S2378-119

What This Bill Does

The bill states that the passenger-paid 9/11 Security Fee should be used only for aviation security and that diversions should end by 2027. It increases the first annual fee deposit into the Aviation Security Capital Fund to $500 million beginning in fiscal year 2026 and creates a separate Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund funded by the next $250 million from the same fee for checkpoint and exit-lane technology procurement, deployment, and sustainment.

Who Benefits and How

The Transportation Security Administration benefits because more passenger-fee revenue becomes available for security grants and checkpoint technology. Airports benefit from larger capital-fund resources and potential grant support for screening and security infrastructure. Airline passengers benefit if fee revenue is redirected toward passenger screening, baggage screening, and checkpoint technology improvements. Checkpoint technology vendors benefit from a dedicated fund for procurement, deployment, and sustainment of aviation security technology. DHS aviation security programs benefit from fee revenue being reserved for aviation security rather than unrelated federal purposes.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The TSA Administrator must collect and manage at least $500 million for the capital fund and at least $250 million for checkpoint technology each year. DHS budget offices must reserve fee revenue for the specified funds instead of broader budgetary uses. Airline passengers continue paying the 9/11 Security Fee that finances these security funds. TSA grants staff must administer new or expanded grants, including possible retroactive approvals for projects implemented after January 1, 2023.

Key Provisions

• States that 9/11 Security Fee revenue should be used exclusively for commercial aviation security.
• Raises the Aviation Security Capital Fund deposit from $250 million to $500 million beginning in fiscal year 2026.
• Creates the Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund for the next $250 million of annual fee revenue.
• Makes checkpoint-technology fund amounts available until expended for procurement, deployment, and sustainment.
• Allows retroactive approval of grants for eligible checkpoint and exit-lane projects implemented on or after January 1, 2023.