[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 20, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H3685-H3686]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SECURITY SCREENING DURING COVID-19 ACT

  Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1877) to require the Transportation Security Administration 
to issue a plan to improve security screening procedures at airports 
during the COVID-19 national emergency, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1877

       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 ``Security Screening During 
     COVID-19 Act''.

     SEC. 2. PLAN.

       (a)In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in coordination 
     with the Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Homeland 
     Security, and in consultation with the Secretary of Health 
     and Human Services and the Director of the Centers for 
     Disease Control and Prevention, shall issue and commence 
     implementing a plan to enhance, as appropriate, security 
     operations at airports during the COVID-19 national emergency 
     in order to reduce risk of the spread of the coronavirus at 
     passenger screening checkpoints and among the TSA workforce.
       (b)Contents.--The plan required under subsection (a) shall 
     include the following:
       (1) An identification of best practices developed in 
     response to the coronavirus among foreign governments, 
     airports, and air carriers conducting aviation security 
     screening operations, as well as among Federal agencies 
     conducting similar security screening operations outside of 
     airports, including in locations where the spread of the 
     coronavirus has been successfully contained, that could be 
     further integrated into the United States aviation security 
     system.
       (2) Specific operational changes to aviation security 
     screening operations informed by the identification of best 
     practices under paragraph (1) that could be implemented 
     without degrading aviation security and a corresponding 
     timeline and costs for implementing such changes.
       (c)Considerations.--In carrying out the identification of 
     best practices under subsection

[[Page H3686]]

     (b), the Administrator shall take into consideration the 
     following:
       (1) Aviation security screening procedures and practices in 
     place at security screening locations, including procedures 
     and practices implemented in response to the coronavirus.
       (2) Volume and average wait times at each such security 
     screening location.
       (3) Public health measures already in place at each such 
     security screening location.
       (4) The feasibility and effectiveness of implementing 
     similar procedures and practices in locations where such are 
     not already in place.
       (5) The feasibility and potential benefits to security, 
     public health, and travel facilitation of continuing any 
     procedures and practices implemented in response to the 
     COVID-19 national emergency beyond the end of such emergency.
       (d)Consultation.--In developing the plan required under 
     subsection (a), the Administrator may consult with public and 
     private stakeholders and the TSA workforce, including through 
     the labor organization certified as the exclusive 
     representative of full- and part-time non-supervisory TSA 
     personnel carrying out screening functions under section 
     44901 of title 49, U.S. Code.
       (e)Submission.--Upon issuance of the plan required under 
     subsection (a), the Administrator shall submit the plan to 
     the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate.
       (f)Issuance and Implementation.--The Administrator shall 
     not be required to issue or implement, as the case may be, 
     the plan required under subsection (a) upon the termination 
     of the COVID-19 national emergency except to the extent the 
     Administrator determines such issuance or implementation, as 
     the case may be, to be feasible and beneficial to security 
     screening operations.
       (g)GAO Review.--Not later than one year after the issuance 
     of the plan required under subsection (a) (if such plan is 
     issued in accordance with subsection (f)), 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 review, if appropriate, of such plan and any efforts 
     to implement such plan.
       (h)Definitions.--In this section:
       (1)Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
     Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.
       (2)Coronavirus.--The term ``coronavirus'' has the meaning 
     given such term in section 506 of the Coronavirus 
     Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 
     2020 (Public Law 116-123).
       (3)COVID-19 national emergency.--The term ``COVID-19 
     national emergency'' means the national emergency declared by 
     the President under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 
     1601 et seq.) on March 13, 2020, with respect to the 
     coronavirus.
       (4)Public and private stakeholders.--The term ``public and 
     private stakeholders'' has the meaning given such term in 
     section 114(t)(1)(C) of title 49, United States Code.
       (5)TSA.--The term ``TSA'' means the Transportation Security 
     Administration.

  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. 1877, the 
Security Screening During COVID-19 Act.
  This legislation, introduced by my colleague from Missouri (Mr. 
Cleaver), directs the Transportation Security Administration to issue a 
plan to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus at passenger screening 
checkpoints and among the TSA workforce.
  To date, over 8,200 TSA employees have tested positive for the 
coronavirus, and tragically, 17 workers have died from the disease.
  As Americans begin to travel again, we must take steps to guarantee 
the safety of critical frontline workers and air passengers from the 
dangers posed by the virus, including the delta variant and other 
variants that could come our way.
  Under H.R. 1877, the TSA Administrator would coordinate with the 
Department of Homeland Security's Chief Medical Officer, the Department 
of Health and Human Services, and the CDC to develop a plan that 
identifies best practices among foreign governments, airports, air 
carriers, and other Federal agencies regarding COVID-19. Together, they 
will pinpoint specific operational challenges that TSA can make to 
further reduce the spread of the coronavirus at airports across the 
Nation, building on the actions TSA has taken over the past year.
  COVID-19 has made it clear that public health is a global issue that 
requires a global response. That is why the United States must work 
with our international partners on how best to stop the spread of 
disease in transportation security settings, end this pandemic, and 
prevent future outbreaks.
  TSA routinely participates in the international exchange of 
information to enhance global aviation security, share its expertise, 
and reduce threats across the globe.
  Given the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic to today's 
air travel environment, TSA must capitalize on its international 
partnerships to identify new ways to enhance its security operations 
and contain this virus. H.R. 1877 will push TSA to do just that to 
protect the workforce and passengers.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and 
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 support of H.R. 1877, the Security 
Screening During COVID-19 Act.
  The COVID-19 pandemic has tested our Nation's preparedness on many 
fronts. Like in so many other areas, it is important that we emerge 
from this pandemic stronger than when it started. This legislation 
seeks to make our aviation security more resilient by requiring TSA to 
develop a plan for screening operations during the pandemic.
  Madam Speaker, I urge Members to join me in supporting H.R. 1877. I 
congratulate my colleague and friend from Missouri (Mr. Cleaver).
  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, H.R. 1877 received unanimous support in our committee 
because it is a commonsense legislation that will keep Americans safe. 
The coronavirus pandemic is not yet over, and TSA must work with 
national and international partners to implement new strategies to stop 
the spread of disease and prepare for the future.
  The Security Screening During COVID-19 Act will push TSA to build 
upon its current efforts to ensure the agency is doing everything 
possible to protect the workforce and passengers.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1877, 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. 1877, as amended.
  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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