Byron Dorgan: “I add my appreciation for the work of the Senator from South Carolina and Senator McCain of Arizona. As chairman and…”

“I add my appreciation for the work of the Senator from South Carolina and Senator McCain of Arizona. As chairman and ranking member of the Commerce Committee representing our side on this issue, they did outstanding work. We do big and small things in the Congress. This is a big thing. This isn't testing the water. This is making waves. This is really a profound change in many ways with respect to security on airlines that serve our country. I rise to talk a bit about some of the things we are doing and why. First the why. We know that September 11 caused great concern among the American people about the risks of taking airplane flights. They saw jetliners used as bombs, as missiles full of fuel, taking down two of the largest buildings in our country. The site of that kind of tragedy, that act of mass murder, that terrorism has persuaded many Americans to feel queasy and jittery about flying. What kind of security exists with respect to the airlines? Then they read in the newspaper in recent weeks stories about a person who comes to an airport in Chicago and is screened. They discover two knives on the person. They send the person to the boarding gate, and they do an enhanced screening there. He has seven more knives, a stun gun, and a can of mace. People ask: How can this happen? It further erodes the confidence of the American people with respect to security.”