HONOLULU, HI – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced yesterday two initiatives to strengthen aviation security: an Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) Pre-Departure Final Rule, and a Secure Flight Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM).

 

The APIS Final Rule enables the DHS to collect manifest information for flights to and from the United States and for vessels departing from the United States prior to boarding. The Secure Flight NPRM provides the public with the opportunity to comment on the DHS plan to assume watch list matching responsibilities from air carriers for domestic flights and align domestic and international passenger pre-screening. DHS’s proposals come several years after Congress directed action on the programs in the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001, signed into law on November 19, 2001, and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, signed into law on December 17, 2004.

 

Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) released the following statement regarding the APIS Final Rule and the Secure Flight NPRM:

 

I also am hopeful that the steps taken on the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) program will improve our system of screening passengers from foreign destinations.”