Congress passes bill federalizing airport security

The House and Senate approved the conference report on aviation security today, clearing the way for a presidential signature, possibly before the Thanksgiving recess.

"This is not only a security measure, but an airline stimulus bill," said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., who, along with Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., and others helped broker the deal with House Republicans that will require most airports to federalize their security workforce within a year and keep them on the federal payroll for at least two more years.

The measure is intended to restore confidence in the air travel system by creating a new transportation safety agency, impose new requirements for screening all bags, securing cockpit doors and increasing the number of air marshals.

"We will secure the people in every humanly way possible against future terrorist attacks," said Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, a key negotiator, during floor debate.

The measure also includes liability protections for World Trade Center property owners and some manufacturers, which originated in the House bill, despite concerns raised by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

"This isn't a perfect piece of legislation but it's a landmark piece of legislation," McCain said.

As the House began its debate, Transportation and Infrastructure ranking member James Oberstar, D-Minn., called the legislation the most important aviation bill in 30 years.