[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 11, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           INTRODUCTION OF THE CARGO FLIGHT DECK SECURITY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. JESUS G. ``CHUY'' GARCIA

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 11, 2020

  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the 
bipartisan Cargo Flight Deck Security Act along with my colleague, 
Brian Fitzpatrick.
  The safety and security of our pilots, our skies, and the flying 
public are at stake.
  Today, many cargo planes have no cockpit barrier and without the 
safety of hardened flight deck doors, the aircraft's interior is open, 
and the flight deck is completely exposed. This leaves pilots without a 
means to adequately separate the flight crew from personnel riding in 
the bulkhead or potential cargo-hold stowaways.
  Ultimately this is about parity and safety. Cargo pilots have been 
fighting for hardened cockpit doors for 18 years, and this bill will 
solve that long overdue security concern.
  After 9/11, regulatory changes put in motion requirements to require 
hardened cockpit doors for all aircraft to separate the flight deck 
from the cargo/passenger bay. Unfortunately, after 2003, the TSA made 
changes to its requirements and erected a wholesale carve-out for cargo 
airplanes, effectively creating disparate requirements for passenger 
and cargo airline safety.
  The Cargo Flight Deck Security Act ensures all pilots are protected 
by hardened cockpit doors and takes steps to keep our skies and flying 
public safe.
  I urge this body to pass advance this legislation.

                          ____________________