[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 100 (Thursday, July 7, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         INTRODUCING THE AMERICAN TRAVELER DIGNITY ACT OF 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 7, 2011

  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce legislation to protect 
Americans from physical and emotional abuse by Federal Transportation 
Security Administration employees conducting screenings at the nation's 
airports. Year after year the TSA seems more belligerent toward 
Americans simply seeking to travel within their own country--a most 
basic of our fundamental rights--and sadly Americans are just expected 
to shut up and take it. We should not have to shut up and take it.
  Many Americans continue to fool themselves into accepting TSA abuses 
by saying ``I don't mind giving up my freedoms for security.'' In fact, 
they are giving up their liberties and not receiving security in 
return. Time and time again we see the revolting pictures of Federal 
screeners with their hands down the pants of children while parents 
watch helplessly in agony. We see elderly or disabled Americans being 
forced to endure all manner of indignity. At the same time, we 
repeatedly hear of passengers who seem to check all the boxes marked 
``suspicious activity'' slipping through unencumbered. Just recently we 
read of a Nigerian immigrant breezing through TSA security checks to 
board a flight from New York to LA--with a stolen, expired boarding 
pass and an out-of-date student ID as his sole identification. We 
should not be surprised to find government ineptitude and indifference 
at the TSA, however.
  What we ultimately need is real privatization of security, but not 
phony privatization with the same TSA screeners in private security 
firm uniforms still operating under the ``guidance'' of the Federal 
Government. Real security will be achieved when the airlines are once 
again in charge of protecting their property and their passengers.
  To move us in that direction, I am today introducing the American 
Traveler Dignity Act, which establishes that any Federal employee or 
agency or any individual or entity that receives Federal funds is not 
immune from any U.S. law regarding physical contact with another 
person, making images of another person, or causing physical harm 
through the use of radiation-emitting machinery on another person. It 
means they are not above laws the rest of us must obey. As we continue 
to see more and more outrageous stories of TSA abuses and failures, I 
hope that my colleagues in the House will listen to their constituents 
and join with me to support this legislation.

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