[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5730 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5730
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 26, 2018
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
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 committees.--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;
(5) deliver advanced transportation security screening
technologies that enhance the overall security of domestic
transportation systems; and
(6) to the extent practicable, provide funding and promote
efforts to enable participation by a small business concern (as
such term is described under section 3 of the Small Business
Act (15 U.S.C. 632)) that has an advanced technology or
capability but does not have adequate resources to participate
in testing and evaluation processes.
(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) assessing whether the Administration can further
encourage innovation and competition among technology
stakeholders, including through increased participation of and
funding for small business concerns (as such term is described
under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632));
(4) identifying best practices of other Department
components or United States Government entities; and
(5) 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.
SEC. 6. ASSESSMENT.
The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Chief
Privacy Officer of the Department of Homeland Security, shall submit to
the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the
Senate a compliance assessment of the Transportation Security
Administration's acquisition process relating to the health and safety
risks associated with implementation of screening technologies.
Passed the House of Representatives June 25, 2018.
Attest:
KAREN L. HAAS,
Clerk.