Reply #101: Pilots Oppose Senator Specter's Re-Election

[hedgetrimmer]

Pilots Oppose Senator Specter's Re-Election
Voted "No" on Homeland Security Amendment that would
Arm Pilots and Protect America's Traveling Public

Washington, DC - Today the Airline Pilots' Security Alliance (APSA) alerted its members around the country to Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter's (R-PA) opposition to the arming of America’s airline pilots against terrorism. President George W. Bush signed the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) Program into law as part of the Homeland Security Bill, in 2002, after the United States Senate approved the program by a vote of 87-6. Senator Specter was one of the six dissenting votes.

APSA wants to make it clear to pilots and the people of Pennsylvania that Senator Specter opposed the creation of this important program, which is a vital layer of our national defense against terrorism.

"This common sense security measure was supported by liberal Democrats like Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Senator John Kerry (D-MA), but we couldn't count on the support of Arlen Specter," said Bob Lambert, former APSA president and Pennsylvania resident. "You would expect that those officials representing Pennsylvania, the site of one of the devastating September 11th attacks, would be more responsive to the security needs of the American people."

APSA is committed to passing legislation to make further improvements to the armed pilot program. To that end, the organization will use its resources to vigorously oppose any member of Congress that resists these efforts.

“Members of the public that support a strong stance on national security should not support any member of Congress that prevents a pilot from protecting our country against terrorist attacks," said First Officer Rob Sproc, Vice-President of APSA.

APSA, as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of 40,000 pilots, has the obligation to educate the public about officials who resist vital aviation security measures.

APSA is an aviation security working group, formed by professional airline pilots from every major airline in the U.S., born in the aftermath of the terrorist atrocities committed on September 11, 2001. APSA works to shape public opinion and policy by educating other pilots and the general public and working with federal officials and policy makers. APSA has had a significant
influence on our nation's approach to airline security and has briefed numerous White House, DOT, DOJ, FAA and Congressional officials.

For more information or to schedule an interview with a pilot, please call Brian Darling at [phone].
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Somehow, I ended up on their mailing list.