Hoosier State Today

U.S. Senators Todd Young, Tammy Duckworth, Roger Marshall, and Maggie Hassan have expressed their approval following the Senate's passage of a bill aimed at providing veterans with service-connected disabilities access to expedited screening through the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) PreCheck program. The legislation had previously been passed by the House of Representatives through unanimous consent and is now awaiting the President's signature to become law.

Currently, TSA PreCheck is available at no cost to active duty members, reserves, and National Guard personnel. The Veterans Expedited TSA Screening (VETS) Safe Travel Act seeks to extend this benefit to veterans who are amputees, paralyzed, or blind. These individuals often face challenges when traveling due to prosthetics, wheelchairs, or other mobility aids during airport security checks.

Senator Young remarked on the difficulties faced by disabled veterans at airports: “Airports can be a dreaded experience for veterans with service-connected disabilities because of the invasive screenings they may endure at security checkpoints. Once it becomes law, this bill will provide dignified travel to thousands of wounded warriors by ensuring PreCheck benefits are easily available to them.”

Senator Duckworth highlighted the importance of making air travel less burdensome for disabled veterans: “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 the Senate passed our bipartisan bill to make TSA PreCheck available at no cost to these Veterans and make flying and passing through airports easier and less intrusive. I hope President Biden swiftly signs it into law.”

Senator Marshall emphasized honoring veterans' sacrifices: “Ensuring wounded veterans have little difficulty getting through airport security is a simple but impactful way to honor these heroes sacrifices for our country. I’m proud we delivered this victory before the end of this Congress.”

Senator Hassan noted that navigating airport security should not be an additional challenge for veterans: “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.”

The VETS Safe Travel Act mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs certify eligible veterans. TSA would then process their applications for PreCheck access at no cost after successful completion of background checks and interviews. Additionally, TSA recommends using TSA PreCheck along with contacting the TSA Cares hotline 72 hours prior to departure for expedited screening.

The bill has received support from several organizations including Wounded Warrior Project, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Honor Flight Network, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Blinded Veterans Association, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.