Sec. 203. Feasibility study on the use of canine units to detect COVID–19 at airports
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The Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Secretary of Defense, shall conduct a study to assess— the feasibility of using canines to detect the presence of SARS–CoV–2, the virus that causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (commonly known as COVID–19 ), in individuals infected with the virus; if using canines to detect the presence of SARS–CoV–2 is feasible, whether canine units could be used at airports to screen passengers, individuals accompanying passengers, crew members, and other individuals who pass through airports and airport security screening locations for SARS–CoV–2 infection; and if using canine units to conduct screening described in paragraph
(2)is feasible, how such screening would be implemented and what metrics would be used to monitor the efficacy of the screening. In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall conduct a comprehensive review and analysis of SARS–CoV–2 detection solutions to determine the efficacy of canines to detect SARS–CoV–2 in individuals. The Administrator shall use the results of the review and analysis required under paragraph (1)— to determine the biological detection capabilities of canines; and to inform the operational factors and considerations necessary for the deployment of canine units at airports to detect SARS–CoV–2. In conducting the assessments required under subsections
(a)and (b), the Administrator shall— assess the probability of canines responding to the presence of SARS–CoV–2; determine the specificity of response by canines to SARS–CoV–2 compared to their response to a pool of similar viruses and controls; assess how close canine units must be to individuals to detect SARS–CoV–2 at a high sensitivity and specificity; assess the effectiveness of canine units in detecting SARS–CoV–2 in symptomatic carriers compared to asymptomatic carriers; assess other valid measures to determine the efficacy of using canine units to screen for SARS–CoV–2 at airports, such as the accuracy of detection and the risks of false positives and false negatives; identify training and policy gaps that must be addressed before implementing a program to use canine units at airports to screen passengers, individuals accompanying passengers, crew members, and other individuals who pass through airports and airport security screening locations, for infection with SARS–CoV–2; and assess— the number of canine units the Administrator would require in order to effectively implement a program to use canine units at airports to screen passengers, individuals accompanying passengers, crew members, and other individuals who pass through airports and airport security screening locations for infection with SARS–CoV–2; and the effect that such screenings would have on the Transportation Security Administration’s existing pool of canine units. In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall consider— opportunities to leverage established, preexisting scientific information regarding detection of SARS–CoV–2 by canines; established programs in foreign countries related to detection of SARS–CoV–2 by canine units; detection approaches and solutions related to the optimization of detection of SARS–CoV–2 by canines; and private industry approaches aimed to facilitate detection of SARS–CoV–2 using canine units. The Administrator shall ensure that any screening solutions developed pursuant to the study required under subsection
(a)undergo validation and verification analysis by a third party with appropriate expertise to ensure accuracy of data obtained from the study. Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit a report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate , the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate , the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate , the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives , the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives , and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives that— describes the results of the study required under subsection (a), including the assessments required under subsections
(b)and (c); and makes a recommendation with respect to whether canine units at airports could be trained effectively and efficiently to screen passengers, individuals accompanying passengers, crew members, and other individuals who pass through airports and airport security screening locations, for infection with SARS–CoV–2.