[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 29 (Friday, February 20, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             SUPPORTING THE GERARDO HERNANDEZ SECURITY ACT

                                  _____
                                 

                             HON. TED LIEU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 20, 2015

  Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 720, the Gerardo Hernandez Airport Security Act of 2015, and in 
tribute to the bill's namesake.
  On November 1, 2013, a gunman opened fire in Los Angeles 
International Airport, killing TSA Officer Gerardo Hernandez and 
wounding three others before being apprehended. Mr. Hernandez's death 
was the first time a TSA officer had been killed in the line of duty 
since the agency's creation following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
  The tragic shooting at LAX jolted the city of Los Angeles and 
underscored the need to increase airport preparedness throughout the 
country. I believe the legislation we are voting on today is an 
important step in meeting that need.
  H.R. 720 is a bipartisan bill that will direct the Department of 
Homeland Security to identify best practices for airport incident 
planning and to give necessary technical assistance to all airports 
under TSA's security supervision. The bill aims to verify that each of 
these airports have individualized working plans for responding to 
security incidents, including active shooters, acts of terrorism, and 
incidents that target passenger-screening checkpoints. The Department 
will be required to submit a report to Congress detailing its outreach 
findings so that Congress can continue its oversight role on this 
issue.
  We owe it to Mr. Hernandez and his family to ensure that our airports 
are prepared and passengers protected. I urge my colleagues to join me 
in support of H.R. 720.

                          ____________________