[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2957 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2957

 To amend title 49, United States Code, to direct the Administrator of 
the Federal Aviation Administration to implement a criminal background 
check program for pilot and flight service training applicants, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 25, 2001

  Mr. Castle introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
             Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 49, United States Code, to direct the Administrator of 
the Federal Aviation Administration to implement a criminal background 
check program for pilot and flight service training applicants, and for 
                            other purposes.

    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 ``Secure Aviation Employment and 
Training Enhancement Act of 2001''.

SEC. 2. REQUIRING CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR PILOT AND AIRCRAFT 
              MAINTENANCE TRAINING APPLICANTS.

    Section 44707 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``The 
        Administrator''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Background Check Program for Pilot and Aircraft Maintenance 
Training Applicants.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall implement a 
        criminal background check program for individuals enrolled or 
        to be enrolled in civilian schools giving instruction described 
        in subsection (a)(1).
            ``(2) Program requirements.--Under the program, the 
        Administrator shall--
                    ``(A) establish and provide a standard application 
                form to be used by all civilian schools giving 
                instruction described in subsection (a)(1);
                    ``(B) maintain a database of all processed 
                applications for such schools;
                    ``(C) require that any applicant to such a school 
                must fill out the standard application form and undergo 
                a criminal background check; and
                    ``(D) if the background check reveals evidence of 
                criminal, espionage, or terrorist activity or any other 
                evidence that the Administrator determines, by 
                regulation, to be a security threat, the Administrator 
                shall establish procedures to ensure the applicant does 
                not receive training at such school.
            ``(3) Fees and charges.--The Administrator shall establish 
        reasonable fees and charges to pay expenses incurred in 
        carrying out this section. Such fees and charges may not exceed 
        $100 per individual. Money collected under this subsection 
        shall be credited to the account in the Treasury from which 
        expenses were incurred and are available to the Administrator 
        for those expenses.
            ``(4) Criminal background check defined.--In this 
        subsection, the term `criminal background check', commonly 
        known as an indices check, means a review of information 
        provided by the Director of Central Intelligence and the 
        Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding 
        personal background, including information relating to any 
        history of criminal activity or to any evidence of espionage or 
        terrorism.''.

SEC. 3. REVIEW OF CURRENT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK PROCEDURES FOR ALL 
              AIRLINE EMPLOYEES.

    (a) Review.--The Director of the Office of Homeland Security shall 
conduct a review of the current air carrier employee criminal 
background check procedures.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Director shall transmit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report on the results of the review, including an analysis of current 
procedures and any details and recommendations that the Director may 
have concerning improving such procedures.

SEC. 4. FUNDING.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this Act, including the amendments made by this 
Act.

SEC. 5. ANNUAL REPORT.

    The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
transmit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate an annual report on the activities carried 
out under this Act.
                                 <all>