House Adopts Rokita Amendment to Prevent TSA from Using Federal Funds for Collective Bargaining

Statement

Today the House agreed to an amendment offered by Rep. Todd Rokita (IN-4) to the FY2012 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act to prevent federal funds from being used for collective bargaining by Transportation Security Administration unions.

Recently the Obama Administration announced a decision to allow the Transportation Security Administration and TSA unions to enter into collective bargaining agreements.

"The passage of this amendment is critical to homeland security and the effectiveness of the TSA. Collective bargaining agreements would hamper the critical nature of TSA agents' national security responsibilities. TSA agents are no different than FBI, CIA, and Secret Service agents; we do not negotiate collective bargaining agreements with security personnel and TSA clearly falls within that category."

"Union demands will unquestionably make our transportation security more costly and less efficient at a time government must do more with less. And Americans would see their recourse greatly reduced if not eliminated in addressing mistreatment by TSA agents. I will continue to work to ensure that collective bargaining does not impact the safety of any American or needlessly subject our rights and privacy to a union or its leaders."

The FY2012 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act passed 231-188.

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