[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 343 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 343
To require the Transportation Security Administration to conduct a
feasibility study on the use of canine units for COVID-19 detection at
airports.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 22, 2021
Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself and Ms. Sinema) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Transportation Security Administration to conduct a
feasibility study on the use of canine units for COVID-19 detection at
airports.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Fly Safe Canine COVID Detection Act
of 2021''.
SEC. 2. FEASIBILITY STUDY ON USE OF CANINE UNITS TO DETECT COVID-19 AT
AIRPORTS.
(a) In General.--The Administrator of the Transportation Security
Administration (in this section referred to as the ``Administrator''),
in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of
Homeland Security, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall
conduct a study to assess--
(1) the feasibility of using canines to detect the presence
of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the coronavirus disease
2019 (commonly known as ``COVID-19''), in individuals infected
with the virus;
(2) if using canines to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2
is feasible, whether canine units could be used at airports to
screen passengers, individuals accompanying passengers, crew
members, and other individuals who pass through airports and
airport security screening locations for SARS-CoV-2 infection;
and
(3) if using canine units to conduct screening described in
paragraph (2) is feasible, how such screening would be
implemented and what metrics would be used to monitor the
efficacy of the screening.
(b) Assessment of Efficacy.--
(1) In general.--In conducting the study required by
subsection (a), the Administrator shall conduct a comprehensive
review and analysis of SARS-CoV-2 detection solutions to
determine the efficacy of canines to detect SARS-CoV-2 in
individuals.
(2) Use of review.--The Administrator shall use the results
of the review and analysis required by paragraph (1) to
determine the biological detection capabilities of canines and
to inform the operational factors and considerations necessary
for the deployment of canine units at airports to detect SARS-
CoV-2.
(c) Additional Elements.--In conducting the assessments required by
subsections (a) and (b), the Administrator shall assess the following:
(1) The probability of canines responding to the presence
of SARS-CoV-2.
(2) The specificity of response by canines to SARS-CoV-2
compared to their response to a pool of similar viruses and
controls.
(3) How close canine units must be to individuals to detect
SARS-CoV-2 at a high sensitivity and specificity.
(4) The effectiveness of canine units in detecting SARS-
CoV-2 in symptomatic carriers compared to asymptomatic
carriers.
(5) Other valid measures to determine the efficacy of using
canine units to screen for SARS-CoV-2 at airports, such as the
accuracy of detection and the risks of false positives and
false negatives.
(6) Identification of training and policy gaps that are
critical to be addressed before implementing a program to use
canine units at airports to screen passengers, individuals
accompanying passengers, crew members, and other individuals
who pass through airports and airport security screening
locations, for infection with SARS-CoV-2.
(d) Considerations.--In conducting the study required by subsection
(a), the Administrator shall consider the following:
(1) Opportunities to leverage established, preexisting
scientific information regarding detection of SARS-CoV-2 by
canines.
(2) Established programs in foreign countries related to
detection of SARS-CoV-2 by canine units.
(3) Detection approaches and solutions related to the
optimization of detection of SARS-CoV-2 by canines.
(4) Private industry approaches aimed to facilitate
detection of SARS-CoV-2 using canine units.
(e) Third-Party Validation and Verification.--The Administrator
shall ensure that any screening solutions developed pursuant to the
study required by subsection (a) undergo validation and verification
analysis by a third party with appropriate expertise to ensure accuracy
of data obtained from the study.
(f) Report Required.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a
report--
(1) setting forth the results of the study required by
subsection (a), including the assessments required by
subsections (b) and (c); and
(2) making a recommendation with respect to whether to
proceed with implementing a program to use canine units at
airports to screen passengers, individuals accompanying
passengers, crew members, and other individuals who pass
through airports and airport security screening locations, for
infection with SARS-CoV-2.
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