Senate Adds Scrutiny Of Passenger Lists, Stronger Cargo Holds To Intelligence Bill

The U.S. Senate yesterday unanimously approved amendments to pending legislation that would give Transportation Security Administration officials authority to check passenger manifests for suspected terrorists and require airlines, with federal funding, to equip cargo holds with blast-proof technology.

The provisions were added to a broader bill to reform the country's intelligence-gathering structure, including the creation of a new director of central intelligence to coordinate the country's 15 intelligence agencies. The Senate may pass the entire bill this week, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said.

Also included in the bill is a directive for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to develop a strategy for transportation security. "This is a great opportunity for all of us to improve all of our security, whether it be aviation, port, rail, bus or other areas of vulnerability," said Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), the sponsor of the amendments.

Lawmakers in the House introduced similar legislation last week, under pressure from the congressional commission that investigated the 2001 attacks. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) said his chamber will pass the legislation before adjourning in October prior to the Nov. 2 election. "Everybody wants to get this done," DeLay told reporters on Capitol Hill.