[House Report 117-337]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


117th Congress     }                                 {      Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session        }                                 {      117-337

======================================================================



 
 SECURING THE CHECKPOINT PROPERTY SCREENING SYSTEM (S-CPSS) ACT OF 2022

                                _______
                                

  May 24, 2022.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, from the Committee on Homeland Security, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 6827]

    The Committee on Homeland Security, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 6827) to authorize appropriations to accelerate 
the procurement and deployment of computed tomography equipment 
to enhance detection capabilities for carry-on baggage, and for 
other purpose, having considered the same, reports favorably 
thereon without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
Purpose and Summary..............................................     1
Background and Need for Legislation..............................     2
Hearing..........................................................     3
Committee Consideration..........................................     3
Committee Votes..................................................     3
Committee Oversight Findings.....................................     3
C.B.O. Estimate, New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and 
  Tax Expenditures...............................................     3
Federal Mandates Statement.......................................     3
Duplicative Federal Programs.....................................     4
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............     4
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff 
  Benefits.......................................................     4
Advisory Committee Statement.....................................     4
Applicability to Legislative Branch..............................     4
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation...................     4

                          PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

    H.R. 6827, the ``Securing the Checkpoint Property Screening 
System (S-CPSS) Act of 2022,'' seeks to accelerate the 
Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) procurement and 
deployment of computed tomography (CT) equipment at airport 
checkpoints by authorizing $1.6 billion to be appropriated for 
the Checkpoint Property Screening System (CPSS) program through 
fiscal year (FY) 2026. The procurement and deployment of CT 
equipment at the scale authorized by the bill will enhance the 
detection capability of carry-on baggage screening at TSA 
security checkpoints. An important feature of this measure is 
the $82.1 million authorized for participation in the CPSS 
program by small businesses that have displayed an ability to 
develop or produce advanced checkpoint property screening 
technology. This provision is in furtherance of TSA's January 
2020 strategy to diversify the security technology marketplace, 
which included 12 initiatives to increase small business 
participation, that was required under the ``TSA Modernization 
Act'' (Pub. L. 115-254).

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    H.R. 6827, the ``Securing the Checkpoint Property Screening 
System (S-CPSS) Act of 2022,'' authorizes appropriations for 
broader deployment of CT units at TSA security checkpoints 
nationwide. Today, advanced technology (AT) X-ray machines are 
the most common systems used to screen carry-on items at TSA 
checkpoints. In 2016, TSA's capability analysis process 
identified a need for updated screening equipment that could 
detect a broader range of explosives, reduce false alarm rates, 
minimize operational bottlenecks, and allow passengers to leave 
liquids in carry-on bags. In November 2017, to address 
capability gaps in carry-on bag screening, TSA initiated the 
CPSS program with the goal of replacing over 2,000 AT X-ray 
systems with enhanced three-dimensional CT systems to detect a 
broader range of explosives and improve the passenger 
experience. TSA has highlighted to Congress the need for the 
full deployment of CT systems as a critical tool to counter 
current threats to aviation.
    Committee Members, on a bipartisan basis, have long 
expressed support for the program and supported funding for 
full procurement and deployment of CT machines on an expedited 
timeline to counter existing threats. Unfortunately, at the 
current funding level, it could take more than a decade to 
procure and deploy all the CT machines needed to achieve full 
operating capability. On a bipartisan basis, Committee Members 
have expressed frustration with the pace of CT procurement and 
deployment and have expressed some concerns regarding the 
implementation of the program. Those concerns include a lack of 
adequate oversight and support of CT systems acquisition by the 
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as the DHS Office of the 
Inspector General highlighted in a September 2021 report, and 
the use of sole-source awards in the program which limits 
competition and undermines small business participation.
    H.R. 6827 seeks to address these concerns by accelerating 
the procurement and deployment of CT equipment at airport 
checkpoints by authorizing appropriations of over $1.6 billion 
for the procurement and deployment of CT equipment through FY 
2026. Additionally, the bill authorizes appropriations of over 
$82 million through FY 2026 to support the research and 
development of small businesses that have displayed an ability 
to produce technologies supporting the advancement of 
checkpoint property screening. This additional funding would 
strengthen research and development and private sector 
partnerships of critical technology innovations for checkpoint 
screening, including software and third-party algorithm 
development. Importantly, the bill includes reporting 
requirements to ensure each award satisfies key DHS and TSA 
performance parameters.

