Aviation Security Advisory Committee

(a)

In general

Subchapter II of chapter 449 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

44946.

Aviation Security Advisory Committee

(a)

Establishment

The Assistant Secretary shall establish within the Transportation Security Administration an advisory committee to be known as the Aviation Security Advisory Committee.(b)

Duties

(1)

In general

The Assistant Secretary shall consult the Advisory Committee on aviation security matters, including on the development, refinement, and implementation of policies, programs, rulemaking, and security directives pertaining to aviation security, while adhering to sensitive security guidelines.(2)

Recommendations

(A)

In general

The Advisory Committee shall develop, at the request of the Assistant Secretary, recommendations for improvements to aviation security.(B)

Recommendations of subcommittees

Recommendations agreed upon by the subcommittees established under this section shall be approved by the Advisory Committee for transmission to the Assistant Secretary.(3)

Periodic reports

The Advisory Committee shall periodically submit to the Assistant Secretary—(A)reports on matters identified by the Assistant Secretary; and(B)reports on other matters identified by a majority of the members of the Advisory Committee.(4)

Annual report

The Advisory Committee shall submit to the Assistant Secretary an annual report providing information on the activities, findings, and recommendations of the Advisory Committee, including its subcommittees, for the preceding year.(5)

Feedback

Not later than 90 days after receiving recommendations transmitted by the Advisory Committee under paragraph (4), the Assistant Secretary shall respond in writing to the Advisory Committee with feedback on each of such recommendations, an action plan to implement any of such recommendations with which the Assistant Secretary concurs, and a detailed justification for why any of such recommendations have been rejected.(6)

Congressional notification

Not later than 30 days after providing written feedback to the Advisory Committee in accordance with paragraph (5), the Assistant Secretary shall brief the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on such feedback.(7)

Report to Congress

Prior to briefing the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate in accordance with paragraph (6), the Assistant Secretary shall submit to such committees a report containing information relating to the recommendations transmitted by the Advisory Committee in accordance with paragraph (4).(c)

Membership

(1)

Appointment

(A)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Assistant Secretary shall appoint the members of the Advisory Committee.(B)

Composition

The membership of the Advisory Committee shall consist of individuals representing not more than 34 member organizations. Each organization shall be represented by one individual (or the individual’s designee).(C)

Representation

The membership of the Advisory Committee shall include representatives of air carriers, all-cargo air transportation, indirect air carriers, labor organizations representing air carrier employees, aircraft manufacturers, airport operators, airport construction and maintenance contractors, labor organizations representing employees of airport construction and maintenance contractors, general aviation, privacy organizations, the travel industry, airport-based businesses (including minority-owned small businesses), businesses that conduct security operations at airports, aeronautical repair stations, passenger advocacy groups, the aviation technology security industry (including biometrics), victims of terrorist acts against aviation, and law enforcement and security experts.(2)

Removal

The Assistant Secretary may review the participation of a member of the Advisory Committee and remove such member for cause at any time.(3)

Prohibition on compensation

The members of the Advisory Committee shall not receive pay, allowances, or benefits from the Government by reason of their service on the Advisory Committee.(4)

Meetings

The Assistant Secretary shall require the Advisory Committee to meet at least semiannually and may convene additional meetings as necessary.(d)

Air cargo security subcommittee

(1)

In general

The Assistant Secretary shall establish within the Advisory Committee an air cargo security subcommittee to provide recommendations on air cargo security issues, including the implementation of the air cargo security programs established by the Transportation Security Administration to screen air cargo on passenger aircraft and all-cargo aircraft in accordance with established cargo screening mandates.(2)

Meetings and reporting

The subcommittee shall meet at least quarterly and submit to the Advisory Committee for inclusion in the annual report required under subsection (b)(4) information, including recommendations, regarding air cargo security. Such submissions shall include recommendations to improve the Transportation Security Administration’s cargo security initiatives established to meet the requirements of section 44901(g).(3)

Membership

The subcommittee shall—(A)include members of the Advisory Committee with expertise in air cargo operations; and(B)be cochaired by a Government and industry official.(e)

General aviation security subcommittee

(1)

In general

The Assistant Secretary shall establish within the Advisory Committee a general aviation subcommittee to provide recommendations on transportation security issues for general aviation facilities, general aviation aircraft, and helicopter operations at general aviation and commercial service airports.(2)

Meetings and reporting

Membership

The subcommittee shall—(A)include members of the Advisory Committee with expertise in general aviation; and(B)be cochaired by a Government and industry official.(f)

Perimeter security, exit lane security, and access control subcommittee

(1)

In general

The Assistant Secretary shall establish within the Advisory Committee an airport perimeter security, exit lane security, and access control subcommittee to provide recommendations on airport perimeter security, exit lane security at commercial service airports, and access control issues.(2)

Meetings and reporting

The subcommittee shall meet at least quarterly and submit to the Advisory Committee for inclusion in the annual report required under subsection (b)(4) information, including recommendations, regarding improving perimeter security, exit lane security at commercial service airports, and access control procedures at commercial service and general aviation airports.(3)

Membership

The subcommittee shall—(A)include members of the Advisory Committee with expertise in airport perimeter security and access control issues; and(B)be co-chaired by a Government and industry official.(g)

Risk-Based subcommittee

(1)

In general

The Assistant Secretary shall establish within the Advisory Committee a risk-based subcommittee to provide recommendations on passenger screening policies and cargo.(2)

Meetings and reporting

Membership

The subcommittee shall—(A)include members of the Advisory Committee with expertise in passenger advocacy and airport security operations; and(B)be cochaired by a Government and industry official.(h)

Security technology subcommittee

(1)

In general

The Assistant Secretary shall establish within the Advisory Committee a security technology subcommittee to provide recommendations on security technology issues, including harmonization of security technology standards and requirements.(2)

Meetings and reporting

The subcommittee shall meet at least quarterly and submit to the Advisory Committee for inclusion in the annual report required under subsection (b)(4) information, including recommendations, regarding security technology. Such submissions shall include recommendations to improve the Transportation Security Administration’s utilization of security technology and harmonization of security technology standards and requirements. All recommendations shall be in furtherance of aviation security and technology neutral.(3)

Membership

The subcommittee shall—(A)include members of the Advisory Committee with expertise in checkpoint, baggage, and air cargo security technology; and(B)be co-chaired by a Government and industry official.(i)

Other subcommittees

The Assistant Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory Committee, may establish within the Advisory Committee any other subcommittee that the Assistant Secretary and Advisory Committee determine necessary.(j)

Subject matter experts

Each subcommittee under this section shall include subject matter experts with relevant expertise who are appointed by the respective subcommittee chairperson.(k)

Nonapplicability of FACA

The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Advisory Committee and its subcommittees.(l)

Definitions

In this section:(1)

Advisory Committee

The term Advisory Committee means the Aviation Security Advisory Committee established under subsection (a).(2)

Assistant Secretary

The term Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration).(3)

Perimeter security

The term perimeter security—(A)means procedures or systems to monitor, secure, and prevent unauthorized access to an airport, including its airfield and terminal; and(B)includes the fence area surrounding an airport, access gates, and access controls.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The analysis for subchapter II of chapter 449 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

44946. Aviation Security Advisory Committee.