PRINTER'S NO.  62

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

No.

16

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY TALLMAN, METCALFE, DENLINGER, KORTZ, READSHAW, SCAVELLO, STEVENSON AND SWANGER, JANUARY 20, 2011

  

  

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 20, 2011  

  

  

  

A RESOLUTION

  

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Memorializing Congress to address concerns raised by security

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screening methods employed by the Transportation Security

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Administration.

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WHEREAS, The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was

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created by Congress in 2001 to protect the nation's

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transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people

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and commerce; and

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WHEREAS, The TSA is responsible for security at our nation's

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airports, including the screening of commercial airline

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passengers and baggage; and

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WHEREAS, The TSA has demonstrated at multiple times and

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locations its inability to successfully detect potential

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threats; and

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WHEREAS, The TSA has begun to employ advanced imaging

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technology, which produces detailed images of passengers' naked

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bodies for review by a TSA employee; and

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WHEREAS, Airline passengers who object to the use of advanced

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imaging technology are subject to thorough pat-downs that

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require TSA employees to touch sensitive areas of a passenger's

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body; and

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WHEREAS, Passengers, including children, may be required to

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subject themselves to either or both of these procedures as a

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condition of boarding a commercial aircraft; and

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WHEREAS, The use of advanced imaging technology and pat-downs

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are potentially offensive and humiliating to every individual

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that they are imposed upon; and

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WHEREAS, These procedures appear to intrude upon personal

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privacy rights and may violate the Fourth Amendment to the

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Constitution of the United States and Article I, Section 8 of

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the Constitution of Pennsylvania; therefore be it

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RESOLVED, That the Pennsylvania House of Representatives

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memorialize Congress to exercise a greater degree of oversight

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on the TSA and place greater restrictions on the airport

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screening procedures employed by that agency, with specific

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concern about the privacy of law-abiding individuals; and be it

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further

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RESOLVED, That Congress is urged to limit the use of advanced

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imaging technology and pat-downs by TSA employees to situations

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where the person being searched is under arrest, a search

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warrant has been issued to search a specific person or probable

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cause exists to search a specific person; and be it further

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RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to

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the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the

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United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of

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the United States Senate, the Minority Leader of the United

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States Senate, the Majority Leader of the United States House of

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Representatives, the Minority Leader of the United States House

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of Representatives and every member of Congress elected from

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Pennsylvania.

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