49 U.S.C. § 101: Purpose

The national objectives of general welfare, economic growth and stability, and security of the United States require the development of transportation policies and programs that contribute to providing fast, safe, efficient, and convenient transportation at the lowest cost consistent with those and other national objectives, including the efficient use and conservation of the resources of the United States. ensure the coordinated and effective administration of the transportation programs of the United States Government; make easier the development and improvement of coordinated transportation service to be provided by private enterprise to the greatest extent feasible; encourage cooperation of Federal, State, and local governments, carriers, labor, and other interested persons to achieve transportation objectives; stimulate technological advances in transportation, through research and development or otherwise; provide general leadership in identifying and solving transportation problems; and develop and recommend to the President and Congress transportation policies and programs to achieve transportation objectives considering the needs of the public, users, carriers, industry, labor, and national defense. The term ‘Department’ means the Department of Transportation. The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of Transportation.” The term ‘Administrator’ means the Administrator of the TSA. the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives. The term ‘ASAC’ means the Aviation Security Advisory Committee established under section 44946 of title 49 , United States Code. The term ‘Department’ means the Department of Homeland Security. The term ‘explosives detection canine team’ means a canine and a canine handler that are trained to detect explosives and other threats as defined by the Secretary. The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of Homeland Security. The term ‘TSA’ means the Transportation Security Administration.”