Pilots, Classmate of 9-11 Pilot, and 103 Congressmen Urge Senate to Arm Pilots

Rep. Joe Wilson, R-SC, joined pilots representing the Airline Pilots' Security Alliance, Allied Pilots Association and Pilots Association International to urge immediate Senate action on bipartisan arming pilots legislation that passed the House of Representatives overwhelmingly July 10th by a margin of 310-113. The bill, H.R. 4635 the Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act, has been placed on the Senate Calendar, but Majority Leader Daschle has not moved it to a floor vote."It makes no sense for the Senate to delay arming pilots any longer. The public has affirmed time and time again that they want pilots armed to protect and defend against terrorist attacks," said Rep. Wilson at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport news conference. "The pilots support this measure as does over two-thirds of the House. Everyone is in agreement that this is a commonsense solution. What are we waiting for?""It is time for the Senator Daschle to move forward on this lifesaving legislation. Give those aboard our planes a fighting chance," said Rep. Wilson.Rep. Wilson released a letter he spearheaded calling for Senate action signed by Transportation Committee Chairman Don Young, R-AK, and Aviation Subcommittee Chairman John Mica, R-FL with 101 other Republican and Democratic House members.Don Jenkins, close friend and Naval Academy classmate of Captain Chuck (Chic) Burlingame, also joined Rep. Wilson. Captain Burlingame was piloting the American Airlines flight that crashed into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001."Chic, like most commercial pilots, had served in the military and I firmly believe that he and the people aboard Flight 77 would be with us today had he been armed on September 11," said Don Jenkins. "We know that there are terrorists out there right now plotting to commit evil acts again. We can't allow those aboard our planes to be sitting ducks any longer.""Further delay continues to place Americans, in the air and on the ground, at risk," said pilot Leon Laylagian, speaking on behalf of the Independent Pilots Association and the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations.###https://www.house.gov/joewilsonBelow is the text of a letter sent to the Senate:Yesterday, the House passed the "Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act," (H.R. 4635. This bill has strong bipartisan support and is supported by numerous organizations. We urge you to take the necessary steps to pass this legislation and make airline travel safe for all Americans.Currently, Senator Bob Smith has introduced the "Arming Pilots Against Terrorism and Cabin Defense Act of 2002," (S. 2554). We believe it is time for the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to hold a hearing on this bill. In the alternative, H.R. 4635 should be placed on the Senate Calendar and brought to the Senate Floor for action.These proposed actions would demonstrate conclusively to the American people that the U.S. Congress is sincere about protecting their safety. Airline pilots are the last line of defense in protecting innocent civilians from the actions of murderous terrorists.It is time for the Senate to take action and protect the American people.Signed by the following members of Congress:Don YoungJohn L. MicaJoe WilsonRobin HayesGeorge R. Nethercutt, Jr.Ron Paul Cliff StearnsJ.D. HayworthPhilip M. CraneRoscoe G. BartlettLindsey O. GrahamJames V. HansenMark R. KennedyJohn T. DoolittleW. Todd AkinJohn A. BoehnerCharles F. BassEric CantorEd BryantJohn J. Duncan, Jr.Lee TerryJohn CookseyJohn BoozmanJerry MoranBrian D. KernsBob BarrPhil EnglishHoward CobleDavid VitterTimothy V. JohnsonMark FoleyJoe BartonSam GravesPaul RyanCass BallengerEdward R. RoyceRic KellerJerry WellerE. Clay Shaw, Jr.Don SherwoodRon KindJoel HefleyRandy J. ForbesC.L. "Butch" OtterJohn SullivanVan HillearyJack KingstonEric CantorJohn HostettlerDave WeldonJohn E. SununuSteve ChabotPatrick J. TiberiGil GutknechtSam JohnsonJo Ann DavisRobert W. NeySue W. KellyDoc HastingsTodd TiahrtRonnie ShowsSaxby ChamblissJ.C. Watts, Jr.Tom DeLayHenry E. Brown, Jr.Jim DeMintJim RyunMike PenceWalter B. JonesPatrick J. ToomeyErnest J. Istook, Jr.John Abney CulbersonJeff FlakeSue Wilkins MyrickMelissa A. HartEdward L. SchrockCurt WeldonBob SchafferJeff MillerPete SessionsDennis R. RehbergBill ShusterJames A. BarciaPeter A. DeFazioAnder CrenshawBob ClementMike RogersBarbara CubinGene GreenVirgil H. Goode, Jr.Darrell E. IssaSteve BuyerMichael R. McNultyDonald A. ManzulloMike RossBob RileyJohn E. SweeneyRon LewisRichard PomboTom TancredoBrian D. KernsJohn B. ShadeggChris Cannon