IB 

Union Calendar No. 461 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6856 

[Report No. 117–641] 

To reduce the number of firearms at Transportation Security Administration 

passenger screening checkpoints by directing the Administrator to carry 

out a range of activities to inform the public about restrictions regarding 

the carrying of firearms in sterile areas of airports and to strengthen 

enforcement of such restrictions and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 28, 2022 

Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN (for herself and Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 

DECEMBER 14, 2022 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 

House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 28, 2022] 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 6856 RH

A BILL 

To reduce the number of firearms at Transportation Security 

Administration passenger screening checkpoints by directing the Administrator to carry out a range of activities to inform the public about restrictions regarding 

the carrying of firearms in sterile areas of airports and 

to strengthen enforcement of such restrictions and for 

other purposes. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 6856 RH

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 ‘‘Securing Air Travel 

5 Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. SIGNAGE. 

7 Section 44901 of title 49, United States Code, is 

8 amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: 

9 ‘‘(m) SIGNAGE REGARDING FIREARMS.— 

10 ‘‘(1) CHECKPOINT SIGNAGE.—Not later than one 

11 year after the date of the enactment of this subsection, 

12 the Administrator of the Transportation Security Ad13 ministration shall display uniform signage in pas14 senger screening checkpoints to inform individuals at 

15 such checkpoints of restrictions regarding the carrying 

16 of a firearm in the sterile area of an airport. Such 

17 signage shall include visual elements and a concise 

18 description of the maximum criminal and civil pen19 alties (with relevant statutory or regulatory citations) 

20 for unlawfully carrying a firearm in the sterile area 

21 of an airport. 

22 ‘‘(2) PLACEMENT.—Signage under paragraph 

23 (1) shall be prominently displayed and located in 

24 such a manner that it would reasonably be expected 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 6856 RH

1 to be seen by an individual prior to entering the pas2 senger screening checkpoint. 

3 ‘‘(3) AIRPORTS WITH FREQUENT FIREARM

4 INTERDICTIONS.—Not later than one year after the 

5 date of the enactment of this subsection and bienni6 ally thereafter, the Administrator of the Transpor7 tation Security Administration shall publish a list of 

8 not fewer than 25 airports at which firearms were 

9 most frequently interdicted at passenger screening 

10 checkpoints in the prior two years. If with respect to 

11 any such list there are fewer than 25 such airports, 

12 such list shall include as many of such airports as are 

13 otherwise described in this paragraph. 

14 ‘‘(4) ADDITIONAL ENHANCED SIGNAGE FOR AIR15 PORTS WITH FREQUENT FIREARM INTERDICTIONS.— 

16 Not later than 180 days after the date of the publica17 tion of each list required under paragraph (3), the 

18 Administrator of the Transportation Security Admin19 istration shall require each airport included on the 

20 list to install additional enhanced signage at all pas21 senger terminal entrances to such airports to inform 

22 the public and individuals planning to enter a pas23 senger screening checkpoint of the restrictions regard24 ing the carrying of a firearm in the sterile area of the 

25 airport and, as applicable, State, local, territorial, or 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
5 

•HR 6856 RH

1 other jurisdiction-specific restrictions on carrying 

2 firearms in the publicly-accessible areas of the air3 port. Such additional enhanced signage shall be con4 sistent for all airports required to install such addi5 tional enhanced signage under this paragraph, except, 

6 as the case may be, for descriptions of such applicable 

7 State, local, territorial, or other jurisdiction-specific 

8 restrictions. The Administrator may permit an air9 port to remove such signage if such airport is not in10 cluded on a subsequent list. 

11 ‘‘(5) OUTDATED SIGNAGE.—If any relevant in12 formation on signage installed pursuant to this sub13 section is rendered inaccurate due to statutory, regu14 latory, or other changes, the Administrator shall en15 sure such signage is updated in a timely manner, ex16 cept this paragraph does not apply in the case of an17 nual inflation adjustments to civil monetary pen18 alties. 

