[House Report 119-741]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 119-741
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IMPROVING TRAVEL FOR MILITARY MEMBERS ACT
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July 13, 2026.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
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Mr. Garbarino, from the Committee on Homeland Security,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 9328]
The Committee on Homeland Security, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 9328) to improve travel for active-duty military
personnel and accompanying family, and for other purposes,
having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an
amendment and recommends that the bill as amended do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Purpose and Summary.............................................. 2
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 2
Hearings......................................................... 3
Committee Consideration.......................................... 4
Committee Votes.................................................. 4
Committee Oversight Findings..................................... 6
C.B.O. Estimate, New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and
Tax Expenditures............................................... 6
Federal Mandates Statement....................................... 6
Duplicative Federal Programs..................................... 6
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 6
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff
Benefits....................................................... 6
Advisory Committee Statement..................................... 6
Applicability to Legislative Branch.............................. 6
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation................... 7
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
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.
PURPOSE AND SUMMARY
H.R. 9328, the ``Improving Travel for Military Members
Act,'' would permit the Administrator of the Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) to establish a three-year pilot
program to expedite access to security screening at airports
for active-duty military members and their family members. If
such a pilot program is established, the bill would direct the
Administrator to prioritize implementing this pilot program at
airports located near military installations. Given the often
short notice provided to military personnel regarding travel,
this bill aims to ease burdens and better support service
members and their families while maintaining strong security
standards. This legislation builds upon the TSA's Serve with
Honor, Travel with Ease initiative, which offers several forms
of expedited security screening options for military members.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
Under its broad screening authorities,\1\ TSA currently
offers several alternative lanes to expedite access to security
screening services. In July 2025, the Administration launched
the Serve with Honor, Travel with Ease initiative to provide
free TSA PreCheck for Gold Star families, discounts for
military spouses, and expedited screening lanes for service
members. This program is currently operational across 119
airports, including 33 large hub airports and 86 medium
airports, each offering either a dedicated lane, a preferred
lane, or front-of-line screening procedures. This approach
allows each airport to operate within its operational
constraints while efficiently using TSA screening resources.
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\1\49 U.S.C. Sec. Sec. 114, 44901, 44903.
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H.R. 9328 would codify a pilot program in law, thereby
cementing TSA's efforts to expand and refine this initiative,
while directing the Administration to prioritize airports where
the population would most benefit from these services. TSA
reports that feedback from both airports and passengers has
been uniformly positive.\2\ The ``Improving Travel for Military
Members Act'' upholds the highest level of security while
facilitating travel for active-duty members and their families.
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\2\Email correspondence between TSA OLA and House Homeland
Committee Staff (March-May 2025) (on file with author).
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HEARINGS
The Committee held the following hearings in the 119th
Congress that informed H.R. 9328:
On January 21, 2026, the Committee on Homeland Security
held a hearing titled, ``Oversight of the Department of
Homeland Security: CISA, TSA, S&T.'' Members heard testimony
from the following witnesses: The Honorable Pedro Allende,
Under Secretary of the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T)
of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Madhu
Gottumukkala, Acting Director of the Cybersecurity and
Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) of the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security; and Ms. Ha Nguyen McNeill, Senior Official
Performing the Duties of the Administrator, Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) of the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security.
On March 25, 2026, the Committee on Homeland Security held
a hearing titled, ``Funding Lapse and Security Gaps: Assessing
the Harmful Impacts of the DHS Shutdown on Americans.'' Members
heard testimony from the following witnesses: Admiral Thomas G.
Allan, Vice Commandant of United States Coast Guard (USCG) of
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Ms. Ha Nguyen
McNeill, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the
Administrator at the Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Mr. Nick
Andersen, Acting Director of the Cybersecurity and
Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) of the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security; and Ms. Victoria Barton, Associate
Administrator of the Office of External Affairs at the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security.
On May 20, 2026, the Committee on Homeland Security held a
hearing titled, ``TSA Modernization: Industry Perspectives on
Key Security and Travel Reforms 25 Years After 9/11.'' Members
heard testimony from the following witnesses: Mr. Christopher
T. Sununu, President and Chief Executive Officer, Airlines for
America; Mr. Chris McLaughlin, Chief Executive Officer, Dallas
Fort Worth International Airport; and Dr. Everett Kelley,
National President, American Federation for Government
Employees.
On June 3, 2026, the Committee on Homeland Security held a
hearing titled, ``A Review of the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget
Request for DHS.'' Members heard testimony from the following
witnesses: The Honorable Markwayne Mullin, Secretary of the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security and The Honorable Troy
Edgar, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security.
COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
The Committee met on June 24, 2026, a quorum being present,
to consider H.R. 9328 and ordered the measure to be favorably
reported to the House, as amended, by a recorded vote of 30
yeas to 0 nays.
COMMITTEE VOTES
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII requires the Committee to list the
recorded votes on the motion to report legislation and the
amendments thereto. The following reflects the recorded votes
taken during the Committee consideration:
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS
In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII, the
Committee advises that the findings and recommendations of the
Committee, based on oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1)
of rule X, are incorporated in the descriptive portions of this
report.
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATE, NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY,
ENTITLEMENT AUTHORITY, AND TAX EXPENDITURES
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule
XIII and section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974, and with respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(3) of
rule XIII and section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974, the Committee has requested but not received from the
Director of the Congressional Budget Office a statement as to
whether this bill contains any new budget authority, spending
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in
revenues or tax expenditures.
FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT
An estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chairman
of the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee.
DUPLICATIVE FEDERAL PROGRAMS
Pursuant to clause 3(c) of rule XIII, the Committee finds
that H.R. 9328 does not contain any provision that establishes
or reauthorizes a program known to be duplicative of another
Federal program.
STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the objective of
H.R. 9328 is to authorize the Administrator of the
Transportation Security Administration to establish a pilot
program implementing alternative security screening lanes and
procedures for active-duty military members and their families.
CONGRESSIONAL EARMARKS, LIMITED TAX BENEFITS,
AND LIMITED TARIFF BENEFITS
In compliance with rule XXI, this bill, as reported,
contains no congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or
limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or
9(f) of rule XXI.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this
legislation.
APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Committee finds that H.R. 9328 does not relate to the
terms and conditions of employment or access to public services
or accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of
the Congressional Accountability Act.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION
Section 1. Short title
This section provides that the Act may be cited as the
``Improving Travel for Military Members Act''.
Section 2. Improving travel for active-duty military personnel and
accompanying family
Subsection (a) authorizes the Administrator of the
Transportation Security Administration to establish a pilot
program at airports to provide expedited access to security
screening for active-duty military members and accompanying
family members. This access must not compromise existing
security protocols.
Subsection (b) enumerates security requirements for the
pilot program. If the pilot program is established, the
Administrator must ensure that each passenger is screened in
accordance with their status under the Secure Flight Program of
the TSA in accordance with paragraph (2) of section 4493(j) of
title 49, United States Code. Additionally, passengers are
prohibited from receiving PreCheck or other expedited security
screening unless it is designated on their boarding pass.
Lastly, local administration management maintains flexibility
to open or close checkpoint lanes and reallocate available
resources according to security and passenger volume needs.
Subsection (c) requires that the implementation of these
lanes be prioritized at airports within a certain distance of a
military installation, as determined by the Administrator. In
addition, when selecting airports, the Administrator must
consider each airport's specific needs, including adequate
space, staffing and other considerations the Administrator
deems necessary.
Subsection (d) requires a briefing within nine months 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 on the pilot program.
Subsection (e) sets the duration of the pilot program for
three years.
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