July 31, 2007
The Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee
Chairwoman, Subcommittee on
Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection
Committee on Homeland Security
2435 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Madam Chairwoman:
Our understanding is that today’s House Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing, “Managing Risk and Increasing Efficiency: An Examination of the Implementation of the Registered Traveler program” is not a referendum on the Registered Traveler (RT) program. However, you are likely to hear a great deal of rhetoric from the private-sector witnesses suggesting that the RT program will provide great benefits to travelers once the government takes the shackles off the program. We beg to differ.
While we believed that a Registered Traveler program may have been valuable immediately after 9/11, enhancements to passenger security screening have significantly diminished any potential value the program may have had. Simply put, checkpoint screening has improved to the point that a continued investment of limited government resources in RT is no longer advisable. The RT program is more of a revenue-generating scheme for vendors and airport participants than a security program that benefits passengers. Indeed, it may result in more passenger inconvenience.
We are concerned that modifications to existing passenger screening procedures to accommodate RT will result in a less efficient process at security checkpoints that would negatively impact the overall level of security. Such an outcome would be detrimental to the traveling public. Instead of expending additional government resources to support RT, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) should direct the resources toward improving the checkpoint efficiency for all passengers, not just those willing to pay yet another fee.
Additional concerns have risen with the passage of time. Chief among these is the issue of liability. If something goes wrong, what will be the liability of entities that do not support the program, such as airlines, certain airports, as well as service providers and those vendors that provide registered traveler services? Regardless of the particulars of the program as outlined by TSA, in light of the comprehensive aviation security system created by Congress after 9/11, does the existence of the RT program mean that the private sector is assuming a role which may generate significant unforeseen legal exposures?
Thank you for your consideration of our views on this program. Please let me know if you have any additional questions.