Senator Young & colleagues reintroduce bill to provide TSA PreCheck to disabled Veterans

Young

U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to provide veterans with service-connected disabilities with expedited screening under the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) PreCheck program.

TSA PreCheck is already offered to active duty, reserves, and National Guard service members at no cost. The Veterans Expedited TSA Screening (VETS) Safe Travel Act will expand this program to include veterans who are amputees, paralyzed, or blind. Passing through airport security with prosthetics, wheelchairs, or other mobility aids presents a challenge to these individuals when traveling.

“Airports can be a dreaded experience for veterans with service-connected disabilities because of the invasive screenings they may endure at security checkpoints,” Sen. Young said. “Our bill will bring dignified travel to thousands of wounded warriors by ensuring PreCheck benefits are easily available to them.”

Under the VETS Safe Travel Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs would be required to certify that a veteran is eligible. TSA would then process the veteran’s application, granting access to TSA PreCheck at no cost provided they successfully pass the background check and interview process. Additionally, TSA advises that these veterans use TSA PreCheck in conjunction with calling the TSA Cares hotline 72-hours prior to departure to ensure expedited screening.

The legislation is supported by the Wounded Warrior Project, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Honor Flight Network, Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion, Blinded Veterans Association, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Click here to read the legislation.