H.R. 8770
SAFEGUARDS Act of 2026
Sponsor: Dale W. Strong · 6 cosponsors
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Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Spending Aviation Fees for Equipment, Guaranteeing Upgraded and Advanced Risk Detection and Safety Act of 2026 or the SAFEGUARDS Act of 2026
This bill allocates additional funding for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for aviation security, including checked baggage explosives detection equipment and security checkpoint technology.
As background, TSA collects passenger civil aviation security service fees (often referred to as the 9/11 security fee or passenger security fee) on air carrier passengers originating at airports in the United States. In general, these fees are deposited into the Department of the Treasury general fund and applied towards debt reduction. A portion of these fees are allocated to TSA for aviation security.
The bill requires that the first $500 million collected in each fiscal year from passenger security fees be deposited into the Aviation Security Capital Fund. This is an increase from the currently required $250 million. This fund provides for the costs associated with acquiring and installing in-line baggage screening systems (i.e., systems that use a conveyor belt infrastructure to automatically screen, sort, and track baggage) to accommodate checked baggage explosives detection equipment and for certain other airport security improvements.
The bill also requires that the next $250 million collected in each fiscal year from passenger security fees be deposited into a new Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund for the costs associated with acquiring, installing, and sustaining aviation security checkpoint technology.
Text of the bill
Where this section came from
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May 12, 2026 · Introduced in House Referred to House Committee on Homeland Security, May 12
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Jul 9, 2026 · Reported in House Marked up by House Committee on Homeland Security, Jun 24 Reported by House Committee on Homeland Security, Jul 9 Committee members' individual votes aren't in our records.
… 1 unchanged passage …
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking the second, third, and fourth sentences and inserting the following new sentences: Beginning in fiscal year
2027
2028
and for each fiscal year thereafter, the first $500,000,000 derived from fees received under section 44940(a)(1) shall be available to be deposited in the Fund. The Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall impose the fee authorized by such section so as to collect at least $500,000,000 in each of such fiscal years for deposit into the Fund
, subject to the prior termination of any of the fees authorized under such section being credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury
.; and
… 10 unchanged passages …
(2) Funding. Beginning in fiscal year
2027
2028
and for each fiscal year thereafter, after the first $500,000,000 is deposited into the Aviation Security Capital Fund pursuant to subsection (h)(2), the next $250,000,000 from fees received under section 44940(a)(1) shall be available to be deposited in the ASCT Fund. The Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall impose the fee authorized by such section so as to collect not less than $250,000,000 in each of such fiscal years for deposit into the ASCT Fund. Amounts in the ASCT Fund shall be available until expended to the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration to fund the testing, procurement, deployment, installation, and sustainment of aviation security checkpoint technology
, subject to the prior termination of any of the fees authorized under such section being credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury
.
… 2 unchanged passages …
(c) Conforming amendment. Paragraph (1) of section 44940(
j
i
) of title 49, United States Code,
as redesignated pursuant to subsection (b),
is amended by striking section 44923(h) and inserting subsections (h) and (i) of section 44923.
What is a markup?
A markup is a committee meeting where members go through a bill and vote on changes before sending it to the full chamber.
(a) Improving the Aviation Security Capital Fund. Subsection (h) of section 44923 of title 49, United States Code (relating to the Aviation Security Capital Fund), is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking the second, third, and fourth sentences and inserting the following new sentences: Beginning in fiscal year 2028 and for each fiscal year thereafter, the first $500,000,000 derived from fees received under section 44940(a)(1) shall be available to be deposited in the Fund. The Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall impose the fee authorized by such section so as to collect at least $500,000,000 in each of such fiscal years for deposit into the Fund, subject to the prior termination of any of the fees authorized under such section being credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury.; and
(2) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting the following new paragraph:
(2) Disbursement authority. Amounts in the Fund shall be available to the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration to make grants under this section or enter into related agreements to carry out this section.
(b) Establishment of the Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund. Section 44923 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by—
(1) by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (j); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (h) the following new subsection:
(i) Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund
(1) In general. There is established within the Department of Homeland Security a fund to be known as the Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund (in this subsection referred to as the ASCT Fund).
(2) Funding. Beginning in fiscal year 2028 and for each fiscal year thereafter, after the first $500,000,000 is deposited into the Aviation Security Capital Fund pursuant to subsection (h)(2), the next $250,000,000 from fees received under section 44940(a)(1) shall be available to be deposited in the ASCT Fund. The Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall impose the fee authorized by such section so as to collect not less than $250,000,000 in each of such fiscal years for deposit into the ASCT Fund. Amounts in the ASCT Fund shall be available until expended to the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration to fund the testing, procurement, deployment, installation, and sustainment of aviation security checkpoint technology, subject to the prior termination of any of the fees authorized under such section being credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury.
(3) Disbursement authority. Amounts in the ASCT Fund shall be available to the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration to make grants under this section or enter into related agreements to carry out this section.
(c) Conforming amendment. Paragraph (1) of section 44940(i) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking section 44923(h) and inserting subsections (h) and (i) of section 44923.