COVERT Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5909
Sponsor: Rep. Lowey, Nita M. [D-NY-18]
Introduced: 2008-04-24 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Airports
Aviation safety
Congress
Congressional investigations
Department of Homeland Security
Federal employees
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Infrastructure
Security measures
Transportation safety
Transportation workers

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: 
Amends the Aviation and Transportation Security Act to prohibit a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employee or contractor who has notice of an upcoming covert testing of security screening procedures from providing individuals (including security screeners) advance notice of such testing.

action_date: 2008-06-05
text: 
Catching Operational Vulnerabilities by Ensuring Random Testing Act of 2008, or the COVERT Act of 2008 - Amends the Aviation and Transportation Security Act to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to make sure that advance notice of a covert test of a transportation security system is not provided to any individual (including any security screener) before completion of the test, except: (1) that such information may be provided to certain federal, state, and local government employees, officers, and contractors (including military personnel); and (2) an individual conducting such a test may disclose his or her status if a security screener or other non-covered employee identifies such tester as a potential threat. 
 
Requires the head of each covert testing office to make sure that a covert testing person or group is accompanied by a cover team to monitor the test and confirm the identity of personnel involved. States, however, that a cover team is not required to be present during a test of the screening of persons or baggage at an aviation security checkpoint if the test: (1) is approved by the Federal Security Director for the airport; and (2) is administered under an aviation screening assessment program of the Department of Homeland Security.
 
Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to study and report to Congress on the impact of implementing covert testing procedures under this Act on the Department's efforts to improve transportation security.

action_date: 2008-06-18
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on June 5, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Catching Operational Vulnerabilities by Ensuring Random Testing Act of 2008, or the COVERT Act of 2008 - Amends the Aviation and Transportation Security Act to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to make sure that advance notice of a covert test of a transportation security system is not provided to any individual (including any security screener) before completion of the test, except: (1) that such information may be provided to certain federal, state, and local government employees, officers, and contractors (including military personnel); and (2) an individual conducting such a test may disclose his or her status if a security screener or other non-covered employee identifies such tester as a potential threat. 
 
Requires the head of each covert testing office to make sure that a covert testing person or group is accompanied by a cover team to monitor the test and confirm the identity of personnel involved. States, however, that a cover team is not required to be present during a test of the screening of persons or baggage at an aviation security checkpoint if the test: (1) is approved by the Federal Security Director for the airport; and (2) is administered under an aviation screening assessment program of the Department of Homeland Security.
 
Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to study and report to Congress on the impact of implementing covert testing procedures under this Act on the Department's efforts to improve transportation security.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-19
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2008-06-18
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-06-18
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5498-5499)
action_date: 2008-06-18
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5498-5499)
action_date: 2008-06-18
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5909.
action_date: 2008-06-18
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5498-5502)
action_date: 2008-06-18
text: Mr. Thompson (MS) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2008-06-05
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 431.
action_date: 2008-06-05
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 110-687.
action_date: 2008-06-05
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 110-687.
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection Discharged.
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection.
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Introduced in House