The House has approved a reauthorization bill for TSA (HR-2200) that would make numerous
policy and operational changes at TSA but only limited personnel policy changes. It
would require the agency to craft a human capital plan for surface transportation
security personnel, impose several training requirements and improve information
sharing inside the agency. In floor voting, the House accepted an amendment to allow
TSA personnel to wear protective equipment, including masks and gloves, during a public
health emergency at their choosing, a response to recent criticisms of the agency’s
policies in that area in the swine flu outbreak. However, the measure does not address
several larger personnel issues involving TSA: the grant of union bargaining rights
and the overhaul or end of its pay for performance system.
