WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a senior Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee, made the following statement responding to the 9/11 Discourse Project report card released today.

“Letting 4 inch scissor blades back on passenger planes while letting unscreened cargo the size of a Volkwagen be placed on the same plane is absurd.  The 9/11 commissioners said it clearly – the Administration’s homeland security priorities are upside down.  This Republican Congress has repeatedly blocked the Democratic proposal to free up spectrum for First Responders, to close the loophole that allows cargo to travel unscreened on passenger planes and to provide homeland security funding based on the areas of greatest risk,” said Rep. Markey.

Later today at 1:00 pm Rep. Markey will host a news conference in the House Radio and Television Gallery detailing the Republican inaction on these critical homeland security reforms.  For more information on Rep. Markey’s work to close existing loopholes that persist in our air cargo, hazmat, chemical and nuclear security check out Representative Markey’s website at http://www.house.gov/markey/