[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 118 (Wednesday, September 20, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H6742]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     THIS ADMINISTRATION MUST CHANGE DIRECTION ON AVIATION SECURITY

  (Mr. DeFAZIO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, 5 years and 9 days after 9/11 our system of 
aviation security is not yet done. In fact, today, a USA Today 
headline: ``Crisis Seen in Luggage Screening.'' We still do not have 
inline, integrated state-of-the-art baggage screening in the largest 
majority of U.S. airports. People would be appalled if they saw what 
went on behind the scenes that is supposedly providing for security.
  But the Bush administration has said consistently for 5 years, we 
cannot afford to make flying safe and to screen cargo and baggage; we 
cannot afford it.
  If they just would forgo the tax cuts for 1 year for wealthy 
investors, exempting their dividend taxes from a normal rate of 
taxation, we could put this equipment in every airport in America. But 
guess what? Those rich people do not care. They are flying on the 
private jets and the Bush people are flying on their military flights, 
so they do not really care about the American public and their 
security.
  But this is a crisis and we cannot afford to continue to ignore what 
we need to do, what we need to invest to make the American flying 
public safe.
  This administration must change direction or we must change the 
leadership in Congress.

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