Jim Matheson: “lost in all the debate and politics over airline security is the very common-sense idea that the best long-term strategy…”

“lost in all the debate and politics over airline security is the very common-sense idea that the best long-term strategy for improving security is with new technology. I think we cannot increase security at our airports for this 21st century war with technologies from the 1950s. There is a world of technology from biometric authentications, radio tracking for baggage, and passenger scanning and identification systems that can be deployed as our first line of defense against the terrorist threat. Systems such as electronic fingerprinting, retinal scans, facial geometry and signature scans could present a level of secure access that is not being provided today. At check-in we can instantly match passengers against terrorist watch lists. For employees, we can better secure the restricted areas of airports and planes by ensuring that entry is tied to biometric identifiers. Two weeks ago the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda) and I introduced the Aviation Security Technology Enhancement Act so we can find out which technologies work best and what would be the best way to implement these new technologies. Technology will provide better security, more efficiency and eliminate the problem of profiling because it will check everyone. Mr. Speaker, American innovation is at its best when we face a challenge. We are the Nation that put people on the moon and created the Internet. We must put our technological capacity on the front lines of this new challenge.”