SAFE TECH Act

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4561, the Security Assessment Feasibility for Equipment Testing and Evaluation of Capabilities for Our Homeland Act, and I encourage my colleagues to support its passage, which would require the Department of Homeland Security to develop a new, third-party testing program for Transportation Security Administration screening technology.

We have heard, time and time again, from vendors that it takes far too long to get their technologies through TSA testing processes. TSA's testing and evaluation must be improved not simply to improve management efficiency, but to address the constantly evolving threat landscape.

In November, TSA Administrator David Pekoske testified before the Committee on Homeland Security about the need to accelerate deployment of innovative security enhancements, as terrorist groups are becoming more sophisticated. These bad actors are learning about our aviation security countermeasures and have even gone so far as to post instructions to build devices to evade screening technologies on the internet.

As terrorist and criminal organizations become more sophisticated, we must remain one step ahead. H.R. 4561 seeks to do just that and move TSA forward in overcoming technology stovepipes that have hindered state-of-the-art security technology from being integrated into our Nation's transportation systems in a timely manner.

H.R. 4561 is predicated on the view that, by establishing alternative avenues to test transportation screening technologies, TSA will be positioned to introduce innovative security enhancements into checkpoints sooner, and businesses, regardless of their size, will be better positioned to compete.

The committee has repeatedly heard from small security manufacturers about how financially draining it is to wait out TSA testing in the hopes of a contract. H.R. 4561, if implemented effectively, has the potential to get innovative technology produced by small businesses in airport security checkpoints and enhance the effectiveness of TSA's screening operations.

During consideration of this measure in committee, the majority accepted amendments offered by committee Democrats to the bill to ensure that the third-party testing receives scrutiny from the Government Accountability Office and to build integrity into this new program.

Given the changes that were made to the legislation in committee and the potential positive impact this legislation could have on ensuring innovative technologies are integrated into TSA's security operations, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4561.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I would first like to point out that this series of bills that we have presented today has been worked on in a strong bipartisan fashion.

I would like to thank Chairman Katko and Ranking Member Watson Coleman for their strong leadership on this subcommittee, Mr. Bilirakis for his hard work, and, of course, Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Thompson for their leadership on the Homeland Security committee.

On behalf of both Members and staff on this side of the aisle, we also wish Krista Harvey the best of luck in her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4561 is commonsense legislation. This bill promotes the incorporation of innovative technology in airport screening capabilities. It does so by requiring DHS to stand up a third-party testing program to accelerate the evaluation of promising transportation security technologies, including 3D-imaging computer tomography, or CT technology.

CT scan technology holds great promise in enhancing the effectiveness of TSA screening operations insofar as transportation security officers would have the benefit of seeing a full 3D multicolor image of whatever the screener is inspecting and getting better detail about any suspect items.

Presently, TSA is testing a number of systems in the lab and in the field and has said that it expects to be able to begin deployment of this new tool to airports by early 2019.

Given the known ongoing terrorist threat posed by electronic devices, CT technology should be introduced into the airport environment in an expedited fashion. If done right, the establishment of a third-party testing program within TSA has the potential of getting innovative technologies into our transportation security systems quicker and improving the overall effectiveness of security screening. As such, I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 4561.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4561) to provide for third party testing of transportation security screening technology, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4561, the SAFE TECH Act, sponsored by my good friend and colleague and a knowledgeable alumnus of the Homeland Security Committee, Congressman Bilirakis, who recently participated in my subcommittee's overseas congressional delegation to examine airport security and the passenger screening technology in place at last point of departure airports with direct flights to the United States.

As part of our delegation, we visited Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, where we saw the effective deployment of new and advanced computed tomography screening technology, as well as a number of other screening technologies aimed at making the passenger and employee screening checkpoints both more effective and more efficient.

Upon returning to the United States, the committee conducted rigorous oversight and found that the existing testing and evaluation processes in place at the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration are riddled with bureaucratic bottlenecks that serve to delay new technologies for years.

I will note that the technology in place at the airport in Schiphol was made in the United States, yet we are not taking advantage of that technology because of these bottlenecks.

Additionally, due to logjams at Homeland Security and TSA facilities, small businesses, as well as technology startups, are often prevented from participating in the acquisitions and procurement processes. As a result, our aviation system is left with antiquated security technology that is incapable of adequately responding to new and ever-evolving threats.

Madam Speaker, this is simply unacceptable, and we must act to reform the Homeland Security and TSA acquisition processes. H.R. 4561 takes significant steps toward making these reforms by allowing new technologies to receive third-party testing and evaluation, while maintaining existing lines of authority for the TSA administrator to ensure such testing remains held to the highest standards of security and integrity.

This bill will not only drive innovation but will also save taxpayer dollars at Homeland Security and TSA, while reducing costs to companies developing new screening technologies. That is why we have received broad support, not only in a bipartisan manner here in Congress, but also from the private sector.

Madam Speaker, I commend the dedication of Congressman Bilirakis to reforming the broken acquisitions process currently in place and for working with me and the committee on developing this bill. I also wish to thank Chairman McCaul for supporting this legislation and moving it quickly through the committee to address the serious concerns we found through our oversight efforts.

I also thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, who routinely support bills of ours, and we routinely support bills of theirs, because we both understand that homeland security is a very bipartisan issue.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).

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

Mr. Speaker, the time is long overdue to apply strong oversight and reform to the manner in which TSA develops and deploys new screening technologies across our aviation system.

With persistent threats facing the aviation sector, H.R. 4561 makes much-needed improvements to the innovation and procurement process at TSA. I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, my good friend John Katko, and also the ranking member, my good friend Filo Vela, and also the chairman, the full chairman of the committee, Mr. McCaul, for their great work. I really appreciate it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 4561, Security Assessment Feasibility for Equipment Testing and Evaluation of Capabilities for Our Homeland, or the SAFE TECH Act. My legislation seeks to strengthen the safety of international air travel.

Specifically, this bill provides an avenue for third-party testing of innovative technology screening capabilities to enhance airport security. The testing program authorized under this act shall include evaluating the performance of detecting explosives and other prohibited items. Additionally, the SAFE TECH Act will look into alternative testing for other factors, including, health and safety concerns, operator interference, human error, environmental dynamics, reliability, and interoperability.

The bill also assesses the feasibility of linking compatible security technology utilized by the United States and international allies in order to augment screening checkpoints. The coordinated collaboration is an essential element of strengthening global security.

Currently, technical standards for safety and operating procedures at the international airports are set by international agreements. However, the standards in place are generally broad, leaving potential vulnerabilities through inconsistencies with international partners.

On a recent congressional delegation trip that I appreciated the chairman including me on to review screening procedures for inbound travel to the United States at major EU hubs, I was startled by the lack of consistency in international standards and gaps in technology that support precautionary measures to ensure passenger safety.

Today's bill--and I appreciate the work of the committee, and I thank you for making it an even stronger bill--will address this concern and improve the safety of our air travel for all passengers. I have always contended that, if we are not safe, nothing else matters.

The protection and security of our homeland and its citizens is our responsibility, Mr. Speaker, which is why I introduced the SAFE TECH Act. We must ensure those entrusted with the care of our citizens have the best resources and technology available to combat the growing threat of terrorism.

Passage of this bill today makes air travel safer for everyone entering the United States and for our citizens, and it represents a step forward in ensuring the cooperation needed to improve global security. I urge my colleagues to support this good bill and its passage in the House.