Committee on TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE U.S. House of Representatives	Democratic  News
Room 2163 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC  20515 Telephone 202-225-4472	Rep. James L. Oberstar, Ranking Democratic Member

For Immediate Release                                                                                                      Contact:  Jim Berard

Wednesday, February 11, 2004                                                                                                     (202) 225-4472

 

 

Oberstar: TSA Staffing Cap Hampers Airport Security

Bomb detectors sit idle at many U.S. airports

 

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WASHINGTON—Preliminary findings by the General Accounting Office show machinery designed to detect explosives in checked airline luggage is sitting unused at many U.S. airports, Rep. James L. Oberstar of Minnesota said today.  The findings are contained in testimony prepared by GAO for a February 12 security hearing before the House Subcommittee on Aviation. 

 

Oberstar, Ranking Democratic Member on the full House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said that, according to GAO’s preliminary findings, functioning Explosive Detection System (EDS) and Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) machines are going unused at many major airports around the country.  

 

Oberstar said that data indicates that a lack of personnel trained and available to operate EDS and ETD may be a significant part of the problem.  He blames the artificial cap of 45,000 full-time screeners imposed on the Transportation Security Administration for the shortage.

 

“TSA’s main mission is security.  But the agency also has the responsibility to move passengers efficiently, so long as security is not compromised,” Oberstar said.  “In both of these missions, TSA has been handicapped by the ill-advised cap of 45,000 full-time screeners imposed by the Appropriations Committee, a cap imposed without any basis for determining that 45,000 was the right number.”

 

GAO undertook the study last fall at Oberstar’s request.  A final report will be issued once the investigation is completed later this year.

 

The aviation security hearing is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Thursday, February 12, in room 2167 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

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