In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.

Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Intermodal Safe Container 
Transportation Act Amendments of 1996''.

SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO TITLE 49.

    Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an 
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal 
of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to 
be made to a section or other provision of title 49, United States 
Code.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 5901 is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
            ``(1) except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the 
        definitions in sections 10102 and 13102 of this title apply.'';
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (6) and (7) as paragraphs 
        (7) and (8), respectively; and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(6) `gross cargo weight' means the weight of the cargo, 
        packaging materials (including ice), pallets, and dunnage.''.

SEC. 4. NOTIFICATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS.

    Section 5902 is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 5902. Notifications and certifications
    ``(a) Prior Notification.--
            ``(1) In general.--If the first carrier to which any loaded 
        container or trailer having a projected gross cargo weight of 
        more than 29,000 pounds is tendered for intermodal 
        transportation is a motor carrier, the person tendering the 
        container or trailer shall give the motor carrier a 
        notification of the projected gross cargo weight and a 
        reasonable description of the contents of the container or 
        trailer before the tendering of the container or trailer. The 
        notification may be transmitted electronically or by telephone.
            ``(2) Applicability.--This subsection applies to any person 
        within the United States who tenders a container or trailer 
        subject to this chapter for intermodal transportation if the 
        first carrier is a motor carrier.
    ``(b) Certification.--
            ``(1) In general.--A person who tenders a loaded container 
        or trailer with an actual gross cargo weight of more than 
        29,000 pounds, to a first carrier for intermodal transportation 
        shall provide a certification of the contents of the container 
        or trailer in writing, or electronically, before or when the 
        container or trailer is so tendered.
            ``(2) Contents of certification.--The certification 
        required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:
                    ``(A) The actual gross cargo weight.
                    ``(B) A reasonable description of the contents of 
                the container or trailer.
                    ``(C) The identity of the certifying party.
                    ``(D) The container or trailer number.
                    ``(E) The date of certification or transfer of data 
                to another document, as provided for in paragraph (3).
            ``(3) Transfer of certification data.--A carrier who 
        receives a certification may transfer the information contained 
        in the certification to another document or to electronic 
        format for forwarding to a subsequent carrier. The person 
        transferring the information shall state on the forwarded 
        document the date on which the data was transferred and the 
        identity of the party who performed the transfer.
            ``(4) Shipping documents.--For purposes of this chapter, a 
        shipping document, prepared by the person tendering a container 
        or trailer to a first carrier, that contains the information 
        required by paragraph (2) meets the requirements of paragraph 
        (1).
            ``(5) Use of `freight all kinds' term.--The term `Freight 
        All Kinds' or `FAK' may not be used for the purpose of 
        certification under this subsection after December 31, 2000, as 
        a description required under paragraph (2)(B) for a trailer or 
        container if the weight of any commodity in the trailer or 
        container equals or exceeds 20 percent of the total weight of 
the contents of the trailer or container. This subsection does not 
prohibit the use of such term after December 31, 2000, for rating 
purposes.
            ``(6) Separate document marking.--If a separate document is 
        used to meet the requirements of paragraph (1), it shall be 
        conspicuously marked `INTERMODAL CERTIFICATION'.
            ``(7) Applicability.--This subsection applies to any 
        person, domestic or foreign, who first tenders a container or 
        trailer subject to this chapter for intermodal transportation 
        within the United States.
    ``(c) Forwarding Certifications to Subsequent Carriers.--
            ``(1) General rule.--A carrier, agent of a carrier, broker, 
        customs broker, freight forwarder, warehouser, or terminal 
        operator shall forward the certification provided under 
        subsection (b) to a subsequent carrier transporting the 
        container or trailer in intermodal transportation before or 
        when the container or trailer is tendered to the subsequent 
        carrier.
            ``(2) Presumption of no certification required.--If no 
        certification is received by the subsequent carrier before or 
        when the container or trailer is being tendered to it, the 
        subsequent carrier may presume that no certification is 
        required.
            ``(3) Limitation on construction of forwarding.--The act of 
        forwarding the certification may not be construed as a 
