Aviation Security Bill Clears U.S. Senate

WASHINGTON —  One month after terrorists crashed hijacked planes in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania, the Senate voted unanimously Thursday to tighten airport and airline security, including putting federal workers in charge of screening passengers and baggage and allowing pilots to carry firearms.

But the measure faces an uncertain fate in the House because of opposition from the Bush administration and some House Republican leaders, who object to hiring more than 18,000 federal workers to replace privately employed screeners at the nation’s busiest airports.

A White House spokesman expressed “serious concerns” that federalizing screeners would cause significant difficulties, including transition and implementation problems.

“The president is eager to sign aviation security measures into law and encourages the Senate and House to work together to get a bill to his desk soon,” the spokesman said. “Aviation safety and security are important steps in helping us defeat terrorism by allowing the American people to travel without fear.”

Though the security bill was approved 100 to 0, the vote tested celebrated bipartisanship that has prevailed in the capital since Sept. 11.

Democrats fumed at Republicans for blocking, most likely temporarily, a $1.9-billion aid package for more than 140,000 laid-off aviation industry workers. “This is the first time we’ve said no to any of the victims of the disaster,” said Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.).

The security bill would require assault-resistant cockpit doors, more air marshals on planes, anti-hijack training for flight crews, checking of passenger names against lists of suspected terrorists and background checks of students taking flight training for large planes. It would authorize the Federal Aviation Administration to allow properly trained pilots to arm themselves.

It also would provide for an airline ticket surcharge of as much as $2.50 to help pay for the security measures.

“Mind you me there’s no Swiss cheese approach here,” said Sen. Ernest F. Hollings (D-S.C.), who consulted officials from Israel’s El Al Airline in drafting the bill. “Every hole is covered.”

Added Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the bill’s chief co-sponsor, “We in the U.S. Senate are taking a major step in ensuring that this kind of thing could never happen again.”

The legislation--which follows congressional approval last month of a $15-billion airline industry relief package--is designed to help restore public confidence in the air travel system.

Los Angeles officials applauded the Senate action, saying the bill would allow airports to use construction funds to ease their post-Sept. 11 money crunch. The bill also opens the door to federal reimbursement for the $500,000 a day in additional security costs that LAX has spent since the attacks.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said the bill includes a provision she sought that would give cross-country flights priority for having air marshals on board and “drastically improve security on flights flying to and from California.”

Though Senate Republicans joined Democrats in supporting the bill, House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Texas) has vowed to fight efforts to make the screeners federal employees.

Reacting angrily, House Democratic leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.) said, “If some in the other party, in their leadership, insist on ‘my way or the highway,’ which is kind of the way we’ve operated around here for the last six years, then we’re going to have no ability to perform at the level I think we ought to be performing [at] for the American people.”

House GOP leaders are expected to introduce their own version of an air security bill in the next few days. Differences between the House and Senate bills would be worked out by negotiators from each chamber.

The White House said it remains concerned that federalizing screeners would create “significant difficulties,” including limiting “our ability to ensure that we have the most-qualified screeners.” Some officials worry that a federal takeover would make it more difficult to fire screeners.

Airlines now contract with private security companies for low-wage screeners, who often leave for better-paying work after a short time on the job.

The administration has sought to keep the screeners private employees but subject them to higher standards, better training and closer federal supervision.

The White House has indicated a willingness to compromise on the screening issue, and a large number of the House GOP rank and file appears to support a federal takeover of the task.

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Times staff writer Marisa Schultz contributed to this report.