Transportation Security Administration (TSA) ARRA Airport Checked Baggage Inspection System

On November 19, 2001, the President and Congress enacted the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA), P.L. 107-71, 115 Stat. 597, which established TSA as a new Federal agency. ATSA provides authority to the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration to secure all modes of transportation including carrying out chapter 449 of Title 49 United States Code relating to civil aviation security. This responsibility includes day-to-day Federal security screening operations for passenger air transportation and intrastate air transportation, enforce security-related regulations and requirements; inspect, maintain and test security facilities, equipment, and systems and oversee the implementation and ensure the adequacy of security measures at airports and other transportation facilities.

Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 44903(h) the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration in consultation with the Airport Authority is required to deploy personnel and screen and inspect all passengers and their baggage. The requirement also provides for technical support and financial assistance to small and medium airports to defray the costs of enhancing security operations.

On February 17, 2009, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) was enacted to assist those most impacted by the recession by creating and preserving jobs and promoting economic recovery. The funding was specified for multiple areas of national interest. The Transportation Security Administration received $1 billion specifically for the procurement and installation of checked baggage explosives detection systems and checkpoint explosives detection equipment to accelerate the installations at locations with completed design plans.