Markwayne Mullin to testify at DHS confirmation hearing in Senate

[8:47] The hearing to consider the nomination of Mark Wayne Mullen to be Secretary of Department of Homeland Security will come to order. [8:59] I'm assuming we'll commence when he arrives. I think he's in the hall doing media. [10:09] Morning, everyone. I entered the Senate the same year that Representative Gabby Giffords was shot. [10:16] I knew then that the state of political rhetoric was encouraging violence. [10:20] I think it's imperative now more than ever that the leaders in our country disavow violence and lead by example. [10:27] Through the years, I've personally been exposed multiple times to political violence. [10:33] I was in the right field batting cage when the craze shoot. [11:14] Morning, everyone. I entered the Senate the same year that Representative Gabby Giffords was shot. [11:21] I knew then that the state of political rhetoric was encouraging violence. [11:25] I think it's imperative now more than ever that the leaders in our country disavow violence and lead by example. [11:34] Through the years, I've personally been exposed multiple times to political violence. [11:37] I was in the right field batting cage when the craze shooter unleashed nearly 200 shots at our congressional baseball practice. [11:45] I'll never forget Steve Scalise valiantly trying to drag his body away as the gunman continued. [11:53] Later that year, a Trump-hating felon attacked me from behind in my yard. [11:59] I was just straightening up from picking up a tree limb. [12:02] I was wearing noise cancellation headphones. [12:04] Never saw him coming. [12:06] Running pell-mell down the hill. [12:08] I was struck in the back. [12:11] The force of the blow sent us through the air nearly 10 feet down the hill until his shoulder impaled me as we hit the ground. [12:18] Six of my ribs were broken. [12:20] Three of the ribs were completely separated such that for weeks, the ends of the ribs would grind upon each other. [12:28] My lung was damaged. [12:30] For weeks, I could inhale but not have the rib strength to exhale. [12:34] I developed two pneumonias. [12:36] The pain was such that I could only sit up in bed by tying a rope to the foot of the bed and pulling myself up. [12:43] But even then, the pain was that of a thousand knives. [12:47] Over the year of recovery, I began to cough up blood. [12:49] I underwent removal of part of my lung. [12:53] Complications led to an infection in the space between my lung and chest wall. [12:57] I spent a week in the hospital having the infection lavaged every six hours through a chest tube. [13:02] Recently, Senator Mullen, if you have time to listen, you were confronted by constituents that were angry because you voted against my amendment to stop all funding for refugee welfare programs. [13:16] Instead of explaining your vote to continue these welfare programs for refugees, you decided to transfer the blame. [13:23] You told the media that I was a freaking snake and that you completely understood why I had been assaulted. [13:31] I was shocked that you would justify and celebrate this violent assault. [13:35] That caused me so much pain and my family so much pain. [13:38] I just wonder if someone who applauds violence against their political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled to accept limits to the proper use of force. [13:50] You might argue you were mad and upset about being confronted by your constituents. [13:57] But Senator Mullen, your constituents are justifiably upset with you. [14:00] By now, most of America knows that the Somali welfare fraud in Minnesota stole over $9 billion. [14:05] But instead of defending your vote, you took to continue the vote to continue these refugee welfare programs, you chose to lash out at me. [14:16] You went on to brag that you'd already told me to my face that you completely understood and approved of the assault. [14:23] Well, that's a lie. [14:25] You got a chance today. [14:26] You can either continue to lie or you can correct the record. [14:29] You have never had the courage to look me in the eye and tell me that the assault was justified. [14:34] So today you'll have your chance. [14:37] Today I'll give you that chance to clear the record. [14:39] Tell it to my face. [14:40] If that's what you believe, tell it to me today. [14:42] Tell the world why you believe I deserve to be assaulted from behind, have six ribs broken and a damaged lung. [14:50] Tell me to my face why you think I deserved it. [14:52] And while you're at it, explain to the American public why they should trust a man with anger issues to set the proper example for ICE and Border Patrol agents. [15:02] Explain to the American public how a man who has no regrets about brawling in a Senate committee can set a proper example for over 250,000 men and women who work at the Department of Homeland Security. [15:16] Senator Peters, you're recognized for your opening comment. [15:18] Well, thank you, Chairman Paul. [15:21] Thank you, Senator Mullen, for being here today. [15:24] Congratulations on your nomination. [15:26] And I certainly appreciate your willingness to meet with me as well as my staff as we consider your nomination to serve as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. [15:36] I'd also like to welcome your family who is joining us today and to thank all of them for their commitment to public service. [15:44] We do it as a as a family, as you know, the Department of Homeland Security is a complicated organization with challenging operational dynamics. [15:53] As everyone is well aware, many components within DHS are currently operating without funding. [16:00] But let's be clear, Democrats are committed to funding TSA, FEMA, the Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Coast Guard while we negotiate much-needed ICE reforms. [16:14] We tried to pass those bills by unanimous consent multiple times over the past two weeks. [16:20] Unfortunately, Republicans have blocked those bills each and every time. [16:24] Yesterday, the White House sent a letter laying out their latest offer, but the devil is always in the details. [16:32] Administrative action is not enough. [16:34] We need to pass real reforms into law. [16:37] If Republicans really do agree with us that TSA and other personnel need to be paid, then they should join us and pass the bills to pay them today. [16:47] We can do that while we continue to negotiate needed ICE reforms. [16:51] But let me be clear, these are very straightforward reforms that we're asking for. [16:56] We just want ICE to follow the same rules that our local police and our local communities follow every day. [17:04] But DHS has faced the management challenges since the start of the Trump administration, and over the past year, many of those challenges have unfortunately only increased. [17:14] As soon as President Trump was sworn in, he made deep cuts to counterterrorism offices and programs, forced out or reassigned key personnel, and redirected the focus of limited remaining counterterrorism resources away from the serious threats that we face, and towards targeting the president's perceived political enemies. [17:36] The administration has also gutted our nation's main cyber security agency, once again forcing out or reassigning highly talented personnel, slashing budgets, and limiting the agency's work to help private companies address significant cyber attacks, and protect Americans from criminal hackers and support secure elections. [17:59] The administration has also taken an axe to FEMA, cutting staff, and freezing or delaying critical grant funding for everything from emergency food and shelter after a disaster, to flood mitigation programs, and security grants to nonprofits, including houses of worship. [18:17] All these cuts and reassignments have been made at the expense of vital missions, including the core terrorism prevention and response mission the department was created to address. [18:29] In doing so, the Trump administration has broken trust between law enforcement and the communities they are intended to protect, a break that will have a generational impact on public safety and security. [18:42] And now, after President Trump's reckless war of choice against Iran, the threats to our nation have never been higher. [18:49] In my home state of Michigan, just last week, we saw both a major medical device manufacturer get hacked by an Iranian-backed group, and a horrific violent attack on Temple Israel, a metro Detroit area synagogue. [19:04] President Trump's unilateral and unchecked executive actions have put Americans at risk. [19:09] And we need a steady, qualified leader at the Department of Homeland Security to address these serious threats. [19:17] How the Homeland Security Secretary responds to a crisis sends signals to everyone, from the department's own personnel, to the American people, and to the entire world. [19:28] It's not the role of the secretary to be a cable news commentator in the wake of a crisis. [19:34] The secretary's role is to lead, lead the response, and work to ensure the department that they are leading isn't actually the cause of the crisis. [19:44] A secretary who jumps to conclusions without the facts, as we saw in the case of Renee Goode and Alex Preddy's killings, only worsens the situation and actually makes us less safe. [19:55] This is a role where temperament matters, where judgment matters, and where experience matters. [20:04] We have seen under Secretary Noem's leadership how shortcomings in these traits can compound the challenges that already come with leading a large and complex department. [20:15] And now, more than ever, we need a DHS secretary who is a steady hand, who will provide thoughtful leadership, follow the facts, tell the truth, and hold agency officials accountable when they need to be held accountable. [20:31] We need a DHS secretary who is committed to the rule of law and who will protect and cooperate with independent oversight, whether that's from the inspector general or from members of Congress. [20:42] And we need a DHS secretary who is free from distractions and conflicts of interest that only undercut the department's work and also break trust with the American people. [20:56] Senator Mullen, I appreciate you being here today to answer our questions about these concerns and your experience and qualifications for the job. [21:03] And while I'm interested in hearing more about your vision for leading the department, I do have reservations about your readiness to take on such a significant role at such a critical time. [21:15] I hope you will provide us with the substantive answers today and a candid recognition of where this administration has fallen short on safeguarding our homeland security as you seek to lead the department as our nation faces ongoing security threats and war with Iran. [21:36] Senator Mullen is to be introduced today by Senator Lankford. [21:39] Senator Lankford, you were recognized for your introduction, moral witness. [21:41] Senator Lankford, thank you. Mark Wayne, proud that you're here. I get the honor of getting a chance to be able to recognize and introduce my friend, Mark Wayne Mullen, my fellow senator from the state of Oklahoma and somebody that I've seen work incredibly hard to be ready for every single task you've ever taken on and to be able to not only do it, but do it well. [22:01] There are a lot of folks that think they know you. I actually get to know you and have had the opportunity to be able to serve beside you for now over a decade and have seen your tenacity in your work effort. [22:11] Folks may not know that the first time we really got to know each other, ironically enough, was around a natural disaster, a FEMA event. [22:19] It was Briarwood Elementary in 2013 when a tornado came right through the heart of Oklahoma. [22:26] You had literally just been elected a few weeks before that and had just taken the oath of office. [22:32] The Oklahoma delegation all gathered together at the very tragic event there at Briarwood Elementary. [22:37] And while we were meeting with the principal and meeting with teachers and families and walking through the debris field that was that elementary school, [22:45] we turned around to be able to look for Mark Wayne. And for a minute, we couldn't find him because in one of the debris piles, there was water shooting out of the middle of it. [22:55] And his plumber instinct said, I got to go find that and figure out how to solve that. [22:59] And so while everyone else was shaking hands and meeting people, he was digging through the debris field to find a way to be able to shut off the water that was shooting through the middle of that destroyed elementary school. [23:10] And I remember smiling and thinking, he's a guy that doesn't mind getting his hands dirty to actually go solve the problem. [23:16] Where there's a problem he can solve, he's going to do whatever it takes to actually solve it. [23:21] Mark Wayne grew up in a very small town in far eastern Oklahoma, ironically named Westville in the easternmost part of Oklahoma. [23:30] Just 1,300 people call Westville home. He grew up in a family of modest means. [23:37] I think that'd be safe to be able to say. The youngest of seven children in a family that just didn't have much. [23:43] His dad ran a very small plumbing company that then Mark Wayne took on and grew into being one of the largest plumbing companies in the entire state. [23:50] He married his high school sweetheart, one of the smartest things he ever did at just 20 years old. [23:58] And he and Christy have developed a family that is a beautiful family of three children they had naturally and three children they chose that they adopted and took them in. [24:10] It is a remarkable family and a remarkable success that you have actually led through a lot of hard work and a lot of love and tenacity. [24:19] He is a person of faith that is not afraid to be able to talk about his faith in Jesus Christ, but he's also a person who has deep respect for all people. [24:27] Mark Wayne has served in Congress for 14 years, 11 years in the House of Representatives, three here in the Senate. [24:33] He's passed legislation that he will now be charged with actually implementing it in the order that was actually passed. [24:39] He served on the Appropriations Committee here. [24:41] He's served on Armed Services, he's served on the HELP Committee here, and he's done an incredible job in the work that he's done with Indian Affairs. [24:49] He is somebody who has the rare gift of bringing people together on both sides of the aisle. [24:54] And the one thing I would say to every single person on this Diaz, regardless of your Republican or Democrat, if you want to sit down and talk about an issue, he's glad to be able to talk about it and to be able to work it out. [25:06] And has very good relationships in the House and in the Senate, and he is not afraid to ask questions when he doesn't know the answer and to be able to research things. [25:16] He and I have often talked about being up late, both of us, working on researching through an issue to try to be able to learn more about it. [25:24] Because the crazy thing about being in Congress is you don't know everything. [25:28] You've got to do the work. [25:29] And Mark Wayne is not afraid to do the work. [25:32] Over the past year and a few months, we've seen incredible progress on our southern border. [25:40] Our southern border 18 months ago, I think we forget what it looked like. [25:44] 12,000 people a day illegally crossing our border, just being waved in. [25:51] No vetting, no background checks, 12,000 people a day. [25:56] That is not happening anymore. [25:59] Our numbers are down on the southwest border 96%. [26:03] So you walk into an agency that has finally restored some order to our southern border. [26:09] But there's a lot of work still to do with FEMA, with other areas of Homeland Security, and a very large agency with 250,000 people that are actually under your leadership there. [26:20] So I am confident that you'll be able to take those things on. [26:24] Not only am I confident, the National Border Patrol Council has already sent a letter in strong support here. [26:31] And, Mr. Chairman, I'd like to ask unanimous consent to insert to the record the National Border Patrol Council, their letter of support, leadership of the Cherokee Nation, their strong support. [26:41] And then my fellow senator, Katie Britt, has an opening statement, who I'd like to also submit for the record with unanimous consent. [26:49] Without objection. [26:51] Thank you. [26:51] This is a person that actually lives what we affectionately call in Oklahoma the Oklahoma standard. [26:57] That when hard things actually occur, you step up and you serve your neighbor. [27:02] And you find ways to be able to help people to do the hard things that have to be done. [27:07] So, Mark Wayne, I appreciate your leadership. [27:09] I appreciate your willingness to be able to step up in a season where DHS needs a leader to be able to step into that role and to be able to help our nation in so many different complicated areas. [27:18] Especially at a time when right now we can't even get funding to DHS. [27:22] We've got to be able to have good, solid leadership there. [27:26] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [27:28] It's the practice of this committee to swear in witnesses. [27:30] Will the nominee please stand and raise your right hand. [27:32] Do you swear that the testimony we'll give before this committee will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? [27:41] So, help you God. [27:47] Senator Mullen, you are recognized for your opening statement. [27:50] I think before I can start my opening statement, I have to address the remarks that the chairman made calling me a liar. [27:56] Sir, I think everybody in this room knows that I'm very blunt and direct to the point. [28:01] And if I have something to say, I'll say it directly to your face. [28:04] If you recall back in my House days, we actually did have this conversation because of the remarks that I've made. [28:11] You were in a room, I simply addressed that I said I could understand because of the behavior you were having. [28:18] But I could understand why the neighbor did what he did. [28:22] As far as my terms of the snake in the grass, sir, I work around this room to try to fix problems. [28:28] I've worked with many people in this room. [28:30] Seems like you fight Republicans more than you work with us. [28:33] I did address those remarks. [28:34] I did explain your gimmicks by the amendment you put forth. [28:38] And as far as me saying that I invoke violence, I don't. [28:43] I don't think anybody should be hit by surprise. [28:45] I don't like that. [28:46] But if I do have something to say, everybody in this room knows I'll come straight to you. [28:51] I'll say it publicly and I'll say it privately, but I'll never say it behind your back. [28:55] So for you to say, I'm a liar, sir, that's not accurate. [28:59] And I got proof to say that because you have spent millions of dollars in my campaigns against me because we just don't get along. [29:07] However, sir, that doesn't keep me at all from doing my job. [29:13] I can have different opinions with everybody in this room. [29:15] But as Secretary of Homeland, I'll be protecting everybody, including Kentucky, as much as I will my own back guard in Oklahoma. [29:22] It's bigger than the partisan bickering that we have. [29:25] It's bigger than the political differences we have. [29:28] The truth is, I have a job to do, and I don't like to fail at anything at all. [29:35] So I can set it aside if you're willing to set it aside. [29:40] Let me earn your respect. [29:41] Let me earn the job. [29:43] I won't fail you. [29:45] I won't back down from a challenge. [29:47] And I'll also admit when I'm wrong. [29:49] I'm not perfect. [29:50] I don't claim to be perfect. [29:53] I make mistakes just like anybody else. [29:56] But mistakes, if you own them, you can learn from them and you can move ahead. [30:02] And I'll make that commitment to you. [30:03] Ranking Member Peters, Chairman Paul, I do thank you for this opportunity. [30:11] It is a humbling experience. [30:13] A kid from Westville, Oklahoma, that grew up with a dad that worked hard. [30:22] He set the work example for all of us. [30:26] And all my families, and my siblings, we all work hard. [30:29] And I'm proud of the family we have. [30:32] But to say that a kid with a bad speech impediment would one day sit up here in front of you [30:36] and be nominated to be the Secretary of Homeland, it was humbly enough to be selected by Oklahoma [30:43] to be their U.S. representative when I didn't even know how to tie a tie. [30:48] And 10 years later, to be able to be called a United States Senator and serve with all you guys. [30:53] And I respect every one of you guys. [30:54] I do. [30:55] Regardless if I have an opinion about you or not, you were elected by your state. [30:59] And I respect that. [31:00] I may disagree with you, but I respect it. [31:02] Because we all make decisions based on two things. [31:05] The way you're raised, which never changes, and our life experiences with constantly change. [31:12] For me, to be able to have the love of my life behind me, somebody I literally fell in love with in third grade, [31:19] I knew I was going to marry in eighth grade. [31:27] She didn't know that yet. [31:28] We had to work through that process. [31:32] But at 18 years old, and I was 19, she agreed to marry me. [31:37] I didn't have anything. [31:38] I was on a wrestling scholarship, living in a dorm. [31:42] She was cheering at Northeastern State University. [31:45] I think she fell in love with my truck, because my truck was pretty cool. [31:49] But the truth is, we didn't know what we didn't know. [31:54] But we did know we loved each other. [31:56] And I haven't been perfect. [31:57] I apologize to her quite often and send her flowers all the time. [32:00] But I still am humbled by the fact that we've got to enjoy this walk together. [32:04] We've had God on our side and her right beside me. [32:08] And to our six children, who's been on this adventure with me, what an adventure it's been. [32:14] We have a saying in our family, you're never going to change anything you're willing to tolerate. [32:18] That's how we live our life, and that's how we move forward. [32:21] And regardless of what's in front of us, we always take it on as a family. [32:31] You know, I'm not scared of a challenge. [32:34] I am scared of failure. [32:37] And so I will work hard each day. [32:42] I'll work hard to make the 280,000 employees at DHS with the 22 agencies that's underneath me proud. [32:50] I'll show them somebody that no one will outwork. [32:53] I'll work beside them every single day to not just secure a homeland, to bring peace of mind and confidence to the agency. [33:05] My goal in six months is that we're not in the lead story every single day. [33:12] My goal is for people to understand we're out there, we're protecting them, and we're working with them. [33:18] My goal is to make every one of you guys proud. [33:20] My goal, for those that don't support me, regret not supporting me. [33:27] But we have to get DHS funded. [33:32] We have to. [33:33] My friends, we have to set the partisan side down. [33:38] And we have to realize that we're putting our homeland and the peace of mind at risk for the American people. [33:48] Sometimes it's political theater, sometimes it's true differences. [33:52] But what we do know is that we're playing with fire. [33:55] We have 280,000 DHS employees right now that are on day 30 without pay, and they're still showing up every single day to do their job. [34:08] That is a dedicated group of people. [34:12] And we should all be proud of them. [34:14] We should all be working together, and we should all be trying to fund them. [34:18] So I pray, seriously, I pray that we can get past this. [34:23] That once this hearing is over and once we go through this process, I get it. [34:28] I get some of it's got to be political theater. [34:30] I understand it. [34:31] I've had to really pray about my attitude. [34:34] But I will say, once it's over, I hope we can work together and get them funded. [34:40] So when I walk in, if I'm fortunate enough to be confirmed, if I walk in as secretary, that these guys are ready to go to work day one. [34:51] So God bless you. [34:53] Thank you so much for this opportunity. [34:55] And I look forward to your questions. [34:59] It's the standard practice of this committee for the chairman to ask nominees the following question. [35:03] Do you agree without reservation to comply with any request or summons to appear or testify before any duly constituted committee of Congress if you're confirmed? [35:14] I do. [35:14] We will now proceed to seven minutes of questioning. [35:18] The record should show, and I think will show, a lack of contrition, no apology, and no regrets for your support. [35:31] You completely understand the violence that was perpetrated on me. [35:35] You're unrepentant. [35:37] The only thing you quibble about is whether I met you somehow when you were in the house. [35:40] I don't think we ever met when you were in the house. [35:42] And this idea that the only thing you're upset about is not that you were for violence. [35:48] What you're upset about is that I called you a liar because you said it to my face. [35:52] It's really more about this machismo that you have. [35:58] When in Oklahoma the media asked you about the refugee welfare programs, the programs you voted to continue funding, [36:06] it was this whole idea that you were going to transfer because you were uncomfortable. [36:09] Your anger, low impulse control, you know, causes you to then go after and decide that you're going to go after me as well. [36:17] And so you say you completely understood that I was assaulted from behind, had six ribs broken, and part of my lung removed, and that was just fine. [36:25] That's something that you, I guess, approve of as far as resolution of political problems. [36:30] When I talked to you privately on the phone, there was no apology. [36:34] You just said, well, we can let our political difference, you know, go by, and you said a few minutes ago, we can just set it aside. [36:43] Well, political differences we can, but when you say that you agree with a felon, a Trump-hating felon who attacked me, [36:51] somehow you think I'm just going to set that