Collins said

there is a lack of security procedures at jetways. "I recently boarded

a flight and presented my boarding pass to the gate attendant. I asked

her if she was sure the name on the boarding pass was me, and she replied,

'It's supposed to be. You went through security, didn't you?'"

Collins also

conveyed an overheard conversation between two passengers and a flight

attendant.

"The one

passenger said, in a concerned tone of voice, 'They didn't check my bag;

did they check yours?' and it was obvious that she lacked confidence in

the security procedures," Collins said.

In response

to Collins' concerns, Jackson sent a note to Collins' office stating that

measures to verify passenger identification at jetways are already in

place on all flights originating from and terminating at Reagan National

Airport and are imminent for all domestic flights. Jackson also mentioned

that security personnel are conducting random magnetic wand checks at

the boarding gates.

"We don't

need to reinvent the wheel here," said Collins. "We have airline

staff facing layoffs, which would be devastating to our national economy,

when the airlines could take the $4.5 billion cash infusion given to them

to provide added security. The airlines have the opportunity to turn choke

points into checkpoints and they are missing it," he said.

Collins also

said consumer confidence in flying is directly linked to confidence in

airport security precautions. In addition, one reason consumers have given

for curtailing flying is excessive delays at airports caused by increased

security, not a fear of further terrorist attacks, Collins maintained.

"We are

pleased to see the responsiveness of the Department of Transportation

to this serious concern and are encouraged that they have implemented

common sense solutions to this challenge," said Collins.