END SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR CONGRESS AT AIRPORTS ACT OF 2026

END SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR CONGRESS AT AIRPORTS ACT OF 2026

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 50 (Thursday, March 19, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 50 (Thursday, March 19, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S1355-S1356] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] END SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR CONGRESS AT AIRPORTS ACT OF 2026 Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, it has been 34 days since Democrats chose to shut down funding at the Department of Homeland Security, jeopardizing America's safety and well-being. No less than 120,000 DHS employees have missed paychecks, including the hard-working TSA agents and screeners that work at our Nation's airports, who have been working around the clock, without pay, to keep spring break travelers and others safe. For example, in my home State of Texas, Houston Hobby Airport has been recommending that travelers arrive at least 3 hours before their flights, and if it is an international flight, they recommend 4 hours in advance. Well, they are not alone. Staffing constraints have not only led to longer wait times around the country but also significant delays, disruptions, and missed flights. The only reason I can fathom, other than being completely out of touch, that our Democratic colleagues would do this is because not all Members of Congress are being forced to experience the same mess of their own making right now. As many Americans probably don't know, but most of us in Washington do know, airports around the country allow Members of Congress to bypass the usual TSA security screening process at airports nationwide. In other words, they get to skip the line. This should end today. Instead of enduring the same travel tribulations and security requirements that everyone else has to meet, Members of Congress are getting an unfair perk, while TSA officers have to work without pay. That is why I come to the floor today to pass my legislation, called the End Special Treatment for Congress at Airports Act, to stop the practice of expediting TSA screening processes for Members of Congress at our Nation's airports. This legislation would ensure that no Federal funds or resources will be used by TSA moving forward to provide Members of Congress with these special privileges. In other words, Congress is going to have to live with the laws that everybody else has to live with. Ending these courtesy escorts for Members of Congress in our Nation's airports during a DHS funding shutdown is the right thing to do. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be discharged from further consideration of S. 4123 and that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 4123) to prohibit preferential screening for Members of Congress at airports, and for other purposes. There being no objection, the committee was discharged, and the Senate proceeded to consider the bill. Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I now ask unanimous consent that the Cornyn amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment (No. 4707) was agreed to, as follows: (Purpose: To amend the definition of Trusted Traveler Program) On page 2, strike lines 8 through 13, and insert the following: (4) Trusted traveler program.--The term ``Trusted Traveler Program'' means any of the following: (A) Global Entry. (B) The PreCheck Program. (C) SENTRI. (D) NEXUS. (E) Any other United States Government program that issues a unique identifier, such as a known traveler number, that the Transportation Security Administration accepts [[Page S1356]] as validating that the individual holding such identifier is a member of a known low-risk population. (F) Any other program implemented by the Transportation Security Administration under section 109(a)(3) of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (49 U.S.C. 114 note; Public Law 107-71). On page 2, line 24, strike ``may'' and insert ``shall''. On page 3, line 1, strike ``bypass standard'' and insert ``be exempt from Federal passenger and baggage''. The bill (S. 4123), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, and passed as follows: S. 4123 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``End Special Treatment for Congress at Airports Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act-- (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration. (2) Member of congress.--The term ``Member of Congress'' has the meaning given that term in section 13101 of title 5, United States Code. (3) Screening location.--The term ``screening location'' has the meaning given that term in section 1540.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. (4) Trusted traveler program.--The term ``Trusted Traveler Program'' means any of the following: (A) Global Entry. (B) The PreCheck Program. (C) SENTRI. (D) NEXUS. (E) Any other United States Government program that issues a unique identifier, such as a known traveler number, that the Transportation Security Administration accepts as validating that the individual holding such identifier is a member of a known low-risk population. (F) Any other program implemented by the Transportation Security Administration under section 109(a)(3) of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (49 U.S.C. 114 note; Public Law 107-71). SEC. 3. REQUIREMENT FOR STANDARD SECURITY SCREENING. (a) In General.--None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Transportation Security Administration shall be used to provide or facilitate the provision of a Member of Congress with expedited or preferential access to or through security screenings required pursuant to section 44901 of title 49, United States Code. (b) No Expedited Access.--A Member of Congress shall not-- (1) be exempt from Federal passenger and baggage screening procedures of the Transportation Security Administration; or (2) receive priority or expedited access to a screening location on the basis of the official position of such Member of Congress. SEC. 4. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. Nothing in this Act shall be construed-- (1) to limit the authority of the Transportation Security Administration to implement risk-based security programs available to the general public; or (2) to prohibit Members of Congress from participating in a publicly available Trusted Traveler Program, provided such participation is not based on the official positions of such Members of Congress. SEC. 5. ENFORCEMENT. (a) Policy Implementation.--The Administrator shall update policies and procedures as necessary to ensure compliance with this Act. (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the implementation of, and compliance with, this Act. Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I am glad the Senate has agreed with this commonsense bill to prevent those of us who pass laws--or, in this case, refuse to pass the laws funding DHS appropriations--to prevent us from receiving special privileges. Maybe, just maybe, if Congress has to live under the same laws that everybody else does, it will motivate us to get our work done--in other words, to fund the Department of Homeland Security--so no American, so no air traveler will have to suffer the disruption and the tribulations that many, many travelers are having to experience now. It is not too much to expect that Congress will be subject to the same rules as everyone else. We know trust in Congress is at an alltime low, but today, thank goodness, the Senate has taken an important step toward restoring the trust of the people we are here to represent. I yield the floor. ____________________

Referenced legislation: S4123, S4123