[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H4390-H4391]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IMPROVING TRAVEL FOR MILITARY MEMBERS ACT
Mr. GARBARINO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 9328) to improve travel for active-duty personnel and
accompanying family, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 9328
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 ``Improving Travel for
Military Members Act''.
SEC. 2. IMPROVING TRAVEL FOR ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL
AND ACCOMPANYING FAMILY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the
Transportation Security Administration (in this section
referred to as the ``Administrator'') may establish a pilot
program at airports to expedite access to security screening
for traveling active-duty military personnel and accompanying
family members to support and facilitate the ease of travel
for such personnel and family members. The Administrator may
carry out this subsection only to the extent such access does
not compromise security protocols.
(b) Security Requirements.--If the Administrator
establishes the pilot program under subsection (a), the
Administrator shall carry out the following:
(1) Ensure each passenger described in such subsection is
screened in accordance with the vetting status of such
passenger under the Secure Flight program of the
Transportation Security Administration, in accordance with
paragraph (2) of section 44903(j) of title 49, United States
Code.
(2) Prevent individuals carrying out screening functions
under section 44901 of such title from allowing any passenger
into a TSA PreCheck or other expedited security screening
lane unless such passenger has received a boarding pass
indicating eligibility for TSA PreCheck or such other
expedited security screening.
(3) Permit local Administration management to open or close
checkpoint lanes and reallocate available resources as needed
to maximize security effectiveness and efficiency based on
passenger volume.
(c) Selection of Airports.--If the Administrator
establishes the pilot program under subsection (a), in
selecting airports for such pilot program, the Administrator
shall--
(1) give priority to an airport that is not more than a
certain distance, as determined by the Administrator, from a
military installation (as such term is defined in section
2801 of title 10, United States Code) to which not fewer than
a certain number, as determined by the Administrator, of
active-duty military personnel are stationed;
(2) consider airports with adequate space to accommodate
dedicated screening lanes for traveling active-duty military
personnel and accompanying family members; and
(3) use any other consideration the Administrator
determines necessary.
(d) Briefing.--If the Administrator establishes the pilot
program under subsection (a), not later than nine months
after such establishment, the Administrator shall provide to
the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate a briefing on such pilot
program.
(e) Sunset.--If the Administrator establishes the pilot
program under subsection (a), the Administrator shall carry
out such pilot program for a period of three years.
[[Page H4391]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Garbarino) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Walkinshaw)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. GARBARINO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
to include extraneous material on H.R. 9328.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. GARBARINO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 9328, the Improving Travel for Military
Members Act. The Improving Travel for Military Members Act will allow
the TSA Administrator to establish a 3-year pilot program to expedite
access to security screening for traveling Active-Duty military
personnel and their accompanying family members.
If established, this pilot program will focus on airports closest to
military installations with large Active-Duty populations, which will
help to ease travel for the men and women bravely serving our Nation.
I want to thank Representative Biggs for her leadership and encourage
my colleagues to support the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WALKINSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 9328, the Improving Travel for
Military Members Act.
Our military servicemembers and their families are required to travel
regularly, uprooting their lives to move to new locations.
Last year, TSA initiated a pilot program at select airports to
provide Active-Duty military and their families front-of-line access to
security screening.
H.R. 9328 would cement TSA's ongoing pilot program and codify
requirements for appropriate security protocols.
Expediting wait times for servicemembers and their families makes
travel a little bit easier and a little bit less stressful for them,
and I support advancing this effort.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GARBARINO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to
the gentlewoman from South Carolina (Mrs. Biggs).
Mrs. BIGGS of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I don't speak on this
legislation as an outside observer. As a Member currently serving in
the Air National Guard, I have worn the uniform. I have seen firsthand
what it asks of servicemembers and their families. This legislation is
written from experience, not just policy.
Mr. Speaker, more than 1.3 million Americans serve our Nation on
Active Duty, and they answer the call with very little notice--shipping
out on deployment orders, relocating their families across the country
on PCS moves, or rushing to emergency assignments at a moment's notice.
They don't get to plan ahead. They don't get to choose their travel
dates. They simply go because that is what the service requires.
Last summer, the Transportation Security Administration launched the
Serve with Honor, Travel with Ease initiative to better support our
servicemembers while advancing much-needed modernization across our
aviation system as passenger volumes continued to grow. Depending on
the airport, military members and their families may receive expedited
screening through dedicated lines, preferred lanes, or front-of-line
access.
My legislation, the Improving Travel for Military Members Act, builds
on this important effort by establishing a 3-year pilot program to
expedite security screening for Active-Duty military personnel and
their accompanying family members with priority given to airports
located near military installations.
That means in my home State of South Carolina, which is home to a
number of military installations, servicemembers will benefit from
faster, more efficient travel while maintaining the same high security
standards.
Let me be very clear: Every passenger remains subject to appropriate
security screening. What this bill does is gives airports the
flexibility to implement the program based on their own operational
needs, their proximity to military bases, and passenger volume.
This bill is targeted. It is practical, and it is fiscally
responsible.
A few minutes saved at a security line may seem insignificant to
some, but to a military spouse managing three children and a cross-
country move on 48 hours' notice, it is anything but.
It sends a message to every servicemember and their family: America
sees you, values you, and respects the sacrifices you make in service
to our country.
I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation
for our servicemembers and their families.
{time} 1610
Mr. WALKINSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, military servicemembers and their families make
sacrifices for our Nation every day. We owe it to them to make their
lives easier in ways big and small wherever and whenever we can. This
bill represents a step toward easier travel for Active Duty military
and their families.
I thank the gentlewoman for her work on that, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. GARBARINO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I
urge my colleagues to support H.R. 9328, and I yield back the balance
of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Garbarino) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 9328, 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.
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