LIEBERMAN:
AVIATION SECURITY NOT WHERE IT SHOULD BE
RESOLUTION OF AIRPORT SECURITY LEGISLATION IS
CRITICAL
November 14, 2001
WASHINGTON - Senate Governmental Affairs
Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, D-Conn.,
expressed concern Wednesday about the safety of
airline travel in light of a series of recent
airport security lapses, despite extra security
precautions ordered by the Federal Aviation
Administration.
There continue to be troubling lapses in
security, Lieberman said at a hearing he
convened in conjunction with the subcommittee on
Oversight of Government Management to examine if
aviation security has improved since the
terrorist attacks. Aviation security
has improved since September 11, but we have a
ways to go before we have full confidence in the
security of our skies.
Department of Transportation Inspector General
Kenneth Mead testified that less than10 percent
of checked baggage was scanned for bombs. Lieberman
called that fact stunning and further
noted that a recent spot-check of sophisticated
bomb inspection machines at selected airports
over the Veterans Day weekend found that
fewer than 30 percent were in continuous use,
despite an FAA directive ordering more usage.
In this context, Lieberman called for quick
passage of aviation security legislation now
being debated in a House-Senate conference.
The bill calls for expanding the air marshal
program and federalizing passenger and baggage
screening services. Included in the Senate
version of the measure are provisions authored by
Lieberman and Committee member Senator Richard
Durbin, D-Ill., that would expand background
checks of airport personnel, employ more
effective passenger and baggage screening
procedures and equipment, and fund accelerated
research and development of promising new
security technologies.
Prior to September 11, we let
ourselves become too relaxed, Lieberman
said. But if we had had the Senate
aviation security bill in place, as well as the
FAA directives now being implemented, it would
have been a lot harder for the terrorists to have
succeeded. It will truly be outrageous if
Congress leaves for Thanksgiving without passing
aviation security legislation and sending it to
the President for his signature.
I am encouraged by some of the steps
taken by the FAA to bolster security, including
the stationing of National Guard personnel at
airports, the expanded use of computer programs
to pre-screen passengers, and the use of FBI
watch lists to check passengers and employees,
Lieberman added. They all speak to a much-needed
state of extra vigilance.
He also welcomed the administrations zero
tolerance policy that has resulted in some
inconvenience to passengers such as
delayed flights and concourse evacuations
but that shows the government is more
willing to take tough action to enforce
compliance with its directives.
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