Copyright 2002 Journal Sentinel Inc.  
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Wisconsin)
June 20, 2002 Thursday FINAL EDITION
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 06A

LENGTH: 184 words

HEADLINE: House panel endorses plan to arm pilots

BYLINE: From Journal Sentinel wire reports

BODY:
Washington -- Lawmakers moved closer to a confrontation with the Bush administration over guns in airplane cockpits as a House panel on Wednesday endorsed legislation that could arm more than 1,000 pilots in the next two years.

The House Transportation Committee's aviation subcommittee vote Wednesday runs counter to the administration's decision last month not to allow the arming of pilots. Similar legislation also has been introduced in the Senate.

Bipartisan groups of lawmakers in both houses are trying to overturn the decision of Transportation Security Administration head John Magaw to keep guns out of the cockpit. They are supported by the pilots' unions and the National Rifle Association.

Fraud accusations: Fifteen people, including four city employees, have been arrested in New York on charges that they stole more than $52,000 from charities and relief agencies by filing false claims for benefits related to the World Trade Center attack. The arrests bring to 91 the number who have been similarly charged in Sept. 11-related frauds, prosecutors said Wednesday.



LOAD-DATE: June 20, 2002