Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act of 2021

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, my amendment is simple. It prioritizes national security at TSA. I have concerns about the underlying bill, including its expansion of collective bargaining that could put our national security at risk by subjecting new procedures or requirements imposed by the Administrator of the TSA to collective bargaining.

This amendment, like I said, is simple. It would just clarify that the Administrator of TSA is not limited in his or her ability to swiftly respond to national security and/or public safety threats under this bill.

Specifically, the amendment ensures that any procedures or requirements shall not be constrained by collective bargaining. The very nature of airport security requires that TSA remain agile and flexible to new and emerging threats. It is for this very reason that Congress exempted TSA from title 5 when it stood up the agency just two months after the terrorist attacks on 9/11.

It is imperative that the Administrator continues to have the authority to swiftly make these changes to ensure public safety in response to national security threats and risks. Now, this amendment would ensure that the Administrator does not have to negotiate with union representatives whenever changes would impact the TSA workforce regardless of the national security implications. It adds language that specifically preserves the Administrator's authority and exempts changes to security screening procedures from collective bargaining.

We all are exceptionally grateful and appreciative for the work that our TSA officers do and the national security service that they provide, which is exactly why we need this amendment to ensure our national security.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this clarifying amendment to ensure that national security threats are addressed immediately at TSA, their prime mission, and not let collective bargaining get in the way of our national security.

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Mrs. CAMMACK.

I appreciate the commentary from my colleague and friend, Representative Guest from Mississippi. What is the harm of this amendment if what you say is true? If you believe that it is currently in place, why is the majority opposed to codifying it to ensure that national security remains the top priority?

It seems very simple to me. This is a simple amendment. This is not a partisan amendment. This should be an American, bipartisan amendment that we can all agree that national security comes first. That is the role of TSA.

My question and statement as I close is: Why not codify it? Why not accept this amendment?

I just feel that sometimes we are so hyperpartisan in this Chamber that we can't see the forest for the trees.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support and adopt this amendment.

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Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

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