[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 138 (Monday, October 15, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S10694]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KENNEDY:
  S. 1544. A bill to direct the Secretary of Transportation to give 
certain workers who have lost their jobs as a result of the terrorist 
attacks of September 11, 2001, priority in hiring for aviation-related 
security positions; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President it's a privilege to introduce this bill to 
ensure that laid-off aviation industry workers receive first priority 
when the Federal Government and private security firms under Federal 
contracts hire new employees. Identical legislation was introduced last 
week in the House of Representatives by Representative Jane Harman of 
California, and I commend her for her leadership.
  Under our legislation, the Secretary of Transportation will develop 
regulations giving priority in such hiring for aviation-related 
security positions to qualified airline workers who were laid-off as a 
result of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
  Those attacks have had a devastating impact on large numbers of the 
men and women who work in aviation and related industries. Immense job 
losses have taken place. Since September 11, layoffs of more than 
140,000 aviation workers have been announced, and nearly 80,000 of 
those workers are already out of work. Clearly, Congress should do all 
it can to help the men and women in the industry who have lost their 
jobs. These workers should get preference for training and new 
employment opportunities.
  Last week, the Senate passed the aviation security bill that 
federalizes airport security, including 18,000 baggage screeners and 
10,000 other security-related positions. The bill that Representative 
Harman and I am sponsoring gives first priority in hiring for these 
airport security jobs to the thousands of men and women who were 
working in the aviation industry and at airports before September 11, 
and who have been laid off as a result of the terrorist attacks.
  The time to help these workers is now. We must help these workers get 
back to work. One of the most effective ways to do that is by giving 
preference to those who lost their jobs for these airport security 
positions. I urge my colleagues to help these dedicated men and women 
by supporting this important legislation.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.

                                S. 1544

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

     SECTION 1. PRIORITY IN HIRING.

       Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue regulations 
     directing that the Department of Transportation, agencies 
     within the Department, and private companies contracted to 
     provide aviation-related security shall give first priority 
     in hiring, for employment related to security at airports and 
     on aircraft operated by air carriers in air transportation 
     and intrastate air transportation, to individuals who--
       (1) were employed before September 11, 2001--
       (A) in a security-related position at an airport;
       (B) by an air carrier;
       (C) at a facility at, or immediately adjacent to, an 
     airport;
       (D) in providing transportation to or from an airport; or
       (E) in other employment directly related to commercial 
     aviation;
       (2) have been laid off, terminated, released, or otherwise 
     lost their jobs as a result of the terrorist attacks of 
     September 11, 2001; and
       (3) are qualified for those positions or for training 
     programs needed to qualify for those positions.
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