Helping Heroes Fly Act

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of 1344, the Helping Heroes Fly Act, and yield myself such time as I may consume.

In response to documented grievances my fellow servicemembers made because of various challenges and trying experiences that they went through at airport checkpoints across the country, I introduced the Helping Heroes Fly Act to ensure that the Transportation Security Administration--working alongside veterans advocacy organizations-- develop sensible screening policies that honor and respect the service and sacrifice of our Nation's injured and disabled heroes.

On March 27 of this year, just a few days after this legislation was introduced, the Transportation Security Administration made an announcement of some improvements that they have made in this area as they took steps to expedite airport screening for severely injured members of our Armed Forces. With these changes, individuals can presently request assistance ahead of time and move through security checkpoints without having to remove their shoes, light outerwear, jackets, or hats. Taking off a jacket--while maybe a simple inconvenience for you and I--can be a very physically challenging task for someone who, for example, has lost the use of an arm.

While this announcement was a good step, it didn't go nearly far enough, as there are still more improvements that need to be made. As I've spoken with wounded warriors and listened to their experiences, I've heard stories that have been varied and included things like having to take off a prosthetic leg, putting the leg through the X-ray machine, and then having to balance on one leg going through the full body scan without help from anyone.

This is unacceptable. Severely injured and disabled Active Duty and veterans both experience widely varied screening protocols among different

airports, and even among screeners in the same airport. This makes it very hard for a wounded warrior to anticipate and prepare what will be required of them, to make sure that they are ready physically and mentally. Again, this may not seem like much to us, but to someone--a trained and hardened warrior--learning to adjust to these severe injuries, it can sometimes be difficult and can be the difference between a smooth and dignified screening experience or one that is filled with frustration, shame, and pain for the injured servicemember and delays for all people waiting in that screening line.

Another issue that frequently has come up has been privacy. Veterans have shared with me their own experiences of having to take off prosthetics, despite TSA guidance that it's not necessary. And in the instances where extra screening of these prosthetics is necessary, it has been done in public view, even when clothing needs to be removed.

No one--no one--should be required to remove their shirt or pants in public, nor should scans of sensitive or private areas be viewed by other airline passengers. Again, this has been already a humiliating, shameful experience for some veterans when there's absolutely no requirement or necessity for it.

The Disabled American Veterans have spoken in strong support of this legislation stating:

At some airports, our amputee members receive relaxed

screening, while at others these screenings are horrific.

Perhaps it is TSA's purpose to make screenings unpredictable.

Some screenings have required these amputees to expose their

prostheses when they lack the ability to reposition their

clothing, and TSA agents are not allowed to help them, nor do

they allow spouses or traveling companions to enter search

areas to assist the amputees.

Our objective with this legislation is to ensure consistent treatment by screeners, greater attention to privacy concerns, and consulting with these advocacy organizations who speak for our wounded warriors to ensure they have a voice in the process.

This bill before us today, the Helping Heroes Fly Act, achieves these improvements by requiring TSA to take into account the privacy of the individual being screened. It also mandates training of screening officers on the expedited protocols to make sure that no matter where you travel, no matter what city you are in, you will have consistent screening procedures so you know what to expect. TSA is also required to consult with these advocacy organizations to make sure that as these changes are implemented, that the unique needs of our wounded warriors are implemented to the best of its ability.

To ensure these changes over the long term, this legislation requires regular reporting to Congress, as well as maintenance of the TSA's operations center that these wounded warriors and veterans can contact for assistance as they prepare to travel.

Mr. Speaker, as you well know, members of our U.S. Armed Forces are entrusted to protect the security of our country with their lives. By definition, these individuals pose very little risk to aviation security and should be consistently screened in a manner befitting and honoring their service and sacrifice.

I urge my colleagues to ensure our Nation's wounded warriors are treated respectfully, and urge them to vote ``yes'' in support of H.R. 1344.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security of the Committee on Homeland Security, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

(Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Swalwell).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

It's been an honor to stand here on the floor today in a bipartisan manner with my colleagues.

