JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- Take off your shoes. Empty your pockets. Walk through a metal detector, or get an embarrassing pat-down from a Transportation Security Administration agent.

It's all part of the routine for airline passengers in the United States since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee feels your pain.

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi said he and other members of Congress go through the same procedures as every other passenger.

"Same lines, same inconvenience," said Thompson, who flies several times a month.

"We have had to get off a plane because some anomaly occurred that didn't get picked up,...

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