AIRFARE Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4940 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4940

    To establish a system to expedite gate passes and flight access 
   procedures at domestic airports to allow caregivers, parents, and 
  guardians to accompany minors and passengers needing assistance to 
                 their flights, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 8, 2025

  Mr. Steube introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Homeland Security

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To establish a system to expedite gate passes and flight access 
   procedures at domestic airports to allow caregivers, parents, and 
  guardians to accompany minors and passengers needing assistance to 
                 their flights, 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 ``Accommodating Individuals Requesting 
Familial Assistance in Riding Efficiently Act'' or the ``AIRFARE Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF SYSTEM TO EXPEDITE GATE PASSES AND FLIGHT 
              ACCESS PROCEDURES TO ALLOW CAREGIVERS, PARENTS, AND 
              GUARDIANS TO ACCOMPANY MINORS AND PASSENGERS NEEDING 
              ASSISTANCE TO THEIR FLIGHTS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Caregivers.--The term ``caregivers'' means individuals 
        responsible for the care of minors or passengers needing 
        assistance.
            (2) Minors.--The term ``minors'' means individuals under 
        the age of 18.
            (3) Passengers needing assistance.--The term ``passengers 
        needing assistance'' means individuals requiring special 
        assistance related to their health or mobility, such as 
        wheelchair users.
    (b) Implementation.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Transportation Security 
Administration (TSA) shall establish a system at domestic airports to 
expedite gate passes and flight access procedures. The system shall 
ensure the following:
            (1) Air carriers may offer up to two gate passes to 
        caregivers, parents, and guardians who are accompanying a minor 
        or a passenger needing assistance to a departing flight.
            (2) If applicable, caregivers, parents, and guardians may 
        apply their existing TSA Pre-Check privileges to such gate 
        passes via their Known Traveler Numbers, and such gate passes 
        shall note such status in the same manner and to the same 
        extent as such status would be noted on a ticket issued to such 
        caregivers, parents, and guardians.
    (c) Requirement.--In the case of a passenger needing assistance who 
makes use of a wheelchair, a gate pass may be issued to a caregiver of 
such passenger pursuant to subsection (b) only if such caregiver is the 
individual pushing such wheelchair.
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