Senate may ease some bag deadlines

TSA estimates 21 to 35 airports need more time

An airport police officer, Paul Stanton, checks out unclaimed baggage with his partner Kootsos at Salt Lake International Airport in Utah.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- As many as 40 airports may be granted more time to meet a requirement that they use bomb detection machines to screen bags. The airports had complained they cannot be ready by the current December 31 deadline.

Sen. Ernest Hollings, Democrat of South Carolina and chairman of the Commerce Committee, introduced legislation late Tuesday giving the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) greater flexibility to meet the requirement.

The legislation "maintains the highest possible sense of urgency and the highest level of accountability," said Hollings spokesman Andy Davis. He said airports would not get a blanket extension of the deadline.

The airports that are allowed more time would still have to screen all checked baggage by December 31, but they would be allowed to use bomb-sniffing dogs and hand searches of luggage to get the job done until bomb-detection equipment is in place.

Various problems have led 133 airports to say the December 31 deadline is unrealistic.

Progress reports for Congress

Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport has begun the transition to federal screeners this week. Here, Stephanie Bryant, right, watches a monitor as trainee Sherry Bass assists a passenger.

The TSA would choose which airports get an extension. TSA chief James Loy has estimated 21 to 35 airports will need more time.

The TSA would be required to report the airports' progress every 30 days to Congress.

The bill is to come before the Senate Commerce Committee for a vote Thursday.

The measure, a compromise between members of the Senate and the TSA, would also tighten air cargo security by establishing an inspection program and increasing inspections of air cargo shippers, provide training for passenger ID recognition, and make it a federal offense to circumvent airport security checkpoints.

A conviction would be punishable by no more than 10 years in prison and a fine.

The legislation also requires the TSA and Federal Aviation Administration to make recommendations on the use of blast-resistant containers in the cargo holds of passenger airplanes.

Hollings hopes to work out a compromise with the House, which has passed several airport security measures, including an extension of the baggage screening deadline, Davis said.