110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1690
To improve airport screening and security.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 26, 2007
Mrs. LOWEY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Homeland Security
A BILL
To improve airport screening and security.
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 `Guaranteeing Airport Physical Screening Standards
Act'.
SEC. 2. ENHANCED PERIMETER SECURITY AND ACCESS CONTROL THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE
SCREENING OF AIRPORT WORKERS.
(a) Pilot Program- Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security
Administration) shall implement a pilot program at 5 commercial service
airports to physically screen all airport workers with access to secure
and sterile areas of the airport.
(b) Participating Airports- At least 2 of the airports participating in
the pilot program shall be large hub airports (as defined in section 40102
of title 49, United States Code). Each of the remaining airports participating
in the pilot program shall represent a different airport security risk category
(as defined by the Assistant Secretary).
(c) Screening Standards- Screening for airport workers under the pilot program
shall be conducted under the same standards as apply to individuals at airport
security screening checkpoints, and shall be carried out by contract screeners
at a minimum of 2 airports.
(d) Duration- The pilot program shall be carried out for a period of not
less than 180 days.
(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 90 days after the last day of the pilot
program, the Assistant Secretary 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 report on the results of the
pilot program.
(2) CONTENTS- The report shall contain, at a minimum, the following:
(A) An assessment of the impact of physically screening all airport
workers with access to secure and sterile airport areas on screening
and logistical resources.
(B) An assessment of the security improvements that are achieved from
comprehensively screening such workers.
(C) An assessment of the costs of comprehensively screening such workers.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated
such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
SEC. 3. SECURED AREAS OF AIRPORTS.
(a) Implementation of Improved Airport Perimeter Access Security- Not later
than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary
of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration) shall issue
regulations, directives, or other appropriate measures to implement the
requirements of section 44903(h)(4) of title 49, United States Code.
(b) Airport Security Plans- The Assistant Secretary shall set a schedule
for requiring airports to update their airport security plans to comply
with the requirements of section 44903(h)(4) not later than 3 years after
the issuance of the regulations, directives, or other measures required
under subsection (a).
SEC. 4. HIRING OF SCREENERS.
(a) Number of Screeners- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
Secretary of Homeland Security may hire the number of passenger and baggage
screeners that the Secretary determines necessary to ensure aviation security.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated
such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
END
