In 2007, approximately 7.6 billion pounds of cargo was transported on passenger aircraft in the United States. Fifty-six percent was transported on domestic flights, and 44 percent was transported into the United States on board international flights.

The 9/11 Commission Act, which was enacted in 2007, required TSA to establish a system to physically screen 50 percent of cargo on passenger aircraft by February of 2009, and 100 percent of such cargo by August of 2010.

There is considerable reason to doubt whether TSA is making adequate progress towards this mandate, especially with regards to cargo on flights arriving from international airports.

On March 31, 2009, during a hearing before the Subcommittee on Homeland Security of the Committee on Appropriations, Gale Rossides, the Acting Administrator of TSA, testified that "we are confident that the industry is currently screening at least 50 percent of air cargo transported on passenger aircraft on flights originating in the United States." She admitted that it is unlikely that TSA will be able to meet the mandate to screen 100 percent of air cargo on board international flights.

Congresswoman Waters' amendments would require TSA to submit a report to Congress regarding the status of air cargo screening at LAX and nationwide respectively and the progress TSA has made in meeting its mandate to screen 100 percent of such cargo by August of 2010. The reports would be submitted within 90 days after enactment and would address cargo from both domestic and international departure points and describe each of the methods used to screen cargo, including hand inspection, visual inspection, explosive detection systems, and shipping from secured facilities.

Contact: Michael Levin, 202/225-2201

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TNS CT21-JF78-090626-2325154 StaffFurigay