RegardingID Archive | Congressman introduces bill requiring TSA to examine biometric security at airports

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.), chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security introduced H.R. 5982, The Biometric Enhancement and Airport-Risk Reduction (BEAR) Act of 2008. The legislation enhances previous aviation security efforts by ensuring proper introduction of biometric identification credentials to airport workers.

The bill would require the Transportation Security Administration to study existing and proposed biometric security programs at airports, to study how airports can transition to standards-based interoperable biometric systems and to submit to Congress a breakdown on best practices for issuing biometric credentials for airport employees.

“This bill is an innovative approach towards legislating smart security, it ensures there is a comprehensive plan in place before airports begin using biometric identification for its workers,” said Chairman Thompson.

Jakarta airport opens biometric immigration gate

In an effort to streamline passenger security, Jakarta, Indonesia’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport has opened the country’s first biometric immigration gate.

Fingerprint biometric identification provider BIO-key International, Inc. and Oakwell Engineering Limited partnered to create the new gate, designed for use by passengers with electronic passports. Passengers submit their e-passports and authenticate with a fingerprint.

TSA adds airports for expedited traveler program

Department of Homeland Security Sec. Janet Napolitano and Transportation Security Administration Administrator John S. Pistole announced the expansion of TSA PreCheck, a passenger pre-screening initiative, to additional airports across the country following the program’s success at seven pilot locations.

LAWA places order from ImageWare

ImageWare Systems announced that the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), an agency that oversees Los Angeles International (LAX) airport, LA/Ontario International airport and Van Nuys airport, has placed an order for a number of biometric identity management and credentialing solutions.

SmartMetric introduces biometric-enhanced EMV card

In an effort to increase the security of the current EMV chip and PIN, SmartMetric has created an EMV card enhanced with biometrics.

The SmartMetric Chip & Biometric EMV Card incorporates fingerprints to activate the card. It’s designed to increase the security of standard EMV chip and PIN cards, which SmartMetric claims are still vulnerable to fraud attacks, even though they are safer than a magnetic stripe card.

Homeland Security's Global Entry expanding

Biometrics enable expedited border screening

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Global Entry program is expanding enabling enrolled U.S. citizens to enjoy expedited screening when returning from travel abroad to a number of domestic airports. The program also makes them eligible to participate in similar programs at foreign airports.

FTC to review mobile payments

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced that it will hold a workshop on April 26 to examine the use of mobile payments and how this emerging technology impacts consumers.

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Congressman introduces bill requiring TSA to examine biometric security at airports