Transportation Security Preparedness Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.1893 | Sponsor: Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie (D-NJ)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Transportation Security Preparedness Act of 2021
This bill directs the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to survey its workforce regarding the TSA's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It must also develop and biennially review a transportation security preparedness plan for addressing future outbreaks of communicable diseases.
The Government Accountability Office must submit a report to Congress that contains the results of a study assessing the plan, including an analysis of (1) whether such plan aligns with relevant federal plans and strategies for communicable disease outbreaks, and (2) the extent to which the TSA is prepared to implement the plan.

To direct the Transportation Security Administration to develop a 
      transportation security preparedness plan in the event of a 
         communicable disease outbreak, 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 ``Transportation Security Preparedness 
Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. SURVEY OF THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION WORKFORCE 
              REGARDING COVID-19 RESPONSE.

    (a) Survey.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Transportation Security 
Administration (referred to in this section as the ``Administrator''), 
in consultation with the labor organization certified as the exclusive 
representative of full- and part-time non-supervisory Administration 
personnel carrying out screening functions under section 44901 of title 
49, United States Code, shall conduct a survey of the Transportation 
Security Administration (referred to in this section as the 
``Administration'') workforce regarding the Administration's response 
to the COVID-19 pandemic. Such survey shall be conducted in a manner 
that allows for the greatest practicable level of workforce 
participation.
    (b) Contents.--In conducting the survey required under subsection 
(a), the Administrator shall solicit feedback on the following:
            (1) The Administration's communication and collaboration 
        with the Administration's workforce regarding the 
        Administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts 
        to mitigate and monitor transmission of COVID-19 among its 
        workforce, including through--
                    (A) providing employees with personal protective 
                equipment and mandating its use;
                    (B) modifying screening procedures and 
                Administration operations to reduce transmission among 
                officers and passengers and ensuring compliance with 
                such changes;
                    (C) adjusting policies regarding scheduling, leave, 
                and telework;
                    (D) outreach as a part of contact tracing when an 
                employee has tested positive for COVID-19; and
                    (E) encouraging COVID-19 vaccinations and efforts 
                to assist employees that seek to be vaccinated such as 
                communicating the availability of duty time for travel 
                to vaccination sites and recovery from vaccine side 
                effects.
            (2) Any other topic determined appropriate by the 
        Administrator.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 30 days after completing the survey 
required under subsection (a), the Administration shall provide a 
report summarizing the results of the survey to the Committee on 
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.

SEC. 3. TRANSPORTATION SECURITY PREPAREDNESS PLAN.

    (a) Plan Required.--Section 114 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(x) Transportation Security Preparedness Plan.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than two years after the date 
        of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary of Homeland 
        Security, acting through the Administrator, in coordination 
        with the Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Homeland 
        Security and in consultation with the partners identified under 
        paragraphs (3)(A)(i) through (3)(A)(iv), shall develop a 
        transportation security preparedness plan to address the event 
        of a communicable disease outbreak. The Secretary, acting 
        through the Administrator, shall ensure such plan aligns with 
        relevant Federal plans and strategies for communicable disease 
        outbreaks.
            ``(2) Considerations.--In developing the plan required 
        under paragraph (1), the Secretary, acting through the 
        Administrator, shall consider each of the following:
                    ``(A) The findings of the survey required under 
                section 2 of the Transportation Security Preparedness 
                Act of 2021.
                    ``(B) All relevant reports and recommendations 
                regarding the Administration's response to the COVID-19 
                pandemic, including any reports and recommendations 
                issued by the Comptroller General and the Inspector 
                General of the Department of Homeland Security.
                    ``(C) Lessons learned from Federal interagency 
                efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
            ``(3) Contents of plan.--The plan developed under paragraph 
        (1) shall include each of the following:
                    ``(A) Plans for communicating and collaborating in 
                the event of a communicable disease outbreak with the 
                following partners:
                            ``(i) Appropriate Federal departments and 
                        agencies, including the Department of Health 
                        and Human Services, the Centers for Disease 
                        Control and Prevention, the Department of 
                        Transportation, the Department of Labor, and 
                        appropriate interagency task forces.
                            ``(ii) The workforce of the Administration, 
                        including through the labor organization 
                        certified as the exclusive representative of 
                        full- and part-time non-supervisory 
                        Administration personnel carrying out screening 
                        functions under section 44901 of this title.
                            ``(iii) International partners, including 
                        the International Civil Aviation Organization 
                        and foreign governments, airports, and air 
                        carriers.
                            ``(iv) Public and private stakeholders, as 
                        such term is defined under subsection 
                        (t)(1)(C).
                            ``(v) The traveling public.
                    ``(B) Plans for protecting the safety of the 
                Transportation Security Administration workforce, 
                including--
                            ``(i) reducing the risk of communicable 
                        disease transmission at screening checkpoints 
                        and within the Administration's workforce 
                        related to the Administration's transportation 
                        security operations and mission;
                            ``(ii) ensuring the safety and hygiene of 
                        screening checkpoints and other workstations;
                            ``(iii) supporting equitable and 
                        appropriate access to relevant vaccines, 
                        prescriptions, and other medical care; and
                            ``(iv) tracking rates of employee illness, 
                        recovery, and death.
                    ``(C) Criteria for determining the conditions that 
                may warrant the integration of additional actions in 
                the aviation screening system in response to the 
                communicable disease outbreak and a range of potential 
                roles and responsibilities that align with such 
                conditions.
                    ``(D) Contingency plans for temporarily adjusting 
                checkpoint operations to provide for passenger and 
                employee safety while maintaining security during the 
                communicable disease outbreak.
                    ``(E) Provisions setting forth criteria for 
                establishing an interagency task force or other 
                standing engagement platform with other appropriate 
                Federal departments and agencies, including the 
                Department of Health and Human Services and the 
                Department of Transportation, to address such 
                communicable disease outbreak.
                    ``(F) A description of scenarios in which the 
                Administrator should consider exercising authorities 
                provided under subsection (g) and for what purposes.
                    ``(G) Considerations for assessing the 
                appropriateness of issuing security directives and 
                emergency amendments to regulated parties in various 
                modes of transportation, including surface 
                transportation, and plans for ensuring compliance with 
                such measures.
                    ``(H) A description of any potential obstacles, 
                including funding constraints and limitations to 
                authorities, that could restrict the ability of the 
                Administration to respond appropriately to a 
                communicable disease outbreak.
            ``(4) Dissemination.--Upon development of the plan required 
        under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall disseminate the 
        plan to the partners identified under paragraph (3)(A) and to 
        the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate.
            ``(5) Review of plan.--Not later than two years after the 
        date on which the plan is disseminated under paragraph (4), and 
        biennially thereafter, the Secretary, acting through the 
        Administrator and in coordination with the Chief Medical 
        Officer of the Department of Homeland Security, shall review 
        the plan and, after consultation with the partners identified 
        under paragraphs (3)(A)(i) through (3)(A)(iv), update the plan 
        as appropriate.''.
    (b) Comptroller General Report.--Not later than 1 year after the 
date on which the transportation security preparedness plan required 
under subsection (x) of section 114 of title 49, United States Code, as 
added by subsection (a), is disseminated under paragraph (4) of such 
subsection (x), the Comptroller General of the United States shall 
submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a report containing the results of a study 
assessing the transportation security preparedness plan, including an 
analysis of--
            (1) whether such plan aligns with relevant Federal plans 
        and strategies for communicable disease outbreaks; and
            (2) the extent to which the Transportation Security 
        Administration is prepared to implement the plan.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 20, 2021.

            Attest:

                                             CHERYL L. JOHNSON,

                                                                 Clerk.