Gerardo Hernandez Airport Security Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 720) to improve intergovernmental planning for and communication during security incidents at domestic airports, and for other purposes.

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Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today, Mr. Speaker, in strong support of H.R. 720, the Gerardo Hernandez Airport Security Act of 2015.

This critically important piece of legislation is the product of a strong bipartisan effort stemming from the fatal shooting at Los Angeles International Airport on November 1, 2013. On that tragic day, TSA Officer Gerardo Hernandez was shot and killed by an active shooter, becoming the first Transportation Security Administration employee to be killed in the line of duty. Two other Transportation Security Administration officers and a passenger were also injured during the attack.

In the wake of that attack, Congressman Richard Hudson, who was then serving as the chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Transportation Security, spearheaded a bipartisan effort to investigate the vulnerabilities highlighted by the attack and enhance the state of airport security across the United States.

One of my first acts as chairman of the subcommittee in the 114th Congress was to work with Mr. Hudson and reintroduce this important legislation, and I am pleased to see it through to final passage today.

This bill builds on important steps taken by TSA and airports across the country and was developed with input from both public and private sector partners. The legislation makes important strides in enhancing the level of preparedness of our Nation's transportation systems in responding and mitigating security incidents, such as active shooters and terror attacks.

For example, it requires TSA to verify that airports and high-risk surface transportation hubs have plans in place to effectively train for and respond to security incidents when they occur.

Further, it will ensure that emergency communications equipment is regularly tested and that emergency first responders are able to communicate with each other and the public during a major security incident. The legislation also directs TSA to seek ways in which funding for reimbursable agreements to airport law enforcement can be increased in order to provide better support to the critical layer of security they provide.

Developing this preparedness will go a long way in improving the response to threats to public safety and will work to overcome the challenges experienced by law enforcement, emergency first responders, TSA, and the public during the LAX shooting.

Just last week, the need for efficient and effective communications was highlighted during a stabbing and shooting incident at Union Station here in Washington, D.C., in which law enforcement from multiple agencies responded to mitigate the situation.

We must ensure that our frontline employees and first responders are equipped with the necessary tools and training to respond to these types of incidents in order to protect both themselves and the general public.

I wish to extend a sincere thanks to Congressman Hudson for his work on this legislation as well as to the chairman of the full committee, Mr. McCaul of Texas, for his support. Additionally, I would like to thank Ranking Member Thompson, Ranking Member Rice, and the other bipartisan cosponsors for their work in getting this legislation to the finish line. I would also like to extend gratitude to our colleagues in the Senate, especially Chairman Thune and Ranking Member Nelson, for further refining the legislation and moving it through the Senate.

I urge all my colleagues to support the bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hudson).

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Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 720. The tragic event that unfolded at LAX in November of 2013 was a stark reminder that much remains to be done in securing America's transit hubs, particularly the nonsterile or nonsecure areas of airports that are, in many ways, just like open shopping malls. Because of this reality, we must react to ensure that airport communities are prepared to respond swiftly to any major security incidents that threaten the safety of the traveling public.

In remembrance of TSA Officer Hernandez, I urge my colleagues to pass this important legislation.

Before I close, Mr. Speaker, I do want to recognize and echo the sentiments of my colleague, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hudson) with respect to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson): He set a tone of bipartisanship in the committee; and because of that, in the Committee on Homeland Security, itself, as well as the subcommittee, much good work is being done and many bills are being passed. So I appreciate and acknowledge the bipartisanship because it is important. It is an art that all too often gets lost in this Congress, and we are doing well with it in our committee.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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