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today , the committee will receive 

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testimony from General Glenn Van Herck , 

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Commander United States Northern 

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Command and North American Aerospace 

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Defense Command , or NORAD , and from 

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Admiral Craig Fowler , Commander U . S . 

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Southern Command General Van Herck is 

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appearing for his first posture hearing 

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in his current command . And admiral . 

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Follower is returning to testify a 

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Centcom commander . And this could be 

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your last hearing before the committee 

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addle . Thank you for your dedicated 

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service to the Nation of the Navy . We 

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appreciate it very much . I want to 

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thank both of you indeed for your 

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decades of service and also obviously 

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thank your families for the sacrifices 

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that they've made to support you . 

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And on behalf of the committee , I 

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would also want you to thank the men 

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and women of your commands for the 

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selfless dedication and service to the 

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nation . The security environment we 

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face today is fundamentally different 

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than even a decade ago near peer 

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competitors . China and Russia have 

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significantly narrowed the 

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technological advantages that the U . S 

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military previously enjoyed , and they 

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threatened to contest our military 

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operations across all domains , 

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including land , sea , air , cyberspace 

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and space . The 2018 national Defense 

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strategy shifted our defence priorities 

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to focus foremost strategic competition 

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with China and Russia . But we need a 

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better define what our objectives are 

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for out competing our adversaries in 

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this geopolitical rivalry . General 

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Burn Herc , You are responsible for 

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protecting the homeland . And over the 

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last year , that mission has centered 

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on the response to the covid 19 

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pandemic . At the request of FEMA , 

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North Com has deployed more than 2200 

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personnel as part of 25 vaccination 

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support teams at 17 sites in nine 

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states in ministering more than 50,000 

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doses daily . I understand that FEMA 

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has discussed with you ramping up to 

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100 vaccination support teams with the 

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capacity to vaccinate over 400,000 

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people per day . This is in addition to 

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the more than 30,000 National Guard 

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members supporting civil authorities 

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across 46 states and three territories . 

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General Van Herck I hope you will share 

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your views on the challenges and 

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scaling up this effort and any lessons 

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learned regarding what we need . Mhm 

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long term for addressing future 

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pandemic threats to our nation's health 

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security . North Korea is also tasked 

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with operating our homeland ballistic 

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missile defense the ground based mid 

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course defense system to protect the 

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United States against an 

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intercontinental ballistic missile 

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attack from rogue states . The threat 

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from North Korea has only grown in 

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recent years , and I would be 

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interested in hearing your assessment 

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of what additional steps can be taken 

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to better integrate our domain 

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awareness and modernize our missile 

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defense systems , including plans for 

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the next generation interceptor and the 

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so called under layer missile defense 

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protection for the homeland . North Com 

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is designated as the advocate for 

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capabilities in the Arctic and plays a 

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leading role in bringing together the 

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combatant commands that share 

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responsibilities for this increasingly 

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critical region . As Russia and China 

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become more assertive in the Arctic is 

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essential that we developed a unified 

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response across combatant commands and 

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across the inter agency , as well as in 

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coordination with our allies and 

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partners General , I would appreciate 

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any updates you could provide on this 

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critical region . The situation along 

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our southern border has implications 

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for both North Korea and South Korea , 

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despite President spire determination 

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to the declaration of a national 

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emergency along the border and ending 

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of the diversion of funds for the 

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border wall roughly 3600 military 

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personnel remain deployed in the region 

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in support of the customs and Border 

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Patrol . This raises questions about 

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what the Defense Department's role 

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should be in a whole of government 

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response to the situation at the 

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southern border . In addition , recent 

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weeks have seen an increase the number 

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of unaccompanied Children arriving at 

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the southern border seeking to escape 

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instability and violence in their home 

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countries . While these Children need 

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to be cared for in humane and safe 

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manner on a case by case basis , I also 

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believe we need to address the 

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migration problem at its source , 

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including the conditions causing adults 

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and Children to seek asylum at our 

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border annual salary would be 

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interested in your thoughts on how the 

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department can use security cooperation 

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strategically to build partner 

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capabilities and institutional 

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capacities to counter the drivers of 

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instability in Central America . South 

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Korea's traditional mission has focused 

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on countering the scourge of narcotics 

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and the threat from national 

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transnational criminal organizations . 

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The growing influence of China and 

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Russia , Oliver threatens to further 

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destabilize the region as these geo 

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political rivals take advantage of 

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corrupt governance in the region to 

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advance their own strategic interests . 

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China's malign financial influence and 

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Russia's different information , 

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amplified on Russian controlled Spanish 

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language media outlets threatened to 

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undermine democratic governments . And 

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in Venezuela , the Maduro regime , 

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propped up with external support from 

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Russia , China and others , has caused 

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millions of Venezuelans to flee into 

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neighboring countries . With Colombia 

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bearing the brunt of this exodus and 

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muffler , I'm interested in your 

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assessment of the threat from near peer 

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competitors in the South com area and 

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how we might work strategically their 

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partners in the region to build 

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resilience to China and Russians malign 

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activities . I want to thank you again 

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for being here this morning , and I 

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look forward to your testimony . And I 

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also just want to note from my 

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colleagues that there will be an 

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informal classified briefing by Admiral 

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Feller in SPC to 17 immediately 

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following the session until 12 3 , when 

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we must cease and the subject will be 

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the increasing Chinese influence in the 

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South Calm area . Um , with that , let 

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me recognize sentimental Thank you , Mr 

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Chairman . Thank you for calling this 

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important hearing . Also thank our two 

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witnesses North Common South . Come as 

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you know , my top priority remains 

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ensuring the effectiveness 

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implementation of the national defense 

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strategy . We've all agreed this is 

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this is our roadmap . We're supposed to 

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be doing as true today as it was two 

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years ago , which identifies 

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competition with China and Russia as 

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the central challenge to the United 

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States Prosperity and security . 

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However , the growing influence of 

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China and Russia isn't limited to 

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Europe . In the Indo Pacific , most 

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people think about that . They talk 

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about the South China seas and other 

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places where there are problems . Both 

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countries have shown their way that 

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they view the Western Hemisphere as 

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critical terrain for fulfilling their 

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global ambitions and challenging the 

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United States more feller . China and 

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Russia are expanding their access and 

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influence in your they are through 

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increasing arms deals , military 

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deployments and economic and diplomatic 

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coercion . At the same time , much of 

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the drugs poisoning American cities are 

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coming from Latin America through the 

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vast illicit networks operating by 

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multibillion dollar criminal 

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organizations . General Van Herck , you 

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have operational responsibility for 

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defense of the United States homeland . 

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We're facing a lot of challenges from 

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the growing Chinese and Russian missile 

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capabilities , including advanced 

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cruise missiles and pepper sonic 

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missiles . I hope you will discuss any 

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emerging gaps you foresee in our 

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homeland defense in the offer your 

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recommendations for addressing these 

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challenges . Specifically , I'm 

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interested in your views on whether 

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waiting another decade for a new ground 

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based interceptor makes any sense if we 

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need to act sooner , given the growing 

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threat from adversaries . Meanwhile , 

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we're seeing a new crisis brewing in 

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the Southwest border . According to The 

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New York Times , approximately 70 8000 

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immigrants tried to cross the border in 

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January . That's double the number that 

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were there from the year before , so we 

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know that's happening . We know that's 

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increase . You don't have the numbers 

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yet of the I tried to get him this 

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morning of February . We don't have 

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those numbers yet , but we will get 

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them and we see that this this thing is 

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getting worse . I've always said border 

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security is the national security , and 

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my visit to the border in August of 19 

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confirmed disbelief . These new 

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statistics are alarming , so I hope 

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that you address whether North 

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Vietnam's border support mission is 

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sufficient and what we can do to better 

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ensure they are laws are enforced and , 

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you know , we talk around this thing , 

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nobody wants to talk about it , and no 

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one wants to bit . We've got a new 

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president now . The new president has a 

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different mission , You know , he's he 

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wants to everyone to love him , and I 

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understand that . But you you know , 

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I've got a picture here . I want to be 

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made part of the record . This is all 

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these people coming across illegally 

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wearing their Biden T shirts . This is 

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going on . You guys act like it's not 

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So , anyway , we need to face this 

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problem . Thank you , Mr Chairman . 

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Well , thank you very much , Senator 

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Inhofe . And now let me recognize 

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Admiral Fowler for his testimony . 

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Good morning , Chairman . Read ranking 

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member Inhofe's distinguished members 

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of the committee . And thank you for 

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the opportunity to testify before you 

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today . I'm honored to be here with my 

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friend and shipmate , General Glenn Van 

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Herck of the United States Northern 

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Command . Now , more than ever , I feel 

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a sense of urgency about the global 

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threats we face here in our 

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neighborhood . This region of our home . 

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This neighborhood is our home . It's a 

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shared neighborhood . It's a hemisphere 

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which is a vital national interest to 

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the United States . Two of the most 

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significant threats we face are China 

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and transnational criminal 

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organizations . The Chinese Communist 

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Party , with its insidious and corrupt 

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influence , seeks regional and regional 

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and global economic dominance and its 

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own version of a rules based 

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international order . Our strategic 

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competition with China is global , not 

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just in the Taiwan Strait . With the 

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South China Sea , China is quickly 

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00:10:43,680 --> 00:10:45,569
growing its influence here in our 

281
00:10:45,569 --> 00:10:48,070
hemisphere , working on over 40 port 

282
00:10:48,070 --> 00:10:51,660
deals , dishing out significant loans 

283
00:10:52,140 --> 00:10:54,660
for political and economic influence , 

284
00:10:55,540 --> 00:10:58,740
pushing for its structure and engaging 

285
00:10:58,740 --> 00:11:00,851
in predatory practices like illegal , 

286
00:11:00,851 --> 00:11:04,660
unregulated and unreported fishing . We 

287
00:11:04,660 --> 00:11:06,882
have seen many of these tactics in Asia 

288
00:11:06,882 --> 00:11:09,100
and Africa , and we can't let them 

289
00:11:09,100 --> 00:11:11,044
prevail here in our neighborhood , 

290
00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:13,496
transnational criminal organizations 

291
00:11:13,496 --> 00:11:15,551
pose a direct threat to our national 

292
00:11:15,551 --> 00:11:17,440
security . They traffic in arms , 

293
00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:19,990
humans , drugs . They claim tens of 

294
00:11:19,990 --> 00:11:23,100
thousands of lives in America every 

295
00:11:23,100 --> 00:11:25,360
year . These murderous tactics have 

296
00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:27,760
resolved in 43 of the 50 most violent 

297
00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:29,927
cities in the world being here in this 

298
00:11:29,927 --> 00:11:32,260
hemisphere , and they drive illegal 

299
00:11:32,260 --> 00:11:35,390
migration , and they allow bad actors 

300
00:11:35,390 --> 00:11:38,560
like China to gain influence . Covid , 

301
00:11:38,560 --> 00:11:40,560
19 , has hit this hemisphere hard . 

302
00:11:41,740 --> 00:11:43,962
According to the IMF , the economies of 

303
00:11:43,962 --> 00:11:45,962
Latin American the Caribbean shrunk 

304
00:11:45,962 --> 00:11:49,780
7.4% in 2020 . The impacts of the 

305
00:11:49,780 --> 00:11:52,500
pandemic like a perfect storm will 

306
00:11:52,500 --> 00:11:54,778
alter the hemisphere for years to come . 

307
00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:57,840
In the midst of all this to back to 

308
00:11:57,840 --> 00:11:59,784
back hurricanes devastated Central 

309
00:11:59,784 --> 00:12:01,507
America , causing even greater 

310
00:12:01,507 --> 00:12:03,700
instability . The pandemic in these 

311
00:12:03,710 --> 00:12:06,010
unprecedented storms struck on top of 

312
00:12:06,010 --> 00:12:08,288
this already vicious circle of threats , 

313
00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:11,630
creating strong push factors for people 

314
00:12:11,630 --> 00:12:14,450
in the region seeking a better life , 

315
00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:17,530
seeking security to come with their 

316
00:12:17,530 --> 00:12:20,660
families to the United States . Despite 

317
00:12:20,660 --> 00:12:22,716
an economy in a tailspin , more than 

318
00:12:22,716 --> 00:12:24,660
five million refugees have fled 

319
00:12:24,660 --> 00:12:26,771
Venezuela and the illegitimate Maduro 

320
00:12:26,771 --> 00:12:29,410
regime . Maduro continues to cling to 

321
00:12:29,410 --> 00:12:33,110
power with the support of Cuba , 

322
00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:37,070
Russia , Iran and China . We can't 

323
00:12:37,070 --> 00:12:39,360
face such daunting challenges alone . 

324
00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:41,507
The only way to counter these 

325
00:12:41,507 --> 00:12:43,229
influences these threats is to 

326
00:12:43,229 --> 00:12:45,460
strengthen partnerships . That's how 

327
00:12:45,460 --> 00:12:47,460
we'll win the strategic competition 

328
00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:50,462
I've been impressed with . Nations have 

329
00:12:50,462 --> 00:12:52,462
worked shoulder to shoulder with us 

330
00:12:52,462 --> 00:12:54,796
despite the pandemic to counter threats , 

331
00:12:54,796 --> 00:12:56,462
nations like Colombia , whose 

332
00:12:56,462 --> 00:12:58,629
professional forces have stepped up in 

333
00:12:58,629 --> 00:13:00,462
the midst of pandemic to conduct 

334
00:13:00,462 --> 00:13:00,430
counter transnational criminal 

335
00:13:00,430 --> 00:13:02,374
organizations with dozens of other 

336
00:13:02,374 --> 00:13:04,680
nations and nations like Brazil , who 

337
00:13:04,680 --> 00:13:07,770
sent their airborne company to our high 

338
00:13:07,770 --> 00:13:09,770
end training with the United States 

339
00:13:09,770 --> 00:13:12,540
Army in Fort Polk , Louisiana . Good 

340
00:13:12,540 --> 00:13:14,920
neighbors are here when they when you 

341
00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:17,087
need help . And that's what the United 

342
00:13:17,087 --> 00:13:19,364
States did in South Common . Covid hit . 

343
00:13:19,364 --> 00:13:21,364
We stepped up with our humanitarian 

344
00:13:21,364 --> 00:13:23,560
assistance program contribute over 450 

345
00:13:23,560 --> 00:13:27,150
projects in 28 countries . 

346
00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:29,104
Overall , the United States is the 

347
00:13:29,104 --> 00:13:31,160
leader in humanitarian assistance in 

348
00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:32,882
Covid in Latin America and the 

349
00:13:32,882 --> 00:13:36,180
Caribbean . South Com works every day 

350
00:13:36,180 --> 00:13:38,180
to build readiness with our trusted 

351
00:13:38,180 --> 00:13:40,347
military and security partners . We do 

352
00:13:40,347 --> 00:13:42,347
this through security cooperation . 

353
00:13:42,347 --> 00:13:44,402
This includes institutional capacity 

354
00:13:44,402 --> 00:13:46,860
building , legal training , education , 

355
00:13:47,340 --> 00:13:50,310
I met and exercises . We focus on 

356
00:13:50,310 --> 00:13:52,860
developing professional military forces 

357
00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:56,290
that know how to fight and use the 

358
00:13:56,290 --> 00:13:58,720
lawful use of military force . We focus 

359
00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:00,664
on human rights training , women , 

360
00:14:00,664 --> 00:14:02,776
peace and security programs and N c O 

361
00:14:02,776 --> 00:14:05,500
development . Modest investments in 

362
00:14:05,500 --> 00:14:07,820
these programs and intelligence , 

363
00:14:07,830 --> 00:14:10,290
surveillance and reconnaissance and our 

364
00:14:10,290 --> 00:14:12,512
presence . Our posture go a long way in 

365
00:14:12,512 --> 00:14:14,734
this hemisphere and will help our fight 

366
00:14:14,734 --> 00:14:16,623
our partners counter these global 

367
00:14:16,623 --> 00:14:18,734
threats . Finally , our success would 

368
00:14:18,734 --> 00:14:20,734
not be possible without the men and 

369
00:14:20,734 --> 00:14:23,540
women of our CNN team . We're taking 

370
00:14:23,540 --> 00:14:25,920
proactive steps to protect them from 

371
00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:28,290
unacceptable behaviors like sexual 

372
00:14:28,290 --> 00:14:30,480
assault and harassment , racism and 

373
00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:32,740
extremism . We take these threats 

374
00:14:32,740 --> 00:14:34,629
seriously . There a cancer to our 

375
00:14:34,629 --> 00:14:36,851
readiness , and it's the right thing to 

376
00:14:36,851 --> 00:14:39,150
do . Yeah , Mr Chairman and ranking 

377
00:14:39,150 --> 00:14:41,317
member in Off on behalf of the South , 

378
00:14:41,317 --> 00:14:43,539
Um , team , thank you for the trust you 

379
00:14:43,539 --> 00:14:45,761
place in us . And I look forward to our 

380
00:14:45,761 --> 00:14:48,039
discussion questions today . Thank you , 

381
00:14:48,039 --> 00:14:50,206
Admiral . General Van Herck , please . 

382
00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:55,573
Chairman Read Ranking member in Hoffman , 

383
00:14:55,573 --> 00:14:57,407
The distinguished members of the 

384
00:14:57,407 --> 00:14:59,629
committee . It's a privilege to testify 

385
00:14:59,629 --> 00:15:01,684
with you here today . I'm honored to 

386
00:15:01,684 --> 00:15:03,907
serve as the commander of United States 

387
00:15:03,907 --> 00:15:05,907
Northern Command and North American 

388
00:15:05,907 --> 00:15:07,907
Aerospace Defense Command . And I'm 

389
00:15:07,907 --> 00:15:09,851
grateful to appear alongside Obama 

390
00:15:09,851 --> 00:15:11,740
Faller as South , um is a crucial 

391
00:15:11,740 --> 00:15:13,790
partner in homeland defense . US . 

392
00:15:13,790 --> 00:15:15,679
North calm and NORAD are separate 

393
00:15:15,679 --> 00:15:17,623
commands , charged with a critical 

394
00:15:17,623 --> 00:15:19,790
mission of defending the United States 

395
00:15:19,790 --> 00:15:22,012
and North America , respectively . Us . 

396
00:15:22,012 --> 00:15:25,160
North Com is the U . S . Geographic 

397
00:15:25,170 --> 00:15:27,281
Combatant Command responsible for the 

398
00:15:27,281 --> 00:15:29,281
defense of the excuse me , Homeland 

399
00:15:29,281 --> 00:15:31,503
defensive , civil authorities , defense 

400
00:15:31,503 --> 00:15:33,337
support of civil authorities and 

401
00:15:33,337 --> 00:15:35,670
theater security cooperation for Canada , 

402
00:15:35,670 --> 00:15:37,781
the Bahamas and Mexico . NORAD is the 

403
00:15:37,781 --> 00:15:39,614
binational command that provides 

404
00:15:39,614 --> 00:15:42,040
aerospace warning , airspace control 

405
00:15:42,050 --> 00:15:44,050
and maritime warning for the United 

406
00:15:44,050 --> 00:15:46,600
States and Canada . US North common 

407
00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:48,822
NORAD service members and civilians are 

408
00:15:48,822 --> 00:15:50,933
executing The secretary of defense is 

409
00:15:50,933 --> 00:15:52,822
top priority by standing watch to 

410
00:15:52,822 --> 00:15:55,044
defend our nation against all threats , 

411
00:15:55,044 --> 00:15:57,211
whether posed by competitors , natural 

412
00:15:57,211 --> 00:15:59,890
disasters or a pandemic . Over the last 

413
00:15:59,890 --> 00:16:02,230
year , NORAD fighters , tankers and 

414
00:16:02,230 --> 00:16:04,008
airborne early warning aircraft 

415
00:16:04,008 --> 00:16:06,119
responded to multiple incursions into 

416
00:16:06,119 --> 00:16:08,950
our air defense identification zones . 

417
00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:12,190
Multiple ships sorted under US North 

418
00:16:12,190 --> 00:16:14,570
com Operational Control to defend our 

419
00:16:14,570 --> 00:16:16,930
maritime approaches and US North um , 

420
00:16:16,930 --> 00:16:18,763
synchronized . The Department of 

421
00:16:18,763 --> 00:16:20,708
Defense is support to lead federal 

422
00:16:20,708 --> 00:16:22,541
agencies as thousands of service 

423
00:16:22,541 --> 00:16:24,541
members deployed within the U . S . 

