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Privacy concerns have indefinitely derailed Bush administration efforts to implement a computer system for pre-screening airline passengers, a senior official said Tuesday. But a key senator took issue with the delay.

Asa Hutchinson, the undersecretary for border and transportation security at the Homeland Security Department, said the department is working with the White House on how to proceed with the Computer-Assisted Passenger Pre-screening program (CAPPS II). Testifying before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, he said no testing has been done yet and after the hearing could not give a timeline for its completion.

Several senators wary of the expected heavy travel this summer highlighted the need for new technologies to streamline airport security. Hutchinson described Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) "war-room mentality" in efforts to prepare for the heaviest air travel season since before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"We need to be more aggressive in the use of technology," said committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz. He cited the need to speed the passenger screening process and reduce costs.

The administration is working to upgrade the existing system for scanning passenger information before flights depart to the United States. Hutchinson said that because domestic and international passengers would not be expected to voluntarily provide their information, it must be mandated.

"As we think through the right way to get to that data for testing, we are evaluating the full system as to what security measures can be put into place ... whether the CAPPS II system should be modified in any way," he said after the hearing.

McCain called the progress on CAPPS II "very disappointing." He said the program is "way behind schedule and significant details have yet to be developed," and that means the nation continues to rely on the "existing outdated CAPPS system that failed to catch the terrorists."

"If CAPPS II cannot be implemented, TSA must come up with some sort of system to facilitate a preliminary screening regime so that all the stress of screening is not focused on the passenger checkpoints," McCain said. The chairman stopped short of pressing Hutchinson for details on the delay, however.

In a second panel, the Air Transport Association of American (ATA) warned that CAPPS II could have a negative impact on the public's use of commercial aviation if privacy issues are not resolved properly. ATA suggested that the system's scope be narrowed to potential terrorists and not criminals, and said it would impose "substantial" requirements on passengers, airlines and ticket reservation and distribution entities.

In his testimony, Hutchinson described wide-ranging efforts to develop new systems and technologies. He highlighted new investments in technology research and development but echoed the airline industry view that technology to defend airplanes against shoulder-fired missiles should not be implemented too quickly.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., accused the department of "foot-dragging" on the issue.

Hutchinson also denied that there are bureaucratic "turf" problems within the department despite the various backgrounds of the existing agencies moved into the department.

COMMENTS

• "Stan" must not understand the importance of carry-on luggage. Purses (containing all a woman's ID) are considered "carry-on". So are diaper bags (or would he rather have a plane load of screaming babies with dirty diapers and no bottles/food/toys?). My husband would rather walk than allow baggage handlers touch his $3000 laptop computer ever again. And I'm not sure what the last paragraph was supposed to mean at all! Michelle Zellich Posted June 24, 2004 8:55 AM
• Simple fixes to the extraordinary delays due to summer travel or high-volume times. Stop all the carry-on junk! If you can’t fit that laptop, brief case, suitcase, painting, fishing rod, etc. into your pocket, check it! If you want to carry all that garbage on board or you need to do some work before you get there either fly in a private jet or allocate your time better prior to the meeting and get your work done before you step onto the plane. Airlines do background checks after reservations are made, especially for frequent fliers or persons willing to give up a little bit of personal information prior to arrival, and provide those people with a time, a code, or a location, which would allow them to bypass the non-frequent-flyer or gotta keep my personal information to myself lines and proceed to the gates at a faster pace. No one gets to buy a ticket or check in if they’re more than an hour from the flight time. If you miss your flight, too bad, make better plans, expect the unexpected. Live with your mistakes, don’t screw it up for everybody else, the world doesn’t revolve around you! Stan Posted June 23, 2004 11:11 AM