TSA National Deployment Force Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6461) to amend title 49, United States Code, to establish in the Transportation Security Administration a National Deployment Office, and for other purposes.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6461, the TSA National Deployment Force Act, sponsored by my good friend and the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Protective Security, Mrs. Watson Coleman.

TSA security operations happen 365 days per year at nearly 440 federalized airports. Our Nation depends on the professionals at TSA who are on the front lines every single day to keep our transportation systems moving and secure.

In testimony before the committee, Administrator Pekoske has stated that TSA's greatest assets are its people, and I could not agree more. Transportation security officers are tasked with a zero-fail mission, and their dedication to duty is what helps keep traveling Americans secure when they fly within our civil aviation system.

With a strengthening economy, passenger volume has surged over the past few years and is expected to go much higher in the years to come, and TSA has often struggled to accommodate massive traveler volume increases at checkpoints. However, one of the most practical, useful, and helpful tools in TSA's toolbox, the National Deployment Force, helps TSA alleviate long lines at airport checkpoints, providing both a national security value by minimizing public area security risk and providing efficiency by reducing passenger wait times.

This legislation authorizes the National Deployment Force, or NDF, within TSA to provide rapid and efficient response capabilities.

The NDF is comprised of transportation security officers who may be deployed across the country to supplement existing TSA staffing during periods of high seasonal demand, natural disasters, national special security events, or other scenarios requiring additional security screening support.

Recently, the NDF has provided critical screening support for large- scale events requiring additional security, such as the Super Bowl and in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. Given the anticipated increases in passenger growth, this bipartisan legislation will help ensure that TSA has the resources

it needs to quickly respond to influxes in passenger volume at specific airports.

I am proud to cosponsor this bipartisan legislation with my good friend and colleague from New Jersey to authorize a National Deployment Force and help make TSA the agile agency the American people expect and deserve.

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6461.

I agree with the comments of my colleague from New Jersey, and I think that this commonsense legislation will give TSA more flexibility and more elasticity in facing the ongoing challenges with staffing issues at airports, especially during peak travel times.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6461, the TSA National Deployment Force Act.

Mr. Speaker, the Transportation Security Administration maintains a National Deployment Force, or NDF, a volunteer force made up of transportation security officers who are deployed to various locations across the country in support of TSA's homeland security mission.

Today, the TSA Administrator is able to deploy this force to respond rapidly to operational challenges at more than 440 airports where TSA conducts security operations. Maintenance of this operational capability would not be possible if TSA did not maintain a robust federalized screening workforce.

TSA deploys the NDF to address hiring difficulties, seasonal demands, severe weather conditions, and periods of relief and recovery following a natural disaster or other major incident, as well as to support securing national security events, again, such as the Super Bowl and national political conventions. In particular, the NDF was critical to ensuring TSA could continue to operate fully in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy after that storm devastated my region of the country.

Notably, TSA has called upon the NDF to fill staffing gaps at airports where private screening companies operating under TSA's screening partnership program are unable to hire enough officers. My bill authorizes the NDF to ensure its work continues and directs TSA to report to Congress on the NDF's activities to ensure proper oversight.

Because officers serving on the NDF often go above and beyond, leaving their homes and families on short notice, my bill authorizes TSA to consider service in this force as a positive factor when evaluating applicants for promotions within TSA.

The NDF is a critical component of TSA's homeland security efforts, and I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, in recent years, we have seen TSA face a wide array of challenges, including complex threat streams, lengthy wait times, and the need to reopen airports quickly after natural disasters. The NDF provides TSA with the operational flexibility it needs to maintain the security of our country's transportation systems in the face of these challenges.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my partner on the Transportation and Protective Security Subcommittee, Mr. Katko, as well as my other colleagues for their support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6461, the ``TSA National Deployment Force Act''.

At a time when the aviation transportation sector is undergoing substantial changes, it is crucial that we take steps to ensure the Transportation Security Administration is able to protect the skies.

Any holes or deficiencies in the security of our aviation sector pose a great risk to the traveling public.

As a tireless advocate for public safety, I am pleased to see that this bill would establish a National Deployment Office within TSA that has the ability to help fill security gaps.

Because of the nature of air travel, the security risks posed to the aviation sector are constantly changing. These shifting risks can depend on a number of various factors, and it is important that TSA have the capacity to adapt in a flexible way to changing circumstances.

The National Deployment Office will allow TSA to deploy additional security officers when:

Airports request them due to emergencies, staff difficulties, or other unforeseen issues.

Special events that may potentially affect National Security are occurring.

A natural disaster or weather event occurs, and additional security staff are needed.

It is absolutely critical that TSA has adequate resources to ensure that the traveling public is both protected, and confident in the safety of air travel.

To that end, this measure emphasizes the importance of a flexible approach that will give TSA greater capabilities for rapid response to a security risk.