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2134 <br /> sj~uC'mQNo sDe <br /> Of~fite <br /> BWfalnp <br /> Waehinppton, DC 20816 <br /> {20Y) 228•e476 <br /> EUGENE OFFICE <br /> 167 W 7th Avenus Sulte 400 <br /> Euoeno, OR fl7a0~ <br /> {Sat) 466-A782 <br /> FROM PRESENTATIVE COOS BAY OFFICE <br /> 126 w. Gntrat •~e. r3S0 <br /> Cooa Ba OR 97420 <br /> PE R ~'AZIO IS4" z~~•2®oa <br /> De ROSEBURG OFFICE <br /> PO <br /> Box g2460on St. Suite fl <br /> 4th Cong essional District, Oregon 1861} 4t6 36237470 <br /> i <br /> Contact:M chael McLaughlin (Lipinski} - 202-225-5701 <br /> Kristie Gr co (DeFazio) - 202-225-6416 <br /> David Gillis (Costello) - 202-225-56b1 <br /> Doug O'Br en (Kirk) - 202-225-4835 September 13, 2001 <br /> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE <br /> A ~l TION SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS TO INTRODUCE <br /> AIRLINE S'AFETYMEASURES <br /> ~ WASHIN ON, DC -Today, Congressmen Bill Lipinski (D-IL), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Jerry <br /> Costello (D IL), and Mark Kirk (R-IL) members of the House Subcommittee on Aviation, <br /> announced t they plan to introduce legislation by the end of the month to significantly <br /> strengthen t e safety of the nation's airlint; system. The bill would greatly expand the Federal <br /> Aviation A inistratian's {FAA) Air Marshal Program, federalize the airport security screening <br /> system and imit all airline passengers to cane carry-on bag. <br /> "On the heels of the horrif c terrorist attack of September l 1`'', the American people <br /> demand tha we do all we can to prevent this and other terrorist attacks from happening in our <br /> airways ago n," said Lipinski, the Ranking Democrat on the Aviation Subcommittee. "While we <br /> are introduc'ng this legislation in response to 'Iliesday's hijackings and acts of war, we have been <br /> working on 11 aspects of this legislation for months and years, fearful that our security system is <br /> not as good as it should be. Unfortunately, acts of terror have been committed beyond our worst <br /> nightmares, and we must act soon to help protect all Americans." <br /> The ederal Air Marshal program is an expansion of the Sky Marshal program of the <br /> 1970s desig ed to stop hijackings to and from Cuba. The current program was created in 1985 <br /> following a TWA hijacking in Beirut, and while the exact number of agents is unknown due to <br /> security rea ores, FA.A officials estimate it to be in the low hundreds. The plainclothes Air <br /> Marshals ar armed with f rearms and bullets that do not penetrate the hull of the plane, but can <br /> defend agai st hijackers. The legislation would increase the number of Air Marshals to at least <br /> 1,000, and ould create deterrence with a :substantial element of uncertainty. <br /> "Ai ort screeners are overworked, underpaid, undertrained, and invariably work for the <br /> lowest-bidd ng private security firm," said DeFazio. "It's time we create a credible deterrent with <br /> a stable, we 1-trained federal law enforcem;:nt screening service." <br /> The Zegislation would also federalize the airport screening system replacing the <br /> underpaid, under-trained screeners with trained security professionals. DeFazio has introduced <br /> <br /> ~lr~ legislation since the 100`x' Congress to improve the screening process. Furthermore, the Aviation <br /> Subcommittee has held Congressional Hevings and discussions regarding the federalization of <br /> the security ~5creening process, which is currently directed by the nation's air carriers. <br /> "Our number one priority must always be the safety of the citizens of the United States," <br /> said Costello. "We believe that these three measures represent a reacnt,a},1p c.a.+;.,~. <br /> <br />