424
00:16:24,541 --> 00:16:26,763
North com area of responsibility to aid 

425
00:16:26,763 --> 00:16:28,763
states and local communities in the 

426
00:16:28,763 --> 00:16:30,763
fight against coronavirus . Today , 

427
00:16:30,763 --> 00:16:32,597
thousands of service members are 

428
00:16:32,597 --> 00:16:34,708
providing life saving vaccinations to 

429
00:16:34,708 --> 00:16:36,819
our citizens . No matter the threat , 

430
00:16:36,819 --> 00:16:39,041
we are always ready to defend the lives 

431
00:16:39,041 --> 00:16:41,041
of our citizens and our homelands . 

432
00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:43,218
Right now , as we confront this 

433
00:16:43,218 --> 00:16:45,440
carriage of this pandemic , the threats 

434
00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:47,551
we face and the pace of change in the 

435
00:16:47,551 --> 00:16:49,662
geo strategic environment continue to 

436
00:16:49,662 --> 00:16:51,662
advance . We have entered an era of 

437
00:16:51,662 --> 00:16:53,773
renewed global competition , and this 

438
00:16:53,773 --> 00:16:55,996
time we're facing to peer competitors , 

439
00:16:55,996 --> 00:16:58,410
both nuclear armed . We must adapt to 

440
00:16:58,410 --> 00:17:00,466
the challenges posed by this reality 

441
00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:03,020
Since the first Gulf War , the United 

442
00:17:03,020 --> 00:17:04,687
States military is focused on 

443
00:17:04,687 --> 00:17:06,742
projecting power forward to confront 

444
00:17:06,742 --> 00:17:08,631
rogue regimes , violent extremist 

445
00:17:08,631 --> 00:17:10,520
organizations and other potential 

446
00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:12,520
adversaries who threatened American 

447
00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:14,576
interest . We trusted in our nuclear 

448
00:17:14,576 --> 00:17:16,340
deterrent and an assured power 

449
00:17:16,340 --> 00:17:18,450
projection capability as well as the 

450
00:17:18,450 --> 00:17:20,540
blessings of geography to prevent an 

451
00:17:20,540 --> 00:17:23,080
attack on our soil . In parallel , our 

452
00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:25,247
competitors expanded the definition of 

453
00:17:25,247 --> 00:17:27,250
competition into economic and 

454
00:17:27,250 --> 00:17:28,880
informational areas and have 

455
00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:30,658
aggressively advanced their own 

456
00:17:30,658 --> 00:17:32,547
military capabilities to hold our 

457
00:17:32,547 --> 00:17:34,602
homelands at risk . Both kinetically 

458
00:17:34,602 --> 00:17:37,260
and non kinetically , those efforts 

459
00:17:37,260 --> 00:17:39,204
were predominantly focused on long 

460
00:17:39,204 --> 00:17:41,038
range strike , improved delivery 

461
00:17:41,038 --> 00:17:43,260
platforms , cyber capabilities intended 

462
00:17:43,260 --> 00:17:45,310
to circumvent our defenses from all 

463
00:17:45,310 --> 00:17:48,160
directions and in all domains , and 

464
00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:50,327
exploiting a perceived gap between our 

465
00:17:50,327 --> 00:17:52,730
foundational nuclear deterrent and our 

466
00:17:52,730 --> 00:17:54,952
conventional homeland defense deterrent 

467
00:17:54,952 --> 00:17:57,300
capabilities . Concurrently , the rise 

468
00:17:57,300 --> 00:17:59,522
of transnational criminal organizations 

469
00:17:59,522 --> 00:18:01,189
and the subsequent strains on 

470
00:18:01,189 --> 00:18:03,189
governance and the instability they 

471
00:18:03,189 --> 00:18:04,950
create has created additional 

472
00:18:04,950 --> 00:18:07,172
opportunities for competitors that they 

473
00:18:07,172 --> 00:18:09,770
are working to exploit . Today we must 

474
00:18:09,770 --> 00:18:12,180
outpace our competitors by accelerating 

475
00:18:12,180 --> 00:18:14,013
our own efforts to transform our 

476
00:18:14,013 --> 00:18:16,069
culture , investing in our people to 

477
00:18:16,069 --> 00:18:18,180
grow both talent within the ranks and 

478
00:18:18,180 --> 00:18:20,124
counter extremists and destructive 

479
00:18:20,124 --> 00:18:23,370
behaviors anti ethical to our values We 

480
00:18:23,370 --> 00:18:25,480
must invest early and often in 

481
00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:27,647
relationships with allies and partners 

482
00:18:27,647 --> 00:18:29,869
to develop a global team of like minded 

483
00:18:29,869 --> 00:18:31,980
nations . And we must factor homeland 

484
00:18:31,980 --> 00:18:34,520
defense into every strategy plan , 

485
00:18:34,670 --> 00:18:37,240
force management force design as well 

486
00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:39,351
as all of the aspects of acquisitions 

487
00:18:39,351 --> 00:18:41,018
and budget so we can deter in 

488
00:18:41,018 --> 00:18:44,560
competition de escalating crisis and 

489
00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:46,730
defeat in conflict . To do this , both 

490
00:18:46,740 --> 00:18:48,950
US North common NORAD are concentrated 

491
00:18:48,950 --> 00:18:51,340
efforts on building our capability to 

492
00:18:51,340 --> 00:18:53,900
deter and , if needed , defense against 

493
00:18:53,910 --> 00:18:55,743
increasingly advanced all domain 

494
00:18:55,743 --> 00:18:57,940
threats , together with the Canadian 

495
00:18:57,940 --> 00:19:00,162
armed forces , were in the early stages 

496
00:19:00,162 --> 00:19:02,310
of NORAD modernization and building 

497
00:19:02,310 --> 00:19:04,550
additional military capabilities in the 

498
00:19:04,550 --> 00:19:07,140
Arctic in coordination with the Missile 

499
00:19:07,140 --> 00:19:09,260
Defense Agency , United States 

500
00:19:09,260 --> 00:19:11,371
Strategic Command , the United States 

501
00:19:11,371 --> 00:19:13,250
Space Com we're maintaining and 

502
00:19:13,250 --> 00:19:15,472
improving our ballistic missile defense 

503
00:19:15,472 --> 00:19:17,417
capability in order to balance our 

504
00:19:17,417 --> 00:19:19,780
readiness for crisis and conflict while 

505
00:19:19,780 --> 00:19:21,836
also staying in global competition , 

506
00:19:21,836 --> 00:19:24,050
we're placing significant emphasis on 

507
00:19:24,050 --> 00:19:25,828
left of launch framework . This 

508
00:19:25,828 --> 00:19:28,106
framework will increase decision space , 

509
00:19:28,106 --> 00:19:29,994
uncovering more deterrence and de 

510
00:19:29,994 --> 00:19:31,883
escalation options . Vice in game 

511
00:19:31,883 --> 00:19:34,320
defeat we're advocating for investment 

512
00:19:34,330 --> 00:19:36,441
in all domain awareness to generate a 

513
00:19:36,441 --> 00:19:38,386
layered since Ingrid and a layered 

514
00:19:38,386 --> 00:19:40,441
defense approach that emphasises the 

515
00:19:40,441 --> 00:19:42,780
use of an open sensor data architecture 

516
00:19:42,780 --> 00:19:44,750
and machine enhanced processing in 

517
00:19:44,750 --> 00:19:46,472
order to achieve information , 

518
00:19:46,472 --> 00:19:48,472
dominance and decisions superiority 

519
00:19:48,540 --> 00:19:50,762
through information dominance , we will 

520
00:19:50,762 --> 00:19:52,540
grant decision makers increased 

521
00:19:52,540 --> 00:19:54,429
decision space and build flexible 

522
00:19:54,429 --> 00:19:56,660
response options to deter , deny and 

523
00:19:56,660 --> 00:19:58,549
defeat every threat to the United 

524
00:19:58,549 --> 00:20:00,604
States and Canada . I'm grateful for 

525
00:20:00,604 --> 00:20:02,549
the trust that you place in United 

526
00:20:02,549 --> 00:20:04,716
States , Northern Command and nor Ed , 

527
00:20:04,716 --> 00:20:06,882
and both commands take solemn pride in 

528
00:20:06,882 --> 00:20:08,716
our responsibility to defend our 

529
00:20:08,716 --> 00:20:10,716
homeland . We will forever have the 

530
00:20:10,716 --> 00:20:12,882
watch . Thank you for your support and 

531
00:20:12,882 --> 00:20:12,500
time , and I look forward to answering 

532
00:20:12,500 --> 00:20:14,850
your questions . Well , thank you very 

533
00:20:14,850 --> 00:20:17,017
much , general . And before we begin , 

534
00:20:17,017 --> 00:20:19,128
I want to remind my colleagues of the 

535
00:20:19,128 --> 00:20:21,294
procedures . Since it is impossible to 

536
00:20:21,294 --> 00:20:23,406
know exactly when our colleagues will 

537
00:20:23,406 --> 00:20:25,517
be joining via the computer arrived , 

538
00:20:25,517 --> 00:20:27,517
we will not be following a standard 

539
00:20:27,517 --> 00:20:29,628
early bird timing rule . Instead , we 

540
00:20:29,628 --> 00:20:31,739
will handle the order of questions by 

541
00:20:31,739 --> 00:20:33,961
seniority alternating sides until we've 

542
00:20:33,961 --> 00:20:36,072
gone through everyone . Once we reach 

543
00:20:36,072 --> 00:20:38,350
the end , if there is anyone we missed , 

544
00:20:38,350 --> 00:20:40,406
we will start back at the top of the 

545
00:20:40,406 --> 00:20:42,461
list and continue until everyone has 

546
00:20:42,461 --> 00:20:44,239
had their turn . We will do the 

547
00:20:44,239 --> 00:20:46,239
standard five minute rounds , and I 

548
00:20:46,239 --> 00:20:46,110
asked my colleagues on the computers 

549
00:20:46,110 --> 00:20:48,332
and at their desk to keep . Please keep 

550
00:20:48,332 --> 00:20:50,499
an eye on the clock , which you should 

551
00:20:50,499 --> 00:20:52,721
see on your screens or right before you 

552
00:20:52,721 --> 00:20:54,832
finally , to allow for everyone to be 

553
00:20:54,832 --> 00:20:56,943
heard . Whether in the room or on the 

554
00:20:56,943 --> 00:20:58,888
computer , I ask all colleagues to 

555
00:20:58,888 --> 00:21:01,110
please mute your microphone . We're not 

556
00:21:01,110 --> 00:21:03,332
speaking . Thank you , Admiral . Follow 

557
00:21:03,332 --> 00:21:04,832
again . Thank you for your 

558
00:21:04,832 --> 00:21:06,943
distinguished service over many years 

559
00:21:06,943 --> 00:21:09,166
and the Northern Triangle , Guatemala , 

560
00:21:09,166 --> 00:21:10,832
Honduras and El Salvador is a 

561
00:21:10,832 --> 00:21:14,390
particular unstable region . And many 

562
00:21:14,390 --> 00:21:17,560
of those who are seeking relief and 

563
00:21:17,570 --> 00:21:19,626
moving towards our border are coming 

564
00:21:19,626 --> 00:21:22,890
from this area . Uh , security and 

565
00:21:22,900 --> 00:21:24,970
human rights that deteriorated . 

566
00:21:24,980 --> 00:21:27,190
They're significantly increased 

567
00:21:27,190 --> 00:21:29,680
violence by criminal organizations and 

568
00:21:29,690 --> 00:21:33,610
narcotics distributors . Uh , and we 

569
00:21:33,610 --> 00:21:35,570
can continue to provide security 

570
00:21:35,570 --> 00:21:37,681
clearance to these countries security 

571
00:21:37,681 --> 00:21:39,990
systems . Rather . Yet corruption 

572
00:21:39,990 --> 00:21:41,879
remains rampant and international 

573
00:21:41,879 --> 00:21:45,030
efforts to build capabilities are not 

574
00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:48,870
effective . In Honduras . In particular , 

575
00:21:48,870 --> 00:21:50,870
the corruption appears to reach the 

576
00:21:50,870 --> 00:21:52,981
highest level of the government . The 

577
00:21:52,981 --> 00:21:55,203
criminal trial in the Southern District 

578
00:21:55,203 --> 00:21:56,814
of New York are the Honduras 

579
00:21:56,814 --> 00:21:59,037
president's brother unearth evidence of 

580
00:21:59,037 --> 00:22:01,259
the Honduran president and other senior 

581
00:22:01,259 --> 00:22:03,481
officials taking millions of dollars in 

582
00:22:03,481 --> 00:22:05,703
bribes from drug traffickers . Honduran 

583
00:22:05,703 --> 00:22:08,210
security forces are also documented as 

584
00:22:08,210 --> 00:22:10,650
having engaged in gross human rights 

585
00:22:10,650 --> 00:22:13,660
violations for years . Given all this , 

586
00:22:13,660 --> 00:22:16,050
Admiral , do do we need to reconsider 

587
00:22:16,050 --> 00:22:17,883
whether our approach to security 

588
00:22:17,883 --> 00:22:19,883
assistance in the Northern Triangle 

589
00:22:19,883 --> 00:22:21,883
countries is achieving our national 

590
00:22:21,883 --> 00:22:25,680
objectives . The perfect storm 

591
00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:27,950
of conditions that you outlined , 

592
00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:30,690
senator the violence , the impact of 

593
00:22:30,690 --> 00:22:33,310
the pandemic , the impact of the 

594
00:22:33,310 --> 00:22:35,400
hurricanes has created untenable 

595
00:22:35,410 --> 00:22:37,870
security for the citizens . And that's 

596
00:22:37,870 --> 00:22:40,510
why we're seeing this flood of migrants 

597
00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:44,190
to our borders . Our focus at 

598
00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:47,720
South com shouldn't remains in 

599
00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:49,850
support of US government efforts are 

600
00:22:49,850 --> 00:22:52,060
diplomats in our embassies and that 

601
00:22:52,060 --> 00:22:54,520
security cooperation is a long term 

602
00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:56,242
investment on the professional 

603
00:22:56,242 --> 00:22:58,530
militaries . So institution capacity 

604
00:22:58,530 --> 00:23:00,810
building we have a longstanding human 

605
00:23:00,810 --> 00:23:02,921
rights training program that has been 

606
00:23:02,921 --> 00:23:05,240
effective in developing forces that 

607
00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:08,060
know how to use force is in a force in 

608
00:23:08,060 --> 00:23:10,210
a professional manner . Our women's 

609
00:23:10,210 --> 00:23:12,450
peace and security program has proven 

610
00:23:12,450 --> 00:23:14,820
to be a game changer . There's those 

611
00:23:14,820 --> 00:23:16,940
nations want to model and emulate our 

612
00:23:16,940 --> 00:23:20,280
success , R N c O development or I met . 

613
00:23:20,290 --> 00:23:22,970
There is an appropriate place moving 

614
00:23:22,970 --> 00:23:25,081
forward , senator , for our long term 

615
00:23:25,081 --> 00:23:27,710
engagement with our partners . They 

616
00:23:27,720 --> 00:23:29,780
model their professionalism after us 

617
00:23:29,780 --> 00:23:32,840
and I can trust elements of the 

618
00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:35,062
Honduran and Guatemalan forces . We vet 

619
00:23:35,062 --> 00:23:37,173
them . We work with our interagency . 

620
00:23:37,740 --> 00:23:41,350
It seems that in those areas and other 

621
00:23:41,350 --> 00:23:43,830
areas around the world , we've invested 

622
00:23:43,830 --> 00:23:46,340
a great deal in the military . We have 

623
00:23:46,340 --> 00:23:48,720
developed effective military forces . 

624
00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:50,590
But so much of this is a law 

625
00:23:50,590 --> 00:23:53,670
enforcement issue and a judicial issue , 

626
00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:56,140
and we don't seem and again this is 

627
00:23:56,150 --> 00:23:58,094
outside your lane . But a whole of 

628
00:23:58,094 --> 00:24:00,039
government approach , which seemed 

629
00:24:00,039 --> 00:24:02,630
defeated to me more of an investment in 

630
00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:06,490
training police in providing judicial 

631
00:24:06,490 --> 00:24:09,070
remedies that are actual , not 

632
00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:12,180
fictitious . Is that your view ? Also , 

633
00:24:12,180 --> 00:24:15,650
we need more help to our other 

634
00:24:15,650 --> 00:24:17,810
agencies . One of the successes I've 

635
00:24:17,810 --> 00:24:20,310
seen is watching our other agencies 

636
00:24:20,310 --> 00:24:22,330
that actually engage in judicial 

637
00:24:22,340 --> 00:24:24,900
training programs and and moving that 

638
00:24:24,900 --> 00:24:26,956
forward . One of our own programs is 

639
00:24:26,956 --> 00:24:30,290
the is the Defense Legal Security 

640
00:24:30,290 --> 00:24:32,457
Cooperation program that deals program 

641
00:24:32,457 --> 00:24:34,568
out of Newport , Rhode Island , where 

642
00:24:34,568 --> 00:24:36,860
we work with partners on how they can 

643
00:24:37,340 --> 00:24:39,600
an effective judicial system . I think 

644
00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:41,878
these programs are effective , Senator . 

645
00:24:41,878 --> 00:24:43,878
It takes time to see the results of 

646
00:24:43,878 --> 00:24:45,933
those of that effectiveness . But in 

647
00:24:45,933 --> 00:24:48,156
the past year , when there was a lot of 

648
00:24:48,156 --> 00:24:50,433
opportunity for our partner militaries , 

649
00:24:50,433 --> 00:24:53,270
two commit human rights violations 

650
00:24:53,270 --> 00:24:55,326
because they were deeply involved in 

651
00:24:55,326 --> 00:24:57,437
helping with internal security . They 

652
00:24:57,437 --> 00:24:59,548
stayed on the field in a professional 

653
00:24:59,548 --> 00:25:02,300
manner , and they did model their 

654
00:25:02,300 --> 00:25:04,411
professional behavior after the train 

655
00:25:04,411 --> 00:25:06,633
that we've been able to provide . Thank 

656
00:25:06,633 --> 00:25:08,856
you . Uh , General Burn hurricane . I'm 

657
00:25:08,856 --> 00:25:10,800
sorry , I have a few minutes , but 

658
00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:14,300
could you give us quickly sort of your 

659
00:25:14,310 --> 00:25:17,300
takeaways from the covid virus ? Uh , 

660
00:25:17,310 --> 00:25:19,940
situation , what fundamental changes we 

661
00:25:19,940 --> 00:25:23,580
might have to make Chairman . 

662
00:25:23,590 --> 00:25:26,900
Absolutely . Covid has given us a great 

663
00:25:26,900 --> 00:25:29,500
opportunity to reflect and learn on our 

664
00:25:29,510 --> 00:25:32,250
planning as we were ready . What we've 

665
00:25:32,260 --> 00:25:34,560
done is continue to adapt . What we 

666
00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:38,110
have found is that , uh , the 

667
00:25:38,120 --> 00:25:40,009
support functions . The emergency 

668
00:25:40,009 --> 00:25:42,064
support function process through the 

669
00:25:42,064 --> 00:25:44,231
inter agency is crucial , working with 

670
00:25:44,231 --> 00:25:46,342
local and state authorities to ensure 

671
00:25:46,342 --> 00:25:48,453
that we're sinking up to provide that 

672
00:25:48,453 --> 00:25:50,564
response . We work closely with DHS . 

673
00:25:50,564 --> 00:25:53,580
We work closely with HHS public health 

674
00:25:53,580 --> 00:25:56,070
services to to ensure we're ready . In 

675
00:25:56,070 --> 00:25:58,292
addition to that , we're going back and 

676
00:25:58,292 --> 00:26:00,126
changing and updating our global 

677
00:26:00,126 --> 00:26:02,348
pandemic and infectious disease plan to 

678
00:26:02,348 --> 00:26:04,380
ensure that we're ready and have 

679
00:26:04,380 --> 00:26:06,658
adapted the lessons learned . Chairman . 

