WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

The law › Title 49, Transportation › Chapter 449

49 U.S.C. 44903: Air transportation security

Created in 1994 by Public Law 103-272. Changed by 12 later laws. No bill we track in this Congress changes it.

1 other section of the Code cite this one, including 49 U.S.C. 44935.

8 parts of federal rules cite it as their authority, written by Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation (6), Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security (2).

This Congress

No bill we track in the 119th Congress changes this section.

    How it got here

    2022

    • Pub. L. 117–286 substituted "chapter 10 of title 5." for "the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)." Law text · (f)

    2018

    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(I), substituted "Administrator" for "Under Secretary" wherever appearing. (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(A), substituted "Definitions" for "Definition" in heading and "In this section:" for "In this section, 'law enforcement personnel' means individuals—" in introductory provisions, added par. (1), redesignated former pars. (1) to (3) as subpars. (A) to (C) of… (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (a)
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(B), substituted "Administrator" for "Secretary of Transportation" in introductory provisions. (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (d)
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(C), substituted "Administrator's" for "Under Secretary's". (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (g), (F)
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(D)(i), substituted "Secretary of Homeland Security" for "Secretary". (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (h)
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(D)(ii)(I), struck out ", as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this subsection," after "shall require". (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (h)
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(D)(ii)(II), substituted "subsection (c)" for "section 44903(c)". (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (h)
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(D)(ii)(III), struck out ", not later than March 31, 2005," after "shall issue". (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (h)
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(D)(iii), substituted "Administrator" for "Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration)" in introductory provisions. (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (h)
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(D)(iv)(I), substituted "The" for "Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, the" in introductory provisions. (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (h)
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(D)(iv)(II), substituted "paragraph" for "section". (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (h)
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(D)(v), substituted "Secretary of Homeland Security" for "Secretary" in introductory provisions. (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (h)
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(E), struck out ", after the date of enactment of this paragraph," after "If". (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (i)
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(F)(i), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) required the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security to recommend to airport operators, within 6 months after Nov. 19, 2001, commercially available measures or procedures to prevent a… (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (j)
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(F)(ii)(VII), substituted "Administrator" for "Assistant Secretary" wherever appearing. (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (j)
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(F)(ii)(I), substituted "Secure flight program" for "Computer-assisted passenger prescreening system" in heading. (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (j)
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(F)(ii)(II), substituted "Administrator" for "Secretary of Transportation", "Secure Flight program" for "Computer-Assisted Passenger Prescreening System", and, in two places, "program" for "system". (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (j)
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(F)(ii)(III), in introductory provisions, substituted "Administrator" for "Secretary of Transportation", "Secure Flight program" for "Computer-Assisted Passenger Prescreening System", and "Administrator" for "Secretary". (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (j)
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(F)(ii)(IV)(aa), substituted "The Administrator" for "Not later than January 1, 2005, the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration), or the designee of the Assistant Secretary,". (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (j)
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(F)(ii)(IV)(bb), substituted "The" for "Not later than 180 days after completion of testing under clause (i), the". (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (j)
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(F)(ii)(IV)(cc), substituted "After" for "Not later than 180 days after" in introductory provisions. (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (j)
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(F)(ii)(V), substituted "Administrator" for "Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration)" in introductory provisions. (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (j)
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(F)(ii)(VI), substituted "The Administrator" for "Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Assistant Secretary assumes the performance of the advanced passenger prescreening function under subparagraph (C)(ii), the" in introductory provisi… (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (j)
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(G), substituted "Administrator" for "Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security of the Department of Homeland Security". (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (l)
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(H)(ii), substituted "Administrator" for "Assistant Secretary" wherever appearing. (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (m)
    • Pub. L. 115–254, §1991(d)(3)(H)(i), substituted "Administrator" for "Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration)". (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (m)

    2013

    • Pub. L. 113–67 added subsec. (n). Law text · (n)

    2012

    • Pub. L. 112–86 added subsec. (m). Law text · (m)

    2009

    • Pub. L. 111–83 added cl. (v). (Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010) Law text · (j)

    2007

    • Pub. L. 110–53 amended par. (6) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (6) related to establishment of a uniform law enforcement officer travel credential incorporating biometric identifier technology not later than 120 days after Dec. 17, 2004. (Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007) Law text · (h)

    2004

    • Pub. L. 108–458, §4011(a)(1), substituted "shall issue, not later than March 31, 2005, guidance for" for "may provide for". (Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004) Law text · (h)
    • Pub. L. 108–458, §4011(a)(2), added pars. (5) to (7). (Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004) Law text · (h)
    • Pub. L. 108–458, §4012(a)(1), added subpars. (C) to (H). (Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004) Law text · (j)

    2003

    • Pub. L. 108–176 added subsec. (l). (Vision 100--Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act) Law text · (l)

