[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 148 (Wednesday, October 31, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H7533]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TIME TO DO WHAT WORKS FOR AIRPORT SECURITY

  (Mr. TERRY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TERRY. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow we have the opportunity to change 
the way security is done at our airports for the better. Until now, 
airlines have been in charge of security at our airports. They, in 
turn, for the lowest bid, hire companies like Argenbright and I.T.S. 
and others who provide minimal training, low pay, and even falsified 
background checks. The result of airlines in charge is 100 percent 
turnover and weapons making it past security points. We can no longer 
allow the airlines to be in charge, nor allow businesses like 
Argenbright and I.T.S. to remain in our airports.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3150 puts the responsibility for day-to-day airport 
security with the Transportation Security Administration. It also gives 
this department flexibility in its mixture of Federal employees and 
private-sector folks under their direct supervision to do the job 
right; not a one-size-fits-all of all-private or all-Federal, but what 
works.

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