IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 156 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Transportation 

Security Administration should delay implementation of changes to the 

Prohibited Items List that do not enhance the protection of passengers, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 12, 2013 

Ms. JACKSON LEE (for herself and Mr. GRIMM) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 

the Transportation Security Administration should delay 

implementation of changes to the Prohibited Items List 

that do not enhance the protection of passengers, and 

for other purposes. 

Whereas the terrorists who attacked the United States of 

America on September 11, 2001, were able to threaten 

and overpower crew members and pilots on commercial 

airplanes in order to gain access to the cockpits reportedly used box cutters, small knives, or razor blades; 

Whereas in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) 

was created to assume control of the civilian aircraft security functions of the Federal Aviation Administration 

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and is currently tasked with providing security for the 

Nation’s airports, maintaining a security force to screen 

all commercial airline passengers and baggage, and working with the transportation, law enforcement, and intelligence communities to ensure safety; 

Whereas every day, the TSA processes an average of 1.7 million passengers at more than 450 airports across the Nation and in 2012, 637,582,122 passengers relied on TSA 

screening to ensure that they safely reached their destinations; 

Whereas on March 5, 2013, the Transportation Security Administration publicly announced its intention to permit 

passengers, effective April 25, 2013, to bring previously 

banned items in their carry-on baggage when boarding 

flights; 

Whereas prohibited items that would be permitted effective 

that date include items that are potentially dangerous to 

passengers, flight attendants, pilots, and Federal air 

marshals, and include hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, golf 

clubs, and, more alarmingly, small knives; 

Whereas on April 9, 2013, the Nation was reminded of the 

terrible harm that small knives can inflict on victims 

when a mass stabbing occurred on the campus of Lone 

Star College in Houston, Texas, during which the suspect 

used a razor utility knife and caused injuries, including 

lacerations of the face and neck, to 14 people; 

Whereas the TSA’s decision to allow these items was made 

without a formal engagement process and without the 

consultation of members of the Homeland Security Committee or its Subcommittee on Transportation Security, 

the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, or the various 

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stakeholders in the air transit industry that will be directly affected by this change; 

Whereas the American public, air travel industry stakeholders, and Federal air marshals have expressed strong 

disapproval of the impending Prohibited Items List 

changes, and their lives and well-being would be placed 

in jeopardy as a result of the changes; and 

Whereas the $1,270,000,000 in estimated sequestration cuts 

currently in effect at the TSA exposes the agency to 

vulnerabilities and facing increased security risks due to 

potential furloughs, hiring freezes, and layoffs of critical 

personnel, including transportation security officers and 

Federal air marshals, as well as the elimination of the 

Crew Member Self Defense Training Program: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that— 

3 (1) the House of Representatives disapproves of 

4 the Transportation Security Administration’s deci5 sion to modify the prohibited items list, set to take 

6 effect on April 25, 2013, that would allow pas7 sengers to bring small knives in their carry-on bag8 gage; and 

9 (2) the Transportation Security Administra10 tion’s implementation of those changes to its Prohib11 ited Items List should be delayed indefinitely until 

12 such time that the agency conducts a formal engage13 ment process involving all of the affected stakemstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

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1 holders and has meaningful consultations with af2 fected air travel industry stakeholders, including 

3 flight attendants. 

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