Floor SpeechBipartisan2024-12-10

VETERANS EXPEDITED TSA SCREENING SAFE TRAVEL ACT

TaxesEnvironmentTradeVeteransInfrastructure

Context

On 2024-12-10, Representative Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ-9) delivered a floor speech titled "VETERANS EXPEDITED TSA SCREENING SAFE TRAVEL ACT" in the House. The speech addressed taxes and also covered the environment, trade policy. It referenced legislation: HR7365.

Full Text

VETERANS EXPEDITED TSA SCREENING SAFE TRAVEL ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 170 Issue 183 (Tuesday, December 10, 2024) [Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 183 (Tuesday, December 10, 2024)] [House] [Pages H6566-H6568] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] VETERANS EXPEDITED TSA SCREENING SAFE TRAVEL ACT Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7365) to provide PreCheck to certain severely injured or disabled veterans, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 7365 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 ``Veterans Expedited TSA Screening Safe Travel Act'' or the ``VETS Safe Travel Act''. SEC. 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 new subsection: ``(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; [[Page H6567]] ``(B) has been determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to have a service-connected disability under section 1110 or 1131 of such title, as the case may be, and such disability has been determined by such Secretary to have resulted in-- ``(i) loss, or loss use of, an extremity; ``(ii) paralysis or partial paralysis; or ``(iii) permanent blindness; and ``(C) as a result of a loss, paralysis or partial paralysis, or blindness described in subparagraph (B), requires the use of a wheelchair, prosthetic limb, or other assistive device to aid with mobility. ``(3) 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.''. (b) Coordination on Implementation.--The Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly-- (1) 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 enactment of this Act; and (2) 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 and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate 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. (c) Outreach for Disabled Veterans on Availability of Transportation Security Administration Programs.-- (1) Coordination.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall implement a process under which such Secretary provides to disabled veterans effective outreach regarding Transportation Security Administration programs designed to improve the screening process for passengers with disabilities. (2) 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-- (A) engage appropriate veterans service organizations and other relevant organizations, as appropriate, to assess the awareness of veterans of relevant Transportation Security Administration programs; and (B) examine the need and feasibility of other measures to improve travel security procedures for disabled veterans. (3) 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 the Transportation Security Administration 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 and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate a briefing on the status of the implementation of paragraphs (1) and (2). The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Green) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee. General Leave Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 7365. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Tennessee? There was no objection. Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7365, the VETS Safe Travel Act. The bill would make the Transportation Security Administration's PreCheck program available to certain disabled veterans. It is an important piece of legislation, and I thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar) for his attention to this matter. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, during this era of partisanship and discord, there is one issue on which I hope we can all agree: that veterans who are disabled while serving our country should be provided the utmost care and respect. Unfortunately, our current airport security screening systems cause unnecessary delays and intrusions for many disabled veterans. The VETS Safe Travel Act, H.R. 7365, would help address these challenges by allowing veterans with service-connected disabilities and severe injuries to enroll in the Transportation Security Administration's PreCheck expedited screening program at no cost to the veteran. Doing so will allow disabled veterans to move through airport screening quickly and with minimal hassle. Importantly, such veterans will still be required to undergo the background checks required for all passengers enrolling in the PreCheck program, thus maintaining the integrity and security of the program. In addition, during committee consideration of this bill, Democrats offered an amendment that would ensure the bill does not unintentionally require TSA to increase PreCheck enrollment fees for all other passengers to pay for the enrollments of disabled veterans. By passing this bill, Congress will improve everyday life for disabled veterans as they travel. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar). Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Green for yielding. Mr. Speaker, my great State of Arizona is home to over 450,000 veterans, and nearly 30 percent of those veterans live with a disability. My legislation, H.R. 7365, the Veterans Expedited TSA Screening, or VETS, Safe Travel Act, will provide optimized security screenings to veterans with catastrophic, service-connected disabilities free of charge, connect veterans to the VA for expanded access to the benefits they deserve, and restore veterans' dignity and independence while traveling. Traveling through standard airport checkpoints with severe injuries can present significant challenges for disabled veterans. They often must wait in long, winding lines, remove their shoes, and maintain balance to stand in a security scanner. For many disabled veterans, these can be difficult tasks and can present a fall hazard or require special assistance. By providing TSA PreCheck free of charge, my legislation will create a more honorable travel experience for veterans with prosthetics, vision impairment, paralysis, or relying on wheelchairs or other mobility aids. The VETS Safe Travel Act will also help create an improved airport experience for everyone by decreasing congestion at the standard security checkpoints. To obtain the benefit, the VA will certify that a veteran has a service-connected disability and is therefore eligible to apply for the program at no cost. TSA is also required to partner with veteran service organizations to make veterans aware of this benefit. TSA must also submit a report to Congress about the program to ensure it is working efficiently. Importantly, my bill specifically prohibits any budget gimmick used to offset costs by increasing the fees for other TSA PreCheck enrollees. This year, the Honor Flight Network welcomed 302 veterans from my home State of Arizona alone to our Nation's Capital. These veterans deserve the star treatment from departure to arrival and back. H.R. 7365 will ease the burden of any air travel on disabled veterans, their families, and caregivers and pave the way for additional disability reforms in veteran air travel. I thank the chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security as well as the chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs for prioritizing the quality of life for our disabled veterans. I ask my colleagues to pass this bipartisan legislation that helps disabled veterans

Referenced legislation: HR7365, HR7365

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VETERANS EXPEDITED TSA SCREENING SAFE TRAVEL ACT Congressional Record, Volume 170 Issue 183 (Tuesday, December 10, 2024) [Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 183 (Tuesday, December 10, 2024)] [House] [Pages H6566-H6568] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] VETERANS EXPEDITED TSA SCREENING SAFE TRAVEL ACT Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7365) to provide PreCheck to certain severely injured or disabled veterans, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 7365 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 ``Veterans Expedited TSA Screening Safe Travel Act'' or the ``VETS Safe Travel Act''. SEC. 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 new subsection: ``(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; [[Page H6567]] ``(B) has been determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to have a service-connected disability under section 1110 or 1131 of such title, as the case may be, and such disability has been determined by such Secretary to have resulted in-- ``(i) loss, or loss use of, an extremity; ``(ii) paralysis or partial paralysis; or ``(iii) permanent blindness; and ``(C) as a result of a loss, paralysis or partial paralysis, or blindness described in subparagraph (B), requires the use of a wheelchair, prosthetic limb, or other assistive device to aid with mobility. ``(3) 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.''. (b) Coordination on Implementation.--The Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly-- (1) 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 enactment of this Act; and (2) 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 and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate 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. (c) Outreach for Disabled Veterans on Availability of Transportation Security Administration Programs.-- (1) Coordination.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall implement a process under which such Secretary provides to disabled veterans effective outreach regarding Transportation Security Administration programs designed to improve the screening process for passengers with disabilities. (2) 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-- (A) engage appropriate veterans service organizations and other relevant organizations, as appropriate, to assess the awareness of veterans of relevant Transportation Security Administration programs; and (B) examine the need and feasibility of other measures to improve travel security procedures for disabled veterans. (3) 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 the Transportation Security Administration 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 and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate a briefing on the status of the implementation of paragraphs (1) and (2). The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Green) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee. General Leave Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 7365. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Tennessee? There was no objection. Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7365, the VETS Safe Travel Act. The bill would make the Transportation Security Administration's PreCheck program available to certain disabled veterans. It is an important piece of legislation, and I thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar) for his attention to this matter. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, during this era of partisanship and discord, there is one issue on which I hope we can all agree: that veterans who are disabled while serving our country should be provided the utmost care and respect. Unfortunately, our current airport security screening systems cause unnecessary delays and intrusions for many disabled veterans. The VETS Safe Travel Act, H.R. 7365, would help address these challenges by allowing veterans with service-connected disabilities and severe injuries to enroll in the Transportation Security Administration's PreCheck expedited screening program at no cost to the veteran. Doing so will allow disabled veterans to move through airport screening quickly and with minimal hassle. Importantly, such veterans will still be required to undergo the background checks required for all passengers enrolling in the PreCheck program, thus maintaining the integrity and security of the program. In addition, during committee consideration of this bill, Democrats offered an amendment that would ensure the bill does not unintentionally require TSA to increase PreCheck enrollment fees for all other passengers to pay for the enrollments of disabled veterans. By passing this bill, Congress will improve everyday life for disabled veterans as they travel. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar). Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Green for yielding. Mr. Speaker, my great State of Arizona is home to over 450,000 veterans, and nearly 30 percent of those veterans live with a disability. My legislation, H.R. 7365, the Veterans Expedited TSA Screening, or VETS, Safe Travel Act, will provide optimized security screenings to veterans with catastrophic, service-connected disabilities free of charge, connect veterans to the VA for expanded access to the benefits they deserve, and restore veterans' dignity and independence while traveling. Traveling through standard airport checkpoints with severe injuries can present significant challenges for disabled veterans. They often must wait in long, winding lines, remove their shoes, and maintain balance to stand in a security scanner. For many disabled veterans, these can be difficult tasks and can present a fall hazard or require special assistance. By providing TSA PreCheck free of charge, my legislation will create a more honorable travel experience for veterans with prosthetics, vision impairment, paralysis, or relying on wheelchairs or other mobility aids. The VETS Safe Travel Act will also help create an improved airport experience for everyone by decreasing congestion at the standard security checkpoints. To obtain the benefit, the VA will certify that a veteran has a service-connected disability and is therefore eligible to apply for the program at no cost. TSA is also required to partner with veteran service organizations to make veterans aware of this benefit. TSA must also submit a report to Congress about the program to ensure it is working efficiently. Importantly, my bill specifically prohibits any budget gimmick used to offset costs by increasing the fees for other TSA PreCheck enrollees. This year, the Honor Flight Network welcomed 302 veterans from my home State of Arizona alone to our Nation's Capital. These veterans deserve the star treatment from departure to arrival and back. H.R. 7365 will ease the burden of any air travel on disabled veterans, their families, and caregivers and pave the way for additional disability reforms in veteran air travel. I thank the chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security as well as the chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs for prioritizing the quality of life for our disabled veterans. I ask my colleagues to pass this bipartisan legislation that helps disabled veterans Referenced legislation: HR7365, HR7365