Freshman Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus) takes the gavel to chair his first congressional subcommittee meeting Tuesday.
The 24th District congressman is a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, and chairs the Subcommittee on Transportation Security.
The hearing comes following an apparent gun smuggling ring that started in Atlanta. With the alleged help of an airport employee, a passenger last December got through security with several guns in carry-on luggage and on to a plane headed to New York.
“He got caught in New York and said this is one of 10 to 12 trips I’ve taken with similar amounts in the past,” said Katko. “We found out an employee in Atlanta was bypassing security because he doesn’t have to go through metal detectors and getting those guns in the airport.”
Katko says lawmakers at the hearing will discuss what kind of security measures are in place for all kinds of airport workers.
“The hearing is going to be about, what are the access controls for employees at airports nationwide,” said Katko. “And using the Atlanta example of how to improve them.”
Katko says that could involve more metal detector screening for employees. The hearing is scheduled to be broadcast on C-SPAN.
Katko, a former federal prosecutor, represents all of Onondaga, Cayuga and Wayne Counties, and part of Oswego County.
