The
Administration strongly supports H.R. 3150, which would enable the
Administration to build the toughest airline security workforce possible
in the fastest and most effective way. H.R. 3150 contains the important
security changes that the President has proposed, including expanded
deployment of air marshals on commercial flights, strengthening of
cockpit security, law enforcement personnel at every screening location,
and stringent Federal oversight of airline security screening. The
bill would help ensure the safety of the Nation's airways by giving
the Administration the ability to federalize security, while preserving
its freedom to use high quality private screeners where it is safer
and more effective.
The
critical difference between H.R. 3150 and other legislative proposals
is that it gives the Federal Government the flexibility it needs
to assemble a skilled and disciplined screening work force. Other
proposals would mandate that all passenger and baggage screeners
are Federal employees. H.R. 3150 would allow the Federal Government
to build the best workforce to perform the screening function, subject
to rigorous Federal standards, management, supervision, and background
checks, and with law enforcement officers at every screening checkpoint.
Importantly, H.R. 3150 would allow federal aviation security managers
to move aggressively to discipline and fire employees who fail to
meet the rigorous new standards. In addition, the Administration
is concerned that legislation mandating a federal screening workforce
could destabilize the security of the aviation system in the near-term
by causing the mass exodus of the private companies currently providing
screening services at major commercial airports.
H.R.
3150's model of public/private partnership with strong government
oversight mirrors the well-regarded airline security systems chosen
by many European countries to improve the quality of their screening
services. This model would focus resources where the problem is
-- at the screening stations in the airports around the Nation --
not in a new bureaucracy.
The
Administration also strongly supports provisions in H.R. 3150 that
place responsibility for aviation security solely with the Department
of Transportation (DOT). DOT has nearly 35 years of operational
experience and substantial infrastructure already in place to facilitate
a smooth transition by providing security inspections, enforcement
and oversight while the new aviation security system gets up and
running. Other legislative proposals give responsibility to another
agency or divide responsibility between two agencies. These approaches
would not be the best use of our existing resources and would needlessly
complicate and delay the transition to federal control of aviation
security.
The
President is eager to sign an aviation security bill into law. Passage
of H.R. 3150 is the quickest, most effective way to increase aviation
security. The Administration urges Congress to ensure that these
important security measures are enacted quickly, including any refinements
that may be necessary to ensure that the Nation's aviation security
needs are addressed in the most effective manner possible.
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