[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 167 (Wednesday, December 21, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S14417]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         SECURING AIRCRAFT COCKPITS AGAINST LASERS ACT OF 2005

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 1400, which was received 
from the House.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 1400) to amend title 18, United States Code, 
     to provide penalties for aiming laser pointers at airplanes, 
     and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the amendment at the desk be 
agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, the 
motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements 
relating to the bill be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 2695) was agreed to, as follows:

(Purpose: To provide exceptions for FAA research, Department of Defense 
        activities, and use of signaling devices in emergencies)

       Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. PROHIBITION AGAINST INTERFERING WITH FLIGHT CREWS 
                   THROUGH USE OF LASER POINTERS OR SIMILAR 
                   DEVICES.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 465 of title 49, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec. 46508. Interference with flight crew vision

       ``(a) In General.--An individual who interferes with, or 
     attempts to interfere with, the ability of the flight crew of 
     an aircraft in flight to see, or otherwise to impair the safe 
     operation of an aircraft in flight, by illuminating the 
     aircraft with a laser pointer or similar device shall be 
     fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, 
     or both.
       ``(b) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) does not apply to the 
     illumination of aircraft by laser or other devices by--
       ``(1) an authorized individual in the conduct of research 
     and development or flight test operations conducted by an 
     aircraft manufacturer, the Federal Aviation Administration, 
     or any other person authorized by the Federal Aviation 
     Administration to conduct such research and development or 
     flight test operations;
       ``(2) members or elements of the Department of Defense 
     acting in an official capacity for the purpose of research, 
     development, operations, testing or training; or
       ``(3) by an individual using a laser emergency signaling 
     device to send an emergency distress signal.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--The chapter analysis for chapter 
     465 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
     the end the following:

``46508. Interference with flight crew vision.''.

  The bill (H.R. 1400), as amended, was read the third time and passed.

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