The House on Wednesday passed by voice vote two homeland security bills, one that gives the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) more leeway on whether to re-screen checked baggage entering the United States on international flights and the other requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to have clean financial audits in 2013.
The bills have already been approved by the Senate and will be presented to President Obama for his signature.
The No-Hassle Flying Act of 2013 (S. 3542, H.R. 6028) gives the TSA the discretion whether to re-screen check baggage that has already been screened at a foreign airport in accordance to with a security agreement between the United States and the government of the departure airport. Currently re-screening luggage that arrives from pre-clearance foreign airport before it is loaded on a connecting domestic flight causes many passengers to miss their connecting flights.
“This is a smart, efficient way to streamline travel, boost tourism and lower costs while maintaining the highest security standards,” Nicholas Calio, president and CEO of Airlines for America, said in a statement.
The Department of Homeland Security Improved Financial Accountability Act of 2011 (S. 1998) requires the department to conduct and pass full audits of its financial statements, something it has been unable to do so far.
The Government Accountability Office has reported on a number of occasions that DHS’ financial management is at a high risk for waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement. DHS has worked to improve its financial reporting and the bill aims to get the department over the hump in 2013.
“I believe that the department is now heading in the right direction, and this new law will lay out a clear and important goal and help establish the steps necessary to achieve it,” Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, said in a statement. Carper is one of the bill’s co-sponsors.