U.S. Senate Security Bill Irks White House

The U.S. Senate has passed a bill enacting many new security measures proposed by the Sept. 11 commission, but may face an anti-union White House veto.

The measure was adopted Tuesday by a 60-38 vote, and incorporates many of the commission’s recommendations, including emergency communications and better security for air cargo, ports, chemical plants and rail systems, the Washington Post reported Wednesday.

However, it also would grant granting collective bargaining rights to employees of the Transportation Security Administration, something the Bush administration has warned would draw a presidential veto, the New York Times said.

Administration officials have said unionized labor requirements would hurt the department’s scheduling and deployment flexibility in responding to terrorist threats.

The House passed its version of the bill in January, which does not allow for the unionization of TSA workers. Both of the bills carry price tags of about $20 billion over five years, and differences will be negotiated in an as-yet unscheduled conference committee, the newspapers said.