I recently toured BWI Airport with the Director of the Maryland Aviation Administration and with the head of BWI’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and I was very impressed by the excellent coordination and communications between the airport and TSA. The ability of BWI and TSA officials to work well together has helped make BWI one of the most efficient and functional airports in the nation.

About a year ago, I visited BWI and things were not running as smoothly. Last summer travelers experienced long lines and delays at passenger screening checkpoints, creating considerable stress. Since then, responding to complaints from the Maryland congressional delegation, TSA assigned additional personnel to BWI. This summer, for the most part, travelers have not been unduly delayed by security screening.

BWI faces some unique challenges. Close to 20 million passengers travel through BWI each year and that figure is expected to increase to 30 million in the next five to six years. It also is the 16^th busiest "destination" airport in the nation, which means that the majority of travelers begin their travel from BWI. Destination airports have increased security requirements because they have to do the initial screen of passengers and baggage.

BWI also is in the midst of a major expansion with the construction of two new Piers for Southwest Airlines. If you’ve visited BWI Airport recently you’ve seen the massive Southwest Airlines construction site and additional construction to improve the passenger drop-off traffic pattern.

In its new Piers, Southwest Airlines will install state-of-the-art baggage screening equipment that will significantly improve efficiency and cut down on airline departure delays. The new "in-line" screening equipment also will reduce the number of TSA personnel needed to conduct manual baggage searches.

The new Southwest Airlines Piers are expected to open next May and will be able to handle approximately 250 flights per day, making BWI one of Southwest’s busiest airports. That’s all good news for our region’s economy.

While my recent tour of BWI was very impressive, it also highlighted the need for significantly more TSA personnel once the new Southwest Airline Piers open. The increased passenger load will require more passenger screening checkpoints manned by TSA personnel if we are going to avoid a return to lengthy delays.

While the new Southwest Airlines Piers will have new in-line screening equipment, the other carriers also need to have this equipment. I will be working with TSA to help facilitate the installation of this new state-of-the-art screening equipment throughout BWI Airport.

In addition, I recently co-sponsored the Safe PLANES Act, HR 4312, which calls for: the installation of electronic baggage screening equipment at all U.S. airports; full inspection of all air cargo on passenger planes; "hardened" pilot cockpit doors for all foreign passenger and cargo planes flying over the United States; more vigorous background checks for all airport employees; and a thorough daily search of all aircraft for prohibited items.

BWI is an economic hub for our state and region. To maintain that status and to build on other economic opportunities, we must ensure that BWI functions as efficiently as possible. That means making sure that passengers using BWI have as smooth and pleasant an experience as possible. To accomplish that goal, we need additional TSA screening personnel and improved equipment that will help get passengers on their way safely and efficiently.

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