Pearce Measure Removed

WASHINGTON - Rep. Steve Pearce's effort to give legal protection to citizens who report suspicious people in airports is in jeopardy after House and Senate negotiators stripped the measure out of a House bill.

Pearce, a New Mexico Republican, introduced a bill this month to protect passengers targeted in a lawsuit filed this month by six Muslim imams in Minneapolis.

The imams sued the passengers after the passengers reported what they thought was suspicious behavior by the imams on a plane.

The House added Pearce's measure to a railroad funding bill. When the measure reached House and Senate negotiators, the Democrat-led conference committee removed it. Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., offered a similar amendment to an education bill on the Senate floor Thursday, but it failed.

"We announce in every airport to report suspicious behavior, and if you, in turn, can be sued for that, that's incredible," Pearce said Friday. "It's going to send a chill down the spine of the entire country and keep them from reporting this behavior."

Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., voted in support of Lieberman's unsuccessful amendment Thursday. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., voted against it.

"The public has been consistently asked to be more aware of their surroundings and to report suspicious behavior," Domenici said in a statement provided to the Journal. "It seems to me that they should have some assurance that their responsible vigilance will not land them legal troubles."

A Bingaman spokeswoman said Congress should be cautious about providing blanket immunity under any circumstance.

"Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., argued that the amendment was drafted in an overly broad manner and that the legislation should receive a hearing in his committee before being given further consideration," Bingaman said in a statement.