Senate approves Young’s bill to hasten travel screenings for disabled U.S. veterans

The U.S. Senate on Sept. 10 unanimously approved bipartisan legislation sponsored by U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) to ensure all U.S. military veterans are quickly screened prior to boarding a flight.

“As a Marine, I swore always to remain faithful to those serving by my side,” Sen. Young said. “That includes ensuring our veterans receive the care and respect they are due after they return home.”

Sen. Young introduced the Veterans Expedited TSA Screening (VETS) Safe Travel Act, S. 1881, with cosponsors who included U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), to provide TSA PreCheck specifically to disabled veterans.

TSA PreCheck already is offered free of charge to active duty, reserves, and National Guard service members and S. 1881 would expand it to include veterans who are amputees, paralyzed or blind.

“The passage of this bill has the potential to help the 70,000 amputees, 100,000 paralyzed, and 130,000 blind veterans currently subjected to a rigorous and demeaning screening process when traveling,” said the senator.

The related bill, the same-named H.R. 3356, was introduced in June by U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) and 44 cosponsors and is under review in two U.S. House of Representatives committees. The House received Sen. Young’s bill for consideration on Sept. 11.

Thus far, the legislation has garnered support from the Wounded Warrior Project, Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Honor Flight Network, Disabled American Veterans, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, VetsFirst, and the American Legion.