Helping Families Fly Act of 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3694) to require the Transportation Security Administration to implement training for frontline Administration personnel regarding the screening of pregnant women and families with young children at passenger screening checkpoints, and for other purposes.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 3694

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Helping Families Fly Act of 2019''. SEC. 2. TRAINING REQUIRED.

(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall develop and implement training for frontline Administration personnel regarding the screening of pregnant women and families with young children at passenger screening checkpoints. Such training shall include the following:

(1) Information relating to concerns of pregnant women relating to the use of Advanced Imaging Technology and appropriate opt-out procedures and alternative screening procedures.

(2) Guidelines to assist pregnant women and families traveling with young children effectively and efficiently complete the screening process in a manner that is respectful and improves the overall functioning of the screening checkpoint.

(3) Communication and procedural guidelines for frontline Administration personnel to assist with passenger divestiture for pregnant women and families traveling with young children to improve the effectiveness and overall passenger experience at the screening checkpoint.

(b) Communications Strategy.--In conjunction with the implementation of the training required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall develop and implement a communications strategy for pregnant women and families traveling with young children to inform such women and families of the procedures and guidelines described in such subsection, including providing information to relevant passengers through social media, the Administration's public website, the Administration's customer service call center, and partnerships with aviation stakeholders, including air carriers and airport operators.

(c) Passenger Support Specialists.--In carrying out subsections (a) and (b), the Administrator shall, to the extent possible, make available passenger support specialists, upon request, to pregnant women and families traveling with young children to assist with screening checkpoint information, concerns, and procedures.

(d) TSA Family Lanes Feasibility Assessment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall conduct a feasibility assessment to determine whether screening processes and the screening experience may be improved for travelers by developing optional, dedicated screening lanes for families traveling with young children at airports where the checkpoint configuration would allow and where the overall functioning of the checkpoint would not be inhibited in terms of passenger throughput or security effectiveness.

(e) Briefing to Congress.--Not later than 30 days after the implementation of the training required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall brief the appropriate congressional committees on progress regarding the implementation of this Act and improvements made to the screening process for pregnant women and families traveling with young children.

(f) Definitions.--In this section:

(1) Administration.--The term ``Administration'' means the Transportation Security Administration.

(2) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.

(3) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3694, the Helping Families Fly Act.

Traveling through the airport can be a stressful time for many of our travelers. Pregnant women and families with young children sometimes experience more difficulty when traveling, especially during the screening process.

TSA's current screening procedures must be improved to ensure that these families are supported and have an easier experience flying through America's airports.

This bill will improve the screening process for pregnant women and their families by requiring security personnel to undergo training specific to the concerns and needs of these specific travelers.

Additionally, this legislation requires TSA to increase awareness of security procedures and guidelines by utilizing various forms of communication to keep families informed of the different options they may have during the screening process. This includes providing passengers, upon request, support specialists for women and families and adequate opt-out options to allow passengers to undergo alternative screening procedures.

In short, this bill helps to improve TSA operations and support the millions of pregnant women and young families who travel throughout our Nation's airports.

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Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I am prepared to close after the gentleman from Tennessee closes.

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Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3694 will improve the traveling experience for pregnant women and young families traveling throughout our Nation's airports.

By improving the awareness and skills of our security personnel, and providing more resources and support for our families, we will help ensure that our Nation's airports provide a safe, fair, and efficient traveling experience for all.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Arizona for offering this good legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3694, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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