SCHUMER OFFERS BIPARTISAN AMENDMENT TO BUDGET THAT WOULD OVERTURN BAFFLING DECISION TO ALLOW “SMALL” KNIVES ON PLANES – PLAN WOULD BOOST PASSENGER AND CREW SAFETY
In Response to TSA Policy Allowing Knives on Planes, Senators Come Together To Restore Policy That Has Been In Place since September 11th Flight Attendants, Pilots and Families of 9/11 Victims All Oppose TSA Policy Schumer: Now Is Not the Time to Cut Back On Safety
Late last week, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced an amendment to the Senate budget resolution that would prohibit the Transportation Security Administration from allowing airline passengers to carry small knives onto airplanes. Following the September 11th attacks, the TSA prohibited passengers from carrying small knives onto planes due to security risks, but several weeks ago announced that they would discontinue the policy. The legislators’ amendment to the budget, being considered on the Senate floor this week, would prohibit the TSA from allowing knives on planes that could put passengers and flight attendants at risk. Schumer and Murkowski argue that the policy change posed a risk, while providing few tangible benefits for passengers.
“We can’t simply sit on our hands and allow TSA to enact this foolhardy plan to let knives back onto airplanes,” Schumer said. “This legislation would undo dangerous policy that puts passengers and crew at risk. It’s a common-sense proposal that members of both parties can support. Knives are every bit as dangerous today as they were on September 11th, and they should continue to be kept off of passenger planes.”
TSA Administrator John Pistole recently announced that the agency would allow small knives and blades to be carried onboard airplanes. This is the first time in nearly twelve years that knives of any kind have been allowed on airliners. The rule, which goes into effect on April 25th, 2013, includes small knives with non-locking blades smaller than 2.36 inches and less than 1/2 inch in width.
Recently, many organizations and unions have come out against the TSA’s new rule. These organizations include the Flight Attendants Union Coalition, which represents thousands of flight attendants; the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, which represents federal air marshals; and the Coalition of Airline Pilot Associations. Additionally, many family members of the victims of the September 11th attacks have voiced their opposition to the TSA’s new rule and several major airlines have questioned the policy change.
The TSA was founded as an agency of the Department of Transportation in November 2001, when Congress passed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act in response to the attacks of 9/11. Since 2003, the TSA has been an agency of the Department of Homeland Security.
Schumer and Murkowski today filed legislation that would stop the TSA from changing their policy of disallowing passengers to carry knives and small blades onto airplanes. The senators made the case that knives and other blades can pose security threats to other passengers onboard airplanes as well as pilots and flight attendants.