The House on Thursday is scheduled to consider legislation that, if passed by Congress, would be the first Transportation Security Administration authorization package since the agency was founded in 2001.

The provisions of the bill (HR 2200), which has received bipartisan support in the Homeland Security Committee, include requiring an increase in TSA-certified canine teams to provide security for public transportation, loosening background check requirements for truckers who do not haul hazardous materials, and creating a surface transportation advisory council intended to help bring road and train security to the level of aviation security.

The committee leadership has described the bill as an initial step in the goal of eventually passing a full Department of Homeland Security authorization bill. No DHS authorization has been enacted since the department's creation in 2003. Although several DHS authorization bills have made it out of the House, they have died in the Senate without coming to a vote.

Before last week's break, the House Rules Committee approved a rule for floor consideration of 14 amendments. They include:

- An amendment from Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., that would clarify which aviation facilities qualify for general aviation security grants.

- An amendment from John L. Mica, R-Fla., that would require the assistant secretary to establish a "known air traveler credential" that incorporates biometric identification technology.