I 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1895 

To enhance the preparedness of the Transportation Security Administration 

for public health threats to the transportation security system of the 

United States, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 16, 2021 

Mr. GIMENEZ introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Homeland Security 

A BILL 

To enhance the preparedness of the Transportation Security 

Administration for public health threats to the transportation security system of the United States, and for 

other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Transportation Secu5 rity Public Health Threat Preparedness Act of 2021’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 For purposes of this Act: 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 1895 IH

1 (1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis2 trator’’ means the Administrator of the Transpor3 tation Security Administration. 

4 (2) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT5 TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com6 mittees’’ means— 

7 (A) the Committee on Homeland Security 

8 of the House of Representatives; and 

9 (B) the Committee on Homeland Security 

10 and Governmental Affairs and the Committee 

11 on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 

12 the Senate. 

13 (3) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 

14 means the Department of Homeland Security. 

15 (4) STERILE AREA.—The term ‘‘sterile area’’ 

16 has the meaning given such term in section 1540.5 

17 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. 

18 (5) TSA.—The term ‘‘TSA’’ means the Trans19 portation Security Administration. 

20 SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF TSA PERSONNEL DETAILS. 

21 (a) COORDINATION.—Pursuant to sections 106(m) 

22 and 114(m) of title 49, United States Code, the Adminis23 trator may provide TSA personnel, who are not engaged 

24 in front line transportation security efforts, to other com25 ponents of the Department and other Federal agencies to 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 1895 IH

1 improve coordination with such components and agencies 

2 to prepare for, protect against, and respond to public 

3 health threats to the transportation security system of the 

4 United States. 

5 (b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the 

6 date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 

7 brief the appropriate congressional committees regarding 

8 efforts to improve coordination with other components of 

9 the Department and other Federal agencies to prepare for, 

10 protect against, and respond to public health threats to 

11 the transportation security system of the United States. 

12 SEC. 4. TSA PREPAREDNESS. 

13 (a) ANALYSIS.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall con15 duct an analysis of preparedness of the transpor16 tation security system of the United States for pub17 lic health threats. Such analysis shall assess, at a 

18 minimum, the following: 

19 (A) The risks of public health threats to 

20 the transportation security system of the 

21 United States, including to transportation hubs, 

22 transportation security stakeholders, TSA per23 sonnel, and passengers. 

24 (B) Information sharing challenges among 

25 relevant components of the Department, other 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 1895 IH

1 Federal agencies, international entities, and 

2 transportation security stakeholders. 

3 (C) Impacts to TSA policies and proce4 dures for securing the transportation security 

5 system. 

6 (2) COORDINATION.—The analysis conducted of 

7 the risks described in paragraph (1)(A) shall be con8 ducted in coordination with the Chief Medical Offi9 cer of the Department of Homeland Security, the 

10 Secretary of Health and Human Services, and trans11 portation security stakeholders. 

12 (b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the 

13 date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 

14 brief the appropriate congressional committees on the fol15 lowing: 

16 (1) The analysis required under subsection (a). 

17 (2) Technologies necessary to combat public 

18 health threats at security screening checkpoints to 

19 better protect from future public health threats TSA 

20 personnel, passengers, aviation workers, and other 

21 personnel authorized to access the sterile area of an 

22 airport through such checkpoints, and the estimated 

23 cost of technology investments needed to fully imple24 ment across the aviation system solutions to such 

25 threats. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
5 

•HR 1895 IH

1 (3) Policies and procedures implemented by 

2 TSA and transportation security stakeholders to 

3 protect from public health threats TSA personnel, 

4 passengers, aviation workers, and other personnel 

5 authorized to access the sterile area through the se6 curity screening checkpoints, as well as future plans 

7 for additional measures relating to such protection. 

8 (4) The role of TSA in establishing priorities, 

9 developing solutions, and coordinating and sharing 

10 information with relevant domestic and international 

11 entities during a public health threat to the trans12 portation security system, and how TSA can im13 prove its leadership role in such areas. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS