Barbara Boxer: “Today I will discuss with my colleagues in the Senate the very important economic stimulus bill. The last economic data…”

“Today I will discuss with my colleagues in the Senate the very important economic stimulus bill. The last economic data we had showed the greatest loss of jobs in 1 month for 21 years. It has been 21 years since we have lost so many jobs in 1 month. We must take up this economic stimulus bill. We have been hit hard by the terrorists, and before that we were beginning to see a slowdown in our economy. The combination of the two is simply not acceptable. Another pressing need is aviation security. I say in no uncertain terms I cannot say what the President says to the American people: Get in those planes and fly. I want to say those words, and I will say those words when we have passed the laws we need to pass to make flying as safe as possible. We do not now screen and check all the bags that are in the underbelly of the planes. We don't check and screen the cargo for bombs. No, we do not. We do not have screeners who are a well-trained security force. We do not have air marshals on every flight. We do not have yet a secure cockpit always locked and not open during the flight.”