Airport Alert: House Approves FY25 DHS Appropriations Bill
House Approves FY25 DHS Appropriations Bill
June 28, 2024
The House of Representatives approved, on a vote of 212-203, the fiscal year 2025 (FY25) spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security and its component agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. More than 60 amendments were offered on June 26. Most of the amendments focused on border and immigration matters. Final passage of the DHS appropriations bill did not occur until Friday because Republican leadership coupled the DHS bill with two other appropriations bills.
Members of Congress did offer four TSA-related amendments. None of these amendments altered funding for TSA or programs important to airports. The House-passed bill still includes $111 million for TSA personnel to continue monitoring exit lanes at airports, $45.6 million to restore funding for law enforcement officer reimbursement grants, $34.1 million to restore funding for state and local-led canine team reimbursements, and $13.94 million to complete the process of reimbursing airports for the cost of in-line baggage screening systems installed before December 31, 2007.
Two of the TSA amendments discussed issues important to airports. Specifically,
• Representative Nick LaLota (R-NY) highlighted the need to procure new aviation security checkpoint technology, such as Computed Tomography (CT) and Credential Authentication Technology systems, at a faster rate to keep up with emerging threats. This amendment was included in Subcommittee Chair Mark Amodei’s (R-NV) en bloc amendment without discussion or debate. This amendment had no monetary impact; it did not increase the $175.2 million included in the bill to purchase and install CT machines at passenger checkpoints.
• Representative Barry Moore (R-AL) offered a messaging amendment to oppose TSA’s deployment of facial recognition technology at additional security checkpoints. The amendment did not include a statutory prohibition against the expansion of facial recognition technology. Instead, it was drafted to allow Rep. Moore to raise concerns during the floor debate about TSA’s use of this technology, its accuracy, insufficient opt-out signage, and the broader use of this technology by the federal government for surveillance purposes. This amendment was accepted by voice vote.
What’s Next?
While the Senate Appropriations Committee plans to begin considering its FY25 spending bills the week of July 8, it is unclear when the Committee will consider its FY25 DHS spending bill. Ultimately the House bill must be reconciled with a yet-to-be-released Senate version of the FY25 DHS spending measure. Most likely this will not occur until after the November election.
June 28, 2024
The House of Representatives approved, on a vote of 212-203, the fiscal year 2025 (FY25) spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security and its component agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. More than 60 amendments were offered on June 26. Most of the amendments focused on border and immigration matters. Final passage of the DHS appropriations bill did not occur until Friday because Republican leadership coupled the DHS bill with two other appropriations bills.
Members of Congress did offer four TSA-related amendments. None of these amendments altered funding for TSA or programs important to airports. The House-passed bill still includes $111 million for TSA personnel to continue monitoring exit lanes at airports, $45.6 million to restore funding for law enforcement officer reimbursement grants, $34.1 million to restore funding for state and local-led canine team reimbursements, and $13.94 million to complete the process of reimbursing airports for the cost of in-line baggage screening systems installed before December 31, 2007.
Two of the TSA amendments discussed issues important to airports. Specifically,
• Representative Nick LaLota (R-NY) highlighted the need to procure new aviation security checkpoint technology, such as Computed Tomography (CT) and Credential Authentication Technology systems, at a faster rate to keep up with emerging threats. This amendment was included in Subcommittee Chair Mark Amodei’s (R-NV) en bloc amendment without discussion or debate. This amendment had no monetary impact; it did not increase the $175.2 million included in the bill to purchase and install CT machines at passenger checkpoints.
• Representative Barry Moore (R-AL) offered a messaging amendment to oppose TSA’s deployment of facial recognition technology at additional security checkpoints. The amendment did not include a statutory prohibition against the expansion of facial recognition technology. Instead, it was drafted to allow Rep. Moore to raise concerns during the floor debate about TSA’s use of this technology, its accuracy, insufficient opt-out signage, and the broader use of this technology by the federal government for surveillance purposes. This amendment was accepted by voice vote.
What’s Next?
While the Senate Appropriations Committee plans to begin considering its FY25 spending bills the week of July 8, it is unclear when the Committee will consider its FY25 DHS spending bill. Ultimately the House bill must be reconciled with a yet-to-be-released Senate version of the FY25 DHS spending measure. Most likely this will not occur until after the November election.
