[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 20, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H3684-H3685]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRANSPORTATION SECURITY PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT PREPAREDNESS ACT OF 2021

  Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1895) to enhance the preparedness of the Transportation 
Security Administration for public health threats to the transportation 
security system of the United States, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1895

       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 
     Public Health Threat Preparedness Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       For purposes of this Act:
       (1)Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
     Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.
       (2)Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       (B) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
     Affairs and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate.
       (3)Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
     Department of Homeland Security.
       (4)Sterile area.--The term ``sterile area'' has the meaning 
     given such term in section 1540.5 of title 49, Code of 
     Federal Regulations.
       (5)TSA.--The term ``TSA'' means the Transportation Security 
     Administration.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF TSA PERSONNEL DETAILS.

       (a)Coordination.--Pursuant to sections 106(m) and 114(m) of 
     title 49, United States Code, the Administrator may provide 
     TSA personnel, who are not engaged in front line 
     transportation security efforts, to other components of the 
     Department and other Federal agencies to improve coordination 
     with such components and agencies to prepare for, protect 
     against, and respond to public health threats to the 
     transportation security system of the United States.
       (b)Briefing.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall brief the 
     appropriate congressional committees regarding efforts to 
     improve coordination with other components of the Department 
     and other Federal agencies to prepare for, protect against, 
     and respond to public health threats to the transportation 
     security system of the United States.

     SEC. 4. TSA PREPAREDNESS.

       (a)Analysis.--
       (1)In general.--The Administrator shall conduct an analysis 
     of preparedness of the transportation security system of the 
     United States for public health threats. Such analysis shall 
     assess, at a minimum, the following:
       (A) The risks of public health threats to the 
     transportation security system of the United States, 
     including to transportation hubs, transportation security 
     stakeholders, TSA personnel, and passengers.
       (B) Information sharing challenges among relevant 
     components of the Department, other Federal agencies, 
     international entities, and transportation security 
     stakeholders.
       (C) Impacts to TSA policies and procedures for securing the 
     transportation security system.
       (2)Coordination.--The analysis conducted of the risks 
     described in paragraph (1)(A) shall be conducted in 
     coordination with the Chief Medical Officer of the Department 
     of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services, and transportation security stakeholders.
       (b)Briefing.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall brief the 
     appropriate congressional committees on the following:
       (1) The analysis required under subsection (a).
       (2) Technologies necessary to combat public health threats 
     at security screening checkpoints to better protect from 
     future public health threats TSA personnel, passengers, 
     aviation workers, and other personnel authorized to access 
     the sterile area of an airport through such checkpoints, and 
     the estimated cost of technology investments needed to fully 
     implement across the aviation system solutions to such 
     threats.
       (3) Policies and procedures implemented by TSA and 
     transportation security stakeholders to protect from public 
     health threats TSA personnel, passengers, aviation workers, 
     and other personnel authorized to access the sterile area 
     through the security screening checkpoints, as well as future 
     plans for

[[Page H3685]]

     additional measures relating to such protection.
       (4) The role of TSA in establishing priorities, developing 
     solutions, and coordinating and sharing information with 
     relevant domestic and international entities during a public 
     health threat to the transportation security system, and how 
     TSA can improve its leadership role in such areas.

  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 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on this 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. 1895, the 
Transportation Security Public Health Threat Preparedness Act of 2021.
  Protecting our Nation's transportation workforce and the traveling 
public is front of mind as we attempt to emerge from the COVID-19 
pandemic with the looming threat of new variants of the virus.
  H.R. 1895 seeks to ensure U.S. transportation systems are better 
prepared for public health threats by having TSA conduct a study on 
public health risks in concert with other agencies within the 
Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Health and Human 
Services, and industry stakeholders.
  Specifically, this bill enhances these efforts, requiring TSA to 
assess the risk of public health threats to the Nation's transportation 
security systems and analyze the agency's preparedness to respond to 
them.
  The bill also allows TSA to reassign personnel not engaged in 
frontline transportation security efforts to other government agencies 
to improve intergovernmental coordination and response efforts.
  I applaud my colleague from Florida (Mr. Gimenez) for this timely 
legislation that prioritizes the health and safety of the traveling 
public and frontline transportation workers, and I urge my colleagues 
to support this legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1895, the 
Transportation Security Public Health Threat Preparedness Act of 2021.
  The COVID-19 pandemic tested every aspect of our Nation's 
infrastructure. The nature of a global pandemic has brought into focus 
the impact that transportation systems can have on the spread or 
control of such pandemics.
  This legislation, sponsored by my friend and colleague, Mr. Gimenez, 
ensures that the risks of the COVID-19 pandemic are analyzed by TSA and 
that it takes the appropriate steps to be prepared should another 
public health emergency ever occur.
  Given the importance of the transportation system in the economy and 
everyday life of this country, it is paramount that the Federal 
Government ensure better preparedness and resilience of the system.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in support of H.R. 1895.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Gimenez).
  Mr. GIMENEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my 
legislation, H.R. 1895, the Transportation Security Public Health 
Threat Preparedness Act. This is an important piece of legislation that 
will help ensure America's transportation systems are better prepared 
for future public health threats. The current COVID-19 pandemic has 
only further underscored the importance of keeping our TSA officers 
safe.
  Specifically, this bill directs TSA to conduct an analysis of looming 
public health risks to all components of our transportation systems, 
working with the Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Homeland 
Security, the Department of Health and Human Services, and its 
transportation stakeholders. The analysis will describe TSA's security 
checkpoint policies and procedures to protect TSA personnel, 
passengers, aviation workers, and airport personnel from public health 
threats.
  Additionally, this bill instructs TSA to brief Congress on this 
analysis following its conclusion so that we may rectify or codify any 
important recommendations so we can protect our officers and our 
transportation systems from public health risks.
  Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues who joined me on this 
legislation, and I urge the House to swiftly pass this bill.
  Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, I urge Members 
to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Madam Speaker, enactment of H.R. 1895 will support our efforts to 
mitigate future public health threats to our Nation's transportation 
systems.
  We have witnessed the daunting effects of the pandemic over the past 
year and must be prepared for future public health threats to avoid 
repeating the same tragedies again.
  Ensuring TSA is equipped with the right information on public health 
threats and prepared to combat them with interagency coordination will 
be essential to protecting our transportation system, transportation 
workers, and the traveling public. This bill furthers that effort.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1895, 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. 1895.
  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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