US Congress passed an aviation bill Wednesday that attempts to close gaps in airport security and shorten screening lines, but leaves thornier issues unresolved, according to AP. The bill also extends the Federal Aviation Administration's programs for 14 months at current funding levels. It was approved in the Senate by a vote of 89 to 4. The House had passed the measure earlier in the week and it now goes to President Barack Obama, who must sign the bill by Friday when the FAA's current operating authority expires to avoid a partial agency shutdown. The bill authorizes a doubling of Transportation Security Administration teams that stop and search suspicious passengers in airport public areas that are outside the security perimeter, often using bomb-sniffing dogs. It also authorizes TSA to donate unneeded security equipment to foreign airports with direct flights to the United States, and directs TSA to reconfigure security systems at three to six airports, an initial step to increase efficiency and reduce vulnerabilities in terminals. The bill also seeks to expand enrollment in TSA's PreCheck program for low-risk travelers, and requires TSA to ensure PreCheck screening lanes are open during high-volume travel times. And it authorizes a trial program to develop and test more efficient passenger and luggage screening systems. The bill also includes several consumer protections. Airlines would have to refund checked bag fees to passengers whose luggage is lost or is delayed 12 hours or more for domestic flights or 15 hours or more for overseas flights.
