[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 106 (Monday, June 25, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H5627-H5629]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    TRANSPORTATION SECURITY TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION REFORM ACT OF 2018

  Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(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, 
as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5730

       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;
       (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

[[Page H5628]]

     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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Katko) and the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. KATKO. 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 New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5730, the 
Transportation Security Technology Innovation Reform Act of 2018. This 
legislation represents a culmination of years of bipartisan oversight 
efforts by the Homeland Security Committee and, more specifically, the 
Subcommittee on Transportation and Protective Security, which I chair.
  My committee colleagues and I have seen, firsthand, the challenges 
facing TSA in delivering advanced security technologies to the front 
lines at airports. Technologies such as Computed Tomography and 
Credential Authentication Technology are years behind where they should 
be in deployment due to unnecessary delays, opaque testing timelines, 
and capacity challenges at TSA.
  What is even more frustrating is that these technologies, made by 
American companies, are already deployed at a number of airports 
overseas in foreign countries, while our own government cannot 
efficiently test and deploy these already-proven technologies.
  For far too long we have seen the traveling public wait for cutting-
edge technologies while bureaucratic hindrances and government 
inefficiencies plague TSA's testing and evaluation process. Today, the 
House has the opportunity to pass a solution to this problem.
  H.R. 5730 will reform and galvanize efforts to bring 21st-century 
solutions to persistent security challenges facing America's 
transportation systems. Specifically, this legislation will authorize 
the core functions of the TSA Systems Integration Facility, or TSIF for 
short.
  The TSIF will be charged with conducting efficient and transparent 
testing of critical security technologies in a manner that is 
responsive to stakeholders and the needs of the traveling public.
  One key problem that I often hear from technology stakeholders is 
that TSA does not have the bandwidth or resources to efficiently 
conduct testing and evaluation of new screening technologies in a 
timely manner.
  This legislation will ensure that adequate staffing and resources are 
allocated to the TSIF, and that TSA is authorized to collaborate with 
outside laboratories and stakeholders to expedite the much-needed 
testing of these technologies.
  Further, this legislation provides significant accountability by 
requiring TSA to share test plans with original equipment manufacturers 
in order to ensure the integrity and consistency of testing and 
evaluation processes. The bill includes specific metrics for reporting 
to Congress and stakeholders on delays in testing so that there is 
greater visibility into potential bureaucratic hiccups.
  H.R. 5730 directs the TSA Administrator to conduct a wholesale 
evaluation of the agency's testing and acquisition processes and 
identify areas that can be streamlined and improved. This legislation 
emphasizes the agency's need to engage and leverage other government 
agencies, transportation stakeholders, and small businesses, to more 
effectively and expeditiously deploy critical security technologies.
  Mr. Speaker, the Transportation Security Technology Innovation Reform 
Act of 2018 cuts straight to the heart of the problems plaguing TSA, 
and directly addresses issues identified by stakeholders.
  As any of my committee colleagues can tell you, the threats facing 
transportation security now are more severe and more troubling than 
ever, and our ability to effectively mitigate these threats with 
advanced technology is of the utmost importance.
  I wish to thank my friend, the ranking member of the Subcommittee on 
Transportation and Protective Security, Mrs. Watson Coleman, whose 
partnership and leadership on this issue has been critical to bringing 
this bill to the floor today.
  I also would like to thank the full committee chairman, Mr. McCaul, 
for his support of the bill and for shepherding it through the 
committee process.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5730, the Transportation 
Security Technology Innovation Reform Act of 2018. H.R. 5730 authorizes 
TSA's Transportation Security Administration Systems Integration 
Facility, or TSIF.
  Threats against the transportation system are constantly evolving. 
They demand the TSA be proactive in developing new and innovative 
technologies. By authorizing the TSIF, H.R. 5730 directs TSA to 
evaluate, test, collaborate on and, ultimately, deliver advance 
screening technologies.
  H.R. 5730 also includes language to ensure that TSA has the necessary 
staff and resources to develop the best

[[Page H5629]]

and most cutting-edge technology. Importantly, the bill includes 
language authored by the Ranking Member, Mr. Thompson, to enhance the 
level of support TSA provides to small businesses throughout TSA's 
technology testing and procurement process.
  Greater participation of small businesses, really, where innovation 
happens, in the security marketplace, will not only help ensure that 
promising technologies are pursued; it will also help TSA move away 
from its reliance on a handful of large technology manufacturers.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House to support this 
measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

  First of all, I want to thank my colleague from Rhode Island for his 
comments in support of this bill as well, and shepherding it through 
the process here today on the floor.
  I will note--and I want to digress for a moment. We went on a 
congressional delegation. I led that delegation to Europe and the 
Middle East several months ago, and it was a bipartisan effort to 
evaluate the technologies in use at other airports in Europe and in the 
Middle East. And it was stunning for us to go to those airports and see 
American-made computed tomography, or 3-D scanners, already on the 
front lines, already doing the job, already making those airports much 
safer than ours are today, and those products are made here in the 
United States.
  It is maddening that we had this bureaucratic bottleneck of testing 
procedures and algorithms and everything else, while the front lines 
are not being addressed. So this bill attempts to address that backlog, 
and I am very proud to have been a sponsor of it.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I am prepared to close once 
the gentleman from Rhode Island does. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  H.R. 5730 is focused on closing security capability gaps and 
streamlining the technology acquisitions process at TSA.
  When everything is said and done, TSA's ultimate mission is to ensure 
the safety and security of the traveling public, and H.R. 5730 would do 
just that.
  I commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Katko) for his work on 
this legislation. I think it is going to make an appreciable difference 
in keeping the traveling public safe.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5730, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  To use an old saying that I like to use, TSA seems to be engaged in 
the practice of polishing the brass while the fire bell is ringing; and 
the fire bell is, indeed, ringing with the bad guys trying to get scary 
technology through our security measures in order to do harm to the 
American people. And the technologies that are already existing out 
there are not being put on the front line, and that is a shame. This 
bill attempts to address that.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Katko) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 5730, 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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