WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) today expressed serious concerns about the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) implementation of its air cargo screening requirement. Markey is the author of the 100 percent air cargo screening requirement signed into law as part of the act implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission (P.L. 110-53). Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) presented its preliminary findings on TSA’s implementation progress, pointing out serious challenges across the program, including problems with TSA’s certification of screening technologies, oversight, lack of adequate progress in ensuring the screening of cargo entering the U.S. from overseas, and other issues.

“GAO’s report identifies serious, systemic problems with the approach TSA developed to meet the 100 percent screening mandate in the law implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission,” said Markey. “I remain very concerned about TSA’s progress, and it is essential that the current problems be quickly addressed.”

GAO’s testimony was delivered at the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection hearing.  In January 2008, Rep. Markey and Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) requested that GAO monitor and report on TSA’s implementation of the 100 percent screening mandate, and this hearing was an opportunity for GAO to present its preliminary findings.

In August 2007, the legislation implementing recommendations of the 9/11 Commission was signed into law. The provision negotiated by Rep. Markey required that within three years of enactment all cargo carried on passenger planes be screened at a level of security commensurate to the security applied to airline passengers' checked bags.

Rep. Markey and Rep. Thompson requested the GAO report on TSA’s progress on January 30, 2008. More information on their request to the GAO can be found here: http://markey.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3257&Itemid=199

On July 31, 2008, Rep. Markey and Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) sent a letter to TSA raising their concerns about TSA statements misinterpreting the air cargo screening mandate and reiterating that the air cargo screening mandate was intended to cover all cargo transported on passenger planes both within the United States and bound to the United States from overseas. Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), and Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-OR.), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y), Ed Perlmutter (D-CO.) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) also signed on to the letter. More information on the letter can be found here: http://markey.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3423&Itemid=19

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