[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 170 (Friday, October 12, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1398-E1399]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INSIDER THREATS TO AVIATION SECURITY: AIRLINE AND AIRPORT PERSPECTIVES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. RICK LARSEN

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 12, 2018

  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, thank you, Chairman Katko and 
Ranking Member Watson Coleman, for calling this important hearing to 
take a closer look at the new challenges that pose security threats to 
airports and carriers nationwide.
  As Ranking Member of the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure's Aviation Subcommittee, I am committed to ensuring the 
United States continues to have the safest airspace system in the 
history of flight. In light of recent events, it is clear there is more 
Congress can do to make the system safer.
  Less than two months ago, on August 10, 2018, an airline employee 
stole an aircraft at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) in 
my home state of Washington and engaged in unauthorized flight.
  If not for the rapid response teams, particularly Sea-Tac air traffic 
controllers and the Air National Guard, who remained calm throughout a 
very intense situation and worked diligently to contain the incident, 
this tragedy could have devastated communities in Northwest Washington.
  Sea-Tac is a major hub in the national airport network and has long 
been a leader in airport security. The airport conducts extensive 
security clearance measures and thorough employee background checks, 
and uses advanced technologies to ensure the safety of its passengers 
and employees.
  However, this incident demonstrates the need for the federal 
government and industry

[[Page E1399]]

alike to consider new ways to ensure the safety and security of 
passengers and employees.
  For years, I worked with my colleagues on the Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee to develop a long-term Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill to address, among other 
things, safety issues present in our airspace system, and I am pleased 
Congress has recently enacted a comprehensive measure that will raise 
the bar on aviation safety for years to come.
  This legislation will help lessen the likelihood of incidents similar 
to the August 10 event at Sea-Tac in the future by requiring the FAA 
and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to work with 
industry to evaluate security gaps in our aviation system and provide 
recommendations on industry improvements.
  Among its provisions, the legislation authorizes the FAA to carry out 
a pilot program to support non-federal acquisition and installation of 
surveillance systems for the non-movement areas of airports, such as 
airport cargo and maintenance areas.
  It also calls on the FAA to collaborate with stakeholders to advance 
a global standard for access to air carrier flight decks, and it 
directs the TSA to consult with the FAA to complete a detailed threat 
assessment to identify any safety or security risks associated with 
unauthorized access to flight decks on commercial aircraft.
  While this long-term reauthorization makes considerable progress in 
aviation safety and security, our work is not done. In addition, 
industry must work proactively to address these pressing issues. I 
commend Sea-Tac and aviation stakeholders for their collaboration 
following the August 10 incident on a new series of industry best 
practices to advance airport security.
  I look forward to working with this Subcommittee, industry, and other 
stakeholders to address these new threats and to ensure the United 
States continues to maintain the safest aviation system in the world.
  With that, I thank the Chairman and Ranking Member for their 
bipartisan leadership on this important issue.

                          ____________________