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Contents Display I am very pleased we were able to come together in a bipartisan way to send a comprehensive package to the President that will restore the confidence of the American people. Because the images of the unspeakable horrors of the recent terrorist attacks will be etched in our minds forever. When the ``devil incarnate'' hit the United States, he attacked not only America, but freedom-loving nations everywhere. We are going to need the resources of the United States coupled with the cooperation of our global neighbors in order to wage the fight against terrorism. For it is a fight we must win, and will win.
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But there should be no mistake, victory will not come overnight. We are voting on this bill today because, as we continue to mourn the tremendous loss of life both of those in the air and on the ground, we also know that our transportation system must endure and must be secure if we are to move the Nation forward, and also ensure that we are in a position of strength to be able to wage the kind of war necessary to eradicate terrorism. And we cannot remain strong if we cannot remain mobile.
Our goal was to restore the confidence of the American people in the aviation security system. I believe the measure before us will accomplish that goal. The fact of the matter is, if the flying public does not have confidence in the security, they will remain reluctant to fly, with severe long-term repercussions in the aviation sector and in our economy. Imposing stringent Federal control and oversight over airport security will go a long way to helping instill confidence in the flying public, and will enable the government to exercise much greater control over the quality of screening.
We found common ground on a very complex issue, and I am pleased that both sides were able to come to agreement so quickly in the name of safety, to ensure that Americans have complete confidence in the men and women who form the last line of defense.
In the end, we did come together--as we did on a resolution supporting the use of force to combat terrorism, as we did on legislation providing emergency funding for the recovery and relief effort after the September 11 attacks, as we did on a financial relief package for the airline industry, as we did on counter-terrorism legislation--to develop an agreement to address the gaps in aviation security and restore the confidence of the American people in our aviation system. So I urge all my colleagues to offer a strong show of support for this important legislation.
Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Madam President, the Senate passed an amendment by myself and Senator CONRAD BURNS of Montana to allow for armed pilots as the first line of deterrence and the last line of defense for cockpit security.
The first line of deterrence because terrorists will know that armed pilots will be able to defend the cockpit and defend the aircraft from a hijacking.
The last line of defense, because, when all else fails, including the armed air marshals and the reinforced cockpit door, an armed pilot will be in the cockpit to defend the cockpit from terrorist hijackers.
The pilots support this amendment. The Bob Smith/Conrad Burns amendment had the endorsement of the Airline Pilots Association and the Allied Pilots Association. In addition, The National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America supported the amendment. And most importantly the American people supported our efforts.
According to a draft provided to myself, section 125 of this conference report, titled flight deck security provides that the pilot of a passenger aircraft is authorized to carry a firearm if four conditions are met.
First, ``the Undersecretary of Transportation for Transportation Security approves.''
The will of the Congress is clear that the Department of Transportation should approve a reasonable program to arm pilots .
Second, ``the air carrier approves.'' The air carriers should not use this provision as a veto to prevent properly trained pilots from using firearms to protect themselves and the aircraft from terrorism, that would be a mistake and would adversely affect air safety.
Third, ``the firearm is approved by the Under Secretary.'' It should be clear from this language that the Under Secretary of Transportation should approve a firearm, not a stun gun, not a taser, a firearm with approved ammunition that would not compromise the integrity of the aircraft.
The final provision of this section provides that ``the pilot has received proper training for the use of the firearm, as determined by the Secretary.''
The Smith/Burns amendment provided that the agency ``shall establish a voluntary program to train'' and ``make available appropriate training'' for pilots .
I hope the Department of Transportation will utilize the many private organizations that provide excellent training in the proper use of a firearm.
My home State of New Hampshire has the Manchester International Airport and I know the passengers and pilots of New Hampshire are listening to this debate today.
On September 27, 2001, I met with New Hampshire pilots from United Airlines, Northwest Airlines, American Airlines, and Continental Airlines. Those pilots reinforced my belief that a firearm is appropriate to protect a commercial aircraft from terrorism. Airline pilots are crying out for guns to protect themselves, the plane and the passengers.
The Department of Transportation and the air carriers must be reasonable about this new law or Congress will speak again on the issue of armed pilots .
This legislation is a good first step and it is my hope and desire that the Department of Transportation will work with the air carriers to provide pilots with training to possess a firearm in the cockpit of commercial aircraft.
Please remember that we arm our Capitol Police with firearms, we arm our FBI and DEA with firearms, we arm our Air Marshals with firearms.
We also need to arm our commercial pilots with firearms. Armed pilots are a first line of deterrence and the last line of defense against terrorist hijackers.
We trust our commercial pilots to fly commercial aircraft, please give our pilots the tools to protect the cockpit of these aircraft from any future act of terrorism.
Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I rise today to address an issue of the utmost importance. While I am deeply committed to increased safety and security at our Nation's airports and on airplanes, I am greatly concerned about how that security is paid for in this bill.
While I commend Senators HOLLINGS and MCCAIN for this much-awaited, much-needed piece of legislation, I disapprove of putting the burden of this increased security on the passenger.
It's critical to our Nation's economy that we restore the flying public's confidence in the safety of the aviation system. We need to get more planes in the air and we need to make sure they're full. Legislation that improves and expands security at our airports and on planes is essential to getting citizens back in the air.
