Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Markey/Shays/Conyers/Turner amendment.  More importantly, I rise in support of increased security for air travelers across the country.  Screening air cargo on passenger planes is a critical element in protecting the public, and there is no excuse for allowing this glaring loophole to persist.

With the summer travel season upon us and air travel nearing pre-9/11 levels, this issue gains urgency by the day.  Every day, and at every airport, unscreened cargo is loaded on to passenger planes, placing the traveling public, airline employees and airport workers at risk. 

We have spent billions of dollars and asked Americans to endure long waits and countless inconveniences in order to ensure safe air travel.  The failure to inspect cargo on passenger planes flies in the face of these security investments and threatens to make all our efforts for naught. 

But it doesn’t have to be this way.  The technology exists to close this security gap, but the will apparently does not… and I can’t for the life of me understand why.  It is long past time to address this issue and stop placing millions of travelers at risk.

I urge my colleagues to give the Markey/Shays/Conyers/Turner amendment the resounding victory it deserves, and give the American people the security we have promised.