        verification or affirmation of the accuracy or completeness of 
        the information in the certification.
            ``(4) Liability.--
                    ``(A) In general.--If a person inaccurately 
                transfers the information on the certification or fails 
                to forward the certification to a subsequent carrier, 
                then that person is liable to any person who incurs any 
                bond, fine, penalty, cost (including storage), or 
                interest charge incurred as a result of the inaccurate 
                transfer of information or failure to forward the 
                certification.
                    ``(B) Lien.--A subsequent carrier incurring a bond, 
                fine, penalty, or cost (including storage), or interest 
                charge as a result of the inaccurate transfer of the 
                information or the failure to forward the certification 
                shall have a lien against the contents of the container 
                or trailer under section 5905 in the amount of the 
                bond, fine, penalty, or cost (including storage), or 
                interest charge and all court costs and legal fees 
                incurred by the carrier as a result of such inaccurate 
                transfer or failure.
            ``(5) Notice to leased operators.--If a motor carrier knows 
        that the gross cargo weight of an intermodal container or 
        trailer subject to the certification requirements of subsection 
        (b) would result in a violation of applicable State gross 
        vehicle weight laws--
                    ``(A) a motor carrier must inform the operator of a 
                vehicle which is leased by the vehicle operator to a 
                motor carrier which transports an intermodal container 
                or trailer of the gross cargo weight of the container 
                or trailer as certified to the motor carrier pursuant 
                to subsection (b);
                    ``(B) the notice must be provided to the operator 
                prior to the operator being tendered the container or 
                trailer;
                    ``(C) the notice required by this subsection must 
                be in writing, but may be transmitted electronically;
                    ``(D) the motor carrier shall bear the burden of 
                proof to establish that it tendered the required notice 
                to the operator; and
                    ``(E) if the operator of a leased vehicle 
                transporting a container or trailer subject to this 
                chapter should receive a fine because of a violation of 
                a State's gross vehicle weight laws or regulations and 
                lessee motor carrier cannot establish that it tendered 
                to the operator the notice required by this section, 
                the operator shall be entitled to reimbursement from 
                the motor carrier of the amount of any fine and court 
                costs resulting from the failure of the motor carrier 
                to tender the notice to the operator.
    ``(d) Liability to Owner or Beneficial Owner.--If--
            ``(1) a person inaccurately transfers information on a 
        certification required by subsection (b)(1) or fails to forward 
        a certification to the subsequent carrier;
            ``(2) as a result of the inaccurate transfer of such 
        information or a failure to forward a certification, the 
        subsequent carrier incurs a bond, fine, penalty, or cost 
        (including storage), or interest charge; and
            ``(3) a subsequent carrier exercises its rights to a lien 
        under section 5905,
then that person is liable to the owner or beneficial owner or to any 
other person paying the amount of the lien to the subsequent carrier 
for the amount of the lien and all costs related to the imposition of 
the lien, including court costs and legal fees incurred in connection 
with imposition of the lien.
    ``(e) Nonapplicability.--
            ``(1) Consolidated shipments.--The notification and 
        certification requirements of subsections (a) and (b) do not 
        apply to any intermodal container or trailer containing 
        consolidated shipments loaded by a motor carrier if that motor 
        carrier--
                    ``(A) performs the highway portion of the 
                intermodal movement; or
                    ``(B) assumes the responsibility for any weight-
                related fine or penalty incurred by any other motor 
                carrier that performs a part of the highway 
                transportation.
            ``(2) Intermodal transportation of loaded containers.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subsections (a) and (b) and 
                section 5903(c) do not apply to a carrier when the 
                carrier is transferring a loaded container or trailer 
                to another carrier during intermodal transportation, 
                unless the carrier is also the person tendering the 
                loaded container or trailer to the first carrier.
                    ``(B) Special rule.--A carrier, agent of a carrier, 
                broker, customs broker, freight forwarder, warehouser, 
                or terminal operator is deemed not to be a person 
                tendering a loaded container or trailer to a first 
                carrier under this section, unless the carrier, agent, 
                broker, customs broker, freight forwarder, warehouser, 
                or terminal operator assumes legal responsibility for 
                loading property into the container or trailer.''.

SEC. 5. PROHIBITIONS.

