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
October 7, 2002

        Washington D.C. - The two U.S. House Members who authored legislation allowing trained and qualified pilots to have access to firearms on commercial airline flights today called on the U.S. Senate to vote on the bill so that it could go directly to the President to be signed into law.

        “With just a few days remaining in the session, it’s imperative that the Senate immediately vote on our legislation to allow pilots to be armed on commercial airline flights,” said U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), the Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.  “By voting on the House bill, the Senate would allow the legislation to be signed into law this week.

        “However, if the Senate attaches the provision to another bill it will require lengthy negotiations that will ultimately kill our efforts to increase aviation safety on commercial airlines.  The unfortunate fact is we don’t have enough time in the session to deal with this issue if it’s tacked on to another piece of legislation.”

        “I urge the Senate to act today,” said U.S. Rep. John Mica (R-FL), the Chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee.  “Clearly, support for arming pilots has been voiced loudly and clearly by overwhelming majorities in both the House and Senate.  If the Senate acts to pass this bill separately, we could put a bill before the President that would result in an immediate step toward making the flying public safer.”

        On July 10th, the House overwhelming approved H.R. 4635 by a 310 to 113 vote with 206 Republicans, 102 Democrats, and two Independents voting in favor of final passage.

        The Senate has had three months to vote on the House legislation.  Instead, the Senate included a similar provision in the Homeland Security legislation that is still being debated in the Senate.  Currently, the Senate is considering attaching a similar provision in another bill - legislation that has many controversial provisions and is unlikely to pass this House this session.

        “If the Senate truly wants to pass legislation that would allow trained and qualified pilots to have additional protection on commercial flights this session, the only viable alternative is to immediately vote on the House bill so that the President can sign it into law immediately,” Young said.

        “On September 11th, 2001, eight unarmed pilots, hundreds of passengers, and thousands of innocent people were killed by terrorist hijackers.  Today, armed F-16s are prepared to shoot down any airliner that is hijacked by terrorists.

        “We passed legislation to allow pilots to protect their passengers and aircraft three months ago.  The Senate needs to pass the House bill today,” Young said.