Markey reintroduces measure for 100 percent cargo screening

Markey reintroduces measure for 100 percent cargo screening Less than a week after the House Homeland Security Committee defeated an amendment in the Department of Homeland Security authorization bill for 100 percent inspection of all passenger planes, Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., introduced a bill requiring all cargo on passenger and all-cargo planes be physically inspected for explosives.
   The bill also mandates DHS establish a system for regularly inspecting U.S. and foreign shipping facilities to ensure they meet security standards and a security training program for cargo handlers to protect against cargo breaches.
   Markey's proposal was approved by the House last year, but dropped from a larger bill by the Senate. Industry groups oppose the measure because it would slow down the cargo handling process, especially since x-ray systems that can easily scan all sizes of cargo have not been perfected.