[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3101 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3101

To direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology to ensure 
   the development of standards and measures for effective aviation 
   security technologies, to direct the Administrator of the Federal 
   Aviation Administration to carry out a pilot program to test and 
evaluate new and emerging aviation security technologies, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 11, 2001

Mr. Matheson (for himself and Mr. Honda) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the 
  Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology to ensure 
   the development of standards and measures for effective aviation 
   security technologies, to direct the Administrator of the Federal 
   Aviation Administration to carry out a pilot program to test and 
evaluate new and emerging aviation security technologies, and for other 
                               purposes.

    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 ``Aviation Security Technology 
Enhancement Act''.

SEC. 2. STANDARDS AND MEASUREMENTS FOR AVIATION SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES.

    (a) Activities.--The National Institute of Standards and Technology 
shall--
            (1) develop best practices specifications for aviation 
        security technologies;
            (2) establish standards and testbeds for aviation security 
        technologies;
            (3) research error rates associated with the use of 
        aviation security technologies;
            (4) identify procedures for improved interoperability of 
        aviation security technologies;
            (5) develop technology-neutral policy guidelines for 
        aviation security technologies for use by Federal agencies with 
        aviation security responsibilities;
            (6) develop appropriate measures for assessing the quality 
        and effectiveness of aviation security programs at United 
        States airports;
            (7) perform evaluations and tests to assess existing 
        aviation security technologies;
            (8) develop uniform testing procedures for determining the 
        conformance of commercially available aviation security 
        products to the specifications, standards, procedures, and 
        guidelines developed, established, or identified under this 
        section;
            (9) establish procedures for the certification of private 
        sector laboratories to perform the testing procedures developed 
        under paragraph (8); and
            (10) compile, maintain, and make available to the Federal 
        Aviation Administration and the public a list of commercially 
        available products utilizing aviation security technologies 
        that have been tested by the National Institute of Standards 
        and Technology or a private sector laboratory certified 
        pursuant to paragraph (9).
    (b) Initial Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology shall transmit to the Federal Aviation Administration and to 
the Congress an initial report on its activities under this section. 
Such report shall contain as many near-term recommendations as 
possible.
    (c) Final Report.--At any point when the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology considers its activities under this section to 
be completed, but not later than 2 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology shall transmit to the Federal Aviation Administration and to 
the Congress a final report on its activities under this section.

SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM TO TEST AND EVALUATE AVIATION SECURITY 
              TECHNOLOGIES.

    (a) Pilot Program.--Upon the transmittal of a report under section 
2(b), the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
carry out a pilot program to test and evaluate new and emerging 
aviation security technologies designed for the following purposes:
            (1) Controlling the access of air carrier employees, 
        airport employees, and other personnel to closed and secure 
        areas of an airport.
            (2) Enhancing identification and authentication systems for 
        air passenger check-in, baggage control, and access to an 
        aircraft.
            (3) Identifying suspected terrorists through the use of 
        biometrics or other means.
    (b) Participation by Airports.--In carrying out the pilot program, 
the Administrator shall provide for the implementation of 1 or more of 
the technologies described in subsection (a) at not less than 20 
airports.
    (c) Sharing of Information.--To the extent feasible, the 
Administrator shall ensure that information obtained under the pilot 
program, including information concerning any threat to aviation 
security, is shared among air carriers, airports, and government 
agencies.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator shall transmit to Congress a report on the 
results of the pilot program, including an assessment of the 
feasibility, costs, benefits, and effectiveness of implementing each of 
the technologies described in subsection (a).

SEC. 4. BIOMETRIC DATABASE.

    The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, in 
cooperation with Federal agencies with aviation security 
responsibilities, including the Office of Homeland Security, shall 
carry out a program to establish a biometric database with images of 
suspected terrorists and to incorporate use of the database into the 
air passenger screening system of the Federal Aviation Administration.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2002--
            (1) $4,500,000 to carry out section 2; and
            (2) $45,000,000 to carry out sections 3 and 4.
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