End Special Treatment for Congress at Airports Act of 2026
Officially: “End Special Treatment for Congress at Airports Act of 2026” Read the full text
What it does
Read it in plain language
1Short title
This section would let the Act be called the End Special Treatment for Congress at Airports Act of 2026.
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1. Short title This Act may be cited as the End Special Treatment for Congress at Airports Act of 2026 .
2Definitions
This section would define four terms used elsewhere in the Act. "Administrator" would mean the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration. "Member of Congress" would carry the meaning already given that term in section 13101 of title 5, United States Code. "Screening location" would carry the meaning already given that term in section 1540.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. "Trusted Traveler Program" would mean a voluntary program of "the Department" (a term this Act does not itself define) that lets U.S. Customs and Border Protection speed the clearance of travelers arriving in the United States who have been pre-approved as low-risk.
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2. Definitions In this Act— (1) Administrator The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration. (2) Member of Congress The term Member of Congress has the meaning given that term in section 13101 of title 5, United States Code. (3) Screening location The term screening location has the meaning given that term in section 1540.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. (4) Trusted Traveler Program The term Trusted Traveler Program means a voluntary program of the Department that allows U.S. Customs and Border Protection to expedite clearance of pre-approved, low-risk travelers arriving in the United States.
3Requirement for standard security screening
This section would bar the Transportation Security Administration from using any of its appropriated or otherwise available funds to give or help arrange expedited or preferential access to security screening for a Member of Congress, where that screening is required under section 44901 of title 49, United States Code. It would also bar a Member of Congress from bypassing the Transportation Security Administration's standard screening procedures, and from receiving priority or expedited access to a screening location because of that Member's official position.
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3. Requirement for standard security screening (a) In general None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Transportation Security Administration shall be used to provide or facilitate the provision of a Member of Congress with expedited or preferential access to or through security screenings required pursuant to section 44901 of title 49, United States Code. (b) No expedited access A Member of Congress may not— (1) bypass standard screening procedures of the Transportation Security Administration; or (2) receive priority or expedited access to a screening location on the basis of the official position of such Member of Congress.
4Rule of construction
This section would clarify two limits on how the Act is read. First, nothing in the Act would limit the Transportation Security Administration's authority to run risk-based security programs that are available to the general public. Second, nothing in the Act would stop a Member of Congress from taking part in a Trusted Traveler Program that is open to the public, as long as that Member's participation is not based on their official position.
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4. Rule of construction Nothing in this Act shall be construed— (1) to limit the authority of the Transportation Security Administration to implement risk-based security programs available to the general public; or (2) to prohibit Members of Congress from participating in a publicly available Trusted Traveler Program, provided such participation is not based on the official positions of such Members of Congress.
5Enforcement
This section would require the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration to update agency policies and procedures as needed so the agency complies with the Act. It would also require the Administrator, not later than 180 days after the Act's enactment, to submit a report to Congress on how the Act has been carried out and complied with.
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5. Enforcement (a) Policy Implementation The Administrator shall update policies and procedures as necessary to ensure compliance with this Act. (b) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the implementation of, and compliance with, this Act.
Where it is
In the Senate.