Hearing of the Aviation Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Subject: Aviation Security
HEARING OF THE AVIATION SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE SENATE COMMERCE, SCIENCE AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
SUBJECT: AVIATION SECURITY AND IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REGULATORY AND STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS OF THE AVIATION AND TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ACT (ATSA)
SEN. GORDON SMITH (R-OR): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will be brief as well. I appreciate the chance to be here. I, like many of us, am supposed to be in several different hearings right now, but this is a very important hearing.
And, Admiral Loy, I want to tell you that when we in the Senate voted to make public the TSA and the screeners, some of us had some concern whether or not that would turn out well. I rarely go through an airport now but that I don't seek out some of the employees of the federal government who do this job now to thank them for what I think is a real step up in quality and service and security. And I want to state that publicly for the record.
ADM. JAMES LOY: Thank you, sir.
SEN. SMITH: Also, I'm here to ask a couple of questions I hope in the course of yourthis hearing you can answer. Specifically, I am hearing from rural airports in Oregon they are concerned about what effort is going to be made to foster continued involvement and input from them. Some of them are feeling like they're being left out of the equation. And additionally what public or private initiatives and partnerships have been formed to promote security in the advent of a war on terrorism within our nation's borders. Those are concerns specific to Oregon, but I think not unique to Oregon, that I hope we'll be able to answer.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.