Statement of Stephen J. McHale

Deputy Under Secretary for Management and Policy

Before the

Subcommittee on Aviation

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

U.S. House of Representatives

September 17, 2002

Good Morning Mr. Chairman and Congresswoman Brown.  I am pleased to testify before the Subcommittee on Aviation here in Orlando, an important destination for travelers from all across America and the world.

I know that Acting Under Secretary Loy had hoped to be here today to discuss the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) progress in central Florida with the Subcommittee.  He has dedicated much of his effort over the past weeks traveling to airports to meet with airport directors, air carriers and other leaders in the aviation community to build the important relationships that will help us work collaboratively.  He was able to meet with the airport director in Miami just recently and would like the have the same opportunity here in central Florida.

Efforts to improve communication and collaboration are being made at all levels throughout TSA, not just by its top leaders.  We are hearing good reports that as our Federal Security Directors (FSDs) take their positions at airports across the country, they are establishing productive relationships with airport stakeholders-airport directors, airline representatives, vendors, and other partners. They are meeting with them regularly to provide up-to-date information on the federalization process, answer questions, and discuss concerns.

Here at Orlando International Airport, TSA is making excellent progress.  Our FSD, Charles Lutz, is in place and consulting frequently with airport director Bill Jennings.  Federal screeners arrived on August 20, 2002, and a total of 763 screeners had been hired by the end of last week.  Assessment work for deployment of explosive detection equipment is moving well along.

Overall, TSA has made great progress since its inception.  As of this week we will have deployed federal screeners at 102 airports.   This includes 11 airports that we transitioned from contract screeners to federal screeners in part or in full last week. This week we are engaged in deploying federal screeners at all or portions of 9 more airports.

In Florida, we are even further along.  Federal screeners have been deployed at more than half the airports in Florida.  In addition to Orlando International Airport, federal screeners are on the job at Daytona Beach, Melbourne, Sarasota, St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Panama City, West Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Tallahassee, Tampa, and Pensacola airports.  Federal screeners arrive at Southwest Florida International today and at the remaining Florida airports later this month and in October.

Across the country, by the first week in September we had hired 29, 952 screeners.  We are confident that we will meet the November 19 deadline for providing for federal screeners at all commercial airports in the United States.[1]

These screeners have been carefully selected and must pass stringent qualifying tests.   We train them well to carry out their important responsibilities. Though our standards are high, we strongly believe that everyone should have full and fair consideration for  screener positions.  This includes giving current screeners every opportunity for jobs, and in fact, many are being hired. For the east half of Orlando International Airport, 30 current screeners were hired.  As we move forward, we are continually evaluating our hiring procedures and seeking ways to improve them.

I know that Members of this Subcommittee are very concerned that TSA must recruit women and minorities to its ranks.  At Orlando International Airport more than 32 percent of our screeners are women and almost 42 percent are minorities.  TSA job fairs and targeted media outreach efforts have been very successful.  In fact, as of August 30, our job fairs in 56 markets had attracted nearly 90,000 candidates.  In the design of job fairs and other targeted outreach activities, TSA uses a database of 1,500 national, state and local organizations to build alliances in local communities to effectively tap into a diverse work pool.  As part of our comprehensive program, TSA launched and is continuing to refine promotional and advertising efforts to recruit women.  

TSA is making substantial progress in its efforts to screen all checked baggage for explosives by using explosive detection systems (EDS) as well.  I have met twice with airport directors Bill Jennings of Orlando International Airport and John Clark of Jacksonville International Airport as we have considered how to move forward with EDS and federalization of airport security. 

At Orlando International Airport our explosive detection system assessment is still underway, and the airport is partnering with TSA in three operational test and evaluation activities.   The Advanced Technology Security Checkpoint project evaluates several newly developed technologies to increase security or throughput at airport checkpoints.   Orlando's operational data collection project will measure throughput rate, transit time, and data on baggage system loads and look at operator processing times.  A third project will evaluate multiple technologies in airport access control systems.

Jacksonville International Airport was the first airport selected for fully integrated in-line baggage inspection using a certified EDS.  Designation of the Jacksonville airport as a pilot site provides TSA with a unique opportunity to design and implement a prototype system. 

I know you are well aware of the concerns raised by some airport operators that pressing forward with the December 31 deadline will result in unacceptable delays for airline passengers and added costs for airports.  TSA does not advocate a wholesale delay in the December 31 deadline.  We must deploy explosive detection systems at all of our airports as soon as possible, and we will work with each airport to invest wisely in the solution that best meets the intent of the law.  The December 31 deadline enables us to focus our efforts.  And as we work to meet the deadline, TSA will continue to maintain the balance between customer service and security.

However, for a small number of airports it may be necessary to grant extensions for a modest amount of time, while temporarily putting in place other methods of screening checked baggage.  Mr. Chairman, recognizing your previous efforts in this area, TSA would like to work with you and this Subcommittee on a solution.

TSA is making excellent progress in hiring the FSDs that will be deployed at our largest airports.  We have 148 of the planned 158 FSDs on board.   Those FSDs will in turn have 105 Deputy FSDs who will assist with the management of some of the smaller airports. We have made job offers to candidates for 45 of these positions.  We expect to complete the process of hiring FSDs and their key support staff very soon. 

In Florida, all 11 FSDs are now in place, as well as four Deputy FSDs.  Two additional Deputy FSDs are in training, and we are in the selection process for the final two Deputy FSD positions. I believe you have met some or all of the FSDs that are assigned to airports here in northeast Florida, Charles Lutz at Orlando International, Nicholas Scott at Daytona Beach, and Paul Hackenbury in Jacksonville.

