Gerardo Hernandez Airport Security Act of 2014

Floor Speech

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Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the time. I would also like to thank Homeland Security Committee Chairman MICHAEL MCCAUL, Ranking Member BENNIE THOMPSON, Transportation Security Subcommittee Chairman RICHARD HUDSON, and Ranking Member CEDRIC RICHMOND for introducing this bill and bringing it to the floor.

I rise to support the passage of H.R. 4802, the Hernandez Airport Security Act.

This bipartisan bill was introduced in response to last year's horrific November 1st shooting incident at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in my congressional district. The bill was named in honor of Gerardo Hernandez, the Transportation Security Officer (TSO) who was killed in the line of duty on that tragic day. As we debate this bill, we offer our deepest condolences to the family of Gerardo Hernandez, and we honor all of the TSO's, police officers, and other first responders who risked their lives to stabilize the situation and protect the public during that terrible incident.

Following the shooting, Congress conducted several congressional hearings, including a field hearing in my district on March 28, 2014. These hearings revealed serious security lapses at LAX, which interfered with incident response efforts. For example, there were emergency phones and panic buttons that did not work properly, problems in coordination between various police and fire departments, and incompatible radio systems. These security failures are unacceptable.

The Hernandez Airport Security Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to conduct outreach to airports to verify that they have working plans to respond to security incidents, including active shooter incidents, acts of terrorism, and incidents that target passenger-screening checkpoints like the one where Officer Hernandez was killed.

It is imperative that major airports like LAX have a state-of-the-art emergency response system. The safety and security of our nation's airports and all of the workers and travelers who pass though them is of paramount importance.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill and send it to the President's desk.

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