Congressman is author of law that requires 100 percent screening of all cargo on passenger planes
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), author of the 2007 law that requires 100 percent screening of all air cargo transported on domestic passenger planes and all international passenger planes entering the United States, released the following statement after reports that the United States thwarted a plot by an Al Qaeda affiliate to detonate a bomb on a U.S.-bound jetliner around the one-year anniversary of the killing of Osama bin Laden.
 
“Bringing down an American airliner is at the top of Al Qaeda’s terrorist target list.  A year after the incredibly heroic mission that killed Osama Bin Laden, it’s clear that his movement persists.  Just as terrorists refine their tactics against our country, we must ratchet up our vigilance to thwart their deadly plans.  At this point, it appears that timely intelligence foiled this attempt to strike our country.  Whether the threat emanates from cargo under the belly of a plane or from a bomb in the underwear of a terrorist, we must ensure that we have the strongest security safeguards in place. That includes screening 100 percent of all cargo on passenger and cargo planes, to ensure that the most precious cargo of all – the passengers – are kept safe from those who would do our nation harm.”
 
In 2007, Congress passed and President Bush signed into law legislation implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, which includes the Markey-authored 100 percent screening requirement for cargo on passenger planes as Section 1602, “Screening of Cargo Carried Aboard Passenger Aircraft” (P.L. 110-53). In August 2010, TSA met the mandate to screen 100 percent of all air cargo on passenger planes traveling domestically. However, at that time the agency indicated it would need until December 2011 to meet the mandate for cargo bound from international flights. In November 2011, TSA announced it will miss the December deadline for screening 100 percent of all cargo transported from overseas into the United States. From 2003 to 2009, Rep. Markey served as a senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee.
 
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