Sen. Collins, TSA chief visit BIA

BANGOR – Federal, regional and local officials visited Bangor International Airport on Thursday morning touting a legislative provision authored by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins that legally protects citizens who report suspicious activity which could result in a terrorist attack.

Collins and Transportation Security Administration Administrator Edmund “Kip” Hawley held a press conference in the domestic terminal of the airport to explain the provision and stress the significant role the general public plays in national security.

“An alert citizenry is our best defense against another terrorist attack,” Collins said.

The bill containing Collins’ “See Something, Say Something” provision was signed into law by President Bush on Aug. 3.

The law carries out the remaining recommendations of the 9-11 Commission, and Collins’ provision provides civil immunity in U.S. courts to citizens who in good faith report threats to law enforcement or transportation officials without the risk of being sued.

Collins and Hawley later visited Portland International Jetport.

Hawley called the new law a “vital counterterrorism tool” and said a lot of valuable information related to alleged “dry runs” by terrorists at the nation’s airports came from alert citizens following a national alert a month ago.

Collins provided numerous examples of both successful and foiled terrorist attacks in the U.S. and around the world that she said justified the need for such a bill.

The senator referred to a November 2006 incident in Minnesota where six Islamic imams were removed from a plane due to alleged suspicious behavior. In March, the Council on Islamic-American Relations filed a lawsuit against the airline, airport, employees and passengers.

When asked if her provision could facilitate racism, Collins said great care was taken in drafting it and there were many “safeguards to ensure that any individual trying to act on bias would not be” covered by the bill.

In addition to the bill discussion, state, local and federal law enforcement officials showcased the resources that could be tapped in the event of a disaster.

TSA inspectors and K-9 units were milling around the BIA grounds, while the Bangor Police Department did visual inspections of random vehicles bound for the airport, according to Hawley.

“There is a tremendous amount of cooperation and support in local security [here],” said Hawley. “When we reflect on 9-11, the major things we needed to do on the government side was to work together as one face and one unit, and that is obviously happening here in Bangor.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.