Gardner introduces bill to expedite, improve airport security screening

U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) introduced legislation on Wednesday that would reduce long lines at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) airport checkpoints while preserving safety measures.

The Safe Convenient Reliable Efficient Effective Next-Generation Functional and Secure TSA (SCREEN FAST) Act, S. 2987, would establish two pilot programs to examine prototype for new and innovative screening techniques.

“I share frustration with Coloradans about growing security lines at airports across the country,” Gardner said. “My bill addresses TSA’s growing security lines and aims to find an innovative solution to streamline the security screening process so that it is more efficient, while also preserving the critical security function that must be incorporated into any legislative fix to TSA’s problem.”

The SCREEN FAST Act would also direct TSA to report to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation and House Homeland Security Committees about the pilot programs.

“I’m hopeful my colleagues will join me and support this commonsense legislation that would lead to a more effective TSA screening system and ultimately shorter airports security lines in Denver and throughout the country,” Gardner said.

The bill would also make it easier for airports to work with TSA to acquire new equipment for passenger screening.  

Gardner introduced an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act in April that would require TSA to establish a pilot program to improve the layout of security screening operations at airports.