Tsa Commuting Fairness Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, the ability of the TSA, or Transportation Security Administration, to recruit and retain a highly skilled, well-trained workforce is critical to our national security.

Since the agency was created in the aftermath of 9/11, TSA has helped prevent terrorist attacks against U.S. aircraft from happening.

The jobs of TSA employees are difficult, from the Transportation Security officers' perspective who screen millions of passengers a day, to Federal air marshals providing in-flight security, to canine handlers, inspectors, and cybersecurity experts, all helping to secure our air transportation system.

In recent weeks, life has only become harder for this workforce, as probationary employees have been fired and TSOs' collective bargaining rights have also come under attack.

Thankfully, we have the opportunity today, Mr. Speaker, to make life a bit easier for the hardworking civil servants of TSA.

The TSA Commuting Fairness Act, offered by my colleagues from New York, Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Garbarino, would require TSA to study the possibility of allowing employees' shifts to start upon arrival at the airport's parking lot and bus and transit stops.

These employees often face long commutes to get to the airport from the parking lot and then must travel long distances from the airport parking lots and transit stops to get to the TSA checkpoints.

Letting employees clock in using cell phones and location data would help alleviate the stress caused by irregular shuttles and the traffic that is very unpredictable around the airport.

This is a sensible bill, Mr. Speaker, that would address important quality-of-life concerns for a very critical workforce and, ultimately, our national security when it comes to commercial airline security.

I thank my colleagues for working in a bipartisan fashion to advance this measure, and I am glad to support it.

Mr. KENNEDY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 862, the TSA Commuting Fairness Act.

Year after year, through holiday seasons and spring breaks, air travel continues to break records. These numbers are at an all-time high and are expected to continue to increase this upcoming spring.

The Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, reported over 3 million travelers on the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2024, with the 10 busiest days in TSA's history occurring last year.

Each day, we depend on hardworking TSA employees to keep our skies safe. Transportation Security officers, or TSOs, inspect travelers as they move through checkpoints; Federal air marshals ensure in-flight security; and canine handlers enhance the system's security.

However, TSA employees face unique challenges when commuting to work. Many employees find that the housing they can afford is far from airports, lending to long commutes with limited public transit options and heavy traffic. Airport employees often begin their workday by parking or being dropped off in a designated parking lot where they must then wait for inconsistent shuttle service to reach the terminal.

From there, they may face a lengthy trek to the security checkpoint where they officially then clock in for work.

According to the Government Accountability Office, TSOs have reported that just getting from the parking lot to the checkpoint to clock in for work can take as long as 45 minutes to an hour at some airports.

My bill, the TSA Commuting Fairness Act, will help improve conditions for these civil servants by directing TSA to conduct a feasibility study on using mobile location data to allow employees to clock in for work upon arrival at the airport transit stops instead of when they reach that security checkpoint.

Doing so will help reduce commuting costs and improve the quality of life for TSA employees, while allowing agency leadership to manage the workforce appropriately.

This study will also provide important insight for TSA and Congress as we collectively seek innovative ways to recruit and retain top talent to help secure our transportation systems. My bill will help us build the workforce we need to address evolving threats and keep air travel trusted and secure.

Now, more than ever, it is critical that we advance policies like the TSA Commuting Fairness Act to make it clear that we value the critical work of our transportation security workers.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Garbarino and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for working with me to develop this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, given the recent attacks against our Federal workers, we must seek innovative ways to compete for the top talent. This bill would require a feasibility study to improve the quality of life for the TSA workforce, while ensuring that TSA leadership retains the ability to manage the workforce appropriately and maintain security standards.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members of Congress to support this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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