"US Lawmakers Debate Airport, Rail Security"

Thursday, May 13, 2004

US Lawmakers Debate Airport, Rail Security
By Dan Robinson
Voice of America


Strengthening of security against further terrorist attacks was a major
topic Wednesday for members of the U.S. Congress. In hearings, lawmakers
pressed government officials on progress in airport and rail security,
just as new questions were being raised about security at one of the
nation's busiest airports.

A recent published report saying thousands of bags were being loaded on
passenger aircraft at Newark International Airport without being scanned
for explosives was one subject of a congressional hearing on Capitol
Hill.

The Newark, New Jersey Star Ledger newspaper quoted unidentified
security personnel complaining about a shortage of qualified screeners
at the airport.

New Jersey Governor James McGreevey seized on the report to criticize
the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), established by
Congress in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

At Wednesday's hearing of a House Homeland Security subcommittee, TSA
official Steven McHale defended the agency.

"We have significantly increased the staffing at Newark in the last few
weeks, and I believe that the statements in that article are grossly
out-of-date," he said.

But several lawmakers expressed impatience with the agency. In
questioning Mr. McHale, New Jersey Democratic Congressman Bill Pascrell
said the government needs to be more open with the public about security
weaknesses at major airports.

"Why are you reluctant to tell the public what percentage even of
baggage is not checked at Newark Airport? The public uses that airport
every day," said Bill Pascrell.

Newark International was one of three airports from which al-Qaida
terrorists hijacked passenger aircraft to use in the terrorist attacks
of September 11, 2001. 

Outside the building where the hearing was taking place, members of the
largest union representing flight attendants demanded that Congress
require airlines to provide counter-terrorism training.

Patricia Friend is president of the Association of Flight Attendants.

"The flight attendants in this country are united completely behind the
issue of demanding that we get the proper training that we need to face
the security threats of the 21st century," she said.

Flight attendants, supported by some key House and Senate Democrats,
accuse Republicans of giving in to pressure from airlines to make such
training optional rather than mandatory.

Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman and Massachusetts Congressman Ed Markey
both recalled September 11, 2001 terror attacks in urging a change. 

LIEBERMAN: "Two-and-a-half years ago, four planes were hijacked, and
used as deadly weapons against innocent Americans. Two-and-half years
later, flight attendants still have not been trained to defend your
passengers and yourselves from a similar God-forbid hijacking attempt in
the future."

MARKEY: "The TSA continues to tell us that commercial airliners remain
at the top of the terrorist target list. But you are still not receiving
meaningful counter-terrorism training."

Legislation in the House and Senate would require mandatory,
comprehensive counter-terrorist and self-defense training for all
airline attendants.

Alice Hoglan, whose son Mark Bingham, was among passengers and flight
attendants who resisted hijackers of Flight 93, was among those at
Wednesday's demonstration.

"It is unconscionable that the decision about who should be trained, and
to what extent they should be trained, should be left [in] the hands of
the airlines," said Alice Hoglan. "We have seen what decisions left in
the hands of the airlines have done in the past. We cannot allow that."

As the summer travel season approaches, and Congress works on
legislation authorizing government spending, members are elevating the
visibility of transportation security issues.

In other developments, a House committee Wednesday approved and passed
on for consideration by the full House of Representatives legislation to
begin steps to equip passenger aircraft with defenses against
shoulder-fired missiles.

And in the wake of hearings that revealed weaknesses in railroad
security, lawmakers are also seeking to increase the amount of money to
be spent on enhancing rail security.


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