The U.S. House of Representatives will consider several bills today, June 18 that aim to tighten security in airports and in flight.  If passed, the bills will be rolled into an authorization bill the House passed in May 2007.

H.R. 4179 would require the Homeland Security Department (DHS) to create a streamlined appeals process for individuals who are wrongfully identified as terrorists at airports.  DHS would have to create an Office of Appeals and Redress and disseminate a comprehensive list of people who have been cleared by the appeals process.  The new redress office would be required to provide written information to airline passengers to inform them how to begin the appeals process should problems arise.

H.R. 5909 would prohibit government employees from tipping off airport screeners about covert tests of transportation security.  Over the last year, there have been numerous news reports over incidents of airport screeners having been made aware of impending security tests, which has raised questions in Congress about how much can be learned from the test results.  The bill would require that every covert testing group be accompanied by a second team to monitor the secret test.

H.R. 5982 would require DHS to conduct a study of how airports could implement biometric identification systems for airport employees who work beyond the security checkpoints.  Biometric systems include fingerprint and retina scanners.  The bill aims to guard against attacks by terrorists who have acquired jobs at airports.