Congress created the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in 2001 to be "...responsible for day-to-day Federal security screening operations for passenger air transportation and intrastate air transportation..."
For most passengers, this has meant long lines, baggage xrays, metal detectors, body scanners, and "enhanced" pat-downs. For others, it has meant:
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Verbal Abuse
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Physical Assault
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Attempted Extortion, and in one case,
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Malicious Arrest and Detention
Unfortunately, the "Aviation and Transportation Security Act
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does not prohibit or punish TSA employee misconduct,
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provides no protection or compensation to passengers abused by TSA employees,
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provides for no independent passenger review of TSA operations,
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does not forbid TSA employees from colluding with terrorists.
This is especially troubling when we learn that TSA employees reportedly "lose" uniforms, badges, and security keys on a routine basis.
In addition, TSA management has adopted policies and procedures that many people believe disregard existing Federal and State laws, as well as common decency and good sense, while actually reducing security.
TSA management has refused to reform its policies or procedures in spite of public outcry, and it has refused to discipline, and has even praised, employees who have engaged in misconduct.
As a result, passengers today are much less safe than they were before the events September 11, 2001. Their property may be stolen, they may be physically or sexually assaulted by security personnel, bathed in dangerous radiation, and even subjected to arrest, detention, fine, or other retaliation in the event they complain.
Since the TSA refuses to reform itself, this Association believes that Congress and the States have a duty to protect passengers through legislative reform of the TSA, as follows:
