[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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