Fitzpatrick Urges Transportation Security Administration to Prohibit Dangerous Objects from Passenge

Fitzpatrick Urges Transportation Security Administration to Prohibit Dangerous Objects from Passenger Aircraft

Signs Letter to Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff

Washington, Dec 19, 2005 -

In response to the recent decision by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), to modify its list of prohibited items on passenger planes to permit items such as sharp metal scissors, tools and similar dangerous objects onto passenger planes effective December 22, 2005, Congressman Fitzpatrick signed onto a letter to Secretary Michael Chertoff to object to the change.

"Almost every association of flight and airline professional objects to this change," Fitzpatrick said. "These are the people who have first hand experience in airline security and the dangers these objects pose when they fall into the hands of determined terrorists. The TSA should weigh their concerns heavily and refuse to lower their standards for security screening."

The Association of Flight Attendants, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, Air Marshals and families of the September 11th terrorist attacks all oppose the TSA's recommendations.

"Our world changed on September 11, 2001 and our obligation to ensure that all passengers and flights are secure. It is incomprehensible that the agency created after 9/11 to guarantee the safety would consider increasing risk to passengers and flight crew," Fitzpatrick added.

Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick is serving his first term as Representative of the 8th District of Pennsylvania, which includes Bucks County and portions of Montgomery County and Philadelphia.

http://fitzpatrick.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=37932