor and which ones are up for a vote the way we [2:33:14] can do that so we don't have a floor vote is we can go and move by unanimous consent and move a [2:33:20] bill and say is there anybody that objects to this bill and if they don't object it immediately is [2:33:28] passed that's the procedure so folks at home watching this we have bills that will immediately [2:33:33] pass and could pass today we have put on the floor bills to fully fund tsa and my republican [2:33:42] colleagues have objected i heard all this support for tsa today so i hope you tell your colleagues [2:33:49] don't object to the tsa funding bill please don't do that we could pass it today god that would be [2:33:56] great but we heard a lot of theater all this stuff fema pass it today coast guard pass it today [2:34:07] sisa cyber security pass it today so as as the nominee for homeland security i would hope you [2:34:14] would tell your colleagues boy this is really important don't object to the bill that allows [2:34:20] us to pay for this now granted the cbp and ice are not in there because we are around negotiating [2:34:29] about making sure that there are guard rails in place so that local or that federal agents have [2:34:35] to abide by the same rules as local police you know when i go home and i say that everybody [2:34:40] says really they don't have to do that now like no but republicans are going to hold tsa hostage [2:34:45] they're going to hold coast guard hostage they're going to hold fema sisa they're going to hold it [2:34:50] all hostage because they don't want to give any ground on making sure we just have common sense [2:34:55] guidelines we have a solution for that pass the builds for all of these other agencies pass them [2:35:00] that can happen today we've tried for the last two weeks and my republican colleagues object [2:35:06] don't object anymore and then let's focus on trying to come together [2:35:10] and i appreciate your comments about how we come together let's come together and figure out how [2:35:14] we put common sense guidelines in place for federal agents that are operating in our communities you've [2:35:20] expressed an interest in doing that today and i take you at your word for that so let's do that [2:35:26] but let's not make tsa the a hostage in this whole thing let's pass the bills we can do it so [2:35:32] i heard it i heard hsi funding from one of my colleagues here i want to be clear hsi is funded [2:35:39] because both cbp [2:35:40] and ice are fully funded because of the big bill that passed last year so that funding isn't even in [2:35:46] in jeopardy what's in jeopardy we can fix today all the things that are not being funded we can [2:35:51] fund today and every single democrat is for it there's only one republican it only takes one [2:35:57] republican to object and apparently that keeps happening i'd talk to that one republican say [2:36:01] stop objecting to this if you truly all believe in that stop objecting to it hsi is getting money [2:36:07] now because of the big bill but what's the problem with hsi [2:36:11] and i agree with my colleague with child exploitation i'm going to be at the top [2:36:16] of the list when it comes to making sure we're doing as much as we can to stop that but [2:36:21] unfortunately this administration has actually transferred all those hsi people to immigration [2:36:26] enforcement they're not even doing what they were supposed to be doing [2:36:30] so i would hope if you are confirmed you will bring those folks back to their role that my [2:36:36] colleague says is so important which i agree with but why did the administration send them off to [2:36:41] immigration enforcement then apparently administration doesn't think as important as my colleague [2:36:48] and i just want to wrap up here uh questions that we had related to uh to your to your bio and the [2:36:55] biography is important and it's important that we fully understand how you're presenting yourself [2:37:01] and if there are any ambiguities we want to work that out uh on march 11th i sent you a letter [2:37:07] asking for information about any activity related to any special assignment which you talked about [2:37:12] here today that you have been [2:37:14] uh involved in there was no exception for official travel or any of that it was we just asked any of [2:37:19] these special assignments that you have talked about you responded to the committee in that [2:37:23] letter by saying my voluntary work included special assignments outside of dod was that i offered [2:37:30] support and mentorship from a christian perspective to both afghans that supported our efforts and [2:37:36] other personnel that served in war zones you stated your special assignments occurred intermittently [2:37:41] between 2006 and 11. [2:37:44] my letter did not exclude official travel and it also gave you explicit instructions in that letter [2:37:51] for providing classified information how we could do that and do it in a way that protects [2:37:57] that classified information you didn't provide any of that and today is the first time that i'm [2:38:02] hearing about your classified activities from 2015 to 16. quite frankly as we've had these [2:38:09] conversations you have not been forthcoming with me or this committee the story always seems to me [2:38:14] to evolve to kind of change and as you know candor honesty transparency are absolutely