Hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee - Nomination Hearing

Hearing

"Today we will consider the nomination of Vice Admiral Peter Neffenger to be the next Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

"The TSA Administrator position has been vacant since last December, when John Pistole resigned. In January, I, along with Ranking Member Nelson and Senators Ayotte, Cantwell, and Fischer, called on President Obama to send us a qualified, experienced, and dedicated individual to serve as TSA Administrator. Late last month, Admiral Neffenger was nominated by the president to head this important agency, which has been without Senate-confirmed leadership for too long.

"While I'm disappointed at the length of time it took for the president to send us a qualified nominee, I am encouraged by Admiral Neffenger due to his qualifications and service to our country. Admiral Neffenger currently serves as the Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, and he has had a long and distinguished career, serving over 33 years in a wide range of positions, each with more responsibility and importance than the last.

"During an assignment to Mobile, Alabama, he helped to lead the multi-agency response to the 1993 Amtrak Sunset Limited train derailment into a remote waterway in the Mobile River Delta, which killed 47 people. This is a particularly significant experience in light of last week's tragic Amtrak derailment in Philadelphia. Admiral Neffenger also has substantial experience serving right here in the Senate, having been a Coast Guard Fellow and Detailee for two years at the Senate Appropriations Committee.

"As some of my colleagues from the Gulf Coast can attest, Admiral Neffenger also served as Deputy National Incident Commander for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. In that role, Admiral Neffenger coordinated and led over 50,000 people from federal, state, and local agencies, tribal representatives, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector throughout five Gulf Coast states in the clean-up and response effort.

"Admiral Neffenger has proven himself as a leader, and the TSA is an agency in need of strong leadership. Former Administrator Pistole deserves credit for improving the agency's use of risk-based approaches to security and implementing programs to streamline the screening of travelers who pose little or no threat to the public. At the same time, just last week, the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General testified in the House that, "[u]nfortunately, although nearly 14 years have passed since TSA's inception, [the IG's office] remain[s] deeply concerned about its ability to execute its important mission."

"That is unusually blunt testimony from a government witness, and underscores the need to get a qualified and capable leader in place at TSA -- especially with the evolving security threats our nation faces..

"This Committee will do its part to make that happen. I look forward to a meaningful exchange with Admiral Neffenger today, as well as written questions for the record following today's hearing. Then, if members are satisfied with the nominee's responses, we will likely hold a markup to consider the nomination during our first week back after the Memorial Day recess.

"That will be followed by a previously agreed-upon referral to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, as has been done for the last several nominees to head the TSA. I look forward to working with Chairman Johnson, who is also a valued Member of this Committee, to ensure timely consideration of this nomination. In both settings, as well as in personal meetings with senators, Admiral Neffenger will have a chance to address important policy issues, and how he will address the challenges facing TSA, if confirmed.

"With that, I turn now to the distinguished Ranking Member for any remarks he may have."

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