Aviation Security Stakeholder Participation Act of 2013

Floor Speech

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Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Senate amendment to H.R. 1204, the Aviation Security Stakeholder Participation Act. This bill was introduced by my colleague from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson), the ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security.

I would like to thank the ranking member for developing this legislation, which would ensure stable, open lines of communication between TSA and a multitude of aviation security stakeholders.

I also thank the chairman of the full committee, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) for his support and work on this bill in seeing it through committee and the House.

Additionally, our colleagues in the Senate, particularly Senators Rockefeller, Tester, Thune, and Ayotte, played an integral role in bringing this bill to the finish line.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1204, which passed unanimously out of our committee, and passed the House 1 year ago, is an important piece of legislation that requires exactly the sort of stakeholder outreach that Congress expects from the TSA.

TSA should constantly solicit feedback from the aviation community before making new security policies, especially when these policies could translate into big headaches for the traveling public or the aviation industry.

Last year, we saw firsthand what can happen when TSA tries to make policy decisions in a vacuum. TSA announced it was going to allow small knives and sports equipment to be carried onto airplanes before consulting key stakeholders. The result was a very public disagreement and, eventually, a complete reversal of the decision. Had the process been handled differently, the outcome may have been very different.

The Aviation Security Advisory Committee, or ASAC, already provides important input to TSA on policy decisions, and includes U.S. air carriers, all cargo air carriers, airport operators, flight attendants, law enforcement and many other groups. This bill codifies the existing ASAC into law and gives additional groups a seat at the table.

It also requires TSA to provide feedback on the ASAC recommendations, which it doesn't consistently do today, and makes it possible for the ASAC to discuss sensitive security information, as appropriate.

Eighteen diverse industry associations, including U.S. airlines, airports, the travel industry, general aviation, and technology manufacturers support this bipartisan bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Senate amendment to H.R. 1204, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Speaker, this is an important bipartisan bill that I
believe will make a real difference for the future of aviation
security.

I want to thank all those on both sides of the aisle and on both
sides of the Hill who played a key role in moving this bill.

I would also like to thank the staff, not just for their work on this
bill, but also the other transportation security bills that we sent to
the President this Congress: Brian Turbyfill, Cedric Haynes, Jake
Vreeburg, Kyle Klein, Nicole Halavik, Matt Haskins, Gerry Sleefe and
Amanda Parikh.

I thank all of you for your service to our country and for your hard
work.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' and to send this bill to the
President for his signature.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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