Chuck Schumer: “this amendment deals with air cargo. We have done a very fine job in making our air travel safer when it comes to…”

“this amendment deals with air cargo. We have done a very fine job in making our air travel safer when it comes to passengers. They are checked very well to prevent them from smuggling not only metal but now explosives onto planes. However, most passenger planes--more than half--carry cargo in the belly of the plane. That cargo is not inspected. So somebody who, God forbid, would want to do damage could smuggle explosives into the cargo and detonate it and do just as much damage as a passenger. This amendment very simply provides $302 million to provide for air cargo security, $200 million for existing air cargo security countermeasures, $2 million for a pilot program on hardened containers, and $100 million for research. We have learned since 9/11 that terrorists look for our weakest pressure point. Cargo is our weakest pressure point on air travel, and I urge support of the amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator's time has expired. The Senator from New Hampshire.”