WASHINGTON — The federal government should consider taking control of passenger screening and security and approving other steps to protect the airline industry from another devastating terrorist attack, Tristate lawmakers said Tuesday.

        “I am concerned that the government is not doing everything it can to ensure the safety of air travel,” said Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, who participated in a Senate hearing on airport security. “We need to determine whether allowing airports and airlines to be responsible for such a critical piece of our national security is appropriate in light of these recent acts of terrorism.”

        Also Tuesday, the Air Line Pilots Association urged lawmakers to consider allowing pilots to be armed to defend against hijackers.

        Sens. Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning, both Kentucky Republicans, said they would be open to pilots carrying weapons.

        “I'm no expert on this, but I'm told there are bullets that are tough on people but don't go through the sides of planes, which is a concern,” Mr. McConnell said.

        Mr. McConnell has proposed a bill that would federalize airport security “from the curbside in to the cockpit.”

        “That may or may not involve making all the employees federal employees, but certainly at the very least it will involve federal standards and federal training,” Mr. McConnell said, adding that costs would be shared with local governments and airlines.

        Both senators also said the public should not worry about their civil liberties being diminished from the increased security. “I don't think the Congress of the United States will allow that to happen,” Mr. Bunning said.

        Mr. McConnell said he would call the heightened security measures “an inconvenience, not a loss of freedom.”

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