WASHINGTON – Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) President and CEO Kevin M. Burke today issued the below statement on South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s nomination to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security:

“Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) congratulates South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem on her nomination to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland Security plays a vital role in securing air travel across the nation. The Department and its component agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), are tasked with ensuring the efficient processing of passengers and goods, the engine of a strong economy, and we look forward to collaborating with Noem and her team on risk-based measures that enhance security. The United States has the opportunity to lead the world in passenger processing innovations. Increased international travel is important to the U.S. economy and one of the first things we will encourage Noem to address is the staffing shortages that inhibit the ability to increase passenger and cargo traffic. We urge the Senate to swiftly confirm Noem’s nomination as we stand ready to partner with her and the Department to deploy innovative processes, procedures, and technologies that ensure secure and efficient air travel and support the critical operations of all airports.”

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