Global Aviation System Security Reform Act of 2017

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4559, the Global Aviation System Security Reform Act of 2017.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his leadership on this legislation.

This legislation would require the TSA to conduct a global aviation security review in order to improve aviation standards across the global aviation system within 180 days of enactment.

The security review within this bill is required to include input from the TSA's Office of Global Strategies, Office of Intelligence and Analysis, and the Office of Security Policy and Industry Engagement, and must identify best practices for foreign partners.

While the TSA has taken tremendous steps to improve aviation security at airports with direct service to the U.S., there is more that can be done.

In the last 12 months, we have seen the global aviation threat landscape evolve to include an increased threat to cargo security, and passenger planes being targeted with bombs hidden in large electronic devices.

The TSA is continually working with global partners and stakeholders to ensure that aviation standards are being maintained and elevated as needed.

Under this legislation, improvements that should be made to aviation security will be highlighted for Congress.

This legislation has the potential of providing a very good roadmap for Congress to address areas of improvement for global aviation security and to ensure that we constantly strive towards the safest and most secure aviation community.

Mr. Speaker, I note that, in the last couple of days, through the holiday season, those people who were either stuck in airports, and bags that were stacked, and people couldn't find bags are not considered a security issue. It was a weather issue. But we understand how crucial it is that the traveling public has needs in the free flowing and secure flowing of aviation. Giving the Congress a roadmap, I believe, is a very important step.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4559, the ``Global Aviation System Security Reform Act of 2017.''

This legislation would require TSA to conduct a global aviation security review in order to improve aviation standards across the global aviation system within 180 days of enactment.

The security review within this bill is required to include input from TSA's Office of Global Strategies, Office of Intelligence and Analysis, and the Office of Security Policy and Industry Engagement, and must identify best practices for foreign partners.

While TSA has taken tremendous steps to improve aviation security at airports with direct service to the U.S., there is more that can be done.

In the last 12 months, we have seen the global aviation threat landscape evolve to include an increased threat to cargo security, and passenger planes being targeted with bombs hidden in large electronic devices.

TSA is continually working with global partners and stakeholders to ensure that aviation standards are being maintained and elevated as needed.

Under this legislation, improvements that should be made to aviation security will be highlighted for Congress.

This legislation has the potential of providing a roadmap for Congress to address areas of improvement for global aviation security, and ensure that we constantly strive towards the safest and most secure aviation community.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4559 will give this body a strong sense of the direction for global aviation security improvements.

As threats to aviation security grow more sophisticated, this bill seeks to ensure that TSA is keeping pace with the threat landscape.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, let me again emphasize the importance of identifying best practices to be utilized by our system and to utilize these best practices to improve the security for the traveling public.

H.R. 4559 will give this body a strong sense of direction for global aviation security improvements. As threats to aviation security grow more sophisticated, this bill seeks to ensure that the TSA is keeping pace with the threat landscape.

Since I have no further speakers, I am closing by saying, with that, I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 4559.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4559) to conduct a global aviation security review, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Katko for his leadership on this important piece of legislation.

It is essential that we continue to improve aviation security in order to stay ahead of the evolving threat posed by Islamist terrorists. It is clear that terrorists around the world remain intent on attacking aircraft.

That is why over the past year the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration have worked to raise the global level of aviation security. One area of potential improvement is through working to increase security at overseas last point of departure airports.

In October, I joined a bipartisan delegation of congressional members from the House Homeland Security Committee to several of the largest last point of departure airports, including Amman, Jordan; and Frankfurt, Germany. We examined current threats to aviation security and got to look at how our foreign partners have worked to stay ahead of all the potential threats.

This legislation seeks to improve global aviation security standards by directing the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration to conduct a comprehensive review of aviation security implementation and challenges across the global aviation system. This legislation will help improve coordination and outreach, both within the United States Government and with foreign partners regarding improvements to aviation security.

It makes sense for our security agencies to work with our foreign allies who are facing the same security threat that we face. This legislation will help the DHS locate and implement best practices, which are being used overseas. The fight to protect travelers isn't one that we face alone in America, and this threat isn't going to dissipate anytime soon. That is why this legislation is focused on ensuring that our agencies build partnerships and can learn from our foreign partners.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. One of the things that we are seeing today, in an increasingly dangerous world, is how do we face these threats and work together. This bill is intended to help work to be more efficient across not just America but with our allies in making our aviation travel more safe and secure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4559.

H.R. 4559, the Global Aviation System Security Reform Act of 2017, aims to conduct a global aviation security review to improve global aviation security standards. H.R. 4559 directs the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to comprehensively review challenges facing the global aviation system and review aviation security implementation. This legislation encourages cooperation between multiple agencies of the Federal Government, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the TSA to ensure proper coordination and outreach both within and outside of the United States government.

The DHS and the TSA have expressed concerns about threats to inbound civil aviation. To manage these threats, key aspects of H.R. 4559 would work to improve the security at last point of departure airports overseas and more generally improve security at airports across the world. We must establish global aviation security standards to create safer skies across the world.

Additionally, as a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure committee, ensuring the safety of transportation mechanisms has been of paramount importance to me, and as a member of the subcommittee on Aviation, I am particularly concerned with this issue. Georgia is home to the busiest airport in the world; 55 million passengers annually travel through Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International airport. I will do everything I can to protect passengers in Georgia, the United States, and the world. I wholeheartedly support H.R. 4559 and urge my fellow members to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of bill, H.R. 4559: The Global Aviation System Security Reform Act of 2017. This legislation will help raise the global baseline of aviation security and protect the traveling public from a litany of terror threats.

After recently participating in a bipartisan Congressional delegation to the Middle East

and Europe to observe international aviation security efforts firsthand, my colleagues and I returned home determined to bolster the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to build capacity among foreign partners.

When it comes to aviation security, we are only as secure as our weakest link. Unfortunately, through our oversight on the Homeland Security Committee's Subcommittee on Transportation and Protective Security, we have grown increasingly concerned that existing standards are simply not sufficient to keep up with the changing threats to aviation.

This legislation will ensure that DHS and TSA are aggressively committed to eliminating security vulnerabilities and inconsistencies at overseas airports with direct flights to the United States.

I wish to thank Congressman Estes for participating in the important delegation we undertook which led to this legislation, as well as his commitment and leadership to security America's transportation systems on my Subcommittee.

I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office regarding H.R. 4559. The cost estimate was not available at the time of the filing of the Committee report.

U.S. Congress,

Congressional Budget Office,

Washington, DC, January 9, 2018.

Hon. Michael McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has

prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4559, the Global

Aviation System Security Reform Act of 2017.

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be

pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Megan

Carroll.

Sincerely,

Keith Hall.

Enclosure.