Bills
| 3.23.22

Should the TSA Expand Its PreCheck Program For Expedited Airport Screenings? (H.R. 2843)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is H.R. 2843?

(Updated July 19, 2017)

This bill would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to proceed with efforts to expand enrollment in its PreCheck program, which allows air travelers to be voluntarily prescreened using biographic and biometric information to determine if they qualify for expedited screening at airport checkpoints.


TSA would be directed to publish standards that allow private-sector entities to provide certain services to support increased enrollment and to specify other requirements for the program’s expansion.


Additionally, the TSA would be required to ensure that its PreCheck lane be available during peak and high-volume travel times. When its PreCheck lanes are closed, TSA would make efforts provide expedited screening to PreCheck travelers at standard screening lanes.

Argument in favor

Allowing accelerated TSA screenings for travelers willing to go through the prescreenings would speed up the security check process for everyone while also maintaining security standards.

Argument opposed

The TSA is already developing its own expansions and improvements of the PreCheck program, Congress should let those play out and then decide if they need to pass legislation.

Impact

Travelers who would participate in the PreCheck program, and the TSA.

Cost of H.R. 2843

The CBO estimates that implementing this legislation would have no significant impact on the federal budget, as TSA is already planning to go forward with an expansion of the PreCheck program.

Additional Info

In-Depth: In March 2015, the TSA’s PreCheck program surpassed 1 million members enrolled in the program, and there are more than 3.6 million travelers who are eligible for the expedited screenings by virtue of participating in other traveler programs.

This bill was passed by the House Homeland Security Committee via voice vote.

Media:

Summary by Eric Revell
(Photo Credit: Flickr user rpavich)