The publication is reproduced in full below:
SECURITY SCREENING DURING COVID-19 ACT
Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1877) to require the Transportation Security Administration to issue a plan to improve security screening procedures at airports during the COVID-19 national emergency, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1877
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Security Screening During COVID-19 Act''.
SEC. 2. PLAN.
(a)In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in coordination with the Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Homeland Security, and in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall issue and commence implementing a plan to enhance, as appropriate, security operations at airports during the COVID-19 national emergency in order to reduce risk of the spread of the coronavirus at passenger screening checkpoints and among the TSA workforce.
(b)Contents.--The plan required under subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1) An identification of best practices developed in response to the coronavirus among foreign governments, airports, and air carriers conducting aviation security screening operations, as well as among Federal agencies conducting similar security screening operations outside of airports, including in locations where the spread of the coronavirus has been successfully contained, that could be further integrated into the United States aviation security system.
(2) Specific operational changes to aviation security screening operations informed by the identification of best practices under paragraph (1) that could be implemented without degrading aviation security and a corresponding timeline and costs for implementing such changes.
(c)Considerations.--In carrying out the identification of best practices under subsection
(b), the Administrator shall take into consideration the following:
(1) Aviation security screening procedures and practices in place at security screening locations, including procedures and practices implemented in response to the coronavirus.
(2) Volume and average wait times at each such security screening location.
(3) Public health measures already in place at each such security screening location.
(4) The feasibility and effectiveness of implementing similar procedures and practices in locations where such are not already in place.
(5) The feasibility and potential benefits to security, public health, and travel facilitation of continuing any procedures and practices implemented in response to the COVID-19 national emergency beyond the end of such emergency.
(d)Consultation.--In developing the plan required under subsection (a), the Administrator may consult with public and private stakeholders and the TSA workforce, including through the labor organization certified as the exclusive representative of full- and part-time non-supervisory TSA personnel carrying out screening functions under section 44901 of title 49, U.S. Code.
(e)Submission.--Upon issuance of the plan required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall submit the plan to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
(f)Issuance and Implementation.--The Administrator shall not be required to issue or implement, as the case may be, the plan required under subsection (a) upon the termination of the COVID-19 national emergency except to the extent the Administrator determines such issuance or implementation, as the case may be, to be feasible and beneficial to security screening operations.
(g)GAO Review.--Not later than one year after the issuance of the plan required under subsection (a) (if such plan is issued in accordance with subsection (f)), the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a review, if appropriate, of such plan and any efforts to implement such plan.
(h)Definitions.--In this section:
(1)Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.
(2)Coronavirus.--The term ``coronavirus'' has the meaning given such term in section 506 of the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116-123).
(3)COVID-19 national emergency.--The term ``COVID-19 national emergency'' means the national emergency declared by the President under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) on March 13, 2020, with respect to the coronavirus.
(4)Public and private stakeholders.--The term ``public and private stakeholders'' has the meaning given such term in section 114(t)(1)(C) of title 49, United States Code.
(5)TSA.--The term ``TSA'' means the Transportation Security Administration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Barragan) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Katko) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
General Leave
Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from California?
There was no objection.
Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1877, the Security Screening During COVID-19 Act.
This legislation, introduced by my colleague from Missouri (Mr. Cleaver), directs the Transportation Security Administration to issue a plan to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus at passenger screening checkpoints and among the TSA workforce.
To date, over 8,200 TSA employees have tested positive for the coronavirus, and tragically, 17 workers have died from the disease.
As Americans begin to travel again, we must take steps to guarantee the safety of critical frontline workers and air passengers from the dangers posed by the virus, including the delta variant and other variants that could come our way.
Under H.R. 1877, the TSA Administrator would coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security's Chief Medical Officer, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the CDC to develop a plan that identifies best practices among foreign governments, airports, air carriers, and other Federal agencies regarding COVID-19. Together, they will pinpoint specific operational challenges that TSA can make to further reduce the spread of the coronavirus at airports across the Nation, building on the actions TSA has taken over the past year.
COVID-19 has made it clear that public health is a global issue that requires a global response. That is why the United States must work with our international partners on how best to stop the spread of disease in transportation security settings, end this pandemic, and prevent future outbreaks.
TSA routinely participates in the international exchange of information to enhance global aviation security, share its expertise, and reduce threats across the globe.
Given the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic to today's air travel environment, TSA must capitalize on its international partnerships to identify new ways to enhance its security operations and contain this virus. H.R. 1877 will push TSA to do just that to protect the workforce and passengers.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1877, the Security Screening During COVID-19 Act.
The COVID-19 pandemic has tested our Nation's preparedness on many fronts. Like in so many other areas, it is important that we emerge from this pandemic stronger than when it started. This legislation seeks to make our aviation security more resilient by requiring TSA to develop a plan for screening operations during the pandemic.
Madam Speaker, I urge Members to join me in supporting H.R. 1877. I congratulate my colleague and friend from Missouri (Mr. Cleaver).
Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, I urge Members to support this bill and I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, H.R. 1877 received unanimous support in our committee because it is a commonsense legislation that will keep Americans safe. The coronavirus pandemic is not yet over, and TSA must work with national and international partners to implement new strategies to stop the spread of disease and prepare for the future.
The Security Screening During COVID-19 Act will push TSA to build upon its current efforts to ensure the agency is doing everything possible to protect the workforce and passengers.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1877, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Barragan) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1877, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion are postponed.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 127
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
House Representatives' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
Alerts Sign-up