Airport Alert: House Committee Advances TSA Legislation on Firearms and Computed Tomography
March 2, 2022
The House Homeland Security Committee advanced twelve bills related to transportation security, cybersecurity, and grant programs to the full House of Representatives for consideration. Included in this list was H.R. 6856, Securing Air Travel Act, as amended, and H.R. 6827, Securing the Checkpoint Property Screening Systems (S-CPSS) Act of 2022. Most of the markup debate, which was largely split on party lines, centered around firearm penalties contained in H.R. 6856.
Securing Air Travel Act:
H.R. 6856 responds to the explosive growth of firearms TSA is detecting at checkpoints and included recommendations made by airports, law enforcement, and labor during the February 15 Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee hearing on this topic. In 2021, TSA interdicted 5,972 firearms at airport security checkpoints nationwide, and 86 percent of those guns were loaded. Interdictions have doubled on a per passenger basis over the past two years.
Transportation and Maritime Security Chair Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) offered a substitute amendment that modified her original legislation designed to reduce the number of firearms found at security checkpoints. The bill directs TSA:
• to alert passengers that firearms are generally prohibited in carry-on bags,
• to give heightened attention to airports with the highest number of interdictions,
• to increase its public media campaigns on this topic, and
• to establish a minimum civil penalty for repeat and egregious violators.
The bill also codifies TSA's ability to suspend PreCheck eligibility for those caught with a firearm at the checkpoint.
There was a robust discussion about this legislation related to the second amendment's right to bear arms and penalizing a firearm owner who forgot to take their gun out of their bag. Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) asked Watson-Coleman to withdraw this bill from consideration today because 'it is very controversial'; she declined to do so.
Higgins offered an amendment that would strip out language related to civil penalties and PreCheck eligibility while keeping signage and public education provisions intact. The amendment failed.
Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee Ranking Member Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) offered an amendment that allows TSA to use the money it collects from firearm-related fines on additional security screening technologies at airport checkpoints. Subcommittee Chair Watson Coleman and Full Committee Ranking Member John Katko (R-NY) spoke in favor of the amendment. This amendment was agreed to by voice vote.
At the end of a lengthy debate, the Watson Coleman substitute amendment was favorably adopted (21-12). Both Katko and Gimenez, along with all Democratic members of the Committee, voted in favor of this legislation.
Securing the Checkpoint Property Screening Systems Act:
H.R. 6827 authorizes appropriations to accelerate the procurement and deployment of computed tomography (CT) units at airport security checkpoints nationwide by 2026. According to the bill's sponsor, Ranking Member Katko, at current funding levels, TSA will not fully deploy this new technology until another 10-15 years, which is 'unacceptable.' Katko stated that it is critically important to have CT technology 'installed now' because this technology can better detect evolving threats in carry-on luggage. If TSA is unable to meet the 2026 deadline, the agency must explain to Congress why.
At a future date, Chair Bennie Thompson (D-MS) indicated that the Committee will consider a bill requiring TSA to expand training for flight crews to handle unruly passengers.
To watch the entire markup or review all the bills considered today, here is a link to the Committee website.
The House Homeland Security Committee advanced twelve bills related to transportation security, cybersecurity, and grant programs to the full House of Representatives for consideration. Included in this list was H.R. 6856, Securing Air Travel Act, as amended, and H.R. 6827, Securing the Checkpoint Property Screening Systems (S-CPSS) Act of 2022. Most of the markup debate, which was largely split on party lines, centered around firearm penalties contained in H.R. 6856.
Securing Air Travel Act:
H.R. 6856 responds to the explosive growth of firearms TSA is detecting at checkpoints and included recommendations made by airports, law enforcement, and labor during the February 15 Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee hearing on this topic. In 2021, TSA interdicted 5,972 firearms at airport security checkpoints nationwide, and 86 percent of those guns were loaded. Interdictions have doubled on a per passenger basis over the past two years.
Transportation and Maritime Security Chair Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) offered a substitute amendment that modified her original legislation designed to reduce the number of firearms found at security checkpoints. The bill directs TSA:
• to alert passengers that firearms are generally prohibited in carry-on bags,
• to give heightened attention to airports with the highest number of interdictions,
• to increase its public media campaigns on this topic, and
• to establish a minimum civil penalty for repeat and egregious violators.
The bill also codifies TSA's ability to suspend PreCheck eligibility for those caught with a firearm at the checkpoint.
There was a robust discussion about this legislation related to the second amendment's right to bear arms and penalizing a firearm owner who forgot to take their gun out of their bag. Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) asked Watson-Coleman to withdraw this bill from consideration today because 'it is very controversial'; she declined to do so.
Higgins offered an amendment that would strip out language related to civil penalties and PreCheck eligibility while keeping signage and public education provisions intact. The amendment failed.
Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee Ranking Member Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) offered an amendment that allows TSA to use the money it collects from firearm-related fines on additional security screening technologies at airport checkpoints. Subcommittee Chair Watson Coleman and Full Committee Ranking Member John Katko (R-NY) spoke in favor of the amendment. This amendment was agreed to by voice vote.
At the end of a lengthy debate, the Watson Coleman substitute amendment was favorably adopted (21-12). Both Katko and Gimenez, along with all Democratic members of the Committee, voted in favor of this legislation.
Securing the Checkpoint Property Screening Systems Act:
H.R. 6827 authorizes appropriations to accelerate the procurement and deployment of computed tomography (CT) units at airport security checkpoints nationwide by 2026. According to the bill's sponsor, Ranking Member Katko, at current funding levels, TSA will not fully deploy this new technology until another 10-15 years, which is 'unacceptable.' Katko stated that it is critically important to have CT technology 'installed now' because this technology can better detect evolving threats in carry-on luggage. If TSA is unable to meet the 2026 deadline, the agency must explain to Congress why.
At a future date, Chair Bennie Thompson (D-MS) indicated that the Committee will consider a bill requiring TSA to expand training for flight crews to handle unruly passengers.
To watch the entire markup or review all the bills considered today, here is a link to the Committee website.