critical [2:38:23] particularly at this time to try to build trust as the secretary of homeland security so we have to [2:38:30] clear this up we feel pretty strongly we have to understand exactly what this is especially with [2:38:34] all your public comments that have raised a lot of questions uh we've checked uh the skiff is [2:38:38] available we're going to go in with we would love to have you come to the skiff and tell us exactly [2:38:44] what you're talking about i think that'll put my [2:38:46] colleagues uh mind at peace would you be willing to go to the skiff this afternoon and tell us the [2:38:51] classified uh activities you're talking about sir um i think this committee made it very clear with [2:38:56] the paperwork they gave me that i do not have to disclose my person or not my uh my official travel [2:39:04] that was part of the documents it went and it went over two or three times i complied with exactly [2:39:10] what the committee said and there is no statement for or no area for mission work and mentorship [2:39:15] that was a volunteer based on what the committee said and i think this committee made it very clear [2:39:16] that i do not have to disclose my person or not my my official travel that was part of the documents it [2:39:16] went over two or three times i complied with exactly what the committee said and there is no statement for [2:39:16] that i do not have to disclose my person or not my official travel that was part of the documents it [2:39:17] i did on my own time and it was very specific over and over again that you don't have to claim [2:39:21] official travel we we want to know what this what the supposed uh classified work was we we i have [2:39:29] real questions about it i asked the fbi yesterday i said uh and if someone had appeared in any [2:39:36] classified document any document would that be in this report and they said yes i said well i don't [2:39:41] see anything for for senator mullen why is that they said nothing showed up we query the department [2:39:46] of state the department [2:39:47] of defense uh other intel folks so you're in no classified document that the federal government [2:39:53] has according to the fbi and yet you're telling me you did all this classified work i i don't [2:39:58] understand how that wrecking happened sir i didn't say all i was very clear with what i said [2:40:03] i get what you're trying to get to get to here that's fine but i complied with everything the [2:40:08] document said and it was official travel and it was a classified trip well let me let me just chime [2:40:14] in on this um i've agreed this is the fastest [2:40:18] hearing anyone's ever had this will be the fastest vote anyone's ever had and that's despite [2:40:22] my uh qualms and problems with your nomination and i'm willing to do that but when the fbi came [2:40:29] to my office i asked them if you had done any kind of work for the cia the dod or any other [2:40:35] i haven't let me finish any of these kind of agencies or any kind of classified work and [2:40:39] they said the way it works is you would have a separate folder if you'd been involved in [2:40:44] classified missions somewhere and we would get to see the folder and then we wouldn't [2:40:48] talk about it we would look at it privately and we would know what you're referring to [2:40:52] so it's confusing to us because there may have been some papers that said your official trips [2:40:57] were excluded i don't know which ones were and weren't but you've now mentioned today that you [2:41:01] have activities you've done and so i think it would be easy and i'm still willing to have the [2:41:05] vote tomorrow but i can cancel the vote tomorrow i'm still willing to have the vote get this done [2:41:10] and and and get it over with but i think that um just to make clear and it doesn't sound like it's [2:41:18] too concerned about divulging if you would to spend an hour and go to the skiff or 30 minutes [2:41:23] and just tell um both the ranking member and the other and it would be private and it won't [2:41:28] be revealed i think it would get this over with and we wouldn't have a complaint about going ahead [2:41:32] with the vote tomorrow i have no issue with that if you guys get cleared on it because i way my [2:41:37] understanding was is there's only four people right in it and it was a special program inside [2:41:41] the house just like i wasn't on intel at the time i'm not saying i was but i have no issue with that [2:41:48] i would i would welcome being being brought up it's very unique and it was that would be on you [2:41:54] we're not going to try to figure out who the four people are and whether we can have approval to it [2:41:58] and uh i don't know if you're doing something that important uh really it probably ought to [2:42:03] be revealed and discussed sir senator i don't our chairman um it's not on me to i don't have [2:42:10] the authority to do that um but this is and this is why i said i was very very um clear sorry that [2:42:19] the things that you've done or have been doing and that you'll be able to do that uh if you have [2:42:25] that same authority and you do know the [2:42:40] yes this was within my official duties who assigned it to you sir that's not for me to talk to you about on this i'm sorry this is a classified this isn't a class if i said i'm sorry i don't i'm not trying [2:42:50] to be ugly you