Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick: “I had every intention to vote for this bill when I entered this Chamber. But now the bill has been substantially…”

“I had every intention to vote for this bill when I entered this Chamber. But now the bill has been substantially transformed from a demonstration program to allow pilots to carry guns aboard aircraft into a permanent program of arming every commercial pilot. The transformation of this bill is so substantial that I intend to vote against H.R. 4635. As a Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, I am very concerned about improving airline security, and I basically support allowing pilots to carry guns as a last line of defense against potential hijackers. Our subcommittee has held a number of hearings to determine the status of the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA's) progress in meeting the deadlines established under the Aviation Security Act. We have all followed the slow progress this new agency is making in meeting the timelines to improve the security of the nation's 429 airports and commercial airline carriers. It is unlikely that we will be able to equip all airports with the explosive detection equipment and magnetometers that are required to screen baggage and passengers. The TSA has not been able to satisfactorily determine security standards for cargo flights and the security standards of international flights has not been addressed at all. The TSA has fallen behind its own internal deadlines and its coordination with airports and airlines has been lacking.”