[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 72 (Tuesday, May 21, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H2819-H2825]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HELPING HEROES FLY ACT
Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 1344) to amend title 49, United States Code, to
direct the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation
Security Administration) to provide expedited air passenger screening
to severely injured or disabled members of the Armed Forces and
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. 1344
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 ``Helping Heroes Fly Act''.
SEC. 2. OPERATIONS CENTER PROGRAM FOR SEVERELY INJURED OR
DISABLED MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND
SEVERELY INJURED OR DISABLED VETERANS.
(a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 449 of title 49,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
[[Page H2820]]
``Sec. 44927. Expedited screening for severely injured or
disabled members of the Armed Forces and severely injured
or disabled veterans
``(a) Passenger Screening.--The Assistant Secretary, in
consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs, and organizations that advocate on behalf
of members of the Armed Forces and veterans, including
organizations that advocate on behalf of severely injured or
disabled members of the Armed Forces and severely injured or
disabled veterans, shall develop and implement a process to
facilitate the ease of travel and to the extent possible
provide expedited passenger screening services for severely
injured or disabled members of the Armed Forces, severely
injured or disabled veterans, and their accompanying family
members or nonmedical attendants. Such process shall be
designed to protect the privacy of the individual being
screened to the maximum extent practicable.
``(b) Operations Center.--As part of the process required
under subsection (a), the Assistant Secretary shall maintain
an operations center to provide support and facilitate the
movement of severely injured or disabled members of the Armed
Forces and severely injured or disabled veterans through
screening prior to boarding a passenger aircraft operated by
an air carrier or foreign air carrier in air transportation
or intrastate air transportation. Such operations center
shall be operational at all times.
``(c) Protocols.--The Assistant Secretary shall--
``(1) establish and publish protocols, in consultation with
the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
and organizations that advocate on behalf of members of the
Armed Forces and veterans, including organizations that
advocate on behalf of severely injured or disabled members of
the Armed Forces and severely injured or disabled veterans,
under which a severely injured or disabled member of the
Armed Forces or severely injured or disabled veteran, or the
family member or other representative of such a member or
veteran, may contact the operations center maintained under
subsection (b) and request expedited screening services
described in subsection (a) for the member or veteran; and
``(2) upon receipt of such a request, require such
operations center to notify the appropriate Federal security
director of the request to facilitate the expedited passenger
screening services described in subsection (a) for the member
or veteran.
``(d) Training.--The Assistant Secretary shall integrate
training on the protocols established under subsection (c)
into the training provided to all employees who will provide
the screening services described in subsection (a).
``(e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section
affects the authority of the Assistant Secretary to require
additional screening of a severely injured or disabled member
of the Armed Forces, a severely injured or disabled veteran,
or their accompanying family members or nonmedical
attendants, if intelligence, law enforcement, or other
information indicates that additional screening is necessary.
``(f) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the
Assistant Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the
implementation of this section. Each such report shall
include each of the following:
``(1) Information on the training provided under subsection
(d).
``(2) Information on the consultations between the
Assistant Secretary and organizations that advocate on behalf
of members of the Armed Forces and veterans as described in
subsection (a).
``(3) The number of people who accessed the operations
center during the period covered by the report.
``(4) Such other information as the Assistant Secretary
determines is appropriate.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 44926 the following new item:
``44927. Expedited screening for severely injured or disabled members
of the Armed Forces and severely injured or disabled
veterans.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Indiana (Mrs. Brooks) and the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Gabbard)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Indiana.
General Leave
Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Indiana?
There was no objection.
Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
As a member of the Committee on Homeland Security's Transportation
Security Subcommittee, I am proud to be a cosponsor of this commonsense
piece of legislation that will increase accessibility and privacy for
our wounded warriors at airport checkpoints.
{time} 1320
This legislation directs TSA to develop and implement a process to
facilitate the ease of travel and, to the extent possible, provide
expedited screening through our Nation's airports for severely injured
or disabled members of our Armed Forces and veterans. The last thing
our heroes need is to face unnecessary scrutiny or hassle, or be forced
to answer endless questions about their conditions, when all they want
to do is board a plane to fly home to their loved ones or maybe to a
job interview.
This bill would ensure that our wounded warriors--those dedicated men
and women who have been severely injured while fighting to protect our
Nation--are treated with the highest dignity and respect when traveling
through our Nation's airports.
I was pleased to find out that shortly after Administrator Pistole
testified before the Transportation Security Subcommittee on TSA's
efforts to advance risk-based security, TSA began to offer expedited
screening services to severely injured members of the Armed Forces and
veterans, provided they contact the TSA in advance of traveling. While
I support TSA's newly adopted protocols, I feel this bill is necessary
because it codifies current TSA policy and ensures that it will remain
intact during future administrations.
Mr. Speaker, this bill not only benefits severely injured and
disabled members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans, and their
accompanying families, but it also supports the TSA administrator's
intent to develop a more risk-based method of screening for all
passengers.
Expedited travel for our military heroes is an important step toward
reasonable transportation security reforms that will allow us to focus
precious taxpayer dollars on the unknown travelers and the real
threats.
As we look forward to this upcoming Memorial Day, let us honor the
all-too-often painful sacrifices our wounded warriors have made for our
Nation by adopting this important and commonsense piece of legislation.
I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance
of my time.
Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of 1344, the
Helping Heroes Fly Act, and yield myself such time as I may consume.
In response to documented grievances my fellow servicemembers made
because of various challenges and trying experiences that they went
through at airport checkpoints across the country, I introduced the
Helping Heroes Fly Act to ensure that the Transportation Security
Administration--working alongside veterans advocacy organizations--
develop sensible screening policies that honor and respect the service
and sacrifice of our Nation's injured and disabled heroes.
On March 27 of this year, just a few days after this legislation was
introduced, the Transportation Security Administration made an
announcement of some improvements that they have made in this area as
they took steps to expedite airport screening for severely injured
members of our Armed Forces. With these changes, individuals can
presently request assistance ahead of time and move through security
checkpoints without having to remove their shoes, light outerwear,
jackets, or hats. Taking off a jacket--while maybe a simple
inconvenience for you and I--can be a very physically challenging task
for someone who, for example, has lost the use of an arm.
While this announcement was a good step, it didn't go nearly far
enough, as there are still more improvements that need to be made. As
I've spoken with wounded warriors and listened to their experiences,
I've heard stories that have been varied and included things like
having to take off a prosthetic leg, putting the leg through the X-ray
machine, and then having to balance on one leg going through the full
body scan without help from anyone.
This is unacceptable. Severely injured and disabled Active Duty and
veterans both experience widely varied screening protocols among
different
[[Page H2821]]
airports, and even among screeners in the same airport. This makes it
very hard for a wounded warrior to anticipate and prepare what will be
required of them, to make sure that they are ready physically and
mentally. Again, this may not seem like much to us, but to someone--a
trained and hardened warrior--learning to adjust to these severe
injuries, it can sometimes be difficult and can be the difference
between a smooth and dignified screening experience or one that is
filled with frustration, shame, and pain for the injured servicemember
and delays for all people waiting in that screening line.
Another issue that frequently has come up has been privacy. Veterans
have shared with me their own experiences of having to take off
prosthetics, despite TSA guidance that it's not necessary. And in the
instances where extra screening of these prosthetics is necessary, it
has been done in public view, even when clothing needs to be removed.
No one--no one--should be required to remove their shirt or pants in
public, nor should scans of sensitive or private areas be viewed by
other airline passengers. Again, this has been already a humiliating,
shameful experience for some veterans when there's absolutely no
requirement or necessity for it.
The Disabled American Veterans have spoken in strong support of this
legislation stating:
At some airports, our amputee members receive relaxed
screening, while at others these screenings are horrific.
Perhaps it is TSA's purpose to make screenings unpredictable.
Some screenings have required these amputees to expose their
prostheses when they lack the ability to reposition their
clothing, and TSA agents are not allowed to help them, nor do
they allow spouses or traveling companions to enter search
areas to assist the amputees.
Our objective with this legislation is to ensure consistent treatment
by screeners, greater attention to privacy concerns, and consulting
with these advocacy organizations who speak for our wounded warriors to
ensure they have a voice in the process.
This bill before us today, the Helping Heroes Fly Act, achieves these
improvements by requiring TSA to take into account the privacy of the
individual being screened. It also mandates training of screening
officers on the expedited protocols to make sure that no matter where
you travel, no matter what city you are in, you will have consistent
screening procedures so you know what to expect. TSA is also required
to consult with these advocacy organizations to make sure that as these
changes are implemented, that the unique needs of our wounded warriors
are implemented to the best of its ability.
