Designed To Enhance Screening, Eliminate Insider Threats

Following a multi-year investigation into insider threats facing our nation’s airports, bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) unanimously passed the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday.  The bipartisan Aviation Employee Screening and Security Enhancement Act will help mitigate an increasingly disturbing threat to the safety of the traveling public by enhancing screening of airport and aviation employees.

“There remain serious vulnerabilities and gaps in employee screening at airports nationwide. Frighteningly, we have seen multiple examples of aviation workers with access to secure areas of airports being involved in serious criminal activities, including terror plotting, after being radicalized,” said U.S. Rep. John Katko. “We cannot allow these lapses in security to continue placing the traveling public at risk.  After a number of insider threat-related attacks at airport overseas, along with plots here in the United States, it is essential that we act on this legislation. This bill will enhance employee-vetting requirements, improve procedures governing the way airports issue security credentials, and reform TSA’s employee screening operations to be more targeted and effective.  It will also provide policymakers with critical, previously unavailable data relating to the cost and feasibility of providing full employee screening at domestic airports.”

Earlier this year, Rep. Katko’s Transportation and Protective Security Subcommittee released a telling report on airport insider threats, which painted a disturbing picture of security vulnerabilities and gaps in employee screening and access controls at airports across the country.  Just three days after the release of this report, news broke of a massive drug smuggling ring between Puerto Rico and the Continental United States involving both TSA and airport employees.  This network of criminals exploited their access to secure areas of airports to smuggle 20 tons—or $100 million-worth of cocaine into the United States—into communities nationwide.

The bill is Rep. Katko’s fourth bipartisan measure to pass the House this Congress.

Congressman John Katko chairs the House Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Transportation Security.

(Source: Rep. Katko news release)

FMI: katko.house.gov