Airport Alert: House DHS Subcommittee Advances FY23 Spending Bill With Key Airport Funding Priorities Included

The House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee approved by voice vote its Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and component agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This was the last Subcommittee mark-up Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) will chair before she retires at the end of the 117th Congress. 

In total, the bill provides $60.3 billion in discretionary funding for DHS, $2.7 billion above the final FY22 spending bill and $3.6 billion (or 4.6 percent) above the administration's request. Chair Roybal-Allard noted that at least half of the increase in funding is necessary to maintain current operations within the Department. For TSA, the House recommends $9.77 billion, an increase of $1.28 billion above FY22 and $280 million below the request. For CBP, the House recommends $15.74 billion, an increase of $893.1 million above FY22 and $338.1 million above the request.

Notable recommendations for some critical airport priorities include:

• $94.1 million to restore funding for TSA personnel to monitor exit lanes at airports instead of shifting these costs to airports;
• $615.8 million to support a TSA initiative to compensate its workforce at levels commensurate with other federal agencies and to extend other rights and labor protections to the agency's workforce;
• $120.2 million for 250 additional CBP officers, 500 technicians, and 500 mission support staff; and
• a provision that extends a TSA pilot program for screening outside of existing primary passenger terminal screening areas for two years (until September 30, 2025). 

Subcommittee Chair Roybal-Allard briefly discussed the increase in TSA funding for pay and labor protections. She emphasized that 'this is a matter of basic fairness to TSA personnel that play a physically demanding role in ensuring the safety of air transportation' and it will 'help address longstanding recruitment and retention challenges TSA has experienced since the agency was established.' House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) echoed these sentiments, noting it was 'long past time to make this change.'

Subcommittee Ranking Member Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN) expressed support for many funding recommendations included in the bill. However, he raised concerns about the recommended funding levels for immigration and border activities and stated that he could not 'support this bill in its current form' because of these issues. His concerns were repeated by Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Kay Granger (D-TX).

What's Next?

More TSA and CBP details will be contained in the House report, which will not be released until 24 hours before the full Appropriations Committee considers the FY23 DHS spending bill, scheduled for June 24.

Here are links to the House FY23 DHS Appropriations bill, bill summary, and community project funding recommendations.