The Senate last week passed a bill on aviation security that would require the Transportation Security Administration to develop a “standardized threat and vulnerability assessment program” for general aviation airports within one year. If the bill becomes law, the TSA would also be directed to consider providing grants to GA airports for security upgrades. The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) said it likes the idea of federal grants for security upgrades, but it worries that the TSA will impose new rules on GA airports without the funding to pay for them. Similar legislation was passed by the House earlier this year. The two versions now must be reconciled and then go to the White House. President Bush has threatened to veto the legislation if the final version allows TSA screeners to unionize, which the Senate bill does. NATA said if that happens, Congress is not likely to override the veto and the bill would die.
