In Clear Message to TSA, Lawmakers Say 'No Knives on Planes'

Opposition is mounting to the Transportation Security Administration proposal to allow passengers to carry small knives onto planes.

A bipartisan group of 145 House members has sent a letter to the agency urging it to jettison the plan, The Hill reports. The TSA already had decided to postpone the proposal after protests arose.

"We commend the TSA decision last month to delay the implementation of changes to the prohibited items list announced on March 5, 2013," the congressmen wrote.

"We understand that you have asked the Aviation Security Advisory Committee to review the proposed changes to the prohibited items list and provide recommendations. We agree that TSA should seek comments from all stakeholders prior to making such a sweeping change."

But the House members concluded, "We urge you to keep the rule simple: no knives on planes."

In the Senate, meanwhile, Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York joined with fellow Democrats Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez of New Jersey to introduce a bill that would force the TSA to outlaw knives on planes.

"The TSA's dangerous new policy will put passengers, flight attendants, and pilots at risk, and we must reverse it to make sure our airplanes are secure," Schumer said in a statement. "Knives should continue to be kept off passenger planes and this legislation will make sure of that, once and for all."