DOT Media Office
02-12-2004, 05:40 PM
Posted by DOT Media Office on January 16, 2002 at 12:52:37:
Wednesday, January 16, 2002
Washington, DC -- U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta today delivered the keynote address at the 2002 Annual Meeting of the
Transportation Research Board. During his speech, Secretary Mineta outlined the latest in a series of critical security improvements
implemented by the Bush Administration since September 11.
Under the plan announced by the Secretary, airlines will meet a congressionally mandated requirement to begin screening all checked
passenger bags by Friday, January 18, the 60-day mark included in the Aviation Transportation Security Act (ATSA) signed by President
George W. Bush on November 19 of last year.
“The Department has taken the necessary action to meet this requirement, using the full menu of options provided for in the law,” said Secretary
Mineta. “Every available EDS machine will be used to its maximum capacity. Where we do not yet have EDS resources in place, we will use
other options outlined in the law. On originating flights, baggage will be matched to its passenger. Computers will screen passengers, and
passengers will be screened for weapons - often multiple times.
“In addition, more bags will also be subject to sniffing by trained dogs, to more comprehensive screening by both explosive-detection and
explosive trace detection devices, to manual searches, or to a combination of those techniques. We will continuously upgrade our screening
capability, ultimately meeting the requirement that each checked bag be screened by an explosive detection system by the end of this year.”
The Secretary announced a multi-layered system to screen checked and carry-on baggage using Explosive Detection Equipment (EDS), an
enhanced Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System (CAPPS), Explosive Trace Detection (ETD), K-9s, and manual searches, or
some combination of these methods.
In addition, every piece of baggage loaded into the cargo compartment of an originating flight will be matched to a passenger on that airliner, or
the baggage will be removed before the airplane leaves the terminal.
In addition, cockpit doors of all passenger aircraft so equipped have been fortified and today, more than any time in the nation’s history, more
flights are guarded by Federal Air Marshals.
These provisions, overseen by the Department’s Transportation Security Administration, aim to strengthen the nation’s aviation screening
system and increase and improve the level of security for air travelers. Recently, President Bush named John Magaw to serve as Under
Secretary of the new agency. Magaw’s resume includes nearly 40 years of law enforcement experience. He formerly served as Director of the
Secret Service and as the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Separately, the U.S. Department of Transportation also announced today the formation of a senior advisor program to bring private sector best
practices to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Under this program, executives from some of the nation's leading firms will be
loaned to the TSA to help establish the new agency.
Today’s remarks by Secretary Mineta can be viewed by going to www.dot.gov.
Wednesday, January 16, 2002
Washington, DC -- U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta today delivered the keynote address at the 2002 Annual Meeting of the
Transportation Research Board. During his speech, Secretary Mineta outlined the latest in a series of critical security improvements
implemented by the Bush Administration since September 11.
Under the plan announced by the Secretary, airlines will meet a congressionally mandated requirement to begin screening all checked
passenger bags by Friday, January 18, the 60-day mark included in the Aviation Transportation Security Act (ATSA) signed by President
George W. Bush on November 19 of last year.
“The Department has taken the necessary action to meet this requirement, using the full menu of options provided for in the law,” said Secretary
Mineta. “Every available EDS machine will be used to its maximum capacity. Where we do not yet have EDS resources in place, we will use
other options outlined in the law. On originating flights, baggage will be matched to its passenger. Computers will screen passengers, and
passengers will be screened for weapons - often multiple times.
“In addition, more bags will also be subject to sniffing by trained dogs, to more comprehensive screening by both explosive-detection and
explosive trace detection devices, to manual searches, or to a combination of those techniques. We will continuously upgrade our screening
capability, ultimately meeting the requirement that each checked bag be screened by an explosive detection system by the end of this year.”
The Secretary announced a multi-layered system to screen checked and carry-on baggage using Explosive Detection Equipment (EDS), an
enhanced Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System (CAPPS), Explosive Trace Detection (ETD), K-9s, and manual searches, or
some combination of these methods.
In addition, every piece of baggage loaded into the cargo compartment of an originating flight will be matched to a passenger on that airliner, or
the baggage will be removed before the airplane leaves the terminal.
In addition, cockpit doors of all passenger aircraft so equipped have been fortified and today, more than any time in the nation’s history, more
flights are guarded by Federal Air Marshals.
These provisions, overseen by the Department’s Transportation Security Administration, aim to strengthen the nation’s aviation screening
system and increase and improve the level of security for air travelers. Recently, President Bush named John Magaw to serve as Under
Secretary of the new agency. Magaw’s resume includes nearly 40 years of law enforcement experience. He formerly served as Director of the
Secret Service and as the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Separately, the U.S. Department of Transportation also announced today the formation of a senior advisor program to bring private sector best
practices to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Under this program, executives from some of the nation's leading firms will be
loaned to the TSA to help establish the new agency.
Today’s remarks by Secretary Mineta can be viewed by going to www.dot.gov.