---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 47137"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "47137"
heading: "Airport security program"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/47137"
units:
  - "Subtitle VII — Aviation Programs"
  - "Part B — Airport Development and Noise"
  - "Chapter 471 — Airport Development"
  - "Subchapter I — Airport Improvement"
---

# §47137. Airport security program

- (a) **General Authority.—** To improve security at [public airports](/usc/49/47102.md?p=21) in the United States, the Secretary of [Transportation](/usc/49/13907.md?p=e-2) shall carry out not less than one [project](/usc/49/47102.md?p=17) to test and evaluate innovative aviation security systems and related technology.
- (b) **Priority.—** In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall give the highest priority to a request from an [eligible sponsor](#f) for a grant to undertake a [project](/usc/49/47102.md?p=17) that—
  - (1) evaluates and tests the benefits of innovative aviation security systems or related technology, including explosives detection systems, for the purpose of improving aviation and aircraft physical security, access control, and passenger and baggage screening; and
  - (2) provides testing and evaluation of [airport](/usc/49/47501.md?p=1) security systems and technology in an operational, testbed environment.
- (c) **Matching Share.—** Notwithstanding [section 47109](/usc/49/47109.md), the United States Government’s share of allowable [project costs](/usc/49/47102.md?p=18) for a [project](/usc/49/47102.md?p=17) under this section shall be 100 percent.
- (d) **Terms and Conditions.—** The Secretary may establish such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines appropriate for carrying out a [project](/usc/49/47102.md?p=17) under this section, including terms and conditions relating to the form and content of a proposal for a [project](/usc/49/47102.md?p=17), [project](/usc/49/47102.md?p=17) assurances, and schedule of payments.
- (e) **Administration.—** The Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall administer the program authorized by this section.
- (f) **Eligible Sponsor Defined.—** In this section, the term “eligible sponsor” means a nonprofit corporation composed of a consortium of public and private persons, including a [sponsor](/usc/49/47102.md?p=26) of a [primary airport](/usc/49/47102.md?p=16), with the necessary engineering and technical expertise to successfully conduct the testing and evaluation of [airport](/usc/49/47501.md?p=1) and aircraft related security systems.
- (g) **Authorization of Appropriations.—** Of the amounts made available to the Secretary under [section 47115](/usc/49/47115.md) in a fiscal year, the Secretary shall make available not less than $5,000,000 for the purpose of carrying out this section.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 106–181, title I, § 134(a), Apr. 5, 2000, 114 Stat. 83; amended Pub. L. 108–176, title I, § 157, Dec. 12, 2003, 117 Stat. 2508.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2003—Subsecs. (e) to (g). Pub. L. 108–176 added subsec. (e) and redesignated former subsecs. (e) and (f) as (f) and (g), respectively.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2003 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 108–176 applicable only to fiscal years beginning after Sept. 30, 2003, except as otherwise specifically provided, see section 3 of Pub. L. 108–176, set out as a note under section 106 of this title.

### Effective Date

Section applicable only to fiscal years beginning after Sept. 30, 1999, see section 3 of Pub. L. 106–181, set out as an Effective Date of 2000 Amendments note under section 106 of this title.