WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces a full committee hearing on aviation security and the recent attempted terrorist incident on Flight #253 to Detroit. The Senate Commerce Committee has jurisdiction over aviation security and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
“The attempted attack on Christmas Day raises serious concerns not only about the effectiveness of our aviation security screening, especially internationally, but also about the degree to which we are connecting the dots and sharing information in the Intelligence Community,” said Chairman Rockefeller. “I have spent nearly a decade working on intelligence and aviation issues and this Committee’s job is to seriously evaluate the policies that guide transportation security. In our hearing this week, we will ask the tough questions and outline the Commerce Committee’s 2010 aviation security agenda. We must be vigilant in our efforts to thwart any terrorist attempts on our nation – the safety of our citizens is our most solemn responsibility.”
KEY AVIATION SECURITY ISSUES THE COMMERCE COMMITTEE WILL EXPLORE:
- The need for more rigorous security procedures for U.S.-bound aircraft and at international airports.
- The development and deployment of advanced imaging technologies (AIT) – with increased funding, accuracy and removal of inefficient programming.
- The need to improve – and in some cases mandate – information sharing among TSA, intelligence agencies, and commercial airlines, establishing streamlined coordination between government and the private sector on security.
- The strengthening of content and protocols for threat watchlists – expanding the universe of people who receive secondary screening, re-evaluating our screening criteria, and educating the public about the security process.
- The requirement of strict coordination among our Embassies, our Regional Security Officers and the TSA to identify overseas threats.
HEARING DETAILS:
THE STATE OF AVIATION SECURITY: IS OUR CURRENT SYSTEM CAPABLE OF MEETING THE THREAT?
Full Committee
Date: Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Hearing Start Time: 2:30 p.m.
Press Pre-Set Time: 1:45 p.m.
Location: Room 253, Russell Senate Office Building
Witness List*
The Honorable Janet Napolitano, Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
The Honorable Michael Leiter, Director, National Counterterrorism Center
The Honorable Lee Hamilton, Co-Chair of the National Security Preparedness Group, Bipartisan Policy Center and Former Vice Chairman of The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Commission)
The Honorable Tom Kean, Co-Chair of the National Security Preparedness Group, Bipartisan Policy Center and Former Chairman of The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Commission)
*Not necessarily in the order of appearance.
Individuals with disabilities who require an auxiliary aid or service, including closed captioning service for webcast hearings, should contact Naomi Eskin at 202-224-5115 at least three business days in advance of the hearing date.
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