"Opinion: True security: Screen 100% of U.S. airport workers"

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Opinion
True security: Screen 100% of airport workers
By Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL 5th) and Nita M. Lowey [D-NY 18th]
The Orlando (FL) Sentinel

 
Last month, we received the latest in a string of reminders about the
weaknesses in our airport security. Exploiting a gaping security loophole,
airport employees at Orlando International Airport placed a bag with an
arsenal of weapons on a plane bound for Puerto Rico.

This serious breach is the result of the Transportation Security
Administration's repeated failure to address one of its greatest
shortcomings. While passengers, their luggage, their shoes and even their
toiletries are meticulously screened, many workers enter secure areas of
airports with no screening at all.

In the Orlando incident, the employees took advantage of this system that
invites abuse, hiding a duffle bag filled with 13 handguns, an assault rifle
and a stash of marijuana out of sight from security guards. One of the men
later took the bag aboard a flight to Puerto Rico as carry-on luggage.
Authorities received a tip and stopped this individual -- but only after the
plane landed. The bag never should have made it to Puerto Rico, and it never
would have made it through security.

TSA has made strides to protect our airports and planes since 9-11, but as
evidenced by the Orlando incident, Americans are still vulnerable. In
response to the incident, TSA has announced a random temporary
worker-screening program at select airports in Florida and Puerto Rico, but
that is simply not enough. Americans would never settle for random or
temporary screening of passengers, so why should we hold workers to a lower
standard?

Congress must take aggressive steps to close any loophole that might be
exploited by terrorist networks bent on attacking the United States. That is
why we introduced legislation to force TSA to take this threat more
seriously. Our bill would implement a pilot program for 100 percent
airport-worker screening for secure areas starting at five major airports.
This legislation is just the first step to usher in major, necessary,
long-overdue changes at every airport in the nation. Americans have seen the
magnitude of this threat at Orlando, and Congress must make sure all of our
airports close this security loophole.

The federal government can and must mandate 100 percent airport-employee
screening, which is already in place at London's Heathrow Airport -- the
world's busiest international airport -- and at Miami International Airport.
TSA's Band-Aid approach simply will not address the chronic lack of security
that will exist until we screen every single person entering secure areas of
our airports.

Protecting Americans is, and must always be, our first priority. That's why
we're taking a step beyond recognizing this homeland security vulnerability
by pushing a critical plan to fill this major security gap with substantive,
effective measures to make people safer.

U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite is a Florida Republican, and U.S. Rep. Nita M.
Lowey is a New York Democrat.

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