The overriding question that has plagued the American public since September 11^th is, “how could nearly 20 terrorists successfully penetrate airport security and hijack four U.S. planes on the same morning?”  There is a sense of disbelief that security measures at our airports did not stop any of these hijackers, especially those who commandeered two aircraft from the same airport within minutes of each other.  This is a question that Appropriators on both the House and Senate Transportation Subcommittees have been grappling with in recent days. 

I have the privilege of serving on the House Transportation subcommittee and participated in the first joint hearing with our Senate counterparts since I was elected in 1992.  The frightening details of lapses in our airport security discussed at that hearing were enough to scare one of my staffers out of the room for fear that if he heard much more he might not ever get on a plane again. 

            But common sense tells you that our approach to airport security has been grossly inadequate.  Historically, security responsibilities have been left to the airlines, which contract the job to the lowest bidder.  That means “security” companies fill these posts with entry-level workers, many of whom have just entered the country and are willing to work for minimum wage salaries and little or no benefits.  At Dulles Airport near Washington, D.C., 80% of the baggage screeners are not U.S. citizens.  It is nearly impossible to run a background check on these employees because there is no extensive record of employment in the United States.  Not to mention language barriers that exists between travelers and those checking their luggage. 

            Just like many other minimum wage jobs, the turnover rate for many airport security positions reaches 126% a year in our nation’s major airports.  Not only does that mean you have inexperienced workers on the job, it also means that there are scores of people among us who are familiar with airport security procedures, and none of us have any idea what they are doing with, and with whom they are sharing, that knowledge. 

            There is only one solution that makes sense.  We must federalize airport security.  I concur with Virginia Congressman Frank Wolf comments during the Transportation Subcommittee hearing.  He maintains that we don’t contract out the CIA, the FBI or the Customs Service, why should we do that with positions that insure the safety of American citizens in the air? 

            Federalizing airport security requires changing the mindset in America that decries “big government bureaucracy.”  We fund the federal bureaucracies that make up our military, and we agree that such is necessary for our protection.  Now it is abundantly clear that we must extend that protection to a government-supported airline industry security force. 

Federalizing airport security will not come cheaply.  But we have learned in an excruciating manner that just like everything else in life, you get what you pay for.  If you pay no more than minimum wage for airport security then you get no more than minimum security for airline travel.  After September 11^th, I don’t think anyone will argue that there is a much greater price to pay if we don’t invest in the personal security of our airline travelers. 

After thoughtful consideration of the extraordinary lapses in our airport security instead of wondering “how could this happen?” I began to wonder “why didn’t this happen sooner?”  With the tragic events of September 11^th stimulating belated but much needed discussion, we now have the impetus to take decisive action to insure that we are never again lulled into a false sense of security.

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