Risk-Based Security Screening for Members of the Armed Forces Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1801, and yield myself such time as I may consume.

First of all, I'd like to acknowledge the work of Chairman King and Ranking Member Thompson.

As a member of the Committee on Homeland Security, I'm pleased that, for the first time in this 112th Congress, the House is considering important transportation security legislation. H.R. 1801, the Risk-Based Security Screening for Members of the Armed Forces Act, requires the Transportation Security Administration to develop a plan for providing expedited screening for our military personnel at airport security checkpoints.
Since 2001, there have been more than 2 million troops that have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Last Congress an earlier version of this legislation was accepted as an amendment on a bipartisan basis, as my colleague mentioned earlier, during consideration of the Transportation Security Administration Authorization Act, which passed this House by 397 votes in the ``aye'' and 25 in the ``nay,'' but it was not acted upon by the Senate, unfortunately.

H.R. 1801 properly recognizes the preciousness of time to our patriotic men and women serving in our armed services without compromising aviation security. This legislation will ensure that our troops and their families, including 236,963 defense personnel in my own home State in California, are given the opportunity to board an aircraft in a security-approved, expedited manner.

Our troops help keep our country safe. The least we can do is devise methods that help speed up the screening process for our troops that are in uniform and are traveling on airplanes while on official duty.

As our military presence in Iraq winds down, it is important that we remain cognizant of the burdens that deployments and travel have on servicemembers and their families in times of war and peace.

In addition to travel services, I support and urge this Congress, the administration, and the Department of Homeland Security to strengthen all military services and programs for our troops, including increasing veteran recruitment efforts.

Some of the additional military support that this Congress should consider would be, one, providing tax credits for hiring veterans looking for work; two, strengthening much-needed training programs for separating servicemembers; three, encouraging businesses and government contractors to hire the brave men and women who have been deployed and have now returned with developed valuable skills and professionalism while in the Armed Forces; four, ensuring that the servicemembers leave the military career-ready.

H.R. 1801 is one of many opportunities for the American public and this Congress to demonstrate their support to those who are serving bravely. Further, it is important to note that consideration of H.R. 1801 marks the first time in this Congress that the House is considering a bill reported by the Committee on Homeland Security. I and other members of this committee look forward to this legislation not being our last.

A number of commonsense homeland security bills are on the U.S. House of Representatives calendar and warrant timely consideration.

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

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

H.R. 1801 is needed. It's common sense, and it's a piece of legislation with a history of bipartisan support. I urge my colleagues to support this measure and our troops.

Their time is limited, and it certainly shouldn't be wasted in long lines at the airport. Airports all around the country have multiple checkpoints that expedite the security screening process, and our service personnel have earned this privilege as well.

Likewise, I urge the Republican leadership to put on the House floor additional Homeland Security bills and bills aimed at easing our veterans' transition from military service to civilian careers. It's late November in the first session of this 112th Congress. It's coming to an end, the public is hurting, and Congress must act.

With that, Mr. Speaker, on H.R. 1801 I urge my colleagues to unanimously support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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