Members of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security met with airline executives and airport authorities Wednesday on Capitol Hill to discuss the issue of growing airport security lines.
NBC 5 was the only Dallas-Fort Worth station in Washinton for the meeting.
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-TX, chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, spoke after the meeting, saying, "We need to address this problem now."
McCaul said they plan to hold hearings next week.
"In the short term we intend to introduce legislation before the recess next week to address this problem," he added.
The congressmen hope to increase staffing and let airports have more authority to make the calls on what each airport needs.
Several members of the North Texas Congressional delegation said they have waited in long lines at airports.
"I am just as frustrated as they are," said U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-TX.
While there is agreement something needs to get done, how to get there is another matter. U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-TX, says budget cuts have hurt. Dallas Love Field is in her district.
"They do need more money to hire more people, but the people they have need to have more training," she said.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is within the district represented by U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-TX, and he, too, says budget cuts have hurt TSA and contributed to longer lines.
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"I am going to continue to urge my Republican colleagues to sit down with Democrats, and let's come up with a plan for right now," said Veasey.
U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, R-TX, says constituents should let their voices be heard. He said he has already reached out to TSA about the issues.
"I encourage passengers and constituents to make sure they funnel their problems right through our Congressional office. We are following up on them," Sessions said.
