Cargo act. (Americas).(US Senate committee approved a bill designed to reduce the risk to air transport from unsafe airline cargo)(Brief Article)

Airports International, June, 2003

A US SENATE committee has approved a bill designed to reduce the risk to air transport from unsafe airline cargo. The Air Cargo Security Act would require the federal Transportation Security Agency (TSA) to draw up a strategic plan for the inspection and screening of cargo and facilities. The bill, which fills in some of the gaps from earlier bills which focused on passenger security, calls for a database of shippers, potential penalties to non-compliant indirect carriers and training plans for both the TSA and air cargo carriers.

The bill, passed by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, is now ready for full Senate consideration. (PF)