ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
Many changes were made to the aviation industry after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, and recently, some legislation was proposed to make some adjustments to one of those changes.
Wednesday, Sen. Jerry Moran, chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space and Innovation, along with and Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) introduced the Spending Aviation Fees for Equipment, Guaranteeing Upgraded and Advanced Risk Detection and Safety (SAFEGUARDS) Act to make certain revenue collected through the 9/11 Passenger Security Fee (PSF) is invested in bolstering aviation and airport security.
“Airline passengers currently pay a fee of $5.60 per each one-way ticket, intended to be used to fund aviation security,” a release from Moran’s office noted. “Since 2014, more than $13 billion of the collected fees have been diverted to non-security uses, and this legislation ends that diversion and invests these fees back into airport security.”
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screens millions of passengers and their luggage daily – providing services at 2,400 security lanes at the nation's 420 airports.
“Airline travel hit record highs during the Fourth of July holiday, and with every purchased ticket, passengers paid a mandatory fee that was originally created to support the safety of air travel,” Moran noted in the release. “Increased air travel, coupled with lack of investment in security checkpoints and aging systems, has resulted in outdated screening technology and longer security lines. This legislation would return the passenger security fees to their original intent of making U.S. air travel as safe and efficient as possible by investing the collected fees in deploying new technology to maintain a safe flying experience.”
“Upgrading our airport screening technology is a matter of both safety and efficiency,” Van Hollen noted in the release. “This bill will direct existing federal funds toward investing in modern baggage screening systems that help keep travelers safe – while providing a better travel experience at America’s airports.”
“Ensuring our airline security personnel have the most modern and effective tools and resources available to keep travelers safe is critical,” Boozman noted in the release. “I am pleased to work with my colleagues to ensure fees collected for the express purpose of bolstering aviation security are utilized appropriately on the primary mission to protect passengers and improve operational efficiency.”
"Our first duty is to ensure the safety of the American people," Bennet noted in the release. "As tens of millions of travelers pass through Colorado's airports every year, it is essential to continuously improve security screening and safety measures. This legislation ensures that resources meant to modernize our airports and keep Americans safe at every checkpoint are used as intended."
The SAFEGUARDS Act would allocate $500 million in PSF revenue annually for checked bag explosive detection systems (EDS); and set aside $250 million annually for checkpoint technology improvements, including at exit lanes, according to the release from Moran’s office.
Other airline industry leaders praised the legislation’s introduction.
“AAAE appreciates Senators Moran, Van Hollen, Boozman and Bennet’s leadership to end the diversion of security fees paid by air travelers and prioritize critical investments in upgrading technology in use at the nation’s airports,” Todd Hauptli, President and CEO, American Association of Airport Executives noted in the release from Moran’s office. “Passengers in Kansas and across the country stand to benefit from enhanced security, efficiency, and reliability that will result from passage of this important legislation, and we urge its quick adoption.”
“ACI-NA and its member airports remain committed to ensuring that America’s aviation system is safe, secure, and efficient for all users. We applaud Senators Moran, Van Hollen, Boozman and Bennet for introducing this important legislation that would provide TSA with dedicated resources to deploy next-generation screening technologies,” Kevin M. Burke, President and CEO, Airports Council International – North America noted in the release from Moran’s office. “As passenger volumes continue to grow and TSA’s technology procurement lags behind operational needs, this bill offers a critical boost to help the agency meet its core mission of screening passengers and baggage effectively and efficiently.”
"This bill would enable the TSA to invest in modern security equipment that will make passenger and baggage screening systems more efficient and reliable,” David Hunt, Vice President for Safety and Security, Southwest Airlines noted in the release from Moran’s office. “Southwest strongly supports investing security fees in technologies that will benefit our customers no matter where they travel.”
This legislation is also supported by Travelers United.
