2001 Ron Paul 93:1
Mr. PAUL. Mr. Chairman, I must oppose
H.R. 3150, the Airport Security Federalization
Act. As the short title of the bill suggests, this
legislation is a bureaucracy-laden approach.
While the approach of this legislation is marginally
preferable to the complete federalization
of the workforce being offered by the
House Minority, the bill is otherwise strikingly
similar to the Senate’s approach. Regrettably,
I think portions of the manager’s amendment
actually make the legislation worse. For example,
the deputization of private security forces
is clearly a step in the wrong direction.
2001 Ron Paul 93:2
I have offered an alternate bill which would
accomplish security goals without expanding
the federal government. My bill would not create
new federal spending nor new federal bureaucracies.
2001 Ron Paul 93:3
Mr. Chairman, the bill before us, while a
slight improvement over the Senate version, is
still a step in the wrong direction. By authorizing
a new airline ticket tax, by creating new
federal mandates and bureaucracies, and by
subsidizing the airline industry to the tune of
another $3 billion, this bill creates a costly expense
that the American people cannot afford.
We appropriated $40 billion in the wake of
September 11, and I supported that measure
as legitimate compensation for individuals and
companies harmed by the failure of the federal
government to provide national defense. Soon
thereafter we made another $15 billion available
to the airlines, and now we have a House
bill that further victimizes the taxpayers by
making them pay for another $3 billion worth
of subsidies to the airline industry.
2001 Ron Paul 93:4
We need to stop this spending spree. I oppose
this new taxation and spending, as well
as the steps taken in this bill, the substitute,
and unfortunately in the manager’s amendment
as well. Each of these items moves further
down the road of nationalizing air travel in
this country and, as such, must be rejected.
