Inslee calls for screening of all luggage on airliners

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee said Tuesday that Congress must pass a bill to require luggage on all commercial airplanes to be screened.

Currently, carry-on bags must be run through scanners, but checked bags are screened only if they are chosen randomly or by a computer program.

The Baggage Screening Act — introduced by Inslee, D-Wash., and Reps. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., Ted Strickland, D-Ohio, and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio — would broaden that to all items carried in jetliner cargo holds.

"Americans have an expectation that the bags in the belly of an airplane will be screened for explosive devices. That expectation is unmet at this moment," Inslee said. "We have the technology."

At a news conference Tuesday, Inslee was joined by Bob Monetti, who lost his 20 year-old son, Rick, in 1988 when Pam Am Flight 103 blew up over Lockerbie, Scotland. An explosive device in the cargo hold brought the plane down.

Monetti said the airline safety measures Congress now is considering focus more on knives than bombs because terrorists used sharp instruments on Sept. 11 to hijack four airplanes. However, he believes the government needs to be prepared for other types of terrorist threats.

Screening baggage "is so basic and so simple," said Monetti, president of the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103. "It seems almost ridiculous."

Meanwhile, Rep. Jim McDermott broke from the bipartisan support for the attacks on Afghanistan to criticize the Bush administration, worried that no comprehensive strategic plan is in place to handle the conflict.

In a two-paragraph statement issued Monday, McDermott, D-Wash., said a "scant four weeks" doesn’t seem long enough to plan and implement an operation.

"The attacks against New York and Washington, D.C., took many months, even years to plan," the statement said. "We should be very cautious about claiming success too quickly. It smacks of a certain arrogance we can ill afford at this crucial juncture in our nation’s history. I’m not so sure President Bush, members of his administration or the military have thought this action out completely or fully examined America’s cause."

Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Firefighters respond to a 911 call on July 16, 2024, in Mill Creek. Firefighters from South County Fire, Tulalip Bay Fire Department and Camano Island Fire and Rescue left Wednesday to help fight the LA fires. (Photo provided by South County Fire)
Help is on the way: Snohomish County firefighters en route to LA fires

The Los Angeles wildfires have caused at least 180,000 evacuations. The crews expect to arrive Friday.

x
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River. Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council approves water, sewer rate increases

The 43% rise in combined water and sewer rates will pay for large infrastructure projects.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens, Arlington school measures on Feb. 11 ballot

A bond in Lake Stevens and a levy in Arlington would be used to build new schools.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.