Aviation Bill Remains Stalled

Washington - The House of Representatives, by a 286-139 vote, passed a Republican-backed aviation security bill late Thursday, thereby forcing a confrontation with the Senate over the issue of whether passenger security screeners should be federal employees and further delaying the legislation.
House democratic leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) said earlier in the day that he feared if the bill went to a House-Senate conference, it might never emerge.
President Bush issued a statement following the vote urging the House and Senate to work together.
The House bill differs from the Senate bill in one critical respect. It would allow the President to determine whether to continue using contract security companies to handle passenger screening at U.S. airports or to create a security force comprised of federal employees.
The Senate, which three weeks ago passed its bill by a 100-0 vote, determined that security is a law enforcement function that must come under total federal control, complete with federal workers. House Republicans, who favor privatization of the security workforce over establishment of a few federal workforce, argued that the President should have flexibility in determining the best way to proceed.
The House and Senate must now appoint conferees to work out the final version of the bill. Bush, while favoring the House Republican bill, indicated he would sign either measure.
Although the Senate and House bills differ on the central issue of total federalization of screeners, versus continued use of private contract employees, the bills are alike in several other major respects. Both take security oversight away from the airlines and give it to the federal government, impose tougher training and performance standards on screeners, require deployment of federal sky marshals on flights, mandate improved cockpit door security, require imposition of a fee on passengers to pay for the security programs and move toward total screening of checked baggage.