know how classified situations which agency which agency classified it it was [2:42:56] it wasn't an agency it was it was done here well in the house on the time but the house [2:43:02] classified it i'm assuming i don't i wasn't on i wasn't on intel we're just not really aware of [2:43:10] house how the house classifies i have i have no idea i know every time we spoke about this we had [2:43:15] to go to the skiff um and visit about it but i mean i know there was a there was a paper that [2:43:20] i had to sign before it even started um and i may be wrong there may be more than four but i know [2:43:26] there was only it was only me and three other people that ever discussed so secret that we [2:43:29] can't know about it i would think that there'd be some paperwork in the skiff that they should [2:43:33] show us saying this is so top secret and this was made i i have no problem you're welcome to go to [2:43:38] the house this started in 2015 it ended in and mid 20 little late in 2016 i have i have nothing [2:43:46] to hide on this this is too easy i would really enjoy sitting there and have a conversation with [2:43:50] you [2:43:50] because i don't want you to have a question or question my character on this so that's that's [2:43:53] very simple for me but i can't make that authorization you guys know that well it's [2:43:59] a little difficult for us to go ask about a program that has no name and we have nobody [2:44:03] that we know to talk to about it so i don't know how we would begin doing this without your [2:44:07] cooperation but i'm willing to do it i'm willing to hold the vote tomorrow but you brought this up [2:44:12] that you're on a super secret mission they can't no i did not say super secret sir i said it was [2:44:17] classified that only four only four people know well i'll [2:44:20] i only know if there was four people i there was maybe more people that understood it but i know [2:44:25] there was only three people plus me that was ever in the meeting and so as far as i'm concerned only [2:44:29] uh four people was read in on this so i don't come you were on the intel committee no not at the time [2:44:35] no sir i was on the intel committee after that what what committee were you on at the time you [2:44:43] got to think about 10 years ago uh energy and commerce so it was an energy and commerce top [2:44:51] secret ever effort senator i i know i what i'm what i'm getting [2:44:58] upset about a little bit here is that your your tone that you're saying that in a condescending way [2:45:02] i did what i was asked i'm trying to find out who we would talk to sir i don't i was i've told you [2:45:08] exactly what happened here i was not required to disclose this on any official travel your [2:45:13] documents were very very clear on that so i don't know what else you want me to say you said you can [2:45:18] go find out go find out and then when i get when you guys say it's good for me to talk to you i'll [2:45:23] be happy to talk to you about it i just i can't talk specifics if you want to talk about [2:45:28] in general ideas let's go down and and talk in the skiff i'm okay with that but i can't get into [2:45:34] the necessary specifics or who made the decision to do it but i can talk in general and i'll be [2:45:39] very very glad to do that with you and even senator lankford i know is on intel he can come [2:45:45] down with us and and visit with us about it i'm no issues with that at all perfectly clear and [2:45:51] and okay with it but it's not for me to release this so if you guys want to do that we can leave [2:45:58] here go down there and talk about this mission [2:45:59] gonna give you more time to discuss this uh it's it was a mission it was a mission the [2:46:06] mission the mission for the individual to be involved in the impossible situation [2:46:13] the mission the mission for for the individual to be involved um exchange of fire [2:46:19] it wasn't it wasn't a mission it was an official travel uh with specific ideas deals or for specific [2:46:27] fact-finding just like any official travel is that they wanted clarification on um and and so i like i said be happy to talk to you about it if you guys want to and it was in a conflict zone sir once again i'm not talking about specific details or dates because we've revealed that this was this was a classified situation up now i'm not talking about any individual details but it was a consideration of the situation and to what extent I feel that this was a really just a situation for the administration of this mission [2:46:34] going to talk about any because anything i've talked about in the fact in the past wasn't [2:46:37] referencing any of this but i'm definitely not going to get into it now it's talking about [2:46:41] specific dates or details we would have we would have no way of exploring this unless you were [2:46:45] willing to cooperate on it i don't know chairman i don't know what else you said what else you want [2:46:48] me to do i said i would go down there and talk about this with you and skip but i can't give [2:46:52] this specific all this there's no reason to think that somehow we're not qualified to look at [2:46:56] classified information and so the thing is is we would there is a there is a lot of programs out [2:47:01] there chairman that you know is based on a need to know right and and maybe you can talk to senator [2:47:07] lankford about