Bills bolster security screening, DHS intelligence

The House of Representatives advanced last week four bills designed to support the traveler security screening process and enhance the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intelligence apparatus.

Officials touted the potential benefits the Trusted Traveler Reconsideration and Restoration Act of 2019, the Helping Families Fly Act of 2019, the Traveling Parents Screening Consistency Act and the Unifying DHS Intelligence Enterprise Act.

“Under current law, it is time-consuming and difficult for individuals to navigate multiple federal agencies and bureaucratic hurdles to get Trusted Traveler status reinstated if it has been erroneously revoked,” said Rep. John Katko (R-NY), author of the Trusted Traveler Reconsideration and Restoration Act of 2019 measure. “With my legislation, travelers will be able to more easily remedy these types of errors, and, once resolved, Trusted Traveler enrollees who have had their status wrongly suspended will be provided an extension equivalent to the length of the delay.”

Katko said the legislation would also seek to prevent future errors by directing DHS to assess existing Trusted Traveler Program enrollment and redress procedures.

Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.) introduced the Helping Families Fly Act of 2019.

“For pregnant women and families with young children, airport travel can be a stressful and time-consuming task,” Lesko said. “Thankfully, my bipartisan legislation will help make the airport experience for women and families quicker and easier while keeping our nation safe. I am grateful for my colleagues’ support and urge my colleagues in the Senate to quickly pass this bill so that we can help ease the burden on pregnant women and young families at our nation’s airports in time for the busy travel season.”