Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Act

Floor Speech

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

The Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Act is commonsense legislation introduced by the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Herrera Beutler). This bill codifies into law a current policy of the TSA to allow formula, breast milk, and juice through airport screening checkpoints. Although the 3-1-1 liquids rule was put in place to respond to a very real and critical threat to aviation, we must ensure that these restrictions do not interfere with a woman's ability to feed her child.

As a father, a husband, and a brother of five sisters, I know the challenges of providing care to babies; and I know that this challenge is particularly great for traveling mothers who are breastfeeding their children.

This bill would greatly alleviate the restrictions relating to breast milk and allow families to go through checkpoints, with babies, quickly. This bill also gives parents one less thing to worry about on the way to the airport and ensures that the frontline officers at the airport checkpoints receive the proper training on implementing this important exception to a security regulation. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5065.

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

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Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, once again, I urge Members to support H.R. 5065.

Before I yield back the balance of my time, I want to note what Ms.

Jackson Lee said earlier in her statement, and that is the Committee on Homeland Security does work very well together. Generally, it is a very bipartisan committee working for the common good of keeping this country safe. This is a small example of the cooperation we have on a daily basis. I am proud to be a part of it, proud to work with my colleagues, Mr. Richmond and Ms. Jackson Lee, from the other side of the aisle. I will continue to do that for the good of the country.

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