Providing For Consideration Of H.R. 2200, Transportation Security Administration Authorization Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, I would like to just highlight today section 201 of H.R. 2200, the Transportation Security Administration Authorization Act of 2009, which requires the TSA to establish a system to verify that all cargo transported on passenger aircraft operated by an air carrier or by a foreign air carrier inbound to the United States be screened for explosives within 2 years of its enactment.

Notwithstanding the contrary rhetoric we have heard from the opponents of H.R. 2200, the committee is taking the responsible, necessary steps to implement the cargo screening requirement originally authorized in the 9/11 Act by requiring that all cargo transported between the United States airports on passenger planes be screened by August of 2010, by maintaining the commitment to screen inbound cargo, by responding in a timely manner to the needs of the TSA rather than taking a wait-and-see approach until 2010, and by dedicating the committee to receiving monthly briefings on the program so that the necessary oversight is exercised to ensure that TSA will meet the 2010 deadline and the deadline for inbound cargo created by this provision.

The previous administration's delay and confusion have disadvantaged TSA and have necessitated this action.

I am committed to achieving 100 percent screening of all cargo transported on passenger planes. This is arguably the largest screening vulnerability given that all passengers, their carry-ons and checked baggage currently get screened.

I would like to thank Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member King for their vigilance and leadership, and I would like to thank subcommittee Chairwoman Sheila Jackson-Lee and the ranking member for their diligence and leadership on this authorization.

As a member of the New York delegation, as one who serves on this committee and as one who holds very vivid memories of the most devastating airliner-based attack on U.S. soil, I kindly ask my colleagues to support the rule of H.R. 2200 as well as the underlying bill.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source