Date: 2012-09-11
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Let me thank the ranking member for his courtesies of extending the time. and let me acknowledge the gentleman from Illinois for the work on this bill and working with my office. At the first glance. though. this has been proposed by the Obama administration. one would wonder why we were lessening any oversight over baggage. But this is a process that I think is in compliance with all of our commitment to safety and security. And. in particular. on this day. I do appreciate the fact that there are certain airports which this will cover. that this responds in particular to friends to the north of us. Canada. which has the most sophisticated technology. and a number of other airports. Also. I think. because of the oversight of the Secretary of Homeland Security. in case there is a need to review this particular process which allows for a bag of an entering person to continue on with them as they come into the country going on to their domestic location. This is. again. an item of trust. but also an item of technology and an item of oversight. This is an administrative proposal that came by way of the White House in order to establish an administrative process to which the flying public can travel with minimum security disruption. I always emphasize. however. the importance of ensuring in the mostthe highest of responsibilities. the security of this Nation. I believe that we. as Congress. have the responsibility to ensure that aviation security is not compromised through any efforts that ease travel for the flying public. The Obama administration has taken great strides in enhancing our transportation security. particularly that in aviation. Although Osama bin Laden. as Ive repeated before on this floor. is dead. the threat to our aviation safety and security continues to evolve because were well aware of franchise terrorism. Not only did the administration lead a successful attack to remove one of the most dangerous terrorists in the world. the Obama administration has also taken significant steps to enhance policies that protect the American flying public. In December. the Department will successfully meet a Congressional cargo screening mandate of screening 100 percent cargo aboard passenger flights traveling in the United States and those inbound to the United States from foreign countries. This is a noteworthy accomplishment. since several in Washington. D.C.. touted that it could not be done. Its a day of celebration. Its something that the 9/11 families welcome. Today marks 11 years since we experienced the devastating loss of life. and 9/11 marked all of our lives by exposing doubts. But as I indicated in my earlier statement. this is a great country. and of course we continue to emphasize not only our democracy. but our rights. along with our security. Theres no doubt today that we are resilient and that we are survivors. Lets not forget the progress weve made in transportation security policies. and we must continue to support measures that take us forward. That is why I support H.R. 6028 and ask that my colleagues do so. because not only does it help to expedite. it helps to be efficient. but it is in conjunction with security. That is the right step and a collaborative way that we can work together. Again. I ask support for this legislation. Mr. Speaker. H.R. 6028. The NoHassle Flying Act of 2012. grants the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration [TSA]) discretion to determine whether checked baggage on a flight or flight segment originating at an airport outside the United States must be rescreened in the United States for explosives before it can continue on any additional flight or flight segment if the baggage has already been screened in the foreign airport in accordance with an aviation security preclearance agreement between the United States and the country in which the airport is located.