To ensure these changes over the long term, this legislation requires
regular reporting to Congress, as well as maintenance of the TSA's
operations center that these wounded warriors and veterans can contact
for assistance as they prepare to travel.
Mr. Speaker, as you well know, members of our U.S. Armed Forces are
entrusted to protect the security of our country with their lives. By
definition, these individuals pose very little risk to aviation
security and should be consistently screened in a manner befitting and
honoring their service and sacrifice.
I urge my colleagues to ensure our Nation's wounded warriors are
treated respectfully, and urge them to vote ``yes'' in support of H.R.
1344.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins).
Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. I appreciate you yielding on this. And I
appreciate not only the gentlewoman from Indiana, but the gentlewoman
from Hawaii for bringing this legislation.
I bring a little bit different perspective to this. As a chaplain in
the military and working with our heroes who have been wounded and
coming from bodies that were strong and healthy and vibrant to a
situation in which now they're put in a position that they've never
been in, in some ways a dependency, and counseling in those roles and
seeing them having to go through this process, which is inconsistent
and frankly unfair, I think this is the reason I strongly support this
legislation.
But I also support it from a different perspective. Having a daughter
who has been in a wheelchair since she was able to walk--as we call it,
``roll''--she's never known anything different. And so we've had to
adjust over time, and she's adjusted in ways of going through
screenings and going through processes like that.
But when you balance what our wounded warriors have done, heroes who
came home who had healthy bodies and now have bodies that are not
healthy, this is something that will provide them a measure of
dignity--and it is an honor to stand here and support this
legislation--because I believe that an inconsistency in this area is an
inconsistency in what we believe as Americans in what those men and
women have done for us.
We have to remember that in times of war now it is not like it used
to be where these men and women would actually have died on the
battlefield. Now they're coming home. They're coming home to lead
productive lives, great lives, because of the sacrifices that they have
made. It is time that we--and this legislation proves this--stand for
them in the fairness that they deserve for what they have given to us.
I congratulate the gentlewoman from Hawaii and also the gentlewoman
from Indiana for sponsoring this. I look forward to voting for it, and
encourage my colleagues to do so.
{time} 1330
Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the
ranking member of the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security of
the Committee on Homeland Security, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms.
Jackson Lee).
(Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend
her remarks.)
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to be able to come to
the floor today as we approach the week that we memorialize those
fallen heroes and as well, at the same time, acknowledge those who yet
live who have served and who are wounded. Even today, as we stand on
the floor in the backdrop of enormous tragedies among our civilian
population in Oklahoma over the last couple of days and in Texas and
elsewhere, this is a very important legislative initiative.
As the former ranking member and chair of the Subcommittee on
Transportation Security and as a cosponsor, I rise in strong support of
H.R. 1344, the Helping Heroes Fly Act of 2013.
I congratulate my new colleague for this outstanding legislation, Ms.
Gabbard from Hawaii; and to the manager, thank you very much. It is
important, and I am glad we are standing here together in a bipartisan
manner.
I support this legislation because it eases and facilitates the
expedited passenger screening at airports for servicemembers who are
severely injured or disabled, along with their families. Of course, the
thoughtfulness in introducing this legislation is appreciated because
it is necessary legislation. I thank you for indicating that, even as
the TSA, of which we have oversight, is formulating policies, it's good
to codify it, to make it law, because these heroes deserve their law.
The Helping Heroes Fly Act requires the Transportation Security
Administration to maintain an operations center to provide support and
to facilitate the movement of these disabled servicemembers and
veterans, and it requires the TSA to publish protocol so disabled
servicemembers and veterans and their families will be able to contact
the operations center and request expedited screening. The bill also
requires that these protocols be integrated into the training of TSA
agents.
Now, I know that there are many home ports, if you will, for our
returning heroes. I happen to know that Texas has had a very large
number of our men and women go to Iraq and Afghanistan and to places
beyond. I've been to Hawaii and know the transition there of many who
are on R&R, coming from places around the world, and I know that it is
a place where many come home because it was their home, and, yes, they
come home disabled, with prostheses and other wounds, that require
their privacy. I am glad that this bill acknowledges, not only that
they are heroes, but that they are desirous and deserving of the
respect--why don't I say an admiration and commendation and respect
again--of those who would expedite their going into a secured area.