I want to thank the gentlewoman from Indiana for managing this and her strong support and advocacy for this issue, which is symbolic of us taking action to honor our heroes, especially as we head into Memorial Day.

You've heard from many Members why this is a good bill and why it should pass. It's been subject to scrutiny by all the stakeholders, and it has resulted in a bill that will be efficient and effective.

One example of steps we have taken to make sure that this is an efficient bill is making sure that, as we provide training as a central requirement to make sure that consistency in all airports exists, the provision requiring employee training was modified to make it clear that only screening personnel who participate in these expedited services will be mandatory--required to be trained under this bill--as opposed to requiring every single employee of the TSA to be trained, even when their job has nothing to do with passenger screening responsibilities. This modification ensures that the department's limited resources are spent in the most efficient manner, while also ensuring the consistent policies and treatment that are our objectives of this legislation.

I'd like to take a moment to highlight the support that this bill has gotten from veteran organizations. In addition to the Disabled American Veterans, I also have letters of support from the Wounded Warrior Project, the American Legion, and the Paralyzed Veterans of America. The Wounded Warrior Project sums it up perfectly, as they say:

Wounded warriors should not have to sacrifice their

privacy, encounter conflicting screening policies and

procedures, or be subject to significant travel delays. We

welcome the steps proposed in H.R. 1344 to foster expedited

screening and to protect the privacy of our wounded warriors

going through this process. We also commend the proposal to

require the TSA to continue to consult with veterans' service

organizations as they develop these improved screening

processes.

Mr. Speaker, before yielding back, I just want to take a moment to thank the chairman of the committee, Mr. McCaul, and the ranking member, Bennie Thompson, whose strong support for this bill allowed it to move very quickly and to be considered here on the floor here today. Subcommittee Chairman Mr. Hudson and Ranking Member Richmond, as well as Sheila Jackson Lee, along with my colleague, Mrs. Brooks from Indiana, have also been incredible champions and supporters. Last but not least, I would like to take a moment to recognize senior professional staff Brian Turbyfill, who has been invaluable in providing his assistance in guiding this bill through the process.

Mr. Speaker, this is a commonsense measure that aligns with the intelligence-driven, risked-based approach to security that TSA is striving for. It addresses a clearly identified problem and provides a solution that will serve and honor the sacrifices of our Nation's selfless heroes and great servant leaders.

I ask my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Wounded Warrior Project,

Washington, DC, April 8, 2013.

Hon. Tulsi Gabbard,

Cannon House Office Building,

Washington, DC.

Dear Congresswoman Gabbard: As an organization whose

mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors, Wounded

Warrior Project (WWP) is committed to assisting service

members and veterans thrive within the community. For wounded

veterans living with prosthetics or other service-connected

conditions, airport screening is often a frustrating,

degrading, and lengthy process. With that concern, we welcome

the introduction of the Helping Heroes Fly Act, H.R. 1344,

and the improvements it proposes to screen these men and

women in a manner befitting their service.

Wounded warriors should not have to sacrifice their

privacy, encounter conflicting screening policies and

procedures, or be subject to significant travel delays. We

welcome the steps proposed in H.R. 1344 to foster expedited

screening and to protect the privacy of warriors going

through the screening process. We also commend the proposal

to require the Transportation Security Administration to

consult with veterans' service organizations in the

development of improved screening.

We look forward to working with you to advance this

legislation and toward improving the airport screening

process for those who have served.

Sincerely,

Charlie Abell,

EVP for Government Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1344) to amend title 49, United States Code, to direct the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration) to provide expedited air passenger screening to severely injured or disabled members of the Armed Forces and severely injured or disabled veterans, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

As a member of the Committee on Homeland Security's Transportation Security Subcommittee, I am proud to be a cosponsor of this commonsense piece of legislation that will increase accessibility and privacy for our wounded warriors at airport checkpoints.

This legislation directs TSA to develop and implement a process to facilitate the ease of travel and, to the extent possible, provide expedited screening through our Nation's airports for severely injured or disabled members of our Armed Forces and veterans. The last thing our heroes need is to face unnecessary scrutiny or hassle, or be forced to answer endless questions about their conditions, when all they want to do is board a plane to fly home to their loved ones or maybe to a job interview.

This bill would ensure that our wounded warriors--those dedicated men and women who have been severely injured while fighting to protect our Nation--are treated with the highest dignity and respect when traveling through our Nation's airports.

I was pleased to find out that shortly after Administrator Pistole testified before the Transportation Security Subcommittee on TSA's efforts to advance risk-based security, TSA began to offer expedited screening services to severely injured members of the Armed Forces and veterans, provided they contact the TSA in advance of traveling. While I support TSA's newly adopted protocols, I feel this bill is necessary because it codifies current TSA policy and ensures that it will remain intact during future administrations.

Mr. Speaker, this bill not only benefits severely injured and disabled members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans, and their accompanying families, but it also supports the TSA administrator's intent to develop a more risk-based method of screening for all passengers.

Expedited travel for our military heroes is an important step toward reasonable transportation security reforms that will allow us to focus precious taxpayer dollars on the unknown travelers and the real threats.

As we look forward to this upcoming Memorial Day, let us honor the all-too-often painful sacrifices our wounded warriors have made for our Nation by adopting this important and commonsense piece of legislation.

I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins).

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to a distinguished gentleman who has also served his country admirably in the military and is someone who serves on the Homeland Security Committee with Congresswoman Gabbard and me, the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. If the gentlewoman from Hawaii has no further speakers, I'm prepared to close once the gentlewoman does.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

On behalf of myself, as well as Congressman McCaul, the chair of the Homeland Security Committee, we would like to commend Congresswoman Gabbard of Hawaii not only for her service in moving this issue, but for her military service. I'm very proud to be serving with her, and we are so pleased that this is being done in such a bipartisan manner. The Congresswoman from Hawaii and I have enjoyed a new strong friendship, and I hope there are many more bills to come that we can work on together.

I must say that we know that there are so many brave men and women throughout this country who have been severely injured while fighting. In fact, according to the Employment and Disability Institute at Cornell University, there are 6,800 working-age civilian veterans in Indiana, alone, who have had the most severe service-connected disability rating.

And this past weekend when I was out at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in honor of Armed Forces Day on Sunday and as we swore in the young men and women who have agreed to step up and serve in the National Guard and they were reporting to basic training that day, I knew that this bill was on the House floor this week. It was quite emotional to see these young men and women who we know between them and their families are providing the most incredible sacrifice. I am just very pleased that we are working on this bill in this manner.

To sit by while one of these heroes--and to me, all of these young 18-year-olds to 22-year-olds that I saw in front of me are heroes. We pray that they will not be injured. But those who are injured and who provide that incredible sacrifice cannot be treated like potential enemies here at home, and particularly at our airports. It should put us all to shame. Our wounded warriors are a special group of citizens in this country. They are a trusted group of citizens, and we can and must do more to treat them as such and to recognize their commitment to our Nation. With the Memorial Day holiday fast approaching, this bill is a timely tribute to their sacrifice.

I must also say that this weekend at the Indianapolis 500, before the race, it is the most moving ceremony when our armed services march down Pit Lane, and the quarter of a million people that will be there say it is probably the most moving ceremony they have ever witnessed. So we look not only for safety this weekend at our race, but it is a wonderful reminder of the incredible sacrifice all of the men and women in the military give day in and day out.

I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 1344, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi: Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1344, the ``Helping Heroes Fly Act.''

Mr. Speaker, at the outset, I would like to commend the gentlewoman from Hawaii, Representative Gabbard, for introducing this thoughtful, bipartisan legislation.

I also commend the Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, the gentleman from Texas, Mr. McCaul, for working diligently to have this bill receive timely consideration by the House.

