Senate passes transportation security bills

The Senate passed two transportation bills through unanimous consent agreements on Tuesday.

H.R. 1204, the Aviation Security Stakeholder Participation Act, directs the assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to establish an Aviation Security Advisory Committee within the Transportation Security Administration. The committee would be tasked with recommending ways to improve aviation security.

{mosads}The House passed the bill earlier this month, but the Senate added an amendment from Sens. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), so the measure goes back to the House for further action.

The Senate also passed H.R. 2719, the Transportation Security Acquisition Reform Act. The bill directs the TSA to report to Congress a strategic multiyear technology investment plan, which should include sensitive transportation security risks, technology vulnerabilities or other sensitive security information.

The House passed the bill last week, but the Senate added an amendment from Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), sending it back to the House.