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[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5338 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
114th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5338

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 8, 2016

    Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

 
  To reduce passenger wait times at airports, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Checkpoint Optimization and 
Efficiency Act of 2016''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that airport checkpoint wait times 
should not take priority over the security of the Nation's aviation 
system.

SEC. 3. ENHANCED STAFFING ALLOCATION MODEL.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Transportation Security 
Administration shall complete an assessment of the Administration's 
staffing allocation model to determine the necessary staffing positions 
at all airports in the United States at which the Administration 
operates passenger checkpoints.
    (b) Appropriate Staffing.--The staffing allocation model described 
in subsection (a) shall be based on necessary staffing levels to 
maintain minimal passenger wait times and maximum security 
effectiveness.
    (c) Additional Resources.--In assessing necessary staffing for 
minimal passenger wait times and maximum security effectiveness 
referred to in subsection (b), the Administrator of the Transportation 
Security Administration shall include the use of canine explosives 
detection teams and technology to assist screeners conducting security 
checks.
    (d) Transparency.--The Administrator of the Transportation Security 
Administration shall share with aviation security stakeholders the 
staffing allocation model described in subsection (a), as appropriate.
    (e) Exchange of Information.--The Administrator of the 
Transportation Security Administration shall require each Federal 
Security Director to engage on a regular basis with the appropriate 
aviation security stakeholders to exchange information regarding 
airport operations, including security operations.
    (f) GAO Review.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall review the staffing allocation model described in subsection (a) 
and report to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate on the results of such review.

SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE UTILIZATION OF STAFFING RESOURCES.

    (a) In General.--To the greatest extent practicable, the 
Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall 
direct that Transportation Security Officers with appropriate 
certifications and training are assigned to passenger and baggage 
security screening functions and that other Administration personnel 
who may not have certification and training to screen passengers or 
baggage are utilized for tasks not directly related to security 
screening, including restocking bins and providing instructions and 
support to passengers in security lines.
    (b) Assessment and Reassignment.--The Administrator of the 
Transportation Security Administration shall conduct an assessment of 
headquarters personnel and reassign appropriate personnel to assist 
with airport security screening activities on a permanent or temporary 
basis, as appropriate.

SEC. 5. TSA STAFFING AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Transportation Security 
Administration shall take the following actions:
            (1) Utilize the Administration's Behavior Detection 
        Officers for passenger and baggage security screening, 
        including the verification of traveler documents, particularly 
        at designated PreCheck lanes to ensure that such lanes are 
        operational for use and maximum efficiency.
            (2) Make every practicable effort to grant additional 
        flexibility and authority to Federal Security Directors in 
        matters related to checkpoint and checked baggage staffing 
        allocation and employee overtime in furtherance of maintaining 
        minimal passenger wait times and maximum security 
        effectiveness.
            (3) Disseminate to aviation security stakeholders and 
        appropriate Administration personnel a list of checkpoint 
        optimization best practices.
            (4) Expand efforts to increase the public's participation 
        in the Administration's PreCheck program, including deploying 
        Administration-approved ready-to-market private sector 
        solutions and offering secure online and mobile enrollment 
        opportunities.
            (5) Request the Aviation Security Advisory Committee 
        (established pursuant to section 44946 of title 49, United 
        States Code) provide recommendations on best practices for 
        checkpoint security operations optimization.
    (b) Staffing Advisory Coordination.--Not later than 30 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Transportation Security Administration shall--
            (1) direct each Federal Security Director to coordinate 
        local representatives of aviation security stakeholders to 
        establish a staffing advisory working group at each airport at 
        which the Administration oversees or performs passenger 
        security screening to provide recommendations to the 
        Administrator on Transportation Security Officer staffing 
        numbers, for such airport; and
            (2) certify to the Committee on Homeland Security of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate that such staffing 
        advisory working groups have been established.
    (c) Reporting.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Transportation Security 
Administration shall--
            (1) report to the Committee on Homeland Security of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate regarding how the 
        Administration's Passenger Screening Canine assets may be 
        deployed and utilized for maximum efficiency to mitigate risk 
        and optimize checkpoint operations; and
            (2) report to the Committee on Homeland Security of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the status of the 
        Administration's Credential Authentication Technology 
        Assessment program and how deployment of such program might 
        optimize checkpoint operations.

SEC. 6. AVIATION SECURITY STAKEHOLDERS DEFINED.

    For purposes of this Act, the term ``aviation security 
stakeholders'' shall mean, at a minimum, air carriers, airport 
operators, and labor organizations representing Transportation Security 
Officers or, where applicable, contract screeners.

SEC. 7. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in this Act may be construed as authorizing or directing 
the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration to 
prioritize reducing wait times over security effectiveness.

            Passed the House of Representatives June 7, 2016.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.
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