Date: 2016-02-23
Speaker: WATSON COLEMAN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. and I rise in support of H.R. 3584. the Transportation Security Administration Reform and Improvement Act of 2015. Mr. Speaker. I am pleased that H.R. 3584 includes language authored by Ranking Member BENNIE THOMPSON to direct TSA to move away from how it identifies lowrisk passengers for expedited airport screening. In recent years. both the Department of Homeland Securitys inspector general and the comptroller general have been very critical about the security risks of the socalled managed inclusion process. In response. Ranking Member THOMPSON introduced the Securing Expedited Screening Act. which was included in this measure. We all have an interest in TSA effectively managing airport screening. Ensuring that a robust knowntraveler program for lowrisk travelers is built into TSAs concept of screening operations just makes sense. That is why I support the expansion of the PreCheck program. under which expedited screening is provided to travelers who have been fully vetted prior to arriving at the airport. I am pleased that H.R. 3584 includes provisions to expand the publics enrollment in the PreCheck program by. among other things. coordinating with the private sector to deploy TSAapproved online and mobile enrollment centers. Another key to the effective management of airport screening is the maintenance of the security equipment. I am pleased that H.R. 3584 includes language authored by Representative RICE. the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Transportation Security. to ensure that TSA puts in place systems to ensure that when it comes to securityrelated technologies at our Nations airports. timely maintenance is done and documented. According to the DHS inspector general. without proper maintenance and documentation thereof. the TSA could possibly have to resort to using alternate screening methods. which could lead to the traveling public being less safe. H.R. 3584 also includes language adopted in the full committee to help businesses. particularly small businesses. to be able to create innovative security technologies through publicprivate partnerships. Over the years. we have seen the limitations of various security technologies in use at our airports. It is crucial that innovators continue to push the envelope in terms of detection and mitigation capabilities. Finally. as the Representative of a jurisdiction that relies heavily on mass transit. I am pleased that the bill seeks to ensure that frontline workers in our transportation sectors have the training needed to react in worstcase scenarios. The thwarted terrorist attack on a train traveling from Amsterdam to Paris last year underscores that mass transit continues to be a terrorist target. Mr. Speaker. these are only a few of the examples of provisions within this bill that will help to improve TSA operations and bolster the security of the American people. I urge support for this measure. I want to close by noting the bipartisan work that went into this legislation. There is still much to be done in the transportation security space. but the legislation before us represents a step in the right direction to address issues within the surface and aviation transportation sectors. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.