[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 22400]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 AVIATION SECURITY IS NATIONAL SECURITY

  (Ms. DeLAURO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1-minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, just last week an individual breached 
several security checkpoints at Chicago's O'Hare Airport with six 
knives, a stun gun and a can of mace. How many more examples like this 
will be reported in the press before we pass comprehensive airline 
security legislation making the security of the flying public a 
function of Federal law enforcement.
  Why not? As the aviation security conferees meet to work out an 
agreement, I urge them to adopt the Senate bill. It passed 100 to 0, 
and it makes airline security the function of Federal, professionally-
trained law enforcement officials.
  The Border Patrol, FBI, INS and Customs Service are all Federal 
agencies that exist to protect the public. Capitol Police are Federal 
employees. They protect all of us. Why should we settle for anything 
less for the traveling public?
  Aviation security is national security. It should not be left to 
private companies who contract with the lowest bidder who have been in 
violation of law.
  As we quickly approach Thanksgiving, the busiest travel time of the 
year, let us do the right thing. Let us pass an airline security bill 
that makes airport security a critical component of our national 
security and a function of Federal law enforcement.

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