September 29, 2003

 

 

Honorable Tom Ridge 

Secretary

Department of Homeland Security

Washington, DC  20528

 

Dear Mr. Secretary:

 

         I recently received correspondence from Mr. John Gage expressing concern regarding the Department of Homeland Security’s planned conversion of full-time Transportation Security Administration (TSA) airport security screeners to part-time positions.  The newly elected American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) President is concerned that this action by TSA will not only impact the rights of veterans, but will seriously weaken the security of the Nation.  I view both concerns as credible and ask you to hold the full-time to part-time conversions in abeyance until the impact in the two areas of concern can be studied and I am provided with reasonable assurances that there will be no adverse consequences should the conversions proceed.

 

Since the implementation of the Airline Transportation Security Act of 2001 (ATSA), I have been concerned regarding TSA’s personnel practices, especially regarding veterans.  I wrote Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta on January 14, 2002, to seek assurances that the statutory civil service protections guaranteed veterans would be enforced.  I also requested appropriate data and informational briefings from officials of both parent agencies, DOT and DHS

 

The contractor originally responsible for developing and conducting the hiring process for airport security screeners, NCS Pearson, was not cooperative in providing detailed process information regarding their stewardship of this vital, inherently governmental function.  Veterans Affairs Committee staff expressed grave concerns regarding many aspects of the contractor’s non-public process.  When the first set of results were obtained concerning the pilot TSA hiring program, the facts demonstrated non-conformance with the law.  Since we served together on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, we both have actively supported veteran’s rights.  Your planned conversions may seriously impact those protections.  Clearly, further review is necessary before taking such an action.

 

The assertion that the proposed full-time to part-time conversions may impact our national security must be of concern to all Americans.  ATSA, in part, was created due to an understanding that our airline security system was lax and often overlooked.  Moreover, shortfalls in screener selection, qualifications, and loyalties were the catalysts that led to the federalization of this vital airport security function.  Lest we forget the lessons of September 11, let us study the impact of the employee conversions before we take any action that could result in a diminished capacity.

 

For the reasons indicated above, I request you hold the proposed en mass conversion of full-time security screeners to part-time position in abeyance until a thorough review is performed and reported to Congress.

 

                                                          Sincerely,

 

 

                                                          LANE EVANS

                                                          Ranking Democratic Member