[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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