Enhancing Air Travel Safety and Efficiency at No Extra Cost
The federal government currently imposes an $11.20 9/11 Passenger Security Fee on every domestic round trip. However, a staggering one-third of these funds—totaling over $19 billion—has been diverted from their intended security purposes to the Treasury for unrelated expenditures. In response, I've introduced a bill in Congress aimed at halting this misallocation and dedicating the entirety of these funds to bolstering air travel safety and efficiency.
This diversion of the 9/11 Passenger Security Fee not only undermines the trust of air travelers but also exemplifies a stark case of governmental overreach by misappropriating crucial security funds. In response, I have sponsored the bipartisan Stop the Scam Act to ensure that these fees are exclusively allocated to essential aviation security initiatives, aimed at preventing another catastrophe like September 11th. Impressively, my bill has garnered unanimous support from all members of the Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee of the House Committee on Homeland Security, underscoring a shared commitment to rectify this issue.
My commitment to public service is deeply rooted in my family history. I grew up in a family dedicated to service—my father and grandfathers were police officers, my step-father served in the Navy, and my brother spent 20 years in the Marine Corps. I continued this legacy by attending the U.S. Naval Academy, which instilled in me a profound sense of duty and patriotism.
On September 11, 2001, soon after my graduation, I was serving on my first naval ship. I witnessed the horrific attacks alongside my shipmates, many of whom, like myself, were from New York and lost friends and family that day. In the wake of that tragedy, we made a solemn promise to prevent any such attacks from recurring on our soil.
In the months following the attacks, Congress established the TSA and introduced the Passenger Security Fee to finance the continual update of security technologies at our airports. Despite these measures, the TSA recently disclosed that the deployment of critical technologies like the Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) and Checkpoint Property Screening Systems will be delayed until 2049 and 2042, respectively. This is due in part to significant cuts in funding for these technologies—from $80 million to $35 million in the FY24 Appropriations bill.
It is imperative that we equip our security personnel with the most advanced and effective tools available to ensure the safety and freedom of movement for all. By restoring transparency and ensuring that funds are appropriately allocated, we can rebuild trust with the public. I am committed to ending the diversion of the Passenger Security Fee and will tirelessly advocate for the safety of all travelers.