Reps. Tulsi Gabbard, Cedric Richmond Praise TSA Announcement on Expedited Screening for Wounded Warriors

Press Release

Today, The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that our nation's Wounded Warriors will be allowed expedited screening as they travel through our nation's airports. Starting immediately, Wounded Warriors, when scheduled in advance with TSA, will be escorted through the security checkpoint and will be eligible for expedited screening through TSA PreCheck. This means that both active duty members of the military and veterans with severe injuries will no longer need to remove their shoes, light outerwear jackets or hats when passing through checkpoints.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), member of the Committee on Homeland Security, has been a champion of Wounded Warriors and last week introduced the bipartisan "Helping Heroes Fly Act" (H.R.1344) mandating that TSA implement the policy changes announced today. Rep. Gabbard released the following statement on the announcement:

"I'm pleased to see this action being taken by the TSA in order to address the problems our severely wounded men and women are experiencing. It upholds the highest levels of security while affording a trusted group of citizens the dignity and respect they deserve. I have expressed the importance of this issue to Administrator Pistole, and look forward to passage of the Helping Heroes Fly Act which will build on these adjustments and ensure that these changes are permanent."

Rep. Cedric L. Richmond (D-LA), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security's Transportation Security Subcommittee, released the following statement on announcement:

"Less than two weeks ago, I urged TSA Administrator John Pistole to include wounded warriors in the PreCheck program so I am extremely pleased with TSA's announcement today. This country has a duty to honor its veterans and active duty service men and women, especially the wounded and disabled. Expanding the PreCheck program will offer a measure of relief to our wounded warriors and ensure that they are treated with respect and dignity while traveling. Moving forward, I urge my colleagues in Congress to support The Helping Heroes Fly Act, which I introduced last week with Rep. Gabbard, to ensure that this policy will remain in place permanently."

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