    (a) Providing Erroneous Information.--Section 5903(a) is amended by 
inserting ``, to whom section 5902(b) applies,'' after ``A person''.
    (b) Transporting Prior To Receiving Certification.--Section 5903(b) 
is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Transporting Prior To Receiving Certification.--
            ``(1) Presumption.--If no certification is received by a 
        motor carrier before or when a loaded intermodal container or 
        trailer is tendered to it, the motor carrier may presume that 
        the gross cargo weight of the container or trailer is less than 
        29,001 pounds.
            ``(2) Copy of certification not required to accompany 
        container or trailer.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        this chapter, if a certification is required by section 
        5902(b), a copy of the certification is not required to 
        accompany the intermodal container or trailer.''.
    (c) Unlawful Coercion.--Section 5903(c)(1) is amended by striking 
``10,000 pounds (including packing materials and pallets)'' and 
inserting ``29,000 pounds''.

SEC. 6. LIENS.

    (a) General Rule.--Section 5905(a) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) General Rule.--If a person involved in the intermodal 
transportation of a loaded container or trailer for which a 
certification is required by section 5902(b) of this title is required, 
because of a violation of a State's gross vehicle weight laws or 
regulations, to post a bond or pay a fine, penalty, cost (including 
storage), or interest charge resulting from--
            ``(1) erroneous information provided by the certifying 
        party in the certification to the first carrier in violation of 
        section 5903(a),
            ``(2) the failure of the party required to provide the 
        certification to the first carrier to provide it,
            ``(3) the failure of a person required under section 
        5902(c) to forward the certification to forward it, or
            ``(4) an error occurring in the transfer of information on 
        the certification to another document under section 5902(b)(3) 
        or 5902(c),
then the person posting the bond, or paying any fine, penalty, cost 
(including storage), or interest charge has a lien against the contents 
equal to the amount of the bond, fine, penalty, cost (including 
storage), or interest charge incurred, until the person receives a 
payment of that amount from the owner or beneficial owner of the 
contents or from the person responsible for making or forwarding the 
certification or transferring the information from the certification to 
another document.''.
    (b) Limitations.--Section 5905(b)(1) is amended--
            (1) by inserting after ``the first carrier'' the following: 
        ``or the owner or beneficial owner of the contents''; and
            (2) by striking ``cost, or interest.'' and inserting ``cost 
        (including storage), or interest charge. The lien shall remain 
        in effect until the lien holder has received payment for all 
        costs and expenses as described in subsection (a).''.

SEC. 7. PERISHABLE AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES.

    Section 5906 is amended by striking ``Sections 5904(a)(2) and 5905 
of this title do'' and insert ``Section 5905 does''.

SEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    Section 5907 is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 5907. Effective date
    ``This chapter, as amended by the Intermodal Safe Container 
Transportation Act Amendments of 1996, is effective on the date of the 
enactment of such Act. The provisions of this chapter shall be 
implemented 180 days after such date of enactment.''.

SEC. 9. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAWS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 59 is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section:
``Sec. 5908. Relationship to other laws
    ``Nothing in this chapter affects--
            ``(1) chapter 51 (relating to transportation of hazardous 
        material) or the regulations issued under that chapter; or
            ``(2) any State highway weight or size law or regulation 
        applicable to tractor-trailer combinations.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The analysis for such chapter is amended 
by striking the item relating to section 5907 and inserting the 
following:

``5907. Effective date.
``5908. Relationship to other laws.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 18, 1996.

            Attest:

                                                ROBIN H. CARLE,

                                                                 Clerk.

Output: Intermodal Safe Container Transportation Act Amendments of 1996 - Amends Federal transportation law to revise the prior notification requirements for intermodal freight transportation. 
Requires a person who tenders to a first carrier that is a motor carrier (currently, any carrier) a container or trailer with a gross cargo weight of more than 29,000 pounds (currently, 10,000 pounds, including packing material and pallets) for intermodal transportation to give prior notification of the cargo weight and a reasonable description of its contents to the motor carrier. 
Allows such notification to be made by telephone, and allows the required certification of the container or trailer contents to be electronic.  Sets forth administrative and civil penalties for persons who inaccurately transfer certification information.  Makes such a person liable to the owner or beneficial owner for any lien filed by a subsequent carrier that incurred a bond, fine, or other penalty as a result of an inaccurate information transfer or a failure to forward a certification. 
Requires a motor carrier that knows that the gross cargo weight of an intermodal container or trailer violates State vehicle weight laws to give notice to the operator of a leased vehicle that transports such items.  Requires the motor carrier to reimburse the operator of the leased vehicle that are fined because of a violation of a State's gross vehicle weight laws. 
Allows a motor carrier to presume that the gross cargo weight of a container or trailer is under 29,001 pounds if it receives no certification before or when a loaded intermodal container or trailer is tendered to it.  Declares that a copy of a certification is not required to accompany the intermodal container or trailer. 
Prohibits a person from coercing a person transporting a loaded container or trailer having a gross cargo weight of more than 29,000 pounds (currently, 10,000 pounds, including packing materials and pallets) before the required certification is provided. 
Adds to the circumstances giving certain persons a lien against the contents of the container or trailer as a result of a violation of a State's gross vehicle weight laws.  Includes among such circumstances:  (1) failure of the party required to provide certification off gross cargo weight to the first carrier to provide it; (2) failure of the party required to forward such certification to forward it; or (3) error in the transfer of information on the certification to another document.


Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Aviation Employee Screening and 
Security Enhancement Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Administration.--The term ``Administration'' means the 
        Transportation Security Administration.
            (2) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.
            (3) Air carrier.--The term ``air carrier'' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 40102 of title 49, United States 
        Code.
            (4) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee on 
        Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
        Senate.
            (5) Foreign air carrier.--The term ``foreign air carrier'' 
        has the meaning given such term in section 40102 of title 49, 
        United States Code.
            (6) Intelligence community.--The term ``intelligence 
        community'' has the meaning given such term in section 3(4) of 
        the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4)).
            (7) Secured area.--The term ``secured area'' has the 
        meaning given such term in section 1540.5 of title 49, Code of 
        Federal Regulations.
            (8) Security identification display area.--The term 
        ``Security Identification Display Area'' has the meaning given 
        such term in section 1540.5 of title 49, Code of Federal 
        Regulations.
            (9) Sterile area.--The term ``sterile area'' has the 
        meaning given such term in section 1540.5 of title 49, Code of 
        Federal Regulations.

SEC. 3. COST AND FEASIBILITY STUDY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the 
Aviation Security Advisory Committee (established under section 44946 
of title 49, United States Code), shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees and the Comptroller General of the United 
States a cost and feasibility study of a statistically significant 
number of Category I, II, III, IV, and X airports assessing the impact 
if all employee access points from non-secured areas to secured areas 
of such airports are comprised of the following:
            (1) A secure door utilizing card and pin entry or biometric 
        technology.
            (2) Surveillance video recording, capable of storing video 
        data for at least 30 days.
            (3) Advanced screening technologies, including at least one 
        of the following:
                    (A) Magnetometer (walk-through or hand-held).
                    (B) Explosives detection canines.
                    (C) Explosives trace detection swabbing.
                    (D) Advanced imaging technology.
                    (E) X-ray bag screening technology.
    (b) Contents.--The study required under subsection (a) shall 
include information related to the employee screening costs of those 
category I, II, III, IV, and X airports which have already implemented 
practices of screening 100 percent of employees accessing secured areas 
of airports, including the following:
            (1) Costs associated with establishing an operational 
        minimum number of employee entry and exit points.
            (2) A comparison of estimated costs and effectiveness 
        associated with implementing the security features specified in 
        subsection (a) to--
                    (A) the Federal Government; and
                    (B) airports and the aviation community.
    (c) Comptroller General Assessment.--
            (1) In general.--Upon completion of the study required 
        under subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the United 
        States shall review such study to assess the quality and 
        reliability of such study.
            (2) Assessment.--Not later than 60 days after the receipt 
        of the study required under subsection (a), the Comptroller 
        General of the United States shall report to the Committee on 
        Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
        Senate on the results of the review required under paragraph 
        (1).

SEC. 4. AIRPORT WORKER EDUCATION AND SECURITY AWARENESS.

