[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 150 (Wednesday, November 17, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H7502]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONWIDE REVOLT OVER BODY SCANNERS
(Mr. DUNCAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, a Nationwide revolt is developing over the
body scanners at the airports, and it should. Hundreds of thousands of
frequent fliers who fly each week are upset about getting these
frequent doses of radiation. Parents are upset about being forced to
have their children radiated or being touched inappropriately by an
unrelated adult.
There is already plenty of security at the airport, but now we are
going to spend up to $300 million to install 1,000 scanners. This is
much more about money than it is about security.
The former Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff,
represents Rapiscan, the company which is selling these scanners to his
former Department. Far too many Federal contracts are sweetheart,
insider deals. Companies hire former high-ranking Federal officials,
and then, magically, those companies get hugely profitable Federal
contracts.
The American people should not have to choose between having full-
body radiation or a very embarrassing, intrusive pat-down every time
they fly as if they were criminals. We need a little more balance and
common sense on this.
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