[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 156 (Thursday, September 26, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H8019-H8020]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1400
TSA REACHING ACROSS NATIONALITIES, SOCIETIES, AND LANGUAGES TO ADVANCE 
                         TRAVELER EDUCATION ACT

  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3691) to require the TSA to develop a plan to ensure that 
TSA material disseminated in major airports can be better understood by 
more people accessing such airports, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3691

       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 ``TSA Reaching Across 
     Nationalities, Societies, and Languages to Advance Traveler 
     Education Act'' or the ``TRANSLATE Act''.

     SEC. 2. PLAN.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
     Transportation Security Administration (TSA) shall submit to 
     the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate a plan to ensure that TSA 
     material disseminated in major airports can be better 
     understood by more people accessing such airports.
       (b) Contents.--The plan required under subsection (a) shall 
     include the following:
       (1) An identification of the most common languages other 
     than English that are the primary languages of individuals 
     that travel through or work in each major airport.
       (2) A plan to improve--
       (A) TSA materials to communicate information in languages 
     identified pursuant to paragraph (1); and
       (B) the communication of TSA material to individuals with 
     vision or hearing impairments or other possible barriers to 
     understanding such material.
       (c) Considerations.--In developing the plan required under 
     subsection (a), the Administrator of the TSA, acting through 
     the Office of Civil Rights and Liberties, Ombudsman and 
     Traveler Engagement of the TSA, shall take into consideration 
     data regarding the following:
       (1) International enplanement.
       (2) Local populations surrounding major airports.
       (d) Implementation.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     submission of the plan required under subsection (a), the 
     Administrator of the TSA shall implement such plan.
       (e) GAO Review.--Not later than one year after the 
     implementation pursuant to subsection (d) of the plan 
     required under subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the 
     United States shall submit to the Committee on Homeland 
     Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
     Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a review 
     of such implementation.
       (f) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Airport.--The term ``airport'' has the meaning given 
     such term in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code.
       (2) Major airports.--The term ``major airports'' means 
     Category X and Category I airports.
       (3) TSA material.--The term ``TSA material'' means signs, 
     videos, audio messages, websites, press releases, social 
     media postings, and other communications published and 
     disseminated by the Administrator of the TSA in Category X 
     and Category I airports.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Cuellar). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Correa) and the gentleman from Tennessee 
(Mr. Green) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous materials on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3691, the 
TRANSLATE Act.
  Throughout my travels, I get the opportunity to witness and meet 
families and visitors from numerous countries, cultures, and 
backgrounds traveling throughout our Nation's airports.
  These families share many of the same experiences we all share when 
traveling using an airplane. They want to board their flights on time 
and land safely at their destination without undue delay or confusion.
  Sadly, signs and other communications throughout our U.S. airports 
are not meeting the needs of all travelers. Many non-English speakers, 
international travelers, and people with vision or hearing impairments 
experience challenges during their travels because the current signage 
is not accessible to them.
  According to the U.S. Census, over 65 million individuals living in 
the U.S. over the age of five speak English not well or not at all.
  No one should have to worry about missing a flight because they don't 
speak English or have impaired vision or hearing.
  This bill addresses this issue by requiring TSA to make signage, 
video, audio, and other online content more accessible to travelers at 
major airports who do not speak English as their primary language.
  This bill will make TSA operations more effective and efficient by 
helping to prevent miscommunication between TSA officers and travelers.
  Furthermore, this bill helps ensure that we maintain a standard of 
inclusivity at our airports for residents and visitors alike.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my House colleagues to support this legislation, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3691, the TRANSLATE Act. 
TSA has an important mission to protect air travel and is responsible 
for the security of nearly 440 Federalized airports. Across these 
airports, TSA screens more than 2 million passengers a day.
  To accomplish this mission, TSA relies on materials like signs, 
websites, and videos to communicate screening information to passengers 
and airport employees prior to their arrival at TSA checkpoints.
  H.R. 3691 requires TSA to develop and implement a plan to identify 
languages other than English that are primary

[[Page H8020]]

languages of travelers at major airports and determine steps to improve 
communication in those languages at those same airports.
  Also included in the plan will be steps for TSA to improve 
communication with individuals that are hearing and vision impaired or 
may experience other barriers to understanding TSA's communication.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend Representative Titus for her work supporting 
TSA's mission to secure air travel. I urge support of the bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Nevada (Ms. Titus).
  Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and I 
thank the Member across the aisle for his bipartisan support.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent Las Vegas; it is the 
entertainment capital of the world.
  Last year, almost 50 million people passed through the gates of 
McCarran International Airport in my congressional district. They were 
tourists, business travelers, and friends and family of my ethnically 
diverse constituents. Many of them were from international airports of 
destination. They came from all parts of the world, and they didn't 
speak English.
  Yet, much of what TSA communicates to travelers and transportation 
workers is through signs, announcements, and videos that are all in 
English.
  Let's be clear. As you have heard the speakers before me say, you 
shouldn't have to worry about missing a plane at an airport in the 
United States just because you don't speak English.
  That is why I am excited that the House is passing the TRANSLATE Act, 
which I introduced to make sure that TSA goes the extra mile in Las 
Vegas and at airports all across the country to communicate with the 
traveling public. It is a basic courtesy.
  I know we all appreciate seeing signs in English when we are 
traveling abroad, so there is no reason we shouldn't make U.S. airports 
as welcoming as possible to those who don't speak English or who may be 
visually impaired.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for supporting this bill.
  Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I have no speakers for this, and 
I am prepared to close.
  Mr. Speaker, I am fully in support of this bill. Again, I want to 
just give accolades to the gentlewoman who put it together and 
recognize that this is fantastic, and we need to get it done.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3691 will make traveling easier for millions of 
airline passengers traveling throughout the United States whose primary 
language is not English.
  By creating signage that meets the needs of all travelers, this bill 
will improve the travel experience for many.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3691, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Correa) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3691.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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