*EPF309 10/17/01
Different Approach on Airline Security Proposed in House Bill
(FAA seeks background checks on nearly 750,000 employees) (380)

Washington -- A Republican congressional leader on transportation issues has introduced a bill that would transfer oversight of airline security screening from airlines to the federal government but not require that federal employees perform the task.

In an October 17 press conference, Representative Don Young said that his bill would provide for federal supervision of the screening process (pre-flight inspection of passengers and baggage), comprehensive background checks on screeners, and oversight of the training and testing of all these employees.

But Young, chairman of the House of Representatives Transportation Committee, said the bill would leave up to the president to decide whether screeners should be federal or private employees.

"Forcing the president to use only federal employees will make it much more difficult to achieve the highest level of security that we want to achieve," Young said.

In contrast, a related Senate bill that passed unanimously October 11 would require that federal employees perform such screening.

The House bill would require increased cockpit security, more air marshals on domestic flights, and the presence of federal or state law enforcement personnel at each screening location.

But it would leave oversight over security and safety issues within the Transportation Department rather than moving it to the Justice Department as the Senate bill would do.

In a related development, Jane Garvey, administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, said her agency would check the background of about 750,000 airline, airport and other employees who have access to secured areas of airports.

In October 17 remarks at the National Press Club, Garvey said she hoped to complete the task in nine months.

"From intelligence information and background checks, the first goal --the first level of defense -- is clearly to keep terrorists away from the airport," Garvey said. "The second level is screening -- or detection -- to prevent access to the airplane."

She said the FAA would also require screening of all checked luggage for explosives, prevent loading of unaccompanied luggage onto airplanes and add more plainclothes air marshals on flights.

(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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