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May 04, 2021

TODAY @ 2PM: Hearing on H.R. 903, Legislation to Improve the TSA Frontline Workforce

(WASHINGTON) – Today at 2pm, the Subcommittee on Transportation & Maritime Security, chaired by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), will hold a virtual hearing on H.R. 903, the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act.

The purpose of the hearing is to garner additional support of H.R. 903 and to increase awareness of the challenges facing the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) frontline workforce, which is underpaid compared to most other Federal workforces, lacks basic civil service rights and protections, and is vulnerable to high turnover and low morale. As Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) continue to serve on our frontlines to protect the traveling public amidst the pandemic, continuing to deny them the same rights afforded to most Federal workers under Title 5 during a national emergency is incomprehensible. Unfortunately, over 7,800 TSA employees or contractors have tested positive for COVID-19 to date and, tragically, at least 16 have died.

H.R. 903, bipartisan legislation introduced by Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson, would provide the TSA workforce the same rights afforded to most Federal workers under Title 5 of the U.S. Code. It will also address TSA’s attrition problems and further professionalize the workforce. The bill currently has over 150 co-sponsors, including 9 Republicans. The House twice passed the measure in the previous congress.

This virtual hearing will be streamed live on YouTube and on our website.

Event details:

WHAT: Subcommittee Hearing: Twenty Years of Workforce Challenges: The Need for H.R. 903, the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act of 2021

WHEN: Tuesday, May 4 @ 2:00pm EDT

WITNESSES:

  • Dr. Everett Kelley, National President, American Federation of Government Employees
  • Ms. Joi Chaney, Senior Vice President for Policy & Advocacy and Executive Director of the Washington Bureau, National Urban League
  • Mr. Tom Warrick, Nonresident Senior Fellow and Director of the Future of DHS Project, Atlantic Council
  • Mr. Jeffrey Neal, Principal and Founder, Chief HRO, LLC (minority witness)

Updated info and livestream available here.

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Press Contact

Adam Comis at (202) 225-9978