[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 68 (Thursday, April 26, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H3589]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          AIR MARSHALS PROGRAM

  (Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, yesterday's New York Times 
carried a story headlined ``Scandals and Investigations, but Few 
Arrests, for Air Marshals Program.''
  In fact, in the most recent 10-year period that was studied, 148 air 
marshals were arrested; and throughout the history of this program, 
there have been many more air marshals arrested than there have been 
arrests made by air marshals. Yet, over the last 10 years, the Congress 
has appropriated well over $8 billion for this needless, useless 
program. At least 250 air marshals have been terminated for misconduct 
and over 400 more have resigned or retired during conduct 
investigations.
  This has to be about the easiest job in the country today. All these 
marshals do is fly back and forth, back and forth, on airplanes, 
usually or often in first class. The New York Times' story said the 
program ``is in such disarray that it does little to deter terrorists, 
many of its employees say.''
  The story also said alcohol abuse is so rampant that the TSA has had 
to monitor whether the armed guards show up for their shifts sober.
  Mr. Speaker, yet, we are going to give this needless, useless program 
another $800 million this year. Ridiculous.

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