HYDE-SMITH WELCOMES COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF AIRPORT SECURITY BILL
Miss. Senator Cosponsors SAFEGUARDS Act to End Diversion of Airport Security Funds
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), chair of the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, today welcomed committee passage of a bill she cosponsored to ensure 9/11 passenger fees are used, as intended, to improve aviation and airport security.
The Senate Commerce Committee on Tuesday approved the Spending Aviation Fees for Equipment, Guaranteeing Upgraded and Advanced Risk Detection and Safety (SAFEGUARDS) Act (S.2378), which would end the diversion of 9/11 Passenger Security Fee (PSF) revenues for unrelated non-security uses and instead invest those funds in boosting aviation and airport security.
“As chair of the Transportation-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee, I am well aware of the major needs at airports around the country. Committee passage of the SAFEGUARDS Act is significant and sets the stage for Congress to ensure these passenger fees are directed toward enhanced security at large and small airports. The diversion of these fees for non-security uses is a disservice to the flying public,” said Hyde-Smith, who also serves on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee.
“Today’s committee passage of the SAFEGUARDS Act is a step towards strengthening airport security and better protecting the traveling public,” said U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), who authored the bill. “Each time Americans purchase an airline ticket, they pay a mandatory fee that was originally created to support the safety of American air travel. This legislation returns passenger security fees to their original intent of investing in new technology to help bolster the safety and efficiency of U.S. air travel. I look forward to the passage of this important aviation safety legislation by the full Senate.”
The $5.60 fee paid by each airline passenger for each one-way ticket is intended to be used to fund aviation security. However, more than $13 billion of the collected PSF charges have been diverted to non-security uses since 2014. To put that into context, the Transportation Security Administration screens millions of passengers and their luggage daily at 2,400 security lanes at 420 airports nationally.
As passed by the Commerce Committee, the SAFEGUARDS Act would:
- Allocate $400 million in PSF revenue annually for checked bag explosive detection systems.
- Provide an initial $400 million investment, then collect $250 million annually for checkpoint technology improvements, including exit lanes; and
- Include a 10-year authorization of the program with annual reports to Congress, and an Office of Inspector General report.
The U.S. Travel Association, Airlines for America, Southwest Airlines, American Association of Airport Executives, Airports Council International – North America, Smiths Detection, and Travelers United are among the organizations supporting the SAFEGUARDS Act.
In addition to Hyde-Smith, S.2378 is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), James Risch (R-Idaho), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).
###