Dateline: 10/25/01

After over a month of seamless bipartisan anti-terrorism lawmaking, Congress buckles-up for some political turbulence as the House takes up the airport security bill.

The main issue of debate will be whether airport security personnel should be employed, trained and evaluated by the federal government or employed by private industry, and operate under federal regulation and oversight, as is the current practice.

Senate Unanimous:  Federalize Airport Screening
On October 11, the Senate passed by 100-0, its version of the Aviation Security Act - S. 1447, which would place almost all areas of airport security and passenger screening under the control of a new federal office in the Department of Justice. The applicable section of the Senate bill states "The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, shall provide for the screening of all passengers and property, including United States mail, cargo, carry-on and checked baggage, and other articles, that will be carried aboard an aircraft in air transportation or intrastate air transportation."

House Not so Sure
Far from enjoying bipartisan support in the House, total federalization of airport security is strongly opposed even by House Majority Whip Tom DeLay, R-Texas, and other conservative Republicans. 

The airport security proposal put forth by House Republicans would allow passenger screening to be done by private companies operating under federal oversight.

The only official word on the preference of President Bush came in an October 17 speech by FAA administrator Jane Garvey, who stated only that airport screeners should come under "strong and increased federal management and federal control." So far, the White House has issued no official opinion on whether airport screening should be done by federal employees.

Argenbright's Failures Will Stir Controversy
Argenbright Security Inc. is a private security firm contracted to provide security at several large U.S. airports, including Philadelphia International. In May 2000, Argenbright pleaded guilty to allowing untrained employees, including some with criminal backgrounds, to operate passenger screening stations in clear violation of FAA regulations. Argenbright was assessed $1.55 million in fines, placed on probation for three years and ordered to operate under a "mandatory and comprehensive compliance program."

Under the terms of its probation, Argenbright was ordered to conduct "fingerprint based criminal background checks" on all of its employees and agreed it would bar all employees from working in sensitive positions until they had cleared the background checks.

On Saturday, Oct. 20, the U.S. Department of Justice stated they expected officials of Argenbright to admit it had failed complete the employee background checks as required by the court.

Besides Philadelphia, Argenbright provides passenger screening and security at airports nationwide including Newark International, Boston Logan International, O'Hare International in Chicago and Dulles International in Washington, D.C.

On September 11, all four of the planes hijacked and used in the terrorist attacks took off from airports at which Argenbright had been responsible for security. Two planes left from Boston Logan and one each departed from Dulles and Newark International.

While investigators have not connected any Argenbright employees to the September 11 hijackings, the company's history of failing to comply with FAA regulations is sure to be a main arguing point put forth by House members favoring total federalization of airport security.