[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 148 (Wednesday, October 31, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H7535]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        WE NEED HIGH-QUALITY U.S. CITIZENS AS AIRPORT SCREENERS

  (Mr. KIRK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, U.S. citizens should protect U.S. citizens at 
airports. Over 90 percent of the screeners who let terrorists board at 
Dulles Airport were not Americans. Some of them were illegal aliens.
  The Young-Mica bill requires that all screeners be Americans. The 
Senate bill has no such requirement. The Young-Mica bill also requires 
that all screeners be deputized, badged, and uniformed Federal 
transportation security officers.
  Like the successful U.S. Marshals Court Security Officers Program, we 
will deploy Federal transportation security officers who are well-
trained and paid, but with key flexibility. Flexibility. It means that 
we will not protect nationalized employers who incompetently screen 
weapons or explosives aboard aircraft, killing more Americans. 
Flexibility means we can fire screeners who fail to protect us.
  We need high quality screeners who will ensure that when we fly, we 
fly safe.

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