Improving Travel for Military Members Act

Mr. Speaker, I don't speak on this legislation as an outside observer. As a Member currently serving in the Air National Guard, I have worn the uniform. I have seen firsthand what it asks of servicemembers and their families. This legislation is written from experience, not just policy.

Mr. Speaker, more than 1.3 million Americans serve our Nation on Active Duty, and they answer the call with very little notice--shipping out on deployment orders, relocating their families across the country on PCS moves, or rushing to emergency assignments at a moment's notice.

They don't get to plan ahead. They don't get to choose their travel dates. They simply go because that is what the service requires.

Last summer, the Transportation Security Administration launched the Serve with Honor, Travel with Ease initiative to better support our servicemembers while advancing much-needed modernization across our aviation system as passenger volumes continued to grow. Depending on the airport, military members and their families may receive expedited screening through dedicated lines, preferred lanes, or front-of-line access.

My legislation, the Improving Travel for Military Members Act, builds on this important effort by establishing a 3-year pilot program to expedite security screening for Active-Duty military personnel and their accompanying family members with priority given to airports located near military installations.

That means in my home State of South Carolina, which is home to a number of military installations, servicemembers will benefit from faster, more efficient travel while maintaining the same high security standards.

Let me be very clear: Every passenger remains subject to appropriate security screening. What this bill does is gives airports the flexibility to implement the program based on their own operational needs, their proximity to military bases, and passenger volume.

This bill is targeted. It is practical, and it is fiscally responsible.

A few minutes saved at a security line may seem insignificant to some, but to a military spouse managing three children and a cross- country move on 48 hours' notice, it is anything but.

It sends a message to every servicemember and their family: America sees you, values you, and respects the sacrifices you make in service to our country.

I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation for our servicemembers and their families.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 9328) to improve travel for active-duty personnel and accompanying family, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 9328.

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

I rise in support of H.R. 9328, the Improving Travel for Military Members Act. The Improving Travel for Military Members Act will allow the TSA Administrator to establish a 3-year pilot program to expedite access to security screening for traveling Active-Duty military personnel and their accompanying family members.

If established, this pilot program will focus on airports closest to military installations with large Active-Duty populations, which will help to ease travel for the men and women bravely serving our Nation.

I want to thank Representative Biggs for her leadership and encourage my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from South Carolina (Mrs. Biggs).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 9328, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 9328, the Improving Travel for Military Members Act.

Our military servicemembers and their families are required to travel regularly, uprooting their lives to move to new locations.

Last year, TSA initiated a pilot program at select airports to provide Active-Duty military and their families front-of-line access to security screening.

H.R. 9328 would cement TSA's ongoing pilot program and codify requirements for appropriate security protocols.

Expediting wait times for servicemembers and their families makes travel a little bit easier and a little bit less stressful for them, and I support advancing this effort.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, military servicemembers and their families make sacrifices for our Nation every day. We owe it to them to make their lives easier in ways big and small wherever and whenever we can. This bill represents a step toward easier travel for Active Duty military and their families.

I thank the gentlewoman for her work on that, and I yield back the balance of my time.