19 ‘‘(6) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 

20 ‘‘(A) PASSENGER SCREENING CHECK21 POINT.—The term ‘passenger screening check22 point’ means the designated area at each airport 

23 located in the United States at which the Trans24 portation Security Administration, or an entity 

25 authorized by the Administration pursuant to 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
6 

•HR 6856 RH

1 section 44920, or other comparable authority, 

2 provides for the screening of passengers and 

3 carry-on baggage. 

4 ‘‘(B) PASSENGER TERMINAL ENTRANCE.— 

5 The term ‘passenger terminal entrance’ means 

6 the area at each airport located in the United 

7 States where individuals arriving to the airport 

8 by means other than a flight first enter the ter9 minal or other comparable enclosure containing 

10 passenger facilities of the airport located prior to 

11 the passenger screening checkpoint. 

12 ‘‘(C) STERILE AREA.—The term ‘sterile 

13 area’ has the meaning given such term in section 

14 1540.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.’’. 

15 SEC. 3. PUBLIC AWARENESS INITIATIVES. 

16 (a) CAMPAIGN.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.— 

18 (A) IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 120 

19 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 

20 the Administrator of the Transportation Secu21 rity Administration shall implement a public 

22 awareness campaign to inform the public of the 

23 potential criminal and civil consequences of car24 rying a firearm in the sterile area of an airport 

25 that includes actual examples of the criminal 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
7 

•HR 6856 RH

1 and civil consequences imposed on individuals 

2 who violated such prohibition. 

3 (B) PROHIBITION.—Actual examples under 

4 subparagraph (A) may not include any person5 ally identifiable information regarding individ6 uals described in such subparagraph. 

7 (2) ELEMENTS.—The campaign required under 

8 paragraph (1) shall, at a minimum, involve— 

9 (A) the use of Transportation Security Ad10 ministration websites, social media channels, 

11 press releases, and other means of external com12 munication; 

13 (B) the production of audiovisual materials 

14 to be distributed via online video sharing plat15 forms; 

16 (C) engagement with external organizations, 

17 including local and national organizations with 

18 memberships that could benefit from information 

19 regarding how to lawfully travel with a firearm 

20 in checked baggage or, in the case of an author21 ized law enforcement officer, lawfully enter a 

22 sterile area with a firearm; 

23 (D) engagement with press and media, in24 cluding, to the extent practicable, local press and 

25 media in at least those cities that host airports 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
8 

•HR 6856 RH

1 identified biennially pursuant to paragraph (3) 

2 of subsection (m) of section 44901 of title 49, 

3 United States Code, as amended by section 2; 

4 and 

5 (E) engagement with transportation stake6 holders, such as taxi services, public transpor7 tation systems, online platforms for ridesharing, 

8 air carriers, airport operators, and law enforce9 ment organizations, regarding potential partner10 ships, including the possibility of integrating 

11 into mobile applications and websites used by 

12 passengers to reserve ground transportation to 

13 the airport, check into flights, and perform other 

14 travel-related functions warnings regarding po15 tential criminal and civil consequences of car16 rying a firearm into the sterile area of an air17 port. 

18 (3) EXISTING EFFORTS.—The campaign required 

19 under paragraph (1) shall supplement and not sup20 plant any other related existing campaign. 

21 (b) TARGETED ADVERTISING.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the 

23 Transportation Security Administration may pur24 chase or otherwise place advertisements describing the 

25 potential criminal and civil consequences of carrying 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
9 

•HR 6856 RH

1 a firearm in the sterile area of an airport or on or 

2 about one’s person or property that would be acces3 sible in flight, and actual examples of the criminal 

4 and civil consequences faced by individuals who vio5 lated such prohibition, on websites and in publica6 tions (or on or in such other advertising mediums as 

7 the Administrator determines appropriate) that target 

8 audiences seeking information concerning— 

9 (A) firearms or related activities; 

10 (B) travel, tourism, or related matters; and 

11 (C) such other matters the Administrator 

12 determines appropriate. 