We owe a great debt to the women and men who have served to defend our freedom.

Those who were injured or rendered disabled because of their service, in particular, deserve our deepest gratitude and respect.

They deserve to be treated with the upmost respect and dignity upon their return home.

Unfortunately, when it comes to flying domestically, all too often, the security screening experience for injured and disabled veterans is anything but respectful and dignified.

H.R. 1344, the ``Helping Heroes Fly Act,'' seeks to improve the screening experience for these brave men and women by requiring the Transportation Security Administration to develop and implement a process to facilitate the ease of travel and provide expedited screening to these members of the Armed Forces and veterans.

It specifically requires consultation with organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project, American Legion, and Paralyzed Veterans of America that advocate on behalf of service members and veterans.

Importantly, to help ensure consistency across the aviation security system, it also requires training for screeners on the protocols for screening injured and disabled service members and veterans.

Passage of this legislation is the right thing to do to for those who sacrificed and were injured while serving our nation.

Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to be able to come to the floor today as we approach the week that we memorialize those fallen heroes and as well, at the same time, acknowledge those who yet live who have served and who are wounded. Even today, as we stand on the floor in the backdrop of enormous tragedies among our civilian population in Oklahoma over the last couple of days and in Texas and elsewhere, this is a very important legislative initiative.

As the former ranking member and chair of the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and as a cosponsor, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1344, the Helping Heroes Fly Act of 2013.

I congratulate my new colleague for this outstanding legislation, Ms. Gabbard from Hawaii; and to the manager, thank you very much. It is important, and I am glad we are standing here together in a bipartisan manner.

I support this legislation because it eases and facilitates the expedited passenger screening at airports for servicemembers who are severely injured or disabled, along with their families. Of course, the thoughtfulness in introducing this legislation is appreciated because it is necessary legislation. I thank you for indicating that, even as the TSA, of which we have oversight, is formulating policies, it's good to codify it, to make it law, because these heroes deserve their law.

The Helping Heroes Fly Act requires the Transportation Security Administration to maintain an operations center to provide support and to facilitate the movement of these disabled servicemembers and veterans, and it requires the TSA to publish protocol so disabled servicemembers and veterans and their families will be able to contact the operations center and request expedited screening. The bill also requires that these protocols be integrated into the training of TSA agents.

Now, I know that there are many home ports, if you will, for our returning heroes. I happen to know that Texas has had a very large number of our men and women go to Iraq and Afghanistan and to places beyond. I've been to Hawaii and know the transition there of many who are on R&R, coming from places around the world, and I know that it is a place where many come home because it was their home, and, yes, they come home disabled, with prostheses and other wounds, that require their privacy. I am glad that this bill acknowledges, not only that they are heroes, but that they are desirous and deserving of the respect--why don't I say an admiration and commendation and respect again--of those who would expedite their going into a secured area.

Mr. Speaker, more than 2.2 million veterans--one in 10--have been disabled or seriously wounded in the service of our Nation; and disabled veterans typically find it much harder, by some estimates twice as hard, to readjust to civilian life. The least we can do for these heroes is to make it a little less burdensome and difficult to navigate the obstacles, barriers, and checkpoints that have been erected in the aftermath of 9/11 to enhance the security of air travel--and rightly so.

Most of these inconveniences are necessary but are no less burdensome to those who have suffered physical disabilities in defending the Nation from those who would make air travel dangerous and deadly. Let's give them respect for what they have done to secure the homeland and to make us safer. The legislation before us strikes an appropriate balance between these competing interests.

I have seen the operation of TSA and TSO officers and some of what they call these ``specialty officers.'' Allow me to thank you publicly for the work you have already done and for the sensitivity you've had.

I've seen these soldiers, these heroes, coming home at DCA and at Dulles. I've certainly seen them in the airports in Texas. I've seen them in their uniforms. I've seen them, as I said, disabled, and I've seen them with families. I saw one young man who was wandering in my airport. He was, obviously, in uniform, but had not a good day. I don't know what might have been impacting him, but we stopped, and I hailed an officer in uniform, a TSO officer, and said, You won't be alone now. We're going to find out where you need to go.

