WASHINGTON, DC - Representative Edward Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee and longstanding advocate for strengthened aviation security, today expressed his opposition to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announcement that items such as metal scissors with pointed tips and a cutting edge of four inches or less will be permitted to be carried aboard passenger planes.  TSA had banned such items after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  Rep. Markey and Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY) announced their plan to introduce the “Leave All Blades Behind Act” in order to preserve the current ban on dangerous, sharp objects that has kept these items off passenger planes since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. 

“In the hands of terrorists trying to take over a passenger plane, scissors become shivs that can kill flight attendants and passengers.  Flight attendants and air marshals, who are responsible for keeping us safe at 30,000 feet, strongly oppose the changes TSA announced today to the list of items banned from the passenger cabin.  After the 9/11 hijackers used boxcutters to perpetrate their devastating attack, TSA wisely banned sharp scissors and certain tools from passenger planes.  As the holiday season approaches and millions of Americans across the country travel on airplanes to visit friends and family, now is not the time to open the passenger cabin to a flood of dangerous items that have been banned from planes for the past four years.  When Congress reconvenes next week, I will introduce the Leave All Blades Behind Act along with Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY) to stop TSA from moving forward with its risky, misguided plan.  Only four years ago, terrorist conducted the worst attack against our country since Pearl Harbor.  Our country should never forget the lessons learned on that day.  We should stand with the flight attendants and families who lost loved ones on that day and keep these dangerous items off passenger planes,” Rep. Markey said. 

A letter sent from Rep. Markey to DHS in August on this issue can be found at http://www.house.gov/markey/Issues/iss_aviationsec_ltr050818.pdf.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 2005

 CONTACT: Tara McGuinness
Mark Bayer 
202.225.2836