‘American Traveler Dignity Act’ Introduced in the House

Travel Blog  •  Eva Holland  •  11.19.10 | 2:08 PM ET

The legislation was proposed by Texas Representative Ron Paul, and would strip TSA screeners’ of their immunity from prosecution. From Paul’s speech to the House:

My legislation is simple. It establishes that airport security screeners are not immune from any US law regarding physical contact with another person, making images of another person, or causing physical harm through the use of radiation-emitting machinery on another person. It means they are subject to the same laws as the rest of us.

Moving beyond the current controversy over scanners and pat-downs, Paul also commented more broadly on airline security since 9/11:

I warned at the time of the creation of the TSA that an unaccountable government entity in control of airport security would provide neither security nor defend our basic freedom to travel. Yet the vast majority of both Republicans and Democrats then in Congress willingly voted to create another unaccountable, bullying agency—in a simple-minded and unprincipled attempt to appease public passion in the wake of 9-11. Sadly, as we see with the steady TSA encroachment on our freedom and dignity, my fears in 2001 were justified.

I’m not sure that going after individual screeners with, say, sexual harassment charges really gets to the root of the issue; they aren’t the ones making policy. Still, it’s heartening to see travelers’ concerns being taken up at the highest levels in Washington.  (Via Gadling)


Eva Holland is co-editor of World Hum. She is a former associate editor at Up Here and Up Here Business magazines, and a contributor to Vela. She's based in Canada's Yukon territory.


1 Comment for ‘American Traveler Dignity Act’ Introduced in the House

A Roberts 11.23.10 | 1:41 PM ET

Thank you, Ron Paul. My father was a prosecutor and some of the things these TSA agents are doing would have easily prompted him to bring charges of aggravated sexual assault.

Also when is someone going to look into the choice of the Rapidscan machines? Rapiscan, the maker of the backscatter x-ray machines is a wholly owned subsidiary of OSI Systems. Deepak Chopra, Chairman and CEO, was selected to accompany US President, Barack Obama, to Mumbai (this is the trip the President took immediately after the election) and attended the US India Business Entrepreneurship meeting, which was held by the US India Business Council (US IBC).

According to an OSI news replease (http://investors.osi-systems.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=530184)  Chopra stated, “I am honored to be selected to play a role in this very important cause. Currently the trade between US and India is only one tenth of the amount of trade between US and China. There is substantial opportunity to improve the trade relations with India for mutual economic gain.”

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