Murphy Votes to Increase Security, Convenience for Airplane Passengers Ahead of Busy Summer Travel Season

U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) voted on Wednesday in favor of the bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2016 to enhance security at airports and improve convenience for travelers. The bill passed by a vote of 89 to 4, sending it to the President's desk to be signed into law.

"The busy summer travel season is here," said Murphy. "Traveling through Bradley Airport or any other airport around the country should be safe and convenient. Whether its guaranteed baggage fee refunds for delayed luggage or increased training and vetting for airline employees, this bipartisan bill will go a long way in giving Connecticut families that peace of mind."

The current FAA authorization is set to expire on July 15, 2016. This bill extends the authorization through September 30, 2017.

Highlights of the bill include:

Enhanced Security

Provides new funding for law enforcement training to enhance preparedness in the case of active shooter incidents
Enhances security vetting for airline employees
Doubles the number of Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) teams nationwide from 30 to as many as 60 to provide critical security support for law enforcement and TSA workers

Improved Passenger Experience

Requires airlines to provide an automatic refund of paid baggage fees when luggage is lost for more than 12 hours for domestic flights and 15 hours for international flights
Expands the TSA PreCheck trusted traveler program to further expedite security screening
Ensures that planes experiencing long tarmac delays return to the gate within specified time limits so that passengers can get off the plane during long delays
Directs TSA to complete a comprehensive assessment of its staffing during high-volume travel to increase efficiency

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