this too senator lankford would you like to talk about i'm glad to jump in this [2:47:11] this feels as my mom used to say a mountain out of a mole hill where he is offered over and over [2:47:19] and over again to say let's get into a classified setting i just left the worldwide threats hearing [2:47:24] where i had to run over to be able to run back there and meeting with all the folks there there [2:47:29] were several questions that i asked there that they gave me a partial answer and so [2:47:33] i'll give you the rest of this answer in a skiff and everybody goes oh okay i get that because [2:47:38] there are some things that are sources methods or actions that we're all keenly aware of on this and [2:47:44] i i don't know what else he could say at this point other than let's get into skiff and let's [2:47:48] actually start with that initial meeting and see how that goes yeah that's what we asked for uh [2:47:53] senator yeah he said he couldn't do that because he wasn't authorized no i did say that i said i [2:47:59] can't give you all the details to it because it's not for me to release it but i can talk to you in [2:48:03] general about it but not in this setting yeah and let's get the information out and be able to talk [2:48:07] it through and be able to find out what this is all of us have been in classified settings let's [2:48:11] try to get it done this afternoon so i'm available right after this so if we're center our chairmen [2:48:16] if you want to we can go lead from here and go straight there yeah let's try to get our the [2:48:20] hearing finished so i really want to let's try no more speeches back and forth on on all the [2:48:26] ice stuff if we can um if you kind of just conclude that we can come back to you in a minute [2:48:31] sure all right um [2:48:33] let's try to get off of funding ice and stuff let's just try to stick to the nomination for now [2:48:39] i appreciate that mr chair i do have to take a moment because during my first round of questions [2:48:45] i discussed the current impasse we find ourselves in over ice reforms and dhs funding and i didn't [2:48:52] speak clearly so i just do need to clarify my comments now ice already has significant funding [2:48:58] right now for the president's budget bill from the president's budget bill last summer which provided [2:49:03] the agency with several times more money than its annual budget and gave ice broad discretion about [2:49:10] how to use that money that means that the partial shutdown that we have right now has nothing to do [2:49:16] with whether ice has the usual levels of funding it needs to operate since the agency already has [2:49:23] many times its annual budget it's about instead the need for policy reforms to help ensure [2:49:30] that ice operates using the same kind of standards that [2:49:34] state and local law enforcement in new hampshire and around the country uphold every single day [2:49:39] now senator federman was right earlier when he pointed out that this shutdown is impacting other [2:49:45] parts of dhs that handle cyber security and transportation security and other critical [2:49:49] functions we need to resolve it right now and as senator peters just described we have been pushing [2:49:56] to do that in the ways that the minority can we need to reach agreement on ice policy reforms [2:50:03] or by [2:50:04] funding the rest of the department while we continue to negotiate on those reforms [2:50:08] something i strongly support but unfortunately republicans have blocked the reforms to ice are [2:50:14] critical dhs is supposed to be prioritizing the removal of dangerous and violent criminals [2:50:20] instead we've seen dhs agents assault and even kill american citizens while wearing masks [2:50:27] seeming without accountability so now this is the question it senator if a masked ice [2:50:33] or other dhs agent kills an american citizen should local law enforcement be allowed to [2:50:40] investigate and hold that agent accountable unfortunately local law enforcement isn't [2:50:46] supposed to be uh investigating federal that's what doj and fbi is for now we will communicate [2:50:53] with local law enforcement but that's not their job fbi it just same thing if in most [2:51:00] municipalities if there's a fatality shooting there's another agency [2:51:04] that oversees them and in this case it'd be the fbi who is set up inside the doj to investigate those [2:51:11] so you've answered no and your answer would make ice unaccountable and that endangers not just the [2:51:17] rule of law but also the security of all americans i wanted to get to one other question during the [2:51:23] past year dhs leadership cut sys's expert workforce by nearly a third meanwhile adversaries [2:51:31] and criminal syndicates syndicates are accelerating their [2:51:35] cyber attacks against the united states how do you plan to restore dhs's cyber security force [2:51:41] and better secure our critical infrastructure from cyber attacks man we've got to recruit the right [2:51:47] people but the bright best and brightest individuals in those areas uh i know the [2:51:52] university of tulsa has a great program um but recruiting individuals that want to do [2:51:57] their that want to be there that want to deliver the mission is vitally important [2:52:00] and so we will work to make sure that happens so you agree we need to add people back into [2:52:05] sisa