ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 9

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED DECEMBER 9, 1996

By Assemblymen DeCROCE and WISNIEWSKI

An Assembly Resolution urging the United States Congress and the Federal Aviation Administration to take immediate action to increase airport security.

Whereas, Recent tragic events have reemphasized the importance of keeping our nation's airports secure, and the Assembly Transportation and Communications Committee held a public hearing on airport security matters which highlighted several areas where action should be taken to improve airport security; and

Whereas, Although the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for overseeing all security-related matters at this country's airports, responsibility for implementing airport security is fragmented among airline carriers, airport owners and operators and local police leading to a lack of uniform security procedures; and

Whereas, Airline carriers are responsible for developing and implementing security procedures and protocols such as passenger and baggage screening, employment standards for screening personnel, controlling access to airplanes, ensuring integrity of cargo and baggage, and performing security inspections of aircraft; and

Whereas, The FAA should require criminal background checks and fingerprint records for all airport and airline employees who have access to secure areas and Congress should enact legislation to provide airports and airlines with the necessary authority to conduct such background checks where airports and airlines do not currently have the authority to do so; and

Whereas, Since airport employees are critical to the effort of ensuring safer air travel, there should be uniform training requirements for all baggage handlers and security officers employed at airports, regardless of who employs them; and

Whereas, Aggressive, proactive testing of existing security systems and proactive security measures must be implemented at all airports to guard against lapses and complacency that could lead to tragedy; and

Whereas, Although the Gore Commission has recommended expanded use of bomb-sniffing dogs and the federal government has made some funds available for that purpose, that funding is so inadequate that it will provide only four bomb-sniffing dogs for the three major airports operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and funding for this program must be increased; and

Whereas, The FAA is developing other security measures such as better screening of cargo and mail and blast-resistant containers for cargo, which measures must be implemented as soon as possible; and

Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper and in the public interest for this House to call upon Congress and the FAA to take immediate action to improve airport security; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. The United States Congress and the Federal Aviation Administration are urged to take immediate action to increase airport security, including: placing responsibility for development and implementation of airport security under one agency to provide for a uniform system of airport security; requiring criminal background checks and fingerprint records for all airport and airline employees who have access to secure areas; implementing uniform training requirements for all baggage handlers and security officers employed at airports, regardless of who employs them; implementing aggressive, proactive testing of existing security systems and proactive security measures; increased funding for the bomb-sniffing dog program; and speeding development and implementation of other security measures such as better screening of cargo and mail and blast-resistant containers for cargo.

    2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested to by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the presiding officers of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, each member of Congress elected thereto from New Jersey and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.

STATEMENT

    This Assembly Resolution urges the United States Congress and the Federal Aviation Administration to take immediate action to increase airport security.

     Recent tragic events have reemphasized the importance of keeping our nation's airports secure, and the Assembly Transportation and Communications Committee held a public hearing on airport security matters which highlighted several areas where action should be taken to improve airport security, including: placing responsibility for development and implementation of airport security under one agency to provide for a uniform system of airport security; requiring criminal background checks and fingerprint records for all airport and airline employees who have access to secure areas; implementing uniform training requirements for all baggage handlers and security officers employed at airports, regardless of who employs them; implementing aggressive, proactive testing of existing security systems and proactive security measures; increased funding for the bomb-sniffing dog program; and speeding development and implementation of other security measures such as better screening of cargo and mail and blast-resistant containers for cargo.

Urges Congress and FAA to take immediate action to improve airport security.