Senate Commerce Committee Approves Peters’ Amendments to Strengthen Airport Security
Amendments Included in Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee today approved several amendments authored by U.S Senator Gary Peters (MI) to help strengthen security and protect travelers outside of Transportation Security Administration (TSA)-screened areas in local airports. Recent incidents at airports in Ft. Lauderdale, Brussels, and Bishop International Airport in Flint, Michigan, have highlighted vulnerabilities to coordinated and lone-wolf attacks in public areas like baggage claims or pick up and drop off points.
“Airports continue to face emerging security threats outside of their secure, screened areas, and we must ensure they have the resources to protect the safety of passengers and other visitors in their facilities,” said Senator Peters. “I’m pleased the Commerce Committee approved my amendments with bipartisan support to give airports the flexibility they need to make any necessary security upgrades and address these serious risks to our transportation system.”
Peters’ first amendment allows airports to spend the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) dollars they already collect on airport security infrastructure projects. These funds could be used for projects that enhance an airport’s security perimeter by adding fencing or barricades, or improve responses to active shooter threats by installing active shooter location technology and ballistic protective podiums that protect officers and store patrol rifles to help counter an attack.
Peters’ second amendment expands eligibility for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds to be used to install surveillance security cameras in the interior and exterior of air terminals beyond TSA-screened areas. Currently, airports are limited to using AIP funds for the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) in secure, TSA-screened areas of an airport.
