[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 170 (Wednesday, September 29, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H5541-H5544]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ONE-STOP PILOT PROGRAM ACT OF 2021
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and pass the bill (H.R. 4094) to conduct a pilot program at foreign
last point of departure airports to permit passengers and their
accessible property to continue on additional flights or flight
segments originating in the United States without additional security
re-screening, and for other purposes, as amended.
[[Page H5542]]
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4094
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 ``One-Stop Pilot Program Act
of 2021''.
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM FOR ONE-STOP SECURITY.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding 44901(a) of title 49,
United States Code, the Administrator of the Transportation
Security Administration, in coordination with U.S. Customs
and Border Protection, is authorized to conduct a pilot
program at not more than six foreign last point of departure
airports to permit passengers and their accessible property
arriving on direct flights or flight segments originating at
such participating foreign airports to continue on additional
flights or flight segments originating in the United States
without additional security re-screening if--
(1) the initial screening was conducted in accordance with
an aviation security screening agreement described in
subsection (d);
(2) passengers arriving from participating foreign airports
are unable to access their checked baggage until the arrival
at their final destination; and
(3) upon arrival in the United States, passengers arriving
from participating foreign airports do not come into contact
with other arriving international passengers or those
passengers' property or other persons who have not been
screened or subjected to other appropriate security controls
required for entry into the airport's sterile area.
(b) Requirements for Pilot Program.--In carrying out this
section, the Administrator shall ensure there is no reduction
in the level of security or specific aviation security
standards or requirements for screening passengers and their
property prior to boarding an international flight bound for
the United States, including specific aviation security
standards and requirements regarding the following:
(1) High risk passengers and their property.
(2) Weapons, explosives, and incendiaries.
(3) Screening passengers and property transferring at a
foreign last point of departure airport from another airport
and bound for the United States, and addressing any co-
mingling of such passengers and property with passengers and
property screened under the pilot program described in
subsection (a).
(4) Insider risk at foreign last point of departure
airports.
(c) Re-Screening of Checked Baggage.--The Administrator may
determine whether checked baggage arriving from participating
foreign airports referenced in subsection (a) must be re-
screened in the United States by an explosives detection
system before such baggage continues on any additional flight
or flight segment.
(d) Aviation Security Screening Agreement Described.--An
aviation security screening agreement described in this
subsection is an agreement signed by the Administrator,
without delegating such authority, and entered into with a
foreign country that delineates and implements security
standards and protocols utilized at a foreign last point of
departure airport that are determined by the Administrator to
be comparable to those of the United States and therefore
sufficiently effective to enable passengers and their
accessible property to deplane into sterile areas of airports
in the United States without the need for re-screening.
(e) Re-Screening Requirement.--If the Administrator
determines that the foreign country participating in the
aviation security screening agreement has not maintained and
implemented security standards and protocols comparable to
those of the United States at foreign last point of departure
airports at which a pilot program has been established in
accordance with this section, the Administrator shall ensure
that passengers and their property arriving from such
airports are re-screened in the United States before such
passengers and their property are permitted into sterile
areas of airports in the United States. In the case of
continued or egregious failure to maintain such security
standards and protocols, the Administrator shall suspend or
terminate the aviation security screening agreement, as
determined appropriate by the Administrator, and shall notify
the appropriate congressional committees of such suspension
or termination, as the case may be, not later than seven days
after such suspension or termination.
(f) Certifications and Briefings to Congress.--Not later
than 30 days before an aviation security screening agreement
in accordance with subsection (d) enters into force, the
Administrator shall provide to the appropriate congressional
committees the following:
(1) A copy of such agreement.
(2) A homeland security threat assessment for the country
in which such foreign last point of departure airport is
located, information on any corresponding mitigation efforts
to address any security issues identified in such threat
assessment, and the Administrator's plans for ensuring
through joint covert testing or other measures compliance
with the security standards and protocols set forth in such
agreement.
(3) A certification that such agreement satisfies all
requirements specified in subsection (b) or, in the event
that one or more of such requirements is not so satisfied, an
identification of the unsatisfied requirement and information
on what actions will be taken to ensure such remaining
requirement is satisfied before such agreement enters into
force.
(4) A certification that the Administrator consulted with
stakeholders, including air carriers, airport operators,
relevant interagency partners, and other stakeholders the
Administrator determines appropriate.
(5) A detailed briefing on the substance of paragraphs (1)
through (4).
(g) Sunset.--The pilot program described in subsection (a)
shall terminate six years after the date of enactment of this
section.
(h) Report to Congress.--Not later than five years after
the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of
Homeland Security, in coordination with the Administrator,
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a
report regarding the implementation of the pilot program
described in subsection (a), including information relating
to the following:
(1) The impact to homeland security and international
aviation security, including any benefits and challenges, of
such pilot program.
