Security Hearing Focuses on Flight Schools
LEMON: It has been more than a decade since 9/11 when terrorists came into our country, trained at our flight schools and murdered thousands of innocent people. And we have learned a lot of lessons since then about our national security. But according to a new report, it looks like we are still not doing enough. I want to bring in Chris Lawrence here who has more on a House Homeland Security Committee hearing that got under way this morning. So Chris, what exactly does this report say? It's certainly is a bit disturbing.</s>CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Bottom line, Don, it's scary. It's showing that 10 years after most of us thought these problems had been completely fixed. This report shows there are serious loopholes in the program and that terrorists could still be receiving flight training right here in the United States. Anyone who is not a U.S. citizen is supposed to go through a threat assessment program before being allowed to take flight training. That includes a criminal background check checked against the terrorist database. Passport, everything is supposed to be checked out, immigration status, but some foreign nationals are not being vetted and still allowed to go to flight schools. Others who have been vetted should never have passed. Illegal immigrants are not allowed to take flight training, for instance. Immigration authorities busted a school up in Boston just a couple of years ago in which they were basically handing out student visas and allowing some of these people to take flight training. They weren't even in the country legally. In fact, three of them already had their pilot's license. Listen to this exchange from a congressman to the GAO official who conducted this investigation in this report.</s>REP. MIKE ROGERS (R), ALABAMA: Based on your report, the Transportation Security Administration cannot assure the American people that foreign terrorists are not in this country learning how to fly airplanes? Yes or no?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At this time, no.</s>LAWRENCE: At this time, no, very chilling words to anyone who is involved in this and anyone who flies out there or has family flying that 10 years on these loopholes still exist, Don.</s>LEMON: Absolutely. Chris Lawrence, thank you.