Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2005 - Continued

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
SENATE
Sept. 14, 2004

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2005-CONTINUED

Mr. ENSIGN. Mr. President, I thank Chairman Cochran and Senator Byrd and their staffs for working with me to draft the Ensign-Bond amendment, which has 20 cosponsors from both sides of the aisle.

This amendment addresses a shortfall in the Transportation Security Administration's budget for our airports' in-line baggage screening systems, or Explosive Detection Systems, for all checked baggage.

My amendment adds $75 million to the TSA's budget request of $250 million, for a total of $325 million. It is fully offset through a reduction in TSA's airport information technology and support.

TSA has asked for a $154 million increase in airport information technology, so we will still be giving them half of that increase. Still, even with this offset, this technology account is left with $218 million, and the reduction will not damage TSA's mission.

The reason I am offering this amendment is clear: One of the major threats of terrorism we face today is crowded airport lobbies. The huge explosive detection devices in the lobbies of airports makes the packed-in crowds an inviting target for terrorists. They could harm and kill more people in an airport lobby than they could on an entire airplane these days.

The amount that TSA requested in fiscal year 2005 for in-line baggage screening is not enough to fully fund the eight airports that are currently constructing their baggage systems, let alone the 21 airports that are waiting for money to become available so they can start their own.

It is estimated that $5 billion is needed to fully install the baggage screening systems. At $250 million a year, we are not going to get there any time soon. We need to live up to our obligation to our airports by clearing the backlog of airports that need to get these monster machines out of their lobbies. It is a huge unfunded mandate for airports that have to operate on tight budgets.

Our airports will be safer as a result. In fact, one of the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission is to expedite the installation of in-line baggage screening equipment. We will never get there if TSA cannot request enough funding for eight airports, let alone for all the airports in America that need these baggage screening systems.

In summary, my amendment is offset and will help 30 airports in our country speed up the installation of their in-line baggage screening systems. We have a huge vulnerability on our hands, and we need to act quickly.