                                HEARING

    For the purposes of clause 3(c)(6) of rule XIII of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, the following hearing 
was used to develop H.R. 6827:
           On September 29, 2021, the Committee held a 
        hearing entitled, ``20 Years After 9/11: The State of 
        the Transportation Security Administration.'' The 
        Committee heard testimony from David P. Pekoske, 
        Administrator, Transportation Security Administration, 
        U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Peter Neffenger, 
        Private Citizen and Former Administrator, TSA; John S. 
        Pistole, President of Anderson University and Former 
        Administrator, TSA; and J.M. Loy, Private Citizen and 
        Former Administrator, TSA.

                        COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

    The Committee met on March 2, 2022, a quorum being present, 
to consider H.R. 6827 and ordered the measure to be favorably 
reported to the House, without amendment, by voice vote.

                            COMMITTEE VOTES

    Clause 3(b) of rule XIII requires the Committee to list the 
recorded votes on the motion to report legislation and 
amendments thereto.
    No recorded votes were requested during consideration of 
H.R. 6827.

                      COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII, the 
Committee advises that the findings and recommendations of the 
Committee, based on oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1) 
of rule X, are incorporated in the descriptive portions of this 
report.

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATE, NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, ENTITLEMENT 
                    AUTHORITY, AND TAX EXPENDITURES

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule 
XIII and section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974, and with respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(3) of 
rule XIII and section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974, the Committee has requested but not received from the 
Director of the Congressional Budget Office a statement as to 
whether this bill contains any new budget authority, spending 
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures.

                       FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

    An estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of 
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the 
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chairman 
of the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the 
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee.

                      DUPLICATIVE FEDERAL PROGRAMS

    Pursuant to clause 3(c) of rule XIII, the Committee finds 
that H.R. 6827 does not contain any provision that establishes 
or reauthorizes a program known to be duplicative of another 
Federal program.

         STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the objective of 
H.R. 6827 is to authorize appropriations to accelerate the 
procurement and deployment of computed tomography equipment to 
enhance detection capabilities for carry-on baggage and for 
other purposes.

   CONGRESSIONAL EARMARKS, LIMITED TAX BENEFITS, AND LIMITED TARIFF 
                                BENEFITS

    In compliance with rule XXI, this bill, as reported, 
contains no congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or 
limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 
9(f) of rule XXI.

                      ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this 
legislation.

                  APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

    The Committee finds that H.R. 6827 does not relate to the 
terms and conditions of employment or access to public services 
or accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of 
the Congressional Accountability Act.

             SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION

    Section 1. Short title.

    This section states that the Act may be cited as the 
``Securing the Checkpoint Property Screening System (S-CPSS) 
Act of 2022''.

    Sec. 2. Procurement and deployment efforts of computed 
tomography equipment at airport checkpoints.

    Subsection (a) requires the TSA Administrator to brief the 
appropriate congressional committees regarding planned 
procurement and deployment efforts regarding computed 
tomography equipment at airport checkpoints through the CPSS 
program within 6 months of the bill's enactment and annually 
thereafter for 5 years.
    Subsection (b) requires the TSA Administrator to brief the 
appropriate congressional committees if TSA decides to make an 
award to a system that does not meet CPSS key performance 
parameters at least 2 weeks prior to such an award.
    Subsection (c) authorizes $1.6 billion to be appropriated 
over 5 years for TSA to procure and deploy computed tomography 
equipment at airport checkpoints to enhance detection 
capabilities for carry-on baggage. It specifies authorization 
amounts per fiscal year as follows: $257 million for FY 2022; 
$336 million for FY 2023; $343 million for FY 2024; $350 
million for FY 2025; and $355.4 million for FY 2026.
    Subsection (c) also would authorize $82.1 million over 5 
years to TSA to provide funding to small businesses for 
research and development of technologies under consideration 
for the CPSS program. It specifies authorization amounts per 
fiscal year as follows: $12.85 million for FY 2022; $16.8 
million for FY 2023; $17.15 million for FY 2024; $17.5 million 
for FY 2025; and $17.777 million for FY 2026. To be eligible to 
receive such funding, a small business shall demonstrate an 
ability to produce technologies supporting the advancement of 
checkpoint security screening, as determined by the TSA 
Administrator.
    Subsection (d) provides definitions for the terms 
``Administrator,'' ``appropriate congressional committees,'' 
and ``TSA.''

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