DUCKWORTH, YOUNG BILL TO PROVIDE TSA PRECHECK® TO DISABLED VETERANS PASSES SENATE

Press Release

Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Todd Young (R-IN) to provide Veterans with disabilities Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Preè passed the Senate by unanimous consent.

"Millions of Veterans have sacrificed a great deal in service to our nation and returned home with service-connected disabilities. For those of us who rely on prosthetics and wheelchairs for mobility, air travel and passing through airport security can be a challenge," said Senator Duckworth. "I'm proud the Senate passed this bipartisan legislation to make TSA PreCheck available at no cost to these Veterans and make flying and passing through airports a little easier and less intrusive, and I hope we can get it to President Biden's desk soon."

"The VETS Safe Travel Act was written for veterans with disabilities who dread the airport because of the indignities they will endure at security checkpoints. This bill will help veterans travel easier by providing them with Preè benefits. I'm glad our bill finally passed the Senate, and I urge the House to pass it quickly," said Senator Young.

TSA Preè is already offered to active duty, reserves, and National Guard servicemembers at no cost. Once signed into law, the Veterans Expedited TSA Screening (VETS) Safe Travel Act would expand this program to include Veterans who are amputees, paralyzed or blind. Currently, there are approximately 70,000 amputee Veterans, 100,000 paralyzed and 130,000 blind Veterans in the United States. Passing through airport security with prosthetics, wheelchairs or other mobility aids presents a challenge to these individuals when traveling.

Under the VETS Safe Travel Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and TSA would be directed to work together to provide these benefits at no cost to eligible Veterans upon request. The VA would be instructed to conduct outreach to ensure that eligible Veterans are aware of this potential benefit before they travel. Additionally, TSA advises that these Veterans use TSA Preè in conjunction with calling the TSA Cares hotline 72-hours prior to departure to ensure expedited screening.

Duckworth and Young were joined by U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) in reintroducing the bill last year.

The legislation is supported by the Wounded Warrior Project, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Honor Flight Network, Disabled American Veterans, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of American, VetsFirst, and the American Legion.

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