Aviation Security Act (HR

3150)

There is no doubt that our

nation has suffered a terrible tragedy that requires a swift response.

As a consequence of that tragedy, Americans are more concerned than ever

about the safety of our air travel. I believe that drastic steps need

to be taken to secure our skies from those who would seek to do Americans

harm. But HR 3150, as well as other legislation presented so far, is not

the right approach.

While I agree with my colleagues

in the House and Senate that we need to take steps to secure our airports

and the thousands of daily flights that serve our nation, I do not agree

that statutorily creating a new government agency is the correct approach.

I agree with the bill's intent greater aviation security but I could not,

in good conscience, support the bill's means of achieving that intent.

Our nation is served by approximately

500 airports in various regions. Each of those airports is faced with

common security concerns. However, because of the diverse designs, cultures,

locations, and sizes of those airports, there are concerns specific to

each. A one-size-fits-all approach is not the answer. The bill is a knee-jerk

reaction that will not successfully address the challenges faced in providing

appropriate security for air travelers.

On [Oct. 30], I was at the

White House to explain my concern with the bill to President Bush. I told

him that a better solution is for the president to exercise his authority

to instruct, either by written directive or executive order, the appropriate

departments of his existing Cabinet, to set federal guidelines and oversight

for airline security. Then, each airport would be responsible for implementing

procedures, and complying with these directives.

The main reason behind this

approach is the timeliness with which these procedures can be implemented.

Because the House and Senate bills are so disparate, months of debate

could ensue before Congress can provide the President with a bill. The

debate may be so great that a bill cannot be agreed to and the president

would be forced to act on his own authority. Rather than falling further

behind, the president should proceed with the common-sense approach and

take steps to ensure passenger safety today.

In addition, rather than adding

31,000 new employees to the federal payroll at taxpayer expense, airports

would be required to hire highly trained law enforcement professionals

and put them in place now. HR 3150 will require a significant period of

time to properly train personnel and create new procedures to meet each

individual airport's need. As we are already lagging seven weeks behind

in this process, we should take the fastest and shortest path to fixing

security rather than indefinitely delaying the process further.

To sum up; the government needs

to create high security standards and leave the implementation to the

local airport authority. Any airport that fails to meet those standards

would be subject to closure. Because of the vast economic impact of an

airport on the community, airports will strive to meet the government

standards. This is a solution that is in the best interest of the flying

public and can be implemented most effectively and expediently.

Some may argue, because of

my stance on this issue, that I am opposed to safeguarding our nation.

That could not be further from the truth. I strongly support tougher security

measures, accountability for screeners, and a hard-line on terrorists.

I just don't believe that HR 3150 is the best way to provide those results.

I urge the president to take these actions immediately before further

tragic events cause us to regret our delay.

Southeastern Regional Archives

For the past five years I have

had the pleasure of working with Clayton College and State University,

the Georgia Department of Archives and History, and the National Archives

and Records Administration to obtain funding for the new Southeast Regional

Archives center. In June I was able to include an amendment to retain

funding for this important project in the Treasury and Postal Appropriations

Act. As a result of this amendment, the conference report included $28.5

million for construction of a new center, to be constructed on donated

property adjacent to Clayton College and State University in Morrow, Ga.

This facility is important to preserving our heritage and history for

future generations.

Promoting safe and stable

families

Earlier last week, the Committee

on Ways and Means reported the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Amendments

(H.R. 2873). During consideration of the measure, I expressed concern

for the need to address a potential adverse impact that adoption laws

may have on nontraditional intervention programs.

Agencies are required to hold

a "termination proceeding" within 12 months of placement of

a child in foster care. These proceedings often limit the placement of

that child to only two options reunification with their biological parent

or potential removal from their current care environment. The pending

legislation should provide that nontraditional child care environments

are eligible for permanent child guardianship. One such initiative is

the WinShape Homes Program. WinShape Homes was established by Truett Cathy,

the founder and CEO of Chick-fil-A Restaurants in 1987, to provide nurturing

homes for children who are in need of a stable, secure family environment

in which to grow and mature.

Since their inception, WinShape

Homes have served over 250 children, and currently there are approximately

125 children in 11 homes. The homes strive to meet all the physical, emotional,

and spiritual needs of children. While WinShape cannot adopt the children

in their care, these homes play an integral part in their growth and should

remain a viable option under foster care program placement.

Customs Border Security

Act (H.R. 3129)

On Wednesday, the Committee

on Ways and Means reported the Customs Border Security Act (H.R. 3129)

which reauthorizes the budget for the U.S. Customs Service, the International

Trade Commission, and the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

The measure includes several important new tools needed in combating terrorism

and drug smuggling. In addition, it provides significant measures to stop

transshipment of illegal textile products into the U.S. a major concern

of the domestic textile and apparel industry.

Specifically, the bill requires

an audit of the effectiveness of Customs Services programs tasked with

preventing transshipment to determine the most effective deterrents. It

also includes $9.5 million in additional funding in fiscal year 2002 for

the purpose of enhancing textile transshipment operations.