    (a) Cooperative Efforts to Enhance Airport Security Awareness.--Not 
later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator shall work with air carriers, foreign air carriers, 
airport operators, labor unions representing credentialed employees, 
and the Aviation Security Advisory Committee to enhance security 
awareness of credentialed airport populations regarding insider threats 
to aviation security and best practices related to airport access 
controls.
    (b) Credentialing Standards.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall, in 
        consultation with air carriers, foreign air carriers, airport 
        operators, labor unions representing credentialed employees, 
        and the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, assess 
        credentialing standards, policies, and practices to ensure that 
        insider threats to aviation security are adequately addressed.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 30 days after completion of the 
        assessment required under paragraph (1), the Administrator 
        shall report to the appropriate congressional committees on the 
        results of such assessment.
    (c) SIDA Applications.--
            (1) Social security numbers required.--Not later than 60 
        days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
        Administrator shall require airport operators to submit the 
        social security number of an individual applying for a 
        credential granting access to the Security Identification 
        Display Area to strengthen security vetting effectiveness. An 
        applicant who does not provide such applicant's social security 
        number may be denied such a credential.
            (2) Screening notice.--The Administrator shall issue 
        requirements for airport operators to include in applications 
        for access to a Security Identification Display Area a notice 
        informing applicants that an employee holding a credential 
        granting access to a Security Identification Display Area may 
        be screened at any time while gaining access to, working in, or 
        leaving a Security Identification Display Area.

SEC. 5. SECURING AIRPORT WORKER ACCESS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator shall work with airport 
operators and the Aviation Security Advisory Committee to identify 
advanced technologies, including biometric identification technologies, 
for securing employee access to the secured areas and sterile areas of 
airports.
    (b) Rap Back Vetting.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall ensure that all 
credentialed aviation worker populations currently requiring a 
fingerprint-based criminal record history check are continuously vetted 
through the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Rap Back Service, in 
order to more rapidly detect and mitigate insider threats to aviation 
security.
    (c) Insider Threat Education and Mitigation.--Not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall identify means of enhancing the Administration's ability to 
leverage the resources of the Department of Homeland Security and the 
intelligence community to educate Administration personnel on insider 
threats to aviation security and how the Administration can better 
mitigate such insider threats.
    (d) Playbook Operations.--The Administrator shall ensure that 
Administration-led employee physical inspection efforts of aviation 
workers, known as Playbook operations, are targeted, strategic, and 
focused on providing the greatest level of security effectiveness.
    (e) Covert Testing.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator shall conduct covert 
        testing of Administration-led employee inspection operations at 
        airports and measure existing levels of security effectiveness. 
        The Administrator shall provide--
                    (A) the results of such testing to the airport 
                operator for the airport that is the subject of any 
                such testing, and, as appropriate, to air carriers and 
                foreign air carriers that operate at the airport that 
                is the subject of such testing; and
                    (B) recommendations and technical assistance for 
                air carriers, foreign air carriers, and airport 
                operators to conduct their own employee inspections, as 
                needed.
            (2) Annual reporting.--The Administrator shall annually, 
        for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022, submit to the 
        appropriate congressional committees a report on the frequency, 
        methodology, strategy, and effectiveness of employee inspection 
        operations at airports.
    (f) Centralized Database.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with 
the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, shall--
            (1) establish a national database of individuals who have 
        had either their airport or airport operator-issued badge 
        revoked for failure to comply with aviation security 
        requirements;
            (2) determine the appropriate reporting mechanisms for air 
        carriers, foreign air carriers, and airport operators to--
                    (A) submit to the Administration data regarding 
                individuals described in paragraph (1); and
                    (B) access the database established pursuant to 
                such paragraph; and
            (3) establish a process to allow individuals whose names 
        were mistakenly entered into such database to correct the 
        record and have their names removed from such database.

SEC. 6. INSIDER THREAT COORDINATION EFFORTS.

    The Department of Homeland Security is the lead interagency 
coordinator pertaining to insider threat investigations and mitigation 
efforts at airports. The Department shall make every practicable effort 
to coordinate with other relevant Government entities, as well as the 
security representatives of air carriers, foreign air carriers, and 
airport operators, as appropriate, when undertaking such investigations 
and efforts.

SEC. 7. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECURITY.

    Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a plan to conduct recurring reviews of the operational, 
technical, and management security controls for Administration 
information technology systems at airports.

SEC. 8. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.

    No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of 
this Act. Such requirements shall be carried out using amounts 
otherwise authorized.

            Passed the House of Representatives April 25, 2017.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.

