Ros-Lehtinen Is Urgently Asking The Transportation Safety Administration To Reconsider Its Decision To Not Provide Federal Screeners At The Marathon A
Ros-Lehtinen Is Urgently Asking The Transportation Safety Administration To Reconsider Its Decision To Not Provide Federal Screeners At The Marathon Airport
Monroe County, Florida --- Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is asking the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to reconsider its decision to not provide federal screeners at the marathon Airport. Ros-Lehtinen informed the TSA that this decision will have serious ramifications for both the airlines and passengers traveling to our community.
Ros-Lehtinen wrote to the TSA, "It is my understanding that in September 2005, the Florida Key's Marathon Airport accepted a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Small Communities Air Service Program. This grant has attracted Gulfstream International Airlines and Delta Airlines to the airport, which would help increase our economy by tourists enjoying the beautiful sites that the Florida Key's Marathon Airport has to offer."
"According to correspondence from TSA, these airlines should be able to provide service to passengers traveling from a non-sterile airport to a non-sterile area. However, Delta has already affirmed that this suggestion is not feasible. The screeners at the Florida Key's Marathon Airport need to screen passengers through the security checkpoint before they enter the sterile location so that connecting flights will not be affected in other airports. They believe that this scenario would create difficulties for passengers connecting onto other destinations within the sterile area of Atlanta."
Said Ros-Lehtinen, "I have contacted the TSA and asked them to immediately re-visit this issue, which is of the utmost importance to Monroe residents and myself. I also reitretaed to the TSA that I strongly support the interests of the airport and I informed them that this decision will have serious ramifications for our security and for the livelyhood of countless Monroe residents."
http://www.house.gov/list/press/fl18_ros-lehtinen/TSA.html