Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Air Cargo Security Improvement Act of 2017

Establishment of air cargo security office

(a)

In general

Subchapter II of chapter 449 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

44947.

Air cargo security office

(a)

Establishment

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall establish an air cargo security office to carry out all policy and engagement with air cargo security stakeholders. (b)

Leadership; Staffing

The air cargo security office established pursuant to subsection (a) shall be headed by an individual in the Senior Executive Service and be staffed by not fewer than four full-time equivalents, including the head of the office.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 449 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item related to section 44946 the following new item:

44947. Air cargo security office.

Pilot program for air cargo computed tomography

(a)

In general

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, in coordination with the Under Secretary for Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security, shall conduct a pilot program to test the expanded use of screening equipment using computed tomography technology to screen air cargo on passenger-carrying aircraft. Such program shall conclude not later than two years after such program is commenced. (b)

Briefings

Not later than six months after the beginning of the pilot program under subsection (a) and every six months thereafter until the completion of such program, the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall brief the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the progress of such program. (c)

Report

Not later than 90 days after completion of the pilot program under subsection (a), the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the results of such pilot program with, as appropriate, a plan to integrate computed tomography technology into domestic and international air cargo screening operations, including at overseas last point of departure airports.

Air cargo regulation review

(a)

Review

Not later than 150 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on actions to improve the Certified Cargo Screening Program as established by the Administrator in September 2009. The report shall— (1)review the degree to which the Program is effective at fully addressing evolving threats to air cargo, particularly as air cargo volumes fluctuate; (2)review any vulnerabilities in the Program and effectiveness of information sharing with air cargo security stakeholders; and (3)include information on actions to be taken to address findings in paragraphs (1) and (2), including information on plans to issue new rulemaking, if necessary.

Comptroller general review

(a)

In general

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall— (1)review the Department of Homeland Security’s analysis and intelligence pre-screening processes and procedures for the examination of air cargo entering the United States; (2)review the computed tomography technology pilot program for air cargo screening on passenger-carrying aircraft, conducted pursuant to section 3; (3)assess the effectiveness of the Department’s risk-based strategy for examining air cargo and ensuring compliance with air cargo security rules and regulations; and (4)review the Department’s information sharing procedures and practices for disseminating information to relevant stakeholders on preventing, mitigating, and responding to air cargo related threats.

Air cargo advance screening program

(a)

In general

Subtitle B of title IV of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 211 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

420.

Air cargo advance screening program

(a)

In general

The Secretary, consistent with the requirements of the Trade Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–210), shall— (1)establish an air cargo advance screening program (in this section referred to as the ACAS Program) for the collection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection of advance electronic information from air carriers and other persons within the supply chain regarding cargo being transported to the United States by air; (2)under such program, require that such information be transmitted by such air carriers and other persons at the earliest point practicable prior to loading of such cargo onto an aircraft destined to or transiting through the United States; (3)establish appropriate communications systems with freight forwarders, shippers, and air carriers; (4)establish a system that will allow freight forwarders, shippers, and air carriers to provide shipment level data for air cargo, departing from any location that is inbound to the United States; and (5)coordinate with the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration to identify opportunities in which the information furnished in compliance with the ACAS Program could be used by the Administrator. (b)

Inspection of high-Risk cargo

Under the ACAS Program, the Secretary shall ensure that all cargo that has been identified as high risk is inspected— (1)prior to the loading of such cargo onto aircraft at the last point of departure; or (2)at an earlier point in the supply chain, before departing for the United States. (c)

Consultation

In carrying out the ACAS Program, the Secretary shall consult with relevant stakeholders, as appropriate, to ensure the implementation of an operationally feasible and practical approach to the collection of advance information with respect to cargo on aircraft departing for the United States, and that the inspection of high-risk cargo recognizes the significant differences among air cargo business models and modes of transportation. (d)

Analysis

The Secretary may analyze the information referred to in subsection (a) in the Department’s automated targeting system and integrate such information with other intelligence to enhance the accuracy of the risk assessment process under the ACAS Program. (e)

