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Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2005

Date: Dec. 7, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: National Security Transportation


SECURING AIRCRAFT COCKPITS AGAINST LASERS ACT OF 2005 -- (House of Representatives - December 07, 2005)

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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am a cosponsor of H.R. 1400, and I urge my colleagues to support it. The rash of incidents involving hand-held lasers have fueled a growing concern within the aviation industry. In fact, since November of November of 2004, airline pilots have reported over 100 incidents of lasers being aimed into their cockpits.

The potential harmful effects of such lasers is quite serious. The FAA research has shown that even some low-level lasers can temporarily disable and disorient a pilot during critical stages of flight. Needless to say, the results could be devastating.

Although I have some concern that when the bill is applied, it will likely involve some stupid or misguided young person fooling around with a laser beam, we all realize that the conduct the bill prohibits can be very dangerous, whether done by a fool or by a terrorist. So it must be strongly discouraged.

Since the bill does not have mandatory minimum sentencing, the Sentencing Commission and the courts can apply the appropriate punishment for violators based on specific facts and circumstances of the case.

After this bill is passed, as a further precautionary step, perhaps the appropriate committee of jurisdiction could also consider requiring manufactures of laser products to issue strong notices and warnings on lasers and packaging alerting them to the provisions of this law so that all will be on notice.

But for now I think this bill is an appropriate step for Congress to address this potentially disastrous problem. Mr. Speaker, I support the bill and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of the time.

Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to thank the gentleman from Florida and the gentleman from Wisconsin for bringing this bill forward. It makes it clear that endangering pilots and passengers with laser beams is illegal.

Whatever the law may be, this will make it absolutely clear. I would hope that the House will pass the bill so that the pilots and passengers can be protected.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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