[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4056 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4056

    To encourage the establishment of both long-term and short-term 
  programs to address the threat of man-portable air defense systems 
                   (MANPADS) to commercial aviation.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 30, 2004

  Mr. Mica (for himself, Mr. DeFazio, and Mr. Israel) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 
 and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on International 
 Relations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 
 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
                jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To encourage the establishment of both long-term and short-term 
  programs to address the threat of man-portable air defense systems 
                   (MANPADS) to commercial aviation.

    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 ``Commercial Aviation MANPADS Defense 
Act of 2004''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) MANPADS constitute a threat to military and civilian 
        aircraft.
            (2) The threat posed by MANPADS requires the development of 
        both short-term and long-term plans.
            (3) The threat posed by MANPADS requires an international 
        as well as domestic response.
            (4) There should be an international effort to address the 
        issues of MANPADS proliferation and defense.
            (5) The Government is pursuing and should continue to 
        pursue diplomatic efforts to prevent the proliferation of 
        MANPADS.

SEC. 3. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVE EFFORTS.

    (a) To Limit Availability and Transfer of MANPADS.--The President 
is encouraged to pursue further strong international diplomatic and 
cooperative efforts, including bilateral and multilateral treaties, in 
the appropriate forum to limit the availability, transfer, and 
proliferation of MANPADS worldwide.
    (b) To Achieve Destruction of MANPADS.--The President should 
continue to pursue further strong international diplomatic and 
cooperative efforts, including bilateral and multilateral treaties, in 
the appropriate forum to assure the destruction of excess, obsolete, 
and illicit stocks of MANPADS worldwide.
    (c) Reporting and Briefing Requirements.--Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall transmit 
to the appropriate congressional committees a report that contains a 
detailed description of the status of diplomatic efforts under 
subsections (a) and (b). Annually thereafter until completion of such 
diplomatic efforts, the Secretary of State shall brief the appropriate 
congressional committees on the status of such diplomatic efforts.

SEC. 4. FAA AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATION OF MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEMS FOR 
              COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
shall establish a process for conducting airworthiness and safety 
certification of missile defense systems for commercial aircraft.
    (b) Certification Acceptance.--Under the process, the Administrator 
shall accept the certification of the Department of Homeland Security 
that a missile defense system is effective and does not pose a danger 
when used to defend commercial aircraft against MANPADS.
    (c) Expeditious Certification.--Under the process, the 
Administrator shall expedite the airworthiness and safety certification 
of missile defense systems for commercial aircraft.
    (d) Reports.--Not later than 180 days after the initiation of 
certification procedures for missile defense systems for commercial 
aircraft, and every 6 months thereafter until complete, 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 a 
report that contains a detailed description of the status of 
airworthiness and safety certification.

SEC. 5. PROGRAMS TO REDUCE MANPADS.

    (a) In General.--The President is encouraged to pursue strong 
programs to reduce the number of MANPADS worldwide so that fewer 
MANPADS will be available for trade, proliferation, and sale.
    (b) Reporting and Briefing Requirements.--Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall transmit 
to the appropriate congressional committees a report that contains a 
detailed description of the status of the programs being pursued under 
subsection (a). Annually thereafter until the programs are no longer 
needed, the Secretary of State shall brief the appropriate 
congressional committees on the status of programs.
    (c) Funding.--There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as 
may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 6. MANPADS VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS REPORT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security 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 describing the Department of 
Homeland Security's plans to secure airports and the aircraft arriving 
and departing from airports against MANPADS attacks.
    (b) Matters to Be Addressed.--The Secretary's report shall address, 
at a minimum, the following:
            (1) The status of the Department's efforts to conduct 
        MANPADS vulnerability assessments at United States airports at 
        which the Department is conducting assessments.
            (2) How intelligence is shared between the United States 
        intelligence agencies and Federal, State, and local law 
        enforcement to address the MANPADS threat and potential ways to 
        improve such intelligence sharing.
            (3) Contingency plans that the Department has developed in 
        the event that it receives intelligence indicating a high 
        threat of MANPADS attack on aircraft at or near United States 
        airports.
            (4) The feasibility and effectiveness of implementing 
        public education and neighborhood watch programs in areas 
        surrounding United States airports in cases in which 
        intelligence reports indicate there is a high risk of MANPADS 
        attacks on aircraft.
            (5) Any other issues that the Secretary deems relevant.
    (c) Format.--The report required by this section may be submitted 
in a classified format.

SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act, the following definitions apply:
            (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee 
                on International Relations, and the Committee on 
                Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
                Representatives; and
                    (B) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee 
                on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Commerce, 
                Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
            (2) MANPADS.--The term ``MANPADS'' means man-portable air 
        defense systems, which are shoulder-fired, surface-to-air 
        missile systems that can be carried and transported by a 
        person.
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