Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

www.tsa.gov

Overview

The Transportation Security Administration is one of the newest government agencies around, but it has quickly become one of great importance to Americans – and the media. The agency is responsible for security of the nation's transportation system. Making sure airline passengers arrive at their destination safe and sound is its biggest task.

Before Sept. 11, 2001, there were about 19,500 baggage screeners working at our nation's 430 busiest airports. Now, there are about 50,000 of them. Those baggage screeners once worked for private companies, but now, 99 percent of them work for the TSA, and they make up the great majority of the agency¹s employees.

Federal air marshals also work for the TSA. Before Sept. 11, there were a few dozen such marshals. Now, there are a few thousand.  The exact number is classified. However, members of the press have been allowed to watch the marshals undergo training at a facility in Atlantic City, which can make for a decent feature story. (Hint: This is what congressional recesses were made for.) The TSA didn't come into being until November 2001. After about 15 months, it became part of the new Department of Homeland Security, or to be more specific, a part of the new Division of Borders and Homeland Security. The department website is www.dhs.gov/dhspublic.

Location

Congressional Oversight

Congressional oversight of the TSA mostly comes from the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Each of these committees has an aviation subcommittee, which means there is a healthy list of potential contacts, so bear with me.

The chairman of the Senate committee is Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-WV. The ranking member is Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-TX.  Press contact: Jennilee Keefe, 202-224-7824, jenilee-keefe@commerce.senate.gov. The web site is commerce.senate.gov. The chairman of the aviation subcommittee is Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-ND. The ranking member is Sen. James DeMint, R-SC.

The chairman of the House committee is Rep. James Oberstar, D-MN. Main office number: 202-225-4472. The press aide is Jim Berard, 202-225-4472. The ranking member is John Mica, 202-225-9446.

And, don't forget that each Appropriations Committee has added a new subcommittee on homeland security. No doubt, lots of goodies will be passed out here that are designed to help the TSA perform its mission. On the Senate side, Sen.  Robert Byrd, D-WV, heads the subcommittee. On the House side, the subcommittee chair is Rep. David E. Price, D-NC. Rep. Harold Rogers, R-KY, is ranking member. These are the people to talk to about why Congress needed to reimburse airlines for hardening cockpit doors, or why the federal government needed to extend unemployment benefits for those in the airline industry who have lost jobs.

Industry Associations

TSA basically works with any and every organization here in Washington that has anything to do with the airlines industry. And there are a lot of them. Here are some of the major players:

The Air Line Pilots Association is a union representing more than 52,000 airline pilots at 35 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Good for such issues as whether to allow pilots to carry handguns. The web site is www.alpa.org, but it's not very helpful and requires a password for many options. Linda Shotwell is the press contact, 703-481-4440.

There is also the Association of Flight Attendants, which represents 55,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines. This group does have an excellent web site, which is www.afanet.org. The media contact is Corey Caldwell, 202-434-0586,  ccaldwell@afanet.org.

The American Association of Airport Executives is comprised of members who are responsible for the planning, management and operation of airports worldwide. The organization is located in Alexandria. The organization's web site address is www.aaae.org. The media contact is Joan Lowden at 703-824-0500 ext. 137, joan.lowden@aaae.org. This group can talk about the fallout of 9/11 on airports across the country and the hardship that it has caused. For example, costs associated with providing security have drained money away from airport improvements that will be needed to improve safety or congestion.

Another group representing the interests of airports is the Airports Council International of North America, which can be reached at 202-293-8500.  Eileen Denne, public affairs, 202-293-4537, edenne@aci-na.org.  The web site is mainly set up for airport execs, not reporters, but you can subscribe to the organization's e-mail alert at communications@aci-na.org.

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association represents 67 of the world¹s leading manufacturers of general aviation airplanes, engines, and airplane parts. This organization makes its voice heard on many issues, not just on building airplanes. The press contact is Katie Pribyl, director of communications at 202-637-1375, kpribyl@gama.aero.

Finally, Calvin Scovel, inspector general of the Department of Transportation, might also be able to help on some issues, such as how the government has spent its money on airline security improvements. He is one of the more media savvy IGs in town. The press office for the inspector general is 202-366-1992.

Does this agency's information need updating? programs@nationalpress.org