Improved Screening for Veterans and Passengers with Disabilities Act

Bill: 118-hr-8645
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
Introduced: 2024-06-05
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports

Congressional oversight

Disability and health-based discrimination

Disability and paralysis

Employment and training programs

Transportation safety and security

Veterans' pensions and compensation
Latest action: action_date: 2024-07-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8645 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Improved Screening for Veterans and Passengers with Disabilities Act . 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. .