2154 Rayburn House Office Building

Introduction

Chairman Mica, Ranking Member Connolly, Members of the Subcommittee, it is a privilege and an honor to appear before you to discuss the work of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), particularly with regard to CBP’s development of the minimum standards and best practices for the issuance of cross border travel documents through the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), CBP’s Trusted Traveler Programs and the use of biometrics to secure these programs.

As America’s frontline border agency, CBP’s priority mission is to protect the American public, while facilitating lawful travel and trade. To do this, CBP has deployed a multi-layered, risk-based approach to enhance the security of the people and goods entering the United States. This layered approach to security reduces our reliance on any single point or program that could be compromised.

On a typical day, CBP welcomes nearly a million travelers at our air, land, and sea ports. The volume of international air travelers increased by 12 percent from 2009 to 2012 and is projected to increase 4 to 5 percent each year for the next five years¹. CBP continues to address the security elements of its mission while meeting the challenge of increasing volumes of travel in air, land, and sea environments, by assessing the risk of passengers from the earliest, and furthest, possible point, and at each point in the travel continuum.

Working with our partners, CBP secures our Nation’s borders by employing and enhancing our layers of defense throughout the entire supply chain (for goods) and transit sequence (for people) – starting from their points of origin, transit to the United States, to their arrival and entry at our ports of entry. These layers rely upon increased intelligence and risk-management strategies regarding the movement and flow of both travelers and trade. Risk segmentation, separating the “knowns” from the “unknowns” allows us to enhance security by focusing more attention on stopping illegitimate trade, while at the same time facilitating legitimate travel and commerce.

More than 1.9 million people, including more than 425,000 new members this fiscal year, have enrolled in Trusted Traveler Programs, which allow expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. These trusted travelers carry credentials that meet or exceed the International Organization for Standardization security standards and exceed the best practices for protection of personal identification documents.

¹ U.S. Commerce Department Forecast of Growth in International Travel to the United States Through 2016. http://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2012/04/23/us-commerce-department-forecasts-growth-international-travel-united-s.

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)

In 2009, CBP implemented a key 9/11 Commission recommendation through WHTI and established the minimum requirements for cross-border travel documents with the states, tribes and Canada. This program involved a substantial technology investment in the land border environment that continues to provide both facilitation and security benefits. Today, as a result of WHTI, more than 20 million Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology-enabled travel documents have been issued. These documents are more secure, as they can be verified electronically in real-time back to the issuing authority to establish identity and citizenship; they also reduce the average vehicle processing time by 20 percent.

A direct result of the increased use of RFID-enabled secure travel documents is CBP’s capability to increase the national law enforcement query rate, including queries against the terrorist watch list, to more than 98 percent. By comparison, in 2005, CBP performed law enforcement queries in the land border environment for only 5 percent of travelers.

Overview of Trusted Traveler Programs

CBP operates four international trusted traveler programs offering expedited processing for pre-identified, lower risk populations. These programs improve security by increasing efficiencies in allocating screening resources, and facilitate legitimate trade and travel. Membership in these programs is valid for five years, and the application process, membership requirements, and standard of vetting are the same.

Applicants who voluntary participate in the program undergo the following: a biographical background check against criminal, law enforcement, customs, immigration, and terrorist indices; a 10-fingerprint law enforcement check; and a personal interview with a CBP officer. Fingerprints are checked against the FBI database for criminal history and also are run against and stored in the DHS Automated Biometric Identity System, IDENT, which is used to perform the biometric match during the primary inspection. CBP also conducts recurrent vetting checks every 24-hours. As a result of the recurring vetting, if an individual is found to no longer be eligible to participate in the program the individual’s membership will be immediately revoked and subsequently they will be notified of the revocation.

Once enrolled, applicants are issued a RFID-enabled card that identifies their record and status in CBP’s database upon arrival at a port. There are many security features on the Trusted Traveler cards. The personal data on the cards are laser engraved. The documents use a combination of printed and electronic security features. Some of the printed features can be seen, others cannot. An antenna and RFID chip embedded within the card help to verify the identity of the bearer to Customs and Border Protection Officers while optical security features help officers quickly validate that both the traveler and card are authentic.

Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI)

The Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection, also referred to as the SENTRI program, offers pre-approved, low-risk travelers expedited entry into the U.S. through designated lanes at the U.S.-Mexico land border ports. In addition to the standard vetting process, and an RFID enabled card, the SENTRI program requires a vehicle or motorcycle inspection to take place. A sticker decal is issued once complete. SENTRI users have access to specific, dedicated primary lanes into the U.S.

SENTRI was first implemented at Otay Mesa, CA, in 1995, and has grown to include the ten largest southern border POEs along the U.S.-Mexico border. SENTRI members currently account for 19 percent of all cross SWB traffic. The fee for SENTRI is $122.25.

NEXUS

NEXUS is a bilateral program with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), which offers pre-approved, low-risk travelers expedited travel between the U.S. and Canada through designated lanes and kiosks at the land border and all Canadian preclearance airports, as well as in the marine environment for pleasure boaters. NEXUS identifies low-risk travelers through: a complete biographic check; an interview with a CBP officer and a CBSA officer; and a biometric (fingerprint) criminal history check.

Once identified as low-risk, applicants are enrolled in NEXUS and given a RFID-enabled card that is unique to the traveler. The card allows the traveler to use dedicated primary lanes at land border POEs reserved for NEXUS member use. At the Canadian airports that have NEXUS Air kiosks, passengers use kiosks instead of dedicated lanes; and iris scans identify low-risk travelers. NEXUS Air kiosks uses a biometric identifier (iris) in place of RFID-enabled cards like at the land border dedicated lanes. At the time of enrollment, travelers qualify for trusted traveler status in all modes of travel (air, sea and land).

In FY 2012, the average NEXUS program lane processing time, 20 seconds, was two and a half times faster than vehicles processed at general lanes crossing the northern border (general lane times along the northern border average 50 seconds per vehicle). For FY 2012, the NEXUS program lanes produced an inspection time savings equivalent to 24 CBP officers. The fee for NEXUS is $50.

Free and Secure Trade (FAST)

CBP’s Free and Secure Trade, more commonly known as FAST is the cargo equivalent of the SENTRI and NEXUS facilitative programs. Through FAST, importers, commercial carriers, truck drivers and manufacturers who enroll in the program and meet agreed upon security criteria, including participation in the C-TPAT program, are granted expedited clearance at a POE. Using electronic data transmission and transponder technology, CBP expedites clearance of approved trade participants. FAST supports a more secure supply chain and enables CBP to focus security efforts and inspections on high-risk commerce, where the attention is most needed. The fee for FAST is $50.

Global Entry (GE)

GE, CBP’s newest trusted traveler program, which launched in 2008, is aimed at facilitating low-risk travelers in the air environment. CBP designed GE for expedited clearance of pre-approved low-risk air travelers into the U.S. using automated kiosks, placed in the Federal Inspection Services area of each identified airport, allowing GE enrolled travelers to bypass queues and process through Passport Control without having to see a CBP officer. GE facilitated entry into the U.S. is especially beneficial to frequent international flyers. Currently, GE is available at Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Denver, Detroit, Ft. Lauderdale, Guam, Honolulu, Houston, John Wayne Orange County, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Newark, New York (JFK), Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland (OR), Raleigh-Durham, San Antonio, Salt Lake City, Sanford (FL), San Juan, San Diego, San Francisco, Saipan, Seattle, Tampa, and Washington Dulles airports. GE is also available at all eight Canadian preclearance sites - Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, and Winnipeg; at two preclearance sites in Ireland - Dublin and Shannon; and two U.S. territory sites - Guam and Saipan.

