Legislation
Reps.
Ed Markey and Joseph Crowley are introducing the "Leave All
Blades Behind Act" in order to keep the ban on sharp objects on planes
in place.
"TSA should be focused on shrinking the terrorist toolbox, not expanding
the number of items that a terrorist could carry onboard. TSA's plan to
permit sharp objects such as knives on airplanes suggests a serious short-term
memory loss that puts passengers and crew members at risk. Four years
ago, we witnessed how terrorists can use common items to perpetrate devastating
strikes against our country. This is the equivalent of handing back the
box cutters to the 9/11 hijackers," Rep. Markey said.
If you would like to write your congressman in support of a "Leave All
Blades Behind Act", you can do so by
clicking here.
H. R. 4452 - "Leave All Blades Behind Act"
Markey Introduces "Leave All Blades Behind Act" - Press Release
Senate Bill 2083 - "To prohibit the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration) from removing any item from the current list of items prohibited from being carried aboard a passenger aircraft."
Statement of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on the Senate Commerce Committee’s
Decision to Hold Hearings on the New TSA Proposal
"I want to commend Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chairman
Stevens and Co-Chairman Inouye for their quick decision to heed calls
for hearings to probe the TSA's decision to reintroduce dangerous items
back onboard commercial aviation flights. This decision is very disturbing
and key officials within the Department of Homeland Security owe the American
people answers as to how this decision will make the flying public safer.
We must not cede one inch gained in aviation security to the terrorists
who seek to exploit existing vulnerabilities much like they did on September
11, 2001. While I applaud the TSA’s desire to increase attentiveness to
explosives detection, I do not believe reintroducing dangerous items back
onboard commercial flights is the best way to do that. The Commerce Committee’s
hearings will hopefully make sure these concerns are addressed adequately
before the changes are implemented in the coming weeks. Our citizens and
flight crews deserve nothing less than our full dedication to reduce threats
onboard commercial flights."
Sen. Chuck Schumer on TSA's Rolling back Restrictions on Knives in Planes
Sen. Chuck Schumer, a longtime advocate for strengthening security of
America's passenger planes, released the following statement today regarding
TSA's announcement today to rollback some restrictions on sharp objects
like scissors and knives on commercial airplanes:
"We understand we have to plug new loopholes, but that doesn’t mean we
have to unplug the old ones."
Schumer will be working with Reps. Ed Markey and Joe Crowley to introduce
legislation in the Senate to address this issue soon.
Rep. Crowley Calls For Increased Security at Our Nation's Airports After
Shooting
Washington, DC - Representative Joseph Crowley, Chief Deputy Whip and
leading member of the New York City delegation, responded to the reported
shooting of a passenger by a Federal Air Marshal today. According to press
sources Federal Air Marshals shot and killed a 44-year-old U.S. citizen
on a boarding bridge at Miami International Airport after he said he had
a bomb and refused to follow directions from the Marshals.
"We should be making the job of US Air Marshals easier, not harder, by
continuing the limits on carry-on items that were put into place after
9/11. Today's quick response demonstrates that security must be agile,
but security threats should also be eliminated before problems occur,"
said Crowley. “The reported shooting in Miami demonstrates that threats
against US airlines and passengers are as strong now as they were on 9/11.
Allowing sharp scissors and screwdrivers as long as seven inches back
into airplanes in the misguided notion of speeding up security checkpoints
is not efficient, it's just plain stupid. That is why my colleague Rep.
Ed Markey and I have introduced legislation to keep current laws in place
in regards to carry on luggage and not weaken our security system," continued
Crowley.
Rep. Crowley has been outspoken on the need to continue to strengthen
security at our nation's airports, not relax security regulations. After
9/11 security regulations were put into place for a reason, our country
was not safe and we continue to remain unsafe. That is why Rep. Crowley
along with Rep Edward J. Markey (D-MA) introduced H.R.4452, Leave All
Blades Behind Act, which will preserve the current ban on weapons that
can threaten the lives of air passengers and flight attendants.
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson, R-Texas,
said allowing sharp-pointed scissors and similar objects on planes "could
undermine the progress we have made in securing our skies since the 9/11
attacks."
"The change in policy would do little to alleviate screening delays, since
screeners would need to stop the conveyor belt to check whether the scissors
in question fell within the new limits," she said in a letter to Hawley,
urging him to drop the idea.