The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation on Wednesday authored by U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) to bolster security at overseas airports with direct flights to the United States.
The Securing Aviation from Foreign Entry Points and Guarding Airports Through Enhanced Security (SAFE GATES) Act, H.R. 4698, passed unanimously out of the House Homeland Security Committee the day after the terrorist attacks in Belgium.
“One of the most vulnerable points of attack exists for international-inbound aviation,” Katko said. “Terror groups across the world understand the horrific symbolism of bringing down an aircraft and are persistently plotting to take down our planes. Terrorists recognize that it is easier to attack an aircraft destined for the United States from overseas, rather than travel to the United States and then plot a domestic attack.”
Under the legislation, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will assess security at overseas airports and be given new authority to provide screening equipment and technology to foreign airports in order to mitigate risks of terrorism against traveling Americans and U.S. air carriers. Additionally, the bill mandates that the independent Aviation Security Advisory Committee make recommendations to TSA on ways to improve passenger screening checkpoint efficiency.