[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17383]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                INTRODUCTION OF THE PASSENGER SAFETY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 22, 2004

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, now is not the time to return to private 
airline screeners, now is the time to continue to focus on passenger 
safety.
  This November, airports will be given the option to apply to opt-out 
of having Transportation Security Administration TSA screeners in favor 
of hiring private screeners. If this is allowed to happen, it will be a 
step backwards in airline security.
  TSA has only been in existence for a few years and has certainly 
suffered through some growing pains. Because of this, we should be 
focused on ensuring the success of TSA rather than adding the new 
challenge of privatization that could jeopardize their future and 
potentially endanger the security of airline passengers. That is why I 
am introducing the Passenger Safety Act which will repeal the opt-out 
language in the law that created the TSA. I urge my colleagues to 
support this important initiative to protect passenger safety.

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