A bipartisan bill to reform the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) organizational structure and to advance new security technologies was recently introduced to the Senate by U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-SD), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA).
The bill, titled the TSA Modernization Act, would also seek to improve public area security, identify new ways to shorten security delays and authorize increased funding for the agency for the next three fiscal years.
“This legislation responds to the challenges of aviation security, now and over the horizon, by creating more stability in the agency’s leadership and putting security assets in place that protect travelers and minimize delays,” Thune said. “TSA must learn from disappointing security testing results, terrorist attacks abroad, and traveler frustration to rise to the occasion, embrace necessary changes, and meet its critically important mission of keeping travelers safe and secure.”
Additional provisions of the bill include establishing a five-year term for the TSA administrator to help maintain organizational stability, addressing shortages in trained K-9 teams, expanding the TSA PreCheck program for low-risk travelers, making security wait times more readily available to travelers in real-time, and deploying new technology throughout the security processes.
“When it comes to matters that affect the security of traveling public, partisanship is checked at the door,” Nelson said. “This bill reflects that spirit of cooperation and ensures TSA has the direction, leadership, and tools it needs to address key aviation security challenges.”