Date: 2013-06-05
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. let me again thank the committee for its leadership and acknowledge to my friends that this amendment was adopted in the last appropriations for Homeland Security. I believe its an important amendment to continue to keep before this committee. but also to continue to provide codification of it. I have served on the Homeland Security Committee for a very honorable period of time. When I say that. it is a time that I have enjoyed being able to address the questions of homeland security or domestic security under the Homeland Security Department. Through that time. I have had the privilege on one of my committees to have oversight over the U.S. air marshals. I would offer to say to my colleagues that often U.S. Air Marshals dont get the thanks and appreciation that they deserve. It is not an easy task. even as they are on domestic flights. International flights are quite difficult in terms of the time. but also the intensity of the work because their astuteness and awareness of whats going on in a small compact area is very important to the safety of those passengers. So my amendment. Mr. Chairman. is very simple. What it does is it asks that no funds be used to limit the discretion of the Secretary of Homeland Security to enhance the use of Federal air marshals on inbound international flights considered to be high risk by the Department of Homeland Security. Theres little that I need to say to my colleagues that we live in a different atmosphere and certainly a different neighborhood. Were all well aware of our eyes being focused on the Christmas Day bomber just a few years ago. or the fact of the shoe bomber that was headed to Boston. or the fact of the various training that is going on with individuals even from the United States in Yemen. Were also aware that one of the Boston Marathon bombers flew from the United States overseas and back. So we realize that individuals are using the international air skies. if you will. to travel back and forth to the United States. My amendment ensures that the Federal air marshals are effectively using their funds to deploy personnel on inbound flights that are considered high risk by the Department of Homeland Security and that there is no limitation to that ability. I believe the Federal air marshals are the last line of defense in many instances in defending the cockpit and aircraft cabin against terrorist attacks. those who have obviously been able to transcend other barriers and getting on planes in international ports. As a former chair and a member of the Homeland Security Transportation Security Committee. I worked over the years and sponsored legislation to ensure that we have enough air marshals and that they receive all the requisite training to effectively secure the aircraft. Again. many times their work goes unnoticed. but it is vital work to best protect our Nation from terroristic threat. It is of extreme importance that we use the necessary funds to support the use of Federal air mar shals on inbound international flights. Make no mistake. the threat to our aviation system from aircraft inbound to the United States from foreign airports continues to be a serious and dangerous threat. It is often recited by those who are engaged in intelligence matters that aviation assets still are the asset of choice for many of these franchise terrorists. To best protect our Nation from terroristic threat. it is important that we take note of our international flights. Following the capture and killing of Osama bin Laden. intelligence was gathered that suggested al Qaeda still has an interest in attacking the United States. likely through transportation modes. whether it is to airplanes. trains. and other modes. This fact. coupled with the numerous suspicious activities even on domestic aircraft where passengers are attempting to open cabin doors in flight or otherwise disrupt. is of concern. Certainly. our air marshals play a very important role. While my amendment deals with the threat of inbound aircraft to the United States. its ultimate impact would be to ensure that air marshals are assigned to the highest risk flights. It simply prohibits funds from being used to limit the discretion of the Secretary of Homeland Security to enhance air marshal coverage on inbound. highrisk flights. And it reinforces the importance of the job that air marshals do. but also the importance of assessing this highrisk threat in many instances. which is the aviation vehicle. The terroristic threats are everchanging. We must allow the Secretary of Homeland Security to make the necessary adjustments to protect the American people. This is not a funding issue or a people issue. rather. a security issue. This amendment is budget neutral. and I would ask my colleagues to support this amendment that really speaks to the idea of security for the American people. With that. I yield back the balance of my time. Thank you for this opportunity to explain my amendment. which simply prohibits any funds in the Homeland Appropriations Act from being used to limit the discretion of the Secretary of Homeland Security to enhance the use of Federal air marshals on inbound international flights considered to be high risk by the Department of Homeland Security. My amendment ensures that the Federal Air Marshals are effectively using their funds to deploy personnel on inbound flights that are considered high risk by the Department of Homeland Security and that there is no limitation on that ability. Mr. Chairman. I believe that Federal Air Marshals are the last line of defense in defending the cockpit and aircraft cabin against terrorist attack. As the former Chair and a current member of Homeland Security Transportation Security Subcommittee. I have worked over the years and sponsored legislation to ensure that we have enough air marshals and that they receive all the requisite training to effectively secure aircraft. To best protect our Nation from terroristic threat it is of extreme importance that we use the necessary funds to support the use of Federal Air Marshalls on inbound international flights. Make no mistakethe threat to our aviation system from aircraft inbound to the United States from foreign airports is serious and dangerous. Following the capture and killing of Osama Bin Laden. intelligence was gathered that suggests that Al Qaeda still has an interest in attacking the U.S.. likely through transportation modes. This fact. coupled with the numerous suspicious activities even on domestic aircraft where passengers were attempting to open cabin doors in flight or otherwise disrupt flights. is of concern. While my amendment deals with the threat on inbound aircraft to the U.S.. its ultimate impact will be to ensure that air marshals are assigned to the highestrisk flights. It simply prohibits funds from being used to limit the discretion Secretary of Homeland Security to enhance air marshal coverage on inbound highrisk flights in accordance with the Departments risk model. The terroristic threats are ever changing and we must allow the Secretary of Homeland Security to make the necessary adjustments to protect the American people. This is not a funding issue or people issue. rather a security issue and this amendment is budget neutral. Let me thank those under Homeland Security for their service. including my friends at the Transportation Security Administration. Let me thank the Federal Air Marshals as well for their service. Mr. Chair. I ask my colleagues to support amendment 153 to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2014.