S.Amdt. 4693

SA 4693. Mr. BUNNING submitted, under authority of the order of the Senate of May 2, 2008, an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 2881, to amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for the Federal Aviation Administration for fiscal years 2008 through 2011, to improve aviation safety and capacity, to provide stable funding for the national aviation system, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place, insert the following:

SECTION __. FEDERAL FLIGHT DECK OFFICERS.

Section 44921 is amended--

(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

“(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish a Federal flight deck officer program to deputize eligible pilots as Federal law enforcement officers to defend against acts of criminal violence and air piracy. Such deputized pilots shall be known as ‘Federal flight deck officers'.”; and

(2) by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:

“(f) Authority to Carry Firearms.--

“(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall authorize Federal flight deck officers to purchase and carry a firearm on the officer's person in any State and between States, in accordance with this section.

“(2) Authority.--A Federal flight deck officer shall have the same authority to carry a firearm as the authority granted to other Federal law enforcement officers under Federal law.

“(3) Procedures.--The operational procedures relating to carrying firearms applicable to Federal flight deck officers may not be more restrictive than the procedures that are generally imposed on other Federal law enforcement officers who are legally authorized to carry a firearm.

“(4) Locked devices.--

“(A) No requirement to use.--Federal flight deck officers may not be required to carry or transport a firearm in a locked bag, box, holster, or any other device.

“(B) Requirement to provide.--Upon the request of a Federal flight deck officer, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide a secure locking device or other appropriate container for storage of a firearm by the Federal flight deck officer.

“(5) Training.--

“(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), Federal flight deck officers may not be required to complete any additional training beyond the training required of such officers as the date of the enactment of the Aviation Investment and Modernization Act of 2008.

“(B) On-line training.--The Secretary of Homeland Security may require Federal flight deck officers to complete additional web-based online training.”.