WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Homeland Security Vice Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX), chairman of the bipartisan “Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events in the United States,” delivered the following opening statement in a hearing to assess historical incidents and attacks at sporting events, concerts, and other mass gatherings in anticipation of upcoming high-profile, international events the United States will be hosting. 

Watch Chairman McCaul’s full opening statement in a hearing entitled, “Lessons Learned: An Examination of Major Security Incidents at Mass Gathering Events.”

As prepared for delivery:

Welcome, everyone, to this inaugural hearing of the bipartisan House Committee on Homeland Security’s Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events in the United States. In the coming decade, the United States will host millions of international travelers for several major national and international special events, including the FIFA World Cup, celebration of the United States’ 250th birthday in 2026, and the Los Angeles Summer Olympics 2028.
 
Though these events present an opportunity to showcase everything that makes America great, we cannot forget that our adversaries and other violent extremists will view these events as targets for inflicting mass casualties and generating fear. To that end, I am honored to chair this Task Force and lead the Committee’s efforts in investigating and conducting oversight of the security needs of these major national and international special events. Our goal is to develop and advance legislative solutions that will enhance our preparedness and security posture against all threats.
 
I look forward to working with the Ranking Member of this Task Force, Ms. Nellie Pou of New Jersey, and with all the Members assigned to this Task Force to empower state and local law enforcement and other first responders to carry out their missions for these events.
 
As we prepare to secure the major events ahead, this Task Force must begin by learning from past failures—both here at home and abroad. In the United States, we’ve seen deadly attacks at mass gatherings: the 1996 Olympic bombing in Atlanta and the 2025 New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans. Abroad, the 1972 Munich Olympics saw terrorists murder 11 Israeli athletes after exploiting security gaps. In 2015, ISIS launched coordinated attacks across Paris, killing 130.

These tragedies make clear the cost of complacency. We owe it to the American people to confront these lessons and ensure we don’t repeat them. This hearing is the first step.
 
Today’s historical focus will lead us to discuss and consider events like the instance of vehicular terrorism on January 1st of this year in New Orleans, the crowd security breach at the Copa América final game at Miami Hard Rock Stadium last year, and the Kansas City parade shooting early last year.
 
We will also discuss the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing, which occurred during my tenure as Chairman of this Committee. I was heavily involved in organizing this Committee’s oversight and investigative activities following that tragedy.
 
We look forward to hearing from our witnesses on the challenges they faced, how coordination and response can be improved, and how their agencies have adapted to prevent future attacks. Most importantly, we want to know what more Congress and the federal government can do to strengthen security ahead of major events.
 
One clear lesson from past attacks is the need for strong intelligence sharing. Our state and local law enforcement rely on timely information from the federal intelligence community, especially through our fusion centers. With rising tensions in the Middle East, and the threat of Iran-backed actors operating inside the U.S., raising awareness and coordination is critical to stopping potential attacks before they happen.
 
Earlier this month, Congress passed, and the President signed into law, supplemental funding for the World Cup and the Los Angeles Olympics, which, will be used in part to enhance the information-sharing environment. That same information sharing is critical in stopping human trafficking. With millions of international visitors expected, criminal networks will look to exploit the crowds.
 
We also face a growing threat from drones. According to the NFL, there were over 2,800 drone incursions at stadiums during the 2023 season — a 4,000-percent increase from just five years prior. With minimal skill, bad actors can use these drones to launch attacks or create chaos. Yet most state and local agencies lack the authority to respond. We need to equip federal agencies and close the gap to keep these events safe.
 
There is still much work to do to secure our homeland ahead of these special events. I hope this hearing is a strong first step in ensuring we discuss today never happen again, and that the United States remains a global leader in providing safe and secure experiences for citizens and visitors alike.

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