[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 156 (Tuesday, November 13, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11713-S11714]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AIRLINE SECURITY AND THE STIMULUS PACKAGE
Ms. STABENOW. Madam President, I would like to share an experience
this evening and commend a group of individuals who were involved in
U.S. Airways Flight 969 last evening where I was a passenger going from
Pittsburgh to National Airport. It was diverted into Dulles, as many of
us have heard. There was a situation where someone stood up in explicit
contradiction to the words from the pilot about what was to be done
under national policy. Once you are within 30 minutes of Reagan
National Airport, passengers are not under any circumstances to leave
their seats. Unfortunately, this individual did and headed towards what
appeared to be the cockpit.
I commend the air marshals who were on that flight. They responded
with professionalism. They responded quickly with what appeared to be a
threat to those of us who were on the flight.
I commend the pilot on U.S. Airways Flight 969 who responded with
professionalism. He calmed what obviously was a potentially very
confusing situation and what could have been great panic. This was the
result of the pilot, the flight attendants, and the crew.
I would like to give my thanks and congratulations to everyone who
was involved in this incident with the way they conducted themselves.
I was thinking as I sat in the 11th row and the B seat that this is
an example of what could happen with national law enforcement officials
professionally trained to do our airline security. It reaffirmed my
commitment to the belief that we need to do what this Senate did 100 to
0, which is to pass a law that says those who look at the baggage and
those who do the security checks of our carry-ons are professionally
trained Federal law enforcement officials. I call on my colleagues to
bring that bill back from the conference committee with that provision
in it.
I don't believe there was a person on that plane last night who was
not grateful for the fact that we had Federal law enforcement officials
trained to protect the people on that plane; they responded
professionally as Federal law enforcement officials.
Every day we are grateful to receive that kind of protection from our
Capitol Police as well, and I think our families deserve to have that.
I encourage my colleagues to reflect on what is best for all
Americans, and not what is best for the interests of one party or the
other.
I can say with great confidence--and it was reaffirmed last night for
me--that having Federal law enforcement officials who are trained both
on the ground checking the baggage as well as on our airplanes is in
the interests of all of our families.
I find it interesting now as we are grappling as a body of the Senate
and the House and coming together as Americans to support the
President; this is our team on the field. We are the team of Americans.
The coach is the President, and we are all there together. We are
supporting the President. We want him to be successful. We all need to
be successful in fighting these terrorist attacks and making sure that
our people are safe.
I think it is also important and it is our responsibility to be able
to disagree about a particular play or a particular strategy when the
team is on the field.
In this particular case, I urge the President to join us in embracing
the principle that we should have Federal law enforcement security at
every level of airport and airline security.
I also ask our colleagues to focus now as we stimulate this economy
and put money back into people's pockets as well as homeland security.
The time is now to act. We know that workers need assistance. We know
the economy needs stimulus. The best way to do both of those is to
provide relief to workers who need it the most. Economists across the
country agree that providing relief to low- and moderate-income
families is one of the most successful ways to stimulate the economy.
Why? They will immediately take those dollars and go to the grocery
store. They will buy shoes for their children who go to school. In
Michigan they will go buy a winter coat. They may buy a new car, which
we would also be very happy about in the State of Michigan.
People will turn those dollars around because they need to be able to
live and to be able to care for their families. Studies have shown that
every $1 invested in unemployment insurance for those who have lost
their jobs because of September 11 or other downturns in the economy
generates $2.15 in gross domestic product. Directly, we know that $1
generates $2.15.
So I hope this week we will embrace what the Democrats have porposed
to stimulate this economy, to put money back in people's pockets, who
will then use it to care for their families, to
[[Page S11714]]
spend in the economy, and that we will invest in those critical
homeland security measures that are absolutely necessary for us to move
forward as a country.
This is an opportunity to get it right. This is an opportunity for us
to take action, action to keep us safe in airports and on airlines,
action to keep us safe whether it relates to bioterrorism or food
safety or other critical measures that have been proposed for action by
the Democratic caucus, and action as it relates to focusing on those
who are unemployed and those who are low- and moderate-income families
who need to have money in their pocket to help stimulate this economy.
The time to act is now. I call on my colleagues, this week, to put
that at the top of the agenda for both of those items.
Madam President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a
quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Stabenow). Without objection, it is so
ordered.
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