Senate Committee Advanced Legislation on TSA's Registered Traveler Program and PreCheck Mobile Enrollment
November 18, 2020
This morning, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation advanced a number of bills to the full Senate for consideration including the Registered Traveler Act of 2020 and the PreCheck Mobile Enrollment Act.
Registered Traveler Act: The Registered Traveler Act of 2020 (S. 3730) re-authorizes the registered traveler (RT) program, sets standards for new entrants that include such items as identity verification and alerts for when a traveler may require heightened screening by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) or otherwise present a security risk, and encourages the use or piloting of innovative RT technologies and services. The bill also requires audits of the RT program and permits providers to enter into improvement plans unless the TSA Administrator has grounds to terminate the contract. The RT legislation approved today reflects feedback the Committee received from the administration and other aviation stakeholders after hearing concerns from TSA Administrator Pekoske about draft legislation initially scheduled for consideration in May.
Lawmakers expressed concerns about the RT bill during today's session. Senator Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV), the Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, called on Pekoske to share his views 'openly' on the legislation before it is considered by the full Senate.
Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee, said that he has security concerns that he would like to see addressed before the bill advances. He also called for a hearing on the RT program to examine some of the issues that the legislation addresses.
'TSA is currently modernizing our nation's airport security checkpoints with new security and practices that enhance the security of aviation while further protecting information of passengers such as their screening status requirement,' Peters said. 'I'm afraid that this bill may hinder TSA's efforts to achieve both of these goals.'
The PreCheck Mobile Enrollment Act: The PreCheck Mobile Enrollment Act (S. 4577) requires the TSA Administrator to ensure that entities enrolling people in PreCheck utilize a secure online web or mobile enrollment application that leverages technologies to remotely capture biometrics and validate identity documents. If, after an 18-month period, no contractor is able developed such a mobile solution, the bill gives TSA a process to move forward. This online or mobile solution is designed to reduce the number of trips people need to take to an airport or another enrollment location. Additionally, the bill seeks to ensure geographic diversity of enrollment locations.
Protecting Tourism in the United States Act: The committee also approved the Protecting Tourism in the United States Act (S. 4847). The bipartisan bill, which was introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Roy Blunt (R-MO), calls for the Commerce Department and the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board to 'conduct a study on the effects of the COVID–19 pandemic on the travel and tourism industry….' Klobuchar cited a recent report indicating that the travel industry has lost more than $450 billion in spending since the pandemic began.
Aircraft Safety and Certification Reform Act: The committee also approved the Aircraft Safety and Certification Reform Act of 2020 (S. 3969), a bill introduced by Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA). Cantwell said that the legislation calls for more safety assessments and oversight from the FAA and manufacturers. In related news, the FAA Administrator Steve Dickson today signed an order that 'paves the way for the Boeing 737 Max to return to commercial air service.'
This morning, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation advanced a number of bills to the full Senate for consideration including the Registered Traveler Act of 2020 and the PreCheck Mobile Enrollment Act.
Registered Traveler Act: The Registered Traveler Act of 2020 (S. 3730) re-authorizes the registered traveler (RT) program, sets standards for new entrants that include such items as identity verification and alerts for when a traveler may require heightened screening by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) or otherwise present a security risk, and encourages the use or piloting of innovative RT technologies and services. The bill also requires audits of the RT program and permits providers to enter into improvement plans unless the TSA Administrator has grounds to terminate the contract. The RT legislation approved today reflects feedback the Committee received from the administration and other aviation stakeholders after hearing concerns from TSA Administrator Pekoske about draft legislation initially scheduled for consideration in May.
Lawmakers expressed concerns about the RT bill during today's session. Senator Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV), the Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, called on Pekoske to share his views 'openly' on the legislation before it is considered by the full Senate.
Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee, said that he has security concerns that he would like to see addressed before the bill advances. He also called for a hearing on the RT program to examine some of the issues that the legislation addresses.
'TSA is currently modernizing our nation's airport security checkpoints with new security and practices that enhance the security of aviation while further protecting information of passengers such as their screening status requirement,' Peters said. 'I'm afraid that this bill may hinder TSA's efforts to achieve both of these goals.'
The PreCheck Mobile Enrollment Act: The PreCheck Mobile Enrollment Act (S. 4577) requires the TSA Administrator to ensure that entities enrolling people in PreCheck utilize a secure online web or mobile enrollment application that leverages technologies to remotely capture biometrics and validate identity documents. If, after an 18-month period, no contractor is able developed such a mobile solution, the bill gives TSA a process to move forward. This online or mobile solution is designed to reduce the number of trips people need to take to an airport or another enrollment location. Additionally, the bill seeks to ensure geographic diversity of enrollment locations.
Protecting Tourism in the United States Act: The committee also approved the Protecting Tourism in the United States Act (S. 4847). The bipartisan bill, which was introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Roy Blunt (R-MO), calls for the Commerce Department and the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board to 'conduct a study on the effects of the COVID–19 pandemic on the travel and tourism industry….' Klobuchar cited a recent report indicating that the travel industry has lost more than $450 billion in spending since the pandemic began.
Aircraft Safety and Certification Reform Act: The committee also approved the Aircraft Safety and Certification Reform Act of 2020 (S. 3969), a bill introduced by Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA). Cantwell said that the legislation calls for more safety assessments and oversight from the FAA and manufacturers. In related news, the FAA Administrator Steve Dickson today signed an order that 'paves the way for the Boeing 737 Max to return to commercial air service.'
