Dear Mr. Hamilton:<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns about the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) use of whole-body imaging scanners and pat-downs.\u00c2\u00a0 I appreciate the time you took to write and welcome the opportunity to respond.<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0As you may know, the TSA began using advanced imaging technology (AIT) in February of 2007.\u00c2\u00a0 These scanners produce a three-dimensional image of passengers, allowing TSA officials to quickly and efficiently search for prohibited carry-on items.\u00c2\u00a0 Following the attempted bombing of Northwest Flight 253 over the United States on December 25, 2009, the TSA has accelerated scanner installation, placing 450 whole-body imaging scanners across the country.<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0I understand you have concerns that full-body scanners and pat-downs may pose privacy concerns.\u00c2\u00a0 You may be interested to know that the TSA has taken steps to ensure every passenger’s privacy.\u00c2\u00a0 Specifically, images from AIT machines are viewed in a remote location, away from the screening process.\u00c2\u00a0 Once the TSA official has viewed the image, that image is then permanently erased.\u00c2\u00a0 In addition, only passengers who alarm a walk-through metal detector or a whole body image scanner or opt out of the AIT machines are subject to a pat-down. These pat-downs are performed by same-gender TSA officers and all passengers have the right to a private screening with a witness at any time.<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0I believe the failed Christmas Day bombing plot is a reminder that it is important to meet our critical national security needs.\u00c2\u00a0 I understand these procedures have caused inconvenience and discomfort for passengers; however, critics of these security screenings must consider the possible consequences of relaxing our security measures.\u00c2\u00a0 Protecting American lives from terrorist attacks is, and must be, the nation’s highest priority.\u00c2\u00a0 Please know that I value your opinion and will keep your concerns in mind as I work to strengthen airport security, while continuing to protect individual privacy.<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0If you have general concerns about TSA policies, I would encourage you to visit http:\/\/www.tsa.gov to view current policies for travelers. Additionally, if you have not already done so, I would encourage you to contact the TSA directly to share feedback about current policies. This may be done either by phone at (866) 289-9673 or by email at TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov.<\/p>\n
Once again, thank you for writing.\u00c2\u00a0 Should you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-3841.\u00c2\u00a0 Best regards.<\/p>\n
Sincerely yours,<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0Dianne Feinstein<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0United States Senator<\/p>\n
Further information about my position on issues of concern to California and the Nation are available at my website http:\/\/feinstein.senate.gov\/public\/.\u00c2\u00a0 You can also receive electronic e-mail updates by subscribing to my e-mail list at http:\/\/feinstein.senate.gov\/public\/index.cfm?FuseAction=ENewsletterSignup.Signup. Feel free to checkout my YouTube page http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/Senatorfeinstein<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dear Mr. Hamilton: \u00c2\u00a0Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns about the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) use of whole-body imaging scanners and pat-downs.\u00c2\u00a0 I appreciate the time you took to write and welcome the opportunity to respond. \u00c2\u00a0As you may know, the TSA began using advanced imaging technology (AIT) in February of 2007.\u00c2\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[3,1,80,12,45],"tags":[119,120,574],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/s1tQeJ-585","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":588,"url":"http:\/\/theswillbucket.com\/?p=588","url_meta":{"origin":585,"position":0},"title":"Full-body scanners are waste of money, Israeli expert says","author":"Shawn Hamilton","date":"January 15, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"A leading Israeli airport security expert says the Canadian government has wasted millions of dollars to install \"useless\" imaging machines at airports across the country. Read entire story:","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"http:\/\/theswillbucket.com\/?cat=1"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":463,"url":"http:\/\/theswillbucket.com\/?p=463","url_meta":{"origin":585,"position":1},"title":"TSA Policies May Be A Michael Chertoff Wet Dream","author":"Shawn Hamilton","date":"November 20, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"What's happening now with the TSA may be largely a product of Michael Chertoff, former \"Homeland Security\" chief who has business ties to the people who make the scanners: Source needs to edit \"Airpot\"","rel":"","context":"In "911"","block_context":{"text":"911","link":"http:\/\/theswillbucket.com\/?cat=3"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":496,"url":"http:\/\/theswillbucket.com\/?p=496","url_meta":{"origin":585,"position":2},"title":"Why the TSA pat-downs and body scans are unconstitutional","author":"Shawn Hamilton","date":"November 28, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Thanks to\u00c2\u00a0Ren\u00c3\u00a9 Hamilton\u00c2\u00a0and Donald Sage Mackay\u00c2\u00a0 for submitting this to Swill!\u00c2\u00a0 By Jeffrey Rosen,\u00c2\u00a0 Sunday, November 28, 2010 The protest on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving was called National Opt-Out Day, and its organizers urged air travelers to refuse the Transportation Security Administration's full-body scanning machines. But many appeared to have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News media"","block_context":{"text":"News media","link":"http:\/\/theswillbucket.com\/?cat=6"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":809,"url":"http:\/\/theswillbucket.com\/?p=809","url_meta":{"origin":585,"position":3},"title":"Jennifer Chou: TSA screening: no logic, no freedom, just fear, hatred and molestation","author":"Shawn Hamilton","date":"April 18, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"The Swill Bucket is pleased to present another\u00c2\u00a0column by Jennifer Chou.\u00c2\u00a0Jenn received her B.A. in communications studies from UCLA and her J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law. She enjoys beer, jogging, the beach and music in her spare time. \u00c2\u00a0 \"TSA screening: no logic, no freedom,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Columns"","block_context":{"text":"Columns","link":"http:\/\/theswillbucket.com\/?cat=182"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1455,"url":"http:\/\/theswillbucket.com\/?p=1455","url_meta":{"origin":585,"position":4},"title":"TSA: The dangerous stranger","author":"Shawn Hamilton","date":"April 28, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"In this article the girl had just seen a movie about\u00c2\u00a0\"stranger danger\" before she got molested at the airport by TSA thugs. So now I have a cool title (or headline) and just need to write the article. When I was a kid, we had\u00c2\u00a0the dangerous stranger, but no TSA.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"http:\/\/theswillbucket.com\/?cat=1"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":510,"url":"http:\/\/theswillbucket.com\/?p=510","url_meta":{"origin":585,"position":5},"title":"TSA terrorizes 4-year-old disabled boy in Philadelphia","author":"Shawn Hamilton","date":"December 3, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Jack Cafferty asks: Is the TSA going too far when it makes a 4-year-old disabled boy remove his leg braces? Shawn Hamilton answers: \"Yes, Jack. We're\u00c2\u00a0glad you finally noticed.\" Hear more on this ridiculous TSA exploit\u00c2\u00a0here: Note: This isn't a recent story but from February 2010. It shows that the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"http:\/\/theswillbucket.com\/?cat=1"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/theswillbucket.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/585"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/theswillbucket.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/theswillbucket.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/theswillbucket.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/theswillbucket.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=585"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/theswillbucket.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/585\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/theswillbucket.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=585"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/theswillbucket.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=585"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/theswillbucket.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=585"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}