A proposed resolution aimed at bolstering airport security in response to the fatal shooting of a Transportation Security Administration officer at LAX was approved today by the U.S. House of Representatives and will move to the president’s desk for final approval.
House Resolution 720, known as the Gerardo Hernandez Security Act in memory of the slain TSA officer, was previously approved by the Senate. The measure would require the Department of Homeland Security to ensure airports have plans in place to respond to security threats, including active shooters or acts of terrorism.
Those plans could include procedures for setting up a unified command, communicating with passengers and training airport police, firefighters and other relevant response teams.
“I applaud my colleagues for approving bill to improve security standards at our nation’s airports,” Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, said. “The security failures at LAX, which were tragically revealed during the shooting, are simply unacceptable. Congress must make sure they are never repeated.”
The resolution was prompted by the Nov. 1, 2013, shooting in Terminal 3 at Los Angeles International Airport. A gunman opened fire near a passenger check-in station, then ran into the terminal, where he engaged in a gun battle with police before being shot in the head.
TSA Officer Gerardo Hernandez was killed in the shooting and three other people — including two TSA officers — were injured.
The suspect, Paul Ciancia, is in federal custody awaiting trial on charges that could lead to the death penalty.
Authorities allege Ciancia was carrying dozens of rounds of ammunition, along with a handwritten, signed note saying he wanted to kill TSA agents and “instill fear in their traitorous minds.”
Witnesses to the shooting said the gunman asked them whether they worked for the TSA, and if they said no, he moved on.
The New Jersey native had been living in the Los Angeles area for about 18 months.
In the aftermath of the shooting, various investigations found there were breakdowns in communication among responding agencies, a lack of coordination and inoperable “panic buttons” and emergency phone lines.
