[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3171 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3171

     To direct the Attorney General to establish a program for the 
    certification of Federal pilot officers, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 25, 2001

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To direct the Attorney General to establish a program for the 
    certification of Federal pilot officers, 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 ``Federal Pilot Officer Act of 2001''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked 4 civilian 
        aircraft, crashing 2 of the aircraft into the towers of the 
        World Trade Center in New York, New York, and a third aircraft 
        into the Pentagon outside of the 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 4 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 the Nation and weaken its resolve.
            (5) Armed pilots, copilots, and flight engineers with 
        proper training will be the last line of defense against 
        terrorists by providing cockpit security and aircraft security.
            (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; SUPPRESSION OF TERRORISM ON COMMERCIAL 
              AIRCRAFT.

    (a) Possession of Firearms on Commercial Flights.--No Federal 
department or agency may prohibit a pilot, copilot, or flight engineer 
of a commercial aircraft who has successfully completed the 
requirements of subsection (b), or any qualified 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) Federal Pilot Officers.--
            (1) Establishment of program.--The Attorney General shall 
        establish a program to select, certify, train, and supervise 
        qualified volunteer pilots, copilots, and flight engineers who 
        shall be deputized as Federal pilot officers. Officers 
        certified under the program shall be responsible for defending 
        the lives of the individuals in the cockpit of a commercial 
        aircraft.
            (2) Training and supervision; background and fitness 
        examinations.--Under the program, the Attorney General shall 
        provide appropriate training and supervision of all Federal 
        pilot officers, as well as appropriate background and fitness 
        examinations of eligible candidates, as part of their 
        certification.
            (3) Limitation on authority.--The authority granted to a 
        Federal pilot officer shall be limited to enforcing Federal law 
        in the cockpit of a commercial aircraft, as necessary to defend 
        the aircraft.
            (4) Requests for training.--The Attorney General shall 
        provide appropriate training to any pilot, copilot, or flight 
        engineer that requests training pursuant to this subsection.
    (c) Regulations.--The Attorney General may prescribe regulations to 
carry out this section.
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