GE membership is currently available to U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents (LPRs), and Mexican nationals. Canadian citizens and residents may enjoy GE benefits through membership in the NEXUS program. Additionally, in a joint arrangement with the Netherlands, CBP allows Dutch citizens to participate in GE, and U.S. citizens to participate in the Dutch trusted traveler program, Privium. A joint arrangement with South Korea allows Korean citizens to participate in GE, and U.S. citizens to participate in the South Korean Trusted Traveler program, the Smart Entry System. CBP is operating pilot programs with Germany, Qatar, and the United Kingdom, allowing limited numbers of their citizens to participate in Global Entry. Once CBP enters into a bilateral agreement, a pilot may be conducted at the request of the partner country to test the application and vetting systems of the partner country before the program is formally launched. GE members use automated kiosks located in the Federal Inspection Services (FIS) area of each program airport. Kiosk transactions are initiated by inserting the member’s travel document (passport or lawful permanent resident card) into the document reader. Through fingerprint biometrics and passport or LPR card data, the GE kiosk: validates membership eligibility; performs real time law enforcement database queries; and allows the traveler to complete CBP Declarations questions via touch screen. Upon successful completion of the GE process at the kiosk, the traveler will be issued a transaction receipt and directed to baggage claim and the exit, unless chosen for a selective or random secondary referral. Global Entry Members are also issued a card, however this is not for use of the kiosk. These cards may be used at the land borders. The cards allow GE members to make use of the NEXUS and SENTRI lanes when travelling into the U.S. via the land borders.

To date, more than 718,000 travelers have enrolled in the Global Entry program. Global Entry has reduced average wait times for Global Entry users by more than 70 percent for the participants, with more than 75 percent of travelers using Global Entry processed in less than five minutes. The 283 Global Entry kiosks have been used nearly 5 million times, equal to approximately 83,300 CBP inspectional processing hours. These hours are then expended on the normal passenger processing, helping to reduce overall wait times. The fee for Global entry is $100.

Costs vs Cost Savings

CBP is conducting a new fee study, expected to be complete by the end of this year, for its Trusted Traveler Programs. Once the fee study is complete, DHS will publish a Federal Register Notice, which will include a comment period. To support Trusted Traveler Programs, CBP is authorized to use approximately $6 million in appropriated funding each fiscal year. Appropriated funds are complemented with over $30M in revenues (user fee collections fluctuate due to economic factors and cycles of enrollment renewals) generated by enrollment fees. Combined resources are used to fund staff vetting applications, and equipment and maintain information systems. In addition, the cost avoidance of these programs in terms of inspectional hours saved due to the increased efficiencies and faster processing times is the equivalent of $21.6 million, or 220,860 inspectional hours saved.

Conclusion

To counter the threat of terrorism and secure our borders, while expeditiously facilitating legitimate trade and travel, CBP relies on a balanced mix of professional law enforcement personnel, advanced technologies and modernized facilities and infrastructure both at and between the ports of entry. With the support of Congress, CBP has made significant progress in securing the borders through a multi-layered approach using a variety of tools at our disposal. CBP will continue to work within DHS and with our federal, state, local, tribal, and international partners, to strengthen border security. We must remain vigilant and focus on building our approach to position CBP’s greatest capabilities to combat the greatest risks that exist today, to be prepared for emerging threats, and to continue to build a sophisticated approach tailored to meet the challenges of securing a 21st century border.

We are continuing to enhance and expand our trusted traveler programs, which expedite the processing of known, low-risk travelers so that we can better focus our attention on higher-risk, unknown travelers.

Chairman Mica, Ranking Member Connolly, Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for this opportunity to testify about the work of CBP and our efforts in securing our borders. We look forward to answering your questions.

311 Cannon House Office Building

Good morning Mr. Chairman and distinguished Members of the Subcommittee. Thank you for the opportunity to testify before this Committee on the Coast Guard’s role in enforcing compliance of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program within the maritime transportation system.

In previous testimonies, the Coast Guard has described our responsibility for ensuring industry compliance with TWIC regulations, the status of our deployment of handheld readers to field units, and our efforts to publish regulations for electronic TWIC readers in accordance with Congressional requirements as provided in the Security and Accountability For Every (SAFE) Port Act of 2006. This testimony will provide an update of our ongoing efforts to enhance the safety and security of the nations ports through the effective implementation of the TWIC program and recent publication of the TWIC Reader Requirements Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM).

The Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have formed a successful partnership in the joint management of the TWIC program and continue to work together to effectively build, manage, and improve it. TSA is responsible for TWIC enrollment, security threat assessment and adjudication, card production, technology, TWIC issuance, conduct of the TWIC appeal and waiver process as it pertains to credential issuance, and management of government support systems. The Coast Guard is responsible for establishing and enforcing access control requirements at Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) regulated vessels and facilities, which include the requirement for TWIC.

Value of TWIC

TWIC is one part of the layered approach to port security and establishes a minimum, uniform, vetting and threat assessment for mariners and port workers across the country. It ensures that workers needing routine, unescorted access to secure areas of facilities and vessels are vetted against a specific list of terrorism associations and criminal convictions and it provides a standard baseline for determining an individual’s suitability to enter the secure area of a MTSA-regulated vessel or facility. However, it is only the first half of a two-part process. First, vessel and facility security personnel must determine that an individual posseses a valid TWIC. Second, they must assess the individual’s business case for entering a vessel or facility before granting the person unescorted access. The possession of a valid TWIC alone is not sufficient to gain the holder of that credential access to secure areas on vessels or facilities across the country. The TWIC provides a means by which a vessel or facility security officer can determine that an individual has been vetted to an established standard. It helps inform the security officer’s decision to grant unescorted access to an individual. The facility owners/operators must maintain control of the access privileges to their respective facilities based on the valid TWIC and business case.

The nationwide recognition of TWIC promotes security and standardization. A common credential enables facility and vessel operators as well as federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement entities to verify the identity of individuals—a step that was not feasible prior to TWIC implementation with potentially thousands of different facility-specific credentials. TWIC also allows transportation workers to move among facilities, vessels, and geographic regions as needed for routine market demands and during emergencies, while still maintaining security.

As required by the SAFE Port Act, the Coast Guard conducts at least two security inspections annually at MTSA-regulated facilities, with one inspection being unannounced. Vessels and facilities in all 42 Coast Guard Captain of the Port Zones are in compliance with TWIC requirements, and have been since the April 15, 2009 implementation date. In addition to the security activities taken by vessel and facility security officers, the Coast Guard conducts regular inspections, spot checks, and TWIC verifications at approximately 3,100 maritime facilities, 14,000 vessels, and 50 outer continental shelf facilities. Our enforcement program also includes the use of hand held TWIC readers by Coast Guard personnel to conduct spot checks using the biometric capabilities of TWIC.

Reader Requirements

On March 22, 2013, the Coast Guard issued the TWIC Reader Requirements Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which outlines requirements for certain MTSA-regulated facilities and vessels to use electronic readers in accordance with Congressional requirements as provided in the SAFE Port Act as part of their TWIC access control program. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking maintain the visual verification requirement for remaining vessels and facilities. Per 33 CFR Parts 104, 105, and 106, this visual inspection must include, at a minimum:

• A match of the photo on the TWIC to the individual presenting it;
• Verification that the TWIC has not expired; and
• A visual check of the various security features present on the card to determine whether the TWIC has been tampered with or forged.

This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is an important element of the Coast Guard’s maritime security mission. Electronic readers add an important additional layer of security by providing biometric confirmation of the TWIC holder’s identity.

As you are aware, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report questioning the security benefits of TWIC, and the way in which the Coast Guard used results of the pilot program to inform the reader rule. As we indicated to GAO in our reply to their report, we were aware of the pilot program’s limitations, and used it with discretion in developing the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Moreover, we are convinced that TWIC, including the use of biometric readers, can and should be a part of the nation’s maritime security system. In part, because the GAO report came out while the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking public comment period was open, we extended the open period by thirty days to June 20, 2013, to ensure that the public had sufficient opportunity to review and provide feedback on the proposed regulations.

