Contact:  Steve Hansen (Director of Communications)  (202) 225-7749
 Email: Steve.Hansen@mail.house.gov
     Justin Harclerode (Deputy Director of Communications)  (202) 226-8767
  Email: Justin.Harclerod@mail.house.gov
To:  National Desk/Transportation Reporter
June 26, 2002

        Washington, D.C. - Bipartisan legislation that will allow for a test program allowing up to 1,400 commercial airline pilots to carry firearms to combat terrorist attacks was approved by the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today.

        The legislation (H.R. 4635) was introduced by U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), the Chairman of the Transportation Committee, and U.S. Rep. John Mica (R-FL), the Chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee - the two sponsors of the House-passed aviation security legislation last year.

        A bipartisan substitute amendment was introduced by Subcommittee Chairman Mica at the markup, which was approved by a voice vote.  The legislation is expected to be voted on by the full House of Representatives after the Fourth of July recess.

        “But over the past several months, we’ve seen the need to expand our security bill to include arming trained and qualified pilots.

        “On September 11th, eight unarmed pilots, hundreds of passengers, and thousands of innocent people were killed by terrorist hijackers.  Today, armed F-16s are prepared to make sure that this never happens again.

        “I strongly believe that under these new circumstances, that we must allow trained and qualified pilots to serve as the last line of defense against such a potential disaster.”

        “This amendment makes several changes that were worked out in close cooperation with the Democrat Leadership of the Committee,” Mica said.

        “First, it requires the TSA to conduct a classified study on the feasibility of providing anti-terrorism training to all Federal law enforcement officers, so they may assist the air marshals when traveling on other official business.

        “This amendment also contains a Sense of the Congress that nothing in this Act should be construed as preventing the Under Secretary from implementing and fully training Federal Air Marshals.

        “It also clarifies that air carriers are not liable for damages arising out of a Federal flight deck officer’s use or failure to use a firearm.

        “This amendment also makes major changes to the provisions on flight attendant training. Under the amendment, the Under Secretary must issue a rule that would require air carriers to offer both classroom and hands-on training in self-defense.  This will eliminate the disparities between the types of courses currently offered by the air carriers.  Training will include elements on recognizing suspicious activities, communication and coordination with other crew, methods to restrain an attacker, and the use of available items aboard the aircraft for self-defense.  It also requires training in the proper conduct of a cabin search.

        “The rule will establish the required number of hours of training and the qualifications for the training instructors, as well as the intervals, amount, and elements of recurrent training.  Air carriers must provide the initial training required by this provision within 24 months of the date of enactment of this Act,” Mica said.

- A two-year test of allowing guns in the cockpit.
- The two-year period begins only when the first 250 pilots have been deputized to carry a gun in the cockpit.
- The number of deputized pilots is capped at 2 percent of the total pilot workforce (about 1,400)
- Preference is given to pilots who are former military or law enforcement.
- Pilots must undergo Transportation Security Administration (TSA) approved training before being deputized.
- Before deputizing pilots, the TSA must establish the protocols for carrying guns (i.e. type of gun, type of ammunition, where the gun is stored, pilot interaction with the air marshals, ensuring the pilot does not take the gun into the passenger cabin).
- At the end of the two-year test period, TSA issues a report to Congress and decides whether the program is to be continued, expanded, or terminated.
- The timeline for the implementation of the test program is as follows:

• Two months after the date of enactment, the TSA must have established the protocols for carrying guns in the cockpit
• Two months after the date of enactment (or four months if it takes TSA that long to establish the protocols), TSA begins deputizing pilots to carry guns
• When 250 pilots have been deputized, the two-year test period begins.
• At the end of the two-year period, TSA issues the report and decides whether to continue, terminate or expand the program.
• If TSA decides to continue or expand the program it must propose rules for the program within 60 days.