VETS Safe Travel Act

Bill: 117-s-2280
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
Introduced: 2021-06-24
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports

Congressional oversight

Disability and paralysis

Disability assistance

Government information and archives

Marketing and advertising

Transportation safety and security

Veterans' pensions and compensation
Latest action: action_date: 2022-06-21
text: Held at the desk.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-06-24
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Veterans Expedited TSA Screening Safe Travel Act or the</b> <b>VETS Safe Travel Act</b></p> <p>This bill makes certain veterans eligible for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) PreCheck Program at no cost if they meet the program's background check and security requirements.</p> <p>Veterans who are eligible for this fee waiver are those who are in the annual patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and require the use of a wheelchair, prosthetic limb, or other assistive device to aid with mobility due to (1) loss, or loss of use, of a limb; (2) full or partial paralyzation; or (3) permanent blindness.</p> <p>The VA and the TSA must develop and implement a process to provide disabled veterans effective outreach about TSA programs that are designed to improve the screening process for passengers with disabilities.</p>

action_date: 2022-06-16
action_desc: Passed Senate
text: <p><b>Veterans Expedited TSA Screening Safe Travel Act or the</b> <b>VETS Safe Travel Act</b></p> <p>This bill makes certain veterans eligible for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) PreCheck Program at no cost if they meet the program's background check and security requirements.</p> <p>Veterans who are eligible for this fee waiver are those who are in the annual patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and require the use of a wheelchair, prosthetic limb, or other assistive device to aid with mobility due to (1) loss, or loss of use, of a limb; (2) full or partial paralyzation; or (3) permanent blindness.</p> <p>The VA and the TSA must develop and implement a process to provide disabled veterans effective outreach about TSA programs that are designed to improve the screening process for passengers with disabilities.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2280 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 24, 2021 Mr. Young (for himself, Ms. Duckworth , Mr. Portman , and Ms. Hassan ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To provide PreCheck to certain severely injured or disabled veterans, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Expedited TSA Screening Safe Travel Act or the VETS Safe Travel Act . 2. Availability of PreCheck Program to certain severely injured or disabled veterans (a) In general Section 44927 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (g) Availability of PreCheck Program to certain severely injured or disabled veterans (1) In general A veteran described in paragraph (2) is eligible for security screening under the PreCheck Program under section 44919 at no cost to the veteran if the veteran is able to meet the background check and other security requirements for participation in the program. (2) Veterans described 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 a loss, paralyzation or partial paralyzation, or blindness described in subparagraph (B), requires the use of a wheelchair, prosthetic limb, or other assistive device to aid with mobility. . (b) Coordination on implementation The Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly— (1) develop and implement a process under which a veteran described in paragraph (2) of subsection (g) of section 44927 of title 49, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), can receive the benefits under such subsection by not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) provide to Congress a briefing on the status of implementing the process required by paragraph (1) by not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. 3. Outreach for disabled veterans on availability of Transportation Security Administration programs (a) Coordination The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall develop and implement a process under which the Secretary provides to disabled veterans effective outreach about Transportation Security Administration programs designed to improve the screening process for passengers with disabilities. (b) Further enhancements to ease air travel for wounded warriors and other disabled veterans 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 Veterans Affairs, in coordination with the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, shall— (1) engage appropriate veterans service organizations and other relevant organizations, as appropriate, to assess the awareness of veterans of relevant Transportation Security Administration programs; and (2) examine the need and feasibility of other measures to improve travel security procedures for disabled veterans. (c) Briefing requirement Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Administrator of Transportation Security Administration shall jointly provide to Congress a briefing on the status of the implementation of subsections (a) and (b).

tv_txt: 117th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2280 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AN ACT To provide PreCheck to certain severely injured or disabled veterans, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Expedited TSA Screening Safe Travel Act or the VETS Safe Travel Act . 2. Availability of PreCheck Program to certain severely injured or disabled veterans (a) In general Section 44927 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (g) Availability of PreCheck Program to certain severely injured or disabled veterans (1) In general A veteran described in paragraph (2) is eligible for security screening under the PreCheck Program under section 44919 at no cost to the veteran if the veteran is able to meet the background check and other security requirements for participation in the program. (2) Veterans described 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 a loss, paralyzation or partial paralyzation, or blindness described in subparagraph (B), requires the use of a wheelchair, prosthetic limb, or other assistive device to aid with mobility. . (b) Coordination on implementation The Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly— (1) develop and implement a process under which a veteran described in paragraph (2) of subsection (g) of section 44927 of title 49, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), can receive the benefits under such subsection by not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) provide to Congress a briefing on the status of implementing the process required by paragraph (1) by not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. 3. Outreach for disabled veterans on availability of Transportation Security Administration programs (a) Coordination The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall develop and implement a process under which the Secretary provides to disabled veterans effective outreach about Transportation Security Administration programs designed to improve the screening process for passengers with disabilities. (b) Further enhancements to ease air travel for wounded warriors and other disabled veterans 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 Veterans Affairs, in coordination with the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, shall— (1) engage appropriate veterans service organizations and other relevant organizations, as appropriate, to assess the awareness of veterans of relevant Transportation Security Administration programs; and (2) examine the need and feasibility of other measures to improve travel security procedures for disabled veterans. (c) Briefing requirement Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Administrator of Transportation Security Administration shall jointly provide to Congress a briefing on the status of the implementation of subsections (a) and (b).

Passed the Senate June 16, 2022. Secretary