Bush To Sign Bill Federalizing Airport Screeners

Washington - President Bush said he will sign the aviation security bill crafted by House and Senate conferees on Thursday that will convert the nation's aviation security system into a federal force.

Bush issued a statement saying that he looks forward to signing the bill, which he said will allow the government "to set high standards and enforce them."

The conference committee bill, which calls for a one-year transition while the U.S. Department of Transportation hires and trains screeners, is expected to pass Congress today and be on the President's desk as early as this evening. The final version of the measure was a victory for the Senate, which insisted that the nation's screener force be federal employees, not contractors. The compromise was reached between Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-S.C.), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, and Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

DOT secretary Norman Mineta held a press briefing shortly after the conferees finished their work and announced he already has begun a series of meetings with aviation industry officials "to map out a structure and schedule of next steps." His first meeting was with airline officials, he said. "We had a wide-ranging discussion on security matters, the upcoming holiday travel season and how we must continue to work together to create a Transportation Security Administration, which will reflect the high standards the American traveling public expects and deserves," he said.

Key provisions of the legislation provide:

--Within 90 days, DOT will take over the contracts now held by the airlines with private security companies. Within one year, the government will replace the private screeners with its newly trained federal workforce of more than 20,000 employees. These new officers will not be permitted to strike and quickly can be removed for cause. They must be U.S. citizens, proficient in English and cannot not have criminal records.

--In a compromise nod to the House, which wanted the President to have the option of using private contractors, local airport authorities after two years in the new program will have the option to request permission to opt out of using federal screeners and use private contractors instead. Mineta said he doubts this will prove attractive to airports, explaining that he is not sure there is an incentive for airports to do this.

--Further, the bill permits five demonstration projects in which airports may use private contractors instead of federal employees to screen passengers. The five airports that will participate in the demonstration program likely will vary by hub size.

--All checked baggage, as well as carry-on luggage, must be screened for explosives within 60 days of the bill's signing. Only 47 airports now have explosives detection machines and until the end of 2002--when all commercial service airports must have the automated devices--baggage must be screened by other means.

--The nation's air marshal force will be beefed up. DOT already is receiving applications for entry into the marshal's service.

--Part of the cost of the new program would be paid for by passengers, who would pay a $2.50 per flight segment fee and would be capped at $10 per roundtrip. The airline industry also would be assessed part of the cost, but less than what airlines now pay to hire contract security companies.

--Cockpit doors must be strengthened. Most airlines already have completed this directive. Further, flight crews would have to be trained to handle hijackings and pilots would be allowed to carry weapons, if they had permission from their companies and had completed a training program.

--All individuals and vehicles entering secure areas of airports would have to be screened.

--Liability protection would be extended to numerous parties facing lawsuits stemming from the Sept. 11 attacks, including owners of the World Trade Center and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and Boston Logan Airport.

--DOT rather than the Justice Department would be in charge of the new Transportation Security Agency that would administer the program.

Mineta said that, under the new law, "There will be tightened procedures for screening checked bags and the safeguarding of all areas of airports." He added that the new security system "will feature professionalism, accountability and, most importantly, a level of safety that will restore confidence in our national transportation system."