HR820-119

What This Bill Does

The Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act amends the prior Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Act to add hygienic handling rules for infant feeding items at airport security checkpoints. Within 90 days after enactment and every five years thereafter if appropriate, the Transportation Security Administration Administrator must issue or update guidance to minimize contamination risk when breast milk, baby formula, purified deionized water for infants, juice, ice packs, freezer packs, frozen gel packs, or other cooling accessories are re-screened or receive additional screening. The guidance must be developed with nationally recognized maternal health organizations, must ensure adherence to hygienic standards established by TSA in consultation with those organizations, must apply when additional testing is required, and must cover TSA screening personnel and private security companies operating under 49 U.S.C. 44920. Within one year, the DHS Inspector General must report to House Homeland Security and Senate Commerce committees on compliance with the infant-item screening requirements, the effect of screening technologies such as bottled liquid scanners, and the rate at which these items are denied entry into sterile areas.

Who Benefits and How

Traveling parents carrying breast milk benefit from cleaner handling standards during security re-screening and additional testing. Infants who rely on formula, purified water, juice, or cooled supplies benefit indirectly from reduced contamination risk and fewer checkpoint denials. Breastfeeding travelers benefit because TSA must consult maternal health organizations when setting hygienic standards. National maternal health organizations benefit from a formal consultation role. Airport screening passengers benefit from clearer rules for cooling accessories such as ice packs, freezer packs, and frozen gel packs. Congressional homeland-security and commerce committees benefit from a DHS Inspector General compliance audit.

Who Bears the Burden and How

TSA screening personnel must follow updated hygienic handling and testing guidance. Private airport screening companies must apply the same guidance when providing screening under federal authority. The TSA Administrator must issue guidance within 90 days, consult maternal health organizations, update guidance at least every five years when appropriate, and set hygienic standards. The DHS Inspector General must audit compliance, screening-technology effects, and denial rates within one year. Airport checkpoint managers must train personnel and monitor application of the guidance. Screening technology vendors may face closer review of how bottled liquid scanners affect infant feeding supplies.

Key Provisions

• Requires TSA guidance within 90 days to minimize contamination during additional screening of breast milk, formula, infant water, juice, and cooling accessories.
• Directs TSA to consult nationally recognized maternal health organizations when establishing hygienic standards.
• Applies the guidance to TSA screening personnel and private security screening companies.
• Requires updates every five years if appropriate.
• Requires a DHS Inspector General audit within one year on compliance, screening technology effects, and denial rates for entry into sterile areas.