FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ACI-NA Applauds Passage of Biometric Security Study Bill

Washington, D.C. (June 18, 2008) — Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) applauded passage of H.R.5982, a bill calling for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish an industry group to conduct a study on how airports can transition to interoperable biometric identifier systems for airport workers. The legislation was introduced by Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.

“This bill will help airports develop best practices for administering biometric credentials for airport workers,” said ACI-NA President Greg Principato. “Airports commend Chairman Thompson for his leadership on introducing the bill and getting swift passage of the legislation.”

The “Biometric Enhancement and Airport Vulnerability Reduction Act of 2008” calls for the study to look at the cost of biometric identifier systems.  This includes the implementation costs for airports, airlines and other industry stakeholders, as well as the costs associated with ongoing operations and maintenance, and modifications to infrastructure.

The report called for in H.R. 5982 will be due to the House Committee on Homeland Security and Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation no later than 180 days following the bill’s enactment of the legislation.  The bill does not mandate implementation of biometrics at airports.

Airports Council International - North America represents local, regional and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America.  Over 300 aviation-related businesses are also members of the association, which is the largest of the six worldwide regions of Airports Council International.

CONTACT:

Eileen Denne, edenne@aci-na.org, (202) 293-4537