Sam Gibbons: “as someone who spent 17 years as an airline pilot, a commercial airline pilot for major airlines, I believe I have as…”

“as someone who spent 17 years as an airline pilot, a commercial airline pilot for major airlines, I believe I have as much experience as anyone here spending time in and out of our airports; and I want to assure my colleagues that I come today to show my support for H.R. 3150, the Airline Security Act, which we will deal with tomorrow. A few weeks ago I was watching a news program on television, and on this particular program they tested the inadequacy of airport security. Sadly, this test was no television production. Poor airport security has become a reality. The events of September 11 have shown us that airport security needs a dramatic and drastic overhaul. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3150 is the right solution to improving our aviation safety in the skies over America, and in order to make flying safer and our airports more secure, we must federalize our airport security standards. H.R. 3150 puts to good use more than $500 million that will bolster the front lines of airport security. It will place more air marshals in the skies and in our airlines. It will mandate fortified cockpit doors and give flexibility when it comes to hiring either Federal security personnel or federally certified security contractors. Support H.R. 3150.”