Helping Heroes Fly Act Signed Into Law

Press Release

President Obama has signed into law the Helping Heroes Fly Act - bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Mark Pryor (D-AR) that will help improve the airport screening process for wounded and severely disabled service members and veterans.

"This law will help ensure that America's wounded warriors and disabled veterans are treated with dignity and care at airport security checkpoints," said Senator Ayotte, a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee. "Our legislation ensures that security screeners have proper training, addresses privacy concerns, and encourages better communication with advocacy groups."

In response to concerns raised by wounded warriors about the length and invasiveness of the airport security process, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) created the Wounded Warrior/Military Severely Injured Joint Services Operation Center Program (MSIJSOC). Through this program, severely injured or disabled service members, veterans, and family members can contact the program's Operation Center at TSA before a flight to arrange for a specialized and dignified screening process.

According to the TSA, the number of wounded warriors using the MSIJSOC program is steadily increasing, with approximately 4,252 in 2011 and 5,914 in 2012. The Helping Heroes Fly Act builds on this success by requiring the TSA to maintain the Operations Center. It also will make improvements to the program by requiring the TSA to take into account privacy preferences, provide training to all screeners, and improve communications with advocacy organizations. Finally, it mandates that TSA report to Congress on its progress in implementing the screening program.

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