20 September 2001
Text: U.S. Transportation Chief Testifies on Aviation Security
(Mineta pledges ongoing security upgrades at airports) (2320)
U.S. authorities are taking steps to increase airport security beyond
the measures implemented immediately after the September 11 terrorist
hijackings of four U.S. commercial jets, Department of Transportation
(DOT) Secretary Norman Mineta told a Senate panel September 20.
The Bush administration is proposing an aid package that would include
$3,000 million to help airlines offset the costs of tightened
security, and $5,000 million in cash to ease their revenue losses, he
told the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.
The government is also seeking authorization to include domestic
flights in an existing federal insurance program covering
international flights against wartime risks, and changes in collateral
liability ensuring continued insurance coverage for carriers. Airlines
have expressed concerns that massive lawsuits may severely limit their
access to insurance programs.
"I would emphasize that the task at hand is not to prop up one or
another of the carriers," he said. "Rather it is to recognize that
this key part of the economy of this country requires new foundations
in security and confidence as solid as they were once before."
Mineta reported that two teams of aviation experts created recently by
DOT would submit recommendations for improving air transport security
by October 1. Experts are trying to find out how to improve airport
screening, increase air marshal ranks, and enhance cockpit security,
he said.
Following the September 11 attacks, the DOT grounded all U.S. flights
and closed airports until new security measures were in place. Those
measures included the discontinuation of curbside and off-airport
check-ins, and the adoption of rules permitting only ticketed
passengers and authorized personnel to proceed past airport screeners.
"Let there be no doubt: We will soon be taking additional steps to
increase security beyond those already taken," Mineta told the
legislators.
Following is the text of Mineta's testimony as prepared for delivery:
[Note: In the text "billion" means 1,000 million.]
(begin text)
STATEMENT BY THE HONORABLE NORMAN Y. MINETA
SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION
Before the
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
UNITED STATES SENATE
September 20, 2001
Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee, it is with both sadness and
resolve that I appear before you today. Obviously, our lives, and the
life of our nation, changed dramatically as a result of the terrible
attack of September 11.
Though we will never overcome the sorrow we feel for the families and
friends who lost loved ones, we will be able to ensure public safety.
And, while it may take time to recreate comfortable confidence in air
travel, I assure this committee that we can --- and will --- enjoy a
transportation system that is safe, secure, and stable. The effort
being expended by the government, the carriers, airport authorities,
local police forces, and others on behalf of aviation will continue,
and the traveling public can count on this.
That is the President's commitment, and I will marshal all resources
of the Department of Transportation to accomplish that fundamental
goal.
I should begin by taking this public opportunity to express my
profound gratitude and pride in the performance of the employees
throughout the Department of Transportation. I want to emphasize
particularly my appreciation for the professionalism displayed by the
FAA from top to bottom since the attack. From Administrator Garvey on
down, the FAA has performed magnificently, as have other crucial
players in our Department, including the Coast Guard and all those who
worked with the well-prepared DOT Crisis Management Center.
I hope here briefly to outline some of the key activities of our
Department on September 11 and then to move to essential plans for our
future.
On the morning of September 11th, on first word of the attack, I moved
directly to the Presidential Emergency Operations Center in the White
House. As soon as I was aware of the nature and scale of the attack, I
called from the White House to order the air traffic system to land
all aircraft, immediately and without exception. That was an
unprecedented step. But with the risk of additional flights that might
be used as terrorist weapons, I believe that it was the right and
necessary step to take.
In the moments that followed my call, countless brave, tough, and
smart Federal air traffic controllers worked with courageous and calm
pilots and flight crews to land over 4,500 aircraft. Though all these
emergency landings were entirely unplanned, they were safely and
successfully accomplished. That was an historic feat in crisis
management, and it illustrated the magnificent skill of key players in
our transportation systems.
This Committee should also be aware of the extraordinarily rapid
response achieved with respect to all modes of transportation
throughout our country on September 11th.
Thanks to elaborate simulation and preparation, the Department of
Transportation's Crisis Management Center took only minutes to kick
into action. The first crash occurred at 8:46 am, and the Crisis
Management Center was fully operational -- with secure lines of
communication, initiation of security procedures, and key contacts on
line -- by 9 am. Then, in a pre-planned fashion, the Department
rapidly secured thousands of transportation hubs and corridors across
the United States -- including bridges and rail lines, roads and
harbors.
Of course, as we move forward, we must dramatically alter our
approach. As President Bush has said: the world has changed. I add: so
too has the very nature of our national transportation system.
The events of the past several days require us to take new steps to
move people and commerce safely and efficiently, despite the fact that
the nature of the threat has clearly changed. It is a mission we
cannot afford to leave for a later time.
This Administration is already moving to restore and enhance our air
transportation system. On September 13th, I announced the gradual
restoration of flights within the national airspace system. We took
immediate steps to develop heightened security measures to ensure the
safety of airline passengers as well as people on the ground.
All of the country's major airports have resumed scheduled domestic
commercial and cargo service operations, with the exception of Reagan
National Airport, which remains temporarily closed. Scheduled
passenger airline service is operating at about 78 percent of normal
levels. General aviation operations have also resumed except for
visual flight rules operations in the immediate vicinity of our
nation's 30 largest airports. We are currently increasing access to
international commercial and general aviation flights.
Because safety is of paramount importance, I required that heightened
security measures be in place before any air service resumed. A
thorough search and security check of all airplanes and airports took
place before passengers are allowed to enter and board aircraft.