(2) The impact to passengers, airports, and air carriers,
including any benefits and challenges, of such pilot program.
(3) The impact and feasibility of continuing such pilot
program or expanding into a more permanent program, including
any benefits and challenges.
(i) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be
construed as limiting the authority of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection to inspect persons and baggage arriving in
the United States in accordance with applicable law.
(j) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Administration; tsa.--The terms ``Administration'' and
``TSA'' mean the Transportation Security Administration.
(2) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.
(3) 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.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Mississippi (Mr. Thompson) and the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr.
Guest) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Mississippi.
General Leave
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent
that all Members 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
gentleman from Mississippi?
There was no objection.
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4094, the One-Stop Pilot
Program Act of 2021.
This legislation seeks to simplify and streamline the security
screening process for certain international air travelers arriving in
the U.S.
It does so by directing the Transportation Security Administration to
carry out a pilot program to allow passengers arriving from certain
foreign airports to proceed directly to their connecting flights in the
United States without having to go through the domestic security
screening process.
Under current law, TSA is required to screen international passengers
and their belongings upon their arrival in the U.S. before they can
continue on to a connecting flight at a domestic airport. In practice,
this means that upon landing, passengers must go through a TSA
checkpoint with their carry-on items and have their checked baggage
rescreened by TSA.
Under the pilot program required under H.R. 4094, arriving
international passengers would forego TSA screening when transferring
to a domestic flight if they originated from certain airports where
strong security measures are in place on the front end.
As amended, this bill requires foreign airports participating in the
pilot to uphold security screening standards and procedures that are
comparable to those used by TSA. In doing so, passengers and their
belongings at these airports will be securely screened before they
arrive in the United States so they can more easily catch their
connecting flight to their final destination.
Beyond an improved passenger experience, requiring security standards
and protocols at foreign airports to be on par with those used in the
U.S. could help strengthen aviation security around the globe.
Mr. Speaker, 20 years after 9/11, enhancing transportation security
remains a critical priority. With that, I support H.R. 4094, and I urge
my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
[[Page H5543]]
Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4094, the One-Stop Pilot
Program Act of 2021. This legislation will allow TSA to conduct a pilot
program with select foreign airports that will make international air
travel both more secure and more efficient.
Streamlining international aviation security for passengers from
certified foreign airports would not only encourage airports around the
globe to reach U.S. security standards, but it will also help
revitalize a struggling international aviation industry. This
innovative pilot program shows that it is possible to have both better
security and a more seamless passenger experience.
I thank Ranking Member Katko for his tireless work with colleagues on
both sides of the aisle to bring this legislation to where it is today.
Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to join me in supporting H.R. 4094, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to gentleman from New York
(Mr. Katko), the ranking member.
Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4094, the One-Stop Pilot Program Act of
2021 authorizes the Transportation Security Administration to establish
a pilot program to streamline international travel and enhance aviation
security.
Specifically, under this bill, international travelers from certified
last point of departure airports would not need to be rescreened upon
arrival in the United States for their domestic connecting flight.
H.R. 4094 will improve international aviation security since
participating LPD airports must elevate their level of security to that
of the United States in order to be certified. Given the desire and
competition among international airports to participate, the one-stop
security pilot will help to raise the global baseline of aviation
security.
The bill ensures robust oversight of the pilot program by requiring
TSA to brief and certify to Congress that security standards are
maintained at participating pilot airports. Additionally, the pilot
program will inform Congress and DHS as to whether a more permanent
one-stop program is practical and beneficial to U.S. aviation security.
One-stop screening would enable TSA to better utilize its screening
workforce and technology to help facilitate the increased travel volume
as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Just this morning, the TSA administrator testified before the
Committee on Homeland Security about the security and efficiency
benefits that this pilot program will have on TSA's operations.
The pilot program will also provide international travelers with a
more seamless and efficient travel experience. Travelers will no longer
have to rush to be rescreened by TSA during their layover and will have
more time at the airport without fear of missing their connecting
flights.
The aviation industry will also realize efficiencies as a result of
this bill. Air carriers will potentially be able to shorten connection
times for travelers and streamline staffing at participating airports.
U.S. airports will also see benefits as connecting travelers will have
more time to dine and shop while on their layover. This is critically
important as the travel and tourism industry continues to struggle with
the effects of this brutal pandemic.
For these reasons, and many others, aviation and travel industry
stakeholders are very enthusiastic about this legislation, and I
appreciate their strong support.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support from Airlines
for America, the American Association of Airport Executives, and the
Airports Council International North America.
Airlines for America,
Washington, DC, June 29, 2021.
Ranking Member John Katko,
House Committee on Homeland Security,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Ranking Member Katko: I write to express Airlines for
America's (A4A) robust support for H.R. 4094, the ``One-Stop
Pilot Program Act of 2021.'' This bill would serve as a
critical tool for the Transportation Security Administration
(TSA), partner governments and the commercial aviation
industry to pilot innovative ways to increase security at
foreign last point of departure airports while increasing
efficiency of screening for passengers and baggage within the
United States.
This bill would authorize a pilot program at 10 or fewer
foreign last point of departure airports, permitting
passengers flying from these airports and their carry-on
baggage to continue to additional flights or flight segments
within the U.S. without additional security rescreening. U.S.
airlines have collaborated positively with the TSA on similar
initiatives for years, but unfortunately our collective
efforts have been stymied by outdated requirements in the
Aviation and Transportation Security Act.
By permitting the TSA to pilot a new concept in a safe and
controlled manner, it will be possible to demonstrate how
such security enhancement programs may be permanently and
broadly implemented. The bill is consistent with standards
and recommended practices set by the International Civil
Aviation Organization and puts the United States in a
position to lead the international community on modern
approaches to enhance aviation security.
Safety and security are always the top priorities of A4A
and our member airlines, and we are encouraged that this bill
maintains the high aviation security standards for flights
into and within the United States. Upon passage, we look
forward to continued collaboration with the TSA on all One-
Stop security efforts.
On behalf of the commercial U.S. aviation industry, A4A
strongly supports this legislation. Thank you for your
leadership on this issue.
Sincerely,
Lauren Beyer,
Vice President, Security and Facilitation,
Airlines for America.
____
American Association of
Airport Executives,
Alexandria, VA, June 29, 2021.
Hon. John Katko,
Ranking Members, Committee on Homeland Security, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Ranking Member Katko: On behalf of the American
Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and the thousands of
men and women across the country who manage and operate our
nation's airports, thank you for your continued leadership in
Congress on aviation security issues. I am writing to express
AAAE's support for the ``One Stop Pilot Program Act of 2021''
that you introduced earlier this week.
This legislation would permit the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) to conduct a three-year pilot program at
up to 10 airports at which connecting passengers' and their
carry-on baggage would not need to be rescreened upon arrival
in the United States before connecting to another domestic
flight provided that the last point of departure airport has
a commensurate level of screening to the U.S. Some of AAAE's
airport members had been exploring this concept with TSA
prior to the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to eliminate
screening redundancy and improve passenger facilitation. We
appreciate the necessary changes your legislation would make
to permit this concept to be tested on a pilot basis.
Once international travel is allowed to fully resume, which
AAAE and our airport members are eagerly awaiting and working
to see implemented as quickly and safely as possible in
concert with the federal government, the One Stop Pilot
Program will provide additional passenger facilitation
solutions to make international travel more seamless and
secure.
We appreciate your efforts to advance this security
screening concept. Our member airports remain interested in
piloting this idea. AAAE stands ready to work with you to
advance this legislation.
Sincerely,
Stephanie K. Gupta,
Senior Vice President,
Security and Facilitation.
____
Airports Council International,
June 25, 2021.
Hon. John Katko,
Ranking Member, Committee on Homeland Security, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Ranking Member Katko: On behalf of Airports Council
International-North America, which represents local,
regional, and state governing bodies that own and operate
commercial airports throughout the United States, I want to
share our support of your new bill, H.R. 4094, the One-Stop
Pilot Program Act.
Airports welcome the introduction of this important
legislation to establish a pilot program at the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security that would allow passengers
and their baggage departing from approved foreign airports to
continue onto their connecting flights without having to go
through additional security screening. This one-stop security
pilot would create needed efficiencies by eliminating an
unnecessary and burdensome rescreening process for passengers
and baggage that were subject to a commensurate level of
screening at their departing airport. It also would allow TSA
to reallocate scarce resources to augment staffing at
checkpoint and checked baggage screening locations.
Thank you for your efforts to enhance aviation security and
the passenger experience at America's airports. I look
forward to
[[Page H5544]]
continuing to work with you on these important issues.
Sincerely,
Kevin M. Burke,
President and CEO, Airports
Council International--North America.
Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, lastly, I thank my friend, Representative
Stephanie Murphy from Florida, for her partnership on this bipartisan
bill, and I thank Chairman Thompson, my friend, for his commitment to
bringing it to the floor today.
Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to join me in supporting H.R. 4094.
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I also have no further speakers.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance
of my time.
Mr. Speaker, the pilot program authorized under H.R. 4094 is intended
to provide TSA and its international aviation security partners with an
opportunity to streamline travel and enhance security.
Importantly, H.R. 4094 includes essential security guardrails to
ensure that the pilot is carried out in a way that does not result in
lessened security standards regarding, for example, the carriage of
small knives on planes or the transfer of upstream passengers without
rescreening.
That is why the legislation, which was introduced by the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Katko), received bipartisan support when it was
approved by the Committee on Homeland Security in July.
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 Mississippi (Mr. Thompson) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4094, 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.
____________________