Senate passes aviation security bill

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 12, 2001

WASHINGTON -- The Senate voted unanimously Thursday to boost the security of airlines and airports and, as an important byproduct, restore the nation's confidence in flying.

With the 100-0 vote for aviation security legislation, the Senate then moved to an anti-terrorism bill to give law enforcement new powers to pursue terrorists. "I hope that Congress can and should act quickly," said Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.

The security bill also was seen as essential to ending the current slump in air travel. "People are going to feel better about flying," said Sen. John D. Rockefeller, D-W.Va., head of the Senate Commerce aviation subcommittee. "It will put people back in planes."

The Senate also approved by 100-0 a resolution designating Sept. 11 as a day of remembrance.

The bill, following recommendations made by President Bush, authorizes the presence of more air marshals on flights, directs that steps be taken to fortify cockpit doors, increases anti-hijacking training for flight crews and imposes a $2.50 passenger fee per flight leg to pay for the changes.

It requires that every checked and carry-on bag be X-rayed.

All 28,000 airport screeners and other security personnel would be put on the federal payroll, although smaller airports would have the option of hiring local and state officers subject to the same training and standards as screeners at larger airports.

"There's no Swiss cheese approach here," said Commerce Committee Chairman Ernest Hollings, D-S.C. "Every hole is covered."

The bill faces an uncertain future in the House, where some GOP leaders object to creating a new federal bureaucracy for screeners. Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas, the House's third-ranked Republican, said he would block consideration until he gets the votes for legislation that would increase federal supervision over screeners but keep them private.

The administration supports that approach but has indicated willingness to accept the federalization included in the Senate bill.

The two chambers appeared closer on the anti-terrorism bill. The Senate began debating its version Thursday, with senators saying they expected to finish debate and vote during the night.

The House will take up its version of the bill today. The Bush administration is pressuring the GOP-controlled House to replace its bill with the Senate version.

Unlike the House anti-terrorism bill, the Senate version has no expiration date on the new police powers and also includes money-laundering legislation requested by the White House. However, House and White House negotiators appeared close to a deal Thursday that would extend the new wiretapping laws for five years, instead of the two years currently specified in the House bill, said a spokesman for House Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis.

Both the House and Senate legislation would expand the FBI's wiretapping authority, impose stronger penalties on those who harbor or finance terrorists and increase punishment for terrorists.

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