Bills
| 3.23.22

Should Amputee, Paralyzed & Blind Veterans Receive TSA PreCheck For Free? (S. 1881)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is S. 1881?

(Updated October 10, 2020)

This bill — the Veterans Expedited TSA Screening Safe Travel (VETS Safe Travel) Act — would offer TSA PreCheck to veterans who are amputees, paralyzed, or blind at no cost. Under this bill, the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) would be required to certify a veteran’s eligibility for PreCheck and the TSA would process the veteran’s application, granting access to TSA PreCheck at not cost provided the veteran successfully passes the background check and interview process.

Once a veteran receives TSA PreCheck, the TSA would advise that they use TSA PreCheck in conjunction with calling the TSA Cares hotline 72 hours prior to departure to ensure expedited screening. 

Currently, TSA PreCheck is offered to active duty, reserves, and National Guard servicemembers at no cost. Nationwide, there are approximately 70,000 amputee veterans, 100,000 paralyzed, and 130,000 blind veterans who’d benefit from this bill.

Argument in favor

Veterans who have been injured while serving their country should be honored with free TSA PreCheck. This bill will help make it a little easier for roughly 200,000 heroes to travel.

Argument opposed

Airlines already give passengers who need extra assistance with security and boarding the help they need, regardless of PreCheck status, so these veterans should already be getting help at the airport.

Impact

Disabled veterans; amputee veterans; paralyzed veterans; blind veterans; VA; TSA; and PSA PreCheck.

Cost of S. 1881

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) introduced this bill to provide disabled veterans TSA PreCheck for free: 

“Our wounded warriors deserve the utmost gratitude and respect. This legislation is one way we can help improve the lives of veterans, like my colleague Senator Duckworth, who selflessly put themselves in harm’s way to serve our nation.”

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) — the first disabled female veteran to be elected to the House and Senate and a strong proponent of initiatives to make it easier for people with disabilities to travel — added: 

“Millions of Veterans have sacrificed a great deal in service to our nation and returned home with service-connected disabilities. For those of us who rely on prosthetics and wheelchairs for mobility, air travel and passing through airport security can be a challenge. I’m proud to join Senator Young in introducing this bipartisan legislation to make TSA Pre√® available at no cost to these Veterans and make flying and passing through airports a little easier and less intrusive.”

After this bill passed the House Homeland Security Committee, its House sponsor, Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), said: 

“Traveling through airport security can be challenging. America’s veterans who suffer from a disabling condition should not have to worry about security screenings. Under this legislation, severely injured veterans would be eligible for TSA Pre Check free of charge. This benefit is similar to what is already offered to Active Duty, Reserves, and National Guard servicemembers. Easing the travel experience of America’s veterans is the very least we can do to honor their sacrifice to our country.”

The Wounded Warrior Project is among a number of veterans’ organizations that supports this bill. Its CEO, Lt. Gen. (ret.) Mike Linnington, says: 

“The Veterans Expedited TSA Screening Safe Travel Act will provide many severely injured and disabled veterans a more dignified experience when passing through security checkpoints at our nation’s airports. On the behalf of the millions of American veterans whose lives we aim to improve, we thank Senators Todd Young and Tammy Duckworth for their concern and leadership on this important issue, and for their great fidelity to our nation’s veterans.”

This bill has one cosponsor, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). Its House version, sponsored by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), passed the House Homeland Security Committee with the support of 21 bipartisan cosponsors, including 16 Republicans and five Democrats. 

This bill is supported by the Wounded Warrior Project, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Honor Flight Network, Disabled American Veterans, and the American Legion.  


Of Note: TSA PreCheck is already offered to active duty, reserves, and National Guard service members at no cost. The program, which costs $85 a year for the general public, allows travelers to go through airport security checkpoints removing shoes, belts or light jackets or taking laptops or liquids out of carry-on bags. 


Media:

Summary by Lorelei Yang

(Photo Credit: iStockphoto.com / Jodi Jacobson)