[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 20, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H3683-H3684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TRANSPORTATION SECURITY PREPAREDNESS ACT OF 2021

  Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1893) to direct the Transportation Security Administration 
to develop a transportation security preparedness plan in the event of 
a communicable disease outbreak, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1893

       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 
     Preparedness Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 2. SURVEY OF THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 
                   WORKFORCE REGARDING COVID-19 RESPONSE.

       (a)Survey.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
     Transportation Security Administration (referred to in this 
     section as the ``Administrator''), in consultation with the 
     labor organization certified as the exclusive representative 
     of full- and part-time non-supervisory Administration 
     personnel carrying out screening functions under section 
     44901 of title 49, United States Code, shall conduct a survey 
     of the Transportation Security Administration (referred to in 
     this section as the ``Administration'') workforce regarding 
     the Administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Such 
     survey shall be conducted in a manner that allows for the 
     greatest practicable level of workforce participation.
       (b)Contents.--In conducting the survey required under 
     subsection (a), the Administrator shall solicit feedback on 
     the following:
       (1) The Administration's communication and collaboration 
     with the Administration's workforce regarding the 
     Administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and 
     efforts to mitigate and monitor transmission of COVID-19 
     among its workforce, including through--
       (A) providing employees with personal protective equipment 
     and mandating its use;
       (B) modifying screening procedures and Administration 
     operations to reduce transmission among officers and 
     passengers and ensuring compliance with such changes;
       (C) adjusting policies regarding scheduling, leave, and 
     telework;
       (D) outreach as a part of contact tracing when an employee 
     has tested positive for COVID-19; and
       (E) encouraging COVID-19 vaccinations and efforts to assist 
     employees that seek to be vaccinated such as communicating 
     the availability of duty time for travel to vaccination sites 
     and recovery from vaccine side effects.
       (2) Any other topic determined appropriate by the 
     Administrator.
       (c)Report.--Not later than 30 days after completing the 
     survey required under subsection (a), the Administration 
     shall provide a report summarizing the results of the survey 
     to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate.

     SEC. 3. TRANSPORTATION SECURITY PREPAREDNESS PLAN.

       (a)Plan Required.--Section 114 of title 49, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(x)Transportation Security Preparedness Plan.--
       ``(1)In general.--Not later than two years after the date 
     of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security, acting through the Administrator, in 
     coordination with the Chief Medical Officer of the Department 
     of Homeland Security and in consultation with the partners 
     identified under paragraphs (3)(A)(i) through (3)(A)(iv), 
     shall develop a transportation security preparedness plan to 
     address the event of a communicable disease outbreak. The 
     Secretary, acting through the Administrator, shall ensure 
     such plan aligns with relevant Federal plans and strategies 
     for communicable disease outbreaks.
       ``(2)Considerations.--In developing the plan required under 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary, acting through the 
     Administrator, shall consider each of the following:
       ``(A) The findings of the survey required under section 2 
     of the Transportation Security Preparedness Act of 2021.
       ``(B) All relevant reports and recommendations regarding 
     the Administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, 
     including any reports and recommendations issued by the 
     Comptroller General and the Inspector General of the 
     Department of Homeland Security.
       ``(C) Lessons learned from Federal interagency efforts 
     during the COVID-19 pandemic.
       ``(3)Contents of plan.--The plan developed under paragraph 
     (1) shall include each of the following:
       ``(A) Plans for communicating and collaborating in the 
     event of a communicable disease outbreak with the following 
     partners:
       ``(i) Appropriate Federal departments and agencies, 
     including the Department of Health and Human Services, the 
     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of 
     Transportation, the Department of Labor, and appropriate 
     interagency task forces.
       ``(ii) The workforce of the Administration, including 
     through the labor organization certified as the exclusive 
     representative of full- and part-time non-supervisory 
     Administration personnel carrying out screening functions 
     under section 44901 of this title.
       ``(iii) International partners, including the International 
     Civil Aviation Organization and foreign governments, 
     airports, and air carriers.
       ``(iv) Public and private stakeholders, as such term is 
     defined under subsection (t)(1)(C).
       ``(v) The traveling public.
       ``(B) Plans for protecting the safety of the Transportation 
     Security Administration workforce, including--
       ``(i) reducing the risk of communicable disease 
     transmission at screening checkpoints and within the 
     Administration's workforce related to the Administration's 
     transportation security operations and mission;
       ``(ii) ensuring the safety and hygiene of screening 
     checkpoints and other workstations;
       ``(iii) supporting equitable and appropriate access to 
     relevant vaccines, prescriptions, and other medical care; and
       ``(iv) tracking rates of employee illness, recovery, and 
     death.
       ``(C) Criteria for determining the conditions that may 
     warrant the integration of additional actions in the aviation 
     screening system in response to the communicable disease 
     outbreak and a range of potential roles and responsibilities 
     that align with such conditions.
       ``(D) Contingency plans for temporarily adjusting 
     checkpoint operations to provide for passenger and employee 
     safety while maintaining security during the communicable 
     disease outbreak.
       ``(E) Provisions setting forth criteria for establishing an 
     interagency task force or other standing engagement platform 
     with other appropriate Federal departments and agencies, 
     including the Department of Health and Human Services and the 
     Department of Transportation, to address such communicable 
     disease outbreak.
       ``(F) A description of scenarios in which the Administrator 
     should consider exercising authorities provided under 
     subsection (g) and for what purposes.
       ``(G) Considerations for assessing the appropriateness of 
     issuing security directives and emergency amendments to 
     regulated parties in various modes of transportation, 
     including surface transportation, and plans for ensuring 
     compliance with such measures.
       ``(H) A description of any potential obstacles, including 
     funding constraints and limitations to authorities, that 
     could restrict the ability of the Administration to respond 
     appropriately to a communicable disease outbreak.
       ``(4)Dissemination.--Upon development of the plan required 
     under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall disseminate the 
     plan to the partners identified under paragraph (3)(A) and to 
     the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate.
       ``(5)Review of plan.--Not later than two years after the 
     date on which the plan is disseminated under paragraph (4), 
     and biennially thereafter, the Secretary, acting through the 
     Administrator and in coordination with the Chief Medical 
     Officer of the Department of Homeland Security, shall review 
     the plan and, after consultation with the partners identified 
     under paragraphs (3)(A)(i) through (3)(A)(iv), update the 
     plan as appropriate.''.
       (b)Comptroller General Report.--Not later than one year 
     after the date on which the transportation security 
     preparedness plan required under subsection (x) of section 
     114 of title 49, United States Code, as added by subsection 
     (a), is disseminated under paragraph (4) of such subsection 
     (x), the Comptroller General of the United States shall 
     submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate a report containing the results 
     of a study assessing the transportation security preparedness 
     plan, including an analysis of--
       (1) whether such plan aligns with relevant Federal plans 
     and strategies for communicable disease outbreaks; and
       (2) the extent to which the Transportation Security 
     Administration is prepared to implement the plan.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Barragan) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Katko) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to

[[Page H3684]]

revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the 
measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1893, the 
Transportation Security Preparedness Act of 2021.
  Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 8,200 TSA 
employees have contracted coronavirus. Tragically, 17 hardworking 
frontline workers have lost their lives.
  While TSA has taken steps to shield its workers and adjust security 
operations during the pandemic, its COVID-19 response was ranked low in 
employee surveys. More must be done to make sure TSA is adequately 
prepared for future disease outbreaks.
  H.R. 1893 directs TSA to apply the lessons learned from the COVID-19 
pandemic to protect its workforce and the traveling public during 
future disease outbreaks.
  To do so, TSA is required to survey its workforce in more detail 
regarding pandemic response to ascertain areas for improvement that can 
be integrated into a transportation security preparedness plan for 
future pandemics. Specifically, the survey will examine TSA's efforts 
to communicate clearly with its workforce, protect employees with 
personal protective equipment, adjust workplace policies, engage in 
contact tracing, and facilitate COVID-19 vaccinations for workers.
  TSA is then directed to integrate the information it collects into a 
transportation security preparedness plan that sets forth how TSA will 
respond to future pandemics, including how it will protect its 
workforce, communicate and collaborate with public and private 
entities, and adjust checkpoint operations to maintain security without 
compromising health and safety.
  TSA is also required to assess what barriers remain to its ability to 
respond to the next disease outbreak.
  H.R. 1893 will ensure that TSA will be able to respond quickly and 
effectively to prevent the next disease outbreak.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and 
I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1230

  Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1893, the 
Transportation Security Preparedness Act of 2021.
  Our dedicated TSA workforce is critical in protecting our Nation's 
transportation system. This legislation will ensure that the voices of 
those frontline workers who have served tirelessly during the COVID-19 
pandemic are heard as TSA improves its preparedness and protection of 
the transportation system in the face of future public health threats.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting H.R. 1893.
  Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers. I urge Members to support 
the bill of my good friend, Bonnie Watson Coleman, the sponsor of the 
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Madam Speaker, as the American people return to air travel in greater 
numbers, it is essential that TSA plan for the future and use the 
lessons we have learned during COVID-19 to ensure that TSA responds 
more quickly and effectively to the next major public health crisis.
  H.R. 1893 will allow TSA to reflect on the successes and the missteps 
of the past year and a half and create a concrete plan of action to 
protect workers and passengers.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1893, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Barragan) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1893.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

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