H.R. 8897
Improving Travel for American Families Act
Sponsor: Ryan Mackenzie
2 cosponsors
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Improving Travel for American Families Act
This bill directs the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to establish a pilot program to implement alternative security screenings for passengers traveling with children who are 12 years old and younger.
Specifically, TSA must implement alternative security screening lanes and security screening approaches for passengers traveling with children in order to support and facilitate the ease of travel for these passengers.
TSA must implement the pilot program at a minimum of five airports, with priority given to airports that have a high volume of passengers traveling with children.
Text of the bill
Where this section came from
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May 19, 2026 · Introduced in House Referred to House Committee on Homeland Security, May 19
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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.
(a) In general.
Notwithstanding
The
any
Administrator
other
of
provision
the
of
Transportation
law
Security Administration
(
including
in
any
this
such
section
provisions
referred
applicable
to as the Administrator), may establish a pilot program at airports
to
issuance
expedite access to security screening for adult passengers and accompanying child passengers twelve years
of
regulations,
age
such
and
as
under
chapters
to
5
support
and
8
facilitate the ease
of
title
travel
5,
for
United
such
States
passengers
Code
and such child passengers. The Administrator may carry out this subsection only such access does not compromise security protocols.
(
commonly
b)
known
Security
as
requirements. If
the
Administrative
Administrator
Procedure
establishes
Act
the
and
pilot
the
program
Congressional
under
Review
subsection
Act
(a
),
and
the
chapter
Administrator
35
shall
of
carry
title
out
44,
the
United
following:
States
(1)
Code
Ensure
(commonly
each
known
passenger
as
described in such subsection is screened in accordance with
the
Paperwork
vetting
Reduction
status
Act)),
of such passenger under
the
Administrator
Secure Flight program
of the Transportation Security Administration
,
(
in
this
accordance
section
with
referred
paragraph
to
(2)
as
of
the
section
Administrator),
44903(j)
shall
of
establish
title
a
49,
pilot
United
program,
States
to
Code.
be
(2)
carried
Prevent individuals carrying
out
at
screening
a
functions
minimum
under section 44901
of
five
such
airports,
title
to
from
implement
allowing
alternative
any
security
passenger
screening
into
lanes
a
and
TSA PreCheck or other expedited
security screening
approaches
lane unless such passenger has received a boarding pass indicating eligibility
for
passengers
TSA
and
PreCheck
accompanying
or
child
such
passengers
other
twelve
expedited
years
security
of
screening.
age
(3)
and
Permit
under
local Administration management
to
support
open or close checkpoint lanes
and
facilitate
reallocate
the
available
ease
resources
of
as
travel
needed
for
to
such
maximize
passengers
security effectiveness
and
such
efficiency
child
based
passengers
on passenger volume
. (
b
c
) Selection of airports.
In
If
selecting
the
airports
Administrator
for
establishes
the pilot program under subsection (a),
in selecting airports for such pilot program,
the Administrator shall—
… 3 unchanged passages …
(
c
d
) Briefing.
Not
If
later
the
than
Administrator
one
establishes
year
the
after
pilot
the
program
date
under
of
subsection
the
(a),
enactment
not
of
later
this
than
Act
270 days after such establishment
, the Administrator shall provide to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a briefing on
the
such
pilot program
.
under subsection
(
a). (d
e
) Sunset.
The
If the
Administrator
shall
establishes
carry out
the pilot program under subsection (a
)
), the Administrator shall carry out such pilot program
for a period of two years.
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) In general. The Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (in this section referred to as the Administrator), may establish a pilot program at airports to expedite access to security screening for adult passengers and accompanying child passengers twelve years of age and under to support and facilitate the ease of travel for such passengers and such child passengers. The Administrator may carry out this subsection only such access does not compromise security protocols.
(b) Security requirements. If the Administrator establishes the pilot program under subsection (a), the Administrator shall carry out the following:
(1) Ensure each passenger described in such subsection is screened in accordance with the vetting status of such passenger under the Secure Flight program of the Transportation Security Administration, in accordance with paragraph (2) of section 44903(j) of title 49, United States Code.
(2) Prevent individuals carrying out screening functions under section 44901 of such title from allowing any passenger into a TSA PreCheck or other expedited security screening lane unless such passenger has received a boarding pass indicating eligibility for TSA PreCheck or such other expedited security screening.
(3) Permit local Administration management to open or close checkpoint lanes and reallocate available resources as needed to maximize security effectiveness and efficiency based on passenger volume.
(c) Selection of airports. If the Administrator establishes the pilot program under subsection (a), in selecting airports for such pilot program, the Administrator shall—
(1) give priority to an airport the Administrator determines to have a high volume of passengers traveling with accompanying child passengers;
(2) consider airports with adequate space to accommodate additional or larger security screening lanes and sufficient personnel to aid passengers and accompanying child passengers twelve years of age and under while maintaining adequate staffing of other security screening lanes; and
(3) use any other consideration the Administrator determines necessary.
(d) Briefing. If the Administrator establishes the pilot program under subsection (a), not later than 270 days after such establishment, the Administrator shall provide to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a briefing on such pilot program.
(e) Sunset. If the Administrator establishes the pilot program under subsection (a), the Administrator shall carry out such pilot program for a period of two years.