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Bush Signs Aviation Security Bill into Law
WASHINGTON, Nov 19 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Nine weeks after the devastating September 11 hijack attacks, President George W. Bush on Monday signed an aviation security bill into law to boost U.S. confidence in the battered industry by placing federal government employees on planes and in airports.
The law "should give all Americans greater confidence when they fly," said Bush as he signed the legislation, flanked by Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta and members of the U.S. Congress.
In a transition to take place over the next year, federal funds will be provided for federal air marshals and a security force - "made up of U.S. citizens" - who will be fully answerable to the new undersecretary.
Strict new requirements for screening checked baggage follow enhanced checking of passengers and carry-on bags by "a new team of federal security managers, supervisors, law enforcement officers and screeners."
The bill also allows local authorities to bring in "outside experts… provided those outside experts can meet our rigorous new safety standards and requirements."
The roughly 28,000 private security screening employees are to be gradually replaced over the next 12 months by federal baggage screeners who must be U.S. nationals and are not permitted to go on strike.
The president expressed his gratitude to members of Congress and the Senate for their support, also extending it towards the pilots, flight attendants and others from the airline industry who attended the signing.
"I want to thank you for your courage in the face of terror," he said. "I want thank you for inspiring confidence amongst the American people."
Bush said that the wide support for the new bill proved the unity among Americans through this crisis.
"We have our political differences, but we're united to defend our country, and we're united to protect our people," he said. "For our airways, there is one supreme priority: security."
Lax security at U.S. airports, evidenced by the ease with which 19 terrorists were able to hijack four commercial aircraft on September 11, spurred lawmakers to demand the federal government take things in hand.
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