Airport Alert: House Homeland Security Committee Advances Aviation Security Related Bills
June 24, 2026
Today, the House Homeland Security Committee considered 19 bi-partisan bills, several of which relate to aviation security and TSA modernization. All 19 bills were favorably reported to the House of Representatives by nearly unanimous votes. The House will likely consider the bills under suspension of the rules next month.
The bills related to aviation security and TSA modernization included:
H.R. 8770, the Spending Aviation Fees for Equipment, Guaranteeing Upgraded and Advanced Risk Detection and Safety Act of 2026, also known as the SAFEGUARDS Act. The bill, which AAAE has long supported, addresses the on-going diversion of the 9/11 passenger security fee to pay for deficit reduction. The bill expresses the sense of Congress that the fee should no longer be diverted for purposes other than commercial aviation security. The bill directs $500 million of the revenue collected from the fee to the Aviation Security Capital Fund for checked baggage screening technology and $250 million of the revenue to a new Aviation Security Technology Fund to support next-generation checkpoint screening technologies. The bill was amended today to take effect in Fiscal Year 2028 when the diversion of security fees is scheduled to end.
Although passed by the Committee today by a vote of 26 to 3 (with 1 voting present), Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (D-MS) expressed concern that the bill does not immediately stop the diversion of the fee. He also expressed concern that the dedicated $750 million in technology funding may come at the expense of the TSA workforce salaries and benefits if TSA’s overall budget does not also increase when the fee diversion ends.
H.R. 9391, the Reimbursable Screening Services Program Extension Act of 2026, which was introduced yesterday by Chairman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY). The Reimbursable Screening Services Program was established by Congress as a pilot program in 2019 to allow entities to reimburse TSA for screening services performed outside of primary airport passenger terminals. The bill extends the pilot for five years to Fiscal Year 2031 and increases the number of eligible entities from eight to 14. The Committee approved the bill by a vote of 30-0.
H.R. 9388, the One-Stop Pilot Program Extension Act, which was introduced yesterday by Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security Chairman Carlos Gimenez (R-FL). The bill, also approved by a vote of 30-0, extends the One-Stop Pilot Program for an additional four years. The One-Stop Pilot Program, currently set to expire in Fiscal Year 2028, enables passengers arriving in the U.S. from certain foreign airports with connecting flights to be exempt from rescreening by TSA. The One-Stop Security Pilot Program is currently operational on select flights from London’s Heathrow International Airport into Atlanta and Dallas-Fort Worth International airports.
H.R. 8897, the Improving Travel for American Families Act, which is aimed at facilitating travel for families with children under 12. The bill builds on TSA’s existing “Families on the Fly” program operational at 13 airports and requires the TSA Administrator to establish a two-year pilot program to implement access to alternative screening lanes for passengers and accompanying children under the age of 12. The bill was amended to make clear screening procedures will remain unchanged to ensure security remains paramount, passing the Committee on a 30-0 vote.
H.R. 9328, the Improving Travel for Military Members Act, allows the TSA Administrator to establish a three-year pilot program to expedite access to security screening for traveling active-duty military personnel and their accompanying family members. The bill calls for a pilot at up to 5 airports near military installations. It also passed the Committee on a vote of 30-0.
Today’s mark-up can be viewed on the Committee’s website.
