Senate committee sends TSA nominee to floor for confirmation

Peter Neffenger, currently the number two official at the U.S. Coast Guard, would take over the Transportation Security Administration amid reports of serious security vulnerabilities.    The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Thursday approved by voice vote U.S. Coast Guard Vice Admiral Peter V. Neffenger to be administrator of the Transportation Security Administration and sent his nomination to the floor for confirmation.
   Neffenger’s nomination is moving rapidly through the Senate. Acting TSA Administrator Melvin Carraway was reassigned Monday after Red Teams from the Inspector General’s office reported being repeatedly able to sneak prohibited items such as knives through TSA screening checkpoints at airports. Former TSA chief John Pistole voluntarily departed the agency at the end of last year and President Obama nominated Neffenger on April 28.
   “Investigation by the TSA’s inspector general paints a picture of an agency that is not fully up to the task of protecting the traveling public. That’s why we need to get new leaders like Admiral Neffenger in there quickly,” Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said in a statement.