[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5288]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        STOPPING TSA ABUSES ACT

  (Mr. ROONEY of Florida asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, last week, we saw disturbing news 
of two TSA screeners who allegedly conspired to sexually assault 
passengers. This was not the first we have heard about screeners 
exceeding their authority to abuse passengers. We have read about the 
pat-downs and strip searches of young children, senior citizens, and 
cancer patients. Instead of reining in screeners, TSA has unilaterally 
given them the appearance of even greater authority--metal badges, blue 
uniforms, and the title of ``officer.''
  When you dress someone up like a policeman and call him ``officer,'' 
you are misleading passengers about his actual authority. Most people 
see a badge and a uniform, and they comply with the screener's demands 
even when those demands are abusive. That has to end.
  I have introduced the Stopping TSA Abuses Act to prohibit the TSA 
from giving screeners metal badges, police-like uniforms, and the title 
``officer.'' It reserves those rights for sworn officers who have 
actually completed law enforcement training.
  When you see someone wearing a Federal badge and uniform, you should 
have the faith that he actually has received the proper training. This 
bill is an important step towards that goal.

                          ____________________