aside? [36:53] Oh, it's no big deal. [36:54] You know, I lay in pain for two months, had six ribs broken, three of them separated, grinding upon bone on bone for months, [37:02] had part of my lung removed, and you think that's great, and to be extolled. [37:06] I mean, the sheer lack of any kind of self-awareness that you're going to be leading thousands of men and women [37:13] who will have the use of force, and there's been great questions in our country about how that will be used, [37:19] and you think a violent attack is just fine. [37:23] So I guess my first question is, do you think that justifying that kind of violence sets a good example [37:28] for the men and women of ICE and Border Patrol? [37:31] Mr. Chairman, first of all, I didn't know the exceeding of your damage. [37:36] When a phone call was made, I made it to you, and I tried to talk to you. [37:40] You didn't engage at all. [37:41] In fact, you said, get your paperwork in. [37:43] It's got to be three days in between. [37:45] You offered no apology. [37:47] Sir? [37:48] And you offer no apology today, and no regrets. [37:52] Haven't heard the word apologize, haven't heard the word regret, [37:55] haven't heard I misspoke, and it was heated, and I made a mistake. [37:59] I haven't heard any of those words. [38:00] Sir, actually, it wasn't heated, and I'm not apologizing for pointing out your character. [38:05] Good, good. [38:06] So you're jolly well fine, and you want the American public and the people up here to vote [38:10] that may or may not vote for you to know that you supported the felonious violent attack on me from behind. [38:16] I did not say I supported it. [38:19] I said I understood it. [38:20] There's a difference. [38:21] By calling you- [38:22] And so that means you really didn't approve of it, just completely understand it. [38:26] What do you think most people would interpret, completely understand to be? [38:30] Support for or a condemnation of the violence? [38:33] Sir, as I said, we can have our differences. [38:37] It's not going to keep me from doing my job as Secretary of Homeland Security. [38:40] I'm going to secure Kentucky and take care of Kentucky as much as I am over. [38:44] If this were a one-off, it would be one thing. [38:47] If you just disliked me so much that you approved of violence against me, [38:50] people would just write it off, or maybe they hate each other. [38:54] But really, there's a pattern of this. [38:57] Let's go ahead and roll the tape. [39:01] You know where to find me. [39:03] Any place, any time, cowboy. [39:07] Sir, this is a time, this is a place. [39:09] You want to run your mouth? [39:10] We can be two consenting adults. [39:12] We can finish it here. [39:13] Okay, that's fine. [39:14] Perfect. [39:14] You want to do it now? [39:15] I'd love to do it right now. [39:16] Well, stand your butt up, then. [39:17] You stand your butt up. [39:18] Oh, hold it. [39:19] Oh, stop it. [39:20] Is that your solution? [39:21] I'm going to be pulled. [39:22] No, no, sit down. [39:22] I'm sorry, you're a clown. [39:23] Sit down. [39:23] Look at you. [39:24] No, no, you're a United States senator. [39:26] Sit down. [39:26] Actively. [39:26] Okay. [39:27] Sit down, please. [39:28] All right. [39:28] Can I respond? [39:29] Hold it. [39:33] Would you have gone at it right there in the hearing room? [39:36] I would have probably jumped over the dais at that point. [39:38] You have to be called out on it. [39:39] If not, this guy continues to get away with this stuff. [39:41] And it's just, you know, it's silly. [39:43] It's stupid. [39:44] But every now and then, you need to get punched in the face. [39:47] Well, go back to the 1800s and 1700s. [39:49] They used to have canings. [39:51] And duels. [39:51] And they used to have duels. [39:52] And duels. [39:53] Right. [39:53] And there was a way that men used to settle their differences. [39:56] I ignored him four times to be part of that. [39:58] And people say, yes, you're supposed to ignore it. [39:59] Well, you know, I'm not a very good Christian. [40:03] I try to be a good Christian. [40:04] And I know people say, you're supposed to turn the other cheek. [40:06] I prefer the David method. [40:08] But we need to move from an almost fight. [40:10] By the way, I'm not afraid of biting. [40:11] I will bite. [40:12] Biting? [40:13] I will bite, honey. [40:15] Yeah. [40:15] I mean, if I'm going to bite, I'll do anything. [40:17] I mean, I'm not above it. [40:18] And I don't care where I bite, by the way. [40:19] It just is going to be a bite. [40:20] In hindsight, any regrets? [40:22] No, I really don't. [40:26] So no regrets. [40:27] In fact, even after your anger had cooled, you were still bragging that if he'd only been [40:32] brave enough to stand up, you'd have jumped over the dais and taught him a lesson. [40:35] Because that's how men should settle their differences. [40:39] Do you think fighting as a resolution for political difference is a good example for the [40:43] men and women of ICE and Border Patrol? [40:45] As you can notice over my shoulder here is my good friend Sean O'Brien. [40:50] Both of us have had conversations. [40:52] Both of us have shaken hands. [40:54] And both of us have agreed we could have done things different. [40:57] Sean is someone that has become a close friend. [40:59] We talk all the time. [41:01] I've been on his podcast. [41:02] We've talked through this. [41:04] That's how you handle your differences. [41:06] Not like this, Chairman. [41:09] I'm glad you guys are friends now and that you've reconciled. [41:12] But really, it doesn't get to the real point whether or not you think violence is the [41:16] way we settle things. [41:17] In the days after the fight, you said, and I quote, sometimes people just need to be [41:22] punched in the face. [41:24] Is that still your opinion, that political disputes can sometimes and often only be resolved [41:29] by violence? [41:32] No. [41:33] I don't always agree with that. [41:35] I don't believe in political violence. [41:36] I've made that very clear. [41:39] But sometimes people do need, theoretically speaking, sir, I get it. [41:43] It's about character assassination for you. [41:45] That's the way this game is played. [41:46] I understand it. [41:47] And you are making this about you, which is fine. [41:49] But that doesn't keep me as secretary of Homeland Security making. [41:52] It's character assassination when you were the one lauding the assault. [41:54] Who do you think started that character assassination? [41:57] I'm just repeating what you have done in character assassination. [42:01] I'm repeating your support for the assault. [42:04] So that's somehow something I started? [42:06] No, sir. [42:07] What I'm saying is you're adding a lot to it. [42:09] In the days after the fight, you did many interviews in which you justified the violence as historically [42:15] justified by precedents, such as caning and dueling. [42:20] Is it today your opinion that the caning of Charles Sumner was not only justified, but argues [42:26] still for resolving our political differences with violence? [42:29] What I was simply pointing out is some of the rules that still apply to this body. [42:34] For instance, dueling with two consenting adults is still there. [42:39] I was pointing out what is still acceptable. [42:41] It's been illegal for 170 years. [42:44] There's no precedent for legal dueling. [42:47] Even then they fled the country. [42:49] Do you realize that the man that beat Charles Sumner with a cane, he beat him until he was unconscious? [42:54] You know why no senators intervened? [42:56] Because his friend held a gun on the other senators, and he kept beating him and beating [43:00] him until he crushed his skull. [43:02] That's what you're insinuating as the president of the Senate, and that's what you live by. [43:07] That is a very, very dangerous sentiment. [43:16] After a half a dozen victory lap interviews where you pointed out that the union guy was [43:20] just lucky that fear kept him from standing up, Dana Bash asked you if you have any regrets [43:25] about bringing violence to a Senate committee, and you replied that you have no regrets. [43:29] Today you've said you have no regrets about being happy, being completely understanding [43:35] why I was attacked from behind. [43:38] You had no regrets about, you know, instigating a brawl in a Senate committee hearing. [43:43] Are those still your opinions? [43:45] Mr. Chairman, you're going to have your opinion. [43:47] I'm going to have mine. [43:49] As Secretary of Homeland Security, I'm going to bring peace of mind and security to this [43:54] country, and I'm going to stay laser-focused on that. [43:57] Senator Peters. [43:57] Senator Mellon, you have made several public statements suggesting that you were [44:07] involved in special security forces or combat operations overseas. [44:14] In 2023, you said in a Senate Republican conference podcast, and I say, I'll quote, [44:20] there's another side of my bio that I don't ever talk about, nor will I. [44:27] I had to go do something overseas. [44:32] On March 2nd of this year, you told Fox News interview, quote, [44:36] War is ugly. [44:37] It smells bad. [44:39] If anybody has ever been there and been able to smell the war that's happening around you [44:44] and taste it and feel it in your nostrils and hear it, it's something you will never forget. [44:51] On March 3rd, in a podcast interview, you stated, quote, I did special assignments outside of DOD, [44:59] now DOW. [45:01] I never wore the uniform or the flag on my shoulder, but I might have been in the same area. [45:07] Your statements in public interviews and your responses to the committee are, quite frankly, [45:12] are confusing, and they are inconsistent. [45:15] And I'd like you to clear this up. [45:16] You're under oath. [45:17] We can clear it all up right now. [45:19] And first, I'd like to ask unanimous consent to enter into the record my letter to you on [45:23] March 11th and your addendum to the committee of March 12th regarding any overseas special [45:28] assignments. [45:29] Without objection. [45:30] So my question for you, sir, is before your time in Congress, other than on vacations with [45:36] your family, have you ever traveled to a foreign country? [45:41] No. [45:43] You've never traveled to a foreign country? [45:45] Outside of vacation or mission work? [45:46] No. [45:49] Okay. [45:50] Have you, your FBI report does show some travel. [45:58] I think it was to Georgia and Azerbaijan. [46:00] You marked that that was not for tourists? [46:05] Are you referring to August of 2021 when we went to go get the Americans out of Afghanistan? [46:11] I'm just saying. [46:12] That's what that travel was for, which we did clarify that. [46:15] So you have traveled. [46:16] So you've traveled to Azerbaijan and Georgia. [46:19] That was in your FBI report, although you just said you've never traveled. [46:22] Sir, we were, I thought you was referring to a different time, but in 2021, it was well-documented. [46:30] In fact, it was all over the news. [46:31] And I actually did say that. [46:33] And we put that down on the report. [46:36] But that was, that was us, which was all over the news, trying to go with a extremely experienced team. [46:43] I've got other questions. [46:44] Thank you. [46:44] But so you have traveled overseas, despite your previous comment. [46:47] Were you ever, excuse me, ever an employee, volunteer, or otherwise involved with the Department of Defense, State Department, or other U.S. agency or contractor for any of those departments? [47:00] No. [47:01] And Senator, I think there's a misunderstanding here that I could clear up if you want me to clear up for you. [47:05] Please. [47:05] Okay, so, which this is a, this is official trip, and it is classified. [47:12] But in 2015, I was asked to train with a very small contingency and go to a certain area, which was scheduled for 2016. [47:25] During that time, I was asked to go through, had to meet certain training qualifications, certain qualifications, had to go through SEER training. [47:36] The training and stuff was kind of fun. [47:39] The SEER training was absolutely awful. [47:41] And, and I have spoken general about my experiences, but I've never spoke specifically on details, on dates, or on the mission. [47:53] And that was official, and there was nothing in the report to the committee. [47:58] Actually, it said you did not have to claim any official trips. [48:02] And like I said, that was an official trip that is classified. [48:05] This is an official trip while you were a member of Congress? [48:08] Yes. [48:09] That's 2015, 2016, I was a member of Congress. [48:12] Some of it may be public, but it would be very small. [48:16] Most of it, because of my recollection, which we're going back 10 years, I think there was only people, only four people read in on it. [48:23] So where, where was that trip? [48:23] I just said it's classified, sir. [48:26] It's classified. [48:27] So the letter that we sent to you said that we need to have information of any of these activities. [48:33] It said not official trips. [48:35] Your paperwork was very clear, excluding any official trips. [48:40] This was an official trip as a member. [48:43] Well, we have more questions we're going to have to ask. [48:46] I, when, in the, in the FBI report, I asked, is there anything in that report that is classified? [48:52] That you are involved in any kind of classified operation at all, and there's none. [48:58] It was also excluding, it also said excluding official duties. [49:04] It says that, and you guys have the paperwork in front of you, and it always says excluding official duties. [49:09] We had this committee come to us and ask the same questions. [49:13] We talked about doing mission work. [49:15] We talked about doing mentorship. [49:18] But they said official duties that was in your official capacity does not have to be talked about. [49:24] So where, where did you smell war? [49:27] Sir, I just said that this was classified, and the dates, locations, and admission, I've never spoke specifically details about. [49:38] Well, we can get that information here, Mr. Chair. [49:40] You're welcome to get it. [49:41] We will, we will want to find out more information about that. [49:43] That's, that's perfect, okay, Senator. [49:44] It's important to have the truth here, and that you're portraying yourself in a truthful way. [49:48] Sir, I'm not portraying myself in any way, other than you're asking the question. [49:52] I said I would try to clear it up for you. [49:54] We'll, we'll continue to work on that. [49:55] Thank you. [49:56] After DHS officers shot and killed two American citizens this past January, you joined top administrative officials in publicly blaming and disparaging the victims. [50:08] Following the killing of Renee Good, Secretary Noem called her a domestic terrorist. [50:13] You, sir, you called Alex Preddy, quote, a deranged individual that came in to cause max damage. [50:21] Could we expect those kinds of quick responses if you are confirmed as Secretary? [50:27] Would you be, basically, well, you, you did, you responded as Secretary Noem. [50:31] Are we going to just expect that same behavior all over again? [50:34] No, Senator. [50:34] I have a deep amount of respect for you. [50:36] We've had our differences, but I do respect you. [50:39] I think I said this privately when we had a conversation. [50:42] Those words probably should have been retracted. [50:45] I shouldn't have said that, and as Secretary, I wouldn't. [50:47] The investigation is ongoing, and there is, like I said, there's sometimes going to make a mistake, and I'll own it. [50:53] That one, I went out there too fast. [50:55] I was responding immediately without the facts. [50:58] That's my fault. [50:59] That won't happen as Secretary. [51:00] So you, you regret that statement? [51:02] I already said that, yes, sir. [51:03] Would you want to apologize to the family of Alex Preddy? [51:08] Well, sir, I just said I regret those statements. [51:11] Is that the same as an apology? [51:13] I haven't seen the investigation. [51:14] We'll let the investigation go through, and if I'm proven wrong, then I will, absolutely. [51:18] How would you characterize your relationship with President Trump? [51:24] He's a friend. [51:28] How frequently have you spoken with him in the past year? [51:32] Often, most of the time about my family. [51:34] If you want to explain the friendship, I'll tell you. [51:36] My wife will tell you the same thing. [51:38] When someone loves your kids when they're going through a difficult time like we have, [51:43] the amount of outpouring of support from the president and the friendship we saw going back to 2020 was quite remarkable. [51:51] And so I speak to the president from a friend level more than I do a policy level. [51:57] Okay. [51:58] I have more questions, but my time is up. [52:00] Thank you, Senator. [52:00] We'll be doing it in a second round. [52:01] Okay, thank you. [52:02] Senator Moreno. [52:04] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [52:05] And thank you, Senator Johnson and Senator Langford for, let me skip the line. [52:09] I have to, unfortunately, go to Dover for the dignified transfer, so I appreciate taking the time. [52:17] It's not often that I get to ask questions for somebody who I've known for a long time, [52:24] meaning in politics, two and a half years is a long time. [52:27] I've gotten to know you as a friend, as a colleague. [52:30] I've seen you interact as a dad. [52:32] I've seen you interact as a husband. [52:34] And I just want the American people to know you're a good man. [52:38] Thank you. [52:39] That doesn't always go through all the political shenanigans. [52:45] And maybe you're not going to replace Shakespeare as the next greatest orator on earth. [52:50] You talk from the heart. [52:52] And that's okay. [52:53] You are who you are. [52:54] And I think that's what you don't apologize for, is just being yourself. [52:58] And sometimes we're imperfect. [53:00] We don't do the 20-person focus group every time you say a word. [53:05] And I think that's what people like about you, Mark Wayne. [53:07] So I appreciate you being here. [53:08] I honestly just have one question for you. [53:12] Do you pledge to support and defend the United States of America nearly as much as you would protect and defend your family? [53:21] Without doubt, sir, yes. [53:22] So I'm going to ruin everything for the audience. [53:26] You will be confirmed. [53:28] You will have the job. [53:29] And you're going to make this country safer and better. [53:32] And for that, I thank you. [53:33] And thank your family for supporting you. [53:35] So I will use the rest of my time now to make a little case to the American people. [53:42] We have 260,000 families that have not received a paycheck in over a month. [53:55] 260,000 American citizen families who have not received a paycheck in over a month. [54:03] None of those people are in charge of policy. [54:08] There's not one of those families that makes policy decisions for the most part. [54:13] That's on the people here. [54:16] There isn't a single human being on this dais that has missed a paycheck. [54:20] Every single one of us has gotten a paycheck the last 30 days and before that. [54:27] And yet we sit here and we do political theater. [54:30] And I said to my colleague, Senator Britt, the other day that in my 14 months here, I only felt ashamed of this chamber once. [54:41] And that was last Thursday. [54:41] When you saw the ultimate political theater, colleagues going, let's fund TSA. [54:48] How about the Coast Guard? [54:49] Oh, that's a different person that's going to talk about that. [54:52] How about FEMA? [54:52] It's a different person that's going to talk about that. [54:54] You can't have it both ways, by the way. [54:56] You can't have Democrats saying, I can't believe the Trump administration is cutting government employee numbers. [55:03] By the way, over 300,000, we haven't missed a beat. [55:06] And yet at the same time, not pay people who are actually showing up for it. [55:09] That seems decently incongruous. [55:11] We can't say President Trump isn't defending the homeland. [55:14] Well, he is absolutely doing that every single day. [55:17] And yet we're allowing these agencies to not be funded. [55:22] And I have tried really hard to learn how this place works. [55:27] This is all very new to me. [55:29] And I remember many, many Democrats saying to me, we have the constitutional duty to fund agencies through appropriations. [55:40] And then we have a separate piece where we argue policy differences. [55:46] But we should never marry both together. [55:49] Because when you marry both together, you don't hurt us. [55:52] You don't hurt the people here in D.C. [55:54] You hurt the men and women who are going to work every day to defend this country. [55:58] And that's a disgrace. [56:00] I actually don't know how you would sleep at night knowing that you're hurting families like that. [56:06] People can't make their rent payments, can't make their mortgage payments. [56:09] Their cars are being repossessed. [56:11] They're having to tell their kids they can't send them to dance recitals because they did everything right in life [56:17] except got a job with the Department of Homeland Security. [56:20] So that a politician can make a 30-second video online and then use it to fundraise for the next election? [56:26] That's disgusting. [56:28] So let me just say this. [56:29] What are we not talking about? [56:34] You know, the ranking member said, oh, look, we said we'd fund. [56:36] He's not paying attention right now. [56:37] It's just fine. [56:38] We said we're going to fund FEMA. [56:42] When you guys are done talking, I'll continue if you like. [56:51] Are you done? [56:52] Okay. [56:52] Thank you. [56:52] It's extraordinarily disrespectful. [56:54] All right. [56:55] So moving on. [56:55] You said you're going to fund all these agencies. [56:58] Here's ones that you haven't funded. [57:00] USCIS. [57:01] Near and dear to my heart. [57:03] Near and dear to my heart. [57:05] That's how I became a U.S. citizen. [57:07] We've defunded the agency that allows legal immigrants into this country? [57:12] That is insane. [57:16] Never hear the Democrats talk about that. [57:17] 3,300 employees. [57:18] Just go to work every day trying to process legal immigrants. [57:21] They don't need a paycheck. [57:23] I'm going to skip the second one. [57:24] Go to the third one. [57:26] Biological nuclear threat prevention. [57:28] That seems important. [57:30] That seems like an agency we should fund. [57:32] 200 employees. [57:33] Not getting a paycheck. [57:34] That's okay with the Democrats. [57:35] The next one, 60,000 employees for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. [57:44] People who are inspecting packages they work with. [57:46] Your Teamsters work with Customs. [57:49] They're not getting paid. [57:50] How do you look at those people in the face and know that you're doing that? [57:53] Now let's talk about Immigration and Customs Enforcement. [57:57] 7,000 special agents that are stopping transnational criminal organizations, [58:03] drug smugglers, and human traffickers. [58:06] Are you, on the Democrat side, asking not to fund that? [58:12] Because ultimately what this is about is defunding ICE and law enforcement. [58:16] Are you suggesting that we not fund an organization that attacks transnational organizations? [58:24] Be specific. [58:26] Be specific when you say you don't want to fund ICE. [58:29] I want you to say the words, [58:30] we do not want to fund 7,000 special agents [58:35] that are in charge of stopping transnational criminal organizations, [58:39] drug smugglers, and human traffickers. [58:44] This job isn't complicated. [58:48] The American people send us here to get things done. [58:52] And yet for the third time in six months, [58:53] we've shut down this government with total impunity. [58:59] They will go home and just make social media videos [59:05] and try to blame Republicans. [59:07] It is a disgrace. [59:08] It's even more of a disgrace, honestly, [59:10] that you talked about the respect that Senator Mullen shares. [59:14] You guys have side conversations. [59:16] Don't listen. [59:17] And that's fine. [59:18] You don't have to. [59:19] But what I'm going to do now is I'm going to leave. [59:22] I'm going to go pay respects to three soldiers who died [59:24] so that we can have the liberties that we enjoy here. [59:26] And you guys continue with political theater, [59:29] personal attacks, whatever you can do. [59:31] I know that is a good man. [59:33] I will vote for you. [59:34] Our Republican colleagues will vote for you. [59:36] You will get confirmed. [59:37] You will do a great job. [59:39] And you will make this country proud, Mark Wayne. [59:40] Thank you. [59:41] And thank you for standing by a great American person. [59:46] Senator Housen. [59:47] Well, thank you, Mr. Chair. [59:49] Before I start with my remarks and my questions, [59:53] just with regard to Senator Marino, [59:55] who has left the dais, [59:57] the American people should know this. [1:00:01] ICE is right now funded with more money [1:00:03] than it's had in past budgets. [1:00:06] And the partial limited shutdown that we have right now [1:00:10] has nothing to do with ICE. [1:00:13] Meanwhile, Democrats have consistently, [1:00:15] over the last week, [1:00:16] moved to fund the rest of the Department of Homeland Security. [1:00:21] And the Republicans have blocked that funding. [1:00:24] So let's just be clear about what's happening here. [1:00:28] Now, I want to congratulate Senator Mullen [1:00:33] and Christie for the nomination. [1:00:35] I know your family is very proud. [1:00:38] And I know how much you love them. [1:00:40] I also want to thank Chairman Paul [1:00:43] for speaking so openly [1:00:45] about a really difficult thing, [1:00:47] which is the actual physical impact of violence. [1:00:51] And in this case, political violence. [1:00:53] It is a hard thing to do, [1:00:54] but it is a really important thing to do [1:00:56] at this time in our country's history. [1:00:58] So thank you, Chairman. [1:01:00] The Department of Homeland Security [1:01:02] was created in the wake [1:01:04] of the September 11 terrorist attacks [1:01:06] with a clear mission [1:01:07] to keep our country safe, secure, and free. [1:01:11] The Department's work includes [1:01:12] counterterrorism operations, [1:01:14] disaster recovery, [1:01:16] physical and cyber protection [1:01:17] of critical infrastructure [1:01:18] and immigration enforcement. [1:01:21] The stakes for the success [1:01:22] of the Department of Homeland Security [1:01:24] could not be higher. [1:01:27] And that's also why [1:01:28] Granite Staters and Americans of all stripes [1:01:31] have been deeply concerned [1:01:32] about what they've seen [1:01:33] from the Department of Homeland Security [1:01:35] under this administration. [1:01:37] People have been rightfully outraged [1:01:41] about the lawlessness [1:01:42] from the Department's leadership, [1:01:44] which has not only resulted [1:01:45] in the death of two American citizens, [1:01:48] but has also led [1:01:49] to the hollowing out [1:01:51] of agencies like FEMA. [1:01:54] So to Senator Mullen [1:01:55] and my colleagues, [1:01:57] what happens here [1:01:58] in this room today [1:01:59] is not nearly as important [1:02:02] as what happens at our border, [1:02:05] on our streets, [1:02:07] in our communities, [1:02:08] and in our businesses tomorrow [1:02:10] and every day thereafter. [1:02:13] So Senator Mullen, [1:02:14] I'm going to start with a question [1:02:15] I have asked every one [1:02:17] of the President's nominees. [1:02:19] If directed by the President [1:02:21] to take an action [1:02:22] that would break the law, [1:02:23] would you follow the law [1:02:24] or follow the President's direction? [1:02:27] Senator, thank you for the questions [1:02:29] and thank you for the concerns. [1:02:30] First of all, [1:02:31] I've enjoyed working with you [1:02:33] on several different issues. [1:02:35] We've had very blunt conversations. [1:02:37] To answer your question, [1:02:38] the President would never ask me to do that. [1:02:41] Well, certainly everyday Americans [1:02:42] who have served on juries [1:02:43] would disagree with you about that [1:02:46] and the example he has set [1:02:48] calls into question that answer. [1:02:50] Let's move... [1:02:50] Sir, I have limited time, [1:02:52] as you well know. [1:02:52] In the past 14 months, [1:02:55] Secretary Noem has fundamentally [1:02:57] broken the American People's Trust [1:02:58] in the Department of Homeland Security. [1:03:01] The top priority [1:03:02] of whoever leads this department next [1:03:04] must be to rebuild this trust. [1:03:08] If confirmed to lead the department, [1:03:10] how will you be different [1:03:12] from Secretary Noem? [1:03:13] Senator, I think I've said this [1:03:17] in a private conversation, too. [1:03:19] I love Senator Noem's family [1:03:22] and I consider them friends, [1:03:24] but everybody has [1:03:25] different leadership styles. [1:03:27] And throughout my businesses, [1:03:28] when I would have to transfer [1:03:30] one manager to the next [1:03:31] or one executive to another area [1:03:33] and now you bring in a different one, [1:03:35] they all have different management styles. [1:03:36] My management style [1:03:37] is empowering people. [1:03:39] And as I said in my opening statement, [1:03:41] I want to protect the homeland. [1:03:43] I want to bring peace of mind [1:03:43] and I want to bring confidence [1:03:45] back to the agency. [1:03:46] I'm not going to be the smartest guy [1:03:48] in any room I walk into, [1:03:49] but I know how to get talent [1:03:50] and I know how to bring [1:03:51] those people together. [1:03:52] Let me interrupt you again. [1:03:53] I'm sorry, sir, [1:03:54] because our time is limited. [1:03:56] But let's be really clear. [1:03:57] What Secretary Noem did [1:03:58] was give the green light [1:03:59] to lawless behavior. [1:04:01] Are you going to give [1:04:02] the green light [1:04:03] to lawless behavior? [1:04:04] I will operate [1:04:05] within the parameters [1:04:06] and the policies [1:04:07] and the laws [1:04:07] that you guys set for me. [1:04:09] And the Constitution [1:04:09] of the United States. [1:04:11] Of course the Constitution [1:04:12] of the United States. [1:04:12] I'll swear to uphold that [1:04:16] when I get sworn in. [1:04:17] But be very clear, [1:04:19] I don't get to choose [1:04:20] the laws that I enforce. [1:04:23] You guys pass the laws. [1:04:24] I enforce those laws. [1:04:26] And the reason why we haven't had- [1:04:27] But shooting a protester [1:04:28] who was exercising [1:04:30] his First Amendment speech [1:04:31] and carrying a lawfully licensed gun [1:04:35] is not a lawful behavior. [1:04:37] Now let's move on [1:04:38] to another issue. [1:04:40] Granite Staters pushed back hard [1:04:43] against ICE's plan [1:04:44] to build a detention center [1:04:46] in Merrimack, New Hampshire. [1:04:47] And despite poor communication [1:04:49] from the department, [1:04:50] eventually Secretary Noem [1:04:51] canceled the plans [1:04:53] for this facility. [1:04:54] Senator, will you ensure [1:04:55] that the Merrimack plan [1:04:56] remains off the table [1:04:58] or will you consider [1:04:59] restarting it? [1:05:00] Ma'am, I haven't seen [1:05:02] the facts behind it. [1:05:03] As I stated [1:05:04] when we spoke [1:05:04] in your office, [1:05:05] I will work with you on this. [1:05:07] We want to be good partners [1:05:08] in your state [1:05:09] and in your community. [1:05:10] I don't know [1:05:11] the strategic purpose of it. [1:05:12] I don't know [1:05:13] what has happened. [1:05:13] So it's hard for me [1:05:14] to state something [1:05:15] that I haven't got briefed on. [1:05:17] But I have made this [1:05:19] very clear to you [1:05:20] in private and here too. [1:05:21] I will work [1:05:22] with the community leaders [1:05:23] and make sure [1:05:23] that we're delivering [1:05:24] for the American people [1:05:26] what the president set out. [1:05:27] I appreciate that. [1:05:28] In follow-up conversations [1:05:29] with my office, [1:05:31] ICE refused to comment [1:05:32] on opening new facilities [1:05:34] elsewhere in New Hampshire. [1:05:35] They've said [1:05:35] they won't do it [1:05:36] in Merrimack, New Hampshire. [1:05:37] But will you commit to me [1:05:39] that ICE will not open [1:05:40] any new facilities [1:05:41] in New Hampshire [1:05:42] or elsewhere in the country [1:05:44] without the support [1:05:45] of the local community? [1:05:47] Ma'am, I will work [1:05:48] with the local community [1:05:50] and I'll work with you [1:05:51] and your office. [1:05:52] I won't be able [1:05:54] to speak to that [1:05:55] until I understand [1:05:56] the risk and the reason [1:05:57] behind delivering [1:05:58] the mission [1:05:59] that's set in front of us. [1:06:00] We've got to protect [1:06:00] the homeland [1:06:01] and we're going to do that. [1:06:03] But obviously, [1:06:04] we want to work [1:06:05] with community leaders. [1:06:05] We want to be good partners [1:06:06] and we're going to work [1:06:07] in your state [1:06:08] as hard to make sure [1:06:09] we build relationships [1:06:10] and work in that manner. [1:06:13] Well, look, [1:06:14] I will be here [1:06:16] for a second round [1:06:17] of questions [1:06:18] because I have a lot more. [1:06:19] But let me just point this out. [1:06:21] Americans want [1:06:21] to secure their country. [1:06:23] I agree. [1:06:23] We all love this country. [1:06:24] We all know [1:06:25] we need to be safe, secure, [1:06:26] and we all want [1:06:27] to be free together. [1:06:28] The people of New Hampshire [1:06:29] will take into consideration [1:06:32] a request by ICE [1:06:34] and the federal government [1:06:35] to do its part. [1:06:38] But transparency [1:06:39] and local control [1:06:41] and respect [1:06:43] of local people [1:06:45] throughout New Hampshire [1:06:46] and throughout the country [1:06:47] is an essential piece [1:06:48] of our democracy. [1:06:50] And what I've been hearing [1:06:51] from ICE [1:06:51] and from other DHS folks [1:06:53] is, well, [1:06:54] the pushback's too hard. [1:06:55] You either can make the case [1:06:57] for these facilities [1:06:57] and explain how you're going [1:06:59] to support the local community [1:07:00] and deal with the fact [1:07:02] that they'll lose property [1:07:03] tax dollars, for instance. [1:07:04] Or if you can't make the case, [1:07:06] it shouldn't be built. [1:07:07] So I really would encourage [1:07:10] the department [1:07:11] and all of us [1:07:12] to remember [1:07:12] that this is a government [1:07:14] of buying for the people. [1:07:15] And if you can't make the case [1:07:16] to the people, [1:07:16] you shouldn't be doing it. [1:07:17] Thank you. [1:07:23] Senator Johnson. [1:07:24] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:07:26] Mr. Mark Wayne. [1:07:27] I'm going to use my time [1:07:29] completely different [1:07:30] than how I was going to [1:07:32] when I walked into this hearing. [1:07:33] I can't top [1:07:36] what Senator Marino, [1:07:38] the comments he made [1:07:39] about how unconscionable [1:07:41] it is that we're not funding [1:07:43] and we're not providing paychecks [1:07:44] to those 260,000 men and women [1:07:48] that you will be soon leading. [1:07:54] We, other than working [1:07:55] with no labels, [1:07:57] we don't serve [1:07:57] on the same committees, [1:07:58] have never gone [1:08:00] on Codell together. [1:08:01] And that's oftentimes [1:08:03] how you get to know [1:08:04] our colleagues. [1:08:06] So I don't know you as well [1:08:07] as some of the other people [1:08:08] on the dais here. [1:08:10] Certainly within conference, [1:08:13] we've seen each other interact. [1:08:16] We share a couple things [1:08:18] in common. [1:08:18] I think we're both [1:08:19] pretty passionate [1:08:19] about our love [1:08:21] for this country, [1:08:22] about trying to fix [1:08:23] the enormous messes [1:08:25] left behind [1:08:25] by President Biden [1:08:27] and Democrats. [1:08:29] We wear our emotions [1:08:31] on our sleeves. [1:08:35] But I will say [1:08:36] that I've been here 15 years. [1:08:39] I've been through [1:08:40] a lot of confirmation hearings. [1:08:41] I've listened to a lot [1:08:42] of nominees. [1:08:43] I've heard a lot [1:08:43] of introductions. [1:08:45] If one of your first decisions [1:08:46] as a nominee [1:08:47] was to pick the person [1:08:49] to introduce you, [1:08:49] you couldn't have done [1:08:50] a better job. [1:08:52] I mean, the introduction [1:08:52] from Senator Langford [1:08:53] was probably one of the most [1:08:55] genuine and heartfelt [1:08:56] I've ever heard. [1:08:57] And I will say [1:08:58] your opening statement [1:08:59] was probably one of the more [1:09:00] genuine and heartfelt [1:09:01] testimonies I've ever heard, [1:09:03] if not the most. [1:09:04] I'm looking behind you [1:09:05] at the people [1:09:06] who have come here [1:09:07] to support you, [1:09:07] your former colleagues [1:09:08] in the House, [1:09:09] Chairman Smith, [1:09:10] a former Speaker [1:09:11] of the House, [1:09:13] Senator Britt. [1:09:15] But I see Josh Gottheimry [1:09:16] there. [1:09:16] He's not a Republican [1:09:17] member of the House. [1:09:18] He's a Democrat. [1:09:20] I've seen you interact [1:09:21] with him trying [1:09:23] to get some permitting reform. [1:09:26] Please, briefly, [1:09:27] because I want you [1:09:28] to tell another story here. [1:09:29] Yeah, but just talk a little [1:09:30] about your relationship [1:09:31] with Josh [1:09:32] and other members [1:09:33] of the House. [1:09:38] You know, [1:09:38] Josh and I, [1:09:39] we may not always agree [1:09:39] on every issue, [1:09:40] but he's a friend. [1:09:42] And our relationship [1:09:45] started back in 2017 [1:09:47] when he thought [1:09:48] I was a staff member [1:09:49] running a workout group [1:09:51] because I've been running [1:09:52] a bipartisan workout group [1:09:54] that started actually [1:09:55] with Speaker Kevin McCarthy [1:09:57] and Jason Smith [1:09:59] 13 years ago. [1:10:00] And I still do that [1:10:01] to this day. [1:10:02] When he came in in 17, [1:10:04] Joe Kennedy, [1:10:04] who is also a friend of mine, [1:10:06] he approached him [1:10:07] when I was on the House floor [1:10:08] and asked him, [1:10:08] why is the trainer [1:10:11] in the gym [1:10:11] on the House voting? [1:10:13] And to which Joe Kennedy laughed [1:10:17] and said that he's a member [1:10:18] from Oklahoma. [1:10:19] And after that, [1:10:21] we just, [1:10:21] we became friends. [1:10:23] In fact, [1:10:23] our daughters are writing [1:10:24] a book together [1:10:25] about bipartisanship. [1:10:28] But when Josh asked me [1:10:30] to join a bipartisan group [1:10:32] called No Labels, [1:10:34] that's when we really started [1:10:35] seeing that there's a lot [1:10:37] of common ground [1:10:38] that we can work together. [1:10:39] Yeah, as I said [1:10:40] in my opening statement, [1:10:41] that we all make decisions [1:10:42] based on how we're raised [1:10:43] and our life experiences. [1:10:47] And Josh and I [1:10:48] was raised different, [1:10:48] just like everybody [1:10:49] on this dais [1:10:50] is raised different than me. [1:10:51] And we've had [1:10:51] different life experiences. [1:10:52] But we all believe [1:10:54] in that flag [1:10:55] right there behind you. [1:10:56] And what I say is, [1:10:58] as long as you love [1:10:59] that flag as much as I do [1:11:00] and you're willing [1:11:01] to die for that flag [1:11:02] like I am, [1:11:03] we can work together. [1:11:05] We can set the differences aside [1:11:06] and we can work together. [1:11:09] And Josh represents that too. [1:11:13] Just for him being here, [1:11:15] you guys know, [1:11:16] he's got a primary in New Jersey. [1:11:20] He's not a senator, [1:11:21] has six years. [1:11:22] He has, [1:11:24] he's up every two years [1:11:25] and he's here. [1:11:26] That's a friend [1:11:27] that says, [1:11:29] hey, [1:11:29] my political differences [1:11:30] are beside, [1:11:32] I still like you. [1:11:32] I cannot tell you [1:11:33] how many members [1:11:34] on the Democrat Party, [1:11:36] which I love and respect [1:11:37] and I understand the politics [1:11:38] have came up to me [1:11:39] since this nomination [1:11:40] to say, [1:11:40] hey, [1:11:40] I love you, [1:11:41] but, [1:11:42] but I'm running [1:11:43] for this office, [1:11:44] but I'm running [1:11:45] for this office, [1:11:46] but I'm up for re-election. [1:11:47] I'd be killed in my state. [1:11:49] In most cases, [1:11:49] I would support you, [1:11:51] but, [1:11:52] but, [1:11:53] and it drives me crazy, [1:11:55] but when you see [1:11:56] a real friend like that, [1:11:58] run through fire for the guy. [1:12:00] So again, [1:12:00] this is a nomination hearing [1:12:01] and from my standpoint, [1:12:02] when you're trying [1:12:03] to select somebody [1:12:04] to run an operation, [1:12:07] you want somebody [1:12:07] with integrity. [1:12:09] Somebody with that [1:12:10] passion toward the mission, [1:12:12] keeping this, [1:12:12] this nation safe, [1:12:14] this, [1:12:14] you know, [1:12:14] having this love [1:12:15] for this country. [1:12:16] It's also, [1:12:17] I think, [1:12:17] incredibly important [1:12:18] that when you're [1:12:19] serving the administration, [1:12:20] you have a good relationship [1:12:21] with the president. [1:12:22] It doesn't work so well. [1:12:23] I know you've got [1:12:24] a good relationship [1:12:25] with the president [1:12:25] and you told me a story [1:12:26] and I want you to repeat [1:12:27] that story [1:12:28] of your son [1:12:29] who was grievously injured [1:12:31] and a visit [1:12:33] that the president [1:12:33] of the United States [1:12:34] made to that hospital. [1:12:36] I want you to tell the story [1:12:38] because I think it's important [1:12:39] that people understand [1:12:40] why you are lawyer [1:12:42] to president Trump. [1:12:44] I'd like them to hear [1:12:44] a different side [1:12:45] of president Trump as well. [1:12:47] But I think also [1:12:48] that'll serve you well [1:12:49] as his secretary [1:12:50] of Homeland Security. [1:12:51] But just tell that story. [1:12:52] Ron, I'm going to try [1:12:53] to get through it [1:12:53] without crying then. [1:13:02] It's not about [1:13:03] president Trump. [1:13:03] It's about my son. [1:13:04] So my son was a really [1:13:06] world-class athlete [1:13:07] and January 17th of 2020, [1:13:11] which, mind you, [1:13:12] was an election year, [1:13:13] he had a really [1:13:14] serious brain injury. [1:13:16] Woke up 26 hours later [1:13:18] when he was a kid. [1:13:20] We almost lost him [1:13:21] for 26 hours. [1:13:24] He had an extremely [1:13:25] low pulse. [1:13:27] There was a time [1:13:28] that they thought [1:13:30] that they lost [1:13:31] his pulse altogether. [1:13:33] And when he woke up, [1:13:35] he was just different. [1:13:35] I mean, here he had [1:13:36] a world-class athlete [1:13:37] that wrestled all over [1:13:37] the world since he was [1:13:38] 12 years old [1:13:39] and he couldn't touch [1:13:39] his nose. [1:13:40] He couldn't walk [1:13:41] without shuffling his feet. [1:13:42] He had short-term [1:13:43] memory loss. [1:13:44] He couldn't control [1:13:46] his muscles. [1:13:47] He couldn't add [1:13:48] five plus three. [1:13:48] He was in high school [1:13:49] at that time. [1:13:51] Had to learn how [1:13:51] to read, walk, everything. [1:13:53] And the president [1:13:53] found out about it [1:13:54] and he gave me [1:13:55] a call immediately [1:13:55] and one thing [1:13:57] that the president [1:13:58] joked about was [1:13:58] he said, [1:14:00] he said, [1:14:00] let me get this straight. [1:14:01] He doesn't know [1:14:01] who you and Christy are [1:14:02] but he knew who I was [1:14:03] because the only question [1:14:04] he got right [1:14:04] is who the president was. [1:14:05] And he said, [1:14:06] Trump, [1:14:06] with his cocky grin [1:14:07] on his face. [1:14:09] But the president [1:14:10] didn't understand [1:14:10] the severity of it [1:14:11] but he heard it [1:14:11] in my voice [1:14:12] and immediately [1:14:12] that he went to work. [1:14:14] I told him [1:14:14] we had to get to [1:14:15] Bakersfield, California [1:14:16] to the Center [1:14:16] for Neural Skills [1:14:17] which is one [1:14:17] of the best [1:14:18] neural rehabilitation [1:14:20] places in the world. [1:14:22] And the president [1:14:24] offered us [1:14:24] in his plane, [1:14:25] his personal plane. [1:14:26] This is the president [1:14:26] of the United States. [1:14:27] And I said, [1:14:28] sir, we can't fly, [1:14:29] we've got to drive. [1:14:30] We get there [1:14:31] and he called [1:14:31] almost every day [1:14:32] for two weeks [1:14:32] checking on Jim. [1:14:34] And then he says, [1:14:34] I'm going to come see him. [1:14:36] And now this is [1:14:37] the middle of the election. [1:14:38] This is Bakersfield, California. [1:14:39] Really not an area [1:14:40] he's got to go campaign. [1:14:42] And he took the time [1:14:43] to come up there [1:14:43] and see Jim. [1:14:46] And the center told us [1:14:48] that the short-term memory loss [1:14:50] something would trigger it. [1:14:51] Some big event [1:14:52] would eventually trigger [1:14:52] where he'd start retaining stuff. [1:14:54] Until then he was still [1:14:54] having issues. [1:14:56] And the president arrived [1:14:58] and of course there was cameras [1:15:00] and everybody around [1:15:01] and of course [1:15:02] no other media [1:15:02] ever talked about it [1:15:04] which was funny [1:15:05] because the president [1:15:06] called him on stage [1:15:06] and talked to him. [1:15:07] And then we went to the back [1:15:08] and the president [1:15:09] didn't talk to me. [1:15:10] He didn't know I was in, [1:15:11] he didn't even care [1:15:12] if I was in the room. [1:15:12] Here's a guy [1:15:13] that's been over [1:15:14] in his ties [1:15:14] about as long as my son [1:15:15] because my son [1:15:16] it stunted his growth [1:15:18] and so he's 5'3 [1:15:19] the rest of his life. [1:15:21] And his team [1:15:21] came to him twice [1:15:22] and said sir [1:15:23] we got to go, [1:15:23] we got to go. [1:15:24] On the third time [1:15:25] they came over to him [1:15:26] he looked at him [1:15:27] and he says [1:15:27] hey, [1:15:28] I guarantee you [1:15:28] that plane [1:15:29] won't leave without me. [1:15:31] And for the next 15 minutes [1:15:32] he did nothing [1:15:32] but love on my son. [1:15:42] That one incident [1:15:45] jogged his memory [1:15:46] and from then on [1:15:48] he started retaining things [1:15:49] and Jim's attitude [1:15:50] went from this [1:15:52] you know [1:15:53] we're going to get through it [1:15:54] to this [1:15:54] I'm going to get through it. [1:15:56] And every week [1:15:57] if not most days [1:15:58] the president would call [1:16:00] and ask how he could help. [1:16:02] Ask how's his buddy doing? [1:16:05] How's Jim doing? [1:16:06] He didn't do it for publicity. [1:16:09] He didn't do it for any show. [1:16:11] He was running [1:16:12] in one of the toughest elections [1:16:13] he had been in [1:16:14] and the guy was still [1:16:15] that concerned [1:16:16] about my son. [1:16:18] When we got released [1:16:19] for a little bit [1:16:20] we had to go back [1:16:21] when we got released [1:16:21] a little bit [1:16:21] the president said [1:16:22] come to Mar-a-Lago [1:16:23] and see me. [1:16:24] We go down there [1:16:25] and it was amazing [1:16:27] and when we're leaving [1:16:28] dang it [1:16:33] I hate getting emotional. [1:16:34] See, [1:16:35] if I talk about my kids [1:16:36] I get emotional. [1:16:36] Other than that [1:16:37] you can't make me cry [1:16:37] but my kids [1:16:39] do make me cry. [1:16:39] That's actually a good thing. [1:16:41] So anyways [1:16:42] he grabbed my son [1:16:43] and he said [1:16:43] do you know why [1:16:44] I love your dad? [1:16:45] Do you know why [1:16:46] I love your dad? [1:16:47] Chrissy tells the story [1:16:48] better than I do [1:16:48] and he goes [1:16:49] no sir. [1:16:49] He goes [1:16:49] because he loves you. [1:16:51] Because of you. [1:16:52] Because of you. [1:16:54] Man [1:16:54] that's [1:16:56] he didn't do it [1:16:58] for any other reason. [1:16:58] I mean [1:16:59] here's the president [1:16:59] of the United States [1:17:00] and he did it [1:17:00] just because he cared. [1:17:02] And so [1:17:03] when you want to say [1:17:03] why he's a friend [1:17:04] yeah [1:17:05] we were acquaintances [1:17:06] before that. [1:17:07] We've been friends [1:17:08] ever since. [1:17:09] The American people [1:17:09] need to hear that. [1:17:10] Thank you. [1:17:10] Thank you. [1:17:11] Senator Blumenthal. [1:17:14] Thanks Mr. Chairman. [1:17:17] Welcome [1:17:18] Senator Mullen. [1:17:19] Thank you for being here [1:17:20] today [1:17:21] and thank you [1:17:22] to your family [1:17:22] for [1:17:24] service [1:17:26] and theirs. [1:17:27] I hope that [1:17:29] you will be [1:17:30] as emotional [1:17:30] about the children [1:17:33] who are presently [1:17:34] detained [1:17:34] at Dili [1:17:36] and other [1:17:37] camps [1:17:38] in the United States [1:17:40] of America [1:17:41] where they [1:17:41] have been subjected [1:17:43] to conditions [1:17:44] that would outrage [1:17:46] and have angered [1:17:48] many Americans. [1:17:50] We're here [1:17:51] because of [1:17:52] a lawless [1:17:54] and reckless agency [1:17:56] that has broken [1:17:57] into homes [1:17:57] without judicial approval [1:17:58] shot [1:17:59] United States [1:18:00] citizens [1:18:01] detained them [1:18:02] without any cause [1:18:04] and [1:18:06] sometimes [1:18:07] killed them [1:18:08] and [1:18:09] I [1:18:10] am looking [1:18:11] for real [1:18:11] substantive [1:18:12] reform [1:18:12] in that agency [1:18:14] as you and I [1:18:15] have discussed [1:18:15] when you [1:18:15] came to talk to me [1:18:17] a break [1:18:18] with [1:18:18] the past [1:18:19] with [1:18:21] former Secretary Noem [1:18:24] and with the White House [1:18:25] Steve Miller [1:18:27] and others [1:18:27] who have [1:18:28] used Christy Noem [1:18:30] in effect [1:18:30] as a puppet [1:18:31] lawless policy [1:18:34] I welcome [1:18:36] that you have [1:18:38] stated you regret [1:18:39] your statement [1:18:40] after the killing [1:18:40] of Alex Preddy [1:18:41] you said [1:18:42] on Fox News [1:18:43] quote [1:18:44] unfortunately [1:18:44] an individual [1:18:46] a deranged [1:18:47] individual [1:18:47] that came [1:18:48] to cause [1:18:48] max damage [1:18:49] with a loaded [1:18:50] pistol [1:18:51] with an extra mag [1:18:53] that was completely [1:18:54] loaded and shot [1:18:55] and killed [1:18:56] and you regret [1:18:58] that statement [1:18:58] do you not? [1:19:01] I've already said [1:19:01] that sir yes [1:19:02] and what about [1:19:04] what you said [1:19:04] about Renee Good [1:19:06] after she was shot [1:19:07] and killed [1:19:08] you appeared [1:19:09] on CNN [1:19:09] and you were asked [1:19:11] whether you believe [1:19:12] the shooting [1:19:13] was justified [1:19:13] and you replied [1:19:15] quote [1:19:15] absolutely [1:19:16] do you regret [1:19:18] that statement [1:19:18] as well? [1:19:19] Senator [1:19:19] it's very clear [1:19:21] that an officer [1:19:22] had to make [1:19:23] a split decision [1:19:23] in that case [1:19:24] as a car [1:19:25] was running [1:19:25] towards him [1:19:26] and did strike him [1:19:27] at that point [1:19:29] that car [1:19:30] becomes [1:19:30] a lethal weapon [1:19:31] and an officer [1:19:34] that was [1:19:35] there was another [1:19:36] officer [1:19:36] obviously giving [1:19:37] her verbal commands [1:19:38] and I apologize [1:19:41] for interrupting you [1:19:42] but you're saying [1:19:43] you do not [1:19:43] regret that statement [1:19:44] I'm saying [1:19:45] that the investigation [1:19:45] is going on [1:19:46] but what we've seen [1:19:47] there is no investigation [1:19:48] Senator [1:19:49] in fact [1:19:50] that was my next question [1:19:51] to you [1:19:51] don't you think [1:19:52] there should be [1:19:53] an investigation? [1:19:54] My understanding [1:19:54] is that there is [1:19:56] I will find out [1:19:57] once [1:19:58] if I'm able [1:19:58] to get confirmed [1:19:59] but there's [1:20:01] those are two [1:20:02] different incidences [1:20:03] Department of Homeland Security [1:20:05] and the Trump administration [1:20:06] has blocked [1:20:08] state and local [1:20:10] investigation [1:20:10] of the killing [1:20:11] of Renee [1:20:12] Renee Good [1:20:13] and I hope [1:20:13] that you will [1:20:14] permit that investigation [1:20:16] to go forward [1:20:17] Senator [1:20:17] state and local [1:20:19] investigation [1:20:19] doesn't [1:20:20] investigate [1:20:21] federal [1:20:24] FBI does that [1:20:25] through DOJ [1:20:26] and I believe [1:20:27] the FBI [1:20:28] is looking [1:20:29] to this case [1:20:30] and I do want [1:20:30] to say something [1:20:31] to you [1:20:31] you said [1:20:31] about the terrible [1:20:32] conditions [1:20:33] that this administration [1:20:35] is putting in kids [1:20:37] but what you left [1:20:37] out is that [1:20:38] they've actually [1:20:38] recovered over [1:20:39] 160,000 kids [1:20:41] that were trafficked [1:20:42] or lost [1:20:43] during the Biden [1:20:43] administration [1:20:44] what is inhumane [1:20:45] is the 12 to 13,000 [1:20:47] individuals coming [1:20:49] across the border [1:20:49] every single day [1:20:50] and we're not [1:20:51] having tracked [1:20:51] the kids [1:20:52] at one time [1:20:52] the number [1:20:53] is up to 385,000 [1:20:55] and that's sad [1:20:56] because you [1:20:57] you said [1:20:58] that you were [1:20:58] going to be [1:20:59] and I'm quoting [1:21:00] you blunt [1:21:01] and direct [1:21:02] and to the point [1:21:03] so I regret [1:21:04] that you don't [1:21:05] retract that statement [1:21:07] about Renee Good [1:21:08] but I want to ask you [1:21:09] about a statement [1:21:11] that was made [1:21:12] regarding the [1:21:13] Preddie killing [1:21:14] by Steve Miller [1:21:15] in the White House [1:21:17] he said quote [1:21:19] that Preddie was [1:21:21] a domestic terrorist [1:21:22] who quote [1:21:23] tried to assassinate [1:21:25] federal law enforcement [1:21:26] don't you think [1:21:28] it was irresponsible [1:21:29] and reckless [1:21:29] for Stephen Miller [1:21:31] to post that claim [1:21:32] on X [1:21:33] without any evidence [1:21:35] just as you have [1:21:36] retracted your statement [1:21:37] Senator I believe [1:21:38] that question [1:21:39] is better asked [1:21:40] to Stephen Miller [1:21:41] not myself [1:21:41] I can't speak for him [1:21:42] well Stephen Miller [1:21:44] also said [1:21:46] again on Fox News [1:21:48] quote [1:21:49] under President Trump's [1:21:50] leadership [1:21:50] we are looking [1:21:51] to set a goal [1:21:52] of a minimum [1:21:53] of 3,000 arrests [1:21:55] for ICE [1:21:55] every day [1:21:56] if you're confirmed [1:21:57] are you going to be [1:21:58] directing ICE [1:21:59] to arrest [1:22:00] 3,000 people a day [1:22:02] sir [1:22:03] once again [1:22:04] can't speak [1:22:05] for Stephen Miller [1:22:06] but I can say [1:22:07] the president [1:22:08] has tapped me [1:22:08] to be the [1:22:10] secretary of homeland [1:22:11] and I will lead [1:22:12] that department [1:22:12] and I'll lead it [1:22:14] so will you continue [1:22:15] that arrest quota [1:22:16] of 3,000 people a day [1:22:17] no quota has been [1:22:18] set for me sir [1:22:19] well in effect [1:22:20] it's a quota [1:22:21] if the White House [1:22:21] directs the DHS [1:22:23] secretary [1:22:24] the president [1:22:24] of the United States [1:22:25] sets the policies [1:22:26] and I'll be working [1:22:28] with the president [1:22:29] if you have a question [1:22:30] for Stephen Miller [1:22:31] please ask him [1:22:31] well I really regret [1:22:32] that you are [1:22:33] going to stick [1:22:34] to those same [1:22:35] policies and practices [1:22:36] and condone the [1:22:38] statements of the [1:22:38] White House [1:22:39] that are so demeaning [1:22:40] to someone [1:22:40] who was a victim [1:22:41] of lawlessness [1:22:43] and recklessness [1:22:44] by an ICE officer [1:22:47] senator I didn't say that [1:22:49] well let me ask you [1:22:50] then a different question [1:22:52] ICE has been breaking [1:22:55] into people's homes [1:22:57] without any judicial warrant [1:22:59] the sanctity of our homes [1:23:02] is absolutely critical [1:23:05] I think you'd agree [1:23:07] with that point [1:23:08] and it is the law [1:23:10] that a judicial warrant [1:23:11] is required [1:23:11] to forcibly enter [1:23:14] someone's home [1:23:15] Kristi Noem [1:23:16] acknowledged [1:23:17] in her testimony [1:23:19] in response to my questions [1:23:20] that at least [1:23:21] 28 break-ins [1:23:23] have occurred [1:23:23] my ranking member [1:23:27] leadership [1:23:28] on the subcommittee [1:23:29] for permanent [1:23:31] investigation [1:23:31] has produced a report [1:23:33] that shows [1:23:34] probably many more [1:23:36] such break-ins [1:23:37] have occurred [1:23:38] the result of a memo [1:23:39] last May [1:23:41] from the acting director [1:23:42] Todd Lyons [1:23:43] and it's behind me [1:23:46] now [1:23:46] that instructed ICE agents [1:23:48] to break into homes [1:23:49] I understand [1:23:52] that during your staff [1:23:54] interview last week [1:23:54] you said that [1:23:55] there would be no more [1:23:56] such break-ins [1:23:58] to people's homes [1:23:59] without a judicial warrant [1:24:02] if confirmed [1:24:03] will you commit to me [1:24:04] and the chair [1:24:06] and member [1:24:06] ranking member [1:24:08] of this committee [1:24:08] and the American people [1:24:09] that ICE [1:24:10] will no longer [1:24:11] instruct agents [1:24:13] to break into [1:24:15] people's homes [1:24:15] without a judicial warrant [1:24:18] Sir [1:24:18] you're using the word [1:24:21] break into people's houses [1:24:22] very loosely [1:24:22] however [1:24:23] I have made it [1:24:24] very clear [1:24:24] to the staff [1:24:25] and I think [1:24:26] when you and I spoke [1:24:27] that a judicial warrant [1:24:29] will be used [1:24:30] to go into houses [1:24:31] in a place of businesses [1:24:32] unless we're pursuing [1:24:34] someone that enters [1:24:35] in that place [1:24:36] I have not mixed words [1:24:38] with that [1:24:38] and I haven't changed [1:24:39] my opinion about that [1:24:40] a whistleblower [1:24:41] testified to [1:24:42] our hearing [1:24:44] that in fact [1:24:45] ICE agents [1:24:46] have been instructed [1:24:47] as part of their training [1:24:49] to forcibly enter [1:24:52] I know you don't like [1:24:52] the word break-in [1:24:53] but forcibly enter [1:24:54] is breaking [1:24:55] into somebody's home [1:24:57] bashing down the door [1:24:58] terrorizing children [1:24:59] instructed them [1:25:02] to adopt this policy [1:25:04] will you commit [1:25:05] that no longer [1:25:07] will ICE agents [1:25:09] or CBP agents [1:25:10] be instructed [1:25:11] to forcibly enter [1:25:13] people's homes [1:25:14] without a judicial warrant [1:25:15] Sir [1:25:15] I've already answered [1:25:16] this question for you [1:25:17] I said we will not [1:25:17] enter a home [1:25:18] or a place of business [1:25:19] without a judicial warrant [1:25:20] unless we're pursuing [1:25:21] the individual [1:25:22] that runs into [1:25:23] a place of business [1:25:23] or a house [1:25:25] Senator Lanford [1:25:27] Thank you [1:25:27] Thank you [1:25:28] Mark Wayne [1:25:31] right now [1:25:31] is FEMA [1:25:32] currently funded [1:25:33] No sir [1:25:35] is CISA [1:25:35] currently funded [1:25:36] dealing with cyber security [1:25:37] No sir [1:25:38] How about TSA [1:25:40] No sir [1:25:40] Secret Service [1:25:41] No sir [1:25:42] Coast Guard [1:25:43] No sir [1:25:44] Customs and Border Protection [1:25:45] No sir [1:25:46] The Weapons of Mass Destruction Office [1:25:49] No sir [1:25:49] Customs Professionals [1:25:51] No sir [1:25:52] This is something [1:25:54] we've got to get resolved [1:25:55] We can complain [1:25:57] all we want to [1:25:58] about where things are [1:25:59] but we have an argument [1:26:02] and a disagreement [1:26:03] on policy areas [1:26:04] and a quarter million [1:26:06] federal employees [1:26:07] and their families [1:26:08] are the ones that are suffering [1:26:09] because of our argument [1:26:10] There's a way to solve this [1:26:13] We've talked about it a lot [1:26:15] We should just stay here [1:26:16] until we're done [1:26:18] Just keep arguing it out [1:26:19] until we've actually solved the problem [1:26:21] But instead [1:26:23] we broke last weekend [1:26:25] Everybody flew home [1:26:26] right past the TSA agents [1:26:28] that are not getting paid [1:26:29] while we flew home [1:26:30] Why didn't we stay [1:26:33] to be able to try to get things resolved [1:26:35] That's my encouragement [1:26:37] has been my encouragement [1:26:38] all along [1:26:39] We shouldn't walk away [1:26:40] from a disagreement [1:26:42] when there are families [1:26:44] all over the country [1:26:45] that are the ones suffering for it [1:26:46] Unfortunately [1:26:48] the state of Oklahoma [1:26:49] is pretty familiar [1:26:50] with natural disasters [1:26:51] as you know well [1:26:52] You and I have been in multiple [1:26:53] different natural disaster scenes [1:26:55] There's a lot of work [1:26:57] that's happened at the border [1:26:58] so far [1:26:59] The border has moved [1:27:00] from 12,000 people a day [1:27:01] illegally crossing the border [1:27:03] and being released [1:27:03] into the country [1:27:04] unvetted [1:27:05] unchecked [1:27:05] to now [1:27:07] a handful of people [1:27:08] even attempt [1:27:09] to cross our southern border [1:27:10] and those that are arrested [1:27:11] and detained [1:27:12] as is the law [1:27:13] FEMA is still an undone project [1:27:17] and I'm not blaming that on [1:27:19] Christy [1:27:19] there's a lot to get done on it [1:27:20] but you're going to walk in [1:27:21] with a project [1:27:22] going on with FEMA right now [1:27:24] Love to get your ideas [1:27:25] and your thoughts [1:27:26] You're very familiar with this area [1:27:28] and have great experience on it [1:27:29] What are your thoughts [1:27:29] on how to be able to get FEMA [1:27:30] into a better place [1:27:31] so that people aren't waiting [1:27:33] forever for a response [1:27:34] FEMA was never designed [1:27:37] to be the first responder [1:27:38] that's the states [1:27:40] FEMA was designed [1:27:41] to be the assistance [1:27:42] to the states [1:27:43] when the disaster [1:27:44] reaches certain levels [1:27:45] which we need to discuss [1:27:47] those too [1:27:47] because I think [1:27:48] some of the levels [1:27:49] are unrealistic [1:27:49] especially Senator [1:27:51] Hassan and I [1:27:52] have talked about this [1:27:54] that sometimes [1:27:54] in rural areas [1:27:56] they're not able [1:27:57] to meet those thresholds [1:28:00] but working with the state [1:28:02] allowing the state [1:28:03] to have their emergency response [1:28:04] FEMA simply [1:28:05] helping write checks [1:28:07] and assuring [1:28:07] that they have the capability [1:28:09] and the manpower [1:28:10] if need be [1:28:11] but for the FEMA [1:28:12] to walk in [1:28:12] like FBI [1:28:13] walking on a crime scene [1:28:15] and taking over [1:28:15] no one's going to care [1:28:18] more about their backyard [1:28:19] than the people [1:28:20] that live there [1:28:20] in that state [1:28:21] and I think there's [1:28:23] a lot of good ideas [1:28:24] I've heard [1:28:24] at meeting with [1:28:25] so many of you all [1:28:26] there were so many [1:28:26] great ideas [1:28:27] on how to make [1:28:28] FEMA work better [1:28:30] it's got a great mission [1:28:31] and I think people [1:28:32] at FEMA want [1:28:33] to do their job [1:28:34] but we can be [1:28:35] more effective [1:28:35] and be more direct [1:28:36] and speed it up [1:28:38] taking years [1:28:39] to get reimbursed [1:28:40] is not acceptable [1:28:41] taking honestly [1:28:42] months [1:28:43] to get reimbursed [1:28:45] is not acceptable [1:28:45] see small municipalities [1:28:47] they can't afford it [1:28:48] they don't have [1:28:48] that tax base [1:28:49] to do it [1:28:50] and they're already [1:28:51] going through [1:28:52] a struggling time [1:28:52] which means [1:28:53] they're probably [1:28:54] losing tax revenue [1:28:55] especially if it hits [1:28:56] their town [1:28:57] so we've got [1:28:59] a lot of work there [1:28:59] I do believe [1:29:00] that the definition [1:29:01] of insanity [1:29:02] is doing the same [1:29:03] thing over and over [1:29:03] again [1:29:03] expecting different [1:29:04] results [1:29:05] that means [1:29:05] we're going to [1:29:06] look at each one [1:29:07] of the 22 agencies [1:29:08] that fall underneath [1:29:09] DHS [1:29:09] and say how can we [1:29:10] deliver the mission [1:29:11] better for the [1:29:12] American people [1:29:12] that's great [1:29:13] that would be a huge [1:29:14] help to everybody [1:29:15] talking about [1:29:15] the length of time [1:29:17] it takes to get a [1:29:17] response [1:29:18] you've been a part [1:29:20] of as I have [1:29:21] on the non-profit [1:29:21] security grants [1:29:22] that are out there [1:29:23] we have some [1:29:24] locations that are [1:29:25] higher risk than [1:29:26] others [1:29:26] synagogues and [1:29:28] temples have been [1:29:29] one of those [1:29:29] very high risk [1:29:30] locations that are [1:29:31] out there [1:29:31] last week in [1:29:33] Michigan [1:29:34] we had another [1:29:35] situation [1:29:36] where a absolute [1:29:38] terrorist drove a [1:29:40] vehicle packed with [1:29:41] explosives into a [1:29:42] Jewish daycare [1:29:43] intending to kill as [1:29:45] many Jewish children [1:29:46] as he possibly could [1:29:47] I mean that was his [1:29:48] intent was to be able [1:29:49] to do that [1:29:49] that location happened [1:29:51] to be one of the [1:29:52] locations where there's [1:29:53] also been this [1:29:54] non-profit security [1:29:55] grant to help harden [1:29:56] that facility [1:29:56] we have multiple [1:29:58] challenges here [1:29:59] one of them is [1:30:00] when the decision is [1:30:01] made they make a [1:30:02] request go through [1:30:03] the paperwork get [1:30:04] approval [1:30:05] to be one of those [1:30:06] locations that we say [1:30:08] hey we need to harden [1:30:08] this location [1:30:09] once the approval is [1:30:11] done [1:30:11] it may take months to [1:30:13] over a year just for [1:30:14] the dollars to actually [1:30:15] come on it because [1:30:16] there's more bureaucratic [1:30:16] hoops to go through [1:30:17] so as you're dealing [1:30:19] with things like [1:30:19] contracts [1:30:20] that are out there in [1:30:21] the way decisions are [1:30:22] made or FEMA [1:30:23] that's one of the areas [1:30:24] I would encourage you to [1:30:25] take a look at I know [1:30:26] you're very passionate [1:30:27] about how do you fix [1:30:28] the issue where [1:30:29] approval's been done [1:30:30] and everyone's saying [1:30:31] great can we get to [1:30:32] work and the federal [1:30:33] government says no [1:30:34] no you can't actually [1:30:35] get to work [1:30:36] you got to wait some [1:30:37] more before the actual [1:30:38] work can actually begun [1:30:40] to be do that how does [1:30:41] that get fixed [1:30:41] we got to streamline the [1:30:43] process and cut out the [1:30:44] redundancies the amount of [1:30:45] paperwork senator from [1:30:47] michigan and I had a long [1:30:48] conversation about this [1:30:49] amount of paperwork to [1:30:50] just once you're approved [1:30:51] to get the funding [1:30:52] flowing and then the [1:30:54] paperwork that's followed up [1:30:55] on it is way too [1:30:56] encumbered and and [1:30:58] there's a better way to [1:30:59] do this some of these [1:31:01] policies I have to work [1:31:02] with you guys on some of [1:31:04] these grants were written [1:31:05] with checks and balances [1:31:06] which we all got to be [1:31:07] very cautious on how we [1:31:09] spend the taxpayer dollars [1:31:11] things that I can change [1:31:13] things that I can cut out [1:31:14] on the redundancy part of [1:31:15] it I will work with things [1:31:17] that as a senator and I [1:31:18] talked about things that [1:31:19] that it may take you to [1:31:22] make changes on will bring [1:31:23] it to your attention I will [1:31:24] work with you and we'll [1:31:27] see we'll see how we can [1:31:28] make it better great as [1:31:30] you know Oklahoma's been [1:31:31] one of the leaders in [1:31:32] counter drone this is a [1:31:33] big issue of course as a [1:31:35] country every high school [1:31:37] football game every [1:31:38] college football game [1:31:39] every gathering of people [1:31:40] for every festival and [1:31:42] gathering across the [1:31:43] country has now become a [1:31:44] risk location for drones [1:31:46] and drone mitigation FBI [1:31:47] can't be everywhere we [1:31:49] don't want them to be [1:31:49] everywhere we do have to [1:31:51] figure out some process so [1:31:52] as you begin to think [1:31:53] about this issue it's a [1:31:55] it's a tough one to deal [1:31:57] with but it is a basic [1:31:58] national security issue as [1:31:59] well it's going to land on [1:32:00] your desk pretty quickly [1:32:01] especially with the [1:32:02] Olympics coming with FIFA [1:32:03] coming all those things [1:32:05] that are happening we got [1:32:06] to be able to figure out [1:32:07] how to do counter drone [1:32:08] and to be able to not just [1:32:10] identify there it is but [1:32:11] also mitigate the risk [1:32:12] what are your initial [1:32:13] thoughts well I'd love yes [1:32:15] and I'd love to speak about [1:32:16] that with funding talking [1:32:17] to one some of our agency [1:32:19] heads with a lack of [1:32:21] funding right now we have [1:32:22] people quitting because [1:32:23] they got to go to work [1:32:24] meeting these demands are [1:32:26] even going to be tougher [1:32:27] so we just talk about [1:32:28] FIFA for instance and [1:32:29] and then you talk about [1:32:30] 2028 which is going to be [1:32:31] the busiest year of DHS in [1:32:33] history because we have [1:32:33] the Olympics and we have [1:32:34] the presidential election [1:32:36] going on it'll take four [1:32:38] months once funding comes [1:32:39] in to start replacing those [1:32:41] that we've lost for [1:32:42] training before and get [1:32:42] them out in the field we [1:32:44] don't have four months with [1:32:45] FIFA but that's what and [1:32:47] how do we expect these [1:32:48] people to stay on the job [1:32:49] and work we're losing [1:32:50] institutional knowledge [1:32:51] we're losing people we've [1:32:52] already trained and it's [1:32:54] going to be difficult to [1:32:55] deliver this mission the [1:32:56] way that I understand is [1:32:57] we're behind and UAS and [1:32:59] we're behind and in FIFA [1:33:02] right now on actually [1:33:03] delivering the mission that [1:33:04] we have to we're also [1:33:05] behind in reimbursing local [1:33:08] communities that's also [1:33:09] working with us that's going [1:33:11] to have to take a tremendous [1:33:12] amount of focus and [1:33:15] partnership and we like I [1:33:18] said in my opening statement [1:33:19] failure is not an option so [1:33:20] we've got to deliver but [1:33:21] sometimes when you have to [1:33:22] rush like this especially [1:33:24] trying to get people on the [1:33:25] job because we just quit [1:33:27] funding them for the third [1:33:28] time in less than a year and [1:33:30] we expect these people to [1:33:31] keep working it puts the it [1:33:34] puts the mission at risk and [1:33:37] and we have a lot of work to [1:33:38] do here yeah thanks for [1:33:39] stepping up Christy thank you [1:33:41] this is strain on the family [1:33:42] and everything else right now [1:33:43] so thanks y'all for stepping [1:33:45] into this role look forward to [1:33:46] supporting your nomination [1:33:47] thank you senator Kim thank [1:33:51] you chairman senator Mullen [1:33:53] thanks for coming out here I [1:33:54] wanted to just start [1:33:55] secretary Noem said in a [1:33:57] cabinet meeting about almost [1:33:59] exactly a year ago today that [1:34:01] we should be eliminating FEMA [1:34:03] can you commit to us here that [1:34:05] you don't support that [1:34:06] approach and you wouldn't [1:34:07] attempt to eliminate FEMA I [1:34:10] as I said I think it needs to [1:34:12] be restructured not eliminated I [1:34:13] think there is going to be [1:34:15] bipartisan support for reforms I [1:34:17] think we all understand that we [1:34:19] certainly saw a lot of [1:34:20] problems when it came to [1:34:20] Superstorm Sandy I asked [1:34:22] secretary Noem to work with us [1:34:25] especially as they were going [1:34:26] about their FEMA review council [1:34:28] I'll be honest with you that [1:34:29] never materialized we not did not [1:34:31] see the kind of engagement here [1:34:33] that we're ready to have we have [1:34:34] a bipartisan group of senators that [1:34:36] want to come up with reforms is [1:34:38] that something you can commit to [1:34:40] working with us on senator I think [1:34:43] all of us has been either in the [1:34:44] House or in the Senate always [1:34:46] complain about the outreach of of [1:34:49] agencies I will make a commitment to [1:34:51] you that I'm going to have the best [1:34:52] we're going to take it's going to [1:34:54] take a couple months to stand it up [1:34:56] but we're going to have alleged [1:34:57] affairs shop that you're going to [1:34:59] know who the person is we're going to [1:35:00] work with you but most importantly I [1:35:02] think everybody on this dais has my [1:35:04] personal cell phone that cell phone [1:35:06] isn't going to change and if you if [1:35:09] you call me you're going to get a [1:35:10] response if you text me we're going to [1:35:12] get a response so when we're when we [1:35:14] have this FEMA review council report [1:35:16] finally come out is that something [1:35:17] you'll come to us first and engage [1:35:19] with us on rather than just [1:35:20] implementing straight out from the [1:35:22] executive branch on your own senator [1:35:23] I'm pretty sure that you guys set the [1:35:27] policies and the mission for FEMA so [1:35:29] for any serious changes it may take [1:35:31] actually policy changes and I will be [1:35:34] in your office talking to you about it [1:35:35] I appreciate that but we've seen a lot [1:35:37] of significant problems happen for [1:35:39] instance we saw about 2400 staff cuts [1:35:42] at FEMA and again we're not talking [1:35:44] about the reforms but we're talking [1:35:45] about those that are trying to respond [1:35:47] to these disasters every single day so [1:35:50] I wanted to ask if you're confirmed if [1:35:52] you will stop these dangerous staff [1:35:53] cuts that have reduced FEMA's disaster [1:35:56] readiness senator I'm not trying to play [1:35:59] politics but what's been the biggest [1:36:00] disaster is not funding them three [1:36:02] times in a year however you know some [1:36:05] of these agencies under the current [1:36:07] administration not some all of them [1:36:08] got very bloated with over with having [1:36:13] too many things there's still too many [1:36:14] staff I don't center I don't I can't [1:36:17] answer that when I get there we'll be [1:36:18] adequately adequately staffed to respond [1:36:21] to our nation's disasters but it's [1:36:24] going to take some time to get there [1:36:25] because like I said people are quitting [1:36:26] today because they're not getting paid [1:36:28] for the third time in a year and we [1:36:30] can't allow that to take place I agree [1:36:32] and I hope that we can move forward on [1:36:34] that but one thing that has demonstrated [1:36:35] a lack of priority by this [1:36:37] administration is the fact that we never [1:36:38] actually had a full nominee for FEMA so [1:36:42] I just wanted to ask do you agree that [1:36:44] we need an actual nominee to be a full [1:36:46] FEMA administrator that has real [1:36:48] experience in emergency management [1:36:50] absolutely worry looking at some in the [1:36:53] case that we we do get confirmed which [1:36:56] I'm hopeful we do we are making that a [1:36:59] priority in each one of our each one of [1:37:01] our agencies but you know the [1:37:02] confirmation also has to go through you [1:37:04] and we know I get it but at least we can get a [1:37:06] nominee before us and I think that that's [1:37:08] something I hope to take away that that [1:37:09] is your commitment you'll make by just [1:37:11] honestly by the experience that I've had [1:37:14] which has been an interesting experience [1:37:16] it's a lot to ask someone and they got to [1:37:19] be fully committed they go through this [1:37:20] process it's it's it's it's tough so I [1:37:23] would ask you if I do do this give them a [1:37:26] fair shake for me a lot of you guys [1:37:29] aren't giving me a fair shake even learn [1:37:30] your support so if I bring somebody else [1:37:33] listen to you maybe you'll give them a fair shake and you'll actually work with [1:37:36] them because I'm going to find somebody that is capable of doing the job [1:37:40] that's smarter at me at doing the job that has experience doing the job but when [1:37:44] they come to your office and ask for your sport [1:37:46] don't tell them it's politics don't say I can't don't say that hey I supported the [1:37:50] previous one but you know I got burned on that one so I can't support you [1:37:54] we will trust but see just give them a fair opportunity and and you might [1:37:58] actually like the person and look it's not just about the person it's about the [1:38:02] policies writ large and then look you know what we saw before for instance [1:38:06] secretary Noem had this policy that required her approval for anything that [1:38:11] was going out the door grants funding when it over a hundred thousand dollars [1:38:14] and I'll be honest with you there was disastrous it held up so much of the [1:38:18] funding to FEMA and other parts of DHS you know senator Peters and I did a review of [1:38:24] this over a thousand FEMA contracts grants and disaster assistance awards were [1:38:29] delayed so I wanted to ask you if we can commit if you can commit to revoking [1:38:33] this hundred thousand dollar policy by secretary Noem sir we talked to your [1:38:37] office about that and absolutely that's called micromanaging and I don't know if [1:38:41] secretary put that in or someone else did I'm not a micromanager we put people [1:38:45] in we empower them to make decisions what is required to come to my level will [1:38:49] make decisions we will have a very clear line of communication with every one of [1:38:53] our agency's heads on their authority that is given to you with that you gave [1:38:58] to them within their parameters and we'll discuss but we're also going to be [1:39:01] very responsible for the taxpayer dollars but it's in it's unreal it's just about [1:39:07] adding so much red tape though I mean especially when it came to [1:39:12] disaster