Doug Bereuter: “this Member rises to comment on the conference report for S. 1447, the Aviation Security Act. Clearly, the tragic events…”

“this Member rises to comment on the conference report for S. 1447, the Aviation Security Act. Clearly, the tragic events of September 11, 2001, properly focused attention on the need to improve security at our nation's airports. Without a doubt, the current system has serious flaws and the traveling public deserves better. This Member cosponsored and strongly supported H.R. 3150, which was approved by the House on November 1, 2001. The House bill took the right approach. It would have federalized the airline security screening process and required strict, new standards governing airline security. Additionally, H.R. 3150 would have given the President needed flexibility on the issue of baggage screeners to determine which option (i.e., private, federalized, or some combination of the two) would provide the highest degree of security. Quite simply, the House version was more responsible than the Senate bill, which was crafted hastily in the heat of the moment. This Member is disappointed that the House leadership caved-in to the Senate on the crucial issue of airport screeners. It was a very bad mistake for the House leadership to accept the federalization of screeners, as this action simply will put in place a huge new Federal bureaucracy without ensuring an increase in airport security over the House version.”