Homeland Security committee approves aviation security bill sponsored by late Rep. Cummings

The House Committee on Homeland Security advanced a bill sponsored by the late Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) to improve the Transportation Security Administration’s security operations.

The Covert Testing and Risk Mitigation Improvement Act (H.R. 3469) is designed to improve the effectiveness and integrity of the covert tests TSA conducts of airport checkpoint security operations. The tests are done to identify vulnerabilities in security operations.

Cummings, who served Maryland’s 7th District, died on Oct. 17 at the age of 68. He had served 23 years in the U.S. House of Representatives and served as chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform at the time of his death.

“Today, we honored Chairman Cummings’ legacy in a small but appropriate way, by considering a bill he authored to make concrete improvements to our government. Congressman Cummings’ bill, the Covert Testing and Risk Mitigation Improvement Act, directs TSA to not only carry out and refine its covert testing programs but also to use the information gathered to improve the agency’s security operations,” Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said. “When passed, his legislation will make our skies safer. I thank my colleagues for their support of this important bill and for helping to carry forward Chairman Cummings’ work.”