As part of Acting Under Secretary Loy's plan to bring common sense into the aviation security arena, he has charged us with taking aggressive steps to reduce the "hassle factor" at airports and eliminate "unnecessary rules."   Just recently the policy on passengers carrying beverages through security screening checkpoints was revised.  We will now allow paper or foam polystyrene cups to pass with the passenger through the checkpoints.

A second common sense change that we have made is to eliminate the 16-year-old questions asked at ticket counters and at curb-side check-in whether the passengers had control of the bags at all times or had been asked by others to include items in their bags.  These questions have not proven to enhance security.  By eliminating them we will speed up the check-in procedure so we can then more quickly move the passengers to the secure areas of the airport.

We have also published very clear guidance on our website for the traveling public to use.  This easily understandable, yet comprehensive, guidance separately lists prohibited items that passengers may not bring through security checkpoints and onto airliners and also items that are permitted in aircraft cabins.  It contains guidance on travel for people with disabilities and guidelines on traveling with children, as well as information on boarding aircraft, and general "Dos and Don'ts" for travelers.  This is excellent information that TSA encourages all travelers to read.  We also have standardized signs at airports nationwide at the screening checkpoints, reminding passengers of the prohibited items.

In spite of our reminders to passengers, our airport screeners are still intercepting large numbers of prohibited items.  Our field reports state that in August of this year alone we intercepted at least 107,385 knives, 199,903 other types of prohibited cutting devices, 4,177 box cutters, 3,676 incendiary devices, and 227 firearms through passenger security screening.  From February 2002 through August we have intercepted a total of more than 2,800,000 prohibited items.

Mr. Chairman, these numbers speak volumes about the public's confusion on what is prohibited from air travel under current circumstances.  TSA will continue to publicize this information to better educate the flying public.  We are partnering with aviation stakeholders to help communicate these messages.

Acting Under Secretary Loy continues to challenge all of us at TSA, and our stakeholders, to point out other unnecessary rules that we can eliminate or modify, while not diminishing our security posture.

TSA also intends to move forward with a "registered traveler" card and system.  We believe that we can balance the needs of security with common sense for those who agree to register for this program and submit to a detailed background check.  Frequent fliers make up a large percentage of the air traveling public.  By enrolling many of these frequent fliers as registered travelers, all air travelers can benefit.  First of all, for those who register with the program and pass scrutiny, we will know more about them from a security standpoint than anonymous passengers who present themselves to our screeners at the airport.  This enhances aviation security.  Secondly, by allowing the registered travelers to pass more quickly into the secured areas, this will ease congestion at the checkpoints and reduce overall waiting times for the registered travelers and for the traveling public that does not participate in the registered traveler program.  Third, we will be able to reduce the hassle factor for those registered travelers.  Finally, by implementing a registered traveler program we may be able to better utilize our airport workforce. 

Our ability to move forward with a registered traveler program at this time is hampered by the restrictions that the Appropriations Committees placed on our plans to move forward with a Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC).  The Conference Report on the Supplemental Appropriations Act constrains TSA from proceeding with any further plans to implement a TWIC.  This impacts on our plans to use a similar type of card for registered travelers.  

In a related area, I know you have written to Secretary Mineta and Acting Under Secretary Loy concerning the credentialing and screening of airline and airport employees.  The same technologies and systems that will support a registered traveler program will be needed to support a program for these employees.

As you know, TSA was disappointed with the reduced funding provided in the recently approved FY 2002 emergency supplemental appropriations.  Upon approval of the supplemental, however, we redirected spending so that progress towards meeting the passenger and baggage screening deadlines is not disrupted over the next few months.

However, our continued success in FY 2003 is based on receiving the $4.8 billion in funds the President requested for TSA, plus an additional $546 million in funds in the budget amendment forwarded to the Congress.  TSA would be grateful for the support of this Subcommittee for our TSA budget request as the appropriations process moves ahead.

We would also appreciate support from the Subcommittee to discontinue caps on employment in FY 2003.  Carrying over this cap into FY 2003 would reduce TSA's ability to effectively manage and meet our core statutory requirements of the law for passenger and baggage screening.

I would like to briefly address our research and development program.  I know that this Subcommittee is interested in ensuring that we are developing the best possible technology to use in transportation security and investing in equipment that enhances security while effectively using the taxpayer's money.  We are making progress in this area, although there clearly is no "magic bullet" on the near-term horizon.  TSA is leading efforts to develop next generation technologies for use at airport checkpoints and to inspect checked bags.  We are developing methods to help us control access to airport perimeters and ensure that only authorized people are allowed in secure areas.  We are continuing our efforts to optimize human performance by improving screener selection, training and evaluation methods.  In addition we are beginning to expand our research efforts in order to assess the terrorist threat to all transportation modes, particularly as it relates to cargo.   We expect these R&D efforts to result in our ability to test and phase in new generations of equipment over the next 2 to 7 years. 

During Fiscal Year 2003 we plan to invest an additional $130.4 million dollars in our R&D program.  For the EDS Next Generation we are seeking $100 million in Fiscal Year 2003.  Fifty million dollars of that amount is contained in the President's initial budget submission for TSA.  The other $50 million is in the Budget Amendment for Fiscal Year 2003 that the President recently released to the Congress.

We have accomplished much in the short time of TSA's existence.  There remains much to do.  I want to assure you that everyone at TSA is fully dedicated to this important task. 

I would be pleased to answer your questions.