FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016

Floor Speech

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Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 818, the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016, specifies that in making a determination whether to grant or deny an application for designation under Sec. 2209, the Administrator may consider ``homeland security.''

Homeland Security consideration is intended to include consideration of applicants identified as potential targets by a Joint Terrorism Task Force. Joint Terrorism Task Forces serve as our nation's front line in the fight against domestic terrorism. They play an active role in identifying and investigating potential threats to certain activities where there are threats of injury to life, property or infrastructure-- and in protecting communities across America from terrorist acts. Allowing targeted facilities to take pro-active steps to ensure the safety of their operations, employees and the public is critical in order to keep the homeland safe. If a facility or activity has been identified as a potential target area by a Joint Terrorism Task Force, I encourage the FAA to give ample weight to the JTTF designation when evaluating applications and give full consideration to the homeland security risks and potential threats originating from foreign, domestic, or eco-terrorism that have been assessed by the task force.

This bill empowers and directs the FAA to protect those targeted facilities from the potential security risks that aircraft, including unmanned aircraft, can create. I believe this is important for counterterrorism efforts and for protecting America's communities and freedom. I encourage the FAA to give strong consideration to applicants identified as potential targets by a Joint Terrorism Task Force.

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