Federal Pilot Officer Act of 2001

Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Oct 25, 2001

Federal Pilot Officer Act of 2001 - Declares that no Federal agency shall prohibit a pilot, copilot, or flight engineer of a commercial aircraft, or any qualified law enforcement personnel specifically detailed for the protection of such aircraft, from carrying a firearm. Directs the Attorney General to establish a program to select, certify, train, and supervise qualified volunteer pilots, copilots, and flight engineers who shall be deputized as Federal pilot officers responsible for defending the lives of individuals in the cockpit of a commercial aircraft.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Barton, Joe [R-TX-6] · R–TX

Committees

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Rep. Barr, Bob [R-GA-7]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Oct 26, 2001
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
Oct 25, 2001
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Oct 25, 2001
Introduced in House
Oct 25, 2001
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Oct 25, 2001 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 19, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.3171 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3171, 107th Congress: Federal Pilot Officer Act of 2001

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/house-bill/3171

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2001-10-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/hr3171/BILLS-107hr3171ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-19T17:30:42Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.3171 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.3171 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3171, 107th Congress: Federal Pilot Officer Act of 2001

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/house-bill/3171

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2001-10-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/hr3171/BILLS-107hr3171ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-19T17:30:42Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3171 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.3171 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3171, 107th Congress: Federal Pilot Officer Act of 2001

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/house-bill/3171

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2001-10-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/hr3171/BILLS-107hr3171ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-19T17:30:42Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3171 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.3171 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3171, 107th Congress: Federal Pilot Officer Act of 2001

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/house-bill/3171

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2001-10-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/hr3171/BILLS-107hr3171ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-19T17:30:42Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3171 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.