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| Homeland Security: Gen. John Kelly faces Senate confirmation hearing (Watch Live) | Homeland Security: Gen. John Kelly faces Senate confirmation hearing (Watch Live) |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Retired US Marine Corps General John Kelly, nominated to head the Department of Homeland Security under President-elect Donald Trump, is testifying before the Senate. | Retired US Marine Corps General John Kelly, nominated to head the Department of Homeland Security under President-elect Donald Trump, is testifying before the Senate. |
| Kelly, 66, previously headed the US Southern Command, and served as adviser to former Pentagon chiefs Leon Panetta and Robert Gates. He retired from the Marines in January 2016. | Kelly, 66, previously headed the US Southern Command, and served as adviser to former Pentagon chiefs Leon Panetta and Robert Gates. He retired from the Marines in January 2016. |
| Established in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the Department of Homeland Security has around 250,000 employees and a budget of $40 billion, encompassing agencies ranging from the US Secret Service and the Coast Guard to FEMA and airport security (TSA). | |
| Introducing Kelly before the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) called him “an excellent choice, superbly well-qualified for the position, and a person of highest integrity.” | Introducing Kelly before the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) called him “an excellent choice, superbly well-qualified for the position, and a person of highest integrity.” |
| DHS is “much like a combat command,” said former Secretary of Defense (2006-2011) and CIA chief (1991-93) Robert Gates, introducing Kelly. “I can think of no one more qualified… or better prepared to lead our homeland defense, than John Kelly.” | DHS is “much like a combat command,” said former Secretary of Defense (2006-2011) and CIA chief (1991-93) Robert Gates, introducing Kelly. “I can think of no one more qualified… or better prepared to lead our homeland defense, than John Kelly.” |
| “There is no quit in this man,” said Senator Tom Carper (D-Delaware), describing Kelly as “tenacious.” | “There is no quit in this man,” said Senator Tom Carper (D-Delaware), describing Kelly as “tenacious.” |
| After being sworn in, Kelly thanked the Senate for the kind reception. | After being sworn in, Kelly thanked the Senate for the kind reception. |
| “I firmly believe those in power deserve full candor and my honest assessment and recommendations,” he said. “Should I be confirmed, I look forward to partnering with you to protect the homeland.” | “I firmly believe those in power deserve full candor and my honest assessment and recommendations,” he said. “Should I be confirmed, I look forward to partnering with you to protect the homeland.” |
| Answering a question from McCain about opioids and heroin, Kelly said that "100 percent of heroin we consume in US is in fact produced in Mexico" and that part of the drug problem is that the US is a "heavily medicated society." | Answering a question from McCain about opioids and heroin, Kelly said that "100 percent of heroin we consume in US is in fact produced in Mexico" and that part of the drug problem is that the US is a "heavily medicated society." |
| “A physical barrier in and of itself won’t do the job,” Kelly said about the border wall proposed by Trump. It would still have to be backed by patrols. Defense of the southwestern US border begins as far south as Peru, he explained, by partnering with South American countries to interdict drug manufacturing and trafficking. | “A physical barrier in and of itself won’t do the job,” Kelly said about the border wall proposed by Trump. It would still have to be backed by patrols. Defense of the southwestern US border begins as far south as Peru, he explained, by partnering with South American countries to interdict drug manufacturing and trafficking. |
| Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) asked the nominee if he agreed with the ODNI report accusing Russia of “undermining public faith in the US democratic process.” | Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) asked the nominee if he agreed with the ODNI report accusing Russia of “undermining public faith in the US democratic process.” |
| “With high confidence,” was Kelly's three-word reply. | “With high confidence,” was Kelly's three-word reply. |
| Immigrants from Latin America come to the US for three reasons, he told McCaskill – to escape violence, to seek economic opportunity, and because they are confident they won’t be sent back. | |
| “I hold the people to our south in very high regard,” Kelly said, remind the Senate that he headed the US combat command in charge of South America for years. | |
| Answering Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Kelly said he would encourage better integration within the DHS, citing the example of reforms within the military that brought the branches together despite the generals who griped about it. | |
| “Yes, the Marines are still the best, but the other services are pretty good too,” Kelly said. | |
| He told Senator Jon Tester (D-Montana) he would look into better tracking of people coming into the US. | |
| “We don’t have a very good system” to notify law enforcement when visitors’ visas expire, Kelly said. | |
| Senator Ted Gaines (R-California) asked about the future of cyber-security, and Kelly said the government should work more with the private sector to find solutions. | |
| “At this point everyone realized it’s in everyone’s interest… that working together makes an awful lot of sense,” he said, noting that there are privacy issues and legal obstacles that will need to be taken into consideration. | |
| “We’re not appreciated and we’re not allowed to do our jobs,” was the primary complaint that Kelly has heard from DHS employees, and he said he would set out to change that. |