680
00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:09,207
Well , thank you very much , General . 

681
00:26:09,207 --> 00:26:11,373
Thank you both for your service centre 

682
00:26:11,373 --> 00:26:13,207
in off , please . Thank you , Mr 

683
00:26:13,207 --> 00:26:16,830
Chairman . You know , the there's a 

684
00:26:16,830 --> 00:26:18,941
crisis on the border . I think we all 

685
00:26:18,941 --> 00:26:21,340
know that it's a The number of migrants 

686
00:26:21,340 --> 00:26:23,540
trying to cross more than doubled in 

687
00:26:23,540 --> 00:26:27,310
January 2021 from a year 

688
00:26:27,320 --> 00:26:30,000
prior to that , and the number of 

689
00:26:30,050 --> 00:26:32,490
migrant Children has in custody has 

690
00:26:32,500 --> 00:26:35,080
tripled . Now we've come a full circle . 

691
00:26:35,090 --> 00:26:37,370
You don't like to talk about it ? We 

692
00:26:37,370 --> 00:26:39,760
had weak enforcement of our immigration 

693
00:26:39,760 --> 00:26:42,150
laws under the President . Obama too 

694
00:26:42,150 --> 00:26:44,260
strong enforcement under President 

695
00:26:44,260 --> 00:26:46,860
Trump . And now the expectation of a 

696
00:26:46,860 --> 00:26:49,027
weak enforcement under President Biden 

697
00:26:49,027 --> 00:26:51,850
is driving a surge of illegal migrants . 

698
00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:54,896
And that's where I have this picture 

699
00:26:54,896 --> 00:26:56,840
here . This is they're they're all 

700
00:26:56,840 --> 00:26:58,951
coming across the border , you know , 

701
00:26:58,951 --> 00:27:01,120
they're coming fast and they're all 

702
00:27:01,120 --> 00:27:04,800
worrying Biden T shirts . So we got a 

703
00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:07,270
problem down there and I just have to 

704
00:27:07,270 --> 00:27:09,810
ask the question . Have followed . You 

705
00:27:09,810 --> 00:27:11,977
agree that a strong enforcement of the 

706
00:27:11,977 --> 00:27:14,143
immigration laws serves as a deterrent 

707
00:27:14,143 --> 00:27:17,610
against illegal migration . Senator , 

708
00:27:17,610 --> 00:27:19,940
all nations deserve secure borders , 

709
00:27:19,940 --> 00:27:23,130
and our focus has been on that heinous 

710
00:27:23,140 --> 00:27:27,090
insecurity in Central America caused by 

711
00:27:27,090 --> 00:27:29,146
transnational criminal organizations 

712
00:27:29,146 --> 00:27:31,201
that have no respect for the rule of 

713
00:27:31,201 --> 00:27:33,960
law rain , violence on their population . 

714
00:27:34,340 --> 00:27:38,200
They market in drugs and people and 

715
00:27:38,200 --> 00:27:40,460
guns and illegal mining . And , uh , 

716
00:27:40,470 --> 00:27:42,430
one of the primary sources of its 

717
00:27:42,430 --> 00:27:44,486
underwrites their efforts as Chinese 

718
00:27:44,486 --> 00:27:46,486
money laundering . So our focus has 

719
00:27:46,486 --> 00:27:48,740
been on the source I'm working with are 

720
00:27:48,750 --> 00:27:52,050
okay , but just a specific question . 

721
00:27:52,540 --> 00:27:55,000
Do you agree that strong enforcement of 

722
00:27:55,010 --> 00:27:58,370
immigration laws serves as a deterrent 

723
00:27:58,380 --> 00:28:02,180
against illegal migration ? Mhm number 

724
00:28:02,180 --> 00:28:05,660
one deterrent that I hear of when I to 

725
00:28:05,670 --> 00:28:07,790
all our partner nations is the United 

726
00:28:07,790 --> 00:28:10,250
States judicial system . I agree . 

727
00:28:10,250 --> 00:28:12,590
Center . Okay . And do you agree with 

728
00:28:12,590 --> 00:28:13,812
that ? Also , general 

729
00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:19,410
Simple Quick , Chairman . Um , as 

730
00:28:19,410 --> 00:28:21,590
previously stated , border security is 

731
00:28:21,590 --> 00:28:23,920
national security , and I agree that we 

732
00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:26,940
must consider our laws that are in 

733
00:28:26,940 --> 00:28:29,210
place . What we're doing right now is 

734
00:28:29,220 --> 00:28:31,109
we're supporting the lead federal 

735
00:28:31,109 --> 00:28:33,120
agency from North com , which is 

736
00:28:33,130 --> 00:28:35,610
homeland security that allows them to 

737
00:28:35,620 --> 00:28:37,787
enforce the laws that are in book were 

738
00:28:37,787 --> 00:28:40,480
providing support in the form of 

739
00:28:40,490 --> 00:28:42,380
aviation support , ground support 

740
00:28:42,380 --> 00:28:44,380
through detection and monitoring as 

741
00:28:44,380 --> 00:28:47,670
well . Okay , But you do agree , then a 

742
00:28:47,670 --> 00:28:49,726
strong enforcement of those laws You 

743
00:28:49,726 --> 00:28:51,892
can have all the laws on the books you 

744
00:28:51,892 --> 00:28:54,059
want , but don't enforce the laws it's 

745
00:28:54,059 --> 00:28:56,226
not gonna work . You agree with that ? 

746
00:28:56,226 --> 00:28:58,392
I do agree with that . Very good . And 

747
00:28:58,392 --> 00:29:00,990
admin followed you . I'm a little 

748
00:29:00,990 --> 00:29:02,990
concerned about something that , in 

749
00:29:02,990 --> 00:29:05,101
terms of resources down there in your 

750
00:29:05,101 --> 00:29:07,323
opening statement , I think it was in a 

751
00:29:07,323 --> 00:29:09,490
written statement . I guess it was you 

752
00:29:09,490 --> 00:29:12,860
said that you only receive less than 1% 

753
00:29:12,870 --> 00:29:16,650
of all d o d I S r only 1% of 

754
00:29:16,650 --> 00:29:19,460
all D o d s r is that right ? 

755
00:29:20,840 --> 00:29:22,951
Senate intelligence drives everything 

756
00:29:22,951 --> 00:29:24,840
that allows us to have the domain 

757
00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:27,040
awareness that General Van Herck spoke 

758
00:29:27,040 --> 00:29:29,262
about . So we can then inform our other 

759
00:29:29,262 --> 00:29:31,151
inter agency partners of what the 

760
00:29:31,151 --> 00:29:33,373
threats are up to . And we do . We have 

761
00:29:33,373 --> 00:29:35,770
less than 1% of the S r . You know , 

762
00:29:35,780 --> 00:29:38,100
since you read that some time ago we 

763
00:29:38,100 --> 00:29:40,211
had a visit , I I tried to figure out 

764
00:29:40,211 --> 00:29:42,322
how that could be . Maybe I'm missing 

765
00:29:42,322 --> 00:29:45,750
something here . Less than 1% of I s r 

766
00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:47,730
comes into that area , and I don't 

767
00:29:47,730 --> 00:29:49,730
understand . So it's not adequate , 

768
00:29:49,730 --> 00:29:52,540
right ? Senator , We're short in , um s 

769
00:29:52,540 --> 00:29:55,120
r and intelligent assets . Um , and , 

770
00:29:55,130 --> 00:29:58,060
uh , security cooperation and we have 

771
00:29:58,060 --> 00:30:00,490
in general , are posture is thin . 

772
00:30:00,500 --> 00:30:02,722
We've got to be on the field to compete 

773
00:30:02,722 --> 00:30:05,560
center . Mhm . Yeah , I agree with that . 

774
00:30:06,940 --> 00:30:09,230
Uh , you know , I know the border . I 

775
00:30:09,230 --> 00:30:11,320
was back back in the days I was 

776
00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:14,140
enjoying life . I can remember I was a 

777
00:30:14,140 --> 00:30:16,084
builder and developer down there . 

778
00:30:16,084 --> 00:30:17,807
People in the East Coast don't 

779
00:30:17,807 --> 00:30:20,029
understand this , but there's an island 

780
00:30:20,029 --> 00:30:22,196
down there called South Padre Island . 

781
00:30:22,196 --> 00:30:24,307
It's actually now , don't don't leave 

782
00:30:24,307 --> 00:30:26,760
because you need to hear this , Uh , 

783
00:30:27,340 --> 00:30:29,630
that it's , uh the island down there is 

784
00:30:29,680 --> 00:30:31,680
100 and 40 miles long and one block 

785
00:30:31,680 --> 00:30:33,902
wide . I was a voter and developer down 

786
00:30:33,902 --> 00:30:36,013
there . I know the border , and I owe 

787
00:30:36,013 --> 00:30:38,069
him down there , and they talk about 

788
00:30:38,069 --> 00:30:40,180
the tough border security and what is 

789
00:30:40,180 --> 00:30:42,347
necessary . So I just want you to know 

790
00:30:42,347 --> 00:30:44,569
I'm familiar with that down there , and 

791
00:30:44,569 --> 00:30:46,736
I think it's doing a disservice not to 

792
00:30:46,736 --> 00:30:48,902
talk about it . We need to enforce the 

793
00:30:48,902 --> 00:30:50,902
border . And I do want to have this 

794
00:30:50,902 --> 00:30:52,958
picture made a part of the record at 

795
00:30:52,958 --> 00:30:55,620
this at this point with that are you 

796
00:30:55,620 --> 00:30:56,620
looking for 

797
00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:02,510
Senator Shaheen ? Please . Thank you , 

798
00:31:02,510 --> 00:31:04,677
Mr Chairman . And thank you to both of 

799
00:31:04,677 --> 00:31:06,899
you for your service and for being here 

800
00:31:06,899 --> 00:31:09,066
this morning . Admiral Fowler , I want 

801
00:31:09,066 --> 00:31:11,121
to start with you because I find the 

802
00:31:11,121 --> 00:31:13,010
maps that you've given us and the 

803
00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:17,030
statistics on these alarming , to say 

804
00:31:17,030 --> 00:31:20,880
the least on the map that shows 

805
00:31:20,880 --> 00:31:22,991
Chinese influence . If you were going 

806
00:31:22,991 --> 00:31:25,850
to give us a map that said United 

807
00:31:25,850 --> 00:31:29,650
States influence how many , for 

808
00:31:29,650 --> 00:31:32,620
example , countries could we cite that 

809
00:31:32,620 --> 00:31:34,820
are hosting American infrastructure 

810
00:31:34,820 --> 00:31:38,280
projects and how many countries are 

811
00:31:38,290 --> 00:31:41,200
enjoying training and military support 

812
00:31:41,210 --> 00:31:43,890
or other economic support from the 

813
00:31:43,890 --> 00:31:46,580
United States ? And how many heads of 

814
00:31:46,580 --> 00:31:49,670
state meetings could we site since 2015 

815
00:31:52,040 --> 00:31:55,630
Senator are influence is eroding and 

816
00:31:55,630 --> 00:31:57,850
that margin is shrinking , and you 

817
00:31:57,850 --> 00:31:59,850
would be would be best able to show 

818
00:31:59,850 --> 00:32:01,850
that with arrows that have downward 

819
00:32:01,850 --> 00:32:03,850
trends , and it's important that we 

820
00:32:03,850 --> 00:32:05,850
remain engaged in this hemisphere . 

821
00:32:05,850 --> 00:32:07,906
It's our neighborhood that proximity 

822
00:32:07,906 --> 00:32:10,072
matters . And as you pointed out , the 

823
00:32:10,072 --> 00:32:12,294
Chinese see that we hosted a conference 

824
00:32:12,294 --> 00:32:14,517
last week at South Come with our allies 

825
00:32:14,517 --> 00:32:16,572
UK , Canada , France , Netherlands , 

826
00:32:16,572 --> 00:32:18,406
who have significant interest in 

827
00:32:18,406 --> 00:32:20,739
ensuring a stable , secure neighborhood , 

828
00:32:20,840 --> 00:32:23,700
and one of the the foreign participants 

829
00:32:23,700 --> 00:32:27,070
said that the region is a life is in 

830
00:32:27,070 --> 00:32:29,900
their lifeboat and it is sinking in the 

831
00:32:29,900 --> 00:32:32,011
violence and it is sinking in Chinese 

832
00:32:32,011 --> 00:32:33,800
influence . What I hear from my 

833
00:32:33,800 --> 00:32:36,050
partners is , uh , we hear you , 

834
00:32:36,060 --> 00:32:37,949
Admiral Faller . We know that the 

835
00:32:37,949 --> 00:32:40,060
United States military is the best we 

836
00:32:40,060 --> 00:32:42,060
want to partner with you . But when 

837
00:32:42,060 --> 00:32:44,338
you're drowning , you need a life ring . 

838
00:32:44,338 --> 00:32:46,560
You're going to take the life ring from 

839
00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:50,120
whoever throws it . Um , got that is 

840
00:32:50,130 --> 00:32:52,600
disappointing . I appreciate what 

841
00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:54,767
you're saying , and that was my reason 

842
00:32:54,767 --> 00:32:56,711
for the question because it's very 

843
00:32:56,711 --> 00:32:58,933
clear that we are not keeping up in the 

844
00:32:58,933 --> 00:33:00,656
way that we should in terms of 

845
00:33:00,656 --> 00:33:02,933
influence and support in Latin America . 

846
00:33:03,340 --> 00:33:05,770
Can I ask when you talk about the 

847
00:33:06,840 --> 00:33:09,480
senator ? Inhofe raised the 1% of 

848
00:33:09,480 --> 00:33:11,830
resources that you have for South Calm 

849
00:33:11,840 --> 00:33:14,310
and one of the operations that you're 

850
00:33:14,310 --> 00:33:16,550
responsible for US counternarcotics 

851
00:33:16,560 --> 00:33:18,671
operations in New Hampshire . We have 

852
00:33:18,671 --> 00:33:21,370
been dramatically impacted by the 

853
00:33:21,370 --> 00:33:23,930
opioid epidemic , and obviously drugs 

854
00:33:23,930 --> 00:33:25,986
coming in across our southern border 

855
00:33:25,986 --> 00:33:28,990
come up Interstate 95 all the way to 

856
00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:31,278
New Hampshire and northern New England . 

857
00:33:32,140 --> 00:33:34,810
How much ? If you were going to define 

858
00:33:34,810 --> 00:33:37,000
what percentage of your operations are 

859
00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:39,830
counternarcotics , can you describe 

860
00:33:39,830 --> 00:33:43,020
that and can you use if you had more 

861
00:33:43,020 --> 00:33:44,910
resources , would you be able to 

862
00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:47,740
address more of what's happening with 

863
00:33:47,740 --> 00:33:49,240
the transnational criminal 

864
00:33:49,240 --> 00:33:52,740
organizations . Senator , I'd like to 

865
00:33:52,750 --> 00:33:54,750
start by thanking the New Hampshire 

866
00:33:54,750 --> 00:33:56,917
National Guard or state partner for El 

867
00:33:56,917 --> 00:33:58,920
Salvador critical partner and the 

868
00:33:58,930 --> 00:34:00,940
National Guard across our region . 

869
00:34:00,940 --> 00:34:03,107
That's our number one force provider . 

870
00:34:03,140 --> 00:34:05,160
They've stayed engaged despite the 

871
00:34:05,160 --> 00:34:07,382
pandemic in a way that builds trust and 

872
00:34:07,382 --> 00:34:09,700
partners and helps train them . What 

873
00:34:09,700 --> 00:34:11,644
our real goal here is to train our 

874
00:34:11,644 --> 00:34:13,756
partner nations to take care of their 

875
00:34:13,756 --> 00:34:15,589
own security problems . We can't 

876
00:34:15,589 --> 00:34:18,970
interdict our way out of the narcotics 

877
00:34:18,970 --> 00:34:21,192
problem . We've got to get our partners 

878
00:34:21,192 --> 00:34:23,137
in the game . And this past year , 

879
00:34:23,137 --> 00:34:25,081
despite a pandemic epidemic , they 

880
00:34:25,081 --> 00:34:26,803
actually increased their their 

881
00:34:26,803 --> 00:34:28,914
performance , their involvement up to 

882
00:34:28,914 --> 00:34:31,630
60% of all our disruptions . But that's 

883
00:34:31,630 --> 00:34:33,741
still not enough . We've got to focus 

884
00:34:33,741 --> 00:34:37,300
on the source and the destination 

885
00:34:37,310 --> 00:34:40,430
and one of the key areas that needs 

886
00:34:40,430 --> 00:34:42,652
more emphasis . And we've really worked 

887
00:34:42,652 --> 00:34:44,763
hard this past year with our partners 

888
00:34:44,763 --> 00:34:48,030
is in countering the money supply . I 

889
00:34:48,030 --> 00:34:50,330
talked about the importance of that 

890
00:34:50,340 --> 00:34:52,590
really getting to break the back of 

891
00:34:52,590 --> 00:34:55,200
these organizations , and I would note 

892
00:34:55,200 --> 00:34:57,920
that in that regard , the D . E . A . 

893
00:34:57,920 --> 00:35:00,240
Has cited Chinese money laundering is 

894
00:35:00,240 --> 00:35:01,907
the number one underwriter of 

895
00:35:01,907 --> 00:35:04,018
transnational criminal organization . 

896
00:35:04,018 --> 00:35:06,240
So it's got to be a whole of government 

897
00:35:06,240 --> 00:35:08,610
effort , and we've got to work to build 

898
00:35:08,610 --> 00:35:10,800
our partners capacity . Well , thank 

899
00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:12,689
you . And thank you for your nice 

900
00:35:12,689 --> 00:35:14,522
comments about the New Hampshire 

901
00:35:14,522 --> 00:35:16,744
National Guard . I agree they have done 

902
00:35:16,744 --> 00:35:18,800
had an excellent partnership with El 

903
00:35:18,800 --> 00:35:21,320
Salvador . General Van Herck . I only 

904
00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:23,487
have a little bit of time left , but I 

905
00:35:23,487 --> 00:35:25,709
wanted to ask you about the impact that 

906
00:35:25,709 --> 00:35:27,764
you're seeing from climate change on 

907
00:35:27,764 --> 00:35:29,820
the Arctic , which we know is , um , 

908
00:35:29,820 --> 00:35:32,800
melting a lot of the ice there and 

909
00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:35,470
opening up routes through the Arctic . 

910
00:35:36,040 --> 00:35:38,170
What impact is that having on our 

911
00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:40,696
potential impact ? Is that having on 

912
00:35:40,696 --> 00:35:42,862
our national security , and what do we 

913
00:35:42,862 --> 00:35:44,970
need to do to respond ? Senator ? 

914
00:35:44,980 --> 00:35:46,813
Environmental change is having a 

915
00:35:46,813 --> 00:35:48,647
significant impact as it creates 

916
00:35:48,647 --> 00:35:50,647
opportunities , and it also creates 

917
00:35:50,647 --> 00:35:52,869
vulnerabilities . The question is , are 

918
00:35:52,869 --> 00:35:54,980
we postured to seize on opportunities 

919
00:35:54,980 --> 00:35:56,758
and to defend against potential 

920
00:35:56,758 --> 00:35:58,813
competition and vulnerabilities ? It 

921
00:35:58,813 --> 00:36:00,869
creates access access to resources . 

922
00:36:00,930 --> 00:36:04,440
25% of Russia's GDP is dependent upon 

923
00:36:04,440 --> 00:36:06,420
resources in the Arctic , and both 

924
00:36:06,420 --> 00:36:08,142
Russia and China are trying to 

925
00:36:08,142 --> 00:36:09,976
establish new norms and rules of 

926
00:36:09,976 --> 00:36:11,920
behavior for international law . I 

927
00:36:11,920 --> 00:36:14,100
understand the time is out here . I 

928
00:36:14,110 --> 00:36:16,166
would love to talk more to you about 

929
00:36:16,166 --> 00:36:18,166
this subject . Um , I would love to 

930
00:36:18,166 --> 00:36:20,332
hear that . And I would bet if we join 

931
00:36:20,332 --> 00:36:22,554
the law of the sea Treaty , we might be 

932
00:36:22,554 --> 00:36:24,499
able to better address some of the 

933
00:36:24,499 --> 00:36:26,554
influences that China and Russia are 

934
00:36:26,554 --> 00:36:28,610
doing . You don't need to respond to 

935
00:36:28,610 --> 00:36:30,777
that . Thank you , Mr Chairman . Thank 

936
00:36:30,777 --> 00:36:33,110
you , Senator . Screen Senator . Worker , 

937
00:36:33,110 --> 00:36:35,277
please . Thank you , Mr Chairman . And 

938
00:36:35,277 --> 00:36:38,350
will follow . Could you supplement ? Um , 

939
00:36:38,930 --> 00:36:42,550
on behalf of Senator Shaheen and me , 

940
00:36:42,930 --> 00:36:46,920
The three charts that she mentioned 

941
00:36:46,970 --> 00:36:49,710
it . They say Chinese influence Russian 

942
00:36:49,710 --> 00:36:53,440
influence . Uh , and Iranian influence . 

