Senate Panel Votes to Exempt 40 airports from deadline

Note that this bill would allow non-citizens to become screeners. Our charade of an airport security system would become even weaker. Also, exempting some airports fro the screening requirements would make a mockery of efforts at all other airports.

What an absolute joke. While flying last week, I saw a woman with a cooler full of empty glass baby bottles. She carried it right on. But I can't carry even a one inch pocketknife.

The airport screeners - and the people who mandated these new rules - are beyond stupid.

also would allow non-U.S. citizens to apply for federal airport-screening jobs

Mineta has allowed San Francisco to be part of a test program. No citizenship, no high school diploma, no nothing!!!! FIRE MINETA NOW

One more example of the government failing to live up to its own standards/laws. Do as I say, not as I do.

Fire, no. Incarcerate, yes.

Come on Freepers - More coffee. Only 4 comments. This bill would turn security back over non-citizens. What? This is before we even finish converting to the new TSA screeners (good or bad) and get rid of what had become colonies of aliens at airports who couldn't even speak english.

Any interest in a letter and email campaign to our Senators opposing this provision?

The email servers are turned off. They have even acknowledge that information from Vote.com is ignored.....

Call toll free 1-877-762-8762 let them know we are watching.......

I think this is what the article is referring to. Although, I don't see any references to the non-citizen provision mentioned in the article. If that's true, Im going to be downright PO'd. Anybody know how to find the text of this bill? I searched senate.gov to no avail.

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Committee Approves Aviation Security Improvement Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings, Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, announced that the Committee, by voice vote, favorably reported S. 2949, the Aviation Security Improvement Act. The legislation was introduced on September 17, 2002 by Sens. Hollings (D-S.C.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), and Harry Reid (D-Nev.). During today's executive session, the Committee took the action on the following amendments to the bill:

by voice vote, the Committee agreed to a manager's amendment that made technical corrections to the bill

by voice vote, the Committee agreed to a second degree amendment to the manager's amendment offered by Sen. Hutchison to increase the maximum number of reports that TSA is required to issue to Congress regarding an airport's progress in meeting the EDS deadline from 6 to 12.

by voice vote, the Committee agreed to an amendment introduced by Sen. John Breaux (D-La.) that would direct the Secretary of Transportation to maintain current restrictions regarding stadium overflights for six months after the bill's enactment

by voice vote, the Committee rejected a second degree amendment to the Breaux amendment offered by Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) which would have allowed TSA to grant waivers regarding stadium flyovers but ensure that passengers and crew are cleared by the TSA and have undergone background checks and fingerprinting.

by voice vote, the Committee agreed to an amendment introduced by Sen. Breaux that would ensure TSA act on a pending petition to consider less-than-lethal weaponry for pilots.

by voice vote, the Committee agreed to an amendment introduced by Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) that would require background checks on all foreign flight school candidates, regardless of the weight class of the aircraft they wish to fly, exempting only currently licensed pilots participating in continued education and training.
The bill is comprised of seven sections, which are outlined below:

I. Explosive Detection Systems

Title I maintains the December 31, 2002, deadline that was imposed by the Aviation and Transportation Security Act and seeks to clarifies the status of the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) efforts to equip commercial airports with acceptable baggage screening systems by this deadline. Title I requires TSA to provide to Congress plans for effectively meeting the deadline at no more than 40 airports where it has determined that Explosive Detection Systems will not be properly in place to screen all baggage by the end of the year. The TSA is directed to consider modifications to the airport's terminal and other engineering, design and construction issues. They must also take into account the effectiveness of the modifications, and the feasibility and value of placing EDS in areas other than the airport lobby. The bill requires those airports identified by TSA to cooperate fully to meet the deadline and mandates the use of any Airport Improvement Program or Passenger Facility Charge funding each airport receives to achieve this security priority. The TSA is required to report every 30 days to Congress on their progress at the airports which have been identified, and may not submit more than six (this number changed to twelve due to Hutchison's 2nd degree amendment) reports on any airports. This section was based on a compromise crafted by Sens. Hollings, McCain and Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev).

