John Sammon, Assistant Administrator, Oral Testimony on Air Cargo before the House Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure Protection
Testimony & Speeches
Oral Statement of
JOHN SAMMON
ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR
Before the
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY
SUBCOMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION
JULY 15, 2008
Good afternoon Chairwoman Jackson Lee, Ranking Member Lungren, and distinguished members of the Subcommittee. I am pleased to be here today to discuss the progress the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is making toward fulfilling the air cargo security provisions of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007.
We are committed to the goal of screening 50 percent of all air cargo shipped from the United States on passenger aircraft by February 2009, and 100 percent by August 2010. This goal has been a TSA objective and TSA worked closely with Congress to reach these provisions in the 9/11 bill.
As you know, implementation of the 9/11 Act's air cargo provisions – requiring the screening of 50 percent by February 2009 and 100 percent by August 2010 – presents significant challenges.
The major challenge we face is that there is not enough capacity at all the airports to do all the screening that needs to be done. This lack of capacity makes it impractical to attempt to break down, screen, and reassemble large consolidated loads on airport property with any timeliness or efficiency. Furthermore, the resulting congestion would pose a security vulnerability and a threat target of its own.
TSA's answer to that challenge is to enable screening further up the supply chain to TSA-certified freight forwarders and shippers in addition to airport facilities. TSA is then creating a secure chain of custody from the screening location to the airport. Logistics planners in many fields use secure chains of custody with great success and have done so for decades. Screening cargo at the appropriate time and place in the supply chain will keep commerce and freight flowing in a secure manner. By reducing congestion potential at the airports, this approach also provides the best opportunity for small businesses to have continued access to air carrier screening facilities at the airport.
Participation in TSA's Certified Cargo Screening Program is voluntary. Participants become TSA-regulated parties and agree to adhere to TSA security protocols for their operations. A common security protocol will include standards for personnel vetting, facility infrastructure security, and physical screening facilities, among other requirements. TSA will only certify facilities that have been inspected and validated by TSA or TSA-authorized agents.
Key to this initiative is that the air carriers have the responsibility to transport only certified, screened cargo. TSA's regulatory programs, including on-going inspections, will enable cargo screening to be done by certified parties, but unscreened cargo will not be allowed to fly after August 2010.
While it is the air carriers' responsibility to ensure that cargo has been screened by a TSA-certified entity, who actually screens freight in a particular location will ultimately be determined by market issues such as available capacity, labor costs, real estate costs, and ability to become TSA security-certified. It is the air carriers' responsibility to work with freight forwarders and cargo handlers to ensure sufficient screening capacity exists in their markets. In the end, if only 100 pounds have been screened, only 100 pounds can fly on commercial aircraft.
To meet the first deadline in February, TSA is directing its inspector, canine and technology resources to the 18 highest-volume cargo airports. These airports handle nearly two-thirds of all cargo volume.
In addition to our cargo volume focus, TSA's February plan puts passengers first. As a consequence, TSA expects that all cargo will be screened on aircraft carrying 80 percent of passengers.
Let me repeat.
By February 2009, TSA expects that all cargo will be screened on aircraft carrying 80 percent of passengers.
Through the combination of focusing on high volume cargo airports and high volume passenger flights, we expect to meet the 50 percent screening requirement of the 9/11 Act.TSA has measures in place today to assure the safety of air cargo on passenger planes through a risk-based, layered security approach. TSA is committed to a process that keeps air cargo moving while meeting vital security screening requirements. That is why we particularly appreciate the assistance of Jim Tuttle and the Science and Technology's office's R&D program at DHS, and we look forward to working with Cathy Berrick of GAO to make this new screening process as airtight as possible.
Thank you, and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