943
00:36:53,450 --> 00:36:56,190
Uh , can you get back on the record and 

944
00:36:56,190 --> 00:36:59,050
just do one that says U s influence 

945
00:37:01,030 --> 00:37:03,141
U S . Remains the partner ? No . No . 

946
00:37:03,141 --> 00:37:05,141
Will you supplement on the record a 

947
00:37:05,141 --> 00:37:07,474
chart ? I'm asking you to do that . Yes , 

948
00:37:07,474 --> 00:37:09,697
Senator . Okay , very good . Let me ask 

949
00:37:09,697 --> 00:37:13,680
you then , Um , Admiral , about the 

950
00:37:13,680 --> 00:37:16,210
involvement of the Coast guard in what 

951
00:37:16,210 --> 00:37:19,710
you do . Um um , I'm 

952
00:37:19,710 --> 00:37:21,980
also on the commerce Committee where we 

953
00:37:21,980 --> 00:37:24,091
have oversight there , and I've grown 

954
00:37:24,091 --> 00:37:26,202
concerned that the Coast Guard is not 

955
00:37:26,202 --> 00:37:28,313
sufficiently resourced to conduct its 

956
00:37:28,313 --> 00:37:30,424
own missions , much less support what 

957
00:37:30,424 --> 00:37:32,660
seems to be a growing demand for having 

958
00:37:33,030 --> 00:37:35,340
Coast Guard units supporting D O . D 

959
00:37:35,830 --> 00:37:39,340
missions to South Com and other A R s . 

960
00:37:39,830 --> 00:37:42,400
Uh , do I have correct information 

961
00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:44,400
there ? How much do you rely on the 

962
00:37:44,400 --> 00:37:47,130
Coast Guard ? Not just to counter drug 

963
00:37:47,130 --> 00:37:49,352
and illegal fishing missions , but also 

964
00:37:49,352 --> 00:37:52,100
for theater engagement with us and our 

965
00:37:52,110 --> 00:37:54,250
allies . The Coast Guard is a 

966
00:37:54,260 --> 00:37:57,450
tremendous asset for us , and they are 

967
00:37:57,450 --> 00:37:59,820
on the field in a meaningful way . They 

968
00:37:59,820 --> 00:38:03,280
are . They are a top priority for all 

969
00:38:03,280 --> 00:38:05,560
our partners building capacity and 

970
00:38:05,560 --> 00:38:07,616
countering the threats . Despite the 

971
00:38:07,616 --> 00:38:09,449
pandemic , the national security 

972
00:38:09,449 --> 00:38:11,449
cutters , the fast response cutters 

973
00:38:11,449 --> 00:38:13,560
these are These are well , man , well 

974
00:38:13,560 --> 00:38:15,671
trained ships making a difference day 

975
00:38:15,671 --> 00:38:18,004
in , day out , including their aircraft . 

976
00:38:18,004 --> 00:38:20,060
I we couldn't do our mission without 

977
00:38:20,060 --> 00:38:19,910
the United States Coast Guard . They 

978
00:38:19,910 --> 00:38:22,610
are principal source to counter threats 

979
00:38:22,610 --> 00:38:24,666
in this . Do we have enough ships to 

980
00:38:24,666 --> 00:38:26,888
meet your theater requirements ? But we 

981
00:38:26,888 --> 00:38:29,054
do not . We do not have the sufficient 

982
00:38:29,054 --> 00:38:31,277
Coast Guard ships or Navy ships to meet 

983
00:38:31,277 --> 00:38:32,943
the requirements . We we need 

984
00:38:32,943 --> 00:38:35,277
additional assets , uh , and and planes . 

985
00:38:35,277 --> 00:38:38,860
Okay , um , General Van Herck . Uh , 

986
00:38:38,870 --> 00:38:42,650
let's transition then to to north calm . 

987
00:38:42,660 --> 00:38:45,880
And , uh , once again , I have the same 

988
00:38:45,890 --> 00:38:49,300
interest as Senator Shaheen about the 

989
00:38:49,310 --> 00:38:51,620
Arctic . I was pleased that the 

990
00:38:51,620 --> 00:38:53,620
previous administration released an 

991
00:38:53,620 --> 00:38:55,787
updated strategy for the Arctic . Uh , 

992
00:38:55,787 --> 00:38:59,590
I'm afraid that we lag behind our peers , 

993
00:38:59,590 --> 00:39:02,250
particularly Russia . Is that correct ? 

994
00:39:02,260 --> 00:39:04,950
This year , the Coast Guard begins 

995
00:39:04,950 --> 00:39:07,490
construction of the first of a new 

996
00:39:07,490 --> 00:39:09,323
class of icebreakers , the polar 

997
00:39:09,323 --> 00:39:12,730
security clutter a cutter . Six . Um , 

998
00:39:12,740 --> 00:39:15,190
total ships have been authorized a vast 

999
00:39:15,190 --> 00:39:18,390
improvement over the two aging ships we 

1000
00:39:18,390 --> 00:39:21,340
have , but a far cry from Russia's 

1001
00:39:21,350 --> 00:39:24,800
fleet of 40 . Can you explain why 

1002
00:39:24,800 --> 00:39:27,740
icebreaking capability is so critical ? 

1003
00:39:27,740 --> 00:39:29,796
And do you believe it's important to 

1004
00:39:29,796 --> 00:39:33,440
advocate for a larger a fleet of , 

1005
00:39:33,450 --> 00:39:36,510
uh , Coast Guard cutters and ice 

1006
00:39:36,510 --> 00:39:38,950
breakers ? Senator . Yes , thank you . 

1007
00:39:38,960 --> 00:39:41,071
And I agree with your assessment . We 

1008
00:39:41,071 --> 00:39:42,904
are lagging behind . Why it's so 

1009
00:39:42,904 --> 00:39:44,849
important is you have to be on the 

1010
00:39:44,849 --> 00:39:47,127
field to play . It's about persistence . 

1011
00:39:47,127 --> 00:39:49,349
Uh , not only do we need to have access 

1012
00:39:49,349 --> 00:39:51,571
through persistence to break ice , uh , 

1013
00:39:51,571 --> 00:39:53,738
to ensure that we can have Coast Guard 

1014
00:39:53,738 --> 00:39:55,904
cutters or potentially Navy destroyers 

1015
00:39:55,904 --> 00:39:57,960
or cruisers in the area , we have to 

1016
00:39:57,960 --> 00:39:59,738
have communications as well for 

1017
00:39:59,738 --> 00:40:01,627
persistence . I'm thankful to the 

1018
00:40:01,627 --> 00:40:03,738
committee for $46 million that got us 

1019
00:40:03,738 --> 00:40:05,960
started with polar communications north 

1020
00:40:05,960 --> 00:40:08,071
of 65 latitude . It's really tough to 

1021
00:40:08,071 --> 00:40:10,127
communicate that will get us initial 

1022
00:40:10,127 --> 00:40:12,238
start . But I also have a require for 

1023
00:40:12,238 --> 00:40:14,349
fuel north of Dutch Harbor , Alaska , 

1024
00:40:14,349 --> 00:40:16,238
which will also contribute to the 

1025
00:40:16,238 --> 00:40:18,516
persistence of competing in the Arctic . 

1026
00:40:18,516 --> 00:40:20,571
This is about persistence . We're in 

1027
00:40:20,571 --> 00:40:22,682
competition , as I said in my opening 

1028
00:40:22,682 --> 00:40:24,682
statement , and to be a competitive 

1029
00:40:24,682 --> 00:40:26,793
with Russia and China specifically in 

1030
00:40:26,793 --> 00:40:29,016
the Arctic , you have to be part of the 

1031
00:40:29,016 --> 00:40:31,016
on the field , if you will , and so 

1032
00:40:31,016 --> 00:40:32,849
it's crucial that we do that and 

1033
00:40:32,849 --> 00:40:34,904
continue producing capabilities that 

1034
00:40:34,904 --> 00:40:37,130
will allow us to be in the Arctic So 

1035
00:40:37,130 --> 00:40:39,960
fuel capabilities and communicate , uh , 

1036
00:40:39,970 --> 00:40:42,670
communications capabilities are not 

1037
00:40:42,670 --> 00:40:45,630
where they ought to be . Uh , last year , 

1038
00:40:45,640 --> 00:40:47,751
the Navy was investigating the policy 

1039
00:40:47,751 --> 00:40:49,990
the possibility of establishing a new 

1040
00:40:49,990 --> 00:40:53,860
base in the Arctic . Have you been 

1041
00:40:53,860 --> 00:40:55,916
involved in any discussions with the 

1042
00:40:55,916 --> 00:40:58,430
Navy regarding establishing a permanent 

1043
00:40:58,430 --> 00:41:01,780
base in the Arctic ? And how could a 

1044
00:41:01,780 --> 00:41:05,210
Navy base improve your ability to 

1045
00:41:05,210 --> 00:41:08,990
execute US Arctic strategy ? Senator , 

1046
00:41:08,990 --> 00:41:11,046
to answer your question directly , I 

1047
00:41:11,046 --> 00:41:12,712
have not been involved in any 

1048
00:41:12,712 --> 00:41:14,823
discussions with the Navy . I'm aware 

1049
00:41:14,823 --> 00:41:16,657
of the study that was done for a 

1050
00:41:16,657 --> 00:41:18,710
potential port specifically with 

1051
00:41:18,710 --> 00:41:20,821
regards to Nome , Alaska , which will 

1052
00:41:20,821 --> 00:41:22,766
get after the requirement for fuel 

1053
00:41:22,766 --> 00:41:25,090
north of Dutch Harbor . That report was 

1054
00:41:25,090 --> 00:41:26,812
completed by the Army Corps of 

1055
00:41:26,812 --> 00:41:28,940
Engineers and submitted for 

1056
00:41:29,010 --> 00:41:32,330
congressional awareness . Would this be 

1057
00:41:32,330 --> 00:41:35,900
helpful ? Yes . Do you have an 

1058
00:41:35,900 --> 00:41:38,560
opinion ? It would be helpful to meet 

1059
00:41:38,570 --> 00:41:40,626
my requirement to have fuel for that 

1060
00:41:40,626 --> 00:41:43,730
persistence to compete with nations 

1061
00:41:43,730 --> 00:41:45,730
that are interested in the Arctic . 

1062
00:41:47,510 --> 00:41:49,566
Thank you , Senator Worker . Now via 

1063
00:41:49,566 --> 00:41:52,660
WebEx , Senator Gillibrand . Thank you , 

1064
00:41:52,660 --> 00:41:55,380
Mr Chairman . Admiral Fowler . As you 

1065
00:41:55,380 --> 00:41:57,269
noted in your written testimony , 

1066
00:41:57,269 --> 00:41:59,580
Russia has eagerly flooded online 

1067
00:41:59,580 --> 00:42:01,469
communities in Latin America with 

1068
00:42:01,469 --> 00:42:04,110
disinformation intended to undermine 

1069
00:42:04,500 --> 00:42:06,750
faith in democratic institutions and in 

1070
00:42:06,750 --> 00:42:09,400
the United States . Separately , China 

1071
00:42:09,410 --> 00:42:11,410
is investing heavily in information 

1072
00:42:11,410 --> 00:42:13,540
technology that can be easily 

1073
00:42:13,540 --> 00:42:15,762
manipulated by the Chinese government , 

1074
00:42:15,762 --> 00:42:17,984
their discretion for espionage or cyber 

1075
00:42:17,984 --> 00:42:20,207
intrusions . Do you feel that South com 

1076
00:42:20,207 --> 00:42:22,620
is adequately equipped to do its part 

1077
00:42:22,620 --> 00:42:24,787
to handle the separate but overlapping 

1078
00:42:24,787 --> 00:42:26,509
risks posed by these efforts ? 

1079
00:42:28,800 --> 00:42:31,280
Recently , in a visit to one of our 

1080
00:42:31,280 --> 00:42:33,800
partner countries , had the leader of 

1081
00:42:33,800 --> 00:42:36,022
that country leaned over and said , How 

1082
00:42:36,022 --> 00:42:38,244
do I get rid of the Chinese information 

1083
00:42:38,244 --> 00:42:42,120
technology that was sold to get after 

1084
00:42:42,120 --> 00:42:44,380
the violence in the city , but then , 

1085
00:42:44,380 --> 00:42:46,920
oddly , appears outside the US Embassy 

1086
00:42:46,930 --> 00:42:49,097
and other places which are in the most 

1087
00:42:49,097 --> 00:42:50,930
secure parts of the city . These 

1088
00:42:50,930 --> 00:42:53,097
efforts have got to require a whole of 

1089
00:42:53,097 --> 00:42:55,152
government , whole of world approach 

1090
00:42:55,152 --> 00:42:58,520
where we offer a safe technology and 

1091
00:42:58,520 --> 00:43:00,490
safe , affordable solutions moving 

1092
00:43:00,490 --> 00:43:03,630
forward . For our part , we've really 

1093
00:43:03,630 --> 00:43:06,800
participated with US Special Operations 

1094
00:43:06,800 --> 00:43:09,850
Command and standing up appropriate 

1095
00:43:09,850 --> 00:43:12,780
information capabilities to counter in 

1096
00:43:12,780 --> 00:43:14,780
the information space . And I think 

1097
00:43:14,780 --> 00:43:17,030
that effort isn't it's having some 

1098
00:43:17,030 --> 00:43:19,170
effect , but it's very small scale , 

1099
00:43:19,180 --> 00:43:22,610
given the volume just in Russia alone , 

1100
00:43:23,000 --> 00:43:25,120
they had over 17 million 

1101
00:43:25,800 --> 00:43:29,620
disinformation hits last year in social 

1102
00:43:29,620 --> 00:43:31,787
media outside Russian language . Their 

1103
00:43:31,787 --> 00:43:34,040
Spanish language social media is their 

1104
00:43:34,040 --> 00:43:36,040
biggest effort , and they increased 

1105
00:43:36,040 --> 00:43:38,000
threefold last year , particularly 

1106
00:43:38,010 --> 00:43:39,990
trying to discredit everything the 

1107
00:43:39,990 --> 00:43:42,340
United States did to help our partners 

1108
00:43:42,350 --> 00:43:44,010
recover from pandemic . 

1109
00:43:46,200 --> 00:43:48,350
Mhm Um , Admiral , as you pointed out 

1110
00:43:48,350 --> 00:43:50,890
earlier . While China's economic 

1111
00:43:50,890 --> 00:43:53,112
coercion practices are only one element 

1112
00:43:53,112 --> 00:43:55,223
of its strategy to exert influence in 

1113
00:43:55,223 --> 00:43:57,001
the region , it is certainly an 

1114
00:43:57,001 --> 00:43:58,946
important one . Is there a way for 

1115
00:43:58,946 --> 00:44:01,057
South Com and other U . S entities to 

1116
00:44:01,057 --> 00:44:03,168
facilitate opportunities for economic 

1117
00:44:03,168 --> 00:44:05,279
engagement where we can highlight the 

1118
00:44:05,279 --> 00:44:07,501
benefits of working with the U . S . As 

1119
00:44:07,501 --> 00:44:09,668
opposed to China as opposed to China . 

1120
00:44:10,490 --> 00:44:13,430
The There's some great efforts that 

1121
00:44:13,430 --> 00:44:15,652
Congress has championed the development 

1122
00:44:15,652 --> 00:44:18,290
of finance core and others , uh , in 

1123
00:44:18,290 --> 00:44:20,012
support of that . I think it's 

1124
00:44:20,012 --> 00:44:22,012
incumbent on all professionals like 

1125
00:44:22,012 --> 00:44:23,901
myself to learn as much about the 

1126
00:44:23,901 --> 00:44:26,179
economic elements as power as possible . 

1127
00:44:26,179 --> 00:44:28,346
But then to focus on what we do best , 

1128
00:44:28,346 --> 00:44:30,234
which is working with our partner 

1129
00:44:30,234 --> 00:44:31,790
militaries , supplying them 

1130
00:44:31,790 --> 00:44:33,846
professional training , professional 

1131
00:44:33,846 --> 00:44:36,300
education and exercise program . They 

1132
00:44:36,300 --> 00:44:38,467
want to partner with us . That's their 

1133
00:44:38,467 --> 00:44:40,633
North Star . And we've got to have the 

1134
00:44:40,633 --> 00:44:42,689
right security conditions so that we 

1135
00:44:42,689 --> 00:44:44,800
can have sustainable economics . Uh , 

1136
00:44:44,800 --> 00:44:46,911
businesses that are fearful when they 

1137
00:44:46,911 --> 00:44:48,856
can't invest in a safe environment 

1138
00:44:49,590 --> 00:44:52,210
understood . General Van Herck . Um , 

1139
00:44:52,220 --> 00:44:54,387
as the admiral noted , it's clear that 

1140
00:44:54,387 --> 00:44:56,442
one of our biggest challenges in the 

1141
00:44:56,442 --> 00:44:58,387
Western Hemisphere will be China's 

1142
00:44:58,387 --> 00:45:00,609
technological engagement that threatens 

1143
00:45:00,609 --> 00:45:02,776
our security . Are we beginning to see 

1144
00:45:02,776 --> 00:45:04,498
any signs that China's growing 

1145
00:45:04,498 --> 00:45:06,164
technological presence in the 

1146
00:45:06,164 --> 00:45:08,220
southeastern region is forcing north 

1147
00:45:08,220 --> 00:45:10,331
com to rethink its strategy of how it 

1148
00:45:10,331 --> 00:45:12,550
defends its domain ? Given the close 

1149
00:45:12,550 --> 00:45:14,500
proximity between two regions ? 

1150
00:45:17,290 --> 00:45:20,350
Senator , we look closely at China's 

1151
00:45:20,350 --> 00:45:22,720
influence there are absolutely in the 

1152
00:45:22,720 --> 00:45:25,690
north comma or attempting to influence 

1153
00:45:25,700 --> 00:45:28,550
in the Bahamas . Uh , working through 

1154
00:45:28,560 --> 00:45:31,260
five g , for example . The same thing 

1155
00:45:31,270 --> 00:45:34,340
in Mexico . We continue to defend all 

1156
00:45:34,340 --> 00:45:36,920
domains . Uh , north , um , defends our 

1157
00:45:36,920 --> 00:45:38,940
critical cyber infrastructure with 

1158
00:45:38,950 --> 00:45:41,880
allocated cyber protection teams . And 

1159
00:45:41,880 --> 00:45:44,840
we work closely with cyber common en 

1160
00:45:44,840 --> 00:45:47,580
esa as well . Where the discuss , uh , 

1161
00:45:47,590 --> 00:45:50,760
synchronizer for cyber . If there is a 

1162
00:45:50,760 --> 00:45:52,704
need to provide defense support of 

1163
00:45:52,704 --> 00:45:54,927
civil authorities , we continually work 

1164
00:45:54,927 --> 00:45:56,816
with civil authorities as well to 

1165
00:45:56,816 --> 00:45:58,982
assess the needs for homeland security 

1166
00:45:58,982 --> 00:46:01,038
as well as other agencies across the 

1167
00:46:01,038 --> 00:46:04,720
government . Thank you . In your 

1168
00:46:04,720 --> 00:46:06,609
written statement , you indicated 

1169
00:46:06,609 --> 00:46:08,331
Russia and China had developed 

1170
00:46:08,331 --> 00:46:10,442
hypersonic and nuclear warhead tipped 

1171
00:46:10,442 --> 00:46:12,553
cruise missiles . North Korea is also 

1172
00:46:12,553 --> 00:46:14,276
advancing its intercontinental 

1173
00:46:14,276 --> 00:46:16,164
ballistic missile program . These 

1174
00:46:16,164 --> 00:46:18,109
weapons put our allies and our own 

1175
00:46:18,109 --> 00:46:20,109
national security at risk . Current 

1176
00:46:20,109 --> 00:46:22,276
missile defense is based at the ground 

1177
00:46:22,276 --> 00:46:24,600
based interceptor where G . B . I , 

1178
00:46:24,600 --> 00:46:27,810
which was fielded 16 years ago . Since 

1179
00:46:27,810 --> 00:46:29,921
that time , we've improved the system 

1180
00:46:29,921 --> 00:46:31,921
and grown the size of the available 

1181
00:46:31,921 --> 00:46:33,921
arsenal . Last year we appropriated 

1182
00:46:33,921 --> 00:46:35,588
money for the next generation 

1183
00:46:35,588 --> 00:46:37,670
interceptor , the N G . I system to 

1184
00:46:37,670 --> 00:46:39,810
improve our defenses while I'm clear 

1185
00:46:39,810 --> 00:46:41,866
eyed about the threat posed by enemy 

1186
00:46:41,866 --> 00:46:43,866
states missiles . It is currently a 

1187
00:46:43,866 --> 00:46:45,588
time of competing priorities , 

1188
00:46:45,588 --> 00:46:47,699
particularly light of covid . In your 

1189
00:46:47,699 --> 00:46:49,866
opinion , can we still rely on the G B 

1190
00:46:49,866 --> 00:46:51,866
for the foreseeable future ? And to 

1191
00:46:51,866 --> 00:46:54,420
assuming we need to push back on the N 

1192
00:46:54,420 --> 00:46:56,680
G system ? How long can we rely on the 

1193
00:46:56,680 --> 00:47:00,070
current arsenal ? Senator , I'm 

1194
00:47:00,070 --> 00:47:02,181
comfortable with my ability to defend 

1195
00:47:02,181 --> 00:47:04,070
the homeland , including Hawaii , 

1196
00:47:04,070 --> 00:47:06,360
against the limited , uh , state actors 

1197
00:47:06,360 --> 00:47:08,360
such as DPRK , which the system is 

1198
00:47:08,360 --> 00:47:10,640
designed for , uh , for the foreseeable 

1199
00:47:10,640 --> 00:47:13,080
future . The key thing is to maintain 

1200
00:47:13,320 --> 00:47:16,820
the timeline of no later than 2028 

1201
00:47:16,830 --> 00:47:19,300
for N G . I , uh , to ensure that we 

1202
00:47:19,300 --> 00:47:21,320
maintain capacity and capability to 

1203
00:47:21,320 --> 00:47:23,376
defend against the ballistic missile 

1204
00:47:23,376 --> 00:47:26,630
threat . Thank you . Thank you , 

1205
00:47:26,630 --> 00:47:29,220
Senator Gillibrand . Now via WebEx . 

1206
00:47:29,230 --> 00:47:32,170
Senator Fisher , please . Thank you , 

1207
00:47:32,170 --> 00:47:35,100
Mr Chairman . General Van Herck . I 

1208
00:47:35,100 --> 00:47:37,340
appreciated our discussion last week , 

1209
00:47:37,340 --> 00:47:38,896
and I'd like to revisit our 

1210
00:47:38,896 --> 00:47:42,200
conversation on the N G . Senator 

1211
00:47:42,200 --> 00:47:44,570
Gillibrand was just touching on some 

1212
00:47:44,570 --> 00:47:47,970
points of that as well . When you talk 

1213
00:47:47,970 --> 00:47:51,880
about the threat that we are facing 

1214
00:47:51,880 --> 00:47:53,940
and the advancing threat that we're 

1215
00:47:53,940 --> 00:47:56,250
seeing , you believe that the 

1216
00:47:56,250 --> 00:47:59,120
additional capabilities that n g . I 

1217
00:47:59,120 --> 00:48:01,540
will provide the warfighter over our 

1218
00:48:01,540 --> 00:48:03,810
current interceptor fleet are 

1219
00:48:03,810 --> 00:48:05,200
absolutely necessary , 

1220
00:48:07,770 --> 00:48:10,390
Senator . I do . It gives us extra 

1221
00:48:10,400 --> 00:48:13,790
capacity to go against threats that are 

1222
00:48:13,790 --> 00:48:16,012
developed that could exceed our current 

1223
00:48:16,012 --> 00:48:18,234
G B I inventory . In addition to that , 

1224
00:48:18,234 --> 00:48:20,401
it will give us capability because the 

1225
00:48:20,401 --> 00:48:22,290
threat continues to advance their 

1226
00:48:22,290 --> 00:48:24,179
capabilities such as decoys and a 

1227
00:48:24,179 --> 00:48:26,401
version with a capability . So the G is 

1228
00:48:26,401 --> 00:48:28,623
crucial to give us that capability . It 

1229
00:48:28,623 --> 00:48:30,840
also provides us a foundation for our 

1230
00:48:30,840 --> 00:48:33,030
deterrence . It provides deterrence by 

1231
00:48:33,030 --> 00:48:35,750
denial . The nuclear deterrent is the 

1232
00:48:35,750 --> 00:48:38,970
foundation , but the n g I and the G B 

1233
00:48:38,970 --> 00:48:41,750
I give us deterrence , uh , by denial , 

1234
00:48:41,750 --> 00:48:44,700
Senator . Thank you , sir . 

1235
00:48:45,470 --> 00:48:47,580
Also , you and I discussed the 

1236
00:48:47,580 --> 00:48:50,160
increasingly capable cruise missile 

1237
00:48:50,160 --> 00:48:52,770
arsenals that adversaries possessed and 

1238
00:48:52,770 --> 00:48:54,770
the very real threat they posed the 

1239
00:48:54,770 --> 00:48:57,460
homeland . In your opening statement , 

1240
00:48:57,470 --> 00:48:59,730
you talk a lot about the concept of 

1241
00:48:59,730 --> 00:49:02,300
that domain awareness . Can you talk 

1242
00:49:02,300 --> 00:49:04,467
about what that means for you ? How it 

1243
00:49:04,467 --> 00:49:07,560
relates to to the threat that are 

1244
00:49:07,560 --> 00:49:10,290
opposed , say , by cruise missiles . 

1245
00:49:12,670 --> 00:49:14,559
Senator ? Yes . Thank you for the 

1246
00:49:14,559 --> 00:49:16,503
opportunity . Uh , cruise missiles 

1247
00:49:16,503 --> 00:49:18,670
challenge our legacy . Warning systems 

1248
00:49:18,670 --> 00:49:20,837
significantly . They've generated very 

1249
00:49:20,837 --> 00:49:22,781
long range capabilities . They can 

1250
00:49:22,781 --> 00:49:24,892
actually shoot cruise missiles . They 

1251
00:49:24,892 --> 00:49:26,837
be in Russia today from over their 

1252
00:49:26,837 --> 00:49:28,837
homeland , which will challenge our 

1253
00:49:28,837 --> 00:49:31,003
legacy systems . Uh , we don't want to 

1254
00:49:31,003 --> 00:49:33,410
be in a situation . We my personal 

1255
00:49:33,410 --> 00:49:35,590
opinion , where in game defeat is our 

1256
00:49:35,590 --> 00:49:37,646
only option , we need to get further 

1257
00:49:37,646 --> 00:49:39,590
left . And that starts with domain 

1258
00:49:39,590 --> 00:49:41,920
awareness left of the archer , if you 

1259
00:49:41,920 --> 00:49:43,920
will , before they take off whether 

1260
00:49:43,920 --> 00:49:46,031
that be in a submarine , whether that 

1261
00:49:46,031 --> 00:49:47,976
be in a sea vessel or whether that 

1262
00:49:47,976 --> 00:49:50,710
being a bomber to have decision space 

1263
00:49:50,710 --> 00:49:52,830
for our senior leaders , a decision 

1264
00:49:52,830 --> 00:49:55,163
space starts with that domain awareness . 

1265
00:49:55,163 --> 00:49:57,274
Once you take that domain awareness , 

1266
00:49:57,274 --> 00:49:59,330
whether that be undersea to space to 

1267
00:49:59,330 --> 00:50:02,030
cyberspace and everything in between . 

1268
00:50:02,040 --> 00:50:04,030
And you use machine learning and 

1269
00:50:04,030 --> 00:50:06,086
artificial intelligence capabilities 

1270
00:50:06,086 --> 00:50:08,197
what I call information dominance Now 

1271
00:50:08,197 --> 00:50:10,419
we're able to get further left and give 

1272
00:50:10,419 --> 00:50:12,141
our decision makers deterrence 

1273
00:50:12,141 --> 00:50:14,510
capabilities beyond the foundation of 

1274
00:50:14,510 --> 00:50:16,454
our nuclear , which is our nuclear 

1275
00:50:16,454 --> 00:50:18,343
deterrence and an in game kinetic 

1276
00:50:18,343 --> 00:50:20,454
attack , which would require response 

1277
00:50:20,454 --> 00:50:22,788
very escalatory in either one . Senator , 

1278
00:50:23,860 --> 00:50:26,040
you know , you're you're using all 

1279
00:50:26,040 --> 00:50:28,151
sorts of technologies now that you're 

1280
00:50:28,151 --> 00:50:31,320
applying on your demonstrations , Uh , 

1281
00:50:31,330 --> 00:50:33,560
that north , um , is conducted in this 

1282
00:50:33,560 --> 00:50:35,671
area . Do you have other examples you 

1283
00:50:35,671 --> 00:50:38,320
can share with us ? absolutely , 

1284
00:50:38,320 --> 00:50:40,431
Senator . So we have a program called 

1285
00:50:40,431 --> 00:50:42,653
Pathfinder that we've moved out on over 

1286
00:50:42,653 --> 00:50:44,820
the last year that takes information 

1287
00:50:44,820 --> 00:50:47,100
data . I'm a believer that the future 

1288
00:50:47,110 --> 00:50:50,000
of competition , crisis and conflict he 

1289
00:50:50,000 --> 00:50:51,680
or she with the data and the 

1290
00:50:51,680 --> 00:50:54,060
information will win . What we've taken 

1291
00:50:54,060 --> 00:50:56,270
is an example . So , for you'll 

1292
00:50:56,270 --> 00:50:58,770
remember in 2000 and 15 , when the 

1293
00:50:58,770 --> 00:51:00,714
gyrocopter actually flew down from 

1294
00:51:00,714 --> 00:51:02,659
north here in the National Capital 

1295
00:51:02,659 --> 00:51:04,881
Region and landed on the Capitol lawn , 

1296
00:51:04,881 --> 00:51:07,330
that that situation none of the sensors 

1297
00:51:07,330 --> 00:51:09,552
in the area , whether they be the NORAD 

1298
00:51:09,552 --> 00:51:11,719
sensors that we have our other sensors 

1299
00:51:11,719 --> 00:51:13,830
alone detected that target . But when 

1300
00:51:13,830 --> 00:51:16,150
we took the Pathfinder capability and 

1301
00:51:16,150 --> 00:51:18,261
we analyzed the information , we took 

1302
00:51:18,261 --> 00:51:20,094
information that was left on the 

1303
00:51:20,094 --> 00:51:21,872
cutting room floor that was not 

1304
00:51:21,872 --> 00:51:23,706
previously analyzed there . That 

1305
00:51:23,706 --> 00:51:25,539
gyrocopter was . That's what I'm 

1306
00:51:25,539 --> 00:51:27,594
talking about information today that 

1307
00:51:27,594 --> 00:51:29,594
existence stovepipes and government 

1308
00:51:29,594 --> 00:51:31,706
agencies , even within the Department 

1309
00:51:31,706 --> 00:51:33,706
of Defense , that's not shared more 

1310
00:51:33,706 --> 00:51:35,872
broadly . We have to take advantage of 

1311
00:51:35,872 --> 00:51:37,928
data and information going forward . 

1312
00:51:37,928 --> 00:51:40,039
Senator , Thank you , General Admiral 

1313
00:51:40,039 --> 00:51:42,450
Fowler . Nebraska's R . C 1 30 fives 

1314
00:51:42,450 --> 00:51:44,710
are frequent guests in your part of the 

1315
00:51:44,720 --> 00:51:46,887
world , and we know that the Air Force 

1316
00:51:46,887 --> 00:51:48,942
is doing what it can , but there are 

1317
00:51:48,942 --> 00:51:51,290
shortfalls . Last year you told the 

1318
00:51:51,290 --> 00:51:53,890
committee you only have 20% of the I s 

1319
00:51:53,890 --> 00:51:56,770
are that you need , And the bulk of 

1320
00:51:56,770 --> 00:51:58,714
that amount comes from Customs and 

1321
00:51:58,714 --> 00:52:01,170
Border Protection assets . As a 

1322
00:52:01,170 --> 00:52:04,400
commander , um , you said that only 

1323
00:52:04,410 --> 00:52:08,220
8% of CNN's overall I s r need is met 

1324
00:52:08,220 --> 00:52:11,310
by military assets . Is that still the 

1325
00:52:11,310 --> 00:52:15,270
case , Senator ? Compounding that 

1326
00:52:15,280 --> 00:52:18,960
8% figure , we received a 46% cut to 

1327
00:52:18,960 --> 00:52:22,800
our r S R related budget last 

1328
00:52:22,800 --> 00:52:25,110
year this year in year , so that will 

1329
00:52:25,110 --> 00:52:27,277
significantly challenge our ability to 

1330
00:52:27,277 --> 00:52:29,520
understand the threats of all types in 

1331
00:52:29,520 --> 00:52:31,576
the hemisphere . Intelligence drives 

1332
00:52:31,576 --> 00:52:34,300
everything . So what gets left on the 

1333
00:52:34,300 --> 00:52:36,467
table as a result of your inability to 

1334
00:52:36,467 --> 00:52:39,950
get that s our coverage . A 

1335
00:52:39,960 --> 00:52:42,470
significant amount of movement of 

1336
00:52:42,480 --> 00:52:44,647
transnational criminal organizations . 

1337
00:52:44,647 --> 00:52:47,370
Our understanding of what are our 

1338
00:52:47,370 --> 00:52:49,680
competitors are up to Russia , China , 

1339
00:52:50,750 --> 00:52:53,990
Iran . A lot gets left on the table 

1340
00:52:53,990 --> 00:52:56,200
that is contributing to this violence 

1341
00:52:56,200 --> 00:52:58,367
that's driving instability here in the 

1342
00:52:58,367 --> 00:53:00,200
United States and in our partner 

1343
00:53:00,200 --> 00:53:02,510
nations . And we see their presence 

1344
00:53:02,520 --> 00:53:05,080
growing in your in your combatant 

1345
00:53:05,080 --> 00:53:07,790
command area . So I understand the need 

1346
00:53:07,790 --> 00:53:09,957
for that . Thank you , Admiral . Thank 

1347
00:53:09,957 --> 00:53:12,350
you , Mr Chairman . Thank you . Senator 

1348
00:53:12,360 --> 00:53:14,570
Fisher . Senator Blumenthal , please . 

1349
00:53:16,150 --> 00:53:18,370
Thanks , Mr Chairman . Thank you both 

1350
00:53:18,370 --> 00:53:20,370
for your service and for being here 

1351
00:53:20,950 --> 00:53:24,870
today . Uh , as 

1352
00:53:24,870 --> 00:53:28,750
you know , the Covid 19 pandemic has 

1353
00:53:28,760 --> 00:53:31,870
hit the Caribbean and South 

1354
00:53:31,870 --> 00:53:34,870
America very hard . 

1355
00:53:35,950 --> 00:53:39,350
I am concerned that we need to continue 

1356
00:53:39,350 --> 00:53:42,710
to say vigilant against attempts by 

1357
00:53:42,780 --> 00:53:46,490
Russia and most especially China , to 

1358
00:53:46,490 --> 00:53:48,770
exploit the suffering of our neighbors 

1359
00:53:49,350 --> 00:53:51,072
to the south to increase their 

1360
00:53:51,072 --> 00:53:53,530
influence in the region . Admiral 

1361
00:53:53,530 --> 00:53:55,752
Fowler and your posture statement . You 

1362
00:53:55,752 --> 00:53:57,919
say to that China and Russia are using 

1363
00:53:57,919 --> 00:54:00,040
the covid 19 pandemic to gain greater 

1364
00:54:00,040 --> 00:54:03,230
influence in South America . And you 

1365
00:54:03,230 --> 00:54:06,690
explain how that is occurring . And 

1366
00:54:06,700 --> 00:54:08,700
what would you recommend the United 

1367
00:54:08,700 --> 00:54:11,010
States do to maintain American 

1368
00:54:11,010 --> 00:54:14,530
influence in the region in the face of 

1369
00:54:14,530 --> 00:54:17,660
that public health threat during that 

1370
00:54:18,240 --> 00:54:22,210
time , the conditions that 

1371
00:54:22,210 --> 00:54:24,690
the pandemic has caused in Latin 

1372
00:54:24,690 --> 00:54:26,801
America and the Caribbean rival those 

1373
00:54:26,801 --> 00:54:28,801
of the Great Depression here in the 

1374
00:54:28,801 --> 00:54:30,968
United States . It will take years for 

1375
00:54:30,968 --> 00:54:33,079
the region to cover . The IMF says it 

1376
00:54:33,079 --> 00:54:35,079
will take . It has estimated as the 

1377
00:54:35,079 --> 00:54:37,350
region with the longest recovery time 

1378
00:54:37,940 --> 00:54:40,162
we have seen . And there was a new York 

1379
00:54:40,162 --> 00:54:42,850
Times article today on this China 

1380
00:54:43,640 --> 00:54:45,600
particularly move in with a heavy 

1381
00:54:45,600 --> 00:54:48,750
handed mask and vaccine diplomacy 

1382
00:54:49,440 --> 00:54:51,760
that they are using the vaccines to 

1383
00:54:51,770 --> 00:54:55,560
leverage deals for their it 

1384
00:54:55,880 --> 00:54:58,890
their five G and they're using it to 

1385
00:54:58,900 --> 00:55:01,750
try to drive a wedge between some 

1386
00:55:02,240 --> 00:55:04,530
nations like Taiwan and others in the 

1387
00:55:04,530 --> 00:55:07,910
region . This is indicative of Chinese 

1388
00:55:07,910 --> 00:55:11,610
global course of insidious behavior . 

1389
00:55:11,810 --> 00:55:13,921
We're seeing it play out . We need to 

1390
00:55:13,921 --> 00:55:15,921
stay on the field with the whole of 

1391
00:55:15,921 --> 00:55:17,866
government effort . And once we've 

1392
00:55:17,866 --> 00:55:20,490
taken care of the United States , be 

1393
00:55:20,490 --> 00:55:23,610
first with a a concerted plan to take 

1394
00:55:23,610 --> 00:55:25,777
care of our neighborhood with vaccines 

1395
00:55:25,777 --> 00:55:28,970
Here , I hear you saying that 

1396
00:55:29,640 --> 00:55:32,550
we need a much more aggressive and 

1397
00:55:33,740 --> 00:55:36,820
frankly humanitarian effort in this 

1398
00:55:36,820 --> 00:55:38,820
part of the world . Are neighboring 

1399
00:55:39,740 --> 00:55:43,670
region in fact part of the 

1400
00:55:44,440 --> 00:55:47,290
Western Hemisphere family to take care 

1401
00:55:47,290 --> 00:55:49,401
of people in our own enlightened self 

1402
00:55:49,401 --> 00:55:52,220
interest ? Senator To date , I've been 

1403
00:55:52,220 --> 00:55:54,276
very proud of the U . S . Government 

1404
00:55:54,276 --> 00:55:58,190
effort in PPE and other covid related 

1405
00:55:58,190 --> 00:56:00,360
supplies . We don't we're not taking 

1406
00:56:00,360 --> 00:56:03,310
much credit for it , but by far and 

1407
00:56:03,310 --> 00:56:05,830
away the single largest donator in this 

1408
00:56:05,830 --> 00:56:07,740
hemisphere and and in department 

1409
00:56:07,740 --> 00:56:09,462
offense using our humanitarian 

1410
00:56:09,462 --> 00:56:12,150
assistant authorities we moved out with 

1411
00:56:12,150 --> 00:56:15,960
small projects at speed over 400 

1412
00:56:15,960 --> 00:56:18,690
projects , $54 million that have made a 

1413
00:56:18,690 --> 00:56:21,780
real impact . But the next phase is 

1414
00:56:21,780 --> 00:56:24,100
going to be in vaccines and long term 

1415
00:56:24,100 --> 00:56:25,989
recovery , and we've got to be as 

1416
00:56:25,989 --> 00:56:28,156
aggressive and forward leaning in that 

1417
00:56:28,156 --> 00:56:30,267
phase , I would say , particularly in 

1418
00:56:30,267 --> 00:56:32,489
this hemisphere , because the proximity 

1419
00:56:32,489 --> 00:56:34,489
here matters to the security United 

1420
00:56:34,489 --> 00:56:37,610
States . And it's not only a public 

1421
00:56:37,610 --> 00:56:40,620
health crisis , it's really a very deep 

1422
00:56:40,620 --> 00:56:44,390
seated economic crisis linked to the 

1423
00:56:44,390 --> 00:56:46,890
pandemic . I hear you think , Senator , 

1424
00:56:46,890 --> 00:56:50,270
in October we did . I traveled with my 

1425
00:56:50,280 --> 00:56:52,447
civilian deputy commander , Ambassador 

1426
00:56:52,447 --> 00:56:54,669
Jean Mains . Wonderful diplomat , great 

1427
00:56:54,669 --> 00:56:56,600
civil relationship . In our 

1428
00:56:56,600 --> 00:56:58,600
headquarters , we went on our first 

1429
00:56:58,600 --> 00:57:00,544
multiple day trip . We traveled to 

1430
00:57:00,544 --> 00:57:02,322
Central America , Honduras , El 

1431
00:57:02,322 --> 00:57:05,280
Salvador , Guatemala , Costa Rica and 

1432
00:57:05,290 --> 00:57:08,340
the Hollow Look in the eyes of our our 

1433
00:57:08,350 --> 00:57:10,830
partners . Uh , they're struggling to 

1434
00:57:10,830 --> 00:57:12,997
fill their gas tanks and find food for 

1435
00:57:12,997 --> 00:57:16,130
their their security forces because of 

1436
00:57:16,130 --> 00:57:18,670
the stress , the pandemic and the 

1437
00:57:18,680 --> 00:57:21,930
violence has placed . And this creates 

1438
00:57:21,930 --> 00:57:24,097
real opportunities for our competitors 

1439
00:57:24,097 --> 00:57:26,550
are more than willing to step into that 

1440
00:57:27,030 --> 00:57:30,950
that violent the sauce 

1441
00:57:30,950 --> 00:57:33,117
and and take advantage of it for their 

1442
00:57:33,117 --> 00:57:34,617
own interests . And it has 

1443
00:57:34,617 --> 00:57:38,540
ramifications in terms of generating 

1444
00:57:39,130 --> 00:57:41,950
flows of migrants , the drug trade , 

1445
00:57:42,530 --> 00:57:45,380
all kinds of other gratifications that 

1446
00:57:45,380 --> 00:57:47,102
are destructive to our country 

1447
00:57:47,230 --> 00:57:50,680
Eventually . Yes , Senator . Thank you , 

1448
00:57:50,680 --> 00:57:52,630
Mr Chairman . Thank you . Senator 

1449
00:57:52,630 --> 00:57:54,797
Blumenthal . Senator Cotton , please . 

1450
00:57:55,130 --> 00:57:57,650
Admiral Fowler . I want to speak about 

1451
00:57:57,650 --> 00:57:59,850
the legal conditions on the ground . 

1452
00:57:59,850 --> 00:58:01,850
The Northern Triangle , Guatemala , 

1453
00:58:01,850 --> 00:58:03,739
Honduras and El Salvador . Do the 

1454
00:58:03,739 --> 00:58:05,794
governments of those three countries 

1455
00:58:05,794 --> 00:58:07,739
systematically persecute their own 

1456
00:58:07,739 --> 00:58:09,517
citizens on the basis of race , 

1457
00:58:09,517 --> 00:58:12,080
ethnicity , , political views , 

1458
00:58:12,080 --> 00:58:13,920
religious belief for other such 

1459
00:58:13,930 --> 00:58:17,920
categories ? Senator , when when 

1460
00:58:17,920 --> 00:58:21,200
I go in lockstep with our embassies and 

1461
00:58:21,200 --> 00:58:24,860
we've got great diplomats and , uh , we 

1462
00:58:24,860 --> 00:58:27,430
don't see a systematic exploitation . I 

1463
00:58:27,430 --> 00:58:29,486
I work with the military's , and the 

1464
00:58:29,486 --> 00:58:31,590
elements we work with are vetted and 

1465
00:58:31,590 --> 00:58:34,030
trusted . And I find they're doing the 

1466
00:58:34,030 --> 00:58:36,141
right thing . Whether it's Honduras , 

1467
00:58:36,141 --> 00:58:38,363
Guatemala , El Salvador . Thank you . I 

1468
00:58:38,363 --> 00:58:40,474
think that's a very important point . 

1469
00:58:40,474 --> 00:58:42,363
The government of Honduras and El 

1470
00:58:42,363 --> 00:58:46,270
Salvador and Guatemala do not persecute 

1471
00:58:46,270 --> 00:58:48,360
their own citizens systematically on 

1472
00:58:48,360 --> 00:58:51,540
the basis of race , , ethnicity , 

1473
00:58:51,550 --> 00:58:53,800
religion or political views , which is 

1474
00:58:53,800 --> 00:58:56,330
the basis for asylum and refugee status . 

1475
00:58:56,330 --> 00:59:00,280
Under our laws , an economic migrant is 

1476
00:59:00,280 --> 00:59:03,140
not eligible for asylum . They are not 

1477
00:59:03,140 --> 00:59:06,110
eligible for refugee status . Asylum is 

1478
00:59:06,110 --> 00:59:08,640
designed for people like , say , Hong 

1479
00:59:08,640 --> 00:59:10,970
Konger , whose student visa expires and 

1480
00:59:10,970 --> 00:59:13,192
doesn't want to return to Hong Kong now 

1481
00:59:13,192 --> 00:59:15,248
that the Chinese Communist Party has 

1482
00:59:15,248 --> 00:59:17,290
cracked down on that country . The 

1483
00:59:17,290 --> 00:59:19,750
reason we have a crisis at our border 

1484
00:59:20,120 --> 00:59:22,110
is because President Biden , his 

1485
00:59:22,110 --> 00:59:24,900
administration , open the border and 

1486
00:59:24,910 --> 00:59:26,780
ended the policies of the Trump 

1487
00:59:26,780 --> 00:59:29,002
administration . That made it clear you 

1488
00:59:29,002 --> 00:59:30,891
could not make the very dangerous 

1489
00:59:30,891 --> 00:59:33,002
journey across Mexico . You could not 

1490
00:59:33,002 --> 00:59:35,224
pay smugglers and traffickers thousands 

1491
00:59:35,224 --> 00:59:37,113
of dollars to get to our southern 

1492
00:59:37,113 --> 00:59:39,224
border and then expect to be let in . 

1493
00:59:40,420 --> 00:59:43,140
If you let them in , more will come . 

1494
00:59:44,220 --> 00:59:46,164
That's why we have a crisis at the 

1495
00:59:46,164 --> 00:59:49,320
border . General Denmark . We've been 

1496
00:59:49,320 --> 00:59:51,530
supporting the department Homeland 

1497
00:59:51,530 --> 00:59:53,586
Security at the border for some time 

1498
00:59:53,586 --> 00:59:57,030
now with D o D personnel . And the most 

1499
00:59:57,030 --> 00:59:59,197
recent major adjustment numbers was in 

1500
00:59:59,197 --> 01:00:03,160
2018 . Is that right ? That's 

1501
01:00:03,160 --> 01:00:06,070
correct . In 2018 , then , this year 

1502
01:00:06,070 --> 01:00:08,460
we're up to nearly 4000 total number , 

1503
01:00:08,460 --> 01:00:10,460
and it has the status of the border 

1504
01:00:10,460 --> 01:00:14,440
changed from 2018 to March of 2021 . 

1505
01:00:15,210 --> 01:00:17,432
When you say status of the border , can 

1506
01:00:17,432 --> 01:00:20,190
you clarify the conditions there ? Um 

1507
01:00:20,190 --> 01:00:22,134
and whether or not we're closer to 

1508
01:00:22,134 --> 01:00:24,134
having a secure border or we have a 

1509
01:00:24,134 --> 01:00:26,357
less secure border now than we did when 

1510
01:00:26,357 --> 01:00:28,301
this , uh , major personnel change 

1511
01:00:28,301 --> 01:00:30,134
first started , I would defer to 

1512
01:00:30,134 --> 01:00:32,190
homeland security for the security . 

1513
01:00:32,190 --> 01:00:34,246
The border were in direct support of 

1514
01:00:34,246 --> 01:00:36,412
homeland security for that mission , I 

1515
01:00:36,412 --> 01:00:38,579
can tell you , the numbers of migrants 

1516
01:00:38,579 --> 01:00:40,246
coming across as dramatically 

1517
01:00:40,246 --> 01:00:42,357
dramatically increased here in recent 

1518
01:00:42,357 --> 01:00:44,523
months . And what kind of strange that 

1519
01:00:44,523 --> 01:00:46,579
put on our personnel at the border ? 

1520
01:00:46,579 --> 01:00:48,801
Our personnel being D o d o D personnel 

1521
01:00:49,110 --> 01:00:51,277
D . O D . Continues to provide support 

1522
01:00:51,277 --> 01:00:53,332
to Homeland Security and Customs and 

1523
01:00:53,332 --> 01:00:55,499
border protection . Uh , mainly in the 

1524
01:00:55,499 --> 01:00:57,554
detection and monitoring . The total 

1525
01:00:57,554 --> 01:00:59,388
number of 4000 does not place an 

1526
01:00:59,388 --> 01:01:01,554
incredible strain on the force and has 

1527
01:01:01,554 --> 01:01:03,630
not shown significant strategic 

1528
01:01:03,640 --> 01:01:05,807
readiness of our ability to accomplish 

1529
01:01:05,807 --> 01:01:07,930
our missions . I've seen some media 

1530
01:01:07,930 --> 01:01:10,710
reports the suggests in addition to 

1531
01:01:10,720 --> 01:01:12,887
economic migrants who are not eligible 

1532
01:01:12,887 --> 01:01:14,998
for asylum , showing up at our border 

1533
01:01:14,998 --> 01:01:16,942
from Latin America that we are now 

1534
01:01:16,942 --> 01:01:19,560
beginning to see um , foreign nationals 

1535
01:01:19,560 --> 01:01:21,893
from other countries in Africa and Asia . 

1536
01:01:22,100 --> 01:01:24,211
To your knowledge , is that correct ? 

1537
01:01:24,710 --> 01:01:26,710
Senator , I'm aware of intelligence 

1538
01:01:26,710 --> 01:01:28,950
reports that corroborate exactly what 

1539
01:01:28,950 --> 01:01:31,350
you just said , What kind of threat 

1540
01:01:31,350 --> 01:01:34,030
does it opposed to our country ? That 

1541
01:01:34,040 --> 01:01:36,262
persons might be traveling from the Old 

1542
01:01:36,262 --> 01:01:38,318
World to the new World to join these 

1543
01:01:38,318 --> 01:01:42,000
migrant flows ? Ah , I believe that we 

1544
01:01:42,000 --> 01:01:44,310
must continue to monitor anybody who 

1545
01:01:44,310 --> 01:01:47,930
has nefarious desires for our country . 

1546
01:01:48,310 --> 01:01:50,620
Homeland defense . Border security is 

1547
01:01:50,620 --> 01:01:52,453
national security , which equals 

1548
01:01:52,453 --> 01:01:54,564
homeland defense . Uh , there will be 

1549
01:01:54,564 --> 01:01:56,176
people take advantage of the 

1550
01:01:56,176 --> 01:01:58,453
opportunity to come across that border . 

1551
01:01:58,453 --> 01:02:00,509
Yeah , I couldn't agree more general 

1552
01:02:00,509 --> 01:02:02,509
than Herc . I mean , if our borders 

1553
01:02:02,509 --> 01:02:04,731
open , anyone from around the world can 

1554
01:02:04,731 --> 01:02:04,450
get to Mexico and try to cross our 

1555
01:02:04,450 --> 01:02:06,672
border , not just to seek a better life 

1556
01:02:06,672 --> 01:02:08,894
here , but to harm or ultimately try to 

1557
01:02:08,894 --> 01:02:11,061
kill our own people . And I go back to 

1558
01:02:11,061 --> 01:02:13,283
the simple point . If you let them in , 

1559
01:02:13,283 --> 01:02:17,130
more will come . All the controversy in 

1560
01:02:17,130 --> 01:02:19,352
the media are misplaced . Talking about 

1561
01:02:19,352 --> 01:02:21,297
how fast we're processing migrants 

1562
01:02:21,297 --> 01:02:23,408
through these detention facilities or 

1563
01:02:23,408 --> 01:02:23,400
whether they have enough showers or 

1564
01:02:23,400 --> 01:02:26,990
beds or cots . If you don't let them in 

1565
01:02:26,990 --> 01:02:29,212
the first place , you don't worry about 

1566
01:02:29,212 --> 01:02:31,546
the conditions in the detention centers . 

1567
01:02:31,546 --> 01:02:34,120
The Biden administration has to reverse 

1568
01:02:34,120 --> 01:02:35,898
course . There are three simple 

1569
01:02:35,898 --> 01:02:38,009
solutions . First , it should reapply 

1570
01:02:38,009 --> 01:02:40,009
the public health declaration under 

1571
01:02:40,009 --> 01:02:43,620
title 42 to all foreign nationals to 

1572
01:02:43,620 --> 01:02:45,676
including minors to include minors , 

1573
01:02:45,676 --> 01:02:47,953
just like the Trump administration did , 

1574
01:02:47,953 --> 01:02:50,120
as the Biden administration still does 

1575
01:02:50,120 --> 01:02:51,898
for adults . Second , it should 

1576
01:02:51,898 --> 01:02:53,953
renegotiate a new migrant protection 

1577
01:02:53,953 --> 01:02:56,176
protocol with Mexico , which it tore up 

1578
01:02:56,176 --> 01:02:58,120
for no reason on its first days in 

1579
01:02:58,120 --> 01:03:00,342
office . And third , it should re enter 

1580
01:03:00,342 --> 01:03:02,342
a safe third country agreement with 

1581
01:03:02,342 --> 01:03:04,564
Guatemala . If you're seeking asylum at 

1582
01:03:04,564 --> 01:03:06,509
our border , there's no reason you 

1583
01:03:06,509 --> 01:03:06,380
cannot seek asylum in Guatemala . That 

1584
01:03:06,380 --> 01:03:07,880
was the lesson of the last 

1585
01:03:07,880 --> 01:03:09,880
administration . Those three things 

1586
01:03:09,880 --> 01:03:12,580
alone solve our crisis at the border , 

1587
01:03:12,590 --> 01:03:14,590
and they can all be done tomorrow . 

1588
01:03:16,400 --> 01:03:18,580
Thank you , Senator Cotton . Senator 

1589
01:03:18,580 --> 01:03:22,340
Kaine , please . Thank you , Mr . Chair 

1590
01:03:22,340 --> 01:03:24,451
and Admiral follow . I want to follow 

1591
01:03:24,451 --> 01:03:26,340
up on the comments made about the 

1592
01:03:26,340 --> 01:03:28,970
border crisis . The It is a crisis , 

1593
01:03:28,970 --> 01:03:31,137
and there are important things that we 

1594
01:03:31,137 --> 01:03:34,070
must do . I want to puncture the 

1595
01:03:34,080 --> 01:03:36,500
partisan finger pointing that's been 

1596
01:03:36,500 --> 01:03:38,556
done because it's a crisis . I think 

1597
01:03:38,556 --> 01:03:40,910
that we all have to to solve the notion 

1598
01:03:40,910 --> 01:03:43,330
that this was a bad under the Obama 

1599
01:03:43,330 --> 01:03:45,441
administration , fine under the Trump 

1600
01:03:45,441 --> 01:03:47,441
administration and how bad again is 

1601
01:03:47,441 --> 01:03:50,260
just not realistic . During the Obama 

1602
01:03:50,260 --> 01:03:52,316
administration , we work together in 

1603
01:03:52,316 --> 01:03:54,538
Congress on a comprehensive immigration 

1604
01:03:54,538 --> 01:03:56,482
reform bill that would have poured 

1605
01:03:56,482 --> 01:03:58,538
billions tens of billions of dollars 

1606
01:03:58,538 --> 01:04:00,204
into border security . It was 

1607
01:04:00,204 --> 01:04:02,371
bipartisan in the Senate . It could go 

1608
01:04:02,371 --> 01:04:04,704
nowhere in a Republican dominated house . 

1609
01:04:04,704 --> 01:04:06,816
Wouldn't even get a committee hearing 

1610
01:04:06,816 --> 01:04:08,871
during the Trump administration . We 

1611
01:04:08,871 --> 01:04:11,093
came up with a plan that was bipartisan 

1612
01:04:11,093 --> 01:04:13,093
in February of 2018 that would have 

1613
01:04:13,093 --> 01:04:15,260
protected dreamers and put $25 billion 

1614
01:04:15,260 --> 01:04:17,371
into border security every penny that 

1615
01:04:17,371 --> 01:04:19,538
the president had asked for . And when 

1616
01:04:19,538 --> 01:04:21,482
the bill was introduced with 16 co 

1617
01:04:21,482 --> 01:04:23,816
sponsors eight Democrats at Republicans , 

1618
01:04:23,816 --> 01:04:25,871
the Trump administration having said 

1619
01:04:25,871 --> 01:04:28,093
that they would sign the bill , You put 

1620
01:04:28,093 --> 01:04:30,149
it on my desk , I'll sign It is what 

1621
01:04:30,149 --> 01:04:32,204
the president told many of us . They 

1622
01:04:32,204 --> 01:04:34,093
decided within a day that they so 

1623
01:04:34,093 --> 01:04:36,093
didn't like dreamers that they were 

1624
01:04:36,093 --> 01:04:38,093
willing to turn away $25 billion in 

1625
01:04:38,093 --> 01:04:39,840
border security . We missed an 

1626
01:04:39,840 --> 01:04:42,790
opportunity in 2013 to put about $40 

1627
01:04:42,790 --> 01:04:45,012
billion into border security because of 

1628
01:04:45,012 --> 01:04:46,901
a Republican House . We missed an 

1629
01:04:46,901 --> 01:04:50,240
opportunity in 2018 to put $25 billion 

1630
01:04:50,240 --> 01:04:51,962
in border security because the 

1631
01:04:51,962 --> 01:04:54,910
president didn't like dreamers now I 

1632
01:04:54,910 --> 01:04:56,870
don't say that to suggest that the 

1633
01:04:56,870 --> 01:04:58,981
problem at the border is the fault of 

1634
01:04:58,981 --> 01:05:00,703
one party or another . It is a 

1635
01:05:00,703 --> 01:05:02,926
challenge . We all have to deal with it 

1636
01:05:02,926 --> 01:05:05,037
and we have to find solutions , and I 

1637
01:05:05,037 --> 01:05:07,148
share my colleagues views that one of 

1638
01:05:07,148 --> 01:05:09,148
the solutions is putting some tough 

1639
01:05:09,148 --> 01:05:11,410
laws in place and enforcing them . I 

1640
01:05:11,410 --> 01:05:14,620
think the asylum rules or maybe , um , 

1641
01:05:14,630 --> 01:05:16,630
need to be tightened up . I want to 

1642
01:05:16,630 --> 01:05:18,741
correct my colleague . He asked you a 

1643
01:05:18,741 --> 01:05:20,852
question about asylum rules and asked 

1644
01:05:20,852 --> 01:05:22,908
if there was persecution for another 

1645
01:05:22,908 --> 01:05:24,963
reason . But he left out persecution 

1646
01:05:24,963 --> 01:05:26,852
based on political status , I can 

1647
01:05:26,852 --> 01:05:28,963
assure you in the Northern Triangle , 

1648
01:05:28,963 --> 01:05:28,600
having lived there , there is 

1649
01:05:28,600 --> 01:05:31,700
significant execution in the nations in 

1650
01:05:31,700 --> 01:05:33,922
the Northern Triangle against political 

1651
01:05:33,922 --> 01:05:35,756
dissidents , against journalists 

1652
01:05:35,756 --> 01:05:37,867
against environmental activists . And 

1653
01:05:37,867 --> 01:05:40,089
there has been a history of persecution 

1654
01:05:40,089 --> 01:05:42,089
against indigenous people . There's 

1655
01:05:42,089 --> 01:05:44,256
some other groups that my colleague is 

1656
01:05:44,256 --> 01:05:46,089
right there not being persecuted 

1657
01:05:46,089 --> 01:05:48,256
directly now . But political opponents 

1658
01:05:48,256 --> 01:05:50,770
are in Honduras , where I lived . The 

1659
01:05:50,770 --> 01:05:52,950
OS said after the last presidential 

1660
01:05:52,950 --> 01:05:55,006
election that the election should be 

1661
01:05:55,006 --> 01:05:57,061
rerun because they were so corrupt . 

1662
01:05:57,061 --> 01:05:59,283
Instead , the US recognized the corrupt 

1663
01:05:59,283 --> 01:06:01,940
government and then cut off aid to the 

1664
01:06:01,940 --> 01:06:04,280
corrupt government and then what we see 

1665
01:06:04,280 --> 01:06:06,447
today , as you said , Admiral Faller , 

1666
01:06:06,447 --> 01:06:08,391
is sort of a perfect storm . If we 

1667
01:06:08,391 --> 01:06:10,669
don't invest in security and economics , 

1668
01:06:10,669 --> 01:06:12,836
there will be economic refugees and my 

1669
01:06:12,836 --> 01:06:15,058
colleague is right and economic Refugee 

1670
01:06:15,058 --> 01:06:17,224
is not entitled to asylum status . But 

1671
01:06:17,224 --> 01:06:19,447
nevertheless , if we are not working to 

1672
01:06:19,447 --> 01:06:21,113
promote security and economic 

1673
01:06:21,113 --> 01:06:22,947
improvement , there is a natural 

1674
01:06:22,947 --> 01:06:24,780
consequence to that . So we need 

1675
01:06:24,780 --> 01:06:27,040
tougher border security . We need to 

1676
01:06:27,090 --> 01:06:29,340
increase investments in security 

1677
01:06:29,340 --> 01:06:31,451
assistance in the region . We need to 

1678
01:06:31,451 --> 01:06:34,590
hold authoritarians accountable rather 

1679
01:06:34,590 --> 01:06:37,800
than turn a blind eye to their misdeeds . 

1680
01:06:39,000 --> 01:06:41,167
These are things that we can do and we 

1681
01:06:41,167 --> 01:06:43,630
can do together . General Clark , I 

1682
01:06:43,630 --> 01:06:47,540
want to ask you a question . Canada is 

1683
01:06:47,540 --> 01:06:49,762
a pretty good ally of the United States 

1684
01:06:49,762 --> 01:06:52,720
militarily , aren't they absolutely , 

1685
01:06:52,720 --> 01:06:56,200
Senator ? In my conversations with the 

1686
01:06:56,200 --> 01:06:58,089
Canadian foreign minister and the 

1687
01:06:58,089 --> 01:07:00,200
Canadian minister of Defense , it has 

1688
01:07:00,200 --> 01:07:02,478
been a sore point with them that the U . 

1689
01:07:02,478 --> 01:07:04,780
S . Uses national security waivers 

1690
01:07:04,780 --> 01:07:07,590
against them to impose tariffs . 

1691
01:07:08,880 --> 01:07:11,102
We have trade disputes with Canada over 

1692
01:07:11,102 --> 01:07:13,047
milk over lumber products over all 

1693
01:07:13,047 --> 01:07:15,102
kinds of things . That's not unusual 

1694
01:07:15,102 --> 01:07:17,436
given the sizeable border that we share . 

1695
01:07:17,436 --> 01:07:19,547
But they expressed to me a particular 

1696
01:07:19,547 --> 01:07:21,102
concern . When the previous 

1697
01:07:21,102 --> 01:07:23,213
administration labels them a national 

1698
01:07:23,213 --> 01:07:25,491
security threat , they point out , Hey , 

1699
01:07:25,491 --> 01:07:27,602
we fight with you in every war , were 

1700
01:07:27,602 --> 01:07:29,491
side by side with you in military 

1701
01:07:29,491 --> 01:07:31,769
hospitals , at Landstuhl and elsewhere . 

1702
01:07:31,769 --> 01:07:33,713
Have you heard a similar concern ? 

1703
01:07:33,713 --> 01:07:35,658
Expressed dissatisfaction from the 

1704
01:07:35,658 --> 01:07:37,769
Canadian side about us using national 

1705
01:07:37,769 --> 01:07:39,769
security label that labeling them a 

1706
01:07:39,769 --> 01:07:41,824
national security threat in order to 

1707
01:07:41,824 --> 01:07:43,491
impose tariffs . Senator , my 

1708
01:07:43,491 --> 01:07:45,324
discussions with the Minister of 

1709
01:07:45,324 --> 01:07:47,491
National Defence , the deputy and also 

1710
01:07:47,491 --> 01:07:49,713
the chief of the defence staff . I have 

1711
01:07:49,713 --> 01:07:49,660
not been engaged or have that 

1712
01:07:49,660 --> 01:07:51,549
discussion . Okay . Thank you for 

1713
01:07:51,549 --> 01:07:53,660
sharing that . Thank you , Mr Chair . 

1714
01:07:53,660 --> 01:07:55,660
Thank you . Senator Kaine . Now via 

1715
01:07:55,660 --> 01:07:59,620
WebEx centered around . Thank 

1716
01:07:59,620 --> 01:08:01,676
you , Mr Chairman . Gentlemen , good 

1717
01:08:01,676 --> 01:08:04,080
morning . I thank you for both of your 

1718
01:08:04,080 --> 01:08:07,890
continued dedication to our country and 

1719
01:08:07,890 --> 01:08:10,320
for your previous service . Let me 

1720
01:08:10,320 --> 01:08:12,670
begin . Um , I'd like to start with 

1721
01:08:12,670 --> 01:08:15,870
Admiral . Follower . Um , understanding 

1722
01:08:15,870 --> 01:08:17,759
and combating Russian and Chinese 

1723
01:08:17,759 --> 01:08:20,190
influence operations truly is critical 

1724
01:08:20,770 --> 01:08:23,260
to our national security . Senator 

1725
01:08:23,260 --> 01:08:25,371
Gillibrand began this discussion with 

1726
01:08:25,371 --> 01:08:27,660
you a little while ago talking about 

1727
01:08:27,660 --> 01:08:30,390
what was happening in in our southern 

1728
01:08:30,390 --> 01:08:33,780
regions . Admiral far I'd like to talk 

1729
01:08:33,780 --> 01:08:36,410
a bit about what our options are what 

1730
01:08:36,410 --> 01:08:38,632
the tools are that are available to you 

1731
01:08:38,632 --> 01:08:41,600
to counteract that misinformation and 

1732
01:08:41,610 --> 01:08:44,060
how what tools you may need right now 

1733
01:08:44,060 --> 01:08:46,227
or what additional assistance you need 

1734
01:08:46,270 --> 01:08:48,437
in order to be able to counteract some 

1735
01:08:48,437 --> 01:08:50,659
of the misinformation that currently is 

1736
01:08:50,659 --> 01:08:54,090
occurring . I can't stress enough the 

1737
01:08:54,100 --> 01:08:57,620
full court press that China has on to 

1738
01:08:57,620 --> 01:08:59,787
gain their economic dominance in their 

1739
01:08:59,787 --> 01:09:02,090
version of a world order globally . And 

1740
01:09:02,090 --> 01:09:04,146
in this hemisphere , which I look at 

1741
01:09:04,146 --> 01:09:06,201
this hemisphere as the front line of 

1742
01:09:06,201 --> 01:09:08,860
competition and we have to approach 

1743
01:09:08,860 --> 01:09:11,620
that as such as the U . S government , 

1744
01:09:11,620 --> 01:09:13,842
across all elements of power , with the 

1745
01:09:13,842 --> 01:09:16,290
diplomats and in the lead . Clearly , 

1746
01:09:16,670 --> 01:09:19,820
our military plays a role with our 

1747
01:09:19,830 --> 01:09:22,790
principal method to block 

1748
01:09:23,170 --> 01:09:27,020
Chinese military interests . The L . A 

1749
01:09:27,020 --> 01:09:29,242
is by staying engaged with our partners 

1750
01:09:29,242 --> 01:09:31,076
in our exercise program or I met 

1751
01:09:31,076 --> 01:09:33,298
program . These are world class China's 

1752
01:09:33,298 --> 01:09:35,990
tried to copy them . They've tried to 

1753
01:09:36,000 --> 01:09:39,250
replicate Leavenworth in Spanish and 

1754
01:09:39,250 --> 01:09:41,472
Portuguese . Uh , we need to remain the 

1755
01:09:41,472 --> 01:09:43,820
best at what we do and ensure we we 

1756
01:09:43,830 --> 01:09:46,540
provide the volume that is needed to 

1757
01:09:46,540 --> 01:09:49,170
allow our hemisphere partners to be 

1758
01:09:49,170 --> 01:09:52,320
professional and partner with us in the 

1759
01:09:52,330 --> 01:09:55,530
space . We have to stay 

1760
01:09:55,530 --> 01:09:58,220
engaged to understand what they're up 

1761
01:09:58,220 --> 01:10:00,200
to that goes back to intelligence 

1762
01:10:00,200 --> 01:10:02,770
resources . So I would some of this up 

1763
01:10:02,780 --> 01:10:04,720
by saying additional intelligence 

1764
01:10:04,720 --> 01:10:08,170
assets , continued security cooperation 

1765
01:10:08,180 --> 01:10:10,069
and increased volume of I met and 

1766
01:10:10,069 --> 01:10:13,260
exercises and then enough assets in the 

1767
01:10:13,260 --> 01:10:15,660
field . That includes our small Special 

1768
01:10:15,660 --> 01:10:17,882
Operations Force teams , which are very 

1769
01:10:17,882 --> 01:10:20,580
effective . And last year we received 

1770
01:10:20,580 --> 01:10:22,636
great support from the United States 

1771
01:10:22,636 --> 01:10:24,810
Army to put some small security force 

1772
01:10:24,810 --> 01:10:26,600
assistance teams in places like 

1773
01:10:26,600 --> 01:10:28,690
Colombia and Honduras . We're having 

1774
01:10:28,690 --> 01:10:30,801
great effect to train . And it's only 

1775
01:10:30,801 --> 01:10:33,930
training , not a company are our 

1776
01:10:33,940 --> 01:10:36,970
partners . Thank you , General . 

1777
01:10:37,660 --> 01:10:41,080
General . General , Uh , right now 

1778
01:10:41,560 --> 01:10:43,727
you've got on a day to day basis . You 

1779
01:10:43,727 --> 01:10:45,949
clearly have more individuals trying to 

1780
01:10:45,949 --> 01:10:48,282
cross the border into the United States . 

1781
01:10:48,282 --> 01:10:50,338
There's no question about that . And 

1782
01:10:50,338 --> 01:10:52,449
clearly that's something which , most 

1783
01:10:52,449 --> 01:10:54,790
certainly in your supporting role , 

1784
01:10:55,260 --> 01:10:57,480
will take up a fair part of your day . 

1785
01:10:57,860 --> 01:11:00,027
At the same time , you have one of the 

1786
01:11:00,027 --> 01:11:02,650
most critical responsibilities out 

1787
01:11:02,650 --> 01:11:05,020
there defending the homeland against 

1788
01:11:05,020 --> 01:11:08,120
those possibilities . Have a strategic 

1789
01:11:08,120 --> 01:11:10,810
attack . Today we have this discussion 

1790
01:11:10,810 --> 01:11:13,032
going on about the need for the triad , 

1791
01:11:13,032 --> 01:11:15,143
the continuation of our try , and and 

1792
01:11:15,143 --> 01:11:17,890
also for the need to provide specific 

1793
01:11:17,900 --> 01:11:20,810
defense protection against incoming 

1794
01:11:20,820 --> 01:11:23,410
weapons systems . Can you talk about 

1795
01:11:23,420 --> 01:11:25,364
the connectivity or the connection 

1796
01:11:25,364 --> 01:11:28,180
between having all three legs of the 

1797
01:11:28,180 --> 01:11:31,900
triad available and also needing to 

1798
01:11:31,900 --> 01:11:33,956
still have the ability to defend the 

1799
01:11:33,956 --> 01:11:36,122
homeland ? And if we were to take away 

1800
01:11:36,122 --> 01:11:38,840
any one of the legs of the triad , what 

1801
01:11:38,840 --> 01:11:40,896
that would do in terms of increasing 

1802
01:11:41,360 --> 01:11:43,527
the challenge for you of defending the 

1803
01:11:43,527 --> 01:11:47,040
homeland with missile systems set up to 

1804
01:11:47,050 --> 01:11:49,490
protect against incoming weapons 

1805
01:11:49,490 --> 01:11:53,370
systems ? Sure , Senator . First , 

1806
01:11:53,860 --> 01:11:56,490
the nuclear deterrent and the Triad 

1807
01:11:56,590 --> 01:11:59,090
remains the foundation of homeland 

1808
01:11:59,090 --> 01:12:01,660
defense . I would defer to Admiral 

1809
01:12:01,660 --> 01:12:04,380
Richard on specifics about the Triad . 

1810
01:12:04,750 --> 01:12:07,060
I know that the Triad today was 

1811
01:12:07,060 --> 01:12:10,670
designed for specific capabilities to 

1812
01:12:11,250 --> 01:12:14,760
basically but take the 

1813
01:12:15,250 --> 01:12:18,440
calculus of any threat and create 

1814
01:12:18,440 --> 01:12:20,440
deterrence options . Because of the 

1815
01:12:20,440 --> 01:12:22,590
flexibility that the triad creates , 

1816
01:12:22,820 --> 01:12:25,660
the most reactive forces are I . C B . 

1817
01:12:25,660 --> 01:12:28,080
M s . The most flexible force is the 

1818
01:12:28,090 --> 01:12:29,812
bombers and certainly the most 

1819
01:12:29,812 --> 01:12:31,868
survivable forces . The submarines . 

1820
01:12:31,868 --> 01:12:34,090
Each of those contributes significantly 

1821
01:12:34,090 --> 01:12:36,201
to homeland defense . Uh , we haven't 

1822
01:12:36,201 --> 01:12:38,368
had a great power conflict since World 

1823
01:12:38,368 --> 01:12:40,590
War two , and the Triad and the nuclear 

1824
01:12:40,590 --> 01:12:42,780
deterrent has been part of that . With 

1825
01:12:42,780 --> 01:12:45,620
that , said our competitors today are 

1826
01:12:45,620 --> 01:12:48,100
trying to circumvent the nuclear triad 

1827
01:12:48,100 --> 01:12:50,322
and develop , have developed and stated 

1828
01:12:50,322 --> 01:12:52,560
intent to attack the homeland because 

1829
01:12:52,560 --> 01:12:54,671
they assume they can be successful to 

1830
01:12:54,671 --> 01:12:56,616
destroy our will below the nuclear 

1831
01:12:56,616 --> 01:12:58,782
threshold . I'm concerned about having 

1832
01:12:58,782 --> 01:13:01,004
the ability to give decision makers key 

1833
01:13:01,004 --> 01:13:04,230
decision space in that realm . But not 

1834
01:13:04,240 --> 01:13:07,150
all in game defeat . And so deterrence 

1835
01:13:07,150 --> 01:13:09,410
by denial is what I talk about and that 

1836
01:13:09,410 --> 01:13:12,490
is giving options to senior leaders to 

1837
01:13:12,490 --> 01:13:14,440
create doubt in a competitor or 

1838
01:13:14,440 --> 01:13:16,662
adversaries mind about their ability to 

1839
01:13:16,662 --> 01:13:18,829
achieve their objectives with a strike 

1840
01:13:18,829 --> 01:13:21,470
on the homeland . Senator . Thank you . 

1841
01:13:21,480 --> 01:13:23,480
My time is expired . Thank you , Mr 

1842
01:13:23,480 --> 01:13:25,813
Chairman . Thank you , Senator . Rounds . 

1843
01:13:25,813 --> 01:13:28,110
And now let me recognize Senator King 

1844
01:13:28,110 --> 01:13:30,170
via WebEx . Mhm . 

1845
01:13:32,950 --> 01:13:35,190
Mr . Chairman and General , I'd like to 

1846
01:13:35,190 --> 01:13:37,610
follow up on a comment made at the end 

1847
01:13:37,610 --> 01:13:39,670
by , uh , for questioning by Senator 

1848
01:13:39,670 --> 01:13:42,270
Shaheen and asking in your professional 

1849
01:13:42,280 --> 01:13:45,150
military opinion . Would it be in the 

1850
01:13:45,160 --> 01:13:47,560
interests of the United States to a 

1851
01:13:47,560 --> 01:13:49,660
seed to the law of the sea treaty , 

1852
01:13:51,850 --> 01:13:54,500
Senator ? Yes , it would be . It gives 

1853
01:13:54,500 --> 01:13:56,710
us a better posture , a seat at the 

1854
01:13:56,710 --> 01:13:58,932
table , more credibility when we work . 

1855
01:13:58,932 --> 01:14:01,154
Many of the issues that we have to work 

1856
01:14:01,154 --> 01:14:03,377
around the globe with allies , partners 

1857
01:14:03,377 --> 01:14:05,570
and potential competitors . And that's 

1858
01:14:05,570 --> 01:14:07,792
particularly true in the Arctic , isn't 

1859
01:14:07,792 --> 01:14:09,737
it ? That's where the Russians are 

1860
01:14:09,737 --> 01:14:12,740
staking claims as we speak . Senator , 

1861
01:14:12,740 --> 01:14:14,851
I agree with your assessment . And as 

1862
01:14:14,851 --> 01:14:17,073
Russia takes over the Arctic Council in 

1863
01:14:17,073 --> 01:14:19,240
May , it's never been more crucial for 

1864
01:14:19,240 --> 01:14:21,240
us with our like minded nations and 

1865
01:14:21,240 --> 01:14:23,240
allies and partners that we come to 

1866
01:14:23,240 --> 01:14:25,462
agreement to not allow Russia and China 

1867
01:14:25,462 --> 01:14:28,090
to exploit any seams and gaps . Thank 

1868
01:14:28,090 --> 01:14:31,280
you . I'd like to turn for a moment to 

1869
01:14:31,280 --> 01:14:33,447
the immigration question in the crisis 

1870
01:14:33,447 --> 01:14:35,169
at the border , which everyone 

1871
01:14:35,169 --> 01:14:37,760
recognizes , Uh , Fowler . I think at 

1872
01:14:37,760 --> 01:14:39,871
the beginning of your testimony , you 

1873
01:14:39,871 --> 01:14:42,038
pointed out that there were sufficient 

1874
01:14:42,038 --> 01:14:44,260
there were significant what I call push 

1875
01:14:44,260 --> 01:14:48,260
factors as well as the change 

1876
01:14:48,260 --> 01:14:50,260
of administration , which is a pull 

1877
01:14:50,260 --> 01:14:52,470
factor . But the combination of the 

1878
01:14:52,480 --> 01:14:55,030
impact of covid , the two major 

1879
01:14:55,030 --> 01:14:57,490
hurricanes and the transnational gangs 

1880
01:14:57,500 --> 01:15:00,610
is making life intolerable for people 

1881
01:15:00,610 --> 01:15:02,840
in those Northern triangle countries . 