One of the factors of this particular legislative initiative that is good is that, wherever you land, sometimes it may not be your home airport--every airport is different--and I think they work themselves up to make sure that they make it exciting and confusing.

Thank you for the Helping Heroes Fly Act to help improve airport security screening processes for wounded and severely disabled servicemembers, but also thank you for giving them a helping hand. You are helping the veterans as well. This authorizes a Wounded Warrior Screening program and requires the TSA to maintain an operations center. These improvements will facilitate and expedite air travel for our disabled veterans and servicemembers. More importantly, they will help our Nation's heroes to be shown the respect, as I said earlier, and the appreciation of a Nation that is so grateful.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this legislation, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in voting for the Helping Heroes Fly Act of 2013. I am glad to be back in the well again in this week of honoring our soldiers and those who have fallen, and I am delighted for the leadership of my colleague on the Homeland Security Committee and of the manager on this great bill, and I hope that we have a very strong vote.

Mr. Speaker, as a member and former chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security, and a cosponsor, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1344, the ``Helping Heroes Fly Act of 2013.'' I support this legislation because it eases and facilitates expedited passenger screening at airports for service members who are severely injured or disabled, along with their families. I thank my colleague, Congresswoman Gabbard of Hawaii, for introducing this thoughtful and necessary legislation.

The Helping Heroes Fly Act requires Transportation Security Administration to maintain an operations center to provide support and facilitate the movement of these disabled service members and veterans, and it requires TSA to publish protocols so disabled service members and veterans, and their families, will be able to contact the operations center and request expedited screening. The bill also requires that these protocols be integrated into the training of TSA agents.

Mr. Speaker, more than 2.2 million Veterans, one in ten, have been disabled or seriously wounded in the service of our nation. And disabled veterans typically find it much harder, by some estimates twice as hard, to readjust to civilian life. The least we can do for these heroes is to make it a little less burdensome and difficult to navigate the obstacles, barriers, and checkpoints that have been erected in the aftermath of 9/11 to enhance the security of air travel. Most of these inconveniences are necessary but no less burdensome to those who suffered physical disabilities defending the nation from those who would make air travel dangerous and deadly. The legislation before us strikes an appropriate balance between these competing interests.

The Helping Heroes Fly Act improves airport security screening processes for wounded and severely disabled service members and veterans; authorizes a Wounded Warrior Screening Program and requires TSA to maintain an Operations Center. These improvements will facilitate and expedite air travel for our disabled veterans and service members. More importantly, they help that our nation's heroes are shown the respect and appreciation of a grateful nation.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 1344, and urge all my colleagues to join me in voting for the Helping Heroes Fly Act of 2013.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 1344, the Helping Heroes Fly Act.

I am a proud sponsor of this bipartisan legislation introduced by my friend Congresswoman Gabbard. Congresswoman Gabbard is a person who knows a thing or two about what it's like to be a combat veteran who comes back from the battlefield and who has to use our airports. Fortunately, she is back in one piece, but we know all too well that many of our veterans are not, and this bill eases their ability to move through our airports.

It would extend benefits through TSA screenings at airports, benefits similar to the expedited PreCheck program, to severely injured or disabled veterans and to members of the armed services who fly. As it stands now, many of our Nation's wounded warriors report that screening protocols aren't properly standardized at airports around the Nation. Consistent treatment by screeners would help create certainty for the newly injured and give greater attention to addressing their privacy concerns. Despite TSA guidance to the contrary, some veterans report having been required to take off prosthetics in public view during screenings. This is a difficult process that our injured and veterans should not have to endure.

In January, I met with Staff Sergeant Jason Ross from Livermore, California, in my district. Sergeant Ross was severely injured by an IED while honorably serving in Afghanistan and lost both of his legs. This bill would help ease the transition back home for wounded warriors and heroes like Sergeant Ross.

