By Calvin Biesecker
New legislation introduced yesterday by the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to form a working group with industry stakeholders to help find the best way for airports nationwide to deploy interoperable biometric identification credentials and related access control systems for airport employees.
The Biometric Enhancement and Airport Risk Reduction (BEAR) Act of 2008 (H.R. 5982) “ensures there is a comprehensive plan in place before airports begin using biometric identification for its workers,” Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), chairman of the House committee, said in a statement. “This is not about reinventing the wheel or putting a stop to any good work at TSA. It is about helping us build upon smart, efficient, and effective airport security measures needed to secure Americans and protect a vital industry to our economy and resiliency.”
The BEAR Act comes a day after the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) began an airport employee screening pilot program at seven airports in the country that will include reviewing the performance of biometric-based access control systems at certain airports (Defense Daily, May 7).
The bill also requires TSA to study existing and proposed industry programs that enhance biometric security systems at airports and to review how airports can transition to uniform, standards-based and interoperable biometric identifier systems for airport workers with unescorted access.
The nation’s airports are concerned that TSA may rush a one-size fits all approach under a demanding deadline for them to adopt biometric access control measures for their employees. As a result, last month a leading airport trade group and a dozen airports established a working group to build on the existing expertise in the airport community in worker credentialing and access control to help pave the way for biometric-based employee security solutions at airports (Defense Daily, April 4).
Thompson’s bill also requires TSA to submit to Congress a report on the best practices for issuing biometric credentials for airport workers and to outline the various costs that would be associated with implementing biometric-based access controls for airport employees.
The Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) lauded the proposed legislation.
“Security is of the utmost importance for all airports,” ACI-NA President Greg Principato said in a statement. “Chairman Thompson and his committee have reached out to industry stakeholders to help us chart a way forward with biometrics. Not only will this study help the industry reach the right solution, but we will also be able to develop best practices for administering biometric credentials.”
The bill does not mandate that airports implement biometric access controls for their employees.