response I agree the Texas floods want to switch gears here this is [1:39:16] something you remember we talked about but you know we have this effort right now [1:39:20] ICE has purchased a warehouse in Roxbury New Jersey it's a facility the size of [1:39:25] eight football fields to house over 1,500 detainees never once did an ICE [1:39:30] official go and talk to the local mayor talk to the local law enforcement assess [1:39:35] the situation alongside the locals I just want to ask you the does it is that fair [1:39:39] that DHS is imposing these types of large-scale detention facilities without [1:39:44] local engagement and input sir being from small rural Oklahoma it's a big impact [1:39:50] and the community should be visited with especially when you start taking a [1:39:54] warehouse off it takes it off the tax roll which could make a huge impact and [1:39:58] you got to deal with impact aid if they're eligible for it and then you got to [1:40:02] talk about infrastructure you know one thing I do know is construction when you [1:40:06] start talking about infrastructure on these places a warehouse sprinkler system is [1:40:10] much smaller than when you are housing individuals there and if you say I think [1:40:16] you said the town is 60,000 people and I believe you said this was smaller than [1:40:20] that is it smaller at so 22,000 people okay and detainees and the staff there [1:40:26] would constitute about 10% of the population of that yeah and and [1:40:30] realistically it's not most municipalities don't have the capacity and their [1:40:36] infrastructure for waste and water so it's important that we're talking to [1:40:39] the communities and if we're having additional needs we can work with the [1:40:44] cities we can work the municipalities and that we should always communicate with [1:40:48] them I agree with that and this town has only 42 foot police officers a [1:40:51] volunteer fire department does that sound like the kind of town that has [1:40:55] resources to take on a warehouse of this sir I I don't know the circumstances [1:40:59] behind this other than what you and I talked about I committed to you when I [1:41:02] visit with you in your office we'll talk I even said let's you and I get on the [1:41:06] phone with the mayor if I'm confirmed I'll make a trip out there and see it for [1:41:11] myself because it's a big concern of yours and we want to address those [1:41:15] concerns and if it's listen if it's if it's not practical but I also said it's [1:41:20] got to be there may be a specific reason why it's there if I can't explain that to [1:41:24] you then that's a different story but if if there's a specific reason I can [1:41:30] explain to you make you make sense let's talk about it but if not then maybe we [1:41:33] can be better I'm glad that you commit to talking about it there are some [1:41:37] documents I asked ice to send us about their evaluations of the warehouse we [1:41:41] have still yet to get it will you commit that that is something that we can get [1:41:45] once the documents are available yes but I've also offered something much [1:41:49] better I'll go with you personally and look at it that's that's something [1:41:53] that the local community will appreciate and I hope that you will reassess this [1:41:57] as I said in my opening statements we want to protect the homeland but we [1:42:01] also want peace of mind and bring back confidence to Department of Homeland [1:42:04] Security and all this means that we got a we got to work on that and I will work [1:42:09] on that Senator Scott congratulations on your nomination this is it this is a [1:42:16] great honor that you have and you have a great background so I know you work your [1:42:20] butt off in the job like you do everything else President Trump was elected to [1:42:24] secure border crack down on sanctuary cities and keep our country safe I want to [1:42:28] thank the president for his leadership and secretary gnomes help incredible [1:42:31] progress has been made our streets are safer our borders respected and the jobs [1:42:37] we've created are going to people in this country legally now as as a result of [1:42:41] Democrats partial shutdown in the fourth week TSA agents are not getting paid [1:42:45] everybody in the Senate's getting paid I've had a bill since I got up here if we [1:42:50] don't pass budgets we shouldn't get paid I've had one of my Democrat [1:42:54] colleagues say oh I I've got a mortgage I have to get paid well think about all [1:42:58] these people TSA agents are not getting paid airlines or airport lines are in [1:43:02] gridlock we got FEMA grants stalling Coast Guard counterterrorism operations [1:43:06] are shrinking amid rising Iranian threats to our homeland my understanding is ice [1:43:11] agents are getting paid but not ice leadership is necessarily getting paid last [1:43:16] week two terrorists boldly and hatefully attacked our citizens right here on our [1:43:20] home soil killing at least one person the president's decision to stop the [1:43:25] nuclear weapons and the ballistic missiles was a wasn't a reason make what [1:43:29] he's doing is making sure we don't get these attacks on our soil it was only as [1:43:33] a result of brave actions of a class of future military officers citizens and [1:43:37] law enforcement that stopped these tragedies they could have been massacres [1:43:40] still even as Americans are losing their lives my Democrat colleagues are [1:43:44] refusing to fund DHS and give them what they need to uncover and stop plots [1:43:48] like these and protect the lives our families and neighbors it seems like [1:43:51] that's our job up here so cinema how do you view Senate Democrats recklessly [1:43:56] holding DHS funds hostage at the expense of our national security interests amid [1:44:00] threats from Iran and its proxies senator it's unconscionable how are how can you [1:44:08] sit there with a straight face and say that we're trying to take care of the [1:44:13] American worker when you're choosing to to to not pay 260,000 people and you're [1:44:20] affecting their families we've heard the stories of families have to stand in in [1:44:25] charitable lines for basic needs or getting a loan and like I said this isn't [1:44:32] the first time for a month into this they just came out of a 43-day shutdown what [1:44:36] they were probably just recovering from and yet we're still gonna sit there with a [1:44:40] straight face and say it's it's it's not about politics so in sanctuary cities [1:44:47] local authorities can decline ice detainers which means that criminals are [1:44:51] released back into the community rather transferred safely into ice custody first [1:44:55] off I can't imagine anybody elected that wants criminals back in their [1:45:00] community but that's happening this creates opportunities for illegal fugitives [1:45:04] to relocate or reoffend like in the tragic murder of Kate's Stanley it also [1:45:09] forces DHS officers to go into neighborhoods to root out violent [1:45:12] criminals which is way more dangerous for everybody not only does this cost a [1:45:16] taxpayer more but also increases the risk for everybody involved including [1:45:20] bystanders DHS officers and potential future victims we're seeing this play [1:45:25] out right now just a few miles away where local officials in Fairfax Virginia [1:45:29] refusing to turn over an illegal immigrant who was arrested for groping 12 [1:45:33] underage students and the local elect they want to put that person back out in [1:45:39] the community that's not even here legally instead of turning him over to ice [1:45:43] Fairfax County prosecutors are trying to get him released this is just one [1:45:47] example of how sanctuary city policies choose to put illegal aliens of over [1:45:51] American citizens how do you plan to deal with sanctuary cities like Los Angeles and [1:45:56] Chicago to remove criminal illegal aliens sir it's been a difficult conversation [1:46:03] that's been had with with these sanctuary cities as I said going on we don't get to [1:46:10] choose which laws we enforce as elected officials you shouldn't choose which laws [1:46:15] you enforce we're not asking them go out there and enforce immigration we're just [1:46:19] saying be good partners with us if we've got to serve judicial warrants let us go [1:46:23] serve judicial warrants if you pull over somebody that's wanted that's in the [1:46:27] country illegally and it's a little municipality we're saying just hold them [1:46:31] at least let us do a background check on them see who they are if in working with [1:46:37] the municipalities are going to be finally important but also you got to take a [1:46:40] look at if they're not willing to enforce federal law and work with us then [1:46:46] where's the taxpayer dollars going to and ideally I would like to go in there and [1:46:51] talk to the mayors I'd like to go in there and talk to the sheriffs talk to the [1:46:54] police chiefs say what is your concerns how can we get past this because the [1:46:59] president has made it very clear he wants to protect the streets for every [1:47:03] American he wants to restore law and order to every city I don't think that [1:47:09] should be controversial but some people have for political purposes or maybe [1:47:15] they didn't like the tactics either way I find it really hard to believe that law [1:47:19] enforcement in those communities don't want to do their job so maybe we sit down [1:47:23] and we we just work it out it's like I tell my wife all the time sometimes when [1:47:27] she gets mad at me and I'm right she's wrong by the way but sometimes when she [1:47:31] gets mad at me I have to apologize because I simply say that was a joke by the [1:47:36] way for everybody's married but I had to apologize and sometimes I tell her I said [1:47:40] honey it's a misunderstanding we still love each other we still want the best [1:47:45] for our family and these law enforcement and I would even say these mayors they [1:47:49] still love their community they still love their their cities they still love [1:47:52] this country so maybe it's a misunderstanding we can work by and I'm [1:47:56] gonna start with that that's what I'm gonna start with if we have to do [1:47:59] something different than we will but that's where I'm gonna start at with some [1:48:02] misunderstanding but we're gonna force the nation laws and make sure we [1:48:05] protect everybody in their city and hopefully work with them and never work [1:48:08] against them sir Mullen do you is secretary of Homeland Security do you [1:48:13] have any ability to ban funding to sanctuary cities that ignore the federal [1:48:16] laws meant to make citizens lives safer but then turn around ask for federal money [1:48:21] for added protection sir that would be a last option but at the end of day [1:48:29] taxpayer dollars have to be used for for the right purposes and if people are [1:48:37] refusing to do enforce the nation's laws I think it's really hard to justify why [1:48:43] we're sending them taxpayer dollars that are coming out of Oklahoma are coming out [1:48:49] of Florida are coming out of Kansas or Arkansas when they're making that [1:48:54] decision but I will say that is not going to be my first or second or even [1:48:58] third approach but that would be my last resort congratulations on the [1:49:03] nomination good luck thank you senator Fetterman thank you mr. chairman so [1:49:15] hello senator Mullen thank you for coming in today so Americans don't like chaos you [1:49:27] know we America definitely didn't like the kinds of chaos during the bite [1:49:34] administration at the border you know as a Democrat I was I was alarmed that there [1:49:41] were up to three hundred thousand encounters at our border once a month once a [1:49:46] month and that puts that in perspective that's the size of Pittsburgh showing up [1:49:51] at our border and that's not sustainable and that's not manageable and it's [1:49:58] making it possible for us assimilate and now if you care about immigration as I [1:50:03] deeply do you can't possibly provide the American dream for people when the size [1:50:09] of Pittsburgh showing up at our border once a month that need to be brought [1:50:13] under control and that happened that happened I signed up that as a Democrat [1:50:18] the second part the second part is rounding up all of the criminals and deport [1:50:25] them you know I can't imagine why we can't agree with that as well too that's [1:50:31] another thing that I would say that I signed up one name that often doesn't [1:50:35] come from my side is Lake and Riley I agree for Renee good and I agree for Alex [1:50:42] Petty but I also deeply deeply grieve for Lake and Riley and their family and now [1:50:47] all three were failures of our government there in that circumstances and as I was [1:50:54] proud to be the co-sponsor of the Lake and Riley bill because we have to address [1:50:59] that two things must be true here we need to have a secure border and we have [1:51:06] to round up and deport every single criminal in our in our nation I can't [1:51:10] imagine why that's critical or controversial for anybody you know so that's [1:51:16] I'm trying to find a way forward and now you and I have had conversations on [1:51:22] this and that's your commitment to focus on those things I believe that's [1:51:25] effective accurate correct yes sir yeah and now another another thing I know [1:51:35] there's a lot of hard personal feelings here and absolutely I would I it's it's [1:51:41] terrible what's happened and political violence I mean it's it's rampant so now [1:51:47] that's what's happening but also also President O'Brien's here not for round two he's here because [1:51:53] he fully supports your your you might correct yeah round three okay yeah yeah so it's about [1:52:02] it's about letting it go and moving on and I've done that too when I was in the hospital and things were [1:52:09] touch and go you know I know there were unkind things said about me but I can just say that it's [1:52:16] better to just let it all go and to find a way forward that's the time that we're in right now [1:52:21] in our country on that now people might describe you in those kinds of moments but I'm going to [1:52:29] describe you we got a chance to get to know better when we joined a code L to Turks and Caicos correct [1:52:37] yes sir yeah and we did that we did that because Americans Americans were looking at over a decade [1:52:45] in prison because they had a couple random bullets in their luggage and those Americans ran the gamut [1:52:53] of a black grandmother from Florida I believe Florida and Pennsylvania that live in western [1:53:01] Pennsylvania that I did and I was able to to welcome him at the airport when he returned there [1:53:07] so that was about a commitment to working together imagine just because a couple random bullets [1:53:14] accidentally they were looking at over a decade in prison now we work together and now not one [1:53:21] single American really faced that kinds of thing so that's about committed to working together so now [1:53:27] now also also as a Democrat you know that I made me the only Democrat that refused to shutting [1:53:35] our DHS down you know some people might say that that doesn't mean I have any less commitment [1:53:42] to reform ICE that's just categorically not true but it's a it's a strange devotion I don't understand [1:53:49] why you would shut the entire agency down just because you want those kind of reforms on ICE that [1:53:54] has absolutely no impact on ICE and doesn't force any of those things I refuse to do that and I refuse [1:54:00] to punish those union members that are working and now especially parts of that it's true it's like [1:54:06] the cyber security agencies part of DHS yes sir yeah and that that's currently that's on the shutdown [1:54:14] and now two of the top agents of cyber attacks come from Iran and China they must be elated to know that [1:54:23] that part it's all shut down because that's part of this shutdown that does not bring any reform to ICE [1:54:30] you know that I want any less than other Democrats you know here I just the difference is I refuse to [1:54:36] punish and make our nation less secure part of that so for me I came here and I committed to come here [1:54:44] with an open mind and I'm going to continue to do that and it's not going to be about gotcha moments for [1:54:50] me it's about just saying my experience with you has been consistent kindness and provisionalism [1:54:57] you know the first time I met it was you and your wife behind you when I was here at the orientation [1:55:03] here in the Senate and even before you got the call for the big job you know we were even discussing [1:55:09] about getting together and having dinner as family so that's an ongoing relationship because that's [1:55:14] also part of the fact here in this in this town you got to get along and find a way to work together [1:55:19] and now we have to come at it and just let things go in the past for that finding a way forward [1:55:25] that's my responsibility to represent Pennsylvania and now for you I just want to thank you for [1:55:33] showing up and now I'm going to engage and I'm going to remain with an open mind throughout all [1:55:39] this as I made to my my friend here and I'm going to do that so thank you for bringing your family here [1:55:45] too and I look forward to hearing for the rest of my colleagues views on you thank you senator [1:55:51] senator Ernst thank you mr. chair thank you Christy for being here as well senator Mullen I have to say [1:56:00] I'm just going to be blunt very honest with you I hope that the president is watching I am going to say to [1:56:08] the president I am really upset that he has made your nomination why because I will be losing from the [1:56:16] Senate one of the best friends that I have here truly but in that in that same accord I am so grateful [1:56:23] to the president for making your nomination to Department of Homeland Security so we've had a lot [1:56:32] of discussion here I know just as senator Fetterman said there are a lot of differences and opinions [1:56:40] on the politics surrounding DHS and senator Fetterman mentioned that he grieves for all of those that [1:56:49] we have lost those protesters we grieve the loss of young women young men that we have seen at the [1:56:59] hands of those who that have migrated illegally into the United States of America we grieve them all and I [1:57:06] think we can acknowledge that and it's important that we do that we're in really trying times right [1:57:13] now and one of the things that I want to focus on right now is the bipartisanship that you have had [1:57:22] with so many members in the house in the Senate the relationships that you have outside of this body it [1:57:32] because I think it's really important because we get in the political fights all the time and we're [1:57:38] all trying to score points back and forth bipartisanship is not very sexy but I think we need a lot more of it [1:57:47] so Josh Gottheimer was here today I respect him so much and the fact that you remain friends today is [1:57:56] incredibly important I noticed you also gave Joe Kennedy a shout out so I sent him a picture I took [1:58:04] of you from the dais because I know Joe really well as well there are so many relationships that we have [1:58:11] in this body and I wish more people would see that we have those relationships we carry them in our hearts [1:58:18] it means we're better people because we open our minds to listen and to that point I want to thank you [1:58:25] Mr. O'Brien for being here as well because what started out as a very big difference between you [1:58:32] and Mr. O'Brien you found a way to both of you come together to share thoughts and ideas and turn [1:58:39] something really good out of that discourse and I think more people need to learn how to do that and [1:58:47] so to all my friends sitting here in the dais and those that are watching is that this is how [1:58:54] America works where we're able to take differences and come together and not just shout at one another but [1:59:03] come together and figure out a way forward that's what makes this country such an incredibly brilliant [1:59:11] country is that we can recognize those differences so I want to talk a little bit about a trip that we took [1:59:21] last year so many folks know that you serve on armed services I serve on armed services we do congressional [1:59:31] delegation visits and a little over a year ago or about a year ago Senator Mullen led a congressional [1:59:39] delegation visit into a country that had not been visited by an official delegation trip in 15 years along on [1:59:51] that trip I was also there chairman Smith was on this trip as well as well as well as well as Democrat Jimmy [1:59:59] Panetta of California we went to Syria we sat down with the president there al-shara for his first official [2:00:12] visit from the United States of America now a lot of people will say he was a member of al-qaeda what are [2:00:22] you doing sitting down with somebody that was a member of al-qaeda it's the same reason we sit down [2:00:29] with people that we have differences with is to find a way forward so senator Mullen I would like [2:00:37] you to talk a little bit about that trip and why you believed it was important that we do that thank you [2:00:44] thank you senator you're right the president of Syria wasn't really somebody we should have a lot of [2:00:51] common ground with and we actually talked about that him and I talked about that I had a very blunt [2:00:56] relationship about it but the fact is our world is different and there's different leaders for [2:01:02] different countries in different places and you have to understand the region and the area they're [2:01:07] in we're not in the business of necessarily picking the leaders but when we do hopefully there's a way [2:01:12] that we can work it out and if you remember the president at the time he said he said when I was [2:01:19] younger I was fed a lot of propaganda and I'm paraphrasing this he says but when I was in American [2:01:26] prison in Iraq he started looking at things different and and then he also went on to said [2:01:36] is yes I was a I was affiliated with al-qaeda but it's much like you guys being a feel like with Russia [2:01:41] it was interesting to me no one has how you went through the history he said it's much like you guys [2:01:44] being affiliated with Russia and China and World War two and look where you're at today sometimes in [2:01:51] war when we're fighting for our country I left Iraq and came back and fought for Syria because that's [2:01:56] my home that's we had the most diverse population in the history of the world in Damascus and and I [2:02:03] don't want the foreign influence and after I got out I realized my fight is for my country not for [2:02:10] this necessarily organization but for me to get resources for me to get fighters for me to build [2:02:14] a fight for my country and hopefully even though he said I'd openly I never planned on being president [2:02:20] of the country I was just wanting to get my home back I find myself here and he was very open he says [2:02:25] I have made mistakes and I said I've made mistakes too and I said we're not perfect but if we can work [2:02:30] together to be a trust but verified he says I want a relationship with the United States I want to have [2:02:36] that relationship that's not common for somebody with Al Qaeda ties that's somebody that says yes [2:02:41] my past is my past but I'm looking to the future and I think we all have past in past we can learn [2:02:46] from we learn from successes and failures in our past but if we can grab the past that we made a [2:02:52] mistake on and say yeah that's a mistake I'm not going to make it again that's a lesson that's where [2:02:56] wisdom comes from if you can also learn from your successes then that's also where wisdom comes from [2:03:00] and that's considered someone that could has a potential to be a to be a leader and I would rather work [2:03:05] with those leaders like that then then to continue to see the civil war that that was going on and [2:03:12] in some cases still going on in Syria yes and thank you and I just use this because my time is expired just [2:03:18] to demonstrate how we all have such significant differences we can come from different backgrounds [2:03:24] but I've been on a lot of congressional delegation visits folks a lot in the 12 years that I have been [2:03:30] here but to watch Senator Mullen lead this delegation and to be able to speak to someone that is far [2:03:38] different than we are and bring our countries that closer together I know that he will do that with [2:03:44] every one of us serving in Congress I know you will represent us very well you will represent the [2:03:50] administration very well you will make our country safer so thank you Senator Mullen thank you [2:03:57] Christy very much for your friendship as well thank you Mr. Chair Senator Schlocken thank you [2:04:03] thanks for being here thanks for our conversation yesterday I want to just actually add on to what [2:04:09] Senator Langford were saying and just focus on the attack we had at a temple that's very close to my [2:04:15] heart in Michigan place I know well last week we had an anti-semitic attack meant to terrorize [2:04:24] not just not just that synagogue but the entire Jewish community and I think the light is really [2:04:31] blinking red and that is the feeling for the Jewish community and just as an objective statement the [2:04:40] Jewish community is ten times more likely to be the victim of a hate crime than all other religious [2:04:46] groups combined that's not a political statement that's a factual statement from FBI data and [2:04:54] we talked about the need to work together the Jewish community is spending about a billion dollars a [2:05:02] year privately securing their own institutions no religious group should have to spend that amount [2:05:11] of money that could be going to lots of other things on their own security in the United States [2:05:16] of America so I would just ask your help in reforming the nonprofit security grant program so it's agile so [2:05:23] you don't have to like win the grant and then still do a hundred pieces of paper maybe even looking at [2:05:29] a rapid reaction fund but certainly asking for some sort of task force you know I'm thinking about the [2:05:35] community in Australia that went to the Australian government the Jewish community and said we're seeing [2:05:40] just a real uptick in threats we're terrified and then we have Bondi Beach and a very horrible thing so can [2:05:47] we just agree in public again in a bipartisan basis to sit together to reform this program and figure [2:05:53] out how we manage to the threat because we're not hitting it right now senator you have a wealth of [2:06:00] knowledge from your service in the intel community and you will know this issue probably better than me and [2:06:07] so I would welcome the opportunity to sit down and talk to you figure out what we need to do I know this is very [2:06:12] personal to you and that's great we may have some differences on some some political views but this [2:06:18] isn't one you and I will be you know laser focused and and get this resolved if it's possible but yes [2:06:24] I would absolutely welcome an opportunity to work with you on this great I appreciate that I think you [2:06:30] know in in general you your position or your future position as secretary of homeland security sits at like [2:06:38] the fulcrum of these big issues we're having as a country just big cultural issues the use of law [2:06:46] enforcement in our streets and where our rights begin and end and then our elections our democracy and [2:06:53] given the importance of that I think it's important that we we state really clearly where you are on those [2:07:00] two issues you know I think first and foremost on the use of ice you know my state voted for [2:07:09] Donald Trump in 2024 a lot of people supported the president's immigration agenda but then they [2:07:16] watched with their own eyes not filtered through a news source they watched with their own eyes [2:07:22] American citizens killed in their streets for protesting they saw children caught in the crossfire [2:07:29] and being tear gassed they saw people randomly being pulled out of their cars and walking down the streets [2:07:36] because they happened to look like they could be an immigrant and checked for their papers which [2:07:40] for many of us has a real history they have seen people go in law enforcement go into people's homes [2:07:48] without a judicial warrant for a country that was invented because we were being oppressed by a foreign [2:07:54] force that demanded entry into our homes so you say you don't want ice in the news you say what you want [2:08:00] to rebuild trust your predecessor was fired because she couldn't manage that and you know people had [2:08:06] to go in and bring the temperature down can you without other words just state clearly what you'd be willing [2:08:13] to do to fundamentally reform ice and put into law to do so since that trust is gone ma'am as you know [2:08:23] I can't make the law you guys make that but you're going to be the secretary yes I agree but I can't make the law [2:08:29] I can work within the parameters tell us tell us what you'd be willing to put into law so um let's [2:08:35] I right now the law that I work into is your decision we'll work through that but I do believe [2:08:41] there is a better approach and I think working with municipalities um I would love to see ice become [2:08:47] a transport more than the front line um if we get back if we can get back into just simply working with [2:08:53] law enforcement we're going to them and we're picking up these criminals from their jail one they're we're [2:08:58] going to reimburse them for having the the person there and have partnership is violent important [2:09:03] I don't think there needs to be a wall to change that I think I can work within what is there um but [2:09:09] there's a there's an approach that can happen but we got to have partners yeah I understand I understand [2:09:15] but I just I would just we're not going to agree to this here but I would just say um the ability [2:09:20] you know the trust is gone and not just with democrats um that's why we're here that's why your [2:09:25] predecessor was fired and there there needs to be fundamental reform of this law enforcement agency [2:09:31] and I think that the public writ large is crying out for that let me turn to elections no no no let [2:09:36] me turn to elections the the department of homeland security has the mandate since the obama era for [2:09:43] securing our election infrastructure um that's an important job and you'll be secretary um the [2:09:52] president has continued to say that he won the 2020 election even though there's been 60 court cases [2:10:00] saying the opposite he has said he wants to federalize the elections he has said name check cities [2:10:07] including detroit he has said voting machines are inaccurate he has said in the state of the union [2:10:13] i was on the senate floor paraphrase that if he doesn't if his side doesn't win in november then the [2:10:19] elections were rigged which is exactly what he said eight months before the 2020 election um you have [2:10:25] your own history you did not certify the 2020 election um there are people at the department of [2:10:31] homeland security three people individually specifically who are well-known election deniers [2:10:36] now running election security functions who won the 2020 election ma'am we know that president [2:10:44] joe biden was sworn into office he was the president for the last four years but i do believe my job as [2:10:51] department of homeland security secretary will be to make sure that we assure that the elections [2:10:56] are uh are fair and people can trust them does the federal government run the elections process or do [2:11:02] states it's very clear in the constitution that um the the states control state elections and uh and then [2:11:10] there is some federal oversight that's on it but the federal government can set some standards [2:11:14] so if you're talking about the save american act uh requiring you which is within the constitution [2:11:19] by the way requiring individuals to be citizens of the united states i don't think it's too much to [2:11:23] ask somebody to prove they're a citizen of the united states that's what we're talking about i'm [2:11:26] talking about administering the elections if you are secretary of homeland security do you feel you [2:11:31] have the authority to put uniformed officers at polling locations in 2026 ma'am we we said this in your [2:11:39] office the only reason why my officers would be there if there was a specific threat for them to be [2:11:43] there not for intimidation and even though we didn't need it during world war ii we didn't need [2:11:47] it during vietnam or the war on terror we never had to put uniformed military there now you feel that [2:11:54] there's going to be a reason that there's going to be an armed threat to the united states that you [2:11:58] know ma'am i said i can't sit there and guarantee hypothetically of what threat would be not i'm not [2:12:03] putting military that's not within my uniform sorry yes but if there is a threat a specific threat [2:12:09] say it's in a jewish community and there is a threat that's specific to that to that polling [2:12:14] area then we will work with local law enforcement there'll be there'll be a reason for us to be [2:12:19] there and it'll be known why we're there i think the reason you're here and not christie gnome is [2:12:24] because americans trust their local law enforcement now way more than they trust ice so i would just say [2:12:31] if we ever get to the point where you are being asked to put armed ice officers at polling locations we [2:12:37] have lost the plot as a country we have fundamentally lost it and until i hear someone tell me that that [2:12:44] this man president trump will actually allow us to have a free and fair election there is zero trust [2:12:50] here and i cannot trust that he won't try and steal it again i yield back senator moody thank you mr [2:13:01] chairman and congratulations on your nomination congratulations to your family i can't think of [2:13:07] a better person at this moment in time to lead such an important agency um talking about americans [2:13:18] trusting their local law enforcement i i think that is true i think that's one of the reasons as the [2:13:25] attorney general in florida i worked so closely with our law enforcement our local law enforcement to [2:13:30] make sure we were tree triaging our resources and going after really bad people that wanted to harm our [2:13:39] community in a way to make our state safer and part of doing that is we supported them we made sure [2:13:47] that they had resources they had more the the support behind them they knew that we had their backs [2:13:54] i'm proud that florida was one of was the first state to have every single county sign up to work with [2:14:01] the federal government because we were dealing with an unprecedented situation following the last [2:14:06] administration where you had people working with radicals in that administration to destroy the border [2:14:12] roll out a welcome map to everyone and has left our nation reeling from an unprecedented surge [2:14:22] of people we don't know who are here many of which before they even got here had committed crimes and [2:14:27] have committed crimes since the way to recover and show up our communities is to work with in partnership [2:14:38] local law enforcement who have an expertise in their communities and it is disheartening to me not [2:14:46] just as a former attorney general or as a former prosecutor but as the wife of a law enforcement [2:14:51] officer and someone that worked very closely with them it wrecks me to hear them refer to law enforcement [2:14:59] in general especially some of the men and women that serve currently in the department of homeland security [2:15:05] as breaking into people's homes and shooting americans and i think we can all acknowledge that we want [2:15:16] law enforcement to meet professional standards to act with the public safety in mind to comply with [2:15:26] the law but we do not have to disparage an entire profession of men and women who put their lives on the line [2:15:36] for you and for everyone in this room and said that they were going to dedicate their professional careers [2:15:44] to stand on that line and put their safety behind yours when president trump got in office so many of these [2:15:52] states on the democratic side said i will never work with that man to come in and correct and rid the [2:15:58] communities of people that are going to do it harm we won't in minnesota the first thing they said i will [2:16:04] never help that person i won't lift a finger the attorney general said so in florida where you have 67 [2:16:10] out of 67 counties signing up tell me what i can do to help you in minnesota they had like seven of 87 [2:16:18] does that surprise anyone no because their state leaders said we will not help you we will not go after the [2:16:24] most dangerous in our communities have at it see how it goes we won't lift a finger and when when [2:16:33] the administration says we are dealing with an unprecedented situation 11 to 20 million people [2:16:37] that's never happened in the history of our country how do we do this we need to make sure we're focusing [2:16:44] on on triaging and and getting people out that we know may do harm to our communities they're like [2:16:50] what are you talking about you can't have quotas they won't talk about the quotas where they said we're [2:16:54] put to border patrol push more and more and more and more in however you need to do it don't tell [2:17:00] us how we can stop this influx or this surge tell us how we can push more in they won't talk about that [2:17:05] and they want to tell you about focusing on children that are here that that are now here yes you need [2:17:11] to do that as somebody that has pushed to protecting children and fought against trafficking with law [2:17:17] enforcement's help yes you need to do that but i loved how you said let's talk about the tens of thousands [2:17:21] of children that the federal government helped traffic under the biden administration that we [2:17:26] lost and when they were made aware of it they ignored it you will now have to take over an agency that is [2:17:34] charged with cleaning up a disaster a danger the biden administration did that i cannot think of a [2:17:47] better person someone who acts passionately and fiercely fights for the people he loves and someone who [2:17:57] loves this country and thinks of other people before himself i am telling you in congress there are all [2:18:03] kinds of personality types but this man came up to me time and time again as the newest united states [2:18:09] senator and said what can i do to help you how can we make this place work how can we get this done [2:18:16] and i cannot i look over the course of your life you left school when your father got sick to go help your [2:18:22] family business that's the kind of person you are the kind of person that stands up for every person in [2:18:29] this office that's the kind of person passionate fierce a fighter loyal that's who i want now [2:18:38] protecting this country at the head of the department of homeland security you said in your testimony [2:18:44] i'll fight for your family just as i fight for mine tell me about that personality trait and how you [2:18:51] think that will help the department of homeland security in this unprecedented time where the last [2:18:57] administration the last president of the united states abandoned his role to secure this country [2:19:04] tell me how you bring this the personality and your character traits to this role it's the way i was [2:19:10] raised um it's the way my it's the way my my dad raised us the way my mom raised us the way they [2:19:18] were raised we love this country um i mean think about it i'm getting to live the american dream you're [2:19:24] telling me a kid from westville goma with the speech impediment would ever be able to be here [2:19:28] that only happens in america only in america and we all probably have the same type of dreams because [2:19:34] none of us have royal blood maybe some of your parents might have served in public office or not [2:19:37] mine most certainly did not um and the fact that i'm here my goodness um that's why people want to [2:19:46] come to our country because they want the american dream and i want everybody to have the same [2:19:51] opportunity that i have but we have to secure the homeland we have to make sure that they feel safe [2:19:57] stepping out and being in the public eye we got to make sure that people can have a peace of mind [2:20:02] and trust our government and right now there's a mistrust in our government um i think we have an [2:20:07] opportunity to maybe work on that i'm mad when i say that i hope in six months we're not i can't [2:20:12] guarantee it because the news choose what they're going to run but i hope that i'm not on the news every [2:20:18] six months or six months from now every day i hope dhs is just able to be laser focused on doing their job [2:20:24] and it does isn't controversial about taking care of the homeland i hope people have confidence in [2:20:28] her and in in our agency again and i'm going to work every day to restore that and you'll bring that [2:20:35] same passion and zeal and protective uh instinct to protect every family and every community working [2:20:42] with local law enforcement because they know how to approach in a safe manner their communities nobody [2:20:48] will take care of their backyard better um than the individual senator gallego hey chairman hello [2:20:57] neighbor how you doing easy brother good to see you um so some very specific questions what is the [2:21:03] primary mission of homeland security investigations from the ig or from us i'm sorry for from homeland [2:21:12] security department there's hsi is within homeland security what what is their primary mission [2:21:17] well it's not a trick question either no i i i understand that um and every agency sir we are [2:21:23] we have specific missions that we are targeted to to look at our aspect of protecting the homeland [2:21:30] in different directions have different paths um and in different agencies region-wide there are 22 of [2:21:36] them there we all need to be in the same boat we're on the same direction working for one common goal [2:21:41] and as i said let's protect the homeland bring peace of mind and secure the and secure secure the [2:21:47] confidence of the american people okay so so hsi and i've had of being from arizona we're very [2:21:52] familiar with cbp ice and hsi hsi specifically is very important because they specialize in dealing [2:21:59] with human trafficking human smuggling uh you know counterfeit uh bank fraud things of that nature [2:22:04] actually have a lot of friends have worked for them forever the reason i bring this up is because [2:22:09] there is confirmed reports that the secretary of homeland security has ordered hsi agents pull them [2:22:17] off what i just told you were very important missions to go to arizona and investigate the [2:22:23] 2020 election results right that's a very big concern of mine because these agents should be doing the [2:22:29] work they're doing a lot of them already are you know field ice agents instead of actually doing these [2:22:33] long-term long you know long-term uh investigations but now they're not even doing the uh uh you know [2:22:40] ice enforcement they're literally going back and looking into conspiracy uh theory so you know for my [2:22:47] experience in and seeing you both on the house and the senate you know do you believe that joe biden [2:22:51] won arizona in the 2020 presidential election the reason i ask because again you're potentially deploying [2:22:57] hsi agents to arizona to check a result using our taxpayer dollars to follow up on a conspiracy theory [2:23:04] sir i'm not familiar with what the former secretary did here um and nor i'm here to debate what happened [2:23:10] in 2020 i do know that there's an opportunity to look at 2020 and make sure that anything that went [2:23:17] wrong we can fix moving forward because what we wanted to make sure is that and in the next election be [2:23:23] at the midterms or in 2028 the american people trust our election system trust is vitally vitally [2:23:28] important um and so and i don't so i want to always look at at past uh mistakes and past successes because i've [2:23:36] addressed this uh multiple times and i i know everybody's busy here and i know you you didn't [2:23:41] get to hear me earlier but senator i um i think we can always uh do better and i want to do that just [2:23:49] like you and i you know we've worked on immigration issues before but because we both know we can do it [2:23:54] better but you're talking about perspective i'm talking about going back and the fact that we're using [2:23:59] homeland security funds investigators that should be using their time and and and value [2:24:04] more to check onto something that by the way um had multiple independent audits even one run by the [2:24:10] senate republican and senate um house state house representatives that passed accuracy tests hand [2:24:16] counts 14 court cases that were confirmed that biden won in my state and so when i have personal friends [2:24:22] that are hsi agents friends that i i know are telling me they are now being diverted from their duties [2:24:28] and what they're doing is they're instead of investigating child sex trafficking child abusers drug [2:24:33] traffickers which i don't disagree we have not been doing uh the best set and certainly i think a lot [2:24:38] of that you know was under the biden did not do that sufficiently but now instead of uh it not being [2:24:44] done now we have the opposite where some of these best trained people are being ordered by somebody [2:24:49] somebody within the chain of command the white house where i get to quest later to go investigate this [2:24:53] false um this this false conspiracy theory right and like as much as you know for me a concern of mine [2:24:59] because you know i do know you very personally and we got into work together i think you're you know [2:25:03] upstanding guy and i reject this idea that you're not qualified for for this job 100 but when it comes [2:25:09] to something as existential as this that's when i have to start questioning like you know are you going [2:25:13] to be in charge of a department that's going to say you know what hsi should not be used for this as a [2:25:19] matter of fact no part no one in department of homeland security should be used to do and uh and [2:25:24] investigate an election conspiracy so that's you know what i want to communicate on this like i [2:25:29] really urge you just to end the investigation there's no reason why we need to be go really [2:25:33] getting back to 2020 there certainly isn't any reason why we should be using these highly trained [2:25:38] professionals that should be going after some horrible people to be investigating conspiracy [2:25:44] theories that have been litigated multiple multiple multiple times and put them back where where they [2:25:49] were uh you know moving on from there my other concern is something that i i saw you know with [2:25:55] uh the previous secretary and something that you know i've seen in myself in my time in the marines [2:26:01] is that a chain of command is very important i don't believe there was a real chain of command [2:26:07] that was in uh the secretary of homeland security and when i say that it's because i think stephen miller [2:26:14] was person was actually calling the shots there and you could see the results of what occurred you had [2:26:19] men and women in ice and cbp that felt that they were unaccountable uh talking to actual ice and cbp [2:26:26] agents from arizona they got deployed to uh to minnesota they don't know who really was in their [2:26:32] chain of command they didn't have operational orders a lot of them did not understand you know [2:26:37] how to actually engage with the public uh at all and when there was a point of who is responsible for [2:26:45] making decisions they could not figure out if it was miller or if it was secretary noem and her [2:26:51] deputies uh they couldn't figure out if there were quotas versus there are quotas now we know that there [2:26:56] are quotas you know this is the problem is like i want to make sure that if you're there you're in [2:27:00] charge and not stephen miller sir uh the president has nominated me to be secretary of homeland and i'll [2:27:08] take full responsibility for that uh chain of command is important i believe empowering people to make [2:27:13] decisions and uh but i will still be uh talking to the president on a regular basis and any policy [2:27:20] that uh that is within my um within my realm of authority that you guys give us uh if the president [2:27:29] wants us to to look at it we'll look at it because i serve at his discretion yeah one thing i don't know [2:27:34] if it's been mentioned here you'd probably would be what the only second um native american uh in the [2:27:40] history of the country to be a cabinet member which i appreciate you know that i i also do a lot of work [2:27:44] with our native american communities of 22 fairly recognized tribes uh in arizona and the the one [2:27:50] concern i also have is that when it comes to building some of these installations on the border there has [2:27:55] been very very little to no tribal consultation especially with some of our border um tribes the total [2:28:02] nation where we are building uh walls in areas that does not just doesn't have much much like you have [2:28:10] esl so i have problems with english once in a while too um the uh there's a border wall that is going [2:28:17] through tribal land that is in very sacred land that is not crossed uh and used significantly by human [2:28:23] smugglers you know it's important that dhs actually speak to these communities they actually have programs [2:28:28] that they do where they actually are are working with dhs and local law enforcement to stop illegal [2:28:33] uh smuggling called shadow wolf program that dhs supports but this last administration um in dhs did [2:28:41] not talk to them whatsoever did not talk about you know did not even give the the vague idea of terrible [2:28:46] consultation and now they're just building into some areas that has you know unfortunately some burials [2:28:51] of some of their uh the people from their tribe and so i think it's important that we reestablish [2:28:56] tribal sovereignty and i hope because of your background you'll understand appreciate that [2:29:00] i respect tribal sovereignty and there's a lot of technology now we still have a job to secure the [2:29:05] border but we will work with with tribal nations because there's there's other ways to have a physical [2:29:11] bear where you can have technology there too and i don't think anybody would complain about that but [2:29:16] yes you know my background we have worked on travel issues a lot and i appreciate your passion [2:29:21] and i have a lot of good friends in arizona with tribes that have uh that we've been on have good [2:29:27] relationships with and these tribal nations would absolutely work with you as long as absolutely [2:29:30] they they feel felt that they were the respect uh and also respect for the land because we have a [2:29:35] history of that mr chairman i'm up i can we're going to come back around if you have a question [2:29:40] senator holling thank you mr chairman senator molin welcome to the committee i see you have uh some [2:29:46] supporters with you today chairman smith good to see you my friend sean o'brien is here i want the [2:29:52] record to reflect that my money was always on o'brien i just want that noted i want it noted for the [2:29:59] record uh senator molin let me ask you this in in your own words could you tell us just uh in capsule [2:30:05] form what what is it that dhs what's the mission of dhs as you understand it as you would put it as [2:30:11] you would explain it quite simply it's simple to protect the homeland very good to protect the homeland okay [2:30:19] let me ask you this 10 days ago there was a shooting at old dominion university that left one [2:30:24] person dead two people critically injured the gunman had potential terrorist ties is this a good time [2:30:30] for the department of homeland security to be shut down and unfunded it's the worst time and