Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, while I commend Mr. DeFazio and his colleagues for negotiating language to enhance aviation safety, I must rise in opposition to this legislation. My problem with the resolution stems from a potential job-killing provision inserted in the homeland security portion of the package. Understandably, after the airport attacks in Brussels and, more recently, Istanbul, there is interest in strengthening aviation security. Section 3405 directs TSA to update regulations for eligibility, including disqualifying offenses, for SIDA airport credentials, which airport workers need to perform their jobs. There is no evidence that this additional scrutiny would strengthen aviation security. What we do know for sure is that the changes would unjustifiably put workers at risk of losing their jobs. As such, it should come as no surprise that the International Association of Machinists, the Communication Workers of America, and the Transportation Workers Union have come out in strong opposition to this resolution. That measure, H.R. 3102, also was approved by voice vote in the House this past October. The language before us today goes several steps further than H.R. 3102, unjustifiably lengthening the well-litigated 10-year look-back period from 10 to 15 years. The men and women who will be subject to this arbitrary change have as strong, if not more, of an interest as you or me in preventing terrorism in airports.…”