fleischmann. >> thank you, madam chair for those questions. and mr. lajoye, for those answers. as a matter-of-fact those were my first group of questions. i'm reading from the screen, just need to have that -- last week it was announced that tsa is extending the mask requirements for travelers across all transportation networks through monday september 13. mr. lajoye, can you explain the factors that went into deciding on this extension, and why this date was chosen? and as a follow-up question, sir, what challenges have been encountered in the enforcement of this mandate and what actions has tsa taken as a result, sir? >> well, thank you, sir, for the question. since january this past year in keeping with president biden's executive order for the whole of government to focus on protecting the traveling public, we did mandate the requirement for surgical masks in all modes of transportation. and as we have approaching that deadline, worked very closely with cdc because the recommendations still remains at the best protect the traveling public, they use in the requirement for su

fleischmann. >> thank you, madam chair and mr. lajoye. this has been an outstanding substantive hearing. unmanned aerial systems has caused and continue to cause disruptions at many airports across the country. tsa began the establishment of a counter uas test bed for monitoring and classifying uas operating in the vicinity of airports. to support this effort, the subcommittee appropriated an additional $3 million to expand the program. can you describe the status of this test bed as well as the progress of the expansion efforts, sir? >> absolutely, sir. again, it's a great question. we, too, are seeing a sfanlt rise in the number of incidents involving uas. we characterize it in two different ways. reporting and incidents. we get lots of reports daily about sighting of a uas. an incident is something where the pilot in command of an aircraft needs to take some sort of evasive action. this continues to be something that really is important for us across the interagency to continue to look at. as you noted, miami was the first test bed. an

fleischmann? >> thank you, madam chair. director johnson, the country is still operating under a title 42 public declaration because of the covid pandemic which allows i.c.e. and cdp to repatriate and move migrants across the border illegally immediately after their apprehension, thus keeping the number of migrants who are released into the u.s. after crossing illegally down. but we get the sense that there are talks of revoking the title 42 declaration which means the ability to swiftly repatriate and return migrants also goes away. what are the plans to lift the title 42 declarations, sir? >> so there is certainly a concern that we may lose our title 42 authority. i think it's all stemming from a number of lawsuits that are out there. i am not aware that it would be lifted voluntarily, because again, with a large number of single adults that are being expelled, we think in this covid environment that is extremely helpful. i don't think it's a situation where it's just going to be lifted electively. we will be mandated thr

fleischmann? >> thank you, madam chair, and g mr. lajoye. this has really been an outstanding substantive hearing. i want to address unmanned e aerial systems have caused and continued to cause disruptions be many of our major airports across the country. to address this emerging threat, tsa began the establishment of a counteruas test bed for detecting, identifying, monitoring, and classifying uasr operating in theia vicinity of airports. to support this effort, the subcommittee appropriated an additional $3 million to expande the program. can you describe the status of this test bed as well as the y,r progress of the expansion effort, sir?. a >> absolutely. we too are seeing a significant rise in the number of incidentsn involving a uas. we ghere we kind of characterize it in two different ways.f a reporting and an incident.s real so we get lots of reports daily about a sighting of a uas. and an incident is really asion something where o the pilot in command of an aircraft needs tob take some sort of evasive action. to your point, this con

fleischmann: thank you so much. we are building the uranium processing facility at what i am most proud of is our legacy cleanup. excuse the wordiness of this first question it will only require a yes or no question. i would like to talk about omissions without we could not have cancer treatments. nasa would not be able to explore mars. that mission is that production of isotopes. explosive detective and many others. this work is done under the office of science isotope production. it is also done at several laboratories and universities including the lab in my district. it can only be made in the isotope reactor, the highest available for it in the united states and the infrastructure including heart cells to process the materials after they go into the reactor. it is important that we fund those cells adequately to make sure we will supply the nation with the isotopes it needs. budget request have been inadequate. i have had to work to the committee to ensure the finding was adequate to keep them operating. i woul

fleischmann, for his question. >> thank you, madam chair. mr. miller, we have been waiting for the administration to release the results of border wall construction contract reviews. i am very concerned about reports that the administration is seeking to nullify the dhs appropriations that were the result of bipartisan, bicameral negotiations and resend funds that were lawfully appropriated. simply just when the work that has already been done or that was under contract is foolish and contrary, what previous cbp commissioners have requested prior to the trump administration. i have a few questions. i will start with three and then go from there. what is the status of the border wall contract review, and would you anticipate congress will be briefed on those results? can you tell us what criteria is being used to evaluate the existing contracts and pending work? and our front-line officers and agents being consulted? >> sir, thank you for the question. as you know we have signed the exemption for rgv, safety and welfare exemption or rgv as well a

