WASHINGTON, DC – For more than a year, Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) has pushed the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to better protect Americans by requiring the physical screening of airport workers.  Today, she will introduce legislation to fill this security gap.

“We know that there are vulnerabilities.  That is why passengers and baggage all go through rigorous inspection.  Yet many airport workers can get into secure areas without going through any physical screening.  This just doesn’t make any sense,” said Lowey.  “My legislation would address this problem head-on.”

In a June 2004 report, the Government Accountability Office estimated that there are currently more than 1 million airport workers, including cabin cleaners, maintenance crews, and caterers, who are permitted to bypass metal detectors or other physical screening before accessing secure areas.  Without stricter efforts to screen airport employees, this security gap could be exploited for the purposes of carrying out criminal, or even terrorist, acts.  The GAO recommended that the TSA take steps to address this problem, but so far, it has failed to do so.

Lowey’s bill, the Guaranteeing Airport Physical Screening Standards Act, or GAPSS Act, would require the physical screening of airport workers entering secure areas within 120 days of enactment.  It would also put in place an interim measure that would require random physical screening of workers at the entrances to and within secure areas until an airport achieves 100% physical screening of workers.  Random screening would allow for increased security while TSA and airport officials work towards full compliance.  The legislation would also require more thorough background checks on airport workers with access to secure areas. 

“Today, a maintenance worker or cabin cleaner could exploit their access to aircraft to store weapons on a plane, or otherwise endanger passengers, effectively circumventing all passenger screening programs.  Just one person can cause a devastating breach of security.  It just makes sense that everyone with access to airplanes should undergo the same screening as passengers and baggage,” said Lowey.  “These reasonable steps can help us to better ensure the security of our airports, airplanes and travelers, and help prevent potential future terrorist attacks.”