Bush signs measure federalizing airport security

President Bush Monday signed the aviation security bill at an appearance at Reagan National Airport, hailing it as a "bipartisan" measure.

On hand for the event were House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Don Young, R-Alaska, Ranking Member James Oberstar, D-Minn., and Aviation Subcommittee Chairman John Mica, R-Fla. White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer Monday said that because Bush sees "so much" that is good in the legislation, the President could be enthusiastic about it--despite the bill's failure in the short term to allow some airport security workers to remain private sector employees, as the President wished.

Bush applauded the bill's provision establishing a new undersecretary of Transportation for security.

"The new security force will be well-trained, made up of U.S. citizens," Bush said. "And if any of its members do not perform, the new undersecretary will have full authority to discipline them or remove them."

The White House has not decided who it will nominate for the undersecretary job, according to Fleischer, saying Bush was particularly pleased the Transportation Department had received the assignment instead of the Justice Department.

Although Fleischer said Bush had directed the agency to "move rapidly" to enforce the legislation, Fleischer did not indicate that noticeable new improvements resulting from the bill would be in place in time to reassure travelers during the holiday travel season. He indicated DOT had not yet devised a timetable for implementing the bill, noting it had just been adopted.

Bush himself pointed to several actions the administration has already taken to improve air safety. The government has made more funds available to the aviation industry to fortify cockpit doors, placed more air marshals on airplanes, and instituted a zero tolerance policy on security breaches.