As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee I am deeply concerned about restoring our underwhelmed economy. And securing our flying public is a giant step closer to securing our economy.
As important as that is, I am very unhappy to say that this otherwise excellent security bill as a ticket tax levied on airline passengers. A new tax.
I don't believe that this is the time to raise taxes. Consumers need tax relief--not more taxes. We're trying to pass an economic stimulus bill. I note that we don't raise taxes in that bill, we give folks tax relief. We're taking one step forward and two steps back in this Congress.
I enthusiastically supported the airline relief package Congress passed several weeks ago. We needed to assist the airlines for the good of our traveling public and the good of our economy.
But relief to the airlines won't do anyone any good, if they don't have passengers to fly in their planes. Raising ticket prices surely won't help get people to fly.
In my State of Montana, people believe they pay enough to fly around the country. Since we are relieving the airlines of the security responsibilities, if makes perfect sense that the $2.50 per passenger user fee be assessed to the airlines, not the passengers.
I'd like to close by once again voicing my concern about how we pay for this much-needed security bill. We need increased security in our aviation system. That is clear. What we don't need is increased costs for our flying public.
Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, I am pleased that Congress has finally acted on this extremely important issue.
Even if the terrible plane crash earlier this week wasn't necessarily terrorism, everyone in Congress had to feel in the pit of their stomachs that tomorrow it could be a bomb. Congress needed to act to ensure the American public that our Nation's aviation security system will be the best it can be or Americans will not fly.
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On September 11, our Nation's aviation system was transformed into a terrorist weapon. The United States was caught off-guard. Sadly, with aviation security, we should not have been. That is why we needed to pass this legislation.
All four planes hijacked were headed for my State of California. Consequently, many Californians who were simply trying to make their way home lost their lives in these attacks.
That is why I am particularly pleased that this legislation will ensure that all high risk flights will have air marshals aboard them. And, the Secretary of Transportation is to give priority to long-distance flights--such as those targeted on September 11. That is extremely important for Californians.
I am also pleased that this legislation will allow airports to be reimbursed and to use grant funds to pay for security costs. Our airports have been hit hard to meet new Federal security standards. For example, between September 11 and the end of October, Los Angeles International Airport spent $15.3 million on increased security costs. The funds in this bill will allow our airports to continue to operate our aviation infrastructure while providing the highest levels of security.
This bill also makes a significant improvement in passenger screeners. Federal law enforcement personnel will conduct passenger screening, instead of private low-paid workers. We could not allow the same companies to continue to be in charge of passenger screening.
This bill makes great strides forward in making our skies more secure and ensuring that the events of September 11 never happen again.
Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to elaborate upon the air travel security compromise reached yesterday by Congress--particularly the provisions in the bill that incorporate the amendment authored by Senator Durbin and myself.
Consistent with the recommendations we made, the bill calls for the individual named to the newly established position of Under Secretary of Transportation for Security to, within 6 months, review and determine which immediately available new technologies can be used to more effectively restrict access to sensitive areas of our airports, including the tarmac, maintenance facilities, baggage handling centers and catering facilities. Such technologies may include biometrics, card or keypad-based access systems, and increased monitoring of emergency exit systems. The Under Secretary is directed to outline a strategy for deploying these technologies within 12 months at all major airports.
The bill strengthens our recommendation to ensure that all checked baggage is screened for explosives by requiring that, within 60 days, all bags be either checked or matched to a boarded passenger and that, by the end of 2002, airports deploy equipment to detect explosives in all checked baggage.
To meet new and unprecedented threats without delay, we must as a nation harness the power of innovation to improve transportation security. That's why I was also pleased to see included in the compromise our recommended authorization of $50 million in each of the next 5 years for the public and private sectors to accelerate development and testing of new aviation security technologies--including faster, better, and cheaper passenger and baggage screening equipment; systems capable of detecting components of weapons of mass destruction; systems for screening catering and cargo items; advances in training of security personnel; and new methods of ``hardening'' the aircraft in the event of an in-flight explosion.
As called for by Senator Durbin and myself, the compromise also includes $20 million for longer term research into state-of-the-art weapons detection systems, advanced biometrics, secure networking for sharing of threat information, and other groundbreaking technologies to prevent acts of terrorism in aviation.
I am also pleased to see included in the final bill my provision requiring criminal background checks of all currently employed airport security personnel. Given recent breaches of security and growing anxiety about the baggage screening process, Americans deserve every reassurance that screeners will be reliable and trustworthy.
I hope these measures and others begin to make the urgent and immediate improvements necessary to secure our skies for the American traveling public. With the holidays coming and the economy moving toward recession, this legislation could not come at a better time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from South Carolina.
Mr. HOLLINGS. Madam President, we are trying to get the bill over to the House as promptly as we can. I am prepared to yield back our time, if the Senator from Texas as well is willing.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Madam President, our side yields back all time.
Mr. HOLLINGS. I yield back our time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the conference report.
The conference report was agreed to.
Mr. HOLLINGS. Madam President, I move to reconsider the vote.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Mr. HOLLINGS. I thank the staff and the distinguished Chair and wish all a happy Thanksgiving.
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