[118th Congress Public Law 238]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 138 STAT. 2923]]
Public Law 118-238
118th Congress
An Act
To provide PreCheck to certain severely injured or disabled veterans,
and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Jan. 4, 2025 - [H.R. 7365]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Veterans
Expedited TSA Screening Safe Travel Act.>>
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 49 USC 40101 note.>> SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Expedited TSA Screening Safe
Travel Act'' or the ``VETS Safe Travel Act''.
SEC. 2. AVAILABILITY OF PRECHECK PROGRAM TO CERTAIN SEVERELY
INJURED OR DISABLED VETERANS.
(a) In General.--Section 44927 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(g) Availability of PreCheck Program to Certain Severely Injured
or Disabled Veterans.--
``(1) In general.--A veteran described in paragraph (2) is
eligible for security screening under the PreCheck Program under
section 44919 at no cost to the veteran if the veteran is able
to meet the background check and other security requirements for
participation in the Program.
``(2) Veterans described.--A veteran described in this
paragraph is a veteran who--
``(A) is enrolled in the patient enrollment system
of the Department of Veterans Affairs established and
operated under section 1705 of title 38, United States
Code;
``(B) has been determined by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to have a service-connected disability
under section 1110 or 1131 of such title, as the case
may be, and such disability has been determined by such
Secretary to have resulted in--
``(i) loss, or loss use of, an extremity;
``(ii) paralysis or partial paralysis; or
``(iii) permanent blindness; and
``(C) as a result of a loss, paralysis or partial
paralysis, or blindness described in subparagraph (B),
requires the use of a wheelchair, prosthetic limb, or
other assistive device to aid with mobility.
``(3) Limitation.--The Administrator of the Transportation
Security Administration shall carry out this subsection subject
to the availability of appropriations and may not increase fees
for enrollment in the PreCheck Program for such purpose.''.
(b) <<NOTE: Process. Deadlines. 49 USC 44927 note.>> Coordination
on Implementation.--The Administrator of the Transportation Security
Administration and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly--
[[Page 138 STAT. 2924]]
(1) implement a process under which a veteran described in
paragraph (2) of subsection (g) of section 44927 of title 49,
United States Code, as added by subsection (a), can receive the
benefits under such subsection by not later than one year after
the date of enactment of this Act; and
(2) <<NOTE: Briefing.>> provide to the Committee on
Homeland Security and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
of the Senate a briefing on the status of implementing the
process required by paragraph (1) by not later than one year
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) <<NOTE: 49 USC 44927 note.>> Outreach for Disabled Veterans on
Availability of Transportation Security Administration Programs.--
(1) <<NOTE: Process.>> Coordination.--The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs and the Administrator of the Transportation
Security Administration shall implement a process under which
such Secretary provides to disabled veterans effective outreach
regarding Transportation Security Administration programs
designed to improve the screening process for passengers with
disabilities.
(2) Further enhancements to ease air travel for wounded
warriors and other disabled veterans.--Notwithstanding
subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code
(commonly referred to as the ``Paperwork Reduction Act''), or
any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
in coordination with the Administrator of the Transportation
Security Administration, shall--
(A) <<NOTE: Assessment.>> engage appropriate
veterans service organizations and other relevant
organizations, as appropriate, to assess the awareness
of veterans of relevant Transportation Security
Administration programs; and
(B) <<NOTE: Examination.>> examine the need and
feasibility of other measures to improve travel security
procedures for disabled veterans.
(3) Briefing requirement. <<NOTE: Deadline.>> --Not later
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Administrator of the
Transportation Security Administration shall jointly provide to
the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Homeland
[[Page 138 STAT. 2925]]
Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate a briefing on the status of the
implementation of paragraphs (1) and (2).
Approved January 4, 2025.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 7365:
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 118-846, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Homeland Security).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 170 (2024):
Dec. 10, considered and passed House.
Dec. 19, considered and passed Senate.
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