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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8645 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8645
To improve airport security screening for certain veterans and
passengers with disabilities, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 5, 2024
Mr. Thanedar (for himself and Mr. LaLota) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in
addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve airport security screening for certain veterans and
passengers with disabilities, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Improved Screening for Veterans and
Passengers with Disabilities Act''.
SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO AIRPORT SECURITY SCREENING OF CERTAIN VETERANS
AND PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES.
(a) Separate and Distinct Training for TSOs Relating to Passengers
With Disabilities.--Section 1950(a) of the TSA Modernization Act (49
U.S.C. 44901 note; Public Law 115-254) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the following
new sentences: ``Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this sentence, the Administrator shall ensure such
recurrent training is carried out as a separate and distinct
training for all Transportation Security Officers in addition
to any relevant module, component, element, or part of any
other training for all Transportation Security Officers, and
ensure such recurrent training is required for all
Transportation Security Officers not less often than annually.
Not later than 30 days after the implementation of such
recurrent training as a separate and distinct training for all
Transportation Security Officers, the Administrator shall
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
certification relating thereto.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(4) Biennial reviews.--The Administrator, in consultation
with nationally-recognized veterans and disabilities
organizations, shall biennially review and update, as
necessary, the curriculum for revised training requirements
under paragraph (1).''.
(b) Eligibility of Passengers With Disabilities or Medical
Conditions for Expedited Security Screening.--Section 44919 of title
49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (j), (k), and (l) as
subsections (k), (l), and (m), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (i) the following new
subsection:
``(j) Eligibility of Passengers With Disabilities or Medical
Conditions for Expedited Security Screening.--To the extent possible,
the Administrator shall ensure that a passenger with a disability or
medical condition enrolled in a trusted traveler program or otherwise
eligible for expedited security screening is provided such screening,
including at any security screening lane that is dedicated to screening
passengers with disabilities or medical conditions, whether or not such
lane is a dedicated PreCheck Program lane.''.
(c) Eligibility of Severely Injured or Disabled Members of the
Armed Forces and Severely Injured or Disabled Veterans for Expedited
Security Screening.--Section 44927 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:
``(g) PreCheck Program for Certain Severely Injured or Disabled
Veterans.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to the limitation specified in
subparagraph (4), the Administrator of the Transportation
Security Administration shall enroll a veteran described in
paragraph (3) in the PreCheck Program under section 44919 at no
cost to such veteran who satisfies the background check and
other security requirements for participation in such Program.
``(2) Coordination.--The Secretary of Homeland Security,
acting through the Administrator of the Transportation Security
Administration, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
jointly--
``(A) implement by not later than one year after
the date of enactment of this subsection a process to
verify the eligibility of a veteran described in
paragraph (3) and provide to such an eligible veteran
the benefits referred to in paragraph (1); and
``(B) brief the Committee on Homeland Security and
the Committee on Veterans Affairs of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs, the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on
Veterans Affairs of the Senate on the status of such
implementation and provision.
``(3) Eligibility.--A veteran described in this paragraph
is a veteran who--
``(A) is enrolled in the patient enrollment system
of the Department of Veterans Affairs established and
operated under section 1705 of title 38, United States
Code;
``(B) has--
``(i) lost, or lost use of, a limb;
``(ii) become paralyzed or partially
paralyzed; or
``(iii) incurred permanent blindness; and
``(C) as a result of such a loss, paralysis or
partial paralysis, or blindness, requires the use of a
wheelchair, prosthetic limb, or other assistive device
to aid with mobility.
``(4) Limitation.--The Administrator of the Transportation
Security Administration shall carry out this subsection subject
to the availability of appropriations and may not increase fees
for enrollment in the PreCheck Program for such purpose.
``(h) Outreach for Severely Injured or Disabled Veterans.--
``(1) Coordination.--The Secretary of Homeland Security,
acting through the Administrator of the Transportation Security
Administration, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
carry out targeted outreach to severely injured or disabled
veterans regarding how to access Transportation Security
Administration programs designed to improve the screening
process for severely injured and disabled passengers.
``(2) Engagement with severely injured or disabled veterans
stakeholders.--Notwithstanding subchapter I of chapter 35 of
title 44, United States Code (commonly referred to as the
`Paperwork Reduction Act'), or any other provision of law, the
Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the
Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, in
coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall--
``(A) engage with nationally-recognized veterans
and disabilities organizations to assess the awareness
of veterans of relevant Transportation Security
Administration programs; and
``(B) examine the need and feasibility of other
measures to improve security screening procedures for
severely injured and disabled veterans.
``(3) Briefing requirement.--Not later than 180 days after
the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary of
Homeland Security, acting through the Administrator of the
Transportation Security Administration, and the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall jointly provide to the Committee on
Homeland Security and the Committee on Veterans Affairs of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs, the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation, and the Committee on Veterans Affairs of
the Senate a briefing on the status of the implementation of
this subsection.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
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