Thursday, March 3, 2011
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Carry-on luggage is costing the federal government an estimated quarter-billion dollars a year.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says more people are carrying their luggage with them to avoid checked-bag fees. The extra security that entails is costing the federal government about $260 million a year.
Napolitano, whose department oversees the Transportation Security Administration, gave the estimate during a Senate appropriations subcommittee hearing this week on homeland security.
She said raising the security fees charged to passengers would help make up for extra costs to screen more bags at security checkpoints.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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