[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 115 (Tuesday, July 22, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H6609-H6612]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            HONOR FLIGHT ACT

  Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4812) to amend title 49, United States Code, to require the 
Administrator of the Transportation Security

[[Page H6610]]

Administration to establish a process for providing expedited and 
dignified passenger screening services for veterans traveling to visit 
war memorials built and dedicated to honor their service, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4812

       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 ``Honor Flight Act''.

     SEC. 2. HONOR FLIGHT PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Title 49, United States Code, is amended 
     by adding after section 44927 the following new section:

     ``Sec. 44928. Honor Flight program

       ``The Administrator of the Transportation Security 
     Administration shall establish, in collaboration with the 
     Honor Flight Network or other not-for-profit organization 
     that honors veterans, a process for providing expedited and 
     dignified passenger screening services for veterans traveling 
     on an Honor Flight Network private charter, or such other 
     not-for-profit organization that honors veterans, to visit 
     war memorials built and dedicated to honor the service of 
     such veterans.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of title 49, 
     United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 
     relating to section 44927 the following new item:

``44928. Honor Flight program.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Hudson) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. 
Richmond) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4812, the Honor Flight 
Act. This bill would improve the airport screening processes for 
veterans traveling to visit our war memorials by providing expedited 
and dignified passenger screening services.
  I am pleased TSA is currently implementing the requirements outlined 
in this bill by working with the Honor Flight Network to expedite the 
screening process for veterans visiting war memorials here in 
Washington, D.C. Codifying this commonsense policy will ease airport 
access for our Nation's heroes, who have made incredible sacrifices and 
deserve our utmost respect.
  Not only will this legislation help to simplify their passage through 
airports, it will also improve efficiency by freeing up TSA screeners 
to focus on real threats. This is a positive step for our veterans and 
ultimately our transportation and national security.
  I would like to commend the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Richmond) 
for his work on this issue, as well as Chairman McCaul for moving this 
bill through the committee.
  The Committee on Homeland Security has long advocated for less 
burdensome airport screening for our men and women in uniform and our 
veterans. In fact, this bill builds upon previous bipartisan 
legislation promoted by the committee and signed into law requiring TSA 
to provide expedited screening to Active Duty military traveling on 
official orders, as well as severely injured or disabled veterans and 
members of the Armed Forces.
  Each and every day, we are humbled and inspired by the incredible 
sacrifices of all our veterans. This should serve as a powerful 
reminder of our duty to do all we can to honor the sacrifices they have 
made for our freedoms and treat them with the dignity and respect they 
deserve.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume 
and rise in strong support of H.R. 4812, the Honor Flight Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking Chairman McCaul, 
Ranking Member Thompson, and the chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Transportation Security, Mr. Hudson, for cosponsoring and supporting 
this bipartisan legislation.
  The Honor Flight Act is a measure that seeks to pay a debt of 
gratitude to a group of Americans who were willing to make the ultimate 
sacrifice to ensure that we are able to enjoy the freedoms that we have 
today. Although we may never be able to fully repay our veterans for 
their bravery, sites such as the National World War II Museum, which we 
are proud to have in the city of New Orleans, bring into focus their 
lasting contribution and their impact on American history.
  The Honor Flight Network is a nonprofit organization that works with 
airlines and other nonprofits to transport veterans to Washington, 
D.C., to visit memorials dedicated to honoring their service and 
sacrifice. The organization was created in 2005 by Earl Morse, a former 
physician's assistant with the Department of Veterans Affairs and a 
private pilot who saw his patients' desire to visit the newly built 
World War II Memorial and recognized that many of them lacked the 
resources or support to make the trip on their own.
  By the end of 2013, the Honor Flight Network had transported 
approximately 117,000 of our Nation's heroes to visit their memorials. 
Estimates from the Honor Flight Network show that number to be well 
over 120,000 people today. The Honor Flight Network currently 
prioritizes transporting World War II veterans and veterans who are 
terminally ill but intends to expand the program to transport veterans 
of subsequent wars in the future.
  Presently, the Transportation Security Administration, under the 
leadership of Administrator Pistole, expedites the screening process 
for veterans visiting their memorials in Washington, D.C., via the 
Honor Flight Network private charter flights, saving them time and 
showing them the due respect and appreciation they deserve.
  This legislation will authorize the collaboration between TSA and the 
Honor Flight Network in law, thereby ensuring that it becomes a 
permanent practice.
  Before yielding back, I would note that I am especially proud of the 
bipartisan manner in which this legislation has come to the floor, from 
its inception and its handling in the subcommittee to today, and I am 
especially proud that this legislation received unanimous support in 
committee. I am sure it received unanimous support because it wasn't a 
political thing to do, it was the right thing to do, and truly 
bestowing honor on people in this country who truly deserve this honor. 
But for them, we would not be here today in the capacity that we are. 
We have to understand and we recognize that it is their sacrifice and 
their shoulders that we stand upon as a Nation. With that, I urge all 
of my colleagues to support this legislation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, as we walk around our Nation's Capital and visit the 
numerous war memorials, we are reminded of the incredible sacrifices 
that have been made by our veterans over many decades. H.R. 4812 is a 
simple and commonsense way to recognize and honor those sacrifices.
  Mr. Speaker, I again want to commend the gentleman from Louisiana 
(Mr. Richmond) for his work authoring this legislation. I am proud that 
we moved this forward in a bipartisan way. As the gentleman said 
earlier, this is not a political issue, this is not a partisan issue; 
this is an issue of right or wrong, and it is right for us to honor our 
veterans and it is right for us to expedite their travel when they 
visit Washington, D.C. I urge my colleagues to support this 
legislation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
H.R. 4812, the ``Honor Flight Act.''
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the gentleman from Louisiana, 
the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Transportation Security, Mr. 
Richmond, for introducing this bipartisan legislation.
  We owe a great debt to the men and women of this country who have 
served to defend our liberty and freedom.
  The Honor Flight Network is one organization that attempts to repay 
these veterans, by bringing them to Washington, DC, to visit the war 
memorials commemorating their dedication and sacrifice.

