[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 23]
[House]
[Page 31400]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       SECURITY AT O'HARE AIRPORT

  (Mr. ROSKAM asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. ROSKAM. Madam Speaker, I rise this morning to address a new 
development surrounding our Nation's airports. I represent Illinois' 
Sixth Congressional District, which is the home of Chicago O'Hare 
International Airport. O'Hare is the world's second busiest airport, 
and a week ago agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement 
Unit, a division of Homeland Security known as ICE, as well as Cook 
County sheriffs deputies, raided warehouses and secured areas at 
O'Hare, arresting over 27 alleged illegal aliens who had received 
fraudulent identification badges from a local employment agency. These 
illegal individuals had access to the tarmac, to cargo, as well as 
other secure areas putting them in direct contact with aircraft.
  That is why I am an original cosponsor of legislation introduced by 
my friend and colleague, Mr. Kirk from Illinois.
  It gives authority for any airport Federal security director to 
designate airport areas that he or she certifies as a critical area for 
transportation security as a special security zone. Once an area at an 
airport is declared a security zone, it is off-limits to illegal 
aliens.
  Once an area at an airport is declared a ``special security zone'' 
only the airport's Federal Security Director can issue security badges 
to these zones.
  This legislation also states that only U.S. Nationals who have been 
cleared by Basic Pilot Program verification system can be given 
security access badges to these zones.
  We must be tough when it comes to airport security because it is our 
first line in defense here at home against terrorists who want to kill 
more Americans.
  I ask my fellow colleague in the House to join me in securing our 
airports and cosponsor this vital piece of legislation.

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