[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5730 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5730

 To require testing and evaluation of advanced transportation security 
  screening technologies related to the mission of the Transportation 
            Security Administration, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 9, 2018

Mr. Katko (for himself, Mr. McCaul, and Mrs. Watson Coleman) introduced 
  the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland 
                                Security

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require testing and evaluation of advanced transportation security 
  screening technologies related to the mission of the Transportation 
            Security Administration, 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 ``Transportation Security Technology 
Innovation Reform Act of 2018''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Administration.--The term ``Administration'' means the 
        Transportation Security Administration.
            (2) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Administration.
            (3) Appropriate congressional committee.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee on 
        Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
        Senate.
            (4) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
        Department of Homeland Security.

SEC. 3. TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS INTEGRATION FACILITY.

    (a) In General.--There is established in the Administration a 
Transportation Security Administration Systems Integration Facility 
(TSIF) for the purposes of testing and evaluating advanced 
transportation security screening technologies related to the mission 
of the Administration. The TSIF shall--
            (1) evaluate such technologies to enhance the security of 
        transportation systems through screening and threat mitigation 
        and detection;
            (2) conduct testing of such technologies to support 
        identified mission needs of the Administration and to meet 
        requirements for acquisitions and procurement;
            (3) to the extent practicable, provide original equipment 
        manufacturers with test plans to minimize requirement 
        interpretation disputes and adhere to provided test plans;
            (4) collaborate with other technical laboratories and 
        facilities for purposes of augmenting TSIF's capabilities; and
            (5) deliver advanced transportation security screening 
        technologies that enhance the overall security of domestic 
        transportation systems.
    (b) Staffing and Resource Allocation.--The Administrator shall 
ensure adequate staffing and resource allocations for the TSIF in a 
manner which--
            (1) prevents unnecessary delays in testing and evaluating 
        advanced transportation security screening technologies for 
        acquisitions and procurement determinations;
            (2) ensures the issuance of final paperwork certification 
        does not exceed 45 days after the conclusion of such testing 
        and evaluation; and
            (3) collaborates with technology stakeholders to close 
        capabilities gaps in transportation security.
    (c) Timeframe.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator shall notify the 
        appropriate congressional committees whenever testing and 
        evaluation by TSIF of an advanced transportation security 
        screening technology under this section exceeds 180 days as 
        determined from the date on which the owner of such technology 
        turned over such technology to the Administration after 
        installation for testing and evaluation purposes, as evidenced 
        by a signed Test Readiness Notification from such owner to the 
        Administration. Such notification shall include--
                    (A) information relating to the arrival date of 
                such technology;
                    (B) reasons why the testing and evaluation process 
                has exceeded 180 days; and
                    (C) an estimated time for completion of such 
                testing and evaluation.
            (2) Retesting and evaluation.--Advanced transportation 
        security screening technology that fails testing and evaluation 
        by the TSIF may be retested and evaluated.
    (d) Relationship to Other Department Entities and Federal 
Agencies.--The authority of the Administrator under this title shall 
not affect the authorities or responsibilities of any officer of the 
Department or of any officer of any other department or agency of the 
United States with respect to research, development, testing, and 
evaluation, including the authorities and responsibilities of the 
Undersecretary for Science and Technology of the Department and the 
Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office of the Department.

SEC. 4. REVIEW OF TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITIONS PROCESS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall, in coordination with 
relevant officials of the Department, conduct a review of existing 
advanced transportation security screening technology development, 
acquisitions, and procurement practices within the Administration. Such 
review shall include--
            (1) identifying process delays and bottlenecks within the 
        Department and the Administration regarding how such technology 
        is identified, developed, acquired, and deployed;
            (2) assessing whether the Administration can better 
        leverage existing resources or processes of the Department for 
        the purposes of technology innovation and development;
            (3) identifying best practices of other Department 
        components or United States Government entities; and
            (4) a plan to address problems and challenges identified by 
        such review.
    (b) Briefing.--The Administrator shall provide to the appropriate 
congressional committees a briefing on the findings of the review 
required under this section and a plan to address problems and 
challenges identified by such review.

SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATION ACQUISITIONS AND PROCUREMENT ENHANCEMENT.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator shall--
            (1) engage in outreach, coordination, and collaboration 
        with transportation stakeholders to identify and foster 
        innovation of new advanced transportation security screening 
        technologies;
            (2) streamline the overall technology development, testing, 
        evaluation, acquisitions, procurement, and deployment processes 
        of the Administration; and
            (3) ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of such 
        processes.
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