[[Page H6611]]

  I have seen how these trips have enriched the lives of veterans. In 
my district, fifty (50) servicemen and women registered with the Honor 
Flight-Mid South in Tunica, Mississippi.
  Enactment of this legislation will, in some small way, express the 
tremendous appreciation and gratitude that we have for these veterans 
and their families.
  We are all aware of the steps that the Transportation Security 
Administration takes to ensure the security of the flying public, as 
well as the amount of time that this process can consume.
  We are also aware that the veterans that the Honor Flight Network 
currently serves are mostly World War II veterans.
  These heroes, who in some instances require additional assistance, 
are often wheel-chair-bound, and have other ailments that can make 
security screening very time-consuming.
  To provide these veterans with the dignity and respect they deserve, 
since 2005, the Honor Flight Network has partnered with TSA to expedite 
the screening for veterans.
  The legislation before us today will ensure that these veterans 
continue to receive the respect and consideration they deserve when 
traveling to the capital.
  H.R. 4812 represents one of many pieces of legislation that 
Democratic members of the Committee on Homeland Security have proposed 
to support veterans.
  Former Representative Hochul's ``Clothe a Homeless Hero Act'', signed 
into law last Congress, ensures that unclaimed clothes that TSA 
collects at airports is provided to homeless or needy veterans.
  Earlier this Congress, Representative Gabbard's ``Helping Heroes Fly 
Act'' was signed into law by President Obama.
  That legislation ensures that severely-injured service members and 
veterans are provided expedited screening by TSA.
  Now we have the opportunity to extend such treatment to our veterans 
of World War II and, in years to come, to the other selfless men and 
women who served our country.
  Mr. Speaker, we recently commemorated the seventieth anniversary of 
the D-Day invasion as well as 238 years of American independence.
  Let us continue to support and honor the men and women who made these 
commemorations possible by enacting the ``Honor Flight Act.''
  With that Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this measure.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4812, the 
Honor Flight Act. This bill would require TSA to establish a process 
for providing expedited and dignified screening for veterans traveling 
to visit war memorials built and dedicated to honor their service.
  As the son of a World War II veteran, I'd like to commend the 
Congressman from Louisiana, Mr. Richmond for his work on this issue, as 
well as the important work of the Congressman from North Carolina, Mr. 
Hudson, Chairman of the Transportation Security Subcommittee.
  Having recently witnessed the arrival of an honor flight at Reagan 
National Airport, I can honestly say that there is nothing more 
inspiring than seeing these heroic men and women who have made a 
tremendous sacrifice arriving in our Nation's capital to visit war 
memorials that are dedicated to their service.
  This bill codifies current TSA policy and ensures that TSA continues 
to take a proactive approach to expediting screening for veterans 
traveling on Honor Flights. In doing so, it would ensure that TSA spend 
less time scrutinizing this lower-risk population and more time and 
energy screening higher-risk passengers and focusing on the real 
threats to our aviation sector.
  As Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, I am pleased to 
support such a bipartisan, commonsense effort.
  I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 4812, the 
Honor Flight Act, which honors our World War II veterans, who have 
sacrificed much for this country, with a small but significant token of 
gratitude.
  H.R. 4812 requires the Administrator of the Transportation Security 
Authority to ensure expedited and dignified screening for veterans 
travelling through airports on special chartered flights to visit war 
memorials built in their honor.
  The Honor Flight program was created in 2005 by Earl Morse, a private 
pilot and former physician's assistant at the Department of Veterans 
Affairs. Mr. Morse realized the depth of his patients' desire to visit 
the newly-built World War II Memorial. However, he realized many of 
these patients lacked the financial resources to pay for the long trip 
on their own. Mr. Morse understood what seeing this memorial meant to 
his patients, so he found a way to facilitate them having that 
opportunity.
  The average soldier in World War II was 26 years old, making many of 
them in their nineties today. Long airport lines and invasive TSA 
procedures are tiring for anyone. For our soldiers who fought in war 
40, 50, and 60 years ago, especially those now in wheel chairs, it is 
arduous. Sadly, these long and frustrating security protocols often 
discourage veterans from making these wonderful and meaningful 
journeys. Mr. Speaker, our World War II veterans have done their duty. 
It is our duty now to reduce the hardship they might face in any way we 
can.
  The TSA is doing a wonderful job of ensuring that our airports are 
