John Conyers: “Mr. Speaker, the manager's amendment should be opposed and we should support the Democratic substitute, because the…”

“Mr. Speaker, the manager's amendment should be opposed and we should support the Democratic substitute, because the limits on legal liability here are a little bit amazing. Legislation designed to enhance airport security would end up harming victims and rewarding the very firms whose negligence has contributed to the September 11 terrorist attacks. Mr. Speaker, the amendment does this by providing liability relief to any person liable for any damages arising out of the September 11 hijacking. What does that mean? The baggage screening firms would be protected from liability if they hired incompetent employees or deliberately failed to check for weapons. Where is the justice in that? I urge Members to consider liability provisions that go far beyond the protections included in the airline bailout bill we passed.”