[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1690 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1690

               To improve airport screening and security.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 26, 2007

  Mrs. Lowey introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Homeland Security

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
               To improve airport screening and security.

    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 ``Guaranteeing Airport Physical 
Screening Standards Act''.

SEC. 2. ENHANCED PERIMETER SECURITY AND ACCESS CONTROL THROUGH 
              COMPREHENSIVE SCREENING OF AIRPORT WORKERS.

    (a) Pilot Program.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security 
(Transportation Security Administration) shall implement a pilot 
program at 5 commercial service airports to physically screen all 
airport workers with access to secure and sterile areas of the airport.
    (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.--Screening for airport workers under the 
pilot program shall be conducted under the same standards as apply to 
individuals at airport security screening checkpoints, and shall be 
carried out by contract screeners at a minimum of 2 airports.
    (d) Duration.--The pilot program shall be carried out for a period 
of not less than 180 days.
    (e) 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.--The report shall contain, at a minimum, the 
        following:
                    (A) An assessment of the impact of physically 
                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 comprehensively screening such 
                workers.
                    (C) An assessment of the costs of comprehensively 
                screening such workers.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 3. SECURED AREAS OF AIRPORTS.

    (a) Implementation of Improved Airport Perimeter Access Security.--
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security 
Administration) shall issue regulations, directives, or other 
appropriate measures to implement the requirements of section 
44903(h)(4) of title 49, United States Code.
    (b) Airport Security Plans.--The Assistant Secretary shall set a 
schedule for requiring airports to update their airport security plans 
to comply with the requirements of section 44903(h)(4) not later than 3 
years after the issuance of the regulations, directives, or other 
measures required under subsection (a).

SEC. 4. HIRING OF SCREENERS.

    (a) Number of Screeners.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, the Secretary of Homeland Security may hire the number of 
passenger and baggage screeners that the Secretary determines necessary 
to ensure aviation security.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
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