Output: Aviation Employee Screening and Security Enhancement Act of 2017 (Sec. 3) This bill directs the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct, and submit to Congress and the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a cost and feasibility study of a statistically significant number of Category I, II, III, IV, and X airports assessing the impact if all airport employee access points from non-secured to secured airport areas are comprised of the following:  a secure door utilizing card and pin entry or biometric technology; surveillance video recording capable of storing video data for at least 30 days; certain advanced screening technologies, including magnetometers, explosives detection canines, explosives trace detection swabbing, advanced imaging technology, and X-ray bag screening technology; and information related to employee screening costs of such airports that have already implemented practices of screening 100% of employees accessing secured areas.  The GAO shall assess the completed study and report the results to Congress. (Sec. 4) The TSA shall:  work with air carriers, foreign air carriers, airport operators, labor unions representing credentialed airport employees, and the TSA's Aviation Security Advisory Committee to enhance security awareness of credentialed airport workers regarding insider threats to aviation security and best practices related to airport access controls; assess credentialing standards, policies, and practices to ensure that insider threats to aviation security are adequately addressed;  require airport operators to submit the social security number of an individual applying for a credential granting access to the Security Identification Display Area of an airport to strengthen security vetting effectiveness; and issue requirements for airport operators to include in applications for access to such area a notice that an employee holding a credential granting such access may be screened at any time while entering, working in, or leaving the area.  (Sec. 5) The TSA shall also:  work with airport operators and the TSA Advisory Committee to identify advanced technologies for securing employee access to secured and sterile airport areas; ensure that credentialed aviation worker populations currently requiring a fingerprint-based criminal record history check are continuously vetted through the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Rap Back Service to mitigate insider threats; identify ways to enhance TSA's ability to educate its personnel on insider threats to aviation security and on how to mitigate such threats; ensure that TSA employee physical inspection efforts of aviation workers (Playbook operations) are focused on providing the greatest level of security effectiveness; conduct covert testing of TSA employee screening operations at airports;  report on the frequency, methodology, strategy, and effectiveness of employee inspection operations at airports; and establish a national database of individuals who have had either their airport or aircraft operator-issued badge revoked for failure to comply with aviation security requirements, as well a process to allow individuals whose names were mistakenly entered into such database to correct the record and have their names removed from it.  (Sec. 6) The DHS is the lead interagency coordinator to insider threat investigations and mitigation efforts at airports. (Sec. 7) The TSA shall submit a plan to conduct recurring reviews of the operational security controls for TSA information technology systems at airports.


Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Research for Competitiveness Act''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION INDUSTRIALLY-RELEVANT RESEARCH 
              AWARDS.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the National Science Foundation 
shall carry out a program to award competitive grants to scientists and 
engineers at the early stage of their careers at institutions of higher 
education and research institutions to conduct high-risk, high-return 
research in areas relevant to industry.
    (b) Size and Duration of Award.--The duration of awards under this 
section shall be 5 years, and the amount per year shall be $50,000. 
Additionally, if an award recipient receives funding from United States 
industry for work in the area described in the recipient's application 
for the award, then up to an additional $50,000 may be provided each 
year as a one-to-one match to such industry funding.
    (c) Eligibility.--Award recipients shall be individuals who are 
employed in a tenure-track position as an assistant professor or 
equivalent title, or who hold an equivalent position, at--
            (1) an institution of higher education in the United 
        States; or
            (2) an organization in the United States that is a 
        nonprofit, nondegree-granting research organization such as a 
        museum, observatory, or research laboratory.
    (d) Application and Selection Process.--
            (1) Initial application.--Applicants for awards under this 
        section shall submit to the Director--
                    (A) a curriculum vitae or resume, including a list 
                of publications and a description of any activities 
                demonstrating leadership or educational activities;
                    (B) a description of research areas of interest;
                    (C) letters of recommendation; and
                    (D) any other materials the Director requires.
            (2) Further consideration and selection.--The Director 
        shall convene review panels to make recommendations, based on 
        application materials received under paragraph (1), of which 
        candidates are qualified to be finalists for the award. Based 
        on these recommendations, the Director shall select finalists, 
        who shall then be interviewed by panels of experts who shall 
        make recommendations to the Director on the recipients of the 
        awards. The Director shall make awards based on these 
        recommendations.
    (e) Composition of Review Panels.--The panels reviewing 
applications and interviewing finalists as described in subsection (d) 
shall include representatives from a range of industries.
    (f) Criteria for Awards.--In establishing criteria for evaluation 
of applications for grants under this section, the Director shall 
include--
            (1) the potential of the applicant for leadership at the 
        frontiers of knowledge;
            (2) the potential innovative or transformative nature of 
        research in the areas of interest described in the application;
            (3) the creativity demonstrated in the applicant's past 
        research activities; and
            (4) the potential relevance to industry of research in the 
        areas of interest described in the application.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Director of the National Science Foundation to 
carry out this section--
            (1) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
            (2) $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
            (3) $9,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
            (4) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
            (5) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.

SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY INDUSTRIALLY-RELEVANT RESEARCH AWARDS.

    (a) In General.--The Under Secretary for Science of the Department 
of Energy shall carry out a program to award competitive grants to 
scientists and engineers at the early stage of their careers at 
institutions of higher education and research institutions to conduct 
high-risk, high-return research in areas relevant to energy production, 
storage, and use.
    (b) Participation of Department of Energy Organizations.--The 
research, development, demonstration, and commercial application 
programs of the Office of Science, the Office of Nuclear Energy 
Research and Development, the Office of Fossil Energy, and the Office 
of Energy Efficiency and Renewables may participate in the program 
established under subsection (a).
    (c) Size and Duration of Award.--The duration of awards under this 
section shall be up to 5 years, and the amount per year shall be 
$50,000. Additionally, if an award recipient receives funding from 
United States industry for work in the area described in the 
recipient's application for the award, then up to an additional $50,000 
may be provided each year as a one-to-one match to such industry 
funding.
    (d) Eligibility.--Award recipients shall be individuals who are 
employed in a tenure-track position as an assistant professor or 
equivalent title, or who hold an equivalent position, at--
            (1) an institution of higher education in the United 
        States; or
            (2) an organization in the United States that is a 
        nonprofit, nondegree-granting research organization such as a 
        museum, observatory, or research laboratory.
    (e) Application and Selection Process.--
            (1) Initial application.--Applicants for awards under this 
        section shall submit to the Under Secretary--
                    (A) a curriculum vitae or resume, including a list 
                of publications and a description of any activities 
                demonstrating leadership or educational activities;
                    (B) a description of research areas of interest;
                    (C) letters of recommendation; and
                    (D) any other materials the Under Secretary 
                requires.
            (2) Further consideration and selection.--The Under 
        Secretary shall convene review panels to make recommendations, 
        based on application materials received under paragraph (1), of 
        which candidates are qualified to be finalists for the award. 
        Based on these recommendations, the Under Secretary shall 
        select finalists, who shall then be interviewed by panels of 
        experts who shall make recommendations to the Under Secretary 
        on the recipients of the awards. The Under Secretary shall make 
        awards based on these recommendations.
    (f) Composition of Review Panels.--The panels reviewing 
applications and interviewing finalists as described in subsection (e) 
shall include representatives from a range of industries.
    (g) Criteria for Awards.--In establishing criteria for evaluation 
of applications for the grants awarded under section (a), the Under 
Secretary shall include--
            (1) the potential for leadership at the frontiers of 
        knowledge by the applicant;
            (2) the potential innovative or transformative nature of 
        research in the areas of interest described in the application;
            (3) the creativity demonstrated in the applicant's past 
        research activities; and
            (4) the potential relevance to industry of research in the 
        areas of interest described in the application.
    (h) Collaboration With National Laboratories.--In awarding grants 
under this section, the Under Secretary may give priority to 
applications in which the proposed work includes collaboration with the 
Department of Energy National Laboratories.
    (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Energy to carry out this section--
            (1) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
            (2) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
            (3) $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
            (4) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
            (5) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.

SEC. 4. DEFINITION.

    In this Act, the term ``institution of higher education'' has the 
meaning given such term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).


Output: Research for Competitiveness Act - Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation to carry out a program of awarding competitive grants to scientists and engineers at the early stage of their careers at institutions of higher education and research institutions to conduct, high-risk, high-return research in areas relevant to industry.

Directs the Under Secretary for Science of the Department of Energy to carry out a program of awarding competitive grants to scientists and engineers at the early stage of their careers at institutions of higher education and research institutions to conduct high-risk, high-return research in areas relevant to energy production, storage, and use.