Lieberman
Urges Conferees to Preserve Technology Upgrades
in Airport Security Bill
November 13, 2001
WASHINGTON - Governmental Affairs Committee
Chairman Joe Lieberman (D-CT) has urged House and
Senate conferees on the aviation security bill to
preserve technology-related provisions as they
negotiate a compromise. In a letter to the
Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, the Senate Aviation Subcommittee,
and the House Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, and the House Subcommittee on
Aviation, Lieberman asked that Title II of S.1447,
the Senate aviation security bill, be retained in
the conference committee's final report.
Following is text of the letter:
November 5, 2001
The Honorable Ernest F. Hollings
Chairman
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and
Transportation
508 Senate Dirksen Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Chairman Hollings:
The conference committee to resolve the
differences between the Senate- and House-passed
versions of the Aviation Security bill will have
many important issues to address that will affect
the future safety of air transportation. In the
course of the committee's deliberations, I
strongly urge the retention of Title II of S.
1447, which contains a number of technology-related
provisions that I believe will do a better job of
enhancing the overall level of security in
commercial aviation than those contained in the
House bill, H.R. 3150. This Title is based on the
amendment I introduced with Senator Durbin.
Title II of S. 1447 contains three subtitles,
which together set out a comprehensive strategy
for improving aviation safety by ensuring that
the existing technology is deployed for maximum
effectiveness, identifying and deploying short-term
technology upgrades, and accelerating research
and development of improved technology. I have
set out below a description of each subtitle and
a comparison to H.R. 3150:
Subtitle A
sets strict standards for background checks on
existing airport personnel who perform
screening functions or have access to secure
areas. Many airport employees have not had such
checks, even though they are required, or have
not had such checks updated.
requires the development of alternative checks
for those who have not lived in the U.S. for 5
years, and who therefore do not have a
sufficient history in this country to provide
assurance of their trustworthiness.
calls for expanded deployment and utilization of
current security technologies, such as
explosives detection equipment for scanning
checked baggage, and requires that this
deployment occur under a specific timetable.
Currently, explosives detection equipment that is
available for use in major airports has been
significantly under-utilized, and many other
machines have been purchased by FAA but not
deployed.
authorizes airport operators to use funds under
the Airport Improvement Program to make
necessary changes to baggage-handling areas to
accommodate this equipment.
requires the expansion of computer-assisted
passenger prescreening (CAPPS) to all passengers
and the use of additional security measures for
persons selected under this system, and their
carry-on luggage.
Comparison with H.R. 3150
leaves to the discretion of the Under
Secretary of Transportation the decision to
conduct more thorough background
checks for a more limited group of airport
personnel
does not require alternative checks for recent
immigrants
does not require updated checks for existing
employees
does not authorize the use of funds to
accommodate explosives detection equipment
Subtitle B
requires a short-term assessment of available
security technologies to prevent access to secure
areas of an airport by unauthorized persons, specifies
which systems should be studied (such as
biometrics systems in use at several airports,
card- and keypad-based access systems, monitoring
emergency exits that lead to secure areas, and
the elimination of piggy-backing-
where another person follows an authorized person
through an access point), and sets a schedule
for assessing and deploying these strategies
directs the deployment of recommended upgrades
to CAPPS and to watch list
dissemination technology within 6 months
mandates a study of technology-based options
for improving positive passenger identification
at check-in and boarding areas, including the use
of biometrics and smart cards, and
requires a schedule for the deployment of these
identification methods
Comparison with H.R. 3150
leaves to the discretion of the Under
Secretary of Transportation the decision to
impose standards for the screening of those with
access to secure areas, to provide for enhanced
use of computer technology to screen passengers,
and to provide for the use of technology to
verify the identity of those entering secure
areas
does not require deployment of any additional
standards or technology
Subtitle C
authorizes additional grant funding of $50
million per year through 2006 to accelerate
research and development of new aviation security
technologies, including:
Explosives detection technology that is more cost-effective
(for small- to medium-sized airports), faster (to
facilitate screening at larger airports), and
more accurate (to reduce false positives)
More effective technology for screening carry on
items that would detect and identify weapons,
explosives and components of weapons of mass
destruction
Threat-screening technology for items being
loaded onto aircraft, such as catering, cargo,
and duty-free items
Technology to detect threats carried on persons
boarding aircraft or entering secure areas,
including explosives
Improved methods of education, training and
testing of airport security personnel
Aircraft hardening materials and techniques to
reduce the vulnerability of aircraft to terrorist
attack
directs the Transportation Department to
submit a budget and detailed deployment strategy
for security upgrades recommended upon completion
of the grants
authorizes $20 million for long-term research
grants for:
aviation security improvements, including
advanced weapons detection
secure networking and sharing of threat
information between Federal agencies, law
enforcement, and other appropriate parties
advances in biometrics for identification and
threat assessment
other technologies for preventing acts of
terrorism in aviation
Comparison with H.R. 3150
No comparable provisions
The provisions contained in Title II of S. 1447
will ensure that technology and related
procedural upgrades are implemented to enhance
the overall level of aviation security. They will
also speed the development of improved technology
that will provide even better protections with
fewer delays to travelers. Ultimately, the long-term
recovery of air commerce depends on restoring the
public's trust in the safety of our airports and
air travel; the provisions I have described are a
first step toward achieving that goal. Again, I
urge you to include them in the final conference
report, so that the public can be assured that
comprehensive and adequate security measures will
be put in place.
Sincerely,
Joseph I. Lieberman
United States Senator
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