Bills
| 3.23.22

Tightening the Screening Process for Airport Employees Accessing Secure Areas (H.R. 876)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is H.R. 876?

(Updated August 12, 2019)

This bill would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to create a "risk-based, intelligence-driven" screening process for airline and airport employees. The screening process would include new law enforcement resources for vetting new employees. It would also: 

  • Include ways to ensure that only authorized people have access to secure areas of domestic airports are permitted such access;
  • Have ways to ensure that when a person's security authorization is revoked, they are immediately denied entry to secure areas;
  • Outline a way to differentiate between individuals authorized to have access to an entire secure area and individuals authorized access to only a particular portion of a secure area.

The TSA would have to consult with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Aviation Security Advisory Committee to review the list of disqualifying criminal offenses that could keep an airport staff member from accessing secure areas.  

Airport badging offices would be given access to the E-Verify system to check if people applying for access to secure areas are eligible to work in the U.S. (i.e. not in the country illegally). A new process would be created for sending applicants’ biometric fingerprint data to the Office of Biometric Identity Management’s (OBIM’s) system for vetting.

This measure also has an oversight plan for reporting to Congress to track airport and airline employee screening improvements. A nationwide program for reporting airport security violations anonymously would also be created. 

This bill mandates the creation of a national database listing every employee who has had their airport or aircraft operator-issued badge revoked.

 A study would also be conducted to research the feasibility of implementing at all entry and exit points in secure airport areas:

  • A secure door utilizing card and pin entry or biometric technology;
  • Surveillance video recording, capable of storing video data for at least 30 days;
  • Advanced screening technologies, including at least one of the following: a magnetometer (walk-through or hand-held), explosives detection canines, explosives trace detection swabbing, advanced imaging technology, or x-ray bag screening technology.

Argument in favor

These are common sense reforms to make our airports safer and more secure. The oversight reforms also ensure that Congress can help the TSA every step of the way.

Argument opposed

The TSA and airport authorities should take it upon themselves to put these reforms into place — they shouldn't need Congress to force them.

Impact

People who travel by plane, all airport staff, anyone seeking access to secure areas of airports, anyone trying to smuggle things through airports, Congress, the TSA, the FBI, and the Aviation Security Advisory Committee.

Cost of H.R. 876

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

Of Note: In December 2014, federal agents uncovered a Delta Airlines baggage handler at the center of a gun smuggling ring -- helping 153 firearms through 17 Delta flights between Atlanta and New York. In June 2015, the TSA's background checks cleared 73 people for access to secure areas, even though they were listed in a federal database as possible terrorists. It's no surprise that these scandals (and others) have prompted the TSA to take its own steps to screen airport and airline employees more closely:

Airline security has become somewhat of a special advocacy point for sponsoring Rep. John Katko (R-NY). He said of his bill's predecessor from the last Congress:
"As threats to our aviation sector continue to evolve, common sense reforms — such as clearly differentiating between individuals authorized to have access to secure areas, and those who do not, or requiring criminal background checks that cover an extended history — will go a long way in ensuring safety at our airports." 
Media: 
(Photo Credit: Flickr user Jetstar Airways)