[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 168 (Monday, November 16, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H8170-H8171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PARTNERS FOR AVIATION SECURITY ACT
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 3144) to require consultation with the Aviation
Security Advisory Committee regarding modifications to the prohibited
item list, require a report on the Transportation Security Oversight
Board, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3144
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
The Act may be cited as the ``Partners for Aviation
Security Act''.
SEC. 2. AVIATION SECURITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONSULTATION.
The Administrator of the Transportation Security
Administration shall consult, to the extent practicable, with
the Aviation Security Advisory Committee (established
pursuant to section 44946 of title 49 of the United States
Code) regarding any modification to the prohibited item list
prior to issuing a determination about any such modification.
SEC. 3. REPORT ON THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY OVERSIGHT
BOARD.
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to
the Transportation Security Oversight Board (established
pursuant to section 115 of title 49, United States Code), the
Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate a report that includes
general information on how often the Board has met, the
current composition of the Board, and what activities the
Board has undertaken, consistent with the duties specified in
subsection (c) of such section. The Administrator may include
in such report recommendations for changes to such section in
consideration of the provisions of section 44946 of title 49,
United States Code.
SEC. 4. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
(a) Terms.--Subparagraph (A) of section 44946(c)(2) of
title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
``(A) Terms.--The term of each member of the Advisory
Committee shall be two years but may continue until such time
as a successor member begins serving on the Advisory
Committee. A member of the Advisory Committee may be
reappointed.''.
(b) Clarification.--Paragraph (5) of section 44946(b) of
title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking ``under
paragraph (4)'' and inserting ``under this subsection''.
SEC. 5. DEFINITION.
In this Act, the term ``prohibited item list'' means the
list of items passengers are prohibited from carrying as
accessible property or on their persons through passenger
screening checkpoints at airports, into sterile areas at
airports, and on board passenger aircraft, pursuant to
section 1540.111 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as
in effect on January 1, 2015).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Carter) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
General Leave
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Georgia?
There was no objection.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3144, the
Partners for Aviation Security Act of 2015.
{time} 1630
Mr. Speaker, this important bipartisan legislation ensures that the
critical decisions affecting the transportation security of the United
States are not made in a vacuum without the input and perspective of
relevant transportation stakeholders.
Unfortunately, the Transportation Security Administration has a
troublesome history when making sweeping policy changes at the expense
of the traveling public and other affected parties, such as aviation
workers, airports, airlines, vendors, and law enforcement.
Specifically, H.R. 3144 requires the Administrator of TSA to consult,
when possible, with the Aviation Security Advisory Committee before
determining whether to modify the prohibited items lists for passenger
aircraft.
In the 113th Congress, the Subcommittee on Transportation Security
conducted oversight of efforts to modify the prohibited items list
after TSA made a sweeping decision to do so without appropriate prior
consultation with stakeholders. By codifying the Aviation Security
Advisory Committee, or ASAC, the committee has a proven record of
ensuring that TSA consults with stakeholders on important matters of
transportation security when appropriate.
This commonsense legislation adds to this record. Another important
provision of this bill requires that the Secretary of Homeland Security
submit a report to both Congress and the Transportation Security
Oversight Board, including important information on the Board's
composition and activities. This report may include recommendations for
Congress and the Department to improve the Board and ensure that it is
meeting the original intent of providing review to transportation
security-related regulations and making a meaningful contribution to
the security of our Nation's critical transportation systems.
Each and every day, Mr. Speaker, there are new and evolving threats
to the security of America's traveling public, and it is the important
work of the Department of Homeland Security and TSA to ensure that
travelers are safe and to mitigate threats against transportation. In
this regard, it is of the highest importance that relevant partners in
transportation security are engaged and included in ongoing dialogue on
important policy matters being considered.
I wish to thank the chairman of the full committee, Mr. McCaul, as
well as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation Security,
Mr. Katko, for their work in bringing this bill to the floor today and
conducting critical oversight efforts to secure America's
transportation systems. Additionally, I wish to thank the bill's
author, Congressman Payne, for his hard work and dedication to this
issue. Finally, I would like to thank the ranking member of the full
committee, Mr. Thompson, for supporting this important legislation.
Collaboration is the key to effective security, and it is the
prerogative of the Committee on Homeland Security to ensure that open
lines of communication exist between stakeholders, TSA, and DHS.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3144, the Partners for
Aviation Security Act. I introduced H.R. 3144, the Partners for
Aviation Security Act, to ensure that the Transportation Security
Administration's key domestic partner for aviation security, the
Aviation Security Advisory Committee, is
[[Page H8171]]
positioned to contribute to aviation security policy.
Before beginning, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that our thoughts
and prayers are with the families of those that were lost on the
Metrojet flight originating from Egypt recently.
The safety and security of the traveling public is vital, and the
work of the Transportation Security Subcommittee, of which I am a
member, is extremely important, as we address issues and
vulnerabilities that affect the Nation's aviation sector.
As many of you will recall, Mr. Speaker, in 2012, then-TSA
Administrator John Pistole unilaterally made changes to the prohibited
items list allowed onto passenger planes to include small knives and
sporting goods equipment. Almost immediately, there was an outcry
against this decision from a broad range of stakeholders. Our committee
heard from flight attendants, pilots, passenger groups, and others
about the security and safety risks associated with this change.
Like many Americans, I was pleased that TSA ultimately decided to
withdraw its changes to the prohibited items list. However, I believe
TSA should consult the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, or ASAC,
before implementing new security protocols. Enactment of H.R. 3144
would ensure that such consultation occurs.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3144 also includes language to ensure that there is
continuity in the ASAC's operations even when there are changes to its
membership. In general terms, given that most of our Nation's critical
infrastructure is owned and operated by the private sector, it is
important that DHS maintain close partnerships with the private sector
to execute its missions and programs.
When it comes to aviation security, such partners are essential
insofar as TSA cannot effectively carry outs its mission at our
Nation's airports without buy-in from the air carriers, airport
operators, labor unions, passenger groups, airport vendors, and
technology companies.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge that this bill was approved
unanimously in committee and thank our cosponsors; the chairman of our
committee's Subcommittee on Transportation Security, Mr. Katko; the
chairman of the full committee, Mr. McCaul; and the ranking member of
the full committee, Mr. Thompson. I am pleased that the committee has
worked in a bipartisan fashion to advance this timely piece of
legislation.
Together we send a strong message to TSA and the American flying
public about our commitment to ensuring that sensible and effective
security policies are in place at our Nation's airports. For these
reasons, I urge Members to support H.R. 3144.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I, once again, urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3144.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 3144, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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