Washington Wire: TSA's Hawley Says No Relaxing Ban On Liquid

Just because the U.S. Transportation Security Administration recently lifted its ban on cigarette lighters doesn't mean travelers can expect TSA soon to relax its liquid restrictions, even though technology is in the works that might eventually allow it. TSA, according to assistant secretary Kip Hawley, is working on "finding science that's been done for other purposes and converting it over to security, such as MRI and CAT scan medical scanners, that were converted to be explosive-detection units that we use in baggage now and working with the National Laboratories, Sandia, Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore in using new applications of science. All of us are very hopeful and have put a lot of money and a lot of priority into finding a more effective and automated way to do it." Hawley estimated that "the earliest that new technology deployments are even possibly available would be probably about a year from now, but we don't have the equipment now, so it's hard to say." He said that cigarette lighters are among the least effective methods of activating incendiary or explosive devices, and the amount of energy screeners were using to find them was distracting them from real threats, such as liquids. "The liquids are very much at the center of the terrorist toolkit," Hawley said. "Until we are able to automate the detection of really dangerous liquids, this is the best way to do it."

House Raises Corporate Jet Fuel Tax
The House voted to raise taxes on fuel used by corporate jets to pay for improvements to air traffic control systems but refused to simultaneously reduce levies paid by major airlines, and ultimately their customers. Business jets would pay $1.8 billion more in fuel taxes over the next decade under the legislation, but they sidestepped a proposal by the Bush administration and backed by the Air Transport Association that would shift fees to private aircraft from major carriers. "NBAA supports the legislation reported by the Ways and Means Committee," said National Business Aviation Association president and CEO Ed Bolen. "While no one loves to pay taxes, the general aviation community recognizes the importance of air traffic control modernization. The fact that the committee's bill dedicates the additional tax revenues exclusively to modernization is very significant." ATA, which represents all major U.S. carriers, has lobbied furiously to shed its own tax burden. James May, the group's president and CEO, said airlines and passengers are frustrated by what it believes is an unfair subsidy for corporate jets. "Congress must address this inequitable tax burden this year, as it will be the last chance for years to create fairness in the way the FAA is funded," said Duane Woerth, Northwest Airlines captain and former president of the Air Line Pilots Association. "The current unfair tax burden has materially harmed all airline employees and their customers." The legislation was approved 267-151 by the House on Sept. 20. It goes this week to the Senate Finance Committee, which will draft its own tax proposal. It's part of a broader measure reauthorizing FAA, which must be done every five years.

Senate Adopts $1.4 Billion Amtrak Subsidy
The Senate adopted legislation that would give Amtrak a $1.4 billion federal subsidy in the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, shrugging off a veto threat from the White House, which sought substantially less for the money-losing railroad. The Senate voted 88-7 on Sept. 12 to approve a broader $104.6 billion transportation spending bill that contains the Amtrak subsidy. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), who sponsored the Amtrak measure, said the bill "rejects reckless and misguided cuts." President George W. Bush has threatened to veto the transportation bill because it exceeds his spending goals. The White House sought $800 million for Amtrak next year; the railroad received $1.3 billion this year. Murray said Bush's proposal would bankrupt the railroad, which transported 24 million passengers last year.