July 22, 2002

 

USA Today Editorial Says it All

 

How Can a Bill to Promote Homeland Security Include a Provision to Extend the Deadline for Screening Airline Baggage for Explosives?

 

Dear Colleague:

 

H.R. 5005, the bill to establish the Department of Homeland Security, ordered reported by the Select Committee last week, includes a provision to extend the December 31, 2002 deadline for screening all checked airline baggage for explosives.  This extension was not requested by the Administration, which has repeatedly testified that the Department of Transportation will meet the deadline.  An extension at this time will stop the program in its tracks and substantially delay the installation of equipment that could be installed in the next few months.  Screening airline baggage by explosive detection equipment is the only effective way to prevent a suicide bomber from bringing down an aircraft.

 

An editorial in this morning’s USA Today states the case compellingly :

“… In fact, just when a sense of urgency is most needed, some members of Congress are trying to remove the pressure.  Last Friday, a House committee amended a homeland security bill to extend the baggage-screening deadline to the end of 2003 because it felt the 2002 deadline was impossible to meet and would cause lengthy airport waits.  In doing so, lawmakers caved in to airport directors — a familiar pattern that has undercut air security in the past.

“But Congress had already given the TSA the ability to deal with screening delays by using alternative methods until all the scanners are in place.  The proposed deadline extension would give the TSA unnecessary cover for further delays.”

 

When the Homeland Security Bill gets to the Floor this week, we must amend it to delete the provision extending the deadline for screening airline baggage for explosives!

 

                                                                                          Sincerely,

 

 

 

                                                                                          James L. Oberstar

                                                                                          Ranking Democratic Member