U.S. HOUSE APPROVES TSA ONE-STOP PILOT PROGRAM BILL
November 12, 2021
On September 30, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved the One-Stop Pilot Program Act (H.R. 4094). The Act will allow the Transportation Security Administration (“TSA”) in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to operate a pilot program in which international passengers and their baggage from up to six locations would not need to be re-screened upon arrival into the United States prior to a domestic connecting flight if the passenger’s last point of departure airport has a proportionate level of screening to the United States. Specifically, the Act will allow passengers to continue on domestic flight segments without going through additional security screenings in three circumstances:
- If an initial screening was conducted in accordance with an aviation security screening agreement;
- For passengers arriving from participating foreign airports who are unable to access their checked baggage until their arrival at their final destination; and
- Upon arrival in the U.S., for passengers arriving from participating foreign airports who do not come into contact with other arriving international passengers or those passengers’ property or other persons who have not been screened or subjected to other appropriate security controls required for entry into the airport’s sterile area.
To ensure that adequate security measures are still maintained under the pilot program, the Act will give the Administrator of the TSA the authority to determine whether checked baggage arriving from participating foreign airports must be re-screened. The Act would also give the Administrator of the TSA the authority to require that passengers and their baggage be re-screened if the Administrator determines that the foreign country from which they have departed from has not maintained and implemented adequate security standards and protocols comparable to the U.S.
The One-Stop Pilot Program Act (H.R. 4094) is now under consideration by the U.S. Senate.
If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr (esahr@eckertseamans.com or 202-659-6622); Drew Derco (dderco@eckertseamans.com or 202-659-6665), or Andy Orr (aorr@eckertsemans.com or 202-659-6625).
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