Traveling Parents Screening Consistency 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. 3246) to require GAO review of certain TSA screening protocols, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 3246
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 ``Traveling Parents Screening Consistency Act of 2019''. SEC. 2. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEW.
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a review of the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) implementation of the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Act (Public Law 114-293), as well as the effectiveness of TSA in ensuring screening protocol clarity and screening consistency relating to the screening of formula, breast milk, purified deionized water for infants, and juice. Such review shall include the following:
(1) Consider whether TSA effectively manages consistency of screening protocol applications for formula, breastmilk, purified deionized water for infants, and juice, including the extent to which Transportation Security officers engage in screening beyond that which is prescribed through relevant policies and training.
(2) Evaluate the need for TSA to update and revise procedures for such screening.
(3) Assess whether TSA effectively tracks passenger complaints related to such screening to monitor trends and identify inconsistencies.
(4) Evaluate TSA's communications and information sharing practices for passengers, air carriers, and airports relating to screening protocols for such screening.
(5) Evaluate TSA's policies regarding the screening of passengers with nursing products, including the extent to which such passengers are more likely to receive secondary screening.
(6) Make recommendations for improving TSA's overall screening practices relating to such screening.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3246, the Traveling Parents Screening Consistency Act.
The stress of traveling through our airport checkpoints is very familiar to all of us. This experience can be especially burdensome on parents traveling with children. Too often, these families aren't given clear direction and guidance on how to ensure that they meet TSA guidelines while bringing baby supplies and nursing products through the screening process.
Parents across the country are often left confused and inconvenienced as they encounter different interpretations of TSA's policies at different airports. In some cases, parents have discarded expensive baby formula and other items after being instructed that such items cannot be brought through security when, in fact, they are allowed under TSA policy.
TSA must do better for these families by creating commonsense policies and clearly communicating with them to ensure parents are able to properly care for their children while traveling.
H.R. 3246, provides more certainty and protections to parents traveling with baby supplies, such as breast milk and formula. This bill will help improve traveling experiences for families, while enforcing security standards for everyone traveling throughout our Nation's airports.
I urge my House colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3246 aims to ensure that families receive consistent information regarding the screening process for baby supplies and nursing products. This bill will enable parents to properly prepare the supplies necessary to care for their children when traveling while ensuring passenger security through the screening process.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Taylor for this fine piece of legislation, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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