Date: 2012-06-07
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank the ranking member and the ranking member of the full committee and ranking member of the subcommittee for their courtesies. and I think clearly over this process that weve had an opportunity. as authorizers. to work with our friends on the Appropriations Committee. I wanted to have the opportunity to share what I think is important information. an amendment that I believe and hope that the policy aspect of these amendments we can work together in conference to ensure weve come to a meeting of the mind. I look forward to working with the conferees and working with the Senate to make some corrections. Last evening. my amendment to help to restore the mission of FAMs was. in essence. an amendment that needs to be clarified. I again rise with the policy amendment that would help FAMs. the Federal Air Marshals. which I think I could poll any American and ask them the question as to whether or not Federal Air Marshals are. in fact. a crucial element of our security. Today in our hearing. Administrator Pistole. in a direct question that I asked of him as to whether a $50 million reduction would reduce the mission and the security aspect of the Federal Air Marshals. his emphatic answer was. yes. that is what is happening. I think that we should streamline and be efficient. but my amendment that we were hoping that would be discussed was an amendment to restore the $50 million. It should be noted that this was taken from $5 billion. and many Members thought we were. in essence. drawing resources that were taken away from a small pot. but of $5 billion. we are simply asking that 50. 51 would be taken out to restore the mission of FAMs and to respond to concerns about cabin security. Mr. Chair. I rise today to offer my amendment 404 to "the FAMS Appropriation in Fiscal Year (FY) 2013." The House Report has recommended reducing the FAMS budget by $50 million. It is my sincere belief that this is a detrimental mistake. This recommendation ignores FAMS integral part in the homeland security mission. If FAMS loses $50 million to its budget it will result in the virtual shut down of the FAMS program. Flight coverage is controlled by two outstanding factors: the number of FAMs available and the Mission Travel Budget which includes hotel and per diem costs. These constraints directly impact FAMS ability to perform optimally. They are outlined in the FAMS riskbased concept of operations (CONOPS). International flights are the highest risk followed by large plane and long haul flights. With the reduction. FAMS will be forced to choose whether domestic or international flight coverage will be decreased. If domestic flights are maintained. then international flight coverage must be cut by 20 percent. Keep in mind that as I stated. international flights are the highest risk operations. By contrast. if international flights are maintained. domestic flight coverage must be cut by as much as 30 percent. This domestic reduction does not take into account the 10 percent decrease noted in the Presidents proposed budget. In total. FAMS domestic coverage will face a crippling 40 plus percentage reduction that FAMS has not experienced since Christmas Day 2009. I mention this date because on Christmas Day in 2009. a failed attack forced Congress to increase FAMS size to cover both domestic and international flights. It was clear then that Congress recognized flight vulnerabilities that have since been all but forgotten. While we believe that we cannot afford the FAMS budget. what we truly cannot afford is a successful attack to our security. It is important to note that FAMS is exploring alternative cost saving efforts. FAMS plans to extend its current hiring freeze into FY 2013 as mandated by the Presidents Budget. The reduction combined with limited employees would severely undermine FAMS mission. The hiring free will extend to administrative personnel in FY13. FAMS will also implement a furlough of all FAMS personnel of three to five days. reduce mission coverage. assess which offices can be shut down and consider a reduction in force (RIF) to strategically reduce onboard staffing levels. In addition. FAMS will undergo a significant decline in critical operational programs including travel. information technology and logistical support. I must stress again that any reduction to the FAMS budget goes beyond the reasonable operational abilities of this program. It will severely impact our aviation security and impede the good work and progress of this program. For these reasons and more I urge my colleagues to restore the $50 million to the FAMS budget.