In the Senate of the United States, 
December 10 (legislative day, December 9), 2016. 
Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representa-
tives (H.R. 710) entitled ‘‘An Act to require the Secretary of 
Homeland Security to prepare a comprehensive security as-
sessment of the transportation security card program, and for 
other purposes.’’, do pass with the following 
AMENDMENT: 
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following: 
SECTION 1. TRANSPORTATION WORKER IDENTIFICATION 
CREDENTIAL SECURITY CARD PROGRAM IM-
PROVEMENTS AND ASSESSMENT. 
(a) CREDENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
of the Transportation Security Administration shall 
commence actions, consistent with section 70105 of 
title 46, United States Code, to improve the Transpor-
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tation Security Administration’s process for vetting 
individuals with access to secure areas of vessels and 
maritime facilities. 
(2) REQUIRED ACTIONS.—The actions described 
under paragraph (1) shall include— 
(A) conducting a comprehensive risk anal-
ysis of security threat assessment procedures, in-
cluding— 
(i) identifying those procedures that 
need additional internal controls; and 
(ii) identifying best practices for qual-
ity assurance at every stage of the security 
threat assessment; 
(B) implementing the additional internal 
controls and best practices identified under sub-
paragraph (A); 
(C) improving fraud detection techniques, 
such as— 
(i) by establishing benchmarks and a 
process for electronic document validation; 
(ii) by requiring annual training for 
Trusted Agents; and 
(iii) by reviewing any security threat 
assessment-related information provided by 
Trusted Agents and incorporating any new
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threat information into updated guidance 
under subparagraph (D); 
(D) updating the guidance provided to 
Trusted Agents regarding the vetting process and 
related regulations; 
(E) finalizing a manual for Trusted Agents 
and adjudicators on the vetting process; and 
(F) establishing quality controls to ensure 
consistent procedures to review adjudication de-
cisions and terrorism vetting decisions. 
(3) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Inspector General 
of the Department of Homeland Security shall submit 
a report to Congress that evaluates the implementa-
tion of the actions described in paragraph (1). 
(b) COMPREHENSIVE SECURITY ASSESSMENT OF THE 
TRANSPORTATION SECURITY CARD PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security shall commission an assessment 
of the effectiveness of the transportation security card 
program (referred to in this section as ‘‘Program’’) 
required under section 70105 of title 46, United 
States Code, at enhancing security and reducing secu-
† HR 710 EAS 
rity risks for facilities and vessels regulated under 
chapter 701 of that title. 
(2) LOCATION.—The assessment commissioned 
under paragraph (1) shall be conducted by a research 
organization with significant experience in port or 
maritime security, such as— 
(A) a national laboratory; 
(B) a university-based center within the 
Science and Technology Directorate’s centers of 
excellence network; or 
(C) a qualified federally-funded research 
and development center. 
(3) CONTENTS.—The assessment commissioned 
under paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) review the credentialing process by de-
termining— 
(i) the appropriateness of vetting 
standards; 
(ii) whether the fee structure ade-
quately reflects the current costs of vetting; 
(iii) whether there is unnecessary re-
dundancy 
or 
duplication 
with 
other 
Federal- or State-issued transportation se-
curity credentials; and
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(iv) the appropriateness of having var-
ied Federal and State threat assessments 
and access controls; 
(B) review the process for renewing applica-
tions for Transportation Worker Identification 
Credentials, including the number of days it 
takes to review application, appeal, and waiver 
requests for additional information; and 
(C) review the security value of the Pro-
gram by— 
(i) evaluating the extent to which the 
Program, as implemented, addresses known 
or likely security risks in the maritime and 
port environments; 
(ii) evaluating the potential for a non- 
biometric credential alternative; 
(iii) identifying the technology, busi-
ness process, and operational impacts of the 
use of the transportation security card and 
transportation security card readers in the 
maritime and port environments; 
(iv) assessing the costs and benefits of 
the Program, as implemented; and 
(v) evaluating the extent to which the 
Secretary of Homeland Security has ad-
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dressed the deficiencies in the Program 
identified by the Government Accountability 
Office and the Inspector General of the De-
partment of Homeland Security before the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
(4) DEADLINES.—The assessment commissioned 
under paragraph (1) shall be completed not later than 
1 year after the date on which the assessment is com-
missioned. 
(5) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 
60 days after the date that the assessment is com-
pleted, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation and the Committee on Homeland Se-
curity and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and 
the Committee on Homeland Security and the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives the results of the assessment 
commissioned under this subsection. 
(c) CORRECTIVE
ACTION
PLAN; PROGRAM
RE-
FORMS.—If the assessment commissioned under subsection 
(b) identifies a deficiency in the effectiveness of the Pro-
gram, the Secretary of Homeland Security, not later than 
60 days after the date on which the assessment is completed, 
shall submit a corrective action plan to the Committee on
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Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee 
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
Senate, the Committee on Homeland Security and the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives that— 
(1) responds to findings of the assessment; 
(2) includes an implementation plan with bench-
marks; 
(3) may include programmatic reforms, revisions 
to regulations, or proposals for legislation; and 
(4) shall be considered in any rulemaking by the 
Department of Homeland Security relating to the 
Program. 
(d) INSPECTOR GENERAL REVIEW.—If a corrective ac-
tion plan is submitted under subsection (c), the Inspector 
General of the Department of Homeland Security shall— 
(1) not later than 120 days after the date of such 
submission, review the extent to which such plan im-
plements the requirements under subsection (c); and 
(2) not later than 18 months after the date of 
such submission, and annually thereafter for 3 years, 
submit a report to the congressional committees set
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forth in subsection (c) that describes the progress of 
the implementation of such plan. 
Attest: 
Secretary.