WEBVTT 1 00:00:03.470 --> 00:00:07.273 Good Morning everybody. Let's try it again please, 2 00:00:07.273 --> 00:00:11.111 good morning everybody. (Good Morning!) Ok! I want 3 00:00:11.111 --> 00:00:18.284 to start with a family photograph. From 1966, 4 00:00:18.284 --> 00:00:20.286 you won't believe this. Yes you want to see this 5 00:00:20.286 --> 00:00:28.469 Jane. This is me and my kid sister in 1966. I was 6 00:00:28.494 --> 00:00:32.939 8 years old, standing next to my Dad's 1966 Buick 7 00:00:32.964 --> 00:00:35.902 convertible. The most striking thing about the 8 00:00:35.902 --> 00:00:40.707 photograph is that as recently as 1966, a 9 00:00:40.707 --> 00:00:44.544 private, everyday family of tourists like ours 10 00:00:44.544 --> 00:00:47.847 could drive our car onto the grounds of the U.S. 11 00:00:47.847 --> 00:00:51.751 Capitol and park it, with no inspection or prior 12 00:00:51.751 --> 00:00:56.356 notice, just a few feet from the building. This is 13 00:00:56.356 --> 00:00:59.492 the same spot, today. The public parking lot is 14 00:00:59.492 --> 00:01:02.262 gone, replaced by a few black Suburbans, police 15 00:01:02.262 --> 00:01:04.798 vehicles, and heavily-armed members of 16 00:01:04.798 --> 00:01:10.336 the Capitol Police. Sadly, there are threats to our 17 00:01:10.336 --> 00:01:13.540 homeland security today that did not exist in 18 00:01:13.540 --> 00:01:17.610 1966. The Department of which I am Secretary is 19 00:01:17.610 --> 00:01:21.648 responsible for addressing those threats. A year ago 20 00:01:21.648 --> 00:01:23.716 I stood here and spelled out my vision for the 21 00:01:23.716 --> 00:01:26.519 future of the Department of Homeland Security. I 22 00:01:26.519 --> 00:01:29.956 was then new to the job. Now, a year later, I'm 23 00:01:29.956 --> 00:01:32.759 here to provide a progress report on our efforts, 24 00:01:32.759 --> 00:01:36.262 with the benefit of a year's experience. I 25 00:01:36.262 --> 00:01:38.398 thank Jane Harman and the Wilson Center for once 26 00:01:38.398 --> 00:01:42.168 again providing me with the forum for this speech. 27 00:01:42.168 --> 00:01:44.571 Jane Harman is a wise supporter, advisor and 28 00:01:44.571 --> 00:01:47.707 mentor. In this town, people like her mean a lot 29 00:01:47.707 --> 00:01:50.677 to people like me. We could not govern without 30 00:01:50.677 --> 00:01:52.712 you. Thank you and the Wilson Center for 31 00:01:52.712 --> 00:01:54.714 everything that you do. Improving the Manner in 32 00:01:54.714 --> 00:01:56.716 Which We Deliver Homeland Security On New Year's Day 33 00:01:56.716 --> 00:01:58.918 I wrote out a set of New Year's Resolutions for the 34 00:01:58.918 --> 00:02:02.822 senior leadership of DHS. At the top of the list 35 00:02:02.822 --> 00:02:07.026 were things that go to the manner in which we conduct 36 00:02:07.026 --> 00:02:10.396 business and deliver homeland security. The 37 00:02:10.396 --> 00:02:14.367 reality is that DHS is a very large conglomerate of 38 00:02:14.367 --> 00:02:18.271 22 components that is only 12 years old. We are a 39 00:02:18.271 --> 00:02:24.043 large bureaucracy. We are still finding our way, but 40 00:02:24.043 --> 00:02:27.247 we are headed in the right direction. Filling the 41 00:02:27.247 --> 00:02:30.083 vacancies. First, over the last year we have filled 42 00:02:30.083 --> 00:02:32.785 almost all the senior-level vacancies 43 00:02:32.785 --> 00:02:35.755 that existed in the Department. Just prior to 44 00:02:35.755 --> 00:02:38.558 the time I took office a year ago, the Department 45 00:02:38.558 --> 00:02:41.494 of Homeland Security had no Secretary, no Deputy 46 00:02:41.494 --> 00:02:44.864 Secretary, and vacancies at a number of 47 00:02:44.864 --> 00:02:48.968 senior-level positions. We now have a new 48 00:02:48.968 --> 00:02:52.105 Secretary (me), a new Deputy Secretary 49 00:02:52.105 --> 00:02:54.807 (Alejandro Mayorkas), a new Under Secretary for 50 00:02:54.807 --> 00:02:57.644 National Protection and Programs Directorate 51 00:02:57.644 --> 00:03:00.313 (Suzanne Spaulding), a new Under Secretary for 52 00:03:00.313 --> 00:03:02.615 Intelligence and Analysis (General Frank Taylor), a 53 00:03:02.615 --> 00:03:05.618 new Under Secretary for Science and Technology 54 00:03:05.618 --> 00:03:08.388 (Dr. Reggie Brothers), a new Commissioner of 55 00:03:08.388 --> 00:03:10.390 Customs and Border Protection (Gil 56 00:03:10.390 --> 00:03:12.792 Kerlikowske), a new Director of Citizenship 57 00:03:12.792 --> 00:03:15.762 and Immigration Services (Leon Rodriguez), a new 58 00:03:15.762 --> 00:03:18.164 Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs 59 00:03:18.164 --> 00:03:20.733 Enforcement (Sarah Saldana), a new Chief 60 00:03:20.733 --> 00:03:24.304 Financial Officer (Chip Fulghum), a new Deputy 61 00:03:24.304 --> 00:03:30.410 Administrator of FEMA (Admiral Joe Nimmich),a 62 00:03:30.410 --> 00:03:33.046 new Inspector General (John Roth), a new 63 00:03:33.046 --> 00:03:35.615 Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs (Brian 64 00:03:35.615 --> 00:03:38.217 de Vallance), and a new Assistant Secretary for 65 00:03:38.217 --> 00:03:44.223 Public Affairs (Tanya Bradsher). Unity of 66 00:03:50.530 --> 00:03:53.600 Effort. We are restructuring the whole 67 00:03:53.600 --> 00:04:00.406 manner in which we make decisions within the 68 00:04:00.406 --> 00:04:04.510 Department of Homeland Security. In April I 69 00:04:04.510 --> 00:04:07.480 directed a "Unity of Effort" initiative, which 70 00:04:07.480 --> 00:04:10.116 has brought about a more centralized and integrated 71 00:04:10.116 --> 00:04:13.052 process for making decisions concerning 72 00:04:13.052 --> 00:04:16.155 budget requests, acquisition, strategy and 73 00:04:16.155 --> 00:04:18.891 other department functions. We are moving 74 00:04:18.891 --> 00:04:22.695 away from decisions made in stove pipes. As part of 75 00:04:22.695 --> 00:04:24.664 this initiative, we have created a Joint 76 00:04:24.664 --> 00:04:26.933 Requirements Council consisting of senior 77 00:04:26.933 --> 00:04:30.303 leaders from the DHS components, to identify 78 00:04:30.303 --> 00:04:34.407 and recommend investments to maximize efficiency. We 79 00:04:34.407 --> 00:04:37.744 have also realigned seven major DHS headquarters 80 00:04:37.744 --> 00:04:41.648 functions, to consolidate like functions and promote 81 00:04:41.648 --> 00:04:43.672 efficiency. 82 00:04:43.697 --> 00:04:47.356 Next, as I said here last year, we are committed to greater 83 00:04:47.381 --> 00:04:50.707 transparency. Government transparency breeds 84 00:04:50.732 --> 00:04:52.701 credibility and confidence; government 85 00:04:52.726 --> 00:04:57.360 secrecy breeds suspicion. One of our executive 86 00:04:57.385 --> 00:05:00.710 actions that the President announced on November 20 87 00:05:00.735 --> 00:05:03.903 is to direct our Office of Immigration Statistics to 88 00:05:03.903 --> 00:05:06.906 collect, maintain and report consolidated 89 00:05:06.906 --> 00:05:09.909 DHS-wide data on the number of people we 90 00:05:09.909 --> 00:05:13.613 apprehend, remove, return or repatriate every year, 91 00:05:13.613 --> 00:05:17.617 in a manner that can be made public. Here again, 92 00:05:17.617 --> 00:05:20.086 we've been far too stove-piped in how we 93 00:05:20.086 --> 00:05:23.122 collect and report this information. I applaud 94 00:05:23.122 --> 00:05:26.592 Chief Fisher for making public the Border Patrol's 95 00:05:26.592 --> 00:05:29.996 use of force policy last year, and Commissioner 96 00:05:29.996 --> 00:05:32.999 Kerlikowske for making public the recommendations 97 00:05:32.999 --> 00:05:35.635 of the independent Police Executive Research Forum 98 00:05:35.635 --> 00:05:39.038 about use of force by the Border Patrol, two 99 00:05:39.038 --> 00:05:42.341 documents long sought by the media. Improving 100 00:05:42.341 --> 00:05:44.844 Morale. The Deputy Secretary and I are on an 101 00:05:44.844 --> 00:05:50.817 aggressive, multi-faceted campaign to improve morale 102 00:05:50.817 --> 00:05:52.819 within components of DHS. In October of last year 103 00:05:52.819 --> 00:05:54.821 we restored the Secretary's Awards 104 00:05:54.821 --> 00:05:58.958 Program, which had been dormant since 2008, to 105 00:05:58.958 --> 00:06:02.095 recognize more than 300 employees who have made 106 00:06:02.095 --> 00:06:04.797 outstanding achievements across DHS. Getting off 107 00:06:04.797 --> 00:06:08.434 the GAO High Risk List. Next, DHS is one of 16 108 00:06:08.434 --> 00:06:12.238 departments and agencies on GAO's so-called "High 109 00:06:12.238 --> 00:06:15.775 Risk List." We are on a path to get off that list 110 00:06:15.775 --> 00:06:19.679 soon. Indeed, GAO has informed us that our 111 00:06:19.679 --> 00:06:23.316 interactions with GAO serve as a "model" for how 112 00:06:23.316 --> 00:06:27.286 other federal agencies can work to address GAO's high 113 00:06:27.286 --> 00:06:29.355 risk designations. Improving responsiveness 114 00:06:29.355 --> 00:06:31.357 to Congress. We have improved the Department's 115 00:06:31.357 --> 00:06:34.894 responsiveness to Congress. This, despite 116 00:06:34.894 --> 00:06:37.797 the challenge of -- depending on how you count 117 00:06:37.797 --> 00:06:41.234 -- 92 committees and subcommittees of Congress 118 00:06:41.234 --> 00:06:45.238 who claim an oversight role over this Department. 119 00:06:45.238 --> 00:06:48.374 Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, 120 00:06:48.374 --> 00:06:52.145 including some of our biggest critics, have 121 00:06:52.145 --> 00:06:56.015 taken note. From Worst to First in Plain Language. 