Congress Steps in With New TSA Legislation

Bills task Homeland Security to maintain “appropriate staffing” and transparency with airlines.

After Congressional hearings over internal problems at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and concerns about the growing wait time at airports across the United States, lawmakers are stepping in to ensure checkpoints keep moving efficiently. House Resolution 5338, The Checkpoint Optimization and Efficiency Act of 2016 aims to help the TSA maintain the staff they need to keep flyers moving through checkpoints while keeping the agency accountable to both Congress and airlines.

The legislation was introduced by Representative John Katko (R-N.Y.) and co-sponsored by representatives on both sides of the aisle. The six-page bill would task the TSA to determine necessary staffing levels at all American airports in order to determine the amount of screeners, bomb-sniffing dogs and technology required to keep lines moving. From there, the findings would be turned over to both airports and airlines to work together towards a solution.

In addition, the law would mandate screeners stay focused on their roles of examining luggage and passengers before they board commercial aircraft. Other functions, including managing checking bins and providing instructions, would be handed off to non-dedicated staff members. Behavior detection officers would be reassigned to work on designated TSA PreCheck lanes, while local federal security directors would be given more authority to handle staffing situations.

“Travelers are frustrated with TSA’s bureaucracy – facing longer lines, and in some cases, missing flights and having to return home or stay overnight in the airport,” Katko said in a press release. “This is a crisis that must be addressed before we head into the busy summer months of travel.”

The law is introduced as the TSA is under fire from Capitol Hill, over a series of perceived missteps by the agency. House committees received testimony throughout April and May of alleged racial profiling and bonuses paid to the former assistant administrator for security operations, despite growing security lines.

The law has found favor with airlines, as trade consortium Airlines for America released a statement applauding the bill introduction. The resolution will be heard by the House Homeland Security Committee before being considered for a vote.

[Photo: AP]