Airport chiefs have been pressing the Transportation
Security Administration to extend its deadline of December 31
this year to screen all checked baggage.
The new legislation, which is expected to get Senate
approval, will also allow pilots on US commercial aircraft to
carry guns in the cockpit to protect them from possible hijackings.
The need to install expensive and highly sophisticated
explosives detection equipment in time to meet TSA demands has
been a growing problem for US airports. The extended deadline
has been warmly welcomed.
Typical of the reaction was a statement from Dallas/Forth
Worth Airport senior executive vice-president, Kevin Cox. "We
believe that Congress is making a decision that is prudent for
the TSA, the airport and airline industries and, most
importantly, the traveling public," he said.
"Airports will continue to work closely with the TSA to
implement checked bag screening and to ensure that it is done
right, with the best security and customer service anywhere.
This is a national aviation issue that Congress addressed
cautiously and acted upon in a timely manner. We are all on
the same team here and real security is the top priority for
all of us."
Among other compromise measures in the bill is one to drop
previous provisions to create an independent commission to
investigate intelligence lapses before the September 11, 2001,
terrorist atrocities.
Negotiations on creating an independent September 11
commission are continuing, several administration and
congressional sources told
CNN.
