Enhancing U.S. Airport and Mass Transit Security, August 26, 2016
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich is joined by Director Roderick Allison, of the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Office of Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service, a component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, at the Albuquerque International Sunport to highlight a legislative measure the senator led to enhance U.S. airport and mass transit security. The measure was included in the bipartisan, bicameral Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) extension.
Senator Heinrich led the effort to expand the number of Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) teams from the current 31 to as many as 60, to enhance the security presence in pre-screening airport areas and other transportation facilities, especially in non-secure "soft" target areas at airports like check-in and baggage claim areas. The measure also updates federal security programs to provide active shooter training for law enforcement and increase the presence of federal security teams with bomb-sniffing canines at these non-secure areas.