and pursue this critical function and they need to be non-partisan experts with experience [2:52:10] and commitment to the safety and security of our country wherever that leads them [2:52:15] no one um and in the homeland should be looking at this from a bipartisan perspective now if you [2:52:20] want me to talk about staffing numbers i don't know what the mission requires but we'll be [2:52:24] staffed adequately if we can find the right people um to to staff our and to make sure [2:52:30] that we're mission capable thank you mr chair out of respect for your desire to move things [2:52:35] along i will submit for the record a question on non-intrusive imaging at the border it's supposed [2:52:40] to be ready to do for every vehicle entering the united states especially to detect fentanyl [2:52:46] and i'd like your answer on that and a couple of other questions as well but i'll submit those for [2:52:50] the record thank you without objection senator lagverton thank you we talked before about just [2:52:59] trying to get information on time and such in the transition that happened between the [2:53:03] bite administration and the trump administration data fell behind [2:53:07] and it felt really behind uh it was one of my complaints that i had with [2:53:11] mayorkas that was sometimes two or three weeks late on releasing normal data information just [2:53:16] how many encounters were happening at the border how many arrests some of those things on it [2:53:21] last year it wasn't weeks late it was months and months and months late on getting data out [2:53:26] dhs has a really good story to tell there's a lot of good things that are happening there [2:53:31] but my concern is is that social media and some of the examples are coming out just to tell the story [2:53:37] and dhs is not able to actually tell the story and quite frankly we've asked dhs several times hey [2:53:42] give us more information more data on this one of the things i'd love to know is just that you've [2:53:47] been one of us for a long time in this you know the importance of oversight and what that means [2:53:52] on this to be able to get data to members of congress and to the american people and so quite [2:53:57] frankly we can see the story as well so i'm not asking for a pledge because i already know your [2:54:02] heart on that but want to just be able to open that up on how we can actually get more data and [2:54:05] information [2:54:07] so i'm going to have to stand up and make sure that we're communicating and getting the [2:54:12] information you need it's not going to be fixed overnight but it does frustrate me as a former [2:54:17] member of the house and definitely a current member in the senate that when we make a request [2:54:23] it's not it's not seen now there is a difference between making actual requests because you're [2:54:28] wanting to get to a solution versus harassment badgering people yes there is a tremendous amount [2:54:33] that happens both sides play the games and i'm just not going to play that game i'll work with [2:54:37] any senator [2:54:37] i'll work with any committee to make sure that we are getting the information you need to do your [2:54:42] job but just for harassment purposes um don't please i ask you if you want me to do my job [2:54:49] and do it right and be transparent with you don't play games with with me either because [2:54:53] and if we if you have real concerns like i said everybody on this committee [2:54:56] and uh and really for our colleagues for that matter have my personal cell phone that number [2:55:02] i have no intentions of of changing it unless somebody leaks it yeah hopefully that wouldn't [2:55:08] occur on it [2:55:08] now hopefully your attention to [2:55:10] Delilah [2:55:13] it will note listen don't turn the bar over [2:55:15] okay [2:55:21] I just wanted to add something to one other quick question on this Allie Marocos when [2:55:25] he's sat at that desk before he and I had a lot of conversations about what they called [2:55:30] was labeled the special interest aliens these are folks that come from known areas of terrorism [2:55:36] but we didn't have any information on them specifically and so the Biden administration just let them in let me say well we know somebody in your family definately a social restroom but it's not you so they just labeled him special interest aliens and released him in the country that we know of about 70,000. [2:55:39] those individuals the trump administration in the last year and a couple of months has picked up 50 [2:55:45] 000 of those that's part of this enforcement that's out there to be able to identify folks [2:55:51] that i've been ringing the bell on over and over and over again saying why are we letting people in [2:55:55] that we literally say yeah they could be a terrorist they could not be tears we don't know [2:55:59] somebody in their family is but we don't know them if they are on it so they were just released [2:56:03] into the country on that and given that label in fact i was told we'll keep watching them but when [2:56:08] i went to the fbi and asked them directly they were like there's no way we can track 70 000 [2:56:13] people so it's been a lot of good work to be able to try to identify where those people went who [2:56:19] they're associating with here in the united states on it and then removing them from the united [2:56:24] states there's