[Pages H1048-H1049]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TSA COMMUTING FAIRNESS ACT

  Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 862) to reduce commuting burdens on Transportation 
Security Administration employees, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 862

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``TSA Commuting Fairness 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. FEASIBILITY STUDY ON TSA COMMUTING BENEFITS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 270 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
     Transportation Security Administration shall submit to the 
     Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate a study on the feasibility 
     of treating as on-duty hours the time Transportation Security 
     Administration employees working at airport locations spend 
     traveling between regular duty locations and airport parking 
     lots and bus and transit stops.
       (b) Considerations.--In conducting the feasibility study 
     required under subsection (a), the Administrator of the 
     Transportation Security Administration shall consider the 
     following with respect to Transportation Security 
     Administration employees:
       (1) The amount of time needed by such employees to travel 
     between regular duty locations and airport parking lots and 
     bus and transit stops at small hub airports, medium hub 
     airports, and large hub airports (as such terms are defined 
     in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code).
       (2) The amount of time such employees spend commuting, on 
     average, exclusive of the time described in paragraph (1).
       (3) The potential benefits to such employees and the 
     Administration of treating as on-duty hours the time 
     described in such paragraph.
       (4) The feasibility of using mobile phones, location data, 
     and any other means to allow such employees to report their 
     arrival to and departure from the airport parking lots and 
     bus and transit stops concerned.
       (5) The estimated costs of treating as on-duty hours the 
     time described in such paragraph, including by considering 
     such hours creditable as basic pay for retirement purposes.
       (6) Other considerations determined appropriate by the 
     Administrator.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Green) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Correa) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 862.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 862, the TSA Commuting 
Fairness Act.
  TSA often struggles to adequately employ enough personnel. Given the 
high cost of housing near airports, travel time to and from work may be 
an inhibitor for current or future employees. This bill would require 
the TSA administrator to conduct a feasibility study to address this 
issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the work of the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Kennedy) on this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the ability of the TSA, or Transportation Security 
Administration, to recruit and retain a highly skilled, well-trained 
workforce is critical to our national security.
  Since the agency was created in the aftermath of 9/11, TSA has helped 
prevent terrorist attacks against U.S. aircraft from happening.
  The jobs of TSA employees are difficult, from the Transportation 
Security officers' perspective who screen millions of passengers a day, 
to Federal air marshals providing in-flight security, to canine 
handlers, inspectors, and cybersecurity experts, all helping to secure 
our air transportation system.
  In recent weeks, life has only become harder for this workforce, as 
probationary employees have been fired and TSOs' collective bargaining 
rights have also come under attack.
  Thankfully, we have the opportunity today, Mr. Speaker, to make life 
a bit easier for the hardworking civil servants of TSA.
  The TSA Commuting Fairness Act, offered by my colleagues from New 
York, Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Garbarino, would require TSA to study the 
possibility of allowing employees' shifts to start upon arrival at the 
airport's parking lot and bus and transit stops.
  These employees often face long commutes to get to the airport from 
the parking lot and then must travel long distances from the airport 
parking lots and transit stops to get to the TSA checkpoints.
  Letting employees clock in using cell phones and location data would 
help alleviate the stress caused by irregular shuttles and the traffic 
that is very unpredictable around the airport.
  This is a sensible bill, Mr. Speaker, that would address important 
quality-of-life concerns for a very critical workforce and, ultimately, 
our national security when it comes to commercial airline security.
  I thank my colleagues for working in a bipartisan fashion to advance 
this measure, and I am glad to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Kennedy), the author of this measure.
  Mr. KENNEDY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, 
H.R. 862, the TSA Commuting Fairness Act.
  Year after year, through holiday seasons and spring breaks, air 
travel continues to break records. These numbers are at an all-time 
high and are expected to continue to increase this upcoming spring.
  The Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, reported over 3 
million travelers on the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2024, with the 10 
busiest days in TSA's history occurring last year.
  Each day, we depend on hardworking TSA employees to keep our skies 
safe. Transportation Security officers, or TSOs, inspect travelers as 
they move through checkpoints; Federal air marshals ensure in-flight 
security; and canine handlers enhance the system's security.
  However, TSA employees face unique challenges when commuting to work. 
Many employees find that the housing they can afford is far from 
airports, lending to long commutes with limited public transit options 
and heavy traffic. Airport employees often begin their workday by 
parking or being dropped off in a designated parking lot where they 
must then wait for inconsistent shuttle service to reach the terminal.

[[Page H1049]]

  From there, they may face a lengthy trek to the security checkpoint 
where they officially then clock in for work.
  According to the Government Accountability Office, TSOs have reported 
that just getting from the parking lot to the checkpoint to clock in 
for work can take as long as 45 minutes to an hour at some airports.
  My bill, the TSA Commuting Fairness Act, will help improve conditions 
for these civil servants by directing TSA to conduct a feasibility 
study on using mobile location data to allow employees to clock in for 
work upon arrival at the airport transit stops instead of when they 
reach that security checkpoint.
  Doing so will help reduce commuting costs and improve the quality of 
life for TSA employees, while allowing agency leadership to manage the 
workforce appropriately.
  This study will also provide important insight for TSA and Congress 
as we collectively seek innovative ways to recruit and retain top 
talent to help secure our transportation systems. My bill will help us 
build the workforce we need to address evolving threats and keep air 
travel trusted and secure.

  Now, more than ever, it is critical that we advance policies like the 
TSA Commuting Fairness Act to make it clear that we value the critical 
work of our transportation security workers.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Garbarino and my colleagues on both 
sides of the aisle for working with me to develop this legislation.
  Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, given the recent attacks against our Federal workers, we 
must seek innovative ways to compete for the top talent. This bill 
would require a feasibility study to improve the quality of life for 
the TSA workforce, while ensuring that TSA leadership retains the 
ability to manage the workforce appropriately and maintain security 
standards.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members of Congress to support this measure, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 862, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Green) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 862.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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