Chairs Thompson, DeFazio Applaud President Biden’s Budget to Increase Pay and Collective Bargaining for TSA’s Frontline Workforce
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, applauded President Biden’s FY2023 Budget Request including funding for long overdue pay increases and expanded collective bargaining for TSA’s predominantly frontline workforce. The increase in funding would come from TSA’s collection of security fees – which would not increase and would now be used for security purposes and no longer diverted to the general fund. Chairman Thompson, Chairman DeFazio, and other Congressional leaders have long championed ending the diversion of security funds and increasing TSA workforce pay.
“Today marks a first for TSA’s frontline workforce: under the President’s budget request, the agency would receive a significant funding increase to pay for raises for its workers and expand collective bargaining rights. Better yet, funding this proposal would not come from increasing fees. Instead, TSA would be able to use all the security fees it collects when travelers book a ticket – something many Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle have long championed,” said Chairman Thompson. “Under this proposal, TSA’s over 60,000 employees -- who make up one of the lowest paid, most diverse workforces in the federal government -- would finally get the pay they deserve after keeping our skies secure and manning the frontlines for over two years of a pandemic. Increasing pay and improving workplace rights will significantly help with morale and attrition at the agency and also improve and professionalize the workforce. I thank the President, DHS Secretary Mayorkas, and TSA Administrator Pekoske for this proposal, and I thank all my colleagues over the years and the frontline workers who have fought year after year for these changes. Next, we must fully fund and enact this proposal. Additionally, it is still critical for Congress to pass my pending legislation, H.R. 903, to fully move TSA’s workforce to the Title 5 system and codify workforce rights.”
“For nearly a decade critical funding has been withheld from the TSA so Congress and Presidents of both parties could mask budget deficits,” said Chairman DeFazio. “Passengers are paying a fee for security, and those funds should be used for their intended purpose. I’m proud that President Biden’s budget request includes a needed boost for TSA for which my colleagues and I advocated. These additional resources will help the agency invest in state-of the-art equipment to improve efficiency and ensure that the agents responsible for protecting the traveling public are earning a good wage.”
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Press Contact
Adam Comis (Homeland Security), 202-225-9978
Peter True (Transportation and Infrastructure), 202-225-4472
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