The U.S. Travel Association is pushing back against a controversial amendment in the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill that would restrict the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) use of passenger screening technology.
Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) have drawn the ire of the industry for crafting an amendment that would pump the brakes on biometrics and facial matching technology aimed at speeding up screening at airport checkpoints across the nation and making travel safer.
If signed into law, the amendment would immediately prevent TSA from using most automated facial matching technology at security checkpoints and would ban or severely restrict TSA from using biometric technology such as the CAT-2 machines and TSA PreCheck's Touchless ID partnerships with Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.
In addition to resulting in longer lines and reducing safety, industry officials warn that millions of dollars would go to waste in U.S. taxpayer-funded programs used to develop biometric screening technology already in use at airports across the country.
"Biometric technology is the future of air traveler screening and it is supported by the traveling public," U.S. Travel President and CEO Geoff Freeman said in a statement on Thursday.
"Misguided efforts to place blanket restrictions on facial technology only succeed in harming security, wasting travelers' time and costing millions in taxpayer dollars invested in developing state-of-the-art screening technology. Congress will provoke the ire of millions of travelers if it chooses to hinder innovation, slow the travel process and reduce security," Freeman added.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. (Photo Credit: Nate Hovee/Adobe)
The Commission on Seamless and Secure Travel joined TSA, Delta Air Lines and U.S. Travel leaders on a tour of some of the aforementioned security innovations at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Wednesday.
"Atlanta's airport is the busiest in the country and thousands of travelers each day choose to use automated identity verification technology for a safer and faster security experience," added Freeman. "It’s an example of how—if given the choice—travelers will choose safety and efficiency almost every time."
Kevin McAleenan, former Acting Secretary of Homeland Security and Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated that "biometrics are critical to TSA's mission, bolstering its commitment to security and the customer experience."
"By leveraging facial recognition and other biometric technologies, TSA has increased security at the checkpoint, enhanced the traveler experience, and improved efficiency thereby focusing more resources on new and emerging threats," added McAleenan.
"I spent a significant portion of my time in Congress on the House Homeland Security Committee focused on strengthening aviation security at airports nationwide," stated former House Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member John Katko. "A vital piece of that effort is the increased use of biometric technology at security checkpoints. Our nation has made vital investments to ensure the safe and efficient screening of passengers using advanced identity verification technology."
"To abandon biometric technology and the progress we have made would make airports less safe. I strongly oppose this proposal."
Meanwhile, former Assistant Secretary for Borders, Immigration and Trade Policy, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Seth Stodder, encouraged the senators to visit ATL for themselves.
"They should see firsthand how TSA's new systems work, and how the traveling public is responding. Spoiler alert: It's popular. No one is forced to use the new system, but people are volunteering in droves to use it, just like people clamored to sign up for TSA PreCheck."
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