The Transportation Security Administration gave Myrtle Beach International Airport a $6.2 million grant for a baggage screening system for the airport expansion.

"The new system will use a conveyor system and the machines themselves will be more robust with the screening technology," Myrtle Beach International Airport spokesperson Lauren Morris said. With the system now in place, TSA agents have to manually run the bags through the machines.

U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers, Chairman - House Appropriations Committee and former Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Homeland Security, was instrumental in securing the grant. He visited the airport five years ago and recommended Horry County apply for the grant to buy the advanced technology.

Horry County Administrator, John Weaver, said of the award in a press release, "We are extremely pleased and honored to receive this award and to have our airport project be recognized so significantly at a federal level.

Congressman Rogers had the vision to foresee the importance of our efforts to expand air service in Horry County. We are grateful to accept this award and for Chairman Rogers supporting this process for so long. We also appreciate Senator (Lindsey) Graham's, Senator (Jim) DeMint's and Congressman (Tim) Scott's strong support and their dealings with our delegation in making the terminal expansion and modernization a success. They have all given critical support to this effort and we continue to be grateful."

The in-line baggage handling system is a state-of-the-art process for screening checked bags for TSA. It's expected to be more efficient.

The new baggage system is estimated to cost $10.4 million.

The airport expansion is expected to cost $118 million and be done in January 2013.