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H.R. 720: Gerardo Hernandez Airport Security Act of 2015

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H.R. 720: Gerardo Hernandez Airport Security Act of 2015

114th Congress · introduced 2015-02-04 · Transportation and Public Works · Latest: Became Public Law No: 114-50.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2015-02-04 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Katko, John [R-NY-24] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 70 (2015): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, HR720 (2015-02-10), Passed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 114-50. (final step reached)
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Gerardo Hernandez Airport Security Act of 2015

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on August 5, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Gerardo Hernandez Airport Security Act of 2015 (Sec. 3) Directs the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the Department of Homeland Security to: (1) conduct outreach to all U.S. airports at which the TSA performs, or oversees the implementation and performance of, security measures; and (2) give necessary technical assistance to verify that such airports have in place individualized working plans for responding to security incidents inside the airport perimeter, including active shooters, acts of terrorism, and incidents that target passenger-screening checkpoints. Requires the TSA to report to Congress on the outreach findings, including an analysis of the level of preparedness such airports have to respond to such incidents. (Sec. 4) Requires the TSA to: (1) identify best practices that exist across airports for security incident planning, management, and training; and (2) establish a mechanism through which to share those best practices with other airport operators nationwide. (Sec. 5) Requires the TSA also to: (1) certify annually to specified congressional committees that all screening personnel have participated in practical training exercises for active shooter scenarios, and (2) analyze for those same committees how TSA can use cost savings achieved through efficiencies to increase over the next five fiscal years the funding available for checkpoint screening law enforcement support reimbursable agreements. (Sec. 7) Directs the TSA to: (1) conduct outreach to all passenger transportation agencies and providers with high-risk facilities to verify that they have in place plans for responding to active shooters, acts of terrorism, or other security-related incidents that target passengers; and (2) identify best practices for security incident planning, management, and training and establish a mechanism through which to share such practices with passenger transportation agencies nationwide. (Sec. 8) Declares that no additional appropriations are authorized to carry out this Act. Requires this Act to be carried out using amounts otherwise available. (Sec. 9) Requires the TSA to review the interoperable communications capabilities of law enforcement, fire, and medical personnel responsible for responding to security incidents at all U.S. airports at which the TSA performs, or oversees the implementation and performance of, security measures.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Gerardo Hernandez Airport Security Act of 2015

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Katko, John [R-NY-24] · 7 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 720, Gerardo Hernandez Airport Security Act of 2015 (2015-03-06)

Cosponsors on this site

Michael T. McCaul (R-TX), Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Richard Hudson (R-NC), Norma J. Torres (D-CA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Maxine Waters (D-CA)

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (4)
Appropriation
Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Fiscal year
The 12-month period a government uses for its budget. The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 and is named for the calendar year in which it ends. Most states use July 1 to June 30.
Securities
Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong114-hr720 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114