[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 162 (Monday, November 10, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S14378]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ARMING OF CARGO PILOTS

  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of Calendar No. 293, S. 1657.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1657) to amend section 44921 of title 49, United 
     States Code, to provide for the arming of cargo pilots 
     against terrorism.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. FRIST. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the bill be read 
the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, and any statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 1657) was read the third time and passed, as follows:
  The bill (S. 1657) to amend section 44921 of title 49, United States 
Code, to provide for the arming of cargo pilots against terrorism, was 
considered, ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, read the third 
time, and passed; as follows:

                                S. 1657

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

     SECTION 1. ARMING CARGO PILOTS AGAINST TERRORISM.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     members of a flight deck crew of a cargo aircraft should be 
     armed with a firearm and taser to defend the cargo aircraft 
     against an attack by terrorists that could result in the use 
     of the aircraft as a weapon of mass destruction or for other 
     terrorist purposes.
       (b) Arming Cargo Pilots Against Terrorism.--Section 44921 
     of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a) by striking ``passenger'' each place 
     that it appears;
       (2) in subsection (k)(2) by striking ``flight or,'' and all 
     that follows through ``command'' and inserting ``flight or 
     any other flight deck crew member''; and
       (3) by adding at the end of subsection (k) the following:
       ``(3) All-cargo air transportation.--In this section, the 
     term `air transportation' includes all-cargo air 
     transportation.''.
       (c) Time for Implementation.--In carrying out the 
     amendments made by subsection (b), the Under Secretary for 
     Border and Transportation Security of the Department of 
     Homeland Security shall ensure that pilots of both passenger 
     and cargo aircraft are treated equitably in receiving access 
     to training as Federal flight deck officers.
       (d) Effect on Other Laws.--The requirements of subsection 
     (c) shall have no effect on the deadlines for implementation 
     contained in section 44921 of title 49, United States Code, 
     as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this 
     Act.

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