[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 3]
[House]
[Pages 4011-4012]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             BAN ON KNIVES

  (Ms. HAHN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, 11 years ago our Nation experienced 
unimaginable loss caused by the terrorist attacks on September 11. Let 
us not forget that the terrorists overtook planes using simple box 
cutters, which were allowed on board at the time.
  TSA's recent decision to now lift the ban on knives on aircraft is 
shockingly irresponsible and reckless. Why make this potentially deadly 
decision when this policy has been keeping our Nation safer for years? 
This is dangerous for passengers, flight attendants, and pilots. The 
airlines, flight attendants, pilots, and Federal air marshals have all 
expressed their strong opposition to this TSA policy that will 
compromise their safety and the safety of their passengers.
  Americans can plainly see that it is commonsense to keep potential 
weapons off our airplanes. We have already witnessed the harm knives 
can cause. Knives took down four planes. Knives took down the World 
Trade Center. Knives struck at the heart of our Nation's defense. 
Knives took thousands of innocent lives.

[[Page 4012]]

  This is a huge step backwards in protecting American security. I urge 
my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand with the American 
people and urge TSA to not implement this reckless strategy.

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