Washington Wire - 2005-09-19

DOT Vet Named As Chertoff Deputy
The Transportation Security Administration on Sept. 14 tapped Robert Jamison to be its second-highest-ranking official. Jamison will help steer TSA through a top-to-bottom internal assessment ordered by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, officials said. Jamison since May 2002 has been deputy administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, overseeing the safety of subways, buses, and commuter rail systems for the Department of Transportation. "Robert's experience in process management across different transportation environments will be invaluable to TSA," said agency head Kip Hawley. "He led the development and implementation of the security risk management strategy at FTA and has shown the ability to work well with the other key players in the process." At FTA, Jamison spearheaded the agency's transit security program and its $4.5 billion Lower Manhattan transportation recovery operation, which was established after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Jamison, who's been involved in evacuating Hurricane Katrina survivors from New Orleans, will take his post at TSA in a couple of weeks, officials said. Before joining government in 2002, he was an executive at the American Red Cross. He's also a former executive for United Parcel Service.

DOT Conducting Review of Airline Customer Service
Citing surging air traffic levels, U.S. Department of Transportation inspector general Kenneth Mead this month began a fresh investigation into airline service commitments. The review will examine delay reduction efforts by airlines and airports, effectiveness of airline communication to delayed travelers, airline disclosure of frequent flyer redemption and seat availability information, consistency of denied boarding and overbooking policies, and DOT's enforcement of consumer protections, including how the department "addresses consumer complaints related to the number of seats made available by the airlines at the lowest advertised fares." DOT's IG office previously issued such a report in February 2001, when it "found the airlines were making progress" toward meeting service commitments.

New Orleans Passport Center Closed
Hurricane Katrina's wrath means thousands of Americans who reside in about one dozen states may have to wait to get their passports renewed. The U.S. State Department has closed its passport office in New Orleans indefinitely, placing thousands of applications and renewals in limbo. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said materials sent to the New Orleans office have been collected and distributed to other offices, and recent applicants will get a postcard soon advising them there may be delays. Those who plan to travel internationally within the next six weeks should contact the National Passport Information Center at (877) 487-2778, McCormack said. The New Orleans office processed passports for 14 states and Puerto Rico, and applications submitted before Aug. 25 may have to be resubmitted. Meanwhile, the U.S. has pushed back until Dec. 31, 2006, a law requiring passports between the United States and Canada, Bermuda, and Central and South America. Presently, travel between the United States and those countries is possible with other forms of identification, such as a birth certificate.

Patty Donmoyer & David Jonas