S. 4880Senate117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act

Introduced September 19, 2022

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 5:36 PM UTC

The bill updates the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Act to make sure breast milk, baby formula, infant water, juice and related cooling packs are handled hygienically by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff and private security screeners at airports. It directs the TSA administrator to issue guidance on safe handling within 90 days and to refresh that guidance every five years, working with maternal‑health groups. It also requires the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General to audit compliance and report on how screening technology affects these items.

Key Provisions

  • Mandates that TSA and private security personnel use hygienic practices when screening breast milk, baby formula, infant water, juice and related cooling accessories.
  • Requires the TSA administrator to publish or update handling guidance within 90 days of enactment and every five years thereafter, developed with nationally recognized maternal‑health organizations and setting standards for testing and contamination prevention.
  • Orders the DHS Inspector General to conduct an audit within one year, reporting to congressional committees on compliance, the impact of screening technologies, and denial rates for the protected liquids.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

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

September 19, 2022

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

September 19, 2022

SenateIntro Referral

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

September 19, 2022

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued September 19, 2022

II

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4880

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 19, 2022

Ms. Duckworth (for herself, Ms. Hirono, and Mr. Daines) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

A BILL

To amend the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Act to require hygienic handling of breast milk and baby formula by security screening personnel of the Transportation Security Administration and personnel of private security companies providing security screening, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act.

2.

Hygienic handling of breast milk and baby formula during aviation security screening

The Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Act (Public Law 114–293) is amended by adding at the end the following new sections:

3.

Hygienic handling of breast milk and baby formula during aviation security screening

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this section and every five years thereafter, if appropriate, the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall issue or update, as the case may be, guidance to minimize the risk for contamination of any breast milk, baby formula, purified deionized water for infants, and juice (as well as ice packs, freezer packs, frozen gel packs and other accessories required to cool breast milk, baby formula, and juice) that is subject to re-screening or otherwise subject to additional screening. Such guidance shall—

(1)

be developed in consultation with nationally recognized maternal health organizations;

(2)

ensure adherence to hygienic standards, as established by the Administrator, in consultation with nationally recognized maternal health organizations;

(3)

ensure that, when any such re-screening or additional screening requires additional testing, such testing so adheres to such standards, to so minimize such risk; and

(4)

apply to security screening personnel of the Administration and personnel of private security companies providing security screening pursuant to section 44920 of title 49, United States Code.

4.

Inspector General audit

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report containing an audit of compliance with the requirements of sections 2 and 3. Such audit shall also include information relating to the effect of various types of screening technologies, including bottled liquid scanners, on the screening of breast milk, baby formula, purified deionized water for infants, and juice (as well as ice packs, freezer packs, frozen gel packs and other accessories required to cool breast milk, baby formula, and juice) that is subject to re-screening or otherwise subject to additional screening, and the rate at which such items are denied entry into the sterile area (as such term is defined in section 1540.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations).

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