Summary of H.R. 8411 (118th? 119th Congress) — Original Legislation to Give TSA Employees a Raise

Note: The bill text provided indicates a proposal introduced April 21, 2026 in the 119th Congress, sponsored by Rep. Al Green. The bill seeks to increase pay for TSA career employees. The following summary distills the main purpose, key provisions, affected individuals/entities, and procedural/timeline details based on the text.

1) Purpose and intent

• Primary aim: Increase the annual rate of basic pay for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) career employees.
• Overall effect: Provide a broad pay raise within TSA, separate from any raises for senior executives or other high-level personnel.

2) Key provisions and changes

• Pay increase for TSA personnel:
  • For all TSA career employees, the annual rate of basic pay would be increased by 15 percent.
  • In addition, the annual rate of basic pay for each pay band under the TSA Core Compensation System would also be increased by 15 percent.
• Effective timing:
  • The pay raise would take effect on the first day of the applicable pay period, defined as:
  • The first pay period beginning on or after the date of enactment of the bill.
  • And prior to the beginning of the second pay period beginning after enactment.
• Definitions:
  • “Applicable pay period” means the first pay period after enactment and before the second pay period after enactment.
  • “Career employee” means TSA career agents or officers who are not senior executives, career appointees, or senior career employees (as defined in 49 U.S.C. 114(n)(2)).
• Scope:
  • Applies to career TSA employees (excluding certain high-level positions specifically named in the definition).

3) Who would be affected

• Affected: TSA career employees (agents and officers) who are not senior executives, career appointees, or senior career employees.
• Not affected (per definitions):
  • TSA senior executives
  • TSA career appointees
  • TSA senior career employees (as defined in statute)

4) Procedural and timeline aspects

• Introduction and referral:
  • Introduced in the House of Representatives on April 21, 2026 by Rep. Al Green (Texas).
  • Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
• Enactment timeline:
  • The pay increase would apply starting with the first applicable pay period after enactment, and before the second pay period after enactment.
• Status:
  • At the stage shown, the bill has been introduced and referred; no enacted status or Senate action is indicated in the provided text.

5) Practical considerations and potential impacts

• Budgetary impact:
  • A 15% across-the-board raise for TSA career staff represents a significant increase in TSA personnel costs. Agencies would need to adjust compensation budgets accordingly.
• Recruitment/retention:
  • Substantial pay raise could affect recruitment and retention of TSA staff, potentially addressing concerns about staffing levels and pay competitiveness.
• Equity within TSA:
  • The structure differentiates pay raises for career employees vs. high-level positions, which may influence internal compensation planning and morale among different TSA employee groups.

If you’d like, I can add a brief comparison to typical federal pay raise norms or outline potential fiscal impact estimates based on TSA headcounts.