still about 20 000 left love to be able to get your promise to say we're not going [2:56:29] to quit we're going to continue to be able to find folks that were just allowed to come in the [2:56:33] country that may be a terrorist and may not be a terrorist we don't know but to be able to go [2:56:37] identify those folks [2:56:38] and make sure that american people are protected absolutely yeah thank you and we're almost done [2:56:43] we have two people left who haven't responded to this round we've had a lot of debate over ice [2:56:47] funding i hope we can ask just some specific questions to the nominee i can't control what [2:56:51] you ask but that's my hope senator blumenthal thanks mr chairman uh senator mullen uh just [2:56:59] months before the war with iran began the trump administration negotiated a back channel agreement [2:57:09] a deal with the islamic republic [2:57:13] to deport iranian nationals including asylum seekers dissidents there have been public [2:57:20] reports about it cnn on january 26 2026 new york times reported it in a couple of articles [2:57:28] in september and december that flights in around that time deported tens of those kinds of iranian [2:57:40] nationals back to iran in as part of this uh secret agreement uh i want to tell you about [2:57:48] one husband and wife christian converts from islam who were sentenced in absentia at nine [2:57:54] and 11-year sentences by the islamic republic they fled to the united states seeking asylum [2:58:00] but they were detained by ice on arrival the wife was deported she managed to take refuge [2:58:06] in turkey the husband i'll call him mr h is still here but he's facing deportation [2:58:12] despite showing scars from the beating he received by a government gang i have both of their [2:58:20] declarations i'd like them to be entered in the record there are iranian american organizations [2:58:28] like the iranian american legal defense fund that have further information i have no doubt that you [2:58:36] share my outrage about the treatment of this couple and other iranian nationals who were [2:58:43] deported possibly to torture and death in iran will you agree with me and commit that we should [2:58:51] stop deporting such people [2:58:53] ma'am or sir i don't know the specifics behind this i i think before i can talk about in [2:59:02] hypotheticals i would need to know what the reasons behind it but i don't want to deport [2:59:07] anybody that's here illegally or here legally i mean um and and most definitely not individuals [2:59:13] that are or um have done everything possible uh to be a contributor to society but in these [2:59:21] specific cases i don't know i i'm not familiar with them i don't know if there's something else [2:59:25] in their background that would cause the administration in general about tens of people [2:59:31] as many as 55 on one flight 15 or so on another not just this couple but in principle we should [2:59:38] not be sending iranian dissidents and asylum seekers back to iran wouldn't you sir i we do [2:59:45] know that our enemies want to infiltrate us and use our rules and our generosity against us and so [2:59:52] i don't know the specifics of these i don't know their background i don't know what their reasons [2:59:57] are but um i will be happy to look into it let me ask you about another topic um i'm glad that you've [3:00:04] committed that there will not be the kind of review that secretary gnome imposed on contracts [3:00:10] above a certain amount uniformly by your office but i'd like your commitment that you will help us [3:00:16] investigate another abuse of authority corey leondowski apparently was in charge of approving [3:00:24] all contracts one of them was a 220 million dollar [3:00:30] contract that was related directly to christine noem's being fired they bypassed procurement [3:00:40] rules to award that contract to a shell company that was created days before to benefit a [3:00:48] republican consulting firm with close ties to secretary noem and mr lewandowski will you commit [3:00:55] to cooperating with our investigation the permanent subcommittee on investigation making documents and [3:01:03] mail available to congressional and other investigations into those contracts awarded by [3:01:09] secretary noem and mr lewandowski senator i um i've heard these same reports i know the ig [3:01:17] joseph i don't know him personally that's why i say joseph some people call him joe [3:01:21] um is open investigations we will crop cooperate with him and provide all the documents and [3:01:29] and records that are i'll leave that to you i'll leave that to the committee and inspecting you [3:01:33] and then we'll do all the work that's that's what i'm asking i'll do any everything that's required [3:01:37] of me by by by law but the ig will be doing the investigation and we'll let the ig you know [3:01:46] decide what documents he's going to share and maybe you can bring that up with him [3:01:49] well in fact secretary noem obstructed the investigations underway by the ig [3:01:58] in fact in at least 10 investigations they were the subject of a letter from the ig are you [3:02:06] committing to immediately begin restoring the department's working relationship with the ig [3:02:11] if confirmed absolutely i'll do i will do everything required to me by law [3:02:15] and in the policies that you guys give me there won't be