Ted Poe: “first of all, I applaud the chairman for this bill to better protect America. I would, however, like to highlight an…”

“first of all, I applaud the chairman for this bill to better protect America. I would, however, like to highlight an unfunded Federal security mandate on the already struggling airline industry. The airline industry is an important sector of the American economy, with increasing fuel costs and taxes, though the industry lost $9.1 billion last year alone and has lost $32 billion since September 11, 2001. Currently taxes and fees comprise 26 percent of an average $200 airplane ticket. While the Federal Government has taken over much of the security for airlines after the terrorist attacks of September 11, airlines are still paying $777 million annually out of their own pocket for unfunded Federal security mandates, such as catering security, security for checkpoints and exit lanes, and first flight cabin sweeps. The people loading the peanuts, for example, the airlines are forced to expend $81 million on not only their salaries, but the security checks on these caterers, the people who mark your ticket up with the red crayon at the checkpoint and exit lanes. Airlines, not the government, dispense $79 million on these folks, and the first class cabin sweep crew that inspects the plane prior to boarding, the people who check for bombs in the bathrooms, airlines pay $26 million for them. Perhaps the most and largest unfunded mandate, however, is the Federal Air Marshal Service, which costs the airlines $195 million each year.…”