,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #ahef ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #bf1 #bjba,mr4 ,schatz 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,peters1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,mr4 ,booker1 ,mrs4 ,gillibrand1 ,mr4 ,sanders1 ,mr4 ,warner1 ,ms4 ,hassan1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 ,mr4 ,padilla1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,ms4 ,warren1 ,mr4 ,kaine1 ,mr4 ,menendez1 ,mr4 ,casey1 ,ms4 ,cortez ,masto1 ,ms4 ,klobuchar1 ,mr4 ,bennet1 ,ms4 ,duckworth1 ,ms4 ,hirono1 ,mr4 ,brown1 ,ms4 ,rosen1 ,mr4 ,durbin1 ,ms4 ,baldwin1 ,mr4 ,lujn1 ,mr4 ,wyden1 and ,mr4 ,murphy7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to enhance the security operations of the ,transportation ,security ,administration and stability of the transportation security workforce by applying the personnel system under title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 to employees of the ,transportation ,security ,administration1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,rights for the ,transportation ,security ,administration ,workforce ,act of #bjba or the ,rights for the ,,tsa ,workforce ,act of #bjba4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act-- 7#a7 the term #bjai ,determination means the publication entitled ,determination on ,transportation ,security ,officers and ,collective ,bargaining1 issued on ,july #ac1 #bjai1 by ,administrator ,david ,p4 ,pekoske2 7#b7 the term adjusted basic pay means-- 7,a7 the rate of pay fixed by law or administrative action for a position occupied by a covered employee1 before any deductions2 and 7,b7 any regular1 fixed supplemental payment for non-overtime hours of work creditable as basic pay for retirement purposes1 including any applicable locality payment and any special rate supplement2 7#c7 the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,transportation ,security ,administration2 7#d7 the term conversion date means the date on which paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#d7 of section #c7;c7 take effect2 7#e7 the term covered employee means an employee who occupies a covered position2 7#f7 the term covered position means a position within the ,transportation ,security ,administration2 7#g7 the term employee has the meaning given the term in section #baje of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 which shall be determined without regard to any provision of law cited in paragraph 7#i72 7#h7 the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security2 and 7#i7 the term ,,tsa personnel management system means any personnel management system established or modified under-- 7,a7 section #aaa7;d7 of the ,aviation and ,transportation ,security ,act 7#di ,u4,s4,c4 #ddice note72 or 7,b7 section #aad7n7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code4 #c4 ,conversion of ,,tsa personnel 7a7 ,restrictions on certain personnel authorities ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 effective as of the date of enactment of this ,act-- 7#a7 any ,,tsa personnel management system in use for covered employees and covered positions on the day before that date of enactment1 and any ,transportation ,security ,administration personnel management policy1 letters1 guideline1 or directive in effect on that day1 may not be modified2 7#b7 no ,transportation ,security ,administration personnel management policy1 letter1 guideline1 or directive that was not established before that date issued under section #aaa7;d7 of the ,aviation and ,transportation ,security ,act 7#di ,u4,s4,c4 #ddice note7 or section #aad7n7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 may be established2 and 7#c7 any authority to establish or adjust a human resources management system under chapter #ig of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 shall terminate with respect to covered employees and covered positions4 7b7 ,personnel authorities during transition period ,any ,,tsa personnel management system in use for covered employees and covered positions on the day before the date of enactment of this ,act and any ,transportation ,security ,administration personnel management policy1 letter1 guideline1 or directive in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this ,act shall remain in effect until the effective date under subsection 7c74 7c7 ,transition to general personnel management system applicable to civil service employees ,effective as of a date determined by the ,secretary1 but in no event later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act-- 7#a7 each provision of law cited in section #b7i7 is repealed2 7#b7 any ,transportation ,security ,administration personnel management policy1 letter1 guideline1 or directive1 including the #bjai ,determination1 shall cease to be effective2 7#c7 any human resources management system established or adjusted under chapter #ig of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 with respect to covered employees or covered positions shall cease to be effective2 and 7#d7 covered employees and covered positions shall be subject to the provisions of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7d7 ,safeguards on grievances ,in carrying out this ,act1 the ,secretary shall take such actions as are necessary to provide an opportunity to each covered employee with a grievance or disciplinary action 7including an adverse action7 pending within the ,transportation ,security ,administration on the date of enactment of this ,act1 or at any time during the transition period described in subsection 7c71 to have that grievance removed to proceedings pursuant to title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 or continued within the ,administration4 #d4 ,transition rules 7a7 ,nonreduction in pay and compensation 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 under pay conversion rules as the ,secretary may prescribe to carry out this ,act1 a covered employee converted from a ,,tsa personnel management system to the provisions of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 under section #c7;c77#d7 shall not be subject to any reduction in the rate of adjusted basic pay payable1 or total compensation provided1 to that covered employee4 7#b7 ,federal ,air ,marshal ,service ,an employee of the ,federal ,air ,marshal ,service converted from a ,,tsa personnel management system to the provisions of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 under section #c7;c77#d7 shall be converted such that the rate of adjusted basic pay payable to the employee is not less than that rate for a position at ,,gs-#ac of the ,general ,schedule4 7b7 ,preservation of other rights ,with respect to each covered employee1 as of the conversion date1 the ,secretary shall take any actions necessary to ensure that-- 7#a7 any annual leave1 sick leave1 or other paid leave accrued1 accumulated1 or otherwise available to the covered employee1 as of the day before the conversion date1 shall remain available to the covered employee until used2 and 7#b7 the ,government share of any