[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 4166]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        FAA REAUTHORIZATION BILL

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, whether traveling for business or 
leisure, American passengers want to feel safe and informed when 
flying. They also want to feel assured that in light of recent terror 
attacks, more is being done in our airports and in our skies. Chairman 
Thune knows this, and that is why he has worked attentively with 
Members from both sides to put forth this bipartisan FAA 
reauthorization and security bill. I appreciate his work with the 
Aviation Subcommittee chair, Senator Ayotte, and their counterparts, 
Senator Nelson and Senator Cantwell, to move this important bill 
forward.
  There are several good security measures included in the bill, such 
as increased efforts to prevent cyber security risks and efforts to 
help better prepare us when it comes to communicable diseases. But 
these Senators didn't stop there; they worked to include additional 
safety measures in an amendment that passed by a bipartisan majority.
  Here is what we know the amendment will do: It will help prevent the 
``inside threat'' of terrorism by enhancing inspections and vetting of 
airport employees. It will require a review of perimeter security. It 
will also improve various efforts to secure international flights 
coming into our airports.
  In addition to these steps designed to ramp up security, we also 
adopted an amendment from Senator Heinrich that would increase security 
in prescreening areas which could be vulnerable to terror attacks. And 
Senators Toomey and Casey have worked tirelessly to get the Senate to 
pass an amendment addressing the security of cockpit doors.
  These three amendments, put forth by Republicans and Democrats, 
emphasize the bipartisan nature of this issue and of this bipartisan 
FAA reauthorization and security bill.
  Nearly 60 amendments from both sides were accepted in committee, and 
more than a dozen from both sides were accepted here on the floor. I 
encourage Members to continue working across the aisle to move this 
bill forward.
  As the chairman reminded us yesterday, this bill contains the most 
comprehensive set of aviation security reforms in years. So let's take 
the next step in passing this legislation and getting it one step 
closer to becoming law.

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