House panel to consider stand-alone TSA authorization bill

The House Homeland Security Committee plans to mark up an unusual authorization bill on Thursday for the Transportation Security Administration without full support from the agency -- an effort that has fueled GOP suspicions that House Democrats are pushing ahead with the measure to enhance their record of accomplishments. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., denied a political motive for devising what would be the first authorization bill for any Homeland Security agency so far this Congress and the first-ever stand-alone budget bill for the TSA since its creation in 2001.

He said the bill is set for House floor action next week. Thompson acknowledged during a hearing on Wednesday that TSA has not fully participated in drafting the bill, explaining that President Obama has not nominated a leader for the agency.

"The TSA authorization act is the product of extensive bipartisan discussions," he said. "It reflects input from members, GAO, the inspector general and transportation stakeholders from across the spectrum." But, he added, "regrettably, input from TSA was hard to come by."

A GOP leadership aide said it appeared Democratic leaders are trying to fill up the floor schedule with bills like the TSA authorization. But a spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said that is not true. "We are very focused on getting things done for the American people, including the TSA reauthorization," added a spokeswoman for House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.

"We have had a full floor schedule this spring, passing an economic recovery bill, [the Children's Health Insurance Program], the budget and critical housing and consumer protection measures," she added. "Our schedule will remain full this summer as we turn to clean energy legislation, healthcare reform, and appropriations."

In an interview, Thompson said he was not asked by leadership to rush the bill to the floor. Rather, committee Democrats consider the TSA authorization bill is ripe to move since it has been put together over several months with contributions from different groups -- even if TSA and the Homeland Security Department do not believe so. "We can't sit and do nothing until somebody gets appointed, so we move on," Thompson said.

A TSA spokesman said the agency would not comment on pending legislation, while a Homeland Security spokeswoman was unable to respond before this story was published. Thompson said he no longer plans a single authorization bill for the entire Homeland Security Department. Instead, he plans to do agency-by-agency authorization bills. The previous strategy of trying to do one large authorization bill was not working, the chairman said, so he had to change approaches. During the hearing, Thompson said he was eager to see a chief for TSA nominated. "Please keep in mind that the delays in filling key positions throughout the department not only make things difficult for you but also complicate this committee's ability to carry out its oversight and legislative responsibilities," he told Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

Billy House contributed to this story.