Air Cargo Security Improvement Act of 2018

To strengthen air cargo security, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Aviation Security Act of 2017 2. Use of risk-based strategies by Federal Air Marshal Service (a) In general Subsection (a) of section 44917 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (7), by striking and (2) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: (9) shall require the Federal Air Marshal Service to utilize a risk-based strategy when allocating resources between international and domestic flight coverage, including when initially setting its annual target numbers of average daily international and domestic flights to cover; (10) shall require the Federal Air Marshal Service to utilize a risk-based strategy to support domestic allocation decisions; (11) shall require the Federal Air Marshal Service to utilize a risk-based strategy to support international allocation decisions; and (12) shall ensure that the seating arrangements of Federal air marshals on aircraft are determined in a manner that is risk-based and most capable of responding to current threats to aviation security. . (b) Report Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that describes the compliance of the Federal Air Marshal Service with the requirements specified in paragraphs (9) through (12) of subsection (a) of section 44917 of title 49, United States Code, as added by this Act, and the documented methodology used by the Federal Air Marshal Service to conduct risk assessments in accordance with such paragraphs. (c) Effective date The Transportation Security Administration shall begin carrying out the requirements specified in paragraphs (9) through (12) of subsection (a) of section 44917, United States Code, added by this Act, by not later than the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. March 19, 2018 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Summary: Air Cargo Security Improvement Act of 2018 (Sec. 2) This bill directs the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to: (1) establish an air cargo security division, (2) submit to Congress a feasibility study regarding the use of computed tomography technology for the screening of air cargo transported on passenger aircraft operated by air carrier or foreign air carrier in air transportation, interstate air transportation, or interstate air commerce; (3) initiate a two-year pilot program to achieve enhanced air cargo security screening outcomes through the use of new or emerging screening technologies, such as computed tomography technology; and (4) report to Congress on actions to improve the Certified Cargo Screening Program. (Sec. 5) The Government Accountability Office must review the TSA's screening processes and procedures for air cargo entering the United States and assess its risk-based strategy for examining such cargo. (Sec. 6) The TSA must request the Air Cargo Subcommittee of the Aviation Security Advisory Committee to conduct a comprehensive review and security assessment of the known shipper program and recommend whether the program should be modified or eliminated in light of the full implementation of required 100% screening of air cargo carried on passenger aircraft.