Conclusion

TWIC is improving access control at vessels and maritime facilities across the country. Its standard, nationwide recognition secures and facilitates a resilient, mobile transportation workforce during routine and emergency situations. The Coast Guard’s NPRM will further increase the security value of TWIC to the nation by focusing on the highest risk vessels and facilities. We will continue to work with TSA, industry groups, labor organizations, and other stakeholders to find ways to reduce costs, and improve service. As part of that process, we will continue to monitor the costs and benefits of TWIC, as well as the external security environment. In all of these matters, our primary concern is to provide the American people with a secure and efficient marine transportation system. We know we have more work to do, and we will ensure Congress is informed of our progress.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. I look forward to your questions.

311 Cannon House Office Building

Good morning Chairman Miller, Ranking Member Jackson Lee, and distinguished Members of the Subcommittee. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today about the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) role in the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program.

To fulfill a security mission of such scale, DHS leverages the expertise of its components to evaluate the entities that comprise the maritime domain and design security measures to counter potential threats. TWIC provides a uniform, industry-wide, biometric, tamper-resistant credential that is issued following successful completion of a security threat assessment (STA). Following successful completion of the STA and payment of relevant fees, eligible maritime workers are provided a tamper-resistant biometric credential that permits unescorted access to secure areas of port facilities and vessels regulated by the USCG under MTSA. These security benefits are most fully realized when the credential is used in conjunction with readers that can provide electronic verification.

TSA and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) jointly administer the fee-based TWIC program, which was established under Section 102 of the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 2002. The Act required the Secretary (at the time the Secretary of the Department of Transportation) to issue biometric transportation security cards to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering an area of a vessel or facility designated as a secure area. Currently, TSA is responsible for enrollment, STAs, and systems operations and maintenance related to TWICs while the USCG is responsible for establishing and enforcing access control standards including requirements for TWIC readers at MTSA-regulated facilities and vessels.

TSA began national deployment of the TWIC program on October 16, 2007, with the enrollment of maritime workers at the Port of Wilmington, DE. Since that time, TSA has conducted comprehensive STAs and issued TWIC credentials to over 2.5 million workers while identifying and preventing approximately 50,000 TWIC applicants who did not meet the required security standards from receiving a TWIC.

TWIC: Meeting Industry Needs and Security Requirements

The TWIC program represents an important maritime security measure by allowing facility and vessel security operators to verify that the holder has successfully passed the STA, through possession and visual inspection of the TWIC credential. Workers at the approximately 13,825 vessels and 3,270 maritime facilities that the USCG regulates under MTSA have been required to present their TWIC for unescorted entry to secure areas of those facilities since mid-April 2009. Until TWIC readers are in place, security access personnel are required to visually inspect the TWIC prior to granting unescorted access to secure areas on board regulated vessels and at facilities.

TWIC reader systems are designed to determine whether a card is authentic, valid, and issued by TSA. The readers also check that the card has not expired and, by accessing the cancelled card list, can determine if the card has been revoked or reported lost or stolen. When used in the biometric mode, readers confirm through a fingerprint match that the person using the card is the rightful owner of the card. The TWIC card and reader system can perform these checks virtually anywhere with portable or fixed readers because connectivity to an external database is not required.

A TWIC is valid for five years. The cost is $129.75, unless a worker has a comparable STA and uses it to establish TWIC eligibility, in which case the cost is $105.25. In late August 2012, DHS announced the Extended Expiration Date (EED) initiative under which eligible workers have been able to submit a request to extend the expiration date on their TWIC by three years and pay a $60 card replacement fee. The EED is a one-time initiative through December 31, 2014. The TWIC reader requirements have been proposed by USCG in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published on March 22, 2013. The NPRM proposals, if finalized as published, would require TWIC readers for certain high-risk vessels and facilities. Use of readers at these sites would enhance security by verifying the validity of the TWIC card as well as the identity of the card owner.

TSA is committed to partnerships with stakeholders, including the private sector, to carry out its mission. To meet the demands of the TWIC program, the TSA will provide MTSA-regulated facility owners and operators with a list of TWIC readers that meet current TWIC specifications as outlined in current guidance. TSA established the Qualified Technology List (QTL) process on November 1, 2012, with the announcement that three National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program laboratories were accredited to accept readers for compliance testing.

“OneVisit” Initiative and Other Plans to Enhance Customer Service

TSA will soon implement the “OneVisit” initiative to facilitate card issuance to eligible applicants and individuals needing a replacement TWIC. The initiative will enable individuals to apply for and obtain a TWIC with a single visit to an enrollment center and will begin with a pilot in Alaska this summer and expand nationwide in 2014 after TSA carefully evaluates the pilot results. Under “OneVisit,” an applicant will visit an enrollment center to provide identification and biometric information. Upon successful completion of an STA, TSA will directly mail a card to the applicant. “OneVisit” will eliminate the need for the transportation worker to make a follow-up visit to an enrollment center to activate the card and select a Personal Identification Number (PIN). Eliminating this second visit saves the applicant time and travel costs, as well as easing crowding at enrollment centers.

The Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012 mandates that by September 20, 2013, DHS reform the process for TWIC enrollment, activation, issuance and renewal to require no more than one in-person visit to a designated enrollment center, except in cases where extenuating circumstances exist requiring more than one visit. DHS made clear that, while a plan would be initiated within 270 days from the date of enactment to reform the process, it would likely take additional time to fully implement the provision in a manner that preserved the security of the credential.

In addition to “OneVisit,” TSA is committed to providing enhanced customer service in a variety of ways. TSA will expand the number of TWIC enrollment centers from 136 to approximately 300 sites by transitioning Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME)/TWIC enrollments sites to Universal Enrollment Service Centers. This will permit individuals to apply for a TWIC or HME at the same location, and shorten travel distances for many applicants. TSA is also increasing its oversight of customer service at our enrollment centers and has added call center representatives to reduce call wait times.

The TWIC Reader Pilot

In October 2006, pursuant to the SAFE Port Act, Congress mandated that DHS conduct a TWIC reader pilot to inform reader requirements prior to nationwide implementation and test the viability of selected biometric card readers while examining the technical aspects of connecting TWIC readers to access control systems. Seventeen sites participated in the reader pilot on a voluntary basis. These facilities used readers in conjunction with TWICs starting in August 2008. The pilot faced several constraints, including extreme differences in the nature of operations at participating sites. Additionally, the participating sites had to ensure that the use of the new readers and test protocols did not interfere with the security and daily operations of the facilities. Notwithstanding these challenges, the TWIC reader pilot generated considerable data that proved helpful in evaluating reader performance and assessing the impact of using readers at maritime facilities.

Following analysis of the pilot results, TSA concluded that TWIC reader systems function properly when they are designed, installed, and operated in a manner consistent with the characteristics and business needs of the facility or vessel operation. TSA also found that reader systems can facilitate access decisions efficiently and effectively despite the operational and technological difficulties that affected performance at some pilot locations. While a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report evaluating the results of the TWIC reader pilot program concluded that that DHS should not use the analysis of the pilot program as basis for developing the final TWIC reader regulation, the pilot did produce valuable information concerning the environmental, operational, and fiscal impacts of the use of TWIC readers.

Conclusion

Prior to the TWIC program, there was no standard identity verification or background check policy for entrance to a port facility or vessel. This created opportunities for fraud as well as security risks. Today, facility and vessel owners and operators look for one standard identification document that confirms the holder’s identity and verifies that he or she successfully completed an STA. The use of readers and biometric verification will enhance security at MTSA-regulated port facilities and vessels.

TSA and its partners have taken significant steps to add layers of security to protect our nation’s port facilities and vessels. These steps link together information sharing, security, and law enforcement from across TSA, USCG, DHS, and a multitude of partnerships. Each security layer builds upon and complements the others. TWIC is one of those layers. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the TWIC program. I am available to answer any questions.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Headquarters, in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Northern Command and American Red Cross, will facilitate the Third Annual Building Resilience through Public-Private Partnerships Conference on July 30-31, 2013.  Each year, the conference attracts over 300 participants from the public and private sectors to promote innovation in furthering public-private partnerships across the homeland security enterprise.

Detailed registration information and a draft agenda are available by clicking here.  For immediate inquiries, please contact the DHS Private Sector Office at 202-282-8484 or PPPConference@hq.dhs.gov.  Register today!