H.R. 1895 – Transportation Security Public Health Threat Preparedness Act of 2021

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 12:29 AM UTC

The Transportation Security Public Health Threat Preparedness Act of 2021 directs the TSA to improve its readiness for public‑health emergencies that could affect the nation’s transportation security system. It requires the TSA administrator to coordinate with other DHS components and federal agencies, conduct a risk analysis, and report findings to Congress. The bill mainly affects TSA leadership, its personnel, and passengers and workers at transportation hubs.

Key Provisions

Allows the TSA administrator to assign non‑front‑line TSA staff to other DHS components and federal agencies to improve coordination on public‑health threat preparedness.
Mandates that the TSA administrator brief the House and Senate Homeland Security committees within 180 days on coordination efforts and on a comprehensive analysis of public‑health risks to the transportation security system.
Requires the TSA to conduct an analysis of public‑health threats, covering risk assessment, information‑sharing challenges, and impacts on TSA policies and procedures, in coordination with the DHS chief medical officer and the HHS secretary.
Obligates the TSA to brief Congress on the analysis results, needed technologies and their costs, existing policies, and the TSA’s role in setting priorities and sharing information during public‑health emergencies.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

15 earlier actions

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

July 21, 2021

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 16, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.

Homeland Security Committee

March 16, 2021

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security.

Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee

March 17, 2021

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security Discharged.

Homeland Security Committee

March 18, 2021

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Homeland Security Committee

March 18, 2021

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported.

Homeland Security Committee

March 18, 2021

HouseCommittee

Reported by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 117-26.

Homeland Security Committee

April 30, 2021

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 13.

April 30, 2021

HouseFloor

Ms. Barragan moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

July 20, 2021 • 12:32 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3684-3685; text: CR H3684-3685)

July 20, 2021 • 12:32 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1895.

July 20, 2021 • 12:32 PM

HouseFloor

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

July 20, 2021 • 12:37 PM

HouseFloor

Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 535, proceedings on H.R. 1895 are considered vacated.

July 20, 2021 • 4:44 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: Pursuant to section 7 of H. Res. 535, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 678; H.R. 1036; H.R. 1079, as amended; H.R. 1158; H.R. 1250; H.R. 1754; H.R. 1833, as amended; H.R. 1850; H.R. 1871; H.R. 1877, as amended; H.R. 1893; H.R. 1895; H.R. 2118; H.R. 2795, as amended; H.R. 2928; H.R. 2980, as amended; H.R. 3003; H.R. 3138, as amended; H.R. 3223; H.R. 3263; and H.R. 3264; and the following resolutions were agreed to under suspension of the rules: H. Res. 277; and H. Res. 294.(consideration: CR H3715-3730; text: CR H3720-3721)

July 20, 2021 • 4:44 PM

HouseFloor

Pursuant to section 7 of H. Res. 535, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 678; H.R. 1036; H.R. 1079, as amended; H.R. 1158; H.R. 1250; H.R. 1754; H.R. 1833, as amended; H.R. 1850; H.R. 1871; H.R. 1877, as amended; H.R. 1893; H.R. 1895; H.R. 2118; H.R. 2795, as amended; H.R. 2928; H.R. 2980, as amended; H.R. 3003; H.R. 3138, as amended; H.R. 3223; H.R. 3263; and H.R. 3264; and the following resolutions were agreed to under suspension of the rules: H. Res. 277; and H. Res. 294. (consideration: CR H3715-3730; text: CR H3720-3721)

July 20, 2021 • 4:44 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

July 21, 2021

Floor Debate

8 members

What members said about H.R. 1895 on the floor

+3

6 Republicans2 Democrats

Rep. Nanette Diaz BarragánD-CA-44 · Jul 20, 2021

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1895) to enhance the preparedness of the Transportation Security Administration for public health threats to the transportation…

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1895) to enhance the preparedness of the Transportation Security Administration for public health threats to the transportation security system of the United States, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1895, the Transportation Security Public Health Threat Preparedness Act of 2021.

Protecting our Nation's transportation workforce and the traveling public is front of mind as we attempt to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic with the looming threat of new variants of the virus.

H.R. 1895 seeks to ensure U.S. transportation systems are better prepared for public health threats by having TSA conduct a study on public health risks in concert with other agencies within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Health and Human Services, and industry stakeholders.

Specifically, this bill enhances these efforts, requiring TSA to assess the risk of public health threats to the Nation's transportation security systems and analyze the agency's preparedness to respond to them.

The bill also allows TSA to reassign personnel not engaged in frontline transportation security efforts to other government agencies to improve intergovernmental coordination and response efforts.

