HOUSE APPROVES FINAL LEGISLATION TO SAFEGUARD AIR TRAVEL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Kate Dwyer
November 16, 2001	(202) 225-3031

HOUSE APPROVES FINAL LEGISLATION TO SAFEGUARD AIR TRAVEL Ryan Supports Compromise Measure to Make Travel More Secure WASHINGTON – First District Congressman Paul Ryan today voted for the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, legislation that combines elements of both the House and Senate-passed airport security bills to make air travel safer. The House approved this bill today by an overwhelming margin: 410–9.

"By working quickly to reach an agreement on this crucial legislation, Congress has delivered on our commitment to make our homefront more secure. This legislation gives the President, airport authorities, and pilots the tools they need to make air travel safer," Ryan said.

Like the airport bill that passed the House earlier this month, the legislation approved today establishes a new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) within the Department of Transportation responsible for security for all modes of transportation and headed by a new Under Secretary. Under this measure, the federal government will assume responsibility for all passenger and baggage screening at commercial airports in the United States as soon as possible. Federal screeners would have to be in place no later than one year after the President signs the bill. In addition, five airports will be allowed to participate in a pilot program to test the performance of federal employees versus private employees with federal oversights.

After two years in the program, all airports will be allowed the option of having the Federal government contract with private firms to provide aviation security services if the Secretary of Transportation determines that this will provide an equal or greater level of security.

Under this legislation, the Administration must adopt new stricter standards for screeners. It includes the requirement from the House bill that all screeners must be U.S. citizens. It also requires the federal government to conduct background checks on everyone with access to secure areas within an airport.

In addition, this compromise bill includes the House provision that all checked baggage must be screened. Moreover, this legislation:

Requires the deployment of federal air marshals.
Directs the new Under Secretary to take action to strengthen cockpit doors.
Provides for pilots to carry firearms to defend their aircraft.

"This legislation will help make our skies safer through higher security standards, increased accountability, and overdue improvements in aircraft. At the same time, it gives the administration needed flexibility, so that if we find that there are ways we can improve our security system down the road we can do so," Ryan said.

"I also support this measure because it puts responsibility for transportation security under one roof – at the Department of Transportation. The Senate bill would have split responsibility between the Justice and Transportation Departments," Ryan said.

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