Aderholt Questions Assistant Secretary Pistole on FY13 Transportation Security Administration Budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 28, 2012
CONTACT: Anne Marie Malecha, 202.225.4876

Aderholt Questions Assistant Secretary Pistole on FY13 Transportation Security Administration Budget
Demands Answers on Unauthorized Airline Passenger Fees, TSA Screening Processes and Procurement

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04), Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on the House Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) John Pistole testified before the Subcommittee regarding TSA’s priorities and FY13 budget request.

“Today’s tough economic environment leaves little room for error and absolutely demands truth-in-budgeting,” said Aderholt. “However, TSA’s budget $7.64 billion budget request includes nearly $117 million in phantom offsets in the form of unauthorized airline passenger fees that stand no chance of passing either chamber of Congress this year, along with the assumption that these fees would generate $7.5 billion in new offsets over the next ten years. This smoke and mirror savings leaves TSA’s budget with a major shortfall, a shortfall that could potentially threaten national security. It’s time TSA, the Department and the Administration responsibly plan for real costs—not hypotheticals. We need a credible way to address this budget shortfall from the Department, or this subcommittee will be forced to find a solution—a solution that this Administration may not like.”

“While I commend TSA’s new risk-based approach to security, with pilot programs like “Pre-Check,” I’m concerned that TSA can effectively measure the program’s success and, assuming it proves successful, quickly expand participation by the greater traveling public. I urge TSA to make every effort to find ways to expand this program and similar efforts so as to allow the agency to better use its limited resources, while ensuring the greatest security.”

“TSA continues to struggle with its procurement and equipment maintenance processes, particularly with explosive detections systems (EDS) tasked with screening checked baggage. While recapitalizing the aging baggage screening equipment fleet is important, the $347 million FY13 request puts forth few dollars toward streamlining or modernizing the costly, complicated and cumbersome screening process that exists today. During these tough budgetary times, we simply cannot accept the costly status quo. I hope TSA reevaluates its procurement and technology strategy to ensure that dollars spent, equals security realized in both the near and long term.”

“Ultimately TSA must find a way to balance persistent and evolving national security threats with the need for free flow of trade and people and it must be done in a fiscally responsibly way, no more smoke and mirror ‘savings,’” concluded Aderholt.

Click here to view Chairman Aderholt’s entire opening statement as prepared for delivery.

Aderholt currently serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security for the powerful House Appropriations Committee, is a member of the Committee’s Commerce, Justice and Science; and Agriculture Subcommittees, and also serves on the Helsinki Commission.

For more information about Aderholt’s work in Congress visit www.aderholt.house.gov.