any gray area with me [3:02:19] uh we want to have a good good relationship with uh with the ig he's got a job to do and every [3:02:25] other agency that's underneath uh dhs and you'll cooperate with the committee and providing sir i [3:02:30] everything that is required of me to report and anything that you want the ig to do that's that's [3:02:36] the ig uh senator mullins i don't think i need to tell you that the american people have been [3:02:44] appalled and angered by what they've seen in the excessive use of force we've had hearings [3:02:53] before the permanent subcommittee on investigation that have shown alia rahman a woman suffering from [3:02:59] traumatic brain injury yanked from her car in minneapolis dragged by her arms leading [3:03:05] both of her shoulders to be torn javier ramirez a father of four from california detained for four [3:03:11] years and refused medical treatment for his diabetes we documented these abuses in a report [3:03:18] that we issued and in hearings that we conducted one of them was marimar martinez who was on her way [3:03:27] to donate clothing at a local church when she came across agents in an unmarked car [3:03:33] agents sideswiped her car three masked agents in camouflage stormed out and one of them pulled [3:03:39] out his gun and fired at her at her moving vehicle hitting her five times and the agent then bragged [3:03:49] he bragged about it in the text he said i have an mof i won't detail it i fired five rounds and [3:04:02] she had seven holes put that in your book boys shouldn't we be disgusted by an agent that fires [3:04:11] at a u.s citizen no criminal record she was charged the charges were dismissed wouldn't [3:04:20] you agree with me that that agent should not be carrying a firearm i'm not familiar with [3:04:26] the investigation sir and i don't know if the investigation is completed i don't know [3:04:30] uh as secretary i'm sure i'll be briefed on this all right uh time's expired i know these are [3:04:36] important issues but we we just have to move on we're going to finish up with senator kim [3:04:39] and we're going to make a statement that hopefully can be agreeable for a meeting later senator kim [3:04:44] i'll be concise here chairman senator just a couple last things here a couple weeks ago we [3:04:48] had a hearing here and i was engaged with the head of uscis and i raised an issue that happened in [3:04:54] san diego of spouses of military members and veterans they were going in to get interviewed [3:04:58] for a green card and were they were going in to get interviewed for a green card and were they were [3:05:00] arrested upon their arrival i just wanted to get your reaction to that like you know is that the [3:05:05] kind of behavior you think is acceptable excuse me repeat that again it was uh spouses of military [3:05:12] service members as well as veterans their spouses were going and for the purposes of a green card [3:05:17] interview but were at that point detained and arrested on arrival i've i've heard i haven't [3:05:23] heard about this i've heard of different reports senator and if people are going through the [3:05:27] process and trying to [3:05:31] obtain it legally because we do have naturalization ceremonies monday through friday in this country [3:05:37] everywhere uh we're going to continue working with those individuals i don't know the circumstances i [3:05:41] don't know i'll i'll pass you the details but you know it's something that we can talk through but [3:05:45] just in general here i guess what i'm just trying to get a sense from you is what you think is [3:05:49] appropriate in terms of ice agents being able to operate you know for instance do you think [3:05:54] it is okay for them to operate and arrest people at hospitals sir i will um always support my [3:06:01] law enforcement doing their job um i don't know the circumstances if it's a felony warrant that [3:06:07] um that the person's at a hospital then they'll go get pick up the felony warranty just like local [3:06:13] law enforcement does the same thing i and so in general i think you need to be more specific on [3:06:18] what you're talking about uh but if you're talking about just doing everyday law enforcement um i [3:06:25] think there's a better approach senator i just want to raise you know i just hear a lot of this [3:06:31] about concerns of these types of efforts out you know in and around hospitals schools uh churches [3:06:38] uh these are things that i hope we can engage on i know you talked about it with one of my [3:06:42] colleagues about polling sites but these are important discussions and we don't have clarity [3:06:46] on what we are expected to see and it's causing just an enormous amount of concern and challenge [3:06:53] within our communities senator i i don't understand what the concern about enforcing [3:06:58] immigration at polling places is anyways because honestly if you're not a senator [3:07:01] you shouldn't be voting anyway so technically there shouldn't be any legals at the polling spot [3:07:06] um and so as i've said before if we're at a polling area it's because of a specific threat [3:07:11] not for immigration yeah look what i will just convey here is it's not just about [3:07:16] you know about people who are undocumented i'm hearing from american citizens that are now [3:07:21] feeling like they need to carry their passports around for fear of