secure and safe. Nothing in the Honor Flight Act would change that. The 
bill seeks to work entirely within their security requirements to 
ensure safety while minimizing the stress felt by our veterans when 
visiting a memorial through the Honor Flight program. It is a simple, 
low cost way to recognize our veterans' service.
  I want to thank the Homeland Security Committee for bringing this 
bill before us today and offer my strong support.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Homeland 
Security Committee and the former ranking member and chair of the 
Subcommittee on Transportation Security, I rise in strong support of 
H.R. 4812, the Honor Flight Act of 2014.
  H.R. 4812 authorizes the collaboration between the Transportation 
Security Administration (TSA) and the Honor Flight Network, as well as 
other non-profit organizations that transport veterans to visit 
memorials, to ensure continued expedited and dignified passenger 
screening for veterans travelling to Washington, D.C. to visit 
memorials and other tributes to their bravery, heroism, and sacrifice 
in the cause of freedom.
  Mr. Speaker, thousands of veterans across the country fought to 
protect the freedoms we take for granted and to keep our nation safe. 
They are deserving of our gratitude for the valor and courage they 
displayed in risking their lives to keep us free and to liberate 
captive peoples in other lands.
  They are veterans of World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, 
and the Gulf Wars--Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.
  With each passing day, the number of World War II and Korea veterans 
declines by the hundreds. For many of these heroes, one of their last 
wishes is to visit the national war memorials in Washington, D.C.
  Honoring and facilitating that request is the least we can do for 
those who did so much for us.
  TSA works with the Honor Flight Network in expediting the screening 
process for veterans visiting the national war memorials, saving the 
veterans' time and showing them their due respect and appreciation.
  The Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to 
transporting veterans on charter flights operated by commercial 
airlines to Washington, D.C. to visit memorials built in honor of their 
service.
  Currently, the Honor Flight Network gives priority to WWII veterans 
and those from any war who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness.
  The Honor Flight Network plans to expand the program in the future to 
include the veterans who served during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, 
followed by veterans of the wars in the Persian Gulf.
  Mr. Speaker, my home state of Texas has the second largest number of 
veterans of any state in the nation, with just over 1.6 million 
veterans. My home city of Houston is proud to be the residence of more 
than 300,000 veterans.
  I strongly support the bill before us because I strongly support the 
efforts of TSA and the Honor Flight Network in making real the dreams, 
and in many cases the last wishes, of thousands of veterans who wish to 
visit the memorials dedicated by the nation in their honor.
  I urge all members to join me in supporting H.R. 4812 so that our 
veterans continue to receive the security accommodations they need and 
deserve as they travel to Washington, D.C. to view the national 
memorials consecrated by their sacrifice in defense of our country.
  Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 
4812, the Honor Flight Act.
  The Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to 
transporting our military veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit the 
memorials of their respective wars. The brave men and women who have 
fought for our country deserve the chance to see the memorials erected 
in honor of their sacrifices and contributions, and the Honor Flight 
Network provides that chance.
  I have had the opportunity to greet Honor Flights a few times, most 
recently last October. It truly is a privilege to shake hands with our 
nation's heroes as they arrive to see their memorials, and I was 
honored to participate in greeting them. These men and women put their 
lives on the line to protect our freedoms, and they deserve our deepest 
gratitude. I believe one small measure we can take to show that 
gratitude is to make the travel process for

[[Page H6612]]

Honor Flight participants as smooth and easy as possible.
  The commonsense legislation before us today is a step to achieving 
that goal. It sets in motion a process for expedited passenger 
screening services by TSA for veterans traveling on an Honor Flight 
Network charter. It simply makes sense to authorize and facilitate 
collaboration between TSA and the Honor Flight Network to ensure that 
our veterans are treated with the respect they have earned and deserve 
when they come to visit the memorials dedicated to their service.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4812 as a token of 
appreciation for our veterans' service.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hudson) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4812, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________