In a victory for House Democrats and the Senate, Congress passed a compromise air-safety bill today calling for the federalization of all 28,000 baggage screeners currently employed by private security companies. The bill---which Bush has praised and intends to sign on Monday---calls for all baggage screeners to come under the supervision of the Department of Transportation within the next year, and remain under federal control for at least three years. At the end of the three year period, airports that have rigorously followed the safety regulations of the DOT will be allowed to contract with private airport security companies.
See "Congress passes aviation security bill", Associated Press, USA Today, November 15, 2001