[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 70 (Thursday, May 7, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1108]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        INTRODUCING THE FAIR TREATMENT FOR METAL IMPLANTEES ACT

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                         HON. JAMES L. OBERSTAR

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 7, 2009

  Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, today I would like to introduce the 
``Fair Treatment for Metal Implantees Act'', which creates a program 
within the Department of Homeland Security that incorporates biometric 
technology or other applicable technologies to verify the identity of 
an individual who has a metal implant, so as to limit disruptions for 
such individuals while traveling by air transportation, in a manner 
consistent with aviation security.
  According to the Joint Implant Surgery & Research Foundation, there 
are approximately 500,000 total hip and knee replacements performed in 
the United States each year. An estimated 11 million people in the 
United States have a medical implant and this number is growing as the 
population receiving implants increases.
  In a 2007 study, researchers at the Harvard Medical School found that 
100 percent of hip replacements and 90 percent of knee replacements 
cause commercial airport metal detectors to alert. Whenever a passenger 
alarms the walk-through metal detector, additional screening must be 
conducted to locate and resolve the source of hand-held metal detector 
and, first, conducts a pat-down inspection of any area that alarms; 
then conducts a whole-body pat-down. This additional screening consumes 
an average five minutes more of a passenger's time at security 
checkpoints.
  This excess screening of metal implantees is not an efficient use of 
a TSO's time, which could be more efficiently used elsewhere. H.R. __ 
would develop a travel credential or system that incorporates biometric 
or other applicable technologies to verify the identity of an 
individual who has a metal implant to ensure that such individuals can 
travel by air with greater ease, consistent with current security 
regulations. The bill would require the program to include verification 
of the individual with a metal implant, resolution for false matches 
and non-matches, determination of travel credential or system, and 
validation of a credential or system issued to an individual under the 
program that is lost, stolen, or no longer authorized for use.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the Chairman of the Homeland 
Security Committee, Mr. Thompson, for introducing this legislation with 
me. H.R. __, the ``Fair Treatment for Metal Implantees Act'', will 
direct more resources to secure our skies and help metal implantees 
negotiate through airport security.

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