Tsa National Deployment Force Act

Floor Speech

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Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6461, the TSA National Deployment Force Act.

Mr. Speaker, the Transportation Security Administration maintains a National Deployment Force, or NDF, a volunteer force made up of transportation security officers who are deployed to various locations across the country in support of TSA's homeland security mission.

Today, the TSA Administrator is able to deploy this force to respond rapidly to operational challenges at more than 440 airports where TSA conducts security operations. Maintenance of this operational capability would not be possible if TSA did not maintain a robust federalized screening workforce.

TSA deploys the NDF to address hiring difficulties, seasonal demands, severe weather conditions, and periods of relief and recovery following a natural disaster or other major incident, as well as to support securing national security events, again, such as the Super Bowl and national political conventions. In particular, the NDF was critical to ensuring TSA could continue to operate fully in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy after that storm devastated my region of the country.

Notably, TSA has called upon the NDF to fill staffing gaps at airports where private screening companies operating under TSA's screening partnership program are unable to hire enough officers. My bill authorizes the NDF to ensure its work continues and directs TSA to report to Congress on the NDF's activities to ensure proper oversight.

Because officers serving on the NDF often go above and beyond, leaving their homes and families on short notice, my bill authorizes TSA to consider service in this force as a positive factor when evaluating applicants for promotions within TSA.

The NDF is a critical component of TSA's homeland security efforts, and I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, in recent years, we have seen TSA face a wide array of challenges, including complex threat streams, lengthy wait times, and the need to reopen airports quickly after natural disasters. The NDF provides TSA with the operational flexibility it needs to maintain the security of our country's transportation systems in the face of these challenges.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my partner on the Transportation and Protective Security Subcommittee, Mr. Katko, as well as my other colleagues for their support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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