Transportation Security Administration Authorization Act

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Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Chair, I think there are some issues that may divide us, but there are other issues that unite us as Members, and this is a perfect example of an amendment, I think, that brings us all together.

In fact, this amendment is cosponsored by Dennis Moore, my Democratic colleague from Kansas. And Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson was very helpful in crafting this amendment. And I express my appreciation to you, also, the ranking member, Peter King, and to the ranking member of the subcommittee, Charlie Dent, and also to the chairman of the subcommittee, Ms. Sheila Jackson-Lee. They and the Homeland Security Committee were most helpful.

Mr. Chairman, often, as we go through the airports of America, we and our constituents see our members of the military passing through those airports. Many of them are going to Iraq and Afghanistan. They're leaving their loved ones, facing sometimes an uncertain future. Others are coming in from Iraq and Afghanistan, going home to see loved ones. Sometimes they haven't seen them for over a year. They're often loaded down with heavy gear.

Now, also, at the same time, we see the registered travelers that we talked about earlier, we see United Premium members, we see Delta Platinum members and Gold Medallion members. We all see them getting priority, and that's okay. I have no problem with that.

But if there is any group of Americans who ought to get priority to go to the front of the line, not to skip security, but to go to the front of the line, it's men and women in uniform. So this amendment extends to them the same basic courtesy that we extend to over a million other Americans right now.

In fact, this is my Southwest A-list member. I, because I travel, I get to use that. United members do, Delta members do. But I want to see our military have this same privilege.

I will reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Chairman, let me close by saying this.

We received a letter in the last 2 days from Major General Abner Blalock, who says this amendment will make a big difference for our military and for their families. And I hope it does. I think it's a small gesture that we can make.

I also received an e-mail from a young marine who was coming back from Iraq, and this is what he said:

As I returned from Iraq, where I had been for over a year, I had to remove my boots and my blouse--a military term for battle dress uniform--and then a hand wand was used over my entire body.

That was after he waited in line for some period of time. He said he felt humiliated.

There is a way to have proper security, and this amendment does nothing to change those requirements. But we can give those young men in uniform some expedited service, and we also ask TSA to look at when men and women are in uniform, under orders, to consider an expedited way to get them through security.

With that, Mr. Chairman, I ask all the Members to join with me in expressing our appreciation to the men and women who serve us and risk their life for us every day.

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