On the recordFebruary 3, 2011
Mr. President, this is an enormously important amendment. To be quite truthful, I think Senator Whitehouse would have been satisfied with just having it accepted by both sides, which it would have been. I said: Please bring it to a vote. This is a national security threat. The technology is going to get much better. He spoke about the pilot who was temporarily blinded, whose corneas were affected. As the technology increases, it is going to blind pilots permanently. Maybe if they are accurate, they can get both the pilot and the copilot. All of this will take place around airports where there is obviously room to sight in on these people taking off and landing, particularly landing, I would think. It is absolutely a threat, and the numbers in the last 2 years absolutely prove it. I wish to emphasize, yes; this is on a Federal aviation bill, but it could be on an Armed Services Committee bill. It could be on an Intelligence Committee bill. It could be on a Homeland Security Committee bill. It is a very powerful vote because there will be a future for terrorists in this business, so the criminal penalties have to be established. The Whitehouse amendment, which I strongly support, does that. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Texas.