We discontinued curbside check-in at every airport. We discontinued
off-airport check-in. We no longer allow passengers to check in for
their flights at hotels or other locations. All passengers are now
required to go to the ticket counters to check baggage. Only ticketed
passengers and authorized personnel are allowed to proceed past
airport screeners -- well-wishers must stay out of the secured areas.
Let there be no doubt: we will soon be taking additional steps to
increase security beyond those already taken.
Now we must deal more broadly with the aftermath of September 11th. We
have already turned toward development of long-term, sustainable
security improvements within our airports and on our aircraft to
ensure American passengers are provided with the highest possible
levels of safety.
Consistent with the strict security measures imposed upon startup last
week, I announced on Sunday the creation of two Rapid Response teams
to make specific recommendations for the further improvement of
security within the national aviation system. Their conclusions are
due October 1, at the latest. One team is focusing on ways to increase
security at our nation's airports. The other is focusing on aircraft
integrity and security. Among those areas that will be addressed will
be making airport screening a more credible deterrent, expanding the
Federal Air Marshal program, and enhancing cockpit security. Both
teams are now undertaking their tasks with a sense of urgency.
As they work on these teams, our own experts at the Federal Aviation
Administration and Department of Transportation will have input from a
distinguished group of Americans with a wide range of expertise in
many different aspects of air transportation and law enforcement.
I understand the complexity of these issues, and I know there have
been numerous studies on many of these issues. Yet the larger context
has changed dramatically. We now face a different security threat not
only in transportation, but in all aspects of American life. We have
to be willing to meet that changed threat with additional
counter-measures, and still find ways to keep our transportation
systems the efficient and vital circulation system of our economy. We
must therefore judge our security options in a different light than we
might have judged them in the past.
What I expect now are good, unambiguous answers to the new questions
and heightened risks. The Department of Transportation has acted
promptly in response to the changed circumstances, and we will take
further actions promptly.
Broader Security Concerns
We also need to keep a broad perspective as we address both security
and commerce. The events of September 11th have focused media and
public attention almost exclusively on aviation, which is
understandable. Yet, as Vice President Cheney has noted, the odds are
good that terrorists may use entirely new lines of attack. The
Department I am honored to direct is focusing on all modes of
transportation, including but not limited to airplanes and airports.
Thus, under authority from the Ports and Waterways Safety Act, we have
taken action to control the movement of all vessels in the navigable
waters of the United States.
All ports and waterways have remained open and secure since Sept. 12
with very limited exceptions. We put pipeline operators on alert. And
with the resources provided to the U.S. Coast Guard, it has performed
with monumental efficiency.
In the New York City area, our employees have worked selflessly for
days to bring services back, provide alternative means of access to
the City, and, at the same time, guard against possible further acts
of terrorism.
I want to emphasize the over-arching threat we now face. The new
security measures we have already implemented -- and those we will
implement both publicly and discreetly -- are not designed simply to
deal with threats of further attacks like those of September 11th.
For example, the President has asked our Department to help protect
the integrity of our nation's entire transportation infrastructure.
And that is what we are doing. But we also have to recognize that we
have to meet the challenge of new and different security threats not
only in transportation, but throughout our society.
We will have to take precautions in transportation that we have never
taken before, and we will have to do the same in virtually every
aspect of American life. We will find ways to preserve the best of our
transportation systems -- the freedom of movement, the safe and
efficient movement of goods and people that is so necessary to our
economy. We will find ways to accomplish both heightened security and
the benefits of efficient transportation system.
Economic Response
I turn now to another critical topic -- maintaining the air
transportation system in the face of severe financial problems. The
current situation in the airline industry is that access to credit
markets is greatly restricted and revenues dramatically diminished.
I would emphasize that the task at hand is not to prop up one or
another of the carriers. It is not to "make whole" the industry as if
September 11th had never occurred. Rather it is to recognize that this
key part of the economy of this country requires new foundations in
security and confidence as solid as they were once before. I believe
the Federal Government has a responsibility for the safety of the
public, airline passengers and crews in particular, and to ensure the
foundation of security, insurance, and other necessities that will
help this key part of the U.S. economy function. This nation needs a
vital, viable, and competitive airline industry.
Accordingly, we are proposing on an expedited basis an initial package
to provide strength, security, and confidence in air transportation.
Our proposal includes:
-- $3 billion to airlines to help offset the substantial new costs
they are incurring because of tightened security requirements.
-- $5 billion in direct and immediate payments to airlines, roughly in
proportion to their size.
-- Authorization for the War Risk Insurance Program to be invoked, at
the President's discretion, in the domestic arena as well as the
international.
-- Limited modifications to certain aspects of collateral liability,
in order to avert a near-term threat to the continued availability of
insurance coverage. The main purpose is to give us a brief period of
time in which to try to resolve that threat.
We have additional steps under consideration, some of which would take
additional time to fully sort out. We believe that on the measures we
are now proposing, time is of the essence. We believe these proposals
should move forward immediately, and we would then have additional
days to consider and to consult with you on additional measures that
may be needed.
I would like to close by taking this occasion to thank this Congress
for its swift, bipartisan action last week in providing needed
supplemental appropriations to get action underway across the
Government. I look forward to of working closely with each of you as
we face and meet the challenges ahead.
This completes my prepared statement. I would be pleased to respond to
the Committee's questions.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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