Neither the Department of Transportation nor the House Aviation Subcommittee responded to requests for comment. A major snowstorm was expected to hit Washington D.C. on Friday and many workers stayed home.

For air travelers, the department would also prohibit air passengers from keeping extra alkaline or rechargeable nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) batteries in their checked-in luggage. Those batteries are acceptable if they are inside the devices. They are also permitted inside or outside devices if stored in carry-on luggage.

The rule changes would also require electronics goods to be carried in cargo sections that either have fire suppression systems, or are accessible by the pilots in case of a fire. Kerchner said that is impractical and would lead to, in many cases, electronics goods piled right behind the cockpit.

While he acknowledged the department's figure of 40 air transport-related incidents since 1991 involving lithium batteries and devices powered by lithium batteries, Kerchner said it is a small number in the context of the in 2008 alone.

"What we've found is that when shippers are in full compliance, there have been no incidents," he said. "The industry has an excellent safety record."