House Bill Would Make Flying Easier for Honor Flight Veterans

Press Release

Today Congressman Kevin Cramer announced the U.S. House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation to establish a more expedited and reasonable airport security screening process for veterans traveling to visit war memorials built in their honor. The Honor Flight Act would require the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to create protocols making the passenger screening process less stressful and more respectful for military veterans.

Prior to his time in Congress, Congressman Cramer served as Chairman of the Roughrider Honor Flight Committee, which flew hundreds of North Dakota World War II veterans to Washington, D.C. at no personal expense to experience the memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice.

"The TSA in Bismarck was incredibly accommodating to our World War II veterans. The head agent always attended our briefings and made sure the screenings were easy and without undue stress. Unfortunately, the common sense applied in North Dakota isn't as common everywhere," said Cramer.

The national Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization working to transport veterans on charter flights operated by commercial airlines to Washington, D.C. in order to visit memorials built and dedicated in honor of their service. The organization began when Earl Morse, a Retired Air Force Captain working at a Department of Veterans Affairs clinic, realized many of his World War II veteran patients would never have the opportunity to visit the memorials. Through the end of 2012, the network has transported more than 98,500 veterans to Washington, D.C.

Last year, Cramer helped pass the Helping Heroes Fly Act, which makes air travel easier for severely disabled veterans by directing the Department of Homeland Security to address inconsistencies in the Wounded Warrior Screening Program operated by the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA). The program was created in 2005 as a response to well-documented difficulties imposed on wounded veterans by the increasing rigors of airport security. The bill was signed into law on August 9, 2013.

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