Arlen Specter: “the second-degree amendment proposed by the Senator from Mississippi is an improvement over where the record stands at…”

“the second-degree amendment proposed by the Senator from Mississippi is an improvement over where the record stands at the present time, however, I think it does not go far enough. When he states that he does not know the consequences of my amendment, I would disagree with him. The amendment provides that there will be standards on the level of inspection, which are of the same type as now promulgated by the Federal Aviation Administration. So if you have that level of inspection, which they have now, there is no question as to its not being onerous, or at least if it is onerous, it is onerous now, however, it is the same. We should have drug and alcohol testing as a very minimal requirement so we know specifically what is involved there. We know people who are drug addicts or who are unduly influenced by alcohol to be carrying on these inspections. When it comes to the third factor, security, the amendment I have proposed calls for ensuring the security of maintenance and repair work conducted on U.S. aircraft and components at foreign repair stations by the Under Secretary in consultation with the Administrator. Those security arrangements are going to be determined by the Department of Transportation. We certainly can rely on them. I think the issue has been joined. I think we understand what is involved. I ask for the yeas and nays on the pending amendment.”