II. Air Cargo Security

Title II improves cargo security in the U.S. by instructing the TSA to establish an inspection program for all cargo transported through the nation's air transportation system. It also imposes measures to increase inspections of air cargo shippers and their facilities, and to work with foreign countries to conduct regular inspections at facilities transporting air cargo to the U.S. Title II requires the creation of an industry-wide database of known shippers of cargo in passenger aircraft. The TSA must also perform an assessment of the current indirect air carrier program, conduct random inspections of indirect air carrier facilities, and report to Congress on the random audit system. Upon the recommendation of the TSA, FAA is required to suspend or revoke the certificate of any non-compliant indirect air carriers while providing an opportunity for appeal of this decision.

Title II authorizes the appropriation of necessary sums to carry out air cargo security, and directs TSA to develop a training program for air cargo handlers. TSA is also required to create a program for all-cargo air carriers to develop an approved plan for the security of their facilities, operations, cargo and personnel. Any plan must address the security of the carriers property at each airport it serves, background checks for all employees with access to operations, training for all employees and contractors with security responsibilities, screening of all flight crews and others on-board flights, security procedures for cargo, and other necessary measures. Air carriers to which the plans apply will be given the opportunity to review and comment before the final plan is implemented.

III. Identification Training

Title III instructs the TSA and FAA to develop guidelines within 180 days of passage for commercial aviation workers that check passenger identification. The protocols that are developed by TSA will be provided to each air carrier within 60 days of being put in final form, and TSA must report to Congress on the actions that have been taken within 1 year. Title III also promotes the use of appropriate new technologies to assist in this effort by requiring the installation and use at airports of appropriate identification verification systems. This title is based on a proposal introduced by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.)

IV. Circumvention of Airport Security

Title IV amends previous penalties for individuals who intentionally interfere or circumvent security checkpoints at U.S. airports. The penalties are to include no more than 10 years of imprisonment, a fine, or both. This title is based on a proposal introduced by Sen. Max Cleland.

V. War Risk Insurance

Title V provides an extension of aviation war risk insurance to allow for passenger, crew, hull and third party coverage for 270 days in the event that the Department of Transportation terminates existing policies. Title V also requires DOT provide a report to Congress that evaluates the availability and analyzes the economic impact of war risk insurance on aviation entities in an effort to determine alternative possibilities for providing insurance for air carriers.

VI. Blast Resistant Cargo Container Technology

Title VI requires TSA and FAA to submit a report to Congress that evaluates and makes recommendations on the use of blast resistant container technology in cargo holds on passenger airliners within 6 months of passage. This title is based on a proposal introduced by Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).

VII. Technical Corrections

Title VII makes technical corrections to P.L. 107-71, the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, that were requested by the Administration.

The Committee's action today sends the bill to the full Senate for its consideration.

Why in God's name does the story leave out the 40 frickin airports? I wan't to know if which ones they are so I can avoid flying through them.

I thought this would make your day.

McCain said the committee decided to lift the requirement that all federal screeners be U.S. citizens because, although "that requirement was an understandable impulse, it had some negative ramifications that were not clear at the time."

Why do I think my head is about to explode?

I think the list of 40 airports is not included because it does not yet exist. TSA will identify such airports based on some form of raadiness assessment, if this bill becomes law.

"The email servers are turned off. They have even acknowledge that information from Vote.com is ignored"

Think its about time we showed these idiots who the bosses are. They work for us, the American Taxpayer, they are our employees, who the h*ll do they think they are turning off the email servers and ignoring what we think. Think its about time we started firing them, by votes and recall efforts.

And pilots are STILL unarmed--- tick--tick--tick--tick.................

Mineta has allowed San Francisco to be part of a test program. No citizenship, no high school diploma, no nothing!!!! FIRE MINETA NOW

BUMP!

They work for us, the American Taxpayer, they are our employees, who the h*ll do they think they are turning off the email servers and ignoring what we think. Think its about time we started firing them, by votes and recall efforts.

I'm beyond irritated and have lost all patience with our "public servants" in congress who long ago forgot just who they were supposed to "serve". They get entrenched at the public trough and we pay for their high-living as long as they want to stay there.

Term limits? What a joke.

They are probably all the Class B airports (the most heavily trafficked airports in the nation). You can find a list of them in the Aeronautical Information Manual on the FAA website.

Yeah, like the vile-tempered, unbathed, third world cretins doing "security work" at places like Boston can even read the instructions for the upgraded gear. This is like trying to give computer instruction to a turtle.

The absolutely criminal part of this is that NY wanted to have a pilot program here at Kennedy.......retired police offices and retired FBI agents.....they were told NO!!!