Commercial air cargo security to be increased | 11.16.2005 | 05:32:27 | Views: 4094 | ID: November 16 '05: A new report released by the Government Accountability Office has said the nearly six billion pounds of air cargo shipped into the US each year on commercial airlines needs to be more securely monitored by the Transportation Security Administration, Reuters news service reported Wednesday. The GAO "also recommended that the TSA re-examine the rationale behind exempting some air cargo from random inspections," the news service reported. Under current federal regulations, the TSA checks baggage and cargo used by passengers boarding the planes, but the extra cargo being shipped must be monitored by the air carrier. And a bi-partisan call for greater security measures has risen in Congress. So far, Representatives Ed Markey (D-Mass) and Chris Shays (R-Conn) have both introduce legislation "mandating air cargo screening," Reuters reported. And the Department of Homeland Security mirrored that anxiety saying in a press release that security must be increase without "unduly impeding the flow of commerce." Final regulations to strengthen security requirements are due later this year, Reuters was told by the department.
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