13 (2) PROHIBITION.—Actual examples under para14 graph (1) may not include any personally identifiable 

15 information regarding individuals described in such 

16 paragraph. 

17 SEC. 4. FINES. 

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 449 of title 

19 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 

20 the following new section: 

21 ‘‘§ 44930. Minimum civil monetary penalties for cer22 tain firearm-related violations 

23 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 

24 date of the enactment of this section, the Administrator of 

25 the Transportation Security Administration shall establish 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
10 

•HR 6856 RH

1 minimum civil monetary penalty amounts for repeat or 

2 egregious violations of subsection (a) of section 1540.111 of 

3 title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, relating to the car4 riage of firearms on or in an individual’s person or acces5 sible property into the sterile area of an airport or onboard 

6 an aircraft. 

7 ‘‘(b) MINIMUM CIVIL MONETARY PENALTIES FOR RE8 PEAT VIOLATIONS.—The minimum civil monetary penalty 

9 amount for a repeat violation of subsection (a) of section 

10 1540.111 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, involving 

11 a firearm shall be— 

12 ‘‘(1) in the case of an individual with respect to 

13 whom such a repeat violation occurs within five years 

14 of the date of the final adjudication of a previous such 

15 violation— 

16 ‘‘(A) $10,000 for any such repeat violation 

17 involving an unloaded firearm; and 

18 ‘‘(B) $12,500 for any such repeat violation 

19 involving a loaded firearm or unloaded firearm 

20 with accessible ammunition; and 

21 ‘‘(2) in the case of an individual with respect to 

22 whom such a repeat violation occurs more than five 

23 years after the date of the final adjudication of a pre24 vious such violation— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
11 

•HR 6856 RH

1 ‘‘(A) $5,000 for any such repeat violation 

2 involving an unloaded firearm; and 

3 ‘‘(B) $10,000 for any such repeat violation 

4 involving a loaded firearm or unloaded firearm 

5 with accessible ammunition. 

6 ‘‘(c) MINIMUM CIVIL MONETARY PENALTIES FOR

7 EGREGIOUS VIOLATIONS.—The minimum civil monetary 

8 penalty amount for an intentional or otherwise egregious 

9 violation of subsection (a) of section 1540.111 of title 49, 

10 Code of Federal Regulations, involving a firearm shall be— 

11 ‘‘(1) $10,000 for any knowing violation in the 

12 case of a deliberate attempt to conceal such firearm; 

13 and 

14 ‘‘(2) $5,000 for any violation which the Admin15 istrator of the Transportation Security Administra16 tion determines is otherwise egregious, including if 

17 the firearm at issue— 

18 ‘‘(A) is known to the Administrator to— 

19 ‘‘(i) not contain a serial number when 

20 required by law; or 

21 ‘‘(ii) have been manufactured using 

22 additive layer manufacturing (commonly 

23 known as ‘3-D printing’); or 

24 ‘‘(B) is— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
12 

•HR 6856 RH

1 ‘‘(i) of a nature or type that poses a 

2 greater risk to aviation security than fire3 arms typically identified at passenger 

4 screening checkpoints; or 

5 ‘‘(ii) identified with ammunition that 

6 is of a nature or type that poses a greater 

7 risk to aviation security than ammunition 

8 typically identified at passenger screening 

9 checkpoints. 

10 ‘‘(d) SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES.—An individual sub11 ject to a minimum civil monetary penalty amount pursu12 ant to subsection (a) may appeal such penalty amount or 

13 seek a reduction in such penalty amount in the case of such 

14 individual’s particular violation, including based on miti15 gating factors (including in accordance with subsection (e)) 

16 pursuant to procedures provided for in the Transportation 

17 Security Administration’s security regulations. The Admin18 istrator of the Transportation Security Administration 

19 may, if the Administrator determines such is appropriate, 

20 grant such appeal or reduce such penalty amount, as the 

21 case may be. 

