WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a full committee hearing today on oversight of the Transportation Security Administration.

Witness List:

The Honorable John S. Pistole, Administrator, Transportation Security Administration

Key Quotations from Today’s Hearing:

“Our transportation system remains a prime target for terrorists. We must continue to bolster our defenses against a determined enemy. And as terrorists’ methods evolve, so must TSA’s approach. TSA has massive responsibilities and multiple missions. They move more than half a billion people through the U.S. aviation system every year; screen billions of pounds of domestic and foreign cargo; and protect our ports and diverse public transportation systems. I do not doubt the difficulty of TSA’s mandate, but the agency must remain well-resourced and nimble in their response to new and emerging threats. We must take appropriate action to close any security loopholes, while making sure our global transportation system continues to move people, freight, and goods in an effective manner.”

Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV

“Our enemies are observant, patient, stealthy, and ruthless. They constantly evolve their methods and tools – and it is our job to stay ahead of them. My job is to lead TSA through the next stage in its development as this young agency matures into a high-performance, world-class organization. To defeat our enemies, we have to do our job better and smarter, and reshape our security approach so everyone recognizes what it is: one part of a continuum that comprises the national security mission of the United States.”

The Honorable John S. Pistole, Administrator, Transportation Security Administration

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