U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., brought out a bill this week making the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) increase security efforts at airports across the nation and it’s already gaining traction.
Nelson previewed his bill on Friday, insisting it will make the TSA do more thorough background checks on its own employees as well as airport employees.
“In this age of terrorism, we can't afford to make any mistakes,” Nelson said.
Nelson, the ranking Democrat on the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, teamed up with U.S. Sen. John Thune, R-SD, the chairman of the committee, to file the legislation on Monday.
The bill tightens up security at 450 airports across the nation and ensures the TSA performs enhanced background checks on employees working at airports. The bill gives TSA more access to intelligence information which will be used on those background checks. Under the proposal, the TSA will also have information to criminal history maintained by the FBI. The bill also increases undercover testing of airport security.
Thune and Nelson scored a win on Wednesday when the Senate Commerce Committee unanimously backed the legislation, sending it to the Senate floor for consideration.
“The need for this legislation is clear,” Nelson said on Wednesday. “We must continue to do everything we can to protect the traveling public.”
“To secure sensitive airport areas, access must be limited to properly credentialed airport employees who have been thoroughly vetted and follow the rules,” said Thune. “The Airport Security Enhancement and Oversight Act provides enhanced tools for oversight and vetting of personnel along with additional checks to guard against insider threats.”
The bill does not yet have a House counterpart. U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-NH, and U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., are co-sponsoring the bill.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