    2002

    • Pub. L. 107–296, §1406(3), redesignated subsec. (h), relating to limitation on liability for acts to thwart criminal violence or aircraft piracy, as (k). (Homeland Security Act of 2002) Law text · (h)
    • Pub. L. 107–296, §1406(2), redesignated subsec. (h), relating to authority to arm flight deck crews with less-than-lethal weapons, as (i). (Homeland Security Act of 2002) Law text · (h)
    • Pub. L. 107–296, §1406(2), redesignated subsec. (h), relating to authority to arm flight deck crews with less-than-lethal weapons, as (i). Former subsec. (i) redesignated (j). (Homeland Security Act of 2002) Law text · (i)
    • Pub. L. 107–296, §1405(b)(1), substituted "If the Under Secretary" for "If the Secretary" and "the Under Secretary may" for "the Secretary may". (Homeland Security Act of 2002) Law text · (i)
    • Pub. L. 107–296, §1405(b)(2), substituted "Under Secretary" for "Secretary" in two places in introductory provisions. (Homeland Security Act of 2002) Law text · (i)
    • Pub. L. 107–296, §1405(a), added par. (3). (Homeland Security Act of 2002) Law text · (i)
    • Pub. L. 107–296, §1406(1), redesignated subsec. (i) as (j). (Homeland Security Act of 2002) Law text · (j)
    • Pub. L. 107–296, §1406(3), redesignated subsec. (h), relating to limitation on liability for acts to thwart criminal violence or aircraft piracy, as (k). (Homeland Security Act of 2002) Law text · (k)

    2001

    • Pub. L. 107–71, §101(f)(7), (9), substituted "Under Secretary of Transportation for Security" for "Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration". (Aviation and Transportation Security Act) Law text · (a)
    • Pub. L. 107–71, §101(f)(7), substituted "Under Secretary" for "Administrator" in two places in introductory provisions. (Aviation and Transportation Security Act) Law text · (b)
    • Pub. L. 107–71, §101(f)(7), substituted "Under Secretary" for "Administrator" wherever appearing. (Aviation and Transportation Security Act) Law text · (c), (2), (B)
    • Pub. L. 107–71, §120, amended heading and text of subpar. (C) generally, substituting provisions relating to maximum use of chemical and biological weapon detection equipment for provisions relating to a manual process at explosive detection locations for randomly selecting addit… (Aviation and Transportation Security Act) Law text · (c)
    • Pub. L. 107–71, §106(d), added par. (3). (Aviation and Transportation Security Act) Law text · (c)
    • Pub. L. 107–71, §101(f)(7), substituted "Under Secretary" for "Administrator" wherever appearing. (Aviation and Transportation Security Act) Law text · (e), (f), (g), (B)
    • Pub. L. 107–71, §101(f)(7), substituted "Under Secretary" for "Administrator" in introductory provisions. (Aviation and Transportation Security Act) Law text · (g)
    • Pub. L. 107–71, §106(c)(1), substituted "weaknesses;" for "weaknesses by January 31, 2001;". (Aviation and Transportation Security Act) Law text · (g)
    • Pub. L. 107–71, §106(c)(2), added subpar. (D) and struck out former subpar. (D) which read as follows: "assess and test for compliance with access control requirements, report findings, and assess penalties or take other appropriate enforcement actions when noncompliance is found… (Aviation and Transportation Security Act) Law text · (g)
    • Pub. L. 107–71, §101(f)(7), substituted "Under Secretary" for "Administrator". (Aviation and Transportation Security Act) Law text · (g)
    • Pub. L. 107–71, §101(f)(8), substituted "Under Secretary's" for "Administrator's". (Aviation and Transportation Security Act) Law text · (g)
    • Pub. L. 107–71, §§101(f)(8), 106(c)(3), substituted "Under Secretary's" for "Administrator's" and "program;" for "program by January 31, 2001;". (Aviation and Transportation Security Act) Law text · (g)
    • Pub. L. 107–71, §106(c)(4), added subpar. (G) and struck out former subpar. (G) which read as follows: "require airport operators and air carriers to strengthen access control points in secured areas (including air traffic control operations areas) to ensure the security of passe… (Aviation and Transportation Security Act) Law text · (g)
    • Pub. L. 107–71, §144, which directed that subsec. (h) relating to limitation on liability for acts to thwart criminal violence or aircraft piracy be added at end of section 44903, without specifying the Code title to be amended, was executed by making the addition at the end of this se… (Aviation and Transportation Security Act) Law text · (h)
    • Pub. L. 107–71, §126(b), added subsec. (h) relating to authority to arm flight deck crews with less-than-lethal weapons. (Aviation and Transportation Security Act) Law text · (h)
    • Pub. L. 107–71, §106(a), added subsec. (h) relating to improved airport perimeter access security. (Aviation and Transportation Security Act) Law text · (h)
    • Pub. L. 107–71, §136, added subsec. (i). (Aviation and Transportation Security Act) Law text · (i)

    2000

    • Pub. L. 106–528, §6, added subpar. (C). Law text · (c)
    • Pub. L. 106–181 added subsec. (f). (Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century) Law text · (f)
    • Pub. L. 106–528, §4, added subsec. (g). Law text · (g)

    Text, outline and history from the official U.S. Code (2024 edition) on GovInfo, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel. Changes made after that edition appear under This Congress.