[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 199 (Tuesday, November 16, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H6296-H6297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TSA REACHING ACROSS NATIONALITIES, SOCIETIES, AND LANGUAGES TO ADVANCE 
                         TRAVELER EDUCATION ACT

  Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 5574) 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, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5574

       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) Non-traveling individual.--The term ``non-traveling 
     individual'' has the meaning given such term in section 
     1560.3 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.
       (4) 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 for use by both traveling and non-
     traveling individuals.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Nevada (Ms. Titus) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Van Drew) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Nevada.


                             General Leave

  Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Nevada?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 5574, known as 
the TRANSLATE Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Congressman Van Taylor of Texas, 
for once again joining me in introducing this legislation, which will 
ease TSA's security processing at our Nation's major airports.
  The TRANSLATE Act is bipartisan legislation building upon the 
Transportation Security Administration's ongoing efforts to increase 
access for non-English speakers, and for those with vision and hearing 
impairments, as they navigate the security screening process.
  It does this by directing TSA to analyze common languages other than 
English that are spoken by both our international travelers as well as 
those who reside in the nearby community and then develop and execute a 
plan to disseminate security information in those languages to ease the 
screening process.
  I represent the heart of Las Vegas Valley, including McCarran 
International Airport, which is one of the Nation's busiest airports, 
welcoming passengers from around the country and around the world who 
come to enjoy all that southern Nevada has to offer.
  Navigating our air system can be stressful enough--if you travel back 
and forth, you know what I mean--for even the most well-seasoned 
traveler. Removing potential language barriers to ease TSA processing 
is not only beneficial for those travelers but also for the general 
public rushing to catch their flights.
  Southern Nevada's community is rich in diversity. One of every three 
Clark County residents speaks a language other than English at home. 
Nationwide, that number is just over one out of every five residents. 
Yet, much of what TSA communicates to travelers and transportation 
workers through signs, announcements, videos, and online content is in 
English.

[[Page H6297]]

  Let's be clear. You shouldn't have to worry about missing a plane at 
an airport in the U.S. just because you don't speak English. Making 
travel and security information easier to understand for non-English 
speakers and for those with vision and hearing impairments will help 
create a more comfortable and efficient airport experience for 
residents and visitors alike.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues on the Committee on Homeland 
Security for their unanimous support of this legislation last month and 
the chairman for his assistance in getting this passed.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the passage of 
the TRANSLATE Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today for H.R. 5574, the TRANSLATE Act.
  According to the United States Census Bureau, approximately 67 
million U.S. residents speak a language other than English at home. 
This legislation requires TSA to ensure that its communications 
materials in airports are in the primary languages of individuals who 
travel through and work in our country's airports.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1400

  Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, our Nation's airports connect Americans to one another 
and to the rest of the world. But for travelers who do not primarily 
speak English or who experience hearing or vision difficulties, the TSA 
screening process can be challenging and result in delays for all the 
other travelers who are standing in line.
  By requiring TSA to make its signage and announcement more accessible 
to passengers at major airports, my bill will bring much-needed 
inclusivity and efficiency to the whole travel experience. I know we 
all appreciate seeing signs in English when we are traveling abroad. 
U.S. airports should be just as welcoming and reflect the diversity of 
our constituents and the travelers who visit our cities.
  So, once again, Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote for 
H.R. 5574, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bowman). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5574, 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.
  Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

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