[[Page H2822]]
Mr. Speaker, more than 2.2 million veterans--one in 10--have been
disabled or seriously wounded in the service of our Nation; and
disabled veterans typically find it much harder, by some estimates
twice as hard, to readjust to civilian life. The least we can do for
these heroes is to make it a little less burdensome and difficult to
navigate the obstacles, barriers, and checkpoints that have been
erected in the aftermath of 9/11 to enhance the security of air
travel--and rightly so.
Most of these inconveniences are necessary but are no less burdensome
to those who have suffered physical disabilities in defending the
Nation from those who would make air travel dangerous and deadly. Let's
give them respect for what they have done to secure the homeland and to
make us safer. The legislation before us strikes an appropriate balance
between these competing interests.
I have seen the operation of TSA and TSO officers and some of what
they call these ``specialty officers.'' Allow me to thank you publicly
for the work you have already done and for the sensitivity you've had.
I've seen these soldiers, these heroes, coming home at DCA and at
Dulles. I've certainly seen them in the airports in Texas. I've seen
them in their uniforms. I've seen them, as I said, disabled, and I've
seen them with families. I saw one young man who was wandering in my
airport. He was, obviously, in uniform, but had not a good day. I don't
know what might have been impacting him, but we stopped, and I hailed
an officer in uniform, a TSO officer, and said, You won't be alone now.
We're going to find out where you need to go.
One of the factors of this particular legislative initiative that is
good is that, wherever you land, sometimes it may not be your home
airport--every airport is different--and I think they work themselves
up to make sure that they make it exciting and confusing.
Thank you for the Helping Heroes Fly Act to help improve airport
security screening processes for wounded and severely disabled
servicemembers, but also thank you for giving them a helping hand. You
are helping the veterans as well. This authorizes a Wounded Warrior
Screening program and requires the TSA to maintain an operations
center. These improvements will facilitate and expedite air travel for
our disabled veterans and servicemembers. More importantly, they will
help our Nation's heroes to be shown the respect, as I said earlier,
and the appreciation of a Nation that is so grateful.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this legislation, and I urge all of
my colleagues to join me in voting for the Helping Heroes Fly Act of
2013. I am glad to be back in the well again in this week of honoring
our soldiers and those who have fallen, and I am delighted for the
leadership of my colleague on the Homeland Security Committee and of
the manager on this great bill, and I hope that we have a very strong
vote.
Mr. Speaker, as a member and former chair of the Homeland Security
Subcommittee on Transportation Security, and a cosponsor, I rise in
strong support of H.R. 1344, the ``Helping Heroes Fly Act of 2013.'' I
support this legislation because it eases and facilitates expedited
passenger screening at airports for service members who are severely
injured or disabled, along with their families. I thank my colleague,
Congresswoman Gabbard of Hawaii, for introducing this thoughtful and
necessary legislation.
The Helping Heroes Fly Act requires Transportation Security
Administration to maintain an operations center to provide support and
facilitate the movement of these disabled service members and veterans,
and it requires TSA to publish protocols so disabled service members
and veterans, and their families, will be able to contact the
operations center and request expedited screening. The bill also
requires that these protocols be integrated into the training of TSA
agents.
Mr. Speaker, more than 2.2 million Veterans, one in ten, have been
disabled or seriously wounded in the service of our nation. And
disabled veterans typically find it much harder, by some estimates
twice as hard, to readjust to civilian life. The least we can do for
these heroes is to make it a little less burdensome and difficult to
navigate the obstacles, barriers, and checkpoints that have been
erected in the aftermath of 9/11 to enhance the security of air travel.
Most of these inconveniences are necessary but no less burdensome to
those who suffered physical disabilities defending the nation from
those who would make air travel dangerous and deadly. The legislation
before us strikes an appropriate balance between these competing
interests.
The Helping Heroes Fly Act improves airport security screening
processes for wounded and severely disabled service members and
veterans; authorizes a Wounded Warrior Screening Program and requires
TSA to maintain an Operations Center. These improvements will
facilitate and expedite air travel for our disabled veterans and
service members. More importantly, they help that our nation's heroes
are shown the respect and appreciation of a grateful nation.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 1344, and urge all my colleagues
to join me in voting for the Helping Heroes Fly Act of 2013.
Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2
minutes to a distinguished gentleman who has also served his country
admirably in the military and is someone who serves on the Homeland
Security Committee with Congresswoman Gabbard and me, the distinguished
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry).
Mr. PERRY. I would like to start out by thanking the gentleladies
from Indiana and, of course, from Hawaii for this very significant and
impactful legislation. It is particularly a privilege to speak in favor
of this knowing that Ms. Gabbard is from Hawaii and, today, currently
serves as a comrade in arms just like me.
The TSA started an expedited free screening program in 2011 called
PreCheck, but just recently expanded the program to include Active Duty
members of the military and most recently, just this March, to severely
injured members of the military.
As a matter of fact, there is a Member of this House who was severely
injured, and I served right along with her soldiers. I flew with those
soldiers in Iraq myself. Many of these injured soldiers and
servicemembers want to continue to serve. They want to--that's their
calling in life--but they cannot for their own good and for the good of
the mission, but their hearts are in the right place. So while it's
great that the TSA has recognized severely injured members of the
military in that regard, what about these veterans who want to serve
but cannot continue to serve? This bill rightfully extends similar
benefits to severely injured or disabled veterans and members of the
Armed Forces.
Increased and more stringent security is understandable in the wake
of 9/11, and it's kind of a bitter irony that many of these members who
have been severely injured joined just because of those events. Now how
ironic is it that they are caught up in this web of security for the
injuries they received because they answered the call of their country?
Servicemembers I know don't ask for special recognition or any
recognition for being soldiers or servicemembers and certainly not for
the injuries they have received as a result of their service. So I
stand in very strong support of this legislation, and I urge all of my
colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill.
Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Swalwell).
Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 1344,
the Helping Heroes Fly Act.
I am a proud sponsor of this bipartisan legislation introduced by my
friend Congresswoman Gabbard. Congresswoman Gabbard is a person who
knows a thing or two about what it's like to be a combat veteran who
comes back from the battlefield and who has to use our airports.
Fortunately, she is back in one piece, but we know all too well that
many of our veterans are not, and this bill eases their ability to move
through our airports.
It would extend benefits through TSA screenings at airports, benefits
similar to the expedited PreCheck program, to severely injured or
disabled veterans and to members of the armed services who fly. As it
stands now, many of our Nation's wounded warriors report that screening
protocols aren't properly standardized at airports around the Nation.
Consistent treatment by screeners would help create certainty for the
newly injured and give greater attention to addressing their privacy
concerns. Despite TSA guidance to the contrary, some veterans report
having been required to take off prosthetics in public view during
screenings. This is a difficult process that our injured and veterans
should not have to endure.
[[Page H2823]]
{time} 1340
In January, I met with Staff Sergeant Jason Ross from Livermore,
California, in my district. Sergeant Ross was severely injured by an
IED while honorably serving in Afghanistan and lost both of his legs.
This bill would help ease the transition back home for wounded warriors
and heroes like Sergeant Ross.
The continued sacrifice and selfless service of our Nation's heroes,
a group Sergeant Ross exemplifies with distinction, is immeasurable.
That's why we as a Nation must live up to our responsibilities to
properly support the men and women of our Armed Forces when they return
home. We must leave no soldier behind, and we owe our troops more than
just ``thank you for your service.''
Today, it is too easy to spend money, and we've spent over a billion
dollars a year recruiting people into our armed services while we're
not doing enough to take care of them and keep the promises we make,
whether it's providing GI funding or making sure that disability claims
are taken care of. Currently, the average wait time for a disability
claim ranges between 316 and 327 days. This is far too long.
The Oakland VA, which serves the veterans of my district, has one of
the worst backlogs in the Nation. At a time when our wounded warriors
are left waiting so long to receive the care that they have rightly
earned, helping to ensure our Nation's heroes are able to travel
seamlessly and without hindrance when they return home is a step we
must take.
I want to thank again my colleague, Congresswoman Gabbard from
Hawaii, for sponsoring this bill. I'll always support legislation that
helps our returning servicemembers and their families receive the care
and thanks they were promised and have earned.
I urge my colleagues to vote for the Helping Heroes Fly Act.
Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. If
the gentlewoman from Hawaii has no further speakers, I'm prepared to
close once the gentlewoman does.
Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
It's been an honor to stand here on the floor today in a bipartisan
manner with my colleagues.
I want to thank the gentlewoman from Indiana for managing this and
her strong support and advocacy for this issue, which is symbolic of us
taking action to honor our heroes, especially as we head into Memorial
Day.
You've heard from many Members why this is a good bill and why it
should pass. It's been subject to scrutiny by all the stakeholders, and
it has resulted in a bill that will be efficient and effective.
One example of steps we have taken to make sure that this is an
efficient bill is making sure that, as we provide training as a central
requirement to make sure that consistency in all airports exists, the
provision requiring employee training was modified to make it clear
that only screening personnel who participate in these expedited
services will be mandatory--required to be trained under this bill--as
opposed to requiring every single employee of the TSA to be trained,
even when their job has nothing to do with passenger screening
responsibilities. This modification ensures that the department's
limited resources are spent in the most efficient manner, while also
ensuring the consistent policies and treatment that are our objectives
of this legislation.
I'd like to take a moment to highlight the support that this bill has
gotten from veteran organizations. In addition to the Disabled American
Veterans, I also have letters of support from the Wounded Warrior
Project, the American Legion, and the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
The Wounded Warrior Project sums it up perfectly, as they say:
Wounded warriors should not have to sacrifice their
privacy, encounter conflicting screening policies and
procedures, or be subject to significant travel delays. We
welcome the steps proposed in H.R. 1344 to foster expedited
screening and to protect the privacy of our wounded warriors
going through this process. We also commend the proposal to
require the TSA to continue to consult with veterans' service
organizations as they develop these improved screening
processes.
Mr. Speaker, before yielding back, I just want to take a moment to
thank the chairman of the committee, Mr. McCaul, and the ranking
member, Bennie Thompson, whose strong support for this bill allowed it
to move very quickly and to be considered here on the floor here today.
Subcommittee Chairman Mr. Hudson and Ranking Member Richmond, as well
as Sheila Jackson Lee, along with my colleague, Mrs. Brooks from
Indiana, have also been incredible champions and supporters. Last but
not least, I would like to take a moment to recognize senior
professional staff Brian Turbyfill, who has been invaluable in
providing his assistance in guiding this bill through the process.
Mr. Speaker, this is a commonsense measure that aligns with the
intelligence-driven, risked-based approach to security that TSA is
striving for. It addresses a clearly identified problem and provides a
solution that will serve and honor the sacrifices of our Nation's
selfless heroes and great servant leaders.
I ask my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Wounded Warrior Project,
Washington, DC, April 8, 2013.
Hon. Tulsi Gabbard,
Cannon House Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congresswoman Gabbard: As an organization whose
mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors, Wounded
Warrior Project (WWP) is committed to assisting service
members and veterans thrive within the community. For wounded
veterans living with prosthetics or other service-connected
conditions, airport screening is often a frustrating,
degrading, and lengthy process. With that concern, we welcome
the introduction of the Helping Heroes Fly Act, H.R. 1344,
and the improvements it proposes to screen these men and
women in a manner befitting their service.
Wounded warriors should not have to sacrifice their
privacy, encounter conflicting screening policies and
procedures, or be subject to significant travel delays. We
welcome the steps proposed in H.R. 1344 to foster expedited
screening and to protect the privacy of warriors going
through the screening process. We also commend the proposal
to require the Transportation Security Administration to
consult with veterans' service organizations in the
development of improved screening.
We look forward to working with you to advance this
legislation and toward improving the airport screening
process for those who have served.
Sincerely,
Charlie Abell,
EVP for Government Affairs.
____
The American Legion,
Washington, DC, April 24, 2013.
Hon. Michael T. McCaul,
Chairman, Homeland Security Committee, Ford House Office
Building, Washington, DC.
Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,
Ranking Member, Homeland Security Committee, House of
Representatives, Ford House Office Building, Washington,
DC.
Dear Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Thompson: On behalf
of the 2.4 million members of The American Legion I express
our support for H.R. 1344, the Helping Heroes Fly Act. This
bill will ensure our nation's wounded warriors and veterans
are consistently screened in a manner befitting their service
and sacrifice. This bill is supported by The American
Legion's National Resolution No. 14 which encourages airport
courtesy to military personnel.
