Technology consortium offers help with airport screening

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A consortium of technology companies on Wednesday offered to help produce the explosive detection screening machines that Congress has said must be in every airport by the end of the year.

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The Aviation Security Manufacturing Coalition -- comprising firms from New Mexico, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Utah and California -- says it has the technology needed to help major manufacturers Invision and L-3 make and test the more than 2,000 screening machines that will be needed.

But representatives of the companies, speaking at a Capitol Hill news conference, urged Congress to extend by six months the deadline to have the machines in place.

"Given the fact that it's March, and the orders haven't been placed, we really think that there has to be very serious thought to an extension," said Bob Kline, who convened the coalition. "It becomes a possible thing to do by that time."

Kline declined to say how many screening machines could be made by Congress' December deadline.

Twenty of the coalition companies are from New Mexico, and four members of the state's congressional delegation joined in the announcement.

"This is the kind of innovative approach our country needs," said Sen. Jeff Bingaman, Democrat of New Mexico.

"These companies have come together and said, 'We think we can help,'" said Rep. Heather Wilson, Republican of New Mexico. "It'll mean that our airports and airplanes will be screened and safer faster than would otherwise be the case."

The coalition has no firm orders at this point, but it does have a commitment to help Analogic, the screening machine parts supplier, if the federal government wants more units than it's able to provide.