Rob Portman: “As has been stated earlier in the debate, three-quarters of our airports can probably meet the deadline. They will push…”

“As has been stated earlier in the debate, three-quarters of our airports can probably meet the deadline. They will push hard and they will make it. For those who cannot make it, the question is will the flying public be safer if we force this deadline or will the flying public be safer if we give them a plan where they have to meet the deadline over a specified period, which is 1 year. Incidentally, it is the same date that passed this House by an overwhelming bipartisan vote, December 31, 2002. The DOT Inspector General Ken Mead has recently told us, and this is a quote from him, and this is the Department of Transportation Inspector General, 'The challenge facing TSA in meeting the December 31 deadline of this year is unprecedented. An effort of this magnitude has never been executed in any single country or group of countries.' Most of the airports are going to meet it, but those who cannot, we need to be sure they have a plan to meet it so that the flying public is safer. More important is that we get it right than do it in haste.”