Although the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
has announced it will offer expedited screening to severely
injured servicemembers, there are still issues that need to
be addressed which will be resolved with this legislation.
The legislation makes the following improvements:
Requires TSA to provide privacy for the individual being
screened;
Requires TSA to consult with advocacy groups;
Mandates TSA training on expedited screening protocols;
Requires TSA to maintain an operations center that wounded
warriors and veterans can contact for assistance in advance
of flying; and
Requires TSA to report to Congress on its progress
implementing the screening process.
Thank you for your support of our nation's servicemembers,
veterans, and their families.
Respectfully,
James E. ``Jim'' Koutz,
National Commander.
____
Paralyzed Veterans of America,
Washington, DC, April 18, 2013.
Hon. Michael T. McCaul,
Chairman, House Committee on Homeland Security, Ford House
Office Building, Washington, DC.
Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,
Ranking Member, House Committee on Homeland Security, Ford
House Office Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Thompson: On behalf
of Paralyzed
[[Page H2824]]
Veterans of America (PVA), I write to support H.R. 1344, the
bipartisan ``Helping Heroes Fly Act'', which was introduced
by Representatives Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), David P. Joyce (R-
OH), and Cedric L. Richmond (D-LA) and referred to the
Subcommittee on Transportation Security on April 1, 2013.
H.R. 1344 authorizes the Transportation Security
Administration's (TSA) Wounded Warrior Screening Program,
which facilitates and expedites the screening of severely
injured or disabled members of the Armed Forces and veterans
at our nation's airports. TSA recently announced efforts to
ease the security screening process for people with
disabilities, but the program may still have inconsistencies
in how its protocols are implemented and leaves privacy
concerns and stakeholder input lacking. The ``Helping Heroes
Fly Act'' addresses these shortcomings by, among other
things, requiring consultation between TSA and advocacy
groups like PVA, which will allow us to share our veterans'
screening experiences and guarantee that their concerns are
heard. Further, the bill mandates that TSA make every effort
to protect the privacy of wounded warriors and ensure that
our nation's heroes are shown their due respect and
appreciation.
While some paralyzed veterans may not need the assistance
provided by the program, we have had reports from our members
that greatly appreciate the service offered. One member
recently reported that a TSA officer unexpectedly met him at
the gate on arrival in Milwaukee, managed his luggage and
even helped him jump the battery in his car--greatly reducing
the time and anxiety he would have otherwise encountered.
Every one of our veterans appreciates TSA's and the
Committee on Homeland Security's attention to this matter. We
encourage your support of this legislation and urge you to
see that it receives consideration in the House of
Representatives.
Sincerely,
Bill Lawson,
National President,
Paralyzed Veterans of America.
____
Disabled American Veterans,
Washington, DC, April 9, 2013.
Hon. Michael T. McCaul,
Chairman, House Committee on Homeland Security, Ford House
Office Building, Washington, DC.
Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,
Ranking Member, House Committee on Homeland Security, Ford
House Office Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Thompson: I am
writing on behalf of the DAV, a congressionally chartered
national veterans service organization with 1.2 million
members, all of whom were wounded or injured as a result of
active duty in the United States Armed Forces. The DAV is
dedicated to a single purpose: empowering veterans to lead
high-quality lives with respect and dignity. We accomplish
this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access
the full range of benefits available to them; fighting for
the interests of America's injured heroes on Capitol Hill;
and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs
of veterans transitioning back to civilian life.
H.R. 1344, the Helping Heroes Fly Act, would direct the
Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, Transportation
Security Administration (TSA), to provide expedited air
passenger screening to severely injured or disabled members
of the Armed Forces and severely injured or disabled
veterans.
With many of the members of DAV suffering from the loss of
limbs due to their wartime service in defense of our nation,
we are finding it increasingly difficult to understand the
screening policies of the TSA affecting those with prosthetic
limbs, wheelchairs and scooters boarding aircraft.
While TSA offers a variety of outstanding services, such as
Notification Cards, TSA Cares, pat-down screening, multiple
types of imaging and metal detection screening, and the
compassionate TSA Military Severely Injured Program, amputees
are not exempt from additional screening when necessary. In
fact, screenings experienced by our members lack uniformity,
understanding and compassion.