uh being stopped uh on the [3:07:27] street you know there is a chilling effect that is happening that is is wider you know i had to [3:07:31] give my father-in-law specific instructions in case he was stopped upon re-entry back into the [3:07:37] united states you know there is real concern out there and i just wanted to express it to you just [3:07:41] a couple last quick things here uh at the detention facility in new jersey a different one called [3:07:46] delaney hall i was there right after a uh a gentleman was uh died there uh and there was [3:07:53] really no documentation really minimal explanation of his cause of death you know there was was 32 [3:07:59] deaths at detention facilities under ice control there was no documentation of his cause of death [3:08:01] at the detention facilities under ice control last year yet the oversight offices at dhs to do this [3:08:06] offices like the office of civil rights and civil liberties the office of immigration detention [3:08:10] oversights they've been gutted and i just wanted to ask do you uh do you commit to being able to [3:08:17] ensure that there is the proper oversight there internally within dhs working alongside us in [3:08:22] congress to ensure that people are being kept at at the dignified levels that they should according [3:08:29] to a law each phil each facility falls within the dhs to ensure that people are kept at the dignified [3:08:31] levels that they should according to a law each phil each facility falls within the dhs working [3:08:31] alongside us in congress to ensure that people are kept at at the dignified levels that they should [3:08:32] uh different standards of operation uh that are in statutes we will operate within those statutes [3:08:39] um everybody just deserves to be treated with with a a dignified hand uh and we will follow [3:08:46] those procedures that are that are set for those facilities well i hope to work with you on that [3:08:51] uh if you're confirmed because we need to make sure we have that oversight as we have not been [3:08:55] able to see it and in fact you know some of our efforts have been impeded because we have not been [3:08:59] able to have uh visitation to the dhs to ensure that people are kept at at the dignified levels [3:09:01] uh if you're confirmed because we need to make sure we have that oversight as we have not been [3:09:02] able to have uh visitation to the dhs to ensure that people are kept at at the dignified levels [3:09:02] at the some of these sites and i hope that that's something uh you will support us be able to have [3:09:06] one last thing i just wanted to raise uh with fema there was a number of employees that sent an open [3:09:12] letter titled the katrina declaration this is something that warned about some of the reversals [3:09:17] that are being made when it comes to disaster response and recovery your predecessor secretary [3:09:23] gnome she suspended a number of these fema employees i just wanted to ask can you commit [3:09:29] that if confirmed you will adhere to whistleblowers [3:09:31] as a secretary and i hope that means that you will ensure that these whistleblowers do not face [3:09:35] retaliation for their protected disclosure so there's already laws in place to protect [3:09:40] whistleblowers and i've said multiple times i'll work within the law and the requirements of me [3:09:45] as secretary and i hope that means that you will ensure that these whistleblowers do not face [3:09:52] unlawful retaliation for what they have done it's against the law as you said unlawful sir [3:09:57] i said i'm going to work within the law and that's unlawful okay [3:10:01] with that i'll yield back thank you um as i said previously we've scheduled a vote for tomorrow [3:10:06] i'm committed to that there are several members on both sides of the aisle that would like a briefing [3:10:10] in the skiff they have it from one to two if you're willing to do that several members would [3:10:15] like just to walk over and do it and i think that makes it much more likely that we have the vote [3:10:19] tomorrow sir i i would prefer to have the ranking member yourself james and if you want to bring [3:10:26] another democrat member that's on it's all or none all the all the members need to be able to hear [3:10:31] it directly and the problem appears too many things are siloed and it just looks like resistance [3:10:37] that you don't want everything to come out it'll be much more forthcoming if you let any member of [3:10:41] the committee and classified staff into it i think we can get i think okay that's that's fine as long [3:10:47] as it's in a classified setting as long as what yeah that's fine no people classified security [3:10:53] honor staff and and staff ts tsci tssci yes all right um all right thanks everybody for coming [3:11:02] today the nominee has filed response [3:11:05] to biographical and financial questionnaires answered pre-hearing questions submitted by the [3:11:09] committee and had their financial statements reviewed by the office of government ethics [3:11:12] without objection this information will be made part of the hearing record [3:11:15] with the exception of the nominees financial data which are on file with the committee [3:11:19] to the quick turnaround between this hearing and the markup tomorrow the hearing will remain open [3:11:23] until 4 p.m today march 18th this hearing is adjourned