House, Senate aides scramble on aviation security measures

While members of a conference committee have yet to be appointed, House and Senate Transportation committee aides were scrambling to set up a meeting today to begin reconciling the differences between the House and Senate aviation security bills.

The bills are similar in several respects--such as improving the security of cockpit doors and hiring more air marshals--but they differ dramatically over whether airport screeners should become federal employees.

Senate Commerce Chairman Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., a key author of the Senate bill, which would federalize workers, said finding middle ground on the issue would be difficult.

"How do you do half of it?" he asked Monday.

The House bill also contains controversial provisions to limit the liability of property owners or manufacturers who might be sued as a result of the Sept. 11 attacks, although it is unclear how hard that issue will be pushed in conference.

"We'll have to gauge how important an issue it is," a Republican aide said.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., said he would appoint conferees today, and Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said he would name Senate conferees shortly.