At some airports, our amputee members receive relaxed
screening, while at others these screenings are horrific.
Perhaps it is TSA's purpose to make screenings unpredictable.
Some screenings have required these amputees to expose their
prostheses when they lack the ability to reposition their
clothing, and TSA agents are not allowed to help them, nor do
they allow spouses or traveling companions to enter search
areas to assist the amputees.
We applaud Representatives Gabbard, Richmond, and Joyce for
introducing this legislation and for their continued support
of America's wounded and injured veterans. While the DAV does
not have a specific resolution from our members on this
subject, it would be beneficial to many of our members.
Accordingly, we support the passage of this legislation. I
look forward to working with you and your staff to continue
the DAV mission of empowering veterans to lead high-quality
lives.
Sincerely,
Barry A. Jesinoski,
Executive Director,
Washington Headquarters.
Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
On behalf of myself, as well as Congressman McCaul, the chair of the
Homeland Security Committee, we would like to commend Congresswoman
Gabbard of Hawaii not only for her service in moving this issue, but
for her military service. I'm very proud to be serving with her, and we
are so pleased that this is being done in such a bipartisan manner. The
Congresswoman from Hawaii and I have enjoyed a new strong friendship,
and I hope there are many more bills to come that we can work on
together.
I must say that we know that there are so many brave men and women
throughout this country who have been severely injured while fighting.
In fact, according to the Employment and Disability Institute at
Cornell University, there are 6,800 working-age civilian veterans in
Indiana, alone, who have had the most severe service-connected
disability rating.
And this past weekend when I was out at the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway in honor of Armed Forces Day on Sunday and as we swore in the
young men and women who have agreed to step up and serve in the
National Guard and they were reporting to basic training that day, I
knew that this bill was on the House floor this week. It was quite
emotional to see these young men and women who we know between them and
their families are providing the most incredible sacrifice. I am just
very pleased that we are working on this bill in this manner.
To sit by while one of these heroes--and to me, all of these young
18-year-olds to 22-year-olds that I saw in front of me are heroes. We
pray that they will not be injured. But those who are injured and who
provide that incredible sacrifice cannot be treated like potential
enemies here at home, and particularly at our airports. It should put
us all to shame. Our wounded warriors are a special group of citizens
in this country. They are a trusted group of citizens, and we can and
must do more to treat them as such and to recognize their commitment to
our Nation. With the Memorial Day holiday fast approaching, this bill
is a timely tribute to their sacrifice.
I must also say that this weekend at the Indianapolis 500, before the
race, it is the most moving ceremony when our armed services march down
Pit Lane, and the quarter of a million people that will be there say it
is probably the most moving ceremony they have ever witnessed. So we
look not only for safety this weekend at our race, but it is a
wonderful reminder of the incredible sacrifice all of the men and women
in the military give day in and day out.
I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 1344, as amended, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi: Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of
H.R. 1344, the ``Helping Heroes Fly Act.''
Mr. Speaker, at the outset, I would like to commend the gentlewoman
from Hawaii, Representative Gabbard, for introducing this thoughtful,
bipartisan legislation.
I also commend the Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security,
the gentleman from Texas, Mr. McCaul, for working diligently to have
this bill receive timely consideration by the House.
We owe a great debt to the women and men who have served to defend
our freedom.
Those who were injured or rendered disabled because of their service,
in particular, deserve our deepest gratitude and respect.
They deserve to be treated with the upmost respect and dignity upon
their return home.
Unfortunately, when it comes to flying domestically, all too often,
the security screening experience for injured and disabled veterans is
anything but respectful and dignified.
H.R. 1344, the ``Helping Heroes Fly Act,'' seeks to improve the
screening experience for these brave men and women by requiring the
Transportation Security Administration to develop and implement a
process to facilitate the ease of travel and provide expedited
screening to these members of the Armed Forces and veterans.
It specifically requires consultation with organizations like the
Wounded Warrior Project, American Legion, and Paralyzed Veterans of
America that advocate on behalf of service members and veterans.
Importantly, to help ensure consistency across the aviation security
system, it also requires training for screeners on the protocols for
screening injured and disabled service members and veterans.
Passage of this legislation is the right thing to do to for those who
sacrificed and were injured while serving our nation.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by
[[Page H2825]]
the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Brooks) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1344, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________