"Congress has a responsibility to protect our nation from another terrorist attack," said Congressman Andrews. "If we do not implement tough safety standards for all persons working on U.S. aircraft, both at home and abroad, then it's a dereliction of our duty. It is imperative for Congress to act now."

Now that U.S. airlines are outsourcing more than 50 percent of aircraft maintenance to these repair stations--with workers at over 3,000 domestic and nearly 400 foreign stations having full access to U.S. planes--security has been compromised. This legislation will close this security gap that leaves the U.S. vulnerable to sabotage and attack.

"In the post-9/11 era, it's scandalous that the planes Americans fly on are increasingly being worked on by people whose backgrounds have never been checked," said AMFA National Director O.V. Delle-Femine. "We've been pushing for Congress to adopt legislation like this for years. Congress needs to do the right thing now by protecting the security and safety of the American public, including our members and their families."

Earlier this year, Delle-Femine said, federal agents arrested 27 illegal immigrants from the Philippines, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Chile, Laos, Mexico and Peru who were working for TIMCO, an outsourced repair vendor whose customers have included Northwest and other U.S. commercial passenger and cargo airlines. One of the arrested illegal immigrants had been working on aircraft at TIMCO for a decade, using false documents.

AMFA's craft union is the largest labor organization in the airline industry representing aircraft maintenance technicians and related support personnel with over 18,000 members at carriers including Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Northwest Airlines, ATA, Independence, Horizon and Mesaba Airlines. AMFA's credo is "Safety in the air begins with Quality Maintenance on the Ground". To learn more about AMFA, visit: www.amfanatl.org.