TSA Discusses 9/11 Commission's Air Cargo Recommendations

Among the witnesses testifying at this hearing was David Stone, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Following are highlights of the Assistant Secretary's testimony on the 9/11 Commission's air cargo recommendations, as well as the actions TSA is taking, or plans to take, to address those recommendations:

9/11 Commission Recommendations for Screening Checked Bags and Cargo

According to the Assistant Secretary, the 9/11 Commission's recommendations for screening checked bags and cargo include:

directing greater attention and resources to reducing or mitigating the threat posed by explosives in vessels' cargo holds;

expediting the installation of advanced (in-line) baggage-screening equipment;

requiring every passenger aircraft carrying cargo to deploy at least one hardened container to carry any suspect cargo; and

intensifying efforts to identify, track, and appropriately screen potentially dangerous cargo in both the aviation and maritime sectors.

TSA Responds to 9/11 Commission Recommendations

In response to the 9/11 Commission's recommendations, the Assistant Secretary states that, with respect to air baggage and air cargo:

TSA continues to strengthen air cargo security, noting the November 2003 issuance of security directives to air carriers requiring random inspection of air cargo transported on both all-cargo and passenger aircraft and the December 2003 approval by the DHS Secretary of TSA's comprehensive air cargo security Strategic Plan;

A proposed rule that will put "teeth" into TSA's Strategic Plan is being finalized and contains many significant regulatory enhancements for air cargo related to indirect air carriers, air carriers, and airports;

TSA has made steady progress in improving the number and capability of the explosives detectors in place at U.S. airports and TSA's related procedures;

TSA is conducting both short-term and long-term research and development (R&D) efforts for checked baggage;

TSA is working with vendors of the currently tested and approved blast resistant (hardened) baggage/cargo containers to make them a more economical and operational solution, etc.;

TSA has hired or deployed over 250 Aviation Security Inspectors (ASIs) who enforce aviation security regulations generally, plus 100 all-cargo ASIs brought on in fiscal year (FY) 2004 to improve air cargo compliance rates;

TSA is currently selecting vendors to develop explosives detection technology for containerized cargo and automated U.S. Mail inspection; initiating six pilot projects to conduct a cargo containerization study to determine the feasibility of using currently certified explosives detection technology (EDS and ETD) to screen cargo while new systems are under development; and supporting the pulsed fast neutron analysis technology pilot sponsored by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and TSA for containerized cargo screening; and

Deployed its Known Shipper Database earlier in 2004, which has provided increased vetting and control over air cargo shippers. (TSA notes that more than 450,000 known shippers are already included in the database, and the system is currently averaging about 1,000 inquiries a day.).

In his testimony, Stone also addressed issues such as the Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC) program, the Computer-Assisted Passenger Prescreening System (CAPPS II), etc.

(Other hearing witnesses included a Commissioner from the 9/11 Commission, as well as representatives from various air-related associations.)

Testimony from Assistant Secretary David Stone and other witnesses is available at http://www.house.gov/transportation/ (under August 25, 2004 in the "Schedule" section)