Hahn to Meet With Mayors in Capital, Push Aviation Bill

Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn is traveling to Washington, D.C., today to attend an emergency preparedness summit hastily convened by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and to encourage lawmakers to pass an aviation security bill.

About 70 mayors are expected to attend the summit, which will include Director of Homeland Security Thomas J. Ridge, Federal Aviation Administrator Jane Garvey and Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft. In addition, Hahn will lead a meeting of the conference’s task force on airport security, which he heads.

During his two-day trip, the mayor is also planning to meet with members of the California congressional delegation to discuss how Los Angeles is coping with the economic slowdown that followed the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

But Hahn’s main priority, aides said, will be to push for passage of an aviation security bill that would federalize passenger and baggage screeners and standardize security at airports across the country.

“This is a key component, not only for LAX, but for the entire system,” Deputy Mayor Matt Middlebrook said. “Safety at LAX depends not only on the people leaving from L.A., but the people coming into L.A. Improving the entire system is critical.”

The Senate unanimously approved an aviation security bill Oct. 11 that would replace privately employed passenger and baggage screeners with about 28,000 federal workers. The measure would also tighten airport security by requiring assault-resistant cockpit doors, more air marshals on planes and anti-hijack training for flight crews, among other steps. Many of the safety enhancements would be paid for with a $2.50 airline ticket surcharge.

The bill authorizes the Federal Aviation Administration to allow trained pilots to carry firearms and provides federal reimbursement to cities for security measures they have taken at airports since the attacks.

But the measure faces opposition in the House, where Republican leaders are balking at creating a new pool of federal workers. In addition, the White House is reluctant to replace private employees with federal workers.

As chairman of the airport security task force, Hahn has been pushing the Bush administration and House leaders to back the aviation security measure. He wrote to President Bush in late September, urging him to support federalizing airport workers. Since then, he has conferred with congressional leaders such as Rep. James L. Oberstar (D-Minn.), who is sponsoring the Democratic version of a House bill similar to the Senate measure.

At the mayors’ conference Thursday, Hahn hopes to win support for a resolution endorsing the House Democratic bill, aides said.

“What can’t be underestimated is the importance of the mayors in this,” Middlebrook said. “They’re where the rubber hits the road. They’re the ones responsible for security, to a great degree, and they’ve really coalesced as an organization.”

Hahn has also been lobbying state and federal officials to redeploy the National Guard troops who are monitoring passenger and baggage screening at airports.

On Tuesday, the mayor sent letters to Garvey, Gov. Gray Davis and Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta requesting additional funding to expand the role of the troops.

“The addition of National Guard troops to augment our security efforts several weeks ago was of great assistance,” the mayor wrote. “However, I would like to request that the National Guard troops be provided additional funding to be redeployed to several strategic areas throughout the airport, where I feel they will be better utilized.”

Hahn suggested posting the National Guard at entrances to the airport, its perimeter and central parking areas.

The mayor will return to Los Angeles late Thursday. While he is gone, City Council President Alex Padilla will serve as acting mayor, as he did during Hahn’s last trip to Washington, on Sept. 10. The mayor was stranded there for several days.