Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez | Official U.S. House headshot
Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez | Official U.S. House headshot
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a hearing chaired by Rep. Carlos Gimenez, the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security examined the role of technology in aviation security and the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) ability to fulfill its mission. The hearing focused on the slow timeline of TSA's rollout of new technology and discussed ways to expedite the process.
Rep. Gimenez expressed concern about the lengthy timelines outlined by the agency, stating, "TSA will take over 20 years to adopt the technologies it needs today. Frankly, this is too slow." He emphasized the importance of prioritizing the development and deployment of new technological systems within the passenger screening process.
During the hearing, Rep. Gimenez highlighted the need for adequate funding and focus to address these issues. He mentioned that the House-passed Homeland Security appropriations bill included a $35 million increase to fund the acquisition of new computed tomography (CT) machines. Rep. Gimenez also proposed revisiting the Fee Diversion, which diverts over $1 billion in collected fees to the Treasury for unrelated federal debt, and discussed ways to redirect these funds back to TSA.
Rep. Gimenez urged TSA to prioritize its new technological systems, even within a limited budget. He mentioned the potential of investing in technologies like 'detection at range' to increase TSA's capabilities at passenger checkpoints and reduce invasive screening procedures.
In conclusion, Rep. Gimenez emphasized that addressing these critical issues would enhance the safety of American air passengers and ensure a good return on their security fee. He thanked the panel of witnesses for testifying before the subcommittee and expressed his eagerness to hear their testimonies.
Rep. Carlos Gimenez represents Miami-Dade County and the Florida Keys. As the only Cuban-born member of the 118th Congress, he serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the Homeland Security Committee, and the Select Committee on China.
The hearing can be viewed on YouTube and the Committee's Website.
To find out more, go to this link: https://gimenez.house.gov/2023/10/rep-carlos-gimenez-chairs-hearing-on-role-of-technology-in-aviation-security
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