[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 114 (Thursday, July 14, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1125]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            FAA EXTENSION, SAFETY, AND SECURITY ACT OF 2016

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                               speech of

                          HON. DANIEL WEBSTER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 11, 2016

  Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 818, the FAA Extension, 
Safety, and Security Act of 2016, specifies that in making a 
determination whether to grant or deny an application for designation 
under Sec. 2209, the Administrator may consider ``homeland security.''
  Homeland Security consideration is intended to include consideration 
of applicants identified as potential targets by a Joint Terrorism Task 
Force. Joint Terrorism Task Forces serve as our nation's front line in 
the fight against domestic terrorism. They play an active role in 
identifying and investigating potential threats to certain activities 
where there are threats of injury to life, property or infrastructure--
and in protecting communities across America from terrorist acts. 
Allowing targeted facilities to take pro-active steps to ensure the 
safety of their operations, employees and the public is critical in 
order to keep the homeland safe. If a facility or activity has been 
identified as a potential target area by a Joint Terrorism Task Force, 
I encourage the FAA to give ample weight to the JTTF designation when 
evaluating applications and give full consideration to the homeland 
security risks and potential threats originating from foreign, 
domestic, or eco-terrorism that have been assessed by the task force.
  This bill empowers and directs the FAA to protect those targeted 
facilities from the potential security risks that aircraft, including 
unmanned aircraft, can create. I believe this is important for 
counterterrorism efforts and for protecting America's communities and 
freedom. I encourage the FAA to give strong consideration to applicants 
identified as potential targets by a Joint Terrorism Task Force.

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