fleischmann? >> thank you, madam chair. mr. miller, continuing with my line of questioning about title 42, sir. do you think people are waiting in mexico in anticipation of the title 42 declaration being lifted soon? >> i don't know that they're waiting in mexico for the title 42 to be lifted. i do know that we are preparing in the customs of border protection for the eventuality of title 42 to be lifted. we discussed many of those things we're doing to prepare for it. >> i see in your written testimony, sir, that about 62% of total encounters resulted in a title 42 expulsion for the month of april. for the 38% of persons encountered, what was the result of encounters with cbp, and what was it about this population that made them ineligible for title 42 expulsion, sir? >> title 42, the easiest way to say it, is for a spanish-speaking nation, so some of the folks you're talking about would have been from other locations. many of them would have been those family units with tender age children that we talked about, so those would

fleischmann. >> thank you madam chair. and mr. secretary thank you for being here with us today. as you know sir i want to thank you again and my colleagues know i deal with administration officials and i want to deal with you with the other most of respect that today sir i have to ask a very pointed question and they do that with the utmost respect towards you and torture office but i'm deeply troubled. in my opening statement i mentioned a recent article from the "washington post" about the near shutdown of the agency enforcing or nations immigration laws. the agencies thousands officers currently average one arrest every two months. my first questions are is that an accurate statistic and is that the intended outcome of the directives and i'll immigration violation and arrests. >> let me answer your question and address if i may a few of your preliminary remarks. it's a data point for which i'm completely and familiar. i do not leave it that garrett and we will provide your office with accurate data. i think there are a few important things to say in addition to that. number o

fleischmann: thank you for your presence here today and stepping up to serve in a most difficult and challenging time in our nation boss hit -- our nations history. i welcome you to the subcommittee and i think you for waking out -- reaching out to me the other week. i look forward to meeting with you in person as soon as possible. i know we are all hoping that we would have had a chance to talk about the fiscal year 2022 budget for the department of wellness security, but timing is not on our side. i am sure your people have a few up and down on all the facts and figures. so, please feel free to share any budget information with us today that you can that you would deem helpful. with that some very positive oversight readiness hearings with the components of this department. coast guard, secret service, tsa, cisa, fema, cpb, and ice. it is good to know that you have very capable leaders and people in the components working to keep our country safe. i wish we could have discussed the budget proposal, but we covered a lot of ground in our earlier hearings. mr. secretary, though, there

let me now recognize congressman fleischmann. >> thank you, madam chair. mr. secretary i have been actually participating in two hearings concurrently. i am the ranking member on homeland security. but i wanted to let you know that i wanted to take the time to speak with you today first and foremost to congratulate you on your appointment and to thank you for the very kind phone call you made to me last week. i think we had a very good, deep conversation about a lot of things. and of course about some very important things like baseball as well. i wish you every success in your endeavors, sir. the energy pli yes, sir occupational illness compensation program was intended to correct decades old injustices perpetrated on theent did of energy moiees such as uranium miners, millers, and oe transporters to make sure they received fair compensation for illnesses incurred on the vob. the reality is that the program is a far cry from what the workers and their advocates envisioned. some decisions made by the deeoic for this program have been contrary to the letter and

fleischmann: mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. desjarlais of tennessee, pursnt to h.res. 8, i inform the hse that mr. desjarlais will vote nay on h.res. 403. thank you. . the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from connecticut seek recognition? mrs. hayes: as the member designated by ms. wilson, pursuant to h.r. 8, i inform the house that ms. wilson will vote yes on h.res. 403. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from maryland seek recognition? mr. raskin: as the member designated by mr. ruppersberger of maryland, pursuant to h.r. 8, i inform the house that mr. rupe ers berger will vote aye -- ruppersberger will vote aye. as the member designated by mr. levin of michigan, pursuant to h.r. 8, i inform the house that mr. levin will vote aye on house resolution 403. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from iowa seek recognition? ax ax as the member designated by ms. so the -- mrs. axne: as the member designated by ms. slotkin, pursuant to h.r. 8, i inform the