Archive
Great Seal of the United States National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States



Seventh public hearing of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States

The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (also known as the 9-11 Commission) held its seventh public hearing on January 26–27, 2004, in Washington, DC. The two-day investigative hearing developed facts and circumstances relating to border and aviation security—two central aspects of the Commission’s mandate.

The Commission heard from current and former officials from the public and private sectors, concluding with testimony from Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security James M. Loy. In addition to witness testimony, four staff statements were delivered during the course of the proceedings. A complete hearing agenda follows this advisory.

In announcing the hearing, the Commission's Chair, former New Jersey Governor Thomas H. Kean, said: “This hearing will be the first at which the Commission will share some important facts about the immigration and aviation security systems in place on September 11, 2001. We want to use this occasion to bring forward additional, and in some cases different, information from what is currently in the public record.”

The Vice Chair, former Indiana Representative Lee H. Hamilton, added: “Now that we are further along in our investigation, we believe it is time to begin to share with the public and families of those who perished in the 9-11 attacks some of the things the Commission has learned.”

Archived Video and Transcripts

Hearing Agenda

Monday, January 26, 2004

"Borders, Transportation, and Managing Risk"

9:00 AM

Opening Statement by Chairman Kean

STAFF STATEMENT
Entry of the 9/11 Hijackers into the United States

9:30 - 11:30 AM

PANEL ONE
The Border Security System Prior to September 11

Mary A. Ryan, former Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, Department of State

Doris Meissner, former Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Department of Justice

11:30 - 12:00 PM

PANEL TWO
An Incident in Florida

Jose E. Melendez-Perez, Inspector, Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security

12:00 - 1:00 PM

Break

1:00 - 1:30 PM

STAFF STATEMENT
Three 9/11 Hijackers: Identification, Watchlisting, and Tracking

1:30 - 3:15 PM

PANEL THREE
Visas and Watchlisting Today

Maura Harty, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, Department of State

Russell E. Travers, Deputy Director, Information Sharing and Knowledge Management Department, Terrorist Threat Integration Center

Donna A. Bucella, Director, Terrorist Screening Center, FBI

3:15 - 4:45 PM

PANEL FOUR
The Response to September 11 on the Borders

James Ziglar, former Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Department of Justice

Robert C. Bonner, Commissioner, Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security

Peter F. Verga, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Homeland Defense, Department of Defense

4:45 PM

Closing Statement by Chair Thomas H. Kean and Vice Chair Lee H. Hamilton

 

Tuesday, January 27, 2004

9:00 - 9:30 AM

STAFF STATEMENT
The Aviation Security System and the 9/11 Attacks

9:30 - 12:00 PM

PANEL FIVE
Aviation Security on 9/11:The Regulators

Jane F. Garvey, former Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration

Cathal L. “Irish” Flynn, former Associate Administrator of Civil Aviation Security, Federal Aviation Administration

Claudio Manno, Assistant Administrator for Intelligence, Transportation Security Administration

12:00 - 1:00 PM

Break

1:00 - 2:30 PM

PANEL SIX
Aviation Security on 9/11:The Airlines

Edmond L. Soliday, former Vice President of Safety, Quality Assurance, and Security, United Airlines

Andrew P. Studdert, former Chief Operating Officer, United Airlines

Gerard J. Arpey, Chief Executive Officer, American Airlines

Tim J. Ahern, Vice President – DFW Hub, and former Vice President of Safety, Security, and Environmental, American Airlines

2:30 - 3:00 PM

STAFF STATEMENT
The Four Flights

3:00 - 3:30 PM

PANEL SEVEN
Acts of Courage in the Sky

Nydia Gonzalez, Manager, Southeast Reservations Center, American Airlines

3:30 - 4:30 PM

PANEL EIGHT
Risk Management after September 11

James M. Loy, Deputy Secretary, Department of Homeland Security

4:30 PM

Closing Statement by Chair Thomas H. Kean and Vice Chair Lee H. Hamilton

Statements Submitted for the Record

 

Statement of Peter Gadiel

 

Statement of Carol Ashley



Current News


The Commission has released its final report. [more]

The Chair and Vice Chair have released a statement regarding the Commission's closing. [more]

The Commission closed August 21, 2004. [more]

Commission Members


Thomas H. Kean
Chair


Lee H. Hamilton
Vice Chair


Richard Ben-Veniste
Fred F. Fielding
Jamie S. Gorelick
Slade Gorton
Bob Kerrey
John F. Lehman
Timothy J. Roemer
James R. Thompson

Commission Staff


Philip D. Zelikow
Executive Director


Chris Kojm
Deputy Executive Director


Daniel Marcus
General Counsel