II 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 2023 

To require a study regarding security measures and equipment at Cuba’s 

airports, require the standardization of Federal Air Marshal Service 

agreements, require efforts to raise international aviation security standards, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 26, 2017 

Mr. RUBIO introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

A BILL 

To require a study regarding security measures and equipment at Cuba’s airports, require the standardization of 

Federal Air Marshal Service agreements, require efforts 

to raise international aviation security standards, 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 ‘‘Cuban Airport Secu5 rity Act of 2017’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. FLIGHTS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CUBA. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Trans3 portation Security Administration shall brief the Com4 mittee on Homeland Security of the House of Representa5 tives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans6 portation of the Senate, and the Comptroller General of 

7 the United States on the following aspects of security 

8 measures at each of Cuba’s ten international airports: 

9 (1) Details about the type of equipment used at 

10 screening checkpoints and an analysis of such equip11 ment’s capabilities and weaknesses. 

12 (2) Information about each such airport’s ca13 nine program, if used. 

14 (3) The frequency of training for screening and 

15 security personnel. 

16 (4) Access controls in place to ensure only 

17 credentialed personnel have access to the secure and 

18 sterile areas of such airports. 

19 (5) An assessment of the ability of known or 

20 suspected terrorists to use Cuba as a gateway to en21 tering the United States. 

22 (6) Security of such airports’ perimeters. 

23 (7) A mitigation assessment regarding Man 

24 Portable Air Defense Systems. 

25 (8) The vetting practices and procedures for 

26 airport employees. 


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1 (9) Any other information determined relevant 

2 to the security practices, procedures, and equipment 

3 in place at such airports. 

4 (b) PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN AGREE5 MENTS.— 

6 (1) DISCLOSURE REQUIRED.—No United States 

7 air carrier that has entered into a covered agreement 

8 may employ a Cuban national pursuant to section 

9 515.573 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, 

10 after the date that is 30 days after the date of the 

11 enactment of this Act unless the air carrier has pub12 licly disclosed the full text of the covered agreement. 

13 (2) HIRING AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS.— 

14 Notwithstanding any other provision of law or regu15 lation, to the extent practicable, Cuban nationals re16 ferred to in paragraph (1) shall not have been re17 cruited, hired, or trained by entities that are owned, 

18 operated, or controlled, in whole or in part, by 

19 Cuba’s Council of State, Council of Ministers, Com20 munist Party, Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed 

21 Forces, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or Ministry of 

22 the Interior. 

23 (3) COVERED AGREEMENT.—In this subsection, 

24 the term ‘‘covered agreement’’ means a formal 

25 agreement between a United States air carrier with 


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1 passenger air service between any location in Cuba 

2 and any location in the United States and the 

3 Empresa Cubana de Aeropuertos y Servicios 

4 Aeronauticos or any other entity associated with the 

5 Government of Cuba. 

6 SEC. 3. FEDERAL AIR MARSHAL SERVICE AGREEMENTS. 

7 (a) STANDARDIZATION.—Not later than 60 days 

8 after the date of the enactment of the Act, the Adminis9 trator of the Transportation Security Administration shall 

10 develop a standard working document to serve as the basis 

11 for all negotiations and agreements that begin after such 

12 date between the United States and foreign governments 

13 or partners regarding Federal Air Marshal coverage of 

14 flights to and from the United States. 

15 (b) WRITTEN AGREEMENTS.—All agreements be16 tween the United States and foreign governments or part17 ners regarding the presence of Federal Air Marshals on 

18 flights to and from the United States pursuant to sub19 section (a) shall be written and signed by the Secretary 

20 of Homeland Security or the Secretary’s designee. 

21 (c) CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION.—The Secretary 

22 of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on 

23 Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and 

24 the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 


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1 of the Senate any agreement entered into under this sec2 tion within 30 days of such agreement being signed. 

3 SEC. 4. INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 

5 date of the enactment of this Act, the United States Am6 bassador or the Charge ́ d’Affaires to the United States 

7 Mission to the International Civil Aviation Organization 

8 shall pursue improvements to airport security, including 

9 if practicable, introducing a resolution to raise minimum 

10 standards for airport security. 

11 (b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 days 

12 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the United 

13 States Ambassador or the Charge ́ d’Affaires to the United 

14 States Mission to the International Civil Aviation Organi15 zation shall report to the Committee on Homeland Secu16 rity and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 

17 of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Secu18 rity and Governmental Affairs, the Committee on Foreign 

19 Relations, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

20 Transportation of the Senate on the implementation of 

21 subsection (a). 

Æ 


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