Max Cleland: “I applaud the chairman's decision to boost the number of INS inspectors for this next fiscal year. I would like to bring…”

“I applaud the chairman's decision to boost the number of INS inspectors for this next fiscal year. I would like to bring to the Senator's attention that of the 150 new INS inspectors placed at various points of entry last year, Hartsfield received no new positions. There are other notable disparities. For example, Atlanta conducts 70 percent more inspections than Boston, but has only 30 percent more inspectors. The number of passengers processed annually per inspector in Atlanta is 35,782. In comparison, Miami has a higher ratio of inspectors per passenger than Atlanta, and, as a consequence, the average inspector in Miami processes 10,000 fewer passengers each year. Honolulu inspects less passengers than does Atlanta, but has twice as many inspectors. And because Hartsfield generates between $18 million and $19 million in user fees each year with less than $8 million spent at Hartsfield there is concern that the Atlanta Airport is subsidizing inspections at other airports in the Nation. In addition, the airlines serving Hartsfield are planning major expansions in their international service. Furthermore, recent census data reflects tremendous population growth in metro Atlanta over the past 10 years. This dynamic population increase, second only to that of New York, will cause ever greater demand for international travel.”