U.S. may miss bag-screening deadline

From Jeanne Meserve
CNN Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The screening of all checked baggage for explosives was a key provision of the aviation security bill signed just last week by President Bush.

But now the president's own transportation secretary, Norman Mineta, says it won't happen on time.

"The law says that we have to start screening baggage in 60 days. There aren't enough people, there aren't enough bomb-sniffing dogs, to be able to do the job," he said this week.

Mineta said no one told him the dogs could only work for an hour at a stretch.

There also is a problem getting enough of the sophisticated machines that screen for explosives, although the administration is exploring licensing new manufacturers in order to meet another deadline -- that all baggage will be machine-scanned by the end of 2002.

Meanwhile, the administration insists it will screen as many bags as possible.

VIDEO CNN's Jeanne Meserve reports the revelation that airport security measures may not be in place as soon as expected has drawn criticism (November 28) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

"Congress gave a very tight, 60-day deadline and the administration is going to do everything it can to comply with it," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said.

Mineta's comments brought howls from members of Congress, including the Republican who sponsored the baggage-screening provision.

"I think it is way premature for the secretary to say he cannot meet a deadline. We gave him a lot of ways to do it, and what we are looking for is a sincere try," said Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas.

Democratic leader Tom Daschle questioned the impact on the traveling public.

"It doesn't serve our confidence level to know that simply a week or so after we've passed the bill we're told the administration can't comply," Daschle said.

But many in the airline industry say the deadline for screening checked baggage was unrealistic.

"Congress was not aware of what needed to be done. No one could have met those deadlines," said David Stempler of the Air Travelers Association.

One way bags could be checked for bombs involves hand inspections by the National Guard. But that would guarantee long delays at airports, which wouldn't please the traveling public, either.