More than a year ago, CBS 2's Dave Savini exposed a major breakdown in security at O'Hare Airport in which airport contractors failed to reclaim security badges from employees who quit, were fired, or were otherwise reassigned. These badges are the only identification necessary for law enforcement officials, independent contractors, baggage handlers, flight attendants and pilots to enter the most secure areas of the airport. In my view, such a casual attitude toward reclaiming security badges was not acceptable - especially in this post-September 11th world.
To help close this dangerous security lapse, I joined with Congressman Dan Lipinski (D-IL) in offering an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2008 Homeland Security Appropriations to require airport contractors to retrieve badges from employees whose term of employment ends and to notify the local airport authority of the termination within 24 hours. Under the Kirk amendment, failure to comply would result in a civil fine of up to $10,000 per badge per day. On December 26, 2007, the Kirk amendment became the law of the land when the President signed H.R. 2764, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008.
Late last year, we also learned that more than 30 illegal aliens gained access to O'Hare's most sensitive areas. Without valid Social Security numbers, illegal aliens were given official badges to access the tarmac and the airplanes. This was not the first time. It had happened before at airports around the country because current law does not require airport badging authorities to even check a job applicant's Social Security number.
o In November 2002, authorities arrested 65 illegal immigrants at Dallas-Forth Worth International Airport.
o In March 2005, authorities arrested 14 illegal immigrants at Boston's Logan Airport.
o In June 2006, authorities arrested 55 illegal immigrants at Washington Dulles.
o In November 2006, authorities arrested six illegal immigrants at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport.
To protect our nation's homeland security and set basic federal standards for those who seek access to an airport's most sensitive areas, I offered an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2009 Homeland Security Appropriations bill during the Appropriations Committee markup on June 24, 2008. Under my amendment, an individual seeking access to a secured area of an American airport must be a U.S. national or legal permanent resident, possess a valid Social Security number that actually belongs to that individual, and verify that number through the federal government's E-Verify verification system.
This amendment seemed like an obvious reform to make. In fact, Section 524 of the bill already required E-Verify verification of all new hires inside the Office of the Secretary of Homeland Security. To my amazement, Representative David Price (D-NC), the Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, opposed the Kirk amendment and it was defeated by a partisan vote. In the end, the Appropriations Committee stood for the principle that we should verify the legal status of a desk clerk in the Office of the Secretary of Homeland Security, but should not verify the identity of a person given direct access to airplanes, tarmacs and baggage loading areas. Rest assured, I will offer my amendment again and again before the full House of Representatives when this bill moves forward.
Thank you again for your continued interest in homeland security and immigration enforcement. Please feel free to visit my website, www.house.gov/kirk, or contact me again should other issues of concern to you come before the Congress. To stay better connected to current legislation please sign up for my e-newsletter at kirk.houseenews.net/mail.
It is an honor to represent you in Congress.
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