[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 75 (Wednesday, May 7, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E841]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF THE ``BIOMETRIC ENHANCEMENT FOR AIRPORT-RISK REDUCTION 
                             ACT OF 2008''

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 7, 2008

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, today, I am introducing 
the Biometric Enhancement for Airport-Risk Reduction Act of 2008, also 
cited as the BEAR Act of 2008.
  Nearly a year ago, I stood here before you to discuss H.R. 1, 
legislation implementing the unfinished business of the 9/11 Commission 
recommendations to secure America against terrorism. Since its 
enactment, the Committee has continued aggressive oversight of the 
Transportation Security Administration's efforts to comply with 
security mandates set forth in one of the most important laws enacted 
by this Congress, the Implementing the Recommendations of the 9/11 
Commission Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-53).
  I must recognize Assistant Secretary Kip Hawley, the head of the 
Transportation Security Administration, TSA, who has always shown a 
willingness to engage in open dialogue with me and Committee Members 
when we have raised particular questions or concerns having to do with 
TSA. One area of concern that has been raised on numerous occasions is 
how to best strengthen security for airport workers with unescorted 
access to sterile and secure areas of the airport. I strongly believe 
that biometric technologies can be an invaluable homeland security 
tool--especially with regard to this security challenge.
  I am introducing the BEAR Act to promote progress on this issue and 
legislate a smart security approach that promotes collaboration between 
TSA, industry, and other key stakeholders to provide airports with a 
blueprint on how to make biometrics work for them. Specifically, the 
bill requires TSA to study how airports can transition to uniform, 
standards-based and interoperable biometric identifier systems for 
airport workers with unescorted access. TSA, together with a working 
group comprised of key stakeholders, will examine existing programs and 
identify approaches that can enhance protections for secure and sterile 
areas of the airport.
  Additionally this bill requires TSA to provide Congress and airport 
operators with a breakdown on best practices for utilizing biometrics 
to better protect airports. Today, workers with unescorted access to 
this critical infrastructure go through background screening to get 
issued badges that includes terror watch list checks. While this is a 
necessary and important check, a job applicant's biometrics are not 
being captured to check against biographic information provided and 
establish identity. This is a problem, as revealed when Federal law 
enforcement raided Chicago's O'Hare International Airport in November 
2007 and arrested 23 people for fraudulently securing badges to gain 
access to sensitive airport locations. According to the charging 
affidavit, more than 100 temporary workers were found to be in 
possession of the fraudulent badges and the staffing agency that 
sponsored told them that they needed identification, but such 
identification did not have to be legitimate. Studying approaches to 
bring biometrics into airports is all the more important since the 
struggling Transportation Worker Identification Credential, TWIC, 
program is not likely to be introduced into the airport environment any 
time soon.
  Additionally, this bill requests TSA to consider existing parallel 
biometric security systems such as FIPS 201-compliant cards, TWIC, and 
the GSA Smart Card. This bill is not about re-inventing the wheel or 
putting a stop to any good work at TSA on this issue. It is about 
encouraging public-private partnerships and promoting an open dialogue 
between TSA, industry, and Congress on how best to secure our airports.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that you support the BEAR Act, for it frames a 
series of important biometric and security credentialing issues that 
need to be addressed in a study and that will build on what this 
Congress has supported in the past. More importantly, it will provide 
Congress with the necessary information to continue building on smart, 
efficient and effective airport security measures needed to secure 
Americans and protect this critical sector in our economy.

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