premiums or other periodic charges under chapter #hi of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 governing group health insurance shall be paid in an amount that is not less than the amount paid for those premiums and other periodic charges1 as of the day before the conversion date4 7c7 ,,gao study on ,,tsa pay rates ,not later than #bgj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall submit to ,congress a report on the differences in rates of pay1 classified by pay system1 between ,transportation ,security ,administration employees-- 7#a7 with duty stations in the contiguous #dh ,states2 and 7#b7 with duty stations outside of the ,states described in paragraph 7#a71 including those employees located in any territory or possession of the ,united ,states4 7d7 ,rule of construction ,during the transition period described in section #c7;c71 and after the conversion date1 the ,secretary shall ensure that the ,transportation ,security ,administration continues to prevent the appointment of individuals who have been convicted of a sex crime1 an offense involving a minor1 a crime of violence1 or terrorism4 #e4 ,consultation requirement 7a7 ,exclusive representative 7#a7 ,in general ,the labor organization certified by the ,federal ,labor ,relations ,authority on ,june #bi1 #bjaa1 or a successor labor organization1 shall be-- 7,a7 treated as the exclusive representative of full- and part-time non-supervisory personnel of the ,transportation ,security ,administration carrying out screening functions under section #ddija of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code2 and 7,b7 the exclusive representative for the personnel described in subparagraph 7,a7 under chapter #ga of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 with full rights under that chapter4 7#b7 ,application ,any collective bargaining agreement covering the personnel described in paragraph 7#a77;,a7 that is in effect on the date of enactment of this ,act shall remain in effect1 consistent with subsection 7d74 7b7 ,consultation rights 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #g days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall consult with the exclusive representative for the personnel described in subsection 7a77#a77;,a7 under chapter #ga of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 as well as appropriate labor associations that represent a substantial percentage of employees1 on the formulation of plans and deadlines to carry out the conversion of covered employees and covered positions under this ,act4 7#b7 ,plans ,before the conversion date1 the ,secretary shall provide 7in writing7 to the exclusive representative and labor associations described in paragraph 7#a7 the plans for how the ,secretary intends to carry out the conversion of covered employees and covered positions under this ,act1 including with respect to such matters as-- 7,a7 the anticipated conversion date2 and 7,b7 measures to ensure compliance with sections #c and #d4 7c7 ,required agency response ,if any views or recommendations are presented under subsection 7b7 by the exclusive representative1 or the labor associations described in that subsection1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 consider the views or recommendations before taking final action on any matter with respect to which the views or recommendations are presented2 and 7#b7 provide the exclusive representative and those labor associations a written statement of the reasons for the final actions to be taken4 7d7 ,sunset provision ,the provisions of this section shall cease to be effective as of the conversion date4 #f4 ,no right to strike ,nothing in this ,act may be considered-- 7#a7 to repeal or otherwise affect-- 7,a7 section #aiah of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code 7relating to disloyalty and asserting the right to strike against the ,government72 or 7,b7 section #gcaa of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code 7relating to loyalty and striking72 or 7#b7 to otherwise authorize any activity that is not permitted under either provision of law cited in paragraph 7#a74 #g4 ,rule of construction with respect to certain crimes relating to terrorism ,nothing in this ,act may be construed to contradict chapter #aac;,b of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code1 including with respect to-- 7#a7 section #bccb;b 7relating to acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries72 7#b7 section #bcci 7relating to harboring or concealing terrorists72 and 7#c7 section #bcci;,a 7relating to providing material support to terrorists74 #h4 ,report by ,,gao regarding ,,tsa recruitment 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall submit to ,congress a report on the efforts of the ,administrator regarding recruitment1 including recruitment efforts relating to-- 7#a7 veterans and the dependents of veterans2 and 7#b7 members of the ,armed ,forces and the dependents of those members4 7b7 ,contents ,the report required under subsection 7a7 shall include recommendations regarding how the ,administrator may improve the recruitment efforts described in that subsection4 #i4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 the personnel system of the ,transportation ,security ,administration provides insufficient benefits and workplace protections to the workforce that secures the transportation systems of the ,united ,states2 and 7#b7 the workforce of the ,transportation ,security ,administration should be provided protections and benefits under title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 #aj4 ,federal ,air ,marshal ,service ,the ,administrator shall-- 7#a7 implement in-person or remote 7by means of telecommunications7 mental health programs at each field office of the ,federal ,air ,marshal ,service that offer1 at a minimum1 confidential and direct psychiatric counseling2 and 7#b7 consult with appropriate labor associations that represent a substantial percentage of ,federal ,air ,marshal ,service employees regarding1 with respect to those employees-- 7,a7 mental health2 7,b7 suicide rates2 7,c7 morale and recruitment2 7,d7 equipment and training2 and 7,e7 any other personnel issues the ,administrator determines appropriate4 #aa4 ,veterans hiring 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section1 the terms disabled veteran1 preference eligible1 and veteran have the meanings given the terms in section #bajh of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7b7 ,prioritization ,the ,secretary shall prioritize the appointment of veterans1 including disabled veterans1 and other preference eligibles1 including widows and widowers of veterans1 to covered positions4 #ab4 ,prevention and protection against certain illness ,the ,administrator1 in coordination with the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention and the ,director of the ,national ,institute of ,allergy and ,infectious ,diseases1 shall ensure that covered employees are provided proper guidance regarding prevention and protections against coronavirus1 including appropriate resources4