The House Homeland Security subcommittee on transportation security approved Thursday two bills and additional language related to aviation security, including a measure that would establish a pilot program for a biometric-based system at airports to identify passengers who are members of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) PreCheck trusted traveler program.
The measures were approved by voice vote.
The Transportation Security Administration Reform and Improvement Act of 2015, a committee print, would authorize the PreCheck program in addition to pilot testing the automated biometric verification system to enhance the security of the program. PreCheck provides expedited screening benefits at airport checkpoints for travelers that voluntarily submit personal data about themselves that is submitted for a background check.
The purpose of the biometric check is to reduce the need for screening personnel to perform travel document verification of passengers enrolled in PreCheck, reduce TSA’s costs and be integrated with other checkpoint technologies to advance risk-based passenger screening, the print says. A committee print is legislative text that could become a bill.
The committee print would also require TSA to establish an automated system at all large airports to verify the travel and identity documents of passengers that are not part of PreCheck.
Another provision of the print authorizes TSA to donate security screening equipment to a foreign last point of departure airport if the agency expects the equipment will lessen threats to the security of the United States.
The Airport Access Control Security Improvement Act of 2015 (H.R. 3102), introduced by Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.), subcommittee chairman, directs TSA to develop an intelligence-driven, risk-based screening model for airport workers based on different access levels and employment positions.
The bill would also require TSA to study the cost and feasibility of installing a number of security measures at employee entry and exit points at security areas of airports, including secure doors using either card and pin entry or biometric technology, surveillance video, at least one type of advance screening technology including metal detectors, bomb-sniffing dogs, explosives trace detection swabbing, advanced imaging technology, and X-Ray bag screening technology.
The Partners for Aviation Security Act (H.R. 3144), offered by Rep. Donald Payne (D-N.J.), requires TSA to consult with the Aviation Security Advisory Committee regarding any changes to the list of items that passengers are prohibited from carrying onto a plane.
Separately in the Senate, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced a bill directing the Department of Homeland Security to develop a strategy to protect the electric grid from threats of electromagnetic pulse nuclear weapons and disturbances from solar storms. The Critical Infrastructure Protection Act (S. 1846) would also have DHS research ways to mitigate the threat, including protecting the grid and recovering from damage or disruption.