Transportation Security Public Health Threat Preparedness Act of 2021

IIB 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1895 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES JULY 21, 2021 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation AN ACT To enhance the preparedness of the Transportation Security Administration for public health threats to the transpor- tation security system of the United States, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:29 Jul 22, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1895.RFS H1895 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 HR 1895 RFS SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 1 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Transportation Secu- 2 rity Public Health Threat Preparedness Act of 2021’’. 3 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 4 For purposes of this Act: 5 (1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis- 6 trator’’ means the Administrator of the Transpor- 7 tation Security Administration. 8 (2) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT- 9 TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com- 10 mittees’’ means— 11 (A) the Committee on Homeland Security 12 of the House of Representatives; and 13 (B) the Committee on Homeland Security 14 and Governmental Affairs and the Committee 15 on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 16 the Senate. 17 (3) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 18 means the Department of Homeland Security. 19 (4) STERILE AREA.—The term ‘‘sterile area’’ 20 has the meaning given such term in section 1540.5 21 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. 22 (5) TSA.—The term ‘‘TSA’’ means the Trans- 23 portation Security Administration. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:29 Jul 22, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1895.RFS H1895 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 HR 1895 RFS SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF TSA PERSONNEL DETAILS. 1 (a) COORDINATION.—Pursuant to sections 106(m) 2 and 114(m) of title 49, United States Code, the Adminis- 3 trator may provide TSA personnel, who are not engaged 4 in front line transportation security efforts, to other com- 5 ponents of the Department and other Federal agencies to 6 improve coordination with such components and agencies 7 to prepare for, protect against, and respond to public 8 health threats to the transportation security system of the 9 United States. 10 (b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the 11 date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 12 brief the appropriate congressional committees regarding 13 efforts to improve coordination with other components of 14 the Department and other Federal agencies to prepare for, 15 protect against, and respond to public health threats to 16 the transportation security system of the United States. 17 SEC. 4. TSA PREPAREDNESS. 18 (a) ANALYSIS.— 19 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall con- 20 duct an analysis of preparedness of the transpor- 21 tation security system of the United States for pub- 22 lic health threats. Such analysis shall assess, at a 23 minimum, the following: 24 (A) The risks of public health threats to 25 the transportation security system of the 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:29 Jul 22, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1895.RFS H1895 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 4 HR 1895 RFS United States, including to transportation hubs, 1 transportation security stakeholders, TSA per- 2 sonnel, and passengers. 3 (B) Information sharing challenges among 4 relevant components of the Department, other 5 Federal agencies, international entities, and 6 transportation security stakeholders. 7 (C) Impacts to TSA policies and proce- 8 dures for securing the transportation security 9 system. 10 (2) COORDINATION.—The analysis conducted of 11 the risks described in paragraph (1)(A) shall be con- 12 ducted in coordination with the Chief Medical Offi- 13 cer of the Department of Homeland Security, the 14 Secretary of Health and Human Services, and trans- 15 portation security stakeholders. 16 (b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the 17 date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 18 brief the appropriate congressional committees on the fol- 19 lowing: 20 (1) The analysis required under subsection (a). 21 (2) Technologies necessary to combat public 22 health threats at security screening checkpoints to 23 better protect from future public health threats TSA 24 personnel, passengers, aviation workers, and other 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:29 Jul 22, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1895.RFS H1895 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 5 HR 1895 RFS personnel authorized to access the sterile area of an 1 airport through such checkpoints, and the estimated 2 cost of technology investments needed to fully imple- 3 ment across the aviation system solutions to such 4 threats. 5 (3) Policies and procedures implemented by 6 TSA and transportation security stakeholders to 7 protect from public health threats TSA personnel, 8 passengers, aviation workers, and other personnel 9 authorized to access the sterile area through the se- 10 curity screening checkpoints, as well as future plans 11 for additional measures relating to such protection. 12 (4) The role of TSA in establishing priorities, 13 developing solutions, and coordinating and sharing 14 information with relevant domestic and international 15 entities during a public health threat to the trans- 16 portation security system, and how TSA can im- 17 prove its leadership role in such areas. 18 Passed the House of Representatives July 20, 2021. Attest: CHERYL L. JOHNSON, Clerk. VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:29 Jul 22, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1895.RFS H1895 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS