Horsford Amendment on Airport Security Adopted in Committee

Press Release

Today, in response to concerns from officials at McCarran International and other airports, Representative Steven Horsford (NV-4) offered an amendment to H.R. 1204 during a House Homeland Security Committee markup. Horsford's amendment would improve airport security by requiring the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to consult with relevant local stakeholders about potential changes to aviation security matters, including exit lane policy.

Recently, TSA proposed a plan to abdicate responsibility for staffing passenger exit lanes (the pathway that allows passengers to exit from the deplaning area to baggage claim) and shift that responsibility to individual airport operators.

Congress, through the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA), delegated the responsibility for passenger and baggage screening to TSA following the tragic events of 9/11, including staffing exit lanes.

"Congress, through ATSA decided that aviation security was a matter of national security and should be provided by the federal government," said Rosemary A. Vassiliadis, Director of Aviation at McCarran International Airport. "Now, the TSA, with no Congressional review or legislation, has decided to impose the responsibility for exit lane monitoring on airports."

Although the agency proposed to shift responsibility through an amendment to airports' Airport Security Programs, which the TSA unilaterally controls, industry will be afforded the opportunity to submit comments. However, currently, TSA is neither required to consider those comments nor make any changes based on industry input.

"The cost implications of exit lane monitoring are significant for all airports, and in many cases, these costs will be passed on to airlines, which face their own challenges," said Vassiliadis. "Based on reports from some airport operators, the cost would range from approximately $160,000 per year for a smaller airport to as much as $2.5 million for a larger airport to monitor exit lanes in accordance with the way TSA performs the function today."

Representative Horsford's amendment ensures that policies that TSA seeks to implement regarding exit lane security are developed and implemented in consultation with our relevant stakeholders.

The amendment was adopted unanimously by voice vote during the House Homeland Security Committee markup.

Below is a transcript of Representative Horsford's remarks in committee:

"Thank you, Mr. Chairman and to the Raking Member, Mr. Thompson. My amendment complements the underlying legislation by broadening the scope of the subcommittee on perimeter security to include the distinct issue of exit lane security.

"Since 9/11, exit lanes at most commercial service airports have been protected by Transportation Security Officers. This past spring, in its budget submission to Congress, TSA announced that it would discontinue the provision of security services at exit lanes. There was no formal engagement with stakeholders prior to announcing its decision to foist this security responsibility on airport operators.

"If TSA proceeds with its plan, airport operators will be forced to hire security guards, purchase and install new security technology, or some combination of both. Let me repeat, this change to the security operations at our nation's commercial airports was announced without first engaging in formal consultation with the airport operators it directly impacts.

"In July, Airports Council International conducted a survey of its Member airports to assess the financial impact on airport operators should TSA finalize its proposed policy change. As a result of that survey, Airports Council International calculated that the total annual cost for airport operators to provide staff to monitor exit lanes would be more than $159 million.

"To be clear, my amendment does not prohibit TSA from moving forward with its proposed policy change regarding exit lanes. What it does do is put the issue squarely within the purview of the Advisory Security Advisory Committee by designating a subcommittee to develop recommendations on exit lane security.

"I urge Members to support this commonsense amendment that would ensure that policies that TSA seeks to implement regarding exit lane security are developed and implemented in consultation with our relevant stakeholders.

"Before closing, Mr. Chairman, I would ask unanimous consent that a letter in support of my amendment from the Airports Council International, Airlines for America, the American Association of Airport Executives, and the Regional Airline Association be inserted into the record."

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