[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 26, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E922-E923]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     SECURING PUBLIC AREAS OF TRANSPORTATOIN FACILITIES ACT OF 2018

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 25, 2018

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5766, 
the Securing Public Areas of Transportation Facilities Act of 2018.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Homeland Security Committee and 
former chair of the Subcommittee on Transportation Security, I am well 
aware of the importance of our nation's transportation system.
  H.R. 5766, the Securing Public Areas of Transportation Facilities Act 
of 2018, works to improve the security of public areas of 
transportation facilities.
  Our Nation's vital transportation facilities must be protected.
  A safe, well-functioning transportation system is critical to the 
Nation's prosperity.
  Whether it is by road, transit, aviation, rail, or waterway, we rely 
on our transportation system to move people and goods safely, 
facilitate commerce, attract and retain businesses, and support jobs.
  Everyday millions of Americans travel through airports, train 
stations, bus terminals, and ports.
  Over 2 million travelers per day passed through U.S. airports in 
2017.
  In Houston, George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby 
Airport served a combined total of over 54 million passengers in 2017.
  George Bush Intercontinental Airport is the 14th busiest airport in 
the United States.
  These airports are essential hubs for domestic and international air 
travel for Houston and the surrounding region.
  It is critically important that their safety is assured.
  After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the Aviation Transportation 
Security Act (ATSA, P.L. 107-71) was enacted and established the 
Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
  TSA is responsible for securing the Nation's transportation systems--
both aviation and surface transportation.

[[Page E923]]

  Since the creation of the TSA, the technologies utilized at 
checkpoints and the mechanisms used to acquire them have changed very 
little.
  Given issues from prior Congresses, including the wait time crises 
and covert testing failures, there are renewed pushes by stakeholders 
to have TSA continue in a more progressive direction in terms of 
security policies and technologies and the manner in which these 
technologies are procured.
  The volume of work that the TSA must accomplish is growing each year 
and so are the threats they must face.
  In 2017, over 750 million passengers were screened by the 
Transportation Security Administration.
  In 2017, a record setting 3,957, firearms were discovered in carry-on 
bags at checkpoints across the country, averaging 76 firearms per week 
or over 10 per day.
  84 percent of those firearms were loaded.
  This represents over a 16 percent increase in firearm discoveries 
from 2016.
  George Bush Intercontinental Airport had 142 firearms discovered in 
2017.
  It is time for us to take action to secure our vital transportation 
facilities.
  H.R. 5766, the Securing Public Areas of Transportation Facilities Act 
of 2018, directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a 
working group to promote collaborative engagement between the 
Department of Homeland Security and public and private sector 
stakeholders to develop recommendations for enhancing security in 
public areas of transportation facilities.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time for Congress to intervene.
  The Securing Public Areas of Transportation Facilities Act of 2018 is 
a necessary step towards securing our transportation system.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5766, the Securing 
Public Areas of Transportation Facilities Act of 2018, to protect the 
safety of our citizens.

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