WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- Some $ 700 million in economic stimulus money intended to upgrade baggage screening systems at airports will go further than originally expected , Department of Homeland Security officials said Wednesday . The new systems can process up to 500 bags an hour , compared to the 150 to 160 bags per hour on the older machines , the TSA said . The DHS said the money will now upgrade systems at 10 additional airports . Earlier this year the DHS announced funding for baggage screening at airports in 15 cities . The money will be used to speed up construction of in-line baggage screening systems , which take advantage of the airline 's existing conveyor belt systems to check bags , eliminating the need for minivan-size bomb detection systems now found in many airport lobbies . Government auditors have long complained about existing systems , which the Transportation Security Administration rushed into place to meet congressional deadlines after the September 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks . At airports with in-line systems , airline workers at the ticketing counters place the bags on conveyor belts , which pass through explosive detectors on their way to the aircraft . That is more efficient than stand-alone systems , which the TSA employees must staff . In addition , in-line systems can process up to 500 bags an hour , compared to the 150 to 160 bags per hour processed by stand-alone machines , the TSA said . Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a statement that DHS was able to `` stretch our resources '' by managing the recovery money and by negotiating with airports . In addition to the $ 700 million intended for checked baggage systems , $ 300 million is being allocated for checkpoint technology , such as new X-ray machines , `` whole body imaging '' technology and bottled liquid scanners . The new airports expected to get stimulus money for in-line explosive detection systems are : . • Washington Dulles International Airport ( Chantilly , Virginia ) • Lambert-St. Louis International Airport ( St. Louis , Missouri ) • Yellowstone Regional Airport ( Cody , Wyoming ) • William P. Hobby Airport ( Houston , Texas ) • St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport ( St. Petersburg , Florida ) • Gallatin Field Airport ( Bozeman , Montana ) • Little Rock National Airport ( Little Rock , Arkansas ) • Tulsa International Airport ( Tulsa , Oklahoma ) • Charlotte Douglas International Airport ( Charlotte , North Carolina ) • Colorado Springs Airport ( Colorado Springs , Colorado ) Earlier this year , DHS announced funding for airports in the following cities : Atlanta , Georgia ; Columbus , Ohio ; Dayton , Ohio ; Honolulu , Hawaii ; Huntsville , Alabama ; Jackson , Wyoming ; Maui , Hawaii ; New Orleans , Louisiana ; Orange County , California ; Orlando , Florida ; Philadelphia , Pennsylvania ; Portland , Maine ; and Sacramento , San Francisco and San Jose , California . To learn more about the DHS Recovery Act projects , visit www.dhs.gov/recovery .
Department of Homeland security says stimulus money can be stretched . DHS identified 10 additional airports to receive in-line baggage screening systems . Updated screening process is more efficient than stand-alone machines .