Transportation Security Administration 20th Anniversary Review Act
Bill: S.3260 | Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. (R-MS)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Transportation Security Administration 20th Anniversary Review Act
This bill requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to contract with a federally funded research and development center to review and provide recommendations that address, among other topics, TSA's effectiveness in carrying out its statutory mission and specified programs.

To require a 20th anniversary review of the missions, capabilities, and 
       performance of the Transportation Security Administration.

    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 
Administration 20th Anniversary Review Act''.

SEC. 2. 20TH ANNIVERSARY REVIEW OF TRANSPORTATION SECURITY 
              ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Transportation Security 
Administration shall enter into an arrangement with a federally funded 
research and development center to conduct a comprehensive review of 
the missions, capabilities, and performance of the Transportation 
Security Administration during the 20 years since its establishment.
    (b) Elements.--The review required by subsection (a) shall include 
the following:
            (1) An assessment of the effectiveness of the 
        Transportation Security Administration in executing the 
        missions required by statute.
            (2) An assessment of the organizational structure of the 
        Transportation Security Administration and recommendations for 
        improving that structure, including any benefits of separating 
        the operations and compliance missions of the Transportation 
        Security Administration.
            (3) An assessment of whether the Transportation Security 
        Administration should retain its current missions and, if 
        necessary, recommendations on legislative changes needed to 
        streamline those missions.
            (4) An assessment of whether the Transportation Security 
        Administration is maximizing the use of flexibilities provided 
        by statute with respect to human capital.
            (5) If the Transportation Security Administration is not 
        maximizing the use of those flexibilities, recommendations for 
        improving the use of those flexibilities administratively.
            (6) An assessment of efforts of the Transportation Security 
        Administration to retain transportation security officers, an 
        assessment of whether those efforts are effective, and 
        recommendations with respect to how the Transportation Security 
        Administration could improve those efforts based on the 
        experiences of other large Federal employers with a significant 
        entry-level workforce.
            (7) An assessment of whether the Transportation Security 
        Administration deployed the number of transportation security 
        officers identified by its resource allocation plan.
            (8) An assessment of the utilization by the Transportation 
        Security Administration of the Screening Partnership Program 
        under section 44920 of title 49, United States Code, and 
        recommendations for expanding that program.
            (9) A comparative analysis of screening conducted under the 
        Screening Partnership Program and screening conducted by 
        employees of the Transportation Security Administration, 
        including an analysis of--
                    (A) cost, performance (detection), staffing, and 
                attrition; and
                    (B) whether the Transportation Security 
                Administration intentionally disadvantages or causes 
                difficulties for airports that use the Screening 
                Partnership Program or providers of screening services 
                under the Program.
            (10) An assessment of the user-pay model for funding for 
        the Transportation Security Administration, recommendations 
        with respect to how to reimplement that model, and an 
        assessment of--
                    (A) whether the Transportation Security 
                Administration is appropriately using the Aviation 
                Security Capital Fund established under section 
                44923(h) of title 49, United States Code; and
                    (B) the potential cost savings if the 
                Transportation Security Administration fully reimbursed 
                airports for purchasing and deploying screening 
                technology.
            (11) An assessment of the effectiveness of the 
        Transportation Security Administration in implementing the 
        Registered Traveler Program and recommendations for 
        modernization of the program for full integration with the 
        biometric technology of the Transportation Security 
        Administration.
            (12) An assessment of the capabilities of the 
        Transportation Security Administration to respond to homeland 
        security intelligence and recommendations for improving those 
        capabilities.
            (13) A review of the threats to transportation identified 
        by the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the 
        National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)).
            (14) An assessment of and recommendations with respect to 
        the use by the Transportation Security Administration of 
        outcome-oriented performance measures when procuring 
        transportation security technology.
            (15) Recommendations with respect to how the Transportation 
        Security Administration could diversify the transportation 
        security industrial base.
            (16) An assessment of and recommendations with respect to 
        how the Transportation Security Administration can facilitate 
        an expansion of transportation security norms with 
        international partners and where appropriate reduce the need 
        for redundant screening.
            (17) An assessment of the role of the Transportation 
        Security Administration as a regulator and recommendations with 
        respect to how the Transportation Security Administration could 
        reduce regulatory burdens without sacrificing security.
            (18) An assessment of how the Transportation Security 
        Administration is working with airport operators to expand 
        capacity at constrained checkpoints, including whether the 
        Transportation Security Administration is accurately and 
        consistently measuring wait times at individual checkpoints and 
        across the system.
            (19) An assessment of the efficacy of the 5-year technology 
        plan of the Transportation Security Administration.
            (20) An assessment of the acquisition practices used by the 
        Transportation Security Administration and the effectiveness of 
        those practices in achieving rapid capability delivery.
    (c) Report to Congress.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to 
        Congress a report on the findings of the federally funded 
        research and development center pursuant to the review 
        conducted under subsection (a).
            (2) Form of report.--
                    (A) In general.--The report required by paragraph 
                (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may 
                include a classified annex.
                    (B) Inclusions in classified annex.--Findings 
                relating to the matters described in paragraphs (12) 
                and (13) of subsection (b) shall be included in the 
                classified annex.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Administrator $2,000,000 to carry out this section.
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