122 00:06:56.015 --> 00:06:59.519 Finally, and my favorite one, which I learned about 123 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:05.725 last week, in the judgment of the Center for Plain 124 00:07:05.725 --> 00:07:08.795 Language, the Department of Homeland Security has 125 00:07:08.795 --> 00:07:12.698 gone from worst to first among federal agencies in 126 00:07:12.698 --> 00:07:16.469 our ability to communicate in plain language - one of 127 00:07:16.469 --> 00:07:20.306 my personal passions. these challenging times, 128 00:07:20.306 --> 00:07:24.577 management reform is itself a homeland security 129 00:07:24.577 --> 00:07:27.547 imperative. Now, here is where we are on the 130 00:07:27.547 --> 00:07:31.984 substance of some of our important missions: I said 131 00:07:31.984 --> 00:07:34.253 here a year ago, as long as I am Secretary, 132 00:07:34.253 --> 00:07:37.657 counterterrorism will remain the cornerstone of 133 00:07:37.657 --> 00:07:40.026 the Department of Homeland Security's mission. 134 00:07:40.026 --> 00:07:42.595 Thirteen and a half years after 9/11, it's still a 135 00:07:42.595 --> 00:07:47.800 dangerous world. And, in 2015, we must recognize 136 00:07:47.800 --> 00:07:51.270 that we have evolved to a new phase in the global 137 00:07:51.270 --> 00:07:54.207 terrorist threat. Today the terrorist threat is 138 00:07:54.207 --> 00:07:58.344 more decentralized, more diffuse, and more complex. 139 00:07:58.344 --> 00:08:01.647 We are concerned about the so-called foreign fighter 140 00:08:01.647 --> 00:08:03.950 who leaves his home country, travels to 141 00:08:03.950 --> 00:08:06.986 another country to take up the fight there, links up 142 00:08:06.986 --> 00:08:10.122 with terrorist extremists, and may return home - 143 00:08:10.122 --> 00:08:13.993 whether it's this country or one of our allies -- 144 00:08:13.993 --> 00:08:18.197 with a terrorist extremist purpose. We are concerned 145 00:08:18.197 --> 00:08:20.933 about terrorist organizations' new, slick 146 00:08:20.933 --> 00:08:23.803 and skilled use of the internet to publicly 147 00:08:23.803 --> 00:08:26.906 recruit individuals to conduct attacks within 148 00:08:26.906 --> 00:08:31.444 their own homelands. AQAP no longer builds bombs in 149 00:08:31.444 --> 00:08:34.380 secret; it has now publicized its instruction 150 00:08:34.380 --> 00:08:38.217 manual, and has called for people to use it. We are 151 00:08:38.217 --> 00:08:40.486 concerned about the domestic-based threat 152 00:08:40.486 --> 00:08:43.756 lurking in our midst -- the so-called "lone wolf" 153 00:08:43.756 --> 00:08:46.092 -- who may become inspired by this extremist 154 00:08:46.092 --> 00:08:48.895 propaganda on the internet, and who could 155 00:08:48.895 --> 00:08:52.732 strike with little or no notice. So, what are we 156 00:08:52.732 --> 00:08:56.235 doing about this in 2015? First, as everyone knows, 157 00:08:56.235 --> 00:08:58.938 we are taking the fight to these groups, in places 158 00:08:58.938 --> 00:09:02.208 like Iraq and Syria. Our intelligence community 159 00:09:02.208 --> 00:09:04.844 continues to detect terrorist plots at their 160 00:09:04.844 --> 00:09:07.847 earliest stages. Domestically, the FBI 161 00:09:07.847 --> 00:09:11.050 investigates, interdicts and prosecutes terrorist 162 00:09:11.050 --> 00:09:14.687 plots in the homeland. In response to the recent 163 00:09:14.687 --> 00:09:18.157 attacks in Paris, Ottawa, Sydney and elsewhere, and 164 00:09:18.157 --> 00:09:20.593 the public calls by terrorist organizations 165 00:09:20.593 --> 00:09:24.030 for attacks in the West, I directed that the Federal 166 00:09:24.030 --> 00:09:26.866 Protective Service increase its presence at 167 00:09:26.866 --> 00:09:29.068 federal buildings in major cities in the United 168 00:09:29.068 --> 00:09:32.271 States. We continue to tailor and enhance our 169 00:09:32.271 --> 00:09:36.642 security through every appropriate method. For 170 00:09:36.642 --> 00:09:39.578 example, the visa waiver program we offer to 38 171 00:09:39.578 --> 00:09:43.349 nations is a valuable tool for international commerce 172 00:09:43.349 --> 00:09:45.818 and travel. It is a program that must 173 00:09:45.818 --> 00:09:48.421 continue, but there are ways in which the security 174 00:09:48.421 --> 00:09:51.557 of the program can be improved. To enhance 175 00:09:51.557 --> 00:09:53.626 security while maintaining the integrity of the 176 00:09:53.626 --> 00:09:57.063 program, last November we identified added 177 00:09:57.063 --> 00:10:00.166 information fields to the Electronic System for 178 00:10:00.166 --> 00:10:03.035 Travel Authorization - or "ESTA" - to learn more 179 00:10:03.035 --> 00:10:05.504 about those who travel to the United States from 180 00:10:05.504 --> 00:10:09.275 countries for which we do not require a visa. We are 181 00:10:09.275 --> 00:10:12.311 considering further security enhancements. We 182 00:10:12.311 --> 00:10:16.882 are engaging our allies in Europe and elsewhere to 183 00:10:16.907 --> 00:10:19.153 encourage them to maintain and share travel 184 00:10:19.178 --> 00:10:23.055 information about individuals of suspicion. 185 00:10:23.055 --> 00:10:25.024 We are sharing more information and training 186 00:10:25.024 --> 00:10:27.026 with state and local law enforcement in this 187 00:10:27.026 --> 00:10:29.628 country. Given the manner in which the terrorist 188 00:10:29.628 --> 00:10:33.599 threat is evolving, the cop on the beat must be as 189 00:10:33.599 --> 00:10:37.136 vigilant as the intelligence analyst. Our 190 00:10:37.136 --> 00:10:40.473 efforts must include public engagement. DHS, 191 00:10:40.473 --> 00:10:46.879 along with the Justice Department, are engaging 192 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:48.881 communities, organizations and institutions here at 193 00:10:48.881 --> 00:10:52.284 home that are themselves in a position to deter 194 00:10:52.284 --> 00:10:56.889 others who may be turning toward violence. In 2014, 195 00:10:56.889 --> 00:11:00.760 DHS held over 70 of these roundtables, meetings and 196 00:11:00.760 --> 00:11:04.797 other events in 14 cities around the country. I 197 00:11:04.797 --> 00:11:07.533 personally participated in these meetings in Chicago, 198 00:11:07.533 --> 00:11:10.703 Columbus, Ohio, Minneapolis, Boston and 199 00:11:10.703 --> 00:11:14.373 Los Angeles. We are doubling-down on our "If 200 00:11:14.373 --> 00:11:17.143 You See Something, Say Something™" campaign. 201 00:11:17.143 --> 00:11:19.812 Yesterday at a pre-Super Bowl press conference in 202 00:11:19.812 --> 00:11:25.217 Phoenix I rolled out this new, enhanced program. 203 00:11:25.217 --> 00:11:27.920 This must be more than a slogan. Our 204 00:11:27.920 --> 00:11:30.456 counterterrorism efforts also include continued 205 00:11:30.456 --> 00:11:33.759 vigilance in aviation security. Last summer I 206 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:36.896 directed that we enhance aviation security at 207 00:11:36.896 --> 00:11:39.098 overseas airports with flights directly to the 208 00:11:39.073 --> 00:11:42.409 United States. Several weeks ago TSA made further 209 00:11:42.434 --> 00:11:45.871 enhancements, and we are reviewing whether more is 210 00:11:45.871 --> 00:11:50.076 necessary. As Secretary I have made it a DHS 211 00:11:50.076 --> 00:11:53.512 priority to establish pre-clearance by Customs 212 00:11:53.512 --> 00:11:56.549 and aviation security personnel at overseas 213 00:11:56.549 --> 00:11:59.752 airports, before a passenger gets on a flight 214 00:11:59.752 --> 00:12:02.588 bound for the United States. At present, we 215 00:12:02.588 --> 00:12:06.325 have pre-clearance in 15 overseas airports at which 216 00:12:06.325 --> 00:12:08.961 we have screened more than 16 million passengers 217 00:12:08.961 --> 00:12:12.031 before they arrived in the United States. The newest 218 00:12:12.031 --> 00:12:14.500 of these pre-clearance operations, at Abu Dhabi 219 00:12:14.500 --> 00:12:18.304 in the UAE, opened early last year. Since that 220 00:12:18.304 --> 00:12:21.474 time, at Abu Dhabi alone, we have already screened 221 00:12:21.474 --> 00:12:26.579 364,000 passengers and crew bound for the U.S., 222 00:12:26.579 --> 00:12:31.784 and denied boarding to 571 individuals, including a 223 00:12:31.784 --> 00:12:34.086 number who were in the terrorist screening 224 00:12:34.086 --> 00:12:38.157 database. We want to build more of these, at overseas 225 00:12:38.157 --> 00:12:40.926 airports where it makes sense from a homeland 226 00:12:40.926 --> 00:12:44.630 security point of view, and in a way that U.S air 227 00:12:44.630 --> 00:12:47.733 carriers will support. Last year we put out a 228 00:12:47.733 --> 00:12:51.070 solicitation and received 25 letters of interest 229 00:12:51.070 --> 00:12:54.907 from airports around the world. We are taking 230 00:12:54.907 --> 00:12:58.878 steps to fix our broken immigration system. Some 231 00:12:58.878 --> 00:13:01.514 say we should have waited for Congress to act. Let's 232 00:13:01.514 --> 00:13:04.049 not forget that we did wait, for years, and 233 00:13:04.049 --> 00:13:06.952 Congress did not act. The President continues to 234 00:13:06.952 --> 00:13:09.688 urge Congress to finish the job and pass a 235 00:13:09.688 --> 00:13:13.125 comprehensive, bipartisan immigration bill. He is 236 00:13:13.125 --> 00:13:15.127 willing to work with any serious partner - 237 00:13:15.127 --> 00:13:17.730 Democrat, Republican or Independent - who wants to 238 00:13:17.730 --> 00:13:21.033 fix the system. In the meantime, we must improve 239 00:13:21.033 --> 00:13:23.802 the system within our existing legal 240 00:13:23.802 --> 00:13:26.539 authorities. We did that, and the President 241 00:13:26.539 --> 00:13:29.241 announced these set of reforms on November 20, 242 00:13:29.241 --> 00:13:33.379 2014. We've established a new program of deferred 243 00:13:33.379 --> 00:13:36.448 action for undocumented adults. Those who have 244 00:13:36.448 --> 00:13:38.484 committed no serious crimes, have been in this 245 00:13:38.484 --> 00:13:42.655 country since January 1, 2010, and have children 246 00:13:42.655 --> 00:13:44.990 here who are citizens or lawful permanent 247 00:13:44.990 --> 00:13:47.693 residents, are eligible to be considered for this 248 00:13:47.693 --> 00:13:51.497 program. The reality is that these immigrants are 249 00:13:51.497 --> 00:13:54.733 not enforcement priorities. Therefore, we 250 00:13:54.733 --> 00:13:56.735 want to encourage these people to come out of the 251 00:13:56.735 --> 00:14:00.406 shadows, be accountable, pay taxes, and get on the 252 00:14:00.406 --> 00:14:04.143 books, so we know who they are. Our executive 253 00:14:04.143 --> 00:14:08.280 actions also prioritize the removal of felons over 254 00:14:08.280 --> 00:14:10.950 families, includes a number of measures to 255 00:14:10.950 --> 00:14:14.753 further secure the border, discontinue the Secure 256 00:14:14.753 --> 00:14:16.755 Communities program and replace it with a new 257 00:14:16.755 --> 00:14:20.259 program, streamline legal immigration to boost the 258 00:14:20.259 --> 00:14:23.596 economy and promote naturalization, support 259 00:14:23.596 --> 00:14:26.398 military families, and enhance options for 260 00:14:26.398 --> 00:14:30.035 foreign-born high-skilled workers, entrepreneurs and 261 00:14:30.035 --> 00:14:33.606 businesses. We are taking a number of steps to 262 00:14:33.606 --> 00:14:37.476 further secure the border. I'm on a mission to 263 00:14:37.476 --> 00:14:40.246 strengthen border security, and to also 264 00:14:40.246 --> 00:14:43.315 replace public misperception with the 265 00:14:43.315 --> 00:14:48.854 facts. In June 2013, Pew Research conducted a 266 00:14:48.854 --> 00:14:51.957 survey and asked the following question: "Just 267 00:14:51.957 --> 00:14:54.093 your best guess -- compared with ten years 268 00:14:54.093 --> 00:14:56.095 ago, do you think the number of immigrants 269 00:14:56.095 --> 00:14:59.465 entering the U.S. illegally today is higher, 270 00:14:59.465 --> 00:15:03.369 lower, or about the same?" Amazingly, 55% of 271 00:15:03.369 --> 00:15:07.072 respondents answered higher, and only 15% 272 00:15:07.072 --> 00:15:11.410 answered lower. The reality is on this slide. 273 00:15:11.410 --> 00:15:13.412 In the year 2000, apprehensions on the 274 00:15:13.412 --> 00:15:16.148 southern border-- which are a direct indicator of 275 00:15:16.148 --> 00:15:19.285 total attempts to cross the border illegally -- 276 00:15:19.285 --> 00:15:22.888 exceeded 1.6 million. Apprehensions on the 277 00:15:22.888 --> 00:15:25.691 southern border have dropped considerably since 278 00:15:25.691 --> 00:15:29.194 then, to around 400,000 a year in recent years. 279 00:15:29.194 --> 00:15:33.098 Apprehensions are in fact at their lowest rate since 280 00:15:33.098 --> 00:15:37.436 the 1970s. These numbers are no doubt partially due 281 00:15:37.436 --> 00:15:41.840 to economic conditions and trends in the U.S., Mexico 282 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:45.944 and Central America, but also due to the very large 283 00:15:45.944 --> 00:15:48.480 investment this Nation has made in border security 284 00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:52.418 over the last 15 years. Today's Border Patrol has 285 00:15:52.418 --> 00:15:54.953 the largest deployment of people, vehicles, 286 00:15:54.953 --> 00:15:57.256 aircraft, boats and equipment along the 287 00:15:57.256 --> 00:16:00.626 southwest border in its 90-year history. This 288 00:16:00.626 --> 00:16:04.863 includes a budget of $3.5 billion, a total of 23,000 289 00:16:04.863 --> 00:16:09.902 personnel, and 20,833 border patrol agents. 290 00:16:09.902 --> 00:16:12.204 Without a doubt, we had a challenge last summer, 291 00:16:12.204 --> 00:16:15.240 with the unprecedented number of unaccompanied 292 00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:18.143 children and others who crossed a narrow area of 293 00:16:18.143 --> 00:16:21.146 our southern border into the Rio Grande Valley, in 294 00:16:21.146 --> 00:16:23.349 search of a family member and a better life in this 295 00:16:23.349 --> 00:16:26.285 country. We responded aggressively with more 296 00:16:26.285 --> 00:16:29.054 people and resources on the southern border. 297 00:16:29.054 --> 00:16:31.724 Beginning in mid-June the numbers of unaccompanied 298 00:16:31.724 --> 00:16:33.792 children crossing the southern border declined 299 00:16:33.792 --> 00:16:38.797 sharply, and are now at far lower levels. But, we 300 00:16:38.797 --> 00:16:42.468 are not declaring "mission accomplished." The 301 00:16:42.468 --> 00:16:44.703 President and I are committed to building an 302 00:16:44.703 --> 00:16:47.906 even more secure border, and a smart strategy to 303 00:16:47.906 --> 00:16:52.144 get there. Much of illegal migration is seasonal. The 304 00:16:52.144 --> 00:16:55.180 poverty and violence that are the "push factors" in 305 00:16:55.180 --> 00:16:58.917 Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador still exist. The 306 00:16:58.917 --> 00:17:01.620 economy in this country - a "pull factor" -- is 307 00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:04.590 getting better. There is still more we can and 308 00:17:04.590 --> 00:17:07.926 should do. We are pursuing a risk-based 309 00:17:07.926 --> 00:17:10.562 strategy for border security. This means 310 00:17:10.562 --> 00:17:13.565 focusing resources where our intelligence and our 311 00:17:13.565 --> 00:17:17.369 surveillance tell us the threats exist. This is a 312 00:17:17.369 --> 00:17:20.806 smart, effective and efficient use of taxpayer 313 00:17:20.806 --> 00:17:24.643 resources There are more aircraft, surveillance, 314 00:17:24.643 --> 00:17:28.247 radar technology and other equipment that our experts 315 00:17:28.247 --> 00:17:31.183 have determined we need, which we have requested 316 00:17:31.183 --> 00:17:36.455 for FY 2015. In December we opened a new family 317 00:17:36.455 --> 00:17:39.491 facility in Dilley, Texas that will house up to 318 00:17:39.491 --> 00:17:44.430 2,400 individuals. We are continuing aggressive 319 00:17:44.430 --> 00:17:47.566 public awareness messaging in Central America and 320 00:17:47.566 --> 00:17:50.569 elsewhere. This "know the facts" campaign was 321 00:17:50.569 --> 00:17:54.573 launched on January 5th. On January 21, I wrote 322 00:17:54.573 --> 00:17:58.343 another open letter in the Spanish language press to 323 00:17:58.343 --> 00:18:02.214 repeat the message. Finally, we have launched 324 00:18:02.214 --> 00:18:04.883 a Department of Homeland Security-wide Southern 325 00:18:04.883 --> 00:18:07.986 Border Campaign Plan. We are doing away with the 326 00:18:07.986 --> 00:18:12.090 stove-piped approach to border security. Instead, 327 00:18:12.090 --> 00:18:15.594 we are putting to use, in a combined and coordinated 328 00:18:15.594 --> 00:18:19.164 way, the assets and personnel of CBP, ICE, 329 00:18:19.164 --> 00:18:23.168 CIS, the Coast Guard, toward the goal of border 330 00:18:23.168 --> 00:18:26.438 security. We have established three new 331 00:18:26.438 --> 00:18:29.575 Department task forces, each headed by a senior 332 00:18:29.575 --> 00:18:31.777 official of this Department, to direct the 333 00:18:31.777 --> 00:18:35.981 resources of CBP, ICE, CIS and the Coast Guard in 334 00:18:35.981 --> 00:18:39.117 three discrete areas. The first, Joint Task 335 00:18:39.117 --> 00:18:41.553 Force-East, will be responsible for our 336 00:18:41.553 --> 00:18:44.089 maritime ports and approaches across the 337 00:18:44.089 --> 00:18:48.327 southeast. The second, Joint Task Force-West, 338 00:18:48.327 --> 00:18:51.430 will be responsible for our southwest land border 339 00:18:51.430 --> 00:18:54.266 and the West coast of California. And the third 340 00:18:54.266 --> 00:18:56.268 will be a standing Joint Task Force for 341 00:18:56.268 --> 00:18:59.638 Investigations to support the work of the other two 342 00:18:59.638 --> 00:19:03.308 Task Forces. A key part of our mission is to 343 00:19:03.308 --> 00:19:07.079 facilitate lawful trade and travel. This is vital 344 00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:09.648 to commerce and our economy. President Obama 345 00:19:09.648 --> 00:19:13.752 is committed to this. Last year TSA continued to 346 00:19:13.752 --> 00:19:17.322 expand the very popular TSA Pre-check program, 347 00:19:17.322 --> 00:19:24.229 enrolling 800,000 new participants. At the same 348 00:19:24.229 --> 00:19:29.067 time, TSA screened 653 million total air 349 00:19:29.067 --> 00:19:32.771 passengers -- 14 million more than the year before 350 00:19:32.771 --> 00:19:38.076 -- 443 million checked bags, and 1.7 billion 351 00:19:38.076 --> 00:19:44.082 carry-on bags. Last year CBP screened 374 million 352 00:19:46.084 --> 00:19:49.988 passengers at land, sea and airports, an increase 353 00:19:49.988 --> 00:19:52.758 of 4% from the year before, and enrolled an 354 00:19:52.758 --> 00:19:57.129 additional 1.25 million travelers in the various 355 00:19:57.129 --> 00:20:00.499 Trusted Traveler Programs, to bring total enrollment 356 00:20:00.499 --> 00:20:06.104 to 3.3 million members. In 2014, CBP also processed 357 00:20:06.104 --> 00:20:10.709 $2.4 trillion in trade, an increase of 4% from the 358 00:20:10.709 --> 00:20:14.613 year before, and 25.7 million cargo containers 359 00:20:14.613 --> 00:20:19.484 through ports of entry, a 4.5% increase from the 360 00:20:19.484 --> 00:20:22.354 year before. We are working with Canada and 361 00:20:22.354 --> 00:20:26.024 Mexico on programs and initiatives to facilitate 362 00:20:26.024 --> 00:20:28.760 the lawful and secure movement of goods and 363 00:20:28.760 --> 00:20:31.630 people between our countries. In response to 364 00:20:31.630 --> 00:20:34.666 President Obama's executive order, DHS is 365 00:20:34.666 --> 00:20:38.236 leading a 47-agency effort to create a national, 366 00:20:38.236 --> 00:20:41.640 electronic "Single Window" trade processing system 367 00:20:41.640 --> 00:20:44.242 for importers and exporters to do business 368 00:20:44.242 --> 00:20:47.079 with the United States. We are working to modernize 369 00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:51.049 in other areas to promote lawful trade and travel. 370 00:20:51.049 --> 00:20:53.752 We need to make strides in cybersecurity. Through 371 00:20:53.752 --> 00:20:56.321 our National Cybersecurity and Communications 372 00:20:56.321 --> 00:20:59.992 Integration Center, or "NCCIC," DHS is 373 00:20:59.992 --> 00:21:02.861 responsible for assisting and sharing information 374 00:21:02.861 --> 00:21:05.797 with the private sector concerning cyberattacks 375 00:21:05.797 --> 00:21:09.701 and threats, and for securing the civilian .gov 376 00:21:09.701 --> 00:21:13.338 networks. I was pleased that, last year, Congress 377 00:21:13.338 --> 00:21:16.108 provided bipartisan support for our efforts, 378 00:21:16.108 --> 00:21:19.044 with the passage of legislation which codifies 379 00:21:19.044 --> 00:21:22.147 DHS's authority to assist the private sector, 380 00:21:22.147 --> 00:21:25.717 codifies DHS's authority to assist other federal 381 00:21:25.717 --> 00:21:29.988 agencies, and legislation to enhance DHS's ability 382 00:21:29.988 --> 00:21:34.126 to hire cyber talent. We need to go further. On 383 00:21:34.126 --> 00:21:37.496 January 14, President Obama came to the NCCIC 384 00:21:37.496 --> 00:21:39.798 and announced his Administration's support 385 00:21:39.798 --> 00:21:42.100 for more cybersecurity legislation that will 386 00:21:42.100 --> 00:21:45.303 ensure our economic prosperity, national 387 00:21:45.303 --> 00:21:48.273 security and individual civil liberties. We are 388 00:21:48.273 --> 00:21:51.109 proposing legislation to (1) encourage the private 389 00:21:51.109 --> 00:21:53.979 sector to share cyber threat indicators with the 390 00:21:53.979 --> 00:21:57.249 NCCIC, (2) protect the private sector with limits 391 00:21:57.249 --> 00:21:59.785 on civil and criminal liability when they do, 392 00:21:59.785 --> 00:22:03.219 (3) require businesses to notify victims and the 393 00:22:03.244 --> 00:22:06.324 government when there is a data breach at that 394 00:22:06.349 --> 00:22:09.125 company, and (4) enhance criminal penalties for 395 00:22:09.150 --> 00:22:12.731 cybercrime. The Secret Service is the finest 396 00:22:12.731 --> 00:22:16.668 protection service in the world. No other agency of 397 00:22:16.668 --> 00:22:20.038 any government in the world could protect 135 398 00:22:20.038 --> 00:22:22.841 world leaders all at once when they gather for the 399 00:22:22.841 --> 00:22:26.044 UN General Assembly. The Secret Service does this 400 00:22:26.044 --> 00:22:28.480 each year with great professionalism and 401 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:31.183 without incident. The Secret Service continues 402 00:22:31.183 --> 00:22:34.052 to enjoy the President's trust and confidence, as 403 00:22:34.052 --> 00:22:37.155 it protects him and his family. It has built 404 00:22:37.155 --> 00:22:40.358 tremendous talent and capability to pursue cyber 405 00:22:40.358 --> 00:22:43.395 and financial crimes. However, recent events 406 00:22:43.395 --> 00:22:46.898 have highlighted the need for change. In October I 407 00:22:46.898 --> 00:22:49.634 appointed an independent panel to take a hard look 408 00:22:49.634 --> 00:22:52.137 at the Secret Service. In December the panel 409 00:22:52.112 --> 00:22:55.081 reported its findings back to me. Those 410 00:22:55.106 --> 00:22:58.226 recommendations were astute, thorough and fair. 411 00:22:58.251 --> 00:23:01.847 A number of security enhancements have already 412 00:23:01.847 --> 00:23:05.083 been made and implemented by Acting Director Clancy, 413 00:23:05.083 --> 00:23:07.886 but the Secret Service must also commit to longer 414 00:23:07.886 --> 00:23:11.990 term and more systemic change. For my part, I am 415 00:23:11.990 --> 00:23:14.726 committed to sustained and encouraged oversight of 416 00:23:14.726 --> 00:23:17.629 the Secret Service, to ensure that it has what it 417 00:23:17.629 --> 00:23:22.267 needs to get the job done. Last year our Federal Law 418 00:23:22.267 --> 00:23:26.304 Enforcement Training Center trained over 59,000 419 00:23:26.304 --> 00:23:30.208 officers and agents from federal, state, local, 420 00:23:30.208 --> 00:23:33.278 tribal and international law enforcement. We are 421 00:23:33.278 --> 00:23:37.983 ensuring that the Coast Guard has what it needs to 422 00:23:37.983 --> 00:23:41.119 get its job done. These are exciting times for the 423 00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:44.055 Coast Guard, as it is replacing its aging fleet 424 00:23:44.055 --> 00:23:46.892 with new vessels. Four new National Security Cutters 425 00:23:46.892 --> 00:23:49.928 are in service and a fifth will be commissioned this 426 00:23:49.928 --> 00:23:53.098 summer. Twelve new Fast Response Cutters have been 427 00:23:53.098 --> 00:23:55.934 delivered and are making a difference every day in 428 00:23:55.934 --> 00:23:58.503 south Florida, and we are more than halfway to 429 00:23:58.503 --> 00:24:01.306 completing the replacement of our fleet of aged 430 00:24:01.306 --> 00:24:04.075 patrol boats. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard is in the 431 00:24:04.075 --> 00:24:07.612 design phase of a new mid-size Offshore Patrol 432 00:24:07.612 --> 00:24:10.582 Cutter. I am committed to ensuring this project is 433 00:24:10.582 --> 00:24:13.952 affordable before going forward with the selection 434 00:24:13.952 --> 00:24:17.889 of a general contractor and production. FEMA has 435 00:24:17.889 --> 00:24:21.393 become the premier emergency management 436 00:24:21.393 --> 00:24:24.796 agency in the country and has earned the confidence 437 00:24:24.796 --> 00:24:28.200 of federal, state and local leaders throughout. 438 00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:30.202 In the year I've been in office, I have personally 439 00:24:30.202 --> 00:24:32.971 had the opportunity to observe this at disaster 440 00:24:32.971 --> 00:24:39.444 recovery sites. Finally, DHS cannot pursue all 441 00:24:39.444 --> 00:24:43.148 these important missions alone. I cannot print 442 00:24:43.148 --> 00:24:46.818 money. I cannot appropriate money. We need 443 00:24:46.818 --> 00:24:50.355 a continued partnership with Congress. We need a 444 00:24:50.355 --> 00:24:54.392 FY 2015 appropriations bill. 445 00:24:55.260 --> 00:24:58.697 At present DHS is operating on a continuing 446 00:24:58.697 --> 00:25:03.201 resolution which expires on February 27. As long as 447 00:25:03.201 --> 00:25:06.071 we are on a CR, we are restricted to last year's 448 00:25:06.071 --> 00:25:08.940 spending levels, and cannot engage in any new 449 00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:13.278 spending and activities. This means we cannot pay 450 00:25:13.278 --> 00:25:15.647 for the added border security that I talked 451 00:25:15.647 --> 00:25:18.383 about. This means we cannot invest in the 452 00:25:18.383 --> 00:25:21.186 things the independent panel recommended to 453 00:25:21.186 --> 00:25:23.755 improve the Secret Service; we cannot hire 454 00:25:23.755 --> 00:25:25.857 new Secret Service agents for the coming 455 00:25:25.857 --> 00:25:28.393 presidential election cycle. This means we 456 00:25:28.393 --> 00:25:31.563 cannot fund new non-disaster grants for 457 00:25:31.538 --> 00:25:35.410 state and local governments that mayors, 458 00:25:35.435 --> 00:25:38.069 police chiefs, fire chiefs, and governors 459 00:25:38.069 --> 00:25:43.041 depend on. Our ability to fund aviation security, 460 00:25:43.041 --> 00:25:45.744 maritime security, port security and homeland 461 00:25:45.744 --> 00:25:49.014 security is severely constrained as long as we 462 00:25:49.014 --> 00:25:52.183 are on a CR. As originally introduced by 463 00:25:52.183 --> 00:25:56.021 the House Appropriations Committee, the FY 2015 464 00:25:56.021 --> 00:25:58.356 appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland 465 00:25:58.356 --> 00:26:02.127 Security was a good bill. It appropriated $39.7 466 00:26:02.127 --> 00:26:04.629 billion for the Department and funded many of the 467 00:26:04.629 --> 00:26:07.632 things we need. On the House floor the bill was 468 00:26:07.632 --> 00:26:09.634 amended to include politically-charged 469 00:26:09.634 --> 00:26:13.939 language to defund all our executive actions to fix 470 00:26:13.939 --> 00:26:16.875 the immigration system. The President has vowed to 471 00:26:16.875 --> 00:26:21.813 veto any bill that includes such language. 472 00:26:21.813 --> 00:26:25.016 The clock to February 27 is ticking. In these 473 00:26:25.016 --> 00:26:28.286 times, the homeland security budget of this 474 00:26:28.286 --> 00:26:32.724 government should not be a political football. I urge 475 00:26:32.724 --> 00:26:34.893 Congress to pass an appropriations bill for 476 00:26:34.893 --> 00:26:39.230 DHS, free and clear of politically-charged 477 00:26:39.230 --> 00:26:44.869 amendments. I will end with the very last two 478 00:26:44.869 --> 00:26:49.674 words I ended last year's speech with. Last year, I 479 00:26:49.674 --> 00:26:53.979 said that, in the name of homeland security, we 480 00:26:53.979 --> 00:26:57.282 should not sacrifice our values as a Nation of 481 00:26:57.282 --> 00:27:00.485 people who cherish privacy and freedom, celebrate 482 00:27:00.485 --> 00:27:06.524 diversity, and are not afraid. Fear is corrosive. 483 00:27:06.524 --> 00:27:10.328 In the final analysis, courage and resolve in the 484 00:27:10.328 --> 00:27:13.149 face of challenge are the greatest strengths of any 485 00:27:13.174 --> 00:27:17.335 nation. Terrorism cannot advance if we refuse to be 486 00:27:17.335 --> 00:27:20.472 terrorized. Whether in response to a terrorist 487 00:27:20.472 --> 00:27:24.676 threat, a natural disaster, a deadly virus, 488 00:27:24.676 --> 00:27:27.445 or in the pursuit of a more perfect union, 489 00:27:27.445 --> 00:27:30.101 courage and resolve will always prevail. 490 00:27:30.126 --> 00:27:37.155 Thank you for listening.