WATCH Personnel Act of 2026

Nellie Pou

Democrat · NJ · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

No cosponsors on record. Bills can pass without cosponsors — this often means the sponsor introduced the bill alone, either because it's a messaging bill, a chairman's mark, or simply early in the legislative cycle.

Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, 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.

2026-05-19

Source: Congress.gov

If the federal government runs out of money starting February 14, 2026, this bill would keep the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) operating and pay its employees during that shutdown period. The TSA is the agency that screens passengers at airports and protects transportation systems, so this ensures airport security checkpoints and related operations continue functioning even if Congress hasn't approved a full budget.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8902 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8902 Making continuing appropriations for essential Transportation Security Administration pay and operations during the lapse in appropriations beginning on February 14, 2026, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 19, 2026 Ms. Pou introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, 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 Making continuing appropriations for essential Transportation Security Administration pay and operations during the lapse in appropriations beginning on February 14, 2026, 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 ``Workforce Assurance for Transportation and Critical Homeland Personnel Act of 2026'' or the ``WATCH Personnel Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF HIGHER RATES OF PAY FOR TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION PERSONNEL. (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall-- (1) not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, set the minimum annual salary for a Transportation Security Officer to $40,000 for fiscal year 2026; and (2) for fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year thereafter, adjust the minimum annual salary for a Transportation Security Officer as provided by subsection (b). (b) Adjustment of Salary for Inflation.-- (1) In general.--The Administrator shall adjust the minimum annual salary for a Transportation Security Officer, on October 1, 2026, and at the beginning of each fiscal year thereafter, to reflect the percentage (if any) of the increase in the average of the Consumer Price Index for the preceding 12-month period compared to the Consumer Price Index for fiscal year 2026. (2) Special rules for calculation of adjustment.--In adjusting under paragraph (1) the minimum annual salary for a Transportation Security Officer, the Administrator-- (A) shall round the amount of any increase in the Consumer Price Index to the nearest dollar; and (B) may ignore any such increase of less than 1 percent. (3) Consumer price index defined.--In this subsection, the term ``Consumer Price Index'' means the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor. SEC. 3. CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION PERSONNEL. (a) In General.--There are hereby appropriated for fiscal year 2026, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the period beginning on February 14, 2026, during which interim or full-year appropriations for fiscal year 2026 are not in effect, such sums as are necessary-- (1) to provide standard rates of pay, allowances, pay differentials, benefits, and other payments otherwise payable on a regular basis to employees of the Transportation Security Administration; and (2) to provide a $10,000 bonus to each Transportation Security Officer employed and working for the Transportation Security Administration as of February 14, 2026. (b) Limitation on Treatment of Bonuses.--A bonus paid under subsection (a)(2) shall not be considered basic pay for purposes of retirement, life insurance, or any other employee benefit. (c) Limitation to Individuals Affected by Lapse in Appropriations.--Amounts provided under subsection (a) may not be used to provide pay, allowances, pay differentials, benefits, or other payments under paragraph (1) of that subsection or a bonus under paragraph (2) of that subsection to an employee of the Transportation Security Administration…

for any portion of the period described in subsection (a) for which the employee is provided with such pay, allowances, pay differentials, benefits, or other payments using amounts other than amounts provided under subsection (a). (d) Charge to Future Appropriations.--Expenditures made pursuant to subsection (a) shall be charged to the applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization whenever an Act in which such applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization is included is enacted into law. (e) Terms and Conditions.--Pay, allowances, pay differentials, benefits, and other payments provided by the Transportation Security Administration using amounts provided under subsection (a) shall be subject to the requirements, authorities, conditions, and limitations applicable with respect to the provision of pay, allowances, pay differentials, benefits, and other payments by the Transportation Security Administration under the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (Public Law 119-4; 139 Stat. 9). SEC. 4. TERMINATION. Appropriations and funds made available and authority granted under section 3 shall be available until whichever of the following first occurs: (1) The enactment into law of an appropriation (including a continuing appropriation) for any purpose for which amounts are made available in section 3. (2) The enactment into law of the applicable regular or continuing appropriations resolution or other Act without any appropriation for such purpose. (3) September 30, 2026. SEC. 5. RETROACTIVE EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act shall take effect as if enacted on February 13, 2026. <all>

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