The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“AVIATION SECURITY” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Senate section on pages S10270 on Oct. 4, 2001.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
AVIATION SECURITY
Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, the day of September 11 has been eloquently described by the preceding speaker, Senator Torricelli. Its consequences are unknown. In fact, one of the great questions none of us can answer at this point is: What are the unintended consequences of what will follow this attack over a period of weeks and months?
However, this is not our purpose. Our purpose is to get an aviation security bill done. That is why this Senator from West Virginia chooses to speak.
I wish to make a couple of very clear points. We have not yet passed an aviation security bill. There were those who said, no, you cannot work on the aviation industry's financial condition until you have done an aviation security bill. That was an understandable argument, as well as those who talk about people who have lost their jobs. There really was not much point in doing an aviation security bill if there weren't any airplanes flying. That had to be done as a first order of business.
They are flying. They have picked up a modest amount of business. It has increased about 7 percent in the last week, but they are still in a very bad position, even with the money we gave them after forcing them to ground all of their airplanes for a period of time.
In any event, that and the loan guarantees part is done and so now we move on to aviation security, which we ought to do. One could say, well, that is a fairly easy subject. We could go ahead and do that promptly and without much fuss.
That is not quite the case. There is a lot involved, which is serious, which is complex, a lot of back and forth about which is the best agency to do this or that and how do people feel about it, what are the costs involved.
That being said, the Department of Transportation, under President Bush's leadership, immediately after September 11, took some very strong steps with respect to our airports and our airlines. Within days, Congress sent, as I have indicated, its strong support with an emergency financial package that, in fact, included $3 billion, still unknown to most people, for airport security. That was included to be used at the discretion of the President, which was fine. Most of that has been used for sky marshals and other items. Urgent aviation security efforts are already in place. The money is there. Now we are talking about a bill for a broader aviation security purpose.
In the few weeks that have passed since September 11, a large group has been working around the clock through a lot of very contentious issues, not easy issues, to try to resolve what should be in an aviation security bill that would best serve the Nation, not just in the next months but in the coming years. One can say, therefore, that the Aviation Security Act is a result of these efforts. It is not finally worked out. There was to be a meeting this morning with the Secretary of Transportation. He was called to the White House. There are still details pending. That is not the point. We are on it and moving at the point, for those who come down to speak on it, because we want this done if at all possible this week, with the American people knowing that aviation security is at the top of our legislative agenda.
I am very proud to have joined Senator Hollings, Senator McCain, Senator Hutchinson as original cosponsors, and I rise in strong support of the managers' amendment because we have been working closely with Senator Lott and Senator Daschle. I can report there is broad bipartisan support within this body on both sides of the aisle as to what we ought to do. That has come through in meetings and compromises. That is a very important fact and bodes well for the bill.
The truth is, the horrific attacks of September 11 do reflect broad intelligence and other failures.
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