S 1463 IS

107th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1463

To provide for the safety of American aviation and the suppression of terrorism .

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 25, 2001

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

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A BILL

To provide for the safety of American aviation and the suppression of terrorism .

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Airline Safety Act of 2001'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:

(1) On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four civilian aircraft, crashing two of the aircraft into the towers of the World Trade Center in New York, New York, and a third into the Pentagon outside Washington, District of Columbia.

(2) Thousands of innocent Americans and citizens of other countries were killed or injured as a result of these attacks, including the passengers and crew of the four aircraft, workers in the World Trade Center and in the Pentagon, rescue workers, and bystanders.

(3) These attacks destroyed both towers of the World Trade Center, as well as adjacent buildings, and seriously damaged the Pentagon.

(4) These attacks were by far the deadliest terrorist attacks ever launched against the United States and, by targeting symbols of America, clearly were intended to intimidate our Nation and weaken its resolve.

(5) Armed pilots, co-pilots, and navigators with proper training will serve as a deterrent to future contemplated acts of terrorism .

(6) Secured doors separating the crew cabin from the passenger cabin have been effective in deterring hijackings in other nations and will serve as a deterrent to future contemplated acts of terrorism in the United States.

SEC. 3. AVIATION SAFETY AND SUPPRESSION OF TERRORISM BY COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT.

(a) POSSESSION OF FIREARMS ON COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS- No department or agency may prohibit a pilot, co-pilot, or navigator of a commercial aircraft, or any law enforcement personnel specifically detailed for the protection of a commercial aircraft, who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing a firearm, from possessing or carrying a firearm for the protection of the aircraft.

(b) REINFORCED COCKPIT DOORS ON COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT-

(1) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a commercial aircraft described in paragraph (2) that is operated in the United States shall possess a door or doors separating the crew cabin of such aircraft from the passenger cabin of such aircraft, which door or doors shall be certified by the Secretary as being secure against forcible entry from the passenger cabin into the crew cabin of such aircraft.

(2) COVERED COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT- A commercial aircraft described in this paragraph is any commercial aircraft that, as determined by the Secretary, is configured so as to permit a door to separate the crew cabin and passenger cabin of such aircraft.

(c) REGULATIONS- The Secretary may prescribe regulations for purposes of this section.

(d) REPORTS TO CONGRESS- Not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every six months thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the effectiveness of the requirements in this section in facilitating commercial aviation safety and the suppression of terrorism by commercial aircraft.

(e) EFFECTIVE DATE- This section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.