Video
Listen to Senator Durbin's views
on:
Agriculture
Appropriations
Education
Enron
Environment
Higher
Education
O'Hare
Airport
Police
Officers
Prescription
Drugs
Terrorism
Tobacco
Unemployment
©
2002 Friends of Dick Durbin. All Rights Reserved.
Web site designed by Campaign
Advisory Corporation
| Airport
Security I strongly supported the aviation security legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by the President in 2001. The bill will federalize baggage screeners within one year and place a federal manager at every airport, backed by law enforcement officers, to ensure that all security requirements are properly enforced. It will create a mechanism to cross-check passenger lists with lists of suspected national security risks, increase the number of armed Air Marshals on commercial airline flights, increase the use of security personnel at airport perimeters, require the screening of all individuals and vehicles that enter secure areas and require that all checked luggage be screened, including the use of bomb detection equipment, by the end of 2002. We cannot sell airport security to the lowest bidder. We need a federally trained, well-compensated security force to be the nation's first line of defense at our airports. In December 2001 I held an aviation summit in Springfield with airport managers from across the state. I understand from my ongoing conversations with airport officials the financial and managerial challenges they face in light of these new standards, and I have pledged to work with them to help them meet each security deadline. I also support efforts to provide additional funds to help local airports comply with the new federal regulations. |
SENATOR DICK DURBIN'S LEGISLATIVE
AGENDA |