Barbara Boxer: “one hole in aviation security is the cargo that is carried on passenger planes. The bill does strengthen security for…”

“one hole in aviation security is the cargo that is carried on passenger planes. The bill does strengthen security for cargo on passenger planes. First, the bill requires screening of all of the cargo going on passenger aircraft. Second, the bill requires the Transportation Security Administration to implement a program--either random or risked-based--to place blast-resistant containers on passenger planes. However, the program does not implement the 9/11 Commission recommendation to require one blast-resistant cargo container on every plane. The 9/11 Commission recommended, ``TSA should require that every passenger aircraft carrying cargo deploy at least one hardened container to carry any suspect cargo.'' Therefore, all passenger planes should have at least one blast-resistant container for cargo.”