Date: 2011-06-02
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank the chairman of the committee and the ranking member. Mr. Chairman. this is a very challenging process that we are going through. It is challenging because we are addressing homeland security in the backdrop of the crisis in Libya. of the Arab Spring. of the demise and end of Osama bin Laden by the brilliance of the Navy SEALs. of the intelligence community. of President Obama. and of course in the backdrop of domestic disasters: from Texas fires to tornadoes from New England to Alabama to Missouri. But there is something that we can do. We can recognize that there was no appointment made for 9/11. No notice was given to us on 9/11. There were indicators of individuals learning to fly or to take off but not landing. So post9/11 we came up with the enhanced concept of ensuring that we had Federal Air Marshals. Im glad for that. Yet I think it is important now. in the neighborhood that were living in. in the climate that were living in and in the interests of terroristslone wolves. franchise terroriststo attack our mobility or transit systems. which include aviation. for us to focus on ensuring that there is no undermining of the utilization strategically of air marshals to protect the American public. I can just cite. Mr. Chairman. the incidences that have occurred in the backdrop of Libya: individuals domestically charging the pilot door. passengers having to bring down disturbed individuals. The air skyways. if you will. are both exciting and potentially troubling and dangerous. 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. They are one of our first lines of defense in defending the cockpit and aircraft cabin against terrorist attacks. As the ranking member on a Transportation subcommittee. I have worked over the years and have sponsored legislation to see that we have enough air marshals and that they will receive all the requisite training to effectively secure aircraft. Make no mistake. the threat to our aviation system from aircraft inbound to the United States from foreign airports is serious and dangerous just as it is on our rail system. On Christmas Day 2009. we saw the underwear bomber try to ignite PETN and destroy a plane over Detroit. We need air marshals. As I indicated. the demise of Osama bin Laden has caused many to rise up and to begin to think: What is their next effort in attack. if you will. on the issue of aviation security? 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 highest risks. I also intend to move forward on my FAMs legislation. which will provide training and increased productivity but also personnel. Yet this clearly goes to the heart of the problem: Protect the American public. Protect them as they travel domestically. Protect them as they travel internationally. If you ever for a moment doubt the potential of havoc. then you just need to look to that Christmas Dayto that unexpected act of the socalled "underwear bomber." or. if you will. of the shoe bomber. of some years past. Then. if you want to bring it closer to home. you go back 3 or 4 weeks ago and see the series of incidences that required passengers and flight attendants to be engaged. I ask my colleagues to support this amendment. It is in the form of a limitation that no funds should be used to limit the enhanced utilization. which will require creative thinking and the ability to use resources effectively. The bill actually says that we should have two FAMs inbound: two undesignated. unnoted individuals who can provide a cover and a buffer from what has to be a very bad climate. Let me thank the Federal Air Marshals as well for their service. Let me thank those under Homeland Security for their service. including my friends at the Transportation Security Administration. They are in a tough. tough neighborhood. I close by simply saying there will be an amendment on the floor dealing with collective bargaining for TSOs. In my capacity on that committee. let me say that collective bargaining has no impact on the great work of the TSOs. So I ask my colleagues to support my amendment. Mr. Chair. I rise before you and my colleagues to take the opportunity to explain my amendment to H.R. 2017. "Making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30. 2012. and for other purposes." Mr. Chair. I am offering a limitation amendment that prohibits any funds in the Homeland Appropriations Act from being used to interfere with the deployment of federal air marshals. My amendment would ensure that the federal air marshals are effectively using their funds to deploy personnel on inbound flights that are considered highrisk by the Department of Homeland Securitys risk models. Mr. Chair. I believe that federal air marshals are the last line of defense in defending the cockpit and aircraft cabin against terrorist attack. As a Member of the Transportation Security Subcommittee of the Committee on Homeland Security. 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. On January 5. 2011. I introduced House Resolution 71. the Federal Air Marshals Augmentation Act of 2011. A measure that directs the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to increase the number of federal air marshals by at least an additional 1.750 above the number of such marshals as of January 31. 2010. to ensure increased transportation security for inbound international flights. This bill doubles the number of inbound international flights with air marshals onboard. without reducing domestic coverage. Makes criminal investigator training mandatory for all air marshals. Codifies the FAMS Office of the Ombudsman. and directs the Ombudsman to implement personnel policies as previously recommended by the DHS OIG and the GAO. This bill also requires semiannual reports to Congress on this augmentation implementation and on personnel incidents and issues. Make no mistakethe threat to our aviation system from aircraft inbound to the United States from foreign airports is serious and dangerous. On Christmas Day 2009. we saw the underwear bomber try to ignite PETN and destroy a plane over Detroit. And following the demise of Osama bin Laden. there were numerous suspicious activities even on domestic aircraft where passengers were attempting to open cabin doors in flight or otherwise disrupt flights. Are we sufficiently prepared for addressing the terrorist threat to aviation? 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 directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to enhance air marshal coverage on inbound highrisk flights in accordance with the Departments risk model. This is an allocation of people issue. not a funding issue. and this amendment is budget neutral. Mr. Chair. I ask my colleagues to support amendment 130 to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2012. I yield back the balance of my time.