Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act of 2024
Public Law 118-202 · S. 3959 · 118th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Joe Biden (D) on Dec 23, 2024 · Transportation and Public Works
Sponsor: Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Cosponsors (5): Sen. Angus King, Sen. Deb Fischer,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
This act directs the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to streamline the process for individuals applying for or renewing enrollment in multiple security threat assessment (STA) programs, in particular the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) and the Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) programs.
Among other things, the TSA must
• permit an individual to enroll at a TSA-authorized enrollment center once and use the application, as well as information generated by TSA’s vetting, to enroll in any other programs;
• permit an individual to enroll in more than one STA program at the same time for a single fee that is less than the combined fee for applying to the same programs separately;
• provide for a streamlined and expeditious renewal process; and
• provide states the expiration dates for each individual’s STA to ensure commercial driver's licenses include an individual's current HME status.
Additionally, the TSA must publish on its website information relating to the streamlining of the enrollment system.
If the TSA determines it is necessary to implement these changes through rulemaking, the act provides for an expedited rulemaking process.
Further, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) must audit the administration of security threat programs by the TSA and the states, including redundancies and duplications in the costs and administration of the programs. The GAO must submit a report on the audit to the TSA and Congress with recommendations for improvements to these programs. The TSA must implement the GAO recommendations and provide Congress with a written notification detailing and justifying the implementation process.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Related bills
1 bill the Library of Congress relates to this one.
H.R. 5840Identical bill
Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act of 2024
Data notes
Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 17 actions.
- Dec 23, 2024Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 118-202.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- FloorFloor · Presented to President.
- Dec 18, 2024FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3959.
- FloorFloor · Considered under suspension of the rules.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Green (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- Nov 22, 2024FloorFloor · Held at the desk.
- FloorFloor · Received in the House.
- Nov 21, 2024FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Aug 1, 2024CalendarCalendar · Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 484.
- CommitteeCommittee · Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Jul 31, 2024CommitteeCommittee · Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- Mar 14, 2024CommitteeCommittee · Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in Senate
Data notes
Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.
Amendments
No amendments to this bill are on record.
Data notes
Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.
Official record
The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.