,in the ,senate of the ,united ,states1 ,december #aj 7legislative day1 ,december #i71 #bjaf4 ,amendment3 ,that the bill from the ,house of ,representatives 7,h4,r4 #gaj7 entitled ,an ,act to require the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security to prepare a comprehensive security assessment of the transportation security card program1 and for other purposes41 do pass with the following ,strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following3 #a4 ,transportation ,worker ,identification ,credential ,security ,card ,program improvements and assessment 7a7 ,credential improvements 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #fj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator of the ,transportation ,security ,administration shall commence actions1 consistent with section #gjaje of title #df1 ,united ,states ,code1 to improve the ,transportation ,security ,administration's process for vetting individuals with access to secure areas of vessels and maritime facilities4 7#b7 ,required actions ,the actions described under paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 7,a7 conducting a comprehensive risk analysis of security threat assessment procedures1 including-- 7i7 identifying those procedures that need additional internal controls2 and 7ii7 identifying best practices for quality assurance at every stage of the security threat assessment2 7,b7 implementing the additional internal controls and best practices identified under subparagraph 7,a72 7,c7 improving fraud detection techniques1 such as-- 7i7 by establishing benchmarks and a process for electronic document validation2 7ii7 by requiring annual training for ,trusted ,agents2 and 7iii7 by reviewing any security threat assessment-related information provided by ,trusted ,agents and incorporating any new threat information into updated guidance under subparagraph 7,d72 7,d7 updating the guidance provided to ,trusted ,agents regarding the vetting process and related regulations2 7,e7 finalizing a manual for ,trusted ,agents and adjudicators on the vetting process2 and 7,f7 establishing quality controls to ensure consistent procedures to review adjudication decisions and terrorism vetting decisions4 7#c7 ,report ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,inspector ,general of the ,department of ,homeland ,security shall submit a report to ,congress that evaluates the implementation of the actions described in paragraph 7#a74 7b7 ,comprehensive security assessment of the transportation security card program 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #fj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall commission an assessment of the effectiveness of the transportation security card program 7referred to in this section as ,program7 required under section #gjaje of title #df1 ,united ,states ,code1 at enhancing security and reducing security risks for facilities and vessels regulated under chapter #gja of that title4 7#b7 ,location ,the assessment commissioned under paragraph 7#a7 shall be conducted by a research organization with significant experience in port or maritime security1 such as-- 7,a7 a national laboratory2 7,b7 a university-based center within the ,science and ,technology ,directorate's centers of excellence network2 or 7,c7 a qualified federally-funded research and development center4 7#c7 ,contents ,the assessment commissioned under paragraph 7#a7 shall-- 7,a7 review the credentialing process by determining-- 7i7 the appropriateness of vetting standards2 7ii7 whether the fee structure adequately reflects the current costs of vetting2 7iii7 whether there is unnecessary redundancy or duplication with other ,federal- or ,state-issued transportation security credentials2 and 7iv7 the appropriateness of having varied ,federal and ,state threat assessments and access controls2 7,b7 review the process for renewing applications for ,transportation ,worker ,identification ,credentials1 including the number of days it takes to review application1 appeal1 and waiver requests for additional information2 and 7,c7 review the security value of the ,program by-- 7i7 evaluating the extent to which the ,program1 as implemented1 addresses known or likely security risks in the maritime and port environments2 7ii7 evaluating the potential for a non-biometric credential alternative2 7iii7 identifying the technology1 business process1 and operational impacts of the use of the transportation security card and transportation security card readers in the maritime and port environments2 7iv7 assessing the costs and benefits of the ,program1 as implemented2 and 7v7 evaluating the extent to which the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security has addressed the deficiencies in the ,program identified by the ,government ,accountability ,office and the ,inspector ,general of the ,department of ,homeland ,security before the date of enactment of this ,act4 7#d7 ,deadlines ,the assessment commissioned under paragraph 7#a7 shall be completed not later than #a year after the date on which the assessment is commissioned4 7#e7 ,submission to ,congress ,not later than #fj days after the date that the assessment is completed1 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall submit to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation and the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives the results of the assessment commissioned under this subsection4 7c7 ,corrective action plan2 program reforms ,if the assessment commissioned under subsection 7b7 identifies a deficiency in the effectiveness of the ,program1 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 not later than #fj days after the date on which the assessment is completed1 shall submit a corrective action plan to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation and the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs of the ,senate1 the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives that-- 7#a7 responds to findings of the assessment2 7#b7 includes an implementation plan with benchmarks2 7#c7 may include programmatic reforms1 revisions to regulations1 or proposals for legislation2 and 7#d7 shall be considered in any rulemaking by the ,department of ,homeland ,security relating to the ,program4 7d7 ,inspector ,general review ,if a corrective action plan is submitted under subsection 7c71 the ,inspector ,general of the ,department of ,homeland ,security shall-- 7#a7 not later than #abj days after the date of such submission1 review the extent to which such plan implements the requirements under subsection 7c72 and 7#b7 not later than #ah months after the date of such submission1 and annually thereafter for #c years1 submit a report to the congressional committees set forth in subsection 7c7 that describes the progress of the implementation of such plan4 ,secretary