S. 2280 – VETS Safe Travel Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 4:50 AM UTC

The VETS Safe Travel Act expands TSA PreCheck eligibility to severely injured or disabled veterans—those who have lost a limb, are (partially) paralyzed, or are permanently blind and need a wheelchair, prosthetic, or other assistive device—allowing them to use PreCheck at no cost if they meet standard security requirements. It directs the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs to create a process for this benefit within a year and to brief Congress on its implementation. The bill also requires coordinated outreach to inform disabled veterans about TSA programs and to explore additional travel assistance measures.

Key Provisions

Adds a new category to the TSA PreCheck law so eligible severely injured or disabled veterans can receive PreCheck free of charge, subject to background and security checks.
Defines eligible veterans as those enrolled in the VA patient enrollment system who have lost a limb, are (partially) paralyzed, or are permanently blind and require a wheelchair, prosthetic limb, or other assistive device.
Requires the TSA Administrator and VA Secretary to develop and implement the enrollment process within one year and report on its status to Congress.
Mandates joint outreach by the TSA and VA to inform disabled veterans about TSA programs and assess their awareness of these services.
Calls for a joint briefing to Congress within 180 days on the outreach efforts and any further measures to improve travel security for disabled veterans.

Legislative Activity

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6 earlier actions

HouseFloor Latest Action

Held at the desk.

June 21, 2022 • 2:52 PM

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

June 24, 2021

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

June 24, 2021

SenateCommittee

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

June 16, 2022

SenateFloor

Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3010; text: CR S3010)

June 16, 2022

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

June 21, 2022

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

June 21, 2022 • 2:02 PM

HouseFloor

Held at the desk.

June 21, 2022 • 2:52 PM

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 2280 on the floor

1 Democrat

Sen. Thomas R. CarperD-DE · Jun 16, 2022

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be discharged from further consideration of S. 2280, and the Senate proceed to its immediate…

Bill Text

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Engrossed in SenateIssued June 16, 2022

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2280

AN ACT

To provide PreCheck to certain severely injured or disabled veterans, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Veterans Expedited TSA Screening Safe Travel Act or the VETS Safe Travel Act.

2.

Availability of PreCheck Program to certain severely injured or disabled veterans

(a)

In general

Section 44927 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(g)

Availability of PreCheck Program to certain severely injured or disabled veterans

(1)

In general

A veteran described in paragraph (2) is eligible for security screening under the PreCheck Program under section 44919 at no cost to the veteran if the veteran is able to meet the background check and other security requirements for participation in the program.

(2)

Veterans described

A veteran described in this paragraph is a veteran who—

(A)

is enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs established and operated under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code;

(B)

has—

(i)

lost, or lost use of, a limb;

(ii)

become paralyzed or partially paralyzed; or

(iii)

incurred permanent blindness; and

(C)

as a result of a loss, paralyzation or partial paralyzation, or blindness described in subparagraph (B), requires the use of a wheelchair, prosthetic limb, or other assistive device to aid with mobility.

.

(b)

Coordination on implementation

The Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly—

(1)

develop and implement a process under which a veteran described in paragraph (2) of subsection (g) of section 44927 of title 49, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), can receive the benefits under such subsection by not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act; and

(2)

provide to Congress a briefing on the status of implementing the process required by paragraph (1) by not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

3.

Outreach for disabled veterans on availability of Transportation Security Administration programs

(a)

Coordination

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall develop and implement a process under which the Secretary provides to disabled veterans effective outreach about Transportation Security Administration programs designed to improve the screening process for passengers with disabilities.

(b)

Further enhancements to ease air travel for wounded warriors and other disabled veterans

Notwithstanding subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Paperwork Reduction Act), or any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in coordination with the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, shall—

(1)

engage appropriate veterans service organizations and other relevant organizations, as appropriate, to assess the awareness of veterans of relevant Transportation Security Administration programs; and

(2)

examine the need and feasibility of other measures to improve travel security procedures for disabled veterans.

(c)

Briefing requirement

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Administrator of Transportation Security Administration shall jointly provide to Congress a briefing on the status of the implementation of subsections (a) and (b).

Passed the Senate June 16, 2022.

Secretary