and keep [2:30:36] in mind we just came up a 43-day shutdown and this is a third time in a year and uh it's it's devastating [2:30:42] to the morale of the men and women we have tasked to keep care take care of all of us all the [2:30:48] homeland regardless it's a blue state or it's a red state we have to look at it all the same and they [2:30:53] have that mission mindset but they don't have to pay to follow it up a few days before that two [2:30:58] individuals attempted to detonate bombs in new york city in a way that would cause mass civilian [2:31:03] casualties both of those individuals have potential terrorist connections in light of that is it a good [2:31:09] time for dhs to be shut down sir i think with the current conditions this is the worst time we could possibly do it [2:31:16] a few days before that in austin texas three people were fatally shot outside of a bar there [2:31:22] when a gunman opened fire in the early hours of a sunday morning that gunman also had potential [2:31:26] terrorist ties and yet dhs is shut down just a week ago a gunman loaded his truck with incendiary [2:31:33] devices and rammed it into the temple israel synagogue outside detroit michigan as i'm sure you know [2:31:38] 40 law enforcement officers 40 had to get emergency medical attention it's it's a miracle by the grace of god [2:31:45] nobody was killed except for the gunman but 40 individuals had to get medical attention and yet [2:31:50] dhs is still shut down uh let me just ask you this um law enforcement dangers i think i've got a poster [2:31:58] that'll go up behind me here in the last year alone we have seen an 8 000 increase in death threats [2:32:05] to law enforcement a 1300 increase in assaults a 124 increase in vehicular attacks [2:32:16] attacks using a vehicle against a cbp law enforcement now in light of this is it a good [2:32:21] time for dhs to be shut down sir it's it's a horrible time um let's talk about children let's [2:32:28] talk about the dangers to children the national center for missing and exploited children estimates [2:32:34] that there are 20.5 million reports of suspected online and child exploitation that includes almost 20 [2:32:42] million reports of child pornography for 546 300 reports of online enticement of children for sexual [2:32:49] acts and 27 000 reports of child sex trafficking is it a good time for dhs to be shut down no sir [2:32:59] um let me ask you if you've seen this poster that i'm about to put behind me have you ever seen this [2:33:05] before senator i don't believe so there's there's no reason you should have i was introduced to this [2:33:11] material by tim tebow heisman trophy winner who now spends a lot of his time help trying to help child [2:33:18] work with child victims of sex abuse this poster reflects every individual ip address in the united [2:33:24] states and about a one month period that was sharing distributing posting or trading child sex abuse [2:33:31] material or child pornography of some form you want to guess how many points there are on that map [2:33:37] it makes me sick i have no idea 338 000 that's just a one month period now can you see any blue [2:33:44] dots on that map cinder mullen yes sir yeah there's very very you got better eyes than i do i mean there's [2:33:49] like very few of them i'd be surprised if anybody in the audience could see them the blue dots are the [2:33:53] number of investigations that are open look at the red dots 338 000 look at the blue dots you can hardly [2:34:00] see them why would that be because in the best of times the department of homeland security has only 10 [2:34:06] hsi agents who are fully dedicated to doing this that's all congress has given you 10. right now [2:34:12] none of those are funded is this a good time for the department of homeland security to be shut down [2:34:18] i think any parent can look at that and it makes you sick uh especially with teenage daughters like [2:34:25] myself that's scary we have to focus on this it's very scary that's exactly right i'm glad to hear you say [2:34:30] that the biden administration and your predecessor in this role the hundred mayorkas lost track of 450 000 [2:34:41] children who were trafficked across our border over a four-year period 450 000 children it's the biggest [2:34:49] child trafficking ring that was set up under the last administration in the history of this country [2:34:54] the president has been doing a tremendous job they found in the last year over 145 000 of them that [2:35:00] that leaves almost 300 000 who are still missing and yet the department of homeland security is [2:35:07] unfunded and shut down let me just ask you again does it seem like a good time for that no sir let's [2:35:13] talk a little bit about the challenges that are being faced by people across the country who are who are [2:35:18] facing natural disasters as we have in my home state of missouri we had major tornadoes ripped through [2:35:25] missouri last spring all across the state particularly concentrated in the eastern part of the state the [2:35:30] st louis area southeast missouri we have thousands of thousands of people who are without power who lost [2:35:36] their homes many who were injured we have had much disaster aid approved by fema but we're still waiting [2:35:43] for some of that aid to get to us and now fema is shut down so i've got thousands of people in missouri [2:35:50] who are awaiting the aid that the president has approved by the way and that fema has approved but [2:35:55] that's in the process of coming to the state i've got probably hundreds of people who are not able to go [2:36:01] back to their homes and who are applying for individual assistance that hasn't yet been processed by fema [2:36:06] and now they're being told well sorry there's nothing we can do because fema shut down does this seem like a [2:36:12] good time for dhs and fema to be shut down no sir in any airport in the country right now if you go [2:36:21] and look you will find hours backups of four and five hours you'll find tsa agents you alluded to this [2:36:28] earlier senator over ten percent of tsa agents now are not able to come to the job why because they make [2:36:33] on average forty five thousand dollars a year they can't they can't afford their rent they can't afford [2:36:37] to buy groceries for their kids they've missed now two paychecks this is endangering the security of our [2:36:42] flyers it's endangering the security of our airports this is a terrible time for dhs to be [2:36:48] shut down here's my point whether we're talking about children who are missing whether we're talking [2:36:52] about the situation against our law enforcement officers whether we're talking about the dangers [2:36:56] to the homeland we are involved in a major conflict overseas this nation's homeland needs to be secured [2:37:01] and yet my my friends across the aisle have shut down the department of homeland security they have [2:37:07] defunded every agency we just talked about and i just want to ask them how long is it going to take [2:37:13] how long are these children going to have to wait in exploitation how many more are going to have to [2:37:17] go missing how many tsa agents are going to be able to afford to put food on the table for their [2:37:21] children how long are the people of st louis and southeast missouri going to have to wait to get back [2:37:25] into their homes before we can finally have a vote to reopen the department of homeland security it is long [2:37:31] past time i welcome your nomination you're going to be a terrific leader of homeland security i can't wait to see you [2:37:36] there but it's time for this congress to do its job and fund dhs and protect the homeland of the united [2:37:43] states of america thank you mr chairman all right thanks everybody uh we are going to do another round of [2:37:49] questions i want to let anybody ask a question that wants to ask a question but i really don't want to [2:37:54] give everybody seven more minutes i want to kind of keep it depressing questions we'll start on the republican [2:37:59] side does somebody have a pressing question they didn't get to ask or would like to ask i'll use back [2:38:03] um anybody else then ernst yes thank you um so again senator mullen i truly appreciate you being [2:38:16] here and i do want to ask some questions i do want to follow up so many people have have pointed out the [2:38:22] various departments that exist and are not being funded under dhs so we have a really really significant [2:38:32] anniversary coming up this year so most people will think it's our nation's 250th which is extraordinary [2:38:42] but the other significant anniversary that has impacted so many of us especially those of us that [2:38:48] have served in uniform significant anniversary the 25th year of september 11th 2001. so right now [2:39:02] we are currently in our 32nd day of the department of homeland security being shut down we have men and women [2:39:14] serving in tsa in fema in the coast guard secret service in the cyber security and infrastructure [2:39:24] security agency all of them under dhs not being funded now i just heard in the first round of questions [2:39:35] one of my colleagues on the left say this has nothing to do with ice they are funded if it has nothing [2:39:47] to do with ice why are we not funding these agencies that protect americans especially as we're coming up [2:39:59] on the 25th anniversary of september 11th this fall it's a significant anniversary i hope never to repeat [2:40:09] it but the fact of the matter is that there is a greater possibility of september 11th happening all over [2:40:18] again because we are not properly funding the men and women that protect our homeland so i don't want to [2:40:29] hear folks say it has nothing to do with ice because i do believe when we get into the politics of this [2:40:35] it is about ice it is about ice so i would love for my friends on the left to acknowledge it's about ice [2:40:46] but acknowledge that protecting our homeland is much more important than the politics of this [2:40:54] can we so yes question senator molin uh do you think it's time to set aside the partisan politics and [2:41:05] partisan games and fund dhs as a whole so that the department can be fully functioning to protect [2:41:14] americans especially as we are approaching this fall the 25th anniversary on one of the greatest attacks [2:41:22] that we have ever seen on our homeland yes senator i i i i look at this as a political theater that we're [2:41:31] playing games with and we're risking people's lives and we're disturbing people's lives as i stated earlier [2:41:38] we have 260 280 000 employees in dhs that's still on the job still working still keeping us safe without [2:41:46] pay i don't know how i'm good conscious you could sit there and think that's okay it is not okay and i look [2:41:55] forward to your leadership at department of homeland security thank you senator mullen i yield back senator peters [2:42:03] yeah i have a couple questions uh for you uh senator mullen but before that i just want to clarify [2:42:09] uh what we're hearing about funding uh for uh for homeland security i think the political theater [2:42:15] uh has been on the republican side because there is really no debate with any of my democratic colleagues [2:42:21] that we need to fully fund fema that we need to fully fund the coast guard we need the philly uh fully fund uh [2:42:30] uh cissa to fund all of those other areas the tsa folks all should be fully funded but unfortunately my [2:42:38] republican colleagues who control the floor you are in the majority you determine which bills go on the [2:42:44] floor and which ones are up for a vote the way we can do that so we don't have a floor vote is we can go [2:42:51] and move by unanimous consent and move a bill and say is there anybody that objects to this bill and if they don't [2:42:59] object it immediately is passed that's the procedure so folks at home watching this we have bills that [2:43:06] will immediately pass and could pass today we have put on the floor bills to fully fund tsa and my republican [2:43:16] colleagues have objected i heard all this support for tsa today so i hope you tell your colleagues don't [2:43:23] object to the tsa funding bill please don't do that we could pass it today god that would be great but [2:43:31] we heard a lot of theater all this stuff fema pass it today coast guard pass it today cissa cyber security [2:43:42] pass it today so as as the nominee for homeland security i would hope you would tell your colleagues [2:43:48] boy this is really important don't object to the bill that allows us to pay for this now granted the [2:43:58] cvp and ice are not in there because we are around negotiating about making sure that there are guard [2:44:05] rails in place so that local or that federal agents have to abide by the same rules as local police [2:44:12] you know when i go home and i say that everybody says really they don't have to do that now [2:44:16] like no but republicans are going to hold tsa hostage they're going to hold coast guard hostage [2:44:22] they're going to hold fema cissa they're going to hold it all hostage because they don't want to give [2:44:26] any ground on making sure we just have common sense guidelines we have a solution for that pass the [2:44:32] bills for all of these other agencies pass them that could happen today we've tried for the last two [2:44:36] weeks and my republican colleagues object don't object anymore and then let's focus on trying to come [2:44:43] together and i appreciate your comments about how we come together let's come together and figure out [2:44:48] how we put common sense guidelines in place for federal agents that are operating in our communities [2:44:54] you've expressed an interest in doing that today and i take you at your word for that so let's do that [2:45:00] but let's not make tsa the uh a hostage in this whole thing let's pass the bills we can do it so [2:45:06] i heard it i heard hsi funding from one of my colleagues here i want to be clear hsi is funded [2:45:13] because both cbp and ice are fully funded because of the big bill that passed last year so that funding [2:45:19] isn't even in jeopardy what's in jeopardy we can fix today all the things that are not being funded we [2:45:25] can fund today and every single democrat is for it there's only one republican it only takes one [2:45:31] republican to object and apparently that keeps happening i'd talk to that one republican say stop [2:45:35] objecting to this if you truly all believe in that stop objecting to it hsi is getting money now because of [2:45:42] the big bill but what's the problem with hsi and i agree with my colleague with child exploitation i'm [2:45:49] going to be at the top of the list when it comes to making sure we're doing as much as we can to stop [2:45:53] that but unfortunately this administration has actually transferred all those hsi people [2:45:59] to immigration enforcement they're not even doing what they were supposed to be doing so i would hope [2:46:04] if you are confirmed you will bring those folks back to their role that my colleague says is so [2:46:11] important which i agree with but why did the administration send them off to immigration work [2:46:15] then apparently administration doesn't think is as important as my colleague and i just want to [2:46:21] wrap up here uh questions that we had related to uh to your to your bio and the biography is important [2:46:29] and it's important that we fully understand how you're presenting yourself and if there are any [2:46:35] ambiguities we want to work that out uh on march 11th i sent you a letter asking for information about [2:46:41] any activity related to any special assignment which you talked about here today that you have been [2:46:47] uh involved in there was no exception for official travel or any of that it was we just asked any of [2:46:53] these special assignments that you have talked about you responded to the committee in that letter [2:46:58] by saying my voluntary work included special assignments outside of dod was that i offered support and [2:47:04] mentorship from a christian perspective to both afghans that supported our efforts uh and other personnel [2:47:10] uh that served in war zones you stated your special assignments occurred intermittently between 2006 and 11. [2:47:17] my letter did not exclude official travel and it also gave you explicit instructions in that letter for [2:47:25] providing classified information how we could do that and do it in a way that protects that classified [2:47:31] information uh you didn't provide any of that and today is the first time that i'm hearing about your [2:47:37] classified activities from 2015 to 16. quite frankly as we've had these conversations you have not been [2:47:44] forthcoming with me or this committee the story always seems to evolve to kind of change and as you know [2:47:53] candor honesty transparency are absolutely critical particularly at this time to try to build trust as the secretary of [2:48:01] homeland security so we have to clear this up we feel pretty strongly we have to understand exactly [2:48:06] what this is especially with all your public comments that have raised a lot of questions [2:48:10] we've checked the skiff is available we're going to go in there with we would love to have you come [2:48:15] to the skiff and tell us exactly what you're talking about i think that'll put my colleagues uh mind [2:48:21] a piece would you be willing to go to the skiff this afternoon and tell us the classified uh activities [2:48:26] you're talking about sir um i think this committee made it very clear with the paperwork they gave me [2:48:31] that i do not have to disclose my person or not my uh my official travel that was part of the documents [2:48:39] it and it went over two or three times i complied with exactly what the committee said and there is no [2:48:45] statement for or no area for mission work and mentorship that was a volunteer basis that i did on my [2:48:51] own time and it was very specific over and over again that you don't have to claim official travel [2:48:56] we we want to know what this what the supposed uh classified work was we we have real questions [2:49:03] about it i asked the fbi yesterday i said and if someone had appeared in any classified document [2:49:11] any document would that be in this report and they said yes i said i don't see anything for for senator [2:49:16] mullen why is that they said nothing showed up we query the department of state the department of [2:49:21] defense uh other intel folks so you're in no classified document that the federal government [2:49:27] has according to the fbi and yet you're telling me you did all this classified work i i don't understand [2:49:32] how that wrecking sir i didn't say all i was very clear with what i said um i get what you're trying [2:49:38] to get to get to here and that's fine but i complied with everything the document said and it was [2:49:43] official travel and it was a classified trip well let me let me just chime in on this um i've agreed this [2:49:51] is the fastest hearing anyone's ever had this will be the fastest vote anyone's ever had and that's [2:49:55] despite my uh qualms and problems with your nomination and i'm willing to do that but when [2:50:02] the fbi came to my office i asked them if you had done any kind of work for the cia the dod or any other [2:50:09] i haven't let me finish any of these kind of agencies or any kind of classified work and they said [2:50:14] the way it works is you would have a separate folder if you've been involved in classified missions [2:50:19] somewhere and we get to see the fold and then we wouldn't talk about it we would look at it [2:50:23] privately and we would know what you're referring to so it's confusing to us because there may have [2:50:29] been some papers that said your official trips were excluded i don't know which ones were and weren't [2:50:34] but you've now mentioned today that you have activities you've done and so i think it would be [2:50:38] easy and i'm still willing to have the vote tomorrow but i can cancel the vote tomorrow i'm still willing [2:50:42] to have the vote get this done and and and and get it over with but i think that um just to make [2:50:49] clear and it doesn't sound like it's a secret you're too concerned about divulging if you would to [2:50:54] spend an hour and go to the skiff or 30 minutes and just tell um both the ranking member and the other [2:51:00] and it would be private and it won't be revealed i think it would get this over with and we wouldn't [2:51:04] have a complaint about going to have the vote tomorrow i have no issue with that if you guys get cleared on [2:51:10] it because i wait my understanding was is there's only four people right in it and it was a special [2:51:14] program inside the house uh just like i wasn't on intel at the time i'm not saying i was uh but i [2:51:20] have no issue with that at all i would welcome being being brought up it's very unique and it was that [2:51:26] would be on you we're not going to try to figure out who the four people are and whether we can have [2:51:31] approval to it and uh i don't if you're doing something that important uh really it probably ought to [2:51:36] be revealed and discussed sir senator i don't or chairman um it's not on me to i don't have the [2:51:44] authority to do that um this is and this is why i said i was very very um clear i'm sorry that i never [2:51:51] talked specific dates or or uh or locations on this uh and so i have i have zero issue with talking about [2:52:00] it um but do it this afternoon i i don't have clearance to talk about this this afternoon i i [2:52:07] don't it's not me to release this is a legislative program is the program that congress assigned you [2:52:12] to yes this was within my official duties who assigned it to you sir that's not for me to talk [2:52:19] to you about on this i'm sorry this is a classified this isn't a class i said i'm sorry i don't [2:52:24] i'm not trying to be ugly you know how classified situations which i decided which agency [2:52:28] classified it it was it wasn't an agency it was it was done here well in the house on the time but [2:52:35] the house classified it i'm assuming i don't i wasn't on i wasn't on intel we're just not really [2:52:43] aware of house class how the house classifies i have i have no idea i know every time we spoke about [2:52:48] this we had to go to the skiff um and visit about it but i mean i know there was a there was a paper [2:52:53] that i had to sign before it even started um and i may be wrong there may be more than four but i [2:52:59] know there was only it was only me and three other people that ever discussed secret that we can't [2:53:03] know about it i would think that there'd be some paperwork in this gift that they should show us saying [2:53:08] this is so top secret and this was made i i have no problem you're welcome to go to the house this [2:53:13] started in 2015 it ended in and mid 20 a little late in 2016. i have i have nothing to hide on this [2:53:20] this is too easy i would really enjoy sitting there and have a conversation with you because [2:53:23] i don't want you to have a question or question my character on this so that's that's very simple [2:53:28] for me but i can't make that authorization you guys know that well it's a little difficult for us to go [2:53:34] ask about a program that has no name and we have nobody that we know to talk to about it so i don't [2:53:39] know how we would begin doing this without your cooperation but i'm willing to operate i'm willing to hold [2:53:44] the vote tomorrow but you brought this up that you're on a super secret mission that can't no i did not [2:53:49] say super secret sir i said it was classified only four only four people know i only know if there [2:53:55] was four people i there was maybe more people that understood it but i know there was only three [2:53:59] people plus me that was ever in the meeting and so as far as i'm concerned only uh four people was [2:54:05] read in on this i don't you were on the intel committee no not at the time no sir i was on the intel [2:54:10] committee after that what what committee were you on at the time you got to think about 10 years ago [2:54:18] uh energy and commerce so it was an energy and commerce top secret ever effort senator i i know [2:54:30] i what i'm what i'm getting upset about a little bit here is that your your tone that you're saying [2:54:35] that in a condescending way i did what i was asked i'm trying to find out who we would talk to [2:54:39] sir i don't i was i told you exactly what happened here i was not required to disclose this on any [2:54:46] official travel your documents were very very clear on that so i don't know what else you want me to [2:54:51] say you said you can go find out go find out and then when i get when you guys say it's good for [2:54:56] me to talk to you i'll be happy to talk to you about it i just i can't talk specifics if you want [2:55:01] to talk about in general ideas let's go down and and and talk in the skiff i'm okay with that but i [2:55:07] can't get into the necessary specifics or who made the decision to do it but i can talk in general and [2:55:13] i'll be very very glad to do that with you and even senator lankford i know is on intel he can come [2:55:18] down with us and and visit with us about it i'm no issues with that at all perfectly clear and and [2:55:25] okay with it but it's not for me to release this so if you guys want to do that we can leave here go [2:55:32] down there and talk about this mission involve um exchange of fire it wasn't it wasn't a mission [2:55:38] it was an official travel uh with specific ideals or for specific fact finding just like any official [2:55:47] travel is that they wanted clarification on um and and so i like i said be happy to talk to you [2:55:55] about it if you guys want to and it was in a conflict zone sir once again i'm not talking about specific [2:56:02] details or dates because we've revealed that this was this was a classified situation now i'm not going [2:56:07] to talk about any because anything i've talked about in the fact in the past wasn't referencing any of [2:56:12] this but i'm definitely not going to get into it now it's talking about specific dates or details we [2:56:16] would have we would have no way of exploring this unless you were willing to cooperate on i just [2:56:20] i don't know chairman i don't know what else you said what else you want me to do i said i would go [2:56:23] down there and talk about this with you in a skip but i can't give this specific all this there's [2:56:28] no reason to think that somehow we're not qualified to look at classified information and so the thing [2:56:33] is is we would there is a there is a lot of programs out there chairman that you know is based on a need [2:56:37] to know right and and maybe you can talk to senator lankford about this too senator lankford would you like to [2:56:43] talk about i'm glad to jump in this this feels as my mom used to say a mountain out of a molehill [2:56:50] where he is offered over and over and over again to say let's get into a classified setting i just [2:56:57] left the worldwide threats hearing where i had to run over to be able to run back there and meeting with [2:57:02] all the folks there there were several questions that i asked there that they gave me a partial answer [2:57:06] and said i'll give you the rest of this answer in a skiff and everybody goes oh okay i get that [2:57:12] because there are some things that are sources methods or actions that we're all keenly aware of [2:57:17] on this and i i don't know what else he could say at this point other than let's get into skiff and [2:57:22] let's actually start with that initial meeting and see how that goes yeah we'll have initial [2:57:26] meetings that's what we asked for uh senator yeah he said he couldn't do that because he wasn't [2:57:30] authorized no i did say that i said i can't give you all the details to it because it's not for me to [2:57:35] release it but i can talk to you in general about it but not in this setting yeah and let's get the [2:57:40] information out and be able to talk it through and be able to find what this is all of us have [2:57:44] been in classified settings let's try to get it done this afternoon so i'm available right after [2:57:47] this so if we're senator or chairman if you want to we can go leave from here and go straight there [2:57:53] yeah and let's try to get our the hearing finished so i want to let's try no more speeches back and [2:57:58] forth on on all the ice stuff if we can um if you kind of just conclude that we can come back to you in [2:58:04] a minute sure all right um senator has let's try to get off of funding ice and stuff let's just try [2:58:11] to stick to the nomination for now i appreciate that mr chair i do have to uh take a moment because [2:58:17] during my first round of questions i discussed the current impasse we find ourselves um in over ice [2:58:23] reforms and dhs funding and i didn't speak clearly so i just do need to clarify my comments now ice already [2:58:30] has significant funding right now for the president's budget bill from the president's budget [2:58:35] bill last summer which provided the agency with several times more money than its annual budget and [2:58:41] gave ice broad discretion about how to use that money that means that the partial shutdown that we [2:58:47] have right now has nothing to do with whether ice has the usual levels of funding it needs to operate [2:58:55] since the agency already has many times its annual budget it's about instead the need for policy [2:59:03] reforms to help ensure that ice operates using the same kind of standards that state and local law [2:59:08] enforcement in new hampshire and around the country uphold every single day now senator fetterman was [2:59:15] right earlier when he pointed out that this shutdown is impacting other parts of dhs that handle [2:59:20] cyber security and transportation security and other critical functions [2:59:24] um we need to resolve it right now and as senator peters just described we have been pushing to do [2:59:30] that in the ways that the minority can we need to reach agreement on ice policy reforms or by funding [2:59:38] the rest of the department while we continue to negotiate on those reforms something i strongly [2:59:43] support but unfortunately republicans have blocked the reforms to ice are critical dhs is supposed to be [2:59:50] prioritizing the removal of dangerous and violent criminals instead we've seen dhs agents assault [2:59:57] and even kill american citizens while wearing masks seeming without accountability so now this [3:00:04] is the question it senator if a masked ice or other dhs agent kills an american citizen should local law [3:00:13] enforcement be allowed to investigate and hold that agent accountable unfortunately local law enforcement [3:00:20] isn't supposed to be uh investigating federal that's what doj and fbi is for now we will communicate [3:00:26] uh with local law enforcement but that's not their job fbi it's just same thing if in most [3:00:34] municipalities if there's a fatality shooting there's another agency that oversees them and in this [3:00:40] case it'd be the fbi who is set up inside the doj to investigate those so you've answered no and your [3:00:46] answer would make ice unaccountable and that endangers not just the rule of law but also the security of [3:00:53] all americans i wanted to get to one other question um during the past year dhs leadership cut cissa's [3:01:00] expert workforce by nearly a third meanwhile adversaries and criminal syndicates syndicates are [3:01:07] accelerating their cyber attacks against the united states how do you plan to restore dhs's cyber [3:01:14] security force and better secure our critical infrastructure from cyber attacks man we've got [3:01:20] to recruit the right people but the bright best and brightest individuals in those areas uh i know [3:01:26] the university of tulsa has a great program um but recruiting individuals that want to do there [3:01:31] that want to be there that want to deliver the mission is vitally important and so we will work [3:01:35] to make sure that happens so you so you agree we need to add people back into cissa and pursue this [3:01:40] critical function and they need to be non-partisan experts with experience and commitment to the [3:01:46] safety and security of our country wherever that leads them no one um and in the homeland should [3:01:51] be looking at this from a bipartisan perspective now if you want me to talk about staffing numbers [3:01:55] i don't know what the mission requires but we'll be staffed adequately if we can find the right [3:02:00] people um to to staff our and to make sure that we're mission capable thank you mr chair out of [3:02:07] respect for your desire to move things along i will uh submit for the record a question on non-intrusive [3:02:12] imaging at the border it's supposed to be ready to do for every vehicle entering the united states [3:02:17] especially to detect fentanyl um and i'd like your answer on that uh and a couple of other questions as [3:02:23] well but i'll submit those for the record thank you without objection senator laggford thank you [3:02:31] we talked before about just trying to get information on time and such [3:02:35] in the transition that happened between the bite administration and the trump administration [3:02:39] data fell behind and it fell really behind uh it was one of my complaints that i had with [3:02:44] mayorkus that was sometimes two or three weeks late on releasing normal data information just [3:02:50] how many encounters were happening at the border how many arrests some of those things on it [3:02:55] last year it wasn't weeks late it was months and months and months late on getting data out [3:03:00] dhs has a really good story to tell there's a lot of good things that are happening there but my concern [3:03:06] is is that social media and some of the examples are coming out just to tell the story and dhs is not [3:03:12] able to actually tell the story and quite frankly we've asked dhs several times hey give us more information [3:03:17] more data on this one of the things i'd love to know is just you've been one of us for a long time in [3:03:23] this you know the importance of oversight and what that means on this to be able to get data to members of [3:03:29] congress and to the american people and so quite frankly we can see the story as well so i'm not [3:03:34] asking for a pledge because i already know your heart on that but want to just be able to open [3:03:37] that up on how we can actually get more data and information our alleged affairs uh department i'm [3:03:43] going to stand up and make sure that we're communicating and getting the information you [3:03:46] need it's not going to be fixed overnight but it does frustrate me as a former member of the house [3:03:52] and definitely a current member in the senate that when we make a request it's not it's not [3:03:58] seen now there is a difference between making actual requests because you're wanting to get [3:04:02] to a solution versus harassment badgering people yes there is a tremendous amount that happens both [3:04:07] sides play the games and i'm just not going to play that game i'll work with any senator i'll work with [3:04:12] any committee to make sure that we are getting the information you need to do your job but just for [3:04:17] harassment purposes um don't please i ask you if you want me to do my job and do it right and be [3:04:23] transparent with you don't play games with with me either uh because and if we if you have real [3:04:28] concerns like i said everybody on this committee and uh and really for our colleagues for that matter [3:04:33] have my personal cell phone that number i have no intentions of of changing it unless somebody leaks [3:04:39] it yeah hopefully that wouldn't occur on it one of the quick question on this uh ali marcus when [3:04:44] he sat at that desk before he and i had a lot of conversations about what they called that was [3:04:49] labeled the special interest aliens these these are folks that come from known areas of terrorism [3:04:55] but we didn't have any information on them specifically and so the biden administration [3:04:59] just let them in they may say well we know somebody in your family uh as acts of terrorism but it's not [3:05:05] you so they just labeled them special interest aliens and released them into the country that we know of [3:05:11] about 70 000 of those individuals the trump administration in the last year and a couple [3:05:17] of months has picked up 50 000 of those that's part of this enforcement that's out there to be able to [3:05:24] identify folks that i've been ringing the bell on over and over and over again saying why are we letting [3:05:28] people in that we literally say yeah they could be a terrorist they could not be a terrorist we don't know [3:05:33] somebody in their family is but we don't know them if they are on it so they were just released into the [3:05:37] country on that and given that label in fact i was told we'll keep watching them but when i went to [3:05:42] the fbi and asked them directly they were like there's no way we can track 70 000 people so it's [3:05:47] been a lot of good work to be able to try to identify where those people went who they're associating [3:05:53] with here in the united states on it and then removing them from the united states there's still [3:05:59] about 20 000 left love to be able to get your promise to say we're not going to quit we're going to [3:06:04] continue to be able to find folks that were just allowed to come in the country that may be a [3:06:08] terrorist and may not be a terrorist we don't know but to be able to go identify those folks and make [3:06:12] sure that american people are protected absolutely yeah thank you and we're almost done we have two [3:06:17] people left who haven't responded this round we've had a lot of debate over ice funding i hope we can ask [3:06:22] just some specific questions to the nominee i can't control what you ask but that's my hope senator blumenthal [3:06:28] thanks mr chairman uh senator mullen uh just months before the war with iran began uh the trump [3:06:40] administration negotiated a back channel agreement a deal with the islamic republic to deport iranian [3:06:48] nationals including asylum seekers dissidents there have been public reports about it uh cnn on january 26 [3:06:57] 2026 new york times reported it in a couple of articles in september uh and december that flights [3:07:08] in around that time deported tens of those kinds of iranian nationals back to iran in as part of this [3:07:19] secret agreement i want to tell you about one husband and wife christian converts from islam who [3:07:25] were sentenced in absentia at nine and 11 year sentences by the islamic republic they fled to [3:07:31] the united states seeking asylum but they were detained by ice on arrival the wife was deported [3:07:39] she managed to take refuge in turkey the husband i'll call him mr h is still here but he's facing [3:07:45] deportation despite showing scars from the beating he received by a government gang i have both of their [3:07:54] declarations i'd like them to be entered in the record uh there are iranian american organizations [3:08:02] like the iranian american legal defense fund that have further information uh i have no doubt that you [3:08:10] share my outrage about the treatment of this couple and other iranian nationals who were deported possibly to [3:08:19] torture and death in iran will you agree with me and commit that we should stop deporting such people [3:08:27] ma'am or sir i don't know the specifics behind this i i think before i can talk about in [3:08:36] hypotheticals i would need to know what the reasons behind it but i don't want to deport anybody that's [3:08:41] here illegally or here legally i mean um and and most definitely not individuals that are or um have done [3:08:50] everything possible uh to be a contributor to society but in these specific cases i don't know i i'm not [3:08:56] familiar with them i don't know if there's something else in the background that would cause [3:09:00] the administration talking in general about tens of people as many as 55 on one flight 15 or so on [3:09:08] another not just this couple but in principle we should not be sending iranian dissidents and asylum [3:09:16] seekers back to iran wouldn't you sir i we do know that our enemies want to infiltrate us and use our [3:09:22] rules and our generosity against us and so i don't know the specifics of these i don't know their [3:09:29] background i don't know what the reasons was but um i will be happy to look into it let me ask you [3:09:35] about another topic um i'm glad that you've committed that there will not be the kind of review that [3:09:42] secretary noem imposed on contracts above a certain amount uniformly by your office but i'd like your [3:09:49] commitment that you will help us investigate another abuse of authority cory lewandowski apparently was [3:09:56] in charge of approving all contracts one of them was a 220 million dollar contract that was related [3:10:08] directly to christine ohms being fired they bypassed procurement rules to award that contract to [3:10:16] uh a shell company that was created days before to benefit a republican consulting firm with close [3:10:24] ties to secretary noem and mr lewandowski will you commit to cooperating with our investigation the [3:10:33] permanent subcommittee on investigation making documents and personnel available to congressional and [3:10:39] other investigations into those contracts awarded by secretary noem and mr lewandowski senator i [3:10:46] um i um i've heard these same reports i know the ig joseph i don't know him personally that's why [3:10:53] i say joseph some people call him joe um is open investigations we will crop cooperate with him [3:11:00] and provide all the documents and and records that are i'll leave that i'll leave that to the committee [3:11:06] to do its work that's that's what i'm asking i'll do everything that's required of me by by by law but [3:11:13] the ig will be doing the investigation and we'll let um the ig you know decide what documents he's [3:11:21] going to share and maybe you can bring that up with him well in fact secretary noem obstructed the [3:11:26] investigations underway by the ig uh in fact in at least 10 investigations they were the subject of [3:11:37] a letter from the ig are you committing to immediately begin restoring the department's working [3:11:43] relationship with the ig if confirmed absolutely i'll do i will do everything required of me by [3:11:49] law i and in the policies that you guys give me there won't be any gray area with me uh we want to [3:11:54] have a good good relationship with uh with the ig he's got a job to do and every other agency that's [3:12:00] underneath uh dhs and you'll cooperate with the committee in providing sir i've everything that is [3:12:05] required of me to report and anything that you want the ig to do that's that's between you and the ig [3:12:10] uh senator mullins i don't think i need to tell you that the american people have been appalled and [3:12:20] angered by what they've seen in the excessive use of force we've had hearings before the permanent [3:12:28] subcommittee on investigation that have shown alia raman a woman suffering from traumatic brain injury [3:12:34] yanked from her car in minneapolis dragged by her arms leading both of her shoulders to be torn [3:12:41] javier ramirez a father of four from california detained for four days and refused medical treatment [3:12:47] for his diabetes we documented these abuses in a report that we issued and in hearings that we [3:12:54] conducted one of them was marimar martinez who was on her way to donate clothing at a local church when [3:13:04] she came across agents in an unmarked car agents side swiped her car three masked agents in camouflage [3:13:11] stormed out and one of them pulled out his gun and fired at her at her moving vehicle hitting her five [3:13:18] times and the agent then bragged about it he bragged about it in the text he said i have an mof i won't [3:13:33] detail it i fired five rounds and she had seven holes put that in your book boys shouldn't we be [3:13:40] disgusted by an agent that fires at a u.s citizen no criminal record she was charged senator blue the [3:13:52] charges were dismissed wouldn't you agree with me that that agent should not be carrying a firearm [3:13:59] i'm not familiar with the investigation sir and i don't know if the investigation is completed [3:14:03] uh as secretary i'm sure i'll be briefed on this all right uh time's expired i know these are [3:14:09] important issues but we we just have to move on we're going to finish up with senator kim [3:14:13] then we're going to make a statement that hopefully can be agreeable for a meeting later senator [3:14:17] i'll be concise here chairman uh senator there's just a couple last things here [3:14:21] uh a couple weeks ago we had a hearing here and i was engaged with the head of uscis and i raised an [3:14:26] issue that happened in san diego of spouses of military members and veterans they were going in [3:14:31] to get interviewed for a green card and were arrested upon their arrival i just wanted to get your [3:14:37] reaction to that like you know is that the kind of behavior you think is acceptable excuse me repeat [3:14:43] that again it was uh spouses of military service members as well as veterans their spouses were going [3:14:49] and for the purposes of a green card interview but were at that point detained and arrested on [3:14:55] arrival i've i've heard of i haven't heard about this i've heard of different reports senator and if [3:15:00] people are going through the process and trying to um obtain it legally because we do have naturalization [3:15:08] ceremonies monday through friday in this country everywhere uh we're going to continue working with [3:15:13] those individuals i don't know the circumstances i don't i'll i'll pass you the details but you know it's [3:15:17] something that we can talk through but just in general here i mean i guess what i'm just trying [3:15:21] to get a sense from you is what do you think is appropriate in terms of ice agents being able to [3:15:25] operate you know for instance do you think it is okay for them to operate and arrest people at hospitals [3:15:31] sir i will um always support my law enforcement doing their job um i don't know the circumstances if [3:15:38] it's a felony warrant that um that that the person's at a hospital then they'll go get pick up the [3:15:45] felony warranty just like local law enforcement does the same thing i and so in general i think [3:15:51] you need to be more specific on what you're talking about uh but if you're talking about just doing [3:15:56] everyday law enforcement um i think there's a better approach senator i just want to raise you know i just [3:16:03] hear a lot of this from my own community about concerns of these types of efforts out you know in [3:16:08] and around hospitals schools uh churches uh these are things that i hope we can engage on i know you [3:16:15] talked about it with one of my colleagues about polling sites but these are important discussions [3:16:19] and we don't have clarity on what we are expected to see and it's causing just an enormous amount of [3:16:25] concern and challenge within our communities senator i i don't understand what the concern about [3:16:31] enforcing immigration at polling places is anyways because honestly if you're not a citizen you shouldn't [3:16:36] be voting anyway so technically there shouldn't be any legals at the polling spot um and so as i said [3:16:41] before if we're at a polling area it's because of a specific threat not for immigration yeah look what [3:16:47] i will just convey here it's it's not just about you know about people who are undocumented i'm hearing [3:16:52] from american citizens that are now feel feeling like they need to carry their passports around for [3:16:58] fear of uh being stopped uh on the street you know there is a chilling effect that is happening that is [3:17:04] is wider you know i had to give my father-in-law specific instructions in case he was stopped [3:17:10] upon re-entry back into the united states you know there is real concern out there and i just wanted [3:17:14] to express it to you just a couple last quick things here uh at the detention facility in new [3:17:19] jersey a different one called delaney hall i was there right after a uh a gentleman was uh died there [3:17:26] uh and there was really no documentation really minimal explanation of his cause of death [3:17:31] you know there was 32 deaths at detention facilities under ice control last year yet [3:17:37] the oversight offices at dhs to do this offices like the office of civil rights and civil liberties [3:17:42] the office of immigration detention oversights they've been gutted and i just wanted to ask [3:17:47] do you uh do you commit to be able to ensure that there is the proper oversight there internally [3:17:53] within dhs working alongside us in congress to ensure that people are being kept at at the dignified [3:18:01] levels that they should according to a law each each facility falls underneath uh different standards of [3:18:07] operation uh that are in statutes we will operate within those statutes um everybody deserves to be [3:18:15] treated with with a dignified hand and we will follow those procedures that are that are set for [3:18:22] those facilities particularly well i hope to work with you on that uh if you're confirmed because [3:18:26] we need to have make sure we have that oversight as we have not been able to see it and in fact [3:18:31] you know some of our efforts have been impeded because we have not been able to have uh visitation [3:18:35] at the some of these sites and i hope that that's something uh you will support us be able to have [3:18:40] one last thing i just wanted to raise uh with fema there was a number of employees that sent an open [3:18:45] letter titled the katrina declaration uh this is something that warned about some of the reversals that are [3:18:51] being made when it comes to disaster response and recovery uh your predecessor secretary noem uh [3:18:57] she suspended a number of these fema employees i i just wanted to ask can you commit that if confirmed [3:19:03] you will adhere to whistleblower laws and ensure that these whistleblowers do not face retaliation [3:19:09] for their protected disclosure so there's already laws in place to protect whistleblowers and i've [3:19:14] said multiple times i'll work within the law and the requirements of me uh as secretary and i hope that [3:19:20] means that you will ensure that these whistleblowers do not face uh unlawful uh retaliation for uh what [3:19:28] they have done it's against the law as you said unlawful sir i said i'm going to work within the law [3:19:33] um and that's unlawful okay with that i'll yield back thank you um as i said previously we've scheduled [3:19:39] a vote for tomorrow i'm committed to that there are several members on both sides of the aisle that would [3:19:43] like a briefing in the skiff they have it from one to two if you're willing to do that several members [3:19:49] would like just to walk over and do it and i think that makes it much more likely that we have the [3:19:53] vote tomorrow sir i i would prefer to have the ranking member yourself james and if you want to [3:20:00] bring another democrat member no that's on it's it's all or that's all the all the members need to be [3:20:05] able to hear directly and the problem appears too many things are siloed and it just looks like [3:20:11] resistance that you don't want everything to come out it would be much more forthcoming if you let any [3:20:15] member of the committee and classified staff into it i think we can get i think okay that's that's [3:20:19] fine as long as it's in a classified setting as long as what yeah that's fine no people classified [3:20:26] security on our staff and and staff ts tsci tssci yes all right um all right thanks everybody for [3:20:36] coming today the nominee has filed responses to biographical and financial questionnaires answered [3:20:41] pre-hearing questions submitted by the committee and had their financial statements reviewed by the [3:20:45] office of government ethics without objection this information will be made part of the hearing [3:20:48] record with the exception of the nominee's financial data which are on file with the committee [3:20:53] to do the quick turnaround between this hearing and the markup tomorrow the hearing will remain open [3:20:57] until 4 p.m today march 18th this hearing is adjourned