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Reporter: Wes Venteicher, Washington Bureau
Transportation Security Administration head John S. Pistole on Thursday defended his agency’s
decision to allow airline passengers to carry on certain pocket knives and sporting equipment,
saying those objects don’t present the kind of threat the TSA was created to address.
He faced an audience of lawmakers skeptical about the policy, and the process through which it
was adopted. Although some Democrats on the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on
The House Subcommittee on Transportation Security, chaired by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), held a hearing Thursday on the TSA's efforts to advance risk-based security.
The hearing was Hudson's first as chair. During his opening statement, he laid out four primary objectives for the subcommittee in this Congress, including advancing risk-based security programs and policies; addressing technology procurement flaws; streamlining TSA's regulatory process; and strengthening collaboration with the private sector.
The government’s transportation security subcommittee will focus on the controversial TSA change that would allow passengers to carry small knives on planes Thursday.
But flight attendants are doing everything they can to stop it.
The attendants have been very vocal about the TSA’s decision to make the changes and they are escalating their complaints to Washington.
Five flight attendant unions are going to protest on Capitol Hill ahead of Thursday’s hearing.
Reporter: Wes Venteicher, Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — More than a decade after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the Transportation Security Administration is reassessing airline safety with an eye toward identifying the most likely threats.
On Thursday, TSA Administrator John Pistole made his first appearance before Congress since last week's announcement that small knives, golf clubs, hockey sticks and assorted other items were no longer prohibited.
Reporters: Thom Patterson and Catherine E. Shoichet
The nation's aviation security chief on Thursday defended his recent decision to again permit knives aboard commercial flights, despite concerns from major airlines and their flight crews, and sharp criticism from some members of Congress.
Reporter: Steve Strunsky
The head of the Transportation Security Administration is likely to get a mixed reception this afternoon, when he’s scheduled to testify before Congress on his recent decision to allow small knives on commercial airliners.
Reporter - Ali Rockett
PEMBROKE - Tribal leaders are reviewing a draft bill seeking federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina in hopes of introducing the legislation next month.
Chairman Paul Brooks and several Tribal Council members recently met with U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson of Concord, whose 8th Congressional District is home to most of tribe's 55,000 members.
Hudson, a freshman Republican, has taken the mantle from Democratic Rep. Mike McIntyre, whose 7th District no longer includes parts of Robeson County where the tribe is based.
Last week’s announcement that pocket knives, golf clubs and other potentially dangerous, even deadly items, could be carried onto airliners has sparked a fierce backlash from a long list of constituents including flight attendants, pilots, air marshals, federal lawmakers, passengers and at least one airline CEO.
Now another powerful group is ready to announce it is joining the list today: the 47,000 Transportation Security Administration screeners in whose name the change was made.