The continued sacrifice and selfless service of our Nation's heroes, a group Sergeant Ross exemplifies with distinction, is immeasurable. That's why we as a Nation must live up to our responsibilities to properly support the men and women of our Armed Forces when they return home. We must leave no soldier behind, and we owe our troops more than just ``thank you for your service.''

Today, it is too easy to spend money, and we've spent over a billion dollars a year recruiting people into our armed services while we're not doing enough to take care of them and keep the promises we make, whether it's providing GI funding or making sure that disability claims are taken care of. Currently, the average wait time for a disability claim ranges between 316 and 327 days. This is far too long.

The Oakland VA, which serves the veterans of my district, has one of the worst backlogs in the Nation. At a time when our wounded warriors are left waiting so long to receive the care that they have rightly earned, helping to ensure our Nation's heroes are able to travel seamlessly and without hindrance when they return home is a step we must take.

I want to thank again my colleague, Congresswoman Gabbard from Hawaii, for sponsoring this bill. I'll always support legislation that helps our returning servicemembers and their families receive the care and thanks they were promised and have earned.

I urge my colleagues to vote for the Helping Heroes Fly Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate National Military Appreciation Month and to honor the extraordinary bravery and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform by celebrating.

Each May, veteran and service organizations come together to hold events around the country to demonstrate their gratitude to current and former men and women in uniform and their families for their service to our country.

From Military Spouse Appreciation Day to Memorial Day, the month of May is a time when a grateful nation acknowledges and affirms the debt owed to those brave men and women who risked their lives to preserve the freedoms we too often take for granted.

It is important that we recognize and celebrate the tremendous role military personnel have played across the globe.

Texas is home to more than 130,000 active military personnel and more than 1,600,000 veterans, 30,000 of which are from the 18th Congressional District of Texas.

It has been an honor to represent these constituents and I am extremely proud of their service.

As we acknowledge our former, current and future military men and women, it is essential that we provide them with the resources necessary to help wounded warriors, veterans, and their families transition to civilian life.

That is why I was proud to cosponsor and help shepherd to passage H.R. 1344, Helping Heroes Fly Act, that was signed into law in 2013 and which facilitates expedited passenger screening at airports for service members who are severely injured or disabled, along with their families.

I also introduced H.R. 4110, the ``Helping to Encourage Real Opportunity for Veterans Transitioning from Battlespace to Workplace Act of 2014,'' which provides strong incentives for employers to hire, retain, and employ veterans in positions that take maximum advantage of their skills and experience.

Mr. Speaker, in closing I recognize by the name the 53 brave men and women from my home city of Houston, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and gave the last full measure of devotion to their country.

They are: Krystal Fitts, Jorge Luis Velasquez, Cody Norris, Jacob Molina, Pedro Maldonado, Edwardo Loredo, Matthew Catlett, Zarian Wood, Andrew Roughton, Edgar Heredia, Joshua Molina, Steven Candelo, Scott McIntosh, Orlando Perez, Jeremy Ray, Benjamin Garrison, Rodney Johnson, Matthew Medlicott, Alan Austin, William Edwards, Eric Salinas, Danny Soto, Roy Jones, Terrence Dunn, Hector Leija, David Fraser, Benjamin Rosales, Kenneth Pugh, Alberto Sanchez, Walter Moss, Michael Robertson, Howard Babcock, Timothy Roark, Ivica Jerak, Phillip George, Keith Mariotti, Clinton Gertson, Dexter Kimble, Jesus Leon-Perez, Thomas Zapp, Eric Allton, Andrew Houghton, Juan Torres, Pedro Contreras, Adolfo Carballo, Scott Larson, Leroy Sandoval, Armando Soriano, Keelan Moss, A. Esparza-Gutierrez, Tomas Sotelo, Brian Matthew Kennedy, and Brian Craig.

God bless them. And may God bless the United States.