“We are here together today to send the message that
comprehensive airline security must be one of our top priorities.”
- Rep. Doyle

Monday, October 29, 2001 – Moon Township, Pennsylvania – U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (PA-18) joined with members of a local Machinists Union, many of whom work at the Pittsburgh International Airport, today in calling for Congress to pass real, meaningful, and effective airline security legislation.

“Requiring professionally trained law enforcement officials at all airport security check-points is important in increasing public confidence in our aviation system,” stated Rep. Doyle. “After September 11th, our nation’s airlines have become a part of our national security now more than ever. The responsibility of providing this national security should not be contracted out to the lowest bidder, but rather, it should be the responsibility of our government.”

Rep. Doyle supports airline security legislation, H.R. 3110, that puts professionally trained federal law enforcement agents in charge of security in airports and in airplanes; expands the air marshals program; strengthens cockpit doors to prevent intruders from reaching the pilots; provide counter-terrorism training to airline crews; and requires individuals seeking flight instruction to submit to a background check, criminal history record check and a check against federal security databases.

In recent weeks, Rep. Doyle, along with other Members of Congress, have expressed frustration over the Republican Leadership’s refusal to bring this issue to the House floor for debate, even though the United States Senate passed airline security legislation by a vote of 100-0 on October 11, 2001.

“We must act on this issue now as it is vital to our national Homeland Security,” said Rep. Doyle. “Making our skies safe again for the American traveler is too important to allow partisan politics to get in the way of achieving that.”

The House is scheduled to debate airline security this week, and Rep. Doyle will join with other Democrats by insisting that any airline security package must include federal law enforcement officials being in charge of airport security. The legislation that passed the Senate included this provision.

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