Lautenberg Introduces Legislation That Will Improve Security at Newark Airport

Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) announced the introduction of legislation in the U.S. Senate that will close security gaps in our nation’s airports after a breach at Newark-Liberty International Airport last year revealed weaknesses in our airport security.  Since January 4, Newark-Liberty has seen a sharp increase in security breaches.  Lautenberg is the Vice-Chairman of the Homeland Security Appropriations subcommittee and a member of the Aviation subcommittee on the Commerce Committee.

“The security of Newark Airport clearly needs to tighten, and the measures I am proposing will strengthen Newark and airports across the country,” said Lautenberg, the Vice-Chairman of the Homeland Security Appropriations subcommittee. “The recent problems at Newark demonstrate that much more needs to be done and that is why I am taking action.”

Senator Lautenberg's bill would do the following: 

• Mandate the use of security cameras at all airport terminal checkpoints and secure area exits at every airport across the country (although recommended, security cameras are not mandated under current law).
• Require routine maintenance, testing and review of all security cameras to ensure they are working at all times and ensure that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has complete access to the cameras. 
• Create a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for intentionally breaching airport security and a criminal penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment.
• Require TSA to examine the use of technology, personnel, and other methods to better secure and prevent security breaches in areas where passengers exit terminals.

Since January 4th there has been an uptick in security lapses at Newark Liberty International Airport including one incident in which an unscreened dog carcass was loaded onto a passenger plane that took flight.  Other recent incidents included a knife being brought on board inside a carry-on luggage and three incidents of people passing checkpoints without being screened.  

In early 2010, a Transportation Security Administration guard left his post allowing a twenty-eight year old man to walk into the secure part of the terminal.  This security breach shut down the terminal for more than six hours, delayed 108 departing flights and 50 arriving flights, canceled 27 flights, and affected 16,000 passengers around the globe.  Confusion over security cameras during that incident delayed appropriate action during that incident.

Senator Lautenberg also wrote a 2007 law that removed an arbitrary nationwide cap on TSA screeners, which allowed TSA to hire more screeners at Newark-Liberty Airport.