No duplication

The Secretary shall carry out this section in a manner that, after the ACAS Program is fully in effect, ensures, to the greatest extent practicable, that the ACAS Program does not duplicate other Department programs or requirements relating to the submission of air cargo data or the inspection of high-risk cargo. (f)

Consideration of industry

In carrying out the ACAS Program, the Secretary shall— (1)take into consideration that the content and timeliness of the available data may vary among entities in the air cargo industry and among countries, and shall explore procedures to accommodate such variations while maximizing the contribution of such data to the risk assessment process under the ACAS Program; (2)test the business processes, technologies, and operational procedures required to provide advance information with respect to cargo on aircraft departing for the United States and carry out related inspection of high-risk cargo, while ensuring minimization of delays and other negative impacts on vital supply chains; and (3)consider the cost, benefit, and feasibility before establishing any set time period for submission of certain elements of the data for air cargo under this section in line with the regulatory guidelines specified in Executive Order No. 13563, and any successor Executive order or regulation. (g)

Guidance

The Secretary shall provide guidance for participants in the ACAS Program regarding the requirements for participation, including requirements for transmitting shipment level data. (h)

Use of data

The Secretary shall use the data provided under the ACAS Program for targeting shipments for screening and aviation security purposes only.

(b)

Final rule

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall issue a final regulation to implement the ACAS Program under section 420 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (as added by subsection (a) of this section) to include the electronic transmission to U.S. Customs and Border Protection of data elements for targeting cargo, including appropriate security elements of shipment level data, as determined by the Secretary. (c)

Report

Not later than 180 days after the date of the commencement of the ACAS Program under section 420 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (as added by subsection (a) of this section), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report detailing the operational implementation of providing advance information under the ACAS Program and the value of such information in targeting cargo. (d)

Clerical amendment

The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 419 the following new item:

Sec. 420. Air cargo advance screening program.

Third party canine cargo screening

Section 1307 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (6 U.S.C. 1116) is amended— (1)by striking subsections (f) and (g); and (2)by adding after subsection (e) the following new subsection:

(f)

Third party canine teams for air cargo security

(1)

In general

In order to enhance the screening of air cargo and ensure that third party explosives detection canine assets are leveraged for such purpose, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, shall, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection— (A)develop and issue standards for the use of such third party explosives detection canine assets for the primary screening of air cargo; (B)develop a process to identify qualified non-Federal entities that will certify such canine assets that meet the standards established by the Administrator under subparagraph (A); (C)ensure that such entities qualified to certify such canine assets shall be independent from entities that will train and provide canines to end users of such canine assets; (D)establish a system of Transportation Security Administration audits of the process developed under subparagraph (B); and (E)provide that canines certified for the primary screening of air cargo can be used by air carriers, foreign air carriers, freight forwarders, and shippers. (2)

Implementation

Beginning on the date that the development of the process under paragraph (1)(B) is complete, the Secretary, acting through the Administrator, shall— (A)facilitate the deployment of third party explosives detection canine assets under paragraph (1) that meet the certification standards of the Administration, as determined by the Administrator; (B)make such standards available to vendors seeking to train and deploy such canine assets; and (C)ensure that all costs for the training and certification of canines, and for the use of supplied canines, are borne by private industry and not the Federal Government. (3)

Definitions

In this subsection: (A)

Air carrier

The term air carrier has the meaning given such term in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code. (B)

Foreign air carrier

The term foreign air carrier has the meaning given the term in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code. (C)

Third party explosives detection canine asset

The term third party explosives detection canine asset means any explosives detection canine or handler not owned or employed, respectively, by the Transportation Security Administration.

Known shipper program review

The Administrator shall request the Air Cargo Subcommittee of Aviation Security Advisory Committee (established under section 44946 of title 49, United States Code) to— (1)conduct a comprehensive review and security assessment of the known shipper program under 1548.17 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations; (2)recommend whether the Known Shipper Program should be modified or eliminated considering the full implementation of 100 percent screening under section 44901(g) of title 49, United States Code; and (3)report its findings and recommendations to the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.