RESOLUTION NO. _____________

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

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RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF S. 1829 (FEINSTEIN, HOLLINGS AND BOXER) AIRPORT SECURITY PERSONNEL PROTECTION ACT

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RESOLVED, by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, State of California, that

WHEREAS, the federal Aviation Transportation Security Act signed into law on November 19, 2001 requires, among other things, all airport security workers to be U.S. citizens;

WHEREAS, it is estimated that at least 25 percent of the 28,000 airport security screeners in the nation's 419 commercial airports are non-citizens, including an estimated 80 percent of the 873 screeners at San Francisco International Airport located in San Mateo County;

WHEREAS, pilots, air traffic controllers, baggage handlers, mechanics and flight attendants are not mandated to be U.S. citizens, but are equally afforded access and privileges into secure areas within airports;

WHEREAS, Service Employees Internal Union Local 790 has organized baggage screeners at San Francisco International Airport earning contracts from $6.25 to $13 per hour and holding the employee turnover rate to 15 percent, as compared to the 100 to 375 percent annual turnover rates the Government Accounting Office reports at the other U.S. airports;

WHEREAS, S. 1829 would enact the 'Airport Security Personnel Protection Act' to provide for transition employment eligibility for qualified permanent resident alien airport security screeners and to expedite the process and provide up to one-year to complete naturalization; and

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors support the enactment of S. 1829 to ensure the safety of air travelers and afford competent and other wise qualified airport security screeners the opportunity to complete their naturalization process and retain their employment.

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