Hoosier State Today

U.S. Senators Todd Young, Tammy Duckworth, Roger Marshall, and Maggie Hassan have reintroduced a bipartisan bill aimed at providing expedited airport screening for veterans with service-connected disabilities through the TSA PreCheck program. The Veterans Expedited TSA Screening (VETS) Safe Travel Act seeks to extend this benefit, already available to active duty and reserve military personnel, to veterans who are amputees, paralyzed, or blind.

Senator Young highlighted the difficulties faced by disabled veterans during security checks: “Airports can be a dreaded experience for veterans with service-connected disabilities because of the invasive screenings they may endure at security checkpoints. Our bill will bring dignified travel to thousands of wounded warriors by ensuring PreCheck benefits are easily available to them.”

Senator Duckworth expressed her support for the legislation: “Millions of Veterans have sacrificed a great deal in service to our nation and returned home with service-connected disabilities—for those of us who rely on prosthetics and wheelchairs for mobility, air travel and passing through airport security can be a challenge. I’m proud to join Senator Young in re-introducing this bipartisan legislation to make TSA PreCheck available at no cost to these Veterans and make flying and passing through airports easier and less intrusive.”

The initiative also received backing from Senator Marshall: “Our wounded veterans deserve a TSA security process that respects their sacrifices and minimizes unnecessary stress at checkpoints. Offering free PreCheck to wounded veterans is a small but meaningful way to honor their service and make their travel experiences easier.”

Senator Hassan added: “For veterans who have already overcome extraordinary challenges in service to our country, navigating airport security should not be another hurdle. This bipartisan legislation recognizes the unique challenges that many disabled veterans face and helps to better ensure that their travel experience reflects the dignity of their service.”

According to the VETS Safe Travel Act, eligibility certification would be managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Eligible veterans would then undergo TSA's standard background check and interview process before receiving access to PreCheck services at no cost. Additionally, it is recommended that these individuals contact the TSA Cares hotline 72 hours prior to departure for further assistance.

The proposal has garnered support from organizations such as Wounded Warrior Project, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Honor Flight Network, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Blinded Veterans Association, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.