For Immediate Release
July 18, 2002
Contact: Mary Kerr
(202) 225-6211
Oberstar Urges Members to Reject
Aviation Security Deadline Extensions
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WASHINGTON— Rep. James L. Oberstar (Minn.), Ranking Democratic Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee called on House Members to reject efforts by the Republican leadership to weaken the Aviation Security Act, including extending the deadline for screening airline baggage for explosives. Oberstar issued the following statement:
“Homeland Security Select Committee Chairman Armey has released a draft bill for Friday's Homeland Security Select Committee markup. In addition to disregarding many of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's bipartisan recommendations, the bill includes provisions to weaken the Aviation and Transportation Security Act deadlines for explosive detection systems and screeners.
Section 409 of Chairman Armey’s bill would grant an indefinite extension of the December 31, 2002, deadline for the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) to use certified explosive detection equipment to screen all checked baggage on airlines. The provision does not belong in this bill. An extension has not been recommended by the Committee of jurisdiction, the Administration, or by any witness who appeared before the Committee. The Committee of jurisdiction, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, plans a hearing next week on the status of TSA’s installation of explosive detection equipment, and the issue of aviation security should be dealt with by the Transportation Committee.
The December 31, 2002 deadline was imposed in the Transportation Security Act, which Congress passed in November 2001, by a vote of 410 to 9. In the debates on the bill, Member on both sides of the aisle strongly supported a deadline for installation of explosive detection equipment, and criticized the Senate bill because it did not have a deadline.
An extension at this time would be entirely inappropriate. The Secretary of Transportation, has repeatedly stated, as recently as two days ago before the Select Committee, that the deadline will be met. If the Administration is wrong and the deadline cannot be met, the Security Act gives TSA the flexibility to have baggage screened by other means, while the installation of explosive detection equipment continues. The Act specifically authorizes as alternatives: positive bag match, manual search, search by canines, or any other means of technology approved by TSA. This flexibility will cure any problems that may arise if TSA fails to meet the deadline.
Not only does Section 409 permit extensions of the deadline but it fails to place any limit on the duration of an extension. Under the provision, it is the airport that decides unilaterally that the deadline cannot be met. Then TSA and the airport set a new deadline. There is no sanction if the new deadline is not met, and no prohibition on further extensions. Section 409 encourages lengthy extensions, because it encourages TSA to extend deadlines to permit the use of better technology, and the reconstruction of airports so that equipment can be installed in baggage sorting areas.
We should not allow delays while we await the development of new technology. We already have certified equipment that can detect explosives that can destroy an airplane. Awaiting even better technology starts us down a dangerous path. It is reminiscent of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) failure in the 1980’s to require the installation of collision avoidance equipment (TCAS II), because the equipment gave only vertical directions for evasive action. FAA was awaiting the develop of TCAS III, which would also give horizontal directions. While FAA delayed installation of the existing technology, there were three tragic midair collisions that could have been prevented by TCAS II, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives. After the last of these crashes over Cerritos, California, we passed legislation to require the installation of TCAS II.
I strongly urge striking Section 409. If it stays in the bill, we will be delaying installation of equipment which could prevent a tragic terrorist attack.”
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