NOTE: This release was originally distributed by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

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 will be marked up by the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday.

The markup is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 26th, in 2167 Rayburn HOB. (See Page 2 for a complete listing of the bills scheduled for Wednesday's markup.) Live audio and video broadcasts of the markup will be available at the Committee's website.

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.

The House Aviation Subcommittee approved an amended version of the legislation by a voice vote last Wednesday.

Major Provisions Of New Legislation

Some of the major provisions in the substitute legislation include:

• 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 bill requires separate self-defense training for flight attendants.
• 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.

Additional Bills Scheduled For Wednesday's Markup

• Several GSA FY 2003 Capital Investment and Leasing Program Resolutions;
• Several U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Survey Resolutions;
• H.R. 1070, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to make grants for remediation of sediment contamination in areas of concern and to authorize assistance for research and development of innovative technologies for such purposes. "Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2001."
• H.R. 3479, National Aviation Capacity Expansion Act of 2002
• H.R. ____, Kennedy Center Access Study and Plaza Authorization

For additional information, access the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee website at: www.house.gov/transportation