22 ‘‘(e) SELF-DISCLOSURE.—Notwithstanding any other 

23 provision of this section, the Administrator of the Transpor24 tation Security Administration may consider self-disclosure 

25 as a mitigating factor when determining the amount of a 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
13 

•HR 6856 RH

1 civil monetary penalty if an individual, in good faith, vol2 untarily discloses a violation of subsection (a) of section 

3 1540.111 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, to the 

4 Transportation Security Administration, an entity author5 ized to conduct screening pursuant to section 44920 of title 

6 49, United States Code, a Government representative, an 

7 employee or contractor of an airline or airport, or other 

8 appropriate authority, after the individual is present for 

9 screening at a passenger screening checkpoint but prior to 

10 the detection of such violation. The Administrator shall in11 form appropriate Administration passenger screening 

12 checkpoint personnel, entities authorized to conduct screen13 ing pursuant to section 44920 of title 49, United States 

14 Code, Government representatives, employees or contractors 

15 of an airline or airport, and other appropriate authorities 

16 regarding appropriate procedures for handling the self-dis17 closure of such a violation, including procedures for con18 tacting law enforcement. 

19 ‘‘(f) PAYMENT PLANS.—The Administrator of the 

20 Transportation Security Administration may provide pay21 ment plans for payment of civil monetary penalty amounts 

22 under this section for a violation of subsection (a) of section 

23 1540.111 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, in the 

24 event an individual provides documentation of hardship. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
14 

•HR 6856 RH

1 ‘‘(g) USE OF AMOUNTS FROM CIVIL MONETARY PEN2 ALTIES.—The Administrator shall obligate and expend 

3 amounts received from the imposition of civil monetary 

4 penalties under this section for repeat or egregious viola5 tions of subsection (a) of section 1540.111 of title 49, Code 

6 of Federal Regulations, involving a firearm for the acquisi7 tion and deployment of passenger screening checkpoint tech8 nology. 

9 ‘‘(h) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec10 tion may be interpreted as— 

11 ‘‘(1) limiting the authority of the Administrator 

12 of the Transportation Security Administration to 

13 issue civil monetary penalty amounts that are greater 

14 than those established as minimum civil monetary 

15 penalty amounts pursuant to this section; 

16 ‘‘(2) limiting the authority of the Administrator 

17 to establish minimum civil monetary penalty 

18 amounts with respect to first-time or non-egregious 

19 violations of section 1540.111 of title 49, Code of Fed20 eral Regulations; or 

21 ‘‘(3) instructing the Administrator to establish a 

22 minimum civil monetary penalty amount with re23 spect to violations involving unloaded replicas of fire24 arms not capable of discharge. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
15 

•HR 6856 RH

1 ‘‘(i) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘passenger 

2 screening checkpoint’ means the designated area at each 

3 airport located in the United States at which the Transpor4 tation Security Administration, or an entity authorized by 

5 the Administration pursuant to section 44920, or other 

6 comparable authority, provides for the screening of pas7 sengers and carry-on baggage.’’. 

8 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for 

9 chapter 449 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 

10 inserting after the item relating to section 44929 the fol11 lowing new item: 

‘‘44930. Minimum civil monetary penalties for certain firearm-related violations.’’. 

12 SEC. 5. PRECHECK ELIGIBLITY. 

13 Section 44919 of title 49, United States Code, is 

14 amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: 

15 ‘‘(m) INELIGIBILITY OF INDIVIDUALS UNLAWFULLY

16 POSSESSING FIREARMS IN RESTRICTED AREAS.— 

17 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Any unauthorized indi18 vidual who possesses a firearm after the individual is 

19 present for screening at a passenger screening check20 point shall be ineligible for expedited security screen21 ing and prohibited from participating in the 

22 PreCheck Program for a period of time determined by 

23 the Administrator of the Transportation Security Ad24 ministration in the Administrator’s sole discretion. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
16 

•HR 6856 RH

1 ‘‘(2) REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION.—The 

2 Administrator of the Transportation Security Admin3 istration shall maintain a procedure through which 

4 an individual subject to a period of ineligibility pur5 suant to this subsection may petition the Adminis6 trator for a reduction in the duration of such period. 

7 The Administrator may, if the Administrator deter8 mines such is appropriate, reduce such duration. Any 

9 such determination shall be in the Administrator’s 

10 sole discretion. 

11 ‘‘(3) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term 

12 ‘passenger screening checkpoint’ means the designated 

13 area at each airport located in the United States at 

14 which the Transportation Security Administration, 

15 or an entity authorized by the Administration pursu16 ant to section 44920, or other comparable authority, 

17 provides for the screening of passengers and carry-on 

18 baggage.’’. 

19 SEC. 6. REPORT. 

20 Not later than one year after the date of the enactment 

21 of this Act and biennially thereafter, the Administrator of 

22 the Transportation Security Administration shall submit 

23 to the appropriate congressional committees a report de24 scribing the following: 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
17 

•HR 6856 RH

1 (1) The implementation of the signage require2 ment under paragraph (1) of subsection (m) of section 

3 44901 of title 49, United States Code, and the imple4 mentation of the signage requirement under para5 graph (4) of such subsection (including a copy of the 

6 list of airports required to be produced biennially 

7 thereunder), as such section was amended by section 

8 2. 

9 (2) The public awareness activities of the Ad10 ministration relating to firearms, including activities 

11 conducted pursuant to section 3. 

12 (3) The number of violations of subsection (a) of 

13 section 1540.111 of title 49, Code of Federal Regula14 tions, and any other incidents involving the unau15 thorized carriage of a firearm at a passenger screen16 ing checkpoint, including information regarding 

17 which such violations and incidents were committed 

18 by individuals while receiving expedited screening, 

19 during the period of time covered by each such report. 

20 (4) PreCheck Program revocations or denials 

21 pursuant to subsection (m) of section 44919, United 

22 States Code, as added by this Act, during the period 

23 of time covered by each such report. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
18 

•HR 6856 RH

1 (5) Any new or evolving threats relating to, or 

2 efforts to enhance, public area security at airports as 

3 such pertains to firearms. 

4 (6) Such other matters relating to firearm-re5 lated threats to transportation security as the Admin6 istrator determines appropriate. 

7 SEC. 7. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REVIEW. 

8 Not later than two years after the date of the enact9 ment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 

10 States shall submit to the appropriate congressional com11 mittees a review of the Transportation Security Adminis12 tration’s efforts to— 

13 (1) implement the provisions of this Act and the 

14 amendments made by this Act; 

15 (2) deter the carriage of firearms and other dan16 gerous items at passenger screening checkpoints 

17 through means other than those required by this Act 

18 and such amendments; and 

19 (3) enhance public area security at airports 

20 against firearm-related threats. 

21 SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS. 

22 In this Act: 

23 (1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT24 TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional commit25 tees’’ means the Committee on Homeland Security of 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
19 

•HR 6856 RH

1 the House of Representatives and the Committee on 

2 Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 

3 (2) PASSENGER SCREENING CHECKPOINT.—The 

4 term ‘‘passenger screening checkpoint’’ means the des5 ignated area at each airport located in the United 

6 States at which the Transportation Security Admin7 istration, or an entity authorized by the Administra8 tion pursuant to section 44920 of title 49, United 

9 States Code, or other comparable authority, provides 

10 for the screening of passengers and carry-on baggage. 

11 (3) STERILE AREA.—The term ‘‘sterile area’’ has 

12 the meaning given such term in section 1540.5 of title 

13 49, Code of Federal Regulations. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
Union Calendar No. 461 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6856 

[Report No. 117–641] 

A BILL 

To reduce the number of firearms at Transporfor other purposes. strengthen enforcement of such restrictions and firearms in sterile areas of airports and to lic about restrictions regarding the carrying of carry out a range of activities to inform the pub- ing checkpoints by directing the Administrator to tation Security Administration passenger screenDECEMBER 14, 2022 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Comand ordered to be printed mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS