Improving Travel for Military Members Act

119th Congress Introduced by Sheri Biggs and 1 co-sponsor

Establishes a TSA pilot at selected airports to speed security for active-duty military and families while preserving Secure Flight standards.

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Summary of HR 9328 — Improving Travel for Military Members Act

Purpose

HR 9328 aims to ease travel for active-duty military personnel and accompanying family members by creating a pilot program at U.S. airports to expedite security screening, while maintaining established security standards.

Key Provisions

Pilot Program Establishment ( TSA): Within 60 days of enactment, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator could establish a pilot program at select airports to speed access to security screening for active-duty personnel and their accompanying family members. This is intended to improve travel efficiency but must not compromise security protocols.

Security Requirements and Protections:

Passengers covered by the pilot must be screened in alignment with the Secure Flight vetting status.
TSA screening personnel cannot route any passenger into TSA PreCheck or other expedited lanes unless the passenger’s boarding pass shows eligibility for such expedited screening.
Local TSA leadership would have flexibility to open, close, or reallocate checkpoint lanes to optimize security effectiveness and efficiency based on passenger volume.

Airport Selection Criteria:

Priority given to airports within a specified distance from a military installation with a substantial active-duty population.
Preference for airports with space to accommodate dedicated screening lanes for military personnel and accompanying family.
Ancillary considerations as determined by the Administrator.

Reporting and Oversight:

If the pilot program is implemented, the TSA Administrator must brief the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Senate committees on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and on Commerce, Science, and Transportation within nine months after establishment.
The pilot program, if authorized, would run for three years.

Affected Parties and Impacts

Active-Duty Service Members and Families: Potentially faster access to security screening at participating airports, reducing wait times and facilitating travel to and from military assignments or deployments.

Airport Operations and TSA: Airports selected for the pilot would need to implement and maintain dedicated screening lanes for military travelers and coordinate with TSA on staffing and resource allocation.

Security Considerations: The bill emphasizes maintaining Secure Flight vetting standards and prohibits bypassing established screening regimes for eligible expedited lanes, ensuring security is not compromised.

Procedural Timeline

Introduction: June 18, 2026.

Pilot program window: To be established within 60 days of enactment.

Briefing to committees: Due within 9 months after establishment.

Pilot duration: Three years.

Notes

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Sheri Biggs (with Rep. Dan Goldman as co-sponsor) and referred to the House Homeland Security Committee.

Language specifies a balance between improved travel convenience for military personnel and the retention of rigorous security screening protocols.