[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1413 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1413

To direct the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation 
    Security Administration) to address vulnerabilities in aviation 
security by carrying out a pilot program to screen airport workers with 
            access to secure and sterile areas of airports.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 8, 2007

 Mrs. Lowey (for herself, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. Ginny Brown-
Waite of Florida, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, and Mr. Markey) introduced 
  the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland 
                                Security

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation 
    Security Administration) to address vulnerabilities in aviation 
security by carrying out a pilot program to screen airport workers with 
            access to secure and sterile areas of airports.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. ENHANCED PERIMETER SECURITY AND ACCESS CONTROL THROUGH 
              COMPREHENSIVE SCREENING OF AIRPORT WORKERS.

    (a) Pilot Program.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security 
(Transportation Security Administration) shall carry out a pilot 
program at 5 service airports to screen all airport workers with access 
to secure and sterile areas of the airport in accordance with section 
44903(h) of title 49, United States Code.
    (b) Participating Airports.--At least 2 of the airports 
participating in the pilot program shall be large hub airports (as 
defined in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code). Each of the 
remaining airports participating in the pilot program shall represent a 
different airport security risk category (as defined by the Assistant 
Secretary).
    (c) Screening Standards.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided under paragraph (2), 
        screening for airport workers under the pilot program shall be 
        conducted under the same standards as apply to passengers at 
        airport security screening checkpoints and, at a minimum of 2 
        airports, shall be carried out by private screening companies 
        that meet the standards in accordance with section 44920(d) of 
        title 49, United States Code.
            (2) Designated screening lane.--In addition to the 
        requirements under paragraph (1), each airport participating in 
        the pilot program shall designate at least one screening lane 
        at each airport security screening checkpoint to be used 
        exclusively to screen airport workers under the pilot program.
    (d) Vulnerability Assessments.--As part of the pilot program under 
this section, the Assistant Secretary shall conduct a vulnerability 
assessment of each airport participating in the pilot program. Each 
such assessment shall include an assessment of vulnerabilities relating 
to access badge and uniform controls.
    (e) Technology Assessments.--Airport operators at each airport at 
which the pilot program under this section is implemented shall conduct 
an assessment of the screening technology being used at that airport 
and submit the results of the assessment to the Assistant Secretary. 
The Assistant Secretary shall compile the results of all the 
assessments and provide them to each airport participating in the pilot 
program.
    (f) Duration.--The pilot program shall be carried out for a period 
of not less than 180 days.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
    (h) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the last day 
        of the pilot program, the Assistant Secretary 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 report on the results of the 
        pilot program.
            (2) Contents of report.--The report shall include the 
        following:
                    (A) An assessment of the effect of screening all 
                airport workers with access to secure and sterile 
                airport areas on screening and logistical resources.
                    (B) An assessment of the security improvements that 
                are achieved from screening such workers.
                    (C) An assessment of the costs of screening such 
                workers.
                    (D) The results of the vulnerability assessments 
                conducted under subsection (d).
                                 <all>