1882
01:15:02,840 --> 01:15:06,250
Is that not also true ? Senator , I've 

1883
01:15:06,250 --> 01:15:08,417
met with folks who have walked all the 

1884
01:15:08,417 --> 01:15:10,417
way to the border and come back and 

1885
01:15:10,417 --> 01:15:12,840
there their drive was the violence , 

1886
01:15:12,840 --> 01:15:15,010
the fear for their life their lack of 

1887
01:15:15,010 --> 01:15:17,040
food for their families , the 

1888
01:15:17,040 --> 01:15:19,620
insecurity . And in this past year , 

1889
01:15:19,630 --> 01:15:21,770
we've had that perfect storm of 

1890
01:15:21,770 --> 01:15:23,937
additional factors covid and then back 

1891
01:15:23,937 --> 01:15:26,810
to back major hurricanes . The region 

1892
01:15:26,810 --> 01:15:30,510
is fragile . Uh , the conditions are on 

1893
01:15:30,510 --> 01:15:32,840
power with our Great Depression , and 

1894
01:15:32,850 --> 01:15:36,840
our engagement is critical to help our 

1895
01:15:36,840 --> 01:15:39,850
partner nations overcome this 

1896
01:15:39,860 --> 01:15:43,130
challenge . It strikes me that whatever 

1897
01:15:43,130 --> 01:15:45,297
we do on border security and I'm fully 

1898
01:15:45,297 --> 01:15:47,980
supportive of of a secure border as 

1899
01:15:47,980 --> 01:15:50,170
long as we have these three countries 

1900
01:15:50,540 --> 01:15:53,400
near our border , uh that are in such 

1901
01:15:53,400 --> 01:15:55,456
terrible shape , people are going to 

1902
01:15:55,460 --> 01:15:57,770
continue to try to find ways to to 

1903
01:15:57,770 --> 01:16:01,680
escape . I've heard the term we 

1904
01:16:01,680 --> 01:16:03,902
need a Marshall Plan for that region in 

1905
01:16:03,902 --> 01:16:05,680
order to try to stabilize these 

1906
01:16:05,680 --> 01:16:07,458
countries in terms of their own 

1907
01:16:07,458 --> 01:16:09,791
internal security , their own economies . 

1908
01:16:09,791 --> 01:16:11,810
Is that is that Does that ring any 

1909
01:16:11,810 --> 01:16:14,340
bells for you , Senator , I think a 

1910
01:16:14,340 --> 01:16:17,210
Marshall plan would be a a wonderful 

1911
01:16:17,210 --> 01:16:19,250
model as we look at the entire 

1912
01:16:19,250 --> 01:16:21,620
hemisphere , really ? And look at the 

1913
01:16:21,630 --> 01:16:23,741
the sources of instability across the 

1914
01:16:23,741 --> 01:16:25,741
hemisphere . In addition to Central 

1915
01:16:25,741 --> 01:16:29,390
America , we see Haiti , Cuba and 

1916
01:16:29,390 --> 01:16:32,570
Venezuela all sources of illegal 

1917
01:16:32,570 --> 01:16:34,514
migration to the United States and 

1918
01:16:34,514 --> 01:16:37,530
Venezuela alone , five million migrants 

1919
01:16:37,530 --> 01:16:39,752
now have swelled out of their borders . 

1920
01:16:39,830 --> 01:16:42,070
Uh huh . We need the big ideas . We 

1921
01:16:42,070 --> 01:16:44,500
need the sustained engagement of the 

1922
01:16:44,510 --> 01:16:46,288
all of nations and the whole of 

1923
01:16:46,288 --> 01:16:48,454
government . The United States and the 

1924
01:16:48,454 --> 01:16:50,343
department Offense plays a role , 

1925
01:16:50,343 --> 01:16:52,399
particularly in that professionalism 

1926
01:16:52,399 --> 01:16:54,510
and institutional capacity building . 

1927
01:16:54,510 --> 01:16:56,621
So their security forces do the right 

1928
01:16:56,621 --> 01:16:58,399
thing and contribute to overall 

1929
01:16:58,399 --> 01:17:02,090
sustainable security . You 

1930
01:17:02,090 --> 01:17:04,312
mentioned in your in your testimony the 

1931
01:17:04,312 --> 01:17:06,257
Russian and Chinese disinformation 

1932
01:17:06,257 --> 01:17:08,479
campaigns in these countries . Are they 

1933
01:17:08,479 --> 01:17:11,180
also encouraging migration as a way to 

1934
01:17:11,180 --> 01:17:14,030
undermine the US ? Do they see this as 

1935
01:17:14,030 --> 01:17:17,170
a as a weapon , just as they did with 

1936
01:17:17,170 --> 01:17:19,590
the Syrian migration into into Europe 

1937
01:17:19,600 --> 01:17:23,130
several years ago ? The disinformation 

1938
01:17:23,130 --> 01:17:26,420
by Russia seeks to discredit every act 

1939
01:17:26,420 --> 01:17:28,531
of goodness . And we do many that the 

1940
01:17:28,531 --> 01:17:30,198
United States provides in the 

1941
01:17:30,198 --> 01:17:32,198
hemisphere . And to the extent that 

1942
01:17:32,198 --> 01:17:34,198
drives migration , there's no doubt 

1943
01:17:34,198 --> 01:17:36,920
China seeks their own influence , their 

1944
01:17:36,920 --> 01:17:40,000
own economic dominance and , uh , they 

1945
01:17:40,000 --> 01:17:42,960
seek clients while we seek friends and 

1946
01:17:42,960 --> 01:17:45,230
partners . I think they're they're 

1947
01:17:45,230 --> 01:17:47,430
information campaign best exhibited by 

1948
01:17:47,430 --> 01:17:50,060
a recent visit to a country where I was 

1949
01:17:50,060 --> 01:17:52,950
asked about the illegal and unregulated 

1950
01:17:52,950 --> 01:17:55,380
unreported fishing in the region . I 

1951
01:17:55,380 --> 01:17:57,460
cited the example of Chinese 

1952
01:17:57,830 --> 01:18:00,270
involvement off of Ecuador , where 

1953
01:18:00,270 --> 01:18:02,620
their fleets would for great periods of 

1954
01:18:02,620 --> 01:18:05,800
time , go silent and sweep into the 

1955
01:18:05,810 --> 01:18:08,150
ecological preserve . And then within 

1956
01:18:08,150 --> 01:18:10,428
minutes after my facts based statement , 

1957
01:18:10,428 --> 01:18:13,410
which is based on the various credible 

1958
01:18:13,410 --> 01:18:16,100
sources of Chinese , proceeded to 

1959
01:18:16,100 --> 01:18:18,211
attack me and the media , that's just 

1960
01:18:18,211 --> 01:18:19,989
typical of their disinformation 

1961
01:18:19,989 --> 01:18:22,710
globally . Center Well , I'm out of 

1962
01:18:22,710 --> 01:18:24,877
time , but I think your testimony that 

1963
01:18:24,877 --> 01:18:26,660
you A don't have adequate I s R 

1964
01:18:26,660 --> 01:18:28,882
resources and be there not enough ships 

1965
01:18:28,882 --> 01:18:31,049
to interdict the drugs that are coming 

1966
01:18:31,049 --> 01:18:33,104
and killing Americans including more 

1967
01:18:33,104 --> 01:18:35,327
than one a day in my home state is very 

1968
01:18:35,327 --> 01:18:37,438
powerful . And that's a matter that's 

1969
01:18:37,438 --> 01:18:39,660
within our control . That's a matter of 

1970
01:18:39,660 --> 01:18:41,716
allocation of resources . And I hope 

1971
01:18:41,716 --> 01:18:43,882
this committee can bring some pressure 

1972
01:18:43,882 --> 01:18:45,660
on the on the administration to 

1973
01:18:45,660 --> 01:18:48,420
allocate adequate resources for I S r 

1974
01:18:48,430 --> 01:18:50,597
and for interdiction because we're not 

1975
01:18:50,597 --> 01:18:52,819
even interdicting the drug shipments we 

1976
01:18:52,819 --> 01:18:55,750
know about , uh , let alone finding 

1977
01:18:55,750 --> 01:18:57,917
ones that additionally , if they could 

1978
01:18:57,917 --> 01:18:59,972
provide . So that's something that I 

1979
01:18:59,972 --> 01:19:01,861
hope this committee can work on . 

1980
01:19:01,861 --> 01:19:03,861
Gentlemen , thank you both for your 

1981
01:19:03,861 --> 01:19:05,917
testimony has been very illuminating 

1982
01:19:05,917 --> 01:19:08,280
today . Thank you , Mr Chairman . Thank 

1983
01:19:08,280 --> 01:19:10,391
you . Senator King , let me recognize 

1984
01:19:10,391 --> 01:19:12,613
Senator Orange . Thank you , Mr Chair . 

1985
01:19:12,613 --> 01:19:14,724
And gentlemen , thank you so much for 

1986
01:19:14,724 --> 01:19:16,836
being here today and for your service 

1987
01:19:16,836 --> 01:19:18,836
to our great nation and the men and 

1988
01:19:18,836 --> 01:19:20,947
women within your commands . We truly 

1989
01:19:20,947 --> 01:19:23,002
appreciate everything they do for us 

1990
01:19:23,002 --> 01:19:25,290
every day . Um , just excuse me , 

1991
01:19:25,300 --> 01:19:27,930
Admiral Faller . Um , we had a great 

1992
01:19:27,930 --> 01:19:30,720
conversation last week , and you really 

1993
01:19:30,720 --> 01:19:33,470
stressed to me the importance of our 

1994
01:19:33,480 --> 01:19:36,000
neighborhood . And I want to continue 

1995
01:19:36,000 --> 01:19:38,222
visiting about that today because we do 

1996
01:19:38,222 --> 01:19:40,222
need to be very aware , and I think 

1997
01:19:40,222 --> 01:19:42,890
this committee is , but that we have a 

1998
01:19:42,890 --> 01:19:45,930
lot of , uh , nefarious influencers 

1999
01:19:45,940 --> 01:19:48,310
within our own neighborhood . And I 

2000
01:19:48,310 --> 01:19:50,421
would like to talk a little bit about 

2001
01:19:50,421 --> 01:19:52,450
those transnational criminal 

2002
01:19:52,460 --> 01:19:54,730
organizations as well as those that may 

2003
01:19:54,730 --> 01:19:57,920
be , um , influencing those t c . O s 

2004
01:19:57,920 --> 01:20:00,020
and where that's coming from . So 

2005
01:20:00,030 --> 01:20:02,140
you've provided the placemats for us 

2006
01:20:02,140 --> 01:20:05,820
today ? China , Iran , Russia . They're 

2007
01:20:05,820 --> 01:20:08,780
all influencers in our neighborhood , 

2008
01:20:09,210 --> 01:20:11,690
and they're all operating . We see the 

2009
01:20:11,690 --> 01:20:13,740
T . C . O . S as well . They are 

2010
01:20:13,740 --> 01:20:16,100
operating to our south , and they're 

2011
01:20:16,100 --> 01:20:18,940
bringing in about $90 billion of 

2012
01:20:18,940 --> 01:20:22,310
revenue annually . Uh , that is very 

2013
01:20:22,310 --> 01:20:24,510
concerning to me . And then the 

2014
01:20:24,510 --> 01:20:26,820
increase of movement across our borders 

2015
01:20:27,110 --> 01:20:29,221
is something troubling that we've all 

2016
01:20:29,221 --> 01:20:31,388
been talking about today . And we have 

2017
01:20:31,388 --> 01:20:33,554
to make sure that we're defending that 

2018
01:20:33,554 --> 01:20:35,666
border and pushing back against these 

2019
01:20:35,666 --> 01:20:37,721
influencers . So let's talk a little 

2020
01:20:37,721 --> 01:20:40,650
bit about the T . C o s , um , and what 

2021
01:20:40,650 --> 01:20:43,820
they are doing in the South . Com a . O . 

2022
01:20:43,820 --> 01:20:46,830
R . And are they working alongside 

2023
01:20:47,310 --> 01:20:49,530
China , Russia and Iran ? 

2024
01:20:50,910 --> 01:20:52,670
The transnational criminal 

2025
01:20:52,670 --> 01:20:55,030
organizations are just murderous . 

2026
01:20:55,030 --> 01:20:57,150
Violent organizations are murdering 

2027
01:20:57,150 --> 01:20:59,317
people driving migration , and they're 

2028
01:20:59,317 --> 01:21:01,690
fueled on corruption . And so when I 

2029
01:21:01,690 --> 01:21:03,800
look at the interconnection of these 

2030
01:21:03,810 --> 01:21:07,710
organizations and the China 

2031
01:21:07,710 --> 01:21:09,910
Russia players in our hemisphere , I 

2032
01:21:09,910 --> 01:21:12,188
look at corruption as a common element . 

2033
01:21:12,510 --> 01:21:16,070
It's , uh it feels both . Then we look 

2034
01:21:16,070 --> 01:21:18,690
at lack of regard for human rights , 

2035
01:21:18,710 --> 01:21:22,150
and there's a commonality there . And 

2036
01:21:22,150 --> 01:21:25,610
then we look at lack of regard for 

2037
01:21:25,610 --> 01:21:27,660
rules based international order or 

2038
01:21:27,660 --> 01:21:29,493
rules in general . And there's a 

2039
01:21:29,493 --> 01:21:31,438
commonality there . So there is an 

2040
01:21:31,438 --> 01:21:34,230
interconnection . The money laundering 

2041
01:21:34,240 --> 01:21:36,296
connection is the most significant . 

2042
01:21:36,296 --> 01:21:38,018
Where Chinese money laundering 

2043
01:21:38,018 --> 01:21:39,907
underwrites . TCO s a significant 

2044
01:21:39,907 --> 01:21:42,450
portion . And that's , uh , something 

2045
01:21:42,450 --> 01:21:44,830
that we're tracking as part of all of 

2046
01:21:44,840 --> 01:21:46,951
interagency effort here in the United 

2047
01:21:46,951 --> 01:21:48,910
States . And so this corrosive 

2048
01:21:48,910 --> 01:21:51,320
influence undermines our democracies 

2049
01:21:51,710 --> 01:21:53,766
and contributes to the fragility and 

2050
01:21:53,766 --> 01:21:55,932
the security concerns . We have raised 

2051
01:21:55,932 --> 01:21:58,099
approximately United States location , 

2052
01:21:58,099 --> 01:22:00,432
location , location , drives everything . 

2053
01:22:00,432 --> 01:22:03,130
And that location is so important in 

2054
01:22:03,130 --> 01:22:06,420
this neighborhood . So as 

2055
01:22:06,800 --> 01:22:09,630
Senator Shaheen was asking about 

2056
01:22:09,640 --> 01:22:12,300
Chinese influence , So there's above 

2057
01:22:12,300 --> 01:22:14,550
the board operations going on with 

2058
01:22:14,550 --> 01:22:16,930
China , where there may be engaging in 

2059
01:22:16,930 --> 01:22:20,090
legal activities . But then you are 

2060
01:22:20,100 --> 01:22:23,240
saying they engage in these criminal 

2061
01:22:23,250 --> 01:22:26,120
activities as well and under the radar 

2062
01:22:26,300 --> 01:22:30,250
type of criminal organizations . So the 

2063
01:22:30,250 --> 01:22:32,139
national defense strategy and our 

2064
01:22:32,139 --> 01:22:34,540
secretaries guidance sites , China is 

2065
01:22:34,540 --> 01:22:38,100
the pacing challenge and and I side 

2066
01:22:38,100 --> 01:22:40,267
with what the end up , a com commander 

2067
01:22:40,267 --> 01:22:42,489
said . It's the most significant threat 

2068
01:22:42,489 --> 01:22:44,544
we face in the 21st century , and we 

2069
01:22:44,544 --> 01:22:47,550
look at we want this competition to 

2070
01:22:47,550 --> 01:22:49,494
work out peacefully and not ending 

2071
01:22:49,494 --> 01:22:52,300
conflict and not be adversarial . But 

2072
01:22:52,310 --> 01:22:54,630
Chinese , in addition to the illegal , 

2073
01:22:54,640 --> 01:22:56,751
unreported , unregulated fishing , is 

2074
01:22:56,751 --> 01:22:58,810
involved in illegal mining illegal 

2075
01:22:58,820 --> 01:23:01,040
logging . Uh , they are at least 

2076
01:23:01,050 --> 01:23:04,330
tacitly supporting the money laundering . 

2077
01:23:04,350 --> 01:23:07,820
They are using covid and vaccines as a 

2078
01:23:07,820 --> 01:23:10,420
hammer to further the Chinese Communist 

2079
01:23:10,420 --> 01:23:12,580
Party interest , particularly to get 

2080
01:23:12,580 --> 01:23:15,480
better deals for Huawei and five G , 

2081
01:23:15,490 --> 01:23:18,490
and to try to drive a wedge between the 

2082
01:23:18,490 --> 01:23:20,823
remaining countries that support Taiwan . 

2083
01:23:20,823 --> 01:23:22,934
And the majority of those are here in 

2084
01:23:22,934 --> 01:23:24,990
this hemisphere . So yes , Senator . 

2085
01:23:24,990 --> 01:23:27,300
Their corrosive , insidious influences 

2086
01:23:27,300 --> 01:23:29,280
being felt right here in our 

2087
01:23:29,280 --> 01:23:31,336
neighborhood . Thank you , Admiral . 

2088
01:23:31,336 --> 01:23:33,558
And I appreciate our discussion to that 

2089
01:23:33,558 --> 01:23:35,502
effect last week . And General Van 

2090
01:23:35,502 --> 01:23:37,558
Herck , in the remaining time that I 

2091
01:23:37,558 --> 01:23:39,613
have , we've had a number of our own 

2092
01:23:39,613 --> 01:23:41,669
troops working the southern border , 

2093
01:23:41,669 --> 01:23:43,502
which I think has been extremely 

2094
01:23:43,502 --> 01:23:45,502
important . They've been supporting 

2095
01:23:45,502 --> 01:23:47,836
United States Customs and Border Patrol . 

2096
01:23:47,836 --> 01:23:50,090
Are they still playing a vital role in 

2097
01:23:50,090 --> 01:23:51,923
the defense of our nation at our 

2098
01:23:51,923 --> 01:23:54,990
southern border , Senator , Probably 

2099
01:23:54,990 --> 01:23:58,310
best answered by CBP and DHS my recent 

2100
01:23:58,310 --> 01:24:00,690
visit . I would tell you that we are 

2101
01:24:00,690 --> 01:24:02,690
playing a role to enable them to do 

2102
01:24:02,690 --> 01:24:04,912
their law enforcement role by providing 

2103
01:24:04,912 --> 01:24:07,290
support . When I look at the challenges 

2104
01:24:07,290 --> 01:24:08,846
that transnational criminal 

2105
01:24:08,846 --> 01:24:10,957
organizations create on the border of 

2106
01:24:10,957 --> 01:24:13,123
the symptoms that we're seeing are the 

2107
01:24:13,123 --> 01:24:15,401
migration , the human trafficking , Uh , 

2108
01:24:15,401 --> 01:24:17,346
the counternarcotics , uh , from a 

2109
01:24:17,346 --> 01:24:19,457
homeland defense perspective , Mexico 

2110
01:24:19,457 --> 01:24:21,623
being in the United States North Com a 

2111
01:24:21,623 --> 01:24:23,623
O . R . And two major transnational 

2112
01:24:23,623 --> 01:24:26,090
criminal organizations with the Sinaloa 

2113
01:24:26,090 --> 01:24:27,950
and new Jalisco . Uh , we have a 

2114
01:24:27,950 --> 01:24:29,920
national security imperative with 

2115
01:24:29,930 --> 01:24:31,986
regards to the instability that they 

2116
01:24:31,986 --> 01:24:34,152
create , the tragedies they create and 

2117
01:24:34,152 --> 01:24:36,120
the opportunities they create for 

2118
01:24:36,130 --> 01:24:38,019
nefarious actors such as China or 

2119
01:24:38,019 --> 01:24:39,963
Russia , right on our own southern 

2120
01:24:39,963 --> 01:24:42,410
border , to have access and influence . 

2121
01:24:42,470 --> 01:24:44,359
And so it concerns me very much , 

2122
01:24:44,359 --> 01:24:46,526
Senator . Thank you , gentlemen , very 

2123
01:24:46,526 --> 01:24:48,530
much . And I appreciate you 

2124
01:24:48,530 --> 01:24:50,641
safeguarding our neighborhood . Thank 

2125
01:24:50,641 --> 01:24:51,220
you , Mr Chair .