H.R. 8897 Text - Reported in House - 119th Congress (2025-2026)

SEC. 2. Improving travel for American families pilot program.

(a) In general.—The Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (in this section referred to as the “Administrator”), may establish a pilot program at airports to expedite access to security screening for adult passengers and accompanying child passengers twelve years of age and under to support and facilitate the ease of travel for such passengers and such child passengers. The Administrator may carry out this subsection only such access does not compromise security protocols.

(b) Security requirements.—If the Administrator establishes the pilot program under subsection (a), the Administrator shall carry out the following:

(1) Ensure each passenger described in such subsection is screened in accordance with the vetting status of such passenger under the Secure Flight program of the Transportation Security Administration, in accordance with paragraph (2) of section 44903(j) of title 49, United States Code.

(2) Prevent individuals carrying out screening functions under section 44901 of such title from allowing any passenger into a TSA PreCheck or other expedited security screening lane unless such passenger has received a boarding pass indicating eligibility for TSA PreCheck or such other expedited security screening.

(3) Permit local Administration management to open or close checkpoint lanes and reallocate available resources as needed to maximize security effectiveness and efficiency based on passenger volume.

(c) Selection of airports.—If the Administrator establishes the pilot program under subsection (a), in selecting airports for such pilot program, the Administrator shall—

(1) give priority to an airport the Administrator determines to have a high volume of passengers traveling with accompanying child passengers;

(2) consider airports with adequate space to accommodate additional or larger security screening lanes and sufficient personnel to aid passengers and accompanying child passengers twelve years of age and under while maintaining adequate staffing of other security screening lanes; and

(3) use any other consideration the Administrator determines necessary.

(d) Briefing.—If the Administrator establishes the pilot program under subsection (a), not later than 270 days after such establishment, the Administrator shall provide to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a briefing on such pilot program.

(e) Sunset.—If the Administrator establishes the pilot program under subsection (a), the Administrator shall carry out such pilot program for a period of two years.