Donald Payne Jr.

The Trump administration's abuse of DHS authority over the last 4 years hurt the Department's reputation and disseminated--decimated, actually the public trust in DHS actions.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this timely hearing on a very, very important topic, and to the Ranking Member as well.

Just so we are clear, I am being apolitical as well. It is not a Republican or Democrat irrespective of who was in the White House at the time, that assessment needs to be made regardless of party.

Wouldn't part of that lessons learned be trying to assess the prior administration's lack of response to this?

Can you assure this committee that DHS's failure to issue a threat assessment was not part of an attempt by the Trump administration to leave the Capitol and Congress undefended?

To the extent that we had a rogue administration potentially in the White House, that also has to be assessed, correct?

commercial space exploration is the next frontier of American discovery, but it is our responsibility to ensure that it is conducted with safety at the forefront.

Imagine being able to hop on a train in Newark at 9 a.m. in the morning and make it to Washington in time for today's hearing at 11 a.m.

High speed rail is also a true green job creator, both for skilled workers like electricians and for professional service providers like engineers.

Thanks to the bold vision of President Biden, we stand at the crossroads of a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the Nation's passenger rail network and bring it into the 21st century.

It is time the United States makes a long-term bold effort to bring greater mobility to the Nation.

This is a very important topic for us.

The Maglev project would wreak havoc on Prince George's County, eliminate green space, pollute our air, suffocate our businesses, and siphon off significant business and money from MARC commuter rail and Amtrak.

Equity in high-speed rail also means a fair shot for minority-owned businesses to obtain work.

We have led the world in innovation from breaking the sound barrier to winning the space race.

And I agree with the gentleman from Massachusetts there. There are many of us on the committee that will agree with that.

As with all projects, we believe that intentional planning in infrastructure investments, with a lens of race, equity, and social justice, can have great community, mobility, and environmental benefits.

As our country confronts our historic--and current--mistreatment of Black and Brown people at the hands of police and the criminal justice system, we should also acknowledge and address the ways that land use, development, and…

If it is working as an exception, then why in the world wouldn't we make every State and every project eligible for the same thing?

equity in rail is one of my top priorities as chairman of this subcommittee.

High speed rail's mobility, climate, and economic promise is a benefit to all communities.

I have introduced legislation, the Hazardous Duty Pay for Front-line Federal Workers that would ensure that TSA workers and other servants... are properly recognized for the danger that they have put themselves in.

Thank you for this timely hearing. Since your arrival in Congress, you have been consistent on this issue around justification, and a good working environment for these great, great public employees and servants.

Can I get an assurance that you will move expeditiously to resolve all outstanding delays in getting the tunnel built?

I believed that I was following the instructions of President Trump.