IIB 
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 Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Checkpoint Optimiza-
tion 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 alloca-
tion 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 nec-
essary staffing for minimal passenger wait times and max-
imum security effectiveness referred to in subsection (b), 
the Administrator of the Transportation Security Admin-
istration shall include the use of canine explosives detec-
tion teams and technology to assist screeners conducting 
security checks. 
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(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 Adminis-
trator of the Transportation Security Administration shall 
require each Federal Security Director to engage on a reg-
ular basis with the appropriate aviation security stake-
holders to exchange information regarding airport oper-
ations, 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 Com-
mittee on Homeland Security of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate on the results of such review. 
SEC. 
4. 
EFFECTIVE 
UTILIZATION 
OF 
STAFFING 
RE-
SOURCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—To the greatest extent practicable, 
the Administrator of the Transportation Security Admin-
istration 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 
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certification and training to screen passengers or baggage 
are utilized for tasks not directly related to security 
screening, including restocking bins and providing instruc-
tions and support to passengers in security lines. 
(b) ASSESSMENT AND REASSIGNMENT.—The Admin-
istrator 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 De-
tection Officers for passenger and baggage security 
screening, including the verification of traveler docu-
ments, particularly at designated PreCheck lanes to 
ensure that such lanes are operational for use and 
maximum efficiency. 
(2) Make every practicable effort to grant addi-
tional flexibility and authority to Federal Security 
Directors in matters related to checkpoint and 
checked baggage staffing allocation and employee 
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overtime in furtherance of maintaining minimal pas-
senger wait times and maximum security effective-
ness. 
(3) Disseminate to aviation security stake-
holders and appropriate Administration personnel a 
list of checkpoint optimization best practices. 
(4) Expand efforts to increase the public’s par-
ticipation in the Administration’s PreCheck pro-
gram, 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 recommenda-
tions on best practices for checkpoint security oper-
ations 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 Admin-
istration shall— 
(1) direct each Federal Security Director to co-
ordinate 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 
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provide recommendations to the Administrator on 
Transportation Security Officer staffing numbers, 
for such airport; and 
(2) certify to the Committee on Homeland Se-
curity of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee 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 Se-
curity of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate regarding how the Administration’s Pas-
senger 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 Se-
curity of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee 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. 
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SEC. 6. AVIATION SECURITY STAKEHOLDERS DEFINED. 
For purposes of this Act, the term ‘‘aviation security 
stakeholders’’ shall mean, at a minimum, air carriers, air-
port operators, and labor organizations representing 
Transportation Security Officers or, where applicable, con-
tract screeners. 
SEC. 7. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 
Nothing in this Act may be construed as authorizing 
or directing the Administrator of the Transportation Secu-
rity 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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