House passes two airline screening bills cosponsored by Bacon

The U.S. House of Representatives on Sept. 26 approved two bipartisan bills cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) to update screening processes used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

“Our TSA officers deserve thorough training so they can conduct these screening processes in a manner that is respectful and helps improve the overall functioning of the passenger screening checkpoint,” Rep. Bacon said.

The Traveling Parents Screening Consistency Act of 2019, H.R. 3246, introduced in June, would require a Government Accountability Office review of certain TSA screening protocols. U.S. Rep. Van Taylor (R-TX) sponsored the bill, while Bacon cosponsored the measure along with U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY).

In addition, the Helping Families Fly Act of 2019, H.R. 3694, also drew support from Rep. Bacon. Introduced in July by lead sponsor U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ) and cosponsor U.S. Rep. Luis Correa (D-CA), the bill would require TSA to implement training for frontline administration personnel on screening pregnant women and families with young children at passenger screening checkpoints, according to the congressional record summaries.

“Families deserve peace of mind knowing that the nutrition they are bringing on a plane for their young children will be fairly, correctly and accurately screened,” said Rep. Bacon. “There have been many reports of families having breast milk, purified deionized water, and juice being confiscated so we must look at the effectiveness of the screening process and ask the GAO to make any recommendations on needed changes.”

If enacted, H.R. 3694 would require that TSA frontline personnel be trained on how to address any concerns that pregnant women might have about the screening process, including Advanced Imaging Technology and appropriate opt-out and alternative screening procedures, according to a summary provided by Rep. Bacon’s office.

Both measures were agreed to by voice vote in the House and now advance to the U.S. Senate.