TSA National Deployment Force Act

Summary: TSA National Deployment Force Act (Sec. 2) This bill establishes within the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) a National Deployment Office to: (1) maintain a National Deployment Force to provide the TSA with rapid and efficient response capabilities and augment homeland security operations to mitigate and reduce risk, (2) educate transportation security officers on how to participate in the force, (3) recruit and train officers to serve on the force, and (4) approve one-year appointments for officers to serve on the force. (Sec. 4) The TSA may consider service in the force a positive factor when evaluating TSA employees for promotions.  (Sec. 5) The TSA must report to Congress annually over a five-year period on the activities of the National Deployment Office, including the force.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``TSA National Deployment Force Act''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL DEPLOYMENT OFFICE.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 449 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 44947. National Deployment Office
    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established within the 
Transportation Security Administration a National Deployment Office, to 
be headed by an individual with supervisory experience. Such individual 
shall be designated by the Administrator of the Transportation Security 
Administration.
    ``(b) Duties.--The individual designated as the head of the 
National Deployment Office shall be responsible for the following:
            ``(1) Maintaining a National Deployment Force within the 
        Transportation Security Administration that is comprised of 
        transportation security officers, including supervisory 
        transportation security officers and lead transportation 
        security officers, to provide the Administration with rapid and 
        efficient response capabilities and augment the Department of 
        Homeland Security's homeland security operations to mitigate 
        and reduce risk, including for the following:
                    ``(A) Airports temporarily requiring additional 
                security personnel due to an emergency, seasonal 
                demands, hiring shortfalls, severe weather conditions, 
                passenger volume mitigation, equipment support, or 
                other reasons.
                    ``(B) Special events requiring enhanced security 
                including National Special Security Events, as 
                determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
                    ``(C) Response in the aftermath of any manmade 
                disaster, including any terrorist attack.
                    ``(D) Other such situations, as determined by the 
                Administrator.
            ``(2) Educating transportation security officers regarding 
        how to participate in the Administration's National Deployment 
        Force.
            ``(3) Recruiting officers to serve on the National 
        Deployment Force, in accordance with a staffing model to be 
        developed by the Administrator.
            ``(4) Approving one-year appointments for officers to serve 
        on the National Deployment Force, with an option to extend upon 
        officer request and with the approval of the appropriate 
        Federal Security Director.
            ``(5) Training officers to serve on the National Deployment 
        Force.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for subchapter II of chapter 
449 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following new item:

``44947. National Deployment Office.''.

SEC. 3. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.

    Subsection (f) of section 114 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (14), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon at the end;
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (15) as paragraph (16); and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (14) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(15) establish and maintain a National Deployment Office 
        as required under section 44947 of this title; and''.

SEC. 4. CAREER DEVELOPMENT.

    The Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration may 
consider service in the National Deployment Force as a positive factor 
when evaluating applicants for promotion opportunities within the 
Transportation Security Administration.

SEC. 5. ANNUAL REPORT.

    Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act and 
annually thereafter for five years, the Administrator of the 
Transportation Security Administration shall submit to the Committee on 
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report regarding 
activities of the National Deployment Office, including the National 
Deployment Force, established under section 44947 of title 49, United 
States Code, as added by section 2 of this Act. Each such report shall 
include information relating to the following:
            (1) When, where, why, how many, and for how long the 
        National Deployment Force was deployed throughout the 12-month 
        period covered by such report and the costs associated with 
        such deployment.
            (2) A description of collaboration between the National 
        Deployment Office and other components of the Department of 
        Homeland Security, other Federal agencies, and State and local 
        transportation security stakeholders.
            (3) The size of the National Deployment Force, including 
        information on the staffing model of such Force and adherence 
        to such model as established by the Administrator.
            (4) Information on recruitment, appointment, and training 
        activities, including processes utilized to attract, recruit, 
        appoint, and train officers to serve on the National Deployment 
        Force.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 4, 2018.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.