Joe Barton: “Nobody that opposes the amendment to strike the language that is before us at this point in time is trying to take the…”

“Nobody that opposes the amendment to strike the language that is before us at this point in time is trying to take the pressure off of any airport to not implement tough baggage screening processes. The point of the fact is the major hub airports simply cannot meet it. I have Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport in my congressional district. Over 100,000 people go through that airport every day. Fifty-five thousand bags are checked every day. DFW and their management team have been working with TSA since the law was passed. TSA has yet to give them a definite answer on their solution. There is a backlog of equipment that cannot be put in place. If we have to meet the deadline, do my colleagues know what DFW is going to do, they are going to have to hire 1,500 temporary employees. They are going to have to put up folding tables. They are going to have check by hand almost every bag that comes in to be checked. That is going to be long lines. It is going to cost $142 million just at DFW, and they are still going to have to come in with a permanent solution within the next year that is going to cost another $150- to $170 million. Why not give them a little extra time?”