House lawmakers are preparing legislation responding to the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission report regarding aviation security. While the report criticized Congress for overspending on aviation security, to the detriment of other modes of transportation, it advised that airports be equipped with explosive detection devices. While baggage must be checked for explosives by law, airports have had difficulty acquiring the screening machines. The Transportation Security Administration has allocated $720 million to purchase the machines, whereas the estimated cost to supply all airports is $5 billion. Lawmakers involved are considering a variety of funding mechanisms, such as lease-backs and debt financing. Many airports have purchased the machines with their own funds, banking on a later reimbursement from the federal government.

Also on the plate for the Aviation Committee members are a set of recommendations from the commission regarding biometric identification, such as eye and fingerprint scanning, on passports and other identification documents. Use of such technology is highly controversial. The Aviation Committee is expected to only go as far as urging the Homeland Security Department to develop standards for biometric identification cards. Last month, the State Department sparked a debate when they chose to include facial recognition technology instead of fingerprinting for all future passports.