House Passes Thompson Bill to Improve TSA Frontline Workforce
Legislation would finally put TSA under Title 5
(WASHINGTON) – Today, by a bipartisan vote of 230 to 171, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act (H.R.1140), legislation sponsored by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Committee on Appropriations, to improve the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) frontline workforce.
The bill will ensure Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) are afforded the same rights and protections given to other Federal workers under Title 5 of the U.S. Code. Under H.R. 1140, TSOs would be compensated under the General Services wage system, have full collective bargaining rights, and provided opportunities to effectively raise issues in disputes to an independent third party.
H.R. 1140 has strong bipartisan co-sponsorship in the House and is strongly supported by the American Federation of Government Employees and the Transport Workers Union of America.
Chairman Thompson released the following statement on his legislation:
“By enacting this legislation and placing TSA under the time-tested personnel system of Title 5, TSA will be able to reduce attrition, boost morale, and overall improve the treatment of its frontline workforce. In turn, this will position TSA to have a more experienced workforce with the proficiency needed to execute its national security mission and help it continue to mature as a homeland security agency.
“This is the right thing to do for frontline workers, the right thing to do for the traveling public, and the right thing to do for our national security.”
Chairwoman Lowey added the following statement:
“I’m grateful for Chairman Thompson’s partnership on this critical legislation. We have worked on this bill for a very long time, and I’m thrilled it passed the House today. The Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act would give TSA’s screening workforce the same rights afforded to other Federal workers, like fair pay under the General Schedule pay scale, sick leave according to OPM guidelines, and collective bargaining rights. Our TSOs have earned these rights, and it is unreasonable to deny these hardworking men and women the basic protections of Federal civil service. I urge the Senate to quickly pass this legislation.”
Chairman Thompson Full Floor Statement on H.R. 1140
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Press Contact
(Thompson) Adam Comis at 202-225-9978
(Lowey) Katelynn Thorpe at 202-225-6506
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