Hardened Containers for Air Cargo Security Act of 2004

This bill would require the Department of Homeland Security to create a pilot program testing the use of "hardened" blast-resistant containers for carrying luggage and cargo on passenger airplanes. The goal of the program is to evaluate whether these reinforced containers can effectively minimize the damage caused if an explosive device were to detonate inside a plane's cargo hold. To encourage participation, the government would provide airlines with the specialized containers and financial assistance to offset the extra costs of using them, such as increased fuel consumption due to the added weight.