49 U.S.C. § 47137 — Airport security program

(a) General Authority. To improve security at public airports in the United States, the Secretary of Transportation must carry out at least one project to test and evaluate innovative aviation security systems and related technology.

(b) Priority. The Secretary must give the highest priority to a request from an eligible sponsor for a grant to run a project that: evaluates and tests the benefits of innovative aviation security systems or related technology — including explosives detection systems — to improve aviation and aircraft physical security, access control, and passenger and baggage screening; and provides testing and evaluation of airport security systems and technology in an operational, testbed environment.

(c) Matching Share. Unlike the usual cost-sharing rule in section 47109, the United States government's share of allowable project costs under this section is 100 percent.

(d) Terms and Conditions. The Secretary may set whatever terms and conditions are appropriate for a project under this section, including terms about the form and content of a project proposal, project assurances, and the payment schedule.

(e) Administration. The Secretary, working with the Secretary of Homeland Security, must administer the program authorized by this section.

(f) Eligible Sponsor Defined. An "eligible sponsor" means a nonprofit corporation made up of a consortium of public and private members — including a primary airport's sponsor — with the engineering and technical expertise to successfully test and evaluate airport and aircraft security systems.

(g) Authorization of Appropriations. Of the amounts made available to the Secretary under section 47115 each fiscal year, the Secretary must set aside at least $5,000,000 to carry out this section.