Colorado Delegation Working for Improved Security at Denver International Airport

Press Release

COLORADO DELEGATION WORKING FOR IMPROVED SECURITY AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

The Colorado Congressional Delegation joined U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) today in sending a letter to the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Edmund S. "Kip" Hawley, pressing the Administration to take immediate steps improving the security situation at Denver International Airport (DIA). The letter, signed by all members of the Delegation, outlined the long security wait times and screening processes at DIA, highlighted the benefit to increasing the number of screeners, and identified the risks associated with the continued delay of security screening.

The Colorado Delegation writes: "From our perspective, which is shared by DIA, the airlines serving Denver, and our constituents, this situation is unacceptable. Passengers risk missing flights, and airlines suffer increased costs when holding flights to permit the boarding of passengers who checked in on time but were delayed going through security screening. Denver airport officials are justifiably concerned that the passenger screening delays will cause vacation travelers to choose another destination where they do not have to experience these delays. This is particularly important to our state as we approach Colorado's busy holiday and ski season.

"…. We appreciate that TSA bolstered staffing for the long weekend when the World Series was held in Denver, and understand that TSA now has under consideration a request for 58 additional screeners. We urge TSA promptly to approve this request, and to take whatever additional steps as necessary to reduce passenger wait times to 10 minutes as originally promised when TSA took over passenger screening," the Delegation continues.