Conferees signal quick action on aviation security measure

Conferees opened the first conference meeting to reconcile differences between House and Senate aviation security bills by staking out positions, but indicated willingness to compromise to send a bill to the President before Thanksgiving.

The main area of disagreement is the employment status of airport security workers--whether they should be federal and local government workers, as in the Senate bill, or private workers under increased federal oversight, as in the House bill.

"The main difference is [between] 100 percent [federal screeners] and whatever percent will come out of this conference," said House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young, R-Alaska, who suggested a conference report could be completed as soon as Wednesday.

"The urgency is of the moment," said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., who is chairing the conference committee.

Hollings and other members indicated that their aides would work Wednesday night and through the weekend to reach compromise on outstanding issues.

One such issue involves whether oversight of airport security should be handled by the Transportation Department, as in the House bill, or the Justice Department, as in the Senate bill.

Some conferees, such as Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., are adamant that DOJ officials supervise the screeners.

While President Bush "did interrupt his duties on the war to call House members" in support of the House GOP bill, House Transportation and Infrastructure ranking member James Oberstar, D-Minn., noted that it remains to be seen how involved the administration will be in the conference.

Earlier in the day, Senate Commerce Committee ranking member John McCain, R-Ariz., told reporters that he and other senators had met with White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and asked him to provide a compromise suggestion.

"We think they can be helpful," said McCain, who had criticized the administration's lack of involvement during debate on the Senate bill last month.

"We would like to hear it if they have some ideas," Oberstar said after the meeting.

At the meeting, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, a staunch advocate of the Senate bill, urged language that would make better use of local law enforcement officers and pilot-test different ways of improving security. She also said requirements must be stronger for screening checked bags.

However, other issues--including the immigration status of screeners, special consideration for Hawaiian airlines and others--are expected to be resolved more easily after the employment question is decided.

"These are underbrush issues. Once the status of screeners is done, then the other things can be worked out," Oberstar said.