Washington, DC- Today, the House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Cybersecurity approved two important amendments to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Reorganization Act offered by Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a senior Democrat on the committee and a long-time champion of improving our nation’s air and hazmat transport security. Both of these amendments would provide critical security enhancements to two areas which are particularly vulnerable to terrorist attack, and represent a major victory for our nation’s homeland security given the consistent efforts of Republicans in Congress to thwart these security improvements.

The amendment on air security will reverse the recent decision by the Assistant Secretary of the TSA to change the prohibited items list to allow razor-sharp scissors and other weapons-usable items from being carried aboard passenger planes. The Markey amendment was offered with the support of groups representing federal air marshals, airline pilots and flight attendants, and family members who lost loved ones on September 11th.  “It makes absolutely no sense to reverse the ban on carrying scissors with 4-inch blades aboard a passenger plane,” said Rep. Markey. “The 9/11 Commission said that our government’s lack of ‘imagination’ contributed to the failure to prevent the September 11th attacks, but it doesn’t take much imagination to see how scissor blades could be wielded by a suicidal terrorist or a deranged passenger to take over an airplane. The passage of my amendment is an important first step to repairing the dangerous breach to our air security that the TSA’s recent decision has had.”

The second amendment will improve safety within our system of transporting dangerous chemicals by rail, truck, and other vehicles within the United States. The amendment will require enhanced security when the most toxic materials are being shipped; increased use of available technology to improve communications between shippers, law enforcement, and first responders; and re-routing of shipments away from heavily populated areas if there is a safer route available. “The terrorist attacks in London and Madrid showed us the importance of rail security,” said Rep. Markey. “But there still remains a gaping hole in our security shield, as hazardous chemicals often pass within yards of densely populated urban areas.”

For more information on Rep. Markey’s efforts to increase aviation and hazmat transportation security, please visit http://markey.house.gov