House Committee on Homeland Security Schedule for March 23-27, 2015

Press Release

The U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security has announced the following hearings for next week:

TUESDAY, March 24 at 10:30 a.m.

Committee on Homeland Security

"A Global Battleground: The Fight Against Islamist Extremism at Home and Abroad"

311 Cannon House Office Building

Invited Witnesses Include:

· The Honorable Newt Gingrich, Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

· General Michael Hayden (USAF-Ret.), Former Director, Central Intelligence Agency, Former Director, National Security Agency

· Mr. Philip Mudd, Senior Fellow, New America Foundation

Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, on the hearing: "The rise of violent Islamist extremism we are witnessing around the globe is not a passing phenomenon. Today's armies of Islamist terrorists are radicalizing new generations and the networks they are forming threaten the security of the West -- including the United States. The War Against Islamist Terror will be the great struggle of this century, and we cannot allow these barbarians to hold any safe havens where they can train and plot against us. This hearing will review the scope of the threat and help the committee examine the way forward in the fight against Islamist extremism at home and abroad."

WEDNESDAY, March 25 at 2:00 p.m.

Subcommittee on Transportation Security

"Risk-Based Security: Assessing the Path Forward for TSA Pre ✓™"

311 Cannon House Office Building

Invited Witnesses Include:

· Honorable John Roth, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

· Mr. Kenneth Fletcher, Chief Risk Officer, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Subcommittee Chairman John Katko, R-N.Y., on the hearing: "Over the last three years, TSA has adopted a more common sense, risk-based approach to passenger screening through the implementation of its Pre✓™ program. Pre✓™ has fundamentally changed the way Americans think about passenger screening in a post-9/11 world, and I believe it should continue expanding. However, in order to do so, the program should grow and mature in a manner that saves taxpayer dollars and improves the experience of the traveling public while not compromising security in any way. This hearing will examine the current state of Pre✓™, as well as evaluate TSA's approach to expanding enrollment into the program. I look forward to hearing from each of our witnesses on how the program can be further improved."

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