---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 47137"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "47137"
heading: "Airport security program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
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](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-46), the Secretary of Transportation 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](/usc/49/47102.md?p=26) 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](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) physical security, access control, and passenger and baggage screening; and
  - (2) provides testing and evaluation of [airport](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9) security systems and technology in an operational, testbed environment.
- (c) **Matching Share.—** Notwithstanding [section 47109](/usc/49/47109.md), the [United States](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-46) 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](/usc/49/47102.md?p=26)” 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/49/40102.md?p=a-9) and [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) 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.