I applaud my colleague from Florida (Mr. Gimenez) for this timely legislation that prioritizes the health and safety of the traveling public and frontline transportation workers, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, enactment of H.R. 1895 will support our efforts to mitigate future public health threats to our Nation's transportation systems.

We have witnessed the daunting effects of the pandemic over the past year and must be prepared for future public health threats to avoid repeating the same tragedies again.

Ensuring TSA is equipped with the right information on public health threats and prepared to combat them with interagency coordination will be essential to protecting our transportation system, transportation workers, and the traveling public. This bill furthers that effort.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1895, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Carlos A. GimenezR-FL-26 · Jul 20, 2021

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my legislation, H.R. 1895, the Transportation Security Public Health Threat Preparedness Act. This is an important piece of legislation that will help ensure…

Rep. John KatkoR-NY-24 · Jul 20, 2021

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1895, the Transportation Security Public Health Threat Preparedness Act of 2021. The…

Rep. Rick W. AllenR-GA-12 · Jul 20, 2021

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 212. members recorded pursuant to house resolution 8, 117th congress Aderholt (Moolenaar) Buchanan (LaHood) DeSaulnier…

Rep. Steny H. HoyerD-MD-5 · Jul 20, 2021

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 7 of House Resolution 535, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bills: H.R. 678; H.R. 1036; H.R. 1079; H.R. 1158; H.R. 1250; H.R. 1754; H.R. 1833; H.R. 1850;

Show 3 more

Rep. Pete StauberR-MN-8 · Jul 20, 2021

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 212.

Rep. Barry MooreR-AL-2 · Jul 20, 2021

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Rep. Matthew M. Rosendale, Sr.R-MT · Jul 20, 2021

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Bill Text

4 versions available

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Referred in SenateIssued July 21, 2021

IIB

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1895

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 21, 2021

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

AN ACT

To enhance the preparedness of the Transportation Security Administration for public health threats to the transportation security system of the United States, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Transportation Security Public Health Threat Preparedness Act of 2021.

2.

Definitions

For purposes of this Act:

(1)

Administrator

The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.

(2)

Appropriate congressional committees

The term appropriate congressional committees means—

(A)

the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives; and

(B)

the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.

(3)

Department

The term Department means the Department of Homeland Security.

(4)

Sterile area

The term sterile area has the meaning given such term in section 1540.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.

(5)

TSA

The term TSA means the Transportation Security Administration.

3.

Authorization of TSA personnel details

(a)

Coordination

Pursuant to sections 106(m) and 114(m) of title 49, United States Code, the Administrator may provide TSA personnel, who are not engaged in front line transportation security efforts, to other components of the Department and other Federal agencies to improve coordination with such components and agencies to prepare for, protect against, and respond to public health threats to the transportation security system of the United States.

(b)

Briefing

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall brief the appropriate congressional committees regarding efforts to improve coordination with other components of the Department and other Federal agencies to prepare for, protect against, and respond to public health threats to the transportation security system of the United States.

4.

TSA preparedness

(a)

Analysis

(1)

In general

The Administrator shall conduct an analysis of preparedness of the transportation security system of the United States for public health threats. Such analysis shall assess, at a minimum, the following:

(A)

The risks of public health threats to the transportation security system of the United States, including to transportation hubs, transportation security stakeholders, TSA personnel, and passengers.

(B)

Information sharing challenges among relevant components of the Department, other Federal agencies, international entities, and transportation security stakeholders.

(C)

Impacts to TSA policies and procedures for securing the transportation security system.

(2)

Coordination

The analysis conducted of the risks described in paragraph (1)(A) shall be conducted in coordination with the Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and transportation security stakeholders.

(b)

Briefing

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall brief the appropriate congressional committees on the following:

(1)

The analysis required under subsection (a).

(2)

Technologies necessary to combat public health threats at security screening checkpoints to better protect from future public health threats TSA personnel, passengers, aviation workers, and other personnel authorized to access the sterile area of an airport through such checkpoints, and the estimated cost of technology investments needed to fully implement across the aviation system solutions to such threats.

(3)

Policies and procedures implemented by TSA and transportation security stakeholders to protect from public health threats TSA personnel, passengers, aviation workers, and other personnel authorized to access the sterile area through the security screening checkpoints, as well as future plans for additional measures relating to such protection.

(4)

The role of TSA in establishing priorities, developing solutions, and coordinating and sharing information with relevant domestic and international entities during a public health threat to the transportation security system, and how TSA can improve its leadership role in such areas.

